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 8, 2025

9 a.m. – M.D. of Smoky River meets at Falher in council chambers.

10 a.m. – Big Lakes County meets in High Prairie in council chambers.

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. – Town of Falher meets in council chambers.

7 p.m. – Village of Girouxville meets in council chambers.

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 8, 2025

1587 – Johannes Fabricius, Discovered sunspots

1742 – Philip Astley, “Father of Modern Circus”

1862 – Frank Nelson Doubleday, Publisher, Doubleday & Company

1911 – Gypsy Rose Lee, American burlesque actress

1926 – Soupy Sales, Soupy Sales Show comedian

1933 – Charles Osgood, American news anchor

1935 – Elvis Presley, American singing icon

1935 – Ian Bargh, Canadian jazz pianist

1938 – Bob Eubanks, Newlywed Game host

1941 – Graham Chapman, Monty Python’s comedian

1942 – Stephen Hawking, English physicist

1946 – Robby Krieger, Doors rocker

1947 – David Bowie, Major Tom singer

1947 – Terry Sylvester, Hollies rocker

1953 – Bruce Sutter, Hall of Fame baseball closer

1955 – Mike Reno, Loverboy vocalist

1982 – Gaby Hoffman, Field of Dreams actress

1983 – Kim Jong-Un, North Korea leader

This Day in Local History – January 8, 2025

Jan. 8, 1913: Mgr. Joussard celebrates the first Mass in the chapel at the convent at St. Bruno Mission in Joussard.

Jan. 8, 1951: High Prairie’s new curling rink consisting of six sheets of ice opens with a challenge from a Peace River rink. Enilda, Faust and McLennan rinks are also invited. The building’s two outside sheets were seldom used due to frost heaves.

Jan. 8, 1969: South Peace News reports that General Service Garage president Lyle Carson announces the appointment of Rollie Johnson as sales manager and director.

Jan. 8, 1969: South Peace News publishes a picture of PRJH student Ron Rose’s new crest for PRJH School.

Jan. 8-9, 1970: The Third Annual Northern Alberta Live Mink Show in Kinuso attracts 102 entries.

Jan. 8, 1971: Mary Goede is elected president after 26 people attend a meeting and form the High Prairie Association for the Mentally Retarded.

Jan. 8, 1971: Lucille McKenzie scores seven points to lead the Faust junior high school girls to a 15-9 win at Prairie River. Ivy Giroux and Debbie Bellerose add four points each. The Faust boys also win 16-12.

Jan. 8, 1972: A crowd of close to 800 fans watches the High Prairie Regals defeat the Edmonton Oldtimers 6-5 in exhibition play.

Jan. 8, 1975: High Prairie town council meets for five hours and hears that Alberta Government Telephones is suing the town for $4,500 over a $2,690 AGT bill for relocation of an underground cable at the High Prairie Shopping Centre.

Jan. 8, 1978: An old wood stove is the cause of a fire in Atikameg which claims the life of Ronny Patrick Nahachick, 7.

Jan. 8, 1978: Faye Stewart’s rink wins the A Event and Stella Sware the B Event at the Ladies Zone A District Playdowns held in High Prairie.

Jan. 8, 1978: Holly Komisar’s rink wins the Zone 2 Junior Ladies A Event and qualifies for the district playdowns.

Jan. 8, 1979: Jual’s Beauty Salon opens in Vic’s Super A with Judy Smith and Alberta Buettner as owners.

Jan. 8, 1982: High Prairie’s Stan Cunningham defeats two opponents in Drayton Valley to qualify for the Canada Winter Games in Quebec.

Jan. 8, 1989: The newly-constructed Church of the Nazarene opens for its first service.

Jan. 8, 1990: A delivery truck carrying propane is destroyed in a fire near Triangle. An electrical short under the hood is the cause.

Jan. 8, 1991: Ed Fudali scores twice as the hometown High Prairie Regals defeat the Falher Pirates 7-2.

Jan. 8, 1997: High Prairie town council debates a letter from New Holland’s marketing rep about establishing a dealership in town.

Jan. 8, 1997: Marigold Enterprises tells High Prairie town council they will not purchase the RCMP Building. The building is eventually purchased by Dan Kachnic to house KBS-TV and Schell’s Carpets.

Jan. 8, 2000: Anton Straub celebrates his 100th birthday at Pleasantview Lodge.

Jan. 8, 2002: A bomb threat at St. Andrew’s school proves to be only a hoax.

Jan. 8, 2003: M.D. of Big Lakes Grouard Coun. Fern Welch asks M.D. Special Const. Mark Stabler to do something about stray dogs running wild in the hamlet.

Jan. 8, 2003: A student is injured in a paintball attack prompting High Prairie RCMP to launch an investigation. A teenager later apologizes for his actions in a letter to the editor in South Peace News.

Jan. 8, 2004: The RCMP open a satellite office in Grouard.

Jan. 8-9, 2010: High Prairie hosts a highly successful Peace Country Beef Congress at the Agriplex.

Jan. 8, 2010: High Prairie’s Judy Hamelin wins $100,000 in the Lotto Max Extra draw. She waits until May 26 to claim her prize.

Jan. 8, 2013: Holy Family Catholic Regional School Division launches the publication of its first newsletter.

Jan. 8, 2014: High Prairie town council meets and receives an update on the municipal inspection report from Municipal Affairs. Council vows to work toward better government. Councillor Michael Long calls the report “damning”.

Jan. 8, 2014: High Prairie Mayor Linda Cox is questioned about her decision to lower the flags in honour of Cliff Calvert, who died on Dec. 16, 2013 at the age of 77 years. Policy states at the mayor’s discretion, the flags may be lowered. Staff is directed to research a new policy.

Jan. 8, 2014: Violet Komisar attends a High Prairie town council meeting and proposes a train mural to mark the train’s arrival in town 100 years ago.

Jan. 8, 2015: Gordon Olson resigns as High Prairie and Area Chamber of Commerce president. He was the only president in its history. Matt Lovsin assumes the role of interim president.

Jan. 8, 2016: Long-time High Prairie resident Joe Muller passes away at the age of 89 years. He worked at O’Brien Lumber, Buchanan Lumber, Shell Bulk, Peyre Farm Equipment, UFA and Oliver’s Esso.

Jan. 8, 2019: St. Andrew’s School is evacuated after a leak in the roof sets off alarms.

This Day in World History – January 8, 2025

1297 – Monaco gains its independence.

1806 – Lewis & Clark find skeleton of 105-foot blue whale in Oregon.

1835 – The United States national debt is zero for first and only time.

1856 – Dr. John A. Veatch discovers borax.

1877 – Crazy Horse and his warriors fight last battle with US Calvalry.

1884 – Chrome tanning process for leather patented by Augustus Schultz.

1904 – Pope Pius X bans low cut dresses in the presence of churchmen.

1940 – Britain’s first WW II rationing of bacon, butter & sugar occurs.

1951 – Thought extinct since 1615, a Bermuda petrel is rediscovered.

1954 – Elvis Presley pays $4 to a Memphis studio & records first 2 songs.

1956 – Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Hound Dog” go No. 1.

1959 – Charles de Gaulle inaugurated as president of France’s 5th Republic.

1962 – Golfer Jack Nicklaus, 21, makes first pro appearance.

1968 – Jacques Cousteau’s first undersea special on US network TV.

1978 – Harvey Milk becomes the first openly gay elected to US public office.

1988 – Hewlett-Packard introduces HP-28S advanced scientific calculator.

1989 – Soviet Union promises to eliminate stockpiles of chemical weapons.

1992 – George H.W. Bush gets ill & vomits on Japanese PM’s lap.

1993 – NBC offers “Tonight Show” to David Letterman.

2013 – Canadian Steve Nash records his 10,000th career assist in NBA.

2016 – Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto announces the recapture of El Chapo.

2018 – Republic of Somaliland passes its first-ever law against rape.

Today’s Horoscopes – January 8, 2025

Aries [March 21 – April 20] – Arrangements for a get-together you are planning to host could go awry, with everything turned upside down and nothing happening the way you planned! This is not going to halt your plans, but it is going to require more effort to get things back on track and make it happen! This is going to be exasperating for you, but do not waste time moaning about it! Get busy and take care of business!

Taurus [April 21 – May 21] – Your usually abundant energy may experience a sudden setback today! Work pressure could create stress that leaves you feeling exhausted and out of sorts! This will pass! You should be strong and healthy and so able to overcome it quickly! It is going to drive you crazy to not feel as active as you usually are! Relax and spend a day resting! It will not hurt you in the long run!

Gemini [May 22 – June 21] – A trip through exclusive boutiques or antique shops might have you throwing financial caution to the wind and buying luxury items you had not planned for! This is all right – up to a point! Take care not to buy more than you can use! Do not go to the opposite extreme and be too miserly either! You have worked hard and deserve a treat or two!

Cancer [June 22 – July 22] – Unexpected visitors might throw you into a dither! You could panic over how to dress, what to say, and what to serve! Do not make yourself crazy! Follow your heart and go with the flow! Spontaneity is the best policy! Your guests will enjoy yourselves more if you worry less about being the perfect host! Just have fun!

Leo [July 23 – Aug. 23] – Some rather disconcerting information may come to light today! This could throw you into a daze, as it is not anything you expected! This is not necessarily bad news! In fact, it might be great news, but it may be something you never expected in a million years! Work through the shock and try to view it from all sides!

Virgo [Aug. 24 – Sept. 22] – Even though everything is going well for you, a sudden upset of some kind, probably involving money, could throw you into a momentary panic! You may wonder if your good fortune is going to end as quickly as it began! This probably is not the case! The situation is temporary! With a little effort, you should be able to straighten everything out and put yourself back on track!

Libra [Sept. 23 – Oct. 23] – Upsets regarding your career or the activities that take up most of your time are likely to negatively affect your self-confidence! Do not fall into this trap! The forces are beyond your control and the situation does not reflect any shortcomings on your part! You might have to put in some effort to straighten things out and return to normal! It is a pain, but you would best do it without delay!

Scorpio [Oct. 24 – Nov. 22] – New scientific or archaeological discoveries could temporarily shake your faith in your spiritual path! You may suddenly doubt something you have always accepted! This could propel you to study, primarily to reaffirm your faith! You are likely to find your discoveries do not invalidate your ideas, but actually confirm them! Write down your ideas so you can put things in proper perspective!

Sagittarius [Nov. 23 – Dec. 21] – You might not be able to accomplish what you had hoped today! Some minor but irritating conflicts could occur within a group! You might find this exasperating, as petty squabbles interfere with reaching the group’s objectives! You could be called on to use your intuition and sensitivity to spread oil on troubled waters! Be direct, fair, and clear, and try not to let your irritation show!

Capricorn [Dec. 22 – Jan. 20] – A temporary upset with a partner might distract you so you can not function as effectively as you normally do! Do not let your anger get the best of you! The situation is probably due to a lack of communication, and could be cleared up with explanations, understanding, and an agreement as to how similar situations should be handled! By the end of the day, all should be well again!

Aquarius [Jan. 21 – Feb. 18] – Unexpected responsibilities could interfere with plans to take a trip of some sort! Someone might need your help, and you may well have to put your own activities on hold for a while! This could be frustrating! It only delays whatever you are doing but does not stop it! Take care of whatever you need to do and then continue with your plans! You will feel better if you do!

Pisces [Feb. 19 – March 20] – An unexpected development might interfere with your plans to attend a social event, group activity, or get-together with your partner! This is not going to sit well with those you have been planning to meet! It is going to be frustrating for you, too, but it has to be done! It is best if you just postpone your plans and take care of business! Your friends will forgive you!