The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
With so much talk about the massive tsunami disaster in Asia and the immediate assistance that is needed in that area of the world, some relief organizations are concerned that other misfortunes around the globe may be shortchanged or go unanswered. However, grade 9 students at J.H. Kerr School are certainly doing their part to be sure that Africa's horrific HIV/AIDS epidemic stays front and center in the minds of the citizens of Snow Lake. During the locally proclaimed HIV/AIDS Awareness Week of January 17-22, the class and their teacher have put together a number of innovative and informative fundraisers.Ê These activities will surely raise the town's collective consciousness towards this insidious disease, as well as raise some much-needed money for the cause. Subsequent to researching the HIV Crisis in Africa, history and geography teacher Alan Beilman and his socially responsible class have written newspaper articles, built web sites, made posters and prepared PA announcements throughout their Awareness Week.Ê Also, during a school assembly on January 20, they put forward a PowerPoint presentation demonstrating how quickly the virus can spread. There fundraisers consist of a 50/50 draw (half the money to the winner, the other half to the cause), a "Get out of Jail Free" raffle with the winner getting a half-day off school (without a recorded absence), a staff and student spaghetti dinner, and a bake sale/cake raffle.Ê This class and their teacher should most certainly be commended for their action and empathy. In other community news, close to 100 people came out on Saturday night to take in the Aurora Borealis Arts Council and Manitoba Theatre Center presentation of Joanna McClelland Glass Trying.Ê This is undoubtedly the most people, in a long time, who have showed up for a play in the Lawrie Marsh Community Hall.Ê And even though the temperatures outside were extremely frigid, the laughter inside was warm and hearty. ÊThe play had a minimal cast of two, a large set, and extensive dialogue.Ê Its plot deals with a young Saskatchewan girl taking a job as a secretary to a retired and seriously irritable former US Attorney General who is writing his memoirs.Ê He has gone through a number of secretaries before this prairie girl comes on the scene, and from the outset it appears that she too will be unable to last in the position.Ê However, with some strong determination and a wit as rapid fire and feisty as his own, she eventually wins over the ill-tempered oldtimer and helps him complete his life history before he passes on.Ê Funny, touching, and true to life? everyone in the crowd thoroughly enjoyed "Trying". ÊThe Gordon Rupp Curling Rink was alive with action this weekend as a number of in town and out-of-town teams faced off for the right to represent the area at the Provincial Safeway Selects.Ê The contest came down to a Sunday final between two teams - the Holmes rink out of Flin Flon and Fjermestad foursome from The Pas.Ê Holmes was victorious and will go on to represent Zone 13 at the Safeway Selects in Selkirk during mid-February. In closing, it was noted at the January 18 town council meeting that 70 people have signed up/shown interest in a proposal from Gillamnet to bring high-speed Internet to Snow Lake.Ê It seems just a matter of time before Snow Lake joins others in the 21st century.
