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One sad little bird that fell out of the nest

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A little sparrow fell out of its nest and was sitting helplessly on the ground. While this might be quite a usual site, many people are not sure what the best move would be when they come across a bird under their feet. Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Saskatchewan suggests that if the bird is partially bald and is unable to stand or perch on its own, it’s likely a nestling. And while most birds have a poor sense of smell, they will not reject a baby if it is returned to the nest. So if possible to do so safely, it’s recommended to put the bird back in the nest and watch to see if the parents return. If one can’t reach the nest, they may try to make a new one out of a margarine container. Photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

ECS students fundraising for legacy project

By David Willberg dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca

The Class of 2020 at the Estevan Comprehensive School has found a way to create a lasting legacy in the community.

Graduation ceremonies are one of the largest events affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many in-person events continue to be cancelled, making it difficult for people to celebrate the accomplishments of the different graduates, but this has not stopped a local committee with coming up with a unique way to do just that.

Graduating students Owen Gudmundson, Kelsey Littlejohn, Cale Adams, Marci LeBlanc and Nigel Mack, along with their parents and teacher have developed a unique plan which will see the class recognized in a very public way for years to come. Grad parent Lisa Zepick is also involved.

The group has worked

closely with the City of Estevan to develop a tribute in Torgeson Park.

“We believe that it is important that all of the grads in Estevan are recognized. We did not want to become the forgotten class or the pandemic class,” said Gudmundson.

“We chose Torgeson Park because it is highly visible and close to ECS,” added Adams.

The City of Estevan has allowed the class to put a sculpture in the park that will act as a tribute to the Class of 2020.

It will also include the entire graduating class list on it, but there is a lot of work to do before this happens.

“For the next couple of weeks we will be starting a community campaign to raise funds for the project. We will be reaching out to the grads, their parents and families, businesses and the community for donations,” said LeBlanc.

Mack went on to explain the steps of the project.

“Once we know how much money we have, we will be able to put a call out to the different local artists in town to submit designs for the sculpture.

The class of 2020 will then be able to vote on the different designs, and the one with the most votes is the one we will choose,” Mack said.

The group hopes to have the sculpture installed by the fall.

“We are looking at something similar in size and scope as the tribute sculpture between Spruce Ridge and ECS,” Littlejohn added.

The sculpture Littlejohn referred to, As the Band Plays On, depicts five band students playing their musical instruments, and was completed in 2012. It serves as a lasting tribute to the late Colin Grunert, who was the long-time band instructor at ECS, and the sculpture has received much praise over the years.

ECS teacher Josh LeB-

lanc said this started as a way for the students and the Class of 2020 to be recognized and not forgotten in the community.

“Being a teacher at the high school, there’s nothing more heartbreaking than seeing the students not able to have their grad and their grad ceremony,” said LeBlanc. “I think this is a great way for us to recognize a class that’s had a lot taken away from them due to the pandemic, and it’s something that will be good for them to have moving forward into the future.”

Also serving as inspiration was the Estevan Collegiate Institute monument that’s located in southwest corner of the city.

The current focus is on fundraising. Once the committee has a better idea of their budget, they will send out the tender and seek a design from a local artist. They hope to have those designs in place by the end of July. Then the voting process will begin.

Anyone he has talked to regarding a project of this size and this scope says it usually costs around $10,000, so they hope to have donations from the community to raise that much money.

The location within the park will be determined after consultations with the artist and the city.

Donations have already come in from families and grads. The project was the beneficiary of Tuesday`s Burgers for a Cause fundraiser at Black Beard`s Restaurant.

They are also reaching out to the community so that the accomplishments of these students can be recognized.

If anyone is interested in donating, they can send etransfers to 2020ecsgrad@gmail. com. If there are corporate donors looking to contribute to the project please contact Sherrill LeBlanc at 306-421-7293 or by email at leblancsherrill729@ gmail.com.

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SARCAN staff did great handling increased numbers of customers and recyclable containers The SARCAN recycling depot in Estevan was a very busy place in its first week back in service.

The depot reopened to the public on June 15, after being closed for 2 1/2 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it seemed that many people were eager to bring in their empty cans and bottles.

According to information supplied by manager Connie Hagel, Estevan’s SARCAN loc ation had 896 customers enter and 292,215 containers were recycled. Activity levels were above normal, but Hagel also pointed out this is their busy time of the year.

“On average, we do 20,000 to 30,000 (containers per day), that’s on our off-season,” Hagel said in an interview with the Mercury. “But we’re in our busy season, which is the summer, and this would be an average

day. It’s average for us, but it was an influx of people.”

The number of people is definitely above average.

In addition to the regular recycling bays, people have accessed SARCAN through its bulk recycling and its drop and go service.

Hagel noted that people were already lined up when she arrived for work before 7 a.m. Monday. Lineups could be seen outside the depot at the start of each day.

“I think for a while it will be the normal for people lining up early, early, just to be the first in line and get through it quickly,” said Hagel.

Executive director Trish Salmers noted there have been people lined up outside the depot throughout the day, every day.

Monday and Friday have been the busiest days.

“Everybody has been hoarding their cans, so we’ve

REPORT FROM THE LEGISLATURE JUNE 18, 2020 On June 15th, Saskatchewan became the first province in Canada to table a budget that recognizes the impact of COVID-19. This is an historic time around the world, complete with new challenges due to the pandemic. Saskatchewan people, however, have faced this pandemic together. We are re-opening our province together, and we will rebuild and recover our economy together.

While 87 per cent of Saskatchewan businesses were able to stay open during the pandemic, our province is not immune to the financial hit that came along with COVID-19. This year’s budget has dedicated over a billion dollars in spending directly related to the pandemic. As a result, we are currently sitting in a deficit position, but it is important to acknowledge that this is not a structural deficit; this is a pandemic deficit.

In fact, prior to the arrival of COVID-19, Saskatchewan was on track for balanced budgets both this year and last. As our province begins to re-open and our economy recovers, we will get back to a balance without having to cut programs and services.

Budget Highlights Budget 2020-21 invests in health, education, social services, family, and communities. The Ministry of Health budget is $5.8 billion, which is an increase of 4.6 per cent from 2019-2020.

This is the highest investment into health ever made that will ensure our health care system has the resources it needs to serve Saskatchewan people.

Our budget also dedicates $435 million to mental health and addictions services, which makes up 7.5 per cent of the overall Health budget to fund critical initiatives including the development of an innovative crystal methamphetamine treatment program in Estevan. Funding will also be available for the development of a mental health program for Emergency Medical Service workers in the province.

Also included in this budget is $2.6 billion for the Ministry of Education, which is an increase of $123.3 million to support Prekindergarten to grade 12 classrooms, early learning and childcare, libraries and literacy.

been straight-through busy,” said Hagel.

The bulk drop-off has been consistently busy as well. As soon as they count all the containers, more people are coming in. Their bulk area was open a week before access to the public resumed.

They ’re also tr y ing to get people to use the drop-and-go option, which is a relatively new service through SARCAN. Four stations are routinely open.

Once they did get in the door, customers noticed several changes in the way the depot did business, but Hagel noted that customers handled the situation very well.

“They know that because of COVID-19, there are new rules. They’re very understanding for the lineup. The lineups are going fairly quickly. If you’re at the end of the line, and there’s a lot of people in the line, it’s about a 30-minute wait,” said Hagel. “So it’s not too, too bad, I don’t think, and people get processed fairly quickly. The customers are great. They’re very understanding.”

“Everyone in the community is always very supportive of us, so this is no different,” added Salmers.

The executive director also praised the people who work in the depot for the way in which they have handled the activity in the first week. Sixteen people are employed at the depot.

“The staff have been great. It ’s been busier. I think they’re going home a little more tired,” said Salmers.

Customers who come to SARCAN are greeted by a recycling guide, Rebekah Seivewright, who will direct customers where to go, and

Rebekah Seivewright greeted customers at the front entrance to SARCAN`s Estevan location.

Estevan SARCAN depot manager Connie Hagel, left, and Estevan Diversified Services executive director Trish Salmers saw increased activity in the depot.

remind them of the procedures. She also tells people what to do if they need to recycle electronics or if they want to use the drop and go service. Hagel compared her

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$8.5 million has been allocated to begin the planning and design for new joint-use schools, replacement schools and renovation projects. As our province continues to grow, we must continue to expand capacity to welcome and accommodate new students.

have to sign a form after the staff sorts the recyclables.

The number of customers allowed in the depot is limited to the four bays.

All four bays are in service throughout the day, except for during the noon hour, when three will be in service.

If anyone has questions, and they can’t be answered at the depot, they can visit www.sarcan.ca.

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Community-based organizations, including childcare centres, will receive an increase of $2.4 million from the 2019-20 Budget.

This includes an increase of $350,000 in provincial funding for specialized Prekindergarten programming to support preschoolaged children with intensive needs.

Our government has made a $715 million commitment to safety and economic stimulus in the Ministry of Highway’s budget. Safety will always be our number one priority for our roads but we must also consider the economic opportunity that our communities will need. This stimulus funding will improve our highway system by adding in passing lanes, road improvements and investment into municipal transport infrastructure.

to an air traffic controller.

People will also notice a greater emphasis on cleaning procedures. They sanitize each of the four stations after each customer, and they sanitize at the till.

Plexiglas barriers have been installed between customers and employees. And people need to stand back while counting the order.

Customers also don’t

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• Highway 39 Passing Lane Project • Highway 47 – 4th Street Estevan to the Noonan boarder resurfacing • Highway 18 west of Oungre – Partnership with municipalities on resurfacing As our government moves into the remaining weeks of this sitting, we will continue to be transparent and available to our constituents.

Recovering from this global pandemic will take time but we have proven before that we are a resilient province. I applaud everyone in their efforts as we continue to re-open our province.

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This week we announced a date for phase 4.1 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan. This will include the re-opening child and youth day camps, outdoor pools and spray parks as well as outdoor sports. Our children have sacrificed a lot through this so we are very happy that our health officials believe kids can safely get back to these activities. I ask that we all continue to do our part. Please continue to physically distance, wash your hands, and self-isolate if you are feeling any symptoms of COVID-19.

Finally, I want to highlight one of the legislative changes that we will be working on. The Trudeau government has continued to change gun ownership rules by stealth over the past several weeks and would also like to give municipalities the option to ban handguns. Your Saskatchewan government believes we need clear rules, not a patchwork of regulations across the country, especially regulations that do not actually address crime and instead needlessly target legal gun owners. Therefore, we are amending The Miscellaneous Municipal Statutes Amendment Act to clarify that banning firearms does not fall under municipal jurisdiction.

We have received support from many municipal leaders across the province on making this clarification and I thank them for their support. We will keep working to focus on criminals instead of further restricting legitimate firearm owners.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact my office at 306-634-7311 or by email at loricarrmla@sasktel.net.

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Envision discussed achievements and challenges during its annual general meeting

By Ana Bykhovskaia abykhovskaia@estevanmercury.ca

Envision Counselling and Support Centre’s virtual annual general meeting on June 18 was attended by over 40 people, including staff, board members and guests.

The main highlights of the year were discussed during the meeting.

“The past year has been a very busy one for all of the staff at Envision Counselling and Support Centre,” said the organization’s executive director Christa Daku.

Some of the bigger events included the silver anniversary celebration, the start-up of a walk-in clinic and Rural Outreach Awareness Measures (ROAM) announcements in 2019. Envision also held a 50é50 for a Cause fundraiser in early 2020, raising over $40,000 for the organization.

Daku made a brief overview of the 2019-20 statistics.

“As reflected in the AGM statistics, all areas of our programming, ranging from the prevention education to our front-line counselling and family support services, we continue to serve more individuals and families as the years pass.

This is a direct reflection of the needs in our communities.

The support we continue to receive from our funding bodies, sponsorships and ongoing community donors continue to make our services viable and sustainable.”

She pointed out the expansion of walk-in counselling

was well received in Estevan, Weyburn and Oxbow.

“This is a one of a kind program, which allows accessibility to all individuals who may be experiencing difficulty in their lives. With no program mandate restrictions and no waiting list for services, the program is accessible on an immediate basis,” Daku said.

Employee assistance program/fee for service counselling services were also implemented in Estevan and Weyburn this past year. The program continues to grow and expand as individuals and couples seek support from Envision, who typically would have to wait for services in their funded programs or don’t meet the criteria needed to enter one of their core community programs.

“As an agency, Envision continues to strive to fill gaps in service and meet the needs of our communities by exploring gaps in southeast Saskatchewan. It is our vision that all individuals have the ability and the skills to thrive in a healthy environment. From prevention to intensive counselling and support, each program mandate strives to meet the outcome of improving interpersonal relationships,” Daku said.

For the past three years, community awareness about the support available for individuals and families who may need it has been a strategic goal for Envision. They also continued to focus on resource development to ensure the

capability for growth and sustainable support for existing programs.

“Ongoing funding proposals, sponsorships and donor engagement are the strategies that allow and enhance growth within a non-profit organization,” said Daku.

During the AGM, Daku also talked about Envision’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“COVID-19 presented challenges as well as opportunities for our organization as we closed out the fiscal year,” she said.

Even though Envision wasn’t mandated to close, they decided to take that step to protect their employees and the community. They continued to operate through other means available, implementing the health authority’s guidelines since the beginning of the pandemic throughout the reopening. “ What could be perceived as a defeat or serious roadblock in the human service industry, has also encouraged new ways of service delivery in all areas of our programming. Ranging from the way we do business to provide public awareness, to office support, to front line counselling and family support, all areas of our programming have maintained effectiveness with the utilization of technology. Envision has a mission of providing innovative programming and the additional avenue of technology has unlimited possibilities as we continue to

Envision Counselling and Support Centre held its annual general meeting virtually. forge ahead,” said Daku.

Chairperson Brian Pilloud pointed out that throughout the last few months, Daku and assistant executive director Lynda Rideout provided great communication to the board, allowing them to act on facts derived from known sources including the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

While their programs keep going, Envision offices remain closed to the public and for now, they continue to serve individuals by appointments only.

As part of the meeting, MNP partner Ashley Rushton guided the participants through Envision`s financial statements for the 2019-20 year. While there were some changes in particular revenues, the total revenue was almost on par with the last year, with a slight decrease, while expenses,

which also stayed pretty comparable, saw an increase, which according to Rushton mainly was due to when different events played out.

It was also pointed out during the financial report that “at this time, it is unknown the extent of the impact the COVID-19 outbreak may have on the organization as this will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and that cannot be predicted with confidence.”

Several representatives of funding agencies also participated in the meeting including the United Way Estevan.

“We are very grateful to have Envision in the Estevan area and the work that they are performing during these unprecedented times,” said United Way Estevan president Melanie Graham.

Daku thanked the fund-

ing agencies including the United Ways of Estevan and Regina, Ministry of Integrated Justice, Ministry of Social Services, Justice Canada and the Ministry of Health. She also extended her gratitude to the Envision board and staff.

As part of the meeting three board members, including Tana Cugnet, Ann Favreau and Bill Holliday, were re-elected for a two-year term. Sheila Szakacs from the Kipling area was voted a new board member. Cugnet was voted the incoming chairperson, while Favreau was voted a vice-chair and treasurer and Lana Perrault was voted as secretary.

The AGM marked the end of the six-year term for Garth Mryglod of Carlyle/ Kenosee Lake. Angela Burgess has left the board due to other obligations.

Oxbow Chase the Ace prizes stayed in the town

By Ana Bykhovskaia abykhovskaia@estevanmercury.ca

Both the Oxbow Chase the Ace weekly pot and the final jackpot were won by Oxbow residents. The final Oxbow and District Recreation Board’s game draw was made on June 17.

The board was able to raise about $40,000 since September 2019 and they were pretty happy with how the game went.

“It was very exciting. It was a fun ending to the game. Both of the winners are right

Phyllis Morrow’s ticket was drawn first and she became the Chase the Ace weekly winner. Photo submitted

from Oxbow. That’s exciting for local people,” said Oxbow community development officer Tami Scott.

By the final week, there were 26 cards left in the deck, but it only took two tries to catch the ace.

Phyllis Morrow, whose ticket was drawn first, won over $4,700 but came short of drawing the ace of spades.

It was the last draw that Oxbow and District Recreation Board could have, so the jackpot had to go that day. Ellie Hook’s ticket was drawn next and she became the winner of the game, and claimed over $23,000 for the jackpot.

“I was very excited and happy. Never expected it,” Hook said.

“It just all happened so quickly. Another woman had been drawn first … and when I heard her name drawn, I thought, ‘She is such a nice lady, I’m glad she is winning it.’ And when she didn’t get it, I never guessed that it would be me, so it was lovely.”

Hook’s been participating in the game since the beginning, but she never could foresee winning anything, let alone such a significant prize.

“I won $500 about 40 years ago, but that was all,” said Hook.

She was watching the draw live along with her husband, and other family members were following it at their homes, so the phone went ringing immediately when her name was drawn.

Hook pointed out that “luckily it wasn’t very long” until everybody watching got to

know the results, and she also was pretty happy that Ian Scott, who was helping with the game, made the choice for her.

“I was really glad that he pulled the card because if I had to pull the card and it was the wrong card, I’d had been (blaming) myself.

And I wouldn’t have been mad at him if he didn’t pull the right card. But it was a relief that someone else did,” Hook said.

Going on a good vacation would be her first choice for the winnings if not for the pandemic. And while Hook hasn’t made plans for the winnings yet, she hopes that one day when it’s possible she still will go on a great trip and also share some money with her family.

She was also very grateful to the organizers of the game.

“The recreation board that does this, I’d like to compliment them on all the work they did to help with recreation in Oxbow,” Hook said.

Once the pandemic hit, Oxbow Chase the Ace had to go online, and it turned into great entertainment that drew participants from all across the southeast and from as far away as Yorkton and Prince Albert, allowing the prize to grow significantly. The last game that was aired on Facebook attracted over 1,000 viewers.

After the final draw, the Oxbow and District Recreation Board came together to decide on their near future plans and also on how the funds will be used. That’s the only fundraiser the board has for now.

“We are not doing anything until the fall,

Oxbow resident Ellie Hook won the Chase the Ace jackpot last Wednesday.

Photo submitted and we’ll be talking about whether or not we’ll be doing another chase the ace and if it will have the same format. Those decisions have yet to be made,” said Scott.

She added that the way they did the last game wasn’t really sustainable especially during the last weeks, when they were overwhelmed with the number of ticket sales.

“We’ll have to think about other options to do it, but it was fun. It was a great ending.”

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Parks and recreation play a big role A lot of recurring themes have emerged during the past three months of this pandemic.

One of them that would be classified as a positive is the need for excellent parks and recreation facilities.

It was great when golf courses opened up on May 15 and campgrounds were open on June 1.

When they opened again, it gave us something to look forward to.

Then it was the playground structures that opened up, allowing people to use everything from school playgrounds to outdoor fitness sites, such as the great Fresh Air Fitness in Woodlawn Regional Park.

One of the busiest areas in Estevan in the past couple of weeks has been the upgraded Dennis Moore Centennial Park in central Estevan.

The play structures that were added to the park have proven to be a hit, and it’s going to be even more popular now that the spray park is open for kids to use.

Yes, the park is the shiny new thing for recreation facilities in Estevan, but with the additions that have been made, it’s likely to be predictable for a while.

Part 1 of Phase 4 also includes outdoor sports facilities, meaning that soccer pitches, football fields, baseball diamonds and other sites can open, and outdoor sports seasons could begin soon.

This is welcome news for those that had

been wondering whether there would be a soccer or a ball season. These youth sports leagues might not have as many people, due to summer vacations for many families, and the financial toll of the pandemic, but it’s great that outdoor summer sports organizations were so patient.

But there’s one other organization that will be able to open this summer, and it should make Estevan residents very happy: playpark programs.

The Estevan playpark program is brilliantly simple, but it’s one that we should be very proud of. It provides daily access to creativity, exercise and recreation for young children for free each year from early July to late August.

And they are a source for employment for young people each year. Considering the number of young people left unemployed this summer, a program that creates jobs for young adults has to be viewed as a good thing.

It would be a very weird summer indeed to not have the Rusty Duce, Hillcrest, Hillside and Churchill Playparks open for the roughly eight-week season.

We don’t know how long it will be before indoor sites such as arenas, indoor pools, leisure centres, libraries and museums can open and resume their valuable services. Given the provincial government’s penchant for having at least two weeks between phases, it likely won’t be until July 6 at the earliest. And once they open, who knows how they’ll be able to operate.

But at least we have these important outdoor facilities at our disposal in the meantime.

It would have been nice to have the playground equipment and other outdoor recreation sites in Estevan and other communities open earlier. Sure, we understand why they weren’t open, and the weather hasn’t always been the nicest this spring, especially with those windy days.

But with the schools closed to in-person learning and the kids not as busy as they normally would be in May and June, time spent outdoors would be much better than time spent indoors, outside of the time spent learning.

Of course, it was the province and not the city that dictated when playground structures would be accessible.

Everything is going to be different this year.

Going to a park is a different experience. When you get there, you’re greeted with all of these signs reminding you of the different world we live in.

But we can still go to a park and let our kids run around and enjoy the play structures and frolic in a paddling pool and use their imagination and just be kids.

And for adults, we get to get out and socialize and enjoy the great outdoors.

We can still play golf. Most can still camp.

At times like this, we remember how important recreation and exercise really are.

Let’s make use of them as much as we can this summer.

We’ve flattened the curve, now what?

Back in February, when the virus was quickly spreading and becoming a global problem, we didn’t want to believe in anything and often weren’t ready to accept the changes forced on us.

Now it seems that everything is possible, from conspiracy through this new reality to science-fiction scenarios, and it seems that it's almost impossible to take us by surprise. Unless of course, we spoil it all ourselves.

We’ve come long way through the fastchanging life. We’ve flattened the curve, just as we wanted to, and started getting back on track, aiming at recovering the economy. And all of a sudden, the mood all around has completely changed as if we jumped back three or four months and now don’t believe in anything again. How did that happen?

I guess many of us oversimplified this metaphor of flattening the curve and took it as our main goal, which definitely wasn’t the case.

We needed to flatten the curve to be able to get back to a rearranged and safer life. We had to flatten the curve to ensure that now, when we get hit by the virus again, hospitals know how to react, where to draw specialists, that they have enough PPE and other equipment so the healthcare system doesn’t collapse when the time comes.

We were flattening the curve so we would have time to redesign the communities we live in, which now have hand sanitizers everywhere, in which we have access to masks where they are needed to protect us. We took this time to ensure that we can still properly operate and wouldn’t need to hide in our homes like in the castles in the world, where COVID-19 is unleashing.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, who is an American infectious disease and public health physician, and the former head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suggests that this time

Ana Bykhovskaia Twenty Lines About… was also needed to develop and strengthen what he calls a box-it-in approach, which consists of testing, isolation, contact tracing and quarantine – the four pillars of successful resistance to the pandemic. Getting back to life is crucially important now, but containing all cases, clusters and outbreaks in a fast and sufficient manner is as important to keep the life going.

The Maple Creek Hutterite colony cluster response will show how much we have progressed in applying the box-it-in approach. If the healthcare system acts rapidly, extensively and successfully so it at least doesn’t spill into other communities, then we are ready to get back to life, in which we not only can go to work but actually can do things for fun together.

And while I see the positive and needed changes in the healthcare system and its reactions, I still can’t wrap my head around the changes that I now see in public reactions.

The notion of social distance is now almost forgotten. Even those people who religiously stayed home now hug and kiss without questioning the level of risk, as if the deadly virus disappeared from the face of Earth. People who were terrified of going to grocery stores are now talking about taking a train to Vancouver to hang out there. Nothing is wrong with either, but it almost seems that people forgot why they were scared just a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, the virus hasn’t forgotten about us yet.

It amazes me to still hear the talks about the virus non-existing, being a “planned operation” or about the media hyping the situation.

I don’t have enough fingers anymore to count

all the people I personally know who are or were officially sick with COVID-19. Some of them were in hospitals, others stayed at home.

Some managed it quite well, while others are still fighting their battle. None of them said it was easy.

Fortunately, I don’t know anyone who died yet, and I sincerely hope that I won’t lose anyone to the disease. But at this time, I don’t have any doubts about how real this problem is.

And I don’t have any doubts about how much trouble it creates and how much risk it poses on any community, where many members get sick at the same time.

Yes, you may not know of people in our closest surroundings who were or are sick, but Saskatchewan is huge and widespread. Just look a bit further than your own community and you’ll find many stories told by all types of sources about what it’s like in places that were hit by the virus. Not all places have flattened the curve. Some really simple things become essential and systems can’t meet the demand and start struggling all over the world.

Some of us hope for a vaccine or a cure in the near future. And while I also want to believe that it will be found soon, on average it takes 10-15 years to have a vaccine on the market. So chances are there is a long road ahead of us.

We did great keeping the community safe throughout these past months. Now we need to put lives and the economy back on track, which is only possible if we don’t get flooded with new cases.

So please, please, even if you are very tired of “all that COVID thing” be smart, keep distance, maintain hygiene and make balanced decisions not to throw all we sacrificed this year out of the window.

We’ve flattened the curve, so let’s keep it that way. After all, we are the Prairies.

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David Willberg Willberg’s World

Lamenting the loss of summer events Those of us who have lived in southeast Saskatchewan for a long time know that there’s no shortage of great events every summer.

It seems like most communities have something. Many of them will have their big event on Canada Day, and Canada’s 153rd birthday was shaping up to be a great celebration.

Many of those events have been cancelled.

But regardless of whether it’s a city like Estevan, or a tiny village, communities give their residents something to look forward to each year between the Victoria Day long weekend in May and the Labour Day long weekend in September.

These events not only provide a great event for people to gather together and have a fun time and often raise money for valuable organizations in the community, but they are a celebration of that community and the dedication of volunteers.

I’ve been in Estevan for nearly 20 years. I’ve been to a lot of great summer events, and I was really looking forward to this summer.

For the first time since I’ve been here, the Estevan Fair and Rodeo were going to be held on the same weekend. Adding to the excitement was a concert with Gord Bamford and Jess Moskaluke, among others, and the second year of the Estevan Sings competition.

The Estevan Motor Speedway was going to host a weekend double-header for the Dakota Classic Modified Tour for the first time. And the Rafferty Rumble, which is well-positioned to be the party of the summer in Estevan each year – and the summer festival that many of us have been longing for – was going to be back for Year No. 2.

None of these events will happen this year.

The Oxbow Bow Valley Jamboree, Stoughton Daze, Midale Pioneer Echoes Weekend and the Lampman Sports Weekend have also been cancelled, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s tough to know these events won’t happen. I feel sad because I won’t be able to cover them. But most of all, I feel horrible for the volunteers and the people who put these events on.

Most of these events are volunteer driven. They pour their hearts into these celebrations, dedicate many hours and hope they will be supported.

The Estevan Exhibition Association spent more than two decades listening to people talk about how the fair and rodeo should be on the same weekend. Most people didn’t realize how difficult it would be to reunite the fair and rodeo. But the exhibition association made it work. And they’re going to have to wait one more year for it to happen.

These events create a buzz in their communities, and generate a considerable economic spinoff, with people staying overnight in the hotels, eating in restaurants, filling up their vehicles at service stations, taking a look at what’s to offer at downtown merchants, and doing other things that benefit local economies.

They dispel the myth there’s nothing to do in small-town Saskatchewan.

We’re seeing people adapt. That’s what smart people do.

We’ve seen events go digital, such as concerts and art shows. Justin LaBrash and his band had a drive-in concert in Lampman earlier this month. Grad ceremonies, which are another big event in any small town or city, have gone virtual, with videos and tributes to the kids who comprised the graduation class. (It’s not just Grade 12s, either; we’ve seen similar concepts for Grade 8 grads).

We saw the community get behind the fantastic Grad Cruise organized for the Estevan Comprehensive School’s Class of 2020.

Ultimately, we have to be smart. We can’t afford to tempt fate with an event, and then have it lead to an outbreak of a virus that has strickened and killed hundreds of thousands of people.

We’ve had reminders of that reality in this province a couple of times this month.

And we only need to look to our neighbours south of the border to see what happens when people don’t take this as seriously as they should.

We’ll get through this. These events will happen one day.

We’ll be able to gather and dance and sing and eat together and have a great time.

We’ll be able to attend concerts in more conventional settings, watch summer blockbusters at our local movie theatre and converge at Mosaic Stadium to cheer for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

It just won’t be this summer.

Writer believes there is a double standard The editor: “Sometimes if you want to see a change for the better, you have to take things into your own hands.” Clint Eastwood I would like to respond to and quote from an article in the Estevan Mercury’s website on May 4, titled Fire Safety Measures Have To Be Maintained Even During Pandemic, which involved an interview with Fire Chief Dale Feser.

The article stated that another problem posing a threat to the public's safety that has recently occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic became obvious when firefighters were responding to fire alarms going off in apartment or condominium complexes.

“We noted that there are a lot of fire-rated separation doors that were propped open, the emergency exit stairwells,” said Feser.

The building operators explained that they took that measure because of the pandemic to limit the number of people touching door handles and surfaces. “ We do sy mpathiz e with that, however, these fire-rated separating doors are there for a reason, for

the safety of the occupants.

So in the event of an emergency, it prevents smoke and flame from migrating into the exit stairwells. That way the occupants of the building can safely exit the building,” said Feser.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, these doors must remain closed at all times for the safety of the occupants.

Feser suggested that people can either install electromagnetic hold-open devices right into fire-alarm panel systems or wrap up the cleaning process on the surfaces that are being touched.

But the fire safety measures should be followed at all times.

I would like to know why this would apply to local businesses, but not to city-owned facilities? The Orpheum Theatre has three fire-rated doors between the two projector booths on the second floor. The public never goes onto this floor. Occasionally we have to transport a heavy and expensive piece of equipment between the two projector booths.

During a fire inspection of the Orpheum Theatre in 2013 by then-Deputy Fire Chief Dale Feser (which was only the third fire inspection

in 15 years), we asked Feser if we could keep the door stops on the bottoms of these doors for the transportation of this equipment. The response was that, as long as the public doesn’t use the second floor, there should be no problem with it as long as it’s just used when moving equipment.

After this fire inspection, Feser then gave us written notice to remove these door stops as the only allowable hold open devices are electromagnetic in nature, which must be connected to the building’s fire alarm system. This was the opposite of what we were initially informed. Not only were we upset with this contradictory direction, but now we need three people to move our equipment when we should just need two people.

We had a reasonable request. We did though as we were told as per the fire regulations. However, upon checking Affinity Place over the last seven years, the doors in the changing rooms, janitor rooms, Bruins office etc., still, to this day, have these door stops on. I have documented proof of these door stops, the use of pails and wooden blocks being used to

prop the doors open.

Some of these doors don’t even have automatic door closers on them. We brought this up to Feser in 2013 and were told that he has made the city aware of it.

If he has made the city aware of this, why aren’t the fire regulations being enforced?

Why should city buildings have different rules – especially ones that involve the safety of the general public?

How would you react if there was a fire when your children were playing hockey at Affinity Place, and you then find out after that the city was knowingly negligent with their safety?

The city may wonder why we have to go to court over our differences, but this is just one example of many over the years of the Orpheum Theatre being told one thing in person and another in writing. I await the opportunity to prove more discrepancies in our next court date.

"You ain't heard nothin' yet!" The Jazz Singer, 1927

Alan Dougherty Estevan Co-owner of the Orpheum Theatre

RM announces steep property tax cut The council of the Rural Municipality of Estevan has approved a 17 per cent reduction, from 1.00 to 0.83, in its commercial mill rate factor for the municipal portion of property taxes.

This will mean a decrease of approximately $500,000 in cumulative taxes payable by commercial and industrial properties this year.

The RM said this onetime tax relief is provided as direct assistance to the RM’s commercial ratepayers in response to the sharp downturn in the local economy, exacerbated by further challenges brought about by the restrictions implemented due to COVID-19.

“The RM has maintained its commitment to fiscal responsibility by also ensuring a balanced budget for 2020 with no tax increases for either agricultural or residential properties,” the news release stated.

Reeve Terry Keating said the current economic challenges aren’t anything new, as they’ve been happening for the past few

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years.

“We tightened our belt, and passed it on back to the ratepayers,” said Keating.

The RM has cut back on some of its services, such as dust control and gravelling, to afford the commercial property tax reduction.

“We did have two miles of road building that we were going to do this year, so we cancelled that. We’re finding funds wherever we can to keep a balanced budget,” he said.

Normally the RM performs two applications of dust control each year, but now they will do just one.

Keating said they could justify one application due to lower traffic, stemming from COVID-19 and the lower price of oil.

As for residential property taxes, Keating said those were dropped last year, and they remained the same for 2020.

“We extended that so that they’re also paying less taxes this year. We didn’t put it back to where it was,” said Keating.

The cost of commercial

RM of Estevan Reeve Terry Keating

property taxes has been a recurring concern for ratepayers since the last reassessment, which occurred in 2015. The numbers from the reassessment were applied in 2017. Some businesses saw their rates go up 500 per cent.

“What we did in 2017 was our mill rate was at 9.0 … and when the assessments came out and we realized how bad commercial was,

and everyone with residential as well, but how bad commercial was going to be hit, we dropped our taxes, our mill rate down to 5.4 … and that kept our share of the tax roughly what it was before,” said Keating.

He also pointed out that only 48 per cent of property taxes paid goes to the RM; the rest is directed to the education portion of property tax.

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Food trucks are out catering to the community

By Ana Bykhovskaia abykhovskaia@estevanmercury.ca

The summer traditionally comes with many fun and original foods delivered by food trucks.

This year could have been different in many ways, but fortunately, the Estevan food truck family made it out to the streets and successfully started catering to the community on a daily basis and on special occasions.

The Mercury talked to the long-established Beatz Eatz Rolling Stove owner Riley Beatty and also met with business newcomers Elephant Ear Emporium. While everything has changed this year, both companies have seen a lot of interest and support from the community.

Elephant Ear started in mid-May, and ever since had a steady flow of customers. Even though this food truck is new to Estevan, the chefs cooking elephant ears every day are no strangers to the community.

“We always went to the fair (selling elephant ears) ...

And this spring we decided to buy the trailer and we were actually going to follow the

fair,” said Christie Wigley, who makes elephant ears alongside her husband Dean and her mom Shirley Petterson.

The COVID-19 pandemic put an end to most of the travelling plans, and to many other events that both the Elephant Ear Emporium and the Beatz Eatz Rolling Stove had on their calendars for the season.

“The business has drastically changed for me,” said Beatty, explaining that he usually focuses on catering events as opposed to doing road-side food sales, which definitely won’t be the case this summer.

Even though the season didn’t roll out as expected, the food trucks went ahead, which was really appreciated.

“The community support (is amazing),” said Christie.

Running a food truck takes many more hours than one would think. For both food truck operators, days start as early as 5-6 a.m., when they get all the organization and prep work done. Elephant Ear Emporium usually starts selling at 11 a.m. and keeps going until they sell out at about 3 p.m. When in town they can be found parked by the old Box

Car 54 lounge.

Beatz Eatz Rolling Stove caters to the evening crowd as they offer all types of different meats. They are usually open Wednesday through Saturday, 4-7 p.m. Their food truck has been known to the community for many years, and while it usually focuses on catering it now serves those who know a thing or two about meat on a daily basis while parked at 1624 Grundeen Crescent.

Not only has the pandemic affected their summer plans, but it also changed how they deliver the food, adding more precaution measures to their routine including distancing for people in line. Beatty also asks that people now text their orders and the pickup or delivery details instead of ordering in person.

And even though things are working differently now, it sounds like running food trucks is still the only way to go for these business owners. The mobility allows them to travel the province, and while most of the Beatz Eatz catering bookings were cancelled for this year, Beatty still has a few smaller events on his calendar to keep

Beatz Eatz Rolling Stove food truck attracts meat lovers from all across Canada.

Dean and Christie Wigley along with Shirley Petterson now ensure that the southeast regularly gets their best elephant ears. the stove rolling around.

“We go wherever we are asked to go, wherever we are needed," said Beatty.

And while there aren’t many activities happening, the Rolling Stove is treating the Estevan community. Most of the cooking is now done by the staff, but Beatty still smokes and does all special meats himself.

The Elephant Ear Emporium, on the other hand, is just starting. They are also introducing themselves to the surrounding communities as they went to Stoughton and are planning to travel to Weyburn and Indian Head in the near future. Travelling is what food trucks are made for and when it happens it’s working really good for them, but it takes a lot of paperwork to get a permit for each new town or city. The weather is another big factor.

“I catered a wedding in the middle of a thunder and lightning storm, and it’s not fun but the job has to be done still,” recalled Beatty.

Access to power also affects where food trucks can go and what they can do. But despite some challenges, the business runners still hope to do

more travelling as the summer proceeds and get back to serving more of their customers.

“I’ve been in this kind of business my whole life,” said Beatty.“The reason why I do it is when somebody eats something and then they come to me and say, ‘That’s the best thing I’ve ever had in my life,’ that’s what I’m in it for,” said Beatty.

And he’s been getting these complements quite often as they do the food the way grandma used to make it, paying attention to details, making everything from scratch, taking time, making it right and using the best quality product.

Elephant ears also attracted a lot of attention and compliments. It was something that nobody does around Estevan, and for the Wigleys it was a meal that they remember from childhood. But it turned out that there are endless ways of making and serving elephant ears.

“He grew up eating them like pancakes; they would eat them with butter and maple syrup on,” said Christie about Dean. “We always had them with cinnamon and sugar.”

Petterson added that in

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her childhood they would put a little salt on fried dough and eat it as a side with soup. Many other international cuisines have similar meals but with a different twist to them. So the family decided to take their experiences to the next level and experiment, offering the community sweet and savoury variations of the treat. Taco elephant ears became one of their best-sellers, along with the pulled pork and apple and caramel. Their menu for the day is usually posted on their Facebook page every morning.

The Rolling Stove’s menu has been pretty consistent this year and one of their bestsellers was family meat platter that gives customers a taste of everything they offer. And to make the season a bit more exciting Beatz Eatz decided to set an eating contest, which will take place on June 27 at 3 p.m. at the Hidden Valley. Beatty had the details.

“We are going to social distance every contestant and we are going to Facebook live it. They all are going to get the same amount of food by weight.

We’ll set the clock and within 30 minutes someone will need to finish that. And if nobody does, whoever finishes the most will be the winner.

“It’s my first time doing it … I’m in a lot of sports, we like watching sports events, and there is no sports around now … So I thought, ‘What kind of night can we do?’”

So the eating contest came into play as something that might be quite curious to see as the contestants will have to finish a full family platter that weighs six pounds and consists of one-half pound each of brisket, pulled pork and pulled chicken, one pound of dry ribs, one and a half pounds of French fries, eight ounces of beans, eight ounces of salad and one pound of cornbread.

And while it’s not exactly a sports competition it may spark the same kind of emotions for the spectators.

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Estevan quilt show showed off lots of creativity The Hearts and Hands Quilt Guild of Estevan found a way to a quilt show on Saturday.

More than 100 quilts were on display along Heritage Drive for what they called a Stroll Along Quilt Show. The quilts were draped on fences adjacent to the street, or in front of some of the homes on Heritage.

Many people turned out to walk by and view the creative efforts of the guild’s 42

members. Each member was asked to supply an “armload” of quilts for the show, president Linda Jones said.

The quilt show was slated to happen on June 13, but it was pushed back a week since an extreme wind warning was issued for the Estevan area that day. Conditions were much more favourable Saturday. “ We waited an extra week to have it, and it turned out to be a great day. We’re

getting lots of people coming, and we’re very happy,” said president Linda Jones.

The guild wanted to have the show so they can create awareness among the people of Estevan about what they do and how they support charitable organizations in the city.

Quilt guild member Eileen McKersie said they knew they would have a lot of quilts on display, but they didn’t expect to have so many people turning out to view them.

This event has been in the works for a few weeks.

The guild viewed it as a way for people to get out of their homes after spending so much time in quarantine or isolation. Previous quilt shows have been held indoors, but they went with the outdoor show so that everyone could adhere to social distancing guidelines.

They also hope to attract a few new members through the event.

A variety of quilts were on display on Heritage Drive in Estevan on Saturday, thanks to a show by the Hearts and Hands Quilt Guild.

Senior Living

A monthly supplement

Creighton Lodge residents enjoyed spring weather Submitted by Shelly Veroba The month of May is always a month that we look forward to seeing.

The flowers are planted, the smell of freshly mowed grass is in the air and the birds wake us up each morning with their beautiful songs.

Spring is in the air and we love it.

In May we welcomed a few new faces to the lodge.

Alma McGill was the first to move in and she was so excited to get here. Alma is a sister to Benita Brennan and so now they are together again. They both enjoy being able to visit with each other daily.

Gail and Richie Mack have been slowly moving in.

We look forward to seeing them once they are officially moved in.

Louis and Otilia Beaulieu moved in and they have a view of the courtyard which is the next best thing to life on the farm. They are a lovely couple and starting to settle into their new apartment.

Welcome to you all.

We watched a few movies in the month of May. Normally we only do this once a month but in May we found ourselves watching a few more. Grumpy Old Men and Grumpier Old Men were two of our favourites. Donna Wilson and her family borrowed the movies to us and we found them very entertaining.

We also watched a Bruce Willis love story with Mi-

chelle Pfeiffer titled The Story of Us. We decided Bruce should stick to action movies.

The use of colourful language was a little too much for our liking, but we played it to the end and then promptly donated the movie to goodwill.

We ended the month with a Sandra Bullock comedy, While you were Sleeping, and she put a smile back on our faces. So good to see a movie that makes you smile and laugh.

Our flowers from Tailling Hills Farms arrived at the end of May. The whole family came to help plant and then we had quite a few volunteers to also help with the huge job of planting. Carol Block, Carter and Austin Kuchinka all came the first few days.

Carol and the guys even hauled us in some new dirt from her place so we could build up some of the beds.

Carol was so much help in figuring out the perennials and reorganizing some of them.

Carol and her daughters also donated three beautiful planters filled with gorgeous flowers, in memory of Del Block, her beloved husband.

We placed them out front for everyone to enjoy.

Susan Thompson, Sue Kuchinka, Audrey MacMurchy and Brian Johnson all came from Kingston Midstream to finish up the flower planting. Kingston Midstream has always helped us through United Way Estevan’s Day of Caring, but this year due to COVID-19,

Creighton Lodge residents enjoyed ice cream from A Cherry on Top. Photo submitted the Day of Caring was cancelled. Thank you to all of our volunteers this year and to Kingston Midstream for always being a community supporter in so many ways.

Another highlight in May was the ice cream truck.

A Cherry on Top pulled up and stayed until all of our residents had a chance to be served. The weather co-operated and we enjoyed the tasty treats in the sunshine. It was such a success that we plan to have them back in June.

John Jenish and his crew from McDonald’s showed up on May 20 with muffins and coffee for all our residents and staff. Wow, were they ever delicious. Banana nut, fruit explosion, carrot and cranberry were the flavours they offered us and we weren’t disappointed. Everyone was impressed with the freshness of the muffins and the taste of the coffee. We will be serving those again for sure. Thank you McDonald’s for brightening our day by letting us

know you were thinking of us.

DMS Ser vices Inc. dropped off two computers for our seniors to use. They are loaded with games and ready to entertain. Thank you very much for being so generous and for thinking of us during these trying times.

We celebrated a few birthdays in May; happy birthday to Betty Eagles and Gail Mack. To celebrate we had tasty cupcakes that were created by Mandi PerryZohner who operates But-

tercup Bakeshop.

Life at the lodge was actually quite full in the month of May. The talk of COVID-19 and the precautions we need to take were still very much a part of our days, but at least we are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. We will continue to do our part to help keep ourselves healthy and we thank you all for doing your part too. Together we will get through this and we will come out stronger.

Campaign will benefit long-term care residents The St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation has announced a letterwriting campaign, We Care for Long-Term Care, to support the 38 people who reside in the hospital’s long-term care ward.

Hospital foundation executive director Breanne Van De Woestyne said there was a meeting with St. Joseph’s Hospital executive director Greg Hoffort and long-term care manager Tara Daoust to see what could be done to spread positivity to the residents.

With visitor restrictions, times have been difficult and isolating for the residents.

“We wanted to offer our services and our platform to help them see some positivity right now during these times. One thing they did come up with was sending in letters or artwork, so we hopped on that right away,” said Van De Woestyne.

The hospital foundation partnered with Canada Post in Estevan, who supplied free postage for this initiative. People are asked to send a

general letter or artwork, which will then be distributed to a resident.

If there people want to send something to a specific resident, such as a family member or friend, they are welcome to do so, and it will get to that resident.

There is no deadline to send a letter or artwork.

The campaign was launched June 3, and within the first few hours, people were calling in and sending in letters.

“We’re just excited to be a

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positive light for the residents down in long-term care while visitor restrictions are in place,” said Van De Woestyne.

Children have stepped forward to send in art.

“It’s going to be a really cool thing to see all of the different letters and artwork that comes in, and again, it just shows that people care and they want to help where they can,” said Van De Woestyne.

Submissions have to be mailed in, as those that are dropped off at

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Van De Woestyne said the hospital foundation will be happy regardless of how much they receive, but it wouldn’t surprise her if they receive more than 100 submissions. She added that people have been very supportive with long-term care in the past.

People can mail the items to: We Care for Long Term Care, St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, 1176 Nicholson Road, Estevan, Sk., S4A 0H3.

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A8

Local businesses support development of young athletes Businesses came together recently for a project that will assist athletes at the Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS).

A shot put area has been constructed at the Panteluk Athletic Field – the track and field facility south of the school that also includes the Chamney Family Running Track. Apollo Electric and Estevan Meter supplied the labour, equipment and materials for the shot put site, which includes a concrete slab where the athletes will toss from, and a 20-metre long sand strip where the spherical ball will land.

Tre v o r D u t k a w i t h Apollo Electric estimates the total value of the support is between $4,000 and $5,000.

Caitlin Giesbrecht, the head coach of the track and field team at ECS, said the shot put area will be a big boost for athletics at the school. It represents the finishing touches for the Pan-

teluk Athletic Field, which was built for the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games in Estevan.

“This was something that we had hoped for in the beginning stages of the redo (for the 2016 Games), and it wasn’t possible at the time.

Now that we have this sand surface, this puts our throws facilities at the same level as the provincial facilities and the national facilities that host national events,” said Giesbrecht.

A l l t r ac k a n d fi e l d events will now have the proper facilities, whether it be throwing, jumping or running.

Before the shot put facility was built, competitors had to throw into the grass, which wasn’t the best option.

If a track and field meet occurred on a rainy day, the ball can damage the ground, and the measurements won’t be as good.

“Having this sand sur-

face means that we can maintain it, we can smooth it out, and we can get absolutely accurate and fair measurements for all throwers,” she said.

They also have the ability to mark the out of bounds lines.

The provincial high school record is more than 15 metres, set over a decade ago, so the size of the landing area is more than enough for high school competitors.

Dutka said Apollo approached Estevan Meter, which is a company they work with regularly, and the two companies came together because they want to help the community as much as possible.

He noted the Comp. has had some athletes earn scholarships to universities, so it’s important to provide them with the best facility possible, especially when these athletes want to go to the next level.

“We want to help out

By Ana Bykhovskaia

most facilities weren’t ready to open instantly. “ We are at the point where we are filling the pool right now. That ’s a good head start because it takes a few days to do that,” said Oxbow community development officer Tami Scott last Thursday.

“But there are quite a few guidelines around what

we can have open in the pool building. For example, the change rooms won’t be open, so the people will have to come to the pool dressed in their bathing suits, they won’t be able to change.”

They are limiting the change room access as much as possible. There are also a few decisions that have to be made around swimming lessons.

“We have to maintain social distancing during swimming lessons. The instructors can’t get in the water with the swimmers and help them out. So for younger swimmers, if we do decide to go ahead, it would be parents-assisted. That’s a new and unusual step,” said Scott.

The areas around the pool will have to be regularly sanitized. Swimming aids will have to be wiped down after every single use, which will impact the number of staff they’ll have to have on duty.

The Town of Oxbow is still working on regulations to make sure that they are covering all of them and have all of them in place before the public health inspector comes out to issue a licence.

From left, Caitlin Giesbrecht from the Estevan Comprehensive School’s track and field program, Trevor Dutka from Apollo Electric and Cole Piche from Estevan Meter stand at the new shot put area south of the school. the school,” said D utka.

“During these hard times, it’s nice that we can still do these kinds of things, especially for things outside, because right

now, that’s what’s opening up is everything outside,” said Dutka.

Dutka looks forward to seeing kids practise at the

facility.

Midwest Surveys provided the surveying and F&L Concrete supplied the sand for the site.

Oxbow swimming pool is getting ready to open abykhovskaia@estevanmercury.ca

Oxbow will be opening its outdoor pool soon.

With Phase 4.1 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan now underway, the outdoor pools are allowed to get back to operating while following the regulations. However, when the good news came,

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The Oxbow Swimming Pool was open last year and is now getting filled to open for the first swimmers. File photo “Depending on when we can get the public health inspector out, we are aiming for the July 3 opening, but it won’t be before that,” said Scott.

She added that if not for the pandemic, their season would be about two weeks longer with the pool opening in the middle of June.

“It ’s not cut short as much as you might think,” said Scott.

Even though the season won’t be much shorter, the changes this year brought will affect them financially. Out-

door pools are seasonal, they take quite a bit of money to run but don’t make much. So places that run them usually come up short on budgets, and fundraisers are a big part of their sustainable operation.

“Fundraisers are a huge factor in keeping pools in the black,” said Scott.

“One big fundraiser that we usually run to support the swimming pool is Lobster Fest, and that would have been held this (past) weekend. And of course, that’s cancelled because of COVID.”

The cancellation of the big fundraiser significantly impacted them, but since the Oxbow swimming pool opened just last summer, they didn’t want to lose a year right away and decided to go ahead this year despite all the challenges.

“We have enough money in savings to offset what will be for sure a deficit year,” said Scott.

For updates on opening date, people can check the Town of Oxbow or the Oxbow & District Recreation Board Facebook pages.

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June 24, 2020 A9

Oxbow salutes its graduates of 2020

By David Willberg dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca

The Oxbow Prairie Horizons School has found ways to pay tribute to its graduates this year, even though the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented them from having a conventional, in-person graduation ceremony.

The school has had banners created for all of 35 graduates in the community, with individual grad photos of the kids. Those banners have been hanging in the downtown area for about a month.

O n c e t h e y ’re t a k e n down, the students will be able to keep the banners.

“The banners turned out very well. We’ve had a lot of positive comments from the grads and the parents and from the community,” said principal Jason Petlak.

Oxbow resident James Fonstad completed the banners.

Petlak expects this is something that the school will look at doing in future years.

The other initiative is a pre-recorded grad video.

There will be a brief biography on each grad, with a description of their future plans, and there will also be photos, including a baby picture, a middle years photo and a grad picture.

The video will also have a brief message from Jennifer Nordin, who is one of the school’s teachers, and several guest speakers, including retired NHL all-star Theoren Fleury, who was born in Oxbow, and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Hayley Wickenheiser of Shaunavon.

“Some of the kids put out requests to different people,

if they would be interested in giving a message, and Hayley responded and recorded probably a three or four-minute message for the grads,” said Petlak.

The scholarship recipients will be recognized during the video, and Petlak and valedictorian Raquenna SimonyiGindele will deliver short messages. There will also be a candid section featuring a variety of photos of the grads.

People will be able to watch the entire ceremony from beginning to end, or watch certain segments.

“All of that followed the same format of if our grad would have taken place for the ceremony, and put it on a virtual setting for the kids to have as a memento from their graduation year,” Petlak said.

The video is still in the process of being pieced to-

gether, but the majority of it has been completed. Petlak hopes it will be around an hour in length once it is finished, so it will be close to the length of the regular ceremony.

Students are expected to be able to pick up the banner and the video in time for the scheduled graduation date on June 29.

While the graduation class didn’t have a theme for this year, Petlak believes perseverance would certainly apply.

He is in his 23rd year serving as a principal in Oxbow, between OPHS and the Oxbow Prairie Heights School, which was a Grade 6-12 school that operated in the town before the current school opened in 2011. He is in his 30th year of educating students in the Oxbow area.

Not onl y does Petlak know the students well, but he taught many of their parents as well. This year’s graduating class is a wonderful group of kids.

“There’s no doubt that the students are disappointed, the fact that they won’t have the regular graduation ceremony, the in-person graduation ceremony that the school usually has. But we are following the guidelines of the chief medical health officer.”

While they can’t replace the in-person gathering that each graduating class would have had, the school is still trying to make this special, and the kids have adapted well.

“There’s disappointment on their part, but they’re understanding with this situation. It’s obviously a situation that not even people in my

generation can say that they’ve gone through,” said Petlak.

The school year at Oxbow Prairie Horizons School was off to a great start prior to COVID-19. The Black Knights senior girls volleyball team won the 3A provincial title in the fall, and kids were enjoying a variety of extracurricular activities until the pandemic struck.

Petlak lauded the kids for how they have adapted to online learning.

“I think a lot of areas at the beginning that were challenges turned out to have a positive learning environment for the kids. Obviously you can’t replace the face to face interaction between students and teachers, but I think both staff and students did their very best in providing the best educational opportunities for the students.”

Several more amenities are open in Estevan Additional amenities in Estevan will be open again as part of Phase 4, Part 1, of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan.

Part 1 allows such amenities as splash pads and playparks to open to the public, which paves the way for the city’s playparks to open as well.

The regular opening of the splash pads for the summer season does take some time for crews to complete procedures, but all splash pads were open again Monday.

Royal Heights Veterans Memorial Park, Padwick Park and the Dennis Moore Centennial Park all have splash pads. The splash pad at Centennial was open for the first time Monday.

“Some parks are in the finishing stages of completion, and we ask for your patience as we will open before some are

fully complete,” shared Rod March, parks and facilities manager. “We are thrilled that the splash pads will be open this year, and we look forward to seeing families enjoy the space that we work so hard at to make beautiful, enjoyable spaces for you to use.”

Paddling pools typically open after Canada Day each year. The goal is to open those facilities during the regular planned schedule, but because of the tight timeline for planning, there may be a delay in the start date.

Paddling pools will be open in the afternoons from 1-5 p.m.

“We need to bring back our staff, get them trained on new procedures, fill the pools and have them certified through public health, so there may be a bit of a delay on the opening date,” said program

manager Erin Wilson. “We are delighted to offer the paddling pools again this season and can’t wait to help make the summer memorable.”

Playpark programs will occur at Rusty Duce, Hillcrest, Churchill and Hillside parks.

Craft time will open in the mornings from 10 a.m. until noon and is a drop-in program for kids to enjoy the outdoors and be creative.

A date for playpark programs has also not yet been set. Users can expect to see a schedule in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the playpark program is asking users to start collecting tissue boxes, toilet paper and paper towel rolls, bottle caps, baby food jars, egg cartons or CDs for crafts.

Social distancing of at least two metres is in effect at all facilities, including parks.

Mackenna Dupuis was happy to be at the spray park at Dennis Moore Centennial Park.

20063ds0

A10 June 24, 2020

Congratulations

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OXBOW PRAIR

Adrienne Forseth

Anna Cushon

Ardrey Carlos

Austin Hewitt

Breck Mathison

Colby Douglas

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A12

Estevan athlete wins medal while representing Canada in artistic swimming dryland event

By David Willberg dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca

A talented young artistic swimmer from Estevan has won a medal while representing Canada in a virtual, dryland event.

Haley Copeland captured the bronz e medal at a Union Americana de Naticion (UANA) Artistic Swimming competition on Saturday that had a deep field of competitors.

Since the artistic swimming season ended early this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a provincial competition was held online, using such dryland exercises as burpees and the standing Y, instead of traditional events in the pool. The exercises are used in training for artistic swimming to build strength, endurance and flexibility.

A burpee for artistic swimmers has people jump, then drop down to the

ground for a push-up, return to their feet, jump again and perform a 360-degree spin.

The Y competition, meanwhile, sees participants stand on one leg, with the other leg wrapped around the head.

“At the provincial competition, I placed first in the standing Y and the burpee competition, which moved me onto the Canadian nationals,” Copeland said.

She was third in the standing Y and first in burpee at nationals, which punched her ticket to the UANA international event.

At UANA, Copeland finished third out of 180 competitors from 19 countries. She completed 10 burpees in the 30-second time limit.

“We’re marked on form and the quality of our burpees, as well as the quantity,” said Copeland.

She’s pleased with how

well she did at UANA. She had hoped to do at least nine burpees in the time allotted, although she had performed 10 in 30 seconds previously.

The competition included people who are going to the Olympics next year.

“It was fun because we got to see how different countries interact with everybody, and it was just a really cool experience,” Copeland said.

Team Canada members practised every day to be ready. It took a lot of practice to master this particular burpee, since it’s not one they perform every day.

But the burpee is a great way to build endurance.

“A s a s y n c h ron i z e d swimmer, you go for three or four minutes, hard, when you do a competition, and you usually don’t get air. So it was a very different feeling to be able to breathe during the competition this time,”

said Copeland.

The opportunity to represent her country was amazing, and it seemed surreal at the time.

“Being able to represent Canada on such a high level, and show that somebody from a small town can actually make it that far, was really cool. I just hope that it inspires others to do the same, since this is the first one and I hope more people get involved next time.”

Copeland is entering her ninth season in artistic swimming. She started with the Estevan Mermaids club, but for the past two years, she has been part of the Weyburn Artistic Swimming Club.

“I like the team atmosphere. I’m a really competitive person, so I like being able to go to competitions and show the judges what I can do,” she said. “Swimming just gives me that excitement every time I dive in the pool.”

Haley Copeland won a bronze medal at a virtual competition for artistic swimmers. Photo submitted

Minor football now accepting registrations for 2020 Penta Completions Estevan Minor Football has started the process of accepting registrations for the 2020 football season.

President Kevin Mortenson said Part 1 of Phase 4 of the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan allows for outdoor minor sports to resume. There won’t be physical contact at first as they prepare for the season, which starts later in the summer, but minor football still wants to see the young players working on non-contact drills.

“There’s not going to be a lot of ball handling or hitting bags or tackling,” said Mortenson. “Whenever we do use a football or a tackling bag, we’re going to have to have somebody on it almost instantaneously to clean them off again and sanitize them.”

Minor football is accepting registrations now because they want to see their numbers and get the kids together. But they won’t accept money until August.

They’re confident they’re going to be playing, but they don’t know what football is going to look like.

“There’s going to be an

extra person out on the field sanitizing during the game, sanitizing the football and sanitizing the equipment,” Mortenson said. “Kids are going to have to keep their mouth guards in at all times.”

Equipment manager Pat Ford has already ordered splash guards for helmets so that sweat and saliva won’t come into contact with teammates and opponents.

Minor football might add some of their own precautions in addition to what is put in place by the provincial and federal governing bodies.

Four divisions will be offered. Three of them are returning entries: the under-10 Power Dodge Cudas, who will have six players on the field at a time; the under-12 Century 21 Chargers, who play nine-player football; and the Lions Club under-14 Steelers, who also have nineplayer football.

The U12 and U14 teams play against Weyburn, Moosomin, Assiniboia, Moose Jaw and Swift Current; the latter team is back in the league this year.

New for this year will be

a female tackle football team, the Estevan Viragos, for girls in Grades 7-12. They will play in the Prairie Female Football League.

Mortenson noted Virago is Latin for a female warrior.

Shannell Rioux, a graduate of the Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs football team who has played for the Regina Riot adult women`s tackle team, is on board to coach the Viragos.

“We had a pretty good reception. There’s been more than 20 girls, plus the girls who played last year (at ECS) who feel they’ll be joining this team. We’re at about 23 or 24 players.”

They have reached out to Weyburn for players, and they’re excited to get on the field.

The league expects to have seven teams this season.

Mortenson said they hope to continue the momentum of last season, especially with the Chargers, who won five of their final six games and captured the third place game in the Moose Jaw Minor Football League.

The kids also had a lot

Registration has now started for the upcoming season of Estevan Minor Football.

File photo of fun last season on all three teams.

Minor football also hopes to have its practice facility, Chow Field, located west of Highway 47, in use for this season. Chow Field

has not been used since 2017 due to settling issues that stemmed from when it was built more than a decade ago.

The field has been rebuilt so that it can be used. Once it’s finished, minor football

will have a place to practice that they won’t have to share with other user groups.

The Woodlawn Regional Park stepped for ward to resolve the issues at Chow Field, Mortenson said.

Bruins have had a successful recruiting season The Estevan Bruins have enjoyed success in terms of recruiting this offseason, bringing in two midget AAA scoring champions and other talented young players.

For ward Tanner HumberDredge, born in 2002, comes to the Bruins from the Pinnacle Growlers form the Newfoundland-Labrador Major Midget Hockey League.

He led the league in scoring with 48 points (19 goals, 29 assists) in 30 games. He also won the league

MVP award.

Previously, they signed forward Mason Beck, also born in 2002, from the South Shore Mustangs of the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League (NSMMHL). Beck joins the club after leading the NSMMHL in scoring with 69 points in 34 games.

It’s believed Humber-Dredge and Beck are the first two midget AAA or major midget scoring champions to commit to the Bruins since Jesse Bernard, who led the

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Manitoba midget AAA loop in scoring in 2010-11 and started the 2011-12 season with Estevan.

Other players to commit include: • Brandon Ambrozik, a 2002-born forward from the Winnipeg Thrashers of the Manitoba Midget AAA Hockey League. He finished tied for fifth in league scoring with 65 points in 48 games.

• Samuel Gallant, also a 2002-born forward, from the

Dartmouth Major Midgets of the NSMMHL. He finished tied for third in league scoring with 49 points in 32 games.

• Eric Clark, a 2002-born goaltender from the North Vancouver Wolfpack in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League. Clark boasted a record of 17-0 with a .914 save percentage last season.

As for Saskatchewan recruits, 2002-born defenceman Matt Millette from the Regina Pat Canadians

in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League has committed to the club. Millette had five goals and 14 points in 38 games last season.

He also played one game with the Bruins as an affiliated player.

Forward Lucius Schmidt, also born in 2002, from the Moose Jaw Warriors in the SMAAAHL has committed to the Black and Gold.

He had 12 goals and 29 points in 43 games with the Warriors last season.

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Wednesday, June 24, 2020

A14

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Flashback – Wednesday, June 27, 2001

Cheers Cheers to all the staff at SARCAN. Having just reopened last week, they had everything running as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

The staff member at the front, Rebecca, directing traffic is great.

Cheers to the elementary schools of Estevan for the celebrations they are having for the graduating Grade 8 students. It means a lot to the kids and their families to have this.

Cheers to the reopening of the spray parks and the paddling pools, and the fact there will be a season for the playparks. These are very important for kids during the summer months.

Cheers to the minor sports organizations that have been patiently waiting to have their seasons.

Thankfully they didn’t cancel their seasons. Kids are looking forward to playing these sports again.

Cheers to everyone who continues to think of the seniors who are confined to their building due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and don’t have regular contact with loved ones. The letters and cards make a big difference.

Jeers Jeers to the Estevan board of police commissioners for going against the doctors’ diagnosis when it comes to the case involving Const. Jay Pierson. Mental health is no joke and should be taken seriously.

Jeers to the parking tickets being handed out as the businesses downtown try to go back to some sort of normal. Many were out of work for two or more months and the last thing they should have to worry about is finding a parking ticket on their windshield.

Jeers to all the dudes who decide to amplify the muffler sounds on your vehicles. It leaves the rest of us asking one obvious question: why?

To submit a cheer or a jeer, please email it to dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca, or visit www.estevanmercury.ca.

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Playpark leaders were getting ready for the beginning of the season. From left, Leah Skjonsby, Jennifer James, Becky Wock, Deena Wahba and Carmen Miller. Rusty Duce opened June 30 and other playparks opened July 2 that year.

Comparing and competing “You are still in Estevan?”

That statement was said with a mixture of amazement and questioning, with the emphasis on the “still” part.

My college buddy could not believe that I was still here. Since our graduation, he had moved four times, always climbing the ladder to bigger churches. In fact, he has become so well-known that he is now in demand as a speaker at many large events.

Meanwhile, I am still in Estevan. June 4 marked the end of my 30th year here and I could not be happier. I love the people of this congregation so much that they have become like family. I love living in a smaller city where

Tim Pippus of the Estevan Church of Christ you can not only get to know people well, but you see them often. I love being involved with the speedway and going to Bruin games. I love the fact that I do not have an hourlong commute to work.

From my friend’s perspective, I am sure it seems like I have failed. However, from my perspective, I could not feel more blessed.

So, which one of us made the right choice? Both!

Here is the thing: my life is not diminished by his success. Whether he, or anyone else, gets to do more, see more, or have more does not affect whether my life is good or not. Conversely, my longevity in one community does not make his shorter-term stays look bad. Each of us is doing what we think is best and living out of the blessings that we have been given.

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comparing and competing with one another can inspire us to be better, sadly, most of the time all it does is discourage us and make us discontent.

Here is the truth: my life is not made better or worse by anything you do or do not do. My life, just like yours, is guided and secured by Christ.

As Jude 24 states, “To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.”

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www.chamneycrushing.ca 306-634-3900

Bidders are required to review the complete tender documents for information regarding conditions of sale and responsibilities of the purchaser regarding property condition. This information is available by contacting the Village Office in person at 423 Main Street, Bienfait, SK; or by email at vilfrob@sdcwireless.com.

Tenders must be submitted in the prescribed form and must be accompanied by a deposit of at least 20% (percent) of the tender amount. The deposit shall be made by way of a certified cheque, bank draft, or money order payable to the Village of Frobisher.

The successful bidder(s) will have 30 days to provide the payment in-full to complete the purchase. The deposit will be forfeited if the successful bidder does not finalize the agreement for sale within 30 days.

A tender must be submitted in a sealed envelope addressed to: Village of Frobisher Tax Title Property Tender PO Box 190, Bienfait, SK S0C 0M0 Tenders must be received by 4:00 p.m. on July 13, 2020. Highest, or any tender, not necessarily accepted.

For further information contact the undersigned.

Dated this 24th day of June, 2020.

PHONE BILL

Kate Halkyard, Administrative Assistant 306-388-2323 ext. 3

(306)577-1643

U-

‘Em WE mEnd ‘Em Owners - Lance Mack & Yancey Hagel

Call 306-634-6060

www.estevanmercury.ca

June 24, 2020 A15

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Help the dog Lucky find his way to his delicious bone.

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Who was the first animal in space?

A: The cow that jumped over the moon.

Who was the first animal in space?

A: The cow that jumped over the moon.

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COMPLETE EACH GRID WITH THESE SIX SYMBOLS. Symbols can only appear once in each line, once in each columnEACH and once COMPLETE GRIDin each box of six squares.

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Classifieds

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

A16

In MeMorIaM In loving memory of Blaine Tweed, June 24th, 2007 Nothing can ever take away The love a heart holds dear.

Fond memories linger every day, Remembrance keeps him near.

Forever in our hearts.

Rob, Jodi, Maddi and Kolton Darryl, Charlotte and Brandon

ApArtments/Condos for rent

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Contact Glenn @ (306) 380-6778.

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Virtual tours can be arranged.

Mobile/ Manufactured YELLOW HEAD MODULAR HOME SALES Doris Emily Jacklin February 22, 1940 June 21, 2013 Missing You Your life was a blessing Your memory a treasure You are loved beyond words And missed beyond measure We think about you always We think about you still You have never been forgotten And you never will, We hold you close within our hearts And there your will remain To walk with us throughout our lives.

Until we meet again.

In remembrance from your Husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren

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Estevan MNP partners made two valuable and much-needed contributions to southeast community organizations this week.

O n M o n d a y, R y a n Stepp and David Hammermeister, who are partners with MNP in Estevan, presented Midale Mayor Allan Hauglum with a cheque for $15,000 that will be used for the Midale swimming pool.

The money was raised by MNP’s local partners in Estevan and will go towards a much-needed new boiler for the large pool this summer.

“MNP has always been committed to supporting the communities in rural S askatchewan where we live and work,” said Stepp.

“We are proud to contribute to the improvement of the Midale swimming pool for families to enjoy this summer.”

Wednesday saw Stepp and Hammermeister visiting Creighton Lodge to make another donation.

Since there was no 4-H

sale in Estevan this year, kids were tasked with selling their animals privately. One of the club members reached out to MNP, and partners decided to support them and purchased a steer, which was then processed and donated to Creighton Lodge.

Lodge manager Shelly Veroba said that the donation will help them a lot.

“We really appreciate it because a) beef is getting more and more expensive ever y day due to COVID-19, and b) it just helps us to keep the cost down here at the lodge, to have everybody that does come for our meals and we pride ourselves in our meals,” said Veroba. “So MNP are just going to partner with us to make sure that our meals for 2020 are going to be that much better.”

She added that they usually alternate different types of meat and fish on their menu. They also know a hundred different ways to cook beef and get

creative with their meals, which allows them to have diversity while using up all the supplies.

Veroba expects that the beef donated by MNP will last them for about eight months.

“We really appreciate this. We can’t say thank you enough because it truly helps us with the seniors and it brightens their days, too. With the COVID-19 (it helps) to make sure they know that the community businesses are still thinking about them,” said Veroba.

MNP is a leading national accounting, tax and business consulting firm in Canada. They serve and respond to the needs of their clients in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

Through partner-led engagements, they provide a collaborative, cost-effective approach to doing business and personalized strategies to help organizations succeed across the country and around the world.

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MNP provided valuable support to Creighton Lodge and Midale Swimming Pool

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Partners with MNP David Hammermeister, left, and Ryan Stepp, right, with Creighton Lodge residents Valerie Granberg and Sarah Harder.

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Notices / NomiNatioNs PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call this newspaper NOW or 306-649.1405 for details.

Notices / NomiNatioNs Advertisements and statements contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or reliability of such advertisements. For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Association’s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.swna.com.

From left, partners with MNP David Hammermeister, left, and Ryan Stepp, right, presented a cheque for the Midale swimming pool to Mayor Allan Hauglum. Photo submitted

BUSINESS SERVICES LEGAL Barristers & Solicitors

Paul Elash Q.C. Aaron Ludwig, B.Sc., LL.B. Genevieve Schrader, B. Mgt., J.D. Gainsborough: Thursday a.m.

Carnduff: Thursday p.m.

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P. 306-634-3631 • F. (306) 634-6901 • www.kohalyelash.com

AUDIOLOGIST

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Lori Carr, MLA JACQUIE MVULA M.S., R. Aud. Audiologist/Owner

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306.634.7311 loricarrmla@sasktel.net

www.estevanmercury.ca

June 24, 2020 A17

Lampman concert was a Saskatchewan first Music lovers enjoyed a Saskatchewan first in Lampman on June 13.

A drive-in concert was held at the town’s campground, featuring Saskatchewan country music singer Justin LaBrash and his band True North. Forty-eight vehicles passed through the gates for the event, and 202 people were counted for the attendance.

Proceeds from the concert were directed to the Lampman branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Justin LaBrash was born in Regina and currently resides in Lumsden, but he has family in the southeast region and has spent a lot of time in the Kisbey area.

His mother Laureen said they might have been able to squeeze in a couple more vehicles, but that would have been difficult.

“Ever ybody followed the guidelines that are in place with the social distancing and the requirements for shows like this.

Everything just went well,” said Laureen.

The wind was the only issue, as it forced concert organizers to keep relocating the FM antenna and adjusting it throughout the show.

Instruments needed to be placed on the stage so they wouldn’t blow away when they weren’t in use.

Justin said it was a thrill to be back on stage, and this was his first concert since the pandemic.

“It was a huge success,” he said. “They had a sold out crowd of more than 200 people, and raised some good funds for the Lampman Legion, and was able to kick off something that I think is going to be a cool event to carry us through the summer,” said Justin.

He compared the concert to “riding a bike,” for both him and the band members, since they didn`t forget how to put on a good show.

“We’re really looking forward to being able to work with the guys again, and get back on the road again and feel somewhat normal,” he said.

Justin was supposed to come to Lampman to perform at a fundraiser for the legion in March, but that concert was dashed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So both sides started looking into how they could make this happen.

They found out they could hold the concert, as long as they followed certain guidelines. All vehicles were parked five metres apart, people had to remain in the vehicle and no concession stand was closed.

“It was five months and a week between the time the boys ( Justin and True North) and played together, until they stepped on the stage (in Lampman), because they couldn’t have a rehearsal, and they were staying isolated and being extremely careful,” said Laureen.

The legion and the Town of Lampman/Rural Municipality of Browning Recreation Board played a big role in making the event happen, Laureen said. The Prairie Dog Drive-In allowed Justin and True North to play a set of songs before the movie on June 12 to help promote the Lampman show.

It took 10 days to plan the drive-in concert, from when the concept was conceived to when the show began.

“Justin just felt strongly about it, and so we went with it,” said Laureen. “The Lampman legion was just incredible to work with.

The volunteers there were so excited.”

The concert had added meaning because his 100-year-old great grandfather, Albert Hale of Kisbey, was there, along with Justin’s grandparents, Grant and Marilyn Hale.

Since the Lampman concert, nine drive-in shows have been booked. Laureen believes this is a direction that live music will be headed in the coming months, especially since there hasn’t been any discussion of concerts happening indoors in the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan.

“With some tweaking, it can happen very safely, but it’s something they have to work through, and until then, this is an option for some artists that are able to do it,” said Laureen.

Justin LaBrash, who has family in southeast Saskatchewan, performed at a drive-in concert in Lampman earlier this month.

Photo courtesy of Laureen LaBrash

Fire crews respond to vehicle and grass fire, alarm and road accident involving tree and deer last week The Estevan Fire Rescue Service (EFRS) had a busy week with a number of calls for service.

It started last Monday at about 3 p.m., when crews were alerted to a vehicle and grass fires occurring northwest of Hitchcock. Once crews arrived on scene, it was found that the vehicle suffered a mechanical failure and caught on fire, also setting the vegetation around it on fire.

“There were no injuries as a result of the fire. Crews were able to get in and suppress both vegetation and vehicle fire,” said Estevan Fire Chief Dale Feser.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. While recent rains didn’t allow the grass fire to spread, the vehicle suffered significant damage and was a write-off.

The next call came in Tuesday night. At about 9 p.m., firefighters were called out to a collision in Bienfait, in which a vehicle hit a tree.

“Crews arrived on scene to indeed find that the vehicle was still there with two occupants and full airbag deployment,” said Feser.

EMS checked and released the occupants of the vehicle on scene. Firefighters isolated the vehicle and turned it over to the RCMP

for further investigation.

While crews were on that call, another call came in. This time a commercial fire alarm went off in the north-central area of Estevan. Crews responded.

While on scene, along with the property maintenance manager, they reviewed the fire alarm panel, which was indicating that the detection head was activated on the third floor.

Firefighters checked the area with thermal-imaging cameras, but outside of a very high humidity level in the building, no cause for the alarm was found. “(High humidity) was

CAREER

troubling this particular detection head,” said Feser.

“The scene was turned back over to the building maintenance manager with recommendations to get that fire alarm detection device fixed.”

Sunday night turned out to be busy as well for the EFRS members and the Estevan RCMP. Shortly after 10 p.m., Estevan firefighters were called to assist with the road accident, in which a vehicle hit a deer. The collision happened about one kilometre east of Bienfait on Highway 18. Fire crews attended the scene and helped with traffic control.

The vehicle sustained minor damage, but as a result of the collision, it left the road surface and ended up in the ditch. However, it was

still drivable.

Feser said that no injuries or entrapment occurred as a result of the incident.

Once the scene was deemed safe, it was turned over to the RCMP and fire crews returned to the station.

Firefighters responded to a very special request on Saturday morning.

“We were informed that one of the Estevan little residents was returning home from the Saskatoon ( Jim Pattison) Children’s Hospital. And it was also her birthday, so all the emergency services gathered around to … make her birthday special and make her feel welcome back home,” said Feser.

The birthday parades, initiated by the Estevan Police Service early in the

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spring, were discontinued a few weeks ago. However, Feser said that they always consider special requests and do their best to support residents during their hard times.

On Tuesday night the EFRS also reintegrated into their regular training that was partially put on pause and partially being done online since March due to COVID-19.

The fire department also continued with the inspections for the business license applications. While this is something that is done throughout the year, due to COVID-19 the EFRS had to put it on pause and now is trying to catch up with the pace, and they have been quite successful.

A18 June 24, 2020

www.estevanmercury.ca

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

The Mayor

Playparks are now open - please take time to get out and enjoy some summer fun!

2020 WATERMAIN FLUSHING SCHEDULE The City of Estevan will be flushing watermains to ensure good water quality for all users of City water.

This work includes the turning of main water valves around the City, and flushing large quantities of water from various hydrants in each area. During this process you may notice a substantial drop in pressure, this will be brief. As well, discoloured water is possible during the days your area is scheduled for this work (see schedule below), please run a faucet for a few minutes until the water is clear again.

Please contact City Hall at 634-1800 if issues persist. Thank you for your understanding during this important maintenance!

(5) Monday – Friday June 29-July 3 Area bounded by Spruce Drive and Princess Street on the North, King Street on the South, Souris Avenue on the West, and Kensington on the East (includes Hillside and Scotsburn regions) (6) Monday -Friday July 6-10 Area bounded by King Street on the North, CPR Railroad on the South, 14th Ave on the West, and Kensington on the East (includes 7th Street, 8th Street, 9th Street, Centennial, Trojan, and Soo Industrial regions) (7) Monday- Friday July 13-17 Area bounded by Kensington on the West, Sawyer Road on the East, North and South City Limits (includes Glen Peterson Industrial Park, East Industrial, Southeast Industrial regions, and properties along Hwy 39E Service Road)

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING COMMUNITY ENGAGMENT BYLAW BYLAW NO. 2020- 2027 Public notice is hereby given that the Council of the City of Estevan, pursuant to Part X of the Planning and Development Act, 2007, will consider adoption of the City of Estevan Community Engagement Policy Bylaw.

The intent of the Bylaw is to describe the manner in which public notice and civic engagement is to be undertaken on matters related to the land use planning within the City of Estevan.

Prior to consideration of this Bylaw, a public hearing will be held: Date: Location: Time:

July 13, 2020 Council Chambers, City Hall 6:00 PM

The public hearing is your opportunity to make presentations directly to Council. Those unable to attend may submit written comments to the City Clerk.

City Clerk, cityclerk@estevan.ca City Hall, 1102 – Fourth Street, Estevan, S4A 0W7 The Bylaw may be viewed at City Hall during regular office hours or viewed online at www.Estevan.ca.

CONSTRUCTION BULLETIN VETERANS CRESCENT - The City of Estevan is undertaking construction for the Watermain replacement. The affected area includes Veterans Crescent.

Property access and parking restrictions are to occur.

This work will commence June 15, 2020 and will take approximately eight (8) weeks to complete (subject to weather) City of Estevan will perform this work within the current Bylaw regulations and specifications.

Safety - Construction site could be dangerous. If you have children, please ask them to keep a safe distance from the site. We will take every precaution to ensure public safety, but we need your assistance to constrain the natural curiosity of younger children. Please DO NOT attempt to go close to areas affected.

Theft or Vandalism - If you see any act of vandalism, theft or anyone suspiciously tampering with equipment, signage or barricades please contact 306-634-1800, or after hours call Police.

Questions and Concerns - The City of Estevan, Engineering Services apologize for any inconveniences that this work may cause and thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience. If you have any question or concerns, please call at 634-1800 or approach the supervisor or foreman on site.

FLUSHING PROGRAM Beginning Monday April 6,2020,and continuing to Friday, June 26,2020, the Water and wastewater Division will be carrying out Sanitary Sewer Main Flushing and Storm sewer Flushing, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. During the periods of jetting, residents and businesses are advised to securely cap basement floor drains.

You may smell an odor in your home, this can be resolved by simply opening windows for a short period of time and running water to ensure all traps are full of water.

Storm sewer will have no effect on homes and business’.

2020 Program Area will encompass all streets North of 6th Street, and west of Souris Ave within City limits including: Morsky Drive Larter Road MacCready Bay Tedford Way Matte Court Jesse Bay Wellock Road Irvine Crescent Dieppe Crescent Victory Road Gibbs Road Mayfair Drive Mayfair Bay Cardinal Avenue

Barabash Bay Taisey Crescent Newcombe Drive Nicholson Road Wahlmeier Drive Boyer Avenue Mack Place Mather Crescent Dyer Road Pettigrew Road McCormick Crescent Grundeen Crescent Thorn Crescent Sinclair Bay

UTILITIES AND TAXES DURING COVID 19 PANDEMIC To offer assistance and best service to citizens experiencing the effects of the economic impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City is committed to providing increased flexibility and immediate short-term relief for your utility and property tax payments through the following: UTILITY SERVICES: The City will continue to bill for utility services as normal. However, to best serve the City’s customers in these extraordinary times, the City has made the following changes to current utility collections activities: Utility disconnections due to arrears will be suspended until September 1, 2020; Late payment charges will be suspended on all utility accounts until September 1, 2020; and We will continue to generate utility bills, reminders and other related notices for customers who are in arrears to keep them informed of their current situation.

These measures are aimed at providing financial relief for customers who may not be able to afford to pay their bills on time. By suspending late payment charges, utility customers will have the option to delay bill payments without putting themselves in additional financial hardship. However, civic staff will continue to work with the City’s utility customers regarding payment arrangements so as not to leave them in a difficult financial situation in the future.

Delaying disconnections will help ensure that all homes have access to water, allowing for proper hand-washing and personal hygiene.

PROPERTY TAX: Your 2020 Property Tax notice will be delivered by the end of June, 2020.

To offer assistance and best service to citizens experiencing the effects of the economic impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City is committed to providing increased flexibility and immediate short-term relief for your 2020 Property Tax payment.

On your notice, your 2020 Property Tax due date will still show as July 31, 2020.

HOWEVER: The City is extending a two-month grace period to provide you with additional time to pay your 2020 Property Tax. You will not incur any late payment penalties on your 2020 Property Tax if you pay the full amount due by September 30, 2020.

We would like to answer your property tax-related questions. We understand and will work with you.

FITNESS SCHEDULE PUBLIC NOTICE The City of Estevan has received an application for a change of use within an existing building, described as: • • • • • •

Civic Address: Application: Legal Description: Zoning Classification: Use Classification: Proposed Use

1175 Nicholson Road DP022-2020 Lot 16, Blk 136, Plan 88R41149 Commercial Health Care Zone (C6) Personal Services, Discretionary Use Nail Salon

Prior to this application being considered by the approving authority, any person may inquire and/or make written or verbal submissions on the proposed development. Please direct inquiries to Land Development Services @ 306-634-1821, write or e-mail landdevelopment@estevan.ca prior to 4:00 PM, July 2, 2020.

Hill Avenue Veterans Avenue Veterans Crescent Veterans Bay Kohaly Avenue Lynd Crescent Hudson Road Hillcrest Drive Hillcrest Bay Woodend Place Cundall Drive King Street Chinook Bay

SUNDAY SPIN 9:10 AM - 9:50 AM WEIGHT ROOM 9:00 AM - 8:30 PM MONDAY SPIN 6:10 AM - 6:50 AM GRIT 9:10 AM - 10:00 AM EASY STRETCH 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (virtual class) POWER BLAST 11:10 PM - 12:00 PM CARDIO BLAST 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM GRIT 6:10 PM - 6:50 PM WEIGHT ROOM 6:00 AM - 8:30 PM TUESDAY SPIN 6:10 AM - 6:50 AM CORE/BARRE ABOVE 9:10 AM - 10:15 AM ZOOMER 11:10 AM - 12:00 PM POWER BLAST 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM SPIN 5:30 PM - 6:10 PM WEIGHT ROOM 6:00 AM - 8:30 PM

ESTEVAN LEISURE CENTRE EFFECTIVE JUNE 8 - 30, 2020 THURSDAY SPIN 6:10 AM - 6:50 AM CORE/ BARRE ABOVE 9:10 AM - 10:15 AM ZOOMER 11:10 AM - 12:00 PM POWER BLAST 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM SPIN 5:30 PM - 6:10 PM WEIGHT ROOM 6:00 AM - 8:30 PM FRIDAY SPIN 6:10 AM - 6:50 AM GRIT 9:10 AM - 10:00 AM EASY STRETCH 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (virtual class) FOAM ROLLER 11:10 PM - 12:00 PM WEIGHT ROOM 6:00 AM - 8:30 PM SATURDAY GRIT 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM WEIGHT ROOM 6:30 AM - 10:00 PM

WEDNESDAY FEB. 19 SPIN 6:10 AM - 6:50 AM GRIT 9:10 AM - 10:00 AM CHAIR YOGA 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (virtual class) POWER BLAST 11:10 PM - 12:00 PM CARDIO BLAST 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM GRIT 6:10 PM - 6:50 PM WEIGHT ROOM 6:00 AM - 8:30 PM PLEASE NOTE - Due to the pandemic-related protocols registration has moved to a PRE-Registration process.

Users must pre-register online or by calling the Information Desk. Patrons will be screened upon arrival and asked a few questions as per the Operational Health and Safety Guidelines. Space between workout stations have either increased or a machine has been put into 'not in use.' Drinking fountains and change rooms will be closed.

Memberships that were bought previously were put on hold; the days remaining on memberships have been applied to your accounts starting June 8th, 2020. If you need a new membership, please either book online at www.estevan.ca or call the Information Desk for contactless payment.