Lots for kids to do in Emo

The Corporation of the Township of Emo playground is ready to roll into the summer activities for youth between the ages of 3-13 years and each group having a different schedule.
The program runs between Tuesday, July 8, and concludes Thursday, Aug. 14. Anyone interested in the program can call the Municipal Office at 482-2378. If the weatherman decides to send rain, activities will move into the Emo LaVallee Community Centre.
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After umpiring fast-pitch games Canada Day at Barwick, John Downs (whom I knew very well) and on his way returning home, died of injuries from a collision, single motor vehicle accident. Although there are many different stories of the accident, we will just leave it up to the OPP investigating.
I used to ump for Stratton in earlier days when the league just commenced operations, I stayed with the position, since baseball was a sport I used to play with Emo Legion and Barwick Knights, years were catching up so I gave up the gam as far as playing it and umping.
Here is when he who was better known to us on the field as Kingsley took over, and he was been behind the plate ever since, besides working tournaments throughout the district.
I regarded him as a fair and square umpire. To the family I and the community of sports fans extend our condolences. The funeral service was held Saturday afternoon from Christian Reformed Church at Emo.
The overwhelming funeral service officiated by Rev. Pat White overflowed into the foyer. Everyone came to express their thank yous to Kingley Downs at the Emo CRC Saturday afternoon.
He lived his life to the fullest, enjoying every minute of it. I spoke to him at Barwick’s Canada Days on Tuesday while he was going towards home plate to ump, he had a wide grin and few words to say—“Just another game to call,” he would say.
He was one who put every effort into the game, always full of energy and supportive—you could recognize Kingsley the way he presented himself. He never had any regrets or complaints. He focused on putting action into his priorities, never slowing down—instead giving it steam to move forward.
Everyone in our district knew him through his sportsmanlike conduct, and great attitude. This is the way I knew Kingsley. We always shared something when brushing elbows.
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Roger Bonot of Winnipeg returned there on Saturday after having visited his brother Arthur at La Verendrye hospital with his sister, Theresa Selman and family at Rainy River.
Returning to respective home in Fruivale, B.C., Helen Morrish and friend, Linda Louise, visited here with Helen’s mother, Donna Morrish and over at Dryden with a sister, Aurilla and husband, Brian McDonald and family.
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I often listen to Trival Trails Program from Prince Albert, Sask. and occasionally Jim and Linda (nee Ferris) Anderson are on the program singing favourite gospel hymns either Sunday morning at 9 am over Winnipeg TV and a repeat Friday evenings through a Christian station. Linda is a sister of Sonny Ferris.
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Davis Viehbeck of Thunder Bay, who is employed with MNR near Atikokan and also still attends university, visited here the past week as guest of his grandmother, Veronica Viehbeck and Auntie Gladys. David is quite an enthusiastic fisherman. When his father, Marvin, was still living both would come here and fish off the dock at Lion’s Park.
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Pamela Cowlishaw and daughters, Kaitlyn and Kalleanne of Cook, MN visited over July 1, with Jeannie and Irwin Morphet and had the opportunity to take in Emo’s celebrations at Emo Arena, also the Barwick Canada Day activities including the Mini-Parade. They enjoyed grandpa’s ice cream cone with the mild weather—it just tasted right.
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Having attended their father, Paul Melansons funeral, they spent extra valuable days with their mother, Margaret and with sister, Michelle and family of Nestor Falls. The men, Ross and wife, Cora and two children left Thursday for Moose Jaw, Bryan and daughter, Maryse, left the following day for Waterloo.
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Morning of July 1, what is left of the Emo Inn coffee boys, Milt Guba, Neil Grant, Mark VanHeyst, and Ralph Wolframe had as their guests, Ross Melanson and Bryan Melanson, it was a fruitful conversation. We thank the staff at Emo Inn for supplying the dainties and refreshments. Thanks again Val and Kari for your thoughtfulness. This was much appreciated.
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Spotted Susan Helseth at Safeway Friday afternoon—shopping of course with another lady— and had a brief chat on how everything was and what is new. She was kept up to date, in our little town nothing goes unnoticed. At Border Sales, work is being done on the show room which used to be the two car stall. Cloverleaf Shop-Easy is now in full swing, notice new employees and summer students filling in the schedule. Calvary Baptist is beginning to take shape. At all the three locations still some unfinished business.
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Loretta LaBlanc of North Branch was the lucky winner on a draw for the BBQ at Cloverleaf Shop-Easy foods. Congratulations, Loretta.
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We extend our condolences to the family of Stewart Kellar, especially to wife Alice. Stew passed away at Lake of the Woods Hospital in Kenora, on June 25.
Although Stew had a stroke in the latter part of life, he was slow expressing himself but did quite well and he was able to drive his car, picking up mail at the local post office. We usually had a short conversation and then pass on until the next time we met.
Living most of his life here in the district, they moved to Kenora in 2003 to be closer to family members. I have been told Stew was a strict game warden with the MNR, in the years preceding retirement in 1978, he was park supervisor at Caliper Lake, he enjoyed the outdoors and this position was right up his alley.
He will be remembered for many of his achievements in life, which is just too much to mention. As with everything around us, life must continue on living one day at a time.
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This Friday, July 11, at the Golden Age Manor, a birthday party for Hank Byma??????? will be held in the Common Room. He has reached the ripe age of 80 years.
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Louise Van Zwol graduate of SCAP class 2003 will be heading to continue her education at King’s College in Edmonton, taking courses in Business Administration working towards her BA.
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Sunday after the morning worship service two large decorated cakes graced two tables close to the kitchen entrance, in the Fellowship Hall. Ralph and Jacquelyn Hunsperger shared their 45th wedding anniversary with the church family at CRC, thanking God for His many blessings through the years.
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Brian and Della Bongaards from Medicine Hat sent their regrets that they are unable to make the trip to Emo. They however extend their congratulations to Emo CRC’s 50th anniversary and wish God’s blessings for the years ahead, also greetings to all who knew them from when they had lived here in the sixties.
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Sunrise Meat & Sausage, just east of Barwick Village, is opening this Monday, July 7, for business. It is operated by Paul and Susan Peters who had for approx. For three years, they’ve operated the business just west of Stratton. Hours will be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. until noon. Closed Sunday. See the story in next week’s edition of the Fort Frances Times and Rainy River Record.
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Mrs. Irene Bosma had as her house guest, daughter, Cathy, from Michigan, here for the past four weeks. She returned there Monday morning, she also visited with another sister, Audrey and Arie Borger and other relatives. Audrey and Arie had just returned from a western trip, including visit to Edmonton Mall.