The Biggar Independent Volume 115 Issue 14

Spring is springing ... Snow still lines bush areas last week as warmer weather descends upon the province. Spring is here - although winter tends to surprise us at the most inopportune times. Once the “green” starts showing, it will truly be the time of renewal.

--Want to get Your Message Out ere?

--Want more Business? --Want to Sell Your Product?

BETTER THAN FACEBOOK!!

(Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

The U-15 Prairie Predators met the Unity Lazers in the Hi-Way 14 League final at the Jubilee, March 28. Lazers took the first game 5-2 in Unity, March 23, and an identical score followed in Biggar. Still, the Preds had a great season, and with Biggar players, Tysen Erixon, Hudson Anderson, Jace Fick, Dacen Gidluck, Owen Meschishnick Nicholas Nelson and Caleb Hardenne, the U-15 Preds were a threat at every game.

(Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)

Strong population growth continues

Saskatchewan’s population grew by more than 30,000 in 2023 to an alltime high of 1,225,493, according to new population figures released March 27 by Statistics Canada.

From December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2023, Saskatchewan grew by 30,624 people.

That’s the biggest population increase in a single calendar year since 1914.

“Saskatchewan con-

tinues to grow and our government is meeting the challenges of growth with a budget that invests in classrooms, care and communities,” Premier Scott Moe said. “A growing province means more good jobs and opportunities for Saskatchewan people.”

In the fourth quarter of 2023 (October 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023), Saskatchewan’s population increased by 6,517 people.

“Our government will keep working to ensure a growing province, a strong economy and a bright future.”

CORRECTION: Last week’s Independent inadvertently omitted the Easter Reflection from the Biggar United Church. Please see Page 9 for the United Church Easter Reflection. We apologize for the error. Also, see Page 14 for the Perdue United Church Easter Reflection.

Biggar Fire Report

by Erroll Horst, Biggar Fire Department

The month of March has come and already gone, spring is around the corner.

We would just like to take a moment to remind everyone that last fall was very dry and this spring is looking to be not much different.

If you are working outside or simply out in the country to relax, please be very careful with any heat sources, fires, vehicles in tall grass et cetera.

If you are planning a controlled burn remember to call 1-866-4044911 to record the burn

and avoid any unnecessary charges.

During the month the fire department responded to one STARS call and two structure fires, bringing the year to date total to nine calls.

Four practices were held during the month. One covered effective communications and in another, we reviewed the purpose of and how to deploy some of our specialty nozzles like the basement, attic and piercing nozzles.

Our other two practices were held at the old Biggar Hotel. Thanks to the cooperation of the new owner of the property,

Excell Tire Ltd./Integra Tire, we had access to the building and were able to run different scenarios involving search and rescue as well as wide-area searches in poorly lit, smoke filled rooms. We also went to the second floor and members were able to practice techniques for forcible entry using a variety of tools on multiple doors.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, you can find us at the Fire Hall on Turnbull Avenue, Mondays at 7 p.m.

Sask. holds Small Business Tax Rate reduction at one per cent

The Government of Saskatchewan introduced legislation last week to provide relief to small businesses in the province.

As outlined in the 2024-25 Budget, The Income Tax Amendment Act, 2024 maintains the small business tax rate reduction in Saskatchewan at one per cent until June 30, 2025.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our provincial economy,” Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Donna Harpauer said, March 27. “We are pleased to maintain the small business tax reduction to help support their growth and allow owners to reinvest

in their businesses.”

Saskatchewan temporarily suspended the small business corporate income tax rate of two per cent in Fall 2020 to support small businesses in the province through the pandemic and the ensuing recovery. Following an extension in 2022, the rate was scheduled to gradually return to two per cent, beginning at one per cent on July 1, 2023. It was then set to return to two per cent on July 1, 2024, but it will now remain at one per cent until June 30, 2025.

With the extension, an estimated 31,000 small businesses in Saskatchewan will save $56 mil-

RCMP Report

by Sgt. Dereck Crozier, Biggar Detachment

Happy Easter to all, hopefully April Fools Day snuck in and left without too many pranks

this year as it was lost in the long weekend for most.

This past weekend, I was invited out to take part in a Metis celebration that introduced me to eating pork neck bones as I sat next to renowned fiddler, J.J. Lavallee. A shout-out for a job well done by the organizers, volunteers and chef.

Our traffic services unit spent the long weekend promoting road safety, reducing collisions and being visible in the area. Sixteen tickets were issued and 25 warnings. A couple of the more significant results had an Alberta Hyundai Santa Fe tearing along Highway 14 more then 35 kilometres above the

lion in corporate income tax. The small business rate was first lowered in 2020, and is expected to save Saskatchewan’s small businesses an estimated $416 million in total.

Saskatchewan businesses continue to enjoy a very competitive tax environment. The province currently has the second-lowest small business tax rate in Canada. In addition, the amount of eligible business income on which the small business tax rate applies remains at $600,000, which is the highest threshold in Canada.

posted limit resulting in a fine of $753. While on Main Street in Biggar, a 2018 Black Ford Escape found itself hitching a ride on the hook after a seven-day driving suspension was issued for drug impairment.

A hit and run was reported after a blue Dodge Dart was hit by a black dually truck, a 2016 Razor Turbo quad was reported stolen near Baljennie and a report of harassment in Perdue was made after half of the party decided they no longer liked being contacted by the Hudson Bay party after a dog breeding deal went sour between them.

Take care out there!

Bingo Numbers for APRIL 4

Biggar’s Home Lotto winners ... A pretty happy group of ladies from Biggar are the proud winners of the Hospital Home Lottery’s 50/50 Add-On draw, taking home $597,150 - half of the $1,194,300 total sales. The happy winners picked up their winnings in Saskatoon this past Tuesday. Left to right: Kathy Sarvas, Peggy Hasein, Alice Kaluzy, Urla Tyler, Marguerite Wapple, Anita Beckstead, Doreen Dubreuil and Kayla Hock. Congratulations, ladies! (Independent Photo by Daryl Hasein)

The Biggar Hotel served one final purpose to the community as Fire Department members used the old facility for a recent fire training exercise. (Photo for The Independent courtesy of Erroll Horst)

Federal Health Minister scolds Canadians fleeing to U.S. for better healthcare

by Shawn Whatley, physician, Ontario Medi-

cal Association past president, Munk senior fellow, author

“When Politics Comes Before Patients – Why and How Canadian Medicare is Failing”

An Ipsos poll for Global News revealed recently that 42 per cent of Canadians would personally pay to travel to the United States for health care if necessary. This is a 10 percentage point increase from 2023.

Federal Health Minister Mark Holland promptly scolded the 42 per cent.

“Going and paying your way out of your circumstances creates a terrible malady for our system. Because what it means is that private carriers will take the cases that are the most profitable ones, leaving the public system eviscerated,” Holland said at a media conference. “And that is a circumstance we cannot allow.”

Holland asked Canadians “to be patient.” He said we will “get through these health workforce issues.”

How “workforce issues” explain why 6.5 million Canadians cannot find a family physician is unclear.

Leaving Holland’s woolly thinking aside, his comments seem

heartless and cruel. Canadians do not seek care outside Canada on a lark. They’re desperate.

Canadians are underinsured. Canadian governments nationalized medical insurance companies between 1968 and 1972. With nowhere else to go, patients must moulder in queues with a median wait of 27.7 weeks to see a specialist.

Having nationalized private medical insurance companies and then putting people into waiting lines, politicians berate the desperate few who step out of line and flee south for care.

Holland echoes what elite’s have been saying for decades. In the 1990s, the associate deputy minister of health in British Columbia was asked how she felt about patients on waiting lists looking for care in the U.S. She said, “If we could stop them at the border, we would.”

The hypocrisy becomes especially rank when we consider how many of our elected elite’s have been escaping Canada for care for themselves for decades.

Robert Bourassa, then premier of Quebec, had melanoma surgery in Bethesda, Maryland, in 1993. Danny Williams, then premier of New-

foundland and Labrador, had heart surgery in Miami, Florida, in 2010. Former Liberal member of Parliament Belinda Stronach had breast cancer surgery in California. The late Sen. Ed Lawson, former Canadian trade unionist, also had surgery in the U.S. Former prime minister Jean Chrétien used government aircraft to fly to the Mayo Clinic.

The list of elite medical refugees who flee Canada is long and includes many of the same people who refuse to change the medicare status quo.

Speaking in Hamilton, Ontario, Sean Simpson of Ipsos suggested that Canadian interest in cross-border care simply reflected a “post-pandemic world” in which we began to see that Medicare was “threadbare.”

But Canadians were fleeing Canada to find healthcare long before the pandemic. In 2019, the Second Street thinktank used Statistics Canada data to determine that more than 217,500 Canadians had left the country for care in 2017. Hospitals in the U.S. advertise to Canadians, eager to meet the growing Canadian demand. Patients can buy books to guide them on their quest for surgery abroad.

But so what? Tasteless comments and elite hypocrisy make us angry, but if wait times are unavoidable, all we can do is stick together and weather the storm, right?

Wait times are not like natural disasters. They are not random. Wait times are created by professional managers.

Dr. Charles Wright, former vice-president at Vancouver General Hospital and waitlist consultant to the B.C. Ministry of Health, said, “Administrators maintain waiting lists the way airlines overbook. As for urgent patients in pain, the public system will decide when their pain requires care. These are societal decisions. The

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME

individual is not able to decide rationally.”

Or as a former deputy minister of health of Ontario puts it, “We have waiting lists for some procedures as a means of better organizing our system.”

In other words, if elite’s chose otherwise, patients would not need to wait.

Holland’s comments betray a deep distrust of patients and their ability to make decisions for themselves. Patients should be patient. They should stand in line and wait for care. But as Can-

ada’s foremost healthcare economist, Bob Evans, has explained, the “rational consumer” is a “highly dubious assumption.”

Canada is changing. The Ipsos poll also found that 63 per cent support private healthcare options.

Medicare must reform; the status quo is crumbling. While we wait for healthcare reform, let’s stop berating desperate patients who consider leaving Canada for care when wait times grow too long.

Political affordability arguments contradictory

federal carbon tax on April 1 will increase the cost of almost everything, making life less affordable for Saskatchewan people, families and businesses,” Premier Scott Moe wrote to the MP Peter Fonseca, chair of the standing chair on finance, in requesting to appear before the committee.

While Canadians might be divided on application of the carbon tax on certain forms of home heating, their premiers have turned up the heat on increases to the carbon tax.

There are now at least seven premiers telling the federal Liberal government to axe the increase that came into effect April 1.

“The forthcoming 23 per cent increase to the

“Our government’s decision to stop collecting the federal carbon tax on natural gas and electricity used for home heating led to an immediate decrease inflation as confirmed by Statistics Canada. “The last thing Canadians can afford right now is yet another increase in the federal carbon tax.”

It also comes as the NDP leader Carla Beck and her Oppositionobviously, intent on scoring political points in an election year - are demanding that Moe follow the lead of Ontario and Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford and reduce the 15-cent a litre gas tax here.

One assumes that the provincial gas tax here must also be “making life less affordable for Saskatchewan people, families and businesses”.

In no small irony, Moe’s letter came five days after presentation of the 2023-24 budget that at one time was thought it might contain a one percentage point or possibly two percentage point cut to this province’s six per cent PST. Of course, that was a year ago when Finance Minister Donna Harpauer presented what appeared to be her second consecutive billiondollar surplus budget that turned out to be a $482.5-million deficit.

But given that we are headed for a $273.2-million deficit in 2024-25, Moe and his Saskatchewan Party government have already made it abundantly clear that if highways are to built and fixed, the money has to come from somewhere.

That argument from Moe and others in his government is perfectly sound.

The perennial problems from oppositions - especially, in election years - is that they often feel their only duty is to complain about what taxes being too high or government needing to spend more. The reality is that this ill-prepares them for making the tough choices that are required when one governs.

The further reality in Moe’s argument is that the “carbon tax” isn’t

really going to pay for anything. It is there as a “levy” designed to discourages personal choices to consume greater amounts of CO2. In doing so, consumers receive rebates.

One big problem is the federal government policy is that there’s little to suggest it is reducing or even curtailing greenhouse gas emissions - let alone, cutting into the problem of global warming that requires a buyin from every country. (China produced 31.7 per cent of all CO2 emissions - two and a half times the second biggest emitter, the United States. Canada produces 1.5 per cent of all global CO2 emissions.)

That said, if the argument is strictly one of how the carbon tax is making life unaffordable, it is difficult argument for Moe to make.

During budget week, Moe, Harpauer and the entire government repeated pointed out that Saskatchewan is the most affordable place to live in Canada, other than Alberta. This was the government’s repeated response to concerns from Beck and the NDP that people in this province are desperate for a break from inflation.

Like the NDP, the Sask. Party government can’t have it both ways.

The truth likely falls somewhere in middle, as it usually does.

But Moe surely can’t argue that Saskatchewan people are now being hammered by inflationary costs and then argue he doesn’t need to do anything because it’s cheap to live here.

Unfortunately, it’s become another argument less about inflation and more about politics.

Notable Notes

Old Tex and I slept out last night, By Eagle rapids churning white. Below their cut-bank sentinel.

Upon a meadow, green and small, I stalked him to a willow tree, And let the heavy saddle fall, Beside my bedroll wearily.

And soon, with dreamy campfire done, My head upon the saddle seat, Alarm clock set by rising sun. At last I laid me down to sleep. The cricket in the grass was glad, The hoot-owl hailed us

by Delta Fay Cruickshank for the Biggar Museum and Gallery

The Biggar Volunteer Fire Department has been very busy later! I have not heard if anyone has been injured containing those flames and I am so appreciative of that!

Did you know that we

from the height. Content with everything we had, Old Tex and I slept out last night!

I suppose that a course in Pliocene geology would be a revelation to some of us but most of that stuff is way over the ordinary head, and seems kind of old anyway!

Earl Christiansen made a very revealing trip through these parts years ago, and as he passed, dropped quite a few explanations about why the land was this way or that. Of course Earl’s ideas of how it was at the end of the last ice age would still be old to the nomadic natives who came shortly after. Actually, they must have ignored that geological stuff while they turned their attention to whittling better bows and arrows, just as we, in our time, turn out attention to the way that Eagle Creek affects us!

I suppose that the saying, “as old as the hills” would mean something to Earl, but Y.T. (Yours

have created an exhibit in the museum dedicated to over a century of protection the Biggar Fire Department has given our town and everyone in it! Come in Monday to Friday in the afternoon and I’ll show it to you!

There have been fires, of course.

Back in the day the

Eagle Creek

Truly) always is afraid that they are talking about him!

Although we’ve all got to admit that most of our higher land was the muddy lake bottom of glacial times, the huge valley, cut by that big run-off when the ice melted, are the ones that really catch the modern eye.

Over the last hundred years or so, a lot of people have been impressed as they stand at the brink of Eagle Creek Valley. I can hear it all now...

Geologist: “So, the last parts of the great ice sheets disappeared and the big chunk that was in Western Saskatchewan melted and formed Eagle Creek!”

Young Lovers: “Isn’t it wonderful to see the moon come up over the big barren hills, listen to all the night noises and realize nature is so near!”

Great Poet: “Well, he thinks he’s great!”

At dawn the sun comes stealing down the prairie, With warm and ten-

der hand to touch my cheek.

The Meadowlark with summer’s song is merry,

Among mists that haunt the Eagle Creek!

All this other stuff aside, there must be a long, long history of this part of the world during the eight thousand or so years since those ancient people recognized that Eagle Creek was there! Certainly, mention has been made in the records of our earliest explorers about the “Creek of Eagle” that flowed northward into the Saskatchewan, but personally, from the vantage point of my Dad’s homestead up in Great Bend, it was just another gash in the river hills.

Of course, over the last hundred years or so, there have been quite a few bits of history in every community concerning some aspect along its course.

As kids, Dad often told us of the R.N.W.M.P. station way out there somewhere that boasted a “jail”. He said that a

A hot topic

homes and stores were constructed quickly with wood, wood shavings for insulation, and heated and lit with open flames - a fire just wanting to happen!

At the beginning of the century many towns in Canada lost their business sections and homes to fire. But not here in

log-lined deep hole in the ground served as a “keep” for guys who ran amok of the law and as a sleeping quarters for any constable who had sampled too much pincherry wine!

Years ago, Benny Forsythe told me of finding the rotting stumps of telegraph posts running down toward the creek mouth.

One time Y.T. took it on himself to find out if there was an Eagle Creek detachment, and drew a blank which doesn’t prove much either way.

I imagine that the wind has been blowing down the river valley for thousands of years, but as boys coming home from school, we often watched the huge whirlwinds spawned from Eagle Point northeast of Arelee.

Times have changed an awful lot, and of course, so has Eagle Creek!

As a young guy, Y.T. made a few trips up across the river to Great Bend on horseback, and one of his favourite stopping places was by the

rapids on Eagle Creek!

Last year one of the boys and I stopped nearby only to find that where I tied my horse so long ago, now a couple of buildings stand...

Old Tex and I slept out last night. The hills one solid silhouette.

Here, hesitating as I write.

How well I can remember yet.

The hush of night across the land. The gentle hooves upon the sod.

At peace we curled in Nature’s hand.

No - really in the hand of God!

Created as the rest of these.

Last night beside my dying blaze. I felt akin the summer breeze.

That rustled at my saddle stays!

Beneath my blanket’s humble thread.

I felt that all the world was right.

That those who seek, to peace are led.

Old Tex and I slept out last night!

Our volunteer firefighters continue the tradition of protecting us or saving us from fire.

Another reason why Biggar is better!

Biggar, because our town elders were forward thinking and encouraged a fire department and volunteers by buying a fire truck in 1910! There is a list of the fires and the dates in the exhibit. The Eden Hotel is one that many may have in their memory. It stood in the place where the Red Apple is now. Like the Biggar Hotel, it was one of the first buildings to be built to accommodate the immigrants coming from other places in Canada, or Europe or the USA.

Bob Mason

The very first Biggar Fire Department truck, purchased by the town in 1910 and now is on display in the museum in the Reynolds Museum in Wetaskiwin, Alberta. (Photo for The Independent by the Biggar Museum and Gallery)

The Miller building up in smoke in 1915.

Excel Café on Main Street in 1944.

Ask The Money Lady

Christine Ibbotson

Dear Money Lady,

I need to purchase a new car this year and I am not sure if I should invest in an EV, Hybrid, or regular vehicle. What do you think?

Thanks, Gord.

Hi Gord, this is a great question and one I think a lot of Canadians are wondering since the Canadian government mandated that all lightduty vehicle sales be 100 per cent electric by 2035.

The problem for me is the current costs of EV’s.

Now that vehicle pricing is truly the second highest investment purchase a Canadian will make next to buying a home, is it worth it to invest in electric vehicles now?

Maybe not.

Most vehicles have a life span of 10-plus years and to get the most value out of your purchase, you should plan to keep it this long.

The problem is, we are just a little too far off the 2035 electric switch over date and the current vehicle manufacturers really aren’t offering a great selection of electric vehicles at competitive pricing yet. Yes, we are provided with rebate offers from every province to encourage us to “buy-in,” but we still have the issues with the

scarcity of EV charging stations, especially in rural areas.

The best-selling car today is actually not a car at all, rather it remains a light truck.

The Ford F-150, Chevrolet 1500 and Dodge Ram 1500 series of light trucks (or pickup’s) are still our North American best-sellers.

Today, electric vehicles sales only make up approximately 10 per cent annually and most automakers rely heavily on the generous profits realized from their lighttruck sales to fund their EV development efforts.

Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, has announced that for every EV produced, they can make 10 or more hybrids with much less impact to the earth than the energy required to mine and extract precious rare earth minerals from the ground which is what constitutes the average EV battery.

The Canadian government now offers up to $5,000 in rebates towards the purchase of a fully electric or plugin hybrid electric vehicle. It’s a good idea to check the Government of Canada website under “Incentives for ZeroEmission Vehicles” since not all vehicles qualify for this full rebate and there will be variations to the amount if you plan to lease your new purchase.

To be honest, in my opinion, you can still get a better deal on a regular gas vehicle today, but if your budget allows, it would be a good idea to consider a hybrid option. Plan to keep this vehicle for at least 10 years to get your money’s worth out of it.

Remember that most new car sale mark-ups start at seven to eight per cent and dealerships are more willing to haggle on their pricing at the end of the month. Aim for a three to four per cent reduction in the list price of the vehicle and be prepared to walk if the sales manager won’t bend. Guaranteed, if they know you are a serious buyer, they will give in to this reduction in pricing (a hint from one of my friends who is been in the new car sales business for over 20 years).

If you are leasing your vehicle and writing off the costs as a business expense, then definitely consider an EV or hybrid. This will give you the opportunity to “try it out” since you will most likely be trading in your vehicle after three to five years anyway.

One thing you need to watch out for - if this is your second or third lease, make sure the car dealer discharges the old lease and sets up a new one. I have seen many times in the past, when we have pulled credit bureaus for clients wanting loans at the bank, that they have had multiple leases registered to their name. This is a banking “no-no” and can definitely hinder your prospects of acquiring future credit.

Each lease must be clearly discharged, not transferred. By transferring a lease to a new vehicle, it creates two lease payments on a client’s credit report, one for the old vehicle (not discharged but still registered with the VIN number) and one for the new vehicle. Be careful. Good luck and best wishes! Written

HELP WANTED

e Rural Municipality of Eagle Creek No. 376

Is accepting applications for the position seasonal mower operator. Seasonal maintenance operator duties may begin May 1, 2024.

e applicants must have a valid driver’s license. (1A preferred) and experience on a grader and track hoe is also an asset.

Seasonal maintenance work to include mowing, installing culverts, signage, repairs and other duties as required. Mechanical experience to perform general maintenance and equipment repair as required. May be trained on a grader.

Interested applicants please submit a detailed resume including quali cations, past work experience, salary expectations and three work related references. Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

We thank all applicants but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

R.M. of Eagle Creek No. 376 rm376eaglecreek@xplornet.ca

Box 278

Asquith, Sask.

S0K 0J0

306-237-4424

306-237-4294 (fax)

Christine Ibbotson, author, finance writer, national

radio host, and now on CTV Morning Live, and CTV News @6, syndicated across Canada.

NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF ASSESSMENT ROLL

RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF PERDUE NO. 346

Box 208 Perdue, SK. S0K 3C0

Phone: 237-4202

Fax: 237-4202

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Rural Municipality of Perdue No. 346 for the year 2024 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the office of the assessor from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the following days:

Monday to Friday, except all public holidays.

A Bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipality Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.

Any person who wishes to appeal against their assessment is required to file their notice of appeal with:

The Assessor, Rural Municipality of Perdue No. 346 Box 208 Perdue Saskatchewan by the 5th day of May, 2024.

Dated this 4th day of April , 2024

Kelsie Walkeden, Assessor

Send your money questions (answered free) through her website at askthemoneylady.ca RM

The Rural Municipality of Biggar No. 347 invites applications for the full-time permanent position of Assistant Foreman. This position is directly responsible to the Council, Administrator and Foreman. This position will interest you if:

• You possess the skills to motivate a dedicated sta� of 6 -10 crew employees;

• You are self-motivated with a good work ethic;

• You are a proactive planner who identifies, and documents all needs of the municipality;

• You work well in a team environment as a leader;

• You possess the skills to treat everyone with respect;

• You are willing to be trained in occupational safety, asset management, contract administration, budget and cost controls and use these skills for team leadership and supervisory techniques.

Qualifications/skills:

• Public works experience as it relates to municipal operational functions and equipment, including working knowledge of project management and municipal regulations;

• Considerable knowledge of municipal infrastructure, including methods, practices, specifications, and techniques used in conjunction, with operations and maintenance of, roads, drainage, and other facilities;

• Capable of operating and servicing various equipment such as tractor/mower, grader, semi/trailer, track-hoe, dozer etc.

• E�ective Management, team building, facilitation, leadership, and supervisory strengths, with a commitment to continuous improvement;

Agriculture

Calvin Daniels

by Calvin Daniels

If you are in the agriculture sector you have no doubt heard or read about cows being an environmental villain because they pass gas - a significant amount admittedly.

How can a cow be a villain in a world of coal fired furnaces belching smoke, hundreds of jet planes criss-crossing the sky daily, and cruise ships burning tonnes of fuel just for pleasure cruises?

Cattle a key part of ‘Green’ future

One would likely wonder why it’s the grassmunching cow drawing headlines?

But, what if the cow can also be part of a greener energy future?

Now that is an interesting prospect indeed.

There is certainly interest in acres of farmland perhaps being turning into solar energy farms, with row upon row of solar panels installed to collect energy from sunlight.

Some see the trend as a threat to crop production, although the difference between solar panels collecting energy or growing grain for ethanol or oilseeds for biodiesel seems to be splitting a rather fine hair.

That said, when solar panels are installed, the land beneath and between the rows, there is the potential to grow other things.

Grain crops aren’t realistic of course.

Nor is using chem fallow. It would really

Town of Biggar Employee Profile

Jason Raschke has worked in the Recreation Department since 2017. He enjoys working for the Town of Biggar because of the diversity of the job from parks to pool to arena, as the seasons change. He excels when presented with new challenges, as well as the chance to learn, apply new skills and knowledge.

Jason is a great member of the team but loves the freedom of working on his own. He will do every job to the best of his ability and would never leave something

done less than he would expect to have it done, “A job isn’t finish unless it is done properly.”

In his off time, he loves anything music related and is hard pressed to pass up a live concert. He also is a competitive bowler, and community coach for the Youth Bowling Program. He is on the Five-pin Bowling Provincial and West Sask Zone Bowling Executive Board, and an active member of the Master Bowler’s Association. Through Master’s, he has competed nationally two times earning a

run counter to greener energy ideas to then use chemicals to control growth beneath panels - especially as a better answer is so obvious.

Grow pasture in solar panel fields and graze the pasture with sheep, or maybe the aforementioned ‘villainous’ cow?

One of the best reasons for cattle production to be supported in the animals ability to utilize fringe land acres, places not well-suited to cultivation and cereal/ oilseed production.

There are thousands of acres that are far better suited to growing grass than anything else. Certainly in numerous cases farmers pull the air seeder over some of these acres and harvest a crop, but long term positive returns over cost-ofproduction is certainly less assured.

The acres are bestsuited to grass in many cases, and then cattle, sheep, bison, can roam contentedly and convert

Silver Medal in 2016 in Surrey, B.C. as well as a Bronze Medal in 2018 in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He has also competed and twice won first place Provincially in the Rising Star Tournament.

We’ve been working with Fred & Patsy at Spyder Autobody for the past 3 years, and will continue servicing the Biggar community

that grass into food for human consumption. So it is definitely a positive for the cow and agriculture to read at producer.com that “an agrivoltaics research park to be built this summer in Alberta is designed to

explore how beef producers can maximize profits and improve pastures by using their land for both ranching and solar power generation.”

It seems like a very natural combination

which satisfies the growing demand for renewable green energy, and still keeps the land in food production.

And, it tilts the needle a bit to show cows are not all that bad for our world.

Jason Raschke

3 col/6

Chase The Ace

Tickets available at Westwinds and The Independent Tickets only $5.00 Next Draw Date

Biggar United Church

BBQ, Garage & Bake Sale

907 Quebec St. Biggar

Friday, April 20 - BBQ starts at 4:00 Friday, April 20 - 5pm to 8pm Saturday, April 21 - 9am to Noon. Call the church at 948-2280 for pick up of garage sale items.

ANNUAL SPRING AGM

WEDNESDAY APRIL 24th, 2024 7:00p.m.

WESTWINDS MOTOR HOTEL 2024 UPDATES and INFORMATION for THE COMING SEASON

Everyone is Welcome

by Trudy and Dale Buxton

We continue in the fabulous community of Flin Flon.

Flin Flon is a mining town, with most of the ore being found consisting of copper and zinc with some silver and gold deposits.

The nickname for Flin Flon is “The City Built On Rock”. Completely built on the Canadian Shield, there is no agriculture in these parts.

With the city built on rocks, housing take on a whole different look. You don’t see many basements and as for sewer and water, the running of pipes can be a little difficult underground.

There are sewer boxes and water lines installed above ground in wooden casings. For the most part these casings

become the sidewalk and are still used today as an effective way to outfit the homes and businesses. Sure hope they are insulated for the cold winters!

With the discovery of copper in the 1920’s, Flin Flon became a boom town. The Great Depression of the 1930’s played an important part in bringing many people to this community for work and a stable life.

My ancestors were a part of this influx of workforce as they left the farms in the northern part of the United States and migrated to find work in Flin Flon.

In the late 1920’s, power was supplied by a hydroelectric plant from Island Falls on the Saskatchewan side. A railway was constructed from The Pas to carry goods from the mine.

With the scenic setting of the area, Flin Flon has become a very popular tourist site, making up a substantial part of Flin Flon and the nearby Saskatchewan community of Creighton.

Creighton has a population of around 1,400 people and was named after Thomas Creighton, who had discovered the copper in the area.

The mining in Flin Flon and area have taken a hit in recent years, initially closing down one mine and later a further mine due to a lack of ore.

There are still a couple of mines that are going but with the closing down of these mines the future is tentative.

Did you know that Flin Flon was home to Canada’s largest marijuana growop. The name of this product is “ganja mine”, because this cannabis product was grown in an underground mine. This cannabis helped to supply Health Canada’s

medical marijuana needs.

Another interesting fact is that back in the 1950’s the Chamber of Commerce considered breaking away from Manitoba and Saskatchewan and make their own province called “Pre-Cambria”.

Flin Flon is also very well noted for its hockey. The community has had at least 17 NHL players, most notably, Bobby Clarke, who is in the Hockey Hall of Fame and was the captain of the Philadelphia Flyers. The junior team is the Flin Flon Bombers.

We did have a meal at “Mike’s Ice N Burger Hut” which serves up one spectacular burger and a very tasty ice cream treat afterward. It’s not a sitin and only opened in the summer but plenty of sitting around the lake looking at the scenery and talking to the locals about biking can be had! Stay tuned next week as we make our way home from holidays.

HUNGRY!

Biggar Eastern Star is having a Soup and Bun Lunch

Friday April 12 from 11:30am - 1:30pm Biggar New Horizons

Remembering the Biggar Hotel

It was Biggar Fair Days, Parade Day, perhaps early ‘80’s. A young lad rode his big brown horse from 1st Ave. into the bar of the Biggar Hotel. Folks on the stools scattered as they entered. The horse was jittery and immediately lifted his tail. We know what that means. A quick thinking farmer grabbed a beer tray from the counter and caught a serving of ``buns``. The horse got backed up and turned around and left the way they came in. Only in Biggar.

-Rita Sutherland

If you have a comment or a memory of the Biggar Hotel, send it along to The Independent.

Remember When

As with most cats, our cat loved to sleep in the sun.

Like a solar panel designed to follow the sun throughout its trajectory to maximize the absorption of light and warmth, our cat diligently followed the sunbeam throughout the house and seized the opportunity to bask in its warmth and sneak a snooze in it on a regular basis.

Wherever the sunbeam was shining, there was our cat. If the sunbeam was warmly shining through the patio doors onto the living room floor, there was our cat. If the sunbeam was warmly shining on the living room couch, there was our cat. If the sunbeam was warmly shining through the bedroom windows onto one of our beds, there was our cat, always laying in the sunbeam, basking in its glowing warmth and having a little snooze.

As our cat got older, sleeping in the sun became one of the great passions of her life. If you were ever looking for our cat, just look for a sunbeam warmly shining through a window someplace and usually there she was.

As we were having a family discussion around the kitchen table one spring afternoon, the sun came out, shining brightly and warmly through the dining room picture window. It shone directly on the kitchen table and made the surface of the table very warm.

The Cat and the Sunbeam

While we were talking, our furry little sunworshipper slowly padded into the room.

Seeing the sunbeam shining through the window onto the kitchen table, she walked over to the table as we were talking and hopped up on the only empty chair that was left around the table.

Surprised by her actions, we began to look at the cat as she stared intently at the sunbeam shining in on the kitchen table. She knew she wasn’t allowed on the table so we really didn’t think too much about what she was doing.

We had always given our cat the run of the house with the exception of the kitchen and dining room food preparation surfaces, like the kitchen table and countertops, the stovetop, and to a lesser extent, our big upright freezer lid, because we didn’t want her on any of the foodcontact surfaces in the house for health and sanitary reasons.

But there comes a point in an old cat’s life when they are just going to do what they want to do whether you like it or not.

And with that, our cat jumped from the chair up onto the kitchen table and lay down in the sunbeam in the middle of the table while the entire family was sitting around the table staring at her!

We were momentarily flabbergasted, staring open-mouthed at each other in disbelief as our cat lay down in the warmth of the sunbeam shining on the kitchen table.

She knew she wasn’t allowed on the kitchen table! And we couldn’t believe she would hop up on the table with all of us sitting right there! But our old cat wanted

what she wanted and that was that.

So what did we do? After recovering from our initial shock, we picked her up off the table. She sagged like a limp dishrag in our hands as we lifted her from the table back down to the floor. We set her back down on the floor with a stern “NO! BAD KITTY!” and gave her a light little tap on the rump as a reminder that she had done something bad.

And what did the cat do? Doing what she always did on those rare times when we had to scold her, she meowed defiantly right back at us and sulked as she walked away.

In hindsight, I believe this was not so much an act of defiance as it was just a ‘too old to give a damn anymore’ thing. The sunbeam was right there, the old cat wanted what she wanted, and that was all there was to it. She wanted her place in the sun that day, so to speak, and so she took it.

In a way, we kind of hated to do that to our cat. She was a very good cat, loving and beloved, and in her sunset years when this happened. Old pets and old people have so few pleasures left to them in their waning years that you really hated to deny them anything if you could help it.

She was a very clean cat all her life, but even at her advanced age we still felt we had to hold the line on this one for obvious health and sanitary reasons.

And after that day, our cat never hopped back up on the kitchen table to bask in the sun again.

At least, not while anybody else was in the house!

Easter Reflection

by Pastor Dale Worrell, Biggar United

Church

Easter, beyond its colourful eggs and sweet treats, holds significance across cultures and beliefs and embodies themes of renewal, redemption, and hope. For Christians, Easter marks the pinnacle of our faith - the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It commemorates the crowning moment of his journey, from the agony of crucifixion to the glory of resurrection.

Easter symbolizes not only the victory over death but also the promise of salvation and eternal life. It is a celebration of divine love and forgiveness, offering believers a sense of hope and redemption.

The meaning of Easter transcends religious

boundaries. Across cultures and throughout history, Easter serves as a universal symbol of hope and transformation. It reminds us of the deep-rooted cycles of life - the cycle of death and rebirth, of endings and new beginnings. It encourages soul searching and renewal, prompting individuals to reflect on their own journeys and embrace opportunities for growth and change. Easter also fosters a sense of community and connection. Whether through religious gatherings, family traditions, or acts of charity, it brings people together in shared celebration and reflection. It is a time to extend kindness and compassion to

others, embodying the spirit of renewal and reconciliation.

In a world often marked by uncertainty and turmoil, Easter offers comfort and inspiration. It invites us to believe in the possibility of redemption, to rebuild and heal, to find light in the midst of darkness, and to embrace the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

Easter reminds us that even in our darkest moments, hope springs eternal, illuminating the path towards renewal and transformation. And lastly, may the spirit of Easter inspire us all to work towards a future of peace, justice, and reconciliation for all nations.

May it be so.

Keith Schell

Considering the senior hockey has officially ended, we will take a look at each team and its accomplishments during the Sask West Hockey League (SWHL) and the Hockey Saskatchewan provincials.

Kindersley Sr Klippers

Finishing in second in the league standings at 10-8, tied with the Hafford Hawks but seeded higher due to tie breaking rules, helped the Klippers and seemed to be the difference in the series with the threeseeded Hawks in a 3-1 semi-final series win.

Klippers also took care of business in a 2-0 Round 1 win against the Unity Miners. The Klippers faced the top seed Wilkie Outlaws in the final in a five-game thriller, which the deciding game came down to overtime, and were able to win their first Champions Cup since 2012/13. The team was known as the Red Lions at that time.

Additions to this year’s Klippers roster, mainly Logan Drackett, Lane Gilliss and Tyler Traptow, really bolstered an already skilled forward core and added depth to the defense, propelling them to a League Championship.

Wilkie Outlaws

A tough, heartbreaking OT goal in Game 5 of the SWHL Finals left a sour taste after a great run, including the first ever undefeated regular season in SWHL history. Led by veterans in Brock Harrison, Rick Cey and Derek Keller, and addition Brett Boehm made for a balanced and potent attack. Finishing first with that sparkling 18-0 record, receiving a bye and breezing through

Sask West This Week: Debriefing

the Macklin Mohawks in three straight, they ran into a white-hot Kindersley goaltender in Logan Drackett.

With an experienced core, the season wasn’t over as they had a chance to hoist a provincials trophy, which they did on March 29, defeating the Kyle Elks in a 3-0 win. Jared Herle was outstanding in net to secure the Outlaws’ third Senior C title. Wilkie can be proud of the fact that they went through the provincials bracket with a perfect 8-0 record.

Macklin Mohawks

With a new goaltender in Trevor Martin, and a renewed taste for the cup after losing last years final in four games to the Wilkie Outlaws, the Mohawks had a very roller coaster start, but were able to stable the ship for an 8-8-2 record and a date with the four-seeded Edam 3 Stars. Macklin was able to pull out the 2-0 series win but succumbed to the Wilkie Outlaws in the semi-finals in three straight.

The Mohawks’ season wasn’t done either as they continued their way through the Senior D bracket, reaching the finals for the first time in 15 years. In a tough battle with the Redvers Rockets, Macklin came out on top in Game 3 on March 31 to win their first D division in team history.

Hafford Hawks

Led by veterans Jeremy Boyer and Jordan Braid, and adding Kyle Ireland to that top line, the Hawks flourished. Although it took a little while to get the engine firing on all cylinders, Hafford was able to finish the year

with a 10-8 record, tied with the Kindersley Sr Klippers. They ended up being the three-seed due to the tie breaking rules.

In their opening round match up against the upstart six-seed Biggar Nationals, it went the distance with the Hawks moving on. In the semifinals, they faced the Kindersley Sr Klippers. Hafford won the first game but ended up losing the series 3-1.

Hawks fans should be excited with the team that they have, with a lot of potential to continue climbing upwards.

Edam 3 Stars

Another solid year for the perennial powerhouse in the north, adding Taryn Kotchorek as their No. 1 goaltender and the Dziurzynski brothers midway through the year really bolstered to the already loaded roster. They did stumble at the end of the season, losing their last three (all to the Macklin Mohawks), and settling for a 9-8-1 record and the four-seed in the first round against the aforementioned Mohawks. The 3 Stars couldn’t muster anything in a two-game sweep.

With a good, skilled core that has a few years left and a rough and tumble defense that makes you think twice about entering the corners, Edam likely has nothing to worry about and will continue to cruise in what has become an ultracompetitive league.

Biggar Nationals

Don’t let that 7-9-2 record fool you, the Nats were a force to be reckoned with this year. Led by Jonathan Redlick and goaltender Brett

Matlock, they rattled a lot of cages and propelled Biggar into an exciting era of hockey. The six-seed sees Nationals faced the Hafford Hawks in the first round and gave them everything they could handle in the three-game series, eventually losing out.

Ken Kernohan has something cooking in the land of the Hanson Buck, putting the league on notice this year and they will have more eyes on them going into next year.

Unity Miners

It was another rebuilding year for the Miners, but they won a game! Small steps are still steps, and it appears that the organization is working in the right

direction.

With their 1-16-1 record, they were the seven-seed against the Kindersley Sr Klippers and went down in twostraight.

It is worth noting that for the first time since the 2008-09 season, the SWHL has multiple provincial champions who weren’t crowned league champions. In that season, the Eston Ramblers won the B Division title over the Shaunavon Badgers, the aforementioned Macklin Mohawks defeated the Drake Canucks to secure the C Division title, and the Luseland Mallards took home the D Division title over the Lucky Lake Lakers. The League Champion that year was the Leader Flyers.

See you all the rinks for the 2024-2025 season!

Parting Shots “From the Presidents perspective, this hockey season was very successful for the SWHL,” said SWHL president Joe Cey in an e-mail statement. “We have established great parity this year within the league, evident by the fact that we have had three different champions in the last three seasons. Macklin in 2022, Wilkie in 2023 and Kindersley this season. We are very pleased to see Macklin claim the Provincial D championship, and Wilkie the Provincial C championship. Looking forward to another great year of hockey next season.”

Carson Grolla scored the overtime winner to give the Kindersley Sr Klippers the 2-1 OT win in Game 5, and their first league championship since the Red Lions won it all in 2012-13. (Photo for The Independent courtesy of Phil Heilman)

Wilkie Outlaws celebrate their Provincial C championship. (Photo for The Independent courtesy of Phil Heilman)

Macklin Mohawks winning Game 3, 6-4 to capture the Provincial D championship. (Photo for The Independent courtesy of Dan Steinhubel)

Penton On Sports

Widespread legalized gambling on sports events in North America is only a few years old, yet its dark side has bubbled to the surface.

How bad will it get before authorities step in?

Gambling and sports have gone together like peanut butter and jam for centuries. Illegal bets were probably made during the Roman chariot races in ancient times. In the modern era, the 1919 Chicago White Sox (later named the ‘Black Sox’ for obvious reasons), got involved with gamblers and threw the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds, pocketing hundreds

Major sports being stung by gambling

of dollars in payoffs for their unscrupulous tactics. More recently, Pete Rose was banned for life from baseball for alleged gambling on games in which he participated.

Now, gambling opportunities are ubiquitous through sites like Draft Kings and FanDuel. Evidently, but sad to say, 100 per cent of today’s athletes are not morally strong enough to remain uninvolved.

The National Football League was stung with Calvin Ridley of Atlanta Falcons, suspended for a full year for gambling. Ottawa Senators’ Shane Pinto got the National Hockey League involved, with a half-season suspension issued as a result of ‘activities related to sports wagering.’ Baseball’s Shohei Ohtani fired his interpreter when it was revealed Ohtani paid a bookmaker $4.5 million for gambling debts incurred by the interpreter. Now, a backup for the Toronto Raptors, Jontay Porter, is facing allegations of cavorting with gamblers to bring in a few bucks

Biggar Bowl weekly scores

Monday Adult Mixed

to pad his $450,000 annual salary. The Porter story alleges suspicious ‘prop’ bets.

One of them was that Porter would make fewer than 0.5 three-pointers in a particular game (in other words, zero threepointers). Another was that he would grab fewer than 1.5 rebounds in a game played six weeks later. In both cases, Porter left the game early with minor injuries, and his minimal playing time guaranteed that he would finish ‘under’ the prop lines. In both cases, Draft Kings reported, the bets on Porter props had the highest payouts of the day among NBA games, strengthening suspicion and guaranteeing an investigation.

Golf hasn’t yet been hit by a gambling scandal, but a recent Fried Egg Golf story suggested the sport was ripe for it. Player X shoots 80 on Thursday, eliminating any hope of making the cut. But on Friday, a matchup prop has him going head-to-head against Player Y. The gambler says to Player X, “You’re going to miss the cut and make nothing.

I’ll give you $10,000 to lose to Player Y.” The gambler than places huge bets on Player Y. The gambling horse is out of the barn and there’s not much professional sports administrators can do except continue to educate their players, step up enforcement and make penalties so penal that players, already among the highest-paid members of society, wouldn’t want to risk killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

• Phil Mushnick of the New York Post: “Chris Simon, who traded bare-fisted punches to the head for seven NHL teams ... last week committed suicide at age 52. His family believes he was afflicted by on-thejob brain damage, CTE. Given his past response to CTE revelations, Gary Bettman, I suspect, thinks Simon died of media hysterics.”

• Fried Egg Golf, after Peter Malnati, who plays a yellow ball, won the Valspar Championship: “Of course the guy playing yellow balls won the event sponsored by a paint company.”

• Scott Ostler of the San

Francisco Chronicle, replying to a tweet from novelist Rick Reilly, who wrote a book called ‘Commander in Cheat’ and who mocked Donald Trump for bragging about winning the club championship and senior club championship at his golf club: “C’mon @ reillyRick, give the man his due! He’s so modest he didn’t brag about how he also won the 16-andunder, and the ladies’ flight. By a landslide!”

• Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe. com: “MLB commissioner on baseball’s Ohtani investigation - ‘I hope [it’s] short, but I just don’t know.’ Translation, as soon as we can figure out a way to accept enough of Shohei’s most recent story to keep him playing.”

• Flashback quip from former Notre Dame coach Dan Devine: “There are two kinds of people in the world, Notre Dame lovers and Notre Dame haters. And, quite frankly, they’re both a pain in the (behind).”

• Retired tennis star John McEnroe, who

recently turned 65: “The older you get, the better you used to be.”

• Comedy guy Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver, on a March Madness upset: “Yale over Auburn. I never thought I’d see that in anything other than College Jeopardy.”

• RJ Currie of sportsdeke. com: “Team Canada beat Team Switzerland to win the women’s curling championship. Just for the day, they should change the national anthem to ‘O Canada, our Homan native land’.”

• Headline at fark.com, after Russell Wilson sold his Denver home for $3.5 million less than what he paid for it: “Russell Wilson isn’t done losing in Denver.”

• fark.com again: The April 8 “total eclipse is going to hit in the middle of a day game at Yankee Stadium. Place your bets as to who will drop the ball: Yankees or the Miami Marlins.”

• Care to comment? E-mail brucepenton2003@ yahoo.ca

Tuesday Night Mixed

Thursday Afternoon Seniors

YBC

Home offices have garnered more attention in recent years. Restrictions implemented as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic forced many professionals to start working from home, which created a greater need for home office space.

Though millions of professionals have now returned to the office full-time, millions more have continued to work from home five days a week or are now working on a hybrid schedule. As a result, home office spaces have maintained

Ladies High Single - Leisha Derosiers 173. Ladies High Triple - Leisha Derosiers 456. Mens High Single - Brandon Markewich 202. Mens High Triple - Leighton Buhler 542.

Ladies High Single - Melissa Raschke 189. Ladies High Triple - Melissa Raschke 530. Mens High Single - Jason Raschke 290. Mens High TripleJason Raschke 746.

Ladies High Single - Ann DeBussac 216. Ladies High Triple - Ann De Bussac 538. Mens High Single - Greg Love 220. Mens High Triple - Greg Love 601.

Bowlasaurus - Benjamin Olson 62. Pee Wee Single - Harlan Tilsley 102; Double - Ashton Kramer 184. Bantam Single - Kash Greer 158; Triple - Kash Greer 372. Junior Single - Bentley McNaughton 228; Triple - Bentley McNaughton 527. Senior High Single - Jake Keefe 220; High Triple - Jake Keefe 502.

Xander Hebert, centre, Dominic Raschke and coach Marilyn Moon Miller represented Biggar at Nortown and placed 10th in Junior Provincials. (Submitted Photo)

National Championship Doubles were held on March 10 in Moose Jaw, and for Bantams Nash Wheaton

Peter Olson coach Melissa Raschke, they finished in sixth place. Nash had the highest game of the tournament with a 206! (Submitted Photo)

How to clear out home office clutter

their utility even as restrictions related to the pandemic move further into the rearview mirror.

Since home office spaces remain vital for so many, it’s important that these spaces are conducive to productivity. Conquering home office clutter is a step in that direction.

• Cut through the piles of paper. Home offices have a tendency to transform into paper depositories over time. Work files, notes, monthly bills, receipts, and junk mail can quickly overwhelm a home office. Professionals

who spend ample time working from home can resolve to cut through the piles of paper. Use a paper shredder to discard documents with sensitive information, such as bank statements and utility bills. Signing up for e-statements can prevent the piling up of paper in the future. Invest in a small file cabinet to store important personal and professional documents.

• Discard old devices. Old devices are another space eater in many home offices. In fact, a recent survey found that more than 20 million unused electrical items

are currently hoarded in homes throughout the United Kingdom. Old smartphones and laptops that users are afraid to throw out can be wiped clean and discarded in adherence with local laws. Contact your local government to determine how to safely discard old devices rather than simply tossing them in the trash once they’ve been wiped clean.

• Buy a bigger bookshelf. Home offices often double as reading rooms, which makes them vulnerable to clutter associated with leisure time as well.

Books stacked in a corner or taking up space on your desk can create a cluttered look, but also compromise your ability to concentrate. A 2011 study from researchers at Princeton University published in The Journal of Neuroscience found that clutter can make it difficult to focus on a particular task. If books are strewn about your office, purchase a bookshelf that can hold them. Once books are shelved, the less cluttered space can make it easier to concentrate.

• Go digital. If space is limited, forgo traditional file cabinets in favour

of digitizing important records and documents. Scan important receipts and statements and store them on a desktop or backup hard drive so they’re never out of each. This creates space and makes it easier and quicker to find important files.

Home offices can quickly become overwhelmed with clutter. Some simple strategies can help any professional transform their home offices into more organized spaces.

Bruce Penton

Pictured above Kiersten Raschke, left, Hanna Keefe and coach Jason Raschke were the senior girls representing Biggar at Glencarin placing sixth as a team in Senior Provincials. (Submitted Photo)

and

ARIES –

Mar 21/Apr 20

Grit and guts will get you what you deserve this week, Aries. You may have an opportunity to make a good deal of money, so give this plan careful consideration. Ask for advice if the need arises.

TAURUS –

LIBRA –

Sept 23/Oct 23

Libra, even though some drama may be swirling in your universe, you find it tolerable because it’s coming at you in small portions. Just stay on the sidelines as much as possible.

SCORPIO –

Oct 24/Nov 22

CAPRICORN –

Dec 22/Jan 20

You are not normally characterized as “impulsive,” Capricorn. But you may surprise everyone this week. An opportunity to travel or another adventure could drop in your lap.

AQUARIUS –

Jan 21/Feb 18

306.237.7671

Apr 21/May 21

Taurus, there has been change in your life and you may want to blame the stars. Things will move out of your comfort zone and you will have to sharpen your ability to adapt.

GEMINI –

May 22/Jun 21

Gemini, you may be questioning the relationships in your life at the time being, but don’t worry too much. If you hit a rough patch, things will clear up in a few days.

CANCER –

Jun 22/Jul 22

Scorpio, if boredom has set in, it’s better to look to new experiences instead of doing something rash just for the thrill. See which classes you can take or find new restaurants to explore.

SAGITTARIUS –

Nov 23/Dec 21

Self-care and healing are what you should focus on right now, Sagittarius. You may have been pushing your needs to the side lately and you need to make this a priority.

A big shift in your perception and attitude will bring new components to your life that you may not have anticipated. This week you’ll certainly have a few eyes-wide-open moments.

LEO –

Price… 2.5 inches = $201.50 plus gst per 6-month prepaid commitment.

Jul 23/Aug 23

This

PHONE......306-951-0078 or 306-951-0098 SERVICES Naty/Michael…

what I worked up for

Try to create some tranquil spaces at home, Aquarius. You can use a haven, especially when a lot of stuff is thrown at you outside your home.

PISCES –

Feb 19/Mar 20

Pisces, you may be on a mission this week to get things done. Don’t rush in your efforts to complete everything or you are bound to make mistakes that are not easily fixed.

There will be no hiding out this week, Leo. You will soon learn that things will come your way at a rapid pace. Do your best to keep up, mighty Lion, as it’s bound to be exciting.

VIRGO –

Aug 24/Sept 22

Virgo, you might be willing to throw caution to the wind and get away on a moment’s notice. There are affordable ways to do this if you are willing to do your homework.

Please get back to me with changes/corrections by return email this morning. Thanks Urla (Answers on Page

by Pastor Ken Davidson, Perdue United Church He is Risen, He is Risen indeed. Celebrate Christ in this Easter season

and throughout the year!

Matthew 28; 5-8

The angel said to the woman, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go and tell his disciples. He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you

will see Him. Now I have told you.

So the woman hurried away from the Tomb, afraid yet filled with Joy!

1 Peter 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again. We have the privilege to be given a life everlasting. Because

Jesus died, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, He sent a comfort to live in us and guide us to live as Jesus did, with kindness and love for our fellow mankind.

Let us not be guided by this world’s standard, but, let us look after those who do not yet know the Joy of the Christian life! Let us be Christ’s ambassadors and have the world know Jesus through us!

Glory to God the Father, son and Holy Spirit!

Amen!

Exciting new from WATKINS

YELLOWSTONE SEASONING AND RUBS

Coming May 2024

Yellowstone Cattlemen Steak Grilling Seasoning and Rub

Yellowstone Cowboy BBQ Grilling Seasoning and Rub

Yellowstone Butter and Herb Grilling Seasoning and Rub

Yellowstone Smoky Bourbon Grilling Seasoning and Rub

YELLOWSTONE AROMATIC AND ORANGE BITTERS

Aromatic Bitter

Made with a hint of WATKINS Vanilla to lend a rich and warm dash of flavour to your favourite cocktail, Superior flavours derived from real ingredients like fruits, spices and vanilla

Orange Bitters

The sweet zest of orange blends with savoury WATKINS flavours of cloves and cardamom in this classic cocktail enhancer

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Barbara (Barb) Anne Swyryda, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister. Barb departed from this world on March 29, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of love, kindness, and cherished memories.

Born on June 19, 1945, Barbara Anne Swyryda lived a life filled with compassion, generosity, and unwavering strength.

Barb was a devoted wife to Donald, a nurturing mother to her three daughters, Lori (Henry) Bartee, Heather Gidluck, and Crystal (Leonard) Whiteford, and a source of endless love and guidance to her grandchildren (Brody), Raeann (Lane), Tara (Cole), and Kelsey (Rhyen) and great-grandson (Weston). Barb's family was the center of her world, and she trea-

sured every moment spent with them. She imparted wisdom, kindness, and unconditional love, leaving an enduring impact on each generation she touched.

In addition to Barb’s loving family, she is survived by her sister, Brenda (Brian) Thomas, who shared a special bond that transcended time and distance. She also left behind numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends who held a special place in her heart.

Barb will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her, but her memory will live on in the hearts of those she loved. In respect to her wishes, no Funeral Service will be held. Tributes may be directed to the Diamond Lodge Activities Fund. Arrangements entrusted to Gerein Funeral Service.

KEN BECKETT

February 13, 1960 - March 30, 2024

Ken’s family will be holding a celebration of life on Friday, April 12th at 1pm at McKague’s Funeral Chapel, 915 Acadia Dr, Saskatoon, SK.

Ken Beckett, much loved husband, devoted father, beloved grandfather, son, brother, andfriend, peacefully departed this life on March 30, 2024, at the age of 64. Born to Glenn and Eleanor Beckett on February 13, 1960, in Biggar, SK, Ken was the youngest sibling, adored by his sister and brothers, Joanne, Bill, and John.

Ken's journey began on the family farm, where he forged a deep connection to the land. From an early age, Ken built a strong relationship with his father while also building the family farm. It was at a Grey Cup party in Springwater, SK, in 1981, that he met the love of his life, Sherril. Over 43 years filled with love they married and had three children, Chris, Elyse, and Kaitlyn.

siu, camping, or road tripping. No matter how long his days were on the farm, he always made his family his priority and made sure to make them feel cherished and valued.

St. Gabriel roman CatholiC ChurCh

109 - 7th Ave.W, Biggar Father Edward Gibney

Parish Phone: 306-948-3330

Saturday Mass.......7:00p.m.

Sunday Mass....... 11:00a.m.

our lady of fatima CatholiC ChurCh, Landis Sunday Mass.......9:00a.m.

Presbyterians, Anglicans and Lutherans

St.Pauls Anglican Redeemer Lutheran 205 4th Ave. E 319 7th Ave. E APRIL 14, REDEEMER LUTHERAN

APRIL

Rev. Daphne Bender Pastor’s cellular Phone: 1-306-621-9559

Office

Biggar associated gospel church

312 - 8th Ave.W. and corner of Quebec St., Biggar

Sunday Service 10:30 a.m.

All are welcome to come and join us

Biggar United ChUrCh

REGULAR SERVICES

Ken found solace and joy in the rhythms of farm life. He farmed both grain and cattle, but had a special love for animals, including his cows, cats, and his beloved border collies over the years who faithfully assisted him in his work. When not busy farming, Ken enjoyed spending time with his friends, who he had remained close with since his school days.

Ken was involved with the Masons and found fulfilment in serving his community with them. He was a history buff and found joy in quiet afternoons spent watching history and travel shows with Red Rose tea and Peek Frean cookies.

Although dedicated to the farm, Ken’s greatest devotion was to his family. He was a loving father, and always made time for his children, whether getting up early so he could drive them to the ski hill for lessons, or embarking on spontaneous trips watersliding, annual trips to Waske-

If you see the “YOUNG” Gal wondering around the streets please say Happy 85th Birthday.

You are Invited to a COME and GO Birthday Tea at the New Horizon’s on April 13th from 2:00pm - 4:00pm

In 2014, Ken and Sherril retired from farming and relocated to Saskatoon to be closer to family. He enjoyed newfound leisure pursuits like walking his dog around the neighbourhood, taking in the jazz festival, kayaking, and cycling. He was able to travel the world with his family, including trips to Europe, Mexico, and many cruises. He loved his grandchildren and was proud to be their “Papa”. He could be found crawling on the floor playing, reading books to them, and pushing swings at the park. In the face of his Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2022, Ken's unwavering optimism remained a beacon of strength for his family. He often spoke of his pride for his children and conveyed boundless love to his family at every opportunity.

Ken leaves behind a legacy of love and resilience cherished by his wife Sherril, children, Chris (Kristina) Beckett, Elyse (Jeremy) Eng, Kaitlyn Beckett, grandchildren, Eva, Eric, and Charlotte, siblings, Joanne (Dave), and John (Kathy), step-mom Mary, step-brother James (Mika), sister-in-law Marilyn, and cousin Evalynn Mann. He is also survived by his father-in-law Eric Gateley, sister-in-laws Diane, Brenda, and Joan, brother-in-laws Dave (Glenna), Brian (Annette), and Steve (Sook), and numerous other relatives and friends. He is predeceased by his parents, Eleanor and Glenn, and his brother, Bill.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Ken’s memory to the Alzheimer Society.

We would like to give heartfelt thanks to the amazing staff at the Parkridge Dementia Assessment Unit and the Luther Special Care Home. They treated Ken with exceptional caring, kindness, and dignity. They showed our family incredible compassion and we will miss our visits in the sunroom there.

SUNDAY 11:00 am

Pastor Dale Worrall

Inquires Call Church Office 306-948-2280 Leave Message

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

SATURDAY SERVICES

BIBLE STUDY 10:00a.m.

CHURCH SERVICE 11:00a.m.

320 - 6th ave.east contact: 306-951-8445 3 abn www.amazingfacts.org

Howard Powell School gets ready for anniversary

Serving the Community for 78 Years

by Holly Frechette

This July, former students, teachers staff and supporters of Howard Powell School will gather to celebrate the cornerstone of education in the early days of our district.

First, a little bit of history!

As the 1950s started, the decline of students and difficulty in hiring teachers to teach at one room school houses was becoming more common.

The teachers wanted to teach in larger centres where there were more amenities available. There was also the social isolation that came with teaching in small rural locations. By 1952, eight local districts were facing these problems.

Talk amongst parents was that they should construct one school that would accommodate all the students in the area and have the children bussed to a central location. Many meetings were held in different districts and a local board of representatives approached the Rosetown School Board with their proposal. The school was proposed to be built at what was known as Mikes corner on Highway 4, halfway between Biggar and Rosetown. It was decided that three school buses would be required to transport the children from their districts to this new location.

On January 23, 1953 representatives from Austin, Britton, Emerson, Kingsland, Longdale, Marriott and Rowena met with the Rosetown Board and the first draft for

the new school was submitted. It was decided that in honour of the former Municipal Secretary-Treasurer of the Marriott RM and the first chairman of the Rosetown School Unit Board that the new district would be called the Howard Powell Union School District. The school was to be built with the hope of being open for the beginning of the 1953 fall term. Several of the former district’s one room school houses were moved to the site of the new school and were renovated for teacherages.

On June 9, 1953 teachers were hired for the school year ahead and bus drivers were engaged at the end of August. The opening school day was set for September 15, 1953. The school itself was not ready for the students and teachers but classes did begin using the teacher-ages as classrooms.

On September 21, 1953 the Glenellen School District joined with the other seven districts to complete the amalgamated districts that formed Howard Powell School. Howard Powell was the first, and possibly only, amalgamated school to be formed totally in a rural setting. Initially there were three teachers and 90 students enrolled in Grades 1 to 10. The school boasted four classrooms, two playrooms, a library, an office and a kitchen/staff room as well as boys and girls indoor bathrooms. The students were able to move into the new school on March of 1954

and a Grand Opening was held on March 12, 1954. The addition of an auditorium came in 1963 that saw Christmas concerts, oratory contests, sporting events, showers and social gettogethers. Over the years Howard Powell would see fluctuations in enrolment and teaching staff, but over 300 students received a quality education inside its walls. Over 50 teachers taught there over a period of 30 years.

Howard Powell would continue to operate until June 30, 1983 when the enrolment had dropped too low to continue to be feasible.

The school would eventually be sold to a local area farmer who turned it into his home.

On July 20, 2024 we are having a reunion for everyone whoever attended Howard Powell as a student, teacher, caretaker or bus driver. It has been 70 years since the school first opened and we wanted to give everybody a chance to get together for one last time. We are planning a day of visiting and renewing old acquaintances at the Biggar Hall with a roast beef supper catered by Marci Ellis. Various memorabilia will hopefully be on display and a history book with class pictures will be available for sale.

If you attended, taught or drove a school bus and have not been contacted yet please contact Sandra Shannon at 306-8318041 or Holly Frechette at hollyfrechette@ yahoo.ca.

Howard Powell School