The Biggar Independent Volume #114 Issue #32

Pastoral ... The lazy days of summer continue, and looking out our window, the colours on display are moving and breathtaking. Who says there is nothing to see in Saskatchewan?

(Independent Photo by Dale Buxton)

A fantastic weekend for the annual Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group rally in Biggar, August 5-6. There were 65 registered bikes with many others coming to enjoy the fellowship. There was a run out to Springwater for lunch at Route 51, capped off with a nice supper in the Biggar Regional Park Saturday evening. On Sunday morning 90 people came to a breakfast put on by the Biggar Masonic Lodge followed by a fantastic lunch also put on by the Masonic Lodge. The bike show was at 11 a.m. at the Regional Park with winners picked from the voting members. It was a great day for all and promises to be even better next year. (Independent Photos by Dale Buxton)

Biggar RCMP report

Biggar RCMP report

by Sgt. Dereck Crozier, Biggar Detachment

Hope everyone enjoyed their long week and managed to get a little R&R in.

It is that time of the year when we will start to see an influx of agricultural equipment moving around on our roads. I would like to ask that people be observant and patient as our rural neighbours are busy moving things around. Safety first ... if there is no room to pass, don’t take unnecessary chances if your view is obstructed.

However, road safety also falls on the person moving the equipment as well. Markers, lights and pilot vehicles should all be considered, and if it takes up the entire span of the roadway, consideration should be given to breaking down and moving pieces on there own.

This week members dealt with 45 occurrences, traffic education was provided to 19 motorists and nine others warned. One collision with a deer on Highway 376 in the RM of Eagle Creek, causing a white Ford Escort to break trail down an embankment and into some bush. All were okay, the vehicle continued to attract attention at its place of rest until the tow could visit. Even then the Escort continued to put up a fight and claimed a cable as it was not quite ready to leave the area.

Report of 50 Konotopetz Bails being stolen from the Arelee area. Four suspicious person complaints, three of which were in and around the Kinley area.

Members assist EMS with a medical call. One female was transported by STARS into Saskatoon.

Towards the last days of July, members responded to 40 occurrences and at the end of all the weekly shenanigans, patience and temperature of the town was at a high.

After breaking into the

Immigrants working hard to settle in Biggar

liquor store, 23-year-old

Tami Falcon has been arrested and charged and will be appearing in North Battleford court on 13 counts of various charges for Break and Enter, Assault, Arson, Mischief and fail to comply with probation order, release order, and undertaking from previous court appearances. In the previous pursuit of justice, her Teflon coat has worked well, but sooner or later it all wears out.

Josh Edwards, 40, was arrested on warrant and will be back before the Biggar provincial court in September, but until then, we were able to assist him in finding a men’s shelter to reside at, so you can now freely get in and out of the downtown businesses without his pan handling disturbances and blocking of sidewalks.

RM of Eagle Creek had reported an abandoned vehicle in the area. RM of Glenside reports mischief to cattle water troughs.

A motor vehicle versus deer in the RM of Perdue, reports of poor driving habits in our residential areas consistently with speed near areas with children and stop signs that drivers don’t understand. Twelve drivers received an invitation to contribute to traffic safety and five others were warned it may be soon coming.

One homeowner did there best after catching an early morning thief in their yard stealing fruit, after a short dual with a broom, it was lights out for this culprit as they were trapped under the garbage can. Despite the culprit’s protest no spikes were getting through the can. Eventually a truce was called, as the homeowner negotiated their rightful ownership of the goods and the thief had to move on.

Bingo Numbers for August 10

B-1 I-17 N-39 G-47 O-73

There are new faces in the community. Some have settled here for economic reasons, while other escaping persecution and war.

And they are making a massive effort to fit into their new home in Biggar.

Battlefords Immigration Resource Centre (BIRC), a non-profit organization funded by the Federal and

by Erroll Horst, Biggar Fire Department July practises focused mainly on vehicles.

We had a couple practices involving extrication techniques where we partnered up our experienced members with the

Provincial government located in North Battleford, has been working with the new residents at Great Plains College’s campus in Biggar, under the tutelage of Jennifer Lindgren, English Additional Language (EAL) teacher.

“We cater to newcomers in the Battlefords and other communities, including smaller towns

and rural areas like your town in Biggar,” explained Annette Mcgovern, BIRC Executive Director.

BIRC’s services include settlement assistance for Temporary Foreign Workers, landed immigrants, visitors, and Canadian citizens, as well as connecting them with the community, providing youth workshops/ activities, and language

Biggar Fire Report

newer members to get them some time working together and knowledge of the tools abilities. We also trained on proper techniques in dealing with vehicle fires. One practise was dedicated to maintenance on

the trucks to make sure everything is in good condition, ready to go and of course shiny.

During the month of July there were nine calls including, two STARS landings, two Motor Vehicle Collisions, one

referrals. Whether newcomers are from outside of Canada or relocated from another Canadian province, BIRC provides support.

You can check out their website at battlefordsimmigration.ca or their Facebook page, Battlefords Immigration Resource Centre.

structure fire and four false alarms. We were also involved in an incident at the Malt Plant involving an overheating storage bin. This would bring our total calls so far in 2023 to 51.

Great Plains College’s Biggar Campus has new residents working on their English language skills as part of the Battlefords Immigration Resource Centre (BIRC) federal and provincial governments program. (Independent Photo by Dale Buxton)

Biggar firefighters practice vehicle fires and extrication’s. (Submitted Photo)

by Ian Boxall, President, Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatch-

ewan (APAS)

Grain contracts are in the media again, and with many areas in Saskatchewan experiencing drought conditions, there is a concern that many farmers will suffer a repeat of 2021, highlighting a long-standing problem with contracts.

For many Saskatchewan grain farmers, this isn’t news. Over the past few years, farmers have been raising concerns around the lack of transparency grain purchase contract terms and conditions. These concerns were exacerbated by the drought in 2021.

In response to these concerns, APAS has been advocating for more balance into grain contracts by improving clarity of terms and conditions to help create greater transparency and accountability for both buyers and sellers.

After the 2021 drought, APAS and SaskCrops hired Mercantile Consulting Venture Inc. to create a report to identify the common issues expe-

Grain Contract issues far from ‘settled’

rienced by farmers, plus potential solutions. The full report was released in July 2022 and is available on the APAS website.

The report validates the concerns raised by Saskatchewan farmers when it comes to their comfort with grain contract terms and conditions. Specific concerns focused on four areas: lack of transparency in calculating buyout and administrative fees, settlement costs, timing of buyouts, and inconsistency in handling contract shortfalls.

While many producers showed an interest in standardizing grain contracts and standard contract resolution procedures, many are also questioning the use of forward contracts as they are now written due to the lack of transparency and added risk.

For example, contract terms should not transfer an unfair amount of risk - in terms of grain handling, transportation, and market risk, to farmers. The report outlines several examples of these risks being reallocated through contracts, including how railcar

availability can impact farmers through expanded or delayed delivery windows, even though farmers are not involved in those commercial negotiations.

Grain contracts are important business tools to facilitate transportation and sales, as well as to manage market and price risk. Improving contracts to enhance efficiency and transparency is not only positive for grain farmers, but also buyers and the entire industry. Therefore, APAS believes this issue should continue to be a top priority for our industry and for the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC).

The CGC has a role in bringing buyers and sellers together to facilitate a process to address these issues. The CGC can assist in adopting a standardized contract that is fair and balanced to both parties, educating producers about contracts, as well as facilitating contract disputes.

APAS has met with the Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA) to discuss contract

concerns following the release of the report last year. Going forward, we need to initiate discussions with stakeholders and government bodies to move this issue and our recommendations forward.

This isn’t about shifting production risk from farmers to grain companies. Instead, we want to clearly define contract terms and conditions, so farmers better understand their responsibilities, clarify timelines,

and know their options available when either party is unable to fulfil a contract.

An efficient grain supply chain depends on trust and cooperation between all partners along the value chain. More consistency, trans-

parency and accountability in grain contracts will benefit the entire industry by smoothing product flow while helping to ensure farmers and grain buyers can capture international market opportunities.

Lack of government accountability a big problem

saw with the recent dump of Crown annual reports.

The Crown Investment Corp. (Saskatchewan’s holding company for our public utilities) made a paltry $7.4 million in 2022-23 consolidated net earnings compared with $361 million in 2021-22.

Provincial Viewpoint

Murray Mandryk

The unwillingness of politicians and bureaucrats to held accountable for the spending of our tax dollars is becoming rather alarming.

Reasons for such concern at the municipal, provincial and federal level are all too numerous of late ... although many will argue that this has always been the case.

But it does seem especially bad lately, as we

According to this year’s CIC report, those consolidated earnings were “$242.5 million under target.”

It’s massive blow to the Crowns, and government that somewhat relies on Crown dividends to supplement the running of line departments.

(Perhaps one place where we have become more accountable - and there have been positive advancements since the low ebb of accountability in the 1980s - is the Saskatchewan Party government’s decision to move away from general revenue fund budgeting that

allowed the previous NDP government use Crown surpluses to claim the books were balanced.)

According to the CIC report, the biggest reason for the CIC’s profit decline is “a $172.1-million loss at SaskPower, which was a result of increased fuel costs driven by improved economic conditions.”

Higher natural gas prices and increased coal burning was “also contributing to the decrease in earnings: along with increased storm maintenance and overhaul costs, small modular reactor feasibility studies, and higher interest rates on debt.”

As for other major Crowns: SaskTel made $104 million (about the same as the previous year); SaskEnergy, made $59 million in 2022-23 compared with $158 million in 2021-22; and SGI posted a $24-million

profit, compared with $82 million in the previous year.

Crown Investment Corp. Minister Don Morgan did cite the same problems at SaskPower as mentioned in the report and “more frequent severe weather events, inflation, supply chain pressures, and labour market issues” that cut into SGI’s profits.

Unfortunately, we’ll just have to take his word for this because there was no chance this year to question Crown officials as is done every other year.

In fact, there really wasn’t even an opportunity for reporters to peruse or ask technical questions in advance this year.

As noted by NDP Opposition leader Carla Beck: “There were no news releases no technical briefings for journalists and it meant no press conferences.”

The “reason” for this is

because the province is in the middle of three byelections - two in Regina and one just outside Regina - where Elections Saskatchewan rules has rules about government advertising or using the avails of office to promote itself.

But this is largely a silly excuse to skirt accountability.

The Crown annual reports could have and should have been released one or two months before the by-elections as they normally are.

But even so, news conferences or briefings could still have been held in Saskatoon or outside Regina during the byelection.

That would have been the accountable thing to do and government accountability is something we’re not seeing anywhere these days.

Regina City Council has

just received a $90,000 consultant’s report saying it was really no one’s fault (except perhaps for a junior employee of Regina Exhibition Associated Ltd.) that senior managers allowed the launch of the failed $30,000 “Show us your Regina” Experience Regina tourism campaign.

Across the lake at the legislature, no one is to blame for the $11.6million out-of-court settlement of a lawsuit by Brandt Properties that thought it had the authority from someone in the Sask. Party government to start building a fourstorey office complex in Wascana Centre.

Like the Global Transportation Hub land flip or the $1.6-billion Regina bypass, no one is being held to account.

This seems to be trend of late.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls

One of the most popular Chinese take-out dishes is Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls. My recipe for this is better than what you will ever get at a restaurant. This is recipe is featured in my cookbook Cooking Around the World with Chef Dez, available on my website or Amazon worldwide.

“Reverend” Mason

gregation.

Chef Dez on cooking

Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls

(Recipe created by Chef Dez, chefdez.com)

“An oil thermometer or a deep fryer with a thermostat is a must for this recipe.”

398 ml can of pineapple tidbits or chunks, drained and juice reserved.

3 tablespoons cornstarch.

1.25 cups white sugar.

3/4 cup white vinegar.

1/2 cup ketchup.

1/3 cup dark brown sugar.

1 teaspoon salt.

1 tablespoon canola oil.

1 small red onion, cut into large pieces. Canola oil for frying

1/2 cup all-purpose flour.

1/2 cup cornstarch.

2 teaspoons baking powder.

2 teaspoons salt.

2 teaspoons white sugar.

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.

1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons cold water.

1 kg chicken breast filets, or chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces.

1.) Mix the reserved pineapple juice (should be approximately 2/3 cup of juice) with the three tablespoons of cornstarch in a medium mixing bowl. Then mix in the 1.25 cups white sugar, white vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, and the one teaspoon of salt and set aside. Reserve the pineapple pieces separately.

2.) Heat a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add the one tablespoon of canola oil and then the onion pieces. Sauté for one minute.

3.) Add the reserved sauce mixture from step one to the pan and bring to a full rolling boil to completely thicken the sauce, stirring consistently. Once thickened, remove from the heat, stir in the reserved pineapple, and set aside.

4.) In a large deep pot, add enough canola oil for about a four- to five-inch depth of oil. Heat the oil until you can maintain a consistent temperature of 350 to 375°F (or use a deep fryer set at 375°F). You must leave lots of room in the pot for expansion of the hot oil when cooking the chicken otherwise you risk it boiling over and causing a grease fire.

5.) In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, half cup cornstarch, baking powder, two teaspoons salt, two teaspoons white sugar, and garlic powder. Then whisk in the cold water to make a batter. Add the chicken pieces and mix completely by hand so that all the chicken pieces are coated.

6.) Working in batches, quickly and carefully add about 10 to 15 chicken pieces to the hot oil - it is important to add the chicken pieces individually so that they stay separate from each other. Fry until golden brown and crispy, approximately four minutes. Move the chicken pieces around a bit in the hot oil as they cook. Once done, transfer to a paper towel lined tray.

7.) Repeat step six until all the chicken is cooked.

8.) Combine the sauce and chicken together in a serving dish and enjoy!

Makes approximately 10 cups

Send your food/cooking questions to dez@chefdez. com or P.O. Box 2674, Abbotsford, B.C., V2T 6R4. Chef Dez is a Food Columnist, Culinary Travel Host and Cookbook Author. Visit him at chefdez.com

Notable Notes

Bob Mason

Going through my old ledger the other day, a heading really caught my eye.

Under “R” it mentioned “Reverend Mason”. Of course I read on and on, and with apologies to any religious group who might be offended by the the title, here’s what it was all about!

Most people have heard of Reverend Bill Kiesman who used to be our minister in Perdue. Well, Bill, besides a lot of other things, was quite a sportsman and curled a lot.

Being a man of the cloth, of course, he was pretty well-read, and over the years had acquired some pretty profound information. Some of which he used when picking a curling team.

In a book somewhere, he had read “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”, and of course he had no choice and often got me as lead on his rink for the annual Legion Bonspiel!

So we got to know each other fairly well but it was a surprise when he asked me one day if I could speak to his con-

Being the strong silent type, Yours Truly (Y.T.) demurred quite a bit, but when Reverend Kiesman reminded him that there wasn’t a lot of old soldiers around anymore to report on the “Great Unpleasantness”, and that his next sermon was on November 11, Y.T. finally said that he would.

Although one of my grandfathers in his time had been a “lay minister” and is listed in one of the local histories as a “fine old man”, his activities and opinions in the past had in no way qualified me to speak from a pulpit. Although when we were kids, Mother and Dad had often insisted that we go to church, I had never considered that any of us were particularly religious.

Certainly, it had never occurred to me at that time that there would ever come a day when I would stand up there and talk to any congregation!

Nevertheless, Reverend Kiesman kindly invited me to say something on November 11, and I scribbled out a few lines. Here they are:

“Thank you Reverend Kiesman and hello folks!

“I hope you don’t mind me carrying this scrap of paper up here. My memory isn’t perfect anymore. As a matter of fact, a lot of my two thousand parts aren’t perfect anymore, either!

“I hope that none of you folks see me up here and go into shock! It’s almost unbelievable to me to be standing up here and

talking to the same congregation as Reverend Kiesman has.

“I do have a couple of qualifications, though, and the main one is that I read years ago about a person who said, ‘In as much as you have done these things unto the least of these, you have done them unto me!’ And everyone knows that I am one of the least.

“Another reason that I’m up here is that I happen to be a graduate of the University of World War Two!

“We studied in quite a few places in northwest Europe ... and what a learning experience! But I’m sorry to report that quite a few of the students didn’t get a diploma. Because these fellows can’t be here today, I imagine that Reverend Kiesman expects me to say a few words on their behalf.

“So here goes.

“Remembrance Day is just around the corner. For so many of us, it means a lot. A day to remember all those fellows who didn’t make it home.

“And it is only right that we should remember them, especially on this one day, for they were all good guys!

“Sure, many in the service had terrible reputations. There are many stories of awful things that people did, but basically, they were all good fellows. Mothers’ sons and fathers’ sons who belonged to families that they loved, we should remember them.

“As recently as 400 years ago, Mr. William Shakespeare - probably a far-off relation of Reverend William Kiesman - wrote about the Remembrance Day of his time. I quote from Henry V: ‘And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remembered...’

“I’m willing to wager that a person could ask a room full of school teachers when St. Crispin’s Day was, and, I’m fairly sure none of them would be able to tell. As a matter of fact, if someone asked them what century the Battle of Agincourt was fought, few would be able to tell.

“The whole deal, despite Mr. Shakespeare’s prediction, has been forgotten. And I wonder if a few hundred years down the road, anyone will know what November 11 was all about!

“Sure, on Remembrance Day we veterans will ‘remember with advantages, what deeds were done that day.’ But let no one who witnesses the pageantry of November 11 be even slightly envious of these fellows whose glory came from killing their fellow man!

Far, far from it. Rather, every day of the year we should remember the one person whose glory came, not from killing his enemies, but from forgiving them for what they did to him!

“I don’t think I should say anymore. Thank you!”

SRC continues to show strong value through its 2022-23 economic impact assessment

The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) celebrated 20 years of providing strong value and economic impacts to the Saskatchewan economy by releasing its 202223 economic impact numbers, July 31, which continue that tradition.

SRC’s economic impact assessment for 2022-23 boasts impacts of more than $930 million in direct economic benefits to the province, the second highest year on record. In addition, the work done at SRC contributed to the creation or maintenance of over 1,473 jobs in Saskatchewan, valued at an additional $89 million. These impressive impact numbers were

also accompanied by an annual revenue of $232 million generated by SRC in 2022-23.

“SRC continues to work with key Saskatchewan industries providing them with the support and services they need to grow and strengthen the Saskatchewan economy,” Minister Responsible for SRC Jeremy Harrison said. “The continued positive economic impacts provided by SRC help to make Saskatchewan the best province to live, work and raise a family.”

“In the two decades that SRC has been assessing our economic impacts, we have demonstrated a strong and consistent history of leveraging pro-

vincial investment to provide valuable services to industry and deliver positive economic impacts to the economy,” SRC President and CEO Mike Crabtree said. “This year was no different - in 2022-23, for every dollar invested in SRC by the provincial government, a 46 times return was achieved.”

Since SRC began assessing impacts in 2003, it has assessed over $14.6

billion in combined economic and job impacts in Saskatchewan.

SRC is Canada’s second largest research and technology organization. With nearly 350 employees, $232 million in annual revenue and more than 75 years of experience, SRC provides services and products to its 1,600 clients in 22 countries around the world.

Chef Dez

Ask The Money Lady

Christine Ibbotson

Dear Money Lady,

I have recently separated from my partner and am finding it really hard to figure out my finances and make ends meet. I am only making the interest payments on my credit line that is now maxed and I have cancelled my gym membership and even Netflix. I don’t even want to indulge in buying grapes at the store because I can’t afford it. Please help.

Julie Dear Julie

Hang in there, it will get better!

Divorced, separated, and starting over can be very hard on you personally, let alone financially. Having to accept the stress of a divorce with or without children can be very traumatic and monetary decisions can seem overwhelming. We all deal with money every day and for something so common, it can sometimes make very little sense. How to balance your budget, how to save, how much to spend and what future decisions to make; these are the questions that most people grapple with.

So, let’s look at some options right now that you can do to fix your situation.

First - if you are low on

income every month you need to earn more. Your ability to earn an income is your greatest asset. Could you take on a parttime job doing something you are good at? - sewing, gardening, computer skills, baby-sitting, senior companionship, anything that can make you a little more each month. Another option could be to slim down what you own and start selling it online for quick cash.

Second, look for ways to save on banking, mortgages, and lines of credit. It might be necessary to get a consolidation loan or perhaps refinance your mortgage to amalgamate your debt.

Why not ponder looking at a local credit union instead of one of the Big-5 banks? They tend to be a lot better on personalized advice and finan-

cial counselling. Credit unions also have much lower loan rates, no-fee banking, and lower cost options on a variety of banking products. Unlike the “big banks,” credit unions focus on providing members with financial services at an affordable fee and give back to their members and community. The Big-5 banks serve their investors with their ultimate goal being to maximize returns for their shareholders.

If you are really struggling, don’t be shy to find your way to a local food bank or pantry service

and ask for grocery assistance. Lean on a friend or family member to help you out and seek guidance on how to improve your situation. Community outlets that offer free food bring people together and I’ve met many lovely, caring volunteers who give up their time to help out.

Lastly, keep a journal either on your phone or on paper. It is imperative that you plan your way out of your troubles and into financial freedom. Brain-dump all your thoughts out, write them down, read them, and

start strategizing ways to get better. Track all your spending and educate yourself about moneyhow to make it, how to spend it, and most of all how to keep it.

Good Luck and Best Wishes!

Written by Christine Ibbotson, author, finance writer, national radio host, and now on CTV Morning Live, and CTV News @6. Send your money questions (answered free) through her website at askthemoneylady.ca

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

RURAL MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATOR POSITION

e RM of Reford #379 is currently accepting application for the position of Rural Municipal Administrator. is position comes with a full bene ts including:

• Pension Bene ts

• Health and Dental Coverage

• Short Term Disability Coverage

• Long Term Disability Coverage

• Life Insurance

• Glasses Coverage, Etc.

e person selected for this position will require at minimum a Rural “C” certi cate issued by the Rural Municipal Administrators Association of Saskatchewan with 3 to 5 years’ experience in Local Government Administration. A de nite asset to this position would be experience with the Muniso Computer System.

e o ce is located in the Town of Wilkie approximately 35 km southwest of the Battlefords. For more information, you could contact the RM directly at:

Phone: 306 843-2342

E-mail rm379@sasktel.net

Fax: 306 843-2455

Anyone interested in this position could send your resume stating Certi cate held, Years of experience and salary expected to:

RM of Reford #379 Box 100 Wilkie, Sk.

S0K 4W0

Or by fax or e-mail.

Don McCallum Interim Administrator

Rollin’ down the road in the future

human drivers don’t themselves do a particularly good job behind the wheel, which accounts for so many deaths on our highways, and countless accidents which keep fleets of tow trucks busy.

Agriculture

Calvin Daniels

by Calvin Daniels

What will the vehicles we drive look like in say a decade from now?

Ten years is not too great a length of time, but one should expect some rather dramatic changes in vehicles given a number of factors.

To start with there is the idea of autonomous driving vehicles.

Some of course see the idea as absurd, at least on a large scale, given the ever changing conditions we face as we drive. Can sensors recognize every danger, and will a computer make the correct decision to deal with the massive pothole, a child running into the street, or a patch of black ice?

Of course the response to that concern is that

In some situations autonomous - once finetuned - will be better. The computer won’t get behind the wheel intoxicated, and won’t fall asleep after a long day.

Conversely there will be times a human driver would likely do better.

The bottom line in my mind though is autonomous vehicles are a thing, and a decade from now are going to be in broader use.

Of more interest to farmers and to Western Canada is what fuel will be powering our vehicles.

In Saskatchewan and Alberta, many are still going to rally to the cause of oil, and given the wealth of big oil companies to lobby, gasoline and diesel are going to be around for far longer than a decade.

But, there is a government push, fuelled at least in part by a broader consumer demand than you find from people on the Prairies, to move away from fossil fuels.

Farmers aren’t totally

opposed to that idea, since blending renewable fuel into gasoline and diesel can be one way to achieve a reduction.

Ethanol from grain and canola based bio-diesel can be a huge boon as an alternate market for farmers, although it does come with a caveat of worry whether grain for cars is a good thing when too many still starve in this world.

There are also those who see electric as the way to leave fossil fuels to the history books.

Like much of the likely changes to what we drive, electric vehicles have holes to patch, from sources of resources such as lithium, the environmental impact of disposing of old cars/batteries, how far a battery charge takes you, and can the power grid deal with hundreds of thousands of electric cars charging?

But think back 10 years and electric cars were pretty much the stuff of science fiction, and today most dealership have them in their lots.

Imagine where 10 more years could take the technology, and might farming have a role to play in what will be a decidedly different vehicular future.

Biggar Food Truck wins awards at Food Wars ... Congratulations to Cucina ni Flora for being voted “Fan Vote Best Dessert Vendor” and “Fan Vote Best Food Vendor” at this years Foodtruck Wars in Saskatoon on July 22-24. (Submitted Photo)

Fas Gas says “Thanks” ... Biggar Fas Gas held a Customer Appreciation Day, August 3. Tasty treats and drinks were the order of the day as the Main Street businesses showed their gratitude to area residents. (Independent Photo by Dale Buxton)

In search of photos of the veg patch in their backyards!

by Delta Fay Cruickshank for the Biggar Museum and Gallery

How’s your garden growing this year?

Ours at the museum is doing great. Just harvested all the cucumbers and processed them into Hot Dog Relish that will

be available during the Christmas Magic Auction on Facebook that will take place at the end of November and first of December. The self-seeded sunflowers are just awesome this year. We may need a chainsaw to take them

down in November! In the meantime, it’s fun to watch the birds grabbing some seeds. We planted them last year to honour those suffering in Ukraine with that war, which unfortunately continues.

The sunflower is a symbol of Ukraine. My heart goes out to those people to have got through COVID and now having to live through a devastating war. I shake my head at the insanity of it all.

The gardens at home

are producing. Lydia planted them this year and they look beautiful! The peas are delicious, and we will likely have more than enough zucchini! The purple pole beans are slow though. What did the homesteaders first grow to eat? Likely potatoes I would say. Do you have memories and pictures of your great granny’s garden? I would sure like a copy if you had some. If you bring them in, we can copy them and return them back to you.

Seems back in the day, ones’ humble veg patch out back did not warrant photography. I looked all through MemorySask and only found these two photos that actually showed an edible crop. Cabbages, lots of cabbages! Did these cabbages end up in Biggar, or did they go to Saskatoon? Did they all get made into sauerkraut? So many questions!

But surely to goodness cabbage was not the only crop for the table people grew. Was there a farmers’ market back in the

‘40’s? Did someone have market gardens back in the day? We had good grocery stores, did they sell local produce? Again, so many questions! If you know anything at all, please call me at the museum 306-948-3451.

Homesteading Memories Lizard Lake 1906

by Delta Fay Cruickshank for the Biggar Museum and Gallery

Can you imagine coming all the way from England to see your father whom you had not seen in over a year, and he not there waiting for you!

I have been reading the story, written by Olive L. Johnston, about her family, the Francis Pinchings. The story is in Volume II of the “A Harvest of Memories”, available at the museum.

Francis had to leave England because of his health. Back in those days, one “cure” for tuberculosis was moving to a drier climate. And that is one thing we can boast about our weather here in Saskatchewan.

In the spring of 1906, Francis left his comfortable life in Gloucestershire, England and set up homesteading on the NE 6-30-13, the north end of Lizard Lake.

It was a stark contrast to Gloucestershire! He moved into what the previous owner abandoned, a four-room log cabin with a caved in roof! If you have the Harvest of Memories, check this

story out on page 670 Volume II.

In 1907 the rest of the family and grandmother set out on the Empress of Ireland to join father. They did write to inform them of their travel plans arrival times et cetera. But he never received that letter!

When they arrived and no one was there to greet them, they got help from an Anglican minister, Reverend Goode. They have had to sleep on the platform for who knows how long! It was Fair Days in Saskatoon and the town was full, but the Reverend was able to find them cots in unfinished house.

Eventually they heard that father had been in Saskatoon a few days previously, but there was no way to get hold of him - no phones back then! We should all be so thankful for the technology advancements since then!

The Reverend heard after asking around that the postmaster from Baljennie was in the town to pick up the weekly mail. Mr. Megaffin agreed to take the family to his

home, and then on to father’s homestead. After a terrifying trip on rowboat and very fast buckboard they were fed well and given comfortable beds for the night by Mrs. Megaffin. The next day the postmaster dumped them in the yard of the hopefully which was father’s! It was terrifying for poor Granny; she was

sure there were all kinds of threats to their lives in the bush surrounding the homestead! Eventually, father returned and was so surprised thinking his family had been “dropped from heaven”!

The Olive’s memories go on through the pages. One stood out for me. We have been talking about the lakes in our area, and

Lizard Lake and Ranger Lake have been mentioned. Did you know that the Indigenous in the are of those lakes referred to Lizard Lake as the “lake of the evil spirit”? They would not cross it in the winter because of this. Trapped air under the ice would make very awful noises on a very cold night, enough to scare

anyone off!

The stories go on, and I recommend you have a read just so one can grasp the hardships and the generosity of the people who homesteaded these lands.

Lizard Lake in 1935, homesteading stories in 1906. (Photo for The Independent by the Biggar Museum and Gallery)

Mr. and Mrs. Pek in 1925 with their cabbage crop. (Photos for The Independent by the Biggar Museum and Gallery)

Another cabbage crop in 1930.

Water Security Agency supporting farmers and ranchers through drought

Today, the Water Security Agency (WSA) announced it will make water and vacant land available to support farmers and ranchers experiencing drought conditions.

“With the well below normal amounts of moisture in many areas across Saskatchewan our government is working hard to support our farmers and ranchers,” Minister Responsible for the Water Security Agency Jeremy Cockrill said. “WSA is looking to make water available to producers in areas experiencing drought conditions or allow ranchers to utilize vacant WSA owned lands for feed supplies.”

WSA owns and manages agricultural lands across Saskatchewan for water management purposes. Farmers and ranchers near WSA lands are encouraged to contact the agency to see if there are any underutilized or vacant lands that could be made available.

Farmers and ranchers are also not required to obtain a water rights license when hauling water from a municipal

DEADLINE

supply like an RM tankload facility. If you own or occupy land near water like deep or shallow wells, springs, lakes, sloughs, streams, creeks and rivers and want to use it for watering stock or spraying crops, no permit is needed.

“We recognize the serious challenges Saskatchewan producers are currently facing due to ongoing dry conditions in many areas,” Minister of Agriculture David Marit said. “We’re moving quickly at every level to investigate additional relief options such as this one by WSA, while our existing business risk management programs such as AgriInvest, AgriStability and AgriInsurance continue to be a primary line of defense for producers.”

“With deteriorating conditions due to prolonged drought, feed availability is a top priority for producers looking to maintain their herds,” SCA Board Chair Keith Day said. “Any solutions that bring more feed online for livestock to access is welcome, and this is another option for those in need.”

WSA will also be prioritizing farmers and rancher’s applications for licenses. Hauling water from a WSA reservoir or other provincial water supply typically requires a temporary water rights license. These applications will be prioritized and issued within 48 hours or less.

Synchrotron key in identifying protein could help fight cancer

Researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) have identified a new protein that helps an oral bacterium thrive in other locations around the body. The discovery could eventually lead to the development of new drugs that specifically target the protein.

“This bacterium is common in the mouths of humans and generally doesn’t cause disease in that location. However, it can travel through the bloodstream to other areas of the body, which leads to some pretty big health concerns,” says Dr. Kirsten Wolthers, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Microbiology at UBC’s Okanagan Campus.

Most notably, this bacteria is prevalent in the tumours of colorec-

tal cancer patients. The presence of the bacteria can contribute to tumour growth, spread of cancer to other sites in the body, and resistance to chemotherapy.

With the help of the CMCF beamline at the Canadian Light Source (CLS), located at the University of Saskatchewan, Wolthers and her colleagues determined that the new protein they identified enables the bacteria to take essential nutrients, such as iron, from our blood cells.

“Most of the iron in the body is tied up in a molecule called “heme” which is surrounded by a protein cage,” says Wolthers. “What we’ve discovered now is a new way for this bacterium to acquire essential nutrients from a very abundant source

allowing it to grow very well in parts of the body that are free of oxygen.” This newly identified protein may prove to be a good target for drugs designed to attack this specific bacterium.

Wolthers says that a lot of protein research relies on synchrotron technology. Without access to the CLS, her team would have been unable to identify the distinct section of the protein that binds to the heme.

“The synchrotron technology helped us see the bit of the protein that was unique and interesting and allowed us to find a scaffold that could help with drug design,” says Wolthers. “We just needed the experimental data that was provided by the Canadian Light Source.”

3 basics of budgeting with your first credit card

WSA encourages producers to contact our Client Service Centre at 1.866.727.5420 or via e-mail at client.service@ wsask.ca for more info on available water supplies in their area and/or to obtain a temporary water rights license.

The Ministry of Agriculture also has a team of extension specialists located in 10 regional offices across Saskatchewan to support producers with agronomic advice and program information. Producers can contact the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 to connect with a specialist.

Whether you’re a newcomer getting your life established or a student getting your first credit card, learning how to use and leverage credit as a financial management tool will go a long way to set you up for success.

“By managing a credit card well you’ll be able to keep finances in check, and you’ll also reap the benefits of increasing your credit score,” says Amit Brahme, senior director of newcomer and cultural client segment at Royal Bank of Canada.

“And, with many credit cards today, you can take advantage of rewards points or cash back that the card offers.”

Here are three top tips for managing your expenses with your credit card:

Track your spending. Your monthly credit card statements list every purchase you’ve made using your card, which can be helpful for tracking where and how you spend your money. You can use these insights to see where you need to cut down on spending and how much money you need to put towards certain purchases each month, such as groceries or gas.

Pay your balance in full each month. As long as you pay off your balance in full each month, you won’t need to pay any

interest, so your credit card can be a way to stay within your budget. Use your card wisely. Consider whether an item is a “need” or a “want” before making large purchases. Monitor how much of your credit limit you’re using. The amount of your available credit that you use is called your credit utilization ratio. The rule of thumb is to keep your ratio below 30 per cent. The lower your ratio, the better you’re managing your credit, and the better it looks on your credit history.

A FORGOTTEN MEMORY

Chase The Ace winner! ... Pictured is Ruth May, right, receiving a cheque for $4,054.50 from Dayna McComb, Treasurer of the Biggar Nationals Senior Hockey Club. Ruth was the lucky winner of the Nationals “Chase the Ace Draw”! Congratulations Ruth! Next Chase the Ace will be in the fall of 2023. (Submitted Photo)

Grain terminal a faded memory ... Biggar’s Viterra elevator on the west side of town has been slowly brought down as grain handling operations move to the new facility north of town. By the time of printing, the facility will have been dismantled. (Independent Photo by Dale Buxton)

3 tips to get your finances

Whether you’re running a small business or a household, high inflation and rising interest rates are causing many of us to feel concerned about our finances. While we can’t control inflation or interest rates, there are some steps we can take to help balance our books. Here are three.

Monitor your money

Whether you’re tracking your personal finances or those of your business, it’s essential to create a budget to monitor your income and outgoing costs.

Start by listing all your annual expenses. This includes fixed costs, such as your mortgage or rent, insurance and any professional fees or licences, plus all the variable costs, which include things like utility bills and groceries. Next, list all sources

of after-tax income. If your expenses exceed your income, you’ll have to look for areas to cut back.

In some cases, a business may need to operate at a loss. In that situation, you’ll need a loan or other source of funding to cover the costs. But that’s not a sustainable model for the long term.

Automate bill payments

Your home and office both rely on a variety of service providers to function, from power and water to the Internet and phone lines. And each of those comes with a recurring bill. If you miss a bill payment, you’ll be charged interest and a late-payment fee. Avoid these extra costs by setting up auto payments for all your bills.

Note that if you do miss a payment by mistake,

in order this fall

it’s worth contacting your provider to see if they’ll waive the penalties for the one-time oversight.

Invest in accounting software

Do you find tracking all your expenses, receipts and income to be a laborious, time-consuming task? You’re not alone.

That’s why many people, especially small business owners, invest in technology to streamline their accounting processes. With a cloud-based platform you can automate your business’ invoicing, collect payments and automate how your business expenses are categorized.

Platforms like these can also be used for project management, time tracking and more. Plus, since they’re cloud-based, everything is automatically backed up.

Canadian consumers seek out sustainably produced food

As many Canadians are interested in sustainably grown food, various agricultural industries and farmers are embracing practices that meet the demands of conscientious shoppers.

The strawberry industry is a prime example of the strides made in agriculture in pursuit of sustainability.

There is high demand for strawberries in Canada - in fact, far more than domestic production can supply. Almost 100 per cent of strawberries imported into Canada come from California, allowing us to enjoy

this favourite berry yearround.

These strawberries are grown on multi-generation farms with sustainable techniques to minimize environmental impact. For instance, farmers prioritize hand weeding to reduce the need for chemical herbicides, use mechanical bug vacuums that effectively remove harmful insects (which reduces reliance on pesticides), release beneficial insects like ladybugs as a primary defense against pests and opt for fish emulsion as a natural alternative to chemical fertilizers.

We continue heading north on Highway 95 in British Columbia on a great highway and lots of scenery.

There are many places to travel in British Columbia and there are miles and miles of great highways.

This particular highway has some stunning views as you travel through the valley, make sure you take some breaks to take in all the views.

Our first stop and the place we stayed for the night was Invermere.

Invermere has a year round population of around 3,400 people and is another one of those towns that flourishes on tourism.

Invermere is popular destination for people that come from Calgary and Edmonton to get away from the city for a place more relaxing. Invermere is close to

Kootenay National Park.

The original name for this community was “Copper City”, named by Edmund Johnston who claimed the site with plans for a settlement.

The first trading post in this area was way back in 1807. Real growth in the community didn’t happen until after 1909 when the Columbia Fruits Company purchased the area and started promoting the town site to English and Scottish immigrants.

The name was changed to Invermere, a Scottish origin meaning “Mouth of the Lake”.

Forestry is the leading resource industry, but tourism comes plays a very important role in the economy of this town. There is evidence that the Indigenous Ktunaxa Peoples sustained themselves in this area for over 12,000 years by hunting and fishing.

Invermere is a popular spot in the summer for people looking to get out on the water with their

boats and do a little fishing, but also popular in the winter when the lake freezes over and there is numerous areas to go skating. On a bright sunny winter day there could be a few hockey games on the lake. One thing that we would do different is to check out your hotel room weeks in advance, booking early. Our hotel room was the most expensive on the trip and the worst accommodation. I won’t mention the name of the place, because we a least got a room for the night and didn’t have to travel anymore that day.

If your into a good cup of coffee, the “Kicking Horse Coffee” shop start-

ed in Invermere, and you can now see their brand of coffee in many stores across Canada.

The restaurant of the week has to be the “Ullr Bar and Grill”, this wasn’t our first choice, but are we glad that our first choice was full. The Ullr Bar offers a tavern type atmosphere but the food is absolutely spectacular.

The service is just as good and it’s no wonder that they continue to be busy. This place, to eat and drink, was so good that we even bought the t-shirt to go along with it. Oh ... and by the way ... the meaning of Ullr? It means a “Norse God of Viking Decent” that is associated with winter skiing and snow sports. Kind of goes for the area.

For the morning it has to be the “Beginnings Restaurant”, what a great way to start the day.

Stay tuned for more adventures of The Saskatchewan Traveller.

Randy Weekes, MLA

Biggar - Sask Valley Constituency Office 106- 3rd Ave. West, Box 1413 Biggar, SK S0K 0M0

Toll Free: 1-877-948-4880

Phone: 1-306-948-4880

Fax: 1-306-948-4882

Open Mon-Fri 9am-12pm & 1-4pm Open Mon-Fri 9am-12pm & 1-4pm

AGI Envirotank is a rapidly growing Saskatchewan company who is a leading manufacturer of above and below ground steel storage tanks for both shop built and

We are currently looking for a full-time administrative assistant. The successful candidate will require exceptional organizational skills, the ability to effectively communicate

Preference will be given to those having previous Our company offers a competitive salary and a

Forward resumes to or

The Saskatchewan Traveller by Trudy and Dale Buxton

Penton on sports

Bruce Penton

Clint Eastwood starred in the movie The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, but little did he know in 1966 it would turn into sports column fodder almost 60 years later.

But hey, it’s the dog days of August, and the world of sports is filled with examples of all three of those title words, so

The good, bad and ugly in sports

let’s get to it.

The Good - Oh, Ohtani. Shohei Ohtani, the California Angels’ hitting and pitching stud is having perhaps the best season in MLB history. The American League leader in home runs is also one of the AL’s best pitchers, but his performance in a late July doubleheader in Detroit was stunning: A one-hit, complete game shutout in the opener, and two home runs in the night-cap. Wow! Just wow!

The Bad - The Edmonton Elks are becoming a punch line. The Canadian Football League team set a professional sports record by losing their 21st straight home game - a stretch going back to 2019. The Elks

play in a city calling itself the “City of Champions.” Uh, right.

The Ugly - The spectacle of Bo Bichette rounding first base, changing his mind about going to second, and then limping to a halt when something popped in his right knee was an ugly scene for Blue Jays’ fans. Bichette, the team’s best hitter, was expected to miss about 10 games in early August, something the Jays definitely didn’t need if they hope to make the playoffs.

The Good - Summer MacIntosh has to be, hands down, our country’s female athlete of the year for 2023. She won two gold medals at the World Aquatic Championships in Japan in July

Barracuda Provincial Results

(200-metre butterfly and 400-metre medley), adding to the two golds she won last year. She also anchored Canada’s 4x100-metre medley relay team.

The Bad - Canadian soccer fans had high hopes for our country’s women’s national team, at the FIFA World Cup. But a 4-0 thrashing by host Australia eliminated the Canadians, who were one of the favourites after winning gold at the 2020 Olympic Games (played in 2021 in Tokyo).

The Ugly - Bo Bichette’s haircut.

The Good - How amazing is Max Verstappen’s recent performances on the world Formula One racing circuit? He won seven consecutive races, giving his Red Bull team 12 straight victories and the question these days is not will Verstappen win the race, but by how much?

The Bad - All Bo Levi Mitchell had to do to wrap up a recent victory for Hamilton Tiger-Cats was take a knee to run out the clock. However, he decided to take the snap and plunge into the mass of humanity on the line. Ouch! Someone landed on his leg and he suffered a fracture. Bad play. Bad decision.

The Ugly - While all teams in the American League East are over

.500, their ugly cousins - the A.L. Central - limp along in mediocrity. One team, likely Minnesota or Cleveland, will by default qualify for the playoffs, possibly with a sub-.500 record.

• RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “According to a recent poll, Draymond Green was the Warrior that Cavaliers fans hated most - by a wide margin. Title that one: Not Everybody Loves Draymond.”

• Headline at fark.com: “The Savannah Bananas have a rule that a foul ball caught by a fan is an out. Two outs in the ninth? This is why you bring your glove to the game.

• Steve Simmons of Sunmedia, on the $360 million six-year contract signed by Jaylen Brown of Boston Celtics: “Jaylen Brown will be paid more than the Canadian Football League next season.”

• Headline on the Canadian parody website The Beaverton: “Blue Jays fan times bathroom breaks for when team has run-

ners in scoring position to ensure he doesn’t miss any action”

• Comedy guy Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver, after the Pac 12 football conference lost five teams to rival conferences: “What is the Pac-12 Network going to show now - Three’s Company reruns?”

Results for the Biggar Barracuda Swim Club at the 2023 Provincials this past July 29-30 in Saskatoon.

Cody Doering: 200m Free Bronze. 50m Fly 5th. 100m Fly 4th. 100m Free Bronze. 200m IM 6th. Relays: three silver

and a gold.

Kieran Massie: 100m

Breast 7th. 100m Back 5th. 200m Breast 7th. 50m Fly 9th. Relays bronze.

Everett Dowson: 100m

Back 5th. 25m Fly 4th.

100m Free 10th. 50m

Back 8th.

Jaxon Dowson: 100m

Back 6th. 50m Breast 7th.

100m Free 9th.

Presley Steeg: 50m Back

12th. 100m Breast 10th.

Jakob Thomas: 100m

Free 11th. 50m Back 12th.

50m Free 12th.

Adriana Sanchez: 100m Back 9th. Relays: bronze.

Abigail Dowson: 200m

Free 11th. 100m Back 11th. 100m Breast 11th.

Valeria Sanchez: 100m Breast 9th. 100m Free 11th. 100m Back 11th. 50m Free 11th.

Jim Reiter, MLA

Rosetown-Elrose Constituency

215 Main Street, Rosetown

Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 5:00

• Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post, on the NFL’s Hall of Fame game between the Jets and Browns: “If you watched that game to the bitter end the other night (raises hand, mutters ‘guilty’), then you really must reevaluate the way you parcel out your time.”

Tel: 306-882-4105

Fax: 306-882-4108

Toll free; 1-855-762-2233

E-mail: jimreitermla@sasktel.net

Box 278, Rosetown SK S0L 2V0

Please call with questions or concerns

• Another one from Steve Simmons: “Should they change the name of the Edmonton Elks to the Edmonton L’s?” Care to comment? E-mail brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca

Jim Reiter, MLA

Rosetown-Elrose Constituency

215 Main Street, Rosetown

Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 5:00

Tel: 306-882-4105

Fax: 306-882-4108

Toll free; 1-855-762-2233

E-mail: jimreitermla@sasktel.net

Box 278, Rosetown SK S0L 2V0

Please call with questions or concerns

Cody Doering, right, with just one of his Provincial medals. (Submitted Photos)

Adriana Sanchez, second from right, was a bronze medalist at Provincial competition in Saskatoon, July 29-30.

(Submitted Photo)

Tips to pick the right time to retire

Professionals work hard to achieve both shortand long-term goals. Retirement certainly qualifies as a long-term goal, and many people spend decades building and investing in a nest egg that they hope will help them enjoy their golden years to the fullest extent.

The decision regarding when to retire is affected by a host of variables, so what’s a good time for one individual may not be ideal for another. However, professionals on the cusp of retirement can consider these tips as they try to pick the right time to retire.

• Consider age-related benefits. Both the United States and Canada feature government-sponsored retirement income programs and it behooves individuals to familiarize themselves with the rules of those programs so they can maximize their benefits. The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) allows individuals to begin receiving full CPP benefits at age 65, but they also can get a permanently reduced amount the moment they turn 60. The CPP also allows people to receive a permanent increase if they wait until turning 70

to receive payment.

• Pay off your debts. Carrying debt into retirement can be risky. In general, it’s ideal to pay off all debts, including a mortgage and car payment, before retiring. Doing so can provide more financial flexibility and make it easier to manage unforeseen expenses, such as those incurred due to health problems.

• Consider your retirement living expenses. It goes without saying that a sizeable nest egg will be a necessity for anyone hoping to live comfortably in retirement. But the tricky part is figuring just how big a nest egg might need to be. In such instances, individuals can speak with a financial advisor and discuss what their retirement living expenses will be. Conventional wisdom based on the Consumer Price Index suggests individuals will need to replace between 70 and 80 per cent of their preretirement income after calling it a career. But even that figure is not set in stone, as rising inflation, such as the rapid spike experienced in 2022, can quickly put retirees in financial jeopardy. By estimating the expenses they might

306•951•8446

We will REMOVE any Junk Car or Truck CA$H Paid on the Spot!

have in retirement, individuals can begin to see just how close or far away from retirement they may be. Budget for inflation so any spike in living expenses can be easier to manage.

Many individuals recognize that there’s no perfect time to retire. But a few simple strategies can help professionals make the best decision possible.

Big thanks to Dale Buxton at the Biggar Independent for the Canada Day ladies night prizes! These brave souls survived the hottest evening of golf yet on August 3! Our next theme night is our Haunted Halloween on August 17! Make sure to save the date and bring a friend!

Wright-Foreman of the Sask. Rattlers up for 2023 CEBL MVP award

The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Monday the individual award nominees for the 2023 CEBL Awards being held Wednesday, August 9 at the Sky Hangar in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia. The CEBL Awards is the first official event of Championship Weekend 2023 (CW23) in Vancouver, British Columbia between August 9-13.

Most Valuable Player finalists Teddy Allen of the Winnipeg Sea Bears and Justin Wright-Foreman of the Saskatchewan Rattlers highlight the award nominees that were revealed for the six player categories. 2023 CEBL Award Nominees:

U SPORTS Player of the Year: Simon Hildebrandt (Winnipeg), David Walker (Scarborough).

Sixth Man of the Year: Edward Ekiyor (Niagara), Jelani Watson-Gayle (Winnipeg).

Defensive Player of the Year: Khalil Ahmad (Niagara), EJ Onu (Niagara).

Canadian Player of the Year: Kadre Gray (Ottawa), Simu Shittu (Calgary).

Most Valuable Player: Teddy Allen (Winnipeg), Justin Wright-Foreman (Saskatchewan).

All CEBL award winners will receive a customized ring from Jostens, the official Supplier of Awards and Rings of the CEBL, and gear from

Foot Locker.

The 2023 Coach of the Year, CEBL Clutch Player of the Year (most Target Score game-winning shots), and All-CEBL First, Second, and All-Canadian teams will also be announced at the CEBL Awards. Award nominees and winners are determined by votes cast by the league’s head coaches, general managers, assistant coaches, select league broadcasters, and internal media personnel. Team representatives are prohibited from voting for a player or head coach from their own team.

TAX ENFORCEMENT LIST Rural Municipality of Rosemount No. 378 Province of Saskatchewan

Notice is hereby given under the Tax Enforcement Act that unless the arrears and costs appearing opposite the land described in the following list are fully paid before the 10th day of October, 2023, an interest based on a tax lien will be registered against the land.

Note: A sum for costs in an amount as prescribed in the regulations is included in the amount shown against each parcel (Section 4(3) Tax Enforcement Act).

CLUES ACROSS

1. Indicates tire pressure

4. Request

7. Clairvoyance

10. 007’s creator

11. Adult male

12. Scandinavian god of battle

13. Cloths spread on a coffin

15. Breeze through

16. Ladyfish genus

19. It’s good to take them

21. Noble-governed territory

23. Members of U.S. Navy

24. Card game resembling rummy

25. Affected by injury

26. Member of a Semitic people

27. Left

30. Woman’s cloak

34. S. American plant 35. Prohibit 36. Offense 41. Dish soap brand 45. Ottoman military commanders 46. Ancient Greek City 47. Makes unhappy

50. Discuss again

54. Medical instrument

55. Promote

56. A beloved carb

57. Tag the base runner to get him out

59. Prehistoric people

60. Large African antelope

61. Vehicle

62. Georgia rockers

63. Scientific instrument (abbr.)

64. A major division of geological time

65. Attempt

CLUES DOWN

1. Plant of the nettle family

2. Fit to be sold

3. Rather

4. Collected

5. A baglike structure in a plant or animal

6. Patella

7. Ageless

8. Lists of course requirements

9. Pokes at

13. TV network

14. They __

17. Cooking hardware

20. Iron-containing compound

22. Swiss river (alt. spelling)

27. Former French coin

28. Electronic countermeasures

29. Taxi

31. Helps little firms

32. Woeful

33. Midway between northeast and east

37. Glowing

38. Tasks which should be done

39. An informal body of friends

40. Intrinsic nature

41. Neural structures

42. Brews

43. Where ships unload cargo

44. Singer

47. Sino-Soviet block (abbr.)

48. Southwest Scotland town

49. Most worthless parts

51. Viscous

52. Put to work

53. Old world, new

Dated at Landis, Saskatchewan, this 10th day of August, 2023. Kara Kirilenko, Administrator

58. Swiss river Are

18. U.S. Army title

Justin Wright-Foreman of the Saskatchewan Rattlers is up for the CEBL’s Most Valuable Player award. (Submitted Photo)

A berrylicious recipe round-up

Keep savouring the tastes of summer with this recipe round-up, featuring fresh strawberries to brighten up your savoury, grilled dishes.

Grilled Strawberry and Asparagus Freekeh Salad

Have you ever tried grilling strawberries? This hearty, healthy salad features the rich flavours of grilled strawberries and asparagus. A base of freekeh grains (a type of wheat harvested while the grain is still young and green) adds nutty taste and texture, though you can use quinoa, farro or bulgur wheat instead.

Prep time: 10 minutes. Cook time: 15 minutes. Makes: Three servings.

Ingredients:

1 cup (200 g) California strawberries.

6-8 stalks of asparagus.

3/4 cup (255 g) cooked freekeh (1/2 cup or 100 g dry).

1 tbsp (20 g) shaved/grated Parmesan cheese or 6-8 shaved pieces.

1 tbsp (20 g) walnuts, toasted (optional) and chopped.

1/2 tbsp (7 1/2 ml) olive oil plus ? tbsp (71/2 ml) for drizzle.

Salt and pepper.

1 tbsp (15 ml) balsamic vinegar.

2 skewers, soaked in cold water if wooden.

Directions:

Turn on the grill and set it to medium heat.

While the grill is preheating, cook freekeh according to package directions.

Clean, wash and dry asparagus stems. Place asparagus, olive oil, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Place asparagus on grill and cook for 15 minutes or until desired tenderness is achieved.

While asparagus is cooking, clean and dry whole strawberries (leaving stems intact) and thread onto skewers. Place on grill for 2-3 minutes or until the strawberries are just soft. Remove from skewers; remove the stems and cut into halves or quarters.

When asparagus is cooked, remove from grill and allow to cool. Chop into 1-inch pieces.

In a large bowl, gently toss cooked freekeh, plus the strawberries, asparagus and walnuts. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Top with freshly grated or shaved Parmesan.

Strawberry-Cucumber Salsa

This refreshing salsa is the perfect topping for grilled fish or tacos.

Prep time: 15 minutes. Cook time: 7 minutes. Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients:

1 pint (475 g) fresh California strawberries, hulled and diced (about 2 cups or 400 g when prepared).

1 English cucumber or two regular cucumbers, peeled and seeded, diced (about 2 cups or 400 g).

2/3 cup (225 g) chopped red onion, shallot or green onion.

2 tbsp (40 g) fresh cilantro, chopped.

2 tbsp (30 ml) fresh lime or lemon juice.

1/2 tsp (4 g) salt.

1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced (optional).

Directions:

Add all salsa ingredients to a bowl and toss to combine. Store in an airtight container, chilled, until ready to use. Use this within 24 hours as it gets mushy if you store it longer.

Strawberry Farro Bowl with Grilled Halloumi

Salty halloumi cheese and sweet strawberries combine with savoury sweet potatoes and farro grains in this nutrient- and flavour-packed dish. You can use brown rice, freekeh, quinoa or bulgur if you don’t have farro.

Prep time: 10 minutes. Cook time: 15 minutes. Makes: 2 servings.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups (300 g) butternut squash, cubed.

3 tbsp (45 ml) extra virgin olive oil.

3 tbsp (45 ml) balsamic vinegar.

1/4 tsp (4 ml) sea salt.

1/4 tsp (4 ml) black pepper.

1 avocado, sliced.

1/2 cup (100 g) California strawberries.

2 tbsp (40 g) almonds, sliced and toasted.

2 cups (400 g) cooked farro.

3/4 cup (160 g) halloumi, cubed.

Directions:

Place the butternut squash on a baking sheet and drizzle with 1 tbsp of olive oil and 1 tbsp of balsamic vinegar. Add a pinch of salt and pepper. Roast at 375°F (190°C) for 15-18 minutes, turning halfway through. Set aside.

Slice the avocado and strawberries. Toast the almonds in a frying pan until fragrant.

Add the farro to a medium bowl and add the remaining olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Pan fry or grill the halloumi.

Divide the farro into two bowls and top with the strawberries, avocado slices, halloumi, almonds and butternut squash.

3 helpful tips to boost your immune system as you age

As we age, our immune system weakens, which is why older people are more susceptible to getting sick and often take longer to recover from illness than they did before.

So, the older we get, the more important it is to give your immune system the support it needs. Here are three ways you can do that.

Eat well

The food you eat is the fuel your body needs to function. Consuming a variety of foods, including plenty of fruits and vegetables, to get all the nutrients you need while minimizing the amount of processed foods you eat will help you stay healthy.

Smoking and drinking alcohol both negatively affect your immune system, so you should avoid or minimize consumption of both if you’re looking to boost your immunity. Remember adult vaccines

Throughout one’s life, vaccination including adult vaccinations provides effective protection against disease. While many of us are familiar with childhood vaccinations, they don’t provide lifelong immunity against

every disease. As well, some vaccines are prescribed only for adults.

Adults require helper, or booster shots to maintain immunity for some conditions. And, if you didn’t get all your shots as a child, you could still be at risk of infection from vaccine-preventable diseases.

For example, if you are among the 90 per cent of Canadian adults over 50 years old who’ve had chickenpox - you should consider a vaccine to help prevent shingles. It’s a painful disease caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Exercise regularly

Regular exercise improves your cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure and helps protect against a variety of viruses and diseases.

A balanced diet and regular exercise will also help you maintain a healthy body weight, which in turn helps boost your immune system. While exercise is important, allowing your body to rest is equally valuable. Sleep is the tool your body uses to recharge its batteries, including your immune system.

… need your First Aid Course certification? … Need to Re-certify? …

Tech tools every small business owner should be using

There are many tools that go a long way to making our lives easier, from the Internet to the dishwasher.

When it comes to running a business, like it or not, there are plenty of ways technology can make a significant difference in a company’s ability to be successful for the long haul. Here are three must-haves:

Cloud-based data management systems

Well-known email services should provide powerful calendar features, automatic backup settings and secure file-storage and -sharing capabilities. But if a business owner is still working manually or in files saved on one computer, it’s probably time to adopt these features in a now-standard software

suite.

Otherwise, one spilled coffee could destroy everything, and there’s likely a lot of time and energy being used that could be put to better use. There are plenty of free tutorials online to help new users get the most out of these tools, and many companies will happily set up a free trial or demonstration to go over the ropes.

Password management tools

There is a lot to lose when passwords are lost or compromised, especially when a small business is involved. Secure password managers can safely store login information, so no one is tempted to leave the details written down or choose passwords that are easy to hack.

Navigating the Canadian housing market: Tips for newcomers

A password manager can also give back the time spent repeatedly resetting forgotten passwords and makes it easy to grant occasional access to employees through the manager without revealing the password to them.

Accounting software

If a business doesn’t already use cloud-based accounting software, it’s worth considering signing up. There are a lot of time-saving perks to take advantage of such as automated invoicing and late-payment reminders to help ensure moneyowed is collected, receipt and expense tracking, and even time tracking tools to see what parts of the business are requiring the most of the company’s time and efforts.

Did you know we offer Social Media Advertising?

Would you like to advertise on Social Media

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We can design full color Social Media friendly Ad’s for you to share on any Social Media platform. Along with your ad being shared on our Social Media pages.

All Social Media Ad’s will also be printed in our weekly newspaper! Contact Dale at The Independent for pricing or inquiries!

Finding housing can be a big job, especially for newcomers to Canada. From budgeting for housing, researching neighbourhoods and deciding if it’s better for you to rent or buy a home, there’s a lot to consider when deciding where to live. Research shows that aspirations of home ownership are considerably higher for newcomers to Canada than the average person. Here are tips to help you prepare to buy your first house. Understand how much you can spend Having a realistic idea of how much money you can afford to pay for housing is important. This will help you narrow your search and prevent you from overspending. Make a budget by comparing your income to your monthly expenses. In addition to housing, groceries and transportation, account for the cost of utilities like internet and cellphone, and a little extra for entertainment or a meal out once in a while.

Research neighbourhoods

It’s a good idea to research the area you want to live in to make sure it has access to the amenities and services you need, like schools, community centres and public transportation. You can learn a lot about a certain place by talking to people who live there or joining residents’ groups on social media. It’s also a good idea to take advantage of online tools that can help you determine the average costs to buy or rent based on neighbourhood and the size of the home. To rent or buy?

If you have the means, you might consider purchasing a home rather than renting. Each has benefits, but your decision might depend on your current situation and financial goals.

Buying: If you have an established credit history and have saved a down payment, you might consider buying a home, which will help you build equity to tap into in the

future (the value of the mortgage you’ve paid back each month). However, you may give up some flexibility. Unlike a rental, you can’t simply give notice to a landlord if you want to move. Plus, it can be harder to budget because maintenance costs and mortgage interest rates fluctuate.

Renting: Not owning may be less expensive and come with fewer responsibilities. With fixed monthly costs, you can free up more money to do other things like save or invest. However, you aren’t building equity when you rent. Living in a rental also means you don’t have as much privacy or the freedom to renovate.

Whether you rent or buy is a big decision, but there are tools to help. A rent or buy calculator lets you input your rent and see how much of a mortgage you can afford for the same monthly amount. Some also show how much you could pay for a home.

Business & Professional …

HEALTH/WELLNESS

FOR RENT

BIGGAR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Housing for families and seniors

Rent based on income Call: 306•303•7246

OPTOMETRISTS

Dr. Kirk Ewen

Dr. Michelle Skoretz Doctors of Optometry

In BIGGAR

Every Tuesday

9 a.m. - 4 p.m. New Location 315b Main Street, Biggar, SK For appointments…

1-833-948-3331

DENTAL

Rosetown

Dental

115 - 1st Avenue West Rosetown, Sask.

OFFICE HOURS

Monday to Thursday

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Phone:306.882.2123

New Patients Welcome!

Dr. Krista Maedel & Associates

COURIER

ARIES – Mar 21/ Apr 20

Things that have seemingly been holding you back should be reevaluated this week, Aries. You are looking elsewhere for solutions, when all you need to do is make a few tweaks.

TAURUS – Apr 21/ May 21

Taurus, spend time reflecting on things this week, as you may have some difficult decisions to make in the near future. A close confidante can serve as a sounding board.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

Gemini, now is the time to identify your priorities as they pertain to the job. Do you want a career and a company that you stick with? Or, are you satisfied with being a contract worker?

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

Prepare for some stressful times ahead, Cancer. It is nothing you cannot survive, but it could throw a wrench in your plans for the time being. Reward yourself with some extra pampering.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

Leo, you may have planned on staying to yourself, in order to knock things off of your to-do list. That simply will not pan out right now. Expect to be surrounded by people.

VIRGO – Aug 24/ Sept 22

Virgo, others do not seem receptive to your way of doing things this week. You cannot please everyone, so figure out who you can work with and appeal to those people to get things done.

LIBRA – Sept 23/ Oct 23

Libra, you may have to take off the rose-colored glasses for a little while. Although it’s good to have a cheery outlook, a no-nonsense approach will serve you well in the days ahead.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

Scorpio, you could be having doubts about your role in your workplace. Maybe the work isn’t stimulating or the responsibilities too great. If change is happening, do it soon.

SAGITTARIUS –Nov 23/Dec 21

Sagittarius, something from your past will come back to the surface in the days to come. Maybe it is an error you made or it could be an opportunity that you thought was lost.

CAPRICORN –Dec 22/Jan 20

Think about adding more hobbies or recreational activities to your slate, Capricorn. All work and no play is not healthy for you right now. It’s time to find a greater balance in life.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

Aquarius, the latest developments on the job have not been encouraging. You are tempted to cut back on your efforts, but you are worried about the implications of that.

PISCES – Feb 19/ Mar 20

People who followed you in the past may now confront you with a difference of opinion, Pisces. No need to worry as a healthy dialogue could help the relationship grow.

HAULING

Rockin D

Trucking & Cattle

• Cattle Hauling with 21 ft. gooseneck trailer

• Grain Hauling

306.237.7671

Troy May, owner/operator

Fax: 306-237-TROY

email: tmay@hotmail.ca

Super B outfits hauling grain and fertilizer in Alberta and Saskatchewan

• round and large square bale hauling with step-deck or highboy semi-trailers

• also buying and selling straw and forage

• also Machinery Hauling

Dan • 306-948-7843 Biggar, Sask.

NEW

For rent

Susan Yaschuk is Moving to Town

We are having a GIANT GARAGE SALE

AUGUST 18th, 19th AND 20th

10:00am - 6:00pm Each Day

Tools, Antiques, Household Items, Some Furnature and Misc.

10 Miles North

5 Miles East

2 Miles North of Biggar

Tired of running out of ink.? WE CAN HELP

JUST SEND US YOUR DOCUMENTS AND LET US PRINT THEM FOR YOU.

PHONE: 951-8292

948-6475

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE?

The Blanket Classifieds are a great place to advertise your livestock for sale. 51 local community newspapers Delivered into over 450 communities Circulation of over 450,000 Pricing starts at just $209.00 Reaching the people of Saskatchewan like no other medium can. 306-649-1405 Classified@swna. com www.swna.com

Central Park Place has apartments for seniors available in Biggar Call 948-3901 0r 948-7824 21042AL0

PINA COLADA SMOOTHIE

A tasty, tropical treat recipe from WATKINS

The time of year doesn’t matter...sometimes you just need a quick mental vacation to a place where you can relax. This easy recipe will take you there

1cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1/2 to 1 cup frozen pineapple

1/2 to 1 cup frozen mangoes

1/2 cup “lite” coconut milk

1/2 tsp WATKINS COCONUT EXTRACT

1/2 tsp WATKINS ALL NATURAL ORIGINAL GOURMET BAKING VANILLA

Unsweetened coconut flakes for garnish

59. __ Spumante (Italian wine)

Susan Yaschuk is Moving to Town

We are having a GIANT GARAGE SALE

AUGUST 18th, 19th AND 20th

10:00am - 6:00pm Each Day

Tools, Antiques, Household Items, Some Furnature and Misc.

10 Miles North

5 Miles East

2 Miles North of Biggar

Tired of running out of ink.? WE CAN HELP

JUST SEND US YOUR DOCUMENTS AND LET US PRINT THEM FOR YOU.

For rent

Central Park Place has apartments for seniors available in Biggar Call 948-3901 0r 948-7824

PHONE: 951-8292 948-6475

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE?

The Blanket Classifieds are a great place to advertise your livestock for sale. 51 local community newspapers Delivered into over 450 communities Circulation of over 450,000 Pricing starts at just $209.00 Reaching the people of Saskatchewan like no other medium can. 306-649-1405 Classified@swna. com www.swna.com

PINA COLADA SMOOTHIE

A tasty, tropical treat recipe from WATKINS

The time of year doesn’t matter...sometimes you just need a quick mental vacation to a place where you can relax. This easy recipe will take you there

1cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1/2 to 1 cup frozen pineapple

1/2 to 1 cup frozen mangoes

1/2 cup “lite” coconut milk

1/2 tsp WATKINS COCONUT EXTRACT

1/2 tsp WATKINS ALL NATURAL ORIGINAL GOURMET BAKING VANILLA

Unsweetened coconut flakes for garnish

Combine yogurt, pineapple, mangoes, coconut milk and extracts in blender. Puree until smooth. Garnish with coconut fakes if desired.