Mary MacArthur

PEACE RIVER, Alta. (Staff) – Terry Naturkach and Jill Cairns of Peace River showed women at the farm women’s conference in Peace River how painting techniques can brighten a home at little cost. Rag rolling can hide imperfections in floors and walls. Ragging color onto the wall makes dark colors translucent. The reverse technique, ragging […] Read more

PEACE RIVER, Alta. – Women should give themselves an annual booster shot to stay healthy, says a woman specializing in lifestyle management. Fern Richardson said women know they should eat well, get lots of sleep, do the right amount of exercise, reduce stress and take joy breaks, but they don’t always remember. “This is nothing […] Read more

HARDISTY, Alta. – Keeping communities from falling apart might seem like a monumental task, but those attending a rural ministry retreat all found one thing they could do to make a difference. Robert Taylor of Blairmore, Alta., pledged to develop a community garden. When Taylor and his wife moved to the Crowsnest Pass community a […] Read more

LLOYDMINSTER, Sask. – It may have been a sign of the next day’s events. The Friday evening elk viewing leading up to the show and sale was more like a social evening than a livestock preview. Women wore fur coats. Waitresses carried trays of wine and hors d’oeuvres to visitors. Everyone seemed happy. The next […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – Some Alberta farm organizations say Alberta’s recent plebiscite gives them ammunition to pressure the federal government to change the way grain is marketed. “We’re going to be after them to aid us to make the wheat board give us some changes,” said Ted Cawkwell, past-president of the Western Barley Growers Association. Cawkwell […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – There was only one topic that could get Alberta farmers away from talking about the miserable prairie weather – the provincial plebiscite results on grain marketing. But their thoughts were as wide ranging as the cold front covering the province. Olds farmer Wayne Jackson said he hopes the plebiscite will give Alberta […] Read more

FOURTH CREEK, Alta. – It’s been just over two years since Bonnie Zeyha’s husband was killed in an accident. While she still isn’t able to talk about her husband Ron without wiping away a tear, she feels it’s time to get on with her life. That’s the problem. Zeyha doesn’t want to leave her cozy […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – Verlyn Olson told two stories at a recent farm women’s conference to emphasize why people need an enduring power of attorney. The Camrose lawyer recalled one instance where a farm couple had joint custody of the farm. When the husband got Alzheimer’s disease, his wife wanted to sell and move into the […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – In an unusual turn of events, grain is being trucked from the United States to Canada, instead of the other way around. “I can only confirm some wheat is moving from General Mills into Canada by truck,” said Kerry Schaefer, regional manager for the North West grain operation for General Mills, in […] Read more

RED DEER, Alta. – Alberta’s plebiscite asking farmers how they want to sell their wheat and barley was a good exercise in democracy, says Alberta’s agriculture minister. “Whatever the results, it will be a help for the industry. It will give a broad base of knowledge for all producers in the province,” Walter Paszkowski told […] Read more