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 9, 2025

9:30 – 10:30 a.m. – Chair Yoga at the Joussard Homesteaders Hall.

10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Project Sewing at Joussard Homesteaders Hall. Bring your own lunch!

7 p.m. – Play whist, bridge and cribbage card games at the HP Golden Age Club.

Today’s Celebrity Birthdays – January 9, 2025

1890 – Karel Capek, Coined the word “robot”

1901 – Chic Young, Blondie cartoonist

1913 – Richard Nixon, US President

1932 – Jane Ross, Star Trek actress [Tamoon]

1934 – Bart Starr, Green Bay Packer

1934 – Bob Denver, Gilligan’s Island actor

1943 – Kenneth Kelley, Manhattans singer

1944 – Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin guitarist

1951 – Crystal Gayle, Country singer

1954 – Lance Hoppens, Orleans rocker

1965 – Muggsy Bogues, Shortest NBA player ever

1978 – A.J. McLean, Backstreet Boys singer

1982 – Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

This Day in Local History – January 9, 2025

Jan. 9, 1914: The federal government decides to support Grouard and tells the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia railroad to build a line through Grouard. They add they will only support ED&BC’s plans if they go through Grouard and say a “good reason” must be given not to go through the town.

Jan. 9, 1915: Grouard News editor Roy S. Burns writes in an editorial that “. . .the day of big profits and slow turnovers is past and Grouard now faces the competition of outside firms which the arrival of steel has brought to our doors.”

Jan. 9, 1949: The Elks and Royal Purple celebrate the opening of the Elks Hall in High Prairie.

Jan. 9, 1982: Ron Rose scores three goals but the High Prairie Regals still lose to the Peace River Stampeders 8-6.

Jan. 9, 1983: Vic Shapka’s rink wins the Zone II Mixed curling finals held in High Prairie.

Jan. 9, 1985: Town of High Prairie Councillor Don Lorencz resigns citing business commitments.

Jan. 9, 1988: Ron Gaudet scores four goals and Robbie Jacobsen adds three more as the hometown High Prairie Regals clobber the Spirit River Rangers 11-3.

Jan. 9, 1988: High Prairie Taekwondo members win 22 medals at the Northwest Regional Games in Grande Prairie.

Jan. 9, 1989: The High Prairie Roman Catholic Separate school board votes to reintroduce high school at St. Andrew’s School in the fall.

Jan. 9, 1991: A public meeting is held in Faust to discuss the closure of Carole Bannister School. Citizens learn if they increase enrolment to 45 the school will stay open.

Jan. 9, 1993: Al Anderson scores his 50th goal of the season but the hometown High Prairie Midgets lose 12-9 to Peace River.

Jan. 9, 1993: High Prairie figure skaters Ardith Basarab and Lisa Vandermeulen win bronze and silver medals respectively at the Peace Zone Interclub Skating Competition held in Peace River.

Jan. 9, 1994: Dale Campbell’s rink wins the A Event and qualifies for the Men’s Districts after winning zones in High Prairie.

Jan. 9, 2000: Brian Bliss’s rink goes winless in seven games at the Alberta Senior Men’s Curling Championships in Calgary.

Jan. 9, 2001: The High Prairie Regals defeat the Lakeland Eagles 6-5 snapping a 10-game losing streak to their arch-rivals.

Jan. 9, 2002: High Prairie town council proceeds cautiously on plans to purchase the Moostoos Building to provide a new home for the library.

Jan. 9, 2002: Banana Belt Councillor William Marx proposes a special tax for paving M.D. of Big Lakes roads. Council votes later against the proposal.

Jan. 9, 2002: M.D. of Big Lakes Public Works Supt. Don O’Quinn tells council their gravel hunt was unsuccessful. On April 23, 2001, council agreed to spend $40,000 for air photo gravel mapping to try and find a long-term source.

Jan. 9, 2004: High Prairie parents Rod Badger and Tara Shantz are proud parents of McLennan’s New Year’s Baby when Jace Kyler Shantz-Badger is born at 6:53 p.m.

Jan. 9, 2005: A fireball blazes the night sky over High Prairie.

Jan. 9, 2008: High Prairie’s Ron “Bear” Smith dies at the age of 54 years. He was a huge sports enthusiast.

Jan. 9, 2008: Joussard Councillor Guy L’Heureux exposes a claims error where councillors were being paid twice for meals.

Jan. 9, 2008: The M.D. of Big Lakes council hears there is little they can do with people who voted illegally in the 2006 municipal election. Myler Savill contested the election and proved in court some people voted illegally.

Jan. 9, 2008: Joussard Councillor Guy L’Heureux tells M.D. of Big Lakes councillors to use less salt in the hamlet after receiving complaints. Only use salt at intersections, he says, because of the proximity to Lesser Slave Lake.

Jan. 9, 2008: Public Works Supt. Vern Walker is recognized by the Town of High Prairie for 20 years of service.

Jan. 9, 2008: The High Prairie Community Health Council asks the Town of High Prairie to increase enforcement of people who needlessly park in handicapped stalls. Town council promises to comply.

Jan. 9, 2011: Gunnar Odegaard, founder of the High Prairie Sled Dog Races, dies at the age of 88 years.

Jan. 9, 2012: The M.D. of Big Lakes hires Ken Bosman as its new manager.

Jan. 9, 2013: Slave Lake’s Gordon Ferguson expresses an interest on behalf of his clients in opening a Domino’s Pizza franchise in the old Walleyes and Whitetails building. High Prairie town council expresses concerns over parking but leaves the matter in the hands of its administration.

Jan. 9, 2013: An oversight in not providing ballot boxes at Pleasantview Lodge for the Dec. 18, 2013, byelection raises the ire of council. CAO Keli Tamaklo promises the ballot boxes will be at the lodge for the coming October municipal election.

Jan. 9, 2013: The M.D. of Big Lakes decides to ease up on its lobby on the Alberta government for increased services [renal dialysis] at the proposed hospital. “They did step up to the plate,” says Reeve Alvin Billings, noting the expansion of an extra 6,800 square feet.

Jan. 9, 2013: High Prairie Councillor Barry Sharkawi says people are leaving town due to the hospital’s inability to deliver babies.

Jan. 9, 2016: The visiting High Prairie Regals lose their 18th straight game to start the season, 6-2 at Fort St. John. The Regals were eliminated one night earlier from playoff contention when Manning won 4-2 at home against Falher.

Jan. 9, 2019: Big Lakes County agrees to send three farmers to Dubai in an effort to expand overseas trade markets. Doug Meneice, Garrett Zahacy and Tanner Pollack are selected for the trip.

Jan. 9, 2019: Big Lakes County agrees to extend its wild boar program for another five years.

This Day in World History – January 9, 2025

1493 – First sight of manatees by Christopher Columbus.

1570 – Tsar Ivan the Terrible kills 1,000-2,000 residents of Novgorod.

1768 – Philip Astley stages the world’s first modern circus in London.

1799 – British PM starts income tax to raise funds for the war vs Napoleon.

1811 – First women’s golf tournament held.

1839 – First photograph taken in Paris.

1909 – Ernest Shackleton reaches record farthest South latitude. [88°23′]

1936 – Semi-automatic rifles adopted by US army.

1937 – Italian regime bans marriages between Italians & Abyssinians.

1951 – “Life After Tomorrow” is first film to receive an “X” rating.

1954 – -87°F [-66°C], Northice Station, Greenland [Greenland record].

1956 – Abigail Van Buren’s “Dear Abby” advice column first appears.

1960 – Building of Aswan dam in Egypt begins.

1968 – Surveyor 7 space probe soft lands on moon.

1969 – First trial flight of Concorde supersonic jetliner occurs.

1972 – LA Lakers 33-game winning streak snapped by 120-104 to Milwaukee.

1976 – C. W. McCall CB song “Convoy” hits No. 1 on country music charts.

1979 – High-school player Daryl Moreau makes 126th consecutive free throws.

1985 – Calgary Flames set NHL record 264th game without being shutout.

1986 – Kodak loses patent battle vs Polaroid; must give up instant cameras.

1991 – Baseball officially bans Pete Rose from Hall of Fame for betting.

1998 – Anatoly Solovyov & Pavel Vinogradov spacewalk record 3:08 minutes.

2001 – Apple reveals iTunes at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco.

2002 – Michael Jackson receives the Artist of the Century award.

2007 – Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs announces the iPhone.

Today’s Horoscopes – January 9, 2025

Aries [March 21 – April 20] – A scheduling conflict may come up today! A business engagement could interfere with a social event! You might doubt whether you can attend both, but if you plan carefully, it should be OK! Someone at home might not be communicative, which could cause a little worry! This person has issues they need to work out for themselves! Just be there if needed!

Taurus [April 21 – May 21] – Confusing communications could be the pattern for today! Some paperwork you need to do for a task might be delayed – hung up in the mail or filed in the wrong place! It might take a while to locate it, but it should turn up eventually! There might be some strange messages for you, and you may not be sure whether or not you should return the calls!

Gemini [May 22 – June 21] – Today you could doubt the amount of money you might get from a business transaction! If you can, verify this before starting anything! You are not being told something! Personal relationships, particularly love and romance, should be stable and rewarding now, although today you may not have much time to spend with those you care about! Hang in there!

Cancer [June 22 – July 22] – Business transactions that could take place in your home or perhaps involve the home might seem a bit unclear today! Before agreeing to anything, read the fine print and verify all the facts about what you are signing! Use your intuition! It is very high at this time! Family members might be confused about events in their lives, but they will get over it!

Leo [July 23 – Aug. 23] – You might get a lot of mixed messages from friends, relatives, and colleagues! They may say one thing while you sense they mean something else! Insist on hearing how they really feel! This can prevent a lot of resentment later! New businesses could open in your neighbourhood that you might want to check out! Take a look, especially if it is a new bookstore!

Virgo [Aug. 24 – Sept. 22] – Today you might not feel secure about your financial situation, and get a little nervous! Disconcerting information in the news about the general state of the world economy might have planted some unsettling seeds in your mind! On the whole, you should be pretty financially stable now, and this trend is likely to continue! Check out the facts before giving in to panic!

Libra [Sept. 23 – Oct. 23] – Some unsettling news about your work situation might reach you today and make you worried! You might question your future in this field and possibly consider a change! Consider it, by all means, but this is not the day to make a final decision of any kind! Wait until you are in a more secure frame of mind! In the meantime, list your different options! This will get you back to reality!

Scorpio [Oct. 24 – Nov. 22] – You are a logical person! When insights come to you through ESP, you tend to doubt their validity! Do not do this! If a feeling is particularly strong, go with it! Do not write it off because it seems illogical! Life is not always predictable! If you give yourself permission, you can trust your intuition about nearly anything!

Sagittarius [Nov. 23 – Dec. 21] – Doubts about a friend’s motives could plague you today! This person seems to be acting strangely and is not communicating! This probably has little if anything to do with you! This person has issues he or she is having trouble with! There are others who are in a better space whose company you will enjoy at this time! Get together and enjoy the amiable atmosphere!

Capricorn [Dec. 22 – Jan. 20] – A friend or family member might act strangely and seem distracted! You may wonder if he or she is upset with you! This probably is not the case! This person has issues that need attention! Allow them some space! A romantic partner might have to break a date tonight! Spend the evening alone with a novel and look forward to the next get-together!

Aquarius [Jan. 21 – Feb. 18] – Too much reading might have you experiencing eyestrain and possibly headaches! It might help to have your eyes checked, but it is probably just too much stress! You might have some trouble focusing on whatever work you do today, but this is only a temporary condition! You should be back to your normal self tomorrow! Stay home tonight, listen to music, and take it easy!

Pisces [Feb. 19 – March 20] – Doubts about business and financial matters might weigh on your mind now, so much so they invade your dreams! The dreams are only a reflection of your worries, they are not prophetic! Your situation is probably better than it seems on the surface! Lack of information clouds the issue! Check the facts and judge them for yourself before making yourself crazy!