July 12, 13, 14
OBSERVER THE
Souris-Moose Mountain MP won’t seek re-election
By David Willberg
Souris-Moose Mountain will have a new member of Parliament after the next federal election.
Incumbent MP Robert Kitchen announced on Monday that he will not seek another term in the role in the next federal election, expected to happen in 2025. Kitchen was first elected to the post in 2015, and was re-elected in 2019 and 2021.
He will remain the MP until the next election.
Kitchen had stated last fall that he planned to run in the next election, but that was when he thought there could be an election in late 2023 or sometime in 2024. Now he expects Canadians won’t go to the polls until the next scheduled date in the fall of 2025, at the earliest.
“When we win that next election, then that’s another four years down the road,” Kitchen said in an interview with the Observer and SaskToday. Spending time with his family also factored into his decision.
“I have deprived my family, over the past 10 years, of so much, from having the opportunity to be there for my wife, who is my best friend, from my kids and my grandkids. It’s time that I spend with them,” said an emotional Kitchen.
He pointed out that when his children played a sport, he stressed the importance of being committed until the finish. When the finish happened, then they could decide if they wanted to continue.
“But in between there, if you’re friends are going south for a winter vacation, you’re still playing hockey. You’re still figure skating. And that’s something I believe in. And I wouldn’t want to turn around … halfway through the next election, or after the election, and say I want to leave,” said Kitchen, who will be 67 years old at the end of 2024.
The party has already started the nomination process, so even if a snap election were to be triggered before the end of this year, Kitchen said he wouldn’t be running for reelection.
Serving as the MP had a lot of highs and a lot of lows, Kitchen said. He was hoping to eventually sit on the government side of the House of Commons, but he will wind up being an opposition MP for his 10 years of service. It was tough deciding to retire consid-
ering the Tories currently hold a large lead in the polls.
“It was a decision that I’m comfortable with, and it was the right decision,” said Kitchen.
As for the highs, the election victories were memorable. He had the highest percentage of the vote in Canada in 2021 at 76.4 per cent and the secondhighest in 2019 at 84.4 per cent. Winning the first election in 2015 was also exciting.
He said he was always eager to talk to
his constituents, but a low came when he couldn’t see them face to face during the restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Souris-Moose Mountain is a massive riding at 43,000 square kilometres, and it’s only going to get bigger for the next election.
“We have our coal miners. We have our SaskPower workers. We have our energy workers. We have our oil and gas workers. We have our agriculture in our faming and we have our ranchers. We have potash,” said Kitchen.
“And then we have so many communities with so many small businesses that provide such a great service to this area, and I have wanted and enjoyed that opportunity to try to do my best to keep that population and that base here,” said Kitchen.
Kitchen said it will be important for the new Tory candidate to be someone who lives within the riding. He faced parachute candidates for the Liberals in each election, and also had to go against someone from the NDP who didn’t live in the constituency. Those who live in the riding have a firm grasp about its people.
“I’ve made it my effort to get out to every community as often as I can, and that’s often [going to be] a huge toll … on their family, and it will be a huge impact on them, by having to put on all of those miles, and getting out to talk and learn from people, so that they’re learning something new every day. That’s something I’ve always believed in, that I needed to learn something new everyday.”
As of the Observer’s press time, two candidates, Steven Bonk and Mike Strachan, had announced their intentions to run for the Conservative Party’s nomination for this riding in the next federal election. For profiles on the two candidates, please see Page 5. Further updates on the nomination race can be found on our provincial news hub at sasktoday.ca.
Robert Kitchen has been the MP for Souris-Moose Mountain since 2015. File photo
By Stephanie Zoer
Lampman wanted to have a friendly beautification competition, so they contacted Bienfait and Midale.
The rules were to clean up their towns and call it the MLB (Midale Lampman Bienfait) Beautification Competition. This was the first time they had done anything like this, and all three communities were eager to be involved.
Originally the judging was to be on June 27, but due to a major storm, Midale and Bienfait asked for a delay as they had a multitude of branches to clean up.
In Midale, residents piled branches on the edge of their properties so the town’s public works crew could easily pick them up and dispose of them. It was also to give the town more time to clean up leaves and other debris that was blown around.
The town encouraged its residents to help those who may have struggles and to offer help to others to get the jobs done. Midale residents were busy making their yards ready for the chance to be first on the plaque.
Bienfait also had a great deal of branches to clean up. With two full-
July
Friday, July 12 to Saturday July, 14 - White Bear Pow Wow
Sat, July 13 - Kenosee Lake Show & Shine
Wed, July 24 - Rusty Relics Museum - Train Day -1:30pm to 3pm
Carlyle Bakery canalsobefound at these Retailers
Estevan -Little J's Food Town -938 EvaStreet
Estevan -Pharmasave -1239 5thStreet
Weyburn -Pharmasave -30-3rdStreet
Oxbow -SouthernPlains Co-op -405 Prospect Ave
Your rst stop to nd events happening in our community!
August
Sat, Aug 3 - Wawota Heritage Day
Fri & Sat - Aug 9 & 10 - Manor Fun Dayz
Sat, Aug 17 - Carlyle Fun Dayz
Fri, Aug 23 - Arcola Rodeo Sat, Aug 24 - 5th Annual Manor & RM 63 Fire Department Golf Tournament
*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.
Towns battle for rst MLB beauti cation competition
for
drove to each town and went down each street to check out the communities thoroughly.
They looked at the town signs and the tidiness of public properties, and checked if the empty and abandoned lots were kept clean and the removal of abandoned vehicles.
The main street needed to look clean and welcoming, and so did the back alleys.
The three judges returned to Lampman. They were joined by representatives from each town for lunch at the Harvest Café.
With the wind storm, the judges felt Midale and Bienfait had done a wonderful job on cleaning up and there was no evidence of the storm.
They noted that the Therapeutic Park in Lampman was certainly inviting, and they planned to return to visit it.
Suggestions to the towns were to clean up around power poles and have a council member greet them upon arrival at the town office.
time public works people, they were busy. The two students were in charge of mowing and trimming.
The town’s residents placed their bulky items by the road and the pub-
lic works crew hauled it away.
Assistant administrator Shelby Tylandsvik said this was extremely helpful in getting the back alleys cleaned and
really boosted the town’s appearance. It was also a wonderful time to hold this competition, as it was after the annual Canada Day celebration that draws a large crowd.
The delay also gave Lampman more time to spend cleaning up the town. Lampman was the host town and it had already been preparing for weeks. They sent out letters to residents that had fallen behind on grass cutting and to remove unwanted items.
For a week Lampman offered free drops at the landfill site. The town’s public works kept going right up until the arrival of the judges: Elias Jackson and Charlotte Hookenson from Kisbey and Sandra Wright from Arcola. They
It was not an easy decision for the judges, as they felt all three towns looked amazing, but in the end, they awarded the MLB Beautification Award to Bienfait.
Lampman Mayor Jay Jones presented the plaque to Bienfait Mayor Ken Bonokoski.
Lampman administrator Glenda Johnston said nobody loses in an event like this, as three communities are clean and the citizens were in good spirit. It is a very friendly competition and it can be a lot of fun.
Bienfait will host next year’s MLB competition.
From left, Lampman Mayor Jay Jones presented Ken Bonokoski, Mayor of Bienfait the winning plaque
the beauti cation competition called the MLB. Photo courtesy of Glenda Johnston
Lots of fun at annual Stoughton Daze festivities
By Stephanie Zoer
Stoughton had plenty of activities for people to enjoy over three days during the annual Stoughton Daze.
It started off with a Texas scramble ninehole tournament on July 5, with four teams of four players braving the unpredictable rain showers. Later that night, the Crossroads Bar and Grill had the band Moody Hallow take to the stage, giving everyone a wonderful time.
On July 6, the Stoughton-Tecumseh Fire Department held their annual pancake breakfast. The crowd enjoyed the treat while waiting for the parade to begin lining up.
Government Road slowly began to fill up with floats, the old fire truck, race cars and horses. This year the parade had the new fire truck serving as the caboose for the lineup.
Some of the Trucco Trick Riders began the parade by displaying the Canadian flag and later were scheduled to perform at the fairgrounds.
The parade had a great showing, and Main Street was lined with people and children looking for candy. As usual the parade circled around the Golden Years Suites and went past the Pioneer New Hope Lodge so all the residents could enjoy the floats and the candy.
When the parade came to an end, the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce held a market on Main Street at the new greenspace, while the Stoughton Agricultural Society had
their fair at the drop-in centre.
There was plenty to look at inside and people could see who was taking home the prizes.
At the United Church, the Stoughton Quilters Guild Show occurred, with an array of quilts with colouring designs that made for a magnificent display of the challenging work that these women have put into the quilts.
At the fairgrounds, while volunteers were busy getting the food booth set up, the carnival games began their set up as well.
They had the Zorb balls, bungee run, axe throw and the petting zoo. The Zorb balls had a lineup of kids eager to try the large balls and beat their friends to the other end.
The petting zoo had fainting goats, rabbits, a Guinea pig, chickens and a black Angus calf that was born weighing only 14 pounds. Normally a healthy calf can weigh anywhere from 60-90 pounds. Although this calf was extremely tiny, it is now four months old, weighs around 60 pounds and it enjoyed all the attention from the public.
The Stoughton Lions Club once again sponsored free swimming on July 6, and the pool filled up quickly with the heat of the day. The beer gardens opened up with Moody Hallow on stage, and this area became quite busy later in the day.
The slow-pitch tournament had five teams sign up and each team managed to get in one game, and then things came to an end.
At the rodeo grounds, the Truco Trick Riders dazzled the crowd with their daring moves, hanging upside down on their loping horses. The crowd showed their amazement with loud cheers and applause.
Everything came to a halt in the afternoon when the sky opened up and the rain began. The ball players tried to get in a second game, but the field became saturated with water, and they had to call it quits.
The Truco Trick Riders also could not do their later performance for the safety of the horses and riders, and finally the grounds closed down, leaving the beer gardens busy.
July 7 was a new day, and the sun came out giving the slime and colour runners a magnificent event. Twenty people signed up for the run, raising $370.
Another event was the cornhole tournament, bringing in 10 teams, and the defending champions Stefan Clark
and Rory Clark had to hand over their titles to the new 2024 champions, Chris Griffin and Gavin Dayman.
Beach volleyball only had one team register and when the cornhole tournament was over they held a pick-up game.
Raya Walker enjoyed the free swimming sponsored by the Stoughton Lions Club at Stoughton Daze. Photo by Stephanie Zoer
The axe toss was a popular event for young and old while proving to be more di cult than one might think. Photo by Stephanie Zoer
Rain yes, hail no
Stephanie Zoer
Just a few words
I am starting to wonder if I still live in Saskatchewan or if this is Vancouver.
The rain, humidity, thunderstorms and funnel clouds have been regular occurrences this year.
Every day we check the satellite map several times to see when the rain will hit us on the jobsite and what we can get done before it happens.
We needed the rain, as last year was extremely dry. Everywhere the land was a crisp brown colour and so unpleasant to look at.
This year the fields are lush and green, but it is a chore to get the grass mowed without plugging up the underside.
My garden is catching up, and for some reason the weeds grow at a much faster rate, passing everything else in the garden that is edible.
I did get my garden weeded with six inches of mud on my boots, but I am not complaining about the rain.
I have not needed to water my garden at all this summer, my barrels are full, and the dogs’ pond has been used regularly by our dear golden retriever.
One thing we do need is heat. It seems to heat up during the day. Then a thunderstorm rolls in and the temperature drops quickly.
If I look at pictures from last year of our garden, it was twice as tall. I watered when needed, but we had a lot of heat. It is one of the things from Mother Nature that we have no control over.
Just recently, coming from the job site, my husband said the weather was not going to be pleasant, so I followed him home.
Halfway home near Kisbey, it started to rain and soon it was coming down by the buckets. Then the hail started.
As we pulled off to the side of the road, along with 10 other vehicles, the hail began to grow. At first the pellets were pretty small, but it did not take long for them to turn into pea-sized hail, and then the small marbles started to bounce off my truck.
I turned my truck to get the hail more on the side and back, but I was becoming concerned. Not for my truck, but for my garden. If this hail hit Stoughton, and it grew bigger, my garden would be doomed.
Luckily, the balls did not grow. It never hailed at home. Slowly the hail and rain subsided, and we were on the road home.
Hail is devasting and can destroy many things in its path depending on the size, and Estevan saw this firsthand a few weeks ago with hail the size of golf balls.
Is there a way to protect our things from hail if it happens? Do you have a plan in place if you are on the road and it happens?
Depending on the direction of the wind, we have always tried to have the back of our vehicles facing towards the wind. If the back window gets knocked out, at least one can drive home.
To prevent my garden from being destroyed, I have planters filled that can easily be moved to shelter. My garden, on the other hand, will meet its fate.
And where do all the wild animals go? I am sure they go to the trees, but is this enough to protect them? I have always wondered.
Funnels clouds have also been seen regularly this year. They are the ones that do not touch the ground, but this does not mean it couldn’t happen.
Do you have a plan for a tornado? Everyone in my family knows what to do during a storm. We have pets, and each one of them has their designated person. They come with us to our safe spot.
Each room in our house has a working flashlight and phones are always charged. We do not have a basement, so our bathroom is the best place.
Our prediction is it will be a stormy summer, so make a plan that everyone knows, and keep an eye on the sky.
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
- Nelson Mandela
Start planning the parade route
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are 4-0 to start the CFL season.
The last time they started 4-0 was in 2013. I don’t think I need to tell you what happened that year. Even people who are new to the province know what the Riders did in 2013. Some learn about the 2013 Riders immediately after they learn their address, their phone number and the location of the closest grocery store.
(If there was a handbook on everything you need to know about Saskatchewan, there would be a chapter dedicated to the Riders’ Grey Cup win at home in 2013. You’d also have a chapter on the 114-year history of the Riders and another on the other three Grey Cup wins. But 2013 would get its own chapter).
So, you can forgive Rider fans for having visions of 2013 dancing in their heads after this year’s 4-0 start. Forget the fact that the Riders started 3-1 last year, only to lose their last seven games and finish 6-12; or that they were 4-1 two years ago, only to finish, you guessed it, 6-12 after losing their last seven games.
I can confidently say this year is going to be different for the Green and White. After all, 4-0 is very different from 4-1 or 3-1, right? There’s a
David Willberg Willberg’s World
new coach this year in Corey Mace. They’re better on the offensive line (granted, they couldn’t be any worse than the human turnstiles that dotted the line the last two years).
The strong start just feels more sustainable, even if one win was against the Edmonton Elks and two were against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, neither of whom are exactly powerhouses this year. The win over the Toronto Argonauts was impressive, especially when you consider the Riders did it with a back-up quarterback making his first CFL start.
We’ll see how the Riders do when they visit the B.C. Lions on July 13 and visit the defending Grey Cup champions, the Montreal Alouettes, on July 25. Those game will be the true early litmus tests for the Riders, the games to show how much work really needs to be done.
I’ve long poked fun at Rider fans for suffering from premature evaluation syndrome. They get too excited over a win and too down over a loss. Granted, it’s an 18-game season so there isn’t as
much margin of error as in, say, Major League Baseball, which plays a 162-game season.
If the Riders win a couple games in a row, even if it’s against lesser teams, many of their faithful will start planning a parade route. If they lose a couple games in a row, then it’s time to fire the coaches and start a complete rebuild. (I heard both sentiments in 2013).
Do I think the Riders are a better team this year than the past couple of seasons? Absolutely. They finally have an offensive line that looks credible. They look like a team that can win the battles on the lines on a nightly basis. And while quarterback Trevor Harris is currently hurt, at least he won’t have to run for his life on a nightly basis when he returns.
With the talent the Riders have on the offensive side on the ball, and with Mario Alford (?) returning kicks, they have a team that is entertaining to watch. People can shell out their hardearned money for Rider tickets for reasons other than just “let’s go to support the team”.
And Mace has made a big difference as coach. His predecessor, Craig Dickenson, is a really good coach, but you could tell by the end of last year that his time with the club was coming to a merciful end. The CFL’s West Division isn’t exactly a powerhouse this year, either. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ run of success appears to be coming to an end. The Calgary Stampeders are no longer a powerhouse. And the Elks have a knack for costly mistakes at the worst possible time. A home playoff game and an appearance in the West Division Final are realistic expectations. As in any other sport, sometimes it takes time to build a winner. Yes, we’ve seen teams go from non-playoff squads to the Grey Cup game, and even a Grey Cup championship, in a year. But most of the time, you have to suffer that playoff defeat in the division semifinal or the final before getting into the championship game the following year. Winning a postseason game for just the second time since 2017 would be an important step forward for the Riders core this year. So don’t get too down on the team if the Riders aren’t playing in the Grey Cup on Nov. 17 in Vancouver.
Moosomin MLA Bonk vying for Conservative nod
Moosomin MLA Steven Bonk will be seeking the nomination for the federal Conservative Party in Souris-Moose Mountain in the next federal election.
This came on the heels of an announcement by current MP Robert Kitchen that he will not be running for re-election after serving as MP since 2015.
“I am excited to announce that I will be seeking the Conservative Party nomination for the Souris-Moose Mountain riding. I was proud to be co-captain of Pierre Poilievre’s Saskatchewan team during his leadership race. His vision and commitment
to conservative principles resonate deeply with the values we hold here in Saskatchewan. I am thrilled at the opportunity to join his team and help replace Justin Trudeau with a prime minister that is a champion for Saskatchewan,” said Bonk in announcing his intentions to run federally.
He noted that he will not be seeking re-election in the provincial election to be held this fall.
Bonk feels the province is well-represented by Premier Scott Moe and the Saskatchewan Party, who have been dedicated to addressing the needs and priorities of residents.
“However, it’s also crucial that we have a strong, consistent voice advocating for our province at the federal level to
Strachan joins race to be Tory candidate in federal election
Torquay Mayor Mike Strachan has announced that he will be seeking the nomination for the Conservative Party of Canada for SourisMoose Mountain in the upcoming federal election.
With more than a decade serving the people of Torquay, Strachan said he has a proven track record of being a strong, common-sense local leader.
“Having been asked to run by residents and business leaders in the riding, I am pleased to announce my candidacy for the riding of Souris-Moose Mountain,” Strachan stated.
“Together we can build a stronger, more common sense-focused, and fairer Canada for everyone.”
In addition to serving as mayor of Torquay, Strachan serves on the board of directors of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
“As a municipal leader, I understand that common sense is key to bringing home solutions that work for everyone,” Strachan said.
First elected as mayor of Torquay in 2009, Strachan said he has worked alongside all levels of government, including rural munici-
palities, provincial MLAs and federal MPs to ensure that southern Saskatchewan received its fair share of investment and support from all levels of government.
Strachan has worked in the coal mines in the Estevan area for much of his adult life.
“Our energy industry is the envy of the world. We need to send a clear message to Ottawa that there is no such thing as a just transition,” he said. “The workers in Saskatchewan’s energy industry are some of the hardest
working people. If selected as the candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada, I will not forget about the hard-working men and women in our energy industry who work around the clock to ensure Canada has access to the safest and most reliable energy.”
In his announcement, Strachan acknowledged outgoing MP Robert Kitchen.
“Dr. Robert Kitchen has been a strong supporter of local needs and issues over the last 10 years. His strong advocacy for not only our region but Saskatchewan as a whole will be missed. I hope to continue the great work he has done on behalf of the people of Saskatchewan,” Strachan stated.
Kitchen announced on Monday he would not seek re-election in the next federal vote, slated for 2025. Moosomin MLA Steven Bonk has also declared his intention to run.
ensure our interests are effectively represented in Ottawa,” he said.
“Now, I humbly ask for the continued trust and support of the people in southeastern Saskatchewan so that I may represent and advocate for you in Ottawa. I am committed to being a strong voice for our region, ensuring that our needs are not only heard but prioritized at the federal level.
“I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Robert Kitchen for his exemplary service to the constituents of Souris-Moose Mountain. He has consistently served with honor and integrity, always prioritizing the best interests
of our province and nation,” he said.
Bonk was elected as the MLA for Moosomin in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020. He lived in Europe for nearly a decade, where he was the managing director of livestock-based enterprises and worked as a management consultant to help companies grow and solve strategic challenges with the transition to a free market economy, particularly in post-Soviet countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
He communicates in several languages, facilitating his participation on international roundtable discussion panels.
OILFIELD DIRECTORY
Steven Bonk
Mike Strachan
Manor FunDazePresents
Friday,Aug 9
Adults $25.00
Kids6-10 $10.00 5Under Free Weekend Pass
Adults $40.00 6-12 $15.00
Non-ser
Saturday,Aug 10
Pancake Breakfast 8:00am Parade 11:00am Classic CarAnd Tractors
Food Booth &Truck
Beer Gardens/Dance ATVPull2:00pm
Open Pits
Monster Tr uckRides Pulls Star tAt6:30pm
Kids Entertainment FacePainting
Kids Tractor Pull Kids Bouncers
Lots of horsepower will be featured at Manor Fun Daze
By Stephanie Zoer
For the past 40-plus years, Manor has put on a rodeo, and during the last 10 years it held a Professional Bull Riders (PBR) event as well.
This has always brought a considerable number of spectators to the small town.
In the past, the bull chutes were loaned to the rodeo grounds, and they knew that the chutes were for sale by the owners. Last fall the chutes were sold and they were loaded onto semis and taken away, bringing an end to the PBR in Manor.
Rylan Weir, chairman of the Manor Fun Daze committee, began to brainstorm ideas to take the place of the PBR. He produced an idea and called Joe Hoffort from Odessa, who is part of the Modified Truck and Tractor Pull Association. They had a lengthy talk and discussed dates for availability.
A quick committee meeting was called, and it was decided to hold a Modified Truck and Tractor Pull in Manor, called Manor Motor Madness.
Needing more volunteers to make this work, the committee approached the younger generation and told them their plans. Sev-
SGI
A mild storm season in Saskatchewan and strong investment returns helped deliver stable finances and affordable personal auto insurance to the people of Saskatchewan in 2023-24, according to SGI’s annual reports, released on July 8.
“In 2023-24, SGI continued to deliver stable and affordable auto insurance rates for Saskatchewan families and businesses,” Minister Responsible for SGI Dustin Duncan said. “SGI also enhanced it’s commitment to making roads safer through their expanding portfolio of impaired and distracted driving awareness campaigns.”
There will be a lot of horsepower at Manor Fun Daze in August, creating a great deal of excitement.
eral jumped on board for this new and exciting event.
Derek Menzies from Oxbow pulls with his modified diesel truck and he was approached by the committee. He has been a major source of help.
“Hoffort and Menzies have been so helpful,” said Weir. “They are full of information and were
Overall, the auto fund’s financial position continues to be stable. With the global market continuing to experience supply chain issues, there were higher costs for replacement vehicles and parts, which contributed to increased claim costs. SGI’s financial results benefitted from a mild storm season, along with a betterthan-expected performance by its investment portfolio.
Other auto fund highlights for 2023-24 include:
• $1.096 billion in total claims incurred;
• $1.078 billion in gross premium written;
• $173.1 million in discounts to customers
happy to answer our many questions.”
Another meeting was held with organizations to discuss how they wanted to run the event, as they would need a lot of volunteers.
The Manor Recreation Board will run the gates, while the Over 60 Club is in charge of the 50/50 draw, the breakfast and the parade. The
through the safe driver recognition and business recognition programs;
• $183.5 million in investment earnings;
• The Provincial Traffic Safety Fund Grant program awarded $2.8 million in grants to 161 Saskatchewan community projects for road safety improvements;
• $924.9 million in the Rate Stabilization Reserve, which remains at adequate levels even with a $70.3 million reduction in 2023-24;
• SGI achieved its highest customer experience index score of 77 out of 100. SGI’s repair partners also gave SGI high marks with Collision Repair Magazine awarding SGI an “A” overall
school and library will take care of the concession booths, while the Carlyle and Manor Fire Departments will tend to of running the bars at the cabaret.
Each group will find their own volunteers to help and when the event is over, all the money will go into one pot. The bills will be paid, and the net income will be dis-
for body shop relations, payment timeliness and dispute management.
The Saskatchewan Auto Fund is the selfsustaining compulsory auto insurance plan administered by SGI on behalf of the province. The auto fund operates on a break-even basis over time.
SGI Canada delivered a strong and stable financial performance throughout 2023-24, resulting in an overall net income of $78.1 million. This is due to robust investment earnings totaling $114.8 million. Highlights include:
• $78.1 million net income;
• $95.3 million insurance service result;
tributed to the groups that helped.
Weir said they need to look after their town and the organizations in it, as there is always something that is needed.
The Carlyle Fire Department is included as they are from the same RM and they are looking into buying a new fire truck.
On Aug. 9 and 10,
• $114.8 million in investment earnings;
• $53.6 million in net catastrophe claims loss.
• An overall premium growth rate of 8.2 per cent in 2023-24.
SGI Canada invested over $565,000 in sponsorships throughout the 2023-24 fiscal year. Sponsored initiatives focused on safety, security and diversity.
SGI Canada has pledged $1.5 million over the next decade to the University of Regina to support undergradu-
Manor Fun Daze will be held, and there will be events for everyone.
Aug. 9 begins with the Modified Truck and Tractor Pull. These vehicles bring a lot of power and noise.
Also, on both evenings, a cabaret will be held with music by D.J. Trevor Gould. He will have music playing throughout the day in the beer garden.
Aug. 10 will start with a pancake breakfast, followed by the parade. When the parade is over, all of the classic cars and tractors will be part of a show.
A new event has ATVs, quads and side by sides seeing who has the most power through a pull of their own.
Before and after the big pull, spectators can go to the pits and talk with the drivers, and they can also take a ride in the monster truck Rabbit, who will be there entertaining the crowd.
The sponsor-based event has brought in several new sponsors who are excited.
Security will be on the fairgrounds throughout the day and evening to keep things running smoothly.
“It is going to be a great time,” said Weir. “We look forward to seeing everyone at the show.”
ate programming in data science. This will foster innovation and develop Saskatchewan’s skilled insurance professionals of the future.
SGI Canada is the competitive side of SGI, which offers property and casualty insurance in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and British Columbia. SGI Canada sells products through a network of over 320 brokers who operate in more than 1,800 locations.
Photo by Stephanie Zoer
Emma Lees has enjoyed success at cattle shows
By Stephanie Zoer
Emma Lees is a true farm girl, and she loves every aspect of raising cattle and being on the farm with her parents, Corey and Tasha Lees, and her two younger sisters, Kyla and Becca.
Her parents’ farm is located northeast of Arcola, where they raise registered polled herefords and have a commercial herd.
It is extremely important to the Lees family to breed and raise quality, registered cattle, which they have been doing for generations.
Emma went to school in Arcola and graduated from Grade 12 in 2021. She is majoring in human resources at the University of Saskatchewan’s commerce program. She will graduate in May 2025, and it is her plan to stay near the farm while pursuing her career, while taking part in the daily operations of the farm.
When not in school, she returns home to be on the farm and show cattle.
Thanks to growing up on the farm, and her family showing cattle for many years, at the age of
six her parents enrolled her into the Arcola-Kisbey 4-H Beef Club. Emma has always been interested in learning more about showing and enjoyed going to shows like the Hereford Bonanza and then the Canadian Western Agribition.
Having a great deal of interest in the cattle business, Emma loves calving season as this is when she can eye up the calves and see which one she might want to show in the fall and the following summer.
Throughout the years, kids that go to 4-H will learn public speaking, cattle grooming, judging and keeping record books.
Within the club Emma, has held every 4-H position and has enjoyed every year.
Over the years, she has had some big accomplishments, including the 2019 Hereford Bonanza in Weyburn, where she won awards for grand champion female, champion senior grooming and champion senior showmanship. This show was one week long. Also in Weyburn, at the 4-H Regional Show and Sale,
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Emma Lees’ polled hereford heifer is looked over by the judge at the Arcola Steer and Heifer Show on June 22.
Photo by Stephanie Zoer
she won grand champion steer in 2019.
In 2023, Emma travelled to the Calgary Stampede and came home with the reserve champion steer.
At the Weyburn Regional Show and Sale in 2024, she won for champion female and the Katelin Eagles Memorial Personal Development Award.
At the Arcola-Kisbey 4-H Beef Club level, Emma won the average daily gain for her steer this year.
Her list of achievements and wins is long,
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Thank youtothe followingpeoplewho made this daypossible:
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and far too many to mention. These are the ones that stand out for her.
Emma is now the vicepresident of the Canadian Junior Hereford Association. She is required to attend meetings, lead the
group of delegates alongside the president, present new innovative ideas to the board, make calls, help fundraise, budget and assist at the national show, Canadian Hereford Bonanza each year.
“It is an honour to hold such a position at this level and the opportunities that have come with it,” said Emma.
She is also the Saskatchewan delegate for the Saskatchewan Junior Hereford Association.
This year they are planning a beef-a-rama in Arcola, which will be held July 13 at the fairgrounds. This show will consist of art and photography competitions, speeches and a female, bull and steer show. At the end of the day there will be showmanship.
The beef-a-rama is only for registered hereford junior members. Any junior that has paid an activity fee and entered the show will be in attendance. The Canadian Hereford Bonanza is a national show that travels from province to province each year. This year it is in Brandon and next it will be held in Alberta. The show is usually the last week in July.
Emma said that she and her siblings have very strong role models, and they want to see them do their best when it comes to showing.
“We work very hard inside and outside the ring to achieve what we do,” Emma said. “I am always trying to learn and do better.”
4-H Regional Show & Sale
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Arcola-Kisbey 4-H Club triumphs at regional competition
By Stephanie Zoer
The Arcola-Kisbey 4-H Beef Club’s members once again highlighted their talent and dedication, emerging victorious at the Regional Competition in Weyburn held from July 2-5 at the Weyburn Fair grounds.
The regional competition, a highlight of the 4-H calendar, is an opportunity for young members to display their
skills in a variety of categories, including their livestock. Excelling in several areas, the club demonstrated the depth of their talent within their small 10-member group.
At the Weyburn show, there were 118 steers, 60 heifers and 14 cow/calf pairs.
With the many victories at the Weyburn regionals, it shows the hard work and dedica-
tion of the Arcola-Kisbey 4-H members and their leaders, and the support they receive from their families and the community.
It reflects the club’s commitment to the 4-H principles of head to clearer thinking, heart to greater loyalty, hands to larger service, and health to better living for their club, their community, their country and their world.
homes. At the club level, the members learn about the meticulous aspect of grooming and handling of their animal, as well as what the judge will look for and the proper way to present the steer or heifer in the show ring.
rate the animal. There are three divisions, and the junior judging was won by Hannah Lees while Nyia Pretty came in third. In the senior class judging, Matthew Charlton came in second.
Emma Lees won champion Hereford heifer and overall grand champion female with her hereford yearling heifer.
Club leader Arden Charlton expressed her pride in the members’ achievement, saying the club has worked incredibly hard throughout the year, and it is wonderful to see their efforts recognized at the regional level.
This year the club showed 10 steers, nine heifers and two cow/ calf pairs at the regional show. Although the club does not have young members, they tend to usually show heifers as they are smaller and more manageable.
For showmanship, Kyla Lees took first in the seniors’ division and Emma Lees placed third.
Andrew Charlton won the champion threeyear-old cow/calf pair and Kyla Lees was the overall reserve champion with her yearling hereford heifer.
The club consists of four families, each taking turns hosting the monthly meeting at their
Judging is a crucial factor and an important skill to learn, and the kids help judge each other, giving their valuable tips to their comembers. Although they will compete against each other in the show ring, they are still a team and give each other as much encouragement as possible.
This is also done at regionals, where they will show the judge how they
Second place was given to Becca Lees in intermediate showmanship, while in junior showmanship, Hannah Lees took third. The club also placed third for their display.
In the grooming division the club took first in junior, second in intermediate and another first in senior. For grooming, they work as a group, and one animal is placed in the chute. They have 15 minutes to groom the animal for the show ring.
Kyla Lees took champion Hereford steer and also overall grand champion steer, while
Senior member Emma Lees was also awarded the Kaitlin Eagles Memorial Personal Development Award. She has been a great leader and mentor in the club. They closed the show with the champion group of five breeding heifers, shown by Emma Lees, Hannah Lees, Jackson Lees, Becca Lees and Kyla Lees. Judging is based on overall quality as well as uniformity. The club won the champion of five steers the previous day with their Herefords shown by Kyla Lees, Emma Lees, Matthew Charlton, Jade Charlton and Andrew Charlton.
From left, the Arcola-Kisbey 4-H Beef Club is comprised of Andrew Charlton, Nyia Pretty, Bode Pretty, Kyla Lees, Hannah Lees, Jackson Lees, Becca Lees, Emma Lees, Matthew Charlton and Jade Charlton. Photo courtesy of Arden Charlton
Stoughton and the R.M. of Tecumseh secure ICIP grant for new water lines and truck- lling station
By Stephanie Zoer
The Town of Stoughton and the RM of Tecumseh are celebrating a significant milestone with the resent announcement of their successful application for the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) grant.
This funding is aimed at fostering sustainable community development and will support a key project that promises to enhance the quality of life for residents and boost the local economy with a new water line and truck-filling station.
The ICIP grant, a collaborative initiative between federal, provincial and municipal governments is designed to address Canada’s need while promoting environmental sustainability and economic growth.
For Stoughton and the RM of Tecumseh, this grant represents a crucial opportunity to upgrade essential waterlines.
Stoughton has been applying for this grant since 2015, as the original water lines were placed in the early 1960s.
This time around, they had drawings completed before they applied, and they partnered with the
RM of Tecumseh as the government encourages collaboration with neighbouring RMs. They applied for the green stream grant which had three target substreams: climate change mitigation; environmental quality; and adaption, resilience and disaster mitigation.
Stoughton chief administrator Danielle Hoffman said they are shovel-ready projects, they had funding in place and approval from all necessary groups such as the Saskatchewan Municipal Board for borrowing, the Ministry of Highways and Infrasture, oil companies and the Water Security Agency.
The ICIP grant will replace the original water-
line coming into Stoughton from the wells in the community pasture.
The new pipes will be in a trench adjacent to the original one and the RM will also run pipes in the same trench from their wells, which will service their new water station for raw bulk water.
Alongside the pipes, a tracer line will be added to aid with locating the trench in the future, for any breaks or issues that will require attention.
Finding a break without the tracer can be difficult and very time consuming, especially if this break happens in the winter. The tracer line is a valuable asset to both parties.
They will also upgrade a few areas inside the
USED SEED HAWK AI RS EEDERS
well houses to better support the system.
Since 2015, the town has worked with MBC Group, formerly known as Walker Projects, located in Regina.
It is hoped that the project will begin in mid-august and be completed by the end of 2024.
The Town of Stoughton and the RM of Tecumseh are excited about these much-needed upgrades and look forward to a greener and brighter future.
The Town of Stoughton and the RM of Tecumseh became partners with a new water line and truck- lling station.
Photo by Stephanie Zoer
Team South East announced for Summer Games
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By Greg Nikkel of SaskToday.ca
The athletes for Team South East at the upcoming Saskatchewan Summer Games were revealed at a pep rally in Weyburn on Monday.
The Games will be held from July 21-27 in Lloydminster. In the first half of the games, from July 21-24, the events will include archery, canoe-kayak, golf, male soccer, female softball, Special Olympics bocce ball, swimming, tennis and volleyball.
The second half, from July 24-27, will include athletics, male baseball,
basketball, beach volleyball, female soccer and triathlon.
The Team South East mission staff includes Joni Hagen and Jacquie Van De Woestyne, cochefs de mission; as well as Tara-Leigh Heslip, Vickie Procyk, Kathy Erickson, Dan Heslip, Tina Clay, Dallas Cossar, Laurie Colhoun and Jodie Wall.
The archery team includes Hunter Kirby and Brandt Barber, both of Carnduff for boys, and McKenzie Bayliss of Carnduff for girls.
The golf team includes Chase Robertson of Kenosee Lake.
The boys’ soccer team includes Leif Clark, Pierson Berner and Clyde Vigo Orpiano of Stoughton.
The girls’ softball team is comprised of Elizabeth Bergen and Sofie Morrow of Oxbow, and Kelci Sorestad of Carnduff.
The male volleyball team includes Darius Dixon of Carlyle.
The female volleyball team includes Alix Rae and Tenley Gervais of Carlyle, Araya Werstuik of Arcola, Summer Bowser of Carnduff, and Hallie Pospisil of Storthoaks.
The male members of the athletics team in-
clude Dane Peterson, Chase Himmelspach and Sawyer Tomaszewski of Carlyle; Grayson Brock and Khalifa Elshein of Oxbow; and Clyde Vigo Oripiano of Stoughton.
The female members are Kirsten East of Carlyle and Karsyn Gervais of Carlyle; and Peyton Irwin of Oxbow.
The male baseball team includes Seth Franklin and Branson Hutt of Alameda.
The male basketball team includes Spencer Turk of Forget.
The beach volleyball teams include the pair of Harper Robicheau of Emerald Park and Jersey Stevens-Illsley of Redvers.
The female soccer team includes Abby Coderre, Abigail Hall, Kierra Goudy and Nella Hall of Stoughton.
The athletes for Team South East who will compete at the Saskatchewan Summer Games. Photo by Greg Nikkel of SaskToday.ca
BUSINESS & SERVICEDIRECTORY
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Phone: (306) 634-2616 Stoughton– Tuesday morning Fax: (306) 634-9881 Oxbow –Tuesday afternoon E-mail: tglaw@sasktel.net Kipling–Every 2nd Friday afternoon
*Columbaria Cemetery Improvements *Memorial Restoration MICHAELREY 306-901-7440 LAURIE REY306-901-7000
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SaskTel’s net income exceeds $95 million
SaskTel reported its financial results for the 2023-24 fiscal year on Monday, including net income of $95.4 million and operating revenues of more than $1.35 billion.
“These results demonstrate SaskTel’s ongoing dedication to offering competitive services in the province and to connecting Saskatchewan people by enhancing their networks,” stated a Government of Saskatchewan news release.
“In 2023-24, SaskTel invested $368.5 million of capital to connect more Saskatchewan communities to SaskTel’s infiNET and 5G networks,” Minister responsible for SaskTel Dustin Duncan said. “This significant investment ensured more Saskatchewan families and businesses could take advantage of the economic and quality of life improvements that come along with enhanced connectivity.”
“As part of our ongoing commitment to our customers and province, SaskTel invested more into its wireless and infiNET networks this year than ever before,” SaskTel president and CEO Charlene Gavel said. “With these investments, we expanded our networks to continue to provide customers with a fast, reliable experience, and the power to leverage smart technology and thrive in today’s digital world.”
Village, Patuanak and St. Georges Hill.
SaskTel also waived charges for customers who experienced service outages for their home phone and Internet services for the duration of the outage.
SaskTel waived text message fees and longdistance charges for SaskTel wireless, landline and business calls made from Canada to Israel to ensure customers could connect with family and friends.
SaskTel’s financial measures highlight shareholder value, revenue and earnings generation and effective use of its capital investments. These measures offer valuable insight into its current financial performance and overall enhancement of its longterm financial stability.
SaskTel declared dividends of $38.2 million to Crown Investments Corporation during the fiscal year ending March 31, while maintaining a debt ratio within industry standards.
At the close of the fiscal year 2023-24, SaskTel’s debt ratio increased to 56 per cent, an increase of 150 basis points from the previous year. The overall level of net debt increased $157.6 million, primarily to fund continued investment in the fibre and 5G networks through investment in property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets.
to more homes and businesses and grow the reach of its 5G wireless network. These investments enhance the reliability and resiliency of SaskTel’s networks and position Saskatchewan for success in the changing economy.
Wireless spending, including 5G, LTE, and WiFi, accounted for $150.6 million of the $368.5 million total, while $106.4 million was invested in SaskTel’s Fibre-to-the-X program (FTTx). These significant investments, along with the rest of the capital expenditures, have enhanced SaskTel’s systems and networks, our provincial economy and will prepare Saskatchewan to thrive and succeed.
SaskTel’s wireless network covers over 99 per cent of the population with more than 1,000 cell towers, over 700 of which are in rural parts of the province. As of March 31, 2024, SaskTel had converted 481 wireless sites to the 5G network, serving 77.5 per cent of the province’s population with 5G. As this network evolves, it will support the development of smart communities and technological innovations in agriculture, virtual health care, immersive education and many others.
SaskTel’s revenue is composed primarily of wireless network services and equipment revenue (49 per cent), fixed broadband and data (23 per cent), wireline communications (11 per cent), and maxTV service (seven per cent).
This year, SaskTel helped those in Saskatchewan impacted by adversity happening in the province and abroad.
Revenue was an increase of $21.3 million, reflecting growth in key business segments including wireless network services and equipment, fixed broadband and data. The increase in wireless network services and equipment revenue reflects SaskTel’s expanding customer base and ongoing demand for highquality wireless devices.
SaskTel’s FTTx program continued to bring infiNET, SaskTel’s fibre optic network, to homes and businesses across the province. infiNET delivers up to gigabit per second speeds, allowing customers to surf, stream and share more content faster than ever before. As of March 31, the network was available in 52 communities.
To support those who were impacted by wildfires in Northern Saskatchewan in spring 2023, SaskTel waived all data overage charges for customers living in Buffalo Narrows, Buffalo River Dene Nation, Dillon, English River First Nation, La Loche, Michel
Fixed broadband and data services revenue growth was driven by increased customer demand for higher speeds. Customer premise equipment sales growth was a result of higher demand for business grade equipment.
SaskTel invested $368.5 million of capital in 2023-24 to bring SaskTel infiNet service
In 2023-24, SaskTel also continued to make a social impact through numerous sponsorships and partnerships as well as the generosity of SaskTel employees.
SaskTel contributed $2,962,903 to 1,018 nonprofit and charitable organizations, community associations, venues, events and partnerships in more than 237 communities throughout the province during the 202324 fiscal year.
River Jamm concert attracts over 1,200 people
For the first time since 2017, a River Jamm concert was held at the Hidden Valley Golf and RV Resort, and it proved to be a big hit with the public.
More than 1,240 tickets were sold for River Jamm 24 on Friday night at Hidden Valley’s driving range. Many volunteers also attended the show. The Knights of Columbus in Estevan brought the fundraiser to the tourist attraction.
Hidden Valley owner Brad Dutton said the last River Jamm was held in 2017 as part of the Dutton family’s 20th anniversary of owning the campground and golf course, so there was some experience with having a big event on their property. This one was “bigger, better and with a lot more help”, he said. The weather co-operated and the Knights of Columbus did a lot of the work.
“That’s some of the best volunteerism that I’ve seen, and it just speaks of community,” said Dutton.
Cover band Snake Oil
was the featured entertainment, while SJS was the opening act. Dutton said they provided great entertainment, and people in the campground a couple hundred yards away could hear the music.
“They’re as much entertainers as they are a cover band,” said Dutton.
The event exceeded Dutton’s expectations.
“Because I had not done something on a scale like this before, I didn’t really know what to expect. I felt confident that we would have 600-700 people buying tickets, but over 1,200, I think, is a home run. It’s a long drive,” said Dutton.
The crowd was well behaved and there weren’t any fights reported. Thanks to the size of the driving range area, it didn’t appear that the spectator area was as crowded as the volume of ticket sales indicated.
Setup for the concert began a few days before the concert and the Knights of Columbus took care of the cleanup on July 6.
“It took four days to set up and four hours to tear it down,” said Dutton.
Thanks to the support for River Jamm, Dutton said the return of the event is “on the radar” for next year. A lot of people have been telling him they want to see a River Jamm 25. If he has the same help, venue and time, Dutton believes it could happen, and he would gladly work with the Knights of Columbus again.
“An event like this takes such a large amount of volunteers and philanthropy to knock it out. You have to have a charitable group
to make it a real success,” said Dutton.
Grand knight Kim Skjonsby believes it was the most successful fundraiser in the history of the local Knights of Columbus.
“It turned out to be a fantastic event. We had excellent, excellent sponsorship. I can’t speak enough about it. It was just fantastic. The community, the number of businesses that
stepped up – knights and non-knights that helped out – there was very good volunteer participation.”
Everything went smoothly the night of the River Jamm, Skjonsby said.
He praised Dutton for all of the work put into making the event possible, and thanked everyone else who volunteered, donated and sponsored the concert.
The local Knights of Col-
umbus chapter has long had a charity appeal, and that will continue this year, but in recent years, the service group has been shifting its fundraising focus to other events. They support youth sports, music, education, Bible camps and more. They also back St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church and the Community Hamper Association.
“We prefer that our money stays local in our community. There are lots people that need the help here, lots of groups, lots of youth,” said Skjonsby.
Skjonsby had not seen Snake Oil before, and he thought it was an “awesome” show.
For a video of the concert, please visit our provincial news hub at sasktoday.ca.
River Jamm 24 at the Hidden Valley Golf and RV Resort proved to be a big hit with the public. Photo courtesy of Brad Dutton
ACROSS
1. Sounde da be ll
5. Swearat
9. Citrus co oler
12 .Fros ter
13.O nceagain
14.S easonal beverage
15.Scr am!
16 .G ooff th ehigh bo ard
17.“ABridge_ Far”
18 .G ambling game
19.J es ters
21.S ouvenir
24.Cer tain snake
27.O pp ositeof east
28 .Tellas ecre t
32 .B leach
3 4. Withoute ffor t
36 .O bs er ver
37.M imicker
39.Let terafter ce e
40.M otor s
43.M orefor tunate
46 .S ecre tw riting
50._ We dn esday
51. Grouchy person
53.Similar
54.G eese formation
55.Toy forwindy days
56 .Animalf at 57.D og ’s sound
58 .Far mer’sspring ne ed
59.Fabric pigm ents
DOWN
1. Dangerous chance
2. Soreness
3. Elec tric sign gas
4. Bride’s comp anion
5. Scoundre l
6. Joins to ge th er
7. XV II
8. Perspire
9. Contribute to th ek it ty
10.Entry way
11.Psycholog y topics
20.Wails
22 .L amb’s moth er 23.Zoo
24.R espe ct ful wonder
25.B ashf ul 26 .M om and apple_
29.R em ovab le cover
30.Taver nbrew
31.Farewell, forshort
33.D if ficult journ ey
35.“ Roses_ Re d”
38 .S ea bandit
41.Small cuts
42 .Bur nw ith liquid
43.M oltenf low
44.Patron
45.Skilled co ok
47.Approve
48 .E xtreme
49.M ake_ me et (get by)
52 .Foundation
WEEK OF JULY 14 TO 20, 2024
THE LUCKIEST SIGNS THIS WEEK: CAPRICORN, AQUARIUS AND PISCES ARIES
This is an excellent week to consider taking aholiday or changing your environment. Learning anew language could be agood idea,especially if you plan to travel or relocate.
TAURUS
If intense emotions arise, you may feel like isolating yourself. However, your friends will be there to support you andcheer you up.
GEMINI
If you feel unwell, talk to your doctor immediately. Your intuitive nature will help you create aharmonious atmospherearound you.Yourprotective andnurturing attitude will help improve workplace morale.
CANCER
At work,you must handle urgent or confusing situations before the holidays. Be careful while swimming so you don’t catch an infection.Ifyou’re single, now’s agreat time to meet new people.
LEO
Spoilyourselfbygoing to the movies or enjoying other formsofentertainment.You could findyourselfinthe limelight in one way or another. Use your creativity to showcase your talents.
VIRGO
You might have to travel frequently this week despite your love for staying home. Your family will ask for your help, andyou won’t be abletorefuse them.
LIBRA
If you have apublic speaking event, you must thoroughly prepare. Improvisation won’t cut it.Use tactand diplomacy to resolve conflict.
SCORPIO
Be careful while interactingwith certain people. Use tact andsensitivity to avoid misunderstandings.Beprepared for unexpected expenses.
SAGITTARIUS
You might need to take vitaminsto maintainyour energy levels.Your ideas may seem confusing at first, but stayingfocused will help bring them to life.
CAPRICORN
HOW TO PLAY:
Fill in the grid so thateveryrow, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1through 9onlyonce.
Each3x3 boxisoutlined with a darker line. Youalreadyhave a few numbers to getyou started Remember: you must not repeat the numbers1through9inthe same line, column or 3x3 box.
Yo ut end to spe nd all yo ur energy tryingtodoeverything. Manypeople will need yourhelpthis week,and you’lldevote yourselftothem even if it exhausts you.
AQUARIUS
You’ll be given important responsibilities. It’s crucialtoclarify roles to avoid confusion, even at home. Be patient with those close to you as you manage these challenges
PISCES
If you’re consideringa career change, thisisthe perfectweek to takeatrainingcourse. Don’t letthis opportunity pass you by. It could help you land your dream job.
ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 247
CR OSSWORD PUZ ZLE ANS WERS USE AMER IC AN SPELLI NG
PUZZLE NO. 247