Estevan mercury 20161228 by Estevan Mercury

PROJECT SELECTION

TOP STORIES

LOOKING BACK

Savour Southeast Group makes decision A2

The Top 10 News Events Countdown begins A3

News and sports highlights A2 & A9

FINANCIAL

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Issue 34

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At It Again Not content with the havoc she wreaked two weeks ago, Mother Nature went on a mini-rampage again on Dec. 24-26, dumping over 40 cms. of snow on Estevan and sending city work crews and local contractors out onto the streets at all hours for rapid grading and snow removal work. Photo by Norm Park.

Crime reduction team in Estevan By Norm Park normpark@estevanmercury.ca

A seven-member committee consisting of Sask. Party members of the Legislative Assembly, paid a visit to Estevan last week as part of their fact-finding mandate. The Premier’s Caucus Committee on Crime Reduction was just getting nicely underway said the group’s chairman Herb Cox, MLA for The Battlefords. “We met yesterday in Regina,” said Cox, “most of the input was urban-based issues, but we heard a few presentations regarding rural crime issues too.” Estevan MLA Lori Carr is a member of the committee that was starting out on their eight- community schedule. After Estevan, the committee was to make an appearance in Yorkton for a full day session then taking a Christmas break before resuming their tour early in the new year. Other members on the committee besides Cox and Carr are Saskatoon-Fairview MLA Jennifer Campeau, who is vice-chair, along with Canora-Pelly’s Terry Dennis; Regina Coronation

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Park’s, Mark Docherty; Cut Knife-Turtleford‘s Larry Doke and Cypress Hills’ Doug Steele. Premier Brad Wall said, “one of the main concerns I hear as I travel around Saskatchewan is crime. I have asked this new committee to focus on causes and make recommendations on what the province and our partners, like municipalities and police forces, can do to reduce crime.” “We heard eight presentations in Regina and we’re fielding quite a few here in Estevan, including a good session with the Estevan Police Service and your police chief (Paul Ladouceur)” Cox said. Carr added the committee is charged with the duty of filing a report by the end of February. “It’s too early in the process yet to see if there are a lot of common threads among the concerns,” said Cox who added that committee members expect to hear a variety of concerns as they shift their geographic locations. He suggested that some problem crimes in the north and far north are probably different from problem crimes in southeast Saskatchewan.

But when it comes to such crimes involving drugs, there will probably be some common ground found, but, Cox warned, there were no pre-conceived notions among the committee members that would taint their findings. Although it was far too early to discuss where their recommendations might lead, Cox said education is already something they have established as a tool to help combat crime, both urban and rural and that was a similar message heard from a variety of presenters such as police, rural municipality administrations, city and town councils as well as businesses and individuals. The two committee members, said they could expect to gather in as many as 50 to 60 submissions that will be folded into their final recommendations. “So far no surprises,” said Cox. “We heard some interesting facts from the Estevan Police Service, the chief and the drug enforcement members, city councilors and from some nearby towns and RMs.” Cox said there were no directions given to the committee regarding the potential for extra funds to

combat crime. “It’s not always a matter of money. Things can be done without adding to the bill. But there is no specific direction given to us regarding money for crime fighting, or our own budget,” said Cox. Carr and Cox said they

and Alberta for fact-finding models and their mandate allowed for that. Not only is the committee striking out on a tour with geographic balance, but the committee members themselves represent the vastness of the province and the geographic disparities,

Areas that will continue to rise, Carr said, would be such things as property crime in rural areas, police presence in a timely manner in the rural regions, increases in guns and gang activity and the rise of highly addictive and more dangerous drugs such as fentanyl,

The Premier’s Caucus Committee on Crime Reductions was in Estevan on Dec.20 gathering information and hearing from individuals and organizations who are concerned with the escalation of crime in both rural and urban areas of Saskatchewan. Herb Cox, MLA for The Battlefords is chairman of the committee that includes Estevan MLA Lori Carr. Photo by Norm Park. had mined information from other sectors and had received a submission from New Brunswick and had looked at British Columbia

which will serve them well as they set about the task of formulating the final report and recommendations, Cox suggested.

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Estevan Mercury

Savour the Southeast chooses recipients Savour the Southeast is back. Organizers of this popular community food, beverage and entertainment spectacular announced this past week that May 13 has been selected as the date and once again, Affinity Place has been booked as the host facility. L a s t y e a r ’s e v e n t proved to be a huge success and organizers said the intention was to make the 2017 version even better. A panel of Savour the Southeast supporters and coordinators determined that the 2017 recipients of the profits from the event will be directed to the Estevan Kinsmen and Kinettes Club. “The funds will go toward the building of a multipurpose facility in the Kin Park located in the Hlllside subdivision,” said the Savour the Southeast group in their media release. Organizations were asked to submit their online applications for assistance from Savour the Southeast. Seven applications were filed and the selection committee consisting of Josh LeBlanc, Jeff Walters and Heidi Hesselink rendered the final decision on the recipient group. “This decision was not an easy one to make. We would like to thank everyone for their submissions, however, we believe the funds from the event will go toward providing assistance

Savour the Southeast co-ordinator Josh LeBlanc (Back row, fourth from left) is pictured here with members of the Estevan Kinsmen and Kinettes who will be the recipients of next year’s Savour the Southeast proceeds. The two service clubs are currently engaged in an ambitious fundraising effort that will lead to the construction of a multi-use activity centre that will include a large surface, outdoor rink for winter events. Submitted photo. to a long-needed capital improvement to our city,” said LeBlanc, co-chair of the committee. “The Kinsmen and Kinettes hope to create a lasting legacy project for the residents of the city and that is something we are proud to be a part of.” LeBlanc said with the growth of the Savour event, plans are being formulated now to improve crowd flow issues that surfaced last year and the goal is to increase the number of vendors from 50 to 65 in the 2017 version. “If you know a vendor we

should be aware of, let us know. Reach out through the social media or contact us through our website,” said LeBlanc. Three highly rated musical groups have been contracted to provide the entertainment during the course of the May 13 event beginning with Private Drive, a Weyburn-based four-member musical team who cover classic rock and country as well as a collection of their own compositions. The Pistolwhips, a blues-infused indie rock

band from Saskatoon will also be entertaining the Savour crowd. Frontman Rylan Schultz is joined by guitarist Paul Kuzbik, bass guitar Zach Davies and drummer Tallus Scott. This group promises a dynamic and captivating evening of their music with blues licks and even some psychedelia to create their own unique musical presence. The Pistolwhips have performed during Canadian Music Week, JUNOfest and the SaskTel Jazz Festival and

the Winnipeg Prairie Barge Festival. The evening’s entertainment package will be rounded out by Brody Siebert and his new country music sound. Siebert, who hails from Spiritwood, grew up in a musical family and was influenced by the sounds of such C&W greats as Waylon Jennings and Garth Brooks. His musical star continued to rise in 2014 when he ventured down to Nashville to record three songs with another Canadian musician

Brody Goodvin. Two of the single releases made it on the Mediabase Canada Top 65 chart. Brody has since appeared at the Craven Country Jamboree, the Carlton Trail Jamboree and Country at The Creek festival. Advance discounted tickets for the 2017 Savour the Southeast are on sale through their website www. savoursoutheast.com, and at Henders Drugs. Tickets at the regular price will be available at the door on the night of May 13.

The news year in review Join the Mercury’s editorial staff as we review the most widely read stories from our pages during the past year. This first segment covering several of our news pages this week, will take readers down the memory path for the first six months of 2016. The second half, which will be posted in next week’s edition, will cover the second half of the year’s most compelling news stories. JANUARY January 6 Katie Bath gave birth to

Estevan’s first baby of 2016. Kellan Bath was born at St. Joseph’s Hospital at 5:15 a.m. on Jan. 1. A significant donation from St. Joseph’s Hospital arrived in Nigeria early in 2016. The equipment was sent to the Federal Medical Centre in Yola, a city in the northeast Adamawa state of the African country. Equipment donations included two anesthetic machines, two operating room tables, a delivery room bed, an intensive care unit table, an x-ray delivery room machine and a physician examination table.

January 13 Dr. Mark Wahba was announced as the co-recipient of the Dr. Dennis A. Ken-

del Distinguished Service Award. Wahba is the son of the late Dr. Yosri Wahba and Susan Wahba of Estevan. The annual award from

the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons was presented to Wahba and Dr. Ryan Meili, for their innovation, leadership and

January 20

Katie and Josh Bath with New Years baby Kellan and sister Aurora.

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HOLY FAMILY R.C.S.S.D. # 140

ANNUAL MEETING OF ELECTORS The Annual Meeting of Electors for the Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division will be held on: January 11, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at 103 – 433 4th Street, Weyburn, SK

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Sienna Johnson, a former cadet in the Estevan Wylie Mitchell Air Cadet Squadron No. 30, won the Best Undergraduate Talk award among her peers at the 2016 Western Inter-University Geosciences Conference on Jan.

for review of the 2015-16 Fiscal Year as prescribed by The Education Act, 1995. All electors are welcome.

Fri., Dec. 30 - Thurs., Jan. 5 *Mon., Jan. 2 & Wed., Jan. 4, in 3D

on Hwy. 47, north of Estevan put out a small fire and staved off a far more disastrous situation. Early on the morning of Jan. 7, a southbound semi truck caught fire due to a mechanical failure in its breaks. The semi was carrying a full load of propane. Both the semi driver and the driver of the vehicle behind it put the fire out with fire extinguishers until members of the Estevan Fire Rescue Service arrived to put what little was left of the fire.

What kind of Christmas tree did you have in your home this year?

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This week’s question: What did you do with your Christmas meal leftovers? Go online at www.estevanmercury.ca to vote on this week’s question

Happy New Year

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Our Top 10 News Stories COUNTDOWN 10 TO 6

This year has been a pretty eventful one for people who reside in the Energy City. A number of events, some of them registering on the negative scale, made it an interesting year for the news gathering team at the Mercury. At least three of our local stories scaled off the charts on our website offerings that included Facebook entries and other online vehicles we use. In all three instances, the news gathered traction not only regionally and provincially but also nationally and even internationally. It proved the point that good news, and bad news too, travels fast. As a reminder for all our readers, the Mercury is adhering to a tradition of listing the top news stories of the year as well as a weekby-week review of top news stories. We begin this week with the first five of the top 10 news stories of the year plus a review of the top weekly stories from January to June. In next week’s edition we will finalize the process with the top five news stories in Estevan in 2016 and a weekly review of some of the more compelling news stories from July to December. So let’s get started with the Top 10 news stories of the year as reported in the Mercury. We begin by cheating just a little bit with three honourable mentions. These are the stories that nearly made the Top 10 list but were just shaded out through a series of evaluations by our edito-

rial team. The second major storm of the year, the Dec. 5 blizzard and ensuing cleanup efforts just missed making it onto the final 10. Another major news event, the sale of Enbridge Pipelines’ Saskatchewan assets to Tundra Energy Marketing this fall for just under $1.1 billion had to be given a very serious recognition as a top event as did the federal government’s recognition of the carbon capture facility at SaskPower as a legitimate source of eliminating greenhouse gas from the provincial environment. The imposition of a carbon price or carbon tax beginning in 2018, as it related to the equivalency agreement issued by the federal government regarding BD3, also played into the newsmaker assessment. So with those three honourable mentions now listed, let’s get down to the Top 10. - 10 It was a wonderful local, made-in-Estevan story that lasted several months and fostered some local debate and even a petition before the resolution came about. The whole issue was about Estevan speed limits and speed zones and it caught the attention of most citizens, many of whom were willing to weigh-in with their own ideas of what the speed limits should be in various parts of the city. When it was all said and done in early March, the ultimate decision was to simply retain the status quo. Local residents didn’t mind the 50 km/h speed limit

Gord Stevenson and Larissa Brese, a good news story of local people helping out some travellers in distress.

The CT scanner was put into service at St. Joseph’s Hospital in the early part of 2016, the results of a local twoyear lobbying effort and fundraising drive. in the busiest sections of the downtown core, the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Fourth Street. The motion to reduce the speed limit in that area to 30 km/h, as recommended by police and a few other agencies, was defeated. The 50 km/h limit remained in place in the other areas where potential changes had been suggested and the 30 km/h speed limit was to be continued in school and playground zones around the city while 20 km/h speed limits are in effect in city alleys and back lanes. This may not have been the most exciting news story of 2016, but it was definitely a topic that grabbed local attention. In fact, the speed limit debate was almost as lively as the great garbage pickup system debate that was waged within the city a few years earlier. -9In February, the healthcare community hauled out the ribbons and invited special guests over to St. Joseph’s Hospital for the official launching of the health region’s first CT scanner. The long awaited computed tomography scanning machine was immediately put into action with trained technicians and a team of radiologists to provide imaging translations. The introduction was the culmination of a

couple of years of persistent lobbying efforts of the provincial Health Ministry and a local commitment to the project, including the fundraising of $1.2 million for the purchase of the newest in CT technology. -8Another made-in-Estevan story, but this one grabbed some national attention as well as impressing the local readers. It was a mid-summer event recounted by an Edmonton father Doug Brese who had flown out to Ontario to meet his daughter Larissa who was finishing up some university occupational therapy classes. They were driving back in Larissa’s 2001 model mini-van via Toronto and Chicago where they caught a few baseball games before directing their attention to the trip home. The story picked up traction when father and daughter reached the Canadian Customs Port at North Poral where the van died. CBSA officers tried to help with booster charges, but eventually the van had to be towed into Estevan where the Brese team was expecting to have to spend a few additional days, since it was the weekend, before they van could be looked at by a mechanic. Jan Symons at Days Inn,

heard the story, informed the Brese duo that maybe something could be done. She phoned retired mechanic Gordon Stevenson who agreed to look at the van, which was subsequently towed to his home. He aroused a local parts dealer and within the day, he had the Brese team on the road again. Doug Brese expressed his gratitude regarding the incident in a letter to the editor, expressing his amazement as to how many people, especially Stevenson, took it upon themselves to help a couple of strangers caught in a travel dilemma. The gestures caught the attention, not only of local readers, but viewers of the Mercury website across the country, making this story one of the most frequently viewed contributions by your community newspaper in 2016. -7From a happy news event to one pierced by sadness and grief. Just as the Saskatchewan Summer Games were getting nicely underway in Estevan, a fatal drowning incident at the Boundary Dam Beach reservoir claimed the life of a local 12-year-old boy who disappeared under the waves while playing with other children just off the shore.

An RCMP recovery team found the body the next day, but the event placed a somber note over the activities surrounding the Games and certainly over the waterbased events that were subsequently staged on Boundary Dam waters. -6The provincial election caught the attention of the entire province, not just those of us in southeast Saskatchewan. As anticipated, the Sask Party candidate Lori Carr ran roughshod over the NDP and Progressive Conservative contenders, even though she was a first-time candidate herself, having assumed the governing party’s mantle of representation from Doreen Eagles who had previously announced her retirement intentions. The race was over quickly with Carr gaining the favour of nearly 78 per cent of the southeast Saskatchewan electorate with 5,386 votes while the NDP’s Tina Vuckovic and the PC’s Paul Carroll posted vote counts of 627 and 610 respectively. In next week’s edition of the Mercury, we will conclude our list of the Top 10 news stories of 2016 by bringing you the top five entries as determined by the Mercury’s editorial staff.

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Staff

SERVING CANADA’S SUNSHINE CAPITAL Publisher Rick Sadick - rsadick@estevanmercury.ca Editor Norm Park - normpark@estevanmercury.ca Advertising Manager Cindy Beaulieu - cbeaulieu@estevanmercury.ca

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EDITORIAL

Volume 113 Issue 34 Contact us: Phone: 634-2654 Fax: 634-3934 68 Souris Ave. N., Estevan By mail: Box 730, Estevan, Sask. S4A 2A6 Website: www.estevanmercury.ca Twitter: @Estevan_Mercury Facebook: facebook.com/EstevanMercury

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Looking back sometimes helps As 2016 draws to a rapid conclusion, it is only right that we take a fraction of the year of 2016, to do a little reflecting on what has transpired and what could come. On the national front, a major general election grabbed our attention and there is no need to ramble on as to who won and why. We don’t need to go into that type of reflection. Justin Trudeau and the Liberal party formed the government and the first year of operation indicates the man they labelled as “not quite ready” to be Prime Minister, had to be ready. The newly minted PM received a lengthy honeymoon period thanks to the fact the other two major parties turned leaderless and neither the Conservatives or New Democrats have found replacement parts yet, a whole year into their struggle. In fact, their goals now appear to be ones of remaining relevant while they search for new directions. While this was going on, PM Trudeau eventually got down to some actual business and, as expected, made more than a few rookie errors, but it appeared as if the general public were willing to give him some time to find his way, which he did. The old line parties soon fell back into traditional habits

Prairie Perspective MURRAY MANDRYK Murray Mandryk is a political columnist with the Leader Post

Some memorable quotes Sometimes you just can’t say it as well as the politicians say it in their own words. Then again, sometimes, one suspects the politicians likely regret what they’ve said. Whatever the case, here are some of the best, and worst quotes from our provincial politicians and senior public servants in 2016. “I try to blend principles and politics. Sometimes principles win.” Former NDP leadership hopeful Ryan Meili on Jan. 4. He had just tweeted “very sad to see (NDP leader) @cambroten change his position, ignore @sask_NDP policy on FN (First Nations) revenue sharing. “If you really don’t like prison food, there’s one way to avoid it; don’t go to prison.” Jan. 6, Premier Brad Wall, facing criticism for privatized delivery of food served in remand centres. “Ever wonder what the Sask. Party did with our resource wealth? They flew

and a fresh direction toward Mr. Trudeau’s Sunny Ways, as he dubbed his new regime, turned typically cloudy and hazy. On the provincial political scene, we witnessed the Brad Wall juggernaut of the past nine years, reclaim its hold on government in a spring election with Wall still maintaining his place at, or near, the top as the country’s most popular premier. This has been accomplished even with the province sliding into an economic quagmire for a second consecutive year. There have been signs of economic recovery on the provincial scene, and with a small, flexible and versatile population and labour base, ready to do what is deemed necessary to climb out of the morass, we actually believe that Saskatchewan will once again, be a “have” province on the national scene. It is also heartening to witness our premier standing up to the federal forces and the impending sprectre of carbon prices and evaluations. Those of us who have stuck around Saskatchewan long enough, realize the importance of what Wall is trying to accomplish and the fact the Opposition NDP haven’t been bringing down the house in objecting to this particular plan, indicates that non-partisan

politics is still a reality and that some Canadian democratic institutions could deliver a good lesson to our neighbours to the south as to how to get a few things done in spite of political party differences. Fortunately for us, when all the political rhetoric dies down and the shouting, arguments and negotiations end, things get done in Saskatchewan. On the local scene, our political well being is in the hands of an incumbent Mayor, Roy Ludwig and a balanced council team consisting of three new and three veteran councilors, and, for the first time in a long time, a pretty stable administrative team. Estevan has just come off a pretty good year, in spite of the oil patch downturns, which bodes well for our economy and social morale in the months to come. We proved we could be good hosts to others who visited us by the thousands last spring and summer. The city’s infrastructure rebuilding team is gaining ground as is the parks, culture and recreation group while debt payments are being made, meaning that more money can be spent on our citizens rather than on paying bonuses to bank presidents and CEOs. Hang on, it’s going to be an interesting year.

it away.: January NDP pre-election advertisement targeting government money spent on flying in Japanese senseis to teach “lean” techniques in health care. “The government usually isn’t in the business of buying land.” Feb. 4, Provincial Auditor Judy Ferguson’s initial assessment on the Global Transportation Hub buying 204 acres of land for $103,000 an acre. “The choice is pretty clear this election. Action or talk. Forward or backward.” March 7, Wall on the day he called the election. “Brad Wall’s mother should have taken an abortion pill.” A deleted Facebook post that forced Weyburn-Big Muddy candidate Mark Jeworski to resign on March 11, one of four NDP candidates dropped for social media posts. “You ripped off nuns and that’s the gospel truth.” March 23, Broten during the provincial leaders’ debate, referring to the GTH land once owned by Our Lady of the Missions. “No tax increases.” June 1, government highlights of the 2016-17 budget that would eventually prove to have a billion dollar deficit. “This might seem alarmist or overly dramatic, but it’s not.” June 9, Wall on the “existential threat” of the federal NDP’s Leap Manifesto that he said was feeding the anti-Keystone XL pipeline advocates. “The GTH’s unique board governance and the active involvement of the GTH chair/ Minister (Bill Boyd) and multiple government agencies added complexity to buying the East parcels … The office found the government did not take sufficient and

timely action to mitigate its, and ultimately the taxpayers’, exposure to paying for increases in land values.” June 30, Ferguson, in her report on the GTH land deal. “The auditor found no wrong doing.” June 30, Wall, quoting a press release issued by Ferguson that day. “I have no words to describe how sorry I am to my family, to my colleagues and to all the people of Saskatchewan for my actions. But saying sorry is not enough.” Aug. 6, former Deputy Premier Don McMorris after being caught driving with a blood-alcohol contest well over the .08 legal limit. “I call on Saskatchewan people to rise above intolerance, to be our best and to be the kind of neighbours and fellow citizens we are reputed to be.” Aug. 14, a Wall Facebook post in the wake of racially charged hate posts following the shooting death of 22-year-old Colten Boushie of the Red Pheasant First Nation. “To start moving the province back to balance, significant restraint measures are needed.” Nov. 22, Finance Minister Kevin Doherty in the mid-year update of his 2016-17 budget. “The audit did not conclusively state there was no evidence of fraud, conflict of interest or wrong-doing with respect to these GTH transactions.” Nov. 28, Ferguson, before a legislative committee, clarifying what she was trying to say in her GTH report and press release. “How is it going to change behaviour? This is not the best way to fight climate change.” Dec. 7, Wall signaling he would not sign on to the federal carbon pricing agreement.

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Taking time Negative chain reactions to read other stuff Norm Park All Things Considered Since the Christmas season in our household does not involve screaming children, grumpy grandpas or egg-nog fueled activity, I appreciate the opportunity to crack open a book with the intention of consuming it completely. Of course that mandate shifted last year when I took on the 900 plus pages Ken Follett tome, the second in his triology. This season I’m less ambitious. One thing I know now for certain. If I get 80 pages into the book and not enjoying the experience, I’m going to drop it dear diary. I never used to do that. No matter how bad or uninteresting a book was, once I started, I insisted on finishing it. I felt I owed it to the author or something like that. Obviously, the reasoning was flawed and as I advance in years, I realize that I will end my circuit long before good books do. For instance, as it turns out, I am not a fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald. I only got around to reading The Great Gatsby two years ago and found it just OK. I figured I was missing something because it is considered a classic in many circles, including some scholastic rings. It was short in length and, in my mind, also short in scope, but then I wasn’t sure what I was looking for or expecting from it anyway. This past summer I started reading F. Scott’s Tender is the Night, thinking maybe I would get a clue as to what he was about. Nope. I’m only on page 130 six months later, and I’m bored. Nice scene sets, nice commentary on the times, a little exploration of character feelings and emotions, but not enough to carry this cowboy through to the conclusion. I won’t care how Tender is the Night will conclude. If you’ve read it, you can tell me though. Since I broke my pledge to read through to conclusions, I have abandoned a few other stories that I just couldn’t get into. The bride insisted I read something I recall was named something like the Hare with the Amber Eye. Now I love my bride dearly, but not necessarily her reading materials. By page 40 I was angry. I believe the book was a true recollection of some Japanese artifacts blah, blah, blah. By page 80, I was reduced to near tears, trying to find a thread of something I could cling to in terms of general interest in the topic and the subjects. I declared the experiment a dead end and eventually she forgave me my sins of not appreciating ornamental yellow eyed rabbits. I tried a Stephen King novel because everyone on Earth is required to read a Stevie novel. I quit before page 100. It was just too gruesome. I know all of Steve’s novels aren’t gruesome, but most are, and as the maggots and carcass inventories mounted in his story, my interest level decreased accordingly. I tucked it away on my bookshelf, unfinished. But I can boast that I own a Stevie King hard cover novel. Until the next garage sale. I try poetry, but prefer to have the poet right handy to explain what they are really talking about because I’m as sharp as a beach ball on poetry consumption. Musical lyrics I love, no matter what genre. Some classic lines have been written for songs and they remain unforgettable decades later. Same goes for specific lines in movie and television scripts. Snippets of greatness. Of course when I really want to get involved in reading, I turn to newspapers. Why not?

The Editor: The other day I was talking to a close friend, Cathy, telling her about one of the ghosts in my past. When I lived in Calgary, my neighbour’s junkie

son, in his 30s, broke into my home and stole a newly purchased VCR. Needless to say, he was charged with possession of stolen property after he had taken it to the nearest pawn shop.

Two weeks later he walked into a business with a hammer and killed a young lady for the $40 she had on her. She was in her early 20s. Cathy said, “first they have to ruin their lives, so

they can ruin other people’s lives.” If you think about it, a truer statement was never spoken. Lester Hinzman Estevan

The news year in review A2⇠

8. Johnson’s presentation was entitled Bitumen-filled Natural Fractures of the Souris Valley Market Bed B in Southern Saskatchewan, a speech about the potential for hydrocarbon production in the Souris Valley area. She noted that growing up in Estevan, an area where the oil and gas industry has a strong presence, contributed to her decision to pursue a career in geology. Estevan city council gave official approval of the 2016 budget, entailing a five per cent property tax increase, a 10 per cent water consumption rate increase and a $160,000 increase in spending for corporate services wages. Kelly Panteluk Construction Ltd. provided a tremendous amount of support for a new children’s hospital in Saskatchewan. The Estevan-based company presented a cash donation $450,000 to the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan on Jan. 12. The donation was their second, after a previous donation of $50,000. January 27 The City of Estevan’s traffic control committee reopened a discussion on the speeding problem in Estevan, recommending a reduction of the speed limit on Fourth Street from 50 km/h to 30 km/h. The Estevan Police Service (EPS) welcomed two new members at city hall, with the swearing in of Const. Garth Mostowich and Const. Jarren Senchuk. Both new officers were sworn in by Justice Karen Hirsch. FEBRUARY February 3 A team of entrepreneurs in Josh LeBlanc’s

Johnny Reid and his band at Affinity Place in February. entrepreneurship at Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) created a bustling business, selling clothing for a cause under the brand namef Eminent Apparel. The students were able to surpass their original goal of raising $39,000 from the sale of their clothes, with $43,739 in total sales, selling a total of 1,450 items. With a gross profit of $27,874, Eminent Apparel was able to reimburse its shareholders significantly and pay for a significant portion of the cancer treatment of Hitchcock resident, Denise Cossette. February 10 Members of Envision Counselling Services, the Estevan Alliance Church, the EPS and a number of other experts gathered at the Estevan Alliance Church to discuss the serious problems surrounding sexual exploitation and its many root causes, at an event entiteld Defending Dignity. The event featured speeches from teachers, counsellors, law enforcement, religious organizations and a deeply personal story from a former sex worker. Estevan city council passed a bylaw in February that called for an increase to water consumption rates

by 10 per cent, with service rates remaining unchanged. The utility rate increase was expected, since it had been announced in prior budget deliberations. Ice fishers had a difficult time trying to find an opportunity to enjoy their winter sport of choice this past February. Temperature fluctuations throughout the winter of 2016 created dangerous variability in the thickness of ice in the Estevan area, and led to fewer people than usual setting up shacks on the ice. February 17 Estevan was shown what love is all about by musician Johnny Reid, in a concert that was part of his What Love is All About tour. Reid played a lively set in a highly anticipated concert, preceded by the rock/country sounds of JJ Shiplett and his band. Over 2,000 people from Estevan and the surrounding area attended the concert, packing Affinity Place for the occasion. February 24 The first state-of-theart computed tomography (CT) scanner was put to use less than an hour after its official launch at St. Joseph’s Hospital. The new

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CT scanner was a project long in coming, with the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation raising $1.2 million for the machine itself and the necessary renovations to the hospital necessary to accommodate it. First responders launched a campaign that emphasized the dangers of texting while driving. The EPS, Estevan Fire and Rescue Service, and Estevan Emergency Medical Services (EMS) spread the message through social media photos with photos captioned with cautionary messages. Along with the messages, the EPS had plainclothed officers stationed at intersections to watch for people in the act of texting while driving. MARCH March 2 After deliberating over the matter of lowered speed limits on Fourth Street for over a month, the Estevan City Council ultimately decided to stick with the status quo. Council decided against a reduction as an appropriate local traffic safety measure, opting to keep speed limits the same. Council was set to vote on the second and third readings of a bylaw to reduce REVIEW⇢A6

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Wednesday, December 28, 2016

The news year in review

A5⇠

speed limits, but were swayed by a large amount of public pressure to not go through with the reduction. The bylaw, were it to have gone through, would have reduced speed limits on the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Fourth Street to 30 km/h from 50 km/h. The Estevan Fire Rescue Service appointed Charles Olsen as its deputy fire chief, after serving as a firefighter, lieutenant, captain and training officer over the six years he was involved with the department. Estevan’s emergency measures organization coordinator Hellen Fornwald earned recognition for her commitment to safety, receiving the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association’s Safety Practitioner Award for the southeast region. The reward was in part, the result of a surfeit of nominations made on her behalf by the many contractors with whom she works, on projects that include the runway resurfacing at the Estevan Airport and the

rehabilitation of Highway 47 North. March was the first month of the Estevan Chamber of Commerce’s shop local campaign. The campaign was a local initiative to boost foot traffic to local businesses, by means of regular focuses on local businesses through social media, highway signs and other means of advertising. March 9 The Estevan Royal Canadian Legion turned up the heat with its Hot Pepper Eating Contest. Nine competitors ate a variety of intensely hot peppers, ranging from the Red Fresno pepper with a 5,000 Scoville heat rating, right up to the orange habanero with a 350,000 Scoville rating, all for a prize of $100. The City of Estevan was forced by March’s exceptionally warm weather and the poor ice conditions it created, to shut down its outdoor rinks earlier in the year than usual. The city closed its two

Happy New New Year! Year!

main outdoor rinks at the Rusty Duce and Westview playparks, with the rink at Torgeson Park being closed a few days later.

bers were challenged by the awkward access required to get to the fire, through an external access hatch, but were able to completely suppress and put out the fire in a half hour, before it could cause any major damage.

All Candidates Forum. Sask. Party candidate Lori Carr, independent candidate Cameron Robock, Progressive Conservative candidate Paul Carroll and NDP candidate Tina Vuckovic spoke about their credentials as candidates, their campaigns and answered prepared and spontaneous questions from the audience.

March 16 Cameron Robock’s campaign in the 2016 Saskatchewan provincial election took a new direction, after he was dropped from the NDP party in mid March. Robock went on to run as an independent candidate within an hour of being ousted from the NDP, over comments he made on social media.

The EPS released results from its crackdown on texting and driving and other forms of distracted driving. The results led to eight charges against people using electronic devices while driving, and driving distracted. The campaign also increased local awareness of dangerous driving habits.

Cst. Landon Polk with the EPS earned local recognition for his heroism, after pulling a 69-year-old woman from a smoke-filled apartment at Trinity Tower. At the time, Polk was attending a hit-and-run clinic at the SGI claims centre on Fifth Street, when there was an alarm call at Trinity Tower. Polk proceeded up six flights of stairs, and removed the unconscious woman from an apartment filled with smoke from a cooking fire. He made sure to visit the woman while she stayed for several days in the hospital, afterward.

Estevan was visited by a pair of Snowbirds pilots in their iconic Tutor jets. The pilots did a quick low-level fly past the city, before landing at the Estevan Airport. The captains who visited the city were an advance team scouting out sites at several locations for potential places for the Snowbirds’ air acrobatic team to land after their 35-minute performances.

The four candidates running in the 2016 provincial election sat down at the Estevan Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion to explain their values, philosophies and objectives at the Estevan Chamber of Commerce Election 2016

March 30 Fifteen local women in Estevan were nominated for the 2016 edition of the Women of Today Awards. Nominees included Lorrie Coumont and Amanda Minchin, who were nominated for the Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace Award; Lisa

That’s our New Year’s wish for you!

A number of wishes for you:

We appreciate your patronage and hope to see you again in 2017!

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Lori Carr, representing the Saskatchewan Party, took over as MLA, replacing Doreen Eagles, who had served as Estevan’s MLA REVIEW⇢A7

Wishing you with all sincerity, happiness and much prosperity. Plus loads of fun and good health, too.

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Wishing you 365 blessed days to celebrate with the ones you love. It’s been a privilege and a pleasure serving you and we hope you’ll visit us again next year.

April 6

A toast to our customers at the new year

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Estevan, SK • 306-634-7276

Estevan city council passed a motion in March to increase rates at the Estevan landfill. Although they didn’t increase rates for average users of the landfill, there were rate increases for several kinds of deposition. Tipping fees increased from $30 per tonne and $40 per tonne if demolition was needed, to a flat rate of $46 per tonne. The cost to drop off fridges, freezers and air conditioners increased from $10 per unit to $30 per unit. A new $10 fee to drop off a box spring or mattress was also introduced.

The EAGM’s inaugural craft beer night tickets sold out within a week, leading to a total of 62 guests attending the beer tasting and concert event. The craft beer night featured the talents of Manitoba singers Martin Finnie and Jody Weger and, of course, an assortment of Saskatchewan brewed beer.

Members of the Estevan Fire Rescue ended up saving a local residence from what turned out to be more than a small electrical fire, in the attic of a residence on the 1400 block of Second Street. Trucks were quickly on the scene to extinguish what was a full burn in the attic space of the house. Mem-

March 23

Grimes, Kristen Harrison and Daphne Lavina for the Ida Petterson Memorial Award for Outstanding Entrepreneurship; Hannah Battersby, Cassidy Clow, Kyla Hamilton, Kelsie Jackiw and Kelsey Potoma for the Shirley Orsted Memorial Award for Young Women of Today. Nominees for the SaskTel Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community included Bonnie Gibson, Kathryn Gilliss, Wendy Godfrey, Colleen Jensen, and Sara Pippus.

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Wednesday, December 28, 2016

The news year in review

A6⇠

since 1999. Carr captured 5,386 of the total 6,917 votes in the 2016 provincial election. Her proportion of the votes made up 77.87 per per cent of the votes cast. Even at the first polling station out of 55 that was counted, Carr won 72 of 83 votes. Carr is part of a Sask. Party majority government that won 51 of the 61 seats. NPD candidate Tina Vuckovic came in second, with 627 votes and Progressive Conservative candidate Paul Carroll came in third, with 610 votes. Early April was when a series of beautifications of the Energy City began in anticipation of the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games. Work started with a handful of projects in the Souris Avenue/King Street area, thanks to spring-like weather coming to Estevan earlier than usual. The first steps in the beautification of the city included the construction of flower gardens and brickwork on the me-

dians preparing the area for the turf and plants to come. April 13 In a new step to keep the roads of Estevan a safer place, Estevan city council proposed and gave first reading to a new traffic bylaw in mid April that entailed higher fines for parking violations, changes to the city’s truck route and lower speed limits in back alleys. One of the biggest incentives of the bylaw, according to police chief Paul Ladouceur, was to rectify outdated parking violation ticket costs, which he believed didn’t serve as enough of a deterrent. A number of tenders were handed out at the previously mentioned council meeting.The largest of these was the $659,970 rebuild of the portion of Kensington Avenue north of King Street, near Estevan Comprehensive School, to Souris Valley Paving. Other tenders included the

dust control tender awarded to Fort Distributors for $152,644; a fleet renwal involving the purchase of trucks from Senchuk Ford for $31,762 for public works and the broadleaf control tender to Pride Upkeep for $185.64 per hectare for approximately 60 hectares of municipal property. The water treatment plant yard piping replacement tender was awarded to Turnbull Excavating for $297,231. April 20 Estevan woke up to a disastrous surprise, with an early morning fire on the north side of the city leaving a business complex severely damaged. Around 5 a.m., almost all of the Estevan Fire Rescue Service attended the former location of 1818 Ink Tattoo, to battle an intense blaze that severely damaged the building near the Albert Street intersection. The department had to use all four of its fire suppression units, fighting the blaze for 18 hours before

A fire at a north-side business complex caused severe damages in April. the area was safe. The City of Estevan started a new branding strategy in late April, with the objective in mind of having more consistency in its promotional efforts and the cultivation of a better image for the community. The strategy entailed a calibration of when the city would use a newer logo versus an older city crest, and the proposition of a more comprehensive public consulta-

tion in the branding of the city and what it has to offer. Other initiatives included a cleanup operation entitled Operation Clean Sweep, the resumption of meetings for a local economic development committee, and the brainstorming of a new slogan.

Over the course of the day the Radiothon was held, people called in or dropped off pledges in amounts that varied from a few dollars to over a thousand dollars, enjoying a barbecue and stories from those who have sought treatment at the hospital.

The St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation exceeded expectations with its fifth annual Radiothon for Life event, raising $40,560.

April 27 After two weeks of review and public feedback REVIEW⇢A12

Wishing You a New Year Trimmed With Every Happiness

It’s been a pleasure serving you throughout 2016. Thanks!

Thank you for your business.

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Roni Sue Coulter

1037 - 2nd Street, Estevan 306-634-6973

Email: drewitzschoolofdance@sasktel.net Website: www.drewitzschoolofdance.com

all the best! Thanks We wish you and yours year for us. for making 2016 a banner

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Christmas At The Curling Rink The Kids Curling Club sponsored by Southern Plains Co-Op held their year-end Christmas party at the Power Dodge Curling Centre on Dec. 18. Five-year-old Quinn O’Hanlon was one of the many kids who enjoyed the day, which was filled with a fun game of curling before the players, parents and volunteers who helped to put on the clinic each Sunday over the past two months retired to the McGillicky Oilfield Lounge for a Christmas dinner. Photos by Jamie Harkins.

Sharks capture silver and bronze The Estevan Sharks water polo club went four for six at the Water Polo Saskatchewan Winter Provincials tournament at Saskatoon’s Shaw Centre on Dec. 10 and 11. The Sharks sent six teams to Winter Provincials with four of the squads

earning a podium finish. The Sharks 11-and-under co-ed 1 team, 13U girls squad and 16U girls club captured silver medals at the competition, while the 16U boys team took home a bronze medal. Two Estevan co-ed teams competed in the 11U

division with the Sharks 1 squad clinching the silver medal in a championship final against a Regina Armada club. The Sharks fell 9-4 to the Regina Armada, but battled hard despite being short players due to some of their roster moving up to play with the 13U

The Estevan Sharks 13U girls team fell 5-4 in a shootout to the Saskatoon Pirates in the gold-medal game at the Water Polo Saskatchewan Winter Provincials competition. Photo submitted.

Help the humane society find these animals their fur-ever home and let me find your forever home!

team during the tournament. A Sharks girls and boys team entered the 13U tournament. The girls dominated throughout the weekend winning each of their games until the championship when the team fell 5-4 in a shootout to the Saskatoon Pirates. The boys club

proved the Sharks future is bright as the youngest team in the division fought to a fourth-place finish. The Sharks and Weyburn Hurricanes joined forces for the 16U girls competition. The girls went undefeated until the goldmedal game when they lost

The Estevan Sharks 11U team clinched a silver medal at the Water Polo Saskatchewan Winter Provincials tournament at Saskatoon’s Shaw Centre on Dec. 10 and 11. Photo submitted.

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A10 December 28, 2016

Estevan Mercury

Sports year in review ⇠ A9

About 260 people were entertained by speakers Alan May, a Bruins alumni player who went on to play 393 games in the NHL, and new Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach, general manager and vice-president of football operations Chris Jones at the Bruins annual sportsman dinner at the Wylie-Mitchell Hall. Alameda School’s Team Freitag, with skip Paige Freitag, third Tyren Dorrance, second Shaelyn Walls and lead Austin Hammermeister, defeated Weyburn Junior High School’s Team Haupstein in two straight games to win the South East District Junior Mixed Curling Playdown at the Lampman Curling Club. The Westview Wildcats boys basketball team beat the Sacred Heart Crusaders 5841 to win the A-side final of the Spruce Ridge/St. Mary’s

Grade 7/8 Boys Basketball Tournament. The ECS Elecs senior boys and girls basketball teams captured their second straight McLeod Series championship over the WCS Eagles. The senior boys team won 76-66 and lost 74-66 to the Eagles, while the senior girls notched a 70-52 win and 65-57 loss, which gave the Elecs a total score victory of 269-257. A third period resurgence helped the peewee A Vipers beat the Swift Current Wildcats 3-2 in their first game of the provincial championships at the Civic Auditorium. The Estevan Senchuk Ford atom Mustangs won the U10 Division B Frozen Cup in Bismark, North Dakota. The Mustangs beat Dickinson 10-1, Watford City 12-0 and Bismarck 6-2 before edging Williston 3-2 in the

WISH YOU A

HAPPY New Year! Lori Carr, MLA Estevan Constituency Office

306.634.7311

loricarrmla@sasktel.net

championship game.

vincial Tournament. Team Ryan, with Jordan Walter, Laurel Oberkirsch, Jaedon Miller and Rachel Ryan, earned the first berth.

The ECS Elecs senior girls basketball team raised $5,000 for two-year-old cancer fighter Presley Marshall at the team’s annual Pink Tournament. The Elecs also beat the Indian Head Broncos 67-48 to capture a third-place finish at the tourney. Four members of the ECS Elecs football team, namely Donny Mortenson, Troy Leptich, Garett Ford and Keaten Tarnes, joined Spruce Ridge School student Hunter Eagles in Arlington, Texas, as members of the South Saskatchewan Selects U16 and U12 teams for the Texas School of Football 2016 International Tournament and Showcase Games. The Estevan Apex midget AA Bruins swept the Weyburn Lightstream Wings 3-1 in the opening round of the South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League (SSMHL) playoffs. March The TS&M bantam AA Bruins came back from an early one-goal and one-game

The Estevan midget A Bruins captured the Saskatchewan Hockey Association (SHA) provincial championship with a 4-3 road win over the Melfort Mustangs at the Northern Lights Palace Arena. Leah Moriarty completes a thrusters exercise during an Open Games competition at CrossFit BlackRock. deficit to beat the Regina Aces in Game 3 of their third round playoff series to set up a battle with the top-seeded Yorkton Xerox Terriers in the SBHL South Division Final. The Estevan Sharks atom one team won gold at the provincial league finals in Regina, while the Sharks atom two team capturing the silver medal. The Sharks cadet girls won the bronze at the league finals. A Marci LeBlanc steal at mid-court, run up the middle and Hail Mary shot that found mesh with one-and-ahalf seconds left on the clock

Team Johnson, with skip Kyle Johnson, third Rachel Kramer, second Lucas Wallewein and lead Caitlyn Green, captured a silver medal at the CurlSask U18 Open Provincial Championships at the Regina Callie Curling Club. Team Ryan, with skip Rachel Ryan, third Jaedon Miller, lead Laurel Oberkirsch and second Jordan Walter, won the bronze medal.

helped the Sacred Heart School Crusaders girls basketball team to a 34-33 win over the St. Mary’s School Monarchs in the South East District Athletic Association (SEDAA) Grade 7/8 championship at Spruce Ridge School. The ECS Elecs mixed curling team, including Kyle Johnson, Rachel Kramer, Lucas Wallewein and Caitlyn Green, came back from a 3-0 deficit in the second of two provincial qualifying games at the Power Dodge Curling Centre to beat Team Myers 8-4 and earn a berth at the CurlSask Juvenile Open Pro-

The Nipawin Hawks eliminated the Estevan Bruins from the SJHL playoffs in the quarter-finals with a 4-2 series victory. The defeat left the Bruins with a 34-day wait until the start of the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup. REVIEW ⇢A11

A Toast to Our Customers at The New Year

May your year be filled with much happiness, contentment and good cheer, just as we’re filled with gratitude for your friendship and support.

STREET Autobody

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2017 It’s a New Year and a new chance to say thanks for your business! We appreciate your support. Happy New Year!

Authorized Dealer

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Brightest wishes to you and yours as we celebrate the start of a brand-new year. Your visits have delighted us throughout 2016, and we look forward to sharing more good times with you in the year ahead. Thank you!

WOOD COUNTRY Ph: (306) 634-5111 | 407 Kensington Avenue, Estevan ESTEVAN MCLEAN TISDALE Shop online at: www.wood-country.com Winter Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:00 - 5:30 | Saturday: 8:00 - 5:00 | Sunday: Closed

Celebrate A New Year!

2017

We have so much to celebrate this year, including the continued patronage of folks like you! Happy New Year and many thanks.

306-634-5555

To Old

Acquaintances & New Friends, Everywhere! Your goodwill and support will never be forgotten! With best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year from our entire staff.

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JOHNSON PLUMBING & HEATING LTD. 1037 - 5th Street Estevan · Ph: 306-634-5172 e-mail: jph@sasktel.net

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December 28, 2016 A11

Sports year in review April Marco Ricci won the Regina Thunder’s Murray Sawa Award for his dedication to building the game of football in Estevan. Ricci was at the frontlines in 2008 when minor football started up in the Energy City.

Rink. The Coaler Rollers raced around the roller derby track for 30 straight minutes in an effort to keep derby registration low as well as raise some money for the charity Jumpstart.

⇠A10

The Southeast Performance Pump Services midget AAA Twins won 19-9 and lost 17-3 in their season opening doubleheader at Lynn Prime Park against the Parkland Expos.

The Estevan atom Sharks water polo team captured their fourth straight gold medal at the provincial championships. The Sharks bantam boys team won a bronze medal at provincials.

The defending RBC Cup champion Portage Terriers opened the 2016 Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup with a 2-1 win over the SJHL champion Melfort Mustangs at Affinity Place.

The ECS senior badminton team captured three of a possible five gold medals at their home tournament. The boy’s doubles team of Jarrett Daoust and Ryland Daoust, the girl’s doubles team of Madison Daoust and Alyssa Cunningham and boy’s singles player Sage Dayman all finished in the top spot. The mixed doubles team of John Sasi and Jean Rose Be earned a silver medal at the competition.

The Bruins fell 3-0 to the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) Fred Page Cup champion West Kelowna Warriors at Affinity Place in their first game of the 2016 Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup. May The Bruins season came to an end with a 6-4 loss to the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) champion Brooks Bandits in the final

The Estevan Junior Coaler Rollers roller derby team pushed themselves to the limit at the club’s annual Skate-a-thon fundraiser at the Bienfait Memorial

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The West Kelowna Warriors beat the Brooks Bandits 6-0 at Affinity Place to win the 2016 Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup and earn the first of two available berths from the tournament to the national junior A championship RBC Cup. The Bandits captured the second berth to the RBC Cup with a 2-1 win over the Portage Terriers one day later. The Estevan Voltz peewee lacrosse team fell 7-4 to the Winnipeg Sidewinders Two in the bronze medal game of the Voltz annual home tournament at Bienfait Memorial Arena. Dana Brandt captured the hobby stock feature, Chris Hortness won the stock car main and Riley Emmel took home the modified class crown during the first race night of the season at the Estevan Motor Speedway. The Estevan U15 Extreme won the 2016 title at the Conexus Provincial Volleyball Championships in Warman. Twenty-six of 31 Elecs track and field athletes earned a top-three position in one or more events at the South East

District Athletic Association (SEDAA) regional championships at the Carnduff Education Complex. Eleven out of 26 ECS athletes earned a berth at the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association (SHSAA) provincial track and field finals through a top showing at the SEDAA district championships at Weyburn Comprehensive School. Carly Kreklewich (800-metre run), Donny Mortenson (high jump), Tatiana Dutka (long jump), Morgan Fichter (triple jump), Sammy Wade (1500-m run), Reece Handley (triple jump), Jacob Shurygalo (quad-shot put) and Jenna Kreklewich (quad-100-m sprint and long jump) placed first in their events. June The Bruins select Alameda defenceman Dylan Hull in the first round of the SJHL bantam draft, trade forwards Braden Oleksyn and Zach Paxman to the Melville Millionaires and Weewayseecappo Wolverines, respectively, to complete future consideration obligations and lose top-pairing defenceman Charles Manley to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, where the rearguard has accepted a Division 1 full scholarship.

Estevan TS&M peewee AAA Tornadoes outfielder Derek Weinrauch attempts to steal third base before Weyburn Beavers infielder Davin Bourasa can tag him out. Seven Elecs athletes score a season or personal best at the SHSAA provincial track and field championships at the Canada Games Athletic Complex in Regina’s Douglas Park including Morgan Fichter who earned a silver medal in the triple jump competition and a bronze medal in the relay event. The Estevan Motor Speedway held their Calcutta event where members of the hobby stock, stock car and modifieds class all raced on the track at the same time. In the first 10 laps of the 20-lap feature, the team of Riley Raynard (hobby stock), Greg Mann (stock car) and

Ed Turnbull (modified) controlled the track, but it was the group of Dana Brandt (hobby stock), Chris Hortness (stock car) and Riley Emmel (modified) that would rack up the most points for the win. The Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup that was held in Estevan from April 30 to May 8 was declared a financial success. At least $120,000 was raised above the costs of hosting the tournament allowing the Western Canada Cup organizing committee to issue $40,000 cheques to the Bruins, the SJHL and the Estevan 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games.

Our Best Wishes

BEST.YEAR.EVER.

As we wrap up another year, we’d like to share our thanks and well wishes with all of you. Happy New Year!

Hope 2017 is a blast, from the first day until the last! As we look back on another great year, we credit our success to loyal customers and friends like you. Thanks & Happy New Year!

OUN

round-robin game of the Western Canada Cup.

7 t - 31s 201

2017

PERCY H. DAVIS LTD.

1-306-634-0193

CUSTOMS BROKERS

#130-1175 Nicholson Road dunlophearing@gmail.com

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WINTER WINTER

Booking Specials

Happy New Year! 1437 4th Street 306-634-9228

Wishing all of our customers and friends a happy, healthy and festive New Year!

We look forward to sharing more good times with you in 2017, so please stay safe and celebrate responsibly. Cheers!

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Happy New Year Wishing you a round of good cheer at the New Year!

We look forward to serving you in 2017. Cheers!

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Concrete & Rentals Rentals Ltd. 306-634-1025 | HWY. 39 WEST, ESTEVAN

Hope Your New Year Sparkles

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HOURS : Weekdays 7:00am - 5:30pm Saturday 7:30am - 5:00pm

Our best and brightest New Year’s wishes are with all of you! Thanks for being such great customers and friends.

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Health. Happiness. Success. Friendship. Love. We hope your year is filled with everything that brings you joy!

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Estevan Motors Ltd.

Energy

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GREAT PRODUCTS. GREAT SERVICE.

Our Reputation is your Assurance Doug Sands • Dustin Sands • Mike Keating 306-634-3629 • www.estevanmotors.ca

A12 Wednesday, December 28, 2016

The news year in review

A7⇠ from its first reading on April 1, a new traffic bylaw was put into effect by the Estevan city council. The bylaw resulted in higher fines for parking infractions and trucks that unnecessarily avoid the truck bypass. Speed limits in back alleys were also reduced from 30 kilometres per hour to 20 km/h, as part of the new bylaw. Fines for vehicles over the parking time limit were increased from $20 to $45. A number of other parking fines increased from $40 to $80. One of the biggest matters of discussion with the passing of the new bylaw was the keeping of Perkins Street—a residential area— as a part of the truck route. Perkins street was determined to be the best route for trucks to cross through the city to Highways 47 and 18 because sixth street, the best bet for a long-term truck route through the city, required repairs at the time.

Daphne Lavina, Wendy Godfrey and Cassidy Clow. Gina Sebastian, an author, corporate mentor and coach, spoke to guests at the event, exhorting women to celebrate one another and their success and push their comfort zones, a message in tune with the event’s theme of “setting souls on fire.” May 4 The EPS took significant steps in their fight against illicit drugs in the Energy City, executing two drug busts in a three-day span. The drug busts were the result of a series of search warrants at three different residences, and a collaborative effort between a number of units, including the EPS, the Estevan RCMP, the Weyburn Police Service, Carlyle RCMP Traffic Services and the Yorkton RCMP K-9 division. The warrants were executed at a residence in the 600-block of Third Street, an apartment in the 700-block of Third Street and an apartment in the 1200-block of Fourth Street. The search of the properties resulted in the seizure of 72 grams of crack cocaine with

The 18th annual Quota Club Women of Today Awards luncheon was where the local recipients of the awards received recognition for their success. Recipients included Amanda Minchin,

a street value of $14,000, along with materials used in the sale, distribution and production of cocaine. The drug bust resulted in one arrest. Another drug bust occurred two days later, when the EPS stopped a vehicle at the intersection of Fourth Street and 15th Avenue, as part of an ongoing investigation. They discovered and seized a small amount of cocaine, prescription drugs and marijuana, and made one arrest.

The early onset of a very warm and dry spring made it necessary to implement a fire ban in the RM of Estevan, the RM of Benson and a number of other municipalities in Saskatchewan.

A group of local activists walked out onto Fourth Street, near the office of Souris-Moose Mountain MP Robert Kitchen to protest Bill C-14, a bill intended to amend laws to permit doctor-assisted suicide. About 20 people in support of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition protested to raise awareness of what they thought were improper amendments that would open up potential for abuse and cause harm. The protest was one of 220 taking place across the country.

The effects of the forest fires in Fort McMurray, Alta. hit close to home, when former Estevan resident Nolan Haukeness and his wife Jenine were forced to flee the burning city with only a small number of their belongings. Their journey from Fort McMurray eventually led them to Edmonton, and then Estevan, where Haukeness admitted the amount of generosity

May 11 Lieutenant-Governer

they were shown as victims of the fire’s devastation was touching. The junction between Highway 47 and the Estevan truck bypass became a topic of contention following two collisions in the span of a week, in late April and early May. The first of those accidents resulted in a fatality, when a semi-truck collided with a southbound car, while in the case of the second, charges were laid against one of the motorists, after car travelling on the bypass was broadsided by a pickup truck. The collisions were the catalyst for a safety audit by the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, analyzing the risks at that particular intersection. May 18 Affinity Place was host to a festival that celebrated the bounty of food and drink that is available in southeast Saskatchewan near the end of May. Savour the Southeast was held for the first time. It was a festival that drew in a crowd of 2,000 people, eager to sample the as-

sortment of products, all locally produced, that were available. There was a particular emphasis on a farmto-plate mentality, with 85 per cent of the vendors at the event representing Saskatchewan-based microbreweries, distilleries and wineries. The main floor of Affinity Place was crowded with guests, with a lineup backed up to the door. In addition to the bounty of food and drink available, Saskatchewan musicians All Mighty Voice, Nickeltree and Alex Runions provided the musical backdrop for the evening. The event exceeded expectations, drawing in guests from all corners of the province, including Carnduff, Moosomin, Oxbow and Regina. The proceeds from the event went to support the 2016 Summer Games. The Wylie-Mitchell Air Cadet Squadron No. 30 celebrated its 75th anniversary, an event that included a yearly review of the cadets carried out by former cadet Richard Marcotte, accolades from Mayor Roy REVIEW⇢A13

Here’s hoping your New Year’s celebration dazzles… and when the party is over, we hope that festive feeling stays with you all year! Best Wishes & Thanks.

From the Management and Staff 937 George St, Estevan, SK (306) 634-5512

Cheers To You!

Box 1518, 101 6th Street Tel: (306) 634-8655 Estevan, SK S4A 2L7 Fax: (306) 634-8028

GMB SouthSask

#200 Hwy. 18 West, Estevan, SK 306-634-7255 www.shelterhomes.ca

CONTROL

We’re overflowing with gratitude For our neighbors and friends, And hope that the New Year Brings you joy without end!

Quality Controlled Safety Co-ordinated

is your locally owned, operated and licensed pest control company.

Oxbow & Carlyle • 306 483 2848 Halbrite • 306 458 2344 Waskada • 204 673 2284 Pipestone • 204 854 2231

Residential & Commercial Controlling all of your 4 - 8 legged creature problems including: bed bugs, bats, mice, rats, flies, coyotes, etc.

Quest Line Locators Ltd. 104C Perkins Street 306-634-6491

Providing Oilfield Services Since 1956

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Your 1st consultation is FREE! 306-634-4631 or 306-461-5196

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DRILLINGLICENSES LICENSES DRILLING

13D207 13D208 13D243 66B57 13E002 66748 13E001 66870 66864 66860 12K076 66892 12E169

Vaughn Solomon Schofield visited Estevan, was escorted into the local legion hall by the Estevan Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 60 Colour Party and was greeted by MP Dr. Robert Kitchen, MLA Lori Carr and Mayor Roy Ludwig. Solomon-Schofield visited Estevan to present 19 Military Service Pins to a number of local recipients who had performed exemplary military service over the years.

Eleven newnew licenses issued to Monday, December 22, 2016 Eighteen licenses issued to Thursday, May 2, 2013

CPEC Glen Ewen N Hz..................................................................................................... 2A3-3-3B10-34-3-1 CPEC Viewfield Hz .........................................................................................................3C5-28-2D8-28-7-10 Red Beds Gainsborough Hz ....................................................................................... 4A16-14-3A14-13-2-30 Crescent Point HZ ................................................................................................................................ 2-17-8-7 Kingland Auburnton Hz .....................................................................................................4D16-1-2C15-1-6-2 Crescent Point HZ ................................................................................................................................ 4-15-8-8 Petrex et al Queensdale W Hz ........................................................................................3D8-27-2B11-27-6-2 Crescent Point HZ .............................................................................................................................. 13-10-9-9 Astra Oil HZ.......................................................................................................................................... 5-31-7-7 Crescent Point HZ ................................................................................................................................ 8-8-10-8 Advance #4 ............................................. CPEC Viewfield Hz ...........................................6C12-2-4C12-3-8-9 Fire Sky Energy HZ ............................................................................................................................ 15-11-5-9 DZ #1 ......................................................V40C Tableland Hz .........................................1A1-14-4D16-2-1-11

RIG REPORT

WAITING ON PROGRAM

THE THE ESTEVAN MERCURY MERCURY ESTEVAN DRILLING REPORT REPORT DRILLING 64157 10E269 66895 10G299 66808 12D331 64723 13B037 12J237 66934 11J193 11H433 13C125 12G154 66157 13B299 64833 13B127 61614 12E307 13C062 12C096 12J173

Astra Oil HZ.........................................................................................................................................15-13-2-5 Mosaic Esterhazy 2 EH .................................................................................................................12-22-19-33 Lightstream Resources HZ .................................................................................................................3-15-7-11 CPEC Wawota ................................................................................................................................8-13-12-33 Spartan Energy HZ ...............................................................................................................................8-32-3-3 Mosaic K1 Esterhazy 1 WSW ....................................................................................................... 15-13-20-33 Lightstream Resources HZ ...................................................................................................................9-31-7-5 KRC Cantal South DD ..................................................................................................4D16-18-2D16-18-5-33 Phase et al Manor .............................................................................................................................10-11-8-1 Crescent Point HZ .............................................................................................................................16-15-6-10 Triwest Alameda East SWD ................................................................................................................16-9-4-2 Kinwest 08 Alameda .........................................................................................................................11-28-3-3 CPEC Viewfield Hz ..................................................................................................... 7D15-29-3D15-32-10-6 Silver Spur Viewfield Hz ...................................................................................................... 4C13-3-4B4-3-7-7 Tempco 9..................................................Spartan Energy ................................................................10-3-7-33 CPEC Viewfield Hz ....................................................................................................... 3D16-23-2D16-26-9-8 Panther 4 ..................................................Spartan Energy ..............................................................13-26-1-31 CPEC Veiwfield Hz ............................................................................................................1D1-24-2D1-19-8-8 Alliance 6 ................................................ Audax Investment ..............................................................5-31-8-31 CPEC Viewfield .................................................................................................................3C4-12-3D1-12-9-9 CPEC Viewfield ..............................................................................................................2C12-19-1C16-24-8-9 CPEC Viewfield WSW .........................................................................................................................9-10-8-9 CVE Weyburn .................................................................................................................................15-26-6-12

RIG REPORT

www.estevanmercury.ca

December 28, 2016 A13

The news year in review A12⇠ Ludwig and MLA

Energy Training Institute hosted nine panelists, two keynote speakers, and 60 delegates from Canada and the U.S. in a discussion of the future of an international trade corridor that would include Mexico, six States, eastern Alberta and most of Saskatchewan. The event was a conversation about the kinds of technological advancements in technology, and the breaking down of barriers to make travel easier for businesses and people to travel spanning three countries.

Lori Carr and an intricate march and drill demonstration put on by the cadets themselves. May 25

The Estevan Police Association and the Estevan Board of Police Commissioners established a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which included a 2.25 per cent wage increase for 2016, as well as a three per cent wage increase for 2017 and 2018. Twenty out of 28 members showed up to vote on the agreement, and it received 100 per cent support. Other matters entailed in the new agreement include stipulations for promotion from constable to sergeant, and how eligibility for that is weighted between scores and seniority, expenses and a potential new police dog.

June 1 Catherine McKenna and Herb Cox, federal minister of the environment and climate change, and provincial minister of the environment, toured Boundary Dam and its $1.5 billion Unit 3 carbon capture and sequestration project. McKenna was enthusiastic to see the progress being made

The Saskatchewan

at the facility at reaching its 2016 goal of capturing 800,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, having come to Estevan to see what the Saskatchewan was doing on an environmental level. Although Estevan was spared much of the treeeating wrath that many villages, towns and cities in Saskatchewan faced with this past summer’s inundation of tent caterpillars, the pests made an appearance in the Energy City. The pesky critters were only in a significant number locally for few weeks, doing some damage here and there to local foliage. The committee for Habitat for Humanity took another step in June, with committee chair Doug Barnstable, secretary Calven Johnson and treasurer Dan Jenish addressing Estevan city council, providing an update on their project

Happy New Year and many thanks for your friendship and support.

It was announced that the City of Estevan would see a two per cent increase in funding through the municipal operating grants (MOG) revenue sharing program, from the provincial government. This increase led to city receiving $271 million through the grants. This was a welcome change for the city, given

Significant progress was made in the creation of the Soldier’s Tree monument when the carving of the monument was completed on June 6. The completion of the carving and cutting down of the completed tree from where it stood south of the city was seen as an auspicious event, given that it happened on

2017

WINTER

Booking Specials

the anniversary of D-Day. June 15 Work began for the twinning of Highway 39 from Estevan to an area south of the junction for Highways 39 and 18 in mid-June. That particular stretch of highway, one of the busiest in the province, was in need of double lanes to the approximate 8,050 vehicles that drive on it, in the run of an average day. The first steps in the construction consisted of early preparatory work, such as topsoil stripping, crushing and general earthwork. A new business bylaw was passed by Estevan city council that entailed a fee for existing businesses, REVIEW⇢A15

AV NOW AILA B

10% d

305 - 1133 4th Street Estevan, Saskatchewan 306-634-2616

June 8

Estevan was graced by the exotic charm of Circo Ma’Ceo for the first time in early June. Ma’Ceo was a performance that incorporated acrobatics, stunts and humour with an overall focus on equestrianism. Many of the daring stunts performed were done on the backs of horses.

l Va

Trobert Law Firm

that the funds would supplement operating budgets.

We Loved Every Minute of Serving You This Year!

and on what they would need going forward. Matters such as the the availability of land, a future open house event were discussed. Also discussed were the conditions necessary— like the need for 80 per cent of the necessary costs of a new house to be already in place—before construction of a home could begin.

DISC

OUN

ary 1

7 t - 31s 201

Call or email us for help with all of your ad design needs.

See You Next Year!

As we turn over a new leaf, we fondly recall the faces of the many kind folks we’ve had the pleasure to serve this year, and hope you enjoy many good times in the year ahead. Thank you for your valued support.

1010 6th Street Estevan, SK 306-634-6060

WOOD COUNTRY

Ph: (306) 634-5111 | 407 Kensington Avenue, Estevan ESTEVAN MCLEAN TISDALE Shop online at: www.wood-country.com Winter Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:00 - 5:30 | Saturday: 8:00 - 5:00 | Sunday: Closed

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ronisue.coulter@century21.ca

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Kohaly, Elash & Ludwig Law Firm LLP

Barristers & Solicitors Paul D. Elash, B.A., LL.B. Aaron Ludwig, B.Sc., LL.B. Genevieve Golas, B.Mgt., J.D.

LEGAL

ORLOWSKI LAW OFFICE Stephen J. Orlowski, B.Ed., LL.B. 1215 - 5th Street, Estevan

Phone: 306-634-3353

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orlowski.law@sasktel.net Branch offices at:

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

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CHOICE REAL ESTATE 1228 4th Street,Estevan, SK

DIANE JOCELYN Cell: 306-421-3170

Office 306-634-9898 www.dianejocelyn.com

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Sales Representative Cell: 306-421-7516 dwight.thompson@century21.ca

1329 Third Street, Estevan • P: (306) 634-6334 F: (306) 634-3852

Gainsborough: Carnduff: Thursday a.m. Thursday p.m. Phone: 306-685-2250 Phone: 306-482-3731

Barry D. Bridges Q.C. • Chad W. Jesse Robert C. Nicolay • Thomas R. Collopy Residential/Commercial/Agricultural Real Estate Wills & Estates • Oil & Gas • Corporate/Business Law

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Classifieds

A14

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Auto MiscellAneous

Feed & Seed

Wrecking over 250 units... cars a n d t r u ck s. L o t s o f t r u ck s. . . Dodge... GMC... Ford... Imports... 1/2 ton to 3 tons... We ship anywhere... Call or text 306-821-0260. Lloydminster.

NutraSun Foods Ltd of Regina wants to buy your Organic Hard Red Spr ing and Conventional Hard White Wheat. Please contact Abe Ens at 306-751-2440.

Jean & Stan Hayes In Remembrance You left us precious memories. Your Love is still our guide And though we can not see you. You’re always by our side. From son Kevin and Irene and Aphrodite.

HealtH ServiceS CANADA BENEFIT GROUP - Do you or someone you know suffer f ro m a d i s a b i l i t y ? G e t u p to $40,000 from the Canadian Government. Toll-free 1-888-511-2250 or www.canadabenefit.ca/free-assessment

Thinking Of Selling Farm Or Ranch Land? ° All sizes of parcels ° Professional advice & representation to get the most money for your land ° Extensive marketing for maximum exposure of your land to investors & local farmers ° Have investor buyers ° Leaseback option “Our family team has you covered every acre of the way” Harry Sheppard C: 306-530-8035 www.sheppardrealty.ca

Problems walking or getting dressed? The Disability Tax Credit

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Lump Sum + Rebate Apply anytime of the year. Lowest rate in the industry. Reliable Expert Service

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

P: 306-649-1405 E: classifieds@swna.com W: www.swna.com

Adver tisements 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 Association’s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.swna.com.

All wild fur - coyotes, etc. Shed antlers and racks. Old traps. Call Bryon 306-278-7756 or Phil 306278-2299.

For Sale - MiSc HARDY TREE, SHRUB, and berry seedlings delivered. Order online at www.treetime.ca or call 1-866873-3846. New growth guaranteed. PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. Re a c h ove r 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 re a d e rs weekly. Call this newspaper NOW or 306-649.1400 or email classifieds@swna.com for details.

Career OppOrtunities MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! Indemand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employer-tr usted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855768-3362 to start training for your work-at-home career today!

Run a classified ad in the

Reaching 5,200 homes on Wednesday and you can run the same ad in Friday’s

1/2 Price!

CALL 306.634.2654 Published weekly by the Prairie Newspaper Group L.P., a subsidiary of Glacier Media Inc. The Glacier group of companies collects personal information from our customers in the normal course of business transactions. We use that information to provide you with our products and services you request. On occasion we may contact you for purposes of research, surveys and other such matters. To provide you with better service we may share your personal information with our sister companies and also outside, selected third parties who perform work for us as suppliers, agents, service providers and information gatherers. Our subscription list may be provided to other organizations who have products and services that may be of interest to you. If you do not wish to participate in such matters, please contact us at the following address: The Estevan Mercury, Box 730, Estevan, Saskatchewan, S4A 2A6; or phone (306) 634-2654. For a complete statement of our privacy policy, please go to our Web site at: www. estevanmercury.ca The Estevan Mercury is owned and operated by Prairie Newspaper Group L.P., a subsidiary of Glacier Media Inc.

Be Kind to the Environment Please Recycle this Newspaper!

ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

HEART & STROKE

St. Joseph’s Hospital 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.

FOUNDATION OF SASKATCHEWAN

Finding answers. For life.

Please send your donation to: St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation 1176 Nicholson Rd., Estevan, SK S4A 0H3 Phone: (306) 637-2474

CAREER

Dennis David Moe

ESTEVAN MERCURY PUBLICATIONS IS HIRING A

July 18, 1944 - January 5, 2009

CARRIER

When you were here, you lived life well, And lived it to the fullest, You blessed many lives with your friendship and love. You are always in our hearts, Never far from thought. We miss you so much, in so many ways.

The Estevan Mercury is looking for a carrier for 125 papers for Yardley Place, Hasting Place, Smith Street and Arthur Ave. Papers are delivered to your door Tuesday evening. Delivery of newspaper is on Tuesday evening or Wednesday.

Earn $25 every Wednesday. If interested please call Gayle at 306-634-2654

In Loving Remembrance, Linda, Jordan and The Moe Families Buying or Selling A Vehicle?

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NORTH EAST PRAIRIE GRAIN INC. Currently Buying: Soybeans, Feed Barley, Wheat and Oats. OFFERING: Competitive Prices, On Farm Pickup & Prompt Payment! CALL: 1-306-873-3551, WEBSITE: neprairiegrain.com

GREAT PRICES on new, used and re-manufactured engines, parts and accessories for diesel pickups. Large inventory, engines can be shipped or installed. Give us a call or check us out at www.thickettenginerebuilding.ca. Thickett Engine Rebuilding. Ph. 204-532-2187 Russell, MB.

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CLASSIFIED DEADLINE: FRIDAY AT 4:00 P.M.

PAYMENT FOR CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MUST BE MADE IN ADVANCE Prepaid Classied Advertising Rates – $9.99 per Week for up to 20 Words Over 20 Words Please Add 25¢ per word REMEMBER TO ADD 5% GST!

Box 730, Estevan, SK S4A 2A6

or e-mail: classieds@estevanmercury.ca Business Ofce Located at 68 Souris Avenue North in Estevan (Across from the Water Tower) Phone 634-2654 for further information Ofce Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday

Note: No Refunds are issued for Cancelled Classied Ads – If you cancel your ad before expiry, Credit will be given which may be applied to future advertising ***** CHECK YOUR ADS We will only accept responsibility for Errors the First Time an Ad appears.

PLEASE NOTE

Rewording or changing an ad after it has appeared in the paper requires Payment for a NEW AD No Credits are issued for ads that are Changed Cancellations Must be received by 4:00 p.m. Friday for the Mercury and 3:00 p.m. Wednesday for the Trader

Name ____________________________________________ Address __________________________________________

MAIL YOUR ADS TO: The Estevan Mercury Box 730, Estevan, SK S4A 2A6 or e-mail: classieds@estevanmercury.ca with payment or card number included Please Select Your Category from the Classied Index Remember: Each Abbreviation Counts as One Word (You don’t save money by abbreviating … You just make your ad more difcult to read PLEASE PRINT

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www.estevanmercury.ca

December 28, 2016 A15

The news year in review A13⇠

higher rates for businesses that operate in Estevan in the short term: a $500 fee for non-resident commercial business. The latter was seen as a necessity for smaller businesses that were able to come into the city and do business, contributing mini-

mally to the tax base, taking potential business away from those operating locally.

Caputo wowed an audience of 2,100 with her intuitive and spiritual talents.

Estevan had a psychic experience with the other side, when Theresa Caputo, psychic star of the TV series Long Island Medium performed at Affinity Place.

June 22 While work began on the twinning of Highway 39, the Time to Twin committee kicked its lobbying into high gear, condemning the tempo-

Several arrests made Three people have been charged with drug and firearm-related offences, and a fourth person is being sought, after arrests made by members of the Estevan Police Service (EPS) last week. Officers visited a residence just off of 12th Avenue in Estevan during the Dec. 19 night shift, to conduct a conditions check. Two Estevan men were subsequently arrested. One man had several release conditions that were placed on him a week earlier, stemming from a search warrant in which cocaine and Canadian currency were located. Police located cannabis marijuana plants, the marijuana derivative shatter, as well as a firearm and a handgun, both of which were stolen. The street value of the drugs was not immediately known. According to Sgt. Tyler McMillen with the EPS, the

handgun was stolen from an undisclosed community in Saskatchewan, and that community’s police agency has been notified that the EPS has located the weapon. In total, police levied 15 charges against the two men through the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Spencer Persson, 24, is facing nine charges: possession of a firearm while prohibited; possession of a weapon obtained by crime; unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm; unsafe storage of a firearm; production of cannabis plants; production of cannabis resin; and counts of breaching release conditions to not possess drugs, to not possess a weapon and to not possess a cellular phone. Ronald Himmelspach, 26, of Estevan, is facing six charges: possession of a firearm while prohibited; possession of a weapon obtained by crime; unau-

rary solution of passing lanes along the stretch of highway from Regina to Estevan. Rock legends Harlequin and Prism rocked out in Estevan, in anticipation of the 2016 Summer Games in a concert that served as the final fundraising event before the Games began. Over 800 guests attended the high-energy concert.

Estevan bore the brunt of Mother Nature’s wrath in late June, with one of the strongest thunderstorms of the season tearing into the city. Over 44 millimetres of rain, strong winds that gusted up to 83 km/h and coruscating lightning made for a true spectacle, but also did a great deal of damage to trees and property, caused floods and knocked out power for several hours.

June 29

thorized possession of a restricted firearm; unsafe storage of a firearm; production of cannabis plants; and production of cannabis resin. Both men appeared in court in the morning of Dec. 20. Himmelspach was released on conditions and will make his next court appearance on Feb. 7. Persson was remanded into custody until Jan. 5, 2017. Police continued the investigation, and arrested Joshua Taylor, a 22-yearold Estevan man, without incident, at a residence in Bienfait during the afternoon of Dec. 20. He is facing charges of possession of a weapon obtained by crime, unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm, unsafe storage of a firearm, production of cannabis plants and production of cannabis resin. He made his first court appearance on Dec. 21, and his case has been adjourned until the new year.

A significant moment of appreciation of diversity took place in Estevan, with its inaugural celebration of Pride Week. The first-time celebration saw 50 people gather at the Estevan Courthouse to listen to speakers talk about the importance of celebrating gender diversity and ending discrimination. In honour of the occasion, the rainbow flag flew outside Estevan City Hall.

Babies of 2016

Win a Baby Photo Shoot!

A special Babies of 2016 section will appear in the January 18 , 2017 issue of The Estevan Mercury You can be proud parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, and show off the newest member of your family born in 2016

e Exampl

lieu ley Beau Nile Stan 2016 , 5 July Cole licia and Son of A ulieu a e B ri of A Brother

For only

Deadlin particip e to a Wed. Ja te is n 11

+ GST

d to Be entere EE R F a win nal io s s fe ro P hoot & S Baby Photo e from kag Photo Pac

Photo & Information can be emailed to: classiﬁeds@estevanmercury.ca Emailed digital pictures must be high resolution.

graphy

CR Photo

or Drop by the ofﬁce at 68 Souris Ave. N., Estevan, SK PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY

Parent’s names: _______________________________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s name: _________________________________________________________________________ Date of Birth: _______________________________________ Boy

Girl

Your Guide to Area Faith Lutheran Church Sunday Service 10:30 am Nicholson Centre Pastor Dan Krauss Phone: 306-471-8130 All Are Welcome Faithlc.ca

ST. PAUL’S UNITED CHURCH Sunday Worship 10:30am Nursery & Children’s Ministries Available Sunday School at 9:30am

Friday Night Youth 7:30 pm (gr 7-12)

Sunday Worship Service and Sunday School • 11:00 am Jason Richards

EMAIL:

Children’s Clubs -Wednesdays- 7-8 pm 140 King Street (across from Staples)

306.634.2601

www.estevanalliancechurch.com /estevanalliance

PASTORS: JIM KEDGE & WAYLON KLIX

Trinity Lutheran Church E.L.C.I.C.

Sunday Worship & Sunday School - 10am

738 - 2nd Street, Estevan Church Office: 306-634-5684 E: trinity.luth@sasktel.net Website: www.etlc.ca

THE SALVATION ARMY Estevan Community Church

10:30 a.m. - Sunday Service ALL WELCOME!

1302 - 8th St., Estevan Office Phone: 306-634-3116 Email: estevan.cofc@sasktel.net TIM PIPPUS

SUNDAY SERVICES: Bible Study - 10:00 a.m. • Worship - 11:00 a.m. Evening Worship - Sunday and Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Bible studies on any subject can be arranged at your convenience. Please call us.

GOSPEL CHAPEL ESTEVAN

1202 - 2nd Street Phone: 306-634-3761

“Holding fast the faithful word”

REAL LIFE

REAL PEOPLE

10:00 am

Followed by coffee time 100 King Street, Estevan, Sask • (306) 634-8133 • livinghope-ca.org

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church 130 Souris Ave. N. Reverend Randy Kleemola Phone: 306-634-2024 email: st.peters@sasktel.net

www.stpeterslutheranestevan.com

Wednesday: Club DJ for kids 6:30 p.m.

9:30 a.m. - Bible Study 10:30 a.m. - Divine Service with Holy Communion and Sunday School

An Associated Gospel Church

St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church Corner 12th Avenue & 2nd Street

Phone: 306-634-2190

Fax: 306-634-6845

Pastor: Father Brian Meredith MASSES: Saturday: 7:00 p.m. Sunday: 10:00 a.m.

REAL GOD

Sunday Service at

Sunday:Worship 11:00 a.m. Tuesday: Prayer Meeting 7:00 p.m.

www.estevangospelchapel.ca 1107 4th Street • 306-634-2074 • www.facebook.com/salvationarmyestevan

306-634-2885 • 1418 3rd St. Estevan

CHURCH OF CHRIST

PASTOR STEWART MILLER

Coffee & Fellowship after Worship

stpaulsuc@sasktel.net Website: stpaulsestevan.ca ALL are Welcome!

Sunday Worship

A Congregation of LUTHERAN CHURCH - CANADA

His Glory Bible Church

(Light of Life Ministries International) Join us in Glorious Praise and Worship With: Pastors Dr. and Mrs. Jimi Akinsete Where: Westview School When: 10am on Sundays Experience Healing, Deliverance and Breakthroughs

A16 December 28, 2016

Estevan Mercury Free Written Estimates | All Work Guaranteed Insurance Specialists | SGI Accredited

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aight with expert Let us set things str , paint and air rep collision bodywork service.

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CITY PAGE 1102 4TH STREET• ESTEVAN, SK • 306-634-1800 Message From

The Mayor

On behalf of City of Estevan Council and staff, May you have a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous New Year

The perfect gift for someone who has everything!

Blue Rodeo Tickets!

SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2017 AFFINITY PLACE, ESTEVAN GET TICKETS AT TICKETMASTER.CA CHARGE BY PHONE 1-800-970-7328 OR HENDERS DRUGS

Police Bylaw

City Hall will be CLOSED Dec. 26th & 27th for Christmas Break

Bylaw 2016 – 1963 Section 34(1)(b) No person shall park a vehicle on any street for a period more than twenty-four (24) consecutive hours.

PUBLIC NOTICE The Council of the City of Estevan, pursuant to Section 81 of The Cities Act, 2002, gives notice of its intention to amend Building Bylaw #2004-1662 as hereinafter provided: Consideration is being given to make a number of amendments to the Building Bylaw #2004-1662 which have been deemed necessary for assisting in the administration of the Bylaw. The proposed amendments cover the following topics: • Updating the fee schedule for permits & inspections; • Updating the calculations for building valuations; • New requirement for a building performance deposit; and, • The administration & issuance of occupancy permits.

PUBLIC NOTICE The Council of the City of Estevan, pursuant to Section 209 of the Saskatchewan Planning and Development Act, 2007, gives notice of its intention to amend Zoning Bylaw #20101834 as hereinafter provided: Consideration is being given to make a number of amendments to the Zoning Bylaw #2010-1834 which are of a minor nature – specifically errors and omissions that have been discovered since the passing of the Zoning Bylaw in 2010. In addition, an updated fee schedule has been proposed for development permits, rezoning applications, and related applications

The amending Bylaw (#2016-1976) may be inspected by any person at the Legislative Services Business Division, 1102 4th Street, Estevan, Saskatchewan, between the hours of 9:00am and 12:00 noon, and 1:00pm and 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

The amending Bylaw (#2016-1974) may be inspected by any person at the Legislative Services Business Division, 1102 4th Street, Estevan, Saskatchewan, between the hours of 9:00am and 12:00 noon, and 1:00pm and 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

City Council, at its meeting to be held on Monday, January 16, 2017, at 6:00pm in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 1102 Fourth Street, Estevan, Saskatchewan will hear any person(s) wishing to be heard with respect to the proposed amending bylaw and will further consider any written submissions respecting the proposed bylaw, provided such intentions and/or submissions are received by the City Clerk’s Office, Legislative Services, City Hall, 1102 Fourth Street, Estevan, Saskatchewan, S4A 0W7 no later than 12:00 pm on Wednesday, January 11, 2017.

Dated at the City of Estevan this 14th Day of December, 2016.

City of Estevan PUBLIC NOTICE The Council of the City of Estevan, pursuant to Section 207 of the Planning and Development Act, 2007, gives notice of its intention to amend Zoning Bylaw #2010-1834 & the corresponding Zoning Map as hereinafter provided: Consideration is being given to amend the Zoning Bylaw Map by rezoning Parcel G, Plan 64R106616 Ext.01, Estevan, Saskatchewan, from ‘Industrial Heavy Zone (M2)’ to ‘Commercial Arterial/Highway Zone (C3)’;

Reason: Rezoning is being undertaken to support a proposed Personal Service Establishment (Nail Salon) development. The boundaries of the rezoning are shown highlighted and crosshatched on the above noted plan. The amending Bylaw (#2016-1977) may be inspected by any person at the Legislative Services Business Division, City Hall, 1102 4th Street, Estevan, Saskatchewan, between the hours of 8:00am-4:30pm Monday to Friday. City Council, at it’s meeting to be held on Monday, January 16, 2017, at 6:00pm in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 1102 Fourth Street, Estevan, Saskatchewan will hear any person(s) wishing to be heard with respect to the proposed rezoning bylaw and will further consider any written submissions respecting the proposed zoning amendment, provided such intentions and/or submissions are received by the City Clerk’s Office, Legislative Services, City Hall, 1102 Fourth Street, Estevan, Saskatchewan, S4A 0W7 no later than 12:00 pm on Wednesday, January 11, 2017. Dated at the City of Estevan this 14th Day of December, 2016