After reading the recently published Okotokian Winter 2019 magazine, I felt compelled to publicly commend the Western Wheel team on the breadth and quality of the stories included in this edition. While all of the articles were of some interest, two in particular resonated with me.
At Home on the Range written by Tammy Rollie tells a behind the scenes story of the annual cattle drives we witness on a regular basis along Highway 546 west of Turner Valley. Although losing livestock to predators is one of the risks of grazing them on forestry land, I was disturbed to learn that two cows and two calves were killed by vehicles last season. These losses for both ranchers and motorists can easily be prevented by slowing down while driving in Kananaskis Country and being prepared for sudden stops after crossing the first Texas gate. In addition to cattle, bighorn sheep abound.
I could also relate to Between the Pipes (Remy Greer), having played the position and then coached in the stand-up goalie era. Although the butterfly style has now become standard with much bigger athletes covering more net, one thing that hasn’t changed is the mental toughness required to be successful. Today’s goalies are generally well-coached compared to bygone years, another positive development for current netminders.
Keep up the great work in story selection for this periodical magazine. I look forward to reading the next edition.
Jim Little
Turner Valley
