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 – December 14, 2024

E.W. Pratt High School Tonesha Walker Memorial Basketball Tournament (Day 2 of 2).

Today’s Celebrity Birthdays – December 14, 2024

1503 – Nostradamus, French Astrologist/Prophet

1881 – Katherine MacDonald, Stranger Than Fiction Actress

1883 – Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido

1908 – Laurence Naismith, Diamonds Are Forever Actor

1919 – Felix the Cat, Cartoon Character

1923 – Irving Boyar, Dog Day Afternoon Actor

1938 – Hal Williams, Private Benjamin Actor

1946 – Joyce Vincent Wilson, Tony Orlando & Dawn Singer

1946 – Patty Duke, The Miracle Worker Actress

1949 – Cliff Williams, AC/DC Bassist

1966 – Bill Ranford, Edmonton Oiler

1981 – Emilie Heymans, Canadian Diver

1991 – Offset, American Rapper

This Day in Local History – December 14, 2024

Dec. 14, 1957: The High Prairie Regals’ first game in NPHL history is cancelled at McLennan because of soft ice conditions.

Dec. 14, 1966: South Peace News reports on several break-ins at the High Prairie Post Office. Several juveniles are arrested. The juveniles opened mailboxes that were not properly closed and stole items inside.

Dec. 14, 1969: The visiting High Prairie Regals are defeated 6-5 by the Dawson Creek Canucks.

Dec. 14, 1969: The Faust Catholic Club and Faust Metis Association co-sponsor a Christmas party for children in the community.

Dec. 14, 1975: Lyle Fjeld scores five goals as the Vic’s Super A Thunderbirds move into first place in the Smoky River Hockey League with a 15-1 win over the Sturgeon Lake Blues.

Dec. 14, 1977: A Faust-Kinuso basketball team clobbers a High Prairie men’s team 138-58 in a game played at E.W. Pratt High School.

Dec. 14, 1985: Tracy Pratt is the only local figure skater to pass two tests (Dutch Waltz and Canasta) during the club’s first test day of the year.

Dec. 14, 1988: South Peace News reports the Grouard Indian Band could increase its land base by 200 per cent pending approval of land claim negotiations.

Dec. 14, 1988: Heather Killeen and Ruth Strebchuk open U-Can Bodyshapers.

Dec. 14, 1990: Friends of the Slave Environmental Association Dave McConnell says his group supports Polyboard’s proposal to build a mill near town.

Dec. 14, 1992: High Prairie Recreation Supt. Lauren Craven offers to open the arena from 2-3:30 p.m. for a public skate Christmas Day. The board quickly commends Craven for his offer above and beyond the call of duty.

Dec. 14, 1992: The High Prairie Recreation Board presents E.W. Pratt with a plaque for his efforts in making the Terry Fox Run a success.

Dec. 14, 2005: The M.D. of Big Lakes endorses a Peavine connector road to McLennan.

Dec. 14, 2005: The M.D. of Big Lakes forms a Public Works committee to better deal with public works issues.

Dec. 14, 2005: Ashley Zahacy, Amanda Olanski, Shelby Pratt and Madison Rose are selected to play for Team Alberta North at the Arctic Winter Games in Alaska March 5-11.

Dec. 14, 2006: The High Prairie Regals score six goals in the final 10 minutes to erase a 4-1 deficit and defeat the visiting Valleyview Jets 7-4.

Dec. 14, 2006: St. Mark’s Anglican Church holds its second annual Nativity Scene celebration.

Dec. 14, 2007: High Prairie Minor Hockey recognizes the efforts of Carol Charrois, Pat Dube, Marlin Haugen, Jackie Lind, Lynn Panasiuk, Diane Quartly and Wade Zahacy for their long service.

Dec. 14, 2010: High Prairie RCMP catch a firewood thief red-handed.

Dec. 14, 2011: High Prairie town council approves a development permit for a new restaurant at Peavine Estates.

Dec. 14, 2011: Alberta Municipal Affairs appoints Harold Johnsrude to inspect town council’s affairs. He introduces himself at council’s meeting. The inspection was prompted by complaints from citizens.

Dec. 14, 2011: Martin Deerline donates $5,000 toward efforts to purchase a CT Scan.

Dec. 14, 2011: The St. Andrew’s Saints girl’s basketball team does not score a point in the fourth quarter but still wins 27-22 over the visiting Gift Lake Hurricanes.

Dec. 14, 2012: The Alberta government writes M.D. of Big Lakes Reeve Alvin Billings telling him that 6,800 square feet of space will be added to the proposed hospital.

Dec. 14, 2016: High Prairie Flaman Rentals dealer Lyndon Drefs tells Big Lakes County council he is “quite offended” by remarks directed at the company he represents questioning the quality of equipment it rents.

Dec. 14, 2016: Big Lakes County discusses the possible change to a bylaw to allow chickens in hamlets.

Dec. 14, 2016: Big Lakes County hears plans of possibly changing the former Faust Osmose site into a recreation area. Faust Councillor Robert Nygaard says the community has a list of people ready to donate money, materials and equipment.

Dec. 14, 2017: The High Prairie Regals trail 5-4 after two period but explode in the third period to defeat the visiting Grimshaw Huskies 10-6. It’s the first time in 67 games that the Regals win after trailing after the second period.

Dec. 14, 2018: Canyon Creek’s Denny Garratt wins $1 million in the LOTTO MAX draw.

This Day in World History – December 14, 2024

1287 – St. Lucia’s Flood in Northwest Netherlands: 50,000 die.

1542 – Princess Mary Stuart becomes Queen Mary I of Scotland at 6 days old.

1656 – Artificial pearls first manufactured.

1798 – David Wilkinson of Rhode Island patents a nut & bolt machine.

1812 – French invasion of Russia, led by Napoleon, officially ends.

1901 – First table tennis tournament is held.

1903 – Wright brothers fly the Wright Flyer for first time at Kitty Hawk.

1911 – Norwegian Roald Amundsen’s expedition is first to reach South Pole.

1927 – Iraq gains independence from Britain.

1944 – German occupiers forbid use of electricity in parts of Holland.

1946 – UN General Assembly votes to establish UN headquarters in New York City.

1947 – NASCAR is founded in Daytona Beach, Florida.

1959 – J.B. Jordan in F-104C sets world altitude record, 31,513 meters.

1961 – Jimmy Dean’s “Big Bad John” is first country song to get gold record.

1962 – Mariner 2 makes first US fly-by of another planet [Venus].

1967 – DNA created in a test tube.

1967 – Canadian PM Lester B. Pearson announces he is retiring.

1969 – Jackson Five make their first appearance on “Ed Sullivan Show”.

1972 – Eugene Cernan & Harrison Schmitt leave the moon.

1980 – At 2 p.m. EST, 10 minutes of silence in memory of John Lennon.

1981 – Israel annexes Golan Heights [seized from Syria in 1967].

1984 – Sportscaster Howard Cosell retires from Monday Night Football.

1987 – Chrysler pleads no contest to selling driven vehicles as new.

1994 – Construction begins on the Three Gorges Dam, China.

2003 – President George W. Bush announces the capture of Saddam Hussein.

2004 – The Millau viaduct – highest bridge in the world – opens in France.

2015 – “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” starring Harrison Ford premieres.

2016 – Amazon announces its first delivery by drone.

2017 – Walt Disney Company buys most of 21st Century Fox for $52.4 billion.

Today’s Horoscopes – December 14, 2024

Aries [March 21 – April 20] – Things will get much easier and more controlled as the day progresses! People’s superficial attitudes and idle chatter will give way to more realistic and deep-seated conversations as the evening hours draw near! You will find it is much easier to get to the heart of the issues and be more honest and realistic about your emotions tonight! Assess your feelings with a practical perspective!

Taurus [April 21 – May 21] – Today may be a rough day in which you find it hard to decide about anything! Refrain from making any major moves regarding finances or real estate! Concentrate on you and the answers will come from within! Be realistic and practical when it comes to your emotions! You may find it hard to connect with someone tonight, so stick close to home and focus inward!

Gemini [May 22 – June 21] – You might find it hard to connect with anyone on a deep and meaningful level today, so just free yourself and have a good time! Take a more refined and disciplined approach to your projects! You will find you can be productive after sundown! Later you should consider snuggling up close to someone you trust and care about deeply!

Cancer [June 22 – July 22] – Get the party started early in the day! You may be running from task to task, but this is OK! You have the ability to get a lot done by multitasking and keeping things light! As the day progresses, however, there will be a veil of restriction that slowly settles over your mood! You may find it harder to communicate your thoughts than it was earlier in the day!

Leo [July 23 – Aug. 23] – Bring your thoughts down to Earth, especially later tonight! You may be flip-flopping through the day like a fish out of water, but suddenly things start to fall into place at sundown! You will find people are much more caring and sensitive to your mood later this evening! Spend it at home with someone you love! Ground yourself and plan for the upcoming week!

Virgo [Aug. 24 – Sept. 22] – The earlier portion of the day is apt to flow much more smoothly than the later part! You should get things solidified right off the bat, if possible! Things will be a bit more relaxed and free flowing in the morning, but become a bit more restrictive as the evening sets in! Do not go to bed without making a plan for what you want to accomplish over the next few days!

Libra [Sept. 23 – Oct. 23] – This may be a frenzied day for you, but it is likely to settle down as evening sets in! It will be a tender night in which you should stick close to home and get organized! If you have any task that requires discipline, you are better off waiting until tonight to do it! Things will run much more smoothly then!

Scorpio [Oct. 24 – Nov. 22] – You should be on cloud nine today! As evening sets in, however, things might get a little too heavy for your comfort! People will have had enough of your gossip by then, so give it a rest! Kick back and plan for the next few days! You might also want to take a more serious approach to your romantic commitments by confirming your feelings about your partner now!

Sagittarius [Nov. 23 – Dec. 21] – Lie low during the day and try not to get caught up in the frivolous verbiage that dominates the waking hours! After sundown, feel free to speak your mind! You may notice there is a sober tone and restrictive sensation today that leaves you feeling like you will never be able to break free from your current situation! Do not get caught in this negative mindset!

Capricorn [Dec. 22 – Jan. 20] – Let your fun-loving nature come out to play today! As the day progresses, the clouds are likely to move in! There may be a more restrictive tone to your emotions that could make it difficult to express how you really feel! Focus your attention inward and realize you can maintain a high level of self-esteem without having to prove anything!

Aquarius [Jan. 21 – Feb. 18] – Your thoughts may be scattered and frantic early in the day, but things should settle down by evening! Your emotions will be more stable, and you will be much more disciplined about tasks that need completion! Plan for the next few days and be practical about what you can accomplish! Do not set yourself up for failure by biting off more than you can chew!

Pisces [Feb. 19 – March 20] – Communicate your feelings early in the day, because by evening you might feel too restricted to want to communicate with anyone! Use this disciplined, sober tone to get a realistic perspective on the issues at hand! You will have a stable, practical attitude for dealing with any situation! Take a slow, well-calculated approach in order to overcome whatever hurdle is in your way!