Estevan Mercury 20230816

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Summer Halloween. Mainprize park makes weekend spooky and fun.

Details on PAGE A3

Mosquitoes getting to you? Get

New program announced.

Southeast College tries filling in a gap in the trades.

More on

PAGE A6

A massive crowd enjoyed great music at Bow Valley Jamboree

The annual Bow Valley Jamboree, held Saturday at the Bow Valley Park south of Oxbow, was once again an overwhelming success, according to one of the event directors Carole Stewart.

With upwards of 800 attendees, the park was full and the energy was high. Music of all genres was highlighted, with eight different acts hitting the stage. From classic rock to pipes, folk, rockabilly and country, there was something for all ages.

Learning more about nature.

Estevan Wildlife Federation hosts youth camp.

Check it out on PAGE A7

With a surprise rain shower hitting the park just after 7 p.m., most of the crowd was forced to take shelter under the many tents in the park or find refuge in their vehicles. But this didn’t stop Munro & Patrick and Soul Sensations from putting on a great show that kept many dancing in the rain outdoors.

After the brief rainstorm, most patrons returned to enjoy the rest of the evening of great music, featuring two more acts, the New Montagues and Karissa Hoffort.

Latest from the fields. Our special Happy Harvest Agri News section runs on PAGES A8-9

Prior to the rain falling, the jamboree featured the talents of Kilted Wind, Dusty Rain, Winsome Kind, Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys, and JJ Voss.

All of the acts were from Saskatchewan, with some having local connections.

Many of the acts have received awards at different levels for their talents.

Surrounding the patrons at the festival were a variety of food options ranging from a beef dinner supplied by the Oxbow Lions Club, the Southeast Shrine Club’s burgers and hotdogs, Reach Café beverages, Filipino food and the Get In My Belly food truck, featuring tacos, smoked beef and more.

Get in My Belly, a south-

east food vendor, remained open until the event closed this year, providing warm food to those staying for the entire day.

An array of artisans displaying their talents were also featuring their creative pieces ranging from artwork, pottery and stickers and jewelry, to delicious breads and sweet treats. The festival also saw a display of local art-

work, highlighting the talent of Oxbow and the area.

One artisan, Kristyn Mayer, had a surprise visit from a recently-engaged couple wanting a set of temporary engagement rings made to honour their special commitment.

“What a beautiful moment and highlight of the day,” Stewart said.

Facebook

To the people of Estevan and southeast Saskatchewan:

By now, the vast majority of Facebook users in southeast Saskatchewan have been shut out from viewing local news on their Facebook feeds by Meta, which is the parent company for Facebook and Instagram.

Earlier this year, Meta threatened to turn the lights out on articles from Canadian news outlets in response to the federal Liberal government’s Online News Act. Google has issued a similar threat.

on Aug. 1, and that the work would be complete within a few weeks.

The Estevan Mercury is Estevan’s oldest business. We’ve been around since 1903, and we’re celebrating our 120th birthday this year.

While we’ve lost a link for reaching out to you for an indefinite period of time, that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to stop bringing the news to you. Here’s how we’ll continue to keep you engaged:

ed to more than 6,500 homes throughout southeast Saskatchewan on a weekly basis. We remain your best option, and your best value, for reaching your customers.

• Follow us on Twitter at @ Estevan_Mercury. Just like we used Facebook to bring news directly to you, we continue to do the same with Twitter, as we share stories with our followers.

New level. Local athlete goes to France to partake in roller derby competition.

Find more on PAGE A13

As part of the Online News Act, tech companies will be required to compensate media organizations if they want to host Canadian news content on their platforms. Rather than collaborate with the feds, Meta has decided to take their ball and go home.

Meta announced it would start turning out the lights on Canadian news outlets

At the Mercury, we’ve been proud of the following we’ve had on Facebook, with more than 9,300 followers –an impressive number for a small-city paper in southeast Saskatchewan. We’ve cultivated our base of followers and we’ve always worked hard to engage them by making local news our top, and often, our only priority, posting several articles per day.

We’ve also used our Facebook page for contests, promotions and photo albums.

And we recognize the value of Facebook in situations of public safety, such as highway closures, weather alerts, increased police presences and, most importantly, missing person cases.

• The first and foremost option is, obviously, through our paper. The Estevan Mercury is Saskatchewan’s premier weekly newspaper. And that’s not just us saying that; it’s coming from the judges at the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Awards. In recent years, the Mercury has been recognized for the strength of its front page, editorial page, stories, photography, advertisements, special sections and overall product. We’re going to continue to deliver a great product to you every week. Be sure to check out your mailbox, drop box, newsstand and other areas where the Mercury is distributed.

And you can continue to trust us for your advertising. The Mercury is still distribut-

• Through our website at www.sasktoday.ca. We’ve been talking a lot about SaskToday since it launched in July 2021. We’re going to talk about it even more. This is your provincial news hub, a place where you can find stories about not just the people of your community and region, but the people of Saskatchewan. Local and provincial news, crime stories, sports, culture articles – you’ll find them all at SaskToday.

If you are looking for a direct local emphasis, be sure to visit www.sasktoday.ca/south/ estevan-mercury. It will be updated several times a day with stories that affect the region. We encourage you to visit repeatedly as we continue to cover all facets of life in Estevan, both print and online.

• Follow us through the Estevan Mercury’s LinkedIn account, which will also have stories throughout the day.

• Subscribe to our newsletter, either through SaskToday, which is delivered every weekday, or through the Mercury’s newsletter, which goes out daily Sunday to Friday. Be sure to check out this week’s paper to find out how to subscribe to our newsletter. You don’t need Facebook to access the local news. We did just fine without it for more than 100 years. We’ll continue to bring you the news moving forward.

We’d like to thank you, the readers, for your continued support of the Mercury, and we look forward to continuing to serve you in the future.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2023 READ IT ONLINE AT SASKTODAY.CA
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Kilted Wind entertained at the Bow Valley Jamboree. Photo courtesy of Bow Valley Jamboree social media director Eryn Stewart
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For the children attending, the bouncy castle and children’s activities are always a lot of fun. New to the festival this year was a rock-climbing wall.

A selfie wall, another new feature at the event, was a big hit. Attendees were encouraged to use the props to take pictures to post to their social media accounts, with a chance to win two tickets to next year’s jamboree.

The Southeast Shriners were again in attendance to provide their people mover to ensure that the festival was accessible to all.

The event is a big undertaking put on by the local Oxbow Arts and Cultural Committee, consisting of 10 members. Luckily, they receive overwhelming support from their community in the way of volunteers.

“Because the event is expensive to host, it doesn’t bring in much revenue. It is the committee’s hope to bring in enough

revenue each year to cover their costs in order to host again the following year,” Stewart said. “From the overwhelming success and many positive comments received, the committee looks forward to hosting the next Bow Valley Jamboree on August 10, 2024.”

For the first time, the Town of Oxbow held events in advance of the jamboree to try to attract people for the weekend.

The first was a family pool party Friday at the Oxbow Swimming Pool. Supper was served and then Winsome Kind started performing. Admission was by donation, with proceeds going back into the pool.

People from all ages attended. Then the following morning, prior to the jamboree beginning, there was a show and shine on Main Street, with a variety of classic vehicles on display. A charity barbecue was held for the town cemetery’s gazebo.

SaskPower emphasizes safety around power lines

SaskPower is reminding farmers to exercise caution around power lines now that harvest is underway in many areas of the southeast.

Scott McGregor, a consultant for media relations and issues management with the Crown corporation, said they have a similar message as spring seeding: plan a route ahead of time, utilizie a spotter on the ground whenever possible, protect equipment and be aware of surroundings.

As of July 25, SaskPower has received 186 reports of farm implements coming into contact with power lines this year, which is up from the same time a year

ago. Last year there were 248 contacts with power lines in total.

“We’ll have a better idea of the full scope of how many contacts we had in September,” McGregor said. There is a lull in power line contacts during the summer months, although McGregor said they still receive some due to spraying.

“Every year is a little different. Obviously, different areas of the province will start at different times,” said McGregor. “Sometimes if it’s a later start, you’ll have some more people rushing out there, which could increase the number of incidents.

Likewise with harvest, if

there’s a frost in the forecast, a lot of producers are getting out there to get their crops off before the frost hits.”

Contact with a power line can pose a risk to the equipment operator’s well-being since power lines and power poles carry a high level of electricity.

“That really is our key message, in the interest of personal safety, to avoid hitting power infrastructure as much as you can, in addition to the personal well-being and safety aspect. There could be damage to equipment, there could be the potential for a wildfire to start up, depending on the conditions in the area.”

There is also damage that could be caused to power transmission infrastructure and equipment.

“There are a number of reasons why everybody should take extreme caution when working around power infrastructure,” said McGregor.

Contact with farm equipment could knock out power for a considerable amount of time, he said, depending on the nature of the incident. If it’s a power pole, repair work might take longer because the pole might have to be replaced. A power line might have to be spliced or restrung. If the contact is in a more isolated

area, it might take SaskPower more time to reach the incident.

“If a fire were to start from the contact, that will slow down repairs as well,” said McGregor.

Some contacts won’t result in power outages. He noted most will report a contact even if it doesn’t knock out electricity.

McGregor believes SaskPower is succeeding in getting the message out. The company respects the fact that agriculture brings a lot of stress and long hours, and farmers are utilizing larger implements all of the time, which they only operate for a few weeks each year.

“We’re seeing a plateau in terms of the numbers year of year. Typically, there has been a slight decrease in the past few years, which is really encouraging. It’s something nobody sets out to do, which is to come into contact with power lines. It’s always helpful to give people a reminder in the event they do hit a power line. That message is very important and something that everyone should be aware of.”

McGregor noted he has in-laws who farm in the Estevan area, so he has a close connection when it comes to the importance of farm safety.

Charges stayed in connection with 2017 drug arrest

Charges against an Estevan man have been stayed due to the length of time it was taking to get the case to trial.

Jordan David Krunick was charged by the Estevan Police Service on March 3, 2017 for possession of cocaine and trafficking cocaine. The charges against him were stayed on Aug. 3 in Court of King’s Bench in

Estevan. From the date he was charged until the date the charges were stayed, a total of 2,345 days – or six years, five months and one day – had elapsed.

An application had been filed on March 24, under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, because the trial did not occur within a reasonable amount of time.

In making the decision, Justice G.G. Mitchell cited a 2016 decision by the Supreme Court of Canada, which stated “Timely trials further the interests of justice. They ensure that the system functions in a fair and efficient manner; tolerating trials after long delays does not.”

Mitchell’s ruling lays out

the various events that have occurred in the case since Krunick was arrested. He noted a trial date was scheduled for May 21, 2019, which would have been 26 months after charges were laid, but the trial date had to be vacated because the defence had to withdraw. The trial had to be rescheduled to permit Krunick’s new legal counsel

to familiarize himself with the case. Another trial date was set for May 13-15, 2020, but was vacated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A new trial date had not been set for Krunick’s matter.

Mitchell also factored in delay times caused by Krunick’s defence lawyers and the COVID-19 pandemic before reaching his decision.

He noted the Crown did not present any submissions or evidence which would demonstrate that this prosecution was particularly complex, and despite the logistical challenges present, and accommodations made, Mitchell does not think it was so unduly complex it could justify the remaining delay.

Patron facing additional charges in Saskatoon

Former Estevan resident Travis Patron was back in Saskatoon Pro-

vincial Court on Aug. 9 to face two new charges – one for criminal harassment and the other for breaching a probation order – to go along with five others he is facing.

He appeared from the Saskatoon Provincial Correctional Centre by phone and Judge S. Carter remanded him in custody and adjourned his matter to the following day for a show-cause hearing, which was to determine bail.

Patron is self-represented and wanted a bail hearing, court heard. Crown Prosecutor Carla Dewar opposed his release.

He was slated to have a show-cause hearing on Aug. 9, but that was pushed back to the following day. The bail hearing was then further delayed to Aug. 14. (Result of the hearing was not available at press time).

Court documents show

that Patron now resides in Saskatoon.

The charges for the 32-year-old Patron – who was the founding leader of the now-defunct Canadian Nationalist Party – include two counts each of impersonating a peace officer and criminal harassment, and three counts of violating a probation order.

The latest charges of criminal harassment and probation violation stem from an incident that occurred at Saskatoon’s Midtown Mall in July.

As for his previous arrests, Saskatoon police say they were called to a hotel in the 600-block of Spadina Cres. at about 8:50 a.m. on July 29, about a dis-

turbance involving a man impersonating a peace officer. Patron allegedly approached a woman and her child, identified himself as a police officer and accused her of abduction.

The woman went into the hotel with her child to get help and Patron allegedly followed her inside and caused a disturbance. Bystanders intervened and Patron fled on foot, say Saskatoon police.

Then, on Aug. 1, police got a call at about 2 p.m. that a man identified himself as a peace officer and offered to escort a woman in the 70-block of Campus Drive on the U of S campus. The woman declined and the man left. The U of S released his photo and warned staff and students that Patron wasn’t to be on the U of S property.

Police obtained video evidence and identified

Patron as the suspect in both incidents.

Josh LeBlanc’s case was back in Estevan Provincial Court on Aug. 8 for a preliminary hearing on the charges he is facing.

The case is now in Court of King’s Bench, and it is expected to go to trial at a future date.

LeBlanc was arrested in May 2022 and charged with one count each of luring a person under the age of 18, sexual assault and sexual exploitation.

His case appeared in Estevan Provincial Court on a number of occasions since then. Each time, it was adjourned to a later date until mid-May, when the preliminary hearing was set.

For updates on these and other stories, please visit our provincial news hub at www.sasktoday.ca

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Committee members Tara Brock and Trina Mayer helped organize the 2023 Bow Valley Jamboree. Photo courtesy of Trina Mayer Scott and Leora Joy Perrie, the Winsome Kind duo, performed at the Bow Valley Jamboree’s 2023 edition. Photo courtesy of Scott and Leora Joy Perrie

Prairie Winds’ motorcycle ride celebrating milestone

A popular fundraiser in the southeast Saskatchewan motorcycle community is celebrating a milestone this year, but a new organizer will be needed for it to continue.

The Prairie Winds’ 25th annual Ride for Ronald McDonald House will occur Sept. 10 starting at the Estevan McDonalds location. Participants are asked to start showing up at 1 p.m. for registration, and the ride will begin an hour later.

It will follow the same route as previous years, as riders will travel to Lampman and Arcola, and then they will head to Stoughton’s Crossroads Inn for a beefon-a-bun supper and a raffle before heading home.

Pam Currie, who has been an organizer of the event since its inception alongside her husband Paul, said they have raised about $80,000 over the past 24 years. It has grown to 100 participants per year.

“It really is hard to believe,” Currie told the Mercury. “I say that a lot with lots of things, but the fact that we’ve been doing this for the community for 25 years, I’m pretty pleased about it.”

Currie recalled the ride was originally started by the Retreads Motorcycle Club, which is an international organization that had chapters in lots of communities. The Curries, Nancy Dorwart and Marcel Vanloo thought a fun ride was needed to raise money for a cause. Dorwart had friends who stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon and viewed the proverbial home away from home as a valuable asset.

The club informed Ronald McDonald House about the fundraiser and they were on board.

“The Ronald McDonald House helps kids and families, so it was perfect,” said Currie.

The Prairie Riders took over the initiative and now it is run by the Prairie Winds,

which is a women’s motorcycle club, but the ride is open to men and women.

Currie’s not surprised at how the event has grown over the years. They’ve consistently had 100 bikes for years, and they have always had nice weather.

“They’re always eager to buy raffle tickets, so that helps support it even more, and going to businesses and asking support from them, they’re always very, very generous and helpful as well,” she said. When she found out the ride had raised over $80,000 over the first 24 years, she

was pretty happy with the figure.

“In the end, it’s about the support for the Ronald McDonald House, so it’s about the generous society that we live in,” said Currie. She has reached out to as many people from the Retreads, the Prairie Riders and Prairie Winds who have helped make the event a success. She hopes they will all be here so she can acknowledge them and their efforts to keep the ride going.

“I really do appreciate the help that I have received over the years. Without

help, it’s very difficult to achieve our goal.”

The director of Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon is scheduled to be in Estevan for the event on Sept. 10, and Currie said they have some “really wonderful” raffle tickets available to purchase.

She is grateful for the support from the Crossroads Inn over the years, too. The business offers the supper for a nominal fee and donates any profits to the ride.

Currie said she and her husband are stepping down from organizing the ride, leaving it with a murky fu-

ture. They moved to Esterhazy in 2017 but have continued to help with the organization. The Curries believe the 25-year mark is a good time to hand it off to someone else.

“I put it out there last year, and I put the bug into people’s ears, hoping that they might be interested in taking it on,” said Currie. “It’s not a whole lot of work. It’s a little bit of legwork the couple of months beforehand.”

The Ronald McDonald House has also expressed their desire to keep the event going, Currie said.

If someone does step up, Currie said she would provide all the information from previous years. The new organizer needs to reach out to businesses for donations, including raffle prizes if that part of the event is to continue. And if the event continues, the Curries will still come to Estevan for the ride.

“It has been the most wonderful experience and 25 years of memories,” said Currie.

Mainprize sees a lot of interest for their Halloween in the Park and other attractions and events

Mainprize Regional Park hosted its annual Halloween in the Park on Saturday.

Park’s general manager Michelle Walsh said a lot of people joined the fun event, and many sites were decorated to turn it into an even better experience.

“Our Halloween in the Park went really well. Some of our residents and campers counted over 100 kids going through their site. We ran it from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday. And then following that we did a best-dressed contest, and also showed Addams Family 2 in our Pederson Place Hall,” Walsh said.

“We’re starting to see more sites getting decorated and more creative ideas. There were some pretty fun sites with noise machines and lawn ornaments, and you name it this year.”

She noted the summer has been pretty busy at the park in general. They had “an astounding, record” July 1, which pretty much kicked

off their season. Following that, all summer long, they have different golf tournaments and many other activities for their campers and daily visitors.

“We’ve had some pretty big golf tournaments we’ve hosted out here this summer, bigger than years prior,” Walsh said. “And we’ve been running family movie events all summer on the weekend. And those have been really well received. We’re seeing quite a few members show up … with an average of about 20 people per showing.”

Some other highlights of this summer include an increase in beach activity, Walsh said. The park has a new 10-foot water trampoline out there, and many people took the opportunity to have fun in the water and on the beach on hot summer days. The park’s beach also has a playground and other amenities, and they see more people utilizing it

as well. They also see a lot of daily visitors stop by to enjoy their beautiful beach.

“I would say, from last year to this year, the beach has seen record numbers of

people utilizing it, which is really, really nice to see for all of us,” Walsh said.

“Overall, this year, we’ve seen more exposure to daytrippers. I mean everybody

Premier Moe coming to Estevan

Premier Scott Moe will be coming to Estevan on Aug. 23 to visit with the community.

A free summer barbecue with the premier is planned to take place from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Dennis More Centennial Park. The Saskatchewan Party leader will be accompanied by Estevan MLA Lori Carr.

The community is invited to come out for the barbecue, visit with the premier and ask questions.

The last time Moe was in Estevan was in May to discuss the fu-

ture of power production. At that time, he met with local officials, and answered questions from the City and RM of Estevan, union leaders, the Estevan Chamber of Commerce and more at city hall.

Joining Moe at that time were Don Morgan, the minister responsible for SaskPower, and Carr. The meeting was not open to the public.

Last summer Premier Moe visited several communities in the southeast including Alameda, where he joined a town hall meeting and visited with the local 4-H Club.

that seasonally camps here knows what a gem we have. But we’re starting to see quite a few more people come over and visit and check out what we have to offer. And of course, our golf course is a little bit different than the other ones neighbouring us because we have a Scottish links style. So if you’re an avid golfer, it’s something different to check out.”

While summer is through its halfway point and the activity calendar is getting closer to wrapping up, the park still has a couple of events to offer. This weekend they are hosting a glow golf event, which is non-competitive and allows people to play golf in the dark.

“That’s not a tournament, that’s just a fun come out and golf in the dark. We have the glow balls. It’s actually pretty nice to come do it out here because we have these little pegs we put in and it makes a light-up pass

all the way to the greens. So it’s pretty, and it’s fun for all ages, whether you’re a serious golfer or not a golfer at all,” Walsh explained.

On Aug. 26, they are also holding their annual cornhole tournament.

Finally, on the September long weekend, they are doing an end-of-summer outdoor movie event for families and a back-to-school bonfire.

For more information about the park’s activities, visit their website at mainprizepark.com. Registration for the golf event closes on Aug. 17, and to register people can call the park’s pro shop at 306-458-2452.

The deadline to register for the cornhole tournament is Aug. 19, and people can do so by calling the park gate at 306-458-2865.

The park also has some campsite bookings left for the remainder of the season, which people can check out at letscamp.ca.

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The annual Prairie Winds’ Ride for Ronald McDonald House attracts a large number of supporters each year. File photo
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Many kids dressed up to partake in Mainprize’s Halloween in the Park. Photo courtesy of Michelle Walsh
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Premier Scott Moe, middle, will be in Estevan on Aug. 23. File photo

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EDITORIAL

Clean Energy Regulations will not help Saskatchewan

The latest draft legislation from the federal Liberal government to reduce emissions in Canada was released last week, and this document won’t be popular around here.

The government wants to have a net-zero power grid by 2035, with a plan to further reduce reliance on fossil fuels for power generation. It also requires Canada’s provinces to move toward non-emitting power grids to access clean electricity investment tax credits.

The feds also claim a Clean Electricity Strategy will be released in 2024.

It was noted during the announcement that 84 per cent of electricity in Canada is generated from sources like hydro and nuclear, but now the feds want to see fossil fuels comply with rigorous standards for emissions.

People were worried this document would spell the end of natural gas plants, but that’s not the case. Federal officials said existing natural gas facilities could comply with that performance standard with the help of carbon capture and storage systems, which would be required to sequester 95 per cent of their emissions.

The regulations will also allow a certain level of natural gas power production without the need to capture emissions, as it will be exempted during emergencies and peak periods when renewables, such as wind and solar, cannot keep up with demand – something we already know here in Saskatchewan.

Some newer plants might not have to comply with the rules until the 2040s.

We’ve heard the rampant speculation that SaskPower is looking to convert the Shand Power Station to a natural gas plant instead of coal so that it can continue to operate beyond 2030, when the government’s looming regulations for coal-fired power come into effect. This document does not prevent that from happening.

The reaction from the likes of Premier Scott Moe and his Alberta counterpart, Danielle Smith, was what you would expect. These regulations are not friendly for their provinces. It shows how little the federal government knows about the unique challenges facing these two western provinces, as well as other provinces in the country. The net-zero deadline for the power grids should be 2050, not 2035.

The feds admit that people will see their power bills go up due to these new regulations, but they counter that people will see an overall cost savings because of greater usage of electric vehicles –that utopian idea that says by 2035, all vehicles sold in Canada will be electric, and we’re going to have the power grid to accommodate the electric vehicles, with renewables able to meet the demand.

And while there is no doubt that technological advancements for the power grid and for electric vehicles will grow significantly in

the coming years, they will need a quantum leap in the next decade to happen. While these regulations aren’t popular here, they will be popular in larger urban centres, so our concerns are going to fall on deaf ears with the feds. The forest fires that we’ve seen across the country this year represent the latest reason for people in larger centres to call for further reduced emissions.

But these regulations are another example of the Trudeau government overstepping its authority with the provinces. The best example of this was the carbon tax that it ramrodded down the throats of Alberta, Saskatchewan and other jurisdictions. If you don’t play by their rules, and do things their way, well, then you’re going to pay the consequences.

And while critics of the Trudeau government’s measures can cross their fingers and hope for a new government after the next election – likely to occur in 2025 – that doesn’t mean this legislation is going to be repealed. Revised? Perhaps. Quashed? It’s not a guarantee, especially if the Conservative Party wins a minority government and has to co-operate with another party, such as the Bloc Quebecois. Meanwhile the provincial government has to be prepared for a 2035 deadline that is quickly approaching, even if the targets aren’t realistic for Saskatchewan.

I have to admit, in my 10 years in Canada between Manitoba and Saskatchewan, I’d never made it to a live threshing demonstration until last Sunday.

I’ve been to the Western Development Museums in Saskatoon and Moose Jaw, I’ve seen many old tractors and other old equipment, some in and around museums, others sitting on the sides of the roads, but I’d never really understood how it worked.

So ,my first visit to the Frobisher Threshermen’s Day was definitely a great experience. Not only was it a nice community event with its parade and flying candies, bouncy castles and food trucks, but it also allowed me to have a touch of history, which got me thinking. First and foremost, the big, noisy machines in action definitely made me appreciate the comfort and efficiency of today’s farming that much more.

The threshing demonstration, which at the event involved about 10 people and in reality, required at least 15, gripped my attention. Such a complicated and taking so many hands process was nevertheless smart, and when invented, made a big difference for farmers back in the day. The following baling process seemed almost more complex. The machine itself looked simpler, but it also required a number of men to operate it and a lot of hand labour.

(A side note, in my farming side of life, I sometimes get to roll rocks during seeding. For that, I use built-in-2000s front-wheel assist with autosteer, air conditioning, music, a comfy bouncing chair, cupholders, and, well, many of you know the setup of contemporary tractors. At some point, we didn’t have enough people to pick rocks ahead of

Twenty Lines

About…

time, and when I was rolling, I had to get out of the tractor to push boulders into the bucket.

“That’s not the way to do it,” I’d whine, thinking it was too tough of a job. The threshing demo will probably keep me from complaining for a while now).

Even with all the equipment, 100 years ago, combining was way more complicated, time and labour consuming than today. But looking at those machines, even I could see a great engineer thought of potential for further improvements, which wasted little time.

Interestingly, most tractors participating in the parade, were comparable to contemporary ones, and the biggest change was the size. Of course, the steam engine one stood out, but machines like the 1920s tractor used for the threshing demo didn’t last too long before they were replaced with more convenient ones. Other old agri equipment was hard to guess at first sight for such a layman as me. But once in action, I could see the mechanical part was already there, it’s the arrangement and the electronic components that came in later and made the big difference in efficiency. What stunned me even more was the realization of how far we’ve progressed in just 100 years.

(Another side note, throughout my years here, I noticed that the perception of time

and historic periods differs for those coming from countries with longer history. People tend to think of things in relation to other experiences. In my mind, historically 100 years is a short time. I used to say that my city, which is just over 300 years old, is very young, which it was compared to other places in the region. But a lot of people I met here would say that 100 years is a very long time ago, as things have drastically changed).

Standing there in front of the machine that required 15-plus strong people to operate it, I couldn’t stop thinking about the combines going down the fields, run by one person and able to cover up to about 5,000 acres a season. The picture has completely changed in just three or four generations, with progress not only transforming the job but also reshaping the industry.

The number of farm operations in Saskatchewan fell from close to 140,000 in the 1940s to just about 40,000 in the mid-2010s and kept declining, while the total area of cropland increased.

That old equipment also reminded me how complicated it was for ancestors and remains for today’s farmers, who often need to come up with engineered solutions and know-how right at the field or in their shops just to make sure they can get seed in the ground and crop in the bins in time. It’s a job requiring a lot of skills, knowledge and work discipline, and definitely deserving a lot of respect at any historical time.

So happy and safe harvest to those in the fields, and for others, if you haven’t yet, make sure you see a threshing demo at least once. (Fortunately, we have several opportunities a year for that in our area).

EDITORIAL | Wednesday, August 16, 2023 | SASKTODAY.ca A4
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada
Everyone should see threshing in action at least once

Byelection results show interesting trends

The Aug. 10 Saskatchewan byelection results show some interesting trends that seem to add intrigue for the next provincial election, which is now just 14 months away.

Nobody should be surprised that the Saskatchewan Party retained their seat in Lumsden-Morse. If they would have lost, it would have been a bigger upset than when the NDP lost the northern Athabasca seat in a byelection last year. (That defeat was the last straw in Ryan Meili’s underwhelming tenure as leader of the NDP).

Perhaps the most interesting result was to see the somewhat-new Saskatchewan United Party (SUP) finish second, not the NDP. And the SUP certainly cut into the support of the Sask. Party in that riding.

Blaine McLeod won the constituency with 53.9 per cent of the vote, while Jon Hromek of the SUP was second with 22.7 per cent. The NDP was third with 21.6 per cent support, but you have to think it’s another reflection of the NDP’s popularity in rural Saskatchewan that they would finish behind the upstart SUP.

Meanwhile, in the two Regina ridings up for grabs, the NDP took both from the Saskatchewan Party.

In Regina Coronation Park, Noor Burki of the NDP won with 56.6 per cent of the votes, with the Saskatchewan Party’s Riaz Ahmed finishing second at 31.4 per cent. This was the riding held by Kevin Doherty, the former Sask. Party MLA who openly questioned the direction of the party earlier this summer.

Meanwhile, in Regina Walsh Acres, Jared Clarke was the winner with 54 per cent compared to 40.2 percent for Nevin Markwart of the Sask. Party. This riding belonged to Derek Meyers, the well-known broadcaster originally from Midale who passed away earlier this year at age 45 due to cancer.

Suddenly, the NDP has the majority of the seats in Regina with seven of 12. It’s a far cry from when they seemingly had a lock on every constituency in the Queen City, but they haven’t had more than half since before the 2011 election.

The NDP’s victory in Walsh Acres should be tempered by the knowledge that the only reason there was a byelection was due to tragedy. As for Coronation Park, the NDP should be elated with the result.

Byelections can be tough to interpret. So much of the success comes from getting supporters to the ballot box. When you have a summer byelection, the result can be even more unpredictable.

But the size of the victory in all three ridings doesn’t exactly scream “byelection fluke”.

Premier Scott Moe finds himself in a difficult balancing act. I believe he has moved the party in a more conservative direction than his predecessor, Brad Wall.

If he shifts the party too far to the right, then he risks alienating the centrist and the small-C conservatives that played an instrumental role in the Sask. Party’s big-city success and the plurality of its previous victories.

Govern the party in the centre-right fashion, then you leave yourself susceptible to losing support in rural ridings to the more conservative parties that have popped up, such as the SUP and the Buffalo Party of Saskatchewan.

The Saskatchewan Party is in no risk of losing its grip on power in the province, not unless there is a massive swing towards another party in rural Saskatchewan in the next election. Meanwhile, the NDP should prepare itself for more third-place finishes in rural ridings.

There are more than two dozen ridings that I would currently classify as safe for the Saskatchewan Party. That means they need to win seven in Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert and the north to retain power. Even if the byelection wins reflect growing dissatisfaction in the cities with the Sask. Party’s direction, there will still be constituencies in the cities that the Sask. Party will win. The days of an NDP sweep of the four largest markets are over, barring a total collapse with the Sask. Party.

At the same time, with new right-wing alternative parties on the landscape, the days of the Sask. Party garnering 70-75 per cent support in rural constituencies are also likely over, at least for now.

So, while the Sask. Party should be considered the favourites for the 2024 election, we can at least look forward to closer results on election night, both on a riding-by-riding basis and within Saskatchewan as a whole.

Woodlawn hosts Beach Bash

EPS continues to experience an increase in call volumes

The Estevan Police Service saw a slight decrease in call volumes in July, but the overall number of calls remains up for the first seven months of the year.

The Estevan board of police commissioners gathered on Thursday for its lone meeting of the summer, and they went through the crime statistics for June and July.

The EPS had 858 calls for service in June, a dramatic increase from the 628 they had a year earlier. The tally for June includes more than 80 tickets and other infractions from a two-day Selective Traffic Enforcement Program blitz.

As for July, the EPS had 645 calls for service, compared to 673 for the same month in 2022. For the first seven months of the year, the agency had 4,904 calls for service, a 25.1 per cent increase from the same period in 2022, when they had 3,920.

So far this year, the EPS has handled 88 crimes against people, the same number as in 2022. There have been 67 assaults, 17 sexual crimes and four assaults causing bodily harm.

The EPS has had 217 crimes against property, a 15 per cent increase from the 188 in 2022. There have been 107 thefts under $5,000, 72 mischief or willful damage calls, 27 residential break and enters, five thefts of a vehicle, four thefts over $5,000, one business break and enter and one arson.

Member-at-large Roberta DeRosier asked about the increase in residential break and enters from 13 for the first seven months of 2022 to 27 this year. She wanted to know if there has been an awareness campaign in the media about the issue. Police Chief Rich Lowen responded they often remind the public about the need to secure their home and belongings.

The number of residential break and enter was at two for July compared to three a year earlier.

Twenty-two charges have been laid under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, with 12 for possession and 10 for trafficking. Twenty-four charges were laid last year under the CDSA.

And the EPS has laid 74 charges under the Criminal Code traffic violations, up from 59 at the same time a year ago. Fifty-five were impaired/exceed-related offences, 10 were for impairment by drug and nine were for dangerous driving and other.

•••

The monthly reports for Spec. Const. Anna Volmer, who is the city’s bylaw enforcement officer, show that she responded to 107 calls for service in June and 100 in July.

In the first seven months of the year, she had re-

sponded to 870 occurrences, led by 161 animal calls, 144 parking violations, 149 unkempt property inspections, 76 snow-removal notices and 201 classified as other bylaw. For the same period a year ago, she had 891 occurrences.

During the inquiries portions of the meeting, City Coun. Rebecca Foord asked about the recently-released movie The Sound of Freedom and the amount of discussion it has created in the community regarding human trafficking. She suggested a campaign on how people can protect their children, especially now that school will be starting soon. She suggested something that reminds people about being careful about what they put on social media and to talk to their kids about the risks of these platforms.

The Mercury’s Summer Photo Contest is returning

The Estevan Mercury is pleased to announce the return of its That was the Best Summer Ever Photo Contest.

The competition allows people to submit their favourite picture that was taken this summer, and show off all of the fun they have had during the past couple of months.

To enter, people can

send their photograph, along with their name, phone number and a brief description to contests@ estevanmercury.ca. The deadline to enter is Aug. 31. Please send the photo in its actual size and include where the location and who took the photo. People can go to our provincial news hub, www. sasktoday.ca, and click on

the ad for the Summer Photo Contest to find the voting form. Voting to determine the top 12 submissions is already underway.

The top 12 will be published in the Estevan Mercury on Sept. 6 and 13.

Voting for the top 12 will begin on Sept. 5 and wrap up on Sept. 15 at 11:59 p.m.

The top three will be published in the Sept. 20 edition of the Mercury, with prizes for each. There is also a $50 cash prize for one of the voters that will be drawn at random. You can find more information in the ad that appears in the Aug. 9, 16 and 23 editions of the Mercury.

Since 1903, The Estevan Mercury has been your local newspaper. We have kept you informed, told your stories and archived your history. Today we continue to be your best source for trusted news... delivering it to your home every Wednesday in our printed newspaper, and to your devices every day on our website, SASKTODAY.ca.

SASKTODAY.ca is your source for local news, where the Estevan Mercury news can now be found.

We have local reporters writing local content for a local audience, creating the perfect platform for businesses to reach their customers.

OP-ED | Wednesday, August 16, 2023 | SASKTODAY.ca A5
Melanie Tribiger Hearing Aid Practitioner Clinic Owner #5 - 418 Kensington Avenue Estevan, SK (306) 636- 3277 SCH@HealthyHearingSK.com
Woodlawn Regional Park hosted its annual Beach Bash on Friday night. A large crowd gathered at the park’s Boundary Dam beach site for the annual festivities. The band Rustic played country, rock and deep roots music late into the night to the delight of the audience. Photo by Breanne Van De Woestyne with Impact Creative

| Wednesday, August 16, 2023 | SASKTODAY.ca A6

Entrepreneurship for trades coming to college

The Southeast College has created a new program that will encourage entrepreneurship among those in the trades.

According to Sheena Onrait, the college’s executive director of communications and strategic development, this new online program is the first of its kind that she knows of, and only available through the college.

“This was a custom program that Southeast College developed, in response to what we saw was a bit of a gap in the market for entrepreneurship training for tradespeople,” Onrait told the Mercury. “We took that opportunity, and came up with this really great microcredential program that can be delivered virtually anywhere.”

Onrait credited Southeast College president and CEO Vicky Roy for coming up with the idea for the program. Roy has also been lining up the instructors for the courses, and Onrait said Roy has a “vast network” of professionals and instructors to draw from through the post-secondary institutions where Roy has worked.

“She has an extensive experience in post-secondary institutions basically across our country and across Western Canada,” said Onrait. “She saw that there was a major gap that we could

develop something that could help fulfill the needs in that trade sector.”

The southeast region is filled with successful business owners and an entrepreneurial spirit, she said, which allows the college to provide a service they view as needed.

As it is an online program with Synchronous Live Sessions, the entrepreneurship for trades program will utilize live online technology with an instructor. It can be taken by anyone anywhere, and not just at one of the college’s five campus locations.

The four-course program stretches out over two semesters. The first runs from Sept. 27-Oct. 25 and focuses on marketing skills for trades. There will be three online sessions, taught by an instructor, along with self-study and assignment work.

The other courses focus on operations and management skills for trades, finance and understanding how things work in business. These are courses that might not be taught in a trade school.

“The information that they’re going to learn is definitely transferable across trades and across sectors,” said Onrait.

Even if they’re not looking to start their business anytime soon, Onrait said these are great skills for any

tradesperson to have. Existing entrepreneurs could also benefit from the classes.

“Even if you’re at a company, and you’re looking to, at some point, aspire into a supervisor or a management or foreman position, these are really great skills,” she said.

The more students they have, the better, Onrait said.

Students who complete the full program will receive a professional microcredential crest that can be used on LinkedIn pages, professional portfolios and resumés.

“Micro-credentials are little snippets of programs that allow a student to upskill or reskill in a short period of time,” said Onrait. “So instead of taking a program that lasts a full semester … these ones are short courses that are delivered in a compact timeframe that gives the students the skills and abilities to be able to achieve the goals that are set out in that individual micro-credential.”

These classes have become more prevalent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, as people who are working and have established careers might not have a lot of free time available, but they still want to further their education and training.

“The work of today’s trade entrepreneurs goes beyond starting a business,”

said Roy. “To advance in the trades career, it is essential to learn how to think and act like an entrepreneur. Developing entrepreneurial thinking, behaviours and sustainable innovative business practices are the key to future career success.”

Onrait said the college

is really looking forward to getting out into the community and promoting the program. They have an extensive marketing campaign as well.

“With anything that’s new, there’s always a little bit of jitters, but we are super excited just because we

know there is no program like this in Saskatchewan and likely no program like this in Western Canada as well.”

Prospective students are invited to find out more and register for this program on the college’s website at southeastcollege.org.

Estevan firefighters assist Bienfait FD with house fire

On Aug. 7, just after 3 a.m., Estevan Fire Rescue Service members were dispatched for a mutual aid call to assist the Bienfait Fire Department with a structure fire occurring in the town of Bienfait.

Crews responded with a command unit, an engine and a tanker, and assisted Bienfait firefighters in extinguishing the house fire. Estevan firefighters spent about six hours at the scene.

Estevan Fire Chief Rick Davies said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

On Aug. 8 at about 8:30 p.m., fire crews also were dispatched to St. Joseph’s Hospital to assist local EMS personnel. Members were on scene for about an hour.

Another call for service came on Aug. 13 at about 5 p.m., when a commercial fire alarm went off in the

west-central area of the city. Incident command responded and quickly determined that there was no emergency occurring. Further investigation showed that it was possibly due to a faulty detection system. Fire crews were also called to several fire alarms over the long weekend, which were false and didn’t require any action on behalf of the fire department.

BUSINESS
CUSTOM BLINDS FLOORSTOREESTEVAN.CA Summer Summer Send us your favourite photo from this summer to be entered in our "BEST SUMMER EVER" Photo Contest! Voting will be through a link on www.sasktoday.ca. The top 12 photos will be printed in the Estevan Mercury in September and the public will vote for their favourite at www.sasktoday.ca Top three photos will win a prize package. To enter send your photo with your name, phone number and photo description to contests@estevanmercury.ca Deadline to enter is August 31st. 31st. BEST Ever! Photo
*You give the Estevan Mercury the right to publish the picture. If you take a picture of someone, please have permission to photograph them.
The Southeast College has announced the creation of a new program that will encourage entrepreneurship in the trades. File photo
Contest
SUMMER August 23rd • 11:30-1:00 Dennis Moore Centennial Park BBQ Come out for a FREE community BBQ, and meet Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Minister Lori Carr, MLA for Estevan. n.

Southeast generates over $9 million in land sale

The southeast region was the catalyst for interest during the Government of Saskatchewan’s Crown petroleum and natural gas rights public offering, held on Aug. 8.

The sale raised nearly $16.69 million for the province’s coffers. Of the 106 leases posted, 88 received acceptable bids, bringing in more than $7.5 million. They covered 10,445 hectares and the province received $718.29 per hectare.

Four of the six licences posted were sold, with a total value of nearly $9.19 million for 13,552 hectares, or $790.92 per hectare.

The southeast region brought in a little more than $9.02 million for 70 leases and three exploration licences sold, totalling 9,146.727 hectares. The 70 leases generated slightly more than $6 million, or $888.86 per hectare for the 6,757.249 hectares; while the licences brought in more than $3.01 million,

or $1,262.14 per hectare, for 2,389.478 hectares. There were 78 leases and four licences posted.

The highest bonus bid and dollars per hectare received on an exploration licence in this area was more than $2.51 million, or $3,534.77 per hect-

are. Cougar Creek Land Ltd. was awarded this 710.557-hectare licence located 13.5 kilometres south of Radville and adjacent to the Skinner Lake Ratcliffe Oil Pool.

The highest bonus bid and dollars per hectare received on a lease in this

area was $1.43 million, or $11,040.85 per hectare. This 129.519-hectare lease was awarded to Hummingbird Energy Inc., and is located 9.5 kilometres southeast of Lampman, within the Steelman Frobisher Beds Oil Pool.

The Kindersley area gen-

erated more than $6.27 million for two leases and one exploration licence encompassing 10,005.237 hectares, or $626.98 per hectare.

ISH Energy Ltd. bid more than $6.17 million, or $668.88 per hectare, for a 9,226.194-hectare exploration licence located four kilometres northwest of Eatonia, near the Laporte Basal Mannville Sand Oil Pool and the Mantario South Basal Mannville Sand Oil Pool. This was the highest bonus bid and highest dollars per hectare received on a parcel in this area.

The highest bonus bid received on a lease in this area was $85,566.58, an average of $325.15 per hectare, for a 260.724-hectare lease located 31 kilometres northeast of Kerrobert and nine kilometres north of the Kelfield Mannville Sand Oil Pool. Millenium Land (555) Ltd. was the successful bidder.

The Lloydminster area brought in more than $1.39 million for 16 leases totalling 2,908.935 hectares, or $479.42 per hect-

are. A total of 25 leases and one licence were posted.

The highest bonus bid received on a parcel in this area was $297,966.05, or $655 per hectare. This 454.91-hectare lease is located 10 kilometres west of Cut Knife and adjacent to the Baldwinton Sparky Sand Oil Pool. This lease was awarded to Millennium Land Ltd.

The highest dollar per hectare received on a lease in the area was $1,261.99 per hectare or $20.819.30 in total. This 16.101-hectare lease is located 6 1/2 kilometres northeast of Maidstone, near the Golden Lake South Mannville Sand Oil Pool. Millennium was also the successful bidder.

After three of six public offerings this fiscal year, the province has received more than $37.18 million in revenue. This exceeds the $19.4 million that was budgeted for the entire 2023-24 fiscal year.

The next scheduled date for a public offering in Saskatchewan is Oct. 3.

Estevan youths learn about wildlife during camp

The Estevan Wildlife Federation hosted a successful youth conservation camp from Aug. 10-13.

Jarrett Daoust, the EWF’s youth chairman and one of the camp organizers, said this year the weather made a good camp even more interesting.

“We had a little bit of rain that came down, but we needed rain anyways, so we worked around it. And it was wildlife camp, so we dealt with doing activities in the rain, which was good for the kids to learn,” Daoust said.

Just over 40 kids ages 11-14 attended and were camping out in tents at the Boundary Dam site of Woodlawn Regional Park. Daoust noted that about half of the kids were returning, while for others their activities were new.

To make the camp work they also attracted six counsellors and over 40 volunteers.

“Between everything it was about 100 people that came and helped out and enjoyed the activities,” Daoust said.

The 24th camp offered a wide variety of wildlife-re-

lated activities for the kids to try and enjoy.

“The biggest thing is just getting kids outdoors, giving them opportunities to be involved in activities that they don’t necessarily get to do every day, to give them a new spectacle and get them re-engaged in the outdoor lifestyle, and [help them to get] as much as they can of what we have here in Estevan,” Daoust said.

During the camp, kids went out canoeing, kayaking, swimming and fishing and got to meet and talk to a research team to learn about fisheries and habitat at the Boundary Dam. They also had many games and activities, like fire lighting, outdoor cooking and more. But the biggest highlight every year is the shooting day on the third day when kids get to learn about and try shooting various firearms, including handguns, .22’s and muzzleloaders. They also play games at the paintball range, try trap shooting and practise archery.

“Shooting day is our biggest spectacle, that’s where most of the kids get to do hands-on with the firearms, of course be-

ing safe and having all the range officers walk them through what needs to happen to go have fun, but also do it properly and be safe,” Daoust noted.

He also thanked the many people involved with the camp, who helped make it safe and fun.

“Just a big thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers that we had this

weekend. It’s a joint effort between lots of companies and a lot of volunteer hours and equipment that come out. We absolutely couldn’t do it without that, so just a big thank you to that and the community members,” Daoust said.

For additional photos of this event, please visit our provincial news hub at www.sasktoday.ca

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Ryden Ellis, one of the camp participants, tried shooting a muzzleloader under the supervision of Adam Cowan The southeast continues to drive interest in the Saskatchewan oil and gas sector. File photo by Greg Nikkel

Many producers have now started harvest in southeast Saskatchewan, but the yields and the quality will be dependent on location.

According to the weekly crop report from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, released on Aug. 10, harvest was four per cent complete in the southeast, although that information was a few days old. The fiveyear average for that point in the year was two per cent.

Sherri Roberts, a crops extension specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, said there are some fields in the southeast that are beautiful and the producers are thrilled with the yields. Then there are other areas that don’t look so good.

The Oxbow and Carnduff areas received some timely rains that benefitted the crops. There is also a swath in the Estevan and Lampman areas where the farmers are happy.

“You can go down a road, and on one side of the road, the crops are beautiful, and then you look to the other

Proud

side of the road, and they’re hurting,” said Roberts, whose area covers 46 RMs. “That’s just the way the rains seem to be this year, and that’s Mother Nature’s fluke.”

She’s also pleased with the crops in the Glenavon area. One producer she talked to reported 40 bushels per acre of peas this year.

Areas that are going to have a tough year are around Kipling and Kennedy. There’s a stretch between Highway 1 and Highway 13, bordered by the 605 grid road, that didn’t receive a lot of rain. There are also fields in the Francis-Sedley area that will have sparse yields.

“I’m looking at a field … southwest of Radville, and it’s very unhappy,” said Roberts.

Last year the southeast region received the precipitation it needed, and there were a lot of happy producers. Only a few pockets were dry. This year the lack of moisture was more common.

But it’s worse in the southwest and south-central areas, she said.

Roberts is pleased to see the number of acres of soybeans planted this year, and the fields she has driven past look really good. She has also seen a resurgence

in the number of acres of sunflowers planted.

In some areas, the lentils are already harvested, and producers have made progress on fall rye, winter wheat, and silage barley and cereals.

Some producers whose cereals are still filling out will be happy to receive precipitation, she said, and those with soybeans could also use moisture. Rain would also benefit corn.

“I know the people that are harvesting wish it [the rain] would just disappear and dry up for a couple of weeks, so they could get at it, but there are still areas

where they would benefit from the moisture.”

Some pastures and alfalfa fields are in need of precipitation as well.

The quality should be very good this year, she said.

Farmers received the heat they needed this summer.

“With the amount of acres that are looking really good versus the amount of acres that are looking very bad, I think we are still, down here in the southeast, going to come up with an average to above average crop, overall,” she said. Roberts emphasized the importance of safety, especially in areas with dry

conditions. They should be ready if they have a combine fire to prevent the situation from escalating. And she noted this is a stressful time of year. If producers feel the need to talk to somebody, they can reach out to the Farm Stress Line, a neighbour or someone at the Ministry of Agriculture. “Don’t let the stress get the best of you. There’s all kinds of people that are more than happy to lend a hand, to give an ear, to help you out and realize that life’s worth living, and don’t let one bad crop make you make a foolish mistake,” said Roberts.

Harvest now underway in much of the southeast CO-OP®, CO-OP® design ®Registered trademarks of Federated Co-operatives Limited TRANS-HYDRAULIC™ ™Trademark of Federated Co-operatives Limited This year, Co-op is helping you prepare for the busy season ahead with our Harvest Oil Sale. From now until September 24, 2023, you can save up to $500 when you purchase the following Co-op Premium Lubricants: Choosing the right lubricant products that protect your equipment is an important part of being harvest ready. Co-op Lubricant Advisory System (CLAS) makes the purchasing decision easy by providing lubricant recommendations based on the make and model of your equipment. Find the right oil for you with CLAS! • D-MO® (Diesel Motor Oil) 15W-40 • T-HF (TRANS-HYDRAULICTM Fluid) *Product must be purchased during the Harvest Oil Sale. May not be combined with any other promotional offers. Minimum purchase: 40 litres and/or a combo of litres and kilograms. Environmental charges extra (where applicable). Coupon valid on listed products/pack sizes only from July 3–September 24, 2023. See in-store for details. FUEL • LUBRICANTS • PROPANE POWER THROUGH HARVEST SAVE UP TO $500 when you purchase CO-OP® Premium Lubricants! (306) 637-4330 www agro crs 3 Estevan Agro & Bulk Petroleum LANE REALTY www.lanerealty.com For all your buying or selling needs contact Jason Beutler PHONE: (306) 569-3380 LANE REALTY Saskatchewan’s Farm & Ranch Specialists™ PH: 306-569-3380 | EMAIL: lanerealtycorp@sasktel.net WITH OVER 40 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS! GOODWATER - 7.8 ACRES: well treed acreage w/garden area, 1 home + 1 guest house, 2 shops, garage, located adjacent to Goodwater. KIPLING - 18.5 ACRES: acreage with Seed Cleaning plant, 33,400bu. grain storage, Shop, Quonset, 1400 sq ft Home, NE of Kipling Thank you Farmers!
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The combines have been out in fields in southeast Saskatchewan, and producers have seen varied yields. File photo

The Frobisher Threshermen’s Day saw good participation and a wonderful day for its 53rd annual celebration of agricultural history of the region.

Over 20 antique tractors partook in the parade that made its way around the village of Frobisher. Most

of them were brought to light out of the local museum, and a few antiques belonged to residents. Many people took the opportunity to enjoy activities offered at the grounds throughout the day, as well as pancake breakfast and supper at the museum.

Rod Mutton with Frobisher Threshermen’s

said they were happy with how the day went.

“I turned out really well. It was great, and everything went pretty well,” Mutton said in an interview with the Mercury. “The crowd was there. The kids were there. It was a really good turnout for the pancake breakfast, and the supper went really well. It was a

very good … turnout. And it wasn’t so hot.”

The event became possible thanks to many dedicated participants and volunteers.

“It often comes down to looking for people to do all the work, but all the participants helped out, which makes the day go better and the community really supports it well,” Mutton said.

While some were bringing back to life old agrarian techniques such as threshing and baling with the help of a 1920s steam engine tractor, threshing machine and an old square baler, others drove antique tractors in the parade, or helped run the gates, beer gardens, breakfast and supper and more. The baler used for demonstration was owned by the RM of Coalfields at one time and was used by all local farmers who needed it.

The beer gardens were run by the local firefighters, who also participated in the parade. Some of them are also farmers and they helped with the threshing demonstration.

Other entertainment included bouncy castles, buddy bumper balls, food trucks, an inflatable axe throwing wall, a kids’ tractor pull and a dunk tank. The Threshermen’s Museum was also open to the public.

Mutton noted they had a few new participants joining this year, and it was great to see a good age mix showing interest and participating in the event. After all, its main goal is to educate people about the history of the region, its pioneers and agriculture here in an entertaining manner.

“It’s showing our history. The kids and not only kids but everybody in the community is interested in the history of the community and how it got started,”Mutton explained.

He noted that for many participants the Thresher-

men’s Day is not only about the region’s history, but it’s about their personal stories.

“Their grandparents ran tractors like that and farmed back in the day at the time of steel wheels and steam engines. They’ve heard lots of stories from them,” Mutton said.

This year, the organizers put up a tent in the middle of the ball diamond and had all activities grouped there, which allowed people to enjoy more activities at once.

“People could sit under the tent and see the threshing going on and watch the bouncy houses and all that.

It seemed to turn out pretty good,” Mutton said.

For additional photos of the event, please visit our provincial news hub at www. sasktoday.ca

www.SASKTODAY.ca Frobisher Threshermen’s Day brings history to life August 16, 2023 A9 1-866-249-4697 • www.drrobertkitchen.ca Dr. Robert Kitchen MP Souris-Moose Mountain “Farmers are some of the Best Environmentalists around.“ Ike Skelton Shaun Michael 306-421-7212 harvestmoonbinhauling.com Thank you FARMERS! 301 Kensington Ave., Estevan, SK 306-634-3616 • www.bbaxtertransport.ca 1139 5th St, Estevan, SK 306-634-2823 Wishing all of the farm families a safe & successful harvest. BIG DOG SEEDS INC. OXBOW, SK RED WINTER WHEAT: • AAC Wildfire • Moats bigdog.farm@sasktel.net Cell: 306.483.7738 306.483.2963 Serving SE Sask. Thank you farmers. We appreciate you. www.gencoasphalt.ca • 306.634.8001 Locally owned & operated PAVING PATCHING SEALCOATING LORI CARR, MLA ESTEVAN CONSTITUENCY OFFICE 306.634.7311 | LORICARRMLA@SASKTEL.NET Thank you Farmers. Wishing you a safe harvest. Always Remember To Recycle Your Old Newspapers
Participants also demonstrated how baling would occur many decades ago. About 20 antique tractors partook in the Frobisher Threshermen’s Day parade on Sunday. Photos by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia
# 1, 322 4th St. Estevan, SK 306-634-2222 www.rmestevan.ca Wishing all farmers a safe harvest! Wishing safe harvest!
The day saw a threshing demonstration and many more activities.

You’re going to lose access to local news on Facebook and Google.

Dear readers,

Your access to local, provincial and national news is going to be revoked on Google, Facebook and Instagram.

And it’s not because of anything we’ve done.

Recently, Canada passed the Online News Act, also known as Bill C-18, which has led to a standoff between the government, Google and Meta — the parent company behind Facebook and Instagram.

Both Google and Meta have said they plan to cut ties with the news industry in Canada as a result.

This means Meta will block the posting and sharing of our news articles on Facebook and Instagram. Google will also remove links to our sites and articles in Google News, Discover and search results. They’ll also cancel significant content licensing agreements already in place with our parent company, Glacier Media.

Undoubtedly, this will have a huge impact not solely on us but, more importantly, on people like yourself who may use these platforms to discover what’s happening in your community and to get context to events happening in your own backyard.

We’re not planning on going anywhere, but here’s how you can help:

1. Sign up for our free daily newsletter by scanning the QR code. (And encourage your family and friends to do the same.)

2. Follow us on Twitter.

3. Bookmark our website as the homepage on your devices.

4. If you own/operate a local business, consider supporting local by placing ads with 100% Canadian-owned media outlets, like us.

With your help, more people will be able to get their local news from a trusted source. In today’s age of misinformation, that’s more important than ever.

Thank you. We appreciate you.

Sincerely,

www.SASKTODAY.ca A10 August 16, 2023
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Wednesday, August 16, 2023 | SASKTODAY.ca

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Estevan man charged for assault causing bodily harm

An investigation into an incident on May 13 has led to a 20-year-old Estevan man facing a charge of assault causing bodily harm.

According to a news release from the Estevan Police Service issued on Aug. 9, the incident occurred as a result of a disturbance at a local establishment.

The subject has been released and will make his first court appearance on Sept. 18.

No further details, including the individual’s

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HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS & LABOURERS WANTED

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HEART & STROKE FOUNDATION OF SASKATCHEWAN

Finding answers. For life.

name, were immediately available.

In other recent police news, members received reports of two separate thefts from vehicles from the central part of the city on Aug. 7. The EPS reminds people to remove valuables from vehicles and lock doors.

A male was arrested for breaching conditions of his release order. He was transported to the police station and released with a future court date.

A report of a male ha-

OBITUARIES

rassing and threatening a female by text messages was received. Both parties were spoken to and warned of their actions.

Police are also looking into a matter involving an individual stealing water from another residence.

Police arrested an individual Aug. 8 for breaching his release conditions. He has since been released with a court date for early next week.

Members received a report of a theft of a vehicle from a local business parking lot on Aug. 10. The vehicle was later located and returned to the owner.

Edith M. Erhardt

1940 – 2023

Our mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Edith Erhardt, late of Weyburn, SK passed away peacefully in Fort Qu’Appelle, SK with her family by her side on July 14, 2023 at the age of 83 years.  Edith leaves behind her daughters, Brenda Erhardt of Weyburn and Cheryl Fritz (Brent Ulm) of Fort Qu’Appelle.  She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren, Tabatha (Brian) Wilson of Balgonie, Michael Fritz of Regina; great grandchildren, Peyton, Andrew and Ally Wilson and Thalia Fritz; as well as special grandpuppies, Willis and Riley.

Edith is survived by sisters, Lorraine Supple, Yvonne (Ed Garton) and Mary Anne Hochstein; brothers, Don (Maye) Struble and Richard (Michele) Struble; one sister-in-law Marlene Struble as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Edith was predeceased by her husband Michael (Mike), sister Pauline Struble and brother Dennis Struble, son-in-law Rick Knupp, brother-in-laws, Tom Supple and August Hochstein.

The private Graveside Service will take place on August 18, 2023 at Souris Valley Memorial Gardens, Estevan, SK with Rev. Thuy presiding.

In memory of Edith, memorial donations may be made to the Kidney Foundation of Canada, Saskatchewan Branch, online at www.kidney.ca

Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for Edith’s family –Yvonne Clark, Funeral Director.

Evelyn Svorkdal

November 19, 1933 – January 28, 2022

Evelyn Georgia Catherine Svorkdal (Jensen) passed away at the age of 88 at Hill View Manor in Estevan. Her remarkable life was magical, fulfilling and sparkled with enthusiasm.

The Memorial Service for Evelyn will be held on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Estevan, SK with Rev. Martin Olson officiating. The lunch reception will take place in the church social hall immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Stoughton and District First Responders (Box 282, Stoughton, SK S0G-4T0) or Trinity Lutheran Church (738 2nd Street, Estevan, SK, S4A -2B3).

Hall Funeral Services in Estevan is caring for Evelyn’s family –Yvonne Clark, Funeral Director.

Murray Allan Ksenych 1955 – 2023

The family of Murray Ksenych broken-heartedly announces his passing in Weyburn, Sask. on July 30, 2023 at the age of 67.

Murray’s memory will be forever cherished by his wife of 44 years, Patti; son Clayton Ksenych (Desmond Keyser); daughter Stephanie (Nick) Bourassa and grandchildren: Haven, Summer and Talon; daughter Jackie Ksenych (Craig Caissie) and grandchildren: Alyssa, Addisyn and Kipton. He is also survived by his siblings: Louise (Mike) O’Shaughnessy, Walter Ksenych, Brenda Waggoner and Ronda Pletz-Mitchener (Perry); in-laws: Darryl (Leah) East, Debbie (Stan) Sibley and Carla (Peter) Ash, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents: Leo and Margaret Ksenych; parents-in-law: Tom and Gwen East; brother-in-law Darcy Waggoner and niece Tracey Parker.

The Funeral Mass was celebrated on Friday, August 4, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Estevan, Sask. with Rev. Thuy Nguyen the celebrant. The Rite of Committal followed at Souris Valley Memorial Gardens, after which everyone was invited to join Murray’s family for a time of fellowship and refreshments in the parish hall.

Those wishing to may tribute to Murray via a donation in his memory may do so directly to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, online at heartandstroke.ca.

– Dustin Hall, Funeral Director.

Hall Funeral Services in Estevan provided care to Murray’s family

Officers determined the circumstances surrounding the incident, and there will be no charges at this time.

The same day, police received a report of an attempted scam. The complainant had been monitoring his credit card account and learned there was a pending charge on his account that he didn’t authorize. He contacted the bank and credit card company, and the payment was stopped. The complainant suffered no losses due to his diligence.

Members also received a report of theft from a vehicle. The EPS reminds the public that it is important to not leave valuables in your vehicle overnight. People should also ensure the vehicle is secure and not left unlocked. Most of these thefts are crimes of opportunity and can be avoided.

Police received a report of theft from a business. The individual responsible has been identified and interviewed. The matter is still under investigation.

Officers attended to a disturbance in the Trojan subdivision. Police along, with the EPS Police and

Crisis Team, were able to mediate a resolution.

On Aug. 11, officers attended to a disturbance in the Pleasantdale area. One of the parties involved left prior to the police arriving. Members spoke to the other involved individual and the disagreement was resolved.

Police also received a report of a hit-and-run collision, in which a parked vehicle was struck by another vehicle. Surveillance video is being obtained. The matter is under investigation.

Police, along with the PACT members, attended to two separate disturbances in the Trojan subdivision on Aug. 12. The matters were resolved shortly after arrival.

Members also attended to a local establishment regarding an unruly patron. The individual was on a conditional sentence order and was arrested. In addition to breaching the order, he was also arrested for uttering threats. He remained in custody until Aug. 14.

For regular updates from the Estevan Police Service during the week, please visit our provincial news hub at www.sasktoday.ca.

A motorist is facing a hefty fine after being nabbed for speeding on Highway 13 just west of Carlyle.

A traffic stop was conducted by the Carlyle RCMP on July 28 at 10:15 p.m. The driver was clocked at 204 kilometres per hour in an area where the speed limit is 100 km/h.

The motorist was charged for dangerous driving under the Criminal Code and was fined $1,358, and the vehicle was impounded for 30 days.

ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

St. Joseph’s Hospital relies on donations to fund equipment purchases. Your Memorial Gift honours your loved one and makes it possible for our hospital to continue providing quality care for Estevan and area residents.

A letter will be sent to the family acknowledging your gift; please include their name and address as well as your own. You will receive an income tax receipt.

Please send your donation to:

St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation 1176 Nicholson Rd Estevan, SK S4A 0H3

Phone: (306) 637-2474

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Fashback –

Wednesday, Aug. 10, 1983

The Estevan Seals won the Southeast Water Polo League championship on Aug. 10, 1983, by going undefeated in two games. Members of the team in back row, from left, are Sharon Fraser, Kim Bergen, Neil Henneberg, Virginia Ebbels and Tom Palmer

Front row, Carol McLellan, Dave Gallaway, Lori Cady, Shane Heier and Heather Drummond

A total of 150 barrel racers were in Estevan during the Saskatchewan Day long weekend for the annual Fountain Tire Barrel X competition.

Riders were entered in various divisions, including open, youth, Saskatchewan bred, peewee and select. The competitors rode once each day on Aug. 6 and 7, with payouts for the top finishers each day, and prizes were also awarded to the best overall finishers for the weekend.

Competitors were also slotted into different groups based on times, with the top racers in 1D, the next-best racers in 2D or 3D, and so on.

In the open division, Emma Hansen of Glen Ewen, riding Alabama Quick, was the winner in 1D with a two-day time of 35.473 seconds. Natalie Barber of Carnduff, riding Ma Peppys Lil Kid, was second with a total time of 35.948 seconds. Cassie Eaton of Arcola, riding

DMAC Itchibon, was third at 36.227 seconds.

Also in the open division, Neela Hall of Stoughton won the 2D group with a time of 36.925 seconds while riding Holly’s New Cut, Brenda Noble of Estevan won the 3D event with a time of 38.315 seconds with Bentriver Winchester, and Shannon Bowers of Brandon won the 4D class with a time of 40.475 seconds while riding MM Freckle Chip.

In the youth division, Kali Johnson of Gainsborough finished first in 1D with a time of 35.858 seconds. She was riding Smokin Sonita. Barber and Ma Peppys Lil Kid were close behind in second with a 35.948-second time. Third went to Hall and Holly’s New Cut with a time of 36.925 seconds.

Dillyn Longley of Ogema won the 2D event with a total time of 37.897 seconds while riding Sheeza Sassy Slingshot, and Morgan Galbraith of Big Beaver, riding Toms Last Star,

won 3D with a time of 40.32 seconds.

Johnson and Sabres Smokin Sonia also teamed up to win the Saskatchewan-bred competition.

Jodie Long of Yellow Grass was first in Sask.bred 2D with a time of 37.869 seconds while riding JT Lady in Red, and Bowers was first in 3D with

a time of 40.475 seconds aboard MM Freckle Chip.

In the select division, which is for riders ages 50 and up, Carla Fidyk of Pleasantdale won the

1D division with a time of 39.296 seconds while riding Ante Eye Over. Noble and Bentriver Winchester teamed up to win the 2D division in 38.315 seconds. Melanie Dier of Pierson Man., won the 3D division with a time of 41.416 seconds while riding Smarter By You. She was second in 3D with a time of 41.809 seconds while riding Hez No Cat.

In peewee B, Lexey Cleveland of Bengough finished first in 1D with a time of 43.057 seconds while riding Jay Five Super Skip. In 3D, Ella Gilbertson of Stoughton was first with a time of 48.327 seconds while riding Blackjack.

In peewee A, Abigail Jutras of Estevan won in 1D with a time of 60.321 seconds while riding Buddy. Audree Jutras, also of Estevan, finished first in 3D with a total time of 74.75 seconds while riding Spanky.

A spiritual heart checkup

Our air conditioner quit last week, so I took it apart and spread the pieces all over the backyard.

day of August, 2023.

Lindsay Davis, Treasurer Laura Ashley Bulgin (Name of Assessed Owner)

TAX ENFORCEMENT LIST

This caused me to realize two important facts. First, I am not a plumber and I have no idea how an air conditioner works. Second, most of the time you cannot tell whether a piece of electrical equipment is working or not based on how it looks. One needs some sort of diagnostic tool to make the proper assessment. When the plumbers showed up the next day, they brought their multimeter, found the bad component, and fixed the problem in 10 minutes.

That experience made me think that it would be great to have a similar diag-

nostic tool to check on our spiritual health and see how we are doing. Fortunately, God has already supplied one. In a section about the importance of generosity, Paul writes, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Notice

that this verse assumes that Christians are going to be givers. The concern of the passage is not about what we do, but rather how we do it. If we give, but hate it, then the gift has not been given properly. If we must be pushed or guilted into sharing our time, money or energy, something is wrong within us. In other words, our giving is about some-

thing much more important than the gift. Giving is diagnostic. It tells us something about our hearts. When we listen to the wrong voices and value the wrong things, giving is a burden. Generosity becomes nothing more than a way to lose something valuable. However, when our hearts are tuned into God, giving becomes a path to building others up and contributing to something even more important.

The more we value generosity, the more we look and act like God himself.

“He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45).

www.SASKTODAY.ca Barrel racers flock to Estevan for competition A12 August 16, 2023 We’re hiring NEWSPAPER CARRIERS! We’re looking for carriers to join our newspaper delivery team. This is a great opportunity to earn extra cash! Contact us TODAY! CARRIERS OF ALL AGES WELCOME Routes: RELIEF CARRIERS REQUIRED FOR ALL ROUTES! (306)634-2654 FORM C [Section 6] NOTICE The Tax Enforcement Act TAKE NOTICE that the Village of North Portal intends to be registered pursuant to the above Act as owner of the land described below. The municipality claims title to the land by virtue of an interest based on the tax lien registered against the existing title to the land in the Land Titles Registry as Interest Number 174007661 and 174007672, and you are required to TAKE NOTICE that unless you contest the claim of the municipality or redeem the land pursuant to the provisions of the above Act within six months from the service of this notice on you and, subject to the further provisions of The Tax Enforcement Act, a title will be issued to the applicant. On and after the date that the title is issued to the applicant, you will be forever estopped and debarred from setting up any claim to, or with respect to, the land. The amount required to redeem the land may be ascertained on application to the Clerk, Treasurer or Administrator of the municipality. Dated this 8th
Legal Description of Land(s) Title Number(s) Lot 25, Block 13, Plan 55056 Lot 26, Block
Plan 55056 144034961 144034983
The Tax Enforcement Act Village of North Portal PROVINCE OF SASKATCHEWAN
13,
Lindsay Davis Treasurer
Park of Lot Lot Block Plan Title Number Total Arrears Costs of Total Arrears and Costs 7
H ppy th Happy 60th Birthday Birthday Trying to remember what you wanted to wish for Trying to remember what you wanted to wish for leaves the candles burning on your cake long enough leaves the candles burning on your cake long enough to set off the smoke detector to set off the smoke detector. on August 19th, on August 19th, to my much older sister, to my much older sister, Brenda Karpa Brenda Karpa
Madison Whiting rode Birdie in the open division.

| Wednesday, August 16, 2023 | SASKTODAY.ca A13

Gudmundson wins bronze at roller derby worlds

Ella Gudmundson went to France for an international roller derby competition and came home with a bronze medal and lots of memories.

Gudmundson was part of Team Canada for the Junior Roller Derby World Cup in Valence, France, from July 2830. Gudmundson was part of the Canadian female entry that won a bronze medal, defeating the World Team 34067 in the third-place game; and she was also on the open team, which finished fourth after a 342-194 loss to Australia in the battle for bronze. The open squad included both males and females.

During the tournament, Gudmundson believes she played seven 30-minute and five 60-minute games. It meant a hectic pace with a lot of competition, but she said that’s part of the sport.

Gudmundson, who wears number 911 and goes by the nickname of Killer Ella, typically played pivot or blocker at worlds.

“We earned our medal and we put in the best that we could do,” she said.

Gudmundson believes four other athletes played on both Canadian teams.

Both squads came to-

gether well. They had athletes from across the country, and they had a practice in Calgary and a practice in Toronto before coming to the World Cup.

“Everyone was pretty

well versed and was ready to get on the track together,” she said. They held a Zoom call every two weeks to get to know each other and discuss their plans for France.

“We also were required to do four mandatory workouts per week to keep us in shape and build our strength,” she said.

Gudmundson left the tournament with some new friends, not just with Team Canada but from other countries, too.

“I got to know more girls on my team, and even at the event, we do a jersey trade, so we would pick someone from another team that’s competing there and swap our jerseys. So I came home with two Great Britain jerseys,” she said.

Gudmundson expects the experience will help her as both an athlete and a coach. She would like to eventually coach Team Canada, and she hopes this experience, as well as her selection for the tournaments this year and in 2020, will help with those ambitions.

“I do coach in Estevan [with the Junior Coaler Rollers], so I do hope that my experience is going to

add up and help me become a coach for Team Canada,” said Gudmundson.

She also wants to bring senior roller derby back to Estevan, as it has been a number of years since it was last offered here.

Gudmundson also plans on playing some competitive adult roller derby in Saskatoon with the Mindfox program, and she wants to play for Team Saskatchewan at the adult level for the second straight year.

Due to the hectic schedule associated with the Junior World Cup, they didn’t get to enjoy any sightseeing during the tournament, but once the games were finished, Gudmundson and her family were able to see the country. Not only did they go to Paris, but they went to Juno Beach, which is where Canadian soldiers landed during the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944. It was a treat for her parents, Jeff and Linda, who have taken an interest in military history.

Rain put the brakes on speedway feature races

The Estevan Motor Speedway was in the midst of delivering another entertaining program for its fans when the rain started to fall and put a halt to the proceedings.

The track held a regular program on Saturday night. Some precipitation fell in the late afternoon in the Energy City, but didn’t create any significant delays. The qualifying heats went off without a hitch, treating spectators to some close finishes.

After the intermission, the sport mods ventured on the track and completed their feature race.

But as the slingshots were entering the racing surface for their feature, the rain began. The race never began, and a short time later, the remaining races – sling-

shots, stock cars, modifieds and hobby stocks – were called off. Those four features are to be completed at the Aug. 19 program, which will start at 6 p.m. There will be races starting at 7 p.m. that night.

Leevi Runge was the winner of the sport mod feature, finishing ahead of Justin Fichter, Dustyn Mayer and Robby Rosselli.

Fichter led throughout the first half of the race. He actually built large leads early on, but each time his advantage was negated by a caution flag.

Runge, meanwhile, survived an early incident and worked his way up the field into second spot. He then closed the gap on Fichter and took the lead with nine laps remaining. Fichter remained close but never mounted a serious challenge.

Rosselli added to his lead in the points standings with his fourth-place finish, and

now has 268. Brian Kentner is second with 240 and Keenan Glasser is third with 231.

As for the other divisions, Travis Hagen leads the modified division with 269 points, 10 clear of Steven Pfeifer. Kody Scholpp is third with 245.

Chris Hortness has a one-point lead, 264-263, over Adam Goff in the stock car division. Kyle Scholpp is third with 258 points.

Kyler Satran leads the hobby stock division with 226, two better than Kayden Hjorteland. Brennor Grinstead is third with 216.

In the slingshots, Sladen Pfeifer is first with 262 points, three more than Jacek Ashworth. Brogan Wagner and Eli Turnbull are tied for third with 250. Be sure to watch our provincial news hub, www. sasktoday.ca, for continued coverage of the speedway.

Pierson Golf Tournament raises funds for Osi-Can

Ninety-six golfers registered for the third annual Jay Pierson Memorial Golf Tournament, which took place Saturday at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course.

Estevan Police Service

Const. Jeremy Taman with the Jay Pierson Memorial Golf Tournament organizing committee said that while participation numbers were slightly down, the support was higher, and they were able to raise more money than they did last year.

“We had really great sponsorship this year. And everybody who came out really gave back for the funds that we were trying to raise. So, it was better in regards to the actual fundraising itself,

although the numbers were down. So a very successful year actually,” Taman said.

About $3,000 was raised this year through the tournament via sponsorships, hole sponsors, a 50/50 draw and other raffles, with some unique items like a personalized cooler and personalized cornhole game. Money raised from this year’s tournament is going towards Osi-Can (Operational Stress Injury/Post Traumatic Stress Support Initiative).

“Obviously, it’s a cause that’s really dear to our hearts for the whole awareness and memory of Jay Pierson,” said Taman.

“It’s always great to remember Jay, the guy that he was, the member serving in the community and giving

back. It’s an honour to be able to assist with that and anything that we can do to further awareness for PTSD and occupational stress injury. And that relates to everyone, no matter of your occupation, mental health awareness is something that we’re all striving to assist with.”

He noted that while there were a lot of participants who knew Pierson or of him, the tournament has grown outside the immediate circle and they had other people joining to play some golf and support the cause.

“We’re just happy to have whomever at the tournament, and they’re all there to support the cause and help out so it’s all good,” Taman said, adding that he hopes

the tournament will continue for years to come.

The tournament ended with a three-way tie, with a trio of teams all shooting 14 under par.

Pierson, who dedicated more than 20 years of his life to policing in Estevan, died of natural causes in March 2021 following a long struggle with PTSD

COMMUNITY EVENTS

as well as the battle with the Estevan board of police commissioners and Workers Compensation Board. The first memorial golf tournament was run

SPORTS
Ella Gudmundson, wearing No. 911, was part of Team Canada in the female and open divisions. Photo by Darren Stehr
68 Souris Ave. N. Estevan SK S4A 2M3 306.634.2654 7TH ANNUAL DUSTIN PRATT MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club Friday, August 18 - Tee Off @ 1:00 OSI-CAN PEER SUPPORT GROUP Mondays @ 7:00 on Zoom EEY FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE Youth Emotional Health & Wellness with Carol & Dan Graf Friday, August 18 9am to 3pm Ages 10 - 14 ESTEVAN HUMANE SOCIETY & SWEET CORNER BAKERY & PASTRY FUNDRAISER We got together for a good cause, we just need you!! All order until August 30th, Sweet Corner Bakery & Pastry will donate 25% to the Estevan Humane Society. Orders can be picked up September 15. $500/Team, includes golfing and supper Please pre-book carts through the Golf Course. Please contact Roxane Pratt @ (306) 421-6801 with any questions or if you'd like to make a donation. All funds raised for the Dustin Pratt Memorial Fund will go to local families in need, local sports activities and programs. Full day of fun activities on confidence building, emotional awareness and expression, all rooted in play. To Register: Please call (306)634-7233, message on Facebook, or estevanfamilycentre@sasktel.net
Slingshots were on the track at the Estevan Motor Speedway on Saturday night.
Do you know a Non-Profit organization that has an Event or Fundraiser coming up? For more information contact Christine @ cjones@estevanmercury.ca or (306) 634-2654 OSI-CAN peer support meetings for Veterans and First Responders dealing with symptoms of an Operational Stress Injury such as PTS. Contact Guy @ (306) 525-1553 for more information. ROTARY CLUB OF ESTEVAN 2023 Golf Ball Drop Tickets - $5.00 Draw Date: September 9, 2023 The Rotary Club of Estevan’s second largest fundraiser of the year is back! They will be selling tickets all summer long. Check out their Facebook page for more information. 1st Place - $5,000, 2nd - $3,000 & 3rd - $1,000 Don’t Cuss! Call US 306-634-7101 601 - 5th St. • Estevan, SK
that summer. Close to 100 people signed up for the Jay Pierson Memorial Golf Tournament this year. Photo by Anastasiia Bykhovskaia

The Carlyle Cardinals have won the Saskatchewan Baseball Senior AA Tier 2 provincial championship.

The Cardinals defeated the Standard Hill Lakers 5-3 Sunday in Yorkton in the final.

Carlyle dropped its opening game of the tournament, 4-2, to the host Yorkton Marlins on Saturday. They recovered to defeat the North Battleford Beavers 7-5 later in the day.

Carlyle rattled off three straight wins on Sunday. Up first was an 11-6 win over the Saskatoon Rockies. Then they crushed Standard Hill 18-1 in a game the Cardinals needed to win to keep their season alive.

The victory put them in the final against Standard Hill, which the Cardinals won.

Earlier this summer, the Cardinals captured their fourth straight Saskota Baseball League championship by winning the

Jack Harbourne Memorial Trophy. Two other teams were at provincials this weekend.

The Redvers A’s competed at the Senior AA Tier 3 tournament in Gull Lake. They finished tied for first in the round robin with a 3-1 record with the Unity Cardinals and the North East Red Sox, but the A’s missed out on the final on a tie-breaker.

Redvers defeated the Gull Lake Greyhounds 1910, the Red Sox 4-3 and the Cabri River Rats 11-2, but lost 9-7 to Unity.

The Arcola Threshers were at the Tier 4 tournament in Regina, where they went 1-3. They won 22-18 over the Rosetown Angels, but lost 6-4 to the Pasqua Angels, 14-1 to the Macklin Lakers and 19-8 to the Regina Red Dogs.

Be sure to check out our provincial news hub, www. sasktoday.ca, or this week’s edition of the Carlyle Observer for more on this story.

MEMBERS NEEDED!

CITY OF ESTEVAN DEVELOPMENT APPEALS BOARD

The City of Estevan is recruiting new candidate(s) for appointment to the City of Estevan Development Appeals Board (DAB). The DAB hears appeals on matters related to land use and building within the City. DAB decisions shape the community and affect the lives of developers, neighbours, citizens and businesses. It is important for the public to have confidence in the quality of these decisions and the decision-making process. To be eligible, candidates shall be a minimum of 18 years of age and a resident of the City of Estevan. Applicants cannot be an employee of the City of Estevan. Appointments are for a period of two years.

Applicants are encouraged to submit a letter describing their experience on previous positions on boards and other organizations along with a willingness to serve their community. Other factors include a flexible meeting schedule to attend hearings as they arise (typically in evenings) and the ability to make decisions with fairness, objectivity and impartiality. Some familiarity with chairing a meeting and land use related bylaws would be an asset.

Deadline for applications is September 15, 2023 at 4:00

Please mail or e-mail your application to:

www.SASKTODAY.ca Carlyle Cardinals win provincial baseball title A14 August 16, 2023 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
MAYOR’S MESSAGE
AUGUST 30, 2023 FROM 5:30 – 8:00 AT THE LEISURE CENTRE.
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS CITY WIDE REGISTRATION WHICH WILL BE
PM.
Judy Pilloud, City Clerk City of Estevan 1102, Fourth Street, Estevan, Saskatchewan, S4A 0W7 • cityclerk@estevan.ca CONSTRUCTION BULLETIN McLeod Avenue The City of Estevan is undertaking construction for the Watermain replacement. The affected area includes all of Mcleod Avenue. Property access and parking restrictions are to occur. This work will commence June 5, 2023 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. 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. Souris Avenue Valley Street 1st Street 2nd Street 2nd Street A 3rd Street 4th Street 5th Street 6th Street 7th Street 8th Street 9th Street Young Street 10th Avenue 11th Avenue 12th Avenue 13th Avenue 14th Avenue 15th Avenue 16th Avenue 17th Avenue 18th Avenue 19th Avenue Westview Place
The Carlyle Cardinals gather for a group photo after winning the provincial championship.
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR CITY WIDE REGISTRATION WHICH WILL BE AUGUST 30, 2023 FROM 5:30 - 8:00 AT THE LEISURE CENTRE.
Photo courtesy of the Carlyle Cardinals Twitter feed

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