MEOTA ‑ Three tables of bridge players gathered at the Pioneer Hall April 3 and top score went to Jette and Terrance Dasilva. Tied for second were Jeannine Beloin and David Sharpe along with Barb Mitchell and Gerry Craig. April 5, there were three and a half tables at bridge with top score going to Linda Ard and Vern Iverson. Second were Margaret Dyck and Dave Creegan and third were Jette and Terrance Dasilva.
Now the snowbirds have returned, it is nice to hear of the winter activities they enjoyed down south. We don't need to tell them we had a lot of snow. There's still lots of it for them to see.
The annual meeting for SSAI Region A was held in the Do Drop In April 6. All clubs in the district sent in or brought their club reports of their year's activities. Representatives present who gave reports were Cut Knife, Edam, Maymont, Meota and Livelong. Mailed or emailed reports came from Pierceland, Goodsoil, Mervin and Maidstone. The invitation from Pierceland to host the 2023 SSAI regional meeting was accepted.
Resolutions passed at the annual convention were listed in the spring Gray Matters paper, and Minister of Health, Everett Hindley's response was read to the meeting. A video by Pat Ciona of Hafford was shown about her Ukrainian heritage and also one of tornado hunter Chris Chittick showing extreme weather conditions with tornadoes and hurricanes in the United States and Canada.
It was a great day with clubs getting together in the hopes of making the future better for seniors.
The seniors held their monthly meeting in the Do Drip In April 8. Most memberships have been paid up. Albert Huys gave the financial report in the absence of his wife. The report from the SSAI regional meeting was given. Cards were on hand for Jack Stewart and Maurice Bru, who always took part in the shuffleboard tournaments, and will be missing this year. Thanks were expressed to Trudy Janssens and Vivianne Lesko for supplying and showing the videos at the SSAI regional meeting. Guests are coming from Edam to the Do Drop In April 20 for a noon meal and afternoon of games. The walkathon sheets were handed out so we can each keep track of activities that count as miles walked. The next meeting will be held May 13 at 10:30 a.m.
A shuffleboard tournament was held at the Do Drop In April 9. Top scores in order were Linda Ard and Nestor Fransoo, Eric Callbeck and Arlene Walker and Wally Mack and Maureen Campbell. It was a splendid day of fellowship, noon lunch and games.
Canasta was played at the Do Drop In April 8, with 18 folks on hand. Top score was by David Ottas and Vern Iverson. Second were Eric Callbeck and Bob Lesko and third were Nestor Fransoo and Joyce Luckey. There will be canasta again April 15 at 1:30 p.m., as the Norwegian whist is cancelled for that day.
Another pioneer from the Medstead district who passed April 2 was Nora (Heyden) Starling at 91 years. Her service was held April 10 in Medstead. One of the pioneers from the Junor district, south of Chitek Lake, passed April 7, in North Battleford. Service for 96-year-old James Fedun will be held in St. Joseph's Catholic Church April 22 at 11 a.m.
Spring Dart Classic
Friday night the Meota Curling Club hosted their annual Spring Dart Classic, a showcase of the top dart throwers in the greater Meota area.
The women's division, featured a competitive field of 14 dart throwers that had two past champions, Chelsea Iverson and Teresa Ducharme, hoping to regain their title. In the A event, Tina Schaefer defeated Shelby Harper, Jen Cadrain, Huguette Johnson and Ashley Zyznomirski to qualify for the final. Brenda Mohr, who was the runner up to Iverson in 2018, had to take the scenic route to qualify for the final having to beat Harper, Codie Clarke and Iverson. In the best-of-three final, Schaefer won in two games to claim the highest achievement that can be bestowed on a recreational dart player in the village of Meota.
The men's division, featuring 24 athletes, witnessed St. Walburg born and raised Evan Schmidt come out of the A event after shocking upsets to Derrick Schaefer, Marcel Bernier and Trenton Clarke. Spectators witnessed an incredible upset earlier in the night as Bernier defeated two-time defending champion Ron Clarke. In the B event, a remarkable run was seen from James St. Marie, as he defeated Mark Harper in a tightly contested B final to earn a spot in the championship match. St. Marie's Cinderella run came to end in two legs in the final match, as Schmidt defeated him to claim his first career darts win.
