Heritage Week Dressup
The Clinton and District Economic Development Society challenged business owners in Clinton to get into the Western Heritage spirit by decorating their establishments and dressing the part, at least for one day. Thursday, May 26 was chosen as the day the businesses would be judged.
The Integris Credit Union / Insurance Services was declared the ‘best decorated’ and the staff as the ‘best dressed’. The staff members were all dressed in hillbilly garb while the building was decorated inside and out with heritage items. They also carried the theme over to the parade on Saturday riding in a battered, ‘hillbilly’ truck.
Old Timers Tea
The Clinton Memorial Hall was abuzz with laughter and conversation on Friday, May 27 as friends gathered for the Annual Old Timers Tea.
Local residents and out-of-town visitors enjoyed snacks, coffee or tea and time spent reminiscing. This event is looked forward to by many as a chance to catch up with acquaintances not seen since the Tea the previous year.
The volunteers who prepared the treats and the students who helped serve and clear up afterward all did a great job.
Clinton Annual Parade
The weather co-operated (for the most part) during the annual Rodeo Parade in Clinton on Saturday, May 28. The cloudy skies and cool weather did little to curb the enthusiasm of the participants or the bystanders.
There were a number of imaginative floats and entries in the parade. I’m sure the judges had difficulty choosing the winners.
The final results were as follows: Best Overall went to the Clinton 4-H Club; Best Costume to the Shyanne Antoine Group and Most Original went to the Integris Credit Union and Integris Insurance Hillbilly Truck and occupants.
Best Overall Auto went to Mayor Andy Anderson of Ashcroft with his Mini, followed by Mayor Roland Stanke of Clinton in his Mustang.
Non-Profit Youth – First went to the Clinton 4-H entry, second to the Majorettes and third to the Minor Soccer entry.
First in Non-Profit Adult was the Kamloops Bag Pipe Band; second the Clinton Wellness Centre and third to the Cloverdale Rodeo.
Best Commercial was the Clinton Irly Bird; second Integris Credit Union and Insurance and third Munro Feed.
Best out of Town was the Cloverdale Rodeo entry with second going to the 100 Mile House ‘Log Home Capital’ float.
The Shyanne Antoine Group with their ‘Cowboys and Indians’ entry took first in the Equestrian. Spencer Jodrey on the mini pony for Munro Feeds was second and Selina and Cody Ambler were third with their pack horse entry.
It is thanks to the numerous volunteers that the parade was so successful. Great job everyone!
Clinton Rodeo
Although I did not get to attend the rodeo, I was there early Sunday morning as I and my family did the cleanup before the pancake breakfast. I don’t recall ever seeing so many people camped at the rodeo grounds and in the field adjacent to the rodeo grounds.
The number of participants and spectators is a testament to the great organization that goes in to an event like this. It takes a lot of volunteers a lot of hours to pull together an event of this magnitude. Even the brief shower or two didn’t quell the enthusiasm. Congratulations to the competitors and organizers for another very successful event.
Clinton Students Buy the Farm
The Grade 6/7 class at David Stoddart School recently learned just how good it feels to help someone less fortunate. They took part in a discussion in Social Studies about their lives compared with that of families in third world countries. The Grade 7 students suggested doing something about it.
The Grade 6 students took that idea and ran with it. They researched the World Vision International gift catalogue and realized how much good they could do. After checking what they could buy for needy families they decided to go for the largest gift shown – a barn full of animals.
Farm animals enable parents to feed their children and increase the families’ income. A dairy goat can give up to 16 cups of mild a day and goat milk is easier to digest than cows milk and has the nutrients needed for healthy children. Goats flourish in harsh climates and produce valuable manure to fertilize crops and vegetable gardens.
Chickens are easy to raise and will multiply to impact generations of children. Each family that receives chickens is asked to give back hatched chicks to help another family in need. The eggs and extra chicks can also be sold at market, increasing the family income.
World Vision’s livestock programs also provide farmers with seeds, tools, and other agricultural support to increase their ability to provide food for their families.
The Grade 6 students held a bottle drive and raised an amazing total of $1,200 for the project. During the process they learned a valuable lesson in social responsibility.
When I visited the students in their class, they appeared very nonchalant about what they were doing. I asked them to envision how they would feel if they were the ones receiving this tremendous gift from a group of young strangers from so far away. I hope they realize how much their gift will be appreciated. It is a terrific thing they are doing. If we all followed their lead there would be a great deal less need in the world. Well done students. You should be proud of what you have done.