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Miller family to open Hand Hills Lake Stampede

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It has been a century in the making, and the folks at the Hand Hills Lake Stampede are going to Party like its 1916.

The 100th Hand Hills Lake Stampede is set to go this weekend. While at the heart of the event is riding, roping and wrestling, there is a whole lot more going on to mark the centennial.

“We have so many things going on this year above and beyond the rodeo,” one of the organizers Day Lenfesty tells The Mail.

 Already campers are pulling in for the weekend extravaganza, and Friday it starts with a good ol’ fashion pancake breakfast. Slack kicks off at 10 a.m. Friday. At noon, a tradeshow opens in the community Hall.

 The Bixbys will take the Stampede Stage from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. This family of musicians has been playing at the Stampede for four generations. After that, the True Grit Mounted Shooters will put on a great gun-slinging performance. The first ruining of the chucks and chariot races are Friday night and then after that dance the night way to the sound of Drew Gregory for the opening party.

 While Friday will be a day to remember, Saturday is even more action packed. After breakfast, the day kicks of with a parade to mark the centennial 10 a.m. After that, there is the Wild Horse races and the members of the Miller family will be the guest of honour and will open the show.

 Doug McLean of Rocky Mountain House is the grandson of JJ. Miller, the founder of the Hand Hills Lake Stampede. He is planning to be on hand. His family will forever be linked to the event.

“We have been around it all of our lives,” McLean tells The Mail. “We are all very aware of it.” 

He said he was at the 50th anniversary of the show, and has attended a few times since then. He plans on heading up on Thursday and taking in the entire spectacle.

 Saturday is packed with all kinds of fun including a performance by Don Howard in the afternoon, another performance by the Bixbys and the Stampede Show Riders. The Cat Country Band will be the featured entertainment at the Cowboy Cabaret. The 100th Rodeo Fireworks will paint the sky at 11 p.m. 

Sunday, while the action winds down, there is still lots of Rodeo action with Crash Cooper rodeo entertainer, the wild pony races, chucks and chariots and Five of Diamonds will be on the Stampede Stage.

Organizers have put in tremendous work into putting on the best show they can for the centennial and it won’t be the last. 

“It is going to be pretty unique because of all the history and ht community is coming together so much. The community is growing so it is going to keep going,” said organizer Marilyn Vredegoor. 


No Regret's at DVSS today

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Jason Rasmussen of DVSS get dunked by one of his students at No Regret's Day which was held Thursday, June 2. No Regrets Day is an event put on by DVSS’s Friend’s of Rachel club. The event is to encourage students to make good choices and respect others. This year, the students held an assembly in the morning on the topic of sexual consent . Members of the FOR club, and teachers Jason Rasmussen and Lynn Hemming spoke at the event.  In the afternoon, a outdoor day was held with inflatable obstacle courses, water slides and a dunk tank for the students to enjoy.

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Drumheller brand revitalization project underway

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Town hall is pushing for the development of a Drumheller “brand” of signage as work has begun on revitalizing signage for the town and its satellite communities.

In about three weeks the town’s Economic Development Task Force will receive three potential theme mockups for a new series of signs that will be placed around Drumheller proper and for signs marking surrounding communities like East Coulee and Rosedale.

Director of Community Services Paul Salvatore said his department hopes installation of new signage, with East Coulee likely to receive the first installation, to take place in mid-September.

“We want to elevate the quality and look of our signage,” said Salvatore. “The big focus is to make sure we’re consistent with our branding.”

Direction for design as been given to Calgary company Urban Systems to draw upon dinosaurs and the badlands as inspiration for a new style of Drumheller branding which would be used on signage revitalization in a project expected to extend over the next five years. Salvatore said the group has looked toward road signage in Arizona state which draws colour from its surrounding landscape and culture to create a distinct feel.

“There’s so many choices in Drumheller. We have unique features and our signage should mesh with the different colour schemes and history here.”

The focus this year will be to improve and install new signage focusing on pedestrian and tourist traffic around the World’s Largest Dinosaur and Rotary Park to assist tourists in navigating towards parking and attractions. Directing motorhome traffic will be particularly important, said Salvatore.

He said there are areas on the sides of Highway 9 and Highway 56 which could have sign installations to direct and inform tourists.

Work has already begun on refurbishing the welcome sign where Highway 9 south comes into Drumheller.

Town council has also been lobbying the provincial government to improve its signage on its highways.

“It’s about presenting ourselves better,” said Salvatore.

The theme proposals will be received by the economic development committee in the coming weeks and will be shared with the public as the project develops, Salvatore said.


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