Regional News-Optimist January 19, 2023

Nicole Cook sentenced, pleads guilty to Tiki Laverdiere’s death

Eligible for parole July 31, 2029

By Lisa Joy SASKTODAY.ca

A woman charged in the death of 25-year-old Tiki Laverdiere of Edmonton pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter in Battleford Court of King’s Bench Friday of last week and was handed a life sentence.

Nicole Cook, 39, of Edmonton, was scheduled for a jury trial in March on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a body, and theft of a vehicle. The trial isn’t necessary after Cook’s guilty plea to manslaughter.

“The Crown accepted that plea,” defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle told SASKTODAY.ca. “She will be eligible for parole July 31, 2029. We are grateful that this matter is now concluded and the remaining charges against her were stayed by the Crown.”

Pfefferle, and co-counsel Amy Kolenick, entered an agreed statement of facts with Crown Prosecutor Chris Browne and Charlotte Morden Friday. Justice Krista Zerr presided.

Cook has been in custody since she was arrested July 31, 2019, in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.

She is the ninth of the 10 accused to be sentenced. There is a ban on the publication of all preliminary hearings, trials, and sentencing hearings until the trials of all those charged are concluded. The only remaining accused to go to trial is 26-yearold Jesse Sangster from Edmonton. His judge alone trial that was scheduled for Jan. 9 didn’t proceed. Instead, it went to case management on Jan. 13.

Browne told SASKTODAY.ca that Sangster discharged his lawyer and the matter will be brought back before Battleford Court of King’s Bench in February.

Laverdiere was reported missing to Battlefords RCMP on May 12, 2019, and one month later, RCMP announced that her disappearance was the result of foul play and they would be investigating her death as a homicide.

On July 11, 2019, a police dog found Laverdiere’s remains in a rural area outside of North Battleford while RCMP were conducting a ground search.

Laverdiere was in Saskatchewan April 2019 for the funeral of 20-year-old Tristen Cook-Buckle on Thunderchild First Nation.

2023

The snow can sometimes be a trial, but it can also be a wonder. One home in North Battleford is proof. | Photos submitted by Murray Lindquist

Who or what is Glory Mount?

By Miguel Fenrich Staff Reporter

Years ago, the late librarian and historian Vi Loscombe tried to uncover the history behind the name Glory Mount, situated south of Battleford on either side of the old Highway 4, one of the oldest subdivisions in the RM of Battle River.

So, where does the name come from?

She tracked down the oldest map of the district, and Loscombe found an area southwest of Government House hill named Glory Mount. She believes it was possibly named Glory Mount in esteem of the Lieutenant Governor, who arrived at the capital of the North West Territories in 1876.

But it may have also been named not only for the Lieutenant Governor and his tutor but three stipendiary magistrates — Richardson, Ryan and MacLeod, who lived in the area. Or possibly the registrar of Land Titles or A.P. Forget, the clerk of the council who travelled from the east with the Lieutenant Governor.

Regardless, one resident of Glory Mount, Walter Degenstein, was instrumental in jump-starting

the process of adding signage that will hopefully save lives and help people remember that the subdivision even exists.

A few years ago, Degenstein wondered why there were no signs like other subdivisions and worried about the likelihood of emergency services finding him or other residents since several properties exist on one-quarter of the land.

“I mean, now that some of us are getting up there in age, you know, and with the rash of break-ins, and vehicle thefts, I got to thinking, ‘if I wanted to call for an ambulance or for the RCMP, how do I explain to them where I live?’”

He also wonders where the name comes from.

“There was this area of land set aside … which was going to be kind of a specific area, I suppose where some of the “elite” would have lived … there might be six or seven acreages on a specific area of land.

“There were people in the area who had no idea that Glory Mount existed. It’s probably the oldest subdivision in the area that nobody knows about. Everybody knows about West Park, right? Even Eagle Ridge Estates has a sign on the highway.”

Johnson at the RM of Battle River office and suggested they designate numbered signs for everyone living in Glory Mount.

The proposal served two purposes: making people aware of the subdivision while revising the old name and providing a house number in the event of an emergency.

Regenstein is sure he’s the first person to broach the subject. At first, he was skeptical that he would be taken seriously, but they seemed to be on board with it. He even offered to pay for the sign himself, but the RM stepped up and provided all the signs.

“That’s basically where the Town of Battleford ends … now when someone asks where I live, I say, ‘In Glory Mount.’”

So I guess it’s time to ask the same question that Loscombe asked, albeit almost 40 years later. How did Glory Mount get its name? The answer remains the same.

Now, when you drive up government hill and continue along the old Highway Four, you’ll notice a sign that reminds you that you’re entering the subdivision of Glory Mount, even if no one knows what it means.

NB liquor permit on auction Feb. 14

By John Cairns SASKTODAY.ca

Auctions to sell the permits associated with the soon-to-be-closed SLGA retail stores will begin on Feb. 6.

McDougall Auction

will be conducting the online auctions, which will be staggered with final auctions happening starting Feb. 15. According to the province, these will be held in real time at https:// mcdougallauction.com/ new.

There will be six auction groupings and the online auctions will take place over a period of 10 days. Auction Group 5 running Feb. 14-23 includes Regina, Saskatoon, North Battleford, Weyburn, Humboldt and La Ronge.

These auctions are for the permits only, with no buildings, fixtures or inventory are included in the sale; 35 permits will be up for bid from private bidders: The auctions are for the retail store permits only; no assets, inventory or buildings are included.

The province says each auction is open for 10 days and will take place in real time, with bids visible as they are made. There will be a website open to members of the public who can follow the bidding process as it unfolds.

Degenstein approached Betty

The sign that signals the start of the Glory Mount subdivision south of Battleford. | Photo by Miguel Fenrich

Sask. Hospital legacy trail proposal presented to North Battleford council

By John Cairns SASKTODAY.ca

A proposal to commemorate the former Saskatchewan Hospital with a legacy trail went before North Battleford council’s Planning Committee this week.

At the meeting Monday at Don Ross Centre, council heard from representa-

tives of the Northwest Historical Society about the proposal.

Joseph Campbell made the presentation to the meeting Monday with the proposal to develop the legacy trail.

The Legacy Trail would commemorate the former hospital which stood on the site to North Battleford’s southeast until its demoli-

tion in 2021.

Campbell said the legacy trail would honour the history and also provide a venue for recreation and fitness.

“The Legacy Trail will weave memories of the past with the present and honour stories of the old Hospital and the community who have walked the grounds through the years,” Campbell said.

The plan is for a paved trail of about 400 metres that guides visitors past a series of interpretative pedestals. Those will present stories about the original Hospital, including doctors, nurses, staff and patients.

Other stories will include the Indigenous history, stories of changes and improvement in mental health care, and stories of the architecture and stonework.

The trail would lead to the chapel, which stands as the last surviving architec-

tural link to the past on the grounds. The hope is for a courtyard to be developed in that area.

There are plans for a central plaza which will feature a monument built with bricks collected from the hospital’s iconic smokestack that also came down in the demolition.

Campbell said thousands of bricks were saved for the project, including the top 16-feet of bricks from the smokestack. Fundraising efforts are to focus on the donation of bricks engraved with names or messages built in to the project.

with the town in December.

A fundraising effort launched last fall, with a goal to raise $750,000 towards the effort. Contributions would go to engrave a hospital brick for $250 or a smokestack brick for $500, and there are larger contributions being sought towards building a bench, building 50 metres of trail, and building a pedestal.

trail including Councillor Len Taylor, but he also urged a cautious approach.

North Battleford names new engineering director

By John Cairns SASKTODAY.ca

NORTH BATTLEFORD - The City of North Battleford has announced an addition to its senior leadership team.

They announced last week that James Johansen will take on the role of Director of Engineering, Planning, Asset Management and Infrastructure.

Johansen starts his new role Jan. 16 and arrives from southeastern Alberta. According to the city’s news release, he will oversee the four divisions listed in his job title.

His experience includes an over 27 years

career with municipalities and engineering consulting firms, primarily providing expertise in engineering-related services to municipalities, according to the City.

According to his LinkedIn profile Johansen previously was Superintendant of Engineering Services for the City of Medicine Hat for almost eight years, and later was Director of Planning and Engineering for the Town of Redcliff. He also held positions at private engineering firms including his most recent role with Martin Geomatic Consultants Ltd.

“I look forward to get-

ting to know the people of North Battleford as I serve in this assignment. I appreciate that there will be challenges and hope we will work together to overcome them and make North Battleford a better community,” said Johansen in a statement.

“I’m happy to welcome James to the corporate leadership team,” said City Manager Randy Patrick in a statement. “I am sure he will prove invaluable leadership in moving the city forward with exciting initiatives that maximize the useful life of city assets and provide the best value possible for our taxpayers.”

Other partners include from Saskatchewan Health Authority, SaskBuilds regarding the potential transfer of land to the city from the province, and the Town of Battleford. The legacy trail committee had met

The request that came Monday at Planning Committee was for the city to act as ambassadors for the project and identify the legacy trail in the Battlefords River Valley Master Plan, as well as to provide ongoing maintenance and also advice and assistance regarding design and development of the trail. A financial contribution from the City was also sought.

Members of council expressed support for the

He pointed out discussions between the city and province on the transfer of the land may go on for a considerable time. Also unclear is how much the city’s financial commitment to the property will ultimately be, with Taylor saying there were “a lot of moving parts.”

“We all need to have a great deal of patience, much as we want everything to move swiftly and quickly,” said Taylor.

The indication is the next step for council will be continued discussions and dialogue with the group regarding the legacy trail progress, with the city pledging to update them on the progress of their discussions with the province regarding the land.

Joseph Campbell presents to Planning Committee on the proposed Sask. Hospital Legacy Trail. | Photo by John Cairns

A map outlining where the proposed legacy trail will run at the Sask. Hospital grounds.

A depiction of what the legacy trail and interpretative pedestals on the Sask. Hospital grounds will look like, as seen in the Planning Committee package circulated at Monday’s meeting.

2022 the year net-zero fantasy ran smack into hard reality

By Gwyn Morgan

Last year my year-end column, Fossil-fuel follies, hypocrisy and ignorance plague us all, focused on the bizarre impacts of the Great March Greenward by net-zero zealots intent on replacing the 84 per cent of global energy supplied by fossil fuels with electricity from windmills and solar panels.

Some effects were so ridiculous as to be almost humorous.

As 2022 made painfully clear, however, there’s nothing at all funny about the enormous damage currently being inflicted by pursuing this technically impossible goal.

Germany’s ill-conceived decision to shut down its zero-emission nuclear plants and replace them with unreliable wind and solar power left it no alternative but to import Russian natural gas. Russia’s contemptible invasion of Ukraine left Germany with a classic Hobson’s choice: either help fund the murderous invasion or devastate its own citizens’ economic and personal wellbeing. Realizing the enormous power Germany’s need for Russian gas gave him, Russian President Vladimir Putin cut back gas flows, driving European prices to stratospheric levels.

Events this year also demonstrated the impact of another fossil fuel folly that handed the Russian dictator enormous power. Years of net-zero-inspired policies reduced oil supply replacement in Western countries, leaving markets dependent on the so-called “OPEC+ Coalition,” of which Russia is a key member. The Ukraine crisis revealed just how narrow the global oil supply margin has become. Then came the shocking news that most of that thin margin was in Putin’s hands.

Western countries were already producing at full capacity – except for Canada, that is, though we have the world’s third-largest oil reserves. Urgent calls went out for Canada’s help in lifting Putin’s stranglehold on the oil supply. But to no avail: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had presided over a seven-year anti-oil industry pogrom, thwarting multiple export pipelines that could have helped supply countries now dependent on Putin’s blood oil.

Trudeau’s shameful answer to those calls for help revealed our country as an impotent imposter on the global stage. During his trip to Latvia in March, a reporter asked whether Canada could help make up for the oil supply reductions. His response: “We will be there to support, as the world moves beyond Russian oil and indeed beyond fossil fuels, to have more renewables in our mix.”

As I wrote at the time, this breathtakingly bizarre answer came as innocent Ukrainians and their beautiful country were being ravaged by a tyrant who was also threatening the world with nuclear Armageddon.

World oil prices soon skyrocketed to a staggering US$120 per barrel. Though they have since fallen, the International Energy Agency projects world oil demand will rise by one million barrels per day annually. The global oil supply/demand margin will continue to be nar-

row, with virtually all of it in the hands of OPEC+.

Oil still fuels over 95 per cent of all transportation of goods and people, with no viable alternative in sight. And the natural gas supply/demand margin is also, and almost certainly will continue to be, narrow.

History will likely see 2022 as the year when net-zero fantasy ran smack into hard reality. The world’s focus now needs to be on avoiding debilitating shortages of fossil fuels.

That doesn’t mean the net-zero crowd will toss in the towel, of course. They will continue to advocate starving the industry of the funds needed to replace, let alone grow, production. But when the cost of driving your car and heating your home starts to squeeze your disposable income, especially as oil-endowed despots continue their predatory behaviour, those net-zero voices will fall on deaf ears.

How ironic that the net-zero fantasy has empowered a despicable despot named Putin. But he has not been the only beneficiary. The net-zero ideologues have also lauded Chinese President Xi Jinping for his promises to reduce emissions. In reality, he has authorized building over 200 carbon-spewing coal-fired power plants to supply cheap power to his factories.

At the same time, North American and European politicians worshipping at the net-zero altar have mandated costly and unreliable wind and solar power genera-

tion and imposed escalating carbon taxes that make it impossible for the West’s factories to compete, leaving consumers no choice but to buy Chinese goods. China then uses those enormous revenues to produce weapons to further its military ambitions.

Who would have imagined that one legacy of the West’s net-zero policies would be two dictators in control of both global energy security and the supply of manufactured goods?

Gwyn Morgan is a retired Canadian Business Leader who has been a director of five global corporations.

© Troy Media

Letters welcome

Letters to the editor are welcomed by the Regional Optimist. All letters, including those which are faxed or emailed, must be signed and bear the address and telephone number of the writer. The name of the writer will be published. Letters are subject to editing. Personal attacks will not be printed. Letters will be rejected if they contain libelous statements or are unsigned.

The commentaries offered on this editorial page are intended to provide thought-provoking material for our readers. Contributors’ articles, cartoons or letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion of any Regional News-Optimist staff.

Prince Harry’s Book

By R.H. Wood North Battleford

Meghan Markle by intent or otherwise has to be given much credit for transforming the fifth in line to the British throne, good time Harry, into a mega celebrity or Meghan celebrity in her mold. Please note I say a celebrity not a star which one has to look up to. Celebrities are shooting stars which shine and then fade away to be replaced by others of equal or lesser significance. So far, I have only

The

WoodPile

provided an index. The full-sized cover photograph depicts someone ill at ease. The enigmatic expression is puzzling as to what mood, attitude or message it is intended to display or convey. The title “Spare” is most unfortunate especially in the U.K. where the word has more than one meaning. For example, “lack of a spare” is driving me “spare”. In Scotland to be “spare in the head” is singularly uncomplimentary. “Todger” also means small.

skipped through some of his book for which the publishers should have

Harry and Meghan at this time are successful

and symbiotic. Meghan is self-made. Harry started life with every imaginable advantage and opportunity. He had a successful military career, no doubt helped by his status –revealing details of this in his book was grossly ill-advised and may have consequences. The two are united at this time but should they drift apart, I imagine Meghan will continue to sparkle while Harry may well become flotsam and sink. The British people should be grateful to Meghan that he has been removed from the U.K. and is unlikely to return and reside there in the near future. One cannot help comparing

Harry to Edward the V11, his great - great uncle who was exiled to France having incurred much displeasure from his family and country.

Not until death did the royals relent and allow Edward and his American divorcee wife permission to return to Britain. Both are buried in the grounds of Frogmore estate which is part of Windsor Great Park. Harry and Meghan lived for a while in Frogmore Cottage dutifully returning the refurbishment monies spent doing it up for them prior to their departure to Canada. Harry selected to be buried at Frogmore should he not survive Afghanistan.

Prince Harry has to be complimented on his charity work as encouraged by his father, and for establishing the Invictus Games which have proved so successful. As for his book, in my opinion, it would have been best left unwritten. Most regrettably, now an erstwhile member of the straited British royal family, he has rendered himself a talk show laughing stock.

Next Wednesday, January the 25th. is Robert Burns day when Scots worldwide honour the memory of their national bard. I think I will re-read some of his best-loved poems instead of more of Harry’s petulant pages.

Commentary: We all pay for grocery theft

By Sylvain Charlebois

Grocery theft has always been a major problem, but with food inflation as it is, shopkeepers now fear the wrongdoers more than before.

In December, some Ontarians visited stores in Trois-Rivières, Que. to steal $4,000 worth of meat. In Sherbrooke, Que. a man was arrested following a shoplifting incident a few days before Christmas, and two other people are still on the loose. They had stolen over $2,000 worth of groceries.

Since they got caught, these thefts were probably perpetrated by amateurs, who may have been already doing this for a while. The volume and the amounts tell us, though, that they were targeting a resale market, likely in the food service industry.

These two cases are obviously known due to media coverage. But most such incidents are handled by store management itself. Cases of grocery store theft are grossly under-reported, and obtaining food theft data is extremely challenging.

Most thefts are in-store, off-the-shelf, of only a few products, and usually thefts by people driven by desperation, negligence, or a mixture of both. But the most troublesome and financially damaging incidents for grocers are those carried out by internal employees. These cases rarely make headlines due to their sensitive nature, as the optics can be embarrassing. Volume and valuation for these cases are usually more important.

Theft, in general, in food retail is taboo. But with the food inflation rate exceeding the prevailing inflation rate for more than a year now, the industry realizes that its theft problem is worse than before.

According to some industry data, an averagesized food retail store in Canada can have between $2,000 and $5,000 worth

of groceries stolen every week. With the relatively narrow profit margins in grocery, this amount is huge. To cover losses, grocers need to raise prices, so in the end, we all pay for grocery theft.

Some stores are increasing security to prevent theft these days. There are certainly security guards at the entrance, but there is also more security personnel dressed in civilian clothes, patrolling the stores all day pretending to do their shopping. It’s a discreet tactic but one that is very effective.

Elsewhere in the world, certain methods are much more visible. Some stores in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere have even installed antitheft alarms directly on certain products, especially on meat cuts, cheese, and confectionery.

No merchant has done the same thing in Canada, at least not yet. But don’t be surprised if you see these devices here in Canada at some point. Also, you can expect more cameras, more surveillance, and more security in general, as your favourite grocer won’t have a choice.

The other challenge facing grocers is selfcheckouts. In a recent sur-

vey by our Lab, more than 65 per cent of consumers now prefer to use a selfcheckout with an order of fewer than 20 items. They are increasingly popular. But monitoring at the point of service is challenging: the technology is still not yet ready to limit theft.

Limiting labour and handling required by the consumer at the exit during the self-checkout process is not easy. Using the smart cart, which calculates everything

automatically, or a giant black box in which we put all our products at checkout and calculate everything in a few seconds can help. Canada, though, is still not there.

The world’s first selfservice supermarket, the Piggly Wiggly, opened in Memphis in 1916. Customers were allowed to visit the aisles on their own. Like today, a customer would receive a basket and choose from the various items they wanted. That was 107 years ago, and,

Valentines In The Woods February 10-12

Ness Creek – 20 kms NE of Big River, is a perfect destination for a Valentine’s getaway in the beautiful boreal forest. It has everything for the active couple or the couple that just wants to snuggle. Check out this winter wonderland at www.discovernesscreek.com and hit the more than 20 kms of walking, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing trails. Enjoy charcuterie and champagne delivered to your cabin, a romantic sleigh ride and sauna for 2 & candlelit dinner.

back then, the greatest fear was also theft.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois

is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University.

© Troy Media

Author’s haunted house inspires horror novel

SASKTODAY.ca

“What Lies in the Valley is a significantly more complicated novel than Blue, because, in this novel, I’m trying to pull together so many different threads,” Miguel A. Fenrich said at his book launch on Friday 13 in North Battleford.

He detailed the paranormal horror, historical fiction, psychological elements, character, plot developments and timelines that all had to come together to make the novel flow smoothly.

“Weaving all of those together so that it actually looked like a book when I was done instead of just rambling was very, very difficult.”

What finally pulled the many drafts together was his stumbling across an accidental first line that he fell in love with.

The first line in his book reads, “Somewhere in the wild, untamed wilderness north of the Foxtail Valley Creek, sits the ancestral home of the McMillian family.”

Originally, he planned for What Lies in the Valley to be his first novel, with the idea stemming from a walk in the pasture behind his house when he was 16 years old. He’d heard that an old homestead used to be on the property and began imagining the lives of the people who lived there, meshing with the real paranormal experiences that he experienced in his own home.

“Our house is haunted. Several ghostly things that happen in my novel have been experienced by a family member or myself.”

The first idea for What Lies in the Valley fol-

lowed Klara as she kept a diary during her descent into madness as ghosts tormented her. Then, he considered a multi-pov novel reminiscent of Game of Thrones and wrote the first chapter from the perspective of Klara’s baby brother. He then considered writing the novel from the first-person perspective of a 90-year-old Klara in a nursing home as the ghosts she survived in her childhood return to haunt her.

None of these ideas worked, and the drafts piled up.

He struggled to imagine that women in the 1920s prairies wore flapper dresses, pearls and peacock feathers. But he also found that there is a gap in photos from the late 1920s.

“It felt like it jumped from 1922 to 1935 ... it drove me insane.”

Then he began to re-

search the trees in Saskatchewan and their absence when homesteaders first arrived in the prairies.

“What really boggles me is the idea of Saskatchewan without trees.”

“I wanted it to have elements of historical fiction, but I realized that I had lost the paranormal, the psychological, and the horror as well. I basically just wrote a thesis instead of a novel … it was so boring; I wrote 16 pages describing a drought!” he said.

He could never work all the threads together.

“It just felt impossible.”

Eventually, the idea came for Blue, and he wrote his first novel during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing him to return to his second novel with new skills and a fresh perspective on writing. Fenrich feels that if he continued to try and write What Lies in the Valley, he probably never would have finished a book.

“I needed to do things, I’m not going to say wrong, but I needed to make mistakes in my writing process, and I needed to mess up character development; I needed to be able to work through a simpler book first before I could tackle a huge undertaking like this.”

Now, he can’t believe he’s published the novel.

“It’s wonderful. It’s a page-turner. Even I sat down and read it, despite reading it so many times, and I blink, and I’m at page 250. It’s insane.”

Zonie Krawchuk (left) and Mark Danczuk (right) of the North Battleford Elks Club, recently presented a cheque for $2,000 to Jane Shury, president of the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at an Open House event.

Each year the SBHOF inducts players into its hall of fame. The deadline for submitting nominations into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame for 2023 is March

15. Contact their office by email at saskbaseballmuseum@ sasktel.net or call 306446-1983 for further information.

| Photo submitted

The president of the Saskatchewan Writer’s Guild, David Schleich, was in attendance at the book launch and offered a few comments.

“We have, in this moment, experienced a young man with a remarkable imagination, a fluency in his style, and it’s quite surprising. My background is in literature, and I can tell you that this young man has a future ... you might make a note in your journals of Friday the 13th, January 2023, you heard Miguel Fenrich read from his books.”

And although when asked how he finishes novels so quickly, and he thinks that morning pages, having novels percolate in his head for years, and a

Baseball in Mind

love of storytelling are all helpful, he has one piece of advice for any budding writer or author.

“...I think what separates people who write from authors is that authors really write. You know what they say about grit, tenacity, or rigorous routines, well, they’re right. You just have to write,” he said.

“Writers write.”

His paranormal psychological horror novel, set in the prairies at the end of the 1920s, follows a German girl and her family as unseen forces attempt to evict them from their isolated home in the Canadian wilderness.

The novel is available for purchase at supernovapress.com or online at amazon.ca.

Miguel Fenrich, pictured with fellow board member and president of the Saskatchewan Writers Guild, David Schleich. | Photo by Brianne Hager

Art Notes Art knows no age

Kathy Smith Battlefords Art Club

“You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis

Happy New Year to one and all. It’s 2023 and the start of a new year of painting and learning new things and new techniques. Come join us Tuesdays at the Craft Room in the Don Ross Centre. New beginnings and new opportunities. Develop your inner artistic being. We all have the ability to express our emotions so come meet fellow artists and start the New Year in a positive and fulfilling way.

BECCPN: Jan. 27 is Family Literacy Day

Submitted

BECCPN

The Battlefords Early Childhood Community Planning Network (BECCPN) wants you to know that Jan. 27 is Family Literacy Day!

It is a day to focus on the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family. It reminds us to take time every day to read or do a learning activity with children because

it is crucial to their development and can dramatically improve their literacy skills. Also, it can help parents improve their skills, too. Teaching your child a love of books, talking with various sounds, asking them questions and telling them stories are all ways in which you can help form a foundation for lifelong learning.

This year’s theme is Celebrate your Heritage. Some things you could do are: cook a traditional rec-

ipe, look at a map and talk about where your relatives once lived, read a story –ask your library for books about your heritage, listen to traditional music or maybe you have some ideas of your own to try. These activities can be a fun way of bringing your family together, to learn, laugh and grow.

Our committee members work together in the Battlefords to support literacy in various ways. One example is the

Literacy Project that is led by KidsFirst and Battleford River Treaty 6 Health Centre and assisted by other community partners with BECCPN.

Several times a year the project provides books and activities to organizations and at events so young children can have a new book and activity to take home with

the goal of enhancing literacy for the children and their families.

With family literacy, all of the little things can add up to make a big difference. Singing, talking, writing, reading and playing all increase literacy which includes building confidence, vocabulary and other important skills. Engage your child in face-

to-face talk. For babies, any time is a good time to talk, sing or rhyme with them. Use simple phrases and talk in your home language.

What will you do to focus on family literacy on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023?

For more information regarding this network please call 306-446 4545 or 306-446 6443

Artists meet every Tuesday at the Don Ross Centre craft room. | Photos submitted

LOCAL MATTERS.

Remember that time when sponsored your Church fundraiser?

The role local businesses play in thriving local communities cannot be overstated. Vibrant downtown areas that feature independently owned shopping, dining and entertainment options help distinguish communities from surrounding towns and generate tax revenue that is ultimately funneled back into the community.

Remember when Facebook bought a case of Girl Guide Cookies to support your daughter?

Many local business owners are active members in their communities, which made it even more heartbreaking to see so many locally owned establishments struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as the world gradually began to emerge from the pandemic, more than half of our local business owners expected their struggles to continue.

Remember when provided free pizza to your son or daughter’s soccer team when they won the championship?

Neither do we!

Local Businesses and their owners are the heart of our town. They live here. They play here. They invest here. They need our support, now more than ever. Whenever Possible – Shop The Battlefords!

Shopping at our local businesses keeps those establishments afloat, and it keeps their employees afloat. In Canada, 68.8% of the total labour force works for a small business. A person may never know when he or she –or a relative – will need a job. Keeping small business viable provides a strong market for our community.

Support our local businesses. When you buy from a local store, all of the money stays in the Battlefords and

306-445-7261 • www.newsoptimist.ca

306-445-7261 • SASKTODAY.ca

These are the people that support your local teams, donate to your special event and support our non-profits.

Investing in Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Across Saskatchewan

Over $1 million dollars will be invested in 62 communities through the Provincial Traffic Safety Fund Grant to support traffic safety initiatives. A total of 557 community traffic safety projects have been funded since the Provincial Traffic Safety Fund was established in 2019.

Applications are open for the next round of funding; the deadline to apply is March 31, 2023.

For more information, visit SGI’s website: sgi.sk.ca/community-grants-programs

306-445-5195

306-893-2619

Hon.

306-747-3422

Meota and District News: Playground committee raising funds

By Lorna Pearson Correspondent

The bridge players met Jan.10 in the Pioneer Center where two tables were in individual play. Tied for first were Donna Scherman and Cletus Scherman. Third was Catriona Winterholt. Jan. 12, there were again two tables and individual play. First was Margaret Dyck, second Donna Sherman and the other six were tied for third place.

On the morning of Jan. 13, a dozen seniors met in the Dew Drop In for their monthly meeting. In the absence of president, Eric Callbeck, the meeting was chaired by vice-president Vivianne Lesko. Secretary Gewn Lacerte read the minutes of the December meeting and Carol Huys gave the financial report. The library reported that one customer saved over $5,000. by using their local library. The floor has been shampooed and looks much better. No new chairs have been purchased, as yet. The DVDs are on hand for Monday afternoon showing. Copies of the village’s newsletter, covering items of the past year, were shared. The poster by the new Meota Playground Committee was shared showing their project which will be built east of the community hall. They are accepting donations any time at the village office.

Shuffleboard tournaments are held once a month, on the second Saturday, September to May. Shirley Ward informed the crowd that the Shrove Tuesday pancake supper will be held on Feb.21, in the Do Drop In, World Day of Prayer will be held on March 3, at the Do Drop In. The next meeting will be Feb, 10, at 10 a.m.

Canasta was held in the Do Drop In Jan. 13, with four tables in play. Top score went to Dave Ottas and Gwen Lacerte. Second were Janice Morton and Karn Kelly and third were Arlene Walker and Lorna Pearson.

A shuffleboard tournament was held Jan. 14 in the Do Drop In, with 20 participants. Play started at 9:30 a.m. and finished at 4 p.m. The top score went to Linda Ard and Svend Christiansen. In second place were Cora Christiansen and Donna Lambert and third were Maureen Campbell and Albert Huys. It was well organized by Nestor Fransoo. A delicious potluck luncheon was enjoyed by everyone, including pea soup and chili and a variety of salads. There was a big birthday cake honouring Nestor, whose birthday was the day before. Maybe the best of all was the social association that comes with such a gathering. When not playing shuffleboard, several other games

were enjoyed and lots of visiting took place. The next games will be held Feb. 11..

Week 6 Recap

By Derek Welford -

The Kirsten Bru rink was going northbound on a southbound freeway as their unbeaten streak came to a screeching halt at the hands of the Evan Schmidt rink. Schmidt scored two in the eighth end to win 8-7 in an upset that sent shockwaves throughout the league and was felt as far away as Cavalier.

Randy Orchison, showed no signs of rust coming off a bye week as his rink knocked off the heavily favored Gil Cadrin team in a stunning 9-5 win.

The greater Prince area has been waiting all year for the matchup between the Sharp brothers, Randy and Colin. Knowing the magnitude of importance this game held, Colin recruited Don Johnson and Jason Buziak to substitute curl. Along with generational talent Bob Barkowich, Colin Sharp and company took the two points with an 11-5 win.

The Becotte-Welford matchup came down to the wire in an instant classic in a duel that had both teams matching shot for shot. The focus of the game turned from third Ed Cadrin’s newly installed yard light to the densely populated houses of rocks each end presented. Down by two

points coming home with the hammer, the pressure was solely in the hands of Pat Becotte. Living up to the moment, Becotte made an impressive tap-back to score two points and tie Welford 7-7.

Curling can come down to a matter of inches and that’s how close Dean Menssa’s team was to finding the win column, as they came up short by a narrow defeat to Wanda Weber, 6-5. Raymond Hummeny captained the Tait rink to a 9-4 win over Demontarnel and the well-oiled machine that is the Pat Mohr rink defeated Zane Lacousiere 8-4.

Curler of the week and hidden gem is Raymond Hummeny of Team Tait. Often found playing third position, Hummeny was promoted to skip as 75 per cent of his team was Continued on Page 13

Mayfair and District News: Activities hopping in Rabbit Lake

By Elaine Woloshyn Correspondent

Rabbit Lake is just a hopping with exciting events about to happen in the near future. Mark your calendars for Jan. 27 for a Kaiser tournament in the community hall. Cost is $10 per person. The local library will be making their raffle ticket draw at

this tournament.

Burger Nights, which were introduced years ago, are scheduled for Jan. 30, Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27 and March 6 at the arena. Burger Nights include public skating, bannock burgers, french fries and hotdogs. Please call Chrissy at 306441-1166 or drop in at the Rm of Round Hill office to put your name down as

a volunteer kitchen shift worker.

Not far down the road from Rabbit Lake is crosscountry skiing. Please call Rebecca Bergen or Nissa Shiell. This community Nordic ski program has 18 adult members and many school students. Cost is $20 for adults to join. Equipment can be borrowed from the club. Every third

Friday there is to be lessons. Group ski times are Jan. 20, Feb. 10, March 3 and 24. The well-groomed trails are open any time.

Rural residents, please be aware of your house, yard and also when driving past your neighbours’ yards, because there has been many break-ins, again. Recently east of Mayfair the culprits left a huge

mess, even going into an attic. They tossed, turned went into every dresser and cupboard searching for certain items of value.

Other farm buildings had a thorough going through with a big mess left behind. This crime had to have been done at night because they forgot to turn off the lights. Another farm house a few miles away had the

same going through. Rural crime watch signs and people patrolling their area are important. We cannot live in fear but it’s difficult to protect yourself. This is informing everyone please beware.

Mass schedule for All Saints Catholic Church in Mayfair is Sunday 2:30 p.m. for January. February mass is Sundays at 11 a.m.

Scott Moe, Premier, MLA for Rosthern-Shellbrook scottmoe.mla@sasktel.net

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill, MLA for The Battlefords office@jeremycockrill.ca

Ryan Domotor, MLA for Cut Knife-Turtleford domotor.mla@sasktel.net

Ed Cadrin and Pat Becotte (left) with Darrel Weber and Robert St Amant who tied in Pool B of the Meota Curling Club sturling spiel. | Photo by Derek Welford

Placing at the top of the Do Drop In shuffleboard tournament were Maureen Campbell, Donna Lambert, Cora Christiansen, Linda Ard and Svend Christiansen, pictured with tournament organizer Nestor Fransoo. | Photo by Lorna Pearson

Pat Mohr and Dale Johnson Pool A winners in the Meota Curling Club sturling spiel Jan. 14. | Photo by Derek Welford

BILANSKI: Paul was born March 8, 1932 to Jack and Anne (Nihirny) Bilanski on the family farm near Alticane, SK. He was the youngest of ten siblings. He attended Canada School until he suffered a severe case of rheumatic fever at the age of fourteen. After he recuperated, he joined his father and brothers on working the family farm until he was the only one left on what was the homestead. In 2016 Paul was very excited and honoured with the century family farm award with the wonderful plaque being presented to him. He married the love of his life, Ruth Rask on July 9, 1960 and together they raised two sons and one daughter and worked their mixed farm. Paul passed away January 6, 2023. He is survived by his wife of 62 Ω years, Ruth; sons: Roy (Vonda) and Eric; son-in-law, Eric Huard; sisters-in-law: Mary and Anne Bilanski; grandchildren: Brennan Huard (Sarah), Lauren Liebaert, Jenelle Bilanski (Dan), Tyler Bilanski (Sarah) and Scott Bilanski (Kristin); six greatgrandchildren and one step-great-granddaughter; numerous nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents: Jack & Anne Bilanski; daughter, Esther Huard; parents-in-law: Niels and Myrtle Rask; sisters: Nellie Hupaelo, Mary Gabrush; brothers: Mike, John, Peter, William, Harry, Nickolas and Dick; sisters-in-law: Mary Bilanski, Cassy Bilanski, Phyllis Bilanski, Ellen Seib and Carol Gonda; brothers-in-law: Mike Hupaelo and Max Gabrush; along with numerous nieces and nephews. A Graveside Service will take place next summer. Memorial donations in memory of Paul can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation - 100-119 14 Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1Z6. Condolences for the family can be left at www.eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Eternal Memories Funeral Service and Crematorium – Vanessa Macnab, Funeral Director.

TANCHAK: It is with great sadness the family of Mr. Ross Tanchak resident of Hafford, SK announce his passing on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at the age of 51 years. Prayer Service will be held on Friday, January 20, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. and Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. both held at the Descent of the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Orthodox Church Hafford, SK. Interment will follow at The Holy Ghost Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Cemetery. Memorial Donations for Mr. Ross Tanchak can be directed to the Battlefords Mental Health & Addiction Services. Condolences for the family can be made at www.eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Eternal Memories Funeral Service & Crematorium – Elle Dell Funeral Director.

DILL: Donald Wayne May 12, 1946 – January 6, 2023 Peacefully and surrounded by his family, Donald Wayne Dill passed away very early morning Saturday January 7th at the age of 76 years of age. Don was predeceased by his parents Almira Vada (nee Olson) and Ralph Morgan Dill and sister-in-law Donna Hiser. Don is survived by his loving wife Kathryn Joyce (nee Poulton), 4 children & 8 grandchildren: Tania Papadatos, (Ary), Aly, Leo; Kalindi Miniely (Joel), Kieran, Bronwyn, Devlin; Torin Dill, (Tessa), Lewyn, Jasper; Keegan Dill, (Kimberly), Natalya; as well as 3 siblings: Robert Dill (Mani); Murray Dill; and Nancy Dill. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to donate to a charity of your choice. To share memories of Don or send condolences please visit www.dignitymemorial.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Travis Minor – Acadia McKague’s Funeral Centre (306) 955-1600

FAT LOSS LECTURE

KULPA:It is with bittersweet sorrow that the family of Mrs. Doreine Kulpa announce her passing on Monday, December 26, 2022. Doreine was born in Hafford, SK, November 26, 1929, to Rosario and Anne Desmarais. She passed away in BUH one month after her 93rd birthday. A Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at St Joseph Calasanctius Roman Catholic Church, North Battleford with Rev. Fr. Phinh Do as celebrant. Inurnment will take place at a later date. Doreine is predeceased by her loving husband, Frank Kulpa (2004); first husband, Warren Miller (2001); parents: Anne (Hotzak) (1972) and Rosario Desmarais (1974); brothers: Donald (1964), Dorell (1982), Dorio (2004); sisters: Dorette Guy (2015), Delore (Sister Ann Rosario) (2014); sons-in-law: Douglas MacDonald (2005), Peter Krawetz (2014). Her memory will be forever cherished by her surviving children and their families: Eva (Mark) Sabir, their children: Tahra Sabir (Glen Olexson), Shamma (Lars Bjornson), Sarah (Brett Beaulieu), Roxanna (Greg Schneider), Laila (Mark Sullivan); Brenda Krawetz her children: Michael (Michelle) Krawetz, Stacey Krawetz, Kayla (Justin Vany); Delbert (Sheila) Miller their children: Kristy (Jeron Stotz), Janine (Rick Zipchen), Jodi Miller; Carol MacDonald, her children: Michael (Aly) MacDonald, Danielle, Andrea, Kaitlin (Nick Sakhon); Allan (Gwen) Miller their children: Dawn (Charles White), Ian (Melissa), Jesse (Michelle); Alden (Lorna) Miller, Adam (Jenna), Teresa; Susan (Reynold) Striga their children: Juanita, Ryan (Jordain), David; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and great friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Mrs. Doreine Kulpa can be directed to the BUH Foundation - Designated to the Palliative Care Unit or the Church Masses. Condolences for the family can be made at www.eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Eternal Memories Funeral Service & Crematorium - Trevor Watts Funeral Director.

STEWART: Stewart ~ George Ernest Stewart passed away at Riverside Health Complex, Turtleford, Saskatchewan on Sunday, December 11, 2022 at the age of 86 years. George is survived by: sister, Kathleen “Fay” (Ronald) Baldwin; brother, John “Jack” Stewart; sister, Dorothy (Delbert) Mitchell; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. George was predeceased by: his parents, Herbert and Kathleen Stewart; sister, Shirley Hoiland-Reavie; brothers-inlaw, John Hoiland and Stan Reavie. The Memorial Service for George was conducted from Vawn Hall, Vawn, Saskatchewan on Saturday, January 7, 2023 at 2:00 PM with Pastor Dave Walker officiating. If you are unable to attend in person, you may view the recording of the service which is posted on McCaw Funeral Service website under George’s obituary. Donations in memory of George may be made to Canadian Cancer Society, RM of Turtle River - designated for Vawn Hall or RM of Turtle River - designated for Edam Enriched Manor. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster, Alberta administered the funeral arrangements. Card of Thanks ~ The Stewart family would like to thank all those who showed their support. A special thank you to the staff at Turtleford Hospital and North Battleford Hospital for the tremendous care that George received. Also, thank you to all those involved in providing the lunch.

MARTIN: It is with deep sadness we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother, Irene Beryl Martin on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at the age of 98 years. Irene was born in Hafford, Saskatchewan on June 20, 1924 to Harry and Florence Ashcroft. After graduating from Normal School with a teaching certificate she began her teaching career at Whitberry School near Hafford. Later she taught at Birch Hills where she met her future husband, Melvin Martin. They were married on July 10, 1947 in Saskatoon. Irene is survived by her son, Hugh (Donita) Martin; daughters: Beryl (Stephen) Fisher and Gwen (Jeff) Novicki; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Irene was predeceased by her parents; husband, Mel and her brother, Hugh Ashcroft. The family would like to thank the second floor staff at Battlefords Union Hospital for the excellent care given to Irene. We would also like to thank Home Care for their outstanding service. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, January 20, 2023 – 2:00 p.m. at Third Avenue United Church in North Battleford, SK with Reverend JoAnn Hills as officiant. Memorial donations may be made to the BUH Foundation – designate to the second floor – Po Box 1358 North Battleford, SK S9A 3L8. Condolences for the family can be left at www.eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca. Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Eternal Memories Funeral Service and Crematorium –Vanessa Macnab Funeral Director.

Local authority speaking. North Battleford Library Lecture Theatre, January 26, 2023 6-9pm. Bring pen and paper for notes. Free admission. Come early to get a good seat.

Saskatoon Farm Toy & Collectible Show at the Saskatoon Western Development Museum, January 20 - 22, 2023. Friday 5pm-9pm; Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 10am-4pm. Special features: Farm toys and scenes, construction equipment, vintage toys and much more!

Advertisements and statements contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness, or reliability of such advertisements. For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Association’s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.swna.com.

GELBVIEH BULL SALE

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NOTICE TO CREDITORS

IN THE ESTATE of MERVIN ALBERT OBOROWSKY, late of Battleford, Saskatchewan, deceased.

ALL CLAIMS against the above estate, duly verified by statutory declaration and with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, must be sent to the undersigned before the 10th day of February, 2023.

Battle River Law Baldwin, Friedman, Spence Barristers & Solicitors 201, 1291 - 102nd Street Box 905 North Battleford, SK S9A 2Z3 Solicitors for the Executrix of the Estate of Mervin Albert Oborowsky

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NOTICE TO CREDITORS

IN THE ESTATE of DAVID ROBERT GRESDAL, late of Medstead, Saskatchewan, deceased.

ALL CLAIMS against the above estate, duly verified by statutory declaration and with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, must be sent to the undersigned before the 2nd day of February 2023.

JONES LAW OFFICE Barrister & Solicitor P.O. Box 1179 North Battleford SK S9A 3K2 Solicitor for the Personal Representative

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CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

TOWN OF BATTLEFORD

The Town of Battleford invites proposals for Janitorial Services for the following four buildings: Town Hall, Public Works Department, Battleford Library and the CFIA Building on a contract basis. The contract is to include all four facilities. Contract to commence February 15, 2023. Each building has a specific cleaning schedule. The complete cleaning schedules are available at Town Hall at 92-23rd Street West.

The Town Hall and the CFIA Buildings must be cleaned daily. The Public Works Department and Battleford Library are to be cleaned on a weekly basis. All cleaning duties must be performed after regular office hours and be completed before the commencement of the next working day.

All proposals must be sealed and clearly marked “Town of Battleford Janitorial Services”. Proposals to include relevant work experience, references, security clearance, criminal records check, and contract cost per year. The contractor must carry their own insurance and WCB policy. The Town of Battleford has a Covid 19 Vaccination Policy in place requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated.

Deadline to submit the sealed proposal is by 1:00 pm, Friday, January 27, 2023. Proposals can be dropped off in person to: Town Hall, 92-23rd Street West or mailed to: Town of Battleford, Box 40, Battleford, SK. S0M 0E0.

The lowest or any proposal may not necessarily be accepted. The Town of Battleford reserves the right to refuse all proposals.

Dated this 19th day of January 2023.

Ashraful (Ash) Alam, CAO

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS JANITORIAL SERVICES (Town Hall, Public Works Dept. Library, CFIA Building)

battlefords humane society

Festival Fanfare Deadline extended to Jan. 23

By Kelly Waters Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival

I love people but I don’t like other dogs. would love a home where I can be the only dog and have my people allll to myself!

Otherwise I love to play and run around in the backyard. I’ll often carry my toy around and ever bring it outside with me!

I’m an energetic, loving, and super cute kitty! came into the shelter all the way back in August, I needed some help and found just where needed to be! love to play and snuggle now that I’m not focused on just survival, my toys are so much fun!

TENDERS

The R.M. of Cut Knife, No. 439 is accepting

tenders for:

The lease of the road allowance at Twp Rd 44-2 that which lies between Rge Rd 321-5 and Rge Rd 322-0, And For The lease of the road allowance at Rge Rd 322-0 that which lies between the SE of 13 44 22 W3rd and the SW of 18 44 21 W3rd.

Lease for either road allowance is intended to be awarded entirely independent of the other. Tenders are to be submitted on that basis.

Either lease shall be of a five-year term commencing March 1, 2023. Interested parties are invited to respond by sealed tender stating the amount of rent they will pay annually over the course of the lease. Conditions of the lease may be obtained by contacting the R.M. office at: 114 Broad Street Cut Knife, SK; Ph: (306) 398-2353; email: rm439@sasktel.net

Sealed tenders will be accepted at: R.M. of Cut Knife No. 439 P.O. Box 70 Cut Knife, SK S0M 0N0

Or at 114 Broad Street Cut Knife, SK, during regular office hours.

Tenders must be received at the above no later than 4:00 P.M. Friday February 3rd, 2023. Submissions shall be marked so as to indicate that they are a sealed tender.

Tender opening will be at the regular meeting of Council on February 8th, 2023 at 10:15 AM.

The highest or any tender may not necessarily be accepted.

North Battleford News Optimist January 19th & 26th, 2023

LAND FOR LEASE BY TENDER

The Rural Municipality of Eldon No. 471 has the following parcels of land for lease to existing R.M. of Eldon taxpayers as separate submissions for:

• NW 22-50-24-W3

• LSD 13 & 14 26-50-24-W3 & SE 35-50-24-W3

Tenders from existing R.M. of Eldon taxpayers shall be submitted in writing clearly stating the annual rental that is being tendered.

Tenders shall be enclosed in a sealed envelope clearly marked “Municipal Land Lease Tender”. Tenders shall be received at the R.M. of Eldon No. 471 municipal office at Maidstone, SK no later than 12:00 (noon) local time on Tuesday, February 7, 2023.

The highest or any tender is not necessarily accepted. The R.M. of Eldon No. 471 reserves the right to refuse and reject any and/or all tenders and may withhold any land from lease.

Note: Leaseholders are responsible for payment of the property taxes and for negotiating and making settlement with the previous leaseholder for any fences and improvements.

For further information, please contact:

Lee Torrance, Administrator Phone: (306) 893-2391 R.M. of Eldon No. 471 Fax: (306) 893-4644 PO Box 130 Email: rm471@sasktel.net Maidstone, SK S0M 1M0

When technology works it’s marvellous but, since some technical difficulties presented themselves

in the online entry system for the 2023 Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival, the entry deadline has been extended to January 23rd with no late entries beyond that date. The online entry system, Music-

NOTICES / NOMINATIONS

Rural Municipality of Parkdale No. 498

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice is hereby given that the Council of the Rural Municipality of Parkdale #498 intends to adopt Bylaw 01-23 under The Planning and Development Act, 2007, to amend Bylaw No. 4-06, known as the Zoning Bylaw.

Intent

Amend Bylaw No. 4-06 known as the Zoning Bylaw for the purpose of rezoning the following from A-Agriculture District to LAR-Large Acreage Residential District: Affected Land SE Sec 02-52-18 W3M Parcel A, Plan 101937258 Ext. 0

FestivalSuite.com, or MFS, software requires users to create a profile and gives Teachers, Parents, Accompanists and Students the ability to interact with their registrations long after they’ve been submitted. The teacher and student profiles set from last year are saved in the MFS system. If you need to refresh your memory about how to use the website, you can go to www.musicfestivalsuite.com, where you can peruse the Festival Participants section for “HowTo” use the software. Note that there are now a variety of non-competitive classes and “World Music Classes” on an instrument of choice that may include popular forms of nonEuropean classical (ex. Chinese guzheng, Indian raga, Tibetan chant), Eastern European folk (ex. Balkan, Bulgarian), Nordic folk, Latin, and Indonesian.

any youth 18 and under in the Battlefords area. Artwork submitted should be on 8½ X 11 white paper using a medium of choice with white background.

Reason

The reason for the amendment is to provide for the subdivision of a single lot. The resulting density of lots exceeds that allowed within the A- Agricultural District, but can be accommodated in the LAR- Large Acreage Residential District.

Public Inspection

Any person may inspect the bylaw and map at the R.M. of Parkdale #498 office during the hours of 9am – 4 pm, Monday to Friday. Copies will be available to the public at a cost, or by emailing the administrator at rm498@sasktel.net

Public Hearing

Council will hold a public hearing at 9:30 am on Wednesday February 8, 2023, to hear any person or group that wants to comment on the proposed bylaw. Council will also consider written comments received on or before February 7, 2023.

Issued by the Rural Municipality of Parkdale #498, this January 19, 2023.

Ashela McCullough Administrator

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

VILLAGE OF MEOTA CONTRACTORS INVITATION TO BID

PROJECT DETAILS:

The Village of Meota Council is requesting proposals for a partial roof upgrade for the Village office.

- Approximate dimensions of roof replacement - 56’w

X 30’l 1.5/12 roof pitch

- Existing tin must be removed and replaced.

- Roof deck is ½ spruce plywood- may need replacement

- Minimum required R30 of Styrofoam insulation with strapping 2’

- All new flashing will need to be manufactured to accommodate thickness of insulation

- Please include construction start date and timeline in proposal

CLOSING DATE:

Proposals to be submitted in a sealed envelope marked: “RFP– Village of Meota Office Roof Upgrade” No later than 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 27th, 2023

PROPOSALS SUBMITTED TO: Kim Frolek 502-2nd Ave East PO Box 123, Meota, SK. S0M 1X0 The lowest or any bid not necessarily accepted. Please contact the office with any questions 306-892-2277

Funds granted to the local Music Festival from the Jim Pattison group, are being used for a variety of booster workshops being scheduled in various genres. Students who have entered the Festival as participants will have free access to these educational workshops. As stated on the distributed poster, the intention of the workshops is to inspire artistry, advance skills, create community, and enhance enthusiasm! For example, a March workshop for strings is being organized by local strings expert Kanndece Quijada-Sawitzy involving her strings-accomplished brother Karrnnel Sawitsky. This two-day workshop will explore areas such as both traditional and modern fiddle technique, tune composition, percussive techniques, improvisation, and artistic expression. What an amazing opportunity for local strings students!

For local youth who enjoy visual art expression, the Festival Committee again welcomes youth to create artwork to be featured in the Festival program and in the Festival venues. Watch for upcoming details such as a theme and deadline. Artwork creations are welcome from

Meota News

Continued from Page 12 missing. Knowing the blueprints on how to defeat the reigning champions, Hummeny’s methodical shot calling and execution of the gameplan was key to the success seen Tuesday night. Creating his own luck and making momentum shifting shots, Hummeny was the unanimous pick for week’s highest honour.

Sturling Recap

Jan. 14 Meota hosted their second sturling spiel of the season. A total of 12 teams entered. Coming out of Pool A was the Pat

The 2023 Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival is scheduled to run from March 13th - March 25th. For local folks wanting to show support of the Festival, there are a variety options. Businesses or individuals may wish to sponsor a session or award. Volunteer opportunities come in all sizes. For folks with more complicated schedules, volunteering might be in the form of making phone calls or running errands. For folks with less complicated scheduled, volunteering might involve being a greeter outside of sessions during the festival or being a secretary for the adjudicator. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and see where your time, skills, or resources might be of most help. Correspondence can be directed by email to the Committee secretary Chinley Hinacay at chinleyhinacay@nbckband. com or to P.O. Box 1301, North Battleford, SK, S9A 3L8.

Jeff Beck, considered by some to be one of the best guitarists of all time was inducted twice into the Rock ’N Roll Hall of Fame as a soloist and as part of the prominent British band “Yardbirds”. “I like an element of chaos in music. That feeling is the best thing ever, as long as you don’t have too much of it. I play purely from the heart, y’know, and so if it doesn’t work the first couple of hours, forget it. If the song makes it and people like it, then I guess that’s all that matters, really.” – Jeff Beck (1944 – 2023),

Mohr and Dale Johnson pairing that had a perfect 3-0 record after defeating the Sharp-Cole, Benoit and Collie-Nedelec teams.

Pool B found the entire Silver Broom contending Pat Becotte team atop of the standings as they split into two teams. Pat Becotte and Ed Cadrin finished with an unbeaten record that was matched by Daryl Weber and Robert St Amant.

The Mohr-Johnson, Becotte-Cadrin and Weber-St Amant all finished in a three-way tie for first place with matching points scored.

battlefordshumanesociety.com

Hi I’m Skeeter!

Hi I’m Oliver!

SPONSORED BY CHERRY INSURANCE & REGIONAL NEWS-OPTIMIST

No one plans to become sick, injured or a prisoner of war

Some of us are labeled dreamers, while others are known for being planners. Whichever description fits you it is wise to be flexible about your plans and dreams. Plans may not work out, and some dreams become nightmares. Often both need to change dramatically.

Life has a way of giving us what we have not planned for or desired. Many other folks get sick and have minor or severe life-changing accidents. We hope sickness and injury will not happen to us, but we cannot guarantee excellent health and life without accidents or disabilities.

Our plans may get shaped by or absorbed

eighbourly

Advice

By Raymond Maher www.accordingtoed.com

According to Ed raymaher085@gmail.com

into the bigger objectives of others. For example, God’s people in the Old Testament had to adjust their plans if an enemy attacked them. In the book of Jeremiah, not only were the Israelites attacked, but they were defeated and many were taken from Jerusalem to Babylon as prisoners of war.

The prophet Jeremiah sent a letter from Jerusalem to help the leaders, priests, prophets and people of Israel in their exile in Babylon. The letter gave the plans of God for them to follow there. Some of His instructions for His people were: “Build houses and settle down, plant gardens and eat what

they produce. Marry and increase in number, do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city you have been taken to in your exile. Pray to the Lord for it because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:5-7)

The Israelites in exile welcomed God’s plans because they seemed a sensible way to handle their captivity. They may have been more skeptical when God told them, “When 70 years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to Jerusalem. For I know, the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and

a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will bring you back from captivity.” (Jeremiah 29: 10-13)

God kept his promise and brought the captives home to Jerusalem after 70 years as He promised. Of course, some folks are flexible about their promises, so sadly, one soon learns that some individuals promise us much with no intention of honouring their words. Some people try to take advantage of us or cheat us. Some may have plans to harm us physically or destroy our hope and future.

Our truest enemy, however, is the devil. He hates God and all those who follow Jesus. Satan, a liar and murderer, deceives us about what will make us happy. He tempts us to find happiness in money, pleasure, power, possessions, etc. He encourages us to quarrel and remain divided from and hateful of others. Satan stirs up resentment and pressures us to be bitter and unforgiving. He lies about us being free to do as we like. God’s word is clear, “Live as free (individuals), yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God.” (1 Peter 2:16)

Pastor Melvin Bartley

Community calendar supports school lunch program

By Kathy Utri Correspondent

Maidstone Community Calendar raised $1,800 to donate towards the Healthy Starts Lunch Program at Ratushniak Elementary School. On behalf of the school and our community, thank you to all the community calendar volunteers who have worked hard to support many local projects for several years.

Bowling high game scores for last week were: Ladies’ Afternoon League – Della 228, Kerry 183, Brenda 167; Golden Age League – men, Keven 204, Keith 199, Walter 178; ladies, Doreen 258, Denise 211, Pat 168; Business League – men, Kyle 230, Tim 223, Glenn 221; ladies, Miranda 247, Melissa 183, Linda 178.

The 4-H regional curling playoffs were held in Biggar Jan. 14. The senior Maidstone/Hillmond curling team placed third.

Neilburg’s Minor Hockey Day was held Jan. 14. Maidstone’s U13 played them, winning 7 to 4. Jan. 15, U13 were at home against Edam with a

4 to 1 win. The U15 boys played Hillmond/ Paradise Hill Jan. 12, winning 8 to 4. They played Turtleford/ Edam Jan. 14 and won 8 to 3. The U18 team was also In Neilburg Jan. 14, losing to Lashburn Flyers 6 to 1. Saturday’s senior Jets game against Redberry was postponed due to the weather. Sunday, senior Jets lost 6 to 2 to the Battleford Beaver Blues.

Maidstone’s Minor Hockey Day is this Saturday, Jan. 21 with all teams on the ice throughout the day. Be sure to “get on down” to the rink to support the teams and Maidstone Ice Arena.

Maidstone Legion Clubroom No.142 is hosting a poker tournament Jan. 21. Sign up at 1 p.m.,The tourney starts at 2 p.m. Wing night is every Wednesday evening and chase the ace draw takes place every Thursday evening.

Maidstone Skating Club is making a to-go supper Tuesday, Jan. 31: pulled pork on a bun, coleslaw, baked beans and a brownie

dessert for $15. Pre-orders will be appreciated by Saturday, Jan. 28 (but not mandatory). Phone or text Miranda 306-221-5845. Pick-up Jan. 31 from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the arena kitchen.

Maidstone Skating Carnival will be on Sunday, March 18. There are three carnival queen contestants, one sponsored by Maidstone Skating Club, one by Maidstone Chamber of Commerce and one by Maidstone Legion No. 142. Tickets are now on sale at $1 each. Ellie Kraft, Emma Schwartz and Rori Bolig are vying for the crown, with the winner being the one who sells the most tickets. The queen gets a $100 prize and all candidates receive 10 per cent of their sales. The carnival is Maidstone Skating Club’s biggest fundraiser.

Waseca family skate is on Monday, Feb. 20 from 2 to 7 p.m. Burgers, hotdogs and hot chocolate will be on sale. Fireworks will take place at 7 p.m.

If you have any Maidstone area news, please let me know. Email duwell@sasktel.net, text 306-893-7378 or phone 306-893-2799.

Megan Rhinehart of Maidstone Community Calendar presents a cheque for $1,800 for the Healthy Starts Lunch Program to Brennan Becotte, principal of Ratushniak Elementary School. | Photo courtesy Megan Rhinehart