Reported by Diana Walker
fwalker1@telus.net

A Welcomed Rain

Kudos to those who finally perfected their rain dance! You got it right on June 10. Reports say we may have gotten as much as an inch and a half. It started as gentle rain, no wind, dark skies, a crack or two of lightning and some thunder. The skies opened, and the rain came. I looked out the window and realized the eaves trough must be plugged with Manchurian elm tree seeds. Water was pouring over the edges. I put on a raincoat, ventured out, found a ladder and climbed up and cleared the blockage. Dripping wet, I returned inside, where I continued typing this news. The power flicked; I heard a click. I checked the breaker box and the breaker to my office needed to be reset. I continued typing. Later, while making supper, I had to go downstairs for something and realized two breakers had popped down there. What welcome moisture, and we are grateful that we didn’t get any hail like our Acadia Valley friends.

Community Garden

The Oyen Public School Grade 2 class has been planting the community garden on the west side of the Oyen Lodge for many years now in cooperation with the FCSS and local volunteers. “This year, on June 7, 15 students grabbed rakes, hoes and shovels and planted their little hearts out,” said their teacher Tami Cox. “We had started tomato plants in the classroom this spring and were able to transplant a dozen healthy cherry tomato plants into the garden as well. Planting this garden builds a connection with the community and gets the kids excited about learning how to garden. Some kids asked to take seeds home so they could plant a garden in their back yard.”

Flower Boxes

“The flower boxes around town are all planted,” said coordinator Lou Melvill. “Ed and Sandra Hogan put wood chips in the boxes after we got them planted. That was a great help as the weather turned extremely hot, and it needed to be done faster than we could keep up with trying to get them planted and watered. There are only so many things that can put into a half-ton box. We’re hoping for a great growing season. “

Bill at the Oyen Greenhouse gives the town a generous discount on the flowers. It helps so very much to make Oyen Bloom as much as it does. The greenhouse crew works very hard to keep everything growing so beautifully. We are blessed to have this great business in our town.

A new addition to the information sign at the entrance to Oyen on 4th
Street is a cool blue car flowerbed. It’s started its racing life as a toddler’s bed and now is retired at the sign welcoming visitors to our town.

“One businessman who came into town said it was nice to see something a bit different,” said Lou. “Too bad there isn’t more business advertising on the sign,” she added. “Maybe this is the year to add your business to the sign. There are a lot of people who stop there. We see most campers that come into town stopping there. I think the magnetic sign should have more posters of upcoming events on it as well so the campers would know of events in town and the area.

She continued with suggestions:

There should be a poster with a list of emergency numbers, contact numbers for any after-hour help that any business might have.
Farmers Market, for example, could have a nice bright sign there all the time stating when and where it is held.
Upcoming ball games, hours of public swimming at the pool, events at the Crossroads Centre, future drive-in dates, etc., to name a few.
People can’t go to these events if they don’t know about them.
Social media is great, but many of us are old school and like to see things in print. An 8” x 10” laminated poster doesn’t cost much and could bring a few more people to your event. Just something to think about.

(Editor’s Note: You could also put advertising in The Oyen Echo. Advertising and subscriptions are our only source of revenue and are essential to keep this newspaper in print.)

Pheasant Festival

Here’s a note from Ringer, the pheasant. Things are coming along for the 2021 hunt, and the committee is excitedly looking forward to having a great festival this year. We could use a few more parcels of land for hunting, so if you would be interested in having a team hunt on a quarter section of your land, please contact my gal. Lou Melvill 403-664-2059, and she will answer all your questions.

Birds have been ordered. Teams are registering; COVID might be on the way out (we hope)

Till next time, stay safe.

Thanks to all our readers who left jars at the garage door 109 6 Ave, East (old Oyen Echo building). These are much appreciated, and it helps to recycle and keep some things out of the landfill. Leave in boxes or bags at the garage door, and I will put them inside.

NOTE: I have had positive feedback from readers about Oyen Briefs, but I need your help! If you have club or personal news you will allow me to include in this column, please email fwalker1@telus.net.

For inquiries or to send Oyen Echo owner/publisher Kate Winquist news items or advertising, reach out to her at kate@yoursouthwest.com or call her in Kindersley at 1-306-463-2211.

Her mailing address is Box 727, Kindersley, SK. S0L 1S0.