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 15, 2025

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. – Story Time at HP Municipal Library.

Noon – Grouard Seniors Lunch at Northland School.

1:30 p.m. – Play Floor Curling at HP Golden Age Club.

5:30 p.m. – Bingo at Kinuso Ag Hall. Pre-Call 6:30 p.m., early bird 6:45 p.m., regular games 7 p.m.

7 p.m. – AA meeting at Grouard in Brown Building behind Kapawe’no Hall.

7:30 p.m. – Play cards at Joussard Homesteaders Hall. $3 per person.

Today’s Celebrity Birthdays – January 15, 2025

1412 – Joan of Arc, National heroine of France

1841 – Frederick Stanley, Presenter of Stanley Cup

1875 – Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, Founder of Saudi Arabia

1877 – Lewis M. Terman, Developed IQ test

1906 – Aristotle Onassis, Greek shipping magnate

1908 – Edward Teller, “Father of the Hydrogen bomb”

1929 – Martin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights Movement leader

1942 – Edward Bivins, Manhattans singer

1947 – Andrea Martin, SCTV comedienne

1951 – Martha Davis, Motels singer/guitarist

1952 – Melvyn Gale, ELO rocker

1965 – Michael Clemons, Toronto Argonaut “Pinball”

1967 – Lisa Velez, Lisa &The Cult Jam rocker

This Day in Local History – January 15, 2025

Jan. 15, 1915: A small fire at Grouard’s Royal Hotel is extinguished before major damage occurs.

Jan. 15, 1958: The official opening of the High Prairie Sports Palace arena is held. C.C. Porter submitted the winning name among 39 entries and got $25. Mayor Norman Skogstad cut the ribbon at 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 15, 1962: William Stump, 28, of High Prairie is killed 22 miles south of Smith, AB by a falling tree.

Jan. 15, 1962: High Prairie School Division hears a complaint from the Tarzan school district near Sunset House about the lack of heating in the one-room school.

Jan. 15, 1974: Rose Auger of Faust goes on TV and says Indians from Faust and Driftpile are starving and cannot find work. A protest is held four days later.

Jan. 15, 1975: Clarence Davis Willier, 42, of Sucker Creek, dies at the Bissell lumber mill in Enilda after the cross-cut saw he is working with shatters. He is struck by a fragment.

Jan. 15, 1984: High Prairie figure skater Polly Stokes wins a gold medal at a competition in Dawson Creek.

Jan. 15, 1984: Doris Sekulich’s High Prairie rink wins the B Event at Ladies Districts and advances to Provincials.

Jan. 15, 1987: Marty Casault scores three goals to lead the hometown Grimshaw Huskies to a 7-1 win over the High Prairie Regals.

Jan. 15, 1989: Dale Campbell’s High Prairie rink wins the B Event at zones in High Prairie to advance to Men’s Districts in curling.

Jan. 15, 1989: Bob Guertin starts his job as High Prairie’s new recreation superintendent.

Jan. 15, 1990: A $5 million tender is awarded to an Edmonton company to build the new High Prairie Provincial Building.

Jan. 15, 1992: South Peace News reports arguments are heard whether a 15-year-old St. Albert boy, Gavin Mandin, accused of murdering four members of his family near Sunset House Aug. 8, should be tried in adult court.

Jan. 15, 1992: South Peace News reports on the possible formation of a Junior B hockey league including High Prairie. Floyd Branvold, of Dawson Creek, is heading the project.

Jan. 15, 1993: High Prairie St. Mark’s Anglican Church opens the Second Wind second-hand store in the old parish hall.

Jan. 15, 1994: Rene Joseph Lavasseur, 48, of Sunset House, dies after being struck by a D-6 cat.

Jan. 15, 1996: High Prairie resident Freda Langenhahn wins a court case extending the litigation period under which negligence or malpractice lawsuits can commence against doctors, podiatrists, optometrists, chiropractors and hospitals.

Jan. 15, 1999: Shane and Michelle Kachnic reopen the Park Theatre in High Prairie showing The Siege. Four of five shows sell out.

Jan. 15, 2001: The Royal Star Motor Inn, formerly the Dreamcatcher Inn, opens under new management in High Prairie.

Jan. 15, 2001: Mel Adrian, of High Prairie, leaves for southern California in search of his missing son, Kelvin, 22. He would later find him on Jan. 23.

Jan. 15, 2005: Any hopes the High Prairie Regals had of placing first in the NPHL’s East Division are dashed after a 4-3 home ice loss to the Peace River Stampeders.

Jan. 15-16, 2005: High Prairie Skating Club members win six medals and three ribbons at the Peace Region Interclub and StarSkate Runoffs in Valleyview. Jesslyn Alguire, Risa Iwasiuk, Erin Sebo, Michelle Laboucan, Nicole Peyre and Leann Peyre all win medals.

Jan. 15, 2007: High Prairie’s John Dominic Backs dies at the age of 81 years. Among many accomplishments, he was active in the Alberta Liberal Party.

Jan. 15, 2007: Defending a woman’s honour costs Kenneth C. Chalifoux $345 in High Prairie provincial court after he is found guilty of assault. Chalifoux intervenes in an argument between a woman and her boyfriend.

Jan. 15, 2007: Kyler Anderson is born becoming High Prairie’s New Year’s Baby. Raven Anderson and Cameron Laboucan are proud parents of the eight-pound, 12-ounce baby.

Jan. 15, 2010: The first edition of the Grouard and Area Historical Society’s newsletter is published.

Jan. 15, 2012: David and Nancy Bliss purchase Bodyshapers Gym and re-open under the name of Bliss mind.body.soul.

Jan. 15, 2014: High winds throughout the Peace Country cause widespread damage. At John Kuefler’s farm, a steel bin rolls onto one of his trucks. Power lines are downed in many regions.

Jan. 15, 2018: The 60th anniversary of the grand opening of the Sports Palace occurs with no fanfare or celebration.

This Day in World History – January 15, 2025

1535 – Henry VIII declares himself head of the Church in England.

1582 – Russia cedes Livonia & Estonia to Poland, loses access to Baltic.

1759 – British Museum opens in Montague House, London.

1797 – First top hat worn by John Etherington of London.

1831 – First US-built locomotive to pull a passenger train makes first run.

1831 – First US railroad honeymoon trip, Mr. & Mrs. Pierson.

1861 – Steam elevator patented by Elisha Otis.

1863 – First US newspaper printed on wood-pulp paper, Boston Morning Journal.

1870 – Donkey first used as symbol of Democratic Party.

1886 – Weekly Herald, first newspaper in Vancouver, publishes first issue.

1892 – Basketball rules first published, written by James Naismith.

1895 – Tchaikovsky’s ballet “Swan Lake” premieres in St. Petersburg.

1919 – Two million gallons of molasses flood Boston.

1934 – Babe Ruth signs a 1934 contract for $35,000.

1934 – John Dillinger is shot and survives while committing bank robbery.

1935 – 300 Dutch ice cream salesmen protest against Italian competition.

1936 – First all-glass windowless structure in US completed, Toledo, Ohio.

1943 – World’s largest office building, the Pentagon, is completed.

1944 – European Advisory Commission decides to divide Germany.

1945 – Every Amsterdammer gets 3 kg of sugar beets.

1951 – “Cloud of Death” rolls down New Guinea mountain; kills 3-5,000.

1965 – Soviet underground nuclear test creates atomic lake Chagan.

1970 – Muammar Gaddafi is proclaimed premier of Libya.

1971 – Aswan Dam official opens in Egypt.

1973 – US President Richard Nixon suspends offensive action in N. Vietnam.

1974 – “Happy Days” begins an 11-year run on ABC-TV.

1974 – Expert panel reports 18 ½-minute gap in Watergate tape.

1983 – Thom Syles keeps a life saver intact in his mouth for over 7 hours.

1984 – Schonbrun skates world record 5 km in 7:39.44 seconds.

1994 – Hague motorist with .51% alcohol in blood, breaks Dutch record.

1994 – Queen Elizabeth falls off her horse & breaks her left wrist.

1997 – Space Shuttle Atlantis docks with Mir Space Station.

1997 – Diana, Princess of Wales, calls for an total ban on landmines.

2001 – Wikipedia is launched by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger.

2016 – American Museum Natural History displays biggest dinosaur to date.

Today’s Horoscopes – January 15, 2025

Aries [March 21 – April 20] – Paperwork regarding money might need attention today, as you could be planning to entertain visitors! These are apt to be exciting people bringing good news and interesting information! You might also expect a delivery of some new books or equipment, and this should contribute to the excitement! The doors to adventure are going to open up in some way! Use this to your advantage!

Taurus [April 21 – May 21] – You might spend hours on the phone today, possibly discussing opportunities to perform services for others! Your mental and physical energy should be high! You will want to use as many tools as you can to get whatever information you need, including books and the Internet! You are going to want to get out and walk or work out, as you will need to work off excess energy!

Gemini [May 22 – June 21] – New, exciting opportunities to earn more money might come your way today, perhaps through new fields! Colleagues could bring information! Your sense of adventure is high, so risks might seem more attractive than usual! Do not get carried away! Do not forget to explore every possibility in detail before committing to anything! Nothing is certain, even on days like today!

Cancer [June 22 – July 22] – Friendships or love relationships formed today are rooted as much in intellectual compatibility as emotional attraction! Stimulating conversations could take place with old and new friends alike! Creative projects go well! If you have been looking for some information, you should find it today! This should be a very busy, exciting day on a number of different levels!

Leo [July 23 – Aug. 23] – You are generally intuitive, but today you could be so sensitive to others that you pick up on just about everything! Stay away from hospitals or police stations if you can! You might absorb everyone’s pain! It is better to put this vibe to work spiritually or artistically! Seek friends and colleagues who work with you in these departments and you should have a wonderful day!

Virgo [Aug. 24 – Sept. 22] – Expect a busy day! You are likely to spend a lot of time in the car running errands and paying visits, perhaps related to projects! A number of phone calls might have to be made to friends or members of a group with which you are affiliated! This might involve sharing good news or exciting information that can lead to intriguing conversations! The day could be stimulating as well as busy!

Libra [Sept. 23 – Oct. 23] – Today you might want to put one last burst of effort into a project, as this could make a big difference to your income and status! It could put you before the public in some way! Your physical energy is high and mental abilities especially sharp! Whatever you choose to work on will be accomplished quickly and skillfully! Relations with others will be congenial and supportive!

Scorpio [Oct. 24 – Nov. 22] – So many ideas are flooding your mind today that you might have trouble sorting them out if you do not write them down! They could involve travel, education, group activities, writing, and publishing! You might want to discuss them with friends or members of a group to which you belong! Your mind is in the clouds, so practical matters could seem tedious!

Sagittarius [Nov. 23 – Dec. 21] – A copious amount of physical and mental energy could focus on psychic, metaphysical, or spiritual activities today! You are feeling especially intuitive! You could almost read minds! One possible channel for all this energy is service to others, perhaps counseling or maybe even healing of some kind! You might also want to write down your ideas on whatever subject interests you most!

Capricorn [Dec. 22 – Jan. 20] – Social events and group activities are likely to take up most of your day! You could come into contact with so many people you may not be able to keep track of them all! Get contact information for all new acquaintances! You should experience a lot of intellectual stimulation! Conversations take up most of your energy! This should be an enjoyable but tiring day!

Aquarius [Jan. 21 – Feb. 18] – Today you might work on a lot of writing! It might be your own or editing the work of others! You could find what you are doing exciting and stimulating! Phone calls to interesting people could also take place! The only caution is do not tire yourself out! You could be on such an intellectual high that mundane matters like meals slip your mind!

Pisces [Feb. 19 – March 20] – If you have been thinking of taking a long trip by air, this is the day to start planning it – or even leave, if you can work it in! Your excitement and anticipation are high, and your sense of adventure is at a peak! You will not complete the day without doing something unusual or exciting, such as going to a concert, play, or sporting event! You will remember it for a long time!