Want some Fruit Cake?? HENDERS DRUGS
1220 4th Street, Estevan
306-634-3666
Mon. - Fri. 9am-9pm | Sat 9am-5pm Sun. & Holidays 12pm-4pm
Shopping for Christmas? Find great ideas from local businesses in the 2024 Christmas Catalogue inside this week’s paper
Almost time to light up the park. A look into the latest edition of the Festival of Lights and Christmas in the Park.
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Helping hands. Local business spearheading Stocking Stuffers for Seniors. Find details in Senior Living
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Happy retirement!
Business owners step down after over two decades, sell restaurant to southeast entrepreneur.
PAGE A6
Play time.
Lampman Community Theatre selling tickets for their latest comedy that will take guests to Florida.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2024
Estevan city council gets to work at first meeting after the civic election
By David Willberg
Estevan city council
tackled a number of issues
Monday night during its rst o cial meeting since the Nov. 13 civic election.
Among the items were two reports related to the election, which city clerk Judy Pilloud said had an average turnout with 2,695 ballots cast.
e advanced polls on Oct. 29 and 30 at city hall had approximately 223 voters, and an advanced drive-thru poll was held Nov. 2 at the Estevan Fire Rescue Service building.
A mail-in ballot option was o ered as well. Pilloud said it was “under-utilized” in the 2024 election, and it is very time-consuming for the election workers, but Pilloud believes it gives greater exibility for voters.
e main polling station on election day was at the Estevan Church of God,
and Pilloud said it continues to be well-received. Pilloud also recommended that the city continue to rent electronic vote-counting equipment; the system, which has been in use
NewMayorTonySernick,right,tooktheoathofoffice fromEstevanProvincialCourtJudgeMitchMiller
since the 2014 byelection, cuts down on manpower required at each polling station and the time spent counting ballots.
“ ere were concerns brought forward on legal entities and the quali cations to vote,” Pilloud said. In the 2028 election, this needs to be addressed with more clari cation from the province and a revamp to our election website under eligibility to vote. ere needs to be better resources and understanding of these requirements for voters.”
Also, some residents were confused about which election they were voting for due to the provincial election that occurred 16 days earlier. Some thought they had already voted.
“With the provincial and municipal elections being
so close together, this concern should be brought to the province as information,” Pilloud said.
ere was also a report on the plebiscite on whether people would support the construction of a third indoor ice facility in Estevan; nearly 60 per cent of the 2,584 ballots cast voted no. Coun. Shelly Veroba noted it was non-binding; people have since approached her on whether it was a de nite no.
“I am hearing that there is a lot of groups that want to come forward with a lot of di erent ideas, and I think that door is still open to still have those discussions,” said Veroba.
She hopes someone will come forward with good ideas for funding for the future.
Mayor Tony Sernick added things that get built in Estevan often start with one person and turn into a group of people who make it happen.
Council also established the meeting schedule for 2025. ere will be two regular meetings each month, with the exception of July and August, when council will meet just once. e rst meetings of the year will be for budget deliberations on Jan. 7 at 1:30 p.m. and the following day at 9 a.m., and the rst regular meeting of next year will be Jan. 13. Council members were sworn in at a special meeting on Friday afternoon. Estevan Provincial Court Judge Mitch Miller administered the oath of o ce to the seven members.
Southeast RM reacts to new hours at border crossings
One southeast Saskatchewan rural municipality is expressing its frustration and concern with the reduced hours for border crossings in the province. e U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in conjunction with the Canada Border Services Agency, announced new uniformed hours at crossings in Canada and the U.S., including four in southeast Saskatchewan and North Dakota, e ective Jan. 6, 2025. Noonan-Estevan, Fortuna-Oungre and Carievale-Sherwood will be open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, while
Northgate will be open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (All are North Dakota times).
For those heading to the U.S., Sherwood is currently open from 9 a.m.-7 p.m., while Noonan, Fortuna and Northgate are open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
For those heading to Canada, Estevan, Oungre, Northgate and Carievale are all open from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. e decision does not a ect the hours at North Portal, which is open 24 hours a day throughout the year.
e RM of Enniskillen is particularly concerned
about the hours at the Port of Northgate, located within its boundaries southwest of Oxbow.
In a letter sent to Dominic LeBlanc, who is the federal minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental A airs, and more than 40 other recipients, including the Mercury and SaskToday, the RM’s chief administrative o cer, Pamela Bartlett, outlined numerous concerns for the RM, including the future of the Northgate border crossing.
“ e Rural Municipality of Enniskillen No. 3 council is very displeased with
the recent announcement regarding the reduction of port entry hours. We have been informed that these reduced hours will be permanent and that border closures are also a possibility,” she wrote.
“We urge that this decision be reconsidered.”
e impact of the reduced border hours that were imposed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic was “evident”, she wrote, and Bartlett said it is “shocking” that this decision has been made again without any public consultation.
“ ese border crossings are not just physical points of entry; they are lifelines for our municipality’s ratepayers. e reduction in hours impacts them daily, disrupting their routines and livelihoods.” She went on to list the di erent impacts that would occur, beginning with agriculture. Bartlett noted that many of the RM’s ratepayers live in the U.S. and own farmland in Canada. eir work hours often do not align with the new hours at Northgate, and many rely on parts suppliers in the United States, particularly Minot.
ThenewEstevancitycouncil,fromleft,CouncillorsKirstenWalliser, MatthewDubowskiandBrianJohnson, MayorTonySernick,andCouncillorsTomMauss, ShellyVerobaandDaveElliott
Bienfait Community Theatre will deliver laughs
e Bienfait Community Dinner eatre has been working hard to be ready for its upcoming production.
Sex Please, We’re Sixty will be performed on Nov. 29 and 30 at the Bienfait Weldon School gymnasium. Cocktails will be served at 6 p.m., supper is at 7 p.m. and the production will start afterwards.
Event co-ordinator Shelley Carroll said rehearsals are going well for the show. e nal week is always crunch time, and the cast still needed some last-minute practice, but they always manage to pull o a good show.
Six performers are part of this year’s cast. Four of them – Patrick Dupuis, Sue Resler, Selena Hegland
and Shauna Stock – have been part of previous editions, while the other two – Shari Sutter and Clay Groenveld – are new.
Working behind the scenes are director Paula Lainton, who has held the role for many years, along with Bill Mann, Paul Carroll and Justin Bath, who are helping out with lighting and sound.
Shelley Carroll noted the show is set in a long-standing and successful bed and breakfast that is popular with women. e business’ one nextdoor neighbourhood is an elderly man who believes the women ock to the building because of him. e other neighbour, a retired chemist, has developed a pill to help meno-
pausal women.
“After a mix-up of pills, the women nd their lives moving in new and surprising directions,” said Shelley Carroll.
Ticket sales are going well but some are still available. Approximately 150 were sold for the rst night and 120 were sold for the second. ere isn’t a deadline for tickets, but Carroll expects tickets will be available until Nov. 28.
e gym can accommodate approximately 200 people.
Carroll said the production has involved many different groups. e Bienfait branch of the Royal Canadian Legion has taken a big role this year. e Bienfait Lions Club, who organized the show for many years, are still involved.
Carroll noted the club has a small membership base, and didn’t think they could deliver the show to the best of their ability this year.
“ e community wanted, de nitely wanted, to still have the theatre, so we joined forces with basically everybody, and we’re making it a go,” said Carroll.
Carroll noted she and her husband have been part of the production since the late Dwight ompson had the idea for it roughly 20 years ago, and the Carrolls thought the theatre needed to continue because if it stops, it might never resume.
Proceeds of this year’s dinner theatre will be directed to the community, including groups that help make the show happen.
Envision critically low on gift cards; announces drive
e Envision Counselling and Support Centre Inc. says it is critically low on gift cards for individuals and families who are experiencing violence and abuse within their lives.
With Giving Tuesday just around the corner, they are calling for community support.
“Giving Tuesday [Dec. 3] is an international day of giving,” says Envision executive director Lynda Rideout. “ is is a day to celebrate the communities in which we live by coming together and encouraging charitable giving.”
Sponsored by PureChem Services, Envision is launching its annual Gift Card Drive.
“At Envision Counselling and Support Centre Inc., we recognize that many of our clients are currently strug-
“If
gling to make ends meet within our communities.
e annual gift card campaign is an incredible way to o er a helping hand,” said Rideout.
“We are so fortunate to have our gift card drive kicked o and sponsored by the generous team at PureChem Services. eir support is paving the way for this year’s campaign, and with their help, we are hopeful to bring much-needed relief to those currently living in abusive situations, those who have recently left, and those working toward a healthier future for themselves and their families.”
e overall goal of Envision’s campaign is to o er support and hope during the holidays to the individuals and families they serve and have identi ed as being
unable to meet their basic needs. Whether it be food, warm clothes, gifts for the children, or even gas for the car, gift cards help to ll the gaps that these families may experience during this colder holiday season.
Envision also disburses gift cards from various businesses to people who need emergency help, based on their situation. Clients may be going without items such as baby supplies or clothing if they ee a relationship without time to properly pack up. ey might need gas cards, speci cally to attend counselling sessions, when they are isolated in a rural location. And particularly this year, they may be unable to purchase gifts for the holidays.
“Imagine if every person who was able, donated just one gift card, whether
Livestock producers also travel to North Dakota to purchase essential livestock supplies. e reduction in border hours severely hampers their operations and the overall farming industry.”
She also mentioned dual citizens and border families, of which she said the RM has many. Reduced hours, and the potential permanent closure of the border, would create signi cant hardships for these families. Further limiting their time together would strain relationships.
“ ey have already lost cherished memories and precious time; additional restrictions would disrupt their future opportunities to reconnect and make memories,” she wrote.
Bartlett also cited the impact on oil transportation, as these border crossings are essential for shipping petroleum products to and from southeast Saskatchewan. Truckers would have to travel many additional kilometres to use 24-hour ports, she wrote, or they may see a reduction in working hours
it be gas or grocery,” says Rideout. “We would be able to help an incredibly wide number of individuals and families throughout the holiday season, as well as ongoing throughout the year.”
With gift cards, Envision is able to provide support to as many clients in need as possible. is campaign gives individuals more choices and an added sense of empowerment, or autonomy, which is really important to Envision, the organization says. e preferred stores are those with gas or grocery options, such as Walmart, the Southern Plains Co-op or Clifton’s No Frills.
Director of operations Laura Melle adds, “When we are sitting with someone in our o ce who has just left an abusive relationship with
since they can’t use the closer ports of entry.
“Some of our ratepayers, who are truck drivers, go through the port twice a day with di erent loads in 12 hours, whereas using the Portal crossing may limit them to just one load due to the extra distance. e truck drivers most a ected by these changes are those compensated per load.”
e Ceres Global Ag Corp., strategically located along the BNSF Railway at the Northgate crossing, serves as a vital gateway to resource markets.
“ e potential loss of daily truck tra c between the United States and Canada, as well as a decrease in rail car loading, would be a signi cant economic blow that we cannot a ord,” she wrote.
Bartlett also cited the impact on economy and commerce, noting that Minot is the closest city to Oxbow other than Estevan, and thus plays an important role for everything from shopping to health care; infrastructure impact with
nothing but the clothes they are wearing, it is incredibly powerful to be able to hand them a gift card to purchase the items they need for themselves and their children. ings like clothing, toiletries, food, diapers, etc. sometimes even gas cards to have the means to travel to where their supports are, where they can feel safe and supported.
“Whatever their situation or unique needs may be, being able to have these gift cards available to those we support is extremely impactful. To see their face lift with a little hope. Together, this is what our community provides.”
Gift cards can be dropped o at Envision o ces in Estevan, Weyburn or Carlyle. Please call any o ce location ahead to make arrangements (op-
additional wear and tear on roads and highways around North Portal; the environmental impact from forcing people to travel further to get to North Portal; and the tourism losses for local attractions such as Grant Devine Lake and Moose Creek Regional Park, which is just over 30 minutes from the Northgate crossing.
“Moose Creek Regional Park is as signi cant to North Dakota as Mouse River Park is to southeast Saskatchewan.”
Finally, she cited public safety, as re departments provide mutual aid to neighbouring towns on both sides of the border. She recalled that a couple of years ago, the Portal International Fire Department and the Bowbells Fire Department from North Dakota responded to a mutual aid call in the RM for a ratepayer whose shop was on re. A nearby bin lled with fertilizer posed an additional risk.
“We relied heavily on neighbouring re departments, and had this incident occurred after 6 or 7 p.m.,
tion 3 for donations).
Supporters can also put their donation of gift cards in the mail to Envision Counselling and Support Centre Inc, Box 511, Estevan, SK, S4A 2A5. Or they can make a monetary donation online. Visit www.envisioncounsellingcentre.com. Choose the gift card option on the menu, and Envision will purchase cards to distribute during the holidays.
All donations over $25 are able to receive a charitable receipt form.
“We are looking forward to another successful gift card campaign with the incredible support of generous and dedicated individuals within our communities,” Rideout said. “We truly couldn’t do it without you and the support of our sponsor.”
the outcome could have been signi cantly di erent,” she wrote. en there was a grass re in 2020 that consumed 4,000 acres of land, requiring the e orts of 11 departments to extinguish the blaze. e Portal International Fire Department was the rst to respond. e RM hopes the Northgate and Carievale Ports of Entry will be removed from the list of locations that will see a reduction in hours. Bartlett has since forwarded a couple of other emails, including one from Kelly Armstrong, a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Dakota, who wrote that because of the CBP’s inaction to address the importance of these extended hours for so many North Dakotans, he has introduced legislation requiring CBP’s hours of operations at northern ports to match or exceed pre-pandemic hours. is bill has also been introduced in the U.S. Senate.
SueReslerandClayGroenveldrehearsetheirlines
local businesses do not have the necessary parts, our farmers must travel to the United States to pick them up, repair their equipment, and return to farming.
time for new time fornew bl b inds? blinds?
Festival of Lights to illuminate Woodlawn park
e annual Festival of Lights will brighten the holiday season starting Dec. 15, transforming Woodlawn Regional Park into a winter wonderland of festive displays and community cheer.
e two-week-long event begins with the much-anticipated Christmas in the Park celebration at and around Doug ird Hall on Dec. 15.
From 3:30-6:30 p.m., families can enjoy a variety of activities leading up to the grand reworks nale.
“It’s a community event for everyone to come out and enjoy,” said park manager Maureen Daoust. “We’ll have our awesome reworks show at the end at 6:30, and then we light up the park.”
e park will remain illuminated every night through Jan. 1, with lights
coming on at dusk and running for approximately six hours.
is year’s Festival of Lights is set to be the largest yet, with nearly 60 participants contributing creative light displays, up from around 53 last year.
“We have 58 con rmed participants and hope to reach 60,” Daoust said on ursday.
is year, visitors can tune their FM radios to a dedicated station as they enter the park to enjoy Christmas greetings and holiday music, a feature introduced last year. Information about the station will be available on a billboard upon entering.
“We gave participants the option to include Christmas greetings this year, and about half chose to participate,” Daoust explained.
Additionally, music is
planned to accompany the reworks display at the Christmas in the Park event for the rst time, adding a new level of festivity.
Although the event is nearing capacity, Daoust noted they might still accept a few more participants.
“We can probably nd space for more,” she said, encouraging any interested groups to get in touch soon.
e Christmas in the Park and Festival of Lights are a collaborative e ort, she added, with local businesses and organizations playing a key role. Sponsors and supporters such as the Estevan Chamber of Commerce, Henders Drugs, Energy Electric and e Brick have donated items and services to make the event a success.
“We always are grateful to
Volunteers, farmer tend to injured juvenile bald eagle
By Stephanie Zoer
Ed Young, a lifelong farmer who resides south of Stoughton, was driving home on his gravel road on Nov. 8 when he saw a brown eagle opping around in the eld.
He thought it was a golden eagle and that it had just captured a rabbit or a pheasant, and he continued to his home.
Four days later, Young went into his eld to cultivate his land around the caragana bushes and noticed the eagle once again. is time he took a closer look, trying not to startle the bird, and realized that the raptor was injured. It was late, so Young waited until the following morning to call the Wildlife Rescue Society of Saskatchewan (WRSOS) helpline.
He rst went back to the place where he had seen the eagle previously, to ensure it was still there, and the bird was nestled in the
SimoneMantei,arescuevolunteerfortheWildlifeRescueSocietyofSaskatchewan, hadherhandsfullwiththebaldeagle.PhotobyStephanieZoer
caragana bushes, although he was quite camou aged in the brown grass. He said the WRSOS was quick to respond and within a few hours help
Thisjuvenilebaldeaglehadinjuredhiswing andsoughtshelterinthecaraganabushesby EdYoungsfarm.PhotobyStephanieZoer
was on the way from Estevan.
WRSOS president Rhiain Clarke, rescue volunteer Simone Mantei and junior rescue volunteer Lia Mantei arrived at the scene.
As the crew went out to the eld to check things out, it was clear that the eagle had a broken left wing, but even with this injury he was still overly aggressive.
Clarke had a large net which was thrown over the bird, while Simone Mantei had the task of reaching under the net to secure the bird. She admitted to being nervous, as this was the rst time she had ever handled such a large bird of prey, and the eagle was clearly not impressed with being handled.
Once the bird was secured and brought to Simone Mantei’s chest, Lia Mantei threw a blanket over the fowl to help calm him, and he was placed in a
large kennel with the blanket.
When the bird was captured, he had his hackles up and was ready to attack, but due to his injury he was unable to escape. He measured around two feet in height with a wing span of at least four to ve feet.
e eagle was taken to Haven West Rescue in Regina were he was assessed. It turns out he was a juvenile bald eagle, under the age of ve years, as he still had the brown head.
Clarke later said that the eagle had been electrocuted, and he not only had a broken left wing, but his right talon was also dead. Without the use of this leg, he was unable to hunt and was humanely euthanized.
Clarke said with only a broken wing, it may have been possible to pin the wing until it healed, but with the use of just one leg, it was impossible for the bird to grab prey and
that is their main source of food.
Bald eagles are seen in this area during the winter but will nest elsewhere in the spring. Golden eagles also spend time in southeast Saskatchewan during the winter. Both birds are similar in size. e bald eagle is protected and the numbers are stable right now.
Clarke has a passion for animals, and this is what got her into this line of work. It gives her a great feeling knowing that she helped rehabilitate an animal, but there are also
times when it is not possible as it was with this eagle. She stressed that the wildlife hotline is available 12 hours a day, 365 days a year. If a wild animal is in distress, please call the hotline at 306-242-7177. Because of people like Young, more than 200 species have been helped with over 5,000 emergency calls received from 303 communities across the province. By connecting wildlife to rehabilitation centres, it gives an injured, sick or orphaned animal a second chance.
52nd Annual Celebration of Christmas Music
food items donatedbythe community We arecollectingitems betweenNovember1st andNovember28thatthe EstevanMercury Office -68SourisAvenueN.Our creative displaywillbephotographedonNovember29th. Alldonations will be broughttoThe SalvationArmy- EstevanFood Bank by December6,2024
Please call (306)634-2654tomakearrangementstodropoff if outsideofregular business hours.
our sponsors,” Daoust said. Both Christmas in the Park and the Festival of Lights are free to the public, with a donation box available for those who wish to support the park’s upkeep at the end of the light display drive.
TheFestivalofLightswillrunfromDec.15-Jan.1,andwillstartwiththe ChristmasintheParkcelebrationatDougThirdHall.Filephoto
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We
EDITORIAL
Snow removal is money well spent
Estevan is three-for-three when it comes to averting the brunt of powerful snowstorms this month.
Yes, we have snow on the ground, enough to create a good cover around the city. And yes, most of us would be happy if there’s no more snow for the next few months, even though we need the moisture, and the u y snow looks better than the brown grass we had this month.
Since we avoided the deep accumulations seen elsewhere in the province and even the southeast, the city has not had to fully enact its snow removal policy. We’ve seen the windrows in the middle of arterial roads and other parts of the city, but we haven’t had to worry about an all-out snow-clearing protocol that takes several days.
As we’ve said before, snow removal is one expense the city shouldn’t skimp on. e city can’t a ord to have a blank cheque when it comes to clearing the snow. It can’t move forward with an all-out attack each time we get an inch of snow on the ground.
But if the city waits too long to start clearing snow following a signi cant snow event, then people get very angry very quickly. While many drive pick-up trucks that can plow their way through the snow, and others
have SUVs, some people have small cars. And they have to get to work and other places in the community.
When the time is right, it’s important to have the all-out snow-clearing e ort, just like the city needs to deploy the salt truck when needed. And sometimes it’s bene cial to have snow-clearing crews out while the snow is still falling to keep the roads open.
Ultimately, you’re more likely to hear complaints if the snow removal is insu cient than if the clearing e orts are excessive.
If you talk to people in Regina and Saskatoon, you’ll hear about their frustration about the level of service in the residential areas. People can navigate the main roads and some of the other routes, but it’s di cult to drive down a lot of the quiet residential streets. ere are a lot of small cities that don’t provide the same level of service as Estevan, either.
We’ll hear some complaints about the snow removal in Estevan, but most of them come down to the speed of the delivery. Unfortunately, some people don’t realize the time it takes to blow the snow into the middle of the road and then clear the windrows. If they want it to move faster, well, you’ll
need more contractors, which costs more money. And while we all want to have our streets at the top of the priority list, one of the downsides to living on a quiet residential road is it’s going to be lower on the priority list.
It will be interesting to see how the city proceeds with snow removal in the downtown area following the downtown revitalization project in the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Fourth Street. It was one of the concerns brought forward during the planning and design process three years ago. At the same time, other communities have completed similar projects. It’s not like we’re the rst to ever embark on this project. When in doubt, nd what other communities have done well, and see if it would work here.
e new city council would be wise to maintain snow removal as close to the level of the previous years. ey’re not going to make everyone happy with every decision they make, and there will be times in which they will be second-guessed by a large percentage of the community. Snow removal shouldn’t be one of those matters. Sometimes, following the template already in place is the way to go.
Renewing the old in a 112-year-old house
Taking on the renovation of a 112-year-old house is no small feat. ese homes carry a charm and history that is hard to replicate, but they also come with unique challenges.
My husband and I recently purchased a house built in 1912 that had been empty for several years. e power was no longer on and the water was shut o .
As we walked through the house with our real estate agent, ashlights in hand, we could see potential in the house, although it was going to take a lot of work and time. We checked everything out, going down into the basement and climbing a ladder to check out the attic. It looked structurally sound, but some of the roof rafters had cracked under the weight of snow. Why were two older people taking on such a challenge? We love the idea of taking something old that is in good shape and making it new again. ese old homes have history, and if they could only tell stories of the good old days.
e rst step in renovating an old home is appreciating its history. If the old homestead has original woodwork or xtures, preserving them is always a great idea. is home had seen some
Stephanie Zoer
Just a few words
renovations before and none of these items remained in the house.
Older homes often lack modern conveniences such as updated plumbing, electrical systems or heating, and these things come at a cost.
Our rst item to repair was the roof rafters. Luckily, we work in construction, so this was an easy x for my husband. I do not do attics, and basements that are old really are not my thing either. We took a pile of photos and went home to work out our game plan.
Of course, people were curious to see who was crazy enough to take on such a task, but we absolutely love renewing the old.
Old homes have character and although it is a lot of work, we enjoy bringing these old homes back to life. ese houses have raised families, and I am sure they have had many good times in them. is is our plan for this old house.
e rst day we went to work we had several visitors, which was a plea-
sure knowing people were interested in what we might be doing to this place. As we took out part of a wall to make the kitchen area bigger, we came across writing on one of the studs in the wall. is wall was put in place in 1967, and the fellow who wrote on the stud was 13 at the time.
e ideas for the kitchen have changed at least 10 times and each time it looks better.
We hope to modernize the house, but also to preserve some of the history by keeping some of the old windows and making them into frames.
Many people today take old barn boards and create a beautiful piece of art with them; we are just doing it in a bigger fashion.
While taking on a home from 1912 can be daunting, the end result is often worth the e ort if a person has the time and knowledge to do it properly. We are excited to see what the nished product will look like, but then again, our thoughts keep changing with new ideas. is is not just a project, it is a labour of love that breathes new life into the past, creating a space that will stand the test of time for generations to come.
SENIOR LIVING
Flashback –Nov. 18, 1987
ThewinnersoftheSantaClausparadeposter competitionwererecognizedonNov.12,1987, attheEstevanNationalExhibitionCentre. Amongthewinnerswere,frontrow,fromleft, ColinJoyce, MartyMemory, DannyHill, IanHjorth, GradenGustafsonandMirianBregg Secondrow,ColleenZimmerman CaraGanje KendraMelle, KaraKinna, RoxanneDay, ChristyAndersonandJosephDzuba Backrow,ShirleyDutchik(ENEC),BrendaStark oftheCreditUnion,BrianVolke(artistinresidence) andDebbieQuick(SantaClausparadecommittee).
Estevan business collecting gifts for seniors
Recharge Massage Studio in Estevan is once again accepting gifts for elderly people in Estevan and elsewhere through its Stocking Stu ers for Seniors initiative.
Owner Haley Ingham said they tackled more than 200 stocking stu ers last year, with the Estevan Regional Nursing Home, St. Joseph’s Hospital long-term care, Trinity Tower, Hill View Manor and Lampman Health Centre all bene tting. Trinity Tower is expected to have more recipients this year.
“Hopefully, it can continue to grow year after year after year, and we can continue to reach out to other smaller facilities outside of Estevan,” said Ingham.
A Christmas tree is set up at the business, with tags for gift recipients hanging on a tree and instructions for the initiative on a table. ere is also a list where people can ll in their name next to that of the resident they’re shopping for.
Supporters purchase and wrap the gift, bring it back to the studio, and Recharge does the rest.
“Once we get all of the gifts back at Recharge, we go through and sort them all, and we make sure that no senior is missed. So then we highlight. We check. It’s almost like Santa. We make a list and check it twice,” Ingham said with a laugh.
“And then of course, once they get to the facilities, the sta there are all incredible, and they double check the list, too, to make sure we didn’t miss anyone. We don’t want anyone to feel left out, especially long-term care and the nursing home.
“We’re often in contact [with the facilities] throughout December in case some people leave and new people come. We just always want to make sure that everyone is covered and everyone is able to participate.”
e House of Stationery printed and cut the tags.
e gifts are tailored to what each senior wants.
ose who are in assisted or independent living might have very di erent needs, such as decorations, Christmas crafts and snacks.
ose with a higher level of care might need help with their hygiene needs, which
Ingham said is surprising to some people. eir lists might include razors, deodorant or body wash.
“ at’s what those residents really want, because it’s just not something they get all of the time,” said Ingham.
e tags with the gift requests have to be reasonable, she said, because a lot of people purchasing the gifts are struggling nancially and they have added expenses at this time of year.
“ e rst year we did it, we were able to get some of our lists for $20-25,” Ingham said, adding that last year it was often $40-$45 per tag.
Recharge also accepts e-transfers. e company takes the money it receives and uses it to purchase gifts. Supporters can email rechargesask@gmail.com; the studio tries to shop locally as much as possible.
Some businesses have also made corporate donations.
Last year Recharge had to purchase some gifts from their own pocket to meet the demand. is year it has expanded hours for people to
Hospital to host community Celebration of Life service
St. Joseph’s Hospital is going to host a service it calls a Celebration of Life (formerly known as Blue Christmas) to help people cope with loss during the Christmas season.
e gathering will take place on Dec. 9, starting at 7 p.m. at the hospital’s chapel. According to a poster for the service, it will be “a celebration to remember all of our loved ones who have
passed away into a new life,” and it will be a chance to nd silence in the busy pace of the Christmas season and light on the path. Refreshments will be served after the service.
come in and grab tags, and they’re trying to reach out to all of their contacts.
“We’re hoping this year to get all of the seniors spoken for,” said Ingham.
Stocking Stu ers for Seniors gets compared to the Community Hamper Association and the Angel Tree program, but Ingham said this program isn’t for seniors who can’t a ord a gift; it’s for those in the participating homes.
“It started out because these seniors were locked in facilities and couldn’t have visitors,” said Ingham. “We just wanted to help spread that cheer. Every year we get personal hand-written letters from seniors. Some say ‘My family all lives in Alberta, and we just don’t see them, and so this is my favourite time of year.’”
It’s not about making, nor is it for personal gain, she said. It’s about spreading joy to people who Ingham described as “the backbone of our community”.
“ ey’re the ones that made our community what it is today, and it’s a way to
give back to them,” she said. e program had a table at Christmas Farmers’ Market sale at the Estevan Market Mall on Saturday, and Ingham said they had an excellent response. It will be back on Nov. 30 and Dec. 14.
While Recharge is a business, it can be at the market as a non-pro t because it doesn’t make money from Stocking Stu ers for Seniors. is is the fth year for the program, but Ingham said a lot of people she talks to aren’t aware it exists, and she is con dent the support will be there once more people nd out about it and the bene ts it has.
Ingham hopes the gifts can be delivered to the nursing home on Dec. 17 or 18, in time for its Christmas party. And she wants the rest to be delivered on Dec. 18, and then the facilities decide how to distribute the items.
Long-time restaurant owners retire
By David Willberg
After nearly a quarter century in the restaurant business, Tim and Chris Jenish are looking forward to the next chapter in their lives.
e Jenishes have sold the Estevan McDonald’s restaurant to Sam Bakhtbolland, effective Nov. 20, ending more than 24 years of ownership.
“ e opportunity came along to move on, so we took hold of that opportunity and made the deal with Sam,” said Tim Jenish in an interview with the Mercury and SaskToday.
Bakhtbolland owns two McDonald’s restaurants in Regina and one in Weyburn. e Jenishes met him through the functions that McDonald’s has for franchisees, and Bakhtbolland expressed an interest in buying the business. ey started
Bakhtbolland
negotiating and submitted a request for approval, which McDonald’s granted. Other documents also needed to be rati ed.
“We mentioned to McDonald’s almost two years ago that we were interested in selling, and so from there, it was in their hands to nd a registered applicant or somebody who would be interested in purchasing our market,” said Chris.
Tim recalled they purchased the business following a chance meeting on a golf course. He was playing with two he knew. e other, Ray Gaborik, was a stranger to Tim at the time. Tim was between jobs after working in the mining sector, and the Jenishes were contemplating purchasing a franchise so they could stay in Estevan – a community they love.
“He [Gaborik] said ‘I own the McDonald’s in Estevan. How would you like to buy the McDonald’s here? And I said yeah, you bet. So, the process started there, and it was almost a one-year process that had to happen. We had to be interviewed by McDonald’s. ey had to be satised that nancially we could handle it. And then we went through a detailed training regime.”
ey became the o cial owners on June 1, 2000.
Bakhtbolland believes this was the right opportunity for him. When he came to Es-
tevan previously, he always found the people to be very friendly.
“I’m even thinking of moving to Estevan … it’s a beautiful city. I like everything about it. I’m already looking at renting a place there and then staying there for a couple of days a week.”
Bakhtbolland said he enjoys interacting with the customers and sta daily.
e Estevan store has great employees and he’s pleased to see their community involvement. He expects the business will continue to help local non-pro ts.
He believes it helps that he already has three other locations in southern Saskatchewan, and he has had some dealings with the Estevan store.
“If I ran out of product, I would go to Estevan and grab it for Weyburn, and then if Tim ran out of some products, he or his sta would come to Weyburn to get the products,” said Bakhtbolland.
When Bakhtbolland was in Estevan for a few hours last week, people were eager to come and meet him.
“I had two guests come in and they asked if they could talk to the new owner. ey came and shook hands with me, and welcomed me to the town, and told me that if I need anything or any help, to let them know. ey would help me out.”
e Jenishes said engaging the community was the highlight of having their own business.
“We got to see young people develop skills, lifelong skills that would help them
TheJenishfamily,fromleft,
IcissL’Heureux, CatherineL’Heureux, ChristineJenish, TimJenishandJohnJenish
over the course of their life,” said Tim.
Chris added they realized it was time to consider retirement when they started hiring the children of former employees. ey also loved supporting the community. Each year McHappy Day was a highlight because it raised money for Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon through the support of the community. ey held a year-long promotion in 2020-21 to raise funds for the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, which allowed for the construction of a family room. ey held the Nickle a McNugget fundraiser for the United Way Estevan, supported the Estevan Bruins and the Estevan Minor Hockey Association, and it was the starting point for the annual Ride for Ronald McDonald House fundraising motorcycle ride.
“ at was a very gratifying part of owning the business where we could contribute to the community and really help them out nancially and in other cases with support,” said Tim.
Chris added they were pleased to work with local suppliers as much as possible because these businesses supported them.
e business has gone through some changes. ere have been multiple renovations to both the interior and exterior. e point-of-sale system has evolved a lot since 2000. Changes used to be cumbersome; now they occur almost instantly. e menu has also expanded over the years.
e Jenishes said they will miss the people. ey have developed relationships with the sta , particularly the long-term employees, and there are workers who start-
ed with McDonald’s before the Jenishes were the owners. Many ve-year and 10-year employees are among the roughly 55 sta members.
“ e toughest part of the decision was to leave them,” said Tim.
“You do develop these relationships, and they touch a part of your life, and you want to make sure that when you’re leaving, they’re going to be taken care of and still have a job,” added Chris.
e business also has loyal customers who come in every day for breakfast, lunch or co ee.
e Jenishes believe Bakhtbolland was the right person to purchase the business. ey expect he’ll have some di erent ideas and approaches that Tim hopes will improve the overall customer experience, and they look forward to seeing him grow the business.
Catalogue celebrates local business
e Estevan Mercury and the Carlyle Observer are proud to once again present a much-anticipat-
ed, pre-Christmas tradition in the southeast, our annual Christmas Catalogue, which can be found in this week’s papers.
e catalogue boasts some perennial favourites and features a few new businesses as well.
“ is is one of our favourite features to sell and put together,” said Estevan Mercury sales manager Christine Jones. “We are so excited for our faithful readers to view it.” is collaboration with our friends at the Carlyle
Observer includes businesses with locations in both communities.
“ e Christmas Catalogue goes out to over 40 communities across the southeast corner, providing participating businesses with more coverage for the same price they have always come to expect from the Mercury and Observer,” said Jones. “ is is a great way for all of our readers to shop locally for their holiday gifts this year.”
Our Christmas Catalogue has something for every-
one. Not only does it have Christmas gift ideas for men, women, kids, and seniors, but it can help people plan their Christmas gatherings, nd ideas for holiday décor, and get big gifts for the house or yard. It also continues to be a showcase of many thing that businesses in the southeast have to o er. Also, be sure to watch for our upcoming Christmas promotions and our popular Christmas Greeting special coming up throughout December.
Lampman Community Theatre to present original show
By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca
Get ready for laughs, music and a slice of Florida sunshine as the Lampman Community eatre presents its latest production, Road Trip to Dunedin.
Written by local author and playwright Maureen Ulrich, the two-act play will be performed on Dec. 5, 6 and 7 at the Royal Canadian Legion’s Lampman branch. Proceeds from the event will support the legion, making it both a night of entertainment and a fundraiser for the community organization.
“ is year, we are going to whisk our audiences away to sunny Dunedin, Florida, for spring training with the Blue Jays,” said Ulrich in an interview with the Mercury and SaskToday.
e play centres around ve women on a road trip to Dunedin to watch the Toronto Blue Jays during spring training. However, their adventure takes unexpected turns, from dealing with a cockroach at their Airbnb to navigating family drama that spans three generations.
“ ey may even get a little bit too close and personal to some alligators,” Ulrich revealed.
“You don’t need to be
a Blue Jays fan or even a baseball fan to enjoy the antics of our very talented players,” she added.
e production also includes a unique element: narration by a ctional version of Buck Martinez, the popular former player and current analyst and commentator for the Blue Jays, who has “signature shocking white hair”.
e play features a tightknit cast of 14, including Calvin Christenson, Stephanie Dayman, James Dobos, Ed Fieber, Diane, Jocelyne and Laurie Fornwald, Tamara Franklin, Cheri and Glenn Gress, Sandy Hanrieder, Kieran Mckenzie, Cornelia Michaelsen and Tammy Siebert.
“ is year, we have a slightly smaller cast, but it’s fun to keep it tight,” Ulrich said.
Dobos, a teacher at the Estevan Comprehensive School, joined the team this year to play one of the enthusiastic fans in the story.
O stage, the production team includes Ulrich, who is helping with lighting, Debbie Hanrieder, who is handling sound, and Joanne Scha , who will serve as the prompter, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
“Everyone looks after their own props and set changes. It’s a very small
space, so for extra people to be backstage, which is basically a stairwell, is a little di cult,” Ulrich explained.
While the play isn’t a full- edged musical, music plays an important role in enhancing the performance. Jocelyne and Laurie Fornwald will be singing some numbers to get the audience going, and a lively karaoke scene will give the cast a chance to showcase their vocal talents. Ulrich teased a surprise musical moment, saying, “We discovered that one of our cast members is quite a singer, but I’m keeping their identity a secret for now.”
While the play focuses primarily on its story and characters, there are moments of audience engagement.
“As performers enter, they interact with the audience as if they are also at the ball game, so everyone can kind of feel like they’re in sunny Florida with us,” Ulrich said.
Rehearsals began in October, with cast members putting in considerable effort to prepare despite occasional disruptions due to weather.
“It’s amazing how much homework people do, learning their lines and practising songs,” Ulrich said. “Rehearsals have
LampmanCommunityTheatrevolunteeractorswereinfullswing,rehearsingto presenttheRoadTriptoDunedinplayfortheaudienceinearlyDecember.
been a lot of fun. We make changes on the y to the script so we could be a bit funnier, or add pauses and gestures that would be funny. ... e rehearsals for us are as much fun as the performance.”
Ulrich noted that the group had recently added theatrical lighting to their rehearsals, which brought a new level of excitement.
PhotocourtesyofMaureenUlrich
“It makes it just more theatrical, everybody is a bit more on and it’s a little bit more like performing in front of an audience,” she said. All proceeds from the production, including ticket sales, a 50-50 ra e held each night, and a Saturday supper event, will bene t the Royal Canadian Legion’s Lampman branch.
Women’s health to be focus of workshop
Women will have an opportunity to learn more about health during an information night at the Southeast College’s Estevan campus on Dec. 3, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Five speakers have been lined up for the Women’s Health event. Jennifer Olfert and Twila Walkeden, who are personal trainers and nutrition coaches, will share personal stories. Also scheduled to speak are nurse practitioners Raquel Carlson and Jeanie Daku, and registered psychologist Cynthia Beck.
Olfert said all 150 tickets for the event had been gobbled up, and approximately 30 names were on a waitlist as of Sunday afternoon. e
e Innovation Conversation series, presented by the Southeast TechHub and Southeast College, is back with the next session featuring Dr. Krista Keeley on Dec. 3 at the Southeast TechHub, located at 403a Ninth Avenue.
e event came about after Lindsee Michel hosted a similar event in Weyburn that Olfert attended. e two met afterwards and Olfert asked if Michel, who owns Spilling Prairie Tea, would be interested in collaborating on an event in Estevan. Michel will be the moderator on Dec. 3 and Olfert said this wouldn’t be happening without Michel.
“It’s going to be a great event and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Olfert.
She noted that there are a lot of unknowns about menopause and so many women feel alone as they experience it. She has a lot of empathy for those in her family who had to go through it without help.
“I have two daughters, and I don’t want them to have to go through this,” said Olfert. “ ere is help out there, and ... it actually just blows my mind that there isn’t more information.”
Olfert said she has found a good nurse practitioner who focuses on women’s health. She believes the two nurse prac-
titioners who will speak in Estevan “are amazing women,” who she heard speak in Weyburn.
“I’m really excited to have them come to Estevan and for this event to unfold. I’ve had lots of women calling and messaging to book in and tell me their stories, and it’s heartbreaking to hear some of the stories of some of the women and what they have gone through.”
She hopes they will come together and show each other support through what is often a private conversation. Some women will go through minor changes during menopause, while other women have life-changing experi-
Innovation Conversation to focus on role of AI in education
e event is called “AI in Education and Beyond: e Promise, the Problems, the Path Forward.” e discussion will focus on the impact of articial intelligence in education and beyond.
Dr.KristaKeeley,authorof AITeacherWellnessTheoryand editor-in-chiefofAIApplications inTeacherEducation,isthenext InnovationConversationspeaker. PhotocourtesyofTaniaAndrist poster for the event says there will be an insightful conversation designed to empower, educate and support women in their health journey. Highlights will include menopause, perimenopause, post-menopause, coping advice and a question-and-answer session.
Keeley, author of AI Teacher Wellness eory and editor-in-chief of AI Applications in Teacher Education, is also a training and design specialist at the Southeast College, working out of the Weyburn campus. She is a leading expert in AI-driven educational strategies, teacher wellness, and instructional design.
“Discover how sustainable AI solutions are transforming teacher well-being, boosting student engagement, and shaping the future of education,” says the event description.
“Learn about the potential bene ts and challenges AI brings to the table and explore the future possibilities it holds. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights and be part of the conversation about the role of AI in shaping the future of education and society.”
e event will also feature a presentation by the computer science training through projects class, who will talk about their latest progress.
Refreshments will be provided.
e event is free to attend, but advanced registration is recommended. To get free tickets, go to Eventbrite.ca. e event will start at 6:30 p.m.
CRANES & TRUCKING
ences that can be scary.
It’s a free event to attend, which she said is by design so that cost isn’t a deterrent.
“Every penny goes to the legion,” Ulrich emphasized. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for seniors and students, and are available from cast members, at Woodley Well Services in Lampman, online at Eventbrite.com by searching for Lampman Community eatre, or directly through Ulrich at 306-487-7512. Advance purchases are encouraged due to limited seating. “Friday night is already lling up fast,” Ulrich shared. “It’s best to get tickets ahead of time.” Saturday supper tickets are handled separately from the performance and are available by contacting Sandy at 306-487-7622.
CLASSIFIEDS
Orville Barnstable
August 1, 1925 - November 17, 2024
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” Ps 116 :15 Orville Richard Barnstable was born on a farm at Macoun on August 1,1925 He was the third son of Roy and Susan Barnstable (Granger) He grew up on the farm and enjoyed the animals especially his favorite horse, “King” He was happy to serve his country in 1944 during his time in the army, and subsequently went to the U of Sask for a year and then spent a couple of years in Bible School
Elma Becker May 14 1927November 24, 2023
We think about you always, we talk about you still you have never been forgotten and you never will We hold you close with in our hearts, and there you will remain to walk and guide us through our lives until we meet again Missing you everyday Love Wilma, Willadell, Wendy and families
Patricia Stubel (Cooley) 1935-2024
403-905-0440 info@gracememorial com
work took her to Regina in Saskatchewan and Didsbury Drumheller and Cochrane in Alberta before she finally settled in Calgary Terri s work was emotionally and physically taxing but also very rewarding She had succeeded in what she set out to do; she was using her skills to make a difference in the lives of
time with friends dining and shopping around Calgary enjoying the Alberta landscape, as she absolutely loved the mountains, and taking every opportunity to be with her grandchildren whom she loved and was proud of more than anything else Terri was a talented artist and baker She painted and made pottery in her younger years and through the years she loved to crochet and would always make sure that there were craft supplies and baking on hand for her grandchildren to enjoy Only when her health and mobility declined was Terri really forced to slow down She had always been an avid reader, but in her later years she enjoyed being at home and would often read as many as three novels per week Left to mourn her passing and celebrate her life are her children Tyler Banadyga (daughter-in-law Kim and grandchildren Ellie and Evie); Bree Austen (son-in-law Mark, and grandchildren Griffin and Elizabeth); sister Lana Aabol (brother-in-law Anthony nephew Kevin and niece Donna and their families); brother Kim Mollison; and many dear friends and extended family Terri was predeceased by her sister Donna Mae (1952), her nephew David Aabol her parents Dan and Bunnie Mollison and her dearest friends Marilyn Jackson Shirley Sundwall and Cliff Henrikson Terri was a determined and independent woman Everything she did she did very thoroughly She cared for people and animals and she showed her children and grandchildren by example the meaning of strength and perseverance A Memorial Service for Terri took place at the Govan Community Centre Govan SK on Friday November 15 2024 The Celebrant was Andrea Murphy The Urn Bearer was Tyler Banadyga The Eulogy was given by Bree Austen The Pianist was Violet Beaudry Special music was provided by the family Interment took place in Govan Cemetery immediately following the service A Memorial Reception for friends and family then took place in the Govan Community Centre For online condolences, tributes or, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations to YW Sherriff King Home (https://www ywcalgary ca/sheriffking/) of Calgary, AB or of Regina SK the Isabel Johnson Shelter (https://ywcareregina com/programs/violence/) please visit: https://fotheringham-mcdougall com/
With sad hearts but also with gratitude for a lifetime of memories, Pat s family announces her passing at Hillview Manor in Estevan, Sask on November 15, 2024 Pat s memory will be forever cherished by her loving family: daughter Carol (Mike) Adams; grandchildren: Carrie (Thomas) Andrukonis [Riah, Vaven], Lisa (Trevor) Nagel [Logan (Lynsey) Ariadne], Hartley Jr (Naomi) Boles [Alianna Tristan]; son Gordon (Lizanne) Stubel; grandchildren: Chris (Jaime) Stubel [Bryar, Brady], Samantha Stubel [Tayzley, Sofia] Lesleigh (Brad) Markham [Charleigh Finnley] Lucas (Mary) Stubel [Stevie, Keller]; daughter Gwenn (Sheldon) Serby; grandchildren: Clyve (Jennifer) Melanson [Avalon Ethan Rodden Daemen], Cory (Nicole) Melanson [Greyson]; daughter Connie (Wayne) Brokenshire; grandchildren: Alisha (Gregg) Mann [Ava Hudson Mackenzie] Sarah (Daniel) Betnar [August] Abbie (Willum) Fleming Tess Brokenshire; son Wayne Stubel; grandchildren: Jessica (Lionel) McNamara [Jackson Violet] Hannah (Scott) McKeen [Jude]; son Warren (Monika) Stubel; grandchildren: Griffin Liam Tyson She will also be missed and remembered by her sister Karen Skinner; sisters-in-law: Alma Vicary Elsie Feist and Lorna Stubel; many nieces nephews and friends and all of her extended family - the staff and residents at Hillview Manor Pat was preceded in death by her husband John Stubel; daughter-inlaw Collette Stubel; son-in-law Neil Reiley; parents: Willard & Sarah Cooley; sister Judith Cooley; brother Gary Cooley; parentsin-law: Rheinold & Caroline Stubel; brothers-in-law: Clarence Skinner, Julius (Helen) Stubel, Edward (Victoria) Stubel, Fred Stubel Ernie (Helen) Stubel Ervin Stubel Fred Vicary Don Feist Rudy (Rose) Stubel and Harold Stubel; sisters-in-law: Anne (Gus) Zohner Lila (Melvin) Langedahl Velma (Kurt) Cornies Marlene (Jim) Riley and Dorothy (Donald) Caves A visitation was held on Thursday November 21 2024 from 7:008:00 p m. and the Funeral Service was held on Friday, November 22 2024 at 11:00 a m at Hall Funeral Services in Estevan Shirley Petterson officiated Interment in the Estevan City Cemetery followed the service after which all were invited to join the family in the Taylorton Room at the Days Inn Estevan for a time of lunch and fellowship Those wishing to pay tribute to Pat via a donation in her memory may do so directly to the St Joseph's Hospital Foundation
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Fire that destroyed shed was accidental
Estevan Fire Rescue Service members were called to a structure re last week, the cause of which was initially described as suspicious in nature.
e call came in on Nov. 19 just before 3 a.m. Crews were dispatched to a structure re in the 1300-block of Seventh Street. Members responded and found a shed that was on re in the backyard. Fire ghters were able to quickly extinguish the re without incident.
“No injuries reported, and the damage was kept to the shed,” said Estevan Fire Chief Rick Davies.
e Estevan Police Service also responded to the scene.
e Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency came down and determined that the re was accidental and not caused by arson.
In the afternoon, re ghters responded to a commercial re alarm in the northeast area. ey investigated the scene and determined that no emergency was occurring, and the alarm was due to accidental activation from contractors working on site.
On Nov. 18 at about 8 a.m.,
re ghters were dispatched to a commercial re alarm in the southeast area. e investigation found no emergency occurring and the call was deemed to be caused by possible issues with the device. e same day at about 4 p.m., crews responded to a residential carbon monoxide alarm in the northeast. Members investigated and determined the alarm was due to ongoing construction work in the home, in which power equipment was being used. Fire ghters con rmed that the issue was under control and their assistance was not required. A little later that same evening, crews responded to another collision northwest of the city on Highway 39. It was determined that their assistance was not required as well. No injuries were reported from that incident.
On Nov. 24 just before 6 p.m., EFRS members were dispatched to a residential re alarm in the northeast area of the city. Crews were quickly updated that the alarm was deleted and their assistance was not required, so they stood down.
Multiple arrests
Members of the Estevan Police Service were called Nov. 18 to an apartment complex in central Estevan in response to an unknown man banging on a resident’s door.
On arrival, members located a grossly intoxicated man who was not co-operative with police e orts to identify him and determine where he resided. e 22-year-old man was placed under arrest for public intoxication, at which time he resisted arrest and obstructed members. He was subsequently transported to the police station and lodged in cells until sober. He was to be released on charges of resisting arrest and obstruction.
e same day, the EPS received a call regarding a 32-year-old man who stated he was going to end his life. rough the investigation, it was determined that the individual was located in another jurisdiction and the RCMP was able to assist in locating him and ensuring his well-being.
Members also attended to mischief at a central Estevan residence on the report of an attempted vehicle entry during the previous night. e vehicle sustained minor damage, and the matter remains under investigation. Members of the EPS were kept busy on Nov. 19 due to the winter storm that hit Estevan. Police responded to a motor vehicle collision in west-central Estevan in which an eastbound vehicle slid o the road and into a curb. It was towed as a result of the damage. No injuries were reported.
Members responded to another collision in east-central Estevan. A vehicle lost control and struck a tree. at vehicle was also towed as a result of the damage. e EPS said the driver sustained minor injuries and was treated on scene by Estevan EMS. Many other minor collisions were reported that did not require police attention.
Busy day for Christmas market at Estevan mall
By Ana Bykhovskaia
e Estevan Farmers Market marked the start of its holiday season on Nov. 23 with its rst sale in the hallway of the Estevan Market Mall. Vendors and shoppers gathered to celebrate the return of this seasonal tradition.
“We are very excited about our rst sale,” said Marilyn Simons, market o site manager. “I think we’ve had that long break from summer, and our local community is excited to have us back.”
e market featured a variety of vendors o ering sweet and savoury treats for humans and pets, handmade jewellery, holiday décor, household items and more. e rst sale provid-
TheEstevanFarmers’MarkethosteditsfirstChristmassaleoftheseason SaturdayattheEstevanMarketMall.
ed an array of unique gifts and stocking stu er ideas.
A special initiative, Stocking Stu ers for Seniors, sponsored by ReCharge Massage Studeio, also participated in the
market. Shoppers could pick up a tag, purchase a stocking stu er for a senior, and return the tag with their contribution.
“It’s a program where people come down, grab
a tag, go buy a stocking stu er, bring it back, and then it helps support seniors in need,” Simons explained.
( e next edition of the Mercury and SaskToday
will have more on Stocking Stu ers for Seniors).
e group will be back every week except for Dec. 7, when a di erent local charitable organization will participate.
is year, the market welcomed seven new vendors, adding to its diverse o erings from many loyal participants that come back every year. Simons noted that up to 30 vendors can be accommodated in the mall’s hallway, creating a vibrant shopping environment.
“ e vendors in general love being right in the middle of all the action,” she said. “ ey love to be where the people are and see all their smiling faces as soon as they walk in the door.”
e market will continue every Saturday leading up to Christmas, with sales
scheduled on Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14, and Dec. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Vendors may also stay longer up until the mall closure, providing shoppers additional opportunities to explore their o erings.
Simons expressed gratitude for the support of both the community and the Estevan Market Mall.
“We appreciate the partnership with the mall every year as we collaborate because our joint customer base comes out to support everybody, and we just love the local support,” she said, noting that the mall takes care of the setup for their sales, which is greatly appreciated as well. For sale line-ups and updates, visit the Estevan Farmers’ Market Facebook page.
Estevan’s Operation Christmas Child fills 501 shoeboxes
By Ana Bykhovskaia
Community spirit and generosity were on full display as Operation Christmas Child concluded its National Collection Week in Estevan, with 501 shoeboxes packed and ready to bring hope to children worldwide.
e total increased signi cantly from last year’snal of about 400 shoeboxes, but is still far from the local record of over 1,450 boxes packed years ago.
Jillian Ursu, the dropo team lead for Estevan, re ected on the campaign’s success, emphasizing the impact of both familiar faces and new contributors.
“It’s nice to see the numbers increasing and people participating and being excited about it,” Ursu said.
“Macoun church packed 109 boxes. Estevan Alliance Church contributed 105. And we had smaller communities, like Frobisher, Frobisher church packed 61 boxes. For such a small area, that’s amazing.”
Operation Christmas Child, an initiative of Samaritan’s Purse International, delivers gift- lled shoeboxes to children in over 100 countries around Christmas time. Canadian shoeboxes this year are headed to El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Senegal, e Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, e Philippines, Ukraine and for the rst time, Cape Verde. e shoeboxes are distributed to children in need unconditionally, regardless of race, religion or gender.
e collection week
OperationChristmasChildvolunteers,theEagleSky EstevanBruinsandthetruckdriverwereallonhand toload23bigboxeswithgiftscollectedbyEstevan arearesidentsforkidsindifferentcountries.
at the Estevan Alliance Church ran from Nov. 18 to 24, with donations trickling in daily and larger shipments arriving from groups and churches. Ursu noted the e ort of volunteers and contributors to ensure boxes
were well-packed with suitable items.
“People have a really good grasp of what things to include and what to avoid,” she said. “ ere are also people making their donations online, which
helps cover the shipping cost, now $12 per box.”
Some donors choose to use the online Pack a Shoebox tool, enabling them to customize boxes from the comfort of their homes.
“ is option is great for those who can’t get out,” Ursu explained. “It also allows people to select items within their budget.”
She noted that the online contributions that came from this area are not included in the current total, as the information about them won’t be available to local volunteers until later in the year.
Local students also contributed, gaining volunteer hours while assisting with receiving shoeboxes. Several Estevan Bruins came over on Sunday to help load boxes onto the truck.
“It’s been wonderful see-
ing the younger generation involved,” Ursu said. “We have the Estevan Bruins help load the truck, and they managed to do it in under three minutes one year.” Transportation logistics relied on community generosity as well and won’t be a ected by the current Canada Post strike. A company from Regina donates transportation every year, Ursu said. ey pick up the boxes in Estevan and Weyburn, then deliver them to the central drop-o in Regina, where they’re loaded onto a Samaritan’s Purse truck for processing. e boxes will be shipped globally after processing at centres in Calgary and Ontario. For more information on Operation Christmas Child or to get involved in future campaigns, visit samaritanspurse.ca.
Kids’ curling clinic grows skills and enthusiasm
By Ana Bykhovskaia SaskToday.ca
e Power Dodge Curling Centre saw activity on Nov. 23 as young curlers from Grades 5-9 took to the ice for a day-long clinic aimed at sharpening their skills.
Organized by CurlSask and dubbed “Clinic in a Box,” the event brought together participants already involved in the Estevan Curling Club’s programs for a unique learning opportunity.
“ is gives us an opportunity for a whole day to develop multiple skills, play di erent fun games, and stu that we just don’t have enough time for in onehour lessons,” said Pauline Ziehl Grimsrud, the Estevan Curling Club manager and the clinic’s head instructor. “Overall, it’s a development of the whole game.”
e format mixed children of varying skill levels, encouraging collaboration
and fostering a deeper understanding of the sport.
e morning was dedicated to skill-building exercises, while the afternoon saw participants applying those lessons in game scenarios.
“We’re focusing completely on skills today,” said Ziehl Grimsrud. “ is afternoon, we’re playing a game of curling and using the skills we worked on this morning.”
Participants were playing “triples” games, where players rotated positions to gain exposure to all aspects of curling.
“We want everybody to have the opportunity to skip, get lots of sweeping in, and be an all-around player,” Ziehl Grimsrud explained.
e event marked the rst time the Estevan Curling Club hosted a Clinic in a Box, but Ziehl Grimsrud expressed optimism about its potential.
“Next year, we’d like to grow this,” she said, noting that the club’s regular
YoungEstevancurlershadanopportunitytodeepentheirskillsduringCurlSask’s“KidsinaBox”clinic.
programs are still open for registration.
“It’s not too late to join curling this season, and we’re really open to having
more kids come out.”
e clinic also was a new experience for Ziehl Grimsrud herself, who was stepping into the role of
head instructor for the rst time.
“It’s been a learning experience for me, too,” she said. “But the kids have
been great, and we’ve had a really good day.”
Helping Ziehl
with the clinic was local instructor Debbie
Bruins shut out Stars on Teddy Bear Toss Night
Hockey teams across North America will host a Teddy Bear Toss Night this year.
When the home team scores its rst goal of the night, fans throw teddy bears and other stu ed animals onto the ice.
But there likely won’t be any bigger Teddy Bear Toss goals than the one in Estevan on Saturday night.
Ewan Rennie scored the lone goal of the game 57 seconds into overtime to lift the Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins to a 1-0 win at Afnity Place. Rennie buried the puck after it bounced o the glass. Fans littered the ice with bears after the goal.
Benjamin Polhill made 30 saves to earn his rst SJHL shutout. Eleven of the saves came in the rst period, and 13 more were in the third.
shootout, and Tatarnic is glad they didn’t nd out.
e night before, the Bruins ended a four-game losing streak by defeating the Stars 3-2. Cole Robertson’s rst SJHL goal with 4 1/2 minutes to play in the rst period opened the scoring, and Jacob Hufty, who rejoined the Bruins recently, doubled the lead 54 seconds later. e Stars’ Brett Boucher halved the advantage 21 seconds after Hufty’s goal.
Ryder Dembo’s rst goal in the SJHL tied the game for the Stars early in the second.
It remained a 2-2 contest until Cody Polumbus scored his rst in the SJHL for the Bruins at the 4:45 mark of the third. e Bruins held onto the lead from there.
20-year-old goaltender Kyle Kelsey left the Bruins to join the Victoria Grizzlies of the B.C. Hockey League.
“If you look at the start of the season, we were rotating guys, but he did his job. We’re pretty con dent in him, and he’s more than capable of being a starting goaltender. At the same time, he’s 18, so there’s going to be some moments for him, and that’s to be expected. It’s tough to be a starter as an 18-year-old,” said Tatarnic.
e Bruins are looking for another goalie to support Polhill.
Hufty rejoined the Bruins before the games with the Stars once a spot for a 20-year-old opened up with Kelsey’s departure.
“It made for an exciting game,” said head coach and general manager Jason Tatarnic. “A lot of people enjoy the high-scoring games, but when you have a game like that which is tied … it’s pretty exciting, and then
Justen Maric had 34 saves for the Stars. e teams were blanked on the rst 12 combined power plays of the game, but then the Stars’ Rylan Williams was assessed a ve-minute major for charging and a game misconduct on a play that knocked Bruin defenceman Owen Simmonds out of the game. Rennie scored the winner on the ensuing man advantage. e teddy bears collected will go to the Estevan Salvation Army, who will distribute the bears into the community.
overtime, you know the next goal is going to win, and it seemed the way the game was going, whoever scored [ rst] was going to win the hockey game.”
e club wasn’t sure what the process for the Teddy Bear Toss would have been if the game had gone to a
Polhill stopped 32 shots for the Bruins, while Maric had 35 saves for the Stars.
“I thought we were pretty good in the defensive zone,” said Tatarnic. “I thought Benny played pretty well in both games.”
Polhill has now started ve straight games since
“He played really well and we’re glad to have him back,” said Tatarnic. Estevan (7-9-2-1) will play the Notre Dame Hounds on Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. in Carlyle. en they will host the Weyburn Red Wings the following night at A nity Place, also at 7 p.m.
Red Devils win twice during weekend Big Six games
e Carndu Red Devils picked up a couple of wins in the Big Six Hockey League during the weekend.
e Red Devils upended the Kipling-Windthorst Oil Kings 5-2 on Saturday night. Nico Anderson, Brandon Trask and Mark Moriarty scored in the second period, and Trey Stocker added two in the third. Anderson assisted on Carndu ’s other four goals to nish with ve points.
Austin Fleck and Taylor Hoedel had KiplingWindthorst’s goals. Jordan Mish assisted on both markers.
Cody Dumaine was in goal for Carndu , and Dylan DeDecker was the Kipling-Windthorst goalie. Carndu then beat the Wawota Flyers 11-2 on Sunday night. Matthew Plews had three goals and two assists, and Cooper Bowman added a goal and three helpers. Casey ompson added two goals, and Stocker, Trask, Branson Skuce, Ben Hiltz and Alex Kerr also scored. Mason Plews was in goal.
Drayton Shiner and Wyatt Nixon had Wawota’s goals. Kieran Stewart was the goalie.
Wawota was also in action Friday night in a 7-4 loss to the Oxbow Huskies. Oxbow outscored Wawota 4-1 in the third period to break open a 3-3 game.
Kelby Widenmaier had two goals for Oxbow, and Cody Davis, Dylan Hull, Dmitry Kalashnikov, Tyler Hengen and Jordan Cooney also scored. Zack Miller was in goal for Oxbow.
Nixon, Devin Stewart, Turner Jacobson and Nico Muskego had Wawota’s goals. Brendan Rinn was Wawota’s goalie. Saturday’s action saw
the Moosomin Rangers edge the Redvers Rockets 5-4 in overtime in a rematch of last season’s league nal, which Moosomin also won.
Bud Holloway’s third of the game 49 seconds into overtime was the winner in Saturday’s clash. He also had an assist. Ryker Cole and Dustin Fisher had the other Moosomin goals. Carter Sawchuk assisted on three of the markers. Kyler Beckett was the Moosomin goalie.
Kenton Miller scored twice for Redvers, including a tally with 30 seconds
to play in the third period to send the game to overtime. Corey Millette and Oliver Poirier also scored.
omas Bauche was in goal for Redvers. e game was scoreless after the rst period and tied at 1-1 through 40 minutes. Each team exploded for three goals in the third. e Carlyle Cougars routed the Midale Mustangs 11-4. Jon Gaudet had two goals and four assists for Carlyle, while Ben Johnstone had two goals and three helpers. Kaelan Holt also scored twice, while Taysen Holt, Brett Turgeon, Cade Bendtsen, Connor Hewitt and Marc Shaw also scored. Connor Burk had three goals for Midale and Brad Tomiski nished with three assists. Jonas omson also scored. Curtis Meger (Carlyle) and Talen King (Midale) were the goalies. Upcoming games include Kipling-Windthorst at Oxbow on Nov. 29; Carlyle at Oxbow, and Redvers at Wawota on Nov. 30; and Moosomin at Carlyle on Dec. 1. e games on Nov. 29 and 30 start at 8 p.m.; the Dec. 1 game is at 7 p.m.
Oxbow, Carnduff compete at volleyball provincials
A couple of schools from southeast Saskatchewan competed at the Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association’s 3A boys’ volleyball provincials in Esterhazy on Friday and Saturday. e Oxbow Prairie Horizons School Black Knights went 2-3 during the weekend. ey dropped
their rst two games of the round robin, falling 2-0 (25-22, 25-15) to Unity and 2-1 (25-20, 22-25, 16-14) in a tight game against Osler Valley Christian Academy.
Oxbow recovered to win backto-back games, defeating Rosthern Junior College 2-1 (21-25, 25-15, 15-6) and their southeast
rivals, the Carndu Education Complex Tigers, 2-1 (17-25, 2520, 15-9). Oxbow nished third in the round robin with a 2-2 mark and faced the second-place team from the other pool, the host Esterhazy team, in the quarter- nal round. Oxbow lost 2-0 (25-22, 25-15),
ending Oxbow’s tournament. Esterhazy went on to win provincials. As for Carndu , they went 1-3 in the round robin to qualify for the quarter- nal. eir lone win was a 2-1 (26-24, 22-25, 15-10) victory over Rosthern in their second game.
In addition to the loss to Oxbow, the Tigers fell 2-0 (25-22, 25-17) to Unity and 2-1 (25-22, 23-25, 15-11) to Osler in the round robin. In the quarter- nal, they fell 2-0 (25-21, 25-16) to Regina Christian School, who was the top-ranked team in the other pool.
Grimsrud
Loewen.