The Vavenby railroad crossing has finally been replaced.
Work began on Wednesday, Aug. 13. First new panels were put in and then crossing planks were laid for a short distance on either side of the actual crossing. The CN crew also worked on making a temporary crossing.
On Friday, Aug. 29, work on the actual crossing began. All the old mats were removed and replaced with new ones. Road traffic was detoured onto the temporary crossing with a flag-person present. The crew would have preferred to work on this part of the crossing on the Sunday when the logging trucks were not driving by.
The lights and arms were tested after the work on the crossing was complete. CN comes out to Vavenby weekly to test them.
Saying thank for music festival
On Sunday, Aug. 24, Colleen Rothwell, one of the main organizers for Becoming Shiloh 2014, held a thank you dinner at her home for all those who helped with the event. There were 12 guests present.
It was a beautiful evening so the dinner could be held outdoors. The supper consisted of barbequed steaks, corn on the cob, salads, roasted vegetables, and beets. Brownies for dessert were supplied by one of the women.
Apprentice shepherd hopes to travel
Aveley Ranch’s volunteer, Rachel Des Cotes, who has been there since May 1, left for home on Monday, Aug. 25. While working at the ranch she followed Joseph Moilliet and Valerie Gerber around so that she and her dog Zeke could get hands-on experience.
When she gets back to St. Albert, Alberta, she will look for a job. Des Cotes wants to earn enough money so that she can go to the United Kingdom. She hopefully will have enough by January to go to England and then to Scotland in March to work on organic farms.
Des Cotes will be working through an organization called WWOOFERS. It will be volunteer work again. The set-up will be similar to the one at Moilliets', where she worked for her room and board.
Des Cotes will stay in the United Kingdom until her money runs out and then she will return home. The set-up allows her to travel and gives her more work experience. Her dog Zeke will go with her. Des Cotes is sad to be leaving the Moilliet family but is anxious and excited about following her new plans.
Early morning truck fire
There was a fire outside of the Canfor shipping office on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 4 a.m. A transport truck went up in flames.
The driver told Vavenby volunteer fire chief Sean Dawson that the fire had started in the engine. The five volunteers that responded were there for 1 ½ hours to make sure that the fire was completely out.
Dawson said that the fire department is always looking for more volunteers.
Cyclists reach St. John's
The four cyclists who were biking across Canada to raise money to build 60 deep-capped water wells in Africa reached their final destination of St. John’s, Newfoundland, on the day estimated – Aug. 24.
The cyclists felt Newfoundland should be described as the land of 10,000 hills. Their last 45 km into St. John’s was the most difficult of the whole journey. They were cycling into rain and severe cross and head winds while going uphill. It was all downhill to the waterfront, however.
As a result of their trip across Canada 45 – 50 wells have been pledged so far.