The Observer June 14, 2024

Arcola Co-op to acquire Arcola Building Supplies

By Stephanie Zoer

The Arcola Co-operative Association Limited has entered into an agreement to purchase Arcola Building Supplies (2005) Ltd (ABS), a home and building business.

Through this acquisition, the Arcola Co-op will gain a well-established business that is equipped with high-quality home and building products. This gives the co-op the opportunity to better serve the needs of their members, customers and community within the trading area.

The Arcola Co-op has been rooted in the community for over a century and provides employment to 30 people. Its primary area was in the energy and agriculture sector, and during the summer, it also offered some greenhouse products and plants. Through acquiring

By Stephanie Zoer

Harry and Debra Laurent have made Arcola their home for 30 years, and it also became home for their business. Harry has owned and operated Laurent Construction for many years and is experienced in building commercial and farm shops. He also does custom kitchen cupboards and countertops.

ABS, all five employees have been offered employment by Arcola Coop.

“We are excited for this opportunity to enter into this home and building business,” said Matthew Almey, general manager of the Arcola Co-op.

“Like [the] co-op, ABS has a long and storied history in this community. This acquisition helps ensure services and profits remain in the local community that we serve,” said Almey.

Harry and Debra Laurent have owned ABS since 2005 and have offered high-quality lumber, building supplies and hardware products to customers in the community and the southeast corner of Saskatchewan.

With Harry staying on through the transition period and the staff coming over from ABS, they are confident that every-

thing will flow smoothly.

“We are proud of the legacy we have built through Arcola Building Supplies,” said Harry and Debra.

“Arcola Co-op shares the same vision of valuing staff and customers, and we are confident they will continue to offer the same high level service that ABS is known for,” they said.

The acquisition is subject to conditions and expected to close mid-June with the co-op operations set for June 17.

Darlene Davidson, a long-time employee with ABS, has been hired as the assistant manager, and it will be Almey and Davidson who will oversee the day-to-day operations.

Once the dust settles from the purchase, they will evaluate the structure, and determine the roles and needs going forward.

Debra was a registered nurse but retired several years ago, and at the time was the manager of Home Care Services for the Sun Country Health Region.

Before they settled in Arcola, the couple lived in Calgary where Harry spent eight years as a finishing carpenter.

In 1991, they made Arcola home and Harry worked for 12 years in maintenance for the former Souris-Moose

At the Arcola Co-op annual general meeting (AGM) on June 6 at the Arcola Optimist Hall, the acquisition was announced.

Harry and Debra Laurent were at the packed

Mountain School Division.

In 2005 the opportunity to purchase a lumberyard came up and with the experience that Harry had, they felt this was a fantastic opportunity for them to further Harry’s love of construction. They purchased the business from John MacDonald and kept the business running, which was located on Main Street in Arcola.

venue and the co-op thanked them for their years of service in the business and community.

At the same time, Garth Herman and Teresa Dyck were re-elected as members of the board of directors, while Gary Nelson was congratulated on his upcoming retirement.

The co-op is allocating $728,000 back to members, of which $545,000 will be paid out in cash redemption portions.

Debra and Harry Laurent will begin semi-retirement with the sale of Arcola Building Supplies and hope to spend more time with their grandchildren.

In 2007, they bought land on the north side of Highway 13 across from the Arcola Coop Gas Bar and began building the store in 2008, which was called Arcola Building Supplies (2005) Ltd.

From left, Arcola Co-op general manager Matthew Almey seals the deal with Harry Laurent of Arcola Building Supplies with a handshake. Photo courtesy of Matthew Almey

Photo by Stephanie Zoer

D AYZI’S DONUTS & COFFEE

Donuts•Coffee •Pizza •Soups•Sandwich’s &more! MondaystoSaturdays:6am –5pm

Carlyle Bakery canalsobefound at theseRetailers

Estevan -LittleJ's Food Town -938 EvaStreet

Estevan -Pharmasave- 12395th Street

Weyburn -Pharmasave -30-3rdStreet

Oxbow -Southern Plains Co -op- 405 Prospect Ave

June

Tues, June 18 - Kennedy Car Seat Clinic

Thurs, June 20 - Redvers Car Seat Clinic

Tues, June 25 - Stoughton Car Seat Clinic

Wed, June 26 - Wawota Car Seat Clinic

Fri-Sat, June 28-30 - Canuck Amusements Midway - Carlyle

By Stephanie Zoer

The Artist Colony of Moose Mountain Provincial Park has several new artists attending this year and Michelle Psiurski is one of them.

Michelle Psiurski grew up with a passion for art and was always drawing or sketching something during her younger years.

A friend bought her an acrylic paint set and she began to practise different painting techniques. She is self-taught with a little help from her mentor and longtime friend Shirley Rumble.

Psiurski was born in Regina, grew up in Rouleau and has resided in the WindthorstGlenavon area for the past 24 years. She is married to Tim Psiurski and has two adult children: her daughter Shelby, who is a psychologist nurse and her son Logan went into farming.

July

Sat, July 13 - Kenosee Lake Show & Shine

August

Sat, Aug 3 - Wawota Heritage Day

Fri & Sat - Aug 9 & 10 - Manor Fun Dayz Sat, Aug 17 - Carlyle Fun Dayz

Her main focus is on landscapes and animal portraits, and she sources her reference photos from friends and family who are happy to help.

With having a few experienced photographers as friends, she uses those photographs for diverse backgrounds and experiments to try and find the one that complements the project on which she is working.

Most of her work is free-hand drawing, unless it is a pet portrait, then it is traced to ensure the pet is captured exactly the way the client wants.

Using acrylic paints most of the time, Psiurski has begun to use pastel pencils, which are different from pencil crayons. Pastel pencils are softer and produce a soft, more vibrant colour than

Your first stop to find events happening in our community!

*Do you have a community event you want listed here?

Send us the name of the event, date, and what community it’s being held by emailing: observer@sasktel.net OR calling: (306) 453-2525.

Artist Colony has exciting lineup for this year

an ordinary pencil. She enjoys working them.

This will be her first time at the Artist Colony through the help of her friend Rumble, who pushed her to apply.

When Psiurski was accepted previously, COVID-19 hit and the colony had to cancel all the artists, which was disappointing but understandable to her.

She applied once again this year, was accepted and will attend the Artist Colony from June 25July 1.

Unfortunately, her friend Rumble has passed away and will not see Psiurski at the colony.

“I know that Shirley would be very proud of me,” said Psiurski.

She is also a painter by trade, working on homes on the interior and, de-

pending on the job, the exterior. Although the projects are assorted sizes, the detail is still important.

She will have many of her paintings at the colony and hopes that people enjoy them as much as she does.

“I just like to make people happy, and I hope my art puts a smile on their face,” she said.

RCMP investigating grocery store assault

The Carnduff RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance to identify a man accused of assault.

According to the Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers’ Facebook page, the man allegedly assaulted an Alida grocery store staff member on May 24.

If you can identify this man, please call 1-800-222-8477 to leave an anonymous tip. If your tip leads to an arrest or charge, you may be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.

Michelle Psiurski is a self-taught artist who wants to bring joy to people’s lives. Photo by Shelby Kirby

The Carnduff RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance with a reported assault in Alida.

Photo sourced from the Carnduff RCMP’s Facebook page

Record-setting fundraiser fetches big funds for MRI

By David Willberg

The quest to bring an MRI scanner to the southeast region received a big boost earlier this month.

The 13th annual Radiothon for Life to support the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, which ran from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on June 5, finished with an off-air total of $185,683.81 – the best total ever for the event.

St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation executive director Lori Gervais said donations continued to come in after the event’s completion. An estimated $190,000 has been raised through the Radiothon.

The final total exceeded her expectations. Gervais said she doesn’t set a goal for the fundraiser, and the off-air amount has varied over the years.

“This year, being the MRI, it affects everyone, and it definitely is something that the community wholeheartedly can get

behind, because I think everybody has either a personal story about needing or having an MRI, or has somebody very close to them,” said Gervais.

Gervais said the Radiothon is always a wonderful day and the foundation is overwhelmed with everybody’s support.

“That’s not just the money coming in, that’s all the support of everyone in the background and everything it takes to hold the radiothon,” said Gervais.

The event was slated to take place outdoors, but it had to be shifted inside due to the strong winds that plowed through the southeast and necessitated a wind warning on June 5.

Gervais thought it would have been difficult to issue receipts and accept cash donations.

“For years, the radiothon was held indoors, and then COVID changed all of our lives … and we decided to move outdoors, which was a

great thing to make the day more interactive,” said Gervais.

The event aired on Golden West Broadcasting’s three Estevan radio stations: CJ 1150, Sun 102.3 FM and Country 106.1 FM. There were testimonials from people throughout the day who shared why they believe the southeast needs an MRI.

“There were people with $10,000 and $15,000 donations, $5,000 donations, and there was a lot of people out there who gave us $1,000 that was not easy for them to do, but they’re doing it,” said Gervais.

Most of the activities were in the hospital’s foyer, where people made donations and purchased merchandise, and in Tom and Irma’s Café. There was some activity outside, near the cafeteria, as the Southern Plains Co-op served a barbecued lunch and supper, and bouncy castles were set up. Mascots were on hand in the afternoon.

Power hours were held throughout the day. They were sponsored by local businesses that support the foundation.

The biggest donation, a $50,000 contribution from the RM of Browning, came in just before 3 p.m. and pushed the Radiothon over the $100,000 mark.

Gervais said she does her best to keep track of the donations coming in throughout the day, but she isn’t certain how much

Laurents have been a big part of the community

It was here that the store and lumberyard grew and became the business it is today which is well known throughout southeast Saskatchewan.

An adjoining shop housed Laurent Construction, where Harry does all his fine woodworking and building, which comes in all shapes, sizes and colours.

Debra, although retired from her career was often seen at the store to offer support and to help behind the scenes.

With Harry’s experience, he knew what contractors needed and began to carry a wide range of quality lumber. If it was not in the lumberyard, they gladly ordered it in for customers.

Doors and windows were also carried at the store, but custom orders

for contractors were a big part of the quality of customer service.

Everything needed to build a house, barn, shop or fence was also available, and if they did not carry it, it was brought in quickly.

Often Harry was seen doing lumber take offs for customers or supplying special-order windows.

Nearly 20 years after the business started, the couple has sold the lumberyard.

Harry will stay on for a while to help with the changeover and will also keep his shop for another year.

Harry and Debra are excited about the next step in their lives but have mixed emotions on the sale.

“We have met a lot of great people over the years, and it will be differ-

has been raised until the money is tabulated.

Gervais lauded the hospital staff for their support and volunteers who were part of the event. She was glad people took the time to share their stories. And while the dollar amount was important, She said it was also important to have the stories of why the event was happening.

“There were a lot of stories … people talked about their health care and what they’ve been through and why the need is so important. I think that because the MRI is so important to people, we saw almost a $200,000 fundraising effort in one day.”

Those who wish to donate to the MRI campaign

can visit sjhf.org. The success of the fundraiser has pushed the overall campaign total above $3.3 million, more than halfway towards the goal of $6.5 million. The total includes the $2 million from Elaine Walkom, in memory of her late husband Grant, which kick-started the drive to bring an MRI to the southeast.

ent not seeing them on a daily basis,” they said.

Always being involved in the community, they often offered discounts for projects in town or helped with equipment, and they plan to continue with those efforts and be volunteers, as they have been so many times before.

Presently they are donating work in the Arcola Prairie Place Complex by doing a makeover in the kitchen. They also helped a lot with the large rodeo building last year. This building has a trussed roof with tarps that can be closed due to weather. It holds the rodeo dance and beer gardens.

It is now time for them to step back a bit and enjoy more time with their children and grandchildren, and go to their cottage up north and relax.

The RM of Browning presented a cheque for $50,000 during the Radiothon for Life. Photo sourced from the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation’s Facebook page

The Southern Plains Co-op served lunch during the fundraiser. Photo by David Willberg

Views

When a relationship comes to an end

Stephanie Zoer

Just a few words

It can be a strange feeling when a person can be in your life for months or years and suddenly, they will not be there anymore.

I am not talking about someone passing away, I am talking about when a relationship ends.

Relationships can end for many reasons – the person was abusive, had a drinking or drug problem, or they just fell out of love. Some end terribly and others can remain friends, it all depends on the people and the circumstances.

Those that end peacefully may end due to a new relationship. The new person has jealousy issues, and this brings the friendship to an end.

The memories that have been made cannot be erased, and it will not matter how hard a person tries. They will forever be there.

The end of a relationship can be one of the hardest things a person goes through in life. The memories are part of your story and will become part of your history.

Trying to move on from an ended relationship can be difficult, not only for the two people involved, but for other family members as well. They opened their homes and hearts to these people and now it is over.

My sister and her ex-husband John had been married for 10 years. Throughout those years, they never really got along, and I can honestly say that my sister had issues that interfered with her marriage. It came to an end and some of my siblings were happy to see this, but my husband and I always liked him. He never treated us badly and he was a lot of fun to be around.

Much to her disapproval, we continued our friendship with John. Just because she divorced him did not mean we had to.

This can be the same for a son-in-law or daughterin-law. Often when a relationship ends, the person that called it quits expects the rest of the family to do the same.

I do not know about others, but I cannot turn off my feelings just because another person did.

This person was a part of the family. It also does not mean another person is not welcome to the family when a new relationship begins, but it may take some time for the family to warm up to someone new.

There will be times when a person may compare the one that was left to the new person. Is this fair? No it is not, but it is human nature to do so.

Now what happens when you know it was the family member that was the problem? This makes it even more difficult to remove the feelings.

Regardless of the issues, the memories remain the same and people say you need to move on, but for the rest of the family, why do they have to move on?

My sister and her ex-husband did become friends after a few years and even spent holidays together for the kids and grandkids. She was even at his side when he passed away and we were one of the last people he called a few days before he died.

When you end a relationship, whether it be on good or bad terms, it is in my opinion that you cannot ask family to do the same.

They do not need to be invited for the family Christmas dinner, but there is nothing wrong with that person coming for a visit when the other person is not around.

The next time a partnership ends, do not look to your family or friends to do the same, they did not live with the person, nor did they end it.

“Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.”

More than just a place

Shelley Luedtke

There’s nothing quite like reading a good book by an author who can establish a great setting for their story.

Skillful writers can make you ‘feel’ the weather, ‘smell’ the aromas, or ‘hear’ the sounds being described. When a story engages all our senses, something pretty special can happen.

A setting I enjoy because of how it can make me feel is the idea of room with a hearth. It describes that special spot within a house that is physical, as well as psychological. In its literal sense, a hearth is the area inside or directly in front of a fireplace, but in the hands of a good writer, its use expresses so much more than a physical space.

The hearth creates an ambience of warmth, comfort and security. Coziness. Shelter. Home. Read any number of classic books and the idea of the hearth is often employed. It was where friends gathered to talk, or clothes lovingly mended. It’s where parents told stories to children as a fire crackled and the room was wrapped in warmth. It was

a practical space but even more so, the emotional centre of the home.

Where is the emotional centre of our home today?

Fireplaces are plentiful, practical and beautiful, but are they the places we gather? Is this where we sit and talk with others? Do we invite others to join us there?

From a design perspective, fireplaces are often the focal point of a room. Their size and function draw us in and give the room a sense of warmth and comfort. But is it where we spend our time? Is it where people would find us?

When it comes to wish lists in real estate, the need for large kitchen/dining areas is often mentioned. The desire is to have space where families can come, gather and enjoy time with one another. Without describing it as such, it is that idea of a hearth – that space where people gravitate because that’s where everyone is.

Yet if surveys of trends are correct, less and less food is being prepared in our kitchens, and fewer and fewer families are sitting down eating meals together.

Grabbing take-out or eating at different points of the day has become much more prevalent in an attempt to deal with complicated schedules. If we took time to appreciate how fortunate we are to have access to such abundant food, maybe we could reshape our thinking and once again make the kitchen the heart of the home.

But this continues to be

to sit

on the decline. So, if it’s not the kitchen any longer, it begs the question: just where is our hearth found today, or do we have one anymore?

The typical North American home has an average of seven active devices connected to the internet in use daily. Six per cent of households have more than 15 active devices.

A seminar I attended on youth culture focused on the impact of screen time teenagers were being exposed to. Of particular concern was unsupervised time, particularly at night.

The Canadian study correlated bedroom screens and lower overall grades, higher dropout risk, fewer friends, and higher levels of anti-social behaviour.

Unrestricted access to online content without supervision was the best predictor of these outcomes. At that time, 95 per cent of teenagers surveyed were allowed to have their phones with them all night long. That was several years ago.

American writer Bill McKibben suggests that the internet has become our hearth. He says today people stare into their screens the way they once stared at the flames of a fire. The difference is we’ve turned that into a solitary, isolating activity.

We’ve long known we need to discourage screens from private spaces and provide greater opportunities to connect socially with family members in the home, but how many are doing this?

It makes me think about camping. So many great

memories emerge for me, both as a child and as a parent: hikes, beach days, board games at the picnic table, fresh fruit from nearby orchards, early morning hot chocolate and so much more.

But the best recollection? Sitting around the campfire at night. It’s where everyone gathered. Watching the flames, sharing in conversation, enjoying the quiet as the embers died down. Stillness. Comfort. Haven. Restoration. We need a hearth today. Far from being an antiquated setting, I would suggest it is an absolutely necessity. We need to get back to a place where we can sit, shut out distractions, and revel in conversation. It might look different than it once did, but we need a space nonetheless. A place that draws us together and allows us to connect. Perhaps it is around the kitchen table, or in chairs out on the deck. Maybe it is around a fireplace in the family room or a fire bowl in the backyard. It just needs to be free of the distraction, the noise and the screens that so dominate the rest of our lives.

The loss of the hearth has cost us something. In these increasingly turbulent times, perhaps it’s more important than ever that we have a place to be together, to eat, to share and to connect. It’s not an old-fashioned concept or a quaint reference in literature. The hearth is the heartbeat of the home. Let’s make sure it is beating vibrantly. That’s my outlook.

- Nelson Mandela

June land sale in Saskatchewan generates $7.4 million

The Government of Saskatchewan’s Crown petroleum and natural gas rights public offering, held on June 4, has raised $7,413,958 for the province.

Seventy-nine leases were posted for this sale, and 63 received acceptable bids, covering 11,745.118 hectares.

The total lease value was more than $5.85 million, or $498.37 per hectare. The one licence available was also sold. It covered 618.009 hectares and brought in $1,560,589, or $2,525.06 per hectare.

The southeast region brought in $1,777,905 for 24 leases totalling 2,092.214 hectares. All

BESTBUYSINUSED EQ Q UIPMEN T

24 parcels available in the southeast were sold.

The highest bonus bid in this area was $167,931, or $651.35 per hectare. This 257.821-hectare lease was awarded to Millennium Land (111) Ltd. and is located eight kilometres southeast of Estevan, adjacent to the Roche Percee Bakken Sand Oil Pool.

Saturn Oil and Gas

Inc. submitted a bid of $2,412.41 per hectare on two leases posted 15 kilometres southwest of Redvers. One lease totalling 64.770 hectares received a bid of $156,251 and the other lease totalling 64.726 hectares received a bid of $156,145. This was the highest dollars per hectare bid in this area.

The Lloydminster area generated the most revenue for the province, bringing in $5,584,969 for 36 leases and one exploration licence totalling 9,686.269 hectares. Fiftyone leases were posted.

RUBBERSTONE

•CoveryouruglyconcretewithSierrastone Rubberstoneondriveways,sidewalks, basements,decks,garages -5 year warranty

VU-BASTONE -driveways,sidewalks,garages, decksandbasements -5 year warranty

POLYASPARTICEPOXYFLAKEingaragesand basements.

BRICKdriveways,firepits,sidewalks,fountains, walls,grainbins,outdoorkitchens.

VI-PEQTHERMALCORKSHIELD -interiorand exteriorcommercialandresidentialbuildings15 yearswarranty Goesovertin,wood,brick, stucco,andsiding.

•Treeandstumpremoval,cutting &stump grinding.

•Industrialandresidentialhedgetrimming. •Farmyardwindrowrestoration.

•Landscaping.

•Lightcarpentry,pergola,gazebos,fences. •Stainingfences,decksandsteps.

•Deckbuilding.

•Skidsteerwork.

•Augerholes (4" to 24"-13"deep)

•Screwpiles (commercial &residential)

Mammoth Land Services Ltd. had the highest bonus bid in this offering at $1,560,509, an average of $2,525.06 per hectare, for a 618.009-hectare exploration licence located northeast of Lloydminster.

The highest bonus bid received for a lease went to Lexterra Land Ltd., which offered $727,796, an average of $3,089.92 per hectare, on a 235.539-hectare lease northeast of Lloydminster.

Offers in the Kindersley area generated $51,083.16 in revenue for three leases totalling 584.644 hectares, or $87.37 per hectare. Four leases were posted and three were sold.

The highest bonus bid received on a lease in this area was $20,764.50, an average of $79.69 per hectare. This 260.566-hectare lease was awarded to Millennium Land (555) Ltd and is located 26 kilometres west of Luseland. Perseverance Resources Ltd. bid $9,647.47, an average of $149.15 per hectare, for a 64.683-hectare lease. This was the highest dollars per hectare bid received in the Kindersley area. This lease is located in the Milton Viking Sand Oil and Gas Pool, 12 kilometres northeast of Marengo. Through two public offerings this fiscal year, the province has raised $22,868,706 in revenue, up from the $20,494,130.39 raised from the first two offerings last fiscal year. The next scheduled public offering in Saskatchewan is Aug. 6.

Photo by Greg Nikkel of SaskToday.ca

Ryan Birnie named top southeast oilman

A successful entrepreneur in the energy sector has been recognized with the Laurence M. Woodard Southeast Saskatchewan Oil Person of the Year Award.

Ryan Birnie was presented with the honour during the Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show on June 5 in Weyburn.

Birnie is the vice-president of frac operations with Element Technical Services. He works out of the Carlyle office. According to his bio on Element’s website, Birnie has specialized in well fracturing operations for over 15 years.

Prior to co-founding Element, he was a well fracturing supervisor with what was described as “a major industry player” and additionally played a key role leading a successful well site frac supervision consultancy company.

Woodward’s son Darren and daughter Shelley Mercer were among those who helped present the award to Birnie.

Dean Gilliss joins ranks of SE Sask Legends in the oilpatch

Dean Gilliss’ commitment to the energy sector has earned him the distinction of a Southeast Sask Legend.

Gilliss was presented with the honour during an awards banquet at the Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show in Weyburn on June 5.

According to his bio, Gilliss was born in Manor in 1959 and graduated there in 1977. Starting that summer and continuing into early 1979, he worked road construction for Ramsey & Bird Construction.

In the spring 1979, Gilliss went to work for Bird Drilling in southeast Saskatchewan.

“Coming from Manor, that’s just what you did,” he said. In the fall of 1979, Gilliss enrolled in a pre-employment electrical course at STI Moose Jaw. The spring of 1980 saw him working for Simmons Drilling in southeast Saskatchewan as a roughneck. By 1983, he worked his way up to a drilling position. During the road ban season of 1983, Gilliss went with Simmons Drilling to Saudi Arabia in search of potash on an island in the Red Sea. That was not his cup of tea, he said. Gilliss married Bonnie Quarrie of Fife Lake on Nov. 3, 1984. They had two children: Dylan in 1988 and Logan in 1990.

In the summer of 1985, Gilliss took a coring position with A&A Coring in Estevan, supervising the coring of potash exploration and oil wells.

In the fall of 1992, Gilliss was inspired by long-time drilling consultant Carl Shane of Estevan. Gilliss and his wife purchased Coffee Power Tongs of Carlyle, renaming it Gilliss Power Tongs. The company was moved to their acreage west of Lampman.

“We started Dec. 1, 1992,” Dean said. “When I started, there were only 12 rigs running in southeast Saskatchewan. It just kind of grew, and we grew with it.”

He started DAM Oil Field Services in 1995

with Michael Grimes. That company rented radios and closed telephone systems for use on drilling rigs. In 1999, Grimes moved to Calgary and Gilliss’ younger brother Laird became his partner in the company. They sold the company to Global Link of Alberta in 2001.

By 1996, there were 50 to 60 rigs working in the region, and now that number has climbed to about 70 in southeast Saskatchewan and another dozen in southwest Manitoba. Things became busy in the power tong business.

“In 1997, I had eight trucks, but in 1998, it all came to a ‘Whoa!’ It got down to just me, and I sold off some equipment,” Gilliss said. However, as things picked up, Gilliss Power Tongs rebounded. And by 2008,

they built a new shop north of Estevan.

In 2004 Dean and Randy Phillips of Stoughton started RDT Rentals Ltd. This company rented portable offices consultants could move

themselves from location to location, providing a huge step up from using their pickup as an office. In 2006, Gilliss came up with the idea of the mechanical clamp now known as the Bulldog Clamp. It’s a device used to aid in the transfer of tubing from the catwalk to the rig floor. That led to the creation of Gilliss Oil Tools. The clamp is used primarily on service rigs, but also drilling rigs. In 2008, Bonnie Gilliss purchased Phillips’ shares of RDT and then sold them to Dylan Gilliss in 2009.

In September 2008, they sold Gilliss Power Tongs Ltd. to Wyoming Casing, whose head office was in Dickinson, N.D. Dean Gilliss stayed on and managed for two years then shared the position with their older son.

“Lots of people thought I should have sold the company to the boys in 2008 but there was one problem. They didn’t have any money,” said Dean Gilliss.

In 2011, RDT Rentals was sold to Lane and Emery Hanson of Estevan. And in 2013, Dylan and Logan bought Gilliss Power Tongs back from Wyoming Casing, renaming it Gilliss Casing Services. They’ve since expanded to add First Line Pressure Works, a well control testing company. Dean and Bonnie still own and operate Gilliss Oil Tools out of Estevan with the aid of Logan.

From left, Darren Woodard, Ryan Birnie, Shelly Mercer, Energy and Resources Minister Jim Reiter and Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show chairman Dan Cugnet participated in presenting the Laurence M. Woodard Southeast Oil Person of the Year Award to Birnie. Photo by Sabrina Kraft of the Weyburn Review

Dean Gilliss was inducted into the Southeast Sask Legends at the Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show by Darcy Cretin. Photo by Sabrina Kraft of the Weyburn Review

Alida oilman joins the ranks of SE Sask Legends

Dean Lemieux’s commitment to the southeast Saskatchewan oilpatch was rewarded with his enshrinement as a Southeast Sask Legend during the Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show March 5 in Weyburn.

Lemieux was born and raised at Alida in 1965. His father worked on the rigs and then had his own Alida-based oilfield construction company when Lemieux was young. Lemieux worked for his father part-time as a teenager.

Lemieux graduated in 1984 from the Carnduff High School. He started working on a crew truck, doing contract maintenance for Mobil Oil.

“From there, one of the contract operators went to work permanently for another company, so I got a battery operating job for Mobil in ’84,” said Lemieux. “Then I operated until ’87. They started building a battery down at Alida, again, and they promoted me to junior supervisor, helping out the Mobil construction superintendent.”

That led to his first leadership position, supervising the battery construction for half a year. He went back to relief battery operating. In late 1989, Mobil sold the North Nottingham Unit to NAL Resources, which at the time was North American Life.

NAL soon bought the Alida Unit. About 10 years later, they bought the Rosebank area, between Storthoaks and Alida.

“The contract operators were not going to be hired for the new company. Brent Dunnigan with Armada Resources at that time approached me to work for him. I trained a couple of his operators in the area, then started consulting for Brent, mostly on NAL properties,” Lemieux said.

NAL started drilling horizontal wells in the area in the early 1990s, shortly after they bought the Nottingham properties.

Lemieux married Anna-Marie Fornwald of Lampman in 1992. They met while she was working at Kenosee Lake on her summers off from university. She was completing her finance degree at the University of Saskatchewan. She worked in admin for several companies in

southeast Saskatchewan. They have three children – twins Austin and Lucia in 1994, and Dalton in 1998.

The twins were born two days before Lemieux started his new foreman job for NAL.

Target Resources had managed NAL’s properties with Armada operating and consulting for them. In 1994 NAL decided to bring it in house.

“NAL decided they were going to manage their own properties and wanted a field foreman. So, my good wife got me to apply for the company position. And Feb. 15, 1994, I was hired as production foreman for NAL Resources. We had no employees other than myself and one admin in the office,” he said.

He worked initially out of Alida. But in 1999, NAL had bought enough of the ownership of the Nottingham gas plant to challenge operatorship of the plant and take it over. Nottingham was and is one of the oldest and largest gas plants in southeast Saskatchewan, dating back to the 1950s. The plant foreman that was running it decided not to accept a position with NAL Resources.

“So, two days prior to taking over the gas plant, they came to my office in Alida and said, ‘Here you go, Lemieux. You’re the new plant foreman and you’ve got ten employees under you,’” he said.

“I knew nothing about gas plant processing. And the HR person said, ‘Well, you’ve got experienced people under you. And you’re just overseeing the plant and managing people.’”

That led to Lemieux eventually training for a number of gas processing competencies.

The addition of the gas plant led to a promotion as southeast Saskatchewan superintendent. The field office was moved to the Nottingham gas plant, allowing everyone from oil operations and gas operations to work together as a team.

In 1996, NAL Resources amalgamated with the Manufacturers Life Insurance Company to form Manulife Financial. The investment division kept the NAL Resources name for the energy division. It was one of the first oil companies to be converted into an oil and gas trust.

In 2000, Lemieux was honoured with a Manulife Stars of Excellence award. Lemieux and his team were recognized earlier in the year by Ziff Energy Group for having some of the lowest operating costs in southeast Saskatchewan.

After living in Carnduff for nine years, the Lemieuxs bought 100 acres northeast of the town, just 23 kilometres from the gas plant. They built a new home and started raising some cattle, eventually expanding their land holdings and herd.

In 2003, NAL bought a portion of Nexen, which led to Lemieux working out of an Estevan office. That meant he now had around 45 employees working under him and more than doubling NAL’s production in southeast Saskatchewan.

NAL purchased assets near Kindersley, which led to that area coming under Lemieux’s responsibility as well in 2011, as he took over as superintendent for all of NAL’s operations in Saskatchewan.

Whitecap Resources bought NAL in 2021, but Lemieux was not brought over beyond the transition. He was with NAL for almost 27 years. NAL Resources was one of a very few oil and gas companies to keep its company name through its entire 31-year existence. Lemieux dedicated most of his career to NAL and took pride in managing the company as if it were his own.

Throughout his career he has had the oppor-

Pre-Pay Register by June10,2024 forachancetowin theearlybirdprize! Sponsoredby Magnascope

tunity to work with an exceptionally good team that was knowledgeable and hard working. He has really enjoyed working with numerous service and supply companies and has made some great friends in the industry.

Lemieux took a year off from the oilfield to work on his farm. Randy Ulrich of Woodley Well Services reached out to Lemieux and asked if he would like to do some oilfield construction consulting. That led to the creation of Coyote Oilfield Supervision. Lemieux is in the field supervising construction and maintenance projects and Anna-Marie manages the admin.

Along the way, Le-

Wewishtoexpressourheartfelt Thankstofamilyandfriendswho helpedLoriinthepastfewmonths. AbigThankYoutothe Arcola HospitalStaff and Dr.Fernando whooversawhercareinthehospital. Thankstoallwhobroughtfood, groceriesandsmiles. You’reverymuchappreciated. ThePhenixfamily

Office Hours: Monday-Friday

9a.m. -12noon;1p.m. -4p.m.

8am DerbyStart4pm DerbyEnd 5:30pm Supper EntryFees: Adults-$75 Youth(12&Under)-$35 Includessupper SupperTickets:$20

Allyouth receiveaprize YouthpaidbyJune10, 2024areenteredtowin oneof2bikes! SponsoredbySourisMoose CreekWildlifeFederation FORMOREINFORMATIONORFORENTRIESCALL: KimDietze:306-485-7309•ChrisFarnden:306-421-0584 SkylarAntoniuk:306-485-8676 Sendto:Box342Alameda,SKS0C0A0 E-Transferavailableat:2023alamedafishderby@gmail.com

mieux found time to volunteer, helping build the Carnduff golf clubhouse. He served as secretary/ treasurer with the Carnduff Oilmen’s golf committee for many years. He spent 25-plus years with the oil spill contingency group, including 15 years on the executive. Lemieux led the CAPP Energy in Action initiative for five years in

several communities in southeast Saskatchewan, including Lampman, Oxbow, Midale and Carnduff. His two sons followed Lemieux into the oilpatch. Austin works with Competition Environmental and Dalton works with Day Group of Companies. Their daughter, Lucia, is a pharmacist in Regina.

PUBLICNOTICE

PublicNoticeisherebygivenpursuanttoSection207ofThePlanningandDevelopment Act,2007,thatthe TownofOxbowintendstoadoptBylaw1149-2024,toamendZoning Bylaw1063ashereinafterprovided.

Intent

TheproposedamendmentwouldrezoneapartofNW¼Section24, Township03,Range 02,W2,asshownontheattachedPicturedatedFebruary20,2024,andreferencedas “APPENDIXA”,whichformspartoftheBylaw,fromFutureUrbanDevelopment–FUDto ResidentialLow-DensityDistrict–R1toaccommodateafutureresidentialdevelopment. AffectedLand TheaffectedLandislegallydescribedasNW¼Section24, Township03,Range02,W2. Reason Thereasonfortheamendmentistoprovidefortheaccommodationofafuture residentialdevelopment.

PublicInspection

Anypersonmayinspectthebylawatthemunicipalofficeat319MainStreet,Oxbow,S.K. between8:30a.m.and4:30p.m.MondaythroughFriday,excludingstatutoryholidays. TheProposedBylawandMapisavailableforviewingonthe Townwebsiteat www.oxbow.ca.

PublicHearing ThecouncilwillholdapublichearingonJune24,2024,2024,at7:00p.m.at319 MainStreet,Oxbow,S.K.tohearanypersonorgroupthatwantstocommentonthe proposedbylaw.Thecouncilwillalsoconsiderwrittencommentsreceivedatthehearing ordeliveredtotheundersignedatthemunicipalofficebeforethehearing. Youcan contacttheundersignedat306-483-2914oradministrator@oxbow.cawithquestions orcomments. Issuedatthe TownofOxbowthis7thdayofJune2024.

Dean Lemieux is congratulated on becoming a Southeast Sask Legend during the Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show. Photo by Sabrina Kraft of the Weyburn Reiview

Ty Cutler has the gift to speak quickly as an auctioneer, and he has the buckle to

By Stephanie Zoer

Ty Cutler is one of the fastest talkers around and he has the buckles to prove it.

Cutler was born in Brandon and lived in Virden, Man., until the age of two with his parents.

When Cutler’s parents separated, he moved with his mom Shauna Ferguson Cutler to Moosomin and he still lives in the area today at age 21.

He has a great relationship with his father Ward Cutler, while his mother Shauna married Jason McDougall, and they are also a big part of Ty Cutler’s life.

Cutler went to school in Moosomin and graduated from McNaughton High School in 2021. As a kid he enjoyed many things, but his passion re-

mained with being on the farm and raising cattle.

He spent many summers holidays and weekends with his father going to rodeos, feeder sales and purebred sales, as his dad is an auctioneer.

As a boy he wanted to grow up and be just like his father in the auctioneer business, but as he got older, he moved on and got a job.

He still thought that what his dad did was really cool and loved watching the sales with a good auctioneer. His father has been an auctioneer for 28 years. Cutler worked at Prairie Livestock in Moosomin with cattle during his days in high school.

One summer, after Cutler graduated high school, he tried working for a pipeline company, but he soon figured out

that this was not for him and that his calling was in raising cattle.

Cutler returned to Moosomin and began working again at Prairie Livestock. He still helps out there today when he is able to.

In February 2023, he was at a fundraiser. Hugh Garret needed help and asked young Cutler if he could.

“I thought why not give auctioneering a try,” said Cutler.

It was after this that people kept asking him to do more fundraisers and it took off from there.

The first official auctioneer fundraiser that Cutler did was for the Wapella Pipestone Wildlife Federation.

“I will never forget it,” he said.

be taught at school; the rest of his learning comes through time and with experience.

He has been very busy with his career, and on March 23 he competed in the Man/Sask Auctioneer Championship.

It was held at the Heartland Livestock Services Market in Virden, which he went to with his father.

With 17 auctioneers competing, he made it to the second round with the top seven auctioneers. He was pretty pleased about this.

He was proud and honoured to win the Man/ Sask Rookie of the Year Award. This goes to the top auctioneer that has sold cattle for five years or less. Cutler has only been doing this for little over a year.

A year ago, Cutler attended the Ken Jordon’s Auctioneer Training Centre of Canada, located in Winnipeg. It was the same school that his dad attended.

Schooling went for six days, and Jordon makes the auctioneers practise their numbers.

He recently returned from Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont., where he took part in the Livestock Markets Association of Canada Auctioneer Championship (LMAC).

There were 35 competitors and Cutler said some of the best from Canada attend.

market and on some weekends the owners, Rhett and Gene Parks, have given Cutler lots of mic time, which he thinks is great. He added that they are fabulous people and have given him a ton of help.

dad as possible.

“I have received a lot of support from my mom, dad, stepdad, girlfriend and friends,” said Cutler. “It is their support that has gotten me to where I am today.”

Next is how to do their rhythm and chanting, and how the industry works.

Cutler said there is only so much that can

Cutler was one of the top 10 to return for round two of the finals.

This time Cutler took home the third runner-up and another buckle that he is honoured and proud to receive.

Every Tuesday he sells cattle at the Whitewood

He has many fundraisers that he has worked at and has other auctioneer commitments.

He continues to build on his cow herd through the help of his stepfather and step-grandfather, and although he lives in Saskatchewan, he spends as much time with his

Cutler’s goals are to continue to be a better auctioneer and grow within the business, as well as win the rookie title at the LMAC championship and the auctioneer championship for Man/ Sask in the years to come. He has long-term goals as well and he will focus on them as time goes on.

Ty Cutler holds his third runner-up buckle that he won at the Livestock Markets Association of Canada Auctioneer championship in Ontario. Photo courtesy of Ty Cutler

New oil-and-gas high school course announced

The Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre (Sask DLC) is entering into an agreement with Teine Energy to develop new Oil & Gas high school courses.

Through this new partnership, students will learn about the importance of the oil and gas industry, and gain knowledge about career opportunities available in Saskatchewan’s energy industry, while local companies will receive support in building a future workforce to meet consumer demands.

“This partnership is a great example of innovation that will support our province’s growing economy while providing students the chance to explore the wealth of career opportunities available to them right here at home,” Premier Scott Moe said. “These new courses will include work placement opportunities for stu-

dents and will foster the development of a skilled workforce for our province.”

Through the agreement, Teine Energy will collaborate with educators at Sask DLC to develop new online oil and gas 20 and 30 courses. In each course, students will take 50 hours of online theory and 50 hours of work placement, giving them hands-on learning experiences while they explore potential career paths.

Teine Energy is providing a total of $150,000 over two years to support both the development of the new online courses and the co-ordination of student work placements.

Teine Energy is a Canadian company dedicated to meeting the demand for domestically produced, environmentally responsible energy.

Teine is very active with Saskatchewan com-

munities and is the lead sponsor of the upcoming Saskatchewan Summer Games. Teine has operations in southwest Saskatchewan, near Kindersley and Lloydminster.

“Teine is excited to be part of shaping and supporting the careers of talented young people in the province of Saskatchewan,” Teine Energy president and CEO Jason Denney said. “This program connects the energy industry with high school students as they begin to make career choices. Our goal for this program is to deliver real world experience, accelerate local energy focused employment, and ultimately enable Saskatchewan grads to pursue well paid, fulfilling careers within their home province.”

There is availability for additional oil and gas companies in the province to sign on to this

agreement and provide further work placement opportunities for students throughout the province.

Oil and Gas 20 will be available to students starting in the second semester of the 2024-25 school year, followed by Oil and Gas 30 starting in the 2025-26 school year. These courses will be available to full-time online students, as well

as high school students attending local schools throughout the province to supplement their inperson learning. Sask DLC registration for the next school year is now open.

These new oil and gas courses will add to the other online trade and agriculture courses that students currently have access to through Sask DLC that offer op-

portunities for hands-on work placements. These courses include mechanical and automotive, autobody, construction and carpentry, welding, electrical, power engineering, agriculture equipment technician, parts technician and precision agriculture. You can learn more about all the online courses available through Sask DLC at www.saskDLC.ca.

Shanaya Buffalo Tiana Holybull

Nikki Lamb

Brooklyn Lavallee

Raya Nahbexie

Judah Kakakaway

Shirley KequahtoowayGenesis Kakakaway Emma Redstar

File photo

Denasia Bigeagle

More people working in Saskatchewan than ever before

According to the latest Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey released earlier this month, Saskatchewan’s economy is continuing to grow.

Saskatchewan employment reached an all-time high with 16,200 new jobs added yearover-year. The province’s un-

employment rate also fell in May to 5.6 per cent, the thirdlowest in the nation and well below the national average of 6.2 per cent.

The province achieved several other record highs in May, including full-time employment (506,800), male employ-

ment (332,000), female employment (282,400), labour force (649,700), population (947,600), and off-reserve Indigenous population (113,400).

Major sector gains were reported in professional, scientific and technical services, up 4,800 or 13.9 per cent, along

with information, culture and recreation, which saw a gain of 4,000 or 20.9 per cent. Additionally, education services saw a gain of 3,700 or 7.3 per cent.

Adding to this growth, the province’s exports for 2022 and 2023 combined reached

$102 billion an increase of 52.2 per cent from the previous two-year period of 20202021. Additionally, Saskatchewan’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by only 1.0 per cent in April 2024 over April 2023, marking the second lowest increase among the provinces.

Aiden

Rhett

Sports

Southeast students medal at provincials

Two students from the Gordon F. Kells High School in Carlyle brought home medals from the recent Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association’s provincial meet in Saskatoon.

Dane Peterson won gold in the junior boys’ shot put with a toss of 13.65 metres, finishing .43 metres ahead of runner-up Jace Egland of Eastend. Peterson and Egland were the only athletes to eclipse 12 metres.

Meanwhile, Chase Himmelspach won the silver medal in the junior boys’ javelin throw with a distance of 47.6 metres, and was part of the Team South East entry that won bronze in the 4x100metre relay with a time of 46.75 seconds.

Himmelspach also competed in the individual 100-metre dash, fin-

ishing with a time of 12.49 seconds in his final heat.

Meanwhile, Karsyn Gervais was sixth in the junior girls’ triple jump with a distance of 10.06 metres, seventh in the junior girls’ long jump with a leap of 4.89 metres, and also competed in the junior girls 100 metres (13.89 seconds). Zadie Gervais was 10th in the senior girls’ shot put with a toss of 8.85 metres, and also competed in the senior girls’ discus (22.03 metres).

Sawyer Tomaszewski finished ninth in the junior boys’ 100-metre hurdles with a time of 15.93 seconds, and also competed in the long jump, finishing with a leap of 4.97 metres, and the triple jump with a distance of 10.95 metres.

Also competing were David Kostal in the intermediate boys’ 400 metres

(1:02.17), Hayden Miller in the junior boys’ discus (28.38 metres) and Kirsten East in the senior girls’ shot put with a dis-

tance of 7.35 metres.

Stoughton Central School had a provincial medal winner as well, as Bailey Baumgartner won

the silver medal in the intermediate girls’ shot put with a distance of 10.71 metres.

Carson Baumgartner was ninth in the senior boys’ shot put with a distance of 12.34 metres.

The Oxbow Prairie Horizons School also sent a healthy contingent of athletes to provincials.

Grayson Brock brought home a fifth-place finish in the junior boys’ tetrathlon, highlighted by a third-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 5.44 metres and a fourth in the shot put with a distance of 9.97 metres.

Other top-10 finishes were: Khalifa Elshein (eighth, 54.94 seconds) and Aldwin Casi (ninth, 55.40 seconds) in the boys’ 400 metres, while Elshein was eighth in the senior boys’ 800 metres (2:06.18).

Reese Karlunchuck from Arcola School was 10th in the junior boys’ 1,500 metres with a time of 4:44.82 seconds. Kobe Wotta, competing in the senior boys’ tetrathlon, had a second-place finish in the shot put component with a toss of 11.81 metres.

The Carnduff Education Complex had several athletes competing. Nathan Gardiner was the top finisher with a ninthplace result in the intermediate boys’ 400 metres (47.70 seconds).

Bria Wallace was the top finisher for Alameda School with a 12th-place finish in the intermediate girls’ high jump with a leap of 1.3 metres. École de Bellegard’s top finisher was Morgan Nixon in the intermediate boys’ shot put with a toss of 11.13 metres.

Enjoy the scenery while playing golf at Moose Creek

By Stephanie Zoer

Alayne McNab is into her third season as the Moose Creek Golf Course’s manger.

The course is located in the Moose Creek Regional Park that overlooks Grant Devine Lake.

The reservoir, formerly known as the Alameda Dam, was constructed in 1994 to control flows from Moose Mountain Creek and the Souris River.

McNab was born and raised in Oxbow and graduated from the Oxbow Prairie Horizon School.

After graduation, she attended Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Saskatoon to earn her degree as a journeyperson, red seal chef and continue her love for cooking.

She received employment at the Happy Nun Café in Forget, but shortly after she was hired the pandemic hit. Looking for seasonal work to fill in the gap, she began to work at the course part time in 2021, and in 2022 she was hired as the course’s manager. It was her hope to be a chef at the Nun and work at the golf course, but this was not the case when the Happy Nun Café burned down in December 2022 and was not rebuilt.

Focusing on the golf course, she said the clubhouse is licensed and has nine qualified staff and five excellent groundskeepers, with Kallis Harper as the grounds manager.

Harper is also in his third season in Oxbow,

but had worked at the Carlyle Golf Club before he moved closer to Oxbow with his family.

The course becomes quite busy during July and August when the park fills with campers that come to golf, fish and enjoy watersports like boating. McNab said the lake is quite busy with boat traffic throughout the summer.

The nine-hole course offers a men’s league on Thursday evenings and a women’s league on Wednesday nights.

Every second Friday is pairs’ night with a nine and dine, best-ball evening. The meal is prepared by McNab, and she loves the opportunity to put her cooking skills to work.

With the amount of rain lately, McNab said

the course dries up quickly with the wind from off the lake, but they did have to close early on June 5 due to the extreme wind.

On May 25, they held their first tournament which is a memorial for Trevor Spearing, who passed away in 2022. This will become an an-

nual event and this year brought 112 golfers.

On June 18, they will hold their annual seniors’ tournament, which is well attended, and on Aug. 16 they will host the Oilmen’s tournament. On Aug. 20 another tournament is booked for the youths. Both these tournaments

see a great turnout. McNab said the park is a beautiful place and they are lucky to have Trent’s Place in the park to offer people a place to eat.

“It is worth the drive,” said McNab. “The park and golf course offer so much to those that attend.”

Soccer entertains seniors

Chase Himmelspach, left, and Dane Peterson won medals at the provincial high school track-and-field championships. Photo courtesy of Shelley Sargent

Moose Creek Golf Course overlooks Grant Devine Lake, and it brings many campers to the area. Photo by Alayne McNab

The Carlyle U5 soccer team entertained the residents at the Moose Mountain Lodge by playing a soccer game recently. It was very windy but the kids played hard and had a great game. Thanks to the coaches, Sarah Kirkness and Lindsay Broccolo for bringing the kids out. Photo by Dolores Young

Another Lampman Sports Weekend is in the books

By Stephanie Zoer

The last time Lampman had a parade for the Lampman Sports Weekend was in 2019 and people were happy to see one this year.

The weekend began June 7 with slo-pitch games tournament in the evening. The beer garden was open for refreshments when the games were completed.

June 8 was a packed day, starting with a wellpresented parade coming down Main Street. The parade included floats, horses and bikes.

Raymond Fleck was glad to see another parade and jokingly said he has been attending for 90 years, although he turned 89 last March.

Fleck enjoys the community atmosphere and social element during this time, and he sat with his wife and a few friends.

Once the parade came to an end, people headed over to the sports grounds where baseball games were already in progress.

It was at this time that the Lions Club presented cheques to several organizations. Community in Blooms received $1,500, Lampman Fire and Rescue received $2,000, the Lampman Library received $1,000, the Lampman Recreation Board received $2,500 and Lampman Healthcare Auxiliary received $1,000.

Eleven teams entered the slo-pitch tournament in the hopes to win the grand prize of $1,500.

As games continued, another highlight was when the under-11 girls’ baseball team took on the under-11 boys’ team. Throughout the afternoon and into the evening, the swimming pool was open to the public and was well attended.

The Lions Club concession booth had a steady lineup on both days and the Little Leapers daycare volunteered their time on Saturday.

Curbside Games had a steady stream of kids with the curling rink set up for laser tag and the trailer outside housing video games. This event was sponsored by Hutt’s Trucking and all proceeds raised will go to the pool playpark.

A Lions mixed cornhole tournament for kids and adults brought out 16 teams with a double knockout format.

Bouncy castles, henna tattoos, an ice cream truck, and a book sale at the library were also enjoyed by many.

In the evening, the Johner Brothers with the Johner Boys rocked the night away under a huge tent at the sports ground.

Five hundred people of all ages joined in on the fun, while several hit the dance floor with this event.

Sunday morning in-

cluded the pancake breakfast served up by the Lampman Fire and Rescue Department in the curling rink, while an interdenominational church service was held in the rink lobby.

While this took place, baseball games continued.

It was during this time the fire department had its 50/50 ball drop with Lorna Ray the winner.

Wanda Harron was the lucky winner of the Carnivores Meat package valued at $2,500.

The Vegas draws, which is a yearly fundraiser for the Lions, also took place this weekend and Kurt Freitag was the winner of $1,500.

The Combines and Manor Mayhem battled to reach the championship ball game, and it was Manor taking the win. The Combines did win $400 sponsored by ROJO Trucking.

Zac Ferber umpired the last game between the Stepdads and the Mayhem. The Stepdads battled till the end to take home the $1,500 and Manor won $600. Both these prizes were also sponsored by ROJO Trucking.

Richard Kochie, secretary of the Lions club, said the weekend went well and the weather held up, although on Saturday it did get windy, but did not cause any issues, and the weekend was well attended.

A single horse and rider carrying the Canadian flag followed the RCMP truck to start the parade in Lampman. Photo by Stephanie Zoer

The Lampman Healthcare Auxiliary received a $1,000 donation from the Lampman Lions Club. Photo by Rhonda Loughren

The Lampman Recreation Board was grateful for the donation of $2,500 from the Lampman Lions Club. Photo by Rhonda Loughren

The Lampman Library was happy to receive $1,000 from the Lampman Lions Club. Photo by Rhonda Loughren

The Lampman Lions Club donated $2,000 to the Lampman Fire and Rescue Department. Photo by Rhonda Loughren

Communities in Bloom received $1,500 from the Lampman Lions Club. Photo by Rhonda Loughren

Dri llingL icenses

RigRep or t

Inc3-28-5-7

4-10-5-9

5-15-5-9 326171 StampedeDrillingTundraOil &Gas 12-19-3-15

Another fine birthday

Hazel Mills celebrated her 98th birthday on May 27 at Moose Mountain Lodge in Carlyle. Family members were in attendance to mark the occasion.

Carievale 4-H Beef Club Achievement Day results

The Carievale 4-H Beef Club held its annual achievement day at the Carievale Riding Arena on June 7.

The cattle judges were Wade and Jorja Beck, while Brandice Petterson judged the record books. Members participated in judging four heifers. They had a mixed team grooming event. Jackie Gilliland was the show announcer. Karissa Elliott was ring personnel. Angie Cliffe was the photographer.

Photo by Suelynn Mills

The Carievale 4-H Beef Club gathers for a group photo after its achievement day. Photo courtesy of Teresa Cowan

James F. Trobert, B.A., LL.B. Kathryn E. A. Gilliss, B.A. (Hons.), J.D.

1339 - 4th Street * Estevan, SK S4A 0X1

Phone: (306) 634-2616 Stoughton – Tuesday morning Fax: (306) 634-9881 Oxbow – Tuesday afternoon E-mail: tglaw@sasktel.net Kipling – Every 2nd Friday afternoon

Memorials * In Cemetery Lettering Memorial Benches * Cenotaphs * Columbaria Cemetery Improvements * Memorial Restoration

MICHAEL REY 306-901-7440

LAURIE REY 306-901-7000

Call, text or email mrey@sasktel.net No obligation in-home consultation

the

Awards presented to 4-H members

and the

Newspaper Association and membership do

make any warranty as to the

completeness,

« A16 Results of the classes were as follows:

Grooming:

Cloverbud: Kaylie Carr (first), Hayden Taylor (second) and Everett Kinsley (third);

Junior: Amos Gilliland (first), Everly Beck (second) and Evan Gilliland (third);

Intermediate: Mya Gilliland (first), Marisol Gilliland (second) and Dane Taylor (third);

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.

Senior: Amy Gilliland (first), Lance McMillen (second) and Braden Thompson (third).

Judging:

Cloverbud: Hayden Taylor (first), Kaylie Carr (second) and Everett Kinsley (third);

MORRROW - Trilbie May Morrow 1938 - 2023

The family of Trilbie Morrow would like to announce the Public Graveside Service will be held on Friday, June 21, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Glen Morris Cemetery, Carlyle, SK. With Rev Michelle Moore presiding. Everyone is welcome to join the family at the Happy Gang for the luncheon following the service.

In memory of Trilbie, memorial donations may be made to the Friends of Moose Mountain Lodge, Box 729, Carlyle, SK S0C 0R0. Please make cheques payable to the Town of Carlyle. Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for Trilbie's familyYvonne Clark, Funeral Director.

QUEEN CITY

ANTIQUE & VINTAGE SUMMER MARKET

INDIAN HEAD, SK Saturday, June 22 & Sunday, June 23

10 am - 4 pm

memorial Hall 423 Grand avenue

indian Head

Admission $6

Children under 12 free vintaGe, antiques & ColleCtibles indian Head days & Car sHow new vendors welCome Call: 306-552-8528 queenCityvintaGe1

EQUIPMENT OPERATORS

Motor scrapers, dozers, excavators, rock trucks, packers; wide range of machines. Lots of work all season. Camp/R & B provided. Competitive wages. Valid drivers license req’d. Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction and Transport Co. Inc. Box 100, Arborfield, SK S0E 0A0; Fax: 306-769-8844 Email: brydenconstruct@

Find QUALIFIED, LOCAL EMPLOYEES, using the strength of community newspapers! Visit www.swna.com or call 306-649-1405 to find out how! PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS, 49 local community newspapers, distributing to over 450 communities, including 14 cities. Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call 306-649.1405 or visit www.swna.com for details.

WE BUY DAMAGED GRAIN HEATED... LIGHT BUGS... TOUGH MIXED GRAIN SPRING THRASHED WHEAT... OATS PEAS... BARLEY CANOLA... FLAX “ON FARM PICKUP” WESTCAN FEED & GRAIN 1-877-250-5252

FORAGE SEED FOR SALE: Organic & conventional: Sweet Clover, Alfalfa, Red Clover, Smooth Brome, Meadow Brome, Crested Wheatgrass, Timothy, etc. Star City, SK Birch Rose Acres Ltd. 306921-9942.

Junior: Vanessa Cowan (first), Evan Gilliland (second) and Amos Gilliland (third);

Intermediate: Mya Gilliland (first), Marisol Gilliland (second) and Benjamin Buchanan (third);

Senior: Braden Thompson (first), Amy Gilliland (second) and Daylan Elliott (third).

Showmanship:

Cloverbud: Hayden Taylor (first), Kaylie Carr (second) and Everett Kinsley (third);

Junior: Evan Gilliland (first), Everly Beck (second) and Amos Gilliland (third);

Intermediate: Mya Gilliland (first), Dane Taylor (second) and Marisol Gillilland (third);

Senior: Amy Gilliland (first), Lance McMillen (second) and Braden Thompson (third).

Record books:

Cloverbud: Kaylie Carr (first), Everett Kinsley (second) and Hayden Taylor (third); Junior: Vanessa Cowan (first), Amos Gilliland (second) and Arabella Buchanan (third); Intermediate: Ryan Cowan (first), Benjamin Buchanan (second) and Ryder Gibson (third); Senior: Amy Gilliland (first), Casey Brady (second) and Braden Thompson (third).

Questionnaires:

Cloverbud: Everett Kinsley (first), Hayden Taylor (second) and Kaylie Carr (third); Junior: Vanessa Cowan (first), Arabella Buchanan (second) and Evan Gilliland (third); Intermediate: Mya Gilliland (first), Benjamin Buchanan (second) and Evan Gilliland (third); Senior: Lance McMillen (first), Braden Thompson (second) and Casey Brady (third).

Aggregate Awards:

These awards are given out to the member in each age category that has the most points from meeting attendance, participation in events, record books, questionnaires and placings at the achievement day.

Cloverbud: Hayden Taylor and Kaylie Carr were tied; Junior: Vanessa Cowan; Intermediate: Mya Gilliland; Senior: Amy Gilliland.

Cattle and other awards:

Supreme Female: Daylan Elliott; Reserve Supreme Female: Amy Gilliland; Grand Champion Continuation Heifer: Amy Gilliland; Reserve Continuation Heifer: Amos Gilliland; Homegrown Heifer: Daylan Elliott; Reserve Homegrown Heifer: Amos Gilliland; Grand Champion Heifer: Daylan Elliott; Reserve Heifer: Amos Gilliland; Homegrown Steer: Lance McMillen; Reserve Homegrown Steer: Evan Gilliland; Grand Champion Steer: Lance McMillen; Reserve Steer: Evan Gilliland; 4-H Spirit Award: Casey Brady; and Hard Luck Awards: Roper Kinsley, Brexton Beaudoin, Jaxson Gallant, Mason From, Cole Green and Ace Hodgson.

All members received their 4-H certificates. The member gift this year was a hoodie for each person. The lunch was supplied by Nutrien, a barbecue supper was courtesy of PureChem and drinks were by the Carnduff Co-op.

Tourism in Saskatchewan continues to grow

Recent domestic and international visitation figures show that Saskatchewan’s tourism industry is on the path to growth.

The latest data released by Statistics Canada demonstrate a strong increase in tourism expenditures in Saskatchewan. Travel spending reached almost $2.85 billion in 2023, outpacing the $2.4 billion in spending that was generated in 2022. Similarly, hotel occupancy rates and revenue for 2023 showed significant growth over the previous year.

Domestic travel is also showing strong numbers.

Saskatchewan experienced 21 per cent growth in overnight visitation in 2023, the most out of all Canadian provinces.

“Saskatchewan’s tourism industry is continuing to grow our economy, create new jobs and provide one-of-a-kind experiences to visitors coming to our province,” Minister Responsible for Tourism Saskatchewan Jeremy Harrison said.

“Our government set an ambitious target in the Saskatchewan Growth Plan for a 50 per cent increase in annual tourism expenditures by the year 2030. These

latest figures show that our tourism industry is on track to achieving that goal.”

In addition to domestic travel, visitation from the United States has increased, with 2023 figures showing a 54 per cent increase in U.S. travelers by car. With the re-introduction of an air route between Minneapolis and Saskatoon, air arrivals increased by 46 per cent in 2023. In addition, fishing and

hunting licence sales rose by 26 per cent over 2022.

“The tourism industry was heavily affected by the downturn in travel over the last few years, not only within the province but on a national and international level,” Tourism Saskatchewan CEO Jonathan Potts said.

“The latest figures released by Statistics Canada, along with

other positive indicators, demonstrate that tourism in our province is on the upswing. Our organization is focused on reaching the goal set out in the Saskatchewan Growth Plan to assist the tourism industry in achieving $3.6 billion in annual travel spending by 2030.

“The efforts of our industry partners, with support from sound research and innovative strategies, will help get us there. It is gratifying to see that people are embracing Saskatchewan as an enticing destination.”

The Conference Board of Canada predicts that tourism revenues will continue to increase. Long-term, the board estimates that Saskatchewan will reach approximately $3.57 billion in annual visitor expenditures in 2028.

ACROSS

1. Ebband

5. Happy

8. Flounder ’s cousin

12 .Talkw ildly

13.____-manband

14.Place

15.N or th Atlantic perils

17.T inyf ly

18 .B aske tb all’s contents

19.O dome ter reading

21.Fruit re fresher

22 .Traff ic-light co lor

23.M adeholy

24.Freight weight

25.R egal

27.Const ant

29.Historical ep och

30.G olfer ’s pe g

31.Financial institution

33.Unzips

36 .Chip’s comp anion

37.H os t

40.Likely

42 .D eadlysnake

43.Collegebigwigs

44.B ond

45.H on e

47.N onprofessionals

49.B oatb uilder

50.Alo hagift

51. Cour age

52 .Lively

53.Cos ta de l_

54.R eceives

32 .Emerge

34.O ut-of- do or s

35.Enthusiasm

36 .Day breaks

38 .Lunch es 39._ ro le

41.Trials

46 .Q uaker pronoun

48 .O me le t ne cessit y Copyright© 2024,PennyPress

DOWN

1. Monk

2. Frillier

3. Strain

4. Blackwidow’s parlor

5. Big ap e

6. Aspe ct

7. Favorable votes

8. Slump

9. Elab orate

10.Trick :2 wds.

11.G obble dup

16 .B egan a journ ey

20.M os tcostly

26 .Craving

28 .22ndlet ter

30.Pedicure subjec t

31.Cathedral head

HOWTOPLAY:

Fillinthegridsothateveryrow, everycolumnandevery3x3box containsthenumbers 1through 9onlyonce.

Each3x3boxisoutlinedwitha darkerline. Youalreadyhavea fewnumberstogetyoustarted. Remember:youmustnot repeat thenumbers 1through9inthe sameline,columnor3x3box.

WEEKOF JUNE16TO22,2024

THELUCKIESTSIGNSTHISWEEK: SAGITTARIUS,CAPRICORNANDAQUARIUS

ARIES

Havingsharedgoal sist hekeyto a happyandhealthyrelationship.Taking astepbackwillenableyoutobetter appreciatewhatyouhaveandwhatyou wantsoyoucanmoveforwardtogether.

TAURUS

You’lldealwithsomeratherstressfulnegotiationsthisweek.Someonewillconfesstheirfeelingstoyou,butyouwon’t knowhowtoreact,especiallyifyou’re in arelationship,astheywon’tbelet downeasily.

GEMINI

Sometimes,yo um us tp utyourego asidetoreachyourgoals.Itcanbechallengingtostandinfrontof acrowdof people.Learntotrustyourself.

CANCER

Oneofyourchildrenwillachievesomethingsignificant,suchastakingtheir firststepsorgetting adiploma.Thiswill amazeyouandfillyouwithhappiness andpride.You’llstandoutatworkfor yourhonestyandopenness,earning praise.

LEO

You’llstart anewchapterwhenyoudecidetosellyourhome.Yourchildren haveleftthenest;it’stimefornewchallengesandenrichingexperiences.You’ll acceptchangewithpeaceandoptimism

VIRGO Youmustcreate adetailedbudgetto manageyourfinances.Thiswillallow youtotreatyourselfto aholidayfullof adventureanddiscoveryalone,withyour significantotherorfriends.Getready forlotsoffunahead!

LIBRA

Youtendtoactquicklyinanysituation, whichcansometimesbe aqualityora flaw.Seektheadviceofthosecloseto you.Don’trushintothingstoavoidunnecessaryexpenses.

SCORPIO

Ifyou’reconstantlyquestioningyourfuture, adreamcouldguideyoutowarda professionalsolution.Anunexpecteddiscoverycouldpositivelyilluminateyour path.

SAGITTARIUS

You’reunder alotofpressureandneed torechargeyourbatteries.Takethisopportunitytoletyourcreativityrunwild. You’llgetalotoforiginalsuggestionsto decorateyourhome.

CAPRICORN

You’llorganizeaneventthatwillbring someofyourfriendstogether,andyou’ll have alotofpeopletowelcomeandentertain.You’llneedtobecreativeand diplomatictoensureeverythinggoes smoothly.

AQUARIUS

Everygreatprojectstartswith adream. You’llfindtheinspirationyouneedto turnyourideasintoreality.Yourdream forthefutureisreflectedinbothyour personalandprofessionallives,strengtheningyourdetermination

PISCES

Anunforeseeneventwillevokeintense emotionsandmakeyouquestionyour choices.Youmayhavetheurgetogo farawayon aspiritualjourneythatwill shedlightonyourfuture.

PUZZLENO.