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 – January 12, 2025

Attend the church of your choice.

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

6:30 p.m. – Enilda & District Society for Recreation & Culture meets at Enilda Bowing Alley.

Today’s Celebrity Birthdays – January 12, 2025

1628 – Charles Perrault, Tales of Mother Goose writer

1876 – Jack London, Call of the Wild author

1902 – Ray Teal, Bonanza actor

1906 – Tex Ritter, Country singer

1910 – Patsy Kelly, Rosemary’s Baby actress

1916 – P.W. Botha, President of South Africa

1926 – Ray Price, Country singer

1928 – Ruth Brown, “Queen of R&B”

1930 – Tim Horton, Tim Hortons co-founder

1935 – “Amazing” Kreskin, Mentalist/telepath

1935 – Ron Harper, Planet of the Apes actor

1935 – William Lee Gloden, Oak Ridge Boys singer

1941 – Long John Baldry, Blues vocalist

1944 – Joe Frazier, Heavyweight boxing champ

1946 – Cynthia Robinson, Sly & Family Stone rocker

1951 – Kirstie Alley, Cheers actress [Rebecca]

1951 – Larry Hoppens, Orleans rocker

1952 – Ricky Van Shelton, Country musician

1954 – Howard Stern, American radio personality

1959 – Per Helmstad Gessle, Roxette singer

1964 – Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com co-founder

1974 – Melanie Chisholm, “Sporty Spice” [Spice Girls]

This Day in Local History – January 12, 2025

Jan. 12, 1963: The High Prairie Progress reports that Kenzie farmer George Roberts kills a black bear with an axe after awakening the bear while cutting fence posts near his home.

Jan. 12, 1963: The High Prairie Progress reports that Oliver Chalifoux is elected chief of the Driftpile Indian Band.

Jan. 12, 1972: Tom Iannone scores five goals as the High Prairie Regals blast the visiting Peace River Stampeders 13-3.

Jan. 12, 1972: Jeff Burgar writes in his editorial the need for a snowmobile bylaw within High Prairie town limits. Sledders need to have designated routes so they can leave town without getting tickets.

Jan. 12, 1972: South Peace News reports that Tom Lysiak of the Medicine Hat Tigers is chosen for the West Division All Star Game in the Western Canada Hockey League.

Jan. 12, 1979: High Prairie Day Care moves to a new site in a log building on the town’s west end.

Jan. 12, 1981: A day care centre opens in Grouard.

Jan. 12, 1983: South Peace News reports a severe outbreak of the Bangkok Flu subsides in the Peace region.

Jan. 12, 1985: Fairview’s Dennis Honing scores four goals to lead the North to a 6-1 win in the 35th NPHL All-Star Game.

Jan. 12, 1986: The Elks open their new hall at the Stampede Grounds. Bingo fever takes over becoming a very popular pastime. A good night nets $1,000 for the organization.

Jan. 12, 1989: Rob Szmata scores four goals, including the winner in overtime, as the hometown Grimshaw Huskies defeat the High Prairie Regals 8-7.

Jan. 12, 1991: Ken Howick, Ken Coristine and Clayton Noskey each score twice as the North defeats the South 11-4 in the NPHL All-Star Game in Peace River.

Jan. 12, 1998: A committee of the Holy Family School Division meets and decides to recommend the addition to High Prairie St. Andrew’s school proceed without a Performing Arts Centre.

Jan. 12, 2000: Athabasca MP David Chatters tells the M.D. of Big Lakes council he is against accepting toxic waste from around the world for treatment at Swan Hills.

Jan. 12, 2000: High Prairie Chamber of Commerce president Mike Poulter tells town council the group is in danger of folding due to financial problems.

Jan. 12, 2001: A driver flees the scene after hitting a school bus in Gift Lake. No one is injured.

Jan. 12, 2001: The High Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce folds. President Mike Daubert cites lack of members as the reason.

Jan. 12-13, 2001: The High Prairie Agriplex is the site of a highly successful Peace Country Beef Congress.

Jan. 12, 2005: RCMP Staff-Sgt. Bruce McNaughton says the local Citizens on Patrol program has resulted in a decreased crime rate in town.

Jan. 12, 2005: South Peace News reports that High Prairie Food Bank chair Greg Lunde says the organization may fold if more volunteers do not step forward.

Jan. 12, 2005: High Prairie town council receives a proposal from KBS-TV to air council meetings. The matter is tabled pending investigation and never brought back to council.

Jan. 12, 2006: Northern Lakes College president Rick Neidig says land near Joussard has been chosen for the college’s bid for a provincial police training school.

Jan. 12, 2007: Gift Lake Metis Settlement writes the M.D. of Big Lakes informing them they are looking at Lesser Slave Lake for a long-term supply for water.

Jan. 12-13, 2007: High Prairie host a successful Peace Country Beef Congress at the Agriplex.

Jan. 12, 2010: High Prairie RCMP charge a High Prairie man, 49, with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking after seizing 570 doses of crack cocaine after a search.

Jan. 12, 2013: The late Hector Lamouche’s jersey is retired by the Lakeland Eagles. Lamouche was a co-founder of the team and former player, coach and manager.

Jan. 12, 2013: The High Prairie Regals drop to 4-13 as they lose at McLennan 8-4 to the Lakeland Eagles. James Tallman scores three goals to lead the Eagles.

Jan. 12, 2016: A new sound system in chambers is used for the first time at a High Prairie town council meeting, making it easier for council and the gallery to hear proceedings.

Jan. 12, 2019: Isaiah Letendre’s overtime winner gives the High Prairie Regals a 6-5 win at Grimshaw and thus spoils the retirement of Terry Houlder’s No. 20.

This Day in World History – January 12, 2025

1528 – Gustav I of Sweden “Father of the Nation” crowned King of Sweden.

1554 – Bayinnaung crowned King of Burma; assembles largest empire SE Asia.

1616 – Brazilian city Belem [entrance gate to the Amazon] founded.

1816 – France decrees Bonaparte family excluded from the country forever.

1839 – Anthracite coal first used to smelt iron.

1896 – First  X-ray photo in US used by Dr. Henry Smith.

1908 – Long-distance radio message is sent from Eiffel Tower for first time.

1913 – Josef Dzhugashvili signs himself Stalin [“Man of Steel”] for the first time.

1915 – American House of Representatives rejects plan to give women right to vote.

1937 – Plough for laying submarine cable patented.

1948 – Mahatma Gandhi begins his final fast.

1950 – USSR re-introduces death penalty for treason, espionage & sabotage.

1959 – American record company Motown is founded by Berry Gordy Jr.

1962 – Operation Chopper begins, America’s first combat mission in Vietnam.

1966 – “Batman”, starring Adam West as Batman, debuts on ABC-TV.

1967 – American draft board refuses exemption for boxer Muhammad Ali.

1967 – Dr. James Bedford is 1st person to be cryonically preserved.

1971 – “All in the Family” premieres on CBS-TV.

1975 – Chrysler Corp offers first car rebates.

1989 – Ex-dictator of Uganda Idi Amin expelled from Zaire.

1990 – Romania bans Communist party [first Warsaw Pact member to do so].

1993 – NHL great Mario Lemieux announces Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis.

1995 – Murder trial against O.J. Simpson, begins in LA.

1998 – Nineteen European nations agree to forbid human cloning.

2004 – World’s largest ocean liner, RMS Queen Mary 2, makes first voyage.

2007 – Comet McNaught reaches perihelion; brightest comet in 40+ years.

2010 – Earthquake occurs in Haiti killing approximately 160,000.

2013 – Beijing’s level of air pollution declared hazardous to human health.

Today’s Horoscopes – January 12, 2025

Aries [March 21 – April 20] – You do not worry too much, but today might be different! Insecurity may arise about a partnership! This might be a current or potential romantic relationship! Perhaps there has been little if any communication between you and your insecurity is coming to the forefront! Do not let fear or shyness keep you from meeting this person halfway! Your insecurities are probably unfounded!

Taurus [April 21 – May 21] – Worries about health and work might be on your mind today! You could be stressed out over whatever you are doing, and this might have you feeling less energetic than usual! It is a good idea to work a little to lessen the stress in your life! This feeling is going to pass whatever you do! Try to rest a little and have some fun in spite of the stress!

Gemini [May 22 – June 21] – Today you may want to set aside some time to spend with close friends or a love partner! Other responsibilities could have you on your own, taking care of errands and other important matters! You may have the feeling of being lonely in a crowd! Do not waste time feeling sorry for yourself! Take care of business and get back to your loved ones!

Cancer [June 22 – July 22] – Today you might concentrate on projects! These could be related to your personal relationships! Whatever the nature of your tasks, do not be surprised if you find them confusing! You might be tempted to chuck it all and go out, but this is not a good idea! Better to try to make sense of the confusion than put it off! It will not get any better with time!

Leo [July 23 – Aug. 23] – Making or receiving an important letter or call regarding money might be on your agenda today, but circumstances beyond your control could delay it! This could prove frustrating! Take care of whatever you have to do! Distract yourself if you have to sit and wait! Nothing is worth stressing over! The call will come in time, so just relax!

Virgo [Aug. 24 – Sept. 22] – Worries about money might plague you today! They might have little, if any, basis in fact, as you are probably fretting over possibilities that are not likely to ever manifest! A little caution with regard to budgeting and spending today certainly will not hurt you! It is best to be objective and see the situation as it really is! Otherwise, you could make yourself crazy over nothing!

Libra [Sept. 23 – Oct. 23] – Today you could look in the mirror and be appalled by what you see, activating your insecurity about the way you look! This could send you looking for various treatments! Go ahead if you want, but your impressions are clouded right now and you probably look far better than you think! If you get together with a love partner, this person’s reaction should give you the reassurance you need!

Scorpio [Oct. 24 – Nov. 22] – Artistic or spiritual inspiration could come your way today, although it might be muddled and you could be perplexed about how to deal with it! Do not try to force the issue! Write down your ideas and return to them later! Someone close might feel unwell, and you may want to spend some time with him or her! This might take some effort, but it will not go unappreciated!

Sagittarius [Nov. 23 – Dec. 21] – Today you may spend some time by yourself working on your own projects! The desire to spend time alone with a special someone may also interfere with plans you have already made to attend a social gathering or event involving a lot of people! You will not want to give up either, so you might try to find a compromise of some kind! Think about it!

Capricorn [Dec. 22 – Jan. 20] – Various personal issues might be on your mind today! You could want to work them all out without distractions, so you may decide to spend part of the day alone! Responsibilities from the outside world might make it impossible for you to take as much time as you would like! Do not let it get to you! Work out the matters that seem most pressing and save the rest for later!

Aquarius [Jan. 21 – Feb. 18] – You could be expecting an important letter, call, or email today, and sit on the edge of your chair waiting for it! This might be from a friend or lover! It could be delayed, and this might get you flustered! Distract yourself and do something else while you wait! If you make good use of the hours, the time will fly by!

Pisces [Feb. 19 – March 20] – Unfounded worries about money could plague you today! Someone close may have given you some incorrect information, perhaps about your financial situation, but more likely regarding trends in the economy that could affect your finances! Do not waste time worrying! Check out the facts before driving yourself crazy! You will probably find you have been misinformed!