MEOTA — Here we are in the aftermath of a major dump. Friends were in Biggar and most of the side streets were still only open to traffic with lots of ground clearance. Fortunately for us, our town had two large tractors opening up roads and driveways. Thanks to those in charge for taking the initiative to get us up and mobile in good time.
The Do Drop In had their annual elections March 8. The president and treasurer Carrol Huys decided to retire. Eric Callbeck had served as president for nine years. The election results were: president Arlene Walker, vice-president Eileen Bru, secretary Gwen Lacerte and treasurer Vivianne Lesko.
Happily, I have seen completed during my tenure a few major projects including installing 85 feet of new sidewalk on the street side, the addition of a highly durable deck, a new all-weather durable storage shed and some landscaping improvements. Thanks to all the seniors who took part and a special thank you to Vivianne for getting us through the new communication hurdles as well as to Carrol for keeping us in great shape financially. As we leave the centre in great shape we leave the challenge open to our successors to do the same.
Welcome home to past postmistress Carolyn Tait and husband Terry after a good vacation in Mexico. Also a warm welcome back to Donna Scherman after a lengthy convalescence and to Catriona Winterholt with her return from sunny, warm northern Scotland.
A golf course general meeting will be held March 17. A new clubhouse is on the agenda, so community input is urged.
Tuesday bridge experienced a snow day rain check. Thursday, Margaret Dyck and Dave Creegan were first. Second were Mary Phelps and Gerry Craig and third were Donna Scherman and Catriona Winterhorholt. In 2B, Anne Crozier and Cletus Scherma had top score.
Canasta results from Friday afternoon were: HF – first Vivianne Lesko, Karen Kelly and Eric Callbeck, second Cora Christianson, Judy Schmidt and Arlene Walker; HKF – first Bev McCrimmon and Dave Ottas, second Louise Doom and Gwen Lacerte, third Vern Iverson and Lillian Solenko.
Vernon Iverson was the winner in Norwegian Whist. Second was a tie between Sadie Green and Arlene Walker. Third was Carrol Huys.
Silver Broom Recap
(By Derek Welford)
The Silver Broom Championship was Tuesday in Meota, in what was a one-day gauntlet of curling tribulations where 18 teams anticipated glory, but only one would prevail. The pinnacle of the Grand Slam of Curling, where the 12-week journey of end-to-end action led to the climax of this year's storybook ending.
Kirsten Bru, a first-year attendee of the Silver Broom, cleared his path to the A event qualifier and a chance at a berth in the Silver Broom game defeating the season-leading Lacousiere rink followed by Randy Orchison in the A semifinal.
Top of the event saw the Lee Gansauge rink put together a string of victories over Lonnie Alm, Colin Sharp and Al Colley. Having Bru on the ropes with a two-point advantage in the final end and shot rock behind cover, it appeared that Gaunsage was close to punching their tickets to the final. A heroic shot from Bru to take two and force the extra end highlighted the night. In the draw to the button tiebreaker, Bru completed the comeback and earned the opportunity to get their names etched into the Silver Broom.
After a tournament-opening loss to the Bru rink, Brent Czuy commandeered the Lacousiere team to the B event qualifier with a win against Don Johnson. Missing their fearless leader Zane Lacousiere, it was up to Czuy to pilot the regular season champs to greatness. Derek Welford came up through the other side with victories over the Alm and Weber rinks. Czuy found himself up by two points coming home. Welford had a shot for two but it didn't curl enough as Czuy, Dale Howrie, Robbie Reed and Marcel Bernier earned a rematch with the Bru rink in the title game.
The stage was set as the spectators began to congregate around the middle sheet seating area, trying to get the perfect vantage point of history. Four hundred and eighteen grams of solid silver handcrafted into a broom was ushered out onto the ice as it looked over its two challengers. Kirsten Bru got up early but Czuy made a pressure shot in the second last end to limit the damage to a one- point deficit going into the final end. Bru set up the end to protect the house and he did exactly that, leaving a low-probability shot for Czuy to tie. An over-curled rock on a double raise signalled the end of a good season for the Lacousiere rink and solidified Kirsten Bru, Dave Code, Jacquie Code and Lindon Goodall in Meota's record books as the 2024 Meota Grand Slam of curling champions.
