Estevan Mercury 20180103

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Issue 35

SERVING THE ENERGY CITY SINCE 1903

www.estevanmercury.ca

Mailing No. 10769 | Publication No. 40069240

Winter Wonderland fun Rachel Duncan squeezes some vinegar on her baking soda snowmen at the Winter Wonderland event, hosted by the Estevan Area Literacy Group, at the Estevan Public Library on Dec. 29. Local young people enjoyed a variety of activities during the afternoon. For more on the event and the literacy group, see page A7.

Hospital continues to recruit physicians

By David Willberg dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca

St. Joseph’s Hospital continues with its efforts to recruit new physicians to the community.

Speaking with the Mercury last week, executive director Greg Hoffort said the current count is at 10 physicians, with eight family physicians and two specialists. One of the specialists sees patients, while a couple of family physicians are capable of handling surgeries or anesthetic.

“Physician recruitment is an ongoing effort,” said

Hoffort. “It seems to never stop. Given our circumstances, we’ve had a little bit of success, but we’re still looking for sure.

“We are short of where we would like to be in terms of physician numbers in Estevan, but having said that, our existing physicians are doing an admirable job of making sure our emergency room is covered and doing all they can to meet the needs of the patients in Estevan.”

Two more family physicians have been recruited to come to Estevan, but they likely won’t be here until the end of March or early April.

Hoffort said he would like to see a couple more physicians come to Estevan, on top of the ones who have committed to come. But there isn’t a magic number for how many he would like to have in Estevan.

The hospital has been advertising nationally and even internationally to recruit physicians. It is also in regular communication with the Physician Recruitment Agency, also known as Saskdocs, as well as the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment.

“We are sending correspondence to all of their

residence programs that we can,” said Hoffort. “We have been on recruiting trips to different areas. We are not leaving a stone unturned.”

Many communities across Canada are in a similar situation to Estevan, creating a very competitive situation.

“We experienced a couple of key issues this past summer that led us to where we are,” said Hoffort.

The hospital has not received any word on the future of Dr. Mehdi Horri, whose licence was revoked by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan revoked, following an act of

misconduct that happened when he was practising in Ontario. Hoffort doesn’t know when, or if, Horri’s licence will be reinstated.

Hoffort hopes Horri would be willing to practise in Estevan again, but that has not been discussed.

“It’s really out of our hands and out of his hands,” said Hoffort. “It’s something that the college has dealt with, and if they’re going to reinstate him, it is their decision, and it’s something we’ll have to wait for.”

Also, Dr. Andre Pehlivan left the community on short notice in the summer.

Hoffort noted both had large patient loads.

He hopes the new Saskatchewan Health Authority will help with physician shortage issues facing Estevan and other communities.

Hoffort believes the authority’s mandate of providing healthcare, regardless of location, is encouraging.

“We’re open to help from all avenues, and we’re certainly would like to see what they have to offer, or if there’s something they can do to help us get through this and improve, I would look forward to anything they have to offer,” said Hoffort.

City still waiting for Civic insurance report

By David Willberg dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca

The City of Estevan continues to wait for the insurance report that it says is needed to reopen the Civic Auditorium.

Estevan city council voted at its meeting on Dec. 18 to reopen the 60-year-old arena, as long as it will be covered for liability. The Civic has been closed since Nov. 7 over concerns regarding its structural soundness.

Mayor Roy Ludwig said even though many businesses

were closed last week and people were on holidays due to Christmas vacation, he was hoping the city would have the insurance report by now.

“I guess we’ll have to be patient, but I’m optimistic we’ll get the necessary insurance,” said Ludwig.

City management has been in contact with the insurance company, Ludwig said, and the local broker tasked with the insurance is waiting on the head office from Toronto, who will make the final decision.

If the city does get in-

surance coverage, Ludwig expects premiums would increase.

“We don’t know at this time what that would be,” said Ludwig. “It would be speculation, but it’s probably fair to say that the premiums might have to increase, even though with these two structural engineering reports, it would appear, if you follow them through as far as what’s needed to be done, and if that work is done, I would think then it should be sound so we shouldn’t have to pay a premium.”

The city won’t reopen the Civic, or do the necessary work on the building, if it doesn’t receive the insurance coverage. Once the insurance does come through, then the necessary work can begin to get the building open again, including the glulam columns that have settled and cross-bracing rods, which are in high-tension mode or are too loose, and need to be repaired.

The city issued a request for proposals for the work on the Civic. The deadline to submit a pro-

posal was Dec. 29.

“We’ll need the engineering firm to oversee the job to make sure it’s done properly, and … to get the necessary quotes to actually do the work from the contractors, and then to oversee the contractors,” said Ludwig.

The work should only take a few days.

“I would think, right away, in the beginning of January, the necessary work can be done, or at least started on, and we don’t see that taking – at least from the discussion with the one structural

engineer – … much longer than a week to do all of the rods, and get all of that done,” said Ludwig.

Once the column work and the rods are finished, the Civic would be able to reopen. The ice plant and other aspects of the operations were kept going once the arena was closed, so it would be ready if it opens again this hockey season.

Further work will be needed, such as an in-depth structural assessment, but Ludwig said it can take place once the Civic is open again.

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Estevan Mercury

CBSA releases top Saskatchewan stories of 2017 The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has revealed its top stories for Saskatchewan for 2017.

According to a CBSA news release sent on Dec. 28, its officers in Saskatchewan seized more than 25 undeclared firearms last year. Two-thirds of the firearms were handguns.

Among the notable cases was on March 14 at the North Portal border crossing. Officers seized two semi-automatic rifles, an additional two lower receivers, one non-restricted rifle, 18 overcapacity magazines and 110 rounds of prohibited ammunition.

An Alaska-bound traveller

was arrested and issued a $5,000 penalty.

Officers made more than 80 drug seizures in 2017.

CBSA officers in Saskatchewan handled a number of other cases during the past year. On March 31, a traveller was stopped at the North Portal border

2017

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crossing, which resulted in the discovery of suspected child pornography on electronic devices. The man was arrested and turned over to the Saskatchewan Internet Child Exploitation Unit.

On April 19, the CBSA and RCMP announced the results of Project Fadduce,

IN

a joint investigation into alleged organized human smuggling in southeastern Saskatchewan. The arrests were made between the North Portal and Northgate border crossings.

The story was selected by the Estevan Mercury as one of the top 10 local stories of the year.

Other stories highlighted by the CBSA included a Calgary man who was issued a $57,000 fine following the seizure of 222 kilograms of tobacco at North Portal in 2016.

CBSA officers in Saskatchewan were on track to process more than 650,000 travellers in 2017.

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Many interesting stories in second half of 2017

From left, Jackson Kennedy, Kolter Snell and Bailey Abbott create a water channel during Beach Bash in July. dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca

The second half of the year generated many interesting stories in the community, with community events, meetings and celebrations, as well as a few arrests. Here are some of the noteworthy stories from July to December: JULY: Canada officially turned 150 on July 1, and there were many events in the region to mark the milestone. The City of Estevan held its event on June 30 so as not to interfere with the annual Canada Day festivities in Bienfait, which drew the largest crowd seen in years. The annual parade,

fireworks and other activities proved to be popular with the public. The annual Canada Day country gospel jamboree was held at the Oungre Memorial Regional Park. The Town of Midale celebrated Canada Day by reopening its swimming pool after it had been closed for nearly two years.

And the local Kinsmen and Kinettes Clubs held their annual bash at the Hillside Park.

Leisure services manager Nathan Jesse announced his resignation in early July, as he accepted a job at the University of British Columbia. Rather than hire someone to replace Jesse, the City of Estevan had three other managers in leisure services take Jesse’s

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responsibilities. Jesse had been in charge of the division since 2013.

A semi-truck collided with a train on July 4 at the railroad crossing for Highway 39 in the Roche Percee valley, and resulted in the closure of a portion of Highway 39 for several hours. The male driver of the semi, who was charged in connection with the incident, received medical treatment at the scene.

None of the train’s crew members were injured.

The annual Rotary 4-H Show and Sale was held on July 6 at the Estevan Exhibition Grounds. After two days of judging, awards were handed out, and then 43 cattle were auctioned off, with an average sale price of $3.40 per pound.

The grand champion steer was owned Outram-Madigan 4-H Club member Casie Brokenshire.

A water main replacement began on Dieppe Crescent in northwest Estevan. The work was ex-

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pected to take three weeks, but it wound up lasting for most of the summer. The previous cast iron water main had suffered numerous breaks the previous winter.

Prairie Mines & Royalty ULC, operating as Westmoreland Coal Company, pleaded guilty on July 10 to charges stemming from a workplace that occurred on Aug. 10, 2015, near Estevan. A worker suffered serious injuries after tripping on a footrest inside the cabin of a dragline excavator and falling approximately 20 feet.

The company was fined $85,714.29 plus a surcharge of $34,285.71.

The City of Estevan’s audited financial statements

Robbie Burns' Night Banquet & Dance Saturday, January 20 • Roast Beef Dinner • Piping & Highland Dancing • Music by Dave Elliot Open to the Public - Children Welcome - Bring the Whole Family

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Members of the Collins family gathering under the Collins Road sign were, from left, Curtis Johnston, Jaime Collins, Michelle Cundall (with Luke Johnston), Carol Cundall (with Connor Johnston), Bernie Collins, Catherine Collins, Isabelle Salazar-Collins, Lindsay Collins and Sheila Lerat.

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eraldine Dunne G e t t o l r a h C Michael & Jennifer Dunne (née: Doherty) would like to announce their new baby girl, Charlotte Geraldine Dunne.

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tracted more than 1,600 people. Those who attended enjoyed family activities, building sand castles and playing in the water. Entertainment was offered each day, and nighttime cabarets were well attended.

Bernie Collins was recognized for his many years of service to the community on July 31, when the City of Estevan renamed Woodlawn Avenue South as Collins Road. Collins was a long-time educator and politician in Estevan.

He had multiple terms as a city councillor in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, and served as the city’s mayor from 1985 to 1988.

He was the member of Parliament for Souris-Moose Mountain from 1993 to 1997. Family, friends and members of Estevan city council were present for the ceremony.

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for 2016 were released at the July 17 city council meeting. The city finished with a surplus of $4 million in 2016, while the net debt, based on financial assets versus liabilities, stood at $25.9 million, which was down about $2.5 million from 2015.

Dry conditions in the Estevan area forced many municipalities to impose fire bans in mid-July that would remain intermittently for much of the summer and part of the fall. The RMs of Estevan, Cambria and Benson were among those affected by the burning bans. The conditions also resulted in a significant number of grass fires for local firefighters during the second half of the year.

Woodlawn Regional Park hosted the annual Beach Bash at its Boundary Dam Beach Site on July 27 and 28, and it at-

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Wednesday, January 3, 2018

2017

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REVIEW 

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The top stories of 2017: numbers 1 to 5

By David Willberg dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca

The past year saw some significant stories in the Estevan area that shaped not only the community today, but its future direction as well. These are our choices as the top five stories of the year.

5: The future of CCS: It was a challenging year for the integrated carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility at SaskPower’s Boundary Dam Power Station. A planned shutdown was expected to last for a few weeks in June and July, but instead it stretched for three months, and ended in September.

Once it came back on-

cism after it was released in March.

There was an increase in the provincial sales tax (PST) from five per cent to six per cent, along with an end to PST exemptions for restaurant meals, insurance premiums, children’s clothing purchases and other items. The Saskatchewan Transportation Company bus line closed for good in late May, even though a replacement company wasn’t ready to step in.

Municipalities felt the pinch as well. While the government didn’t tinker with the municipal operating grants, the City of Estevan suffered a decrease because its population increase in the 2016 federal census was be-

that gone or lost,” Carr said at the time.

Funding was eventually restored to the libraries.

3. Passing lanes, not twinning: Local residents learned the future of Highways 39 and 6 from Estevan to Regina.

In the 2016 and 2017 provincial budget, the government hinted at a combination of passing lanes and twinning from Estevan to Regina, and this past July, the addition of passing lanes was confirmed.

David Marit, the provincial minister of Highways and Infrastructure, predicted there would be at least 15 sets of passing lanes between Estevan and Regina.

The passing lanes would

From the left, Quinn O’Hanlon, Myah James Kallis, Paycen Babiarz and Taisley Babiarz were among those who attended a rally to support regional libraries in Saskatchewan following cuts in the provincial budget. line, the plant operated very well, and had its best month ever in October, capturing 85,375 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

But in early November, SaskPower president Mike Marsh raised concern locally regarding whether SaskPower would recommend retrofitting Units 4 and 5 at Boundary Dam with CCS technology. Instead SaskPower might push for natural gas as a baseload power option due to affordability.

Marsh later backtracked, and Dustin Duncan, the minister responsible for SaskPower, said the Crown corporation is still deciding whether to retrofit the two units.

Duncan said he supports CCS, and the five candidates in the SaskParty’s leadership race also back CCS. 4. Provincial budget fallout: The provincial budget drew plenty of criti-

low the provincial average.

More significant was the elimination of the grants in lieu program for SaskPower and SaskEnergy.

While the government restored a third of the grants in lieu funding, the city had about a $900,000 in provincial funding in 2017.

Communities were also hit with an increase in the education portion of property tax.

Perhaps the biggest outcry, though, was a reduction in funding for the province’s regional library system, threatening the regional libraries future. Estevan MLA Lori Carr said she received more calls regarding the library cuts than any other issue in the budget.

A rally was held on April 7 in front of Carr’s constituency office.

“These people are very passionate about their libraries and what they do and the services they provide, and they don’t want to see any of

be around two kilometres in length.

Marit expects the passing lanes will significantly improve safety.

“I think we can alleviate a lot of our pressure with the passing lanes,” said Marit.

The local Time to Twin committee, which has been lobbying for twinning Highways 39 and 6 from North Portal to Regina since 2009, criticized the decision.

“It’s not going to change the fact that we have all of these semis carrying freight from North Portal through to the No. 1 Highway or Regina,” said committee co-chair Marge Young.

The two sides met in early September. After the meeting, Young said the committee was now on hiatus.

Local motorists did get some good news in late November, when the government announced that the Highway 39 twinning project east of Estevan was complete and the new set

Double lanes opened on Highway 39 east of Estevan, but it appears passing lanes are in the future for Highways 39 and 6 from Estevan to Regina. of lanes was open. Also included was relocating the junction of Highways 18 and 39, and an overpass east of the twinned lanes above a new coal haul road.

2. Teacher arrested on several charges: Troy Ruzicka, who was a shop teacher at the Estevan Comprehensive School, was arrested on a dozen sex-related charges on March 3 for crimes committed against three female students.

He was charged with five counts of child luring, three counts of sexual exploitation, and one count each of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, transmission of child pornography and accessing child pornography.

In a news release, the Estevan Police Service (EPS) said it was contacted by the South East Cornerstone Public School Division (SECPSD) on Feb. 8, regarding allegations of inappropriate conduct by Ruzicka.

“The South East Cornerstone Public School Division has co-operated fully with police throughout the investigation,” the police stated in a news release.

The most serious charge of aggravated sexual assault was reduced to a sexual assault charge, which Ruzicka pleaded guilty to, and he pleaded guilty to a second charge of sexual assault. He also pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual touching while being in a position of trust or authority, one charge of accessing child pornography, and three charges of using telecommunications to communicate with someone under 18 years of age for the purpose of committing an offence.

Ruzicka was sentenced to five years in prison on Nov. 20. He will also be subject to a 10-year firearms prohibition, and an

eight-year no-contact order for anyone under 16 years of age. He will also have to submit to a DNA order, and will be registered with the national sex offender registry for 20 years.

1. Civic’s future in doubt: The story that dominated the news in the last two months of the year was the future of the 60-year-old Civic Auditorium.

Estevan city council voted on Nov. 7 to close the arena, after receiving a structural, mechanical, electrical and architectural report from the WSP Group engineering firm. While the report cited nearly $5 million in needed renovations, the biggest concern was the state of several glulam columns on the south and northeast sides of the arena.

“If the facility owner does not intend to follow up shortly with additional structural assessment and selective replacement-reinforcing, we recommend that the public occupancy be restricted on an ongoing basis for this facility,” WSP said.

The closure forced several organizations to revamp their schedules, including Estevan Minor Hockey Association, the Estevan Figure Skating Club and local recreation hockey leagues. Many users have been forced to travel outside the city for ice time.

Estevan city council

received a report recommending closure of the building at its Nov. 20 meeting, but chose to table the motion. Several dozen people showed up at the meeting to show support for the Civic, including Warren Waldegger, a local resident and arena user.

He called the Civic closure a “knee-jerk” and “premature” reaction.

Council again tabled the closure motion on Dec. 4, after local residents paid to have a second opinion on the building. That report, by C.A. Reed and Associates, found the arena could open again, as long as necessary work is completed on the columns.

Council voted at its Dec. 18 meeting to open the Civic again for the remainder of the 2017-18 ice sports season, as long as the city receives the necessary insurance coverage. Capacity would be limited to 300 spectators, and only bleachers on the north side of the building would be used.

If the city receives the insurance, then work on the columns will take place before the building reopens.

That work should only take a few days.

A comprehensive structural survey will be completed this winter as well.

Council will revisit the building’s future in the spring.

The future of the 60-year-old Civic Auditorium was in doubt, after Estevan city council voted to close the building following the results of an engineering survey.

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Editorial A4

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Staff

SERVING CANADA’S SUNSHINE CAPITAL Publisher

Rick Sadick - rsadick@estevanmercury.ca

Editor

David Willberg - dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca

Editorial Staff:

Brian Zinchuk - brian.zinchuk@sasktel.net Corey Atkinson - sports@estevanmercury.ca William Acri - wacri@estevanmercury.ca

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Administration:

Gayle Worsnop - gayle@estevanmercury.ca Vaila Lindenbach - vlindenbach@estevanmercury.ca

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EDITORIAL

Has progress been made on impaired driving?

The final reports of 2017 from the Estevan Police Service (EPS) had a recurring theme.

Local police checked for impaired drivers through check stops, patrols and other means. But they didn’t locate any.

And in the final weeks of 2017, when Christmas parties were taking place throughout the city, and impaired driving can be a problem, police reported few such charges.

That’s not to say that some people weren’t driving while impaired, but the number of cases seemed to be down. And with the number of check stops on those weekends, and the attitude many people are taking towards impaired driving, it wouldn’t have been easy for a drunk driver to be on the roads.

While impaired driving has long been frowned upon, local attitudes towards it have really changed in the last couple of years. Local law enforcement agencies have held some of their largest check stops ever.

There have been some nights that could be classified as setbacks, such as one night last October when three motor-

From the Top of the Pile BRIAN ZINCHUK

Dear Road & Track …

I know your name is not John, but perhaps it should be. Maybe one of your columnists is named John. I don’t know.

I haven’t read any of your pages for a long time. So this letter isn’t just to that possible John, but you, collectively, as John. This is a Dear John letter.

I no longer read you while sitting on the, well, john.

A few years ago, I thought I would inspire my kids to read more. So as part of their Christmas extravaganza, I went online and subscribed to National Geographic for Katrina, and Nat Geo Kids for Spencer.

While Spencer did read his regularly, I don’t know if Katrina read one. But that was kinda okay, because I figured I would get around to reading them, too.

Now how does this concern you, Road & Track? You see, when I was liberally applying my VISA number, on magazine subscriptions, the Internet suggested I could also get a subscription to Road & Track for a very, very good deal. Popular Mechanics, too!

As a young lad, I would spend copious amounts of time standing at the newsstand at the local convenience store, first perusing the comics, then flipping through Popular

ists were arrested for impaired driving in Estevan.

And the local police chief mused early last year about the possibility of the crown seizing vehicles of motorists repeatedly arrested for impaired driving.

But it seems the number of impaired drivers has been down as of late, particularly when you compare it to the figures of two or three years ago.

Is it a reflection of a tougher stance taken by police, with more check stops in the community? Does it reflect assistance from the public, and a greater willingness to call the Report Impaired Drivers line?

Is it due to stiffer penalties introduced by the provincial government for those who insist on driving while drunk?

Or is it a reflection of all the factors listed above?

To be sure, many people will be less willing to drive while impaired if they know there’s a greater chance of getting caught, because of a check stop, or because a concerned motorist reporting them.

We have long argued for stiffer sentences for those who are caught driving while impaired. Make it tougher for them

to get their licence back. And if they’re caught again, or if their driving actions lead to a collision (particularly one that results in a fatality or injury) then the punishment should be harsh.

Yes, it’s difficult to survive in this day and age without a driver’s licence (particularly in communities in which public transit isn’t available), but deterrents need to be in place. Public safety needs to be the first priority.

If the numbers from the last few months are an indication, then maybe people are getting the message. Maybe they recognize that it’s a lot tougher to “get away with” driving while impaired.

Hopefully that’s the case, and the last few months aren’t just a statistical blip.

The numbers for 2017 as a whole will paint a better picture when they’re released early in 2018.

Now if we can only do something about the number of hit and run collisions in the city in the past couple of weeks.

And people who think they can walk long distances to other communities in frigid conditions, while not wearing the appropriate clothing.

Mechanics and Popular Science. But as I got older, and my high school required us to sell magazine subscriptions so the school could afford to send our (my) debate team to nerd (debate) tournaments, I had different interests. Now, instead of comics, I was into cars, especially since I was driving a ’67 Buick LeSabre.

Thus, at the time, I sold subscriptions to myself for Car and Driver and Road & Track.

I would read through detailed descriptions of new cars I would never be able to afford, soaking in the formula writing about understeer and grip on the skid pad. I might have been driving a car eight years older than I was, but I was still, at this point, a bit of a wheel nut.

I read your columnists, your reviews, your ads, cover-to-cover. Then I went to university, and could no longer afford renewals, or much else, for that matter.

Step forward a couple decades to December 2015, and I bought another subscription, as part of the follow-on suggestions to National Geographic. A few weeks later, my first copy arrived.

And I put it to the side.

Then another copy arrived. I think it, or maybe the third, ended up on the floor and getting stepped on and wrinkled. I don’t know how, but it did.

Eventually, a full year of magazines were delivered. I think I might have thumbed through the pages of one or two editions, but I don’t think I read one article all year.

It’s not you, Road & Track, it’s me.

I’ve changed. I’ve moved on with my life. I buy vehicles with the intention of keeping them for a decade or so. My testosterone level no longer spikes when I read about high-horsepower Bugatti or Ferrari sports

cars. That will never be my world, so I’m not fantasizing about it anymore. The Jedi aren’t my world, either, but that’s an entirely different ballgame. Don’t go there.

Yet, like an abandoned lover who hasn’t figured out the legal definition of stalking, you won’t leave me alone.

For months afterward, my dead-tree mailbox continues to be filled with your love letters. Come back to me, you seem to plead forlornly. Give me just one more chance!

I wonder, each time, if I wrote “return to sender, recipient deceased,” and dropped it back in the outgoing mail, would that end all my other mail?

Most of these love letters I have left unopened. Some went straight into the recycle bin. Others sat on my desk for several months, first. Others have been shredded.

Yet on the last mail delivery day of the year 2017, there is but another love letter from you, Road & Track. “FOR BRIAN ZINCHUK’S USE ONLY,” it says in all-caps.

“DO NOT DISCARD” is stamped there, too.

OK, fine, I’ll open it. Oh my goodness!

I can get a whole year at the “ZINCHUK RATE” of $12! And if I want to add a year of Car and Driver, it’s just $5 more! That’s like one Starbuck’s venti cappuccino! Or is it grande? Why can’t they just say “large?”

Your road tests are enticing, Road & Track. I’d like to get back into bed with you, reading before I go to sleep, but really, you just put me to sleep now. There’s no spark, no drive, to our relationship anymore.

Yours no longer truly, Brian Zinchuk Brian Zinchuk is editor of Pipeline News. He can be reached at brian.zinchuk@ sasktel.net.

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Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Should the Bruins be making trade plans?

Corey Atkinson New Material Only With one week to go until the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League trade deadline, the Power Dodge Estevan Bruins appear to be in a position of strength when it comes to their current and even future roster.

But with it being the trade deadline, virtually everyone is going to be tinkering a bit with their roster, the 22-12-2-1 first place Bruins being no exception.

In fact, there’s a more than slight possibility that the Bruins will have announced a deal of some sort between the time this is written and the time this is read. It’s just the nature of the game that Tuesdays seem to be the busiest days. Austin King-Cunningham, Arthur Miller and I think even Jayden Davis were all announced on Tuesdays, which is our absolute deadline day. As the papers are rolling off the presses, the Bruins are sorting out equipment and billeting information for their next player.

Regardless, we press on. What do the Bruins need?

Not really a lot. But everyone else will be picking up some players – even the Nipawin Hawks who are far and away in first place in the league with a 26-5-2-2 record and are an impressive 15-0-1-0 in their last 16 games.

The 24-5-2-0 Battlefords North Stars will likely get a player or two also.

So with everyone above them getting just a little bit better at least, the Bruins would be wise to pick up a couple of things – not quite a full grocery list – near the deadline.

The Bruins have been fortunate that none of their major players have been out with injury for a significant amount of time. When first line winger Michael McChesney was out for a game with a suspension against the Weyburn Red Wings Monday, the top six struggled to keep the pressure on for much of the first period and needed a big boost from the energy line.

In case the injury bug hits, (or in case a major unexpected suspension hits because this is, after all, junior hockey) a player to fit into the top six if need be and also collapse into a third line, penalty-killing role would be a valuable addition. The Bruins’ power play is second in the SJHL but the penalty killing is in the second half of the league.

They don’t necessarily need toughness. KingCunningham is the main guy to look to here, but Arthur Miller defends himself well and players like Matthew Chekay, TJ Irey and Raihan Kheraj can look after things on the ice if situations pop up. The Bruins have over 400 penalty minutes more than the more genteel Red Wings. They don’t really need too much in the way of goals, as they’ve scored 166 on the season and 40 in their last eight games.

They don’t need goaltending, as Bo Didur appears to be the real deal. His reactions are excellent, he controls rebounds well and looks eager to prove himself in every game. They don’t necessarily need an offensive blueliner, as they already have six players on the roster with 10 or more points. A stay at home defender wouldn’t hurt but they’ve already got eight players now and might not need it.

The leadership in the room seems to all be pulling in the same direction so the Bruins don’t even need a glue guy to help with that.

In all honesty, there’s no need to push all the chips into the centre of the table. This is really a very good team as it stands right now. I don’t honestly feel the team would suffer if they didn’t pick up anything over the next seven days but considering everyone else will be, it makes a certain amount of sense.

2017 2017 2017

 YEAR

IN  IN  IN REVIEW REVIEW YEAR  REVIEW YEAR 



Air show among local events « A2

AUGUST: The Rural Municipality (RM) of Estevan expressed concern with an increase in assessment facing many of its commercial and industrial businesses, who saw their property taxes increase between 200 and 500 per cent, thanks to the provincial reassessment and an increase in the education portion of property tax. The reassessment is based on property tax values for Jan. 1, 2015, but many properties have gone down in value since then due to the economic slowdown. Reassessment didn’t reflect that trend.

The higher reassessment represented another blow for the businesses.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall announced on Aug. 10 that he would be retiring from provincial politics once a new leader of the Saskatchewan Party is found in January 2018. Wall has been the province’s premier since November 2007. His announcement created tremendous speculation on who would replace him. Estevan MLA Lori Carr praised Wall for his tenure as premier and his service to the province.

The Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion revealed at the Aug. 14 meeting of city council that is was facing significant financial issues. The legion had $16,000 in longer-term debts and another $8,000 in accounts payable, after the legion had been writing cheques it couldn’t meet. The legion has since taken measures to correct the financial problems, and it received significant donations from the community that allowed it to alleviate the financial strains.

Nathan Russell Mullen was sentenced on Aug. 16 to eight years in prison for manslaughter, stemming from the death of his former partner, Leslie Erin Dwyre. She was found dead in 2014 in an apartment she shared with Mullen. He was credited with double time served for the 40 months he had already spent incarcerated, meaning he has already been credited with 80 months of the 96-month sentence. He must also serve two-thirds of the remaining 16 months.

The provincial government announced the creation of the new Protection and Response Team (PRT) in August to aid with reducing crime in rural Saskatchewan. The PRT will consist of 258 armed officers who will have arrest and detention powers. The committee’s report calls for a total of 120 police officers to come from RCMP and municipal police services, along with 40 commercial vehicle enforcement officers and 98 conservation officers.

SEPTEMBER: Several events were held in conjunction with the annual Estevan Pro Rodeo during the Labour Day long weekend, including the SMILE Services Estevan Parade, the Dirty Dozen

The Vanguard Squadron performed a number of tandem aerial manoeuvres at the Living Skies Airshow in September.

Mud Run, the light horse show and the annual ranch rodeo.

Students returned to school following summer vacation on Sept.

5, and enrolment numbers varied throughout the division. The South East Cornerstone Public School Division had 8,277 students, as of Sept.

30, which was up from 8,226 on Sept.

30, 2016. Hillcrest School was at 114 students, Pleasantdale School had 202 students, Spruce Ridge School boasted 424 students, and Westview School had 193 students. The Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Division had 1,319 students registered, as of Sept. 30, which was down from 1,326 students the year before. Sacred Heart School/École Sacré Coeur had 367 students, while St. Mary’s School was at 270 students. The Estevan Comprehensive School, which has students from South East Cornerstone and Holy Family, had 735 students.

Karry Biette pleaded guilty to one count of dangerous driving causing death and one count of dangerous driving causing bodily harm on Sept.

8, and was sentenced to two years in prison at the penitentiary in Prince Albert. The other charges he was facing – including impaired driving causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm and criminal negligence causing death – were stayed. The pleas stemmed from a fatal collision in October 2015.

The Souris Valley Theatre’s season wrapped up with a performance of Wildwood Fire, a tribute to June Carter Cash, from Sept. 7 to 9. The theatre had two mainstage shows, Fitz Happens and Dogbarked, which ran in June and July, respectively.

A Soldier’s War, which was a twoday show honouring the Canadian Forces, ran in early July and drew rave reviews. The theatre also hosted a ladies’ night in July, a performance

by Brad Johner and the Johner Boys in August, and teamed up with the Woodlawn Regional Park for a visit

by Saskatchewan Express. The theatre also held summer camps for youths.

Estevan city council announced at its Sept. 11 meeting a desire to annex land from the rural municipality of Estevan. The city wants to annex parcels

to the north and the east of the city, due to projected long-term growth of the city, as well as concerns about future developments in the affected areas.

The RM, though, has opposed the proposal, citing its desire to protect the interests of its ratepayers. Nearly 40 people attended a public meeting hosted by the city in late September, and most of them voiced their opposition to the proposal. The issue came up again at a council meeting on Oct. 23. A resolution has yet to be reached.

The second annual Living Skies Air Show drew a large crowd to the Estevan Airport on Sept. 17. An estimated crowd of between 1,500 and 2,000 people watched six different performers, who not only showcased their aerial abilities, but also the abilities of their planes. Numerous other airplanes were on display for people to view before and after the airshow.

The Estevan Showcase Business Expo was held at the Power Dodge Ice Centre from Sept. 21 to 23. After being held at Affinity Place from 2011 to 2016, Showcase moved back to the ice centre in 2017 because exhibitors were concerned about the arena floor covering used at Affinity Place.

Exhibitors seemed pleased with the change, and so it appears the switch will be permanent.

The Estevan Kinsmen Club hosted a three-on-three ball hockey tournament at the new Kin Hillside Playpark on Sept. 28 and 29. Ten teams entered the competition, which was viewed as a success. Teams left raving about the facility, which opened earlier in 2017, and can host a variety of sports.

OCTOBER: The Estevan Chamber of Commerce hosted a luncheon on Oct. 4 that offered information on the potential impact of the proposed small business tax changes brought forward by the federal government. Josh Shankowsky and Scott Assman from MNP offered in-depth explanations of the changes and how they could affect businesses, and answered questions from the audience. Many at the meeting voiced opposition and concern with the changes, which were later amended.

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Cornerstone board learns more about student supports

The South East Cornerstone Public School Division’s (SECPSD) board heard a presentation on supports for student wellbeing and wellness during the board’s final meeting of 2017 on Dec. 20.

Cheryl Anderson, the co-ordinator of student services, explained why the school division is focusing on this initiative, the initial steps that have been taken and future plans.

In studying the data in the Our School report, the division says it is aware that it has students with moderate to high levels of anxiety, as reported by approximately 25 per cent of students in grades 4-12.

This was evident through students’ responses, via a four-point rating scale, to statements such as, “I worry about what other students think about me,” “I am too fearful or nervous,” “I worry about

people laughing at me,” or “I worry about a teacher asking me a question.”

A comparison of three years of data showed that the range in the anxiety figures for all grade levels has remained relatively constant with Grades 4-8, ranging from 20-26 per cent for 2014-15, to 20-24 per cent for 2016-17.

Grades 7-12 ranged from 19-26 per cent for 2014-15 to 19-25 per cent for 2016-17. Within the system plan, it has also been determined that supports for developing a positive sense of belonging and a positive sense of relationships will be targeted.

The percentages of students in Grades 4-8 and in Grades 7-12 for the period of 2014-15 to 2016-17, with a positive sense of belonging has been increasing, with Grades 4-8 now at 75-83 per cent and Grades 7-12 at 67-77 per cent.

Some indicators are survey responses to statements such as: “I make friends easily at school,” “I feel accepted for whom I am,” “School is a place where I feel like I belong,” and “I feel accepted by other kids my age.”

The numbers with respect to students in Grades 4-8 with a positive sense of relationships has seen a slight increase over the past three years, with the percentage for 2016-17 being 85-88 per cent as opposed to 80-88 per cent in 2014-15.

For Grades 7-12, the numbers have gone from 74-78 per cent in 2014-15, to 72-77 per cent in 201516, and finally to 70-80 per cent for 2016-2017.

This relates to responses to the question “Do you have close friends at school that you can trust?” Students were also evaluated based on answers to such statements as “I talk to a

friend at school about my feelings,” “I get along with others at school” and “I listen to my friends when making decisions.”

“In order to reach our graduation goal we know we must focus on student wellbeing,” said Anderson.

“Safety, sense of belonging and positive relationships need to be in place before impactful learning takes place.”

She stated that although the general perception in community may be that graduation is Grade 12, the process actually starts the minute students step into the doors for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, and that the ultimate end goal is graduation.

Some of the main actions that the division is undertaking are researching programs and promoting effective practices in developing wellness in students through looking at what

other school divisions are doing, researching a system wide plan around wellness, developing a committee to discuss staff wellness and at present, having three schools pilot the Canadian Mental Health Literacy Curriculum resource in Grade 9 health or Grade 10 wellness.

The division’s plan of action includes mental health first aid training, which was held this month for all of the Grade 9 health teachers, through a partnership with mental health who provided two trainers who taught six modules, including self-harm, eating disorders and anxiety. In addition, the Ministry of Education offered school divisions a grant to a maximum of $8,000 to provide the training, which will help with mileage and substitute costs.

Anderson noted that some of the east schools

also got together and provided training for staff.

In addition, Anderson will meet on Jan. 31 with division counsellors regarding the creation of wellness walls in schools. Further, a professional development hub was provided through an online delivery model incorporating teacher choice.

The hub has been set up for teachers to support their professional growth plans and to support school improvement plans.

SECPSD is very pleased to have the support of the Weyburn and Estevan Police Services in bringing three valuable presentations focusing on safety to students in the coming months: Kids on the Block (for kindergarten-Grade 5), Tad Milmine’s Bullying Ends Here (for Grades 6-11 in March) and Before You Hit Send (focusing on Grades 4-6, 7-8 and 9-12, starting in February).

Small business income threshold has gone up Saskatchewan’s small business owners now have the highest income threshold in Canada.

Individual Saskatch-

ewan taxpayers are also benefitting from a full year of the lower personal income tax rates introduced last July, for a savings of

more than $120 million in 2018.

The provincial small business income threshold – the amount of income up

to which small businesses pay tax at the much lower two per cent small business tax rate – went up from $500,000 to $600,000 on Jan. 1 “A higher income threshold provides small businesses with an incentive to hire more workers and invest new capital right here in Saskatchewan, supporting our government’s growth agenda,” Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said.

“Meanwhile, Saskatchewan’s 12 per cent corporate income tax rate continues to be competitive and among the lowest in the country, further enhancing our province’s significant

advantages when attracting new investment and jobs.”

Also in 2018, Saskatchewan residents will benefit for an entire calendar year from lower provincial personal income tax rates, which dropped half a percentage point effective July 1, 2017.

“Lower personal taxes help to create jobs and attract people to our province by improving Saskatchewan’s tax competitiveness,” Harpauer said.

Saskatchewan personal income tax rates will drop by another half point on July 1, 2019. These rate reductions will save a single Saskatchewan taxpayer, with no dependents and an

annual income of $50,000, about $77 per year in each of 2018, 2019 and 2020.

As a result of these tax reductions, an individual’s 2020 Saskatchewan personal income tax will be $308, lower than their 2016 Saskatchewan personal income tax. Similarly, a married couple with two children and an annual family income of $100,000, will save about $117 per year in each of 2018, 2019 and 2020.

This family’s 2020 Saskatchewan Personal Income Tax will be $468 lower than their 2016 Saskatchewan Personal Income Tax as a result of these tax reductions.

Vermillion donates to the Tankard From left, Randy McGillicky and Sheila McGillicky with the 2018 SaskTel Tankard committee, Vermillion Energy representatives Shane Pollock, Kolleen Schopp, Jason Dalziel and Lisa May, and Tankard committee representatives Pauline Ziehl Grimsrud and Helen Fornwald participate in a cheque presentation for $1,000 from Vermillion to the Tankard. Vermillion will be 12-foot bronze sponsor for its contribution. Photo submitted

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Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Literacy group celebrates winter with seasonal activities

By William Acri

wacri@estevanmercry.ca

The cold weather has arrived and the Estevan Area Literacy Group (EALG) is making the winter a bit more bearable by creating programs that parents can bring the children to.

Winter Wonderland, Battle of the Books, Growing Strong and a baby program are just a few of the events the literacy group has planned for this winter.

The Winter Wonderland event was held on Friday, and EALG coordinator Kim Marshall described it as a great success, with no vacant spots.

“The kids for Winter Wonderland to the library and came played Roll The Snowman, which is a sort of dice game, then we will read a story to the children,” said Marshall.

“The last activity for Winter Wonderland is ... build a miniature snowman using baking soda. Similar to the thaw we have in the spring they will use vinegar to melt the snowman,” she added.

The snowman-themed games and activities are new and haven’t been done before, and Marshall said she likes to provide a good variety of programming to the children.

“The idea for the melting snowman I saw online and I have found ideas online before for other programs we have offered,” she added.

Marshall said the recipe she created should make enough for three small snowmen per person. She

From left, William Duncan, Jacob Pyra and Isabela Pyra attended the Winter Wonderland event at the Estevan Public Library. The trio was making snowmen with baking soda, salt and water. believes the kids would love the melting part of the event since kids always seem to enjoy a good science experiment.

There are other activates throughout the winter and they depend month-to-month or weekto-week, noted Marshall, because it is hard to predict how many people will show up.

The baby program starts Jan. 4 and it is designed for new moms or expecting moms.

“We have different activities they can do with their babies, the program

breaks down month by month as the baby develops,” said Marshall.

Growing Strong is a program that is aimed at parents with slightly older children.

“We have Growing Strong program that is starting January 5th and that program is designed for kids up to the age of six and parents are invited as well,” said Marshall.

“That program is more aimed at building social and emotional aspects of your child such as parenting techniques and different things like that.”

Marshall said that as a literacy group, they have book-reading programs running with the various schools in the area and a major event coming up is the Battle of the Books.

“January is the month that our Battle of the Books begins, the kids are going to get a chance to register and the event has always been popular with students throughout the years,” said Marshall.

“The actual books are handed out in January and the actual battle happens March 29 and is for Grades 5 and 6,” she added.

The children form teams of up to four kids, and they will be given 10 books per team. The students are then given some comprehension questions on March 29.

“A winner from the battle is chosen and rewarded with a trophy and then the kids go back to school for the afternoon.

Moreover each individual team gets a trophy as well,” said Marshall.

Battle of the Books is one of the personal fa-

Marco and Chowsey Lin Zhang were at the Estevan Public Library for a family games day. The library hosted the games days on Dec. 27 and 28, in which anyone could bring their children to the library and utilize the library’s resources.

In Memory of

Dennis David Moe July 18, 1944 - January 5, 2009

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.

In Loving Remembrance, Linda, Jordan and The Moe Families

J

Library events popular with children

Even Messer mixes baking soda with water to make snowmen that would be later melted with vinegar. vourites for Marshall, who noted that it is also one of the kids’ favourites as well.

The EALG, aside from its larger events has much

smaller ones going on throughout the winter and parents and children are encouraged to utilize its resources to their benefit.

us in welcomin oin g

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Win a Free Baby Prize Package from Local Merchants A special Babies of 2017 section will appear in the January 17, 2018 issue of The Estevan Mercury.

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Telethon eclipsed its goal « A5 The company that provides waste and recycling services to many municipalities and businesses in southeast Saskatchewan, including Estevan, was sold in 2017. Green for Life (GFL) Environmental Inc. purchased the Regens Group, which includes Regens Disposal, from the Baniulis family. The deal was announced in a letter sent to Regens customers in early October. Terms of the purchase were not released.

Local residents learned on Oct. 10 that the Estevan Sears Hometown store, located on Fourth Street, would close, after Sears Canada was given the green light to liquidate all of its remaining stores and assets. Liquidation across the country started on Oct. 19 and was expected to wrap up in late 2017 or early 2018.

Royal Canadian Legion members from across Saskatchewan were in Estevan from Oct. 13 to 16 for the 49th biennial provincial convention. It was the first time Estevan has hosted the gathering, which attracted more than 100 delegates.

The recruitment and retention of new legion members received a lot of attention, continuing a trend from previous years. Delegates also

heard a variety of speeches, attended socials and meetings, and participated in a parade from the legion to the cenotaph near the Estevan Court House.

The 2017 Estevan Business Excellence Awards were handed out at a gala supper on Oct. 20, and Brent Gedak Welding was the big winner, taking home the Business of the Year Award, as well as the growth and expansion award. Several other awards were handed out during the evening. Turnbull Excavating was inducted into the Nick and Verna Morsky Business Hall of Fame.

The United Way Estevan surpassed its goal during its 33-hour fundraising telethon on Oct. 27 and 28, as it raised $350,315, which marked one of the highest totals in the telethon’s 41year history. The goal of $325,000 was eclipsed with about three hours remaining in the broadcast. The money raised will benefit the United Way’s 15 member agencies and two community partners. There was plenty of entertainment throughout the broadcast, and people from the community donated time and talents in a variety of capacities.

The Estevan Police Service announced that

Evan Garrow, a 27-year-old Estevan resident, had been charged in connection with an armed robbery that occurred in 2015. Garrow was charged with armed robbery, committing an offence while his face was masked or covered, and theft of a motor vehicle worth more than $5,000. Garrow is also facing unrelated charges for uttering death threats and intimidating a court witness.

NOVEMBER: The Estevan Lions Club hosted the 5SKS fall convention in early November, with Lions Club members hearing speeches on a variety of topics regarding to the organization. Among the highlights was club member Nancy Brodeur being recognized for her service, and Dr. Jacqueline Maurice discussing her experiences through the ‘60s Scoop.

Souris-Moose Mountain MP Robert Kitchen announced he would seek the Conservative Party’s nomination for the 2019 federal election. Kitchen was elected decisively for the first time in the 2015 federal election, and said he has concerns over the Liberals policies on agriculture and the energy sector.

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Sports A9

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Bruins take two wins from Red Wings

By Corey Atkinson sports@estevanmercury.ca

The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins came out of the Christmas break looking to re-take control of their division, and they did just that in a pair of wins against Weyburn.

The Bruins (22-12-2-1) defeated the Weyburn Red Wings (19-13-3-0) 5-1 Saturday night in Weyburn and then 5-2 Monday afternoon at Affinity Place.

“We’ve been waiting for these two games for awhile,” said Tanner Manz, who scored once in Weyburn and added two more on New Year’s Day. “It was a big rivalry weekend and I’m just glad we got two big wins and got the good rivalry going again.”

Manz opened the scoring at 5:27 of the first period Monday with help from linemates Jayden Davis and Tyson Manz. The trio has combined to form a buzzing energy line since Davis was sent back from the Western Hockey League.

“I love our line and it’s clicking pretty good,” said Tanner Manz.

“We’ve used those guys at the start of every period…

Bruins forward Hayden Guilderson tries to work the puck around Weyburn defenceman Jevon Schwean Monday at Affinity Place. since the break,” said Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood.

“They get us off to a good start every time. At the end of the day, those guys are reliable players, they have offensive upside and it intimidates other teams when you have those guys coming at you first shift of the period.”

The teams traded goals

in the first and second periods, with Kaelan Holt scoring on a power play at 14:00 of the first. The Bruins and Wings went into the third period tied 2-2 when Tanner Manz scored his second goal less than a minute into the period. Hayden Guilderson scored at 2:18 and then on a power play, Jake Fletcher put the game away at 12:12.

“We got a quick one

there and put them back on their heels,” said Tanner Manz.

Saturday, the Bruins got goals from Manz, Aigne McGeady-Bruce, Davis, Holt and Arthur Miller but lost Michael McChesney to an interference major and a suspension that carried into Monday. Bo Didur stopped 22 shots Saturday and 28 Monday in the two

wins. The two big rivalry games right after Christmas is something the Bruins have become used to over the years.

“All those things are relative and the beauty is the other team’s got the exact same thing,” said Lewgood. “I think it mitigates some of the hangover from Christmas, figuratively speaking… but the fact that

it’s a rivalry game and it’s an emotional game is going to get rid of some of the mental lapses you might see after a long break. They show up eager to win.”

The Bruins next action is Friday and Saturday at home this weekend when they take on the Melfort Mustangs at 7:30 p.m. Friday and the Humboldt Broncos at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Bruins alumni battle each other on New Year’s Day

By Corey Atkinson sports@estevanmercury.ca

For some of these players, it was only a few years ago they would have played in the Gerry Aspen Cup for the old Estevan Bruins’ black and gold game but on New Year’s Day, they skated up for black and gold teams as Bruins’ alumni.

By the end of Monday’s game at Affinity Place, the gold team came back to win 8-7 but few off the ice were counting the score. The players on the ice still had the skills that many would have forgotten about over the decades. Bienfait’s Chris Hammett plays over30 recreational hockey but still possesses an enviable dangle and wrist shot and scored three second half goals in this game.

“It was a lot of fun and we try to do this every year,” said Hammett, who scored 10 goals and 15 assists over two seasons from 2003-2005. “Typically it’s against Weyburn and we try to get their alumni and our

Team Black’s Kyle Stroh skates away with the puck Monday afternoon at Affinity Place against Chris Hammett (12 gold), Kyle Garagan (7 gold) and with Murray Saloway (14 black). alumni. Last year it didn’t work out, so we thought with the New Year’s Day game being in Estevan, let’s get the alumni together and just have alumni versus alumni. It’s just great seeing these guys from differ-

Let’s find these guys their “Fur-ever Homes” and let me help you find your “For Ever Home”

LORNA PYLYCHATY

306-421-6847

ent generations.”

Players from as far back as the 1970s and early 1980s like Bruce Firth, Kevin Pastachak and Blaine Chrest were out with players who just suited up a few years ago, like Colton

MacPherson and Derek Tendler.

“We like to have this alumni give back to the Bruins’ organization,” said Hammett. “We do the golf tournament every summer and we just like giving back

to the hockey club.”

The alumni association has kept a lot of the players together and contributing, according to Riley Tetreault, who learned a lot from the likes of Karry Biette, Ambrose Hengen,

The beautiful Barb is done with her babies and ready to settle into her own home now that the holidays have passed! Her adoption is partially sponsored due to the generosity of an EHS supporter.

Blu boy has returned from foster care and continues his search for the perfect home! In the meantime he is trying to stay clothed and cozy at the shelter.

His ideal home would be as an only fur kid with no fuzzy felines or with another compatible dog.

1339 Fourth Street, Estevan

306-634-1020 Border Real Estate Service

*Each office independently owned and operated

Steve Godfrey and Firth.

“The younger guys like (Kyle) Garagan, Payden (Benning) and myself are sort of stepping in,” Tetreault said. “But they’re the ones who set the good example for us.”

Spayed and neutered pets are much happier pets.

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

CALL ESTEVAN HUMANE SOCIETY

306.634.3444

A10 January 3, 2018

2017

 YEAR



Estevan Mercury

IN

REVIEW 



Sports year in review for 2017, part II The second half of 2017 saw some interesting developments and a lot of interesting events that took place within Estevan and area.

Here are only a few of them: JULY: Gregg Mann won the street stocks event on Canada Day at the Estevan Motor Speedway coming back from a flat tire. Riley Raynard won the hobby stocks and Travis Hagen won the modifieds. Almost a couple of weeks later at the Kupper Chevrolet Dakota Classic Modified Tour, a sudden rainstorm delayed the evening significantly. But the fans who stuck it out – and there were still a lot of them for the modified feature race – saw some new faces pick up the trophies at the end.

Johnny Scott of Arroyo Hondo, N.M., won the modifieds race and Ricky Thornton Jr. - normally a modifieds driver – won the stocks race.

The best young golfers in Western Canada were in

the field at the Golf Canada Acura FutureLinks Prairie Championship. Ryan McMillan and Chaewon Baek are off to their respective Canadian junior championships after winning the FutureLinks competition.

McMillan, a 17-year-old Winnipeg-based golfer, hit a sizzling 68 Thursday on the final day of the three day tournament. The best local score was Jayden Dudas, 14, who was tied for 18th with a three-day score of 235, 24 strokes behind McMillan.

He hit an opening round 73, and had he hit another couple of those he’d be in contention to win at his young age.

The South Energy, a combined team of Estevan Voltz and Weyburn Thrashers, started the provincial peewee box lacrosse tournament with a 4-1 win over the Swift Current Blue. Nathan Wagstaff scored two and Noel Englot and Chase Foord got single goals. In the bronze medal game, the Energy

Gregg Mann goes to the lower track at the Estevan Motor Speedway. Mann won the season’s points race for the street stock class.

Estevan’s Hallie Hanson (red) and Swift Current’s Juliana Whalen (blue) go for the ball at Woodlawn Field. fell 6-4 to the Regina Rush.

The Southeast Performance Pump Twins midget AAA baseball team swept a pair of games against the Northwest Prairie Pirates at Lynne Prime Park just a couple of weeks before provincials. “They were spot on,” said Twins assistant coach Kent Phillips of pitchers Brett MacMurchy and Ryan Gaab. “They hit their spots and they weren’t falling behind the batters at all.

That’s huge when you can jump ahead right away.”

The Estevan Elite squirt girls softball team got some timely good pitching and a consistent effort in making the Saskatchewan Softball Association’s Squirt B Girls final at the Pleasantdale Softball Diamonds. Through scorching hot temperatures that went well into the 30s

Saturday and Sunday – and occasional water breaks – the Elite lost 15-1 in the final to the Battlefords Bandits, having finally ran out of gas. And there was no discouragement at all from the Elite, no matter what the score was. As is girls softball tradition, the singing and encouraging chanting was nearly constant from the bench as they batted and played the field.

The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins hired Carter Duffin as an assistant coach/ marketing manager. “Chris (Lewgood, head coach and general manager) has done a fantastic job over the last few years in building a winning organization,” Duffin said. “And to have the opportunity to come be a part of that really excited me. To gain Chris as a mentor for a

young coach like myself is really exciting.”

With only three secondyear players and eight rookies, the Southeast Athletics bantam AAA baseball team played down a level after the regular season and found the success that had eluded them against the older AAA players. The Athletics won a silver medal and in the gold medal game, tried to come back but left the tying run on first base to end the game 9-8 for Lloydminster.

The Twins, meanwhile, finished provincials in Estevan without a win but the season was a lot closer than the result would indicate. After a 12-2 opening loss to the Saskatoon Diamondbacks, they suffered an 8-7 loss to the Regina White Sox and a

Zoey Thompson throws a pitch at squirt provincials for the Estevan Elite.

13-11, nine-inning loss to the Regina Wolfpack. “That was one we had to win and the boys knew it too, and it just wasn’t falling for us,” said Twins coach Blaine Kovach of the loss to the White Sox. “Maybe if something different had happened earlier in the tournament, we could have been playing Sunday.”

The Saskatoon Cubs won 2-1 over the Muenster Red Sox in the gold medal game.

AUGUST: The Estevan Tower Wolves won the Saskota League title with a successful Harbourne Cup tournament victory. The gold medal game was against the Oxbow Chiefs. In two games against each other in the regular season, the Tower Wolves had outscored the Chiefs 20-10 and won both games. The Tower Wolves defeated the Oxbow 6-5 in the Harbourne Cup final.

Local motocross racers only had the one stop of their circuit in Estevan this year, but well over 100 came out to enjoy the hot day at the track, according to organizers.

“We had about 140 entries,” said local organizer Bryce Friess of the South Corner Racing Circuit event, which took place at the track a few kilometres southeast of the city.

A11 » GOLF

City Hall: 1102 4th Street 8 am to 4:30 pm | (306) 634-1800 Leisure Office: 701 Souris Avenue 8 am to 4:30 pm | (306) 634-1880

Message From

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

The Mayor

LAND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Wishing all the citizens of Estevan the very best of the holiday season as well as a healthy, prosperous new year.

WEIGHT ROOM MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

6:00 AM - 10:00 PM 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM

FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

6:00 AM - 9:00 PM 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM

DROP IN RECREATION

ICE SKATING SCHEDULE

EFFECTIVE - December 23, 2017 - January 5, 2017

OUTDOOR (SUNDAYS) - FREE FOR EVERYONE KINSMEN RINK

Warm up shack, change room and washrooms. Outdoor lights. Children under 10 years of age must be under direct supervision of a parent or guardian 16 years of age or older. Helmets are strongly recommended for all participants. Keep pucks down on the boarded rinks to prevent injury to spectators and players.

RUSTY DUCE RINK

Warm up shack, change room and washrooms. Outdoor lights. Children under 10 years of age must be under direct supervision of a parent or guardian 16 years of age or older. Helmets are strongly recommended for all participants. Keep pucks down on the boarded rinks to prevent injury to spectators and players.

WESTVIEW RINK

Warm up shack and change room. Outdoor lights. Children under 10 years of age must be under direct supervision of a parent or guardian 16 years of age or older. Helmets are strongly recommended for all participants. Keep pucks down on the boarded rinks to prevent injury to spectators and players.

800 Block of George Street 10:00 am - 9:30 pm

1300 Block of Nicholson Road 10:00 am - 9:30 pm

1700 Block of 1st Street 10:00 am - 9:30 pm

Opening dates vary depending on the weather Typically it takes three to ve centimeters of snow and an extended period of cold weather to make the rinks. Rinks will be closed if temperatures lead to melting and ponding.

FALL/WINTER PROGRAMS

@The Souris Valley Museum

I Am..

Ages 3-4 l $5.00 per session l 10:30am -11:30am Jan. 19 l Feb. 16 l Mar. 9 l Apr. 20 l May 18

The City of Estevan is searching for a talented senior level Manager who can provide superior customer service, adapt quickly to a challenge, and wants to be part of a growing community.

Position Title: Land Development Manager Reports To: City Manager Business Division: Land Development Services Summary: The successful applicant will lead, manage, supervise and co-ordinate all Land Development Services Division of the City of Estevan. The Land Development Manager will focus on the following duties: • Manages, Supervises and co-ordinates Land Development Services.

• Administers the Development Plan & Zoning Bylaw.

• Researches and prepares bylaws, policies, plans and regulatory proposals for Land Planning and Development activities.

• Delivery and maintenance of urban planning programs and services such as: - Current Planning practices - Processing and issuing of property/zoning compliance certificates - Coordinating the planning and design of City initiated land developments • Manages City land sales.

• Responds to requests for information and investigates complaints and/or bylaw infractions.

• Responsible for preparation and negotiation of development and service agreements, designs and concept plans.

• Responsible for the enforcement of the land use bylaws, development permit conditions and servicing agreements.

• Assists the public and associate staff members with Business Division records, bylaws, policies and procedures.

• Responsible for the overview of development permit, rezoning and subdivision process.

• Assists in developing and implementing Community Economic Development and Tourism/Marketing strategies for the City.

• Acts as liaison with Federal, Provincial and Local Government Officials, City Solicitor, Consultants, Customers and Members of Boards and Committees.

• Participates in the appointment, training, appraisal, promotion, demotion, transfer or dismissal of staff.

• Attend meetings of Council and Council Committees as assigned and participates in the exchange of information and providing guidance and advice.

• Drafts correspondence resulting from decisions of Council.

• Provides advice on Building upgrades.

• Acts as Secretary to the Estevan Development Appeals Board.

• Other duties as assigned REQUIRED EDUCATION & TRAINING • University Degree in Urban Planning recognized by the Canadian Institute of Planners.

• Membership or eligibility for membership into the Canadian Institute of Planners • Proficiency in Microsoft Office • Proficiency in AutoCAD Map 3D • Valid Class 5 Driver’s License EXPERIENCE AND ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS • Training with AutoCAD Civil 3D would be an asset • Five (5) years Municipal Experience • Five (5) years Project Management Experience • Superior leadership, interpersonal and organizational abilities • Superior oral and written communication skills • Experience in Subdivision design preferred APPLICATION DEADLINE This position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.

The City of Estevan offers a competitive salary and an outstanding benefits package.

For further information or to apply, please contact: Sheryl March,Human Resource Generalist 1102-4th Street, Estevan, SK S4A 0W7 • Ph: (306) 634-1841 • Fax: (306) 634-9790 • apply@estevan.ca We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

PAVERPOL - BEGINNER When: Saturday, January 13, 2018 9am – 4:30pm Where: Art Room, Leisure Centre Who: Loretta Metzger – www.xplorepaverpol.com Cost: $115.00 What: Learn this new cloth sculpting medium and technique.

No School Workshops Ages 5-12 l $10.00 - $15.00 per workshop l Ages 5-7: 10am - 12pm l Ages 8-12: 1pm - 3pm Jan. 31 l Mar. 16 l Apr. 30

Winter Camps Winter Wonderland l Ages 3-5 l Feb. 20-22 l 10am - 12pm l $30.00 Inventions Camp l Ages 6-10 l Feb. 20-23 l 1pm - 4pm l $50.00

For More information Contact Us at 306-634-5543

Find us on  Follow us on 

Brought to you by: The Estevan Arts Council “promoting the arts in our community” **Pre-Registration & Payment Required: You can call (306-634-3942), email (estevanartscouncil@sasktel.net) or drop into the office at the Leisure Centre.

www.estevanmercury.ca

2017

 YEAR



January 3, 2018 A11

IN

REVIEW 



Golf, football and other sports in summer and early fall

SEPTEMBER: Hundreds of people came out for both days of rodeo Labour Day long weekend at the Canadian Cowboys Association Rodeo at the Estevan Exhibition Grounds. Stands were packed for all of the events, and participation was high for all of the weekend’s events at the Exhibition Grounds. Cowboys and cowgirls were trying to earn cash and points for the annual CCA Finals rodeo and entertained the local crowd while doing so.

The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs football team played a controlled scrimmage with the Weyburn Eagles. The teams agreed to play two or three 10-play drives, with no special teams and no blitzing or hitting the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. This allowed the coaches to see the offence and defence for extended periods of time.

Two days of rain in the Estevan area turned the Enduro Race at the Estevan Motor Speedway into a war of attrition – with very few able to survive without getting caught. The race, which features 150 laps or an hour and a half of racing with no one allowed from

to the many volunteers who helped with our programs this past year Meals on Wheels organizations, businesses and spare drivers

St. Paul’s United Church Trinity Lutheran Church St. Peter’s Lutheran Church St.Giles Anglican Church St. John the Baptist Church Estevan Gospel Chapel Church of God Church of Christ Estevan Alliance Church RBC Royal Bank TD Bank Group Scotia Bank CIBC Affinity Credit Union Investors Group Elks Lodge No.113

Estevan Oilwives Rotary of Estevan Southern Plains Co-op Sobeys MNP TEML Remax Realty Century 21 Border Real Estate Coldwell Banker Choice Real Estate Kohaly Elash Ludwig Law Firm McGillicky Oilfield Supplies Community Advocates for Employment

SPARE DRIVERS: Sharon Rae Brenda Piippo Doreen Hagen Joanne Weisgerber Anita Kjersem Monica Mackenzie Bev Hickie Paul Radomski Bob Abernethy Tom & Beth More John & Marg Dyck Ken & Rose Harder Don & Lynn Kindopp Cathy Tocker & Peggy Kawecki Barb McLaren & Arnie Zimmerman

Friendly Visitors, Errand Helpers, Palliative Volunteers and Local and Long-distance Drivers

John Johnson Tom More Pat Filz Joe Claude Robert Abernethy

Lydia Wanner Monica Mackenzie Elaine Hjorteland Joy Beahm Marian Weber

Colleen MacMillan Kendra Fai Carol Zacharias-Louttit Lori Loewen Maureen Arthur Rika Seymour

God's blessings to you and yours in 2018 HOME CARE SOUTH - ESTEVAN

Jace Carlisle of Estevan Comprehensive School lines up a putt on the 18th green at TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course.

CLEARANCE SALE

standings a the top of the categories. Zach Lutz won the hobby stocks, Gregg Mann won the street stocks and Joey Galloway won the modifieds. “These guys seem to find something a little extra,” Estevan’s Mann said. “The track’s been unreal and I give credit to the guys that have been working on the track. It really throws some grip to it.”

JANUARY

took place at the Estevan Exhibition Grounds.

“It went very smoothly,” said event organizer Lindsay Collins. “We were extremely happy with everything from the sponsors to the number of contestants that came out. It was a great turnout.”

Nolan Rohatyn won the Woodlawn Golf Course’s 2017 men’s championship with a two-day total of 145, while Meghan Betner won the women’s title with a two-day score of 164.

After a very successful inaugural season, the Southside Slammers U16 girls softball team won the consolation final at nationals in Delta. B.C. They went to the consolation side after a 1-5 round robin. “There, we played Calgary Kaizen first game and we beat them 6-0,” Slammers coach Trent Walter said. “Then, in the final against Manitoba Thunder, we beat them 5-4 in an extra inning. We fought our way back and we ended up strong at the end.”

The Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football season got underway with registration and handing out equipment. League president Paul Duncan expected a 10 per cent increase in numbers for the year. “We’ve had some years where it’s been pretty scarce for players,” Duncan said. “But now, I think the bantam team, which has always been the program that’s had the least amount of kids, I think we have 26-27. We had been sitting around that 20-21 mark.”

Championship night at the Estevan Motor Speedway saw the titles handed out after a year of close

ANNUAL

Grayson Auger of the Century 21 Estevan pee wee Chargers carries the ball against the Weyburn Eagles Saturday in Weyburn

the previous Estevan Motor Speedway racing season in the hobby stocks, street stocks or modifieds, is the annual year-end event at the track, but few of those could possibly have been muddier. “A win is a win.

Two years in a row, too,” said race winner Dwain McKnight. “You had to just run the high line, that’s all you can do. Find the groove and stay to it as best you can.”

The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins swept the Melville Millionaires to kick off the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season winning 4-2 at Affinity Place and 5-1 in Melville. “We didn’t play that well tonight, but once we get all three or four lines going, we’re going to be a deadly team,” Bruin forward Michael McChesney said after their 4-2 win. “I think with a successful pre-season guys were expecting things to come a little easier and it was just a reminder not to get down on yourselves and manage your emotions. For the most part, I thought the guys had the right mindset,” said Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood.

The Estevan Minor Box Lacrosse Association

THE

« A10 Brett MacMurchy of the Southeast Performance Pump Twins midget AAA team announced he’d accepted a scholarship with Williston State College, to play with the Tetons.

“When I was down there for the Williston tournament recently this summer, I pitched and their coach (Shawn Cote) watched me,” said MacMurchy. “He gave me a spot on the team almost instantly and he said that he uses four starting pitchers, and those starting pitchers were all rookies that year. But next year they’re all going to be back again. He said I could be very useful coming out of the bullpen or if I wanted to try an infield position or an outfield position he’d let me give that a shot too.”

The Estevan Golden Eels hosted Southern Saskatchewan Speed Swimming competition at the RM of Estevan Aquatic Centre.

The team had the most points in the race and plenty of swimmers qualified for provincials the following weekend in Watrous. “I was really excited but I was also kind of nervous,” said Adah DeLeeuw, who qualified for the 50m butterfly, 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 200m individual medley in the 13-14 year old girls category with her placings in Estevan.

The three-day Frametech Classic at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course was won by Jay Thiesen of Brandon, Man. Thiesen has a three day score of 70-80-70 to win the tournament. The popular Dave Price Memorial Horse Race during the tournament was won by Estevan’s Daryl Donovan. “It’s just coming out and paying tribute to a great member of our course here who tragically left us too soon, and just trying to play the best golf and trying to do your best,” said Donovan after leaving the 18th green.

While it’s only a part of most of the rodeo circuit, locally a big event of the summer is the Fountain Tire Barrel Racing X, which

handed out its awards.

Codie Lemcke was the female player of the year, while the male player of the year was Nathan Wagstaff.

Estevan Comprehensive School’s Jace Carlisle won the high school golf provincials with a 75-73148 score over two days at TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course. “I was putting really good,” he said. “With my short game, I was hitting the ball good.” The school’s boys and girls teams also won the gold medal among the teams.

OCTOBER: Football Day in Estevan was a huge success, getting fans of all four teams involved in the action at Woodlawn Athletic Field.

The atom Power Dodge Cudas, peewee Century 21 Chargers and bantam Estevan Lions Club Oilers joined the Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs Saturday in games against out of town competition, plus fundraising from the Southern Plains Co-op.

Estevan Minor Football is sponsored this year by Penta Completions. “They donated $10,000 for us this year and signed a deal to do $10,000 for us for five years,” said Paul Duncan, minor football president and head coach of the Oilers. “It’s great for the team sponsors and for us to be able to recognize them.”

The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins rode into the Thanksgiving weekend in a stingy mood. They were the first team to hand the Melfort Mustangs – previously ranked third in the CJHL – a loss this season after a 3-2 decision at Affinity Place. The win set the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League team in an ebulient mood heading into

the weekend. “They were big, they were fast, they were strong and they knew how to play their system,” said defenceman Johnny Witzke of the Mustangs.

The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs football season ended in the first round of the playoffs with a 49-6 loss to the 5-1 Moose Jaw Peacock Tornadoes. Peacock took an early 21-0 lead at halftime and expanded on it in the third and fourth quarters. With the score 49-0 and with less than three minutes on the clock, Hunter Eagles ran 73 yards for a touchdown for the Elecs only score of the game.

The TS&M Bruins played maybe their best game of the season so far, in a home battle with the Prairie Storm. But the 2-2 tie with the Lightning in Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League action was all they could muster in a weekend where they also lost twice. “This is a big step in the right direction,” said Bruins head coach Tom Copeland.

It’s hoped a touch of volunteer fever will sweep the Estevan community as organizers get ready for the 2018 SaskTel Tankard later this winter. The campaign for volunteers began, with instructions to help out people who may wish to join the campaign.

The Tankard hasn’t always been the volunteer-heavy event but this time it’s different. “It’s been (at least) 15 years since Estevan last hosted it,” said Pauline Ziehl-Grimsrud, sponsorship committee chair. “And the fact is … it was in the Civic Auditorium and now we’ve got a first rate facility. We want to show off Affinity Place.”

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A12 January 3, 2018

2017

 YEAR



Estevan Mercury

IN

REVIEW 



Local teams return to the ice in the fall « A11 It took seven games, but the Apex midget AA Bruins finally got their first win of the season. The team lost a pair of games on the road Friday and Saturday but came back from being down early 2-0 to win 6-3 over the Regina Capitals. “It was a rough start and not the ideal one we wanted, especially with the way the last few games have gone,” said Bruins head coach Robin Ulrich.

The board of directors at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course has relieved general manager Travis Merritt of his duties. Golf course president Jeff Ward confirmed the information in a phone conversation with the Mercury last week.

“At this time the board has decided that Travis Merritt’s skill set did not align with the club’s vision moving forward,” Ward said in an email to the Mercury, explaining why they let him go.

The ECS Elecs were always going to have a hard time being able to compete against the best girls soccer teams from some of the biggest schools in the province and they indeed had a rough couple of games.

But the season can only be considered a success given

that most of the team had spent years away from the pitch and had to re-learn aspects of how to play the game. The Elecs lost 11-0 to Regina O’Neill in their second and final game after a 7-0 loss to the Swift Current Ardens knocked them out of contention for the title. “We didn’t have the outcome we wanted here at provincials but they have won games this season and they have scored goals,” head coach Stacy Murphy said.

NOVEMBER: The season’s first victory came at home for the bantam A Bear Cats female hockey team. They split a pair of games last weekend with the Regina Bisons at their home rink in Carlyle, losing 6-4 Saturday but coming through with a 4-1 win Sunday in South Saskatchewan Female Bantam A Hockey League action.

The ECS Elecs senior girls volleyball team knocked out a serious provincial contender but couldn’t get to provincials themselves either.

Needing to win just one of their final two games after upsetting the Moose Jaw Peacock Toilers in three sets, the Elecs were close to

Natalie Bloomfield and Estevan’s Kristy Johnson sweep a rock at the Power Dodge Curling Centre.

The team, skipped by Candace Chisholm, qualified for the provincial Scotties at the last chance tournament held at the curling centre.

making provincials this year but fell just a bit short. “Our season’s kind of been like a roller coaster,” said Elecs head coach Nicole Sinclair.

The Elecs lost 25-19 and 25-20 to Swift Current in the final match.

After some early struggles with consistency this season, the Estevan Power Tech Bear Cats have been putting some wins together this season. The Bear Cats won four in a row in South Saskatchewan Female Midget AA Hockey League action, including a last pair at home over the Parkland Lions. They won 4-1 and 3-2 at Affinity Place. “When we play quick, and we get on the puck, we create turnovers and create scoring opportunities,” said Bear Cats head coach Trevor Morrison.

The ECS Elecs football team will have a very good future indeed if their younger players continue on their successful track. Hunter Eagles won the team’s most valuable player award and top offensive player — no mean feat for a Grade 9 in his first year of high school football. “I was hoping to get a little bit (of playing time) but I wasn’t expecting to get nearly as much as I got,” said Eagles, who scored 50 of the team’s 82 points on the season through touchdowns and conversions and averaged 79 yards rushing and 60 yards receiving per game.

The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins won 6-3 over the Humboldt Broncos on Teddy Bear Toss night at Affinity Place, with Arthur Miller’s goal at 17:21 sending the crowd into cheers and the bears and stuffed animals on the ice. And the Bruins didn’t stop scoring until newest team member Jayden Davis notched an empty net goal with 1:20 left

on the clock.

While the Saskatchewan Roughriders came up short against the Toronto Argonauts in the East Conference Final, the Estevan Apex Bruins defeated the Notre Dame Argos 5-4 in overtime in South Saskatchewan Midget AA Hockey League action, putting the Bruins in a three-way tie for first place.

Jaiden Gervais’ marker at 2:27 of the extra frame gave the Bruins the win.

Photographer/business owner/stock car driver Byron Fichter was chosen to be the president of the Estevan Motor Speedway and will be able to apply his vision to the speedway for the 2018 season. This will be Fichter’s fourth year on the EMS board but first as president.

DECEMBER: Regina’s Scott Bitz wasn’t hoping for such an early qualification into the 2018 SaskTel Tankard but he’ll take it anyway. His 5-1 victory over Regina’s Randy Bryden rink sealed the win for Bitz, who curls out of the Saskatoon Sutherland Club, at the Power Dodge Curling Centre’s Saskatchewan Curling Tour (SCT) Bonspiel. Among those who have qualified for the Tankard is Estevan’s Brent Gedak While the Lumsden/ Bethune Lions came to Estevan to take on the Apex Bruins in South Saskatchewan Midget AA Hockey League action, both teams were a bit owly.

The Bruins had lost 6-0 the previous night to the Yorkton Terriers at Affinity Place and the Lions had their tails clipped by the Weyburn Wings 8-1 in Weyburn. Neither team had much reason to smile but the Bruins were the ones who came out on top in a 5-3 victory.

Bruins forward Zach Goberis looks to shoot the puck October at Affinity Place.

The Estevan Bantam Bears hockey team won all but one game in their home tournament. The Bears took the bronze medal game over the Estevan Knights 4-1 at the Power Dodge Ice Centre. In all, 24 games were played at four rinks in the area, including four games at Bienfait and one in Torquay.

The Estevan Westmoreland Bruins peewee AA hockey team lost 6-3 and 10-5 at home to the Swift Current Broncos at Affinity Place in their first home games since October. The game was out of hand for the Bruins late but the players didn’t give up trying to score and played well.

Several athletes from the southeast have been chosen to play on the Sask Winter Games’ hockey teams in a couple of months. The girls team for Team Southeast will have a lot of representation from the Estevan area, with defenceman Karleigh Mackenzie, forward Bailey Farr and Kayla Wanner making the team from Estevan.

The three girls play on the Power Tech midget Bear Cats. The Parkland Valley team for the Games will also have Brynn Kuntz on defence. Kuntz plays for the Bear Cats. The boys team also has some players from the local bantam AA team.

Goaltender Jackson Miller, forwards Kaden Chrest and

Mason Fichter are all from Estevan and play on the TS&M Bruins. Forwards Mason Kukura from Bienfait and Colby Cuddington from Manor are also on the Bruins and will be on Team Southeast. Bromhead’s Colby Durr and defenceman Alec Waldegger from Estevan have played games for the Bruins as affiliated players earlier this year.

The Candace Chisholm rink out of Carlyle – which includes Estevan’s Kristy Johnson — was one of two qualifying teams at the Viterra Last Chance Qualifier at the Power Dodge Curling Centre. It was the first year with the team for Johnson, who curls alongside third Lana Vey and second Natalie Bloomfield, but they’ve all had experience playing together before in different formations.

Some millionaires aren’t particularly known for being all that generous, but the Melville Millionaires and the Power Dodge Estevan Bruins handed each other 4-2 wins in each other’s buildings in their last games before the Christmas break.

“Obviously it’s pretty big and we had a great turnout tonight fanwise,” said captain Jake Fletcher. “Everyone’s pretty excited to go home on break but these two games are important divisional games.

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StandOUT is a content marketing program designed to introduce exceptional local businesses to readers in our community. For more information on how your business can StandOUT, contact the Estevan Mercury at 306-634-2654 or dtarnes@estevanmercury.ca.

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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.

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In Memory of Louis Belanger May 1933 - January 2016 Our thoughts are ever with you Though you have passed away.

And those who loved you dearly Are thinking of you today.

Love you always, Adele and Family

Donna Nyeste 306-485-8415

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

LAND WANTED Farm Land Wanted: To rent or lease in Estevan, Beinfait or Hirsch area.

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For Sale - MiSc PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. Re a c h ove r 5 5 0 , 0 0 0 re a d e rs weekly. Call this newspaper NOW or 306-649.1405 for details.

Competition Environmental Ltd. PO Box 609 Carnduff, SK. S0C 0S0 Email : competition@ sasktel.net Office : 306-482-3558 Fax : 306-482-3574 Charlie : 306-482-7897 Greg : 306-485-7833 CANADIAN TAXPAYERS FEDERATION is seeking District Sales Managers for a wellestablished area. Earn a good living while fighting for lower taxes, less waste, accountable government.

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MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! Indemand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available.

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Support Your Local Food Bank Drop food off at The Salvation Army 1107 4th Street, Estevan, SK

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Brad Wilson

Commercial Division

306-461-6705 Obituaries

www.remax-bluechip-estevan-sk.ca *Each office independently owned & operated

Obituaries

Jean Arlie (Frey) Friedrick 1924 – 2017 Jean Arlie Friedrick passed away peacefully at home in Estevan, SK surrounded by close family, on Thursday, December 14, 2017 at the age of 93 years.

Jean was born on the family, Frey farm in the Purple Hill School District, north of Oxbow, SK on January 20, 1924. Jean met Dalbert Friedrick when he visited their farm, accompanied by his sister Viola. Dalbert was smitten by “the love bug” and took a picture of Jean that was on display in the farmhouse!

The courtship started and lasted for four years, when they were married on October 25, 1945 in Plentywood, MT. Grandpa Ruban Frey helped them buy the general store in Northgate, SK where they began their lives together. They resided in Northgate and did the general store business for 33 years. Jean worked right alongside her husband in the store until he retired in 1978.

During those years they welcomed their six children, Carole, Vivian, Coleen, David, Edward and Kenneth.

Jean was predeceased by her husband Dalbert Harold Friedrick; parents, Reuben and Arlie Frey; parents-in-law, Walter and Ida Friedrick; brothers, John Garth Frey and Harold Frey and sistersin-law, Viola Frey and Marjorie Frey.

Jean will be lovingly remembered by her children, Carole (Larry) Beisel, Mesa, AZ, Vivian (Gary) Thompson, Winnipeg, MB, Coleen (W.L.) Laney, Castle Rock, CO, David (Kathryn) Friedrick, Estevan, Edward (Shelley) Friedrick, Estevan and Kenneth (Brenda) Friedrick, Yorkton, SK. Also left to cherish special memories are Jean’s 12 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, four great great grandchildren, a sister-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Service will be held Thursday, January 11, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Living Hope Community Church, Estevan, with Pastor Les Dueck officiating.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Services, Estevan.

Melinda “Mindy” Eileen Stefiuk Mindy passed away on Tuesday, December 19, 2017 in Regina, SK following a brief battle with cancer. She was predeceased by her grandma Ethel Reimer. Mindy is survived by her husband Larry Wenzel; daughter, Amanda (Jeff) and their children Skyla, Ciara and Mariyah; son Wes; daughter Shealyn; and parents Wanda and Hughie. Mindy was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who was always there when you needed her. She had a contagious laugh that could make the whole room light up. She will be greatly missed. A Celebration of Mindy’s Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to the Canadian Cancer society.

Arthur Matt 1930 – 2017 It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Arthur Phillip Matt of Estevan on Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at St. Joseph’s Special Care Home at the age of 87 years.

Arthur was predeceased by his parents, Maximillion and Theresa Matt; brothers, John and Bill; sister Arnetta and nephews, Dennis and Donald.

Arthur will be lovingly remembered by his wife Lois and son Ron (Sally). His memory will be forever cherished by his five beloved grandchildren, Corey (Kelly) Matt, Jordan (Natalie Karchewski) Matt, Lezlie (Jordan) Naka, Justin (Amy Johnson) McClelland, Brennan McClelland and great grandchildren, Kaden and Jude Naka, as well as niece and nephew Dianne and David Matt.

A Memorial Service was held at the Chapel of Hall Funeral Services, Estevan, SK on Friday, December 29, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Jason Richards officiating, followed by a private family interment. Lunch will follow at the Royal Canadian Legion, Estevan, SK. Those so wishing may make donations in memory of the Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan 301-2550-12th Avenue, Regina, SK S4P 3X1.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Hall Funeral Services, Estevan, SK.

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A14 January 3, 2018

Estevan Mercury

Police were busy on New Year’s Eve Members of the Estevan Police Service (EPS) performed check stops and handled a number of calls on New Year’s Eve and in the early hours of New Year’s Day. The check stops were set up in a couple of different areas of the city. Between those stops and mobile stops around the area, the EPS didn’t locate any impaired drivers.

Also during the night,

police took a call about some threatening text messages. Officers responded to a local residence to check on the wellbeing of the complainant. It was determined the incident did not occur in Estevan, so the complainant was advised to call the appropriate law enforcement agency, as they would be able to be of assistance.

Police were called to a residential panic alarm in the north end of the city.

Everything turned out to be fine and no action was needed.

Members arrested a man outside a downtown establishment. He was found to be intoxicated in a public place and in no shape to look after himself in the weather conditions.

Police were called to a downtown establishment for a report of a man who refused to leave. A male suspect was spoken to and

2017

 YEAR



sent on his way.

Members were then called to a commercial alarm in central Estevan.

The business was checked and a break-in didn’t occur.

Police were called regarding a man who was intoxicated and left his residence around 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 1 to walk to his hometown, which is 400 kilometres from Estevan.

When he left, he had no toque or mitts, and left with

IN

a backpack and a suitcase.

Police checked locations in the city where he has been seen previously, and also checked the immediate area and the highways leading out of town. Police were arranging for the use of the K9 unit to find the man when a ping from his cell phone narrowed down his location. Officers were able to find him in a pasture on the north side of the city.

He was passed out in a field

and was checked out by Estevan Emergency Medical Services. Police believe he had been out in the elements for over 30 minutes when he was located.

Officers were also alerted to a report of an accident during the Dec. 31 day shift in which a motorist hit a parked trailer in a parking lot and drove away without reporting the collision to the owner. The matter is under investigation.

REVIEW 



November and December were busy months « A8 Four people were charged in connection with a drug bust on Nov. 9. The EPS Drug Intelligence Unit conducted a cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking investigation on two men and two women over a three-week period. Ashley Glydon, Kenneth Johnson, Daniel Lowenberg and Emily Horvath are facing a variety of charges.

Hundreds of people gathered at the Estevan Comprehensive School’s cafetorium on Nov. 11 for the Royal Canadian Legion’s Remembrance Day service. The service featured the traditional music and tributes, a slide show with photos of local veterans, and the laying of wreaths during the cenotaph service in the school’s courtyard.

A long-time school board trustee for Estevan announced she is stepping down from the South East Cornerstone Public School Division’s board. Pam Currie resigned after 20 years of school board experience, serving as a member of the Estevan Public School Board from 1997 to 2005, and then as one of two Estevan representatives on the Cornerstone board from 2006 until her resignation. She had to step down because she and her husband Paul are moving to Esterhazy to be closer to their family.

The City of Estevan celebrated the grand opening of its new residuals management project on Nov. 24. Construction began in June and included two settling ponds to store

Local Habitat for Humanity committee chair Doug Barnstable, Habitat for Humanity Regina CEO Kelly Holmes-Binns, Teal Bramham, Stephanie Bramham, Estevan MLA Lori Carr and Coun. Dennis Moore participated in the key presentation ceremony to the Bramhams. the residuals and the byproducts generated by the water treatment plant process. Thanks to the project, residuals will no longer be injected into the Souris River, a procedure that once was accepted but is now frowned upon.

The St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation enjoyed outstanding support from the community for its annual Festival of Trees fundraiser, which ran from Nov. 24 to 26 at Affinity Place. Four events took place over the span of three days, bringing in people of all ages and raising funds and awareness for the foundation. The fundraiser generated more than $140,000 for the purchase of medical equipment at the hospital.

Estevan’s rental vacancy rate fell in 2017, but it remained the highest in the province, according to the annual rental vacancy report released by the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation on Nov. 28.

Estevan’s rental vacancy rate was at 25.3 per cent,

as of October when the numbers were tabulated.

A year earlier, the average vacancy rate stood at 27.6 per cent. The average rent in Estevan was at $906 per month, compared with $898 per month in 2016.

DECEMBER: The local Habitat for Humanity committee celebrated the completion of its first home in Estevan on Dec. 1 with a key ceremony at the home, located at 410 Sillers Street. Doug Barnstable, the chair of the local committee, presented the key to Stephanie Bramham and her daughter Teal, with a large crowd looking on. The home represented a significant step forward for the Bramhams, who endured noisy parties and the theft of Teal’s tricycle at their former home. The local committee has already started to fundraise for its next home in Estevan.

Tw o p e o p l e w e r e charged with firearms offences following a traffic stop on Dec. 2. Police noticed the driving actions

of the motorists, and when police searched the vehicle after the arrest, they located a high-calibre firearm that had been modified. The driver, Shane Stainer, a 26-year-old man from Bins-

carth, Man., pleaded guilty two days later to unlawfully transporting a prohibited firearm in a careless manner and impaired driving.

Other charges were stayed.

The passenger, 26-year-old Kristofer Donald of Estevan, is facing nine charges.

The Estevan Comprehensive School performed School of Rock for its biennial musical from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, and it earned rave reviews from the large crowds in attendance. The show featured the talents of students in the cast and crew, and required the volunteer efforts of ECS staff, parents and people in the community.

The five candidates for the Saskatchewan Party’s leadership race were in Estevan on Dec. 14 for a next premier’s luncheon hosted

by the Estevan Chamber of Commerce. Tina BeaudryMellor, Ken Cheveldayoff, Alanna Koch, Scott Moe and Gordon Wyant gave their thoughts on the future of coal-fired power generation, property tax assessments and physician recruitment and retention for the 80 people in attendance.

The City of Estevan released details of its 2018 budget on Dec. 19. The budget calls for a one per cent property tax increase, an increase in infrastructure fees on utility bills, and for several key capital projects, including the resurfacing of King Street from Kensington Avenue to Pine Avenue, and continued work to switch the city’s primary water source from Boundary Dam to Rafferty Dam.

CAREER RM of Souris Valley No. 7

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Work closely with the Administrator and oversee day to day activities of the roads and operators. Must have knowledge of equipment, a mechanical aptitude and experience with heavy equipment such as Graders, Tractors, etc.

Duties include (but not limited to) mowing, snow removal, installation of signs and culverts, equipment servicing and repairs and ordering products.

Class 5 driver’s license, strong leadership, supervisory and communication skills, excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, able to supervise operators, excellent record keeping and be willing to take further education/training. Responsible for doing weekly safety meetings.

A salary package, including competitive benefits/pension plan, will be negotiated based on qualifications at the time of hire.

Please send your resume with references to the RM of Souris Valley No. 7 Email: rm07@sasktel.net  Fax: 306-456-2480 In person or by regular mail: Box 40, Oungre, SK S0C 1Z0 The RM of Souris Valley No. 7 thanks all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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