MAYFAIR — When we think of spring, the colour green comes alive in the countryside. Autumn displays many more vibrant colours which don’t last too long as the cold days quickly approach. Enjoy now because, with those gusty winds, the leaves quickly get tossed to the ground.
Some farmers have completed harvests in our area. Yields have been average to good which to some this is just fine and to others not good enough! Farming is a gamble and we have no control over the weather, bug infestations etc. Thanksgiving is on Oct. 14 which seems a little later than usual and by then let’s hope every farmer has had a successful safe harvest.
Martodam Motors in Spiritwood is a well-known agricultural business encompassing a large area of farmers. It all started in 1961 by a local Martodam family who saw the need to sell Ford cars and New Holland farm equipment. Lloyd Fisher, Bill Volk and Clarence Billous in 1983 became partners in the business. They sold Ford vehicles and tractors, New Holland and Versatile farm equipment. Shortly after Case, a tractor line was added which evolved to Case IH then CNH(Case New Holland) which it is today. Bill Volk in 1988 left the company along with Billous to open up Norsask Equipment in North Battleford. Partners came and went through the years until 1998 when Fisher, Michael Cote and Patrick Booth assumed control until 2010. Also along the way Norman Tipton and Allan Rue became involved in Martodam Motors. In the end, Fisher owned the company outright until their son Tyler and his family from Calgary returned home and since then has sold it to Tyler.
Martodam Motors has parts for automotive and most agricultural lines. For the small town of Spiritwood, there is a great service for auto, ag and sales departments serving the Northwest communities. The current operation employs twenty full-time and two to three part-timers. Come into their impressive new building and see what they have to offer. Lloyd still enjoys spending his 'retirement' time and having coffee with the customers.
Mark your calendars for Sunday, Oct. 20 1:00-4:30 p.m. as there will be a Jam Session with many great entertainers lined up. This will be in Mayfair Community Hall with lots of good homemade food in the concession.
Yoga resumed again in Mayfair library from Sept. 23 with instructor Louise Sylvester from North Battleford. Chair yoga is very popular with seniors so one can do this on chairs or with mats on the floor. Time is 7:00-8:00 p.m. every Monday costing $15.00/session or it was $100.00 for eight sessions.
Harvest is slowly coming to an end for some farmers in our area. A great relief once the crops are in storage. There are still other important jobs to be done on farms and the work is 'never-ending', especially for ones also with cattle operations.
Aren’t we ever so happy not to receive those extra strong winds that southern Saskatchewan experienced last Saturday? The cold, chilling, gusty winds in our area were bad enough to warrant a warm coat and toque. Fortunately, the weather is returning to more normal temperatures for a while.
Since the village of Speers is having their Fall Supper on Wednesday, Oct. 23 Ruddell is changing their monthly potluck to Thursday Ot. 24. Speers are from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the village hall. Adults: $20.00 and kids aged 7-12 are $10.00/ preschoolers free.
This Saturday, Oct. 12 Spiritwood’s Sacred Heart Parish is hosting 'Life in Spirit Retreat' from 9:30 to 4:30 p.m. with guest speaker and singer Janelle Reinhart from Lloydminster. This is a goodwill offering and lunch is provided. Please call Helen Conacher at 306 883-9313 to secure a place.
Resolute School Community Club (near Spiritwood) is having a fundraiser to raise funds for school repairs. Come support their pie sale at Spiritwood Legion Hall on Friday, Oct. 11 from 8:00-2:00 p.m. Everyone needs a great-tasting homemade pie dessert this Thanksgiving weekend.
Bull Riding Competition Oct. 12 in Spiritwood arena. Cost $20. Tickets can be purchased at the Rec Centre/ Thompson Agencies/Martodam Family Retail/Spiritwood Town Office. A 19-plus (in age) cabaret to follow featuring musician Adam Johnson with tickets at the door for $15.00.
Thanks to SARCS bingo has returned to the Spiritwood Curling Rink mezzanine starting Tuesday, Oct. 15/ Nov. 12/Dec. 10. In the 2025 calendar year: Jan. 14/ Feb. 18/ Mar. 18/ April 15 and May 13. All bingos start at 7 p.m.
Another very interesting event hosted by SARCS (Spiritwood) was a presentation by retired RCMP officer Aaron Thomas who has worked with many women who faced domestic violence. For a $125 registration, a woman of any age can gain knowledge in self-defence and situation awareness. This educational seminar trains women to feel safe in their surroundings etc. Saturday, Oct. 19 in the Spiritwood curling rink mezzanine from 9 to 4 p.m. To register please call Kaeli Cross at 306 883-8814
Closer to home much terror and excitement is to be in Rabbit Lake’s arena basement. The well-known Linda Price and family have worked diligently over the past few years to host a scary Halloween Tour. This year's dates are Oct. 19/26 and Nov. 1. from 6 to 9 p.m. with a goodwill offering. In previous years it was held in the Price farmyard near Meeting Lake. See you there as they put in many hours of creativity to give one a great Halloween scary experience.
North Battleford Library always has its annual book sale in October. This year it starts on the Oct. 15 and runs for five days in the library basement and perhaps upstairs. This is a book lovers' paradise in which one can purchase unwanted library materials at cheap prices.
Thursday, Oct. 17 Medstead Library is having author Lisa Guenther's celebration of her new book publication. Lisa will be doing a reading/ book review and signing of her book titled All That’s Left. For more information please call 306 342- 4988. Also the following week on Oct. 25 a movie called 'Beetlejuice' was sponsored by the library. Bring your comfy blankets and pillows as this will be a fun evening for the kids with a concession available.
Kaiser anyone? Maymont Memorial Hall will be the venue for Kaiser tournaments on the following dates: all on Saturday. Oct. 19; Nov. 23 and Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. sharp. Cost is $10 per player. Coffee and dainties are to be served.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone as families celebrate this special occasion wherever you are. Besides Christmas festivities, turkeys are the traditional dish. The only difference is the Thanksgiving weekend pumpkin pie gets devoured quickly. Nothing like having an enjoyable Oct. 14 in which we have so much to be thankful for. With all the devastation going on in the world Canada is still a wonderful country. A long weekend so more traffic on the highways. Be a defensive driver and stay safe.
