Estevan’s new police chief brings variety of experience to the community
By Ana Bykhovskaia and Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
e Estevan board of police commissioners announced the hiring of a new police chief during the latest meeting on Aug. 13. e board members said they are pleased to welcome Jamie Blunden, who’s been the police chief in Weyburn since 2020. Blunden will start in early September.
He replaces Rich Lowen, who has been Estevan’s chief since September 2021. Lowen’s last day with the EPS is Aug. 31. Before accepting the job in Weyburn, Blunden resided in Cooks Creek, Man., where he served with the City of Winnipeg’s police force for the previous 29 years, working in different roles. His duties included being the inspector of the Specialized Investigations Division, where he commanded the following units: Child Abuse, Sex
Crimes, Internet Child Exploitation, Counter Exploitation, Missing Persons, Domestic Violence, Vulnerable Persons, the Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System and the Manitoba Integrated High Risk Sex O ender Unit.
Blunden has a bachelor of arts degree with a major in criminology and a minor in psychology.
As chief of police, Blunden will oversee management of the EPS activities including law enforcement, crime prevention and education/awareness programs.
“He [Blunden] brings a wealth of experience to the job. We’re all looking forward to him taking over; at the same time, we feel sad about Chief Lowen leaving. He’s done a great job for us. He will be missed. Chief, we wish you all the very best in your future endeavours,” said Estevan Mayor and chair of the board of police commissioners Roy Ludwig during the meeting.
In an interview, Blunden said he felt “bittersweet” about leaving the WPS to go to Estevan.
Noting he and his wife love the Weyburn community and the members of the WPS, he cited his relationship with the Weyburn police commission board as the reason he is leaving.
“In order to be successful in moving the service forward, you have to have relationships, it’s built on relationships. e relationship I have with the members is next to phenomenal, and with the community, I have a great relationship. But the relationship that’s breaking down right now is with the police board,” explained Blunden in the interview.
“It’s not positive. I have di erent values I bring forward, that I live by, and I believe in leadership, and part of that is making everybody around you better with support and development. On the board, there are some members who
are still in that traditional style of management,” said Blunden.
“A lot of decisions, operational decisions, that are being made are made without input from myself or the deputy chief. I’ve come to the point where the values that I have and
the values that they have are not aligned, and I made the decision to go to a place that has a board that actually trusts in their chief and allows them to do the job, and ultimately supports the chief and their executive members.”
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A2 » BLUNDEN
SV Theatre shows attract more than 3,200 people
By David Willberg
Attendance was up signi cantly at the Souris Valley eatre for this year’s two main-stage shows.
More than 3,200 people went to this year’s productions at the theatre’s Frehlick Hall, according to board president Allison Holzer. e gure does not include the nal night of Jailhouse Rock on Aug. 16. Last year’s shows attracted 2,137 spectators Greased was held from July 8-12 and 15-19, while Jailhouse Rock was Aug. 5-9 and 12-16. Eleven shows were held for each.
Holzer attributed the increase to having two musicals this year as opposed to a musical and a play. Also, ve performers were part of both shows.
“ e vocals were so strong and I think that made a di erence, too,” said Holzer. “ ey were so talented. And the music. e music
that was in the musicals, people like it.”
e actors love coming to the theatre, Holzer said, and have compared it to “summer camp” with the facilities provided by the theatre. She expects they will get testimonials from some of them.
“ ey feel like they’re treated very well,” said Holzer.
e actors also took time to visit di erent attractions and amenities in the community.
“ ey are just really, really impressed with Estevan. ey think it’s a little gem that a lot of people don’t know about,” said Holzer.
Both shows featured a lot of old-time music from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s.
Holzer noted the theatre has been working with Randy Apostle, who has penned this year’s shows and several in the past, including the Volstead Blues, which was the rst production ever for the theatre.
“He basically produced them for us,” said Holzer. “He lined up the actors. He lined up the director and the choreographer. And then the musical was right there. It was already written. It sure made life easier for us, as a board.”
One of the actors, Joseph
Shane McLellan, went to elementary school in Estevan.
Abbie Brokenshire, who has worked in theatre costumes in Calgary, moved back to Estevan this year with her husband, and she stepped in after the person who was scheduled to do the work had to step aside. Tara Johns
did all of the set work, and Brooke Wilson ran the spotlight for the season.
“It’s been nice to have the local talent included,” said Holzer.
e director and choreographer, a husband-andwife team, were back for another year.
e theatre also kicked o its season with a performance by Elvis tribute artist Rory Allen on July 4. He attracted a capacity crowd for his Tribute to the King concert.
e Melodye Pierson Youth Drama Camps were held during the summer as well, with several di erent sessions o ered. Act 1 and Act 2 were based on age, and there was a drama camp and drop-in sessions. Jenna Fleck from Lampman and Katrina Iluk of Montmartre were the instructors.
Holzer said a couple of them had great attendance, but they could always have more.
“Every time they do a week-long camp, they always do a little performance for the parents, and the parents come down on the Friday and watch it, and it’s so cute,” said Holzer. “Some of the scripts are written for them, and some of the scripts they’ve written themselves, and they get all costumed up.”
Holzer also lauded the City of Estevan, Woodlawn Regional Park, the theatre’s sponsors, board and volunteers, theatre manager Shirley Hildebrand, bookkeeper Denise Olsen, summer student Flynn McKenzie and marketer Breanne Lees with Impact Creative Digital Services for all of their support. e season will wrap up with a performance by the Szakacs Family on Aug. 22, starting at 7:30 p.m. e Skakacs are a 10-member family gospel band out of the Carndu area. Tickets are still available.
Two arrested in Estevan drug bust released on bail
By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca
Two men arrested following a drug bust in Estevan on Aug. 9 were released on bail with conditions on Aug. 15. Another man and a woman also arrested following the same investigation have hearings pending.
After the Estevan Police Service (EPS), Joint Tactical Support Team (JTST), RCMP International Border Enforcement Team (IBET) and the Weyburn Police Ser-
vice (WPS) executed search warrants at ve locations in Estevan last week, Cody Klyne, 38, Devon Martell, 35, Brennan McKeen, 41, and Jessica McKeen, 37, were charged with possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of tra cking – cocaine; possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of tra cking – methamphetamine; tra cking a schedule I substance – cocaine; tra cking a schedule I substance –methamphetamine; and possession of property obtained
by crime over $5,000. ese warrants stemmed from a lengthy investigation led by the EPS Drug Unit. e EPS seized one kilogram of cocaine, 50 grams of methamphetamine, two ri es, a Ford F150 (o ence-related property) and approximately $8,000 in Canadian currency, while the street value of the illicit drugs that were recovered exceeds $150,000, according to the EPS.
Following the arrest, the accused remained in custody and made their rst court
Oxbow man arrested for sexual assault, drugs
An increased police presence, reported in Oxbow on Aug. 11, resulted in an arrest.
•Four counts of sexual assault;
•Four counts of administering a noxious substance;
•One count of possession for the purpose of tra cking (methamphetamine);
According to the Saskatchewan RCMP, a search warrant was executed at a residence in the town by the Carndu , Estevan and Carlyle RCMP detachments, the F Division Critical Incident Response Team, Carlyle Combined Tra c Services Saskatchewan and the Estevan Police Service, in connection with an ongoing investigation. As a result, 60-year-old Timothy Irwin of Oxbow is charged with:
•One count of possessing
a substance – methamphetamine (crystal meth); and
•One count, unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles).
Irwin appeared in Estevan Provincial Court on Aug. 12. No further information was immediately available.
“ is investigation remains ongoing with the assistance of the Saskatchewan RCMP General Investigation Section,” Saskatchewan RCMP said.
appearance on Aug. 12 at the Estevan Provincial Court, followed by a bail hearing for Martell and Brennan McKeen, as well as the request for judicial interim release and GPS electronic monitoring for Jessica McKeen on Aug. 13. Klyne’s bail hearing was adjourned to Aug. 19. Jessica McKeen’s case is pending a report required for the GPS electronic monitoring, and she remained in custody until her next scheduled court appearance on Aug. 19. e Crown prosecutor and Martell’s and Brennan McKeen’s lawyer presented their arguments, and the judge postponed the decision until Aug. 16, when bail was granted to both individuals on conditions. e judge noted strong ties to the area the
two individuals have, and the fact that they either don’t have a criminal record or a previous criminal record doesn’t indicate there is potential for them to escape. On top of standard conditions, Brennan McKeen was ordered no contact with Martell and Klyne. He has to maintain his residence and not change the place of residence without approval from probation o cer. He also is not allowed to have anything that can be used as a weapon on him, and can’t possess rearms, ammunition or explosive substances. He is also not allowed to attend the storage that was involved in the investigation. He isn’t allowed to use any drugs, except for those prescribed by a doctor. He was al-
lowed to have one cell phone, but with condition that it may be checked at the request of the EPS at any time. His residence and property also might be searched if there are reasonable grounds to suspect a breach of any conditions of the order.
Martell’s conditions were very similar. He can’t be in contact with the McKeens or Klyne. Besides, Martell, who is a registered owner of rearms, was ordered to surrender his rearms to the EPS to be stored until he either lawfully disposes of them, or the court proceeding is concluded. Brennan McKeen and Martell were set to be spoken to on Aug. 19. SaskToday and the Mercury will continue follow the situation.
Sexual assault charge stayed
A charge of sexual assault has been stayed against Estevan’s Mehdi Horri.
against Horri
Aug. 12, but it was not listed on the docket for that day.
In an email to the Mercury and SaskToday, the provincial court con rmed that the charge had been stayed.
e Mercury and SaskToday will continue to follow the situation.
Horri was charged with the o ence by the Estevan Police Service in late March, and his case was in Estevan Provincial Court a few times since, with his most recent docket appearance occurring on July 8. It was scheduled to be back before the court on
Horri’s lawyer, Darren Kraushaar, had previously stated that Horri denied the allegation.
Horri, who is a physician
in Estevan, is still facing 14 charges of “unprofessional conduct” from the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons; those allegations were announced in January. He has a hearing scheduled for Nov. 12-28. His status is currently listed as on the register with the college, but he cannot see female patients.
Blunden starts in early September
Blunden and Lowen have known each other since 1990, as they both served on the Winnipeg Police Service, and when Blunden left to come to Weyburn, Lowen had been his superintendent. Since both came to Saskatchewan, they have talked and shared a lot, as they both serve on the provincial police chiefs association.
“At the end of the day, it’s about knowing what’s going on in Estevan. You have to
be supportive of the members, and the police board there is very, very supportive of the executive members as well as the police service,” he said. rough their connection from their Winnipeg days, Blunden and Lowen brought the Highway 39 Cup to the southeast starting in 2021. e winner of the season series between the Estevan Bruins and the Weyburn Red Wings re-
ceives the trophy; on top of that, the police chief from the community of the losing team has to wear the winning team’s jersey. As he leaves Weyburn, Blunden said he is most proud of the growth and development of the members, as both he and deputy chief Brent Van De Sype have worked hard to make this happen. ey set up mental and physical well-being initiatives. ey have also restructured the leadership of the members and have given them training to t those roles, “so I think the growth and development of the
members is what I’m most proud of.”
e Aug. 13 Estevan police board meeting was Lowen’s last, and the board presented him with a memorable gift, which included a City of Estevan blanket and a picture of the Estevan water tower. Blunden was supposed to start in Estevan on Oct. 15, so that he could give the Weyburn police board adequate notice. But after his comments about the Weyburn board went public, his resignation was changed to e ective immediately, allowing him to take the role in Estevan earlier.
| Wednesday, August 21, 2024 |
Volunteer saluted for over 50 years of dedication to legion
Kenneth Turner received the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers from Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty at a ceremony at Government House in Regina.
e medal recognizes the exceptional volunteer achievements of Canadians from across the country in a wide range of elds, and pays tribute to the dedication and commitment of volunteers.
“Congratulations Ken on receiving the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers and thank you for all you have done and continue to do for our province,” said Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty in a post on his social media.
Turner was nominated for the award by the Royal Canadian Legion for volunteering with the Midale and Estevan branches for over 50 years. However, he has a much more extensive record of volunteerism, as he also served as an Aide-de-Camp from 2012-2018 for Lt. Governor Vaughn Solomon Scho eld.
Turner has volunteered for his local community as well in many ways, including on the 100th Anniversary Committee for the Town of Midale. He has been a deacon at Bethlehem Lutheran Church since 1991 where he also taught Sunday school.
Turner had a long career as a high school teacher, and during that time, he also spent a great deal of time volunteering. He was particularly active in sports, volunteering as a coach for volleyball, softball, and track and eld. In addition, he set up golf programs and hosted golf tournaments and playo s.
Turner served as an instructor with the army cadets in Estevan and as vice president and director of the Army Cadet League of Canada.
e recent recognition was in the works for a long time, Turner said in the interview with Mercury and SaskToday, but for a while, he didn’t know much about it.
“I knew something was coming. I just didn’t know what,” said Turner, re ecting on the honour. “From what I can gather, the medals themselves are in a backlog – two years, if not more,” he added, noting the extensive delay caused by the pandemic.
e award certi cate is dated 2023, and Turner noted the legion probably nominated him even before that. A call came this January. e presentation was arranged after months of co-ordination between Turner and the Lieutenant Governor’s o ce.
“We picked the date for the presentation and had everybody there,” Turner said.
His son and daughter attended, alongside his sister and Craig Bird, who represented the Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
“It was really good,” Turner said, re ecting on the day.
e roots of Turner’s commitment to volunteerism run deep. Growing up with parents and grandparents actively involved in the legion, the Odd Fellows, IODE, the legion auxiliary, Kinsmen and other local organizations. Service was a natural part of his life.
“As a result, I picked the group, and I stayed with it,” he explained his connec-
tion to the legion.
e family connection to the legion was no accident, either. Turner’s grandfather was in the First World War, and he joined what was called the Great War Veterans Association, then the British Empire Service League, which became the Royal Canadian Legion Canada, Turner noted. His dad was in the Navy in the Second World War.
Turner’s connection to the cadets began in 1962 and has remained strong ever since. Re ecting on how it shaped him, he said, “I was o as a teenager, right o the wall almost. But it gave me a slot – xed in like a timetable.”
at structure became a foundation for his lifelong dedication to service.
Despite changes in both the legion and the cadet programs over the years, Turner remains committed. He highlighted the challenges of getting older and younger veterans to work together within the legion, noting, “ ere’s a real dichotomy between Second World War veterans, Korean veterans, and then what we did as Canadians after that, … those who came out of United Nations activities like Afghanistan, Bosnia ... It’s a struggle to make that juxtaposition between modern stu and the older stu .”
Turner’s work with the cadets remains a big source of pride.
“I like kids. ... Grades 7, 8, 9, that middle years, they’re full of hell, but they’re good. If you’re honest with them, they’ll follow you anywhere,” he said. He emphasized the importance of building con dence in the cadets, especially in the early years of the program.
Turner’s dedication extends beyond his work with the cadets. When the local legion in Midale closed, he stepped in to keep the Remembrance Day ceremonies going.
“Being the fool that I am, I put my foot right in the middle of it,” he joked. “Now I’ve been doing it for six years.”
But the importance of honouring veterans and educating younger generations keeps him motivated.
Volunteering was always a part of Turner’s life, a need for which he never doubted. But while a lot of families still come to Remembrance Day ceremonies, he noticed the legion and service clubs don’t seem to be of much interest to young adults.
“ ere is no leap from what we do at Remembrance Day and all the rest of it into [volunteering with service clubs],” he noted, saying that there are a lot of families that don’t have a personal service connection anymore, which was a big factor for him.
Nevertheless, he encouraged people to try volunteering.
“You have to get your feet in the water. If you have any inkling at all that you want to try something else, step into it and see what it’s like. Keep with it. Don’t pack it in after a year, two years or three years. Give it some time to grow on you. And it will,” Turner said. “If somebody will ask you to come to a Kinsmen meeting or come to a Lions Club meeting, you can say no, but I would say, try it and see if that ts. And if that doesn’t t, try something else.”
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MP concerned with tax increase
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At the end of the last parliamentary session, the incompetent Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland scrambled to bring in her latest tax hike on capital gains to pay for her uncontrolled in ationary spending. is legislation could still be defeated this coming fall, so
I encourage all of my constituents to write, call and e-mail the nance minister and tell her that this tax is something that Canadians simply cannot a ord. e Liberals claim this is a tax on the ultra-rich. It’s not. It’s a tax on death, food, homebuilding, retirement, doctors, pharmacists, truckers and small business owners.
Only Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would tax farmers during a food a ordability crisis, doctors during a physician shortage, and homebuilding during a housing crisis. Canadians will be worse o because of Justin Trudeau’s new tax. e Liberals forced a last-minute motion in Parliament to try and implement
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We
this new tax, but they will be forced to table legislation to enact the tax in the fall. ere is still time to stop this tax. Please contact the nance minister in whatever way possible and tell her you can’t afford this tax.
Robert Kitchen Souris-Moose Mountain MP
Rail strike would be bad news for Canadians
e threat of a work stoppage for both Canadian Paci c Kansas City (CPKC) Railway and Canadian National (CN) Railway became very real to Canadians.
As of the Mercury’s press time, a resolution had not been reached in the dispute. A phased shutdown of the networks was already underway earlier as both companies prepare for job action.
Both companies issued lockout notices, while the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) delivered a 72-hour strike notice. A total halt to rail tra c was set to begin early ursday morning unless the parties could agree to a deal or binding arbitration.
People in Estevan and other communities are often frustrated with the railway companies. We get agitated when a train rolls through town at the worst possible times, such as when we’re on our way to or from work or school, or heading out for lunch, or when we absolutely have to be somewhere but can’t cross the tracks. Occasionally the train isn’t moving, it’s moving slowly or it’s backing up.
But we would hope that everyone recognizes the essential nature of the rail companies to our economy. e two companies move roughly $1 billion worth of goods per day, ranging from wheat to minerals, oil to consumer goods. ey might annoy us at times, and we might wish they did things a little di erently, but they play a vital role in our economy.
Virtually every business lobby group in the country has been speaking out about the negative consequences of this work stoppage. Talk to a farmer about how much this will hurt. Talk to an oil company about the impact. Talk to a mining company. Talk to a business that leans on rail for shipping. ey’ll explain why this is bad news, not just for shipping within Canada but for exports.
We’ve known that this could happen for some time. Yet the federal government, again, as of press time, has not stepped in to stop it. Is it because they don’t recognize the role that the rail companies play in our economy? We’d hope that’s not the case; a young
The joys of a good nap
Shelley Luedtke
American President John F. Kennedy made it a priority. So did Bill Clinton. omas Edison never missed. Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban says it is indispensable. Artist Leonardo da Vinci credited it with his creativity. What do these people have in common? ey all took naps. Nap time. Ah, remember hearing those words as a child? What about saying them to a little one? We had one daughter who disliked naptime and one who
looked forward to it so it was interesting to see how the di erences a ected them. We ensured both of them did indeed have one, but we approached the question of what age a child should stop napping di erently for each. Yet today I wonder – why do we stop at all? And I’m not just talking about children. We know we need su cient amounts of sleep. It is very important to our health and well-being. I truly t the pro le of the classic night owl. I tend to be more active and think more clearly later on in the evening and into the night. But regardless of whether we feel more productive early morning or later at night, why do we not continue to make time for one simple thing – a nap. What if we decided naps were a necessity?
I hear it time and time again. Ask what someone did on the weekend and if they dared to take a nap, they feel the need to justify it. Why? Why do we feel it is necessary to defend our opportunity to have a nap?
person who spends ve minutes researching the matter could understand why this is bad news. Is it because they don’t want to alienate the New Democratic Party, who the Liberals need to push through its legislative and spending measures? Perhaps.
But for whatever reason, the feds weren’t willing to step in and stop things from happening.
We understand that the right to strike can be a necessary measure for a union to advance its goals in bargaining. But there are times when the government has to step in with back-to-work legislation to end a work stoppage or keep one from happening. It would be tough to lose one of the railway companies. But losing both would be dire.
If the two sides can’t reach an agreement, then the government needs to step in and prevent a strike or a lockout from happening. ere are too many businesses and too many industries that rely on the railways to allow this to proceed.
It wasn’t always this way. Nor is it the case in di erent parts of the world. Siestas, short naps often taken in the afternoon, are common in many cultures and are credited with boosting alertness, increasing productivity, reducing stress, and improving mood.
A siesta is a chance to have a midday rest to counteract hot temperatures and the drowsiness that can follow lunch. e siesta refers to the nap itself, or more generally to the period of the day used for sleep or leisure.
As work life took a dramatic shift to remote work a few years ago, being at home in the afternoon lent itself to conveniently take a nap. Not everyone availed themselves, of course, but those that did reaped the bene ts, including reducing sleep debt. Yes, debt. Some of us are deep in the red.
In our culture, being innancial debt is nothing new and we know the consequences that come with that. But another debt is harming us and we’re not pay-
ing close enough attention. Sleep debt. e di erence between the sleep our bodies and minds need and what we are actually getting is resulting in a negative balance sheet. But napping, even a few minutes each day, can put us on a better side of the equation.
Of course, one of the things people often worry about is how a nap might a ect their ability to sleep at night. But since most of us are in a de cit position to begin with, perhaps we should worry less about that and enjoy sleep when we can get it. Besides, the naps likely won’t be terribly long given the schedules that need to be maintained. Research tells us 10-30 minutes is ideal.
Yes I hear you. Where are we going to nd those 10-30 minutes? I don’t know exactly but I will say this. On days where it might be possible, let’s stop feeling the need to justify it. Just stop. No excuse is necessary. If you want a nap, take one. It just might be our easiest debt to pay. at’s my outlook.
BUSINESS
Sernick calls for plebiscite on third ice surface
e 2024 civic election in Estevan will include a plebiscite on whether a third ice surface should be built in the community.
Coun. Tony Sernick called for the non-binding vote during Monday night’s meeting of Estevan city council. While he said several times he is torn on the subject, he noted that after serving on the Estevan Minor Hockey Association’s board, there is “no doubt” a need for another arena in Estevan exists.
Sernick proposed the plebiscite to gauge how the
voters of Estevan feel about another ice surface. He believes a plebiscite would be a better option than a survey, because the former allows more voters to have their say, and the new council members could use this information as they wish.
“We always hear, how do we increase voter turnout? I feel a question of this nature would increase voter turnout. If you want another arena, get out and vote. If you don’t want another arena, get out and vote,” said Sernick.
If the vast majority votes
no, then the next council won’t have to have the conversation.
Coun. Rebecca Foord said she liked the idea of a plebiscite, but she also really liked the idea of an online survey, because there are so many ice users who don’t live in the city. A combination of the survey and plebiscite would allow the city to engage everyone.
“I understand that it will be mostly the taxpayers of Estevan that will be funding the proposed rink … but I think we do need to nd out if there is a want for the
rural customers,” said Foord. Mayor Roy Ludwig said the survey could happen after the next election.
“I think it has to be our community that votes on it if we’re going to pay for it,” said Ludwig.
Coun. Shelly Veroba stressed there would be a lot of factors for the next council to evaluate, including whether this would be a multi-purpose facility or just a third ice surface. She suggested a survey could help determine the appearance of a potential third ice surface.
“De nitely the next
Sandquist to speak at conference
A former Estevan resident will be returning home to Estevan to be part of the upcoming Innovation Conference for Economic Development in Rural Areas (ICED).
Je Sandquist will speak at a supper event on Sept. 11 at the Southeast College’s Estevan campus. e event, called Big Tech Unplugged, will start at 6:30 p.m. He will be interviewed by former Saskatchewan radio host John Gormley.
Sandquist will share his journey from Estevan to the forefront of the technology sector.
“He has had a front-row seat to the world of technology, rising to executive leadership roles at Microsoft, Twitter and Automattic,” states a press release for the event.
Sandquist is the vice-president of product at Automattic, the company behind WordPress, which powers more than 43.5 per cent of all websites globally, according to an announcement for Sandquist’s appearance in Estevan.
Before joining Automattic, Sandquist held senior roles at Microsoft, where he served as corporate vice-president for Cloud + AI, and at Twitter, where he was senior director of developer relations.
Gormley spent 25 years as the host of John Gormley
council would have to engage the public to nd out what is the need of the community. If the vote comes back that there is an actual desire for a third ice surface, then that’s where I think the conversation starts to become what type of surface?” said Veroba.
Coun. Lindsay Clark said factors such as cost would determine how people vote. And Coun. Kirsten Walliser added that people need to know where the money would come from.
Live until he stepped away from the show last November.
Sandquist and Gormley will take the audience on a journey through Sandquist’s path from Estevan to the executive suites of big tech.
e TechHub has a limited number of tickets available for $50 each for those who cannot attend the conference but want to be there for Sandquist’s dinner. Tickets can be purchased at www.eventbrite. ca/e/997912301557.
Remaining tickets have to be held back for conference attendees, as their admission to the dinner is included in the conference fee.
e ICED conference is slated to occur from Sept. 1012 at the Southeast College’s Estevan campus.
City clerk Judy Pilloud said the city will have to work on the wording of the plebiscite question and then send it to legal. e question has to be positive and people can only vote yes or no. It also has to be approved by council at least eight weeks before the Nov. 13 civic election, so it will be brought back for the Sept. 9 meeting, which is the second-last gathering for the current council.
Estevan has been down to two ice surfaces since the closure of the Civic Auditorium in November 2017; the 60-year-old arena was torn down just over six months later. Since then, many local families have had to travel to rural communities for ice time.
Theend of summerisinsight andharvest is officially underway here in Saskatchewan.Harvest is theculmination of thehardwork, dedication andresiliencyofSaskatchewanproducers
Our producersare knownaroundthe worldassustainable andreliablesuppliers of high-quality nutritious andsafeagri-food products.Saskatchewansaw a27per cent increase in agri-food exportvolumein2023 andhopes to continue this trendwithanother successful harvest. We wish everyone asafeand bountifulfinishtothe 2024 growingseason.
As we approach theend of summer, it’s also time forSaskatchewan’sstudentstoget readytohead backtoschool.Inpreparation forthe startofthe 2024-25 school year,our government recently announcedcellphoneswillnot be permittedduringclass time in allK-12schools.
Technologyhas itsplace,but alltoo often, cell phones aretakingstudents’ attentionawayfrom whattheyare learning.Thisnew policy will allowstudentstobemoreengaged with theirteachers and focusedonlearningthe skills andknowledge they need to reachtheir potential.
Our government is committed to investinginSaskatchewanstudents, whichiswhy since2008, approximately$2.6billion hasbeen invested in school infrastructure projects.Thisincludes69 newschoolsand 32 majorrenovationprojectswithanadditionalseven projects throughthe Minor Capital RenewalProgram
InvestmentslikethisintoSaskatchewan’seducation system areonlypossibledue to astrongand growingeconomy.Our government remainscommitted to investingineconomicgrowthbytelling Saskatchewan’sstory abroad
Numbersfromthe firstquarter of the2024-25 fiscal year show exportstoIndonesia have increased by97.6per cent over thefirst quarteroflastyear. Thetotal export valuewas $279.7 million,driven bya 490.5 percentincreaseinpotashexports.Exports to Peru increasedby19.4per cent over the sameperiodlastyear, fora totalvalue of $105.5million,drivenbyexports of non-durumwheat Exports to Morocco andChina also increasedby12.4per cent and8.7 percent, respectively
Additionally,duringthe firstquarter of theyear, ourgovernmenthosted12incomingdiplomatic delegations,resulting in multiple agreements beingsignedbetween Saskatchewan andinternational partners
Saskatchewan’s internationalefforts have also deliveredsuccessesintrade.InApril,Saskatchewan’s Mexicooffice assisted Saskatchewan Tradeand Export Partnership(STEP)toleadeight Saskatchewan companiesina trademission to Peru andMexico. This resulted in over 186businessto-business connections andsales of over $1 million in agricultural commodities
Here at home,our critical minerals sector continuestogrowand ourgovernmentisinvesting in that growth.Applications arenow open fortwo newcriticalmineralsincentive programs,which willdrive investment andinnovation in Saskatchewan’s critical minerals industry from extraction toprocessing
TheCriticalMineralsProcessing Investment Incentive(CMPII) andthe Saskatchewan Critical Minerals Innovation Incentive(SCMII) targets11criticalmineralsfound in theprovince, whichare allessential to global economies, national security andeverydaylife. TheCMPII supportsvalueaddedprocessing projects,while theSCMII supportscommercialinnovationprojects.
The Saskatchewan critical minerals advantageisclear.The Fraser Institutehas ranked Saskatchewan asthe best jurisdictioninCanadaand thirdinthe worldfor mining investment attractiveness
These new, targeted incentives will help in protecting and promotingSaskatchewan’scontinued leadership on aglobal scaleintothe future
As ourgovernmentcontinues this work,welookforward to hearing from youwithquestions,commentsorfeedback.You can contactmyoffice at 306-634-7311 or loricarrmla@sasktel.net.
FormerEstevanresidentJeffSandquist
By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca
Farmers in the southeast are progressing with harvest, which is going well so far, according to the information provided by Eileen Beaton, the crop extensions specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture.
e crop report from the week of Aug. 6-12 showed that harvest is 11per cent complete in the southeast region. Beaton noted that crops are maturing quickly with hot temperatures and limited rainfall. ere have only been a few scattered showers throughout the region during this time.
“Crop damage has mainly been due to a lack of moisture and heat. ere has also been wind, sclerotinia [disease] and grasshopper damage,” Beaton said. Reports from the Redvers area show that yields from early-seeded crops
have been above average and are predicted to be higher than late-seeded crops, as they received more moisture earlier in the sea-
son, Beaton noted. As for canola, the long stretch of heat the area received will impact yields throughout the region, but yields and quality are expected to be average or above. Yields and quality of pulses and grains are expected to be above average.
In the Stoughton area, the lentil harvest has started and yields are above average so far, while durum and canola yields are expected to be average.
e southern region
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farmers are facing some harder times combining pulses, as reports show that peas near the border are lying at due to hail impacting yields and quality.
Pea yields near Estevan have been above average with hail causing minor damage to some elds, Beaton noted.
In the Weyburn area, crop yields in and around the city of Weyburn are being impacted by drier conditions compared to other areas. Also, farmers in the area
reported hail damage as well as heat burn to ax. Canola yields are expected to be average, while durum yields have been below average.
Dry conditions persisted into last week. And the situation with pastureland in the southeast is more alarming, as most pastures in the area could use more rain.
Pasture topsoil moisture is 21 per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and 39 per cent very short, as of mid-August.
Beaton also reminded the
public that harvest is a busy time, and asked those living in the farming regions to prioritize safety.
e Farm Stress Line is a toll-free number that producers can use to help manage their stress during harvest, which can be reached at 1-800-667-4442, Beaton said.
e public also should be aware that there is more heavy equipment tra c on roads these days, and to be patient by giving machinery extra time and space.
SaskPower offers tips to producers for a safe harvest season
With harvest underway in the southeast, SaskPower is o ering safety tips to farmers working around power lines. According to the Crown corporation, most farm-re-
lated line contacts happen in the spring during seeding and in the fall during harvest. As of Aug. 14, SaskPower says it has observed 178 farm-related line contacts, which is 14
fewer than for the same date last year.
“Safety is at the core of everything we do at SaskPower, and we want to make sure anyone working near power lines knows how to do so safely,” said Nidal Dabghi, director of safety at SaskPower. “When operating large equipment near power lines, preparation is key to ensure safety. Make a plan before heading out and stay alert.”
SaskPower encourages farmers to use the following tips this fall for a safe harvest:
•Plan your route ahead of time using the Crown corporation’s interactive Look Up and Live map;
•Lower or retract equipment whenever possible, especially when moving from eld to eld;
•Use a spotter for a second set of eyes on the ground;
•Take routine breaks to avoid fatigue; and
•If you’re moving a large load around power lines,
and
request a temporary line move. In the event of a line contact, operators should remain in their vehicle and call 911 immediately. If a re starts because of the line contact, operators should follow the safe exit procedure:
•Swing the vehicle door wide open, being sure to not touch the outside of the vehicle;
•Make sure no wires are in the way;
•Stand in the doorway of the vehicle, cross arms in front of the chest and put feet together;
•Jump as far from the vehicle as possible, making sure not to touch the outside of the vehicle. Land with feet together.
•With arms still crossed and feet together, hop away from the vehicle (at least 10 metres).
•Call 911 immediately. Under no circumstances should someone return to the vehicle until the area has been made safe.
Former Estevan resident Andrew Wahba has partnered with the Southeast Sask Economic Partnership (SSEP) on a new Career Shift program.
In an interview with the Mercury and SaskToday, Wahba said the threemonth initiative is designed to support individuals who might be impacted by the transition away from coalred power.
Using the arti cial intelligence software with Tech Career Bridge, where Wahba is the executive director, participants with receive personalized career exploration, training opportunities through LinkedIn, skill gap assessments, and connections to local job opportunities.
“Our partnership with SSEP enables us to o er 30 scholarships to individuals in the SSEP region, allowing them to participate at no cost,” said Wahba.
Funding is through the
provincial Municipal Coal Transition Assistance Program.
“Is there a way that we can look at individuals and their current skills that they’ve acquired in life and … in their current jobs? And then use technology to pull those out, and compare them to potential careers that they could go towards, and then identify that gap in the middle and provide training for them to upskill so that they can consider di erent careers and then have a pathway to upskill and get the training so that they’re in a better position to get those jobs?” asked Wahba.
It’s a self-directed program that people can do on their own time, Wahba said, and hopefully will put them in a better position to consider new eventual careers and look at having the opportunity to get into those careers. Participants will have to attend two in-person sessions.
“We’ve developed the technology to identify people’s skills. We’ve partnered with LinkedIn because … LinkedIn Learning is a remote, online learning management system with all kinds of content to upskill and to train in di erent business areas, and it’s very speci c,” said Wahba.
“What’s ideal about that is it can be done anywhere. It can be done on your own time. So, we thought the combination of being able to personalize individuals’ skills and the job career pathways for them, and then identify that skill gap, and then augment that by using LinkedIn Learning so they could take the courses that they require to put themselves in better position for that career.”
ey’re happy with how the technology is working, and LinkedIn is a massive company. Training is very speci c.
“It’s a really good oppor-
tunity to identify skills that people maybe aren’t aware that they have,” said Wahba. With participants able to work at their own pace, Wahba said it’s ideal for those who are really busy with their careers and families.
“ e idea is to give them di erent ideas of potential careers that they could go into, or even build on the career that they’re already in, and then the last piece of it is looking at the jobs that are available in the area and providing that connection for them.”
Wahba said the program has been well-received based on their discussions with people at the Southeast College, the Southeast TechHub and elsewhere.
Applications are now being accepted. e deadline is Sept. 3 and the program will start on Sept. 9. Anyone who is interested can visit the Tech Career Bridge website.
Estevan MRI campaign gets close to $4M
By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca
e St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation has made signi cant strides in its Together We Can. MRI for Estevan campaign, with fundraising e orts bringing the total raised to $3.8 million, approximately 59 per cent of the campaign’s $6.5 million goal.
e total includes the initial donation of $2 million by Estevan’s Elaine Walkom, which started the project.
e campaign aims to fund the purchase, training and installation of an MRI machine at St. Joseph’s Hospital to bene t the local community and reduce wait times across Saskatchewan.
“We are at $3,812,000,” said Lori Gervais, executive director of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation.
She expressed optimism about the campaign’s progress, noting the substantial support from various sectors.
“We’ve had great response... reaching out to the RMs, the di erent municipalities, and the towns and villages that it’s going to a ect here in southeast Saskatchewan,” Gervais said.
e foundation has been reaching out for support all the way to the Manitoba border, up to the Carlyle area and across the province. Gervais said they’ve approached 28 di erent RMs in the southeast, for which having an MRI in Estevan would be bene cial as it would decrease travel times for residents.
e campaign has also seen signi cant contributions from local businesses,
organizations, and individual donors and families.
e support has come from various quarters, including notable contributions like $53,000 from a 4-H steer by the Jaycee Ross family and over $10,000 from Lorne and Charlene Hanson, who donated a retro car to be sold through Mack Auction Company for the campaign, among many other contributions. Additionally, many local businesses and community groups, such as the St. Joseph’s Health Care Auxiliary, McDonald’s, the Royal Canadian Legion’s Estevan branch, Encompass Fitness, SudZone, service clubs and many others, have also been instrumental in the fundraising e orts, Gervais said.
“None of that was anybody’s idea but their own. Businesses had great ideas on how they can participate and have their customers help out as well. It’s phenomenal.”
She highlighted the widespread community backing, emphasizing the project’s importance.
“People are behind the project, for sure ... e MRI machine is going to be bene cial to all of us in our community, as well as the entire Saskatchewan,” Gervais said.
Despite a slight summer lull, the foundation continues to receive donations daily, both online and in person. Gervais encouraged ongoing community support, noting that people can donate online at any time at sjhf.org, send an e-transfer to info@sjhf.org, call the o ce at 306-637-2474 or stop by to make an in-person donation. Tax receipts
“Every donation, no matter how big or small, is very signi cant, and it’s very important to everyone, because almost everyone … has a personal reason and has been through something with themselves or someone that they love, that an MRI was part of their health-care journey, and having it this close to home would have made all the di erence,” Gervais shared.
“So, anybody coming in to donate, whether it is $5 or $500 or $1,000, whatever the case is, they’re all very important. If we can have this machine right here and change the travel times, the costs, the wait times, and all of those things, it’s going to a ect a lot of people.
“So, if you imagine that all those people who are a ected could donate $5 or $10, we’d have it in no time. Donations are all important, big or small. It’s all making a di erence. We are at $3,8 million because of all of those donations.”
Looking ahead, the foundation plans to ramp up ef-
forts with upcoming events such as the Festival of Trees in the fall. Gervais remains con dent about reaching the campaign’s goal, thanks to the continuous generosity of the community and the dedication of the foundation’s team.
Gervais expressed heartfelt gratitude to all supporters.
“We are eternally grateful to the community. anks to everyone who steps up and supports us, we never, ever feel alone. Any cause that we have, there are people behind us always, and we thank them,” she said.
For more information or to donate, visit sjhf.org or follow the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation on Instagram and Facebook, where they post updates on the current fundraising e orts by community members and businesses.
Currently, the Rotary Club of Estevan is selling their Golf Ball Drop tickets with everything made on top of the prize money going towards the MRI campaign.
DRILLING REPORT
Monster Mania brought the big trucks to
Monster trucks returned to the Estevan Motor Speedway on Friday and Saturday night for Monster Mania, drawing hundreds of people each night to the track.
e fans – many of them young children – were thrilled thanks to the stunts and the talents performed by the ve drivers. e trucks crushed cars, executed donuts and participated in races against each other. e drivers really had the opportunity to showcase their skills in the freestyle portion, when they performed as many manoeuvres as possible in a few minutes. ree mega trucks were also part of the entertainment. ey were smaller than the monster trucks, but performed the same stunts.
Drivers and vehicles for the monster trucks were Jason Court (Roughneck), Jared Vogel (Crude Behaviour), Krystal Carey (Sabotage), Perry Como (Hellion) and Devin Tardif (Sheer Insanity).
Among the drivers for the mega trucks was David Alexander of Estevan. Local fans were eager to watch him perform.
Fans could get an up-close look at the trucks and autographs before the events, and people enjoyed rides on the True North monster truck.
For more photos of the event, please visit our provincial news hub at SaskToday.ca.
e next program at the speedway will be the track championship night on Aug. 23, starting at 7 p.m.
King Charles III Coronation Medal
Nominations open now!
Nominate aSouris—MooseMountain resident!
To be eligible for this honour, aperson musthavemadesignificant contributionstothe country, province, territory, region or community, or made an outstanding achievementabroad that brings credit to Canada.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE SEPTEMBER 10,2024
For nominations, pleasesend the following informationto Robert.Kitchen@parl.gc.ca
Include Name, Email, Home Address with Postal Code,and asummary of contribution achievement (100 words max.).
Iyuhána Solar Projec t
Open House
Iyuhána Solar LP,a par tnership between GSI Management Inc. and Ocean ManFirstNation, will develop, own, and operatethe groundbreak ing 100 MW SolarProjectlocated near Estevan, Sask atchewan.
Pleasejoin us anytimeduring the drop-instyle Community Open House to learn moreabout the Iyuhána Solar Project. We ar ec omm it te dt o eng a gi ng la nd ow ner s, pub li c stakeholders,and membersofthe local communit yand look forwardtomeeting you.
Fo rm or ei nf or ma ti on on th ep ro je ct ,p le ase vi sit lyuhanasolar.com
Please joinusatour Community Open House: Thursday,September 5 6:00pm -9:00pm Southeast College 532Bourquin Road, Estevan, SK Or Contac tUs: Samantha Brown-SABR Energy Consulting Inc. 587-434-7547 or sbrown@sabrenergyconsulting.com
Find great deals through the Mercury’s community-wide
It’s going to be a great day for bargain hunters and so many others in Estevan on Aug. 24, thanks to the Estevan-wide yard sale. is week’s edition of the Mercury will have everything you need to know about the sales. Be sure to check out Page A9 to nd a map of all the yard sale sites in the city, and other information you’ll need for this great community-building event. More than 15 di erent garage sales are part of this promotion.
Sales manager Christine Jones said the Mercury has seen a great deal of interest in such an event, with many residents and orga-
nizations looking to declutter. Community-wide yard sales have been a hit in other communities, and the Mercury is con dent Estevan will be no exception.
e participants can also be found on an interactive Google Maps le, which will be shared on the Mercury’s social media accounts and on our provincial news hub at SaskToday.ca.
“Although this Estevan-wide yard sale is not a liated with the City of Estevan, we ask that you still respect the City of Estevan bylaws and use common sense while selling household items,” said Jones.
yard sale
ere are numerous potential bene ts to hosting a yard sale, such as reducing the waste that’s going into the city’s land ll, making a little bit of extra money, and encouraging upcycling and recycling. e event will also be a great way to connect with people.
“Bringing community members together in the name of a common cause is bound to promote connection building. On the day of the city-wide garage sale, connections are being made across the community, between vendors and shoppers, between vendors themselves, and among family and friend groups,” Jones said.
Motor scrapers, dozers, excavators, rock trucks, packers; wide range of machines.
•www.kohalyelash.com
Please
Lots of work all season. Camp/R & B provided. Competitive wages. Valid drivers license req’d. Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction and Transport Co. Inc. Box 100, Arborfield, SK S0E 0A0; Fax: 306-769-8844 Email: brydenconstruct@xplor net.ca www brydenconstructionandtransport.ca
Support the Canadian Cancer Society
Fire crews respond to collision
e Estevan Fire Rescue Service dealt with six calls from Aug. 12-19.
On Aug. 15 at about 5:45 p.m., crews were called to assist with a vehicle collision in central Estevan. While on scene,
crews conducted tra c control and cleaned up the debris. Deputy Fire Chief Kyle Luc said injuries were reported from the incident. No further information was immediately available. Later the same day, at
around 9 p.m., a commercial re alarm went o in a business in the northwest area. e alarm was caused by an expired detection device.
Fire ghters also responded to a commer-
cial alarm at a business in north Estevan on Aug. 13 at about 5 a.m. e detection device was found to be malfunctioning. On Aug. 17 at around midnight, crews were dispatched to a commercial
alarm in northeast Estevan. e alarm was false in nature, and no action was required. On the morning of Aug.
EPS experiences slight decrease in June, July
The Estevan board of police commissioners reflected on crime statistics from June and July at their latest meeting on Aug. 13. In both months, the Estevan Police Service received fewer calls for service in comparison to the same month a year earlier. The year-to-date call volume dropped almost 15 per cent from 4,933 by the end of July 2023 to 4,215 in the first seven months of 2024. As of the end of July, the number of calls for service was also about 10 per cent below the five-year average year-to-date (YTD) of 4,680. The EPS had 732 calls for service in June, down from 1,122 for the same month in 2023. July saw 520 calls for service as opposed to 651 in July 2023. Crimes against the person, on a monthly basis, were at 17 in June (down from 22 in June 2023) and at 15 for July (up from 10 in July 2023). In June, the EPS recorded 10 assaults, one assault causing bodily harm and six sexual crimes. In July, officers responded to 12 assaults and three assaults causing bodily harm.
boardchairmanMayorRoyLudwig,andboardmembers
andJacieVandermeulen
per cent increase in 2024.
The EPS also released its quarterly report, which will be available for the public to review on its website at estevanpolice.ca.
The report covers the traffic safety strategy, illicit drug strategy, intelligence-led crime response, enhanced training and professionalism, enhanced workplace wellness, reduction in calls for service for mental health emergencies, and budget accountability.
As of the end of July, the year-to-date statistics showed a four per cent increase in crimes against the person with 101 such incidents in 2024 as opposed to 97 in 2023. Estevan is sitting 11.5 per cent above the fiveyear average of 90.6. In June 2024 there were 31 crimes against property reported in Estevan, versus 52 in June 2023. June 2024 saw 16 thefts under $5,000, 11 mischief/willful damage cases, and four residential break and enters. In July there were 42 crimes against property (38 in July 2023), with 26 thefts under $5,000, 10 mischief/willful damage cases, three residential and one business break and enters, and two thefts of motor vehicles.
increase in crimes against property on a YTD basis with 265 cases in 2024 versus 218 in 2023. The fiveyear average for the first seven months was 203.2, so Estevan is experiencing a 30.4 per cent increase in these kinds of crimes.
As of the end of July, the EPS saw a 22 per cent
Three charges were laid under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in June, two for possession and one for trafficking, and none were laid in July. On a YTD basis, by the end of July, there is a 33 per cent decrease with a total of 18 cases so far in 2024 and 27 cases by the end of July 2023. There was a 25.6 per cent decline by the end of July in these types of violations in
comparison to the five-year average, which is at 24.2.
There were nine Criminal Code traffic violations in June, same as last year, with five for impaired driving, one for impairment by drug, and three for dangerous drive and other. In July, Estevan saw 10 Criminal Code Traffic violations, with nine for impaired driving and one for dangerous drive and other.
On a year-to-date basis, in the first seven months of 2024, there were 72 cases reported in this section, and 75 over the same period of time in 2023, which is a four per cent decrease. In comparison to the five-year average (70.4), there is a 2.3
In the second quarter, EPS conducted five targeted traffic enforcement operations, with a total of 501 traffic enforcement charges laid. There were 26 low blood alcohol content/cannabis driver’s licence suspensions. Two high-visibility check stops were conducted, with 803 vehicles being inspected.
There were 18 motor vehicle collisions reported to the EPS, three operational radar signs, and one black cat (covert) radar unit used.
The EPS had 10 people arrested in the second quarter under CDSA, with the estimated value of drugs and property seized sitting at $5,900. Seized were 80 grams of methamphetamine, one gram of fentanyl, 20 pills and 14 grams of other drugs.
Forty-one per cent of reported criminal activity resulted in charges in the second quarter. The EPS conducted 138 compliance/ conditions checks on known offenders. Eight Crime Stoppers tips were received. Officers also partook in 123 special events/community engagements. Thirty-seven hours were spent on foot patrol. The EPS members attended 11 external training courses or conferences and four internal training courses, dedicating 1,468 hours to training and partaking in three combined service training events with partner agencies.
Twenty-one officers and staff also partook in fitness programs and 11 were a part of financial wellness programs. There were 125 calls for service related to mental health emergencies. The Police and Crisis Team (PACT) was deployed 73 times, referring to external agencies 21 times. Members also did 31 client follow-ups and conducted 43 well-being checks.
Expenses were about one per cent below the budget forecast at 48.7 per cent use for the year versus the 49.6 forecasted.
re
18, crews also assisted with an elevator entrapment in north Estevan, which occurred due to a power outage.
Man arrested by EPS on arrest warrant from another agency
A 21-year-old man was contacted by Estevan Police Service on Aug. 13 and determined to have an active arrest warrant from another agency. He was arrested and subsequently released with a new court date set to speak to the charges.
e same day, EPS received a complaint of a woman walking in public with open alcohol. Members attended and located her inside a residence and warned her of her actions.
Reports of suspicious people near several separate residences were received during the night shift. In the rst occurrence, members located an occupied vehicle in the back alley of Princess Street and determined that the individuals were looking for a friend. In the second occurrence,
members attended to the 1300 block of Eighth Street and the alley on Milne Crescent and conducted vehicle and foot patrols, however, they were unable to locate the subjects of the complaint.
Police are investigating a report of harassing communications. Members obtained statements and further investigation is still required.
Several curfew checks on individuals bound by release conditions were conducted. rough these checks, one man was found to not be home and charges are pending.
Police received a report of a theft of a bike. Statements are pending and that matter is still under investigation.
An anonymous report of
a man and woman screaming was received during night shift. Members attended and were able to identify those involved, who were con rmed to be safe and who denied any ongoing concerns.
Earlier last week, EPS received a report of a neighbour starting a re in their yard that began spreading to the complainant’s yard on Aug. 12. Both parties were spoken to and the le was forwarded to a bylaw o cer and Estevan Fire and Rescue for follow-up.
EPS also received a report of a domestic disturbance, in which a woman in a blue truck was screaming and trying to jump out. Police were provided with a description and direction of travel, but no license plate was obtained. Mem-
bers patrolled the area and could not locate the vehicle. RCMP were also noti ed.
A report of a suspicious vehicle observed driving into Royal Heights Veterans Memorial Park was received during night shift. Members attended, and it was determined that someone had been injured and was unable to walk, so the vehicle was used to transport them from scene.
Police received a report of an assault at a residence on the east side of Estevan. at matter remains under investigation.
A complaint of fraud was received the same day. e investigation is pending the complainant providing a statement in the matter.
EPS and Estevan Fire and Rescue also responded
Mayor’sMessage
to a local business for a re alarm. No re was present, and it was determined that the alarm was caused by issues with the alarm system.
e EPS received a report on Aug. 16 of vehicles disobeying the stop sign at the corner of 16th Avenue and Second Street. e police said the increased trafc, which is a result of the Fourth Street construction, has made this and other surrounding intersections very busy, resulting in these reports.
e public is reminded to obey all tra c signs and signals. e nes for these and related o ences are signi cant.
e EPS dealt with 51 occurrences over the weekend of Aug. 16-18. Files ranged from reports of suspicious persons/vehicles,
thefts, tra c complaints, assaults, report impaired drivers (RID) line tip and bylaw complaints. Of those occurrences, six tickets were issued for various infractions under the Tra c Safety Act.
EPS also issued a reminder to ensure that all of your vehicles are properly secured, and all valuables taken out prior to doing so.
“Also, please make sure that your property is properly secured including any outdoor buildings like sheds or garages.
“Calling EPS with suspicious activity at the time of witnessing it assists the police greatly. Keep in mind to obtain descriptors of clothing or vehicles and last direction of travel if possible,” EPS said in a media release.
City WideRegistration is August28, 2024, please come outand participate. As we arewell into August, please enjoyour many summertime amenities as September is just around thecor ner
CONSTRUCTIONBULLETIN
TheCity of Estevanisundertaking construction forthe Watermain replacement. Theaffected area includes Firststreet between Souris Avenue and eighth Avenue,aswellas8th avenue between First street and ValleyStreet
Property access and parkingrestrictions aretooccur
This work will commence May27, 2024 andwill take approximately eight(8) weeks to complete (subjecttoweather)
City of Estevan will perform this work withinthe current Bylaw regulations and specifications.
Safety
Construction sitecould be dangerous.Ifyou have children, please askthem to keep asafedistancefromthe site. We will takeevery precaution to ensurepublic safety,but we need your assistanceto constrain the natural curiosity of younger children. Please DO NOT attempt to go close to areasaffected.
Theft or Vandalism
If yousee anyact of vandalism, theftoranyone suspiciously tampering with equipment, signageorbarricades, please contact 306-634-1800,orafter hours call Police.
Questionsand Concerns
TheCity of Estevan, Engineering Services apologizefor any inconveniences thatthis work maycause
Thank youinadvancefor your cooperationand patience. If you have anyquestion or concerns, please callat634-1800 or approach the supervisor or foreman on site
Estevan U18 AA Brewers win Western title
By David Willberg
e Estevan U18 AA Brewers have capped a dream season by winning the Western Canada Baseball championship.
Estevan defeated the St. James A’s 6-2 Sunday afternoon in Winnipeg to win the title. e Brewers went 5-0 at Westerns and allowed just six runs in those ve games.
“It was just a good allaround e ort on the bats and on the defensive side of the ball this weekend,” said assistant coach Je Kuchinka. “ e boys showed up and did everything that they needed to do.”
St. James opened the scoring in the nal, but Estevan tied the game with one run in the bottom of the third on a double by Jacob Mayer. en they broke the contest open with ve in the fourth. Tayson Dietze had the big blow in the frame with a single that scored three runs.
Sutter Baily was dominant on the mound for Estevan, as he allowed two unearned runs
in six innings while striking out ve. Mathias Fornwald came on in relief in the seventh and didn’t allow a run.
Estevan opened Westerns on Friday by defeating Manitoba’s Bonivital Black Sox 3-0 and B.C.’s Vancouver Mounties 3-1. In the latter game, the Brewers limited the Mounties to just one hit.
e Brewers then knocked o Alberta’s Webber Wildcats CD Classic 6-0 on Saturday and the A’s 7-3 Sunday morning to clinch top spot in the round robin and advance to the nal.
“Our con dence was pretty high this weekend,” said Kuchinka. “ e boys came in and they were playing loose and they were playing for fun.”
All of the games at Westerns were really close, he said. Kuchinka doesn’t believe the mercy rule was needed during the tournament and Estevan was lucky to go 5-0.
e Brewers went a combined 34-4 this year. Estevan had the best record in the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League (SPBL) during
the regular season at 24-4, then went 5-0 at provincials to capture the Saskatchewan event, and went 5-0 again at westerns.
Estevan won their last 19 games in league, provincial and Western Canada play.
“We had a little inkling at the start of the year that we were going to have a pretty good team, but I would be lying if I said I thought they were going to be this good.”
e Brewers picked up two players from the Battlefords Beavers – the team they defeated in the provincial nal – in pitcher Caleb Hoiseth and catcher Hudson Ford. Hoyseth was named the top pitcher in the SPBL U18 AA league this year and gave the Brewers additional pitching depth for Westerns.
As for Ford, his acquisition came in handy after the Brewers’ No. 1 catcher, Jayden Kuchinka, su ered a shoulder injury after provincials.
e coach said Ford created a good tandem with Jaxon Kuchinka during Westerns.
“It took them about 20 minutes of practice the night before we left to go to Winnipeg last week, and it was like they had been there the whole year,” said Kuchinka. e tournament marked the end of minor baseball for ve of the 13 players who were with the Brewers throughout the year: Fornwald, Dietze, Baily, Mayer
and Jayden Kuchinka.
“You never want to see the nal game for your graduating players, but if there has to be one, then there’s not much better way to do it than winning a Western Canadian baseball championship. I can’t say enough about those players,” said Je Kuchinka.
Every single player who was there throughout the year contributed to this sea-
son’s championships, he said. Without them, he believes they wouldn’t have had these accomplishments.
Eight players are eligible to return next year. is is the third Western Canadian title for an Estevan baseball team. e Brewers join the 2008 Estevan U18 AAA Blazers and the 2022 Estevan U13 AA Brewers in the exclusive club.
Steelers win second straight national championship
For the second straight year, the Carndu -based Southeast Steelers have won the Women’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship.
e Steelers defeated Ontario’s Oakville Angels 6-3 on Aug. 11 to win the Softball Canada tournament that was held in Blackfalds, Alta., from Aug. 7-11. It marked the second straight year the Steelers beat the Angels in the nal.
Oakville grabbed a 3-0 lead in the second inning, and it remained a three-run contest until the sixth inning, when the Steelers scored six times to lead 6-3. Jorde Chartrand hit a single that scored three runs to deliver the biggest blow for the Steelers.
She also thrived on the mound, allowing three runs and seven hits in a complete-game seven-inning e ort.
Jordan Kulbida and Michelle Kukurudza each collected two hits for the Steelers in the win.
By Ana Bykhovskaia
Roller derby has been a part of Estevan’s Cecilia McCaskill’s, 16, life for about
e Steelers and the Angels were the dominant teams during the week, as they took the top two spots in the round robin. e Angels beat the southeast entry in the round robin, while the Steelers defeated Oakville in the 1-2 page playo game on Aug. 10 to advance directly to the nal the following day.
eight years. Now she is shooting at becoming a part of 20 Team Canada athletes who will be travelling to Brisbane, Australia, to compete in the
e Steelers opened the tournament with a 10-1 win over New Brunswick’s Oromocto Silverbacks. After giving up the opening run, the Steelers stormed back with 10 straight scores. Deanna Gerrard hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third.
Carmen Hughes surren-
Junior Roller Derby World Cup in July 2025.
e rst tryout was in Lethbridge, Alta., last May. McCaskill went there with two other skaters from Estevan
dered three hits and one run over ve innings, striking out eight.
Chartrand drove in four runs to lead the Steelers past Équipe du Québec 13-6 in their second game. She hit a three-run home run to right eld in the rst inning, and also had an RBI single. Hughes also had a
and was a part of roughly 54 athletes attempting to make it to the next level, which she did. e following weekend, there was another tryout in Ontario with just 43 rollers showcasing their skills
“I found out on Canada Day I made the top 30,” McCaskill said in an interview with the Mercury and SaskToday. “ ere’s only two people from Saskatchewan that made it, and it’s just me from Estevan.
“I was super excited. Initially, they sent me an email on Canada Day saying that I made it, and then, an hour later, they sent me an email saying that I didn’t make it. ey mixed up emails. e email saying that I didn’t make it was supposed to go to another kid. I was very confused. And then I emailed them back, and it was just a huge relief,” she shared.
e next tryout is in early September in Chilliwack, B.C. Ten more athletes will get cut at that point, and the remaining 20 will become a part of Team Canada for 2025. en there will be two more practices and a tournament in the U.S., McCaskill noted. “I’m nervous, that’s for
two-run home run.
e Steelers then defeated the host team, the Bandits, 3-1. e game was tied at one in the top of the fth when Karmen Twordik singled, scoring two runs. Chartrand allowed three hits and one run over six innings, striking out seven and walking one.
eir lone loss during the tournament was a 7-0 decision against Oakville. Hughes went the distance on the mound for the Steelers.
e Steelers recovered with a 9-1 win over Manitoba’s Central Energy Ladies. After the Manitoba team opened the scoring, the Steelers rattled o nine straight runs.
Erin Kirkland picked up the win, allowing four hits and one run over ve innings while striking out six. Chartrand went 2-for-3 at the plate.
e Steelers closed out the round robin with a 9-0 win over the Calgary Rogues. Twordik and Kim
Vibert each had three hits in the win, and Chartrand struck out 12 batters on the day. She also surrendered one hit and zero runs over 5 1/3 innings.
e Steelers advanced to the championship round with a 5-4 win over the Angels on Saturday, thanks in large part to a four-run fth inning.
Chartrand gave up eight hits and four runs (one earned) over seven innings, striking out four and walking three. Vibert and Gerrard each collected two hits for the Steelers. Kukurudza was named an all-star in elder for the tournament, while Chartrand was picked as an all-star pitcher and the top player in the championship round. e Steelers have also nished second and fourth at nationals since moving to that level in 2018. ey won the Western Canadian championship several times, including 2016 and 2017, before moving up to nationals.
sure, but it’ll be fun,” she said. “It’s a good experience, whether I make the team or not, because the rst day is an eight-hour practice, and the second day is a ve-hour practice. So it’s just a good experience, and it’s de nitely going to be very humbling.”
To help cover the travel expenses, McCaskill started a bottle drive fundraiser in Estevan.
“I am doing a SARCan fundraiser to help pay for expenses to y and hotel for this rst trip, and more will
follow if I make the team,” McCaskill said.
“If you have any bottles or cans you would like to donate, please private message me and we can talk about how to get the cans. I would appreciate it so much,” she said in her post on social media. McCaskill asked people to reach out to her through her Facebook page to arrange for donation pick-up. People can also use the Estevan Roller Derby drop-and-go account at SARCan in Estevan with the code “derby rocks”.
