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 24, 2025

10 a.m. – Prayer Shawl knitting at HP St. Mark’s Anglican Church Parish Hall. Everyone welcome!

10 a.m. – Kinuso Seniors Coffee Time at Kinuso Seniors Centre. New members welcome.

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

7:30 p.m. – Darts Night at HP Legion Hall. Come out and enjoy the fun!

7:30 p.m. – High Prairie AA chapter meets at HP Church of the Nazarene.

Today’s Celebrity Birthdays – January 24, 2025

76 – Hadrian, Builder of Hadrian’s Wall

1712 – Frederick the Great, King of Prussia

1913 – Mark Goodson, TV game show producer

1916 – Walter Haas Jr., Levi Strauss & Co. owner

1918 – Oral Roberts, American Televangelist

1920 – Jerry Maren, The Wizard of Oz actor

1924 – Marvin Kaplan, Alice actor [Henry]

1939 – Ray Stevens, The Streak singer

1941 – Neil Diamond, Sweet Caroline singer

1943 – Sharon Tate, Valley of the Dolls actress

1946 – Michael Ontkean, Slap Shot actor

1949 – John Belushi, Saturday Night Live actor

1951 – Yakov Smirnoff, Russian comedian

1961 – Nastassja Kinski, Stay as You Are actress

1968 – Mary Lou Retton, American gymnast

1974 – Kristy Sargeant, Canadian figure skater

1976 – Shae-Lynn Bourne, Canadian figure skater

1979 – Tatyana M. Ali, Fresh Prince Bel Air actress

This Day in Local History – January 24, 2025

Jan. 24, 1914: The Grouard News reports a temporary pile bridge at the Athabasca River south is near completion and the first train will reach Sawridge in 30 days.

Jan. 24, 1914: The Grouard News interviews Grouard Mayor A.C. LaRiviere who says council must get tough on taxpayers who refuse to pay.

Jan. 24, 1972: About 100 of Kinuso School’s 126 students stage a quiet sitdown strike to protest the dismissal of principal Baldev Parmar. About half stage a sitdown while half stay home. HPSD Supt. Fred Dumont says Parmar was relieved due to his “inability to function effectively”. Parmar planned to appeal his dismissal. A hearing is held in a courtroom in February that upholds the HPSD’s decision to dismiss him.

Jan. 24, 1973: Over 300 Kinuso and area residents sign a petition to have a nurse brought in to serve the area.

Jan. 24, 1973: High Prairie Regals’ player Ken Matthews leads the NPHL in penalty minutes with 124. Peace River’s Al Hebert is second with 52 minutes.

Jan. 24, 1975: The High Prairie Chamber of Commerce meets and demands that Lilly’s Cafe be torn down citing it as a fire hazard and an eyesore.

Jan. 24, 1985: Bobby Cox scores twice to lead the visiting High Prairie Regals to a 5-2 win over the Grimshaw Huskies in a battle for first place.

Jan. 24, 1989: Bobby Cox scores 37 seconds into overtime as the visiting High Prairie Regals defeat the Falher Pirates 9-8.

Jan. 24, 1990: South Peace News reports the worst outbreak of whooping cough in 30 years grips the High Prairie area.

Jan. 24, 1990: HPSD leaves the distribution of religious materials to individual schools.

Jan. 24, 1993: Quin Sekulich wins a gold medal in juvenile men’s long jump at the Alberta Golden Bears Open Track Meet at the Butterdome in Edmonton.

Jan. 24, 1998: Ted Wong reopens the Orion Restaurant after extensive renovations.

Jan. 24, 2001: High Prairie residents are angered at soaring gas prices. Some residents saw their bills increase by over $200 per month.

Jan. 24, 2001: High Prairie town council agrees on a plan to turn the old volleyball pit by the Sports Palace arena into a skateboard park.

Jan. 24, 2003: The High Prairie Regals clinch a playoff berth with a 6-4 home ice win over the Grande Prairie Athletics.

Jan. 24, 2006: Edgar Joseph Cloutier is killed at Grouard after being struck by a truck. He was only 18 years old.

Jan. 24, 2007: South Peace News reports the proposed Kathleen oil upgrader will top $2 billion. It is never built.

Jan. 24, 2007: South Peace News reports the High Prairie Fire Department is starting a junior firefighters program.

Jan. 24, 2009: Mike Lefley scores twice and adds five assists as the visiting Spirit River Rangers whip the High Prairie Regals 12-1.

Jan. 24, 2017: A reluctant High Prairie town council refuses to give the High Prairie and Area Chamber of Commerce free rent in their building citing there was no plan. In 2016, council decided to waive rent to give the chamber a chance to increase membership and revenue.

Jan. 24, 2018: South Peace News reports the Tolko re-opening is rated the top story of 2017 by the newspaper’s readers.

This Day in World History – January 24, 2025

  41 – Caligula assassinated; Claudius succeeds as Roman Emperor.

1848 – James Marshall finds gold in Sutter’s Mill: California Gold Rush begins.

1857 – University of Calcutta founded; first full-fledged university in South Asia.

1862 – Romanian principality arises; Bucharest proclaimed its capital.

1899 – Rubber heel for boots or shoes patented by Humphrey O’Sullivan.

1900 – Newcastle Badminton Club, world’s oldest, forms in England.

1908 – Robert Baden-Powell publishes “Scouting for Boys” [Scout Movement].

1922 – Eskimo Pie ice cream treat patented by Christian K. Nelson of Iowa.

1924 – Russian city of St. Petersburg renamed Leningrad.

1925 – Moving picture of a solar eclipse taken from dirigible.

1935 – First canned beer, “Krueger’s Cream Ale” sold by Krueger Brewing Co.

1943 – Adolf Hitler orders German troops at Stalingrad to fight to death.

1958 – Atoms bashed together; first man-made nuclear fusion.

1972 – Japan’s Sgt. Shoichi Yokoi found in Guam jungle; hiding since WW II.

1984 – Apple Computer unveils its Macintosh personal computer.

1986 – Voyager 2 makes first fly-by of Uranus [81,593 km], finds new moons.

2011 – At least 35 die, 180 injured in a bombing at Moscow’s airport.

Today’s Horoscopes – January 24, 2025

Aries [March 21 – April 20] – A rise in your income could lead to a transformation in your values, particularly where business is concerned! You could be opening up to the vast potential for prosperity that exists now! This is definitely something you should explore! Take care you do not lose sight of what really matters! Money is meant to enhance the other departments of life, not consume them!

Taurus [April 21 – May 21] – Stress, strain, and a little conflict within a business, romantic, or creative partnership could have you toying with the idea of ending it! Do not do anything rash right now! Wait a day or so and then think about it! This is likely to be a temporary situation! If you break it off now you will probably regret it tomorrow! Spend time alone and give your partner some space!

Gemini [May 22 – June 21] – Today, you might feel a little insecure about your state of physical fitness! You could decide to make up for any lack of exercise over the past few weeks! This is fine, but take it slowly! This is not the day to push yourself! Strained muscles and exhaustion could result, and that will not do you any good! Work out, but pace yourself!

Cancer [June 22 – July 22] – A friend may be going through some pretty big changes, and come to you for a sympathetic ear! The problem is you might be a little stressed yourself and not feel much like hearing about someone else’s troubles! Show some compassion! Try to listen for a little while! You might need a shoulder to cry on at some time in the future!

Leo [July 23 – Aug. 23] – Too many demands placed on you by others could have you feeling used, abused, and stressed! You might come close to losing your temper! That is not necessary! All you have to do is learn to say no! It might not be easy, since you tend to want to please everyone, but you have to look out for yourself! Help when the request is urgent and postpone the rest!

Virgo [Aug. 24 – Sept. 22] – Today you might have thoughts of expanding your horizons, perhaps on a monumental level! You might consider traveling or even moving to a distant place! Returning to school for an advanced degree could also be a possibility! Your mind could be on expansion less for financial gain than for personal growth! This is good, because the latter often leads to the former! Go for it!

Libra [Sept. 23 – Oct. 23] – Today you may receive some information about how to increase your income in a short period of time! This information may or may not be valid! Be cautious! Check out the facts before committing, wait a few days, and then check them again! Great opportunities abound and should be explored, but what you hear about today might not be one of them!

Scorpio [Oct. 24 – Nov. 22] – Relations with partners of all kinds – business, romantic, creative – might be somewhat strained today! You and the other parties involved may have been under a lot of stress, and you could be snapping at each other! It might be a good idea to keep contact between you to a minimum! If you can not, try to be cordial and cooperative even if you do not feel like it!

Sagittarius [Nov. 23 – Dec. 21] – Stress due to overwork might be causing your energy to flag somewhat today! You might even feel a little under the weather! This is a great day to stay home and recover! Stay out of stressful situations and do things on your own, preferably routine tasks you can do without thinking! In the evening, order a pizza and watch TV! Do not make more work for yourself by cooking!

Capricorn [Dec. 22 – Jan. 20] – Today you could feel a rush of sensual passion and desire! You may want to get together with a love partner in the evening, but not be able to do it right now! Other responsibilities could get in the way of what you want to do! Perhaps it is best to schedule a meeting of some kind, even if it is very late in the evening! You will need the comfort if nothing else!

Aquarius [Jan. 21 – Feb. 18] – Some problems might arise with equipment you use at home or with the structure of the house! Appliances might go on the blink or the plumbing or electricity could require repairs! This could be a drag! It might involve staying home to wait for help! Still it must be done! Find a good book and settle onto the couch! You will not have to worry about this tomorrow!

Pisces [Feb. 19 – March 20] – Some disturbing news could come today! This is not likely to concern you directly! It is apt to be something about the world situation that might eventually reflect indirectly on you! It could be gossip about someone you know! Whatever it is, check it out before accepting it as fact! The information could be garbled! The situation is probably more positive than it seems!