Planning an event?
Arcola Cooperative Gas Bar is a one-stop shop
By Stephanie Zoer
Last year the Arcola Cooperative purchased the Arcola Building Supplies Store on the north side of Highway 13. It was at this time that all the hardware that was at the gas station was moved to the other side of the highway.
This left a huge empty part in the gas bar store that needed filling, and this was not going to be a problem, as in October they purchased the liquor store permit from the Arcola Pharmacy.
Over the winter extensive renovations took place at the back of the store, but with a large black curtain blocking the area, no one could see inside.
The space is 1,500 square feet with a 450 square foot walk-in beer and wine cooler.
Renovations were done by Evergreen Construction from Redvers, electrical was completed by T.D. Electric from Arcola and Pioneer Plumbing from Carlyle took care of the water works.
Matthew Almey, the general manager, wanted to use as many local contractors as possible to complete the work.
Almey also thinks that this beer cooler is the largest on Highway 13.
“This was a great opportunity,” said Almey. “It gives visitors and campers a place to stop, get gas, buy some chicken, get a few snacks, load up their coolers and be off to the campground.”
Laurie Nelson, an 18-year
employee of the Coop, is the liquor store manager.
Nelson was the Stoughton Coop grocery store manager, but when she had the opportunity to take on this position, she went for it as it was closer to home for her.
“It has been a lot of work,” said Nelson. “It has been an exciting time to get things together.”
When the renovations were completed, they started filling shelves, and this took 60 hours of several employees to make
the liquor store look inviting.
On March 28, at 8 a.m. the new liquor store was officially open for business.
All the staff that is over the age of 19 years must have the Serve it Right program in order to sell liquor, and at all times one of them must be at workif there is not, the liquor store must close.
Presently they have 10 employees that have taken the program.
Almey has sourced as much
Canadian liquor and beers as possible, with many wines coming from Ontario, British Columbia and overseas.
There are many producers in Saskatchewan as well. They have products from the south and it will be seen in the future whether or not they are able to purchase more.
A grand opening is slated for the summer, and there also may be more new features in the future at the Arcola Cooperative Gas Bar.
By Stephanie Zoer
When Heather Saarela, the Grade 8 teacher at the Arcola School talks about her students, she beams with pride.
Saarela has been a teacher for 11 years and when she was a fresh teacher, she went with another teacher and her class to the Winnipeg Science Centre. She felt the experience was an excellent event for the students and it was a great opportunity for the students.
This is the second year that Saarela has the same class. “These are the best kids,” said Saarela.
They wanted to plan a field trip, and the idea to go to the Regina Science Centre came up.
Saarela approached the Arcola School Principal, Ron Wardrobe about the thought on taking the kids, but sadly it was not in the school budget.
They wanted to do an overnight adventure, but staying at the Science Centre was going to cost $2,400 just for the night for the 25 students and the chaperones. The students were told about the cost and a suggestion to go only for a day trip came up and the students were not in favour of this, they wanted the full deal
and said let’s fundraise for it.
Altogether the class needs $4,000. This will cover the cost of meals, the overnight stay, and give the parents gas money for driving. This was also the idea of the kids to give the parents some money for gas and buy their meals.
It is a two-day event, and they felt the parents needed something for taking time out of their schedules to chaperone.
The students are not only planning to see the Regina Science Centre, but they will also go to the RCMP Heritage Centre, Cornwall Centre, and the IMAX Theatre.
The trip is planned for June 5, 2025, and it will give the students a chance to explore science and technology hands-on in a way that will make learning come alive.
For eight months the kids have been holding fundraisers starting with two bake sales that went very well.
“All the ideas have come from the students, I am only guiding them,” said Saarela.
Then they did a singing telegram for Grades 6 through 12. According to Saarela it went over so well, the younger classes want to have a part in this next year.
From left to right: Matthew Almey and Laurie Nelson opened the new liquor store at the Arcola Cooperative Gas Bar. Photo by Stephanie Zoer
DONUTS & COFFEE
By Paul Kimball
In 2005, as Carnduff was preparing for their centennial anniversary, The Royal Canadian Legion Carnduff Branch #216 decided to take the opportunity to honour local veterans, Legion and Auxiliary members who had passed away. This was to be done by placing two plaques on the side of the cenotaph which is located in Carnduff ’s park. Since so much of the centennial activities were to happen in the park, it was believed that many people would take time to notice and reflect upon those who had served in the wars and at the Legion.
This year marks Carnduff ’s 120th birthday and a Homecoming 2025 is planned for the weekend of July 4th to 6th to mark the occasion. The Legion believes it would be very appropriate to upgrade the plaques by adding and honouring the names of those who have passed on since the original ones were put up.
You can have a name added by contacting Nicole at the Legion.
-938 EvaStreet
Estevan -Pharmasave -1239 5th Street
Weyburn -Pharmasave -30-3rdStreet
Oxbow -SouthernPlains Co-op -405 Prospect Ave
*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.
Carndu Legion plans to upgrade their cenotaph plaques
Arcola students raise funds for eld trip
Last December when the Grade 5 class held their drama performance at the Arcola MacMurray Theatre, the Grade 8 class brought guests to their seats, sold roses and drinks in another fundraising attempt.
Another fundraiser they came up with was guess the candy in the jar, according to Saarela this one went well too.
The class has now raised $3,300 and are nearly to their goal. Letters were sent out to local businesses asking for any size donation to help them reach the goal.
On April 15, at the Arcola Optimist Hall they will hold a bingo, which will be one of
their last hooray fundraiser. It will start at 6 p.m. and it is their hope to make enough money that night.
“I am so proud of
my kids,” said Saarela.
“They have worked hard as a team to get this done.”
“They did all the work, and they brought up
all the ideas,” she said.
“My heart just swells with pride when I think of how great these kids have done with getting this trip together.”
The Arcola Grade 8 class has been busy raising funds for their school trip. Photo by Pat Siemens
Remembering veterans who have passed. Photo by Paul Kimball
Remembering Legion and Auxiliary members – it may be time to bring the plaque up to date. Photo by Paul Kimball
R.M. of Argyle No. 1 thanks and informs its ratepayers
By Paul Kimball
Every year, the RM of Argyle No. 1 aims to have an evening to express its appreciation for its ratepayers and to bring them up to date with what is going on in their municipality. This year the meeting took place on March 29th at the Carievale Hall.
The formalities began at 5:30 pm. First, it was a supper. That was followed up by speeches from five people. Local MLA and Saskatchewan’s Minister of Agriculture Daryl Harrison talked about the latest provincial budget, focusing specifically on agricultural-related issues. He also addressed concerns about the recent American and Chinese tariffs on canola,
Paint
peas and seafood. Bob Moulding, the director of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities’ Division #1 and Steven Donald, director of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan’s Division #1, added their thoughts about the tariffs, as well as providing information about what their associations are lobbying the federal government for. Sergeant Michel Chateauneuf of the RCMP’s Carnduff detachment spoke about criminal activity in the area, and provided statistics regarding DUI’s (driving under the influence) and B&E’s (break and enter). John Ryckman, the RM of Argyle No. 1’s reeve, gave a recap of what the municipality had accomplished in
2024 and unveiled their plans for 2025. As well, since 2025 is a reassessment year, he spoke of initiatives that the RM planned to take to ensure that property taxes would be controlled in
light of the escalating value of land.
Following the speeches, all five speakers fielded questions from the 90 people who were in attendance. One of the concerns was the status of the two health care facilities in the area (Redvers and Oxbow) and service they were providing.
Once the formal part of the evening was finished, many of the ratepayers seemed to be in no rush to leave. Time was taken to catch up on friendships, as well as talk about matters that came out of the speeches and the Q & A time. The evening was concluded by 9:00 pm.
the ice in Arcola was a big hit with all the kids
By Stephanie Zoer
As kids held onto their parents or grandparents’ hands, with helmets on and a cup of paint in their other hand, they stepped onto the ice to paint whatever they wanted.
On March 27, the ice surface at the Arcola Prairie Complex Arena became a colourful place.
The kids were excited to be able to paint rainbows, colourful sunshine and to have their name written on the ice where some of their favourite hockey players take to the ice.
Vanessa Dahl, the Arcola Recreation Director said this is the season ending for the ice and they try to make it a fun time for the kids.
It was also a dedication to the new Prairie Place Kitchen which received a much needed facelift.
At 5 p.m. the kitchen was opened for anyone who wanted a burger or fries. Approximately 50 people attended the opening of the kitchen.
The Cornerstone Credit Union and Harry Laurent were also part of the celebration.
Chantel Bayerle from the Cornerstone Credit Union (CCU) is the financial service advisor. She said the bank makes $100,000 in donations in a year. These donations or grants need to be applied for.
Once all the applications are in, they are brought before a board who then decides on
Debra are longtime residents of Arcola, and they have been involved in many projects over the years, including the building of the arena and the new building at the rodeo grounds.
“Thank you to all for being here today as we celebrate the renovation of our Prairie Place Kitchen, a project that would not have been possible without the generosity of some incredible supporters who made this renovation a reality,” said Dahl.
Dahl first thanked the CCU for their incredible grant of $25,000, saying that this generosity has made a lasting impact on the community, allowing them to improve this space and continue serving meals and making memories for years to come.
these doors.”
Dahl went on to say that this project is a testament to the power of community and the incredible things that can be achieved when people come together.
She invited everyone to stay and enjoy the food from the kitchen for one last time before the season ends and not to forget to try the deepfried funnel cake, Oreos, and Mars bars.
which organizations will receive funds and the amount.
The Arcola Prairie Place Complex received $25,000 for upgrades to the building.
Harry Laurent Construction built all the kitchen cupboards and donated them to the rink’s kitchen.
Harry and his wife
“We also want to extend our deepest gratitude to Harry and Debra Laurent for their generous donation of the cabinets,” said Dahl. “Your kindness and support have truly helped bring this renovation to life, making our kitchen more functional and welcoming for everyone who walks through
Approximately 90 people attended the RM of Argyle’s ratepayers evening, emceed by Cal Dumaine. Photo courtesy of Stacey Johnson
Six-year-old Bohdi Burton enjoyed painting Sponge Bob on the ice surface in the Arcola rink. Photo by Stephanie Zoer
The interesting world of phobias
It is very interesting watching the skies these days. Wave after wave of Canada geese are flying overhead, returning to their northern domain after being ‘snowbirds’ for the winter. They vacation in places like the southern States, Mexico and some even travel as far as Central America to escape our winters. There are many fascinating details regarding their migration, but only one is relevant for this column.
Canada geese fly at altitudes ranging from half a kilometre to about two and a half kilometres. Unbelievably, they have been spotted flying as high as eight kilometres. For those who think in feet, that’s 29,000 feet…the height of Mount Everest.
One day, as I watched another skein (yes, that’s an official term) of geese fly overhead, I wondered whether geese ever suffer from acrophobia. That’s the fear of heights. Many of us have experienced that when we’ve been at the top of a tall building or looked out the window of a plane. Do geese ever become afraid when there is nothing between them and the ground from that high up?
I don’t know…I’ve never talked to one. But the world of phobias is something that has interested me for many years. I’m amazed at how many different phobias there are.
A google search reveals that the growing list of phobias is now around 500. And some of them are pretty bizarre. We’ve likely all heard of the fear of closed-in spaces (claustrophobia) and of open spaces (agoraphobia). Maybe you’re familiar with aquaphobia, the fear of water or arachnophobia, the fear of spiders.
But what about gephyrophobia? There is such a thing. It’s the fear of bridges. It’s a common enough phobia that, according to Wikipedia, there are Bridge Authorities that will drive your car over a bridge for you. Apparently, about 1,000 drivers use this service every year at the Mackinac bridge in Michigan.
Several years ago, my wife and I were visiting with a lady who suffered from alektorophobia – the fear of chickens. To her credit, she tried to cope with this phobia. She had a chicken coop where chickens laid eggs for her and on that visit, she showed us how she collects the eggs. She trembled the whole time while she was around the hens.
Perhaps one of the most unusual phobias that I’ve heard of…but never come across…is anatidaephobia. It is the fear that you’re being watched by…are you ready for this…the fear of being watched by a duck. It’s very rare, but there are people who are terrified by the thought that their every move is being observed by a duck. I wonder if seeing Peking Duck on a menu brings terror to them.
These are just a few of the many, many phobias that are clinically diagnosed. I hate to mention this phobia in case any who have it are reading this article – hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. That’s a fear of very long words. Or how about arachibutyrophobia, the irrational fear of having peanut butter stick to the roof of your mouth? Or the phobia of all phobias, phobophobia – the fear that you might have a phobia of some sort or another?
As I wrote earlier, it’s a fascinating study and a very interesting one at that. I’d love to go on, but the end of the page is coming up.
Let’s get back to the geese. Who knows whether any suffer from acrophobia or not. I’ve never seen evidence of it, but I know they do suffer from one kind of phobia – anthropophobia. That’s the fear of people. I recently approached a gaggle (yes, that’s another official term) of geese as they were sitting in water in a field and before too long, hundreds of them took flight as I got closer. I wondered…were they avoiding their phobia of me by escaping to their non-phobia of heights?
“The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
I feel so much better after talking to you
If you have had someone say that to you or have expressed those words to someone else, you are among the fortunate. It means you have a person to open up your heart to or you are one others are eager to spend time with in conversation. Not everyone has that.
According to data published by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, the numbers continue to climb for those seeking mental health help in our country. New referrals are outpacing available resources, which were already stretched with current needs.
More than five million people in Canada experience significant symptoms of mental illness. Needs for counselling and psychotherapy services are not being met and there are often long wait times involved. Family physicians now spend a great deal of time treating anxiety and depression because people
can’t get help other places. Yet the situation in Canada is far better than in other places around the globe.
In Zimbabwe, for example, the chances of getting professional help are “next to zero” according to analysts because mental health services are so scarce. One man came up with an idea, and it has been so successful it is being replicated in other places. The key to the success? Grandmothers and a wooden bench.
The psychiatrist behind the initiative was shaken by the news of losing a patient to suicide. The struggling individual lived 200 miles from where the doctor was and the family simply didn’t have the money to get to the hospital. With only 10 psychiatrists serving 13 million people in the country, Dr. Dixon Chibanda knew something had to change. His idea was to involve grandmothers. He told news outlets they were the “custodians of the local culture and the wisdom, and they were rooted in their communities.” They could call on their experiences and stories to help others.
In 2006 Chibanda set up a Friendship Bench where people could take a seat and have a conversation with one of these mature women. In its first year, 14 volunteer grandmothers welcomed
several hundred visitors. By being willing to sit and listen, the grandmothers became the front line for those who needed someone to show they cared. I love houses that have big front verandas. There is something so welcoming and hospitable about the idea of taking a seat and having an unhurried conversation with a friend or neighbour. The big front porch served as an open invitation. But as the suburbs grew and people were more likely to favor backyards, there were fewer conversations taking place out front. Fences were built higher and the desire for private space became the preferred way to spend time.
With few limits to how mobile and flexible our lives have become, it gets harder to establish connection with others. We may be meeting more people, but the interactions aren’t leading to the kind of relationships that give us people we feel we can really talk to.
Government initiatives attempt to combat the growing problems of disconnect and isolation and the role they play in mental wellness. Japan followed the example set by the United Kingdom in naming a Minister of Loneliness, and other countries are earmarking more money for initiatives such as putting in more benches, establishing communal gardens
and enhancing play areas to foster connection between neighbours. But sometimes the best efforts are the ones that residents themselves come up with. A smalltown clinic started prescribing coffee dates for patients who had been making frequent visits. Coffee chats increased and hospital visits fell. Then there’s the community promoting the idea of intergenerational home sharing. Younger roommates feel they have access to help, wisdom and someone open to talking to them without distraction. The older roommates can offer time and a listening ear and they report how good it feels to be needed and valued. Then there are those Friendship Benches. The program was so well received it is now in use in many countries where the opportunity to sit down and talk with a grandma is making a difference and saving lives. In a time when organizations and agencies are trying to meet rising needs with increasingly stretched budgets, imagine finding one that costs zero dollars yet reaps huge benefits. It’s called listening—and it’s something we all have the capacity to do. Want to make a difference for someone? Pull up a chair—or find a bench— and have a conversation. That’s my outlook.
- Nelson Mandela
Paul Kimball Paulywogs
Shelley Luedtke
Child Care Now Saskatchewan urges Scott Moe to renew Early Learning and Child Care Agreement
By Stephanie Zoer
As of March 29, Saskatchewan and Alberta are the only two provinces that have not signed the Federal Government’s agreement to extend the $10-a-day childcare program.
Child Care Now Saskatchewan (CCNS) launched an open letter to Premier Scott Moe to move beyond words and into action and renew the Canadawide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, better known as the $10-a-day plan.
According to Sue Delanoy, media contact for CCNS over 20 childcare centres all over the province have signed this form.
Delanoy feels that Saskatchewan has fallen behind on key pieces in the current agreement which includes a wage grid for staff, new space targets and a proper funding model for centres.
She said it is insulting to hear Moe say that he wants to
hear from operators when they have heard from many who are routinely ignored.
The Carlyle Cubs Learning Centre is a daycare that relies on the $10-a-day program.
According to Judy Valentine, a director on the Carlyle Cubs board, she is not only a concerned Early Childhood Educator, but a concerned parent too.
Valentine is an advocate for high-quality early learning and
child care in Saskatchewan.
Multiple families from Carlyle and the surrounding areas have benefited from the services provided at the Carlyle Cubs Early Learning Centre however, it is now alarming the financial challenges this essential program is possibly going to face down the road.
Valentine said that without immediate action, they risk losing a vital resource in the
community that not only supports their children’s development but also the well-being of countless families in the community.
“The implementation of the Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care program has brought significant relief to families through reduced fees and has also impacted our Early Childhood Educators with a wage top up,” Valentine said.
With Saskatchewan not signing this agreement yet it puts a great deal of unknowns for the community and stress.
Offering the $10-a-day program for childcare has made life affordable for many families, especially those with a lower income.
According to Valentine if this agreement does not get signed it will put a huge financial strain on families causing many of them being unable to work.
“As the director, I want families to thrive and I want families to be able to afford the care they need,” she said. “Our service is essential and needs to be affordable.”
At this point they are waiting to see the outcome of this matter.
CCNS is encouraging other organizations to sign on to their open letter. They can go to Saskatchewan.childcarenow. ca for more information.
Fundraiser organized for South Alameda Motocross
By Paul Kimball
For several months, a lot of work has been done by a lot of people in organizing a fundraising event for South Alameda Motocross (SAMX) to be held at Oxbow’s Community Hall. That hard work all came to fruition on March 29th The purpose of the fundraiser was to help raise $50,000 for the purchase of a tractor. Every year, the motocross track which is situated southeast of Alameda needs to be groomed.
Typically, a tractor has to be borrowed to pull a tiller, fluffing up the soil on the course. The time to do this corresponds with farmers’ seeding season. Finding an idle tractor is a real challenge. It was hoped that a significant amount of money would be raised by selling tables for a dinner. Nineteen tables of eight diners were sold, which was very encouraging. Other means of raising funds included a silent auction for many impressive donated items, a 50/50 draw, liquor sales and a raffle for
a Yamaha customized dirt bike. Tickets for the bike can be purchased until the draw date of May 17th
Music was provided by The Ugly Strippers. How in the world did they come up with that name, you might be wondering. An answer to that will be found in an upcoming issue of this, your favourite newspaper.
The choice of The Ugly Strippers was a good one, as a few of the band members have been involved with the motocross club since its creation. Erin Brown (lead guitar) and
his son, Sean (bass guitar) are club OG’s – club original gangsters. Both have retired from racing due to multiple injuries. The injuries may keep them off their bikes, but it doesn’t keep them off their guitars.
Prior to going onstage as a musician, Sean went onstage as a speaker. He used his speech to pay tribute to the club leadership for all their hard work in keeping the club operating. He also provided some history about the track and his personal involvement with it. As
well, he thanked all those who helped out to make the fundraiser possible and stated that “the track thrives from all the help from the public.”
The club’s leadership is very thankful for the community support, including those who attended the fundraiser, the volunteers, the club members and all those who donated prizes, silent auction items and the dirt bike.
Everyone contributed to making the fundraiser a success. So successful, in fact, that it very well could become an annual event.
The Carlyle Cubs Learning Centre is located on Highway 9, and it offers an array of activities for the children. Photo by Kayla Brown
Photo by Paul Kimball
The Ugly Strippers – From left to right – Quince Boutin, Sean Brown, Corey Hill, Jason Junk and Erin Brown. Photo by Paul Kimball
Crystal Swire is Sunset Haven’s new Director of Care
By Paul Kimball
Crystal Swire has experienced and been the beneficiary of both sides of Saskatchewan’s health care system.
First, she has been a nurse. She started her nursing career 37 years ago in Ontario, taking a few maternity breaks to be a mom…and nurse… to her three children.
She finished her ‘Ontario’ career in Fort Francis, serving in acute care and emergency care for 13 years.
Then came the Saskatchewan call, and a move that she has never regretted.
In 2012, she accepted a position as an operating room nurse at the Pasqua Hospital in Regina. Her time there was minimal, as big-city life was not really her thing. Three months later, she left to work in Carlyle’s Moose Mountain Lodge as well as in the Arcola Health Centre.
A great opportunity opened up for her in Saskatoon at St. Paul’s Hospital. As a result, Crys-
tal found herself on the move again in 2016. For nine years, she worked in the emergency room, but she found herself increasingly longing for work in long-term care in a more rural location. One of her married daughters was living in Redvers, along with their daughter. Crystal began thinking of life around Redvers to be closer to her family, as well as to get back into rural living. She became aware of an opportunity in Carnduff, not far from Redvers. She applied and on February 3rd, she became Sunset Haven’s new director of care. She was extremely happy about this, as this enabled her to work in a long-term care setting, to live in rural Saskatchewan and, as if that wasn’t enough, to be closer to her daughter’s family in Redvers. In fact, she currently lives with them. That’s one of the sides of Crystal’s experience with Saskatchewan’s health care system. The other side is that she has been a patient.
In 2017, she was diagnosed with cancer. She underwent treatment for over a year and in 2018 she was given a clean bill of health. She is thrilled about being a cancer survivor. Her experience in dealing with the dreaded disease has given her additional expertise and
PROPERTY FOR SALE BY PUBLIC TENDER
Under the Provision of The Tax Enforcement Act the Town of Arcola offers for sale the following property:
Lot 17, Block 10 Plan 58496 —113 Coteau Street
TENDER REQUIREMENTS
Bidders are required to review the complete tender documents for information regarding conditions of sale and responsibilities of the purchaser regarding property condition. This information is available by contacting the Town office in person at 127 Main Street, Arcola, SK; or by email at arcadmin@sasktel.com
Tenders must be submitted in the prescribed form and must be accompanied by a deposit of at least 5% (percent) of the tender amount The deposit shall be made by way of a certified cheque, bank draft, or money order payable to the Town of Arcola The successful bidder(s) will have 30 days to provide the payment in-full to complete the purchase. The deposit will be forfeited if the successful bidder does not finalize the agreement for sale within 30 days
A tender must be submitted in a sealed envelope addressed to: Town of Arcola
Tax Title Property Tender
PO Box 359, Arcola, SK S0C 0G0
Tenders must be received by 4:00 p.m. on May 7th, 2025.
Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted For further information contact the undersigned.
Dated this 4th day of April, 2025.
Rebecca Korchinski, Administrator
306-455-2212
compassion as she interacts and works with people who suffer from medical conditions. As good of a nurse as she may have been, being on the other side of health care has made her an even better one.
It’s one of the reasons why long-term health has such an appeal to her. She is able to interact with people in her care on an ongoing basis, along with their families. She is able to develop long-term relationships with them - a huge contrast to working in emergency rooms where people are in her care for short periods of time.
Her experience on
both sides of health care have opened up opportunities for her. For instance, on April 1st, she was invited by a professor at the University of Saskatchewan to speak to medical students about issues like compassion in the world of health care.
As Sunset Haven’s director of care, she is able to spend about 80 percent of her time interacting directly with residents of the home and their extended families, providing counsel, compassion, assurance and comfort. As well, she is able to provide support for the staff as they care for the residents.
Crystal finds her work very rewarding, although it comes with its “sad days”. Often, the rewarding moments and the sad moments occur at the same time. Sadness as she watches individuals and families struggle with the decision of having to enter a long-term care facility, and joy as she assists in helping to make those decisions easier.
There are many other aspects of her new role that she enjoys. She has found the Board to be great to work with and she is so appreciative of the lady in the room next door, Linda Audette, who serves as Sunset Haven’s administrator. Her role as director of care enables her to spend time doing ‘floor work’ - helping to feed residents, assisting in changing them, and administering medication every Friday. She attempts to provide help to staff in the long-term care wing whenever she can. She is thankful that she in not bound to her desk doing paperwork. After two months into her new role, Crystal feels right at home. There are lots of opportunity to use what she has learned from being on both sides of health care. She is able to make use of her long nursing experience…and she is able to bring her empathetic and compassionate heart into her work.
will take placeon WednesdayApril 23, 2025 at theStoughton Legion
Supper is at 6:00pm, with meetingtofollow Call forNominations
2Directors –3 Year Terms
Nomination formscan be picked up at theStoughton Co-opAdministrationoffice (512 RailwayAve)
Nomination Formsmustbereturnednolater than 5pmApril 16th,2025
We wouldliketoinviteall ourmembers to take this opportunitytosee howweper formed over thelastyearaswellasget theopportunity to seewhatisinstore forthe upcoming year
Advancetickets ($10.00)available at theAdministrationOffice 512 –Railway Ave Purchase before April17, 2025
Being at her desk is just a small part of Crystal Swire’s responsibilities at Sunset Haven. Photo submitted by Paul Kimball
Colour the picture(only one entryper child) and dropyour entries off at the Colourthe Carlyle Observer or emailtodyoung@glaciermedia.ca, Therewill be three (3) prizes awarded. Observeroremail to dyoung@glaciermedia.ca, There will
Prizefor thefollowing ages: Agegroup up to age6, Agegroup 7-10, Agegroup 11-16
GoodLuck &HaveFun!
Deadlinefor submitting entrieswill be Friday,April 11 @noon (12pm) Thewinners will be announcedon Thursday,April 17th publicationofthe Observer
How to level up your Easter egg hunt
Do you want to surprise your kids for Easter this year? Here are a few ways to put a creative spin on the traditional chocolate egg hunt.
• Draw a treasure map of your home with Xs to mark the spot of hidden Easter treats.
• Hide plastic eggs filled with stickers, mini animal figurines, bouncy balls and other small toys.
• Fill plastic eggs with silly instructions (hop like a bunny, chirp like a chick, etc.) that your kids must do to earn a candy.
• Put tiny glow sticks inside plastic eggs and have your Easter egg hunt in the evening.
• Send your kids on a scavenger hunt to find one of each type of hidden egg (a green one, a striped one, a blue one, etc.).
• Leave written clues around the house that eventually lead to a stash of chocolates.
• Divide up pieces of a puzzle or Lego creation among the plastic eggs so it can be assembled once the hunt is over.
• Fill plastic eggs with slips of paper that list a reward the finder gets (skip chores, stay up late, have a pizza night, etc.).
If it’s a nice day, consider having your Easter egg hunt in the backyard.
Another rst for Oxbow’s Black Knights
By Paul Kimball
On the weekend of March 14/15, the Black Knights boys’ basketball team from the Oxbow Prairie Horizon School accomplished a couple of firsts. They hosted a regional playoff tournament and they won it, which punched their ticket to Hoopla, which is the tournament that crowns the provincial champions.
On March 20th the team headed off to Saskatoon, the site of Hoopla. Their first game was the following day, at 11:00 am.
According to one of the team’s coaches, Ian Cushon, the Black Knights did not bring their A-game against their opponents from Clavet. Oxbow was the fourth-seeded team; Clavet was ranked first. The stands seemed to be filled with Clavet fans, who traveled less than a half-hour to be at the game. Most of the ‘noise’ was for Clavet, making the Black Knights feel like the ‘away team’ in the game. That, along with
the pressure of having to win the game to advance to the finals, seemed to be a factor in the team’s play. Their outside shooting, which is a big part of their game plan, was off and the final result was that Oxbow came out on the losing end of a 7550 score, despite Khalifa Elshein’s impressive 15 points, Dorian Sifton’s 12 points and 10 more from Mason Beriault.
That set the stage for the bronze medal game to be played the next morning.
This time, the team did not leave their A-game in the hotel room. They shot well, they defended well, and the scoring was balanced, coming from several players. It seemed like the Black Knights clicked as a team, defeating their opponents from Waldheim by a comfortable 89-55 score. Oxbow seemed much more relaxed on the floor. Perhaps they felt much less pressure playing for the bronze than pursuing the gold. Beriault led the scorers with 18 points. Jhafet
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Julian added 17 points of his own, including four 3 pointers and made a dazzling move that wowed the crowd when he passed the ball behind his back on a fast break to teammate Khalifa Elshein who completed the play with a basket. Sifton contributed 16 points of his own.
It was a well-played and exciting game and led to a third ‘first’ for the Black Knights. As they returned home, the team all sported bronze medals…a feat that had never previously been accomplished by an Oxbow boys basketball team.
NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF ASSESSMENT ROLL Rural Municipality of Brock No. 64
Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for R.M of Brock No. 64 for the year of 2025 has been prepared and is open to inspection at the office of the assessor from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the following days: Monday to Friday, March 28, 2025 to May 30, 2025
(Excluding weekends and Statutory Holidays)
A bylaw pursuant to Section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.
Any person who wishes to appeal against his or her assessment is required to file his or her notice of appeal by 3:00pm, May 30, 2025, accompanied by a $25.00 appeal fee, with the secretary of the Board of Revision: Wester n Municipal Consulting Ltd.
C/O Nicolle Hoskins, Secretary to the Board of Revision Box 149, Meota, SK S0M 1X0
Ph: 306-481-3966
Email: secretary@westernmunicipal.ca
Dated this 27th day of March, 2025.
Shawna-Lee Bertram
Assessor
NOTICE OF ASSESSMENT ROLL Village of Kenosee Lake
Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Village of Kenosee Lake for the year 2025 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the office of the assessor by appointment only from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday Wednesday Thursday or Friday’s March 18th, 2025 to May 20th, 2025.
A Bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required. Any person who wishes to appeal his or her assessment is required to file his or her notice of appeal with the Assessor, along with payment of $25 to The Village of Kenosee Lake, Box 30, Kenosee Lake, Saskatchewan S0C 2S0 and The Board of Revision Western Municipal Consulting PO Box 149 Meota, SK S0M 1X0 secretary@ westernmunicipal.ca By May 20th, 2025
Dated this 18th day of March, 2025
MARYFIELD THEATRE
Mar yfield, SK April 12,2025| Doors 7:00pm
Andrea Kosior Assessor
NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF ASSESSMENT ROLL RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF ANTLER NO. 61
Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Rural Municipality of Antler No. 61 for the year 2025 has been prepared and is open for inspection in the office of the assessor from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the following days: Monday to Friday from April 4, 2025 to June 13, 2025.
A bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.
Any person wishing to discuss the notice of assessment may contact the assessor at the RM of Antler #61. Any person who wishes to appeal against his or her assessment is required to file his or her notice of appeal, accompanied by a $75 appeal fee, which will be retur ned if the appeal is successful, must be
The Black Knights, proud of their bronze medals. Back row, from left to right - Coach Ian Cushon, Nolan Folkerts, Lincoln Spencer, Dorian Sifton, Mason Beriault, Julian Hilgendorf, Carter Folkerts, Coach Cory Mercer. Front row, left to right - Vlad Ocampo, Khalifa Elshein, Aldwin Casi, Jhafet Julian. Photo courtesy of Starr Mercer
Nolan Folkerts, looking for a way through three opponents. Photo courtesy of Starr Mercer
Celebrity fundraising auctioneer Danny Hooper is coming to Carlyle Lions Supper and Auction
By Stephanie Zoer
Once again, the Carlyle Lions and District Club will hold their annual supper and auction, but this year they are pulling out all the stops.
The event will take place on April 12 at the Carlyle Sports Arena with Danny Hooper as the fundraising auctioneer.
Hooper is married to Barb Hooper and together they have five children and five grandchildren.
Always being a country boy, Hooper was raised on a ranch by a small hamlet called Tomahawk, Alberta.
As a young lad he enjoyed singing and being the entertainer.
Hooper was not always an auctioneer; he began his career in the lime light as a country singer in 1975. His first appearance as singer was at the CFCW Radio Country Star Search Competition. He won a recording contract and in 1976 he received enough national airtime to get nominated for the Best New Male Vocalist. The award went to Burton Cummings, but being in the same class was amazing for Hooper.
In 1979, Hooper and
his father Dan Hooper opened an exclusive steak house called Danny Hooper’s Stockyard. It was located in Edmonton, and it soon became one of the hit places to go to. They had major stars come to sing such as Tammy Wynette, Ray Price, Freddy Fender, and Merle Haggard to name a few, and Hooper was also one of the country singers. One time he worked 68 days straight. “I only lost
my voice once during that time,” Hooper said.
Over the years Hooper has recorded 11 albums and has performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and for seven consecutive years has performed at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. In 1986 the steakhouse closed its doors due to the economy in the 80’s. He needed something else, and it was suggested he become a fundraising
NOTICE OF ANNUALGENERAL MEETING
For allmembers of AdvantageCo-operative AssociationLtd. RedversLegionHall • Tuesday, April28th,2025 Meeting: 6:30 p.m. Agenda Itemsincluded.
•Directors’ Report
•GeneralManager’s Report
•FCL Delegate’s Report
•Auditor’s &Financial Report
•AppointmentofAuditors
•ElectionofDirectors -Three 3YearTerms -Vacancy-One 1YearTerm -Vacancy One(2) Year Term
•- Memberswho wish to be nominatedfor thepositionofdirector of theCo-operativemustdeliver nominationpaperstothe nominating committeeatleast14daysbeforethe AGM(April14).Ifyou have a passion abouthavinga sayinthe AdvantageCo-op,pickupa Nomination Formtoday!! Papers can bepickedupatthe administration office.
•You have theabilitytoparticipate in thedemocraticprocessatour Annual GeneralMeeting, which includesaskingquestions andvotingonproposedbylaw changes.
•The BoardofDirectorsare recommendingthe following Policychanges that arehighlighted in red.
3.02 Approval of Membership;becominga member of theCo-operative Motion to amend3.02ofthe AdvantageCo-operativeAssociationLTD by lawApprovalofMembership. No person maybecome amemberofthe Co-operative unlessthatpersonhas submitteda written or electronic application forthe membership in aformauthorizedbythe Board, anduntil thesaidapplicationhas been approved by theBoard or by acommittee.
VI DIRECTORS
Qualifications of Directors
6.01 In addition to the circumstances setout in theAct and theregulations whichanindividualisNOT eligible to be adirector,and an individual shall not be eligible to remaina director of theCo-operative if thatindividual: Hasnot transacted at least$5,000 in business with theCo-operativeinthe precedingfiscal year of the Co-operative; Does notresideinthe tradingareaofthe Co-operative; Hasnot been amemberofthe Co-operative foratleastone year before beingelected as director;
Is an employee of theCo-operativeorthe spouse,common-lawspouse, child,sister, brother, parent or in-law of an employee of theCo-operative in direct supervision. Is aspouse, common-lawspouse, child,sister, brother, parent or in-law of adirector of theCo-operative.
Is an individual having an accountwiththe Co-operative whichisoverthree months old.
Former employee of theCo-operativenot less than 5years removedfromemployment Former employee whowas terminated from theposition Must be willingtosubmitcriminalrecordcheck as required as an SLGA permit holder
auctioneer. He attended the Western School for Auctioneers in Billings, Montana and in 1987 hit the road with fundraiser auctions.
Hooper is the top Canadian Certified Fundraising Auctioneer, and he is the first to receive the Benefit Auction Specialist (BAS) designation from the U.S. National Auctioneers Association.
Celebrating 50 years of entertainment he has helped every size of organization from small sports teams, schools and church groups and the David Foster Foundation.
Over the years he has raised more than $500 million through charity auctions and has over 40,000 hours behind the microphone.
Each year he attends 80-100 events with his talent as a fundraising auctioneer and entertainer.
He has also been the MC for 28 consecutive years as the Main Stage Host and MC of Canada’s largest annual outdoor show the Big Valley Jamboree.
On March 15 he held a function to celebrate his
50 years in entertainment and within a few minutes it was sold-out with 540 tickets sold. He is planning another celebration on October 25 called the Danny Hooper Harvest Ball, for those who were unable to obtain a ticket this time around but it also sold-out quickly.
Cooking is another one of Hooper’s pleasures and he has travelled the world to taste other countries foods and see their cultures, bringing home a vast knowledge of cooking for his own shows.
His specialty is open-
fire cooking, be it a thick juicy steak on the barbecue or homemade pizza, but he will not be cooking at the Carlyle Lions event. Hooper does guarantee that the Carlyle Lions Supper and Auction will be a fun night and worthwhile coming too.
He plans to entertain the crowd with some of his songs, crack some jokes and keep the crowd bidding to raise money for a worthy cause.
“There is never a day that I do not enjoy what I do,” said Hooper. “I love everything about it.”
Kenosee: Saturday at 5 p.m Forget: Sunday at 9 a.m. 306-453-6200 Full Gospel Church Welcomes You 202-4th
Church of Our Lady, Carlyle
Father Chris Juchacz Carlyle: Sunday at 11 a.m.
a.m.
Danny Hooper has a passion for many things and he lives his life to the fullest. Photo by Danny Hooper
Walter Brown 1940 - 2025
The family of Walter Buchanan Brown of Car lyle Sask sadly announces his passing at the Regina General Hospital, Regina, Sask on March 21, 2025 at the age of 84
Walter s memor y will be forever cher ished by his wife of 51 years Margaret (née Clemens); daughters: Char lene (Jamie) Chapman and Faye Brown (Jereme Young); grandchildren: Aaron (Chelsea), Tor i (Joshua), Br ynn, Ty and Ryder ; great grandson Clancy; sister-in-law Violet Brown as well as numerous nieces and nephews He was predeceased by his son Anthony Brown; parents: Andrew & Margaret Brown; siblings: John (Fran) Brown, Andrew Brown, David (Lilas) Brown, Jean (Doug) Hewitt and Donald Brown
In honour of Walter a Funeral Ser vice was held on Thursday March 27 2025 at 2:00 p m at the Car lyle United Church, Car lyle, Sask with The Rev Michelle Moore officiating A luncheon followed in the church hall, after which the inter ment took place at Moose Creek Cemeter y Those wishing to pay tr ibute to Walter via a donation in his memor y may do so directly to STARS Air Ambulance (mail to STARS Donations 1441 Aviation Par k NE Box 570 Calgar y, AB T2E 8M7 or online at https://stars ca/) or the Moose Creek Her itage Church, Box 746, Car lyle, SK S0C 0R0
Hall Funeral Ser vices in Estevan provided care to Walter s family - Dustin Hall Funeral Director
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Obituaries
Horsehair
Dizzy
Placing
Rip
ACROSS
1. Land measurement
1. Land measurement
5. Sailor’s cleaning tool
39. Picnic refreshment
Live
40. Uttered
41. Bungle
Couple
9. Catch sight of
12. Name word
5. Sailor ’s cleaning tool 9. Catch sight of
13. Skin, as an apple
14. Gardener’s aid
Name word
15. Roman wear
13. Sk in, as an apple
16. And so forth: 2 wds
18. Rap
Gardener ’s aid
20. Lyric poems
21. Clergyman
Roman wear 16. And so forth: 2 wds.
24. Enjoyed a pizza
26 Live
27. Couple
31. House addition
44. Nautical call 45. Provoker
House addition
48. Division preposition
Domain 34 Fifth month 35. Disappointment 37 Sk ir t style: hyph
52. __-advised
53. Well
54. Carol
55. Apply henna to 56. off (irritated)
57. Alum
Picnic refreshment
Uttered
DOWN
Bungle
Rap
32. Domain
34. Fifth month
Lyric poems
35. Disappointment
37. Skirt style: hyph.
1. Hill-dwelling insect
Nautical call
3. Shag, e.g.
Provoker
____-advised
Well
Carol
Damsel 42. Unattractive
44. The best: 2 wds. 46. Nautical rear 47. No-win situation 49. Negative word
Herbal brew
2. Murmur softly
4. Passes a statute
5. Piece of pickle
Clergyman 24. Enjoyed a pizza
Division preposition
6. Electrical unit
7. Rainbow’s shape 8. Second letter 9. Lean-to 10. over (read thoroughly) 11. Affirmatives 17. Foot digits
Apply henna to
off (irritated)
Alum
19. Fast auto: 2 wds
Rind
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River deposit
Leather punch
Part of BLT
Summer skin shade
Exclude
Horsehair
BlackSusan 33. Wool-giving mama
HOW TO PLAY:
Put away neatly
over (read thoroughly)
Ancient
Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3x3 box. ACROSS
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.
PUZZLE NO. 282