The Times - Friday, December 30, 2016 A7
As we look forward to 2017 … the Assiniboia Times would like to reflect on important community events in 2016 Many important events happened in Assiniboia and the surrounding communities during 2016. This issue of the Assiniboia Times covers the months January to March. In the next issue on January 6, the remainder of the year will be reviewed. January Sports made the headlines in the first month of 2016. The Assiniboia junior men’s curling team made it to the second Pool A tiebreaker game. Although they ended up being eliminated from the tournament, the team provided splendid curling action. New faces came to Assiniboia in January. The Assiniboia and District Public Library welcomed a new librarian Olamaie Christie. The Town of Assiniboia unveiled its new business directory on its website. Town Council announced its 2016 council appointments. Representation from town council is required on several local committees. Some of the individual accomplishments noted in the Assiniboia Times in January were Trent and Tracy Richards’ trip to Germany to participate in Agritechnica, the world’s biggest trade fair for agricultural equipment. In the surrounding communities, Bengough Credit Union opened a location in Willow Bunch in January. This brings financial services twice a week to Willow Bunch residents who had to travel to Assiniboia and other locations for financial services. February February was a month when volunteer efforts shined and sporting achievements hit new heights. Assiniboia lost an agricultural icon this month. It was reported that Viterra confirmed it would dismantle the old grain elevator on First Avenue. Crews began demolition in mid-February. The elevator was first opened in 1976 and had a 150,000 bushel capacity. The Assiniboia Composite High School senior girls basketball team played its annual Pink Game on February 5. The We the Pink tournament raised more than $5,000. The Junior Rebels finished off the season in second place in the South Division. It was one of the best seasons in several years. The Assiniboia high school curling team, Team Gronsdahl, moved on to the provincial finals following a district curling event at the Assiniboia Curling Club. Rounding out the month’s sporting highlights, six Assiniboia high school football players joined the South Saskatchewan Selects for an international tour in February. The arts scene remained active in the winter months. Luke McMaster and his band brought his Motown sound to Assiniboia in February. The Shurniak Gallery announced the winner of its “Name the New Painting” contest. It was won by Pastor Doug Miner, who called it “Be Still and Remember”. This painting of a prairie scene was the collaborative effort of all the artists who participated in a summer art retreat. The Festival of Trees committee donated $30,000 to the South Country Health Care Foundation and to the Prince of Wales Centre. The Assiniboia Gun and Hobby Show ran at the Prince of Wales Centre and welcomed almost 500 visitors. This show has been running for the past 15 years and featured guns and hunting equipment. In town news, changes to the Blue Bin program meant that glass jars and bottles could now be given for recycling. Members of Town Council attended the SUMA convention in Regina. March March brought more remarkable volunteer activity. The Telemiracle Foundation marked its 40th year in early March. The Assiniboia Kinsmen and Kinettes raised a total $45,922.47 to donate to the Telemiracle Foundation. They made the official cheque presentation during Telemiracle on March 5-6 in Regina. Another fundraising effort, the Firefighters Ball, was a success in Assiniboia. The event raised $10,000 that would go towards the new rescue chassis for the Fire Department. Assiniboia residents made their mark locally and worldwide this month. The movie Deadpool opened in Assiniboia’s Olympia theatre featuring Assiniboia native Style Dayne as Jeremy the pizza guy. He moved to Vancouver in 2010 to pursue an acting career. On the local front, Assiniboia area farmer Gordon Broeder won the Clayton Young memorial award to recognize his lifetime volunteerism to the Wildlife Federation. The last of the old Viterra grain elevator came down in March. On the political front, Premier Wall called a spring election in the Legislative Assembly. This month saw candidates begin campaigning in Wood River. A number of sports champions were crowned in March. The Senior Rebels captured the 2015-2016 Noteku League title defeating the Gravelbourg Hornets. The Wood River IceCats Bantam B female hockey team became provincial champions after they beat the Drake Ice Cats. Assiniboia’s U18 curling team won the provincial curling championship.
Town of Assiniboia
Photo by Wes Bloom
An aerial photo of the Town of Assiniboia during a bright fall day.
Fall harvest rush
Photo by Wes Bloom
Wet conditions kept producers off the fields in September and October. Dry warming weather in November allowed combined to get out onto the fields.
St. Victor Petroglyphs
Photo by Wes Bloom
The Friends of the St. Victor Petroglyphs spent the late spring on preservation work for this historic site.
A10 Friday, December 30, 2016 - The Times
A look back at Town Council in 2016
Submitted by Mayor Bob Himbeault The year 2016 was a busy one for the Town of Assiniboia Council and administration. The year started with council and administration working to complete the operational and capital budgets for the year. Once it was completed, there was an increase of 1.9 per cent. Included in the budget process was a discussion to adjust the water and sewer utility rates to reflect the cost of operation. These new rates came into effect on July 16, 2016. Also included was an administrative fee for the utilities of $0.36 per day plus an infrastructure charge of a $1.00 per day. There were several capital projects which included sewer relining of three blocks of Third Avenue East, the purchase of two used trucks to add to the town’s fleet, Olympia Ice Resurfacer and a landfill scale which will be installed in 2018. The mayor, council and CAO attended the annual SUMA Convention from January 31 to February 3, with some additional meetings held. A meeting was held with the Ministry of Environment to discuss the issue of the abandoned tire plant. Also, Assiniboia Mayor Himbeault and the Mayor of Coronach Trevor Schnell met with the Ministry of Health to discuss doctor recruitment and health services for the Assiniboia area. Mayor Himbeault and Councillor Jody Juell attended the grand opening of the new MRI unit at the new Regional Hospital in Moose Jaw on February 11. The annual Fireman’s Ball was held on February 27. Proceeds from this annual event have gone towards a new truck cab and chassis for Assiniboia’s Rescue Unit. This was purchased and put into service this year. The annual Volunteer Recognition Awards were presented on April 12 to the urban, rural and youth award winners. The town also took this opportunity to
partner with the Five Hills Health Region to recognize all the numerous community volunteers. This year marked the launch of the new Community Investment Incentive Policy which includes the following: New commercial and industrial construction tax abatement, new commercial and industrial expansion and addition tax abatement, manufacturing business in commercial and industrial zones, main street revitalization grant, public art grant and new residential construction tax abatement. The year 2016 saw building permit values of $1.5 million for residential, commercial and industrial construction. The splash park opened on May 23 in the town of Assiniboia with an expanded splash pad. Also in May, the council welcomed two new doctors to Assiniboia, Dr. Eric Moore and Dr. Joan Odiagah. The town also bid farewell to Dr. Amil Malik and Dr. Akram Khalil. Dr. S. Bahodi and officials from the Five Hills Health Region toured Assiniboia’s community. Once Dr. Bahodi completes all assessments on September 30, he should arrived in the community in late January 2017 Council members attended the SafeSask convention in June. Then-Mayor of Humboldt Malcolm Eaton, who was part of a three-person panel speaking of safety, announced that he was pleased that the Town of Assiniboia, Safe Communities Assiniboia and the Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce were in attendance as new charter members. After signing the charter, a team photo was taken of Tammy Beaubien, Glen Hall, Rodney Frank and Carol White. The only other town that is currently a charter member of SafeSask is Big River, which were the winner of a Mission Zero Award this year. Assiniboia Town Council and administration continue to work with various regional partners such as the Assiniboia Regional Economic Alliance, South Cen-
Busy year for Town Council
A charter was signed at the SaskSask Convention in June 2016. From left are Tammy Beaubien, Safe Communities Assiniboia; Carol White and Rodney Frank, Town of Assiniboia; and Glen Hall, Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce. tral Transportation Planning Commission, South Central Municipal Association, South Central Protective Services, Doctor Recruitment, Assiniboia and District Historical Society, Assiniboia and District Chamber of Commerce, Safe Communities, In Motion and numerous others. Following the fall municipal election, a new council took its Oath of Office on November 7, 2016. The Town received a $10,000 grant from SaskCulture to begin cultural planning. The first project was to create a cultural asset inventory and map. Community stakeholder meetings were held in November. Council met with a contracted engineering firm to discuss options for an infrastructure grant application. It was decided to apply for funding to upgrade Assiniboia’s water treatment plant which includes UV treatment, improved chemical
The best sports chuckles from 2016
A collection of 2016’s best quotes, notes and anecdotes from January through June: Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald: “Chicago Bears offensive lineman Kyle Long gave Bears’ tickets to the trash collector who found his wallet. The trash collector said: ‘Uh, got any Panthers’ tickets?’ ” Headline at fark.com: “NFL can’t remember promising to fund concussion research.” Comedy writer Bill Williams: “Jeff Gordon, NASCAR driver has retired from racing. His first week at home wasn’t so smooth. His wife gave him a stop-and-go penalty for leaving the toilet seat up.” Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va., on the hazardous water readings at the Rio Olympic sites: “There hasn’t been that much chemical contamination found in a body of water since Barry Bonds peed in his pool.” RJ Currie of sportsdeke. com: “Long-time Washington
Huskies rowing coach Bob Ernst was fired after being given a choice: Change your ways or lose your job. In rowing parlance: either-oar.” Brad Dickson, after a Stanford lineman proposed to his girlfriend after his team’s 4516 Rose Bowl win: “The way things went that day, she was dating an Iowa lineman when the game started.” From BorowitzReport. com: “Cleveland fans apply to relocate Browns to Los Angeles.” Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle: “Donald Trump says NFL football has gone soft, a bunch of nambypambies no longer allowed the constitutional freedom to use their heads as battering rams. That’s easy for Trump to say. He goes through life with his head protected by a large, orange bale of hay.” Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg: “Former Pittsburgh Steeler receiver, Antwaan Randle-El said he wishes he never played football because he is experiencing memory loss. When asked what he would have done instead, Randle-El said; ‘Instead of what?’” Randy Turner of the Winnipeg Free Press, on Twitter: “Shawn Horcoff getting busted for taking performance enhancing drugs is not a good endorsement for performance enhancing drugs.” Late-night TV funnyman Conan O’Brien: “Gisele Bundchen shared a picture of Tom Brady after he lost the NFL playoffs. It was a heartbreaking photograph of a handsome man being con-
soled by a Brazilian supermodel.” Dickson: “The Cleveland Browns have named a new coach. This time they just called a temp agency.” Alex Kaseberg, on the Broncos encountering a bus mishap and a player getting nabbed in a prostitution sting less than 48 hours after arriving for the Super Bowl: “Apparently their tour guide was Charlie Sheen.” RJ Currie: “Flames defenceman Dennis Wideman said his cross-check knockdown of an unsuspecting ref wasn’t intentional. I’ve seen zebras felled by lions that looked more accidental.” Brad Dickson, on the Belgian cyclist who got caught with a hidden motor in her bike: “Other competitors got suspicious when she pulled into Jiffy Lube during a race.” Norman Chad of the Washington Post, referring to Steph Curry’s outstanding season: “He’s Picasso and everyone else is painting-by-numbers.” David Whitley of the Orlando Sentinel: ”During the FIFA elections, outgoing president Sepp Blatter announced he won’t endorse any particular candidate until all bribes have been formally submitted to his office.” A zinger from the leftcoastsportsbabe: “Denny Hamlin won the Daytona 500 by just six inches. Not surprisingly, men who saw the photo thought it was more like a foot.” RJ Currie: “With all due respect to the Scotties and Brier curling teams from northern Ontario, it doesn’t send a posi-
Photo by Bob Himbeault
tive message when the back of your shirts say “NO.” Norman Chad, on LSU basketball player Ben Simmons and his lack of attention to academics: “Seriously, if you gave him GPS, a photo of the campus library and sat him down on the library steps with a librarian, he couldn’t find the library.” Alex Kaseberg: “People are either excited about the NCAA tournament or oblivious. When I told a woman I had Gonzaga falling out of my brackets, she suggested I take Imodium.” Late-night funnyman Conan O’Brien: “President Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro watched a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban national baseball team. The Rays won, so the Cuban team was sent to prison.” RJ Currie of sportsdeke. com: “Maria Sharapova’s failed drug test led to the loss of several sponsors: TAG Heuer called time out; Porsche put on the brakes; Nike chose to just not do it.” Norman Chad again: “LeBron James unfollowed the Cleveland Cavaliers last week on Twitter, which apparently was the equivalent of the Pope skipping Easter Sunday Mass for a bingo tournament.” Reader Andy, to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, on the local QB situation: “Now that Robert Griffin is a Brown, will his new nickname be ‘RG III and out’?” Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel: “My operatives tell me that NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. got fellow
feed systems and replacement of the high lift pumps. This work will enable council to meet new water quality guidelines upcoming in 2020. Council also included the extension of the New Willows pipeline from Perrin Dam to the water treatment plant. This section was not completed on the original project. The total cost of these projects are estimated to be $2.2 million dollars, of which the town’s share would be 25 per cent or 33.3 per cent depending on the specific program. Council approved this project at their November 21 meeting. Council also had a presentation in November by a renewable energy company which is planning to submit their projects to SaskPower in early 2017. SaskPower is showing more interest in wind power. Council also discussed the potential for solar power. These projects will have a huge economic impact on the region if the company is successful in its application.
sports column by Bruce Penton
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
driver Danica Patrick the same Valentine’s Day gift as always: A dozen long-stemmed socket wrenches.” From Dwight Perry’s Sideline Chatter in the Seattle Times, quoting from USA Today: “Give-and-take between Bubba Watson and a Masters fan, after Watson sliced a drive into the trees and tried to address his ball: Watson: ‘Can you back up? You’re really not supposed to be back here.’ Fan: ‘Neither is your ball.’ Watson: ‘I don’t know about you, but I have two green jackets. Thanks for coming.’” Alex Kaseberg: “Johnny Manziel was dumped by his agent. This officially makes Manziel the most disappointing Heisman Trophy winner who has not murdered two people.” Kaseberg: “The Boston Marathon was swept by three Ethiopians. ‘This is a shocking, shocking upset,’ said three Kenyans.” ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel, to QB Jared Goff, welcoming the Rams’ No. 1 draft pick to L.A.: “Do you have a girlfriend? Can we get you a Kardashian or something like that?” Dwight Perry, calling this the ‘Tweet of the Week’: “From Pacers media-relations director David Benner: “Got a call from TMZ regarding someone named Drake and antics during Game 5. I am 60. Who is Drake? If Simon & Garfunkel act up, call.” Perry: “Corpulent Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. But on the
bright side, at least it wasn’t his eating arm.” Headline at SportsPickle. com: “Stablemates concerned after American Pharoah spends another weekend partying with Johnny Manziel.” Cote, after Arizona Coyotes hired 26-year-old John Chayka as its general manager, the youngest GM in NHL history: “Chayka immediately traded a future firstround draft pick for four killer tickets to Pearl Jam.” Comic Torben Rolfsen, on the Heat’s Dwyane Wade taking jumpers during the playing of “O Canada” before Game 3 in Miami: “Can Americans please stop shooting for just a couple of minutes?” Alex Kaseberg, after Exaggerator won the Preakness Stakes by 3½ lengths: “Of course, he said he won by seven lengths.” Randy Turner of the Winnipeg Free Press, on Twitter: “The optimism of Bombers opening camp always reminds me of the times Lucy asks Charlie Brown if he wants to kick the football.” Headline at TheOnion. com: “Michael Phelps’ fiancée gives birth to healthy 6-pound tadpole.” Dave Stubbs, on Twitter, on a favourite Howe story: “Gordie came into the dressing room, needing stitches for a pretty deep cut. He was in a rush. He told the doctor, ‘you don’t need gloves, just stitch me up. And don’t go very far because the guy who did this will be coming in soon.’”
Bruce Penton has been writing about sports for more than 40 years and has been circulating a weekly sports column to Prairie community newspapers since 2008. After 27 years in the community newspaper industry in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Penton is now assistant managing editor of the Medicine Hat News.