By June Norvila
Thursday, Aug. 7 was another sunny day for the annual Bentley fair and rodeo parade. It was lead by the Sunset Hills Riding Club flag bearers followed closely by four marching RCMP members in their red serge uniforms. The parade lasted for a full three-quarters of an hour.
As time for the parade drew closer, there were never so many people lined up as far as one could see up Main Street. Parade watchers were all over town at their favorite vantage points.
The parade is a perennial favorite, especially with the kids. Maybe it has something to do with the numerous treats handed out.
For many the word about how great Bentley’s parade is had gotten around so there are always more newcomers each year, too. Some even arrived ahead of time with lawn chairs to save favorite spots. There was not a parking space to be had for blocks.
Judging and line up took place in the curling rink parking lot. Class winners as picked by designated volunteer judges follow including the Municipal floats category: #1 Town of Sylvan Lake, #2 Town of Eckville.
Organization floats: #1 Decorated Vehicle - the provincial Ag Society; #1 Decorated Float - The Red Hatters; #1 Novelty Section - the Bentley Play School. Overall Winner: the Red Hatters.
Commercial Section: #1 Decorated Vehicle - Bentley General Store; #1 Decorated Float - Altered Images; #1 Novelty Section - the Cross-Eyed Giraffe cafe. Overall Winner: Bentley General Store.
Horse Section: #1 Club - Sunset Riders; #1 Novelty - Alberta Donkey and Mule entry; #1 Light Horse Drawn - Outlaw Electric. Overall Winner - Alberta Donkey and Mule entry.
Old Time Vehicle Section: #1 Antique Truck - the Shriner’s 1956 International fire truck; #1 Antique Car - 1957 Chevy ‘Suds In A Bucket’; #1 Classic Car - Dave Weidner’s 1936 Aubern; #1 Antique Farm Machinery - Garry Peterson’s 1948 John Deere “G” tractor. Overall Winner: 1957 Chevy ‘Suds In A Bucket’.
Animal Section: Doug Roger’s bull Wild West Willie.
Judged based on current theme, Celebrating Community - Novelty Section (no horses): #1 - Bentley Community Services/Bentley Care Centre. Best Overall - Bentley Volunteer Fire Department.
Special note of the youngsters who decorated their trikes or bikes: #1 - Talalynn Johnson; #2 - Justine Henry, Charlie Gibson, Michaelle Trites; #3 - Dane and Darion Forsberg.
This year, for the first time, sponsored prize money was added as an extra incentive.
Bentley culinary entries up
Organizers for the culinary division, the baking, canning and preserves of the Bentley Fair bench exhibits, Pat Cluderay and Michelle Ostrikoff, were pleased that the number of entries were actually up, but disappointed that there were no entries at all in the Young Adult ages 13 to 17 classes.
There were lots of prizes and prize money given out in each class but only the winners of the major special awards will be mentioned here.
Judged Best of Show in the adult class were the diced tomatoes of Bev Lipon of Spirit River. She also won the Most Overall Adult Points award for her entries.
Other winners in the adult classes were: Best Loaf cake - Alice Bell (Edmonton/Gull Lake), Best Two-crust Pie and Best Cinnamon Rolls - Phyllis Steffler (Lacombe), Best Brown Dinner Rolls and Best Brown or Whole Wheat Bread - Cathy Plantinga (Bentley), Best Tame Berry Jam - Ali Lario (Sexsmith), and Best Dill Pickles - Dell Collins (Lacombe).
In the Junior Division, ages 12 years and under, the award for Most Overall Points was a tie between Emma Ostrikoff of Bentley and four year-old Zoe Lipon of Spirit River.
Emma Ostrikoff won Junior Best of Show for her blueberry bran muffins. She also won Best Jr. Bran muffins and Best Jr. Brownies. Zoe Lipon won Best Jr. Chocolate Chip Cookies.
For the third time, the judge this year was Marjorie Lane of Lacombe.
Town offers to sell land to province
At the July 12 regular Bentley town council meeting the Lacombe County councilor for Division 5, Mr. Ken Wigmore, addressed council. He gave them information about an upcoming Provincial Agricultural Service Board tour for about 400 people in July of 2009 being hosted by Lacombe County, and invited them to take an active role and highlight the town by providing a noon meal for each of two days for participants who will be passing through on the tour.
* By-law No. 127/2008 received first, second, and third and final reading, and was passed. It sets out the annual organizational meeting, regular and special council meetings, and public hearings, and deals with the regulation of the proceedings and business transactions of the town. It spells out the conduct expected from council in regards to all of the above as well as when dealing with motions, by-laws, conflict-of-interest, correspondence, in camera sessions, and more.
* An offer to sell land currently owned by the town to Alberta Transportation who will need it for the realignment of Highway #12 was finalized. The appraised value as determined by the Alberta Transportation land appraiser was $14,500.00 per acre. The price for the estimated 5.93 acres required will be almost $86,000.00