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Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Issue 42

SERVING THE ENERGY CITY SINCE 1903

www.estevanmercury.ca

Mailing No. 10769 | Publication No. 40069240

Council approves intake project tender By David Willberg dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca

The City of Estevan is going to proceed with the water intake project that will shift the city’s primary water source from Boundary Dam to Rafferty Dam. Estevan city council awarded the tender for Phase 1 of the intake project to GCS Energy for $2,768,083 during Monday night’s meeting. Shane Bucsis, the manager of the water treatment plant and wastewater treatment plant, said the intake project is going to be completed in three phases. Phase 1 will be for the hookup inside the water treatment plant for the pipeline that will carry the water from Rafferty Dam, along with the construction of 6.2 kilometres of pipeline. The 6.2 kilometres of pipeline marks the most work the city felt they’d be able to complete within the approved environmental assessment timeline for this winter season. Phase 2 will be the construction of the structure for the pump house and the raw water intake, and Phase 3 will be completion of the pipeline to the new intake structure. The city decided to break the project up into three phases after the tenders for the project came in significantly over budget last year. The city would have had to cover the cost of the additional $7 million to get the project complete, since the money from the provincial and federal governments would not cover the budget overages. “We went back, and with the engineers, we took a look at the project to see how we could make it cheaper,” said Bucsis. Breaking it up into three different phases is expected to make a big difference, he said, because it will allow additional

Shane Bucsis companies to bid on the work. And reducing the size of the pipe from 600 millimetres to 500 millimetres is also expected to reduce costs. The price last year was $255 per metre for the pipe, but now it will be $242 per metre. Reducing the pipe size is not expected to affect water supply, either. “For flow wise, in the long-term, the pipeline at 600 millimetres would have been the long-term for 40 years,” said Bucsis. “By dropping it down, we lower the growth curves for 30-35 years.” Bucsis pointed out that those numbers for the life cycle of the pipe came from 2011, when Estevan was going through a surge in population. Now that the boom is over, the demand for raw water has levelled out, and he anticipates the life expectancy should be 40 years. Phase 2 and Phase 3 will also be retendered. Councillor Greg Hoffort wanted to know if the next two phases will have cost estimates as well. “The question is, how do we feel, based on seeing this, that the overall project cost is coming in,” said Hoffort. The cost for Phase 1 is A2 » COSTS

Gym babies Little Cash Goudy, who attended the Gym Babies development group at the Estevan Family Resource Centre with his mom Crystal, enjoyed dancing and singing the Tick Tock Cuckoo Clock song. Photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

Police chief: It’s not a surprise to see a rise in break and enters By Ana Bykhovskaia abykhovskaia@estevanmercury.ca

Estevan is experiencing a wave of thefts, break and enters and frauds. Anything from golf clubs to pickup trucks and industrial equipment has disappeared. Estevan Police Service (EPS) Chief Paul Ladouceur talked about the main reason behind this problem. “ W hen the economy starts to suffer we tend to see some of the property crimes increase. There is a lot of correlation between the economy and some of the calls for service that we predominantly deal with.” It’s quite common to see crime rates going up when the

economy falls into a nosedive. The decrease in the amount of cash in people’s pockets comes along with an increase in domestic disputes, impaired driving, increased drug use and of course thefts and break and enters and other types of property crime cases. “ When the money is not there people are looking into other means of obtaining cash. Some of those people, unfortunately, turn towards criminal activity to do that,” said Ladouceur. Crisis times are especially tricky for people who have drug or alcohol addictions. Usually, they can support their habits while working, but if suddenly their shifts are cut or they are no longer employed,

all hell breaks loose for them. “Sometimes what we see is people turn to thefts or break and enters or, worst case scenario, even robberies to gain cash to support those habits,” said Ladouceur. So it’s not a surprise to see new break and enters happening in Estevan. In past months Estevan has experienced everything from break and enters, break and enters with commit and an indictable offence, thefts over $5,000 and thefts under $5,000. There are also a number of charges that can go along with that, such as possession of stolen property, public mischief, fraud, obstruction during the course of the arrest and more. Thefts

over $5,000 were more common and usually involved larger items or vehicles. Fortunately, EPS could clear many of those cases quite fast and returned the property to owners. “Often times it’s a small group of people that commit the majority of these incidents, so when we can identify these individuals and bring them to justice then we see those numbers start to drop,” said Ladouceur. And that was the case with the break and enter at the Wicklow Centre. The parties have been arrested and charged and numerous pieces that were stolen on different occasions, were recovered. A2 » PUBLIC

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A2 February 13, 2019

Some residents wanted a property tax increase As it turns out, some people were not happy with Estevan city councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to hold the line on a property tax increase this year. City council passed the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2019 budget during its meeting on Monday night. Council members shared the feedback they have received on the document, and most of them said they have heard comments from a few ratepayers about their preference to have a property tax increase each year. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t include a property tax increase or a utility rate increase, the first time in many years that neither rate has gone up. While the city did not receive many written submissions, city management and council members did have people approach them about the

financial plan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We did have some feedback, and we thank everybody who gave it to us,â&#x20AC;? said Mayor Roy Ludwig. City manager Jeff Ward said he had one person approach him to say that property taxes should go up. That person also wanted clarification on the future of the police station. The budget calls for $500,000 for Phase 1 of an expansion to the police station, rather than construction of a new police building. Mayor Roy Ludwig said that he and city treasurer Trudy Firth met with one person, and it was a good discussion. He knew of one written submission. Councillors Travis Frank and Trevor Knibbs both pointed out that the people they talked

Costs for project are dropping ÂŤ A1 half of what it was a year ago. Bucsis believes the overall project cost is now very close to what was budgeted. C o u n c i l l o r Tre vo r Knibbs wanted to know what will happen if the final phase of the project comes in well over budget. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I understand doing the three separate tenders, but what happens if we hit a roadblock? Do we just quit the project, or is the city on the hook for the rest?â&#x20AC;? asked Knibbs. If that were to happen, then Bucsis said they would have to look at paying for the additional cost or reengineering the project. The provincial and federal governments are each covering a third of the cost of the water intake project. The city has to complete the project in 2021, or the federal and provincial governments would each be owed more than $6 million. Once the intake project is complete, it is expected

to improve the quality of Estevanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water by reducing the level of trihalomethanes (THMs) and reducing the hardness of the water. The levels of THMs in Estevanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water supply are currently above the provincially-regulated level. The city and the provincial and federal governments announced funding in November 2016 for two projects. The first was a residuals management project for the water treatment plant. Tailing ponds were constructed for the residuals, which were previously pumped into the Souris River. That project was completed in the fall of 2017. The other project was the water intake. Once the primary water source is shifted to Rafferty Dam, Boundary Dam will still be a back-up water source for the city. The provincial and federal governments each contributed $3.1 million to the projects, which have a total projected cost of $9.3 million.

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to wanted to see some form of a property tax increase. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had a few people mention that no tax increase seems like a poor choice, which is the opposite of what you might expect, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice to hear that people understand the value of them,â&#x20AC;? said Frank. At the same time, council is happy they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to impose a tax increase this year, Frank said. Knibbs added that people were wondering if the city was going back to its old ways, which would see the council avoid annual property tax increases, but then have a significant rate increase when work needed to be done. Ludwig said thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a valid point. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unless the government

changes something that we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t foresee, there shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be any big ones,â&#x20AC;? Knibbs said. Those people would rather see a small increase each year, than to have no increases this year, and then an eight or nine per cent hike next year. Knibbs noted he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t receive any phone calls from people thanking council for not imposing a tax increase. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hopefully most of the heavy lifting now has been done, and any increases moving forward will be incremental,â&#x20AC;? said Ludwig. Veroba also heard that some people are not in favour of the proposed splash park at Centennial Park. Some believe that the two splash parks in Estevan are enough, while others would rather see the money

put towards the construction of a new outdoor swimming pool. Frank believes some of the opposition to the splash parks might stem from when the splash parks had to be shut down for repairs or replacement. The budget was released for public comment in January. Ward said last month that the city decided to hold the line on property taxes this year because some ratepayers were hit hard, especially commercial properties, during the most recent provincial reassessment. The city also wants to see what happens with oil prices, the equivalency agreement between the provincial and federal governments, and the upcoming federal election. Along with Phase 1 of the

Public helps to ďŹ ght thefts ÂŤ A1 There is another bundle of ongoing investigations of some of the recent thefts, which, according to the chief, will probably give some positive outcomes in the near future. â&#x20AC;&#x153; We want to send a strong clear message that if you are going to commit those offences in this community you are likely to get caught. There are other means to support incomes. We encourage people if they are suffering from addictions to reach out to people and get the help they need,â&#x20AC;? said Ladouceur. Community support that EPS gained through the years of work, is what allows them to solve crimes more promptly. Hundreds of eyes and ears notice things that police donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the capacity to catch. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a lot of assistance from the public. And to that, we are very grateful, because it allows us to solve a lot of our crimes very quickly, and we would be able to do that without the publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assistance. And I mean that sincerely,â&#x20AC;? said Ladouceur. On top of that almost total video surveillance and improved technologies allow the police to identify and locate criminals. There are not too many places nowadays that people can go to without being captured on video.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It might not be the business you think you are breaking into; it might be the business across the street or down the road. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really naĂŻve to think that you can get away with these things nowadays. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a matter of time and you do end up getting caught,â&#x20AC;? said Ladouceur. Sometimes sentences people receive for different theft-related crimes may not sound too harsh, but any kind of criminal charge strongly affects the life and future of any individual. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Picture yourself in jail for six months. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a huge impact on someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life,â&#x20AC;? said Ladouceur. And the saying is itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better to be safe than sorry. There are a number of oftensimple steps that can be taken to protect the property. It â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recommended to always lock vehicles, and take all tempting items out of sight and even out of the vehicle. Home alarm systems and surveillance cameras help to keep thieves away or at least to find criminals later. And yard lights are always a good idea. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Good lighting on houses, motion lights, we are big fans of motion lights. If someone is lurking around, you are going to know very quickly when those lights go on. Criminals donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like

Estevan Police Service Chief Paul Ladouceur. File photo bright light, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a given,â&#x20AC;? said Ladouceur. And when those steps

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expansion to the police station, other highlights of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget are renovations for the Estevan Leisure Centre, with upgrades to the roof and the rooftop heating, ventilation and air conditioning units. There will also be about $250,000 for the Power Dodge Ice Centre. The water main replacement program will also resume, with work taking place on part of Veterans Crescent. The budget also calls for more than $4.3 million in debt principal to be paid down this year, and another $877,685 in interest. That would leave the balance at the end of the year at $23.7 million, but the city also plans to borrow $2 million for some of the costly capital projects.

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Third Page A3

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Estevan Wildlife federation hands out awards

Trophy winners in the birds categories were, back row, from left, Logan Skuce, Murray Mosley, Kyle Skuce and Lyle Daoust; front row, Kade Skuce and Katelyn Zucewich. The Estevan Wildlife Federation (EWF) recognized success in fishing, hunting birds and big game, and photography during the organization’s annual awards supper on Saturday night at the Wylie-Mitchell building. Awards were handed out in numerous categories during the event. In the junior fish category, Spencer Skuce won for the largest perch (six ounces). In senior fish, Murray Mosley won for the largest perch (two pounds), rainbow trout (four pounds, three ounces) and splake (two pounds and 15 ounces), while Joshua Michel won for the biggest largemouth bass (five pounds, six ounces), walleye (six pounds, 14 ounces) and northern pike (16 pounds, eight ounces). In birds, the junior award winners were Katelyn Zucewich for top sharp-tail grouse at 36 bars and 21 3/4-inch length for a total score of 57 3/4. She also had the largest mallard duck (two pounds, 12 ounces), snow goose (six pounds) and Canada goose (13 pounds). Kade Skuce had the heaviest Hungarian partridge (15 ounces) and ruffed grouse (one pound, five ounces), and Logan Skuce had the heaviest sharp-tail grouse (two pounds).

In senior birds, Lyle Daoust had the top pheasant, at 38 bars, and 24 1/4 inches in length for a total score of 62 1/4. Kyle S kuce had the heaviest Hungarian partridge (one pound), sharptail grouse (two pounds) and ruffed grouse (one pound, five ounces). Murray Mosley had the heaviest mallard duck (three pounds), whitefronted goose (six pounds, three ounces), Canada goose (14 pounds, 11 ounces) and snow goose (six pounds, two ounces). In junior archery, Hunter Chipley took two awards, for the largest typical mule deer with a score of 140 3/8, and for junior bowhunter of the year with an aggregate score of 97. In senior archery, Riley Pylychaty had the top typical whitetail deer (135 2/8), Joshua Michel the top non-typical mule deer (233 3/8), and Nate Smart had the top antelope (80 4/8). Garry Leslie won for the top typical mule deer (159), black bear (17 7/16) and was name the senior bowhunter of the year, as his whitetail deer, mule deer and black bear had a combined score of 311. In junior rifle, Jayden Van De Woestyne had the top typical whitetail deer

From left, Mary Jacobs, Joshua Michel and Kyra Driedger were presented with photography awards.

(137 3/8), Hunter Wallster had the top non-typical whitetail deer (128 2/8), Braden Wallster the top typical mule deer (160 7/8), Skylar Millman the top nontypical mule deer (163 5/8), Cameron Sehn the top typical elk (297 4/8) and Krislyn Pylychaty the top black bear (15 3/16). In women’s rifle, award winners were Carla Peterson for typical mule deer (176), Selene Hegland for antelope (72 6/8) and Carla Clark for typical elk (295 1/8). In men’s r ifle, Ky le Skuce won for typical whitetail deer (144 1/8), Sheldon Michael won for non-typical whitetail deer (162 7/8), Sheldon Michael won for typical mule deer (188), Jim Skuce won for non-typical mule deer (171 4/8), Kevin Thompson won for top moose (168), Dave Clark had the top typical elk (343 2/8) and Nate Smart had the top black bear (20 8/16). P h o t o g r a phy a w a rd

From left, Murray Mosley, Joshua Michel and Spencer Skuce were presented with ﬁshing awards. winners were Kyra Driedger for junior scenic and junior wildlife, Joshua Michel

for senior scenic and Mary Jacobs for senior wildlife and photo of the year. All

photography awards are cosponsored by the Estevan Mercury and the EWF.

Trophy winners for big game archery were, back row, from left, Hunter Chipley, Nate Smart and Joshua Michel. Front row, Garry Leslie and Chelsea Brady (substituting for Riley Pylychaty).

Trophy winners for big game riﬂe were, back row, from left, Carla Clark, Dave Clark, Jim Skuce, Sheldon Michael, Nate Smart, Kevin Thompson and Kyle Skuce. Front row, Braden Wallster, Cameron Sehn, Jayden Van de Woestyne and Krislyn Pylychaty.

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Published weekly by Prairie Newspaper Group Limited Partnership, 68 Souris Avenue N., Estevan, SK S4A 2M3.The Estevan Mercury is owned and operated by Prairie Newspaper Group Limited Partnership, a subsidiary of Glacier Media Inc. Advertising rates are available upon request and are subject to change without notice. Conditions of editorial and advertising content: The Estevan Mercury attempts to be accurate in Editorial and Advertising content; however, no guarantee is given or implied. The Estevan Mercury reserves the right to revise or reject any or all editorial and advertising content as the newspaper’s principals see ﬁt. The Estevan Mercury will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion of an advertisement, and is not responsible for errors in advertisements except for the space occupied by such errors. The Estevan Mercury will not be responsible for manuscripts, photographs, negatives and other related material that may be submitted for possible publication. All of the Estevan Mercury’s content is protected by Canadian Copyright laws. Reviews and similar mention of material in this newspaper is granted on the provision that The Estevan Mercury receives credit. Otherwise, any reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Advertisers purchase space and circulation only. Rights to any advertisement produced by The Estevan Mercury, including artwork, typography, photos, etc., remain the property of this newspaper. Advertisements or parts thereof may not be reproduced or assigned without the consent of the publisher. We acknowledge ﬁnancial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.

EDITORIAL

Give municipalities their money One of the best decisions that the Saskatchewan Party government has made in 11 years in power came in 2009, when they completely revamped the revenue sharing system with the province’s municipalities. Prior to 2009, the provincial government arbitrarily decided how much money the urban and rural municipalities would receive. Then in 2009, the Sask. Party introduced the municipal operating grants. Communities would receive equivalent to one point of the provincial sales tax (PST), or 20 per cent of the money collected through the PST. We don’t use the word “simple” very often when it comes to government, but it seemed like a pretty simple system. And while there are complexities when it comes to how the funds are actually allocated on a community-bycommunity basis, it’s a system that works. Municipalities knew a year in advance how much money they would receive, allowing them to budget accordingly. And they received considerably more money, allowing them to complete more projects. The provincial government has decided to scale back the revenue sharing from one point of the PST to three-quarters of a point of the PST. Yet they maintain municipalities will receive more money than before. After all, the provincial government has introduced the PST on all sorts of products and services in recent years, including restaurant meals, children’s clothing, construction materials

and used car purchases. (The government thankfully decided to back away from its decision to impose the PST on many insurance premiums). So while municipalities will receive a smaller percentage from the revenue sharing pie, they will receive more money, because there are more revenue streams. We’re not sure if this will ultimately prove to be the case, but it sounds good on the surface. Municipalities rely on revenue sharing. Property taxes are obviously the biggest share of revenues for a municipal government, and they also receive money through fees for services, but grants from the other levels of government are huge. There has been a lot of speculation in recent years about how the provincial government would tinker with the revenue sharing grants now that the economy isn’t what it was five years ago, and the province finds itself in its new normal. If we see that communities receive much less in revenue sharing than in the past, then the government will have to restore the municipal share to one point of the PST. It’s also laughable to see the opposition New Democratic Party criticizing the provincial government over the changes to revenue sharing. This is one of those issues where the NDP should remain silent, because their record on revenue sharing is abysmal. Kind of like their record for surgical wait times and population growth.

When the NDP formed government in 1991, they took over a province that was in terrible shape financially, thanks to the mismanagement by the Grant Devine Progressive Conservatives. The NDP went to the municipalities and asked them to take a hit on revenue sharing; the municipalities obliged. When the financial picture improved, though, the money for municipalities did not. And rather than come up with a system that worked, the NDP opted for the status quo, leaving municipalities in the dark until the provincial budget was handed down. Then in 2007, when the economy was surging, the NDP did tinker with the system, it resulted in lower revenues for every municipality other than Regina and Saskatoon. Granted, the faces of provincial NDP have changed a lot in the last 12 years, but this is still an issue where their criticism rings hollow. We are wondering why the provincial government is making changes. This system should be a source of pride for them; an example where the Sask. Party needed less than two years to succeed where their predecessors failed. If the NDP thinks one point of the PST is such a great idea, then why didn’t they do it when they were in power? But last we checked, a full point of the PST is higher than three-quarters of a point of the PST, and we’d like to see municipalities get that full point, regardless of how many new PST revenue streams are available.

Kidsicles, roasted mammoth, land bridges and the carbon tax Last week I drove the kids to school almost every day, as opposed to Spencer walking three blocks to school, or Katrina walking half that distance to the bus stop. Are these walkable distances? Usually. But last week saw windchills into the -47C range, or worse. On the Friday, my truck’s thermometer said it was -37 C in Weyburn, and that was before any wind chill. The neighbours were kind enough to retrieve our son from school before he became a kidsicle. Very poignantly, my social media was full of posts about how those who hate oil and gas so much should turn it off, right now. Go to that meter behind your house, take out a crescent wrench, and rotate the valve 90 degrees. Don’t waste time. Do it today. For some reason, no one does. Then I saw a few pictures of solar panels, covered in snow. Most were from who knows where, but one was most decidedly in Estevan, at an oilfield business, no less. How much power was that solar panel capable generating, one-third covered in snow, in the several days where the sun never broke through the clouds? Maybe that’s why it’s been sitting in that yard for a few years. As I got out of my truck at lunch time, the radio told me if things keep going the way they have been (and it looks like it will), this will be the coldest February for something like 70ish years, or more. Sorry, I wasn’t taking notes. I was too concerned about plugging in my truck and getting inside. But Zinchuk! Didn’t you know the world is getting warmer? That mankind is causing climate change?

From the Top of the Pile BRIAN ZINCHUK Yeah, it’s quite evident, this climate change. It’s getting warmer. The wind chill is only -26 C on Monday. So it is in this context that this week Saskatchewan will take the federal government to court on its plan to impose a carbon tax here. Let me put it another way – a federal carbon tax on keeping warm. A tax on mobility. A tax on the very essentials of life – the energy to maintain it, and the energy to move around. To paraphrase Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, if you want less of something, charge more for it. For those of us who live in this barren, frozen wasteland known as the Prairies, does that mean we need less heat, too? Whether it’s coal being burned in our power plants, or natural gas in our furnaces (and newer power plants), we need fossil fuels to function in Saskatchewan. We need it to survive, full stop. Our society is not going to revert back to horses pulling sleighs. These days, the possession of horses is largely a luxury, not a primary mode of transportation. Last week we tied a record for natural gas consumption in this province. Someone tell me what other form of energy could possibly replace that, here, now, not 30 years in the future? On Feb. 14, hundreds of trucks will roll

out of Red Deer, Alta., on their way in a protest convoy to Ottawa. One of the key things they will be protesting is a carbon tax. The forecast for their departure is around -22 C. That night, in Regina, the temperature is forecast to hit -26 C. I sure hope those using sleepers in their trucks have an extra blanket. As you can probably tell, I am not at all convinced of the necessity of a carbon tax. I’m not much of a believer in anthropogenic (manmade) global warming, either. The audiobook I’m currently listening to, Guns, Germs, and Steel, talks about how various societies advanced technologically, and then conquered those who had not. There’s a lot of talk about how mankind spread out throughout the world, finally coming to the Americas about 13,000 years ago, right around the time the great ice sheets receded from most of Canada. So far, I haven’t gotten to the part where the mammoth hunters’ campfires caused those great ice sheets to melt. I wonder why? Surely it will come. There was talk, however, about how there were various land bridges between what are now islands and continents separated by water. Those land bridges disappeared when the oceans rose several hundred feet, when the ice sheets melted. It must have been from the campfires while roasting mammoth on a spit. Perhaps if the prehistoric Neolithic peoples of the world had simply taxed their campfires, more and more each year, those ice sheets would have never melted in the first place. Brian Zinchuk is editor of Pipeline News. He can be reached at brian.zinchuk@sasktel.net.

p-Ed

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Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Ana Bykhovskaia Twenty Lines About…

If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for your pet By Ana Bykhovskaia abykhovskaia@estevanmercury.ca

The story of marriage and the art of loving We all seek big love. We imagine it as something magical, something that all of a sudden falls upon our heads and fills our lives with meaning. We wait for the right person. We say that it was the wrong one to marry when we get divorced. We dream about love, we want it, we aim for it. But do we actually work for love? Just think about it. If we want to succeed in work or art, we go to schools, colleges, universities, we look for teachers and tutors, we experiment and practise, we gain experience and develop. We invest time, put in effort and patience into something we want to achieve. And what about love? There is a great book The Art of Loving. Despite the playful name, it’s a deep and serious-minded piece by psychoanalyst and social philosopher Erich Fromm. It clearly explains the gap between our vision of love and reality. I’m glad I came across this book at some point in my life. It made me actually think. Before, I used to say that people I met were the wrong fit for me and my only one was still somewhere out there. I always had a lot of excuses to explain my inactivity when it came to relationships. Speaking metaphorically, if a bulb went out in my house, I would change a house instead of fixing the bulb. My relationship efforts all had great beginnings, but never had a happy ending and unfortunately weren’t teaching me much. And then I met a guy. It happened here, in Estevan. I recently came to Canada and everything was new and amazing to me. I was visiting friends and just taking my time to enjoy the community where people smile more and always make small talk involving you in conversations. He was a customer at my friends’ restaurant. He came here almost every day, but unlike everybody else, he never spoke to me. Then he had a friend joining him. That friend got me involved in conversations, so we all started talking a little bit. After another week or two he approached me with a little chunk of paper in his hands. “If you ever get bored… well, here is my number,” he said. But by then I was planning on leaving Estevan and probably never coming back. I had the university arranged in Winnipeg, which was supposed to open new then-unknown then paths for me. He did something like “Prrr” (like horses do when they are irritated) when I explained that to him. “Oh well…” And off he went. My curiosity always was my drive. I couldn’t understand what was going on in his head. So I texted him and we went on a date. It was later that I got to know that he was too shy and too in love to talk, and by the time he gained the courage to give me his number, it seemed like it was too late. If not for his weirdness, I probably would never get so involved, and if not for his consistency, we probably would never have a chance, but we did. And of course, we fell in love. This touching beginning of a love story could have ended quite fast. We were two opposites. I came from a big city, where everything “grows” in stores 24/7. I adored travelling and never could sit still. He was born in Estevan and hardly ever left Saskatchewan except for work. A farmer since his first days, he raised his own food and fixed his own equipment. And I hardly knew the difference between a wrench and a screwdriver (well, I knew the difference between the Screwdriver and the Cosmopolitan, not that it helped). I had classes starting in Winnipeg, and he had harvest starting in the Oungre area. And we were in love. I won’t tell you that it was all roses, rainbows and butterflies. It was hard. It was a lot of work. We both had to learn a lot, adjust, gain patience, accept, forgive and learn again. I’d say building our relationships was more difficult than receiving my master’s degree. But it also was more rewarding, since it was a bigger part of our life. After many years together, a couple of months ago we got married. We hardly told anybody about it. It was a day for us and about us. It was our way to once again say “I love you” and to celebrate our hard work. It was another step in our love-careers and I believe both of us so far are quite successful in this challenge. It’s a new page and there is a lot of work ahead, but I guess we both learned to be hard workers when it comes to our happiness.

L ooks like the cold weather came to Estevan to stay. After last week’s extremely cold days, when the windchill was well below -40C, this week’s -20C day highs feel almost fine. But this weather still might be quite dangerous for pets. The Estevan Humane Society (EHS) had a lot of animals coming into the shelter during these cold days. Most of them were cats. “We had three animals coming in today (Feb.8) because they were astray in the cold. One of them (a cat), his ears froze off and he is skinny, but he is doing good. He is out of the cold, and that’s important,” said shelter manager Elizabeth Murphy-Dryden. Murphy-Dr yden reminded people that pets are usually as sensitive to the weather as humans. So when it’s cold it’s a good idea to limit their walk-time to 5-10 minutes, or even avoid walks if they are not absolutely necessary. Dressing a dog up also would be a good idea. “When you are walking your dog there is no shame in putting your dog in one of those parkas and even in some boots to help them keep warm in this weather,” said MurphyDryden. If there are stray cats in the area it’s important to make some kind of an insulated shelter for them and offer them food. Maintaining a healthy weight is critical when it comes to survival in winter.

Furry outdoor dogs may stay outside in the cold a little bit longer, but they still require a nice insulated shelter. Photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia Both cats and dogs get frostbite on their years quite easy; dogs also may quickly freeze their paws and noses. Outdoor dogs like huskies, Pyrenees, St. Bernards and other a lot of fur type dogs resist cold weather better and may stay outside longer. But in extremely cold weather even they need insulated and usually heated shelters. When cold, pets demonstrate similar to human’s

symptoms of hypothermia. “ The animal will be shivering and showing signs of being cold. They might even be not moving, just lying there. If they are not moving at all, they don’t want to get up and move around, that means that something isn’t right,” Murphy-Dryden said. And as with us if there is a risk to life the first aid steps have to be taken. “Best to get them into

Road rage incident with pistol BB gun results in probation By Brian Zinchuk brian.zinchuk@sasktel.net

A road rage incident which involved the waving of a pistol BB-gun netted Seth Tavares an 18-month suspended sentence and probation during that period, as well as a 10-year weapons prohibition. Crown prosecutor Chris Gratton laid out the case for Judge Lane Wiegers as part of a joint submission with the defence. Tavares pleaded guilty to three of five charges from the incident. The charges that stuck included handling a firearm (handgun) in a careless manner, uttering a threat to cause bodily harm, and carrying an imitation of a weapon, a pellet gun (although in the proceedings, all parties referred to it as a BB gun). The remaining charges of using an imitation firearm while committing an indictable offence and intimidation were stayed. Gratton explained that on Nov. 27, 2018, a mechan-

ic was test-driving another vehicle, while Tavares was driving an older model red Dodge. This “resulted in a road rage type incident,” Gratton said. Tavares held up in his right hand a handheld BB gun. The complainant later reported the incident to the RCMP and provided the police with a picture. The police located Tavares, and found the BB gun tucked in behind the seat. Gratton asked for an 18-month suspended sentence with probation, adding, “We feel it’s somewhat lower on the scale.” Defence attorney Nicholas Robinson, appearing by phone, said that Tavares was 21 years old and an apprentice at a local truck dealership. He characterized the suggested sentence as “mid-range.” Robinson said the “resolution was a good one,” and that Tavares did not wish to speak on his own behalf. Wiegers told Tavares he was a young man with a lot of positive things going for

him. He said the early guilty plea was a mitigating factor. Howe ver, he added, “Just a hint of introducing a gun to any threatening situation escalates the matter,” and that it can be a traumatic experience for the other person, adding another layer to the situation. Wiegers noted that BB guns can still cause serious bodily harm, but less serious than a conventional firearm. “ The other party doesn’t know if it is a much more powerful gun,” Wiegers said. He added it could be a much more serious sentence,

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but he accepted the joint submission calling for an 18-month suspended sentence and probation order. He made the sentence concurrent for all three counts. Additionally, Tavares is to have no contact with the victim in the case, and is to take personal counselling and anger management treatment. He is prohibited from owning a firearm for 10 years, and prohibited from possession a prohibitedclass of weapon for life. He must forfeit the BB gun and provide samples of his DNA to police.

Your opinion matters Estevan Mercury Publications welcomes your opinion through our letters to the editor section. Do you have thoughts on the upcoming Convoy to Ottawa, the city budget or another issue? You can submit your letter by visiting www.estevanmercury.ca, or emailing it to editor@ estevanmercury.ca.

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a warm environment, and if you have a reflective blanket or something like that (cover them), and then get to the vet clinic right away.” When the weather is cold, EHS always tries to keep some space open to make sure they can accept any pets that need shelter. If someone notices stray cats or dogs, they also can just report the case to Estevan Police Service or to EHS, and they will take care of an animal.

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Wednesday, February 13, 2019

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Not all revenue sharing money will make it to municipal budgets By Ana Bykhovskaia abykhovskaia@estevanmercury.ca

Premier of Saskatchewan Scott Moe announced at the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association’s (SUMA) convention last week that the province municipalities will receive more than $10 million more in overall 2019-20 funding through provincial revenue sharing. Yet, Estevan Mayor Roy Ludwig explained that not all of this money will go into municipalities’ budgets. “We are getting about a four per cent increase although some of those moneys will be dedicated to economic endeavor that the government and SUMA are working on together. It will be less than that in the pockets of cities, towns, and villages, but overall it is an increase, so we are happy about that,” Ludwig said. That means that some of the money coming towards

municipal budgets through the revenue sharing program will be set aside for economic development programs for the province. SUMA and the province will have input into where that fund is spent. There are no exact numbers on the funding distribution, as well as on how much money will be kept for economic development. Ludwig underlined that an increase is good. “This increase is appreciated and will be needed for our cities so that we continue to do the necessary work that we do within our community,” Ludwig said. When Estevan’s share makes it to Energy City’s budget, it’s more likely will go towards infrastructure. The increase will bring the municipal revenue sharing program total to $251 million for this fiscal year. The announcement was made during the last SUMA annual general meeting that took

Mayor Roy Ludwig place in Saskatoon, where municipal leaders could also discuss motions. “ Towns, villages and cities had the opportunity to discuss that for some time now. What all of these are they are recommendations.

If they are carried they are recommendations to the province and SUMA sits down with the provincial counterpart, with the (government relations) minister (Warren) Kaeding and they make recommendations on these motions that the government moved them forward,” the mayor said. “Sometimes even SUMA wants some acted on, the government doesn’t necessarily act on them. Although, usually with SUMA’s blessing they try to move them forward,” Ludwig said. A motion about cannabis excise tax made by the town of Aberdeen and SUMA board of directors was among the main focus points. It was also of particular interest for Estevan. “Now we have a cannabis store in Estevan. The federal government has funded, I think they funded 50 per cent of the profits to the province, with the intention

that the province will take 25 per cent of that and give to the municipalities, because of the extra costs of policing in each community and all of the associated costs that go with that,” Ludwig said. However, municipalities haven’t seen any federal money yet. So far, the provincial government was holding on to all the money provided by the feds, not allowing the promised 25 per cent to come down to the municipalities. “The province, they are saying they want to wait and take more time to see exactly what these (associated) costs will be, “ Ludwig said. So SUMA delegates agreed that they will continue to advocate and push for it. Seniors living was another important for Estevan topic discussed during the SUMA meeting. “We feel that we needed a comprehensive strategy now when the demograph-

ics of our senior citizens are increasing,” Ludwig said. “ We have to spend more time discussing how we can help people in their golden years to get the most out of life, not just to compartmentalize them in a home somewhere and hide them away. We need a complete strategy on how we can make their life better.” Another topic discussed was the reduction of plastic waste. “It’s an environmental concern. O ur oceans are filling up with plastics, it’s affecting the wildlife not only in the oceans but it impacts the whole food chain and it gets back to us as consumers,” Ludwig said. So SUMA delegates agreed that it ’s ver y important to work towards reducing the plastic waste in the environment and passed that motion to be further discussed with the provincial government.

Below normal runoff expected for southeast Saskatchewan The Saskatchewan Water Security Agency (WSA) released the preliminar y spring runoff outlook on Thursday, and it projects below normal runoff for the southeast region. With the dry conditions in the summer and fall of 2018, combined with below normal winter precipitation so far, the below normal runoff is expected. The forecast reflects information gathered on Feb. 1, before the southeast region received its first significant blast of snow this winter. But Patrick Boyle, a spokesperson with the WSA, said the snowfall would not be enough to change this outlook. “You’d have to have a few snow events like those,” said Boyle. “It also depends

of the type of snow. And at this time of year, we don’t get that wet, heavy snow just yet. It might add a little bit, but we’d have to have a sustained period of pretty heavy snowfall.” The snow that Estevan received was the lighter and fluffier snow due to the low temperatures. There might be some pockets of the southeast where there might be normal or above normal runoff this spring, due to significant rainfall in the late spring and early summer months. But the region in general will have below-normal runoff. According to the Water Security Agency, the summer of 2018 saw extremely low rainfall across a large portion of southern Saskatchewan, with near-record dry con-

ditions in some locations. These conditions continued into the fall where precipitation was also below normal. As a result, soil moisture conditions were dry at freeze-up and significant wetland storage was available in many areas. There is a band through the northern agricultural region and southern boreal forest where, based on current conditions, near normal snowmelt runoff is expected. Below normal snowmelt runoff is also expected over the far north. Boyle stressed the spring runoff outlook could change as there is potentially another eight to 10 weeks of winter remaining. With below or well below normal snowmelt runoff expected in the spring of

2019, it is anticipated that there could be some agricultural water supply shortages similar to 2018. These issues will likely intensify and expand across southern Saskatchewan. This could also create some surface water supply issues for municipalities and irrigators if conditions remain dry into the summer months. Unless conditions change significantly, the WSA will be aggressive in storing water during the snowmelt runoff period to ensure water supplies are adequate and lake levels are desirable for recreational uses through 2019. As conditions change and get closer to spring runoff WSA will issue another updated forecast in March.

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The Saskatchewan Water Security Agency has released its ﬁrst spring runoff outlook for the year. Image submitted

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Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Convoy to Ottawa update: down to the wire, things are coming together Marie at 8 a.m., and passes through Sudbury and Mattawa before arriving in Arn There’s been some turns prior at 6 p.m. Arnprior is 50 in the road, but it looks like kilometres as the crow flies there will indeed be a convoy from downtown Ottawa and gathering steam and trucks Parliament Hill. Feb. 18 is “a day of grace,” rolling across Western Canin case weather causes delays. ada right up to Parliament The convoy will roll out Hill, letting the government know the energy sector has of Arnprior in the morning of Feb. 19 and travel to Parliahad enough. After several fits and ment Hill, where they will be starts, a convoy of close to parking nearby. “It’ll take us a couple of 300 units is coming together, according to organizer Glen hours,” Carritt said. Speeches at Parliament Carritt. The convoy will be leaving Hill will begin at 11 a.m. and Red Deer from Gort’s Truck the rally will carry on until 4 Wash on Feb. 14 at 8 a.m. p.m. As it’s winter in Ottawa, From there it passes Strath- participants are expected to more, Brooks and Medicine dress for the outdoor weather. Hat before crossing into Sas- The permit for the rally indikatchewan on Highway 1 at cates it will take place near around 3:30 p.m. (Saskatch- the Centennial Flame and the ewan time) It is expected to main stairs. “This isn’t just oil and hit Gull Lake at 5 p.m. (now Saskatchewan time), then gas, this isn’t just the farming Swift Current and arrive in industry, this is all Canadians,” said Jason Corbeil, Regina around 9 p.m. A few hotels have set who has been organizing the aside blocks of rooms for trucks, in a Facebook live broadcast on Feb. 6. booking. Carritt said they will be On Feb. 15, the principal convoy is expected to coming back to Parliament depart Regina at 8 a.m., pass- Hill on Feb. 20, from 10 ing Moosomin at 10:30 and a.m. to noon for a few more reaching Virden, Man., at speeches and to ensure everything is cleaned up. After about 11:30. A group from southeast that, he expects the convoy Saskatchewan is expected to participants to disperse and congregate at the Fast Truck- head back home on their own ing Service yard in Carnduff timing and accord, whether the morning of Feb. 15, de- they choose to leave that day parting at 8 a.m. It is expected or the next day. “We’re tired of the carto join up with the main convoy at Virden at 11:30. bon tax. We’re tired of Bill Anyone from the southwest C-69,” Carritt said in the Manitoba oilfield will likely same Facebook broadcast. Recognizing that some join in Virden at this time. The convoy is anticipated people might not be able to to pass Winnipeg and finish commit to the entire expedition, organizers are encouragthe day in Kenora, Ont. On Feb. 16, the group ing people to join the convoy is expected to depart Kenora at one of the points along the and continue on the Trans- route and go for as long as Canada Highway along the they are able, whether that’s northern shore of Lake Supe- city to city or border to border. Several enthusiastic parrior. The convoy is expected to pass Thunder Bay and finish ticipants have gone so far as to cover their vehicles with in Sault Ste. Marie. The next day starts with decals, a form of rolling billdeparture from Sault St. board. Carritt’s fire truck is

By Brian Zinchuk

brian.zinchuk@sasktel.net

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TOWN OF BIENFAIT Public notice is hereby given that the council of the Town of Bienfait will hold a public meeting pursuant to The Municipalities Act to hear all persons who wish to make representations relevant to the purchase of new ofﬁce space. The public meeting will be held on February 27, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. in the Bienfait Town Ofﬁce. The proposed building will be located at 417 Main Street, Bienfait, Saskatchewan. Dated at Bienfait, Saskatchewan, this 22nd day of January 2019. Nicole Gardiner, Acting Administrator

Close to 300 units are expected to roll up to Parliament Hill on Feb. 19. This is what a similar convoy looked like in Estevan on Dec. 22. Photo by Brian Zinchuk one of them. “I’ll be driving. I’ll be in my fire truck,” said Carritt, owner of OP Fire & Safety. Additionall y, a fe w trucks are expected to come from Eastern Canada, including New Brunswick and Quebec. The month of January was punctuated by some growing pains, as it were, in organizing a convoy to Ottawa. Initially there were two convoys planned, one under the banner of Yellow Vests, and a second by a coalition led by Canada Action. The Canada Action efforts ended on Jan. 14, in large part because they did not want to be associated with any negative connotations affiliated with one of the issues some Yellow Vest supporters have been rallying behind, namely immigration and the United Nations Migration Pact. So at that point it was down to one convoy, with the

key rallying point being the Yellow Vest (Official) Convoy to Ottawa Facebook page. However, in late January there was a schism in the leadership of that effort as well. Two of the key organizers, Carritt, an Innisfail city councillor, and Corbeil, a service rig consultant, broke from the Yellow Vest (Official) Convoy group and reformed under the banner “United We Roll! Official Convoy for Canada!” Under the new name, they aren’t saying that those wearing yellow vests are not welcome, but they are no longer promoting that highly identifiable sign of protest, either. Convoy organizers in southeast Saskatchewan, like Jay Riedel and David Grass, fell into lockstep behind Carritt and Corbeil. A week later, it was evident that the efforts on the Yellow Vest (Official) Convoy to Ottawa Facebook page all

but folded after the departure of Carritt and Corbeil, and the United We Roll group would be proceeding. It is their listing of the timeline and locations that is seen above in this story. A Jan. 26 pinned post on the Yellow Vest (Official) Convoy page by its initial

founder, C.J. Clayton, said, “We can’t fight the Liberals and our own people. The bickering has to stop. We need to get trucks to Ottawa.” Asked about this, Carritt said “The controversy has caused people to fall off.” But the convoy is still rolling, nonetheless.

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FRESH & FROZEN EAST COAST SEAFOOD! The Lobster Mobsters will be in Estevan Saturday, February 16th at Canadian Tire from 10am to 5pm selling top quality fresh and frozen East Coast Seafood. Authorized Sales & Service & Warranty Centre for:

Troye Carson • 306-421-3603

Find us on Facebook or online at thelobstermobsters.com

tcarsonsafety@sasktel.net

Preston Majeran • 306-421-6609 pmajeransafety@sasktel.net

Highway 361 West (South Yard), P.O. Box 518, Lampman, SK, S0C 1N0

THE ESTEVAN MERCURY DRILLING REPORT DRILLING LICENSES

10 new licenses issued to Monday, February 11 116248 117517 117555 116372 116027 115311 117487 117607 117612 117660

Ridgeback Resources Hz .................................................................................................. 13-35-8-10 Crescent Point Energy Hz ................................................................................................... 1-34-2-34 Midale Petroleums Hz....................................................................................................... 13-27-3-33 Crescent Point Energy Hz ..................................................................................................... 1-29-9-7 Crescent Point Energy Hz ..................................................................................................... 5-21-9-7 Federated Co-operatives Hz .............................................................................................. 10-16-2-31 Crescent Point Energy Hz ................................................................................................... 2-30-1-12 Crescent Point Energy Hz ................................................................................................... 3-30-1-12 Crescent Point Energy Hz ................................................................................................... 3-30-1-12 Crescent Point Energy Hz ................................................................................................... 13-26-7-2

Rig Report 115477 116008 117078 116574

Horizon Drilling..............................Crescent Point Energy................................................ 14-12-1-12 Alliance Drilling................................ Midale Petroleums ................................................ 10-30-06-31 Alliance Drilling................................ Midale Petroleums .................................................... 5-20-3-33 Ensign Canadian ............................Crescent Point Energy................................................ 13-26-1-13

116869 115349 115776 110941 102109 116231 99039 114908 113056 113048 116075 115472 117288 113924 112502 99569 115036 116024 103037 116772 115828 114576

Stampede Drilling ..........................Crescent Point Energy.................................................. 1-14-1-13 Horizon Drilling..............................Crescent Point Energy.................................................... 4-17-8-9 Stampede Drilling ..........................Crescent Point Energy.................................................. 1-27-1-13 Excalibur Drilling ........................... Enerplus Corporation .................................................. 10-4-4-17 Excalibur Drilling ........................... Enerplus Corporation .................................................. 5-36-3-17 Panther Drilling..................................Vermilion Energy........................................................ 13-1-1-5 Horizon Drilling .............................Crescent Point Energy.................................................. 4-23-8-10 Trinidad Drilling ...................................Torc Oil & Gas ........................................................ 14-10-5-6 Alliance Drilling..............................Crescent Point Energy................................................ 15-11-1-12 Trinidad Drilling ...................................Torc Oil & Gas .......................................................... 4-15-5-6 Vermilion Energy ...............................Vermilion Energy.......................................................... 3-5-7-8 Horizon Drilling..................................Vermilion Energy........................................................ 9-9-6-14 Vermilion Energy ...............................Vermilion Energy...................................................... 14-32-5-5 Stampede Drilling ................................Torc Oil & Gas .......................................................... 3-21-5-3 Alliance Drilling..............................Crescent Point Energy................................................ 16-10-1-12 Precision Drilling...........................Crescent Point Energy.................................................... 4-34-7-9 Ensign Drilling ...............................Crescent Point Energy.................................................... 1-36-6-9 Precision Drilling ...........................Crescent Point Energy.................................................... 4-1-8-10 Precision Drilling ...........................Crescent Point Energy.................................................. 5-23-10-8 Iron Hand Drilling ..............................Vermilion Energy.................................................... 12-26-2-31 Precision Drilling ...........................Crescent Point Energy.................................................. 14-8-10-6 Ensign Canadian ............................Crescent Point Energy.................................................. 4-14-1-13

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Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Country singer Michelle Wright invites everybody to join her at the Orpheum Theater By Ana Bykhovskaia abykhovskaia@estevanmercury.ca

One of Canada’s most recognized female country singers, Michelle Wright has been on the road for 37 years. And her life is still filled with music, performances and tours. She is starting a new tour named An Evening with Michelle Wright on March 14, and Estevan is among her first stops. To invite people in Estevan to join her for the concert night Wright recorded a personal video. In an interview with the Mercury Wright said that this concert is very unique. “It’s really going to be the most intimate show that I’ve ever done. I’m going to share with the audience of course all the hits and the music, and share some of the new music that I’m doing, and just share the story – I’m 37 years on the road now.” Wright believes that Estevan’s Orpheum Theatre will be just a perfect venue for this particular show, where in the intimate setting she’ll share her songs and stories from her life path. Throughout her career Wright had to perform on totally different stages, and she never was worried about the place. “I guess I have a good portion of playing all kinds of different venues throughout the years. I’m not real fussy about the venue in particular, just as long as people are there, that makes me happy,” Wright said. Fans always were the main focus for Wright. Now, many Juno and other awards, a number of golden and platinum hits, thousands of successful performances and endless

Popular country singer Michelle Wright is coming to Estevan’s Orpheum Theatre on March 16. Photo submitted tour-miles later Wright’s life is still filled with music. “I’m working on new music, just getting back in the studio and continuing to make new music available. Those are sort of important things that I like to do is write songs, and get into the studio and get the music out to the fans and be out on the road with my band mates, and having fun and sharing music. Just doing my job, and thankfully it’s a job that I love. And the fans out there have supported me for many many years now and I get to keep doing what I love to do,” Wright said with passion. In 2011, Wright was inducted into Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. That recognition still means a lot for the artist. “That never gets old, I can tell you, it’s a beautiful thing. I didn’t imagine it in my career, not something that I’ve set out to do. And when my peers in this business chose me, I was just blown away by it.” Wright said. “I cherish it and I feel

incredibly fortunate to be a member of the hall of fame. Even saying it today it still seems a little like ‘wow, that’s not me that we are talking about,’” she admitted. But besides career and music, there is always room for family. “I have a husband, and a home, and a couple of dogs that require lots of attention.” And as much as Wright is passionate about her music, she is so when it comes to her dogs. Now she and her husband enjoy the company of two miniature blue merle Australian shepherds. “They are beautiful, their names are Bella and Sofia. They are blue merles, so they are a little grey and a little almost like light blue tinge to their colour, they are just beautiful,” Wright said. There is enough land for dogs to enjoy their freedom in Nashville, where Wright’s family resides these days. And some time ago, they used to have an even bigger pack running around the house. “At one time here a few years ago we had five dogs. We used to have a white German shepherd that we named Winter, my husband wanted to name him Winter in honour of Canada. Then we had a beagle-Labrador mix, she lived to 18-years-old, that’s Gracie. She was a rescue dog. And we had a little 10-pound toy fox terrier, and he was a rescue as well,” Wright said. They had to put those three dogs down due to age and health issues about four months apart. And Wright was heartbroken for a long time. “I thought I was never going to stop crying,” she said. With the tour being around the corner, Wright

enjoys the time with her other two pets while getting ready for the road. Filled with sincerity and passion, the tour is going

to be Wright’s main focus this year. They plan to bring it all across North America. Wright also recorded a

video inviting Estevan community to join her for a great night. It can be seen at www.estevanmercury.ca.

Derby night supports the EAGM A night at the races proved to be a popular event in Estevan on Saturday night. The Estevan Art Gallery and Museum (EAGM) hosted its annual Estevan Derby hobby horse night at the Estevan Exhibition Association’s building. About 40 horses were entered by local businesses and orga-

nizations for the fundraiser. The entrants decorated their hobby horses, and many of the participants were dressed for the event as well, sporting attire frequently found at the track, or clothing related to their businesses. They advanced down the track thanks to the number drawn from a hat. Those in attendance

could also wager on the horse and rider of their choice. The top two finishers from each of the four heats advanced to the final. Finning Cat was the winning team. Proceeds from the Estevan Derby will be directed towards the EAGM’s programming efforts.

Erica Harrison, left, and Ryan Bohlken from Finning Cat had the winning entry at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum’s annual Derby fundraiser on Saturday night.

February is

Library Lover’s Mon

Seed and Food Libraries Part of Library’s Service The Estevan Public Library has added a couple new services in its efforts to serve the community.

A seed library was started last fall in partnership with the Quota Club of Estevan. Quota provided a generous donation to help the seed library get off the ground, and offered another one during the launch of the seed library. Library branch manager Lucas Reid said the library was thankful for the support. “We provide seeds in individual envelopes,” said Lucas. “People can come in, and sign up for a membership in the seed library, which doesn’t actually require a library card.” People can take up to four packages of different seeds at once. They will take the seeds home, grow them, and if they’re successful, then bring in seeds from that plant so that others can benefit in the future. “It’s not a rigid library system where we have due dates, or anything, of course, because they are seeds and they are plants that are slow-growing,” said Lucas.

Estevan Public Library branch manager Lucas Reid holds a package of seeds available through the seed library.

The food library, meanwhile, is a miniature food bank for people to bring in or take an item to help patrons. It’s on a small scale, and Lucas stressed they’re not trying to take away from the local food bank. “We understand that they do a good job,” said Lucas. “It’s just something to sort of supplement that, and just another free initiative that we’re trying to offer. Both of them seem to be going pretty well so far.”

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It’s not just non-perishable food items that are available. Lucas pointed out there are basic hygiene items, such as toothpaste. Both initiatives were brought to Lucas’ attention by adult program coordinator Roxy Blackmore, who had seen them used at other libraries. The food library has been particularly well received. A lot of people came in, especially when it was first launched, to drop off or pick up items.

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The library tracks what comes in, and notes the expiration dates, if applicable. “It’s been pretty stocked ever since,” Lucas said. “We’ve noticed something things are leaving, which is good.”

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The pantry is located near the back of library for the convenience of people who might be uncomfortable taking items from it. The seed library has been fairly quiet, since it was launched in the fall, and it’s not expected to pick up until the spring. But they have received some donations, and some people have taken seeds. Lucas said these initiatives are part of the library’s efforts to diversify services. They’re all free, and he added it’s fun and interesting to see what they can offer the public beyond their traditional services.

Hours: Monday - Thursday - 9am - 8pm Friday - Saturday - 930am - 6pm Sunday - 1pm - 5pm (closed Sundays in the summer) Phone - 306.636.1620 Follow us on

The food pantry is a recent addition to the library’s services for the community.

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February 13, 2019 A9

Know a great farm family? Nominate them for a prestigious award By Ana Bykhovskaia abykhovskaia@estevanmercury.ca

It ’s not a secret that Estevan is surrounded by numerous farms producing various crops, raising cattle and also investing their time into community wellbeing. A lot of hard-working families dedicate their lives to supplying not only the province and the country but also many other places in the world. It’s time to recognize farm heroes. The community is asked to step forward and nominate the Farm Family of the year. This annual award is announced annually during the Farm Appreciation Evening, which will take place on March 26, at the Beefeater Plaza. Alf Tide, the chairperson for the appreciation evening, underlined that it doesn’t take much effort to nominate somebody outstanding. “It’s just a one-page form you fill in. You write a few things, the highlights of the

nomination, and we take it from there,” Tide said. “So far we have just a couple (nominations), and we’d like to have two or three more nominations.” There are not too many requirements to become the Farm Family of the Year. “They have to farm basically within the 50-mile radius or a 100-kilometer radius of Estevan, be in one of the local RMs. Community involvement is very important. And basically be a farmer in grain or cattle,” said Tide. There are no restrictions as of the size of the operation or age of the nominees. And if anyone is looking for applications, they can get the form from the Chamber of Commerce. Tide believes that it’s important to recognize families who have the most impact on the community. They’ve been doing it for nearly 55 years, but they never run out of nominees. “We’ve been doing it for

The Fornwald Family, who farm in the Lampman area, was named the Farm Family of the Year in 2018. File photo a long time, but we always seem to find good ones (farm families) every year,” he said. Farmers’ Appreciation Evening is a project of the Estevan Exhibition Association and the Estevan Chamber of Commerce. It usually starts

with supper at 5 p.m. Then the Farm Family of the Year Award is presented to one of the nominees. The committee makes the decision on the winner. Every year, there are also speeches by talented young

speakers from local 4-H clubs. “They usually come and give the speeches that they give at their clubs,” Tide said. “So the local 4-H clubs will be sending one 4-H member from each club to do a speech.”

Then, the main speaker proceeds with their main presentation. So far, the committee hasn’t decided on the guest speaker. They are working with a few possible candidates and will finalize their decision by the end of February.

ment ment e g a g n E ce Announ

ment Engagennouncement A

ment ment e g a g n E ce Announ

Stephanie Miller & Darren Scott

Julissa Moreau & John Taylor

Emily Schiml & Dylan Gonas

Robyn Sullivan & Preston Majeran

Wedding Date: July 13, 2019

Wedding Date: September 7, 2019

Wedding Date: May 28, 2019

Engaged: January 28, 2019

Love is in the air...

ment Engagennouncement A

Congratulations on your engagements!

Beth B th Martel M & Dylan Paradis

Michelle Mi h ll Pickering Pi k & Matthew Beaulieu

Ashley Peterson & Sebastien Huriet

Wedding date August 31, 2018

Wedding Date: April 3, 2019

Wedding Date: August 17, 2019

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FEBRUARY 16!

A10 February 13, 2019

See what these kids from the Estevan S Thanks to ou How do you know it is true love? - When you want to help them.

Emily Saude

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How do you know it is true love? - When you can be yourself around them.

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How do you know it is true love? - They like to kiss.

How do you know it is true love? - You guess.

andley

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How do you show someone you love them? - Stay with them for ever.

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How old should you be when you get married? - 38

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February 13, 2019 A11

Sharks Water Polo Club think about love. ur sponsors! How do you know it is true love? - You always are with them loving each other.

Photos courtesy of: How do you know it is true love? - They play with me.

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How do you know it is true love? - You can tell them secrets!

es Jordyn Tarn

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How do you know it is true love? - Both people have affection for each other.

r Shiven Sanga

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How old should you be when you get married? - I don’t really know. Maybe 20.

How old sould you be when you get married? - I myself think at least 25.

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How old should you be when you get married? - I will be 21 when I get married. (I hope!)

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How do you know it is true love? - They say “I love you Royce”.

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A12 February 13, 2019

Westview trade show Judy Moroz had her jewelry on display during a trade show at Westview School on Saturday. The trade show featured a variety of home based businesses who brought products for shoppers to choose from. Proceeds will go to the school’s fundraising needs.

Financial

A Special Supplement

Money Matters PLANNING

Three signs you might have a credit card problem Credit cards have become an important part of our lives, and an increasing number of Canadians rely on credit to get to their next paycheck. Depending on how you use your credit cards, they can be either a help or a hindrance. Here are three signs that your credit card use might be a problem: 1. You regularly miss your payments Everyone makes mis-

When you embrace change, you embrace life’s possibilities.

At IG Wealth Management, we’re changing the way people ƙĚĚ ǅĚîŕƥĺɍ ǋ ƎƑūîČƥĿǄĚŕǋ îēŏƭƙƥĿŠĳ ǋūƭƑ ǅĺūŕĚ ǶŠîŠČĿîŕ picture, our advisors will help you explore life’s possibilities.

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ɚȄȁȇɛ ȇȄȅɠȁȉȁȁ | ĳîĿŕɍēūēēƙʧĿŠǄĚƙƥūƑƙĳƑūƭƎɍČūŞ ʯ ēîŠĿĚŕɍċĚƥŠîƑʧĿŠǄĚƙƥūƑƙĳƑūƭƎɍČūŞ ¹ƑîēĚŞîƑŒƙɈ ĿŠČŕƭēĿŠĳ TH ØĚîŕƥĺ qîŠîĳĚŞĚŠƥɈ îƑĚ ūǅŠĚē ċǋ THq GĿŠîŠČĿîŕ TŠČɍ îŠē ŕĿČĚŠƙĚē ƥū Ŀƥƙ ƙƭċƙĿēĿîƑǋ ČūƑƎūƑîƥĿūŠƙɍ © Investors Group Inc. 2018 MP2050 (10/2018)

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takes and occasionally has a difficult month. But if you’re often unable to pay at all, or if you can’t pay more than the minimum each month, your debt will grow and your credit score might suffer. 2. You use your credit card impulsively It’s nice to treat yourself to a luxury every once in a while. If, however, you have no overall spending plan or find yourself unable to control impulsive buying habits, your credit card may quickly become a financial liability. 3. You have a lot of credit cards

Not everyone knows it, but, under the right circumstances, having an unusually high number of credit cards can hurt your credit score. Transferring your balance to a card with a lower rate can be a good idea, but if you’re simply extending your line of credit with each new card, it may become a problem. Credit cards are convenient and can make our lives easier. If you don’t pay attention to all of the fees and interest rates that you have committed to, however, debt can become a burden you will spend years trying to remedy.

Tips for reducing your monthly grocery bill Looking for a way to reduce monthly expenses? Then your grocery bill is a good place to start. Here’s how to rein in your spending at the supermarket: • Go shopping less often. In general, people who only shop once every week spend less overall than those who make several smaller trips during the same period of time. • Shop around. Find out what stores have the best deals and shop at those locations. Buy specific items at the stores where they’re the cheapest.

• Make a list. Always make a list of items that you need to help you avoid impulse buys. It’s also good to have a budget in mind as you shop. • Pay in cash. If you struggle to stick to your grocery budget, take out money to spend at the grocery store in cash and leave your credit cards at home. Having to pay with cash will force you to stay on budget. With a little planning and self-control, you’ll be able to significantly reduce your food costs without sacrificing the quality of your meals.

financial advice At Assante Wealth Management, we understand that your financial situation is unique. From investment, tax and estate planning to your retirement, Assante provides complete financial advice. Contact us today, and be well-advised.

Michele Yergens, B.Admin, CFP Senior Financial Advisor , Branch Manager Assante Capital Management Ltd. 1330-4th Street, Estevan, SK S4A 0X2 T: 306-634-9008 myergens@assante.com

Assante Capital Management Ltd. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and is registered with the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.

February 13, 2019 A13

Snow removal required several days The City of Estevan needed several days to complete snow removal efforts, following the snow that fell intermittently on the city from Feb. 3 to 6. Estevan received more than half a foot of snow during that span. The city decided to proceeds with a full-scale snow removal effort, using city staff and contractors. Snow clearing efforts started at 3 a.m. on Feb. 4, while the snow was still falling. Crews and contractors cleared the snow from Priority 1 roads and parking lots. The city decided that afternoon to proceed with a full snow removal effort. They started work at 6 a.m. each day from Feb. 5 to 8, which means there will be expenses for overtime and for contractor assistance.

The snow removal was finished in the afternoon of Feb. 8. “We put in a long week. We started Monday, so we virtually cleaned the city up in five days, clearing all streets of snow,” said Mack. Some clean-up work, such as shaving ruts from main arteries, has been happening this week. “Snow removal went very well for the cold conditions. We had machinery work really well with no breakdowns, and that’s a credit to our maintenance department and our mechanics,” said Mack. The city was going to hold off on snow removal early on Feb. 8 due to the frigid temperatures in the Estevan area, but they decided to proceed, and didn’t encounter any issues.

But the cold temperatures in Estevan last week were the biggest issue they encountered. Mack believes the city has snow removal efforts “down to a science.” Frigid temperatures hit the city following the snow. An extreme cold warning was issued for the southeast region, and most of Saskatchewan, from the afternoon of Feb. 7 to the morning of Feb. 10. The coldest temperature came during the overnight of Feb. 7-8, when the temperatures fell to -40C; with the wind chill, it felt like below -50 C. While the extreme cold warning was eventually lifted, temperatures were still well below normal so far this week, and are expected to remain below normal for much of the rest of February.

City crews and contractors removed snow from Wahlmeier Drive on Feb. 6. Photo by Brian Zinchuk

Financial

A Special Supplement

Money Matters PLANNING Three tips for dodging ﬁnancial peer pressure Whether they’re encouraging you to spend more than you can afford or leaning on you for economic support, it’s important to learn to say no to friends and family members when you need to. Here’s how: 1. Be truthful. Be honest about your financial situation. Most people will respect you for telling the truth and support your decision to stick to your budget. 2. Suggest an alternative. If your friends suggest an activity that’s too expensive, propose

an alternative that’s more affordable. Similarly, if someone asks you for a loan, brainstorm other ways that they could come up with the sum they need. 3. Get support. Seek out family members and friends who are trying to save money. Surrounding yourself with people who are also following a strict budget will keep you from spending unnecessarily. Remember that wanting to keep your finances in order and stay out of debt doesn’t make you the bad guy. A person who has your best interests at heart won’t intentionally pressure you into a decision you can’t afford.

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Investment options Depending on the type of registered plan you have used to save for your retirement, when you’re ready to start receiving income, here are some investment options: • Registered retirement income fund (RRIF): An investment option that allows you to transfer money from an RRSP, while deferring taxes on the portion of income that was not taken out. This must be done before the last day of the year in which you turn 71. • Life income fund (LIF), Locked-in retirement income fund (LRIF), Prescribed retirement income fund (PRIF), Restricted life income fund (RLIF): Investment options that allow you to transfer money from a pension plan, locked-in retirement income account (LIRA), locked-in RRSP, or a restricted locked-in savings plan (RLSP), while deferring taxes on the portion of income that was not taken out. This must be done before the last day of the year in which you turn 71. Talk to your ﬁnancial security advisor about a retirement income plan that’s right for you.

Retirement income • HelloLife retirement income program: The HelloLife retirement income program Opens in a new window is a mix of income annuities for certainty and security and segregated funds for potential growth and flexibility. You can partner with your financial security advisor to use HelloLife to help you set up a spending plan that lasts throughout your retirement years. • Income annuities: An income option that provides regular, guaranteed income payments for as long as you live or, if you choose, for a set period of time. The guaranteed income from an income annuity can help you cover your basic living expenses. There are many income annuity features to help meet your retirement income needs. Income annuities can be part of the HelloLife retirement income program Opens in a new window. • Guaranteed interest option: Guaranteed interest options (GIOs) provide a guaranteed rate of return. With a GIO and a named beneficiary you get the additional benefits of an insurance policy such as bypassing potential probate, legal and other estate fees on death. • Segregated fund policies: Segregated fund policies offer a long-term investment and can provide flexibility for your retirement income portfolio. They also provide death benefit and maturity guarantees. Other benefits include the ability for assets to bypass the estate and potential probate fees, and go directly to your named beneficiaries. Segregated fund policies (excluding preferred series) can be part of the HelloLife retirement income program Opens in a new window. • Segregated fund policies with the lifetime income benefit option: Segregated fund policies with the lifetime income benefit option provide potential guaranteed income for life, as well as all the benefits of a segregated fund policy. Features and guarantees vary by policy and age of annuitant and some limitations apply. Maturity and death benefit guarantees are reduced proportionately by withdrawals. Please see the segregated fund policy information folder for details. Excess withdrawals will decrease the lifetime income amount and your clients will no longer be eligible for any future bonuses. An excess withdrawal is a withdrawal that exceeds the annual guaranteed income amount.

Alden Hagel 1211 5th Street, Estevan, SK S4A 0Z5

www.aldenhagel.com • (306) 461-4770

A14 February 13, 2019

Payton Sernick enjoys her homecoming bash By David Willberg dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca

Sash Broda says he has become a big fan of Payton Sernick. Judging by the number of people who were at a homecoming celebration for Payton at the Estevan DQ Grill and Chill on Saturday, he isn’t the only one who has become very fond of the 10-year-old Estevan resident. Broda, the provincial engagement manager for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan, was among those who attended the homecoming, which was organized by the foundation. Those in attendance enjoyed cake and a chance to visit with Payton and her family. Payton was the 2018 Saskatchewan ambassador for the Champions Program for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. And while she was able to do a lot to promote the hospital and its fundraising efforts, much of her year was spent undergoing treatment for cancer. It’s the second time she has fought, and beaten, the disease. That type of courage is something that Broda has come to admire in her. “You didn’t have the best champion year, it’s obviously not the way you wanted it to go. But I want you to know that to me, you’re the champion,” he said. “You are so tough and so strong. I honestly don’t think there’s

From left, Andrea, Beckham and Payton Sernick served cake along with Sash Broda from the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan on Saturday at the DQ Grill and Chill in Estevan. anything you can’t do now.” When he saw videos of Payton, or when he heard her speak, Broda marvelled at her positive attitude and strength. After his speech, Payton gave Broda a big hug. Broda was glad to see that so many people turned out to show how proud they are of her. “She is a super great, super tough kid, and I really just wanted to make sure that she felt celebrated now that her champion year is wrapped up for us and she’s back home,” said Broda. Payton helped out with

radiothon fundraisers and other initiatives to create funds for the hospital foundation. And she shared her stor y whenever possible, giving a face to the need for a children’s hospital in Saskatchewan. The children’s hospital is about 87 per cent complete. Payton said she is looking forward to when the children’s hospital will be finished, and she expects she will continue to find ways to support the children’s hospital. Before becoming the champion child, Payton had been an ambassador for the

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children’s hospital, and raised tens of thousands of dollars

for the organization. The Sernick fam-

ily returned to Estevan just before Chr istmas, af ter spending nearly a year away from the city while Payton was receiving treatment for cancer. Since coming home, Payton has spent time with family and friends, has returned to classes at Sacred Heart School/Ecole Sacre Coeur, and has resumed her involvement with the Drewitz School of Dance. The hospital foundation is very proud of her, and Broda said he doesn’t know if he has ever met a young person who has gone through so much at an early age, and still has such a great attitude. “You meet her, and you would never know anything that has ever gone wrong.” The new ambassador child for this year is Blake W heeler, who spent the first 110 days of his life in the NIC. He has been an ambassador for a few years, and Broda said Blake has always been willing to share his story.

Payton Sernick smiles while cutting cake at her homecoming event.

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Garrett Wollner My name is Garrett Wollner and I have been doing papers for the Estevan Lifestyles for over a year and I like how it gets me out of the house for some fresh air.

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Elecs have slim lead in the McLeod Series The Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) Elecs senior boys and girls basketball teams hold a slim advantage in the McLeod Series with the Weyburn Comprehensive School Eagles. The first two games of the annual four-game showdown were played Feb. 6 in

Weyburn. The senior boys Elecs opened the series with a 6853 win over Weyburn. ECS jumped out to a 16-8 lead after the first quarter, and had a 28-21 advantage at half-time. From there, they increased the advantage to 44-35 after three quarters, and then outscored

Weyburn 24-18 in a highscoring fourth quarter. Jack McGeough led the offensive attack with 22 points. John Anders and Clark Calibuna each had 18. As for the senior girls, they dropped an 82-70 game against Weyburn. Weyburn raced out to a 26-13 lead after

the first quarter, but the Elecs chipped away. They outscored Weyburn 14-11 in the second quarter, leaving them down 10 at halftime, and had a 23-20 edge in points in a high-scoring third quarter that left the score at 57-50 for Weyburn. But Weyburn outscored ECS 25-20 in the fourth for the

12-point victory. (Top scorers were not available for the game). ECS outscored Weyburn 138-135 in the first two games. The final two games in the series will be Feb. 13 in Estevan. The senior girls play at 5:30 p.m. and the senior

boys play at 7:30 p.m. The McLeod Series is a best-of-four showdown between the two schools each year. If each team wins twice, then the tie-breaker is point differential. ECS is looking to win the McLeod Series for the fourth time in the last five years.

Bethany Montebon (3) passes the ball against Weyburn during the senior girls basketball game of the McLeod Series. Photo by Greg Nikkel of the Weyburn Review

Jack McGeough goes up for a shot in the senior boys basketball game of the McLeod Series. Photo by Greg Nikkel of the Weyburn Review

Bruins sweep Mills to clinch playoff spot The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins are headed back to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s postseason. The Bruins clinched their playoff spot on the weekend by sweeping the Melville Millionaires in a home and home, blanking Melville 2-0 at Affinity Place on Friday night and defeating the Mills 6-2 in Melville the following night. Those victories left Estevan with a 27-21-2-1 record and 57 points. The top team out of the playoffs, the 11th place Weyburn Red Wings, cannot catch the Bruins. Weyburn (15-29-2-1) has 35 points with nine games to play. Friday night’s victory was a dominant defensive effort in a game that would have been lopsided if not for the play of Melville goaltender Berk Berkeliev, who stopped 47 of the 48 shots he faced. Several of his saves were spectacular. The only time the Bruins beat Berkeliev was on a power play late in the second period, when Tristyn DeRoose redirected Devan Harrison’s point shot. Estevan’s other goal was an empty net marker by Johnny Witzke in the final minute. Bruins head coach/general manager Chris Lewgood said it was going to take a goal like DeRoose’s to beat Berkeliev. “It was going to be a rebound or a second or third

opportunity, or the tip or a puck off a stanchion or something like that because that guy was dialled in,” said Lewgood. “It was my first look at him. I thought he played excellent and a little different style.” Kadin Kilpatrick made 15 saves to get the shutout, his second goose egg in eight days. “The boys were playing pretty sharp,” said Kilpatrick. “There weren’t too many good opportunities on their side, so it made it easy for me.” His toughest save was likely early in the second, when he stopped Damian Bentz on a breakaway. Kilpatrick said when the opposition goaltender plays so well, it can put extra pressure on him to have a strong effort. “But at the end of the day, you just have to stay focused the whole time, and not think about anything, and just play every minute of every moment in the game,” said Kilpatrick. Lewgood said it was a good bounce-back effort for Kilpatrick following a 6-5 loss to the Yorkton Terriers in his previous start. “I thought he made some big saves for us at key moments, which allowed us to keep the momentum,” said Lewgood. “He didn’t get tested a tonne, but when he did there was some quality (chances).” Lewgood praised his team’s commitment to defensive hockey and their play with

the puck during the game. “When you do that, and you work hard, and you match the other team’s work ethic, it comes down to skill and ability to finish,” said Lewgood. Berkeliev wasn’t as dominant the following night in Melville. TJ Irey and Will Koop each scored twice for

the Bruins. Irey’s first goal less than five minutes into the first opened the scoring. Jayden Davis had what proved to be the game-winning goal early in the second, and Kade McMillen scored Estevan’s other goal. Daniel Liber t y and Ryan Butler scored for the

Millionaires. Kilpatrick made 20 saves in his fifth straight start. Berkeliev made 27 saves for the Millionaires. Estevan has a six-point lead on the Yorkton Terriers for first place in the Viterra Division; the Terriers still have a game in hand.

The Bruins were scheduled to be in Notre Dame on Tuesday night. (Results were not available at press time). Then the Black and Gold will have two home games this weekend, against the Flin Flon Bombers on Friday night and Weyburn on Saturday. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.

Jayden Davis (10) hustles to the puck ahead of Melville’s Payton Jerome (12) during the Bruins win over Melville on Friday night.

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Spayed and neutered pets are much happier pets.

The Estevan Humane Society reserves the right to refuse any adoption.

306.634.3444

A16 February 13, 2019

ECS cheer team takes top spot at Best of West The Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) Elecs cheer team took top spot at the Best of the West Cheer and Dance Competition Saturday at the University of Regina. ECS was entered in the scholastic cheer’s intermediate division, which is for school-based teams from Grades 9-12. Not only did they finish first among the five teams entered with a score of 91.47 per cent, but ECS also had the highest score for all teams in scholastic cheer. Two teams from Regina and entries from Edmonton and Weyburn were also in the intermediate division. Coach Bonnie ChepilKvamme said the judges loved the cheer the students created, and they were impressed with the team’s signage and their sharp and clean dances. “Those are the things that we worry about the most, is the stunting,” said ChepilKvamme. “That’s a big thing. Girls are flying in the air; they need to be caught. Everything needs to be controlled. So I thought they did incredibly well with all of the stunts that we incorporated into our routine.” She was impressed with the pyramid, which she called different and unique, and the dancing was very impressive and clean. “The girls did not disappoint,” said Chepil-Kvamme. “They worked very hard, our

Members of the Estevan Comprehensive School’s cheer team that won gold at the Best of the West Cheer and Dance Championships in Regina on the weekend are, back row, from left, Madison Colbow, Cheyanne Tessier, Jordan MacDonald-West, Tamika Bodnarek, Savanna Perry, Rilee Davison, Brianna Gusikoski, Madison Folkerts, Caitlin Graham, Tierra Fichter and Sydney Davidson. Front row, from left, Danica Friess, Reese Handley, Ashley Tedford, Janna Friess, Katelyn Kobitz, Macie Hall, McKenna Van De Woestyne and Bonnie Chepil-Kvamme. athletes. They are amazing.” Chepil-Kvamme also praised the contributions of the team’s community coach, Danica Friess, who is a former member of the cheer team, for bringing the cheer team to this level.

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“She’s one of the most wonderful gifts that our team can have,” said ChepilKvamme.

People who watched the cheer team at Best of the West could tell it was a dedicated and well-practised

Brent Gedak’s time at the Tankard ended early The Brent Gedak rink had a tough weekend at the SaskTel Tankard men’s provincial curling championships in Whitewood. The Gedak rink, curling out of the Power Dodge Curling Centre, went 0-3 at the Tankard, and was among the first teams eliminated. Gedak opened with a 12-4 loss to Scott Comfort on Wednesday, and then dropped a 10-3 decision to Rylan Keitler Thursday, and an 8-4 match to Ryan Deis

Friday in the triple knockout elimination draw. “I think we only had … two points (in an end) twice throughout all three games,” said Gedak. “We just never really got on the offence. We were playing defensively from the first end. It’s a new team this year, so the dynamics of playing from behind are a little more difficult when you haven’t played together a lot.” They’ve been good when they grab an early lead, he said, but they started without the

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team, she said. The strong showing is expected to give the cheer team confidence as they

get ready for provincials on March 23-24 in Regina. “All of the scholastic cheer Grade 9-12 intermediate schools will be running all together, so we’re expecting a lot more competition at that one. That’s not to say this one didn’t have a lot of competition, but that one will have even more.” The students were already back in the gym on Sunday to work on their routines and continue to get ready for provincials. “ We just want to be clean. We want to do our best. So when all of our hard work comes through, it gives the girls an extra boost of confidence.” ECS will integrate a few harder stunts, and take things up to a higher level. Chepil-Kvamme noted the Best of the West is a large competition. There were more than 1,400 athletes and hundreds of teams between the different divisions at the event. Some of the entries outside of the scholastic division were all-star teams from private gyms. ECS loves coming to the event each year, she said, because it’s so well run. And while there other excellent events prior to provincials, they prefer to be at Best of the West.

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hammer, and usually gave up points early. “It was just chase, chase all game, and we couldn’t seem to catch up,” he said. The game against Comfort was close early, with Gedak scoring two in the second and stealing one in the third to lead 3-2. But Comfort scored two in the fourth to take the lead, and then stole one in the fifth and three in the sixth to lead 8-3. Gedak scored one in the seventh, but then Comfort took one in the eighth and stole three in the ninth to finish the game. It’s a game in which Gedak said they might have been overconfident, as they had been Comfort a few times this season. Kleiter scored three in the second for a 3-0 advantage, and while Gedak hung around and made it a 4-3 game after five ends, Kleiter ended it in the following end by scoring six. Deis scored twice in the first to lead 2-0, and added another in the second for a

three-point lead. After Gedak scored one in the third and the fifth, and Deis had one in the fourth, the Deis rink scored three in the sixth for a 7-2 advantage. Gedak and Deis scored single points in the seventh and eighth ends, respectively, and after Gedak only had one in the ninth, the two teams shook hands. “It seemed like every team we played curled 100 per cent against us, and it’s tough when you’re not executing at the same level as they are,” said Gedak. Other members of the Gedak rink were third Jason Ackerman, second Derek Owens and lead Curtis Horwath. “Our lead played pretty well … but the rest of us, we all took our turns (struggling),” said Gedak. “I struggled the first game, and … we weren’t executing, and I guess maybe we weren’t prepared.” He hopes they can remain together for next year, as they are good friends who have been able to balance curling with work and family commitments.

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February 13, 2019 A17

Estevan entry wins mixed high school districts The Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) Elecs 1 team took top spot at the mixed high school district playdowns, which were held at the Power Dodge Curling Centre on Friday and Saturday. Estevan defeated Ogema 7-5 in the A final to advance to regionals, which will be held in Yorkton March 1 and 2. Members of the team were skip Kaylee Carlson, third Devin Fichter, second Caitlyn Green and lead Justin Hertes. Hertes was filling in for Parker Lavoie. Pauline Ziehl Grimsrud is their coach. Ogema dropped down to the B event, where they lost to Lampman in the B final. Lampman also advanced to regionals. A second ECS mixed team was entered at districts. They opened with a loss to Lampman, and dropped down to the B event, where they defeated Carnduff and McNaughton High

School from Moosomin, but lost to Lampman, ending their tournament. Members of that team were skip Trey McIntyre, third Megan Parsons, second Jamison Keating and lead Abby Renkas. Michael Keating was the coach. The curling rink also hosted boys and girls districts. A total of 19 teams were entered between the three divisions. Advancing to regionals in the girls event were the Weyburn Comprehensive School (WCS), who won the A event, and McNaughton High School in Moosomin, who took the B event. Wawota lost the A and B events in the girls division. WCS took the A event and B event births in the boys division. The two teams met in the A final, with WCS 1 beating WCS 2. The second WCS team then beat Gordon F. Kells High School in Carlyle in the B final.

Members of the ECS 1 team that won the mixed high school district playdowns in Estevan were, from left, Justin Hertes, Kaylee Carlson, Devin Fichter, Caitlyn Green and coach Pauline Ziehl Grimsrud. Photo submitted

Initiation tournament The Estevan Bruins faced the Weyburn Blues during the Estevan Minor Hockey Association’s Timbits initiation hockey tournament on Saturday. Teams from throughout southeast Saskatchewan were in Estevan for the tournament, which was a showcase for the youngest players in organized hockey. Each team played a few fun games during the weekend.

City Hall: 1102 4th Street 8 am to 4:30 pm | (306) 634-1800 /HLVXUH 2ɝFH 701 Souris Avenue 8 am to 4:30 pm | (306) 634-1880

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The Mayor Get out and come to the Whiskers & Wine Gala put on by Estevan Humane Society Feb. 16, 2019 at Exhibition Hall. UTILITIES EBILL AND PREAUTHORIZATION CONTEST The City of Estevan is encouraging residents to sign up for electronic billing and preauthorization by giving you a chance to win a $250.00 credit towards your city utility bill. Residents can sign up for electronic billing by filling out an online form at www.estevan.ca or by visiting City Hall and filling out an application form. There are four chances to win a $250.00 credit. Draw dates will be made on March 31st, June 30th, September 30 and December 31st, 2019. All residents that are currently signed up for electronic billing will be automatically entered to win. Residents can also sign up for Preauthorization payments online at www.estevan.ca or by visiting City Hall and filling out an application form. (please note a void cheque or bank withdrawl must be submitted) There are two chances to win a $250.00 credit. Draw dates will be made on June 30th and December 31st, 2019. All residents that are currently signed up for Preauthorization payments will be automatically entered to win.

ESTEVAN LEISURE CENTRE FEBRUARY BREAK 2019

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SKATING SCHEDULE TUES, FEB 19 PARENT & TOT HOCKEY 16+ **PRE-SCHOOL **SHINNY 6-10 **SHINNY 11-15

11:15 AM - 12:00PM 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM 2:30 PM -3:30 PM

WED, FEB 20 PARENT & TOT HOCKEY 16+ FAMILY **PRE-SCHOOL **SHINNY 6-10 **SHINNY 11-15

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM 2:30 PM -3:30 PM

THURS, FEB 21 PARENT & TOT 11:15 AM - 12:00PM HOCKEY 16+ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM FAMILY 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM **PRE-SCHOOL 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM **SHINNY 6-10 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM **SHINNY 11-15 2:30 PM -3:30 PM FRI, FEB 22 PARENT & TOT 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM HOCKEY 16+ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ** SKATING IN POWER DODGE CENTRE ALL OTHER SKATING WILL BE AT AFFINITY PLACE

* Schedule Subject to Change. Please visit www.estevan.ca for updates on closures and cancellations. Proper footwear and exercise wear is required to participate. Please note during school breaks, (Teachers Convention, Spring Break and Christmas Break) Fitness, Aquatic Centre and Arena schedules may vary. Please visit our live schedules at www.estevan.ca

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TUES, FEB 19 LANE SWIM AQUA AWE FAMILY SWIM LANE SWIM PUBLIC SWIM LANE SWIM PUBLIC SWIM

6:00 AM - 9:00 AM 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

WED, FEB 20 LANE SWIM AQUA AWE FAMILY SWIM LANE SWIM PUBLIC SWIM LANE SWIM PUBLIC SWIM LANE SWIM

6:00 AM - 9:00 AM 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 12:00 PM -1:00 PM 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM

LANE SWIM AQUA AWE FAMILY SWIM LANE SWIM PUBLIC SWIM LANE SWIM PUBLIC SWIM

6:00 AM - 9:00 AM 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM 10:00 PM - 12:00 PM 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

FRI, FEB 22 LANE SWIM A.I.S. FAMILY SWIM LANE SWIM PUBLIC SWIM LANE SWIM FAMILY SWIM PUBLIC SWIM

6:00 AM - 9:00 AM 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

SAT, FEB 23 LANE SWIM PUBLIC SWIM LANE SWIM FAMILY SWIM PUBLIC SWIM

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM 6:00 PM -7:OO PM 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

ESTEVAN LEISURE CENTRE FEBRUARY BREAK 2019

TUES, FEB 19 SPIN AQUA AWE SCULPT TWINGES & HINGES YOUTH BOOT CAMP SCULPT LIGHTS GRIT

6:10 AM - 6:50 AM, 9:10 AM - 9:50 AM, 5:30 PM - 6:10 PM 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM 10:10 AM - 10:50 AM 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM 1:00 PM - 1:40 PM 6:00 PM - 6:45 PM

WED, FEB 20 GRIT AQUA AWE EASY STRETCH YOUTH BOOT CAMP CARDIO BOOT CAMP

6:10 AM - 6:50 AM, 9:10 AM - 9:50 AM 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM 10:10 AM - 10:50 AM 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM 6:15 PM - 7:00 PM

THURS, FEB 21 SPIN AQUA AWE SCULPT TWINGES & HINGES YOUTH BOOT CAMP SCULPT LIGHT GRIT FRI, FEB 22 GRIT EASY STRETCH YOUTH BOOT CAMP

6:10 - 6:50 AM, 9:10 AM - 9:50 AM, 5:30 PM - 6:10 PM 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM 10:10 AM - 10:50 AM 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM 1:00 PM - 1:40 PM 6:00 PM - 6:45 PM

6:10 - 6:50 AM, 9:10 AM - 9:50 AM 10:10 AM - 10:50 AM 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

SPIN CLASS has changed to a Drop In Program that is scheduled in your Facility Membership/Daily Pass. If you would like to reserve a bike, the cost is $5/class for Facility Membership holders. For non-members, the cost is $10/class, this reservation fee will only allow access to Spin Class.

A18

&ODVVLĂ&#x20AC;HGV Wednesday, February 13, 2019

ANNOUNCEMENTS

LAND FOR SALE

AUCTIONS

FARMLAND WANTED

Mack Auction Company Presents a land, Thursday, March 28, 2019 @ 7pm Bienfait Legion Hall. Join the Baniulis Family and Mack Auction Company in Bienfait for the sale of 4 quarters of land. This land has unlimited commercial development and further oil drilling potential. There is over $24,000 of surface lease revenue that will be included with the land! SW 07-01-04-W2 RM OF COALFIELDS #4, SE 07-01-04-W2 RM OF COALFIELDS #4, NE 01-01-05-W2 VILLAGE OF NORTH PORTAL, NW 06-01-04-W2 RM OF COALFIELDS #4 *Sub-divided Acreage is not included in land sale!*

NO FEES OR COMMISSIONS! PURCHASING: SINGLE TO LARGE BLOCKS OF LAND. PREMIUM PRICES PAID WITH QUICK PAYMENT. GREAT References Available

IN MEMORIAM In Loving Memory of Bill Ryson Sept. 27, 1916 Feb. 12, 1994 Those we love we never lose, For they will always be loved, remembered and treasured. Always in our memory. Love Always your son David

A TOTAL OF 602 QUARTER SECTIONS SOLD ACROSS SASKATCHEWAN RENT BACK AVAILABLE Call DOUG 306-716-2671 saskfarms@shaw.ca

FOR SALE - MISC

COMING EVENTS ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES SHOW & SALE, February 18-24 (inclusive) at Market Mall, 2325 Preston Avenue, Saskatoon, during mall hours.

HEALTH SERVICES

Advertisements and statements contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or reliability of such advertisements. For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.swna.com. COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE: $1.29/each for a box of 180 ($232.20). Also full range of tree, shrub and berry seedlings for shelterbelts.. Free shipping. Growth guarantee. 1-844-873-3700 or TreeTime.ca. PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call this newspaper NOW or 306-649.1405 for details.

Mack Auction Co. presents a land auction in the RM of Brokenshell #68. Join us March 30, 1:00 pm at the Radville Hockey Rink lobby in Radville, Sask. Up for the auction are 2 quarter sections of land located NW of Radville, Saskatchewan! NW 33-07-18-W2 RM OF BROKENSHELL # 68 SE 29-07-18-W2 RM OF BROKENSHELL #68 www.mackauctioncompany.com | 306-421-2097 | 306-487-7815. Follow our Facebook page to get the latest news daily! PL 311962

Single, retired gentleman, fit and looks good, honest, self sufficient , non smoker, clean, non abusive, would like to meet similar lady to go places and do things such as dancing, age 75 - 85 for coffee, friendship and maybe more. Please phone: 1 204 717 1936. Can relocate to Estevan

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

FEED & SEED

FARMLAND AUCTION

Western Commodities

15 Quarters in RM #339 FRIDAY, March 1 1:00 pm LeRoy, SK

877-695-6461 Visit our website @ www.westerncommodities.ca

HEATED CANOLA WANTED!! *5((1 &$12/$ 635,1* 7+5(6+(' '$0$*(' &$12/$ FEED OATS WANTED!! %$5/(< 2$76 :+7 /,*+7 25 728*+ 635,1* 7+5(6+(' HEATED FLAX WANTED!! +($7(' 3($6 +($7(' /(17,/6 "ON FARM PICKUP" Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252 NORTH EAST PRAIRIE GRAIN INC. BUYING: Feed Barley, Soybeans, Heated Canola, Wheat, Feed Oats. OFFERING: Top Prices, On Farm Pickup & Prompt Payment! CALL: 1-306-873-3551, WEBSITE: neprairiegrain.com

LAND WANTED Farm land wanted to rent in Estevan, Bienfait or Hirsh area. (306)421-0679

www.schapansky.com

306.873.5488 Mack Auction Company presents a land auction in the RM of Bienfait #4 for Ted Fai. THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2019 @ 7pm, Bienfait Legion Hall. SE-21-02-06-W2 RM OF COALFIELDS #4; SW-21-02-06-W2 RM of Coalfields. www.mackauctioncompany.com | 306-421-2097 | 306-487-7815. Follow our Facebook page to get the latest news daily! PL 311962 Mack Auction Company Presents a land auction in the RM of Browning #34 for Brian Fornwald. Monday, April 15, 2019 @ 12:00 NOON, Lampman, SK. NE 21-6-4-W2, RM of Browning #34, Land Access from Paved Highway #604, Land Includes Westeel 1650 Bushel Grain Bin On Wood Floor. www.mackauctioncompany.com | 306-421-2097 | 306-487-7815. Follow our Facebook page to get the latest news daily! PL 311962

Remember Your Loved Ones with a Memorial Tribute in The Estevan Mercury

#5 - 418 Kensington Ave. (Across from Walmart)

JACQUIE MVULA

306-636-EARS (3277)

M.S., R. Aud. Audiologist/Owner

www.suncountryhearing.com

OBITUARIES

BILL, Lillian Margaret Lillian passed away peacefully, with family by her side on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at the age of 93 years. Funeral Mass will be held at Christ the King R.C. Parish, 3239 Garnet Street, Regina, SK on Monday, March 11, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. A full obituary will appear in a later edition of the Estevan Mercury. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com

OLISCHEFSKI, Lorraine (nee Friess) December 29, 1927 - January 30, 2019 /RUUDLQHÂˇV GDXJKWHUV DUH VDGGHQHG WR LQIRUP \RX RI KHU SHDFHIXO SDVVLQJ DW WKH DJH RI Â´0DPDÂľ (Granny) was a quietly strong determined lady. While working at the Weyburn Special Care Home VKH REWDLQHG KHU 6SHFLDO &DUH $LGH &HUWLĂ&#x20AC;FDWH DW WKH DJH RI %HFDXVH VKH ZDV VR KXPEOH ZH ZHUHQÂˇW HYHQ DZDUH RI LW +HU PDQ\ SDVWLPHV LQFOXGHG FURVVZRUG SX]]OHV UHDGLQJ NQLWWLQJ crocheting, listening to music, and watching TV â&#x20AC;&#x201C; soap operas, game shows and sports like the Riders, golf, NASCAR racing, and curling. Mom loved babies and small children, and animals especially our many cats and dogs. Mom was predeceased by husband Ervin; daughter Vicki Lee and son-in-law Gil, as well as her parents and many of her siblings and in-laws. Lorraine will be ORYLQJO\ UHPHPEHUHG E\ KHU GDXJKWHUV &KHU\OH *OHQQ 6DQGUD %RQQLH .HOO\ JUDQGVRQV %ODLU (Chantelle), Kirby (Tara) and Adam; great grandson Ethan; son-in-law Al and his daughter Leslie (Dhugal). Also surviving are sister Minnie; brother Tony (Deloras) and numerous nieces and nephews. Mom spent the last two years at Cupar and District Nursing Home. We would like to thank everyone there for their exceptionally kind and considerate care. A funeral service and private interment will be KHOG DW D IXWXUH GDWH ZLWK QRWLFH SURYLGHG LQ WKH /HDGHU 3RVW ,Q OLHX RI Ă RZHUV GRQDWLRQV WR HLWKHU WKH &XSDU 1XUVLQJ +RPH 0LOOV 6WUHHW &XSDU 6. 6 * < RU WR $O]KHLPHU 6RFLHW\ WK $YHQXH 5HJLQD 6. 6 3 ; LQ 0RPÂˇV PHPRU\ ZRXOG EH JUHDWO\ DSSUHFLDWHG )DPLO\ DQG IULHQGV are invited to sign online condolences at www.paragonfuneralservices.com.

ADULT PERSONAL MESSAGES

AUCTIONS

Buying/Selling FEED GRAINS heated / damaged CANOLA/FLAX Top price paid FOB FARM

OBITUARIES

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your ears deserve an audiologistâ&#x20AC;?

ST. JOSEPHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION 6W -RVHSKÂˇV +RVSLWDO relies on donations to fund equipment purchases. Your Memorial Gift honours your loved one and makes it possible for our hospital to continue providing quality care for Estevan and area residents. A letter will be sent to the family acknowledging your gift; please include their name and address as well as your own. You will receive an income tax receipt.

Elaine Spenst 1922 - 2019 Elaine Spenst passed away at the Estevan Regional Nursing Home, Estevan, Sask. on Sunday, February 3, 2019 at the age RI \HDUV Elaine is survived by her husband James Clifford Spenst of Estevan; daughters, Marilyn (Dave) Wock of Estevan, Debbie 0DLQSUL]H RI &DOJDU\ DQG 6KHOOH\ *UD\ RI (VWHYDQ VRQV 'RXJ (Jean) Spenst of Calgary and Daryl (Gail) Spenst of Edmonton. $OVR OHIW WR FKHULVK (ODLQHÂˇV PHPRU\ DUH KHU JUDQGFKLOGUHQ %UDGOH\ 7LPP\ .ULVWD 'DUUHO &DPHURQ $PDQGD 7\OHU $PDQGD -HVVH DQG %UDQGRQ 'DQLHOOH DQG JUHDW JUDQGFKLOGUHQ $OO\VD 7\OHU %DLOH\ 7UH\ 7ULVWHQ 7D\ORU .ROWRQ $YHU\ $LGHQ Ethan and Sage as well as her great great grandchildren, Kaisey DQG &DUWHU 6KH LV DOVR VXUYLYHG E\ KHU VLVWHUV (OHDQRU DQG %HWW\ Ann, along with many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Gilbert and Katherine Peterson; brothers, Glen, Dale, James DQG 5R\ 3HWHUVRQ XQFOH -RKQ 6FKPLGW DQG DXQW (OL]DEHWK 6FKPLGW QHSKHZV 5D\PRQG DQG .HQ Peterson and granddaughter Christa Wock. An informal time of sharing, remembrance and visiting with the family was held on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Hall Funeral Services, Estevan, with Pastor Geoff 7KLHVVHQ RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDWLQJ ,QWHUPHQW ZLOO WDNH SODFH DW D ODWHU GDWH 7KRVH ZLVKLQJ WR PDNH GRQDWLRQV LQ (ODLQHÂˇV PHPRU\ PD\ GR VR GLUHFWO\ WR WKH (VWHYDQ 5HJLRQDO 1XUVLQJ +RPH $X[LOLDU\ :HOORFN 5RDG (VWHYDQ 6DVN 6 $ % 'XVWLQ +DOO ZLWK +DOO )XQHUDO 6HUYLFHV (VWHYDQ DVVLVWHG (ODLQHÂˇV IDPLO\ Ewald Rucks 1925 - 2019 It is with heavy hearts, that we announce the peaceful passing RI RXU GDG (ZDOG 5XFNV RQ -DQXDU\ VW DW 6W -RVHSKÂˇV Hospital in Estevan. He was predeceased by two children, Garwin in 1961and Doren LQ +H ZDV DOVR SUHGHFHDVHG E\ KLV VLVWHU /LO\ DQG EURWKHU LQ ODZ .ODXV RI :LQQLSHJ 0% DV ZHOO DV KLV SDUHQWV 6DPXHO DQG ,GD RI :LQQLSHJ 0% +H LV VXUYLYHG E\ KLV ZLIH 0DUWKD QHH Witten) and his children and their families: Reita MacDonald of Saskatoon, SK and her children, Patrick and Michael; Edwin (Sheri) of Frobisher, SK and their children, Emily (Andrew) and WKHLU GDXJKWHU +D]HO $DURQ DQG KLV GDXJKWHU %O\ DQG /DXUD Dieter (Marlene) of Frobisher, SK and their children, Cory (Tia) and their sons, Harbyn, Fentyn and Kamdyn, Devin (Lauren) and their children Dominic and Naomi; and Dustin (Ashley). (ZDOG Ă&#x20AC;UVW FDPH WR &DQDGD DW WKH DJH RI ZLWK KLV SDUHQWV DQG VLVWHU 7KH IDPLO\ÂˇV Ă&#x20AC;UVW KRPH ZDV a small clay house south of Frobisher. The dry years forced the family to move to Swan River. A few years later they returned to Germany to visit relatives. The war broke out and the family was VHSDUDWHG :KLOH KLV SDUHQWV DQG VLVWHU ZHUH DEOH WR Ă HH E\ KRUVH DQG ZDJRQ ZLWK WKH $PHULFDQ soldiers, Ewald was left in Germany during the war. He was held and later released from prison camp and through the Americans relocated his family. He met and married his life partner, Marta :LWWLQ LQ $XJXVW RI 7KH\ VKDUHG \HDUV RI OLIH WRJHWKHU ,Q WKH\ ZHOFRPHG WKHLU Ă&#x20AC;UVW son and the young family embarked in the life changing voyage to Canada. Dad was a man who enjoyed the simple things in life. He was a man of true and pure spiritual faith which sustained him through the hardships as well as the accomplishments. He enjoyed his life as a farmer and the peacefulness of the country. He enjoyed working with a team of horses and in the early years settled south of Frobisher. He had a gentle hand in training those horses and many times he would talk about how thankful he was for having them, since much of the farming in those days was done by hand. He talked on occasion of one of his horses biting him on his shoulder lifting KLP ULJKW RII WKH JURXQG 1HYHUWKHOHVV JLYHQ GDGÂˇV FRRO WHPSHUDPHQW KH PRVW OLNHO\ IHOW VRUU\ IRU the horse for having a bad morning. On cold, snowy days, he would pick us up from a two mile trek from Roscoe School, driven by a team of horses and a sleigh topped on all sides with hay bales. In general, Dad had a kind heart for all animals. Dad had many other interests; woodworking and listening to music. He also played the guitar and harmonica, occasionally entertaining the family with a tune. Over the years, in his spare time, ZLWK SUHFLVLRQ DQG LQWULFDWHQHVV KH EXLOW D WULSOH WUDLQ VHW DQG EXLOGLQJV ZKLFK ZDV WUXO\ DPD]LQJ +LV FKLOGUHQ DQG JUDQGFKLOGUHQ ZLOO IRUHYHU KROG PHPRULHV RI WKH PDQ\ SX]]OHV SDLQW E\ QXPEHU board games, dominoes, crokinole and rummy played with Oma and Opa. He spent his later years with Marta in their condo in Estevan enjoying the change from country life to city life. He was never happier than when family came to visit. He would show the little ones his train, even letting them try WKHLU KDQG DW FRQGXFWLQJ DQG WKH\ FRXOG DOZD\V Ă&#x20AC;QG KLV Â´KLGGHQÂľ FKRFRODWH EDUV A void is left but we celebrate his life and accomplishments. The family is grateful to the nurses and caregiver staff at the Estevan Regional Nursing Home for their tremendous care for Dad during his short time there. The Funeral service for Ewald was held on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at St. 3HWHUÂˇV /XWKHUDQ &KXUFK (VWHYDQ ZLWK 5HY 5DQG\ .OHHPROD RIĂ&#x20AC;FLDWLQJ ,QWHUPHQW ZDV KHOG DW Souris Valley Memorial Gardens with lunch at the church auditorium. ,I IULHQGV VR GHVLUH PHPRULDO GRQDWLRQV PD\ EH PDGH WR WKH FKDULW\ RI RQHÂˇV FKRLFH LQ PHPRU\ RI Ewald. <YRQQH &ODUN DW +DOO )XQHUDO 6HUYLFHV (VWHYDQ DVVLVWHG (ZDOGÂˇV IDPLO\

Please send your donation to:

St. Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital Foundation 1176 Nicholson Rd, Estevan, SK S4A 0H3 Phone: 306-637-2474

Sell Your Unwanted Items with an Ad in

The ESTEVAN MERCURY CLASSIFIEDS! Phone 634-2654 Today!

February 13, 2019 A19

Estevan police apprehend two impaired drivers Members of the Estevan Police Service (EPS) apprehended two impaired drivers during the Feb. 9 night shift. Police responded to a hit and run collision on Sun Valley Drive. The suspect vehicle was located a short time later and a 20-year-old Estevan woman was arrested for impaired driving and failing to remain at the scene of an accident. She was issued an indefinite driving suspension and her vehicle impounded for 30 days. Her first court appearance will be in March. Members stopped a vehicle on 12th Avenue near Fifth Street, and arrested a 27-year-old Estevan woman for driving while impaired. She was transported to the police station, where she provided two samples of breath with results that were double the legal limit. She was lodged in cells until sober and will appear in court in March to answer to the charges. Her vehicle has been impounded for 60 days and her driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s licence was suspended indefinitely. In other recent police news, members attended to a two-vehicle collision on Kensington Avenue and Devonian Street during the Feb. 6 day shift. Both vehicles were towed from the scene and a 19-year-old Estevan woman was charged under the Traffic Safety Act for failing to yield the right of way when turning left. She will appear in traffic court in April to answer to the charge.

If you dream it â&#x20AC;Ś If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re planning it â&#x20AC;Ś If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re selling it â&#x20AC;Ś If you want to buy it â&#x20AC;Ś Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find it all in â&#x20AC;Ś

The Estevan Mercury Classifieds!

Members attended to a single-vehicle collision on Kensington Avenue and Sixth Street. The vehicle needed assistance in getting out of the ditch as the trailer it was towing jack-knifed, causing damage to the truck and trailer. The matter is still under investigation. Police are investigating an accident that took place on Henry Street during the Feb. 6 night shift. A vehicle was hit and damaged, but the offending motorist left the scene without reporting it. The matter is under investigation.

Members attended to a two-vehicle collision on King Street in northeast Estevan during the Feb. 7 day shift. Both vehicles were driveable and officers assisted in com-

CAREERS SRI HOMESâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Estevan Facility SHELTER HOME SYSTEMS

pleting an accident statement and exchange of information. No charges are pending at this time. The EPS received several complaints of fraud or scam phone calls. The public is reminded not to give out any personal information over the phone or internet to people they do not know. Officers responded to several hit and run collisions in the city. Police responded to an accident in the 1000-block of Third Street during the Feb. 7 night shift. A vehicle lost control and struck a parked vehicle. No injuries were reported and the driver was charged with driving too fast for the road conditions. Members also investi-

PRODUCTION WORKERS

CABLE SPOOL TRUCK OPERATOR

s 2EQUIRED )MMEDIATELY

Canadian Advanced ESP Inc. (CAESP) is a Canadian-based Electric Submersible Pump Manufacturer looking to fill the position of Cable Spool Truck Operator out of our Estevan Saskatchewan office.

Duties include: s !SSEMBLING AND INSTALLING MODULAR COMPONENTS 3END FAX E MAIL OR DROP OFF RESUME TO

SHELTER

A hit and run was reported at a north Estevan parking lot, which resulted in a vehicle sustaining damage. The matter remains under investigation. Police received a report of a break and enter and an assault during the Feb. 10 day shift. Police attended and arrested a 47-year-old Estevan woman for assault with a weapon and break and enter to a dwelling. She was held in custody and appeared in Estevan Provincial Court the following day. Officers received a report of common assault. The matter is still under investigation. Police attended to a disturbance in the Pleasantdale area of the city. Officers mediated a resolution to the dispute between the parties involved.

CAREERS

is currently accepting applications for

gated a report of a vehicle that was stuck on a snow windrow in the middle of a residential street. Police located the driver, who was making arrangements for assistance. The vehicle was moved with some help, and no further police action was required. Police then attended to a call from a licensed establishment about a patron who was banned and was in the premises. Officers arrived on the scene but the patron had left without incident. No further action was required. An attempted fraud was reported to EPS during the Feb. 8 day shift involving the sale of personal property and payment by cheque from an inactive account. The matter remains under investigation.

"OX (WY 7EST

%STEVAN 3+ 3 ! ! &AX JOBS SHELTER GMAIL COM WWW SHELTERHOMES CA

This full-time position will require the operation of a cable spool truck in support of the SES operations along with the following responsibilities: â&#x20AC;˘ Maintenance, service and repairs associated with the truck and trailer â&#x20AC;˘ Banding of cable during ESP installation, hand spooling of cable during ESP pulls â&#x20AC;˘ Preparing complete and accurate paperwork associated with Field Service duties including rigging and truck inventory reports â&#x20AC;˘ Preparing accurate driver log reports Qualifications include: â&#x20AC;˘ Experience with Work Over Rig operations â&#x20AC;˘ 2 - 5 years oilfield experience in a 24 hour work environment â&#x20AC;˘ Valid Class lA driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license â&#x20AC;˘ Proficient computer skills with Microsoft Office an asset â&#x20AC;˘ Previous training in H2S, First Aid, WHMIS and TDG an asset â&#x20AC;˘ Excellent communication, customer service and interpersonal skills Those interested are invited to submit their resume to: kendra.lainton@cai-esp.com

IMMEDIATE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

ARCOLA, SASK

REQUIRES Experienced 1A Tank Truck Drivers â&#x20AC;˘ Scheduled Days Off â&#x20AC;˘ Health & Dental Plan â&#x20AC;˘ Accommodations may be available Fax resume to 306-455-2735 or email to csibley@frenchtransport.ca or cfrench@frenchtransport.ca PART TIME

SHOP HELPER Canadian Advanced ESP Inc. (CAESP) is a Canadian-based Electric Submersible Pump Manufacturer looking to fill the position of a Shop Helper out of our Estevan Saskatchewan office. This part-time position will require the following responsibilities: â&#x20AC;˘ Loading and off-loading of equipment â&#x20AC;˘ Lifting, handling and cleaning of shop â&#x20AC;˘ Cleaning, prepare and maintenance of pickup truck and spooling truck for technician â&#x20AC;˘ Minor mechanical work assigned by Canadian Advanced ESP Lead Field technician â&#x20AC;˘ Shipping and receiving of the equipment â&#x20AC;˘ Other jobs assigned by the CAI Lead Field technician and Admin Assistant

Sterling Chemicals Ltd. in Estevan is looking for a

full time Account Manager. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES/ACCOUNTABILITIES: â&#x20AC;˘ Operate as the lead point of contact for any and all matters specific to your account â&#x20AC;˘ Build and maintain a strong, long-lasting customer relationship â&#x20AC;˘ Ensure the timely and successful delivery of Sterling Chemical products according to customer needs and objectives â&#x20AC;˘ Develop new business with existing clients and/or identify areas of improvement to meet sales quotas â&#x20AC;˘ Prepare reports on account status â&#x20AC;˘ Collaborate with sales team to identify and grow opportunities within sales territory â&#x20AC;˘ Assist with challenging client requests or issue escalations as needed QUALIFICATIONS: â&#x20AC;˘ Proven work experience as an Account Manager, Key Account Manager, Sales Account Manager, Junior Account Manager or relevant role â&#x20AC;˘ 5 plus years of current working oilfield experience â&#x20AC;˘ Experience delivering client-focused solutions to customer needs â&#x20AC;˘ Proven ability to juggle multiple account management projects at a time, all while maintaining sharp attention to detail â&#x20AC;˘ Excellent listening, negotiation and presentation abilities â&#x20AC;˘ Strong written and verbal communication skills â&#x20AC;˘ Proficiency with MS Office, particularly MS Excel â&#x20AC;˘ Valid safety training tickets, CPR/First Aid, H2S â&#x20AC;˘ Valid Saskatchewan Driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s License Sterling Chemicals Ltd. offers a competitive remuneration package, including employee benefits and participation in a Group Retirement Savings Plan. Please email resume with references to: resumes@sterlingchem.com All resumes submitted will be held in strictest confidence NO PHONE CALLS OR PERSONAL DROP OFFS PLEASE.

Qualifications include: Shop work experience is preferred Part Time Position to start. The right applicant may grow into a full time position

We Thank all applicants however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Those interested are invited to submit their resume to: kendra.lainton@cai-esp.com

BUSINESS SERVICES LEGAL

FURNITURE & APPLIANCES

ORLOWSKI LAW OFFICE PROFESSIONAL CORP.

Barristers & Solicitors

Paul Elash Q.C. Aaron Ludwig, B.Sc., LL.B. Genevieve Schrader, B. Mgt., J.D. Gainsborough 5IVSTEBZ B N t Carnduff 5IVSTEBZ Q N t 1312- 4th Street, Estevan 1 t ' t XXX LPIBMZFMBTI DPN

Stephen J. Orlowski,

APPLIANCES & FURNITURE

B.Ed., LL.B.

1215 - 5th Street, Estevan

Phone: 306-634-3353

Fax: 306-634-7714

orlowski.law@sasktel.net %UDQFK RIĂ&#x20AC;FHV DW

ARCOLA REDVERS CARNDUFF Arcola Agencies Bldg. Carlsen Bldg. Carnduff Agencies Bldg. Wednesday A.M. Wednesday P.M. Thursday P.M. Phone: 306-455-2277 Phone: 306-452-3377 Phone: 306-482-4077

Shane Winter - Owner

estevanappliance@gmail.com

306-634-6431

1216 4 St., Estevan, Sk S4A 0W9 th

A20 February 13, 2019

YOU'RE COLD. WE'RE COLD. SO WE DECIDED, WHY NOT?

HUGE INDOOR SALE IN OUR SHOWROOM!

Come visit us in one of the largest showrooms in Western Canada

ELIGIBLE COSTCO MEMBERS RECEIVE

WE WANT YOUR

VEHICLE

PREFERRED PRICING PLUS A

FREE APPRAISALS

COSTCO CASH CARD *ON SELECT 2019 MODELS*

WE WILL BUY IT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TRADE IT!

MUST BE A MEMBER SINCE JAN 4/19 OR EARLIER. CONDITIONS APPLY.

2018 SILVERADO LT 1500 4WD $274 B/W

2018 SIERRA 1500 SLE 4WD $323 B/W

$153 B/W

STK#AB1080

$268 B/W

2019 CHEVROLET SPARK 1LT

$121 B/W

STK#AB2330

STK#AA7210

SALE PRICE $34,500

2019 BUICK ENCORE AWD

$207 B/W

$321 B/W

For 84

$217 B/W

2019 TERRAIN SLT

$289 B/W

Low Rate Financing

2018 GMC SIERRA 1500 SLT

2019 TRAX LT AWD

Low Rate Financing

MSRP $41,325

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Low Rate Financing

$252 B/W

SAVE $6825

SALE PRICE $22,276

2019 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LT

SALE PRICE $78,698

2018 CHEVROLET COLORADO

MSRP $26,235

Low Rate Financing

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2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE LT

PLUS $500 CASH!

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$218 B/W

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2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

$319 B/W

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For 84

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$520 B/W

2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU LT

STK#AB0170

$315 B/W

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2019 GMC YUKON SLT*DEMO

STK#AB0300

2018 SIERRA SLE1500 4WD

STK#AB2580

STK#AA7400

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STK#AA5450

500

0% For 84

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*Bi-weekly is based on $0 money down, on approved credit. B/W pricing includeds taxes & fees. Incentives are subject to change at anytime. Certain conditions apply.

311 Kensington Ave.

306.634.3661

www.murrayestevan.com Come and meet your #MurrayFamily!

2018 RAM 1500

Stock# 18157

20,500 off

Sale Price

56,465

MSRP $76,775

$370 bi-wkly for 96 months @ 4.99 O.A.C. No payments for 90 days

2018 JK WRANGLER

Stock# 18159

15% off

Sale Price

39,916

MSRP $48,185

$259.99 bi-wkly for 96 months @ 4.99 O.A.C. No payments for 90 days

2018 JEEP COMPASS

Stock# 19062

10% off MSRP $39,369

Sale Price

33,463.65

$225.00 bi-wkly for 96 months @ 4.99 O.A.C. No payments for 90 days

409 KENSINGTON AVENUE

WWW.POWERDODGE.CA

POWERDODGE

NO APPOINTMENT OIL CHANGE at

$39.95

INCLUDING

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DIESEL OIL CHANGE $99.95

409 KENSINGTON AVENUE

WWW.POWERDODGE.CA

POWERDODGE

February 13, 2019 A21

Fire alarms, oil truck rollover and more made it a busy week for ﬁreﬁghters By Ana Bykhovskaia abykhovskaia@estevanmercury.ca

Feb. 9 turned out to be a busy day for the Estevan Fire Rescue Service, as they were called to two almost simultaneous incidents. The first call came in at about 3 p.m. from an apartment complex in the southcentral area of the city. “We were called to a commercial fire alarm which turned out to be a kitchen fire,” said Fire Chief Dale Feser. Crews arrived on the scene to find that the building occupants were safely evacuated. There was smoke coming from the first floor suite. “We were able to gain entry into the suite to find that there was substantial smoke coming from the kitchen area. The crew was able to turn off the stove, remove the food and sweep the apartment. However, we did find one occupant still inside the apartment,” Feser said. Firefighters removed the remaining occupant. The smoke was cleared from the apartment and building at which time the tenants were allowed to return. There were no injuries as a result of smoke inhalation. “Unattended cooking is the leading cause of the fire-related fatalities in North America,” reminded Feser. Roughly 15 minutes into that call, the fire department was also called to another reported structure fire in Hitchcock. “We had to divide on this particular event. We sent two trucks with a crew of nine to

The Estevan Fire Rescue Service was called to an apartment complex in south-central Estevan on Feb.9. Hitchcock,” Feser said. An assessment was done on the building. The homeowner said there was a very strong campfire smoke smell inside the structure, a double large detached garage. The firefighters were able to get in the garage; they deenergized the building and used thermo-scanning technologies, but could not find any cause for the smell. The homeowner opened up doors to start the ventilation process, so there was no major smell upon the fire crews’ arrival. No injuries were reported.

All together the Estevan Fire Rescue Service received 13 calls in seven days as well as one training night. An oil truck rollover that happened south of Torquay on Highway 350 on Thursday evening was among the most serious calls past week. The driver of the semi truck that had a full load of crude oil received injuries and was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital by the medical crew. There were no leaks as a result of the collision. The fluid was transferred from the wrecked truck to another vehicle. At 9 p.m. on Feb.3, the

firefighters were called to another residential fire alarm in the Thorn Crescent area. The occupants weren’t home at the time, but the crews were able to enter the building after contacting the homeowner, who was away working in Regina. It was found to be a faulty detector inside the home that had initiated the alarm. On Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 1 a.m. and then at 11 a.m. firefighting crew was called to commercial fire alarms in the apartment building in south-central Estevan. That same faulty detection device that caused disturbance a day

earlier didn’t let the residents sleep again. The electrician was contacted to rectify the situation. Preventable false alarm charges will be applied to these calls. Firefighters dedicated the evening of Feb.4 to training that took place at the Estevan housing authority building. On Feb. 6, the fire crews were called to a two-vehicle collision in the north-central area of the city. There were no injuries. The drivers were advised to go down to the police station, exchange information and report the incident.

On Thursday at 11 a.m. the firefighters responded to a commercial fire alarm on Grundeen Crescent. It turned out that a plumbing company has disconnected the power and tripped it to the fire alarm system, which initiated the alarm. The responders remind mechanical maintenance crews to always contact the monitoring agencies prior to working on any buildings that are equipped with fire alarm systems. Later on Thursday afternoon, the firefighters received a report of a hot smell in a building. The crew arrived on the scene, did assessments with gas detection equipment, and couldn’t find the associated smell that was described by the owner. Yet, it was determined that the drier had a faulty belt, which could be a source of the smell. There was a residential fire alarm in the south-central area in Willow Park Greens on Friday. Nobody was home when crews arrived. They did a visual 360-degree assessment on the building and didn’t find any fire or smoke. The crew contacted the homeowner, who was able to attend and verify that there were no fire-related problems in the building. With the extreme cold weather, the Estevan Fire Rescue Service encourages homeowners to check their drier and furnace appliances pipe vents on regular basis to make sure they are free and clear of ice, snow and frost build-ups. The vent plug-ups may lead to carbon monoxide emergencies inside buildings.

Pleading guilty to impaired driving charge instead of .08 results in minimum penalty By Brian Zinchuk brian.zinchuk@sasktel.net

In one of the first cases to be tried in Estevan Provincial Court under new drunk driving laws, a man whose blood alcohol content was over twice the legal limit was given a mandatory minimum sentence. Preston Mitten represented himself in court on Monday with regards to his impaired driving charges, but doing so ended up in a somewhat unusual result. In nearly all impaired driving cases before Estevan Provincial Court over the past year, the alleged offender is charged with two counts; one count for operating a motor vehicle while impaired, and one count for operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content over .08. Several other people faced this very same circumstances, under the old laws, on the same day in court. However, a person cannot be convicted of both, so in nearly all instances when

someone pleads guilty, the impaired driving charge is stayed by the Crown, and the offender is convicted of the .08 charge. And with that, the offender’s actual blood alcohol reading, as taken by a breathalyzer, often becomes an aggravating factor in sentencing should their blood alcohol content be considered quite high. Higher blood alcohol content levels have often resulted in higher fines. The charges Mitten faced were under the new impaired driving law, Section 320.14 a and b of the Criminal Code of Canada, as opposed to the previous Section 253.1 a and b. In Mitten’s case, he had been charged with “operating a conveyance” (some of the new verbiage in the new laws) while impaired, and the second charge was that he had done so with was blood alcohol concentration that is equal to or exceeds 80 mg of alcohol in 100 mL of blood (commonly referred

to as .08). Crown prosecutor Chris Gratton said that on Jan. 4, 2019, at 8 p.m., a vehicle ended up in the ditch on the Shand Access Road, south of the Shand Power Station. When police arrived, the truck was being towed out of the ditch. The police observed that Mitten had red eyes, and a slight smell of alcohol about him, but he was very cooperative. He told police he had had his last drink three hours before. When he blew into the breathalyzer, his results came back .190 and .190, both in excess of twice the legal limit, which in other cases Judge Lane Wiegers has considered an aggravating factor in sentencing. However, Mitten had, just minutes prior, pleaded guilty to impaired driving instead of the .08 charge, which then had Wiegers asking Gratton, “Can I consider the .190 in that circumstance?” In the end, W iegers accepted the guilty plea,

and Gratton stayed the .08 charge. “I just made a mistake,” Mitten said. When the judge asked him what he does for a living, Mitten said he works in the oilfield. In the end Wiegers imposed the mandatory minimum sentence of $1,000 and a 12-month driving prohibition. He gave Mitten four months to pay. *** Shawn Karaim was seen leaving a drinking establishment on Oct. 14, 2018. He made two right turns with his vehicle before the police conducted a traffic stop. Police found a case of beer on the floor of Karaim’s vehicle, and his eyes watery and bloodshot. He was also moving slowly, according to the police report. Subsequent

blood alcohol content readings taken on a breathalyzer resulted in Karaim blowing .110 and .100, both in excess of the legal limit of .08. Police found 0.7 grams of cocaine in his front pocket, resulting in a cocaine possession charge. In a joint submission, Karaim pleaded guilty to operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content in excess of .08, as well as the cocaine possession charge. The 24-year-old works on drilling rigs, and had no prior criminal record or addictions, according to his lawyer, Nicolas Robinson, who appeared by telephone. Judge Lane W iegers credited Karaim for his guilty plea, and said, “I will treat this as an isolated incident.” He termed it, “A serious mistake.”

In accordance with the joint submission for sentencing, Wiegers gave Karaim a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000, plus a 12-month driving prohibition. He also handed down a $250 fine for cocaine possession. *** Ty r N e l s o n B r o w n appeared in court, facing charges for impaired driving as well as failing to appear. Judge Wiegers noted that the charges stem from matters in 2013. “I was in Alberta,” Brown replied. Wiegers pointed out that Brown’s charges had been set for trial in 2014. “I’ll give you more time to hire a lawyer,” Wiegers said, adjourning the matter until March 11. But he warned, “You can’t delay it any longer.”

First Trimester complete.

Baby at 14 weeks: • Kicking and stretching. Mom will start to feel flutters. • Fingers open, toes curl and baby can suck their thumb. • Vital organs clearly visible. • Baby’s brain impulses have begun to fire. • Kidneys are working.

19023JJ0

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A22 February 13, 2019

LONG WEEKEND

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306-634-7211