Combines Take The Field

Harvest is rumbling through the area with the top photo showing a combine dumping barley on the fly working at Dale Chopek’s land a few miles north and east of Provost during the night. Brand new Menzies Farms Ltd. combines in that field—like others in the area—were able to detect, with computer assistance the amount of yield, total bushels combined, the percentage of moisture content of the grain (toughness) and speed. Other equipment can be added to assist in electronic field mapping so that information for inputs of fertilizer or spraying requirements can be precisely calculated for high productivity. New combines like this can cost over $354,000 (GST is exempt) says Keith McElhinney of Wilmar Implement Co. Ltd who noted that the modern units have “great capacity,” and they have had very little trouble reported with these units, partly because there are fewer moving parts than older units with more hydraulics. ©Provost News Photo. More pictures in October 6 edition of The Provost News.Want to Subscribe to The Provost News? Click here.

$300,000 Centennial Gift From Province
Earmarked Towards New Arena, Pool
A $300,000 grant from Alberta’s 2005 Centennial Legacy will go towards a new arena including a swimming pool project for Provost.

Chairman of the Provost and District Regional Recreation Council and town councillor Mike Dennehy told The News that they will now put together a plan and approach both the Town of Provost and M.D. 52, stressing that both councils would have to be in favour of the project “100 percent” for it to proceed.
The project, at this stage would cost between $4 million and $5 million.

The recreation board had applied to the Alberta Centennial group, headed by Minister of Community Development, Gene Zwozdesky, for $2 million.

Referring to the $300,000, Dennehy says “Anytime you get money, you’re happy to get any amount, but more would have been better.” He added that some money has been set aside for infrastructure but did not know the amount.

The recreation board is in favour of the project and “The town council is in favour, but I can’t speak for the MD.” The board is hoping for a 50-50 split in costs for the project from the two councils.

The arena is reaching the end of its lifespan and operation costs are high, says the recreation chairman. He says that with a new facility operating costs would be lower and the building run more efficiently. And, he says, the same applies with the swimming pool, noting that there are problems with the liner and major upgrading is required there. “So it makes more sense to put them together (in one project) and do it right the first time” instead of a few years later replacing the swimming pool. He said that the pool will be outdoors but did not rule out an indoor pool, depending on funding.

A couple of locations for the new buildings have been looked at: near the tennis courts in the fairgrounds and also between Husky Energy and the fire department on the east side of town.