Today in High Prairie! See what’s happening today in town, celebrity birthdays, local history, world history and your daily horoscope. Please send your birthdays and community events to southpeacenews@hotmail.com and/or spneditor@outlook.com.

What’s Happening Today – August 4, 2024

Attend the church of your choice.

1:30 p.m. – Enjoy cribbage games at the HP Golden Age Centre, 4824-53 Ave.

Today’s Celebrity Birthdays – August 4, 2024

1755 – Nicolas-Jacque Conte, Invented Modern Pencil

1821 – James Springer White, Co-Founder Adventist Church

1897 – Joseph Calleia, Jungle Book Actor

1901 – Louis Armstrong, Hello Dolly Singer

1915 – Warren Avis, Avis Rent a Car Founder

1921 – Maurice Richard, Montreal Canadien

1933 – Sheldon Adelson, CEO of Las Vegas Sands

1936 – Elsbeary Hobbs, Drifters Rocker

1939 – Frank Vincent, The Sopranos Actor

1943 – David Carr, The Fortunes Keyboardist

1947 – Paul Leyton, Seekers Musician

1960 – Robbin Crosby, Ratt Vocalist/Guitarist

1961 – Barack Obama, US President

1962 – Paul Reynolds, A Flock of Seagulls Rocker

1971 – Jeff Gordon, American Race Car Driver

1978 – Kurt Busch, American Race Car Driver

1981 – Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex

This Day in Local History – August 4, 2024

Aug. 4, 1912: A hotly contested ball game between the Diamond P. Logging Company and Grouard is stopped by police in the eighth inning after citizens complain the game is being played on a Sunday. Alberta’s deputy attorney general L.F. Clarry stops the game under the Lords’ Day Act. Grouard led 8-7.

Aug. 4, 1914: Great Britain declares war on Germany prompting concerns from Grouard residents who fear railway construction will stop.

Aug. 4, 1968: Father Benoit Guimont becomes director at St. Bruno Mission in Joussard.

Aug. 4, 1971: High Prairie’s Kevin Young dies after accidentally drinking and inhaling gasoline he found in a Coke bottle. He was only 1 1/2 years old.

Aug. 4, 1971: Kemp and Stewart wins best commercial float as the High Prairie Elks Stampede begins.

Aug. 4, 1971: Victoria Payou, of Kathleen, drives her half-ton truck through the window of Simpson Sears causing extensive damage. She is later fined $360 in court for impaired driving.

Aug. 4, 1973: Miss Grouard, Pearl Calahasen, is crowned Indian Princess at Slave Lake’s Riverboat Daze.

Aug. 4, 1976: South Peace News reports Rick McDonald opens a Mutual Life of Canada office in High Prairie.

Aug. 4, 1976: The Northern Lites Motor Inn wins best commercial float as the annual Elks Stampede kicks off with a parade.

Aug. 4, 1982: South Peace News reports that I.D. No. 17 [125] seeks a meeting with High Prairie town council to iron out differences over the recreation board’s debt.

Aug. 4, 1982: Edmonton Eskimos’ football player Dave Fennell is the parade marshal as the Elks Stampede kicks off the annual parade, which is postponed two hours by rain.

Aug. 4, 1983: A former resident of Sunset House, Bill Lowry, wins the saddle bronc competition at the High Prairie Elks Stampede.

Aug. 4, 1985: Dave Temple shoots a 137 to win the men’s title at the High Prairie Open Golf Tournament. Sabina Bodette, of McLennan, wins the women’s title and David Bliss and Michelle Grey the junior titles.

Aug. 4, 1985: High Prairie Dolphins Robin McCalllum and Byron MacDonald win the aggregate titles at the Valleyview Swim Meet.

Aug. 4, 1989: Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pearl Calahasen announces a new $2 million bridge will be built at Grouard.

Aug. 4, 1991: Dave Temple shoots a 158 to win the men’s title at the High Prairie Open Golf Tournament. Edmonton’s Cec MacKenzie wins the women’s title.

Aug. 4, 1991: Claudio and Linda Ongaro win the Joussard Walleye Tournament.

Aug. 4, 1993: South Peace News reports on the grand opening of Tsang 18 Restaurant, formerly Ludia 18 Restaurant.

Aug. 4, 1993: High Prairie Freson IGA wins best commercial float as the annual Elks Stampede kicks off with a parade.

Aug. 4, 2005: Locked out Telus workers picket the High Prairie offices.

Aug. 4, 2005: Driftpile First Nation celebrates the opening of their new water treatment plant.

Aug. 4, 2007: Cabin lots at Red Sky Grove Development go on sale at Joussard. An Edmonton realtor attends to sell available property.

Aug. 4, 2007: Barry and Lyn Christensen win the Joussard Walleye Tournament and take home $5,000.

Aug. 4, 2010: Jessie-Lee Caouette takes the reins of High Prairie Elks Pro Rodeo Queen from KayLee Gauchier.

Aug. 4, 2010: Peter Freeman wins a Kawasaki ATV in the Elks Pro Rodeo Raffle. The prize is sponsored by Monahan Ford Kawasaki.

Aug. 4, 2010: South Peace News features High Prairie junior barrel racer Dawson Cardinal, 7, who has won 10 jackpots so far this season.

Aug. 4, 2010: South Peace News publishes a full page thank-you ad for Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pearl Calahasen, thanking her for her efforts in securing money for the new High Prairie Hospital.

Aug. 3-4, 2012: The High Prairie Elks Pro Rodeo Wranglers act is so popular it’s invited to perform at the North Peace Stampede at Lac Cardinal near Grimshaw.

Aug. 4, 2013: Grouard celebrates its centennial with many events which draw an estimated crowd of 2,000. A parade and games highlight the anniversary of Grouard’s incorporation as a town.

Aug. 4, 2014: PC leadership candidate Jim Prentice is endorsed locally by municipal leaders during his visit to High Prairie. Local MLA Pearl Calahasen also endorses Prentice.

This Day in World History – August 4, 2024

1693 – Date traditionally given to Dom Perignon’s invention of Champagne.

1854 – Hinomaru established as flag to be flown from Japanese ships.

1862 – US government collects its first income tax.

1881 – 122°F [50C], Seville, Spain, European record.

1902 – The Greenwich foot tunnel under the River Thames opens.

1914 – Britain declares war on Germany.

1914 – US declares neutrality on the outbreak of World War I.

1917 – Pravda calls for the killing of all priests and officers.

1942 – German occupier orders all Dutch homing pigeons killed.

1943 – British PM Winston Churchill travels on the Queen Mary to Canada.

1956 – German Wilhelm Herz becomes first to ride motorcycle at 200 mph.

1956 – Elvis Presley releases “Hound Dog”.

1960 – Rocket propelled USAF research aircraft sets record at 2,150 mph.

1962 – Nelson Mandela captured by South African police.

1971 – US launches first satellite into lunar orbit from manned spacecraft.

1972 – Uganda dictator Idi Amin orders the expulsion of 50,000 Asians.

1984 – Prince’s “Purple Rain” album goes No. 1 & stays No. 1 for 24 weeks.

1984 – Republic of Upper Volta becomes Burkina Faso.

1993 – Rwandian Hutus and Tutsis sign peace treaty in Arusha, Tanzania.

1994 – Truck carrying millions of bees overturns on NY parkway.

2005 – Announcement: Michaëlle Jean to be Canada’s first black Gov-Gen.

2007 – Barry Bonds homers to tie Hank Aaron’s 33 year-old record of 755.

2012 – South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius is first double-leg amputee to compete at Olympics.

2015 – A plague of locusts in Southern Russia prompts state of emergency.

2015 – Robert Downey Jr. named world’s highest paid actor [$80 million].

2015 – Missy Piggy and Kermit the Frog announce end to relationship.

Today’s Horoscopes – August 4, 2024

Aries [March 21 – April 20] – While other people may be confused and distressed, you are actually the one with all the answers! Indeed, you are best equipped to deal with the difficult situations that are likely to arise on a day like this! You have the ability to see through thick walls that others erect as barriers! Nothing will stop your penetrating eyes from seeing someone else’s deceit!

Taurus [April 21 – May 21] – Be passionate about the thing you love the most! Instead of trying to eat every single thing at the buffet table, just pick one or two items you like the best and eat them with great enjoyment! Feel free to take some for later! Do not let anyone talk you into a dish that does not appeal to you! You are the only one who knows what you truly hunger for!

Gemini [May 22 – June 21] – You may feel like a skipping record! You have been scratched and mistreated, and now you continue to repeat the same thing over and over until you have driven your point home! This is not your doing, so do not be concerned if you hear protests you are sending others over the edge! This may be the very thing necessary for all of you to advance to the next step!

Cancer [June 22 – July 22] – There could be some tough forces questioning your most cherished dreams! Be careful about confronting someone who wants to poke holes in your idealism! You could end up feeling like a punctured balloon that is slowly deflating! Do whatever you can to avoid the aggression at work to bring you down! Do not let others get to you!

Leo [July 23 – Aug. 23] – You are in a unique position to understand all sides of the issues! While this is apt to give you a tremendous advantage over those who still have their heads stuck in the sand, this knowledge also gives you a greater responsibility to others! You intuitively know what is best, and now you must find a way to bring others around and help them see it from your perspective!

Virgo [Aug. 24 – Sept. 22] – You may be feeling rather anxious! Perhaps you have a big date coming up and your mind is buzzing with how to make the best impression! Remember the harder you try, the further away you will push the object of your desire! The most important part of impressing another is having confidence! Relax! Try not to get too caught up with yourself!

Libra [Sept. 23 – Oct. 23] – This could be one of those days in which you feel like you just can not get anything right! In an effort to appease other people, you may think you have to make some adjustments that make you feel uneasy! This uncomfortable feeling could turn into nervousness, restlessness, and eventually anger! Do not feel like you need to be the one to make any sacrifices at this time!

Scorpio [Oct. 24 – Nov. 22] – You may feel a need to add some fantasy to your daily routine today! Do you have someone in mind you’ would like Cupid’s arrow to strike? Well, do not rely on a cherub to do your work for you! Get out and do some target practice of your own so you will be prepared when you see the object of your desire across a crowded room! Keep things light and cheerful!

Sagittarius [Nov. 23 – Dec. 21] – Your psychic sense is apt to be keen as you fill your mind with fanciful scenarios! These pictures in your head are not as farfetched as you might think! Today would be a good day to listen to your inner guidance – the aspect of yourself that is keyed into hearing subtle important messages! Not everyone can pick up on them!

Capricorn [Dec. 22 – Jan. 20] – You may be having a difficult time getting your opinions across to others! For some, your ideas may seem too self-centered! For others, you may come across as insensitive to the situation! Do your best to understand what others are telling you! Do not be surprised if you do not receive the loving strokes you feel you deserve! This is a day for you to observe and learn!

Aquarius [Jan. 21 – Feb. 18] – The emotional swings you could feel today might put a damper on your fantasy world! Remember it is up to you to nurture these dreams! Try not to let the emotional tides of the day affect your long-range strategy for realizing your most treasured visions! Spend time by yourself if that makes you feel better! Do not give up!

Pisces [Feb. 19 – March 20] – People around you are apt to be touchy, so be careful how you interact with them! You will find they can see beyond any sort of facade and easily detect dissention within the ranks! Be honest about your opinion, regardless of how you think it will be received! This is your best approach to a certain situation, especially since the truth will surface no matter what!