The Drumheller Public Library is celebrating one of the most basic, and sometimes taken for granted, freedoms of the western world; the freedom to read.
    Across the country this week, Canadians are being encouraged to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
    The theme this year for the nation-wide Freedom to Read Week being displayed at the Drumheller Library, is to stand up against the censorship, or attempted censorship, of literature.
    Abroad, some of the literature taken for granted in Canada is censored. For example, Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham is banned in China because of its depiction of early Marxism. The Tale of Peter Rabbit was banned in the 1980’s in London, because it only depicted “middle-class rabbits.”
    Closer to home, other works are subject to scrutiny. Libraries across Canada are subjected to complaints and requests to have books or movies removed from their shelves. For example, in 2011 the entire His Dark Materials series, which contains The Golden Compass, was challenged by a patron who suggested the book “...be burned,” or moved to the adult section at a public library in Alberta.
    In another example, a parent formally complained about the use of Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale in a Grade 12 English class. The parent complained that the novel’s coarse language, anti-Christian overtones, violence, and sexual degradation probably violated the district policies.
    In many cases sexuality, violence, and language are the primary causes of patrons seeking to have material removed.
    The Drumheller Public Library is encouraging residents to exercise their freedom and free a challenged book by giving it a read.

    A Drumheller resident can’t stop smiling these days after winning a massive $85,174.90 from Lotto 6/49 on Saturday, February 23.
    Joyce Mohrbutter and her husband Al headed to IGA to grab a loaf of bread. While there, she decided to check her lottery tickets.
    “I checked the first two and they came up with ‘Appears to not be a winner.’ I thought ‘these machines are just programmed to say that.’ When I did the third one, it came up with how much I won,” said Mohrbutter.
    The clerk, excited, came over and hugged Mohrbutter.
    “It took about two or three days to sink in. I missed just one number to win the $16 million. If I had won that, I’d probably be in the hospital!” said Mohrbutter.
    She has plans for the winnings. She and her husband have been doing renovations to their house, which the winnings will help pay for.
    “We’ve been doing extensive renovations on our house. Ironically, this is about the same amount we’ve spent. With this, we’ll finish the bathroom and put the rest away for retirements and rainy days,” said Mohrbutter. “It’s a beautiful amount of money. I’ve always said $100,000 would help me, but $1 million would change me.”
    She heads up to St. Alberta on Friday to collect her winnings.