The Observer February 7, 2025 by Carlyle Observer

OBSERVER

Team Martin moves on to Scotties in Thunder Bay

By Stephanie Zoer

Nancy Martin and her team pulled oﬀ a spectacular win at the 2025 Viterra Prairie Pinnacle Women’s Provincial Curling tournament held in Kindersley, Saskatchewan on January 20-26 and now will go to the Scotties, Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Team Martin played oﬀ against Team Campbell, whom they had played against twice in the provincials and lost both games.

The ﬁnal game Team Martin pulled together and were all playing very well and went out to a 4-0 lead after the ﬁrst few ends.

Campbell rallied and closed the gap and with some unfortunate misses by Team Martin in a couple of ends, it was tied at 7 in the last end.

This game turned into a nail biter, and it did not look good for Team Martin, as they did not have much time on the clock, and they were all playing fast.

Team Campbell was set up really well, and Chaelynn Stewart had two exceptionally good timely shots which helped the team get out of trouble.

The skip for Team Campbell just came up short on her last rock, which gave Team Martin the championship.

“It is a delicate line how much to celebrate when you do not make the last shot, but also being excited that you won is almost unbelievable,” said Stewart.

Team Martin is made up of ﬁve curlers from Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Nancy Martin has been curling for 37 years; she is married

and has three adult children and a granddaughter. She is a public servant and has lived in the Saskatoon area for 20 years and is the skip on the team.

Chaelynn Stewart has recently married and has no children but does have a fur baby and lives in Minnedosa, Manitoba where she moved after starting her career

as a ﬁreﬁghter and paramedic, she plays the third on the team and has 22 years in curling.

Kadriana Lott is an optometric assistant and is the second on the team, has curled for 22 years, is married as well, has no children, but has two fur babies. She was born and raised in Gimli, Manitoba.

Deanna Doig is the

lead, is married and has two children. She has lived in Regina for many years. Doig has been curling for 39 years. Doig is a director of Canadian Field Operations.

Colleen Ackerman is married with two children. She is the Human Resource manager at EVRAZ North America Inc. and has been curl-

ing for many years.

Joining the team in Thunder Bay is Sherry Anderson from Delisle, Saskatchewan. She is a three-time world senior curling champion in Canada. She is the owner/partner of C and S Promotions.

The team met through curling at some point during their curling years. Curling in its whole is a close-knit family, so even if one is not in the same province they know each other.

Martin had reached out to Stewart in the oﬀ season wanting to play together again, and they knew they wanted to play skip and third and looked for a lead and second.

From February 1423 the team will be in Thunder Bay playing at the Scottie’s Tournament of Hearts.

This tournament has the best of the best from Canada. It will have 18 teams, two pools of nine. There is the province and territories teams, team Canada which were last years champions, and a few predetermined spots based on points throughout the year.

“We just want to go and play our hearts out and have fun at the chance to be on the national stage,” said Stewart.

From left, Team Martin is the 2025 Viterra Prairie Pinnacle Women’s Provincial Curling Champions. Nancy Martin, Chaelynn Stewart, Kadriana Loft, Deanna Doig and Colleen Ackerman. Photo by Curlsask

Sun, Feb 9 & 23 – Carlyle Minor Ball Pitching Clinic

February

Fri, Feb 14 – Redvers Legion Valentine’s Day Supper and Concert

Fri, Feb 14 – Teagan Littlechief –Be my Valentine @ Bear Claw Casino

By Dolores Young

Dawn Faber organized a Coﬀee Talk which was held at the Carlyle Memorial Hall on Thursday, January 30 at 12 noon to 1 p.m. All businesses of Carlyle were invited to attend for a time to network with other businesses.

Merissa Scarlett from Estevan Chamber of Commerce was the speaking for this event. She started at the Chamber this past October.

In 1904 The Estevan Chamber of Commerce was established. Chamber of Commerce are

Boards of Trade, a nonproﬁt organization that advances the collective interests of their members. Chamber membership is voluntary and open to businesses of all sizes and sectors. Chambers provide value to their members through education, premotion, networking, savings, and advocacy. They also bring a unique grassroots approach to local economic development and have a powerful impact helping communities thrive as beautiful place to live, work and do business. The Chamber is not part of

Your rst stop to nd events happening in our community!

March

Sat, Mar 15 – Arcola High House – The Leftovers

Tues to Sat - Mar 25 -29 – 125th Arcola Curling Club Bonspiel

April

Sat, April 12 – Lions Supper and Auction Sat, April 19 – Arcola High House – J.J. Voss

*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.

Co ee Talk with Estevan Chamber of Commerce

the government, we are independent, funded by membership dues, sponsorships, events, and programming.

The Chamber’s vision and mission: vision being the long-term goal, and mission being our purpose.

Scarlett had two goals for the day, raise chamber awareness and explain the beneﬁts and learn from the attendees what they were looking for as a business community.

The strategic plan for 2025-2026 is Chamber Strength which is deﬁned by these three points: Sustainable Leadership, Partnerships and World Class Events.

Scarlett also discussed the beneﬁts of

joining the Chamber and Partnerships with other businesses.

After the presentation by Scarlett, Dawn organized a networking section of the Coﬀee Talk event. Every 3 minutes people from each table moved around and spoke with other businesses – introducing themselves and discussing their business. What a wonderful way to met new people and businesses in Carlyle.

There was a feedback questionnaire that Faber passed around to get an idea of what businesses were looking for.

Dawn is hoping that this will become a monthly event with a diﬀerent guest speaker each month.

Dawn Faber, Town of Carlyle and Merissa Scarlett, Estevan Chamber of Commerce.

King Charles III Coronation Medal ceremony

On Saturday, February 1st, 2025, Dr. Robert Kitchen, Member of Parliament for Souris - Moose Mountain, had the honour of presenting King Charles III Coronation Medals to deserving citizens of the Southeast Saskatchewan region. The ceremony took place in the afternoon at the Stoughton Legion.

The King Charles III Coronation Medal is awarded to individuals who have made a signiﬁcant contribution to Canada, their province, or their community, or who have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.

“This is an opportunity to recognize and thank those who selﬂessly give their time and energy to make their communities better, and I am truly honoured to have a chance to highlight these individuals who have been nominated by their peers to receive this medal,” said Dr. Kitchen.

The medals were presented to Alice Abrahamson (Moosomin), Ross Apperley (Carnduﬀ ), Donald Dechief

May we suggest placing your ad in color!

Who says color doesn’t call attention to your advertisement? Itjustdid.

(Estevan), Jordan Ethier (Wawota), Debbie Hagel (Estevan), Robert Jordens (Weyburn), Troy LeBlanc (Estevan), Albert Petrash (Estevan), Peter Piper (Stoughton), Robert Rooks (Estevan),

Dr. Edward Tsoi (Estevan), Kenneth Turner (Midale), Harold Whiteoak (Weyburn), and John [Jack] Wilson (Carlyle).

Not in attendance but receiving a medal are Patricia Anderson (Carlyle), William Baryluk (Estevan), Peter Broccolo (Weyburn), Marie Donais Calder (Estevan), Jennifer Elias-White (Weyburn), Patricia Jackson (Kipling), and Mona Lynn Stender (Kipling).

“I extend my sincere thanks and congratulations to all of the medal recipients for their service to our country, to Saskatchewan, and to their communities. Their eﬀorts and achievements deserve to be celebrated as they make this country a better place, now and into the future,” concluded Kitchen.

In the photo from left to right: Back Row: Ken Turner, Albert Petrash, Peter Piper, Robert Jordens, Robert Rooks, Troy LeBlanc, Don Dechief, Ross Apperley, Harold Whiteoak. Front Row: Dr. Robert Kitchen MP, Alice Abrahamson, Debbie Hagel, Jordan Ethier, John Wilson, Dr. Edward Tsoi. Photo credit: Impact Creative Estevan, SK

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The wave

If you ﬁnd yourself reading this column more slowly than you normally do, there is a reason for that. I’m typing it more slowly!

Let me explain…my shoulder, arm and wrist are sore, so I can’t type as fast as I usually do. But ﬁrst, I should give you a bit of history.

When I moved to Carnduﬀ 11 years ago, I was introduced to a small-town phenomenon – the wave. Unlike big cities, almost everyone waved at each other. Not as they walked, but as they drove. It did not matter if people knew who was in the other car or not, they waved. Local people…people from other provinces…even people from North Dakota. If they were driving toward you, you waved at them.

I thought this was strange, but I had heard the old saying – when in Rome, do as the Romans do. So being in Carnduﬀ, I did as the Carnduﬃans did!

But how to wave? I’d noticed three different types. There was the ‘indifferent wave’ where one simply lifted their hand a bit off the steering wheel without really even looking at who was being waved to. Then there was the ‘cool wave,’ that twist of the wrist while pointing a couple of fingers.

And then there was the ‘full wave,’ the one where the driver raised their whole hand and arm up and did a casual wave while looking eye-to-eye with the oncoming driver, adding a smile to the wave.

After several weeks of experimentation and even trying out a few new moves, I decided that the ‘full wave’ greeters seemed to be the most personal. I joined their rank.

I got a kick out of it, to be honest with you. Of course, the longer I lived in town, the more people I recognized. There were still many I did not, but it felt good waving and smiling at everyone. It started getting out of hand! One night, while driving late at night, I found myself doing that ‘full arm’ thing. In the dark! I was waving at people I couldn’t see and who couldn’t see me. My sensible wife asked me why I was doing that and her question made me feel a bit foolish. I didn’t have an answer…but I kept doing it anyway. adHad Had I become a wave addict? Was there such a thing?

This past week, my wife and I drove to Winnipeg via the Trans-Canada Highway. And wouldn’t you know it, I found myself waving at cars and trucks that were driving past me on the other lanes…at times many metres away! Had I reached the point of needing help?

And it gets worse! We ﬂew from Winnipeg to Toronto – no, I didn’t wave at other planes passing by! But when we arrived in Toronto, we drove on Highway 401, Toronto’s busiest road. That highway has up to eighteen lanes, nine going east and nine going west. Over 314,200 vehicles use it daily. And there I was…doing that full wave!

To stop this silliness, I tried sitting on my hands but with vehicles travelling at speeds more than 130 kph, that didn’t last long! I tried concentrating on my ‘problem’ but that did not work either, as it meant focusing less on traﬃc. My arm just kept going up and down, up, and down. I must have looked like a chicken trying to ﬂy!

It was good getting back home to less traﬃc. My arm is enjoying the much-needed break!

And there you have it! That’s why my right arm, from the shoulder down, is sore and the reason I’m typing more slowly…and why it’s taking you longer to read this column!

OK, I’m exaggerating a little about my Toronto experience, but I have been thinking that maybe I should get one of those plastic hands and attach it to my steering wheel – especially for night-driving!

“There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to helping others without expecting anything in return.”

- Nelson Mandela

I don’t think I have time for that

Shelley Luedtke

A few days ago, my husband shared a post he came across indicating it was just over 8,000 hours until Christmas. It seems like a minute ago we took decorations down from this past holiday so really, is this something I needed to know? At ﬁrst, I dismissed it as amusing trivia but then got thinking about the hours in front of us.

Many things make demands on those hours, and we often hear expressions of frustration that there’s never enough time to do what we want to do. But have we really made an eﬀort to look at how we’re spending that time?

I enjoy playing games on my phone. Favorites have been Jeopardy, Scrabble and yes, I got caught up in the Wordle craze for a while. But I downloaded what I can only describe as a ‘mindless’ game a couple of months ago—one where

you simply move various objects around in groups until you clear the board. I convinced myself it was a relaxing way to kick back at the end of the day.

One night I was playing the game while the TV was on in the background and totally lost track of time. I was startled, or should I say embarrassed, to discover how much time I had spent playing that game while being so inattentive to anything else. I started to think about all the moments I bemoaned not having enough time to do the things I really wanted to do. Huh? I had just frittered away much of an evening without a second thought.

I believe it’s important we take time to do things that give us a mental break. We need to relax. Be entertained. Unplug from the noise. But there are concerns if we spend too much time doing socalled mindless things. It can lead to inattention, lack of awareness and even ultimately aﬀect our decision making.

I did a quick tally of the time I had spent at the end of each day playing my matching game. How had something so lacking signiﬁcance in my life taken up so much of my precious time?

Trying to convince ourselves that what we do doesn’t have an im-

pact on us because we call it mindless, is simply a fallacy. Everything that goes into our heads has an eﬀect. Our brains are amazing organs capable of storing all that we put in it. So, we need to be as aware of the words, images and activities being consumed by our brains as we are about the sugar or sodium being consumed by our bodies.

Consider the hours spent reading nonsense versus reading texts from our faith, or hours spent indulging ourselves versus hours in service to others. What about time spent on a device compared to time around the dinner table? How many status updates are shared on social media compared to cups of coffee shared in the company of a true friend?

People of faith backgrounds seek to spend time regularly reading the sacred texts from their faith, yet many of them will say they don’t have enough time in a day to do it. But let’s look more closely at what it would take.

It is said that a person with an average reading speed could read the Bible in less than 75 hours. Certainly, that is not the way to read it. Time for reﬂection, prayer and study is very important. But if I had taken just a portion of time from a ‘mindless’ game I can

only speculate where I might be in my Bible by now. I need to remember that 75 hours over the course of a month— let alone a year—is not much at all, particularly in light of how easy it is to spend time doing insigniﬁcant things.

The contrast with other activities around the world is striking. It takes an average of 33 minutes to make one round trip to collect water in sub-Saharan Africa. Three billion people have to walk more than an hour to access any type of healthcare. But here, on average, people spend 2 hours and 23 minutes on social media every day. We make time for what matters to us. I was feeding the game to my brain to the point that’s all my brain wanted. Meanwhile a basket of new books sat untouched and a project I started last fall remained in a box. I deleted the app and am doing other things as a result, and for me, it’s been a good change.

If someone were to interview me about my priorities in life, I would give them a list of what I believe matters most. So, the question in front of me now is: do my activities and how I spend my time accurately reﬂect that list? If so, great. If not, I can start making changes today. That’s my outlook.

Paul Kimball Paulywogs

Teagan Littlechief nominated for two Sask Music Awards

By Stephanie Zoer

Teagan Littlechief, a distinguished Indigenous singer from White Bear First Nation (WBFN) in Saskatchewan, has been a prominent ﬁgure in the province’s music scene.

Her journey is marked by signiﬁcant achievements and recent accolades that highlight her talent and dedication to her craft.

In 2024, Littlechief made history by becoming the ﬁrst Indigenous musician to win the Female Artist of the Year award at the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards (SCMA).

This honour was complemented by her third consecutive win as Indigenous Artist of the Year, underscoring her consistent excellence in the industry.

Building on this momentum, Littlechief has received nominations for the 2025 Saskatchewan Music Awards (SMA).

She is contending for titles in both the Country Music Artist of the Year and Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year categories.

Littlechief’s powerhouse voice has rocked many venues, and this includes singing the Na-

tional Anthem at Rough Rider games, and she also took part in Telemiracle 48 held in February 2024. Becoming a household name, Littlechief has performed at several venues over the past year, and her popularity continues to grow.

She has never forgotten where her roots are, and she has always been available for her hometown events, taking part in the Carlyle Fun Daze during the summer, performing on the main stage in front of a large crowd.

She began singing at a young age, but it was not until 2001 that she ventured into country music, having the inﬂuence of powerful voices such as Faith Hill and Carrie Underwood. This transition allowed her to embrace storytelling through her songs, a hallmark of country music.

Beyond her musical pursuits, Littlechief is passionate about mentoring aspiring artists. She encourages them to step out of their comfort zones and emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and inquiry in the music industry.

She feels that music is a way of relaxing and

Teagan Littlechief has been nominated for Country Artist of

being able to tell a story through the world of music, which she has done with her hit single Need You to Go.

This song has hit the number one spot on the Indigenous Radio several times, and it is a powerful song that Littlechief wrote about

some issues that she has dealt with in her life.

“It is always such a huge honour to be nominated and to know that my work, my players Morgan Turk, Anthony Kelly, Vern Nixon, and Neil Coghill, my team Pink and Kevin at Black Mountain Music and

Media is being recognized,” said Littlechief.

“When God gives you something special it does not do good being put aside, so I try to make every performance memorable,” said Littlechief. “Whether I win or not my music is for God and the people who enjoy it.”

Littlechief will be performing at Bear Claw Casino on February 14, for a special dinner, dance, and party. The following night she will perform for the Estevan Humane Society’s fundraiser.

Littlechief’s journey is a testament to her resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to her art.

As she continues to garner recognition and inspire others, her contributions to Saskatchewan’s music landscape remain invaluable.

Littlechief is always striving to better herself and to make music that others can relate to, get up and dance to or to sing along.

“We all click, and it makes magic happen,” she said. “My family, the fans and venues are what making music is about.”

Responsibilities:

• Supervise all maintenance activities

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• Operate and Maintain Town Owned Equipment

• Street Maintenance and Snow Removal Ma in ta in Pa rk s, Ca mp gr ound , Wa lk in g Tr ai ls an d al l green spaces

• Respond to emergency calls as necessary Keeping Records

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Work Schedule is Monday to Friday 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m

Detailed Job Description available

Carlyle Cougars Powered by 306 AG win back-to-back games against Midale Mustangs

By Stephanie Zoer

The Carlyle Cougars have taken a 2-0 lead in their best of five quarterfinals series against the Midale Mustangs in the Big Six League.

The Cougars and Mustangs faced off for their first playoff game on January 31 at the Carlyle Sports Complex.

Mark Shaw started off the scoring with a goal for the Cougars eight minutes into the game, but shortly after Brad Tomski tied it up.

Kaelan Holt from the Cougars and Sterling Bear from Midale brought the game to

a 2-2 tie, bringing on the heat in the second period for both teams.

Riley Niven and Jon Gaudet scored late in the second period to bring the Cougars ahead with a 4-2 lead.

In the third period and seven minutes later, Adrien Riddell scored and five minutes after that Sterling Bear scored for Midale giving it a 5-3 score.

The Cougars did not quit there, Ben Johnstone, Riley Niven and Taysen Holt all blasted one past the Mustangs goaltender leaving the game with an 8-3 victory.

February 1, the two teams went head-to-head in Midale at the Harry O. Memorial Arena.

Building on their big win from the night before, the Cougars delivered another dominant performance on the road.

Ben Johnstone, a forward for the Cougars team, has continued his great post season run, but the defense was equally formidable.

The Cougars came out like a powerhouse and by the end of the first period were leading 4-0. They did not let up what-

soever and by the end of the second period had allowed only one goal by the Mustangs, bringing the score to 5-1.

Effectively neutralizing the Mustang’s offensive efforts, they provided solid support for their goaltender.

This approach has worked well for the team and has given the Cougars success so far in the playoffs.

They won the game 7-1, giving them a 2-0 lead in the series, with game three going back to Carlyle on February 4 and if need be game 4 in Midale on February 5.

This will be an important game for both teams as it could end the season for the Midale Mustangs and send the Carlyle Cougars off to the next round.

Fans are always encouraged to attend the upcoming games to support their teams.

The Cougars have expressed their appreciation for the strong fan base they have had during the season and now into the playoffs.

They look forward to a vibrant full house for the third game which could potentially clinch this first round of playoffs.

Carlyle Cougars poured on the heat in the first period of both games against the Midale Mustangs. Photo by Betty Jack

Financial strategies to consider as retirement draws near

Freedom is often cited as a benefit of retirement. Many professionals look forward to the day when they retire and have more free time and the freedom to spend that time however they choose. Of course, the opportunity to spend retirement how one sees fit typically requires considerable financial freedom.

Financial planning for retirement is often emphasized to young professionals beginning their careers. But it’s equally important that people on the cusp of retirement continue to look for ways to protect and grow their wealth. As retirement draws near, professionals can consider these strategies to ensure they have the ﬁnancial freedom to make their golden years shine even brighter.

• Plan to grow your wealth in retirement. It’s widely assumed that retirees need less income after calling it a career because the need

to save for retirement is no longer present. However, some expenses, including health care, may rise in retirement, which underscores the need to continue growing your wealth. Cost-of-living also will increase over the course of your retirement years, which highlights the need to keep growing wealth in retirement. It can be tricky to protect your existing retirement savings as you approach the end of your career while also growing that wealth, so it is best to work with a ﬁnancial planner to navigate that situation.

• Maintain a mix with your investments. A model from the Schwab Center for Financial Research indicated that a hypothetical retiree with a $2 million portfolio in year one of retirement will have slightly less than $1 million left 30 years later if her portfolio maintains a mix of 60 percent stocks and 40 percent bonds and cash.

The model found that a second hypothetical investor with the same size portfolio in year one of retirement will run out of funds prior to year 29 if his portfolio is 20 percent stocks and 80 percent bonds and cash. Though conventional wisdom suggests limiting risk as retirement nears and eliminating it entirely upon retiring, modern retirees are living longer and may therefore need to maintain a mix of investments to ensure they don’t outlive their money.

• Make the maximum allowable contributions. Many aging professionals may not have saved as much for retirement as they might have hoped to upon starting their careers decades ago. In fact, a 2024 survey from Prudential Financial found that many 55-yearolds have fallen far short of establishing the level of ﬁnancial security they will need in retirement.

The Prudential survey

found that 55-year-olds had a median retirement savings of less than $50,000, a number that falls considerably short of the recommended goal of having eight times one’s annual income saved by this age. If that situation sounds familiar for professionals nearing retirement age,

then now is the time to begin catching up. Make the maximum allowable contributions to a 401(k) plan ($23,000 in 2024) and/or an IRA ($7,000).

In addition, the Internal Revenue Service notes that IRA catch-up contributions remained $1,000 for individuals age 50 and over in 2024.

Retirement can provide a sense of freedom professionals have worked hard to achieve over the course of their careers. Some simple strategies can help professionals on the cusp of retirement achieve the ﬁnancial freedom they’ll need to enjoy their golden years to the fullest extent.

3 simple ways to get back in creditors’ good graces

A robust credit rating is a key component of a strong ﬁnancial foundation. There’s a reason consumers’ credit histories are important to landlords, car dealerships and mortgage lenders. Adults who can demonstrate a track record of sound ﬁnancial decision-making and responsible money management are seen as safer bets by landlords and lenders than those who have shaky payment histories.

Young adults may not recognize the significance of a strong credit rating until their financial reputations have already taken a hit. Indeed, the Urban Institute reported in late 2024 that 16 percent of young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 with a credit record had debt in collections. Such individuals and older adults who have struggled to make ends meet without taking on debt may one day aspire to own a home or secure a favorable auto loan, and each goal is more difficult for consumers with poor credit ratings to achieve if they cannot restore their reputation in the eyes of prospective creditors. Thankfully, consumers can take three simple steps to rebuild their credit.

1. Start paying on time. One of the fastest ways to build debt is to skip or miss payments on consumer debts like credit cards. When that happens, consumers must pay percentagebased interest charges, which can be especially

high on credit cards. When borrowers don’t pay on time, relatively small debts can quickly balloon, costing consumers sizable amounts of money and threatening their financial reputations. In addition, the financial experts at NerdWallet point out that late payments can stay on a credit report for more than seven years, which underscores the significance of paying bills on time each month.

2. Utilize as little credit as possible. Credit utilization ratio is one of the variables reporting agencies like Experian use to determine consumers’ credit ratings. Overutilization of credit adversely aﬀects a credit score, so consumers with poor credit histories are urged to avoid using credit cards when they have funds available in their savings or checking accounts. Consumers now have readily available access to information that determines their credit scores, and that includes their credit utilization ratio. Monitor that ratio and make a concerted effort to keep it low. Data from Experian gathered in the third quarter of 2022 revealed that the average utilization ratio among consumers whose credit scores were considered excellent was 6.5 percent, while those whose scores were considered fair had a ratio of 56.1 percent. Individuals whose scores were considered poor (between 300 and 579) had an average utilization

ratio of 82.1 percent. The disparity in these ratios underscores their signiﬁcance in relation to building a strong ﬁnancial reputation.

3. Apply for a secured credit card. NerdWallet notes that secured credit cards can be the right vehicles for individuals who need to start over in relation to their credit histories. The credit reporting agency Equifax notes secured credit cards require cash deposits that are used to insure purchases made on credit.

Secured credit cards are ideal for borrowers who have been deemed highrisk due to past mistakes. Payment histories on secured credit cards can be recorded and shared with reporting agencies, which makes them a valuable asset for individuals who need to demonstrate an ability to pay bills on time

Consumers can consider these three strategies and others as they seek to rebuild their credit and get back in the good graces of lenders.

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Consumers can take three simple steps to rebuild their credit.

Professionals can consider these strategies to ensure they have the nancial freedom to make their golden years shine even brighter.

U18 Cougars win first round in provincial playoffs

By Stephanie Zoer

The Carlyle Cougars U18 hockey team is on fire, capturing a decisive victory in their second provincial game sweeping the first round over the Whitewood elks.

The game held on January 29 at the Elk’s home rink, showcased the Cougars’ relentless determination and skill, solidifying their position as strong contenders in this year’s championship.

From the drop of the puck, the cougars made their intentions clear, applying intense pressure on the Elk’s defense.

Early in the first period, the Cougars broke through the neutral zone, weaving past defenders to open the scoring with perfectly placed shots.

The Cougars carried that momentum, extending their lead by the end of the first period 5-0.

The Elk’s fought back hard in the second period, and found the back of the net, but the Cougars responded immediately.

Goaltender, Tristan Dixon stood tall, turning away multiple scoring chances from the Elk’s, including key saves late in the third period.

The Cougars sealed their victory in the third period with more goals which sent the fans in a frenzy.

When the final whistle blew, the Cougars took the win with a final score of 8-1.

The masked man, Dixon emerges from the round one series with goals against average (GAA) of 0.50.

“It was a good game for us, and we were up 5-0 after the first,” said coach Kirk Himmelspach, “We then put it on cruise control after that.”

With taking the first round in two games in the provincial playoffs, they will play Moosomin in the next series.

The first game of round two will be played on February 6 at 8:30 p.m. in Moosomin. Game two is scheduled for February 11 at 7:45 p.m. in Carlyle.

The third game is called a modified best

The U18 Cougars win the first round of provincial playoffs with a sweep. Back row: Asst. Coach Danny Nelson, Coach Kirk Kimmelspach, Keltin Slykhuis, Rolen Standingready, Tucker Wyatt, Hunter Colpitts, Ryder Benjamin, Sawyer Tomaszewski, Reid Goudy, David Kostal,

Owen

of 3 games. If each team wins one game, then there is a ten-minute mini game after game two that counts as a full game three.

Himmelspach said doing the games this way decreases the amount of travel involved, cutting back expenses on travel and possible overnight stays in motels.

It has been played like this in Saskatchewan for a few years now and it is only in minor hockey.

Himmelspach’s game plan moving forward is

to just keep doing what they have been doing to win but will up the intensity a little bit for the next round.

These wins will not only boost the Cougars’

confidence but will also put them in a strong position heading into their next provincial match.

With two victories under their belt, they have proven to be a force

to be reckoned with in the provincials.

For now, the Carlyle Cougars are savouring another hard-fought win, with their sights firmly set on the championship.

Sixty-four team bonspiel slated for Arcola in 2026

By Stephanie Zoer

There will be a lot of excitement in Arcola from March 25-29, 2026, when the Arcola Curling club will host a 64 team bonspiel to celebrate their 125th anniversary.

Duane Davis has been a long time member of the Arcola curling club, and a year ago he brought forward that the club should do something special to celebrate the 125 years that the club existed.

All the members felt that this was a great idea and the planning began.

Warren Neuman, who is the president said that the organization has been busy getting things done and it takes a lot of work to get something this big to run smoothly.

Eight committees were formed, one for decorating, kitchen, banquet, advertising, fund raisers, ice, raffles, bar and entertainment. This will take many volunteers helping out throughout that weekend.

Neuman is not new to helping with a bonspiel of this size, and he is also an ice maker.

Curling ice is much different than ice that one plays hockey on. The ice needs pebbles for the rocks to slide down smoothly to the other end.

Jason Reddekopp will come out in the spring to create his magic on the

ice. Reddekopp has travelled all over making his ice to perfection for all kinds of bonspiels.

Neuman, who is also an ice maker and went to Korea where the world juniors were played will be helping out with the ice, but during that weekend there will be many other duties he will need to take care of as well.

The bonspiel will be in memory of Cody Grimes, who passed away a few years ago. He left behind his wife and young children and brother of Mikey Grimes.

Cody lived in Arcola and was well known by many who lived there.

Grimes is the owner of Eagle Oilfield and is a major sponsor of the event.

They have already decided that early registration will be December 1, 2025. When a team is registered by this date, their name will go into a draw for $1,000.

On March 27, 2026, the Friday night of the bonspiel an opening ceremony banquet will

be held, including entertainment which will be determined later.

There will be $10,000 in cash prizes handed out, a Chinese auction and raffle prizes.

“With most other curling rinks closed down for the season, this will give Arcola the opportunity to rent rocks from other organizations, and this will not interfere with their season,” said Neuman.

Both kitchens will be open throughout the bonspiel with the cooking and preparation done mainly by the club and volunteers.

“We have an excellent commercial kitchen which can handle all the cooking,” said Neuman.

Anyone who wishes to help out at this celebration or to enter a team can contact at 306-4857249.

They are excited about this chapter in the club and look forward to a well-attended event. All the proceeds from the event will go towards the Arcola Prairie Place Complex.

Februar y13, 2025 1pm –4pm

Houston Buffalo, Asst. Coach Jason Dixon, Asst. Coach Tyrell Dixon. Front Row: Tristan Dixon, River Onufreychuk, Dawson Galbraith, Nolan Riddell, Jaden Fischer, Chase Himmelspach, Draeton Morrissette,

Brown, Dane Peterson. Missing: Lance McMillian from Carievale, Preston McGuire from Frobisher and Caden Dorrance from Alameda. Photo courtesy of Tammie Riddell

The Arcola curling rink and the arena will house 8 sheets of ice for the 64 team bonspiel in Arcola. Photo by Karon Dukart

CLASSIFIEDS AD RATES

Exciting changes coming to Carlyle Golf Club creating a fresh look

By Stephanie Zoer

The Carlyle Golf Club ﬁrst opened their doors in 1965, and over the past 60 years have seen many upgrades.

The nine-hole course is located north of Highway 13 and oﬀers a course set in the trees with a barbecue area, and a clubhouse that offers simple meals and refreshments.

The course at one time had sand greens and in 2000 was changed to grass greens.

Last year president Leisa Grimes, V.P. Ron Gordon, Treasurer Deb Lothian, Secretary Gord Paulley and eight directors felt the course needed an upgrade, not only to improve the looks of the grounds but also to help with the water situation that happens in the spring and after a heavy rain.

The nine-hole course tends to ﬂood in the spring, and the severity of the ﬂooding depends on how much snow has fallen during the winter. The ninth hole on the west side of the curling rink, which is right along Highway 13, often needs

to be pumped out into the ditch after a heavy down pour, which results in pumping of 2 or 3 times.

It was decided that a pond was needed, not only to help with the water issues, but to give the course a challenge along the ninth hole and create a fresh look to the course.

Once everyone agreed, the work began to obtain permits. Since the overﬂow of the pond was going to go in the ditch along the highway, they needed a permit from the highways department, and this all takes time.

With all the permits in place, they will begin excavating in the spring once it is dry enough to do so.

Garth Beetstra a Golf Course Shaper from Canmore, Alberta has been hired on to do the job. He designed the pond and will oversee the landscaping project.

Beetstra has developed professional courses all over the world and when he looked at the proposed spot for the pond, he made his suggestions on the shape that will be used.

The pond will be in a shape of a big foot if looking down on it from the sky and will be 1200 square metres in size.

The shape of the pond is especially important, and it is this shape that works the best at this location. It will be wrap lined with rock to keep it clean and sub surface drainage will also be added to areas.

As shown in the map there will be a solid tile drain line with three catch basins along the way, plus an area that will receive the ﬁll from the dugout pond.

They want the pond to stay clean and clear, and in the future are hoping to add a fountain with lights.

fore the season begins or at least have minimal interruption to the beginning of the season. It will be a welcome addition to the course and esthetically pleasing from the highway.

Schick took his Turf Management which is a two-year course at Fairview College in Alberta. During his time there it changed to NAIT, and his class was the ﬁrst to graduate under the new name. He has been a grounds keeper ever since.

“We had an outstanding year in 2024. Membership was great and we forecast a strong year in 2025,” said Paulley.

Larry Schick, the grounds superintendent, has worked with Beetstra in the past including a project at York Lake near Yorkton. Beetstra was also responsible for Woodlawn Park near Estevan with the reconstruction after the ﬂooding in 2011.

It is their hope to have the work completed be-

Paulley said the course is family friendly and great for kids with the ﬂatter lay out and easy access. The club oﬀers carts and golf clubs to rent, and the daily fee is very reasonable.

With their 60th season just around the corner, they are excited to get the work started so that all can enjoy the upcoming year.

A proposed pond is slated for the Carlyle Golf Club with excavating beginning in the spring. Photo courtesy of Gord Paulley

Carlyle Skating Club attends “Magic City International Competition”

By Dolores Young

The Carlyle Skating Club attended the “Magic City International Competition” Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 in Minot, ND.

Coaches Dawn Brady and Brittany Rowe along with 10 skaters were in attendance: Vayda Humphries, Khloe Brady, Ellexah Humphries, Aril Anderson, Kristen Gatapia, Rylee Brady, Shaelan Tripp, Brynn Chapman, Kyler Kamp and Tianna Delalleau.

Following is the results of the competition:

Vayda Humphries

Fourth - Compulsory Moves - Level 1

Sixth - FreeSkate - Aspire 2

Sixth - Showcase - Aspire 1-4

Khloe Brady

First - Showcase - Aspire 1-4

Third - Jumps - Level

Fifth - FreeSkate - Aspire 3

Seventh - Compulsory Moves - Level 2

Ellexah Humphries

Third - Showcase - Aspire 1-4

Fourth - Compulsory Moves - Level 2

Sixth - FreeSkate - Aspire 3

Sixth - Jumps - Level 2

Aril Anderson

Fourth- FreeSkateAspire 4

Fourth - Jumps - Level 2

Fifth - Showcase - Aspire 1-4

Seventh - Compulsory Moves - Level 3

Kristen Gatapia

First - Showcase - Lyrical Pop - Preliminary

Second - Free SkateExcel Preliminary Plus

Second - Jumps - Level 3

Fourth - Compulsory Moves - Level 3

Sixth - Spins - Level 3

Rylee Brady

First - Compulsory Moves - Level 4

First - Jumps - Level 3

First - Spins - Level 3

Fourth - Free SkateExcel Pre-Juvenile Plus

Fifth - ShowcaseCharacter Performance - Preliminary

Shaelan Tripp

Fourth - Free SkateExcel Preliminary Plus

Fourth - Jumps - Level 3

Fifth - Showcase - Lyrical Pop - Preliminary

Brynn Chapman

First - Spins - Level 4

Second - Compulsory Moves - Level 4

Second - Showcase - Lyrical Pop - Open Juvenile

Third - Free SkateExcel Juvenile Plus

Fifth - Jumps - Level 4

Kyler Kamp

Third - Spins - Level 4

Third - Showcase - Lyrical Pop - Open Juvenile

Third - Compulsory Moves - Level 4

Sixth - Jumps - Level 4

Seventh - Free SkateExcel Juvenile Plus

Tiana Delalleau

Third - Spins - Level 4

Fourth - ShowcaseLyrical Pop - Open Juvenile

Fifth - Free Skate - Excel Juvenile Plus

Congratulations to all the skaters and their excellent performances.

NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF ASSESSMENT ROLL TOWN OF ARCOLA

Full Gospel Church Welcomes You 202-4th St W.

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Town of Arcola for the year 2025 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the oﬃce of the assessor from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on the following days: Monday to Friday February 7th – April 8th, 2025.

A bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required. All fees must be submitted to the local assessor at the Town of Arcola. All appeals must be ﬁled with the Secretary of the Board of Revision, Nicolle Hoskins at Western Municipal Consulting, which can be sent electronically to: secretary@westernmunicipal.ca, or via post/mail to Town of Arcola, PO Box 359, Arcola, SK S0C 0G0, and forwarded to the Secretary of the Board of Revision.

Any person who wishes to discuss the notice of assessment or potential appeal may contact the assessor at the Town of Arcola, 127 Main Street, Arcola, SK S0C 0G0. A notice of appeal, accompanied by a $25.00 appeal fee, which will be returned if the appeal is successful, must be submitted by the 8th day of April, 2025.

Dated this 7th day of February, 2025 Rebecca Korchinski Assessor.

Church of Our Lady, Carlyle

Father Chris Juchacz

Carlyle: Sunday at 11 a.m.

Kenosee: Saturday at 5 p.m Forget: Sunday at 9 a.m. 306-453-6200

Back row - Coach Brittany Rowe, Tiana Delalleau, Aril Anderson, Ellexah Humphries, Khloe Brady, Rylee Brady , Kyler Kamp, Coach Dawn Brady. Front row - Vayda Humphries, Shaelan Tripp, Brynn Chapman. Missing Kristen Gatapia. Courtesy of Dawn Brady

25022PK1

ACROSS

1. Pupilsite

5. Catcha glimpseof

8. Cigar end

12. and rave

13. Have being 14.Daysof_

15. High flier

16. London brew

17. Fix

18. Not busy

19.Complainer

21. 18-wheeler

24. Scattered

28. New York player

31. Sucker

32. Pond scum

33.Jug handle

34. Navajo or Sioux

36. Canmaterial

37._ diver

39. Pave

40. Farm pen

41. Page 42. Chipinchips

44. Directionleft of nor th 46. Rebel against 50. Stop,toDobbin

53. Hur t

55. Festive par ty 56. Lunch period 57. Infant’ssound 58. By anychance 59.Fairy-tale villain 60. Hill insec t 61. Sea Scrolls

DOWN

1. Bothers 2. Train track 3. thinair 4. Simmers 5. Took aloadoff 6. Rain,e.g 7. Time measure

8. Sign 9. Part of afoot 10. Largevase 11. Fourposter 20. Affirm 22. Landed proper ty 23. Damage 25. Comics 26. Give forth 27. Disclaim 28. Untidiness 29. To his own

30. Ac tual 35. Outlaw 38. Word of warning 43. Approached 45. Epic 47. Roof projec tion 48. Dog’s hounder

HOWTOPLAY:

Fill in the grid so thateveryrow, every column and every 3x3 box containsthe numbers 1through 9 only once.

Each3x3 boxisoutlined with a darker line. Youalreadyhavea few numbers to getyou started Remember: you must not repeat the numbers1 through9inthe same line, column or 3x3 box.

Week of Februar 9 to 15,

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Excit

LEO

Acold

VIRGO

You’ll

yo ur manag ement skills. Embrac et he position you’ve earned and assert your authority with conﬁdence.

LIBRA As yo uj uggle fa mily and pr of essiona l commit ments, yo uw on’t hav em uc h sparetime or any time to devotetoyour ownactivities. You’ll also havetoorganizeprofessional or social gatherings.

SCORPIO

At work, your productivity will catchthe attention of your superiors, who will feel compelled to offer youa raise to secure your longevity with the company.You’ll haveevery reason to be proud!

SAGITTARIUS

Youmay be faced with existential questionsthis week, which may prompt you to seek amoreenlightened outlook on life. In your relationship, loyalty and dedicationare highly valued.

CAPRICORN Yo u’l lf ind common ground wi th those around youaftera conﬂict.Your wisdom will be cru cia li nt his situation. Quic k action will be needed to stop things from gettingworse.

AQUARIUS

Thisweek will be fullofprofessionalchallenges. Set realistic expectations to ensureyour success matches your efforts. Keep an eyeout forpotential frictionwith colleagueswho may be jealous of your achievements.

PISCES

All the atten tion will be on yo ut his week. You’llreceivewell-deserved praise fo ry our amaz ing ac complish ments. Th is will giv ey our self -confidence a major boost