Club continues tradition for citizens

By Sheila Runions

Banner Staff

It was 38 years ago that Rivers and Area Lions Club held its first senior citizens’ Christmas supper. It quickly outgrew Rivers Ukrainian Hall and by year three, was hosted in Rivers Legion Hall. While attendance numbers throughout those years wax and wane, the tradition of the supper in the Legion remains. This year on Dec. 10 136 people were seated at tables and 21 enjoyed take-out meals delivered by Lions members, as did 38 patients and staff at Riverdale Health Centre. Following the feast, the 16-member Lions Club, a few spouses and the seven Grade 12 students who assisted in serving, also each consumed the meal for a grand total of 223; in earlier years that many were seated in the hall alone.

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Under the dome at Christmas

By Greg Nesbitt

Riding Mountain MLA

The second session of the 41st Manitoba legislature adjourned on Friday, Dec. 2 and will reconvene on Wednesday, March 1. All MLAs are now back in their ridings where they will have an opportunity to deal first-hand with constituents’ concerns, attend meetings and events in their communities. However, all rural MLAs have committee responsibilities, which require them to travel back to the legislature in Winnipeg regularly. When you hear that your MLA is not sitting again until March 1, do not be concerned; he or she is working for you on a daily basis.

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Public points to ponder for pigs

By Sheila Runions

Banner Staff

Verburggen Prairie Farms Ltd. gave an application to RM of Oakview council this summer which outlined their intent to build a new 6,000-pig feeder barn in that municipality. When the government’s Technical Review Committee (TRC) advertised for comments regarding the same, they received submissions from businesses, organizations and individuals, totalling 11. Between September and November the TRC prepared its 18-page report, which noted the concerns from these submissions and an overview of the site assessment. This report was provided to Oakview on Nov. 24 which then scheduled a public meeting on Dec. 19 to hear from the proponents and public.

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View from Parliament Hill - Dec. 24

By Robert Sopuck

Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa M.P.

The Liberal government seems to lack a real understanding of what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to fundraising. Justin Trudeau’s cash-for-access fundraisers are wrong and potentially illegal. He needs to put a stop to it. What they are doing is having billionaires host fancy events at their homes, then making individuals pay $1,500 to the Liberal Party to attend, so that they can have direct access to the prime minister. As the official Opposition, we believe this is blatant corruption and simply not acceptable.

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Celebrities celebrate Christmas in church

By Sheila Runions

Banner Staff

Rivers United Church held its annual white gift service on Sunday, Dec. 11. Besides collecting “white gifts” (a tradition of food and toys wrapped in white paper, but which are now unwrapped or in an assortment of colourful bags and bows) for Rivers Christmas Cheer campaign, it is a day for the congregation to enjoy the efforts of the Sunday school classes. The mother-daughter team of Shelley Foster and Becky Stewart have much to accomplish with these youngsters they teach only once a month. But those efforts paid off in a packed house that morning. In addition to the kids, several celebrities attended the service.

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