Estevan Mercury community-wide yard sale to become an annual event.
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Big storm.
Estevan deals with weather outcomes from last week.
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Ducks on sale. Humane society gearing up for big fundraiser.
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Senior News. Latest updates from senior living facility.
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Crowning the champions.
Speedway sums up another racing season.
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2024
By David Willberg
Estevan city council approved a number of changes in the downtown revitalization project Aug. 19 to keep it within the budgeted amount.
City manager Je Ward led a report with council, noting all tenders have been received on the project, which is happening in the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Fourth Street. Some costs came in higher than expected.
“City council and administration are reviewing scope reductions to keep the project near budget,” Ward wrote.
To ensure continued positive cash ow for the city, Associated Engineering proposed the following items be removed from the initial design: banner lighting for $470,000, a four-way stop instead of tra c lights at the intersection with 12th Avenue for $343,000; east and west electrical kiosks worth $115,000; deferring plants for planters for $250,000; and deferring benches, trash bins, bike racks and tables
Several changes approved for Estevan’s downtown revitalization project
for $440,000.
“After removing the above items, the budget overage for the project before taxes and engineering is approximately $750,000,” said Ward.
He added city administration believes there might be some funding under a provincial highway program that may be applicable to assist with the nal lift of asphalt, which will be occurring in 2025.
Coun. Rebecca Foord stressed the banner lighting does not take out any of the street lights; it was to be mounted to the poles that hold the banners in place. She also urged the city’s trafc safety committee to keep an eye on the intersection of Fourth Street and 12th Avenue to see how it works out with a four-way stop, and to move if a tra c light is needed.
“ e electrical will be
there, so we can add these lights in later. It doesn’t add additional costs to continue to have the electrical required in those areas,” replied Ward.
Coun. Shelly Veroba added the city could apply for grants through SGI for funding. As for some of the items that were tabled, such as the benches, trash bins and planters, she pointed out there are di erent business and organizations who have
sponsored those in the past. Council approved Ward’s recommendations to borrow an additional $500,000 for the project, apply to the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure for surfacing funding; and encourage the incoming council to allocate a portion of the 2025 Canadian Community Builds Fund (formerly the gas tax fund) to cover some of the engineering costs.
Estevan’s final push for Scotties bid gains momentum
By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca
e Estevan Curling Club is making a determined push to secure its bid for hosting the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts national women’s curling championship, as the submission deadline draws near.
With strong community backing and the support of volunteers, the club feels con dent in its proposal, even as it potentially competes against larger cities like Summerside, P.E.I., and Lethbridge.
e club is currently focused on gathering deposits for ticket packages to strengthen their bid. e deposit deadline is set for Sept. 8, after which the club will have to nalize its bid and apply by the end of the month. It is aiming to demonstrate signicant community support and the city’s potential for hosting a national event to Curling Canada. e club has been ask-
ing residents to place $100 deposits on event packages, which would be applied towards tickets if Estevan is selected, or refunded, if not. Club president Tyler McMillen said that although they have decided not to disclose the number of deposits collected to not tip o the other communities as to where they are, the Estevan committee remains determined to proceed with their bid as it seems to be strong.
Given Estevan’s status as a smaller host city, the push for deposits is seen as a critical element of the bid, which has helped other communities before. McMillen noted that the committee feels Estevan will have a chance, especially if the community gives it another push before the deadline.
“We feel good that we’ll have a competitive package,” McMillen said. e bid package also includes key elements like letters of support from various levels of government,
businesses and individuals. McMillen noted that this process has been ongoing since early summer.
“It’s just phenomenal with the support across the province and especially the southeast corner here. It’s been really good,” McMillen said.
He emphasized that
smaller markets like Estevan o er unique advantages and hoped that Curl Canada would recognize the value of hosting the Scotties in a tight-knit community where businesses “bend over backwards” to support such events. e bid committee, composed of volunteers most of whom have been involved since 2018, has been gathering deposits for ticket packages as a show of support. e nal number of deposits will be the last thing to be entered in the package before the bid is submitted.
Green Party has candidate in Estevan-Big Muddy
e Green Party of Saskatchewan has turned to a former Estevan resident to be its candidate in the Estevan-Big Muddy constituency in the upcoming provincial election.
Billy Patterson was born in Estevan but left the community as a child when his parents were transferred out of the city. He still has family members in the Big Muddy area of the province and has kept tabs on what is happening in the Estevan area.
One of the main reasons he decided to run in this election was the announcement earlier this year that the provincial government intends to build a small modular nuclear reactor in the Estevan area.
“ e Green Party is the only major party that is opposed to that, and would rather invest money in renewables. I wanted to run and make sure voters in Estevan had a renewable [electricity] option in this
upcoming election,” Patterson told the Mercury and SaskToday.
He believes the governing Saskatchewan Party has not thought through the long-term implications of such factors as nuclear reactor waste. In terms of energy, return on investment and savings for taxpayers, Patterson said nuclear is a big mistake and he hopes it can be avoided.
“Generally, I think we’re moving towards a world where we have farmers with more small-scale solar and wind. And I know because I worked selling solar panels and wind turbines all across Western Canada and the Prairies of North America. I was amazed to see how many of the clients were rural farmers, mostly around Saskatchewan and Alberta, who just looked at the numbers.”
Solar makes sense and saves money, he said. And Patterson believes it won’t require new technology.
“We can get our baseload from wind and solar, and already having the energy grid, we can trade with Manitoba. We’ve got hydro,” said Patterson.
In his biography on the party’s website, Patterson
said he is also supportive of teachers “who are standing up for our children against further government interference and cutbacks.”
“ e Sask. Party needs to stop treating our chil-
dren’s education as a corporation,” he said. He was the party’s candidate in the Regina-Qu’Appelle Valley constituency in the 2011 provincial election and the Green Party of Canada’s candidate in Regina-Lumsden-Lake Centre in the 2011 federal vote. He also was the provincial party’s candidate for Indian Head-Milestone in 2020, and was the deputy leader of the Saskatchewan Green Party in 2010 and 2011.
“I’ve been involved in the Green Party for many, many years,” said Patterson.
According to the Green Party’s website, he is a tree planter and educator who has worked in the renewable energy industry.
Patterson splits time between Regina and Strasbourg for work, but he said he is looking forward to spending time in the Estevan-Big Muddy constituency during the provincial election. He hopes to participate in the candidates’
forums that take place during the election campaign.
“I am occasionally tree planting or on horticulture contracts, but barring that, I will do my best,” he said. When he’s out door-knocking during the campaign, Patterson said he is looking forward to hearing from the people of Estevan and surrounding communities about what is important to them, and giving them a clear alternative at the ballot box.
“I’ll just have to wait and see what comes out as the top priority,” said Patterson.
Patterson is the third candidate in Estevan-Big Muddy for the provincial election. He joins incumbent MLA Lori Carr of the Saskatchewan Party and Bu alo Party of Saskatchewan leader Phil Zajac on the ballot. e provincial election is slated to happen on or before Oct. 28.
Families flock to Roche Percee campground for fun day
Approximately 100 people converged on the Roche Percee Recreation Site and Campground on Saturday for the third annual Commemorative Family Fun Day.
e event featured a free barbecue lunch, a shing game for younger children, yard games, horseshoes, sparkle tattoos, tractor rides and a large splash area in a eld.
Sheila Farstad, who was one of the event organizers, noted the splash eld was something that started last year. Boards were placed around the yard, and then a tarp was laid on the ground and covered with water.
“ e kids can splash and they can play … and then we usually have water guns and cannons that they can play with. Even though it wasn’t that terribly warm, there were lots of people … that were using it,” said Farstad.
Farstad suspects the weather kept some people from attending, but it was still a busy day for those who
turned out.
e event was created by the Southeast Tourism and Trails committee to pay tribute to the volunteers who have worked tirelessly in the park to get it open and keep it operating. e committee is a group of people from the Roche Percee area looking to promote the region’s vast history.
Farstad noted some members of the committee have passed away over the years, while others have moved out of the area. e event also creates some awareness of the park and all that it has to o er. She overheard some people say they didn’t know the park was there.
“My husband and I have been volunteering at the park for 17 years now, so it’s been going for a long, long time,” said Farstad.
e Southeast Tourism and Trails is a registered non-pro t, and Farstad said the people who are down there running the park are all volunteers.
Council approves increased
borrowing for project
Deposits accepted for Scotties bid
« A1
tingency, but council opted for the $2.6 million gure.
« A1 “ is type of project generally would fall in line with what this funding is for,” said Ward.
Council also approved an amendment to the city’s borrowing bylaw to borrow the $500,000, bringing the borrowing for this year up to $2.6 million. It means the city’s long-term debt will increase by $500,000 in 2024, but Ward said it will remain below the $13 million mark.
Coun. Tony Sernick asked if the city should borrow a total of $3 million this year instead of the $2.6 million as a con-
Second and third readings are needed at a future meeting before it is approved. e next scheduled meeting is slated for Sept. 9. e intersection of 13th Avenue and Fourth Street is now closed as part of the project. is closure is estimated for a period of fourto-six weeks in order to allow crews to gain access to work on the next phase of the underground infrastructure.
A message from ASL
Paving posted on the city’s website through the downtown revitalization page states that the weather has been favourable as of late, and the project has been progressing steadily.
Concrete work in the 1100-block of Fourth Street is slated to start the week of Aug. 19, landscape and topsoil work is scheduled for the week of Aug. 26, and undergrounds are to be nished by Sept. 16.
ASL said it aisms to reopen 11th Avenue and Fourth Street as soon as it is safe to allow for the north-south tra c ow.
“Deposits are just one part of it, budgets and all those support letters from multi-levels of government, businesses, local community members, athletes from the province, we’re starting to pull that together. So now our bid writers are putting the package that’s going to go to Curl Canada together,” McMillen explained.
“I’m excited to see the nished product. I’ve seen bits and pieces that are going into it, and we look good. We are the agriculture and oil and energy sectors down here, and it’d be fun to showcase [the region] nationally.”
Even though they are not putting a call for volunteers out until the decision on the host community is made, they had quite a few people saying that they will be ready to go if Estevan wins the bid.
Despite facing sti competition from larger markets, McMillen believes Estevan’s bid will be competitive.
“I think we’re going to make it a tough decision for Curl Canada,” he said.
Curl Canada’s decision is expected to be made late this year or early next year, with an o cial announcement potentially at next year’s Scotties in February in under Bay, Ont. If successful, Estevan will be at the centre of national curling attention, bringing economic bene ts and showcasing the region’s community spirit.
For now, the focus remains on nalizing the bid package and gathering as much local support as possible.
“I really want to thank the city for allowing us to use A nity Place; thanks to the community members that continue to come out, not all of them are curlers. ey just are community people that want to see things come to the city. Pauline’s [Ziehl Grimsrud] put extra hours in, so thanks to her,” McMillen said.
“And we really look forward to hopefully winning this bid and bringing something special to the community.”
To learn more, submit a letter and support the push by making a deposit towards the tickets, visit estevan2026scotties.ca.
e Estevan Mercury’s rst city-wide yard sale last weekend, which had 18 participants, was a success, says the paper’s sales manager Christine Jones.
e event received a lot of positive feedback, creating activity around the city, helping people to move some of their belongings and also allowing some to raise funds for a worthy cause.
“It went phenomenally well. We had one lady post on one of the rant and rave sites saying, what a wonderful thing it was, and another lady replied to it saying she raised $150 [through the yard sale] for the MRI machine,” Jones shared.
“And we had Estevan Diversi ed Services participate this year,” she added, noting the organization gave some positive feedback on the idea as well. e garage sale attracted quite a few local shoppers, as well as people from the surrounding southeast communities and even some from North Dakota.
“I think we had a really good turnout. We had 18 [vendors], but I think that was a great start,” Jones said.
She noted that many other communities have garage sale days, and she felt there was no reason for Estevan not to try it. So, the Mercury sales team looked at the experiences of other papers, did the research and put their skills and knowledge into starting a
“I researched the idea. ere are a lot of other newspapers that actually run their community-wide yard sales as well, so I took information from them. at’s where I found out about the interactive Google site,” Jones said. Yard sale participants’ sites were featured in the paper, online, as well as on social media, and were included in an interactive Google map, which provided information about days and hours at each particular location, as well as a brief description of the main yard sale items offered. Each participant also received two signs to place in the community to help promote their sales.
While there was a cost
to participate, Jones said they tried keeping it very reasonable considering all the work and the level of promotion they’ve put into it.
“I went with $25. I thought that was more than reasonable, considering you got the paper advertisement, we put it all over social media, as well as on SaskToday.ca, and you got two signs that you could put up,” Jones said.
She hopes the event becomes an annual tradition and grows bigger every year, both in participation and attendance.
“I’d also like to see more non-pro ts join and have fundraising garage sales,” Jones noted.
e next Estevan Mercury city-wide yard sale is slated for Aug. 23, 2025.
Carlyle Fun Dayz celebrated 10th year of providing fun and entertainment for thousands
By Stephanie Zoer
Carlyle Fun Dayz lived up to its reputation as one of the town’s most anticipated annual events, drawing people from near and far for a full day of entertainment, community bonding and endless fun.
e event was held Aug. 17 on Main Street under clear skies and o ered something for everyone, making it a memorable day for all ages. Activities lled the street and people packed the sidewalks.
e 10th annual event started with a breakfast served by the Carlyle Lions Club.
e Mariachi Latino Band led a lively parade, displaying an impressive array of oats, vintage cars and community groups. Local businesses, schools and organizations pulled out all of the stops, decorating their oats with creativity and air.
e parade route was lined with spectators of all ages waving enthusiastically and collecting candy tossed by the participants.
Food lovers were spoiled with a wide variety of food trucks o ering everything from burgers and poutine to international cuisine and sweet treats. e aromas lled the air, drawing
people in to sample the offerings.
Music was another highlight of Carlyle Fun Dayz, with four live bands taking the stage throughout the afternoon. Teagan Littlechief from the White Bear First Nation, Down Wind from the Carlyle area, 40 Licks from Regina and the Mariachi Latino Band from Regina all performed; the latter appeared for the rst time. e lineup featured a mix of local talent and well known acts, playing everything from country and rock to pop hits. e live music created a festive atmosphere, with many attendees dancing along or simply enjoying the performances from the comfort of the stands or lawn chairs. e music went on until midnight. Adding to the excitement was the ever-popular dunk tank, where brave volunteers, including Mayor Jen Sedor and other local celebrities, took turns getting dunked for a good cause. Over $1,600 was raised for the school community council. Supporters lined up for their chance to send someone plunging into the chilly water. Laughter and cheers could be heard as each successful throw resulted in a big splash.
For those interested in shopping, all the stores were open, and some offered some great deals, and the Carlyle Memorial Hall had artisans with a craft and trade show. Dozens of vendors set up their booths, o ering a wide range of handmade goods, including jewelry, clothing, home décor and artwork. e show was an opportunity to nd unique, one-of-a-kind items while supporting local talent.
is year’s Fun Dayz had the largest kids’ zone ever set up by the Southern Plains Co-op, with a wide selection of in atables and bouncers.
Mad Science from Winnipeg came into intrigue the kids with his scienti c displays of exploding slime and so much more. Pharmasave supplied the water, electricity and patients for a foam party, which also was a huge hit amongst the kids.
In the evening, D.J. Johnny Rivex, from Mississauga, Ont., came to entertain the crowd. According to Fun Dayz chairman Tim Sedor, Rivex did a fabulous job. If a person missed hearing Rivex doing his work as a DJ, then Tim Sedor believes something great was missed.
e dance oor was lled, and people were eager to stay until the wee hours of the morning, but things needed to be shut down at 12:30 a.m. Sedor said Rivex might return to the area for future events.
Another popular place was the beer gardens, and it was well attended. e funds raised will go to the Carlyle Cubs Day Care. Over 2,000 people at-
tended Carlyle Fun Dayz, with a couple coming from Sao Paulo, Brazil. ey were in the area to visit family and enjoyed taking in the event.
Carlyle Fun Dayz once again demonstrated the town’s keen sense of community and its ability to host an event that brings people together. e combination of entertainment, food and local
culture made for an unforgettable experience, leaving attendees already looking forward to next year’s celebration.
“ is event is not possible without all the sponsors and the hard work the businesses put into the event,” said Sedor. is free event is organized to thank the community and to bring everyone together in a fun manner.
community-wide yard sale tradition in Estevan.
EDITORIAL
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Christine Jones - cjones@glaciermedia.ca
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EDITORIAL
We’d make such great hosts
but Curl Canada has to know we want it.
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A little more than four months ago, when the Estevan Curling Club announced its intention to submit a bid to host the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts national women’s curling championships, they put the onus on us, the community, to step up and prove we wanted to have the prestigious event here.
e committee asked us to step forward and place a down payment of $100 on event passes, with the goal of having 1,000 such commitments. If we get the Scotties, those down payments will be directed towards the purchase of the tickets; if we don’t, the money is refunded.
e number of passes sold hasn’t been disclosed, and there is still a little bit of time to show your support, but people have been stepping forward, and Estevan has a reputation for being a last-minute community, so there should be a hearty number of down payments.
If you are able to place a down payment, and you haven’t done so already, please do it.
Because we’re a smaller market that is ambitiously trying to bring this event here, we have to go that extra mile to prove we want the Scotties in 2026. It’s one thing for the committee to say we want the Scotties here,
We actually have a lot going for us. We have an incredible venue in A nity Place. It might not be as large as other event centres that have hosted the Scotties, but it seats 2,662 for hockey, so the atmosphere should be great in a more intimate setting.
We have the hotels to host the event as well. We’ve had some large events in town that have brought a lot of people here. ey didn’t draw the spectators that the Scotties would, but it’s not like we’ll have to be sending people to stay in Weyburn hotels, either.
And we know we have the people to pull this o . When we have hosted marquee events in the past, we have always had the volunteers. If the eyes of Canada’s curling community are turned to us, we’re going to make sure everyone knows what a great community Estevan has.
e Scotties is a very well-known sporting event in Canada. All of the games are broadcast on TSN for the 10 days of the event. e national nal has drawn millions of viewers in the past. On a draw-by-draw basis, it likely has the most attention of any women’s curling event in the world. It’s also the deepest in terms of the number of outstanding teams that have a realistic shot at
winning. It’s not hard to envision the impact this event would have on Estevan.
If Estevan were to be awarded the Scotties, it would be the biggest sporting event ever for the city. We’ve had events with more athletes here, such as the 1980 and 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games, and the 2022 Centennial Cup national junior A hockey championship. But they don’t have the national prominence of the Scotties. With the athletes, coaches, o cials, spectators and others coming here, that’s big money for the community.
In Estevan, we punch above our weight when it comes to hosting big events. We could go through the lengthy list, or we could remind you of the stellar job we did with the 2016 Summer Games and the 2022 Centennial Cup. We can mention how we were the rst city to turn a pro t on the Western Canada Cup junior A hockey tournament in 2016, and how we’ve hosted several great baseball events in recent years. Why? Because that’s what we do. So, if you’re still on the fence, wondering if you should support this event, this is why. Much like with the Summer Games and the Centennial Cup, we all stand to gain if Estevan hosts the Scotties.
Should tech CEOs face punishment for failing to control criminal activity on their platforms?
e recent arrest of Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, in France has once again sparked a long-standing debate about who should be held accountable when social platforms are used for illegal activities.
Durov, a tech billionaire known for his staunch support of free speech and user privacy, was detained on accusations of failing to take steps to curb criminal uses of Telegram, an app with nearly a billion global users (Telegram is particularly popular in India, Russia, the U.S., Indonesia, Brazil, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, France and the U.K. I also notice more and more of my Canadian friends joining the app.)
Criminal activity occurring on the platform includes drug tra cking, child exploitation content and fraud. Telegram has previously denied claims of inadequate moderation.
With these allegations, the central question arises: should a CEO be punished for refusing to moderate content on a social platform? is debate highlights the tension between freedom of speech and privacy, and the need for public safety.
One of the core values Durov has championed is freedom of speech. Telegram’s appeal lies in its encryption and its relatively hands-o approach to content moderation, allowing users to communicate with minimal interference. ese principles resonate in an age where distrust in institutions and censorship concerns are rising. For millions, Telegram is a refuge where they can express themselves freely without fear of being silenced.
However, this commitment to freedom comes with signi cant risks. Criminal organizations, extremist groups, and other bad actors exploit the platform’s low moderation to propagate harmful content. Whether it’s organizing violent protests in the U.K. or distributing child exploitation material, the consequences of such freedom can be devastating. In today’s digital age, where online harm easily spills into real-world violence,
Ana Bykhovskaia Twenty Lines About…
we must question if absolute freedom outweighs the need for public safety.
So where does accountability lie?
While not too many details are known at the time of publication, the arrest of Durov sets a new precedent in holding platform executives accountable. (Others were summoned and questioned, but not arrested.) Critics argue that without meaningful moderation, platforms become enablers of crime. Apparently, as Telegram’s CEO, Durov’s resistance to tightening moderation has made him a target for law enforcement.
Yet, the issue isn’t as straightforward as blaming a single gure. Social platforms are complex ecosystems, and placing full accountability on one person oversimpli es the issue. In their post that followed the arrest, the Telegram team argued that the owner of the platform shouldn’t be responsible for the actions of its users. After all, should the creators of a tool be punished for how it’s misused?
If a golf club is used in a crime, is the manufacturer supposed to be held accountable? But social platforms are more than just tools – they are environments shaped by the rules (or lack thereof) set by their leaders. In that light, the decisions Durov makes regarding moderation directly in uence the extent to which harmful content thrives.
But is moderation a way to go?
While stronger moderation can curb criminal activity, it also raises the spectre of censorship. If platforms are pressured to crack down on speci c types of speech or to share user data with governments, where does it end? ere’s a legitimate fear that increasing control could lead to op-
pressive regimes using these platforms to silence dissent.
Besides, privacy advocates argue that once encryption is compromised, it’s a slippery slope toward mass surveillance. Telegram’s secure messaging is a lifeline for activists and sometimes just normal people living under authoritarian regimes. Compelling the platform to weaken its privacy safeguards would not only undermine its core value but also expose users to potential abuse.
I’d say both platform operators and users share responsibility for maintaining safe digital spaces. Companies like Telegram should be held accountable if they knowingly allow harmful content to spread unchecked. But this must be balanced with the rights of users who rely on these platforms for legitimate communication and free expression.
A potential middle ground involves adopting more sophisticated moderation practices, such as AI-powered detection of illegal content and stricter enforcement of community guidelines. Rather than outright censorship, platforms could implement more transparent systems that identify and remove truly harmful content without infringing on users’ rights.
Governments, for their part, should develop clear, consistent regulations that protect public safety without undermining civil liberties. Relying solely on executive arrests to enforce these responsibilities is a blunt instrument that risks turning legitimate tech innovators into scapegoats.
So, while Durov’s arrest shines a light on the complex issue of platform accountability, it’s clear that both freedom and safety must coexist in the digital age. Striking the right balance is critical, ensuring that platforms like Telegram can continue to support free speech and privacy without becoming havens for criminal activity. e path forward demands nuanced solutions, not just placing blame on CEOs who prioritize freedom over safety.
Severe thunderstorm damaged downtown businesses and other properties in Estevan
By David Willberg
e powerful thunderstorm that rumbled through the Estevan area late Wednesday and into early ursday resulted in the closure of the 110-year-old Orpheum eatre.
In a post on its Facebook page, the Orpheum noted that due to the road construction in front of the building, the basement and other parts of the building were ooded.
“We are closed until further notice. Sorry for the inconvenience,” the post stated.
A water main replacement project is currently happening in the 1200-block of Fourth Street in Estevan, where the Orpheum is located. Work is also taking place in the 1100-block of Fourth.
e work is part of the downtown revitalization project happening on Fourth.
Jocelyn Dougherty, who owns the Orpheum with her husband Alan, said the damage is “very signi cant”. Washrooms, accounting books and other items were damaged.
Flooding also occurred in front of both cinemas, and the basement beneath a screen was full of water.
“I’m very disheartened because I have a lot of posters being stored down there, and some are valuable. I don’t know how much damage has been done to them,” said Dougherty.
When she arrived at the theatre on ursday morning, the water was up to her ankles. By that time, the water was already draining from the
basement, so she was not sure how deep it was at its highest point.
ey aren’t sure who will have to clean up the mess.
ey were told to contact their insurance agent, but the Doughertys believe there should be some insurance associated with the ongoing construction.
At this point, they aren’t sure when the theatre will be able to reopen. ey believe it will take some time to get the oors, the tiles and the gyprock repaired. e theatre was closed a few years ago due to ooding from a water break.
“It’s too bad. We had free matinees and everything planned for the following week, and now we have to close,” said Dougherty.
It’s the latest setback for the business, which opened in 1914. e Orpheum faced hurdles due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hollywood actors’ and writers’ strikes, and the work downtown.
ey had a bump in business with recent blockbusters such as Twisters, Inside-Out 2 and Deadpool 3, but receipts are still down.
“People can’t drive by … and see what we’re playing and the posters for the upcoming lms,” said Dougherty. e Doughertys are thankful for the community support they’ve received since ursday morning. Friends Kim and Dave Gallaway brought a big lunch for them. People have offered to volunteer and help
out in any way possible.
About half of the businesses in the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Fourth Street that are part of the Estevan Downtown Business Association (DBA) were damaged by the deluge of rain, according to Estevan DBA president Laurel Buck.
Businesses su ered damage from sewer, water and mud. She noted that at her business, A&A Jewellers, the water came up about 3 1/2 feet in the basement. Other locations had a signi cant amount, too, while others had an inch of water or nothing at all.
Buck isn’t sure why some businesses were hit harder than others.
“At this time, we still don’t have a lot of answers,” said Buck.
Businesses have been calling their insurance companies, restoration rms, and the City of Estevan and ASL Paving, which is the general contractor for the ongoing downtown revitalization project.
When she arrived at A&A at 7:30 a.m. ursday, the water had receded to about 1 1/2 inches. She wasn’t expecting to see water when she came arrived.
Buck estimates the damaged inventory from the ood to be worth $75,000.
She said people have been very supportive since the ood occurred. Buck stressed that she and other owners of businesses in the DBA aren’t blaming the city or the revitalization project for what happened.
“I think it’s probably a lot to do with bad timing in the weather, and the sewer mains had to be done regardless, so it’s not the downtown revitalization’s issue or fault. I’ve heard a lot of that, and that’s
not where we’re coming from with the Downtown Business Association.”
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Estevan late Wednesday, and the thunderstorm brought heavy
rains to the Estevan area, with some rain gages in the area showing over two inches of precipitation in less than two hours. A number of residential and business basements in the city were also ooded.
By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca
e Estevan Humane Society is gearing up for the annual Judy Martin Memorial Duck Derby, which will take place on Sept. 8 at the free park in Woodlawn Regional Park.
e event, one of the key fundraisers for the local non-kill shelter, will see up to 4,000 rubber ducks racing to win one lucky participant a grand prize of up to $15,000.
Estevan Humane Society president Tayja Lakusta noted that ticket sales have been strong, with more than half already sold ahead of the derby. e society introduced an early bird draw for the rst time this year, which took place on Aug. 19 and left one winner $5,000 richer.
Lakusta said this initiative was well-received. It gave ticket sales a sol-
id boost and also allowed them to have two winners.
“It gave a little kickstart for everyone to buy their tickets early,” she said, adding that all early-bird tickets will still be entered in the main derby draw. Proceeds from the event, which operates as a 50/50, will directly bene t the shelter.
“ e more we sell, the more the person wins, and the more the shelter technically wins,” said Lakusta. e funds raised will go toward the shelter’s general operations, including vet bills, maintenance, food supplies, etc.
Derby day promises to be a family-friendly a air with a barbecue sponsored by Weatherford, activities hosted by the Estevan Early Years Family Resource Centre, and an ice cream truck and bouncy castles from Canuckcade. In addition, the Estevan Humane
Society will unveil a new logo to mark its 30th anniversary.
Tickets are available at various locations around the city, including Nutters, McComb Automo-
tive, PAHC in Estevan, Henders Drugs and Sunset Embroidery, as well as at the shelter, through the shelter’s Facebook page, by contacting Lakusta at 306-421-5970 or through
contacting board members. Lakusta also reminded the public that the shelter is still on an intake freeze, as they are at capacity for cats and dogs.
“We’ve got lots of pup-
pies available for adoption, which we don’t usually have, some of our longer-term residents are still in our care, and cats and kittens,” Lakusta said.
“We’ve got cats and dogs of all ages, all personalities. So, if you’re looking for a new family member now that school and routine is coming back into play here in the next two weeks, we’ve got lots of choices to come down and meet and see if anyone piques your interest or speaks to you, and you realize you got to have them at home.”
She noted that some of their animals are on foster care, but they all are featured on their Facebook page, and arrangements can be made to meet a furry friend of choice.
Lakusta also expressed hope that once school is back, they’ll see more volunteers at the shelter on a daily basis.
One of the busiest weeks of the year for fire crews
From Aug. 19-25, the Estevan Fire Rescue Service responded to multiple calls, including commercial re alarms, grass res, an accident and various storm-related incidents
involving trees and power lines. No serious injuries or damage were reported.
Estevan Fire Chief Rick Davies provided a detailed update on the re department’s activities, empha-
sizing the need for discussions with the RM about the potential for re bans if conditions worsen.
Last week, two grass res occurred in the Estevan area. On Aug. 21
at about 3:20 a.m., crews responded to a grass re occurring south of the city. Fire ghters extinguished the re. Minimal damage and no injuries were reported from that incident. Crews were on scene for about three hours. e other grass re occurred on Aug. 25 west of the city. Crews responded and successfully extinguished that re, dedicating about four hours to the job. No damage or injuries were reported from the incident.
On Aug. 19, re crews responded to a commercial re alarm in northeast Estevan. Crews determined that there was no emergency occurring and the alarm was due to system issues. Another commercial re alarm went o in the south-central area Aug. 20 at about 3:45 p.m. Fireghters quickly determined that it was caused by system maintenance that was going on at the property.
On Aug 21 at about 3:40 a.m., crews were dispatched to a commercial re alarm in the northeast area. It was soon found that no emergency was occurring, and the alarm was due to system issues. Another commercial re alarm went o the same day at about 4:30 p.m. in the central area, which was determined to be triggered by maintenance in the building. en the thunderstorm rolled through the area.
“A little bit later that same evening and into the next morning, during the storm, we responded to approximately ve more incidents, all to do with trees and power line issues, all related to the storm. No serious damage or injuries were reported from any of those incidents,” Davies said.
On Aug. 22 at about 2:30 p.m. crews responded to a commercial re alarm in the south end of the city.
e alarm was due to damage that had been done to the sprinkler system; no emergency was occurring. Fire crews also were dispatched to a motorcycle accident in the northwest area of the city on Aug. 23 at about 11:45 p.m. Fire ghters assisted at the scene. “ ere were minor injuries reported from that incident, but they were dealt with by EMS,” Davies said. Two commercial re alarms went o on Aug. 24 in the east and northeast areas of the city. In both cases, there were no emergencies.
On Aug. 25 at about 8 a.m., re ghters were dispatched to a residential carbon monoxide alarm in the south end. Crews responded and investigated but didn’t pick up any CO readings. SaskEnergy also responded to the scene to further investigate. No further information was immediately available.
Southeast College announces interim president and CEO
Southeast College announced Tuesday morning that e ective immediately Jody Holzmiller will ll the role of interim president and CEO.
Holzmiller has been a part of SE College for the past 20 years. She holds master’s degrees in leadership as well as ed-
Estevan city council gave second and third readings to a bylaw on Aug. 19 that will allow for the construction of a new daycare in the city’s northwest corner.
In a report to council, land development services manager Richard Neufeld said the bylaw would rezone and consolidate the three westernmost lots so that the daycare could be constructed. Neufeld noted that as of the meeting date, no objections or inquiries to the proposal have been received by land development. Under the terms of the proposed bylaw, a development permit for a care on the property would have to be issued.
ucational administration. Her most recent position at the college was vice president, professional training and continuing studies.
“Jody is a trusted leader who cares passionately about Southeast College,” says board of governors chair John Williams. “She is highly respected within the college, the college system, and the communities that we serve. Jody has built an extensive network of strong relationships during her tenure that is key to the ongoing growth and success of Southeast College.”
City manager Je Ward said he received one comment on why the city would take residential lots and convert them. e person suggested a location north of Pleasantdale School for this type of facility. “We have worked with the school division. ere’s a lot of hoops to jump through at this point,” said Ward.
Coun. Shelly Veroba noted the location around Pleasantdale would be a good idea, since the daycare would be near two schools, but there is also a busing system that goes to the other daycares in Estevan. Veroba also called for an adequate parking lot,
e board of governors
especially since Wellock Road can be a busy route. Neufeld said the designs call for a fair amount of parking.
During a public hearing at the meeting, nobody stepped forward with concerns.
*** Matthew Stepp stepped down as the city’s building o cial, e ective Aug. 9. In his resignation letter, Stepp said he has another job opportunity that will allow him to gain the experience and con dence in achieving his Class 3 building ofcial’s licence.
Stepp wrote he has enjoyed his time at the city and appreciates the opportunities that he has been provided.
***
Council gave an extension to the proponent of the proposed biomass electrical generating facility, located on a quarter-section of city-owned land east of the Estevan Comprehensive School.
will be undertaking work on an extensive recruitment strategy to ll the president and CEO position on a permanent basis over the next year.
Southeast College is proud to o er innovative and exible programming that encourages students to learn where they live.
In a report to council, Neufeld noted the proponent has been working on other elements of the proposal with third parties.
“In recent discussions with the proponent, it appears that the project might be ready to proceed to the next stage in the near future. To facilitate further work on the project, a time extension is required to keep the subdivision decision active.”
Neufeld believes a time extension to June 20, 2025, should allow for su cient time to move this project forward.
“We are hoping to have some good news in the next number of weeks here, in September,” said Neufeld. “With this extension, this allows administration to continue with the background on the background tasks on this project while we go through the municipal election and all of the tasks the new election will have.”
Mayor Roy Ludwig
In March, college announced the departure of Dr. Vicky Roy, CEO and president, e ective June 28. Dr. Roy tendered her resignation to the Board of Governors on Feb. 14, with the decision to step down following thoughtful consideration and discussions with her family.
noted the biomass facility would be about 40 megawatts and it would produce clean electricity from straw.
Coun. Rebecca Foord said the project has come a long way in the past couple of years, and it is getting closer to the nish line. ***
e monthly water quality report for July shows the city treated more than 188.5 million litres of water and pumped over 182.5 million litres into the dis-
tribution system. ere were no plant upsets and all regulated parameters for drinking water were met. e taste and odor issues have subsided and water has returned to normal. ***
e building permit report for July shows three permits worth $118,000 were issued, bringing the total for the year to 23 permits worth nearly $5.9 million. All three permits for the month were classi ed as miscellaneous.
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Alexander loved performing for hometown fans
David Alexander said it was “awesome” to be able to perform in front of fans in what is essentially his hometown.
e Bienfait-area resident was one of three entrants in the mega trucks competition that was part of Monster Mania at the Estevan Motor Speedway on Aug. 16 and 17. While a lot of fans were at the event to watch ve monster trucks perform, there was also a hearty contingent of people present to root for Alexander, who piloted a rock-bouncer truck that he calls Screamin’ 2.0.
Alexander pointed out there are di erences between a rock bouncer and a mega truck.
“Mega trucks are fairly tall, and they have ag. tires
on,” said Alexander. “Mine is built for climbing hills, so it’s got to be low to the ground, nice and wide.”
He also has his “truggy”, which is half truck and half buggy named Pure Screaming Hell. It did not compete at the speedway. Alexander said his introduction to these unique vehicles came through his son Craig, who had a small truck that he built and drove around the coal mining spill piles east of Estevan.
“I went out with him one day and got hooked, and it just evolved from there,” said Alexander.
e elder Alexander nished his truck in 2018.
Monster Mania marked the rst time he has competed in Estevan, but not
He goes to the Filthy Redneck Country Club competition at a mud park in Waldron; mega trucks, quads and side-by-sides are also part of the event. ey have many of the same competitions as what fans were
treated to in Estevan, with a J-race using ramps and a freestyle event with lots of table-top or gap jumps.
Driving his trucks provides an adrenaline rush, Alexander said. And he enjoys trying to get as much air as possible and then
landing on the ramp.
“I don’t have the suspension like those monster trucks have, so I can’t y as high as they can and then land on the at [ground].
I try to get as much air as I can, but I need a ramp to land on. And that’s what
Estevan tried to do for us.”
During the show in Estevan, Alexander performed donuts and jumps like the monster trucks, and even raced one of the towering vehicles. In the freestyle portion of the event, he su ered a broken axle on Screamin’ 2.0, and his front power steering belt started coming o . He also had to x a pin hole in a radiator hose using a zip tie. But he was happy with how he did during Monster Mania.
“When you’re in the truck, driving around, trying to hit all of the jumps that you possibly can, it feels pretty good. en when you watch the video, it looks like I could have possibly done more,” he said.
City council approves Walliser’s DEI requests
In a report, Walliser’s rst
council, members can make better decisions with less unintended consequences.
With each internal policy, bylaw, initiative of council or program of the city, and with every funding request received or grant provided, Walliser said three questions should always be asked and answered: who is not included in the work, what contributes to this exclusion, and what can be done di erently to ensure inclusion?
“If we receive a request for funding from a minor sports organization, we would ask them to include these three questions and answers in their report. If one of our managers brought a report to us, we would also ask that these questions are asked and answered,” said Walliser.
She noted it’s a common practice with funding organizations such as Saskatchewan Lotteries.
“ ese three simple questions may need to be applied more than once to gain a more holistic view of the problem and of the possible solutions,” said Walliser.
Her other request is to have all managers, the city manager, and current council members complete the measuring inclusion tool for municipal governments. e program will provide an introduction to the de nitions
and set a baseline; once established, the next council can determine what rises to the top as priorities.
From there, council and administration can potentially address shortcomings through the budgeting process and can then compare progress when the tool is re-administered at a later date.
“We are at the end of our term, so we are the most familiar that we will ever be with the current practices of the City of Estevan,” she said.
ere is a nancial impact to this decision, she said, as at minimum, the tool will take one hour per employee to complete. A roundtable discussion could follow on the key areas of alignment found between various city departments.
Walliser added this doesn’t need to be an all-ornothing approach, as there are certain divisions of the city where these might not be applicable.
e goal is to have a culture of inclusion where elected o cials publicly initiate and support inclusion-related policies and initiatives, even if residents view them as controversial.
Mayor Roy Ludwig said inclusion is great but he voted against the motion, saying
he believes it will take a lot of time, energy and money. He asked Walliser if she wanted this council to incorporate it, or if it should be the next council’s responsibility; he believes it should be up to the next council, which is to be elected in November.
“I don’t know if we should be making this decision tonight and moving it forward when we only have a few meetings remaining,” said Ludwig.
Walliser said it was very important for this council to make this decision, because that will create a platform for the next council to take follow-up steps.
Coun. Rebecca Foord said the rst request is particularly important during the shift from this council to the next, because it sets the new council up to be able to ask questions during budget time, which will happen immediately after the election.
“It allows everybody presenting their budget to the city to say hey, is this including important people in our city? Is it including people we may have missed who have been overlooked over the years?” Coun. Tony Sernick abstained from voting, saying he needed more time before making a decision on the comprehensive document.
Pickleball has been one of the fastest-growing sports in North America in recent years, and Estevan has witnessed that surge in growth.
The club meets Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:30-9:30 p.m., and Thursday morning from 9-11 a.m. at the tennis courts at the Estevan Leisure Centre. Lines have been painted to accommodate the sport.
Estevan club president Taylor Herman said that when he started a couple of years ago, the club had about 20 members. Now it has close to 60.
“I think the sport is just getting recognized more, and it’s getting some younger people out there to grow the sport, and everyone’s becoming more involved with it,” said Herman.
He recalls his introduction to pickleball came after his grandfather was in Mexico for a vacation. Herman’s grandfather came back and found out there was a club in Estevan. Then Herman started playing the sport.
Pickleball has a reputation for being a sport for senior citizens, and there are a lot of older people in the game. When Herman first started, about 80 per cent of the local members were older, but now he believes it’s about a 50-50 split.
“I just enjoy getting out and seeing all of the people, and seeing everyone improve, and seeing how much the sport improves,” said Herman.
It’s also a lot more physically demanding than one might think, he said. The
level of exercise can be as much as one wants.
Often compared to tennis, Herman said they use a different ball and a different racquet. The play can be a little faster in close proximity to the net, and Herman says a lot of people say it’s a lot better for the knees and elbows.
“A lot of people that have previously played tennis are transitioning to pickleball,” said Herman.
The growth in the club has led to discussions about pickleball courts for Estevan. Early in the year, Estevan city council tabled a request from the club to have pickleball lines painted on the current tennis courts, or to construct new pickleball courts. The request was deferred to the
2025 budget deliberations. “I think it would be beneficial to get our own courts,” said Herman.
To play locally, a person has to get a membership with Pickleball Canada, which costs $32 per year. The club charges a membership of $40 to play throughout the summer.
During the winter
months, they have sessions at the Estevan Church of God for a $3 drop-in fee. The club has paddles for people who are looking to try the sport for the first time. A paddle costs anywhere from $100-$300, and a player also has to purchase a pair of shoes.
A typical game takes about 10-15 minutes.
A clinic was held in June for club and Pickleball Saskatchewan members. Professional pickleball players came down to instruct. “If anybody’s wanting to try it, there’s always people around that are willing to teach and lend a helping hand. Other than that, just enjoy the weather and have fun,” said Herman.
Alida man remanded in custody after string of incidents
One of the people charged in connection with a stolen property and rearms investigation in Alida earlier this summer is facing several more charges after recent incidents in the southeast.
According to the Saskatchewan RCMP, on Aug. 4 at approximately 7:20 p.m., the Carndu RCMP received a report of an attempted break and enter at a residence in Alida.
e RCMP says an in-
is proudly printedlocally at
vestigation determined a man attempted to break into a house and a vehicle but was unsuccessful. As a result of investigation, Dusty Bonnor, age 21, was arrested at a residence in the village.
Bonnor was charged with two counts of mischief, one count of theft under $5,000, and three o ences related to breaches of court-ordered conditions. en on Aug. 17 at approximately 7:50 a.m., the
Carndu RCMP reportedly received a report of a suspicious vehicle in the RM of Enniskillen. Ocers responded and located the vehicle abandoned on the side of the road. It was later reported as stolen from Carlyle.
Two days later at approximately 3 p.m., the Carndu RCMP received a report of a break and enter at a residence in Glen Ewen.
Investigation determined
an adult male broke into the house and damaged multiple areas of the home, such as ripping multiple doors o hinges. Further investigation determined a ring and a video game console were stolen. at same day, Bonnor was arrested in Glen Ewen in relation to those incidents. He was charged with one count of possession of property obtained by crime and ve o ences related to
breaches of court-ordered conditions, as well as with one count of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
He appeared in Provincial Court in Carlyle on Aug. 21 and has been remanded until his next court appearance on Aug. 26. Earlier this summer, Bonnor was one of ve people arrested and charged in Alida following an investigation.
Carnduff RCMP reminds residents about break-ins
e Carndu RCMP has received several recent reports of break-ins to properties and vehicles recently. ese incidents are under active investigation.
e detachment reminds residents of the following tips to deter break-ins:
•Lock and secure your home, business, outbuildings and slip tanks.
•Keep your property well-lit. Consider using motion-sensor exterior lighting and indoor lighting timers.
•Consider installing a monitored security or alarm system.
•Park vehicles in a garage or outbuilding. If a building is not available, park in an area that receives high levels of tra c.
•Don’t leave valuables in
vehicles. Even spare change can make a vehicle a possible target. It’s not enough to put your vehicle keys, or anything valuable, in a cup holder or behind a visor; you must remove them from your vehicle and lock the doors.
•Always remember to remove your garage door opener from your vehicle. If it is stolen, it can mean someone has access to everything inside your garage and even your home if it’s connected to your garage.
•Report crimes, even if they are small, to police as soon as possible. When all
crimes are reported to the police, o cers get a clearer picture of the types and numbers of crimes occurring in their area. is information helps them launch future police projects, initiatives and education campaigns. Report any crime, observed suspicious activity/ vehicles, or information to Carndu RCMP at 3107367. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477 or www.saskcrimestoppers.com
60-and-over club receives donations
e Estevan 60-andOver Club recently received a couple of donations in its campaign to replace the air conditioner in its club room.
A nity Credit Union, through its community grant program, provided the club with a donation of $4,000 to help pay for the equipment.
Club members also stepped up to help out. Verna Morsky donated $2,000, and Jim and Elaine Carriere donated $1,100 towards the purchase.
Government touts increased mineral exploration in Sask
Investment in Saskatchewan is growing as more mining companies are exploring for minerals in the province, thanks to the Ministry of Energy and Resources’ Targeted Mineral Exploration Incentive (TMEI).
Twenty-eight exploration projects were approved earlier this year to receive funding from the TMEI, up from five projects last year. In an effort to meet its Critical Minerals Strategy goals, the provincial government increased the annual TMEI funding cap to $4 million from $750,000 and expanded eligibility to include all hard rock minerals in any
region in the province.
“Saskatchewan is the best place in Canada to invest in mining and exploration due to our competitive exploration support programs, like the TMEI, our world-class critical minerals resources and our high-quality geoscience database,” Energy and Resources Minister Jim Reiter said.
“The decision to expand this program was part of our government’s continued commitment to protecting and promoting Saskatchewan’s mining industry and attaining 15 per cent of all Canadian mineral exploration spending by 2030.”
The ministry’s mineral exploration incentives, like the TMEI and the Saskatchewan Mineral Exploration Tax Credit, have put the province on course to attract nearly 11 per cent of projected national exploration spending in 2024. Up from eight per cent in 2022, this shows important progress on the province reaching its 2030 goal.
The 28 approved projects under the TMEI made $62.3 million in overall drill project expenditures, an important gain compared to the $9.8 million in expenditures from the previous year. One of those applicants who successful-
ly used TMEI funding was Ramp Metals Inc., who is doing exploration work northwest of La Ronge.
The government says Saskatchewan is well positioned to continue growing as a major global supplier of potash and uranium and is diversifying its exports through the production of helium and the development of other critical minerals, like lithium, copper and zinc. The province is also poised to become one of the world’s few rare earth elements processors with a first-of-its-kind in North America processing facility coming online next year.
Two more suspects arrested in recent drug bust granted bail
Two individuals who were arrested in Estevan on Aug. 9, following a major drug-tra cking investigation, have been released on bail.
Both Jessica McKeen and Cody Klyne were released with conditions Monday in Estevan Provincial Court.
No further details were immediately available. After the Estevan Police Service (EPS), Joint Tactical Support Team (JTST), RCMP International Bor-
der Enforcement Team (IBET) and the Weyburn Police Service (WPS) executed search warrants at ve locations in Estevan, Cody Klyne, 38, Devon Martell, 35, Brennan McKeen, 41, and Jessica McKeen, 37, were arrested. ey are charged with possession of a schedule 1 substance for the purpose of tra cking – cocaine; possession of a schedule 1 substance for the purpose of tra cking – methamphetamine; tra cking a
schedule 1 substance – cocaine; tra cking a schedule 1 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 says it 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. On Aug. 16 the judge granted bail to Brennan McKeen and Devon Martel on conditions.
All four are slated to be back in court on Sept. 16. SaskToday.ca and the Mercury will continue to have updates as they become available.
contact the Estevan Mercur y (306)634-2654 if interested
Watch outfor Children in theschoolzones as school is back in session
TheEstevan
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
•Valid driver ’s license (unrestricted foraminimum of oneyear) and good driving record
•Good moral character
•Exemplary employment record Excellent communication skills, both writtenand oral
•Computer skills
Formoreinformation on the requirements,selection process, andthe application package pleasevisit our website,www.estevanpolice.ca (Employment Opportunities). Afully completed
Personal DisclosureForm mustaccompanyeach application.Please submit completed packages, including an up-to-date resume,ina sealed envelope to: ChiefofPolice Estevan Police Service 301-11th Ave. Estevan, Sask S4A1C7
Thank youfor your interestinthe EstevanPoliceService.
No phone calls, please.Onlysuccessful candidateswill be contacted.
The closing date is September 3,
PUBLIC NOTICE
TheCouncil of theCity of Estevanpursuant to the Cities Actthatthe Council of the City of Estevan, gives noticeofits intention to implementa bylawunder theCities Act Section134 (1)toauthorizethe borrowing of money.
On August19, 2024 meeting the first reading of the Bylaw2024-2086 waspassed and the final readings is expected to be on September9,2024for implementation once approvedbyEstevan City Council.
Theproposed Bylaws 2024-2086 may be inspectedbyany person in the City Clerk’sOffice, on the main levelofCity Hall, between thehours of 9amand 4pm, MondaytoFriday
Datedthis 21st dayofAugust, 2024
Judy Pilloud City Clerk 11024th Street Estevan, SK S4A 0W7
CLASSIFIEDS
In Loving Memory Vic Eagles
July 19, 1944August 25, 2008
Forever in our hearts Love you and miss you, Dino, Terry & Margie, Trisha & Mike grandchildren: Beau, Shelby, Bailee, and Tristan
FARM STRESS LINE
req’d. Send
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
Estevan police members apprehend impaired driver
Members of the Estevan Police Service apprehended an impaired driver on Aug. 21.
As a result of a trafc stop in the east end, a 57-year-old Bienfait man was arrested and charged with impaired operation of a conveyance and driving while exceeding .08. His driver’s licence was suspended inde nitely and the vehicle was impounded for 30 days. He was subsequently released and will appear in court at a later date to answer to the charges.
In other recent police news, members received a report on Aug. 19 of harassment. e complainant is to attend the police station and provide a statement.
Members, along with the Police and Crisis Team (PACT), were dispatched to conduct a well-being check on a man who was making some suicidal comments. e man was spoken to and o ered services. PACT will conduct some follow-ups.
e EPS received a re-
port of mischief to a vehicle. Statements were obtained and that matter remains under investigation.
An Estevan man was arrested for failing to abide by his conditional sentence order. He was released with a court date in early September.
Police received reports of thefts of personal items. ose matters remain under investigation.
O cers assisted CPKC Police on Aug. 20 with tra c control as they repaired one of the crossing arms at the Sister Roddy Road railway crossing.
A report of a fraud over $5,000 was received by the EPS. Statements are being obtained and the matter remains under investigation.
Members were dispatched to a suspicious person observed at a vacant property. e subject was located and warned to remain o of private property.
O cers received a report on Aug. 21 regarding criminal harassment. e
complainant has provided a statement and the matter remains under investigation.
e EPS received a complaint that a man was seen pushing two pedal bikes shortly after the caller had seen the same man riding a bicycle. e suspect was located and advised members that he had located the bicycle in a dumpster. e matter remains under investigation.
Members were dispatched to a report of a domestic disturbance at a residence on Aug. 22. Members attended, spoke with both parties and were able to mediate the situation. No further police interaction was required.
EPS members also attended to a report of a suicidal woman. Police were able to intervene and then transported her to St. Joseph’s Hospital for further assessment.
Police are investigating a failure to comply with conditions after they attended a north-end residence to do a curfew check on a 44-year-old
Dig another well
God had blessed Isaac, and everything was going well, until it was not. Famine hit the Promised Land, so Isaac moved his family south to the region of Gerar. ere he planted crops and became even more wealthy (Genesis 26:1-13). Everything was great again; until it was not. His neighbours became jealous of him and lled his water well with dirt. Isaac took the hint, moved east, and dug another well
(verses 14-19). However, the herdsmen there said, “ e water is ours” (verse 20) and they took his well. Isaac dug another well, but they argued about that
Tim
Pippus of the
Estevan Church of Christ
one too, so he moved even further east (verse 21). Finally, his servants dug another well and he was allowed to keep that one and live in the area.
woman. She failed to present herself at the door as required by her conditions. e matter remains under investigation.
e EPS dealt with 69 occurrences over the weekend of Aug. 23-25. Calls for services included reports of suspicious persons/vehicles, thefts, tra c complaints, assaults, impaired drivers and bylaw violations.
EMS requested assistance with a motorbike that had hit a tree in the 1400-block of Nicholson Road on Aug. 23. A 17-year-old man was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He was issued a 60-day driver’s licence suspension, and the motorbike was impounded. Police continue to investigate, and charges are pending in relation to the operation of a conveyance while impaired by alcohol.
Members also responded to a complaint of an intoxicated woman around Duncan Road. A 20-yearold woman was transport-
One of the interesting parts of his story is that Isaac never whines or complains about what is happening to him. We do not see him protesting and saying, “My father dug this well years ago and it belongs to me.” All we are told is that Isaac moved on and dug another well. Sometimes, the worst part of our troubles is not the actual circumstance, but our reaction to it. Life constantly changes. You have friends for a season, then
ed to her residence and placed in the care of an adult. A short time later, she left the residence. Members located and arrested her for being intoxicated in public. She was lodged in cells until sober.
e same day, o cers arrested a 58-year-old woman for public intoxication. She was asked to leave a residence after causing a disturbance but continued to return and cause issues. She was eventually arrested and lodged in cells until sober.
Police arrested a 46-year-old Estevan man for assault after a complaint of a man being chased by a truck on Fourth Street. e man was released for court at a later date with conditions of no contact with the victim.
A tra c stop on Aug. 24 resulted in man being issued a 72-hour driver’s
they move, and you must make new friends. e job you love is eliminated and, as much as you do not want to, you must move on and nd something else to do. You have moments when you think, “If I could stop time right now, that would be great”, but time marches on and drags you along with it. e quicker you accept your new surroundings and live in the reality that you are faced with, the better o you will be.
licence suspension and a three-day vehicle impound after a warn result on the roadside screening device.
e EPS is also looking into a report of a theft of an iPhone and other belongings from the change rooms at the Estevan Leisure Centre on Aug. 25. e matter remains under investigation.
A large brown and white St. Bernard type dog was located running at large in the Cundall Drive area the same day. e dog was transported to the Estevan Humane Society.
A report of a hit-andrun collision in the parking lot of a local business was received. e matter is still under investigation.
A woman was observed panhandling in front of a local business. Members spoke with her, advised her that it was unlawful to do so and sent her on her way.
To be clear, you do not need to be a doormat who gets pushed around all the time. ere is a time and place to stand up for yourself. However, we also need to be wise enough to know when it is time to let go and move onto something new. Too many of us are longing for a time and a place that no longer exists. We need to learn to embrace change and dig a new well.
e Estevan Motor Speedway’s track champions for 2024 were decided during Friday night’s program, and for three of the champions, they had an extra reason to celebrate, because they also won their respective feature races.
Connor Hanson (IMCA hobby stocks), Kody Scholpp (modi eds), Austin Daae (stock cars), Gabriel Deschamps (sport mods) and Brogan Wagner (slingshots) won this year’s championships. Hanson, Scholpp and Deschamps were victors on Friday night; Kyle Scholpp (stock cars) and Gunner Raynard (slingshots) also won features.
Hanson won the hobby stock title for the second time, and for the rst time since 2020. He nished with 230 points, nine more than Landon Runge and 10 clear of Brennor Grinstead. His win on Friday came in thrilling fashion. Kayden Hjorteland held the lead for virtually the entire race and built a comfortable advantage, but a caution ag with a few laps to go brought the eld together. After the restart, Hanson took the lead on the back-
stretch for the lead in lap 19 of 20, and then held on for the win. Hjorteland settled for second and Runge was third.
Hanson said he wanted to get a feature win in Estevan this year.
“I was glad that caution came out, because I felt like I was reeling him [Kayden] in a little bit, but if we stayed green, I was not catching him,” said Hanson.
Kody Scholpp nished with 270 points to win the modi ed championship for the fth time. He was 12 points clear of Steven Pfeifer. Tyson Turnbull came in third with 257.
After an early caution in the modi ed feature, Scholpp took the lead and dominated the rest of the way. He wound up winning by about eight seconds, or half a lap, ahead of Les McLenehan. Turnbull was third.
“I just wanted to go [racing],” said Scholpp. “ e car was amazing. I had to drive it a lot harder than I usually drive it. It was a lot more sideways than I usually drive.”
Scholpp said he didn’t realize how decisive the victory was.
Deschamps won his rst track championship in Estevan with 238 points in the sport mod division. He won the last four feature races at the speedway this year and was second in the other two points nights.
Leevi Runge was second at 219 and Keenan Glasser was third with 212.
Deschamps won a caution-free feature in the late models, nishing about six seconds clear of Glasser.
Leevi Runge was third.
“I love Estevan,” said
Deschamps. “ ey give so many lanes to race, and it’s always really fun as a driver to have that. I think my worst nish here, ever, is third.”
Daae won the track championship in Estevan for the rst time. e veteran Estevan driver nished with 264 points, three more than Kyle Scholpp. Joren Boyce was third with 250.
Kyle Scholpp won Friday night’s feature ahead of Deschamps, who also raced a stock car this season.
Daae wound up third. He noted that once Scholpp and Deschamps got out in front, Daae settled in behind them.
“Tonight, for me, was kind of about surviving, staying in the top ve and having a good run,” said Daae.
Brogan Wagner was rst in the slingshots division with 270 points. Gunner Raynard came in second with 264 points and Sladen P efer was third with 257. In the post-race inter-
views, Wagner said it was pretty cool to be the track champion. His father Tyler has raced in Estevan for many years but never won a championship. Gunner Raynard edged out Eli Turnbull and Wagner in Friday night’s feature. e next edition of the Mecury will have more on track championship night. e speedway will host one other event this season, the annual Enduro race on Sept. 14.
Dustin Pratt Memorial draws teams for tribute event
By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca
e TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course was the scene of laughter, camaraderie and heartfelt remembrance on Aug. 24 as 23 teams teed o for the Eighth Annual Dustin Pratt Memorial Redneck Golf Tournament.
e tournament, organized by Dustin’s family, continues to grow in both spirit and purpose, drawing golfers decked out in redneck attire to honour the then 27-year-old, who tragically passed away in 2016 after a fall while working on an oil rig.
Roxane Pratt, Dustin’s mother and organizer of the event, shared that the tournament holds a special place in the hearts of many who participate, as golf was one of Dustin’s favourite sports.
She noted the day went well, with 92 golfers on the greens.
“Everybody had a good time. e weather was a little hot, but survived,” Roxane said.
e tournament, which has evolved into an annual tradition, remains a mix of returning teams and a few fresh faces.
“ ere are a lot of the same teams, but every year there are a few new ones, which is nice,” Roxane noted.
Many of the newcomers discover the event through social media posts highlighting the cause and the charitable donations made
dren’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and various sports organizations, as well as local families that need help due to personal emergencies.
“We try to keep it local and focus on causes involving kids,” Roxane said. “It’s always hard to choose because there are so many deserving groups.” e community’s support for the event has remained steadfast, with many sponsors and participants returning year after year.
“We’ve had teams and sponsors with us since the beginning,” Roxane said, expressing gratitude for the enduring partnerships that have helped the event thrive. “It’s overwhelming. I never dreamed when we started that it would still be going strong this many years later.”
throughout the year, and join to support it.
In a new twist this year, the event started with a custom-made song, replacing the usual speech and toast.
“It’s always hard to nd someone who can give the speech because it’s a tough day for everyone – his friends, his family,” Roxane explained.
Her brother crafted the song using an app, blending memories and sentiments into lyrics.
“It was a beautiful song. Everybody really enjoyed it.” e tournament, now in its seventh edition but marking eight years since Dustin’s passing, has consistently raised funds to support local sports teams and community initiatives. While this year’s recipient is still undecided, past donations have gone to causes like the Jim Pattison Chil-
For many, the tournament is more than just a day on the course – it’s a time to gather, share stories and remember Dustin.
“It’s a good time for all of his friends to get together because a lot of them don’t get together throughout the year. So this is the one time they all come out and spend a day for Dustin,” Roxane added.
e Estevan Great North U18 AAA Bears had a good look at what the future might hold for the organization during their annual Fall ID Camp, held Saturday and Sunday at A nity Place.
“We were very happy with it,” said coach Ryan Pilon. “We thought it ran very smoothly. Obviously, with the weather outside, it was a little di erent being in the rink this early, but it went really well.” irty- ve prospects participated. None of them are expected to play for the Bears this season, as the club’s 20-player roster has already been nalized.
Members of last year’s team were at the camp to help run a couple of workouts with the Bears’ strength and conditioning sta . A lot of the players who attended were from the Es-
tevan and Weyburn areas. Pilon singled out a couple of Estevan-area players, forward Riley Gigian and defenceman Raif Henrion, as players who had a really good summer and have made a lot of progress. Forward Andrew Hemphill of Weyburn is a player Pilon said the Bears are looking forward to watching for years to come.
Some of the young players they didn’t see much last season surprised during camp, and will be on the Bears’ radar as they move into the U18 age group.
“ is was more of just getting to know some players, seeing where their progress was from last spring camp or even during their past season. It set the bar now, seeing what their progress is going to be, going into this season,” said Pilon. e Bears are now shift-
ing their attention to the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
“I think as a coaching sta , we’re very optimistic going into this season,” said Pilon.
Last spring, the club made the postseason for the rst time in its three full seasons, and now they want to build on the achievement.
eir next goal is to make it back into the playo s and nish in the top four in the 12-team Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League.
“I think the … attitude of the players is the same, and they’re really excited coming back and building o of what we started last season,” said Pilon.
All players eligible to return from last year’s team are expected to be back. ey will be at junior hockey camps in the next couple of weeks.
Among the new players is defenceman Kayson Anderson from Lumsden who spent last season with the Prairie Storm and was selected in the third round of the 2024 Western Hockey
Estevan baseball player wins Western championship
Estevan’s Tayson Tangjerd, who played for the Estevan U13 AAA Brewers this season, won a Western Canadian Baseball championship with a team from Regina. e Regina White Sox asked Tangjerd to join the club after the White Sox nished second at provincials and punched their ticket for Westerns, which were held in St. James, Man., from Aug. 15-18. Eight teams were entered from across Western Canada.
A left-handed pitcher and a rst baseman, Tangjerd was used as a relief pitcher during the rst game of the tournament, and started for the White Sox in the championship nal against the
Red Deer Braves. In the rst game, a 12-5 win over the Marlins, Tangjerd pitched three innings of relief, giving up two hits and an earned run while striking out seven. en in the championship nal, he went 5 2/3 innings on the mound, giving up just two hits and striking out 11 batters. e White Sox defeated the Red Deer Braves 10-0 in six innings to win Westerns.
Tangjerd’s season didn’t end at Westerns, as he also attended Baseball Saskatchewan’s 13U Team Sask Selects Camp from Aug. 23-25 in Saskatoon.
League Draft. “We knew that he was going to go in the Western Hockey League draft. We just didn’t know where. He went to a very good program,” said Pilon.
Practices are slated to start in early September. eir rst preseason game is Sept. 21 and they will open the regular season on Sept. 28 against the Tisdale Trojans.
A couple of teams from the Saskota Baseball League posted runner-up nishes at provincial senior baseball tournaments this month.
e Carlyle Cardinals –fresh o of their fth straight Jack Harbourne Memorial Tournament championship in the league – travelled to Regina for the Baseball Sask. Senior AA Tier 1 provincials from Aug. 2-4. e Cardinals opened with two straight wins, defeating the Saskatoon Outlaws 5-3 on Aug. 2 and the Regina Rockies 4-0 on Aug. 3. Carlyle fell 11-6
to the Regina Trappers later on Aug. 3, but recovered to defeat the Marysburg Royals 11-6 on Aug. 4 to nish the round robin with a 3-1 record and advance to the nal. Carlyle fell 9-1 to the Trappers in the championship game.
e Arcola reshers dropped the nal in the Senior AA Tier 4 tournament, which was held from Aug. 9-11 at Lynn Prime Park and Lingelbach Field at Mets Stadium. e reshers had a pair of 9-8 victories in the round robin, defeating the
Regina Red Dogs and the Rosetown Angels on Friday.
e reshers nished rst in their pool with a 2-0 record, and advanced directly to the nal on Sunday, which they lost 11-10 to the Macklin Lakers.
e Southeast Diamondbacks, who play out of Estevan, were entered in the same tournament. ey opened with a 9-1 win over Rosetown, but then lost 2311 to Regina. In the rst playo game, they fell 16-7 to Rosetown, ending their tournament.
