weyburnreview
Vol.114 No. 30 - Weyburn, Saskatchewan
Wednesday, July 24, 2024 - 10 Pages
Enbridge presents proposal
Enbridge’s wind turbines presented to uphappy crowd. Page 3
Silver Seals Swim Meet July 27
Chasing the little piglets in a scramble
These girls ran as hard as they could to try and catch little piglets at the pig scramble event, one of the most popular attractions at the Creelman Fair on Saturday. The 30-degree heat and humidity helped limit the number of scramble events held, which the piglets were very glad of.
Enbridge encounters anger from RM area residents at
By Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
An open house hosted by Enbridge turned into a meeting where residents of the RMs of Weyburn and Griffin demanded answers about the proposed wind farm, which will put 46 wind turbines into the RMs just southeast of Weyburn if it goes ahead.
The small meeting room at the Ramada Hotel was set up for an open house, and it was crammed with between 80 and 100 people wanting answers on the proposed development.
Kim Brady stood on a chair and asked for attention, and suggested that people’s questions should be directed to Enbridge representatives, which the gathered crowd
agreed to.
“We got snowed here. Most of us are not happy. You need to do a better job and answer questions,” he demanded.
Enbridge representative Keith Taylor, a specialist for renewable products in power business development, took on most of the questions, which ranged from how this deal came about, to what steps the company is taking to address concerns, and what they will be seeking from the RM.
The proposal at this point is to situate 46 wind turbines on land in the RMs of Weyburn and Griffin, with the goal to produce some 200 megawatts of power for the province’s power grid. There are contracts signed
with 15 land owners covering some 21,000 acres of land. The central part of the project is located about 16 km southeast of Weyburn, according to Enbridge’s information.
These were signed initially with a former company, EDF, who sold the wind farm project to Enbridge on June 21, and Enbridge is currently in negotiations with SaskPower for a power purchase agreement.
Meantime, Enbridge will be meeting with the RM of Weyburn council on Wednesday, Aug. 14 to request the setbacks be reduced from 1000 metres to 750, which many residents at the meeting expressed disagreement with, questioning why they would want to do
that.
Many of the questions and concerns were over the noise levels, the size of the turbines, the damage and dust on RM roads by construction crews, and who has the liability should anything go wrong.
The company stated that the noise level of one turbine is 40 decibels, which Taylor equated to a quiet library.
One resident pointed out that he has a nephew who lives within a mile and a half of the wind farm at Assiniboia, and while it is very quiet underneath the turbine, downwind of it between a half-mile and a mile and a half, the noise can be quite loud.
Another resident com -
open house
mented that wind power is the least efficient and least practical form of power generation, and was concerned about how much taxpayers’ money will be tied up in this project.
Taylor noted it’s mostly private funds invested by Enbridge and a consortium of six First Nations groups. Pressed on this, he said there is a federal loan guarantee of $100
million being provided, and residents pointed out that funds from federal or provincial government sources are from the taxpayers.
As to why a wind farm, Taylor noted that SaskPower is looking for green alternative sources of power, and are looking for more wind and solar projects to help provide this power for the grid.
Continued on page 3
Lord Stanley’s Cup pays a visit to Weyburn rink
By Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
The “Holy Grail” of professional hockey, the Stanley Cup, made a stop in Weyburn on Sunday afternoon, courtesy of a team scout for the Florida Panthers, Reid Jackson, who played his hockey growing up in Weyburn.
Both he and his father Les are staff with the Panthers, as he is a scout, and father Les is a senior advisor to the general manager, and as such, his name is engraved onto the Cup.
The Cup on display at Crescent Point Place was the same trophy for the on-ice presentation to the Panthers after they defeated the Edmonton Oilers in a hard-fought final series that went the full seven games.
“A lot of hours were spent in this rink,” said Reid, noting he played all of his minor hockey here, including atom and peewee up to bantam, playing for the Crescent Point Wings.
Following his minor hockey years, he played in the WHL for the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Moose Jaw Warriors.
He began as a scout for the Calgary Flames, working part-time while
he attended university, spending a total of five years with them before going over to the Florida Panthers. He worked first as a scout of amateur players, then as a professional scout in the last couple of years. Reid noted he came to see the Red Wings on occasion as well other teams as he evaluated players looking for talent. He also looked at other NHL teams and their farm teams as he searched for good talent for the Panthers. His father Les was also at Crescent Point Place, as was his brother Brock and his two nieces, Keira and Kate, who both play minor hockey here in Weyburn. Those wanting to get a photo with the Cup made donations, which will all go to the Weyburn Minor Hockey Association. Following the opportunity for the public to see the Cup, Reid had a few former teammates and coaches join him for a private time together at the rink with the Cup. The Stanley Cup had been at Dauphin, Man., just prior to coming to Weyburn, and after it left here the Cup was taken to Edmonton for its next stop.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Residents upset about wind farm proposed for RMs
Many residents packed into a small meeting at the Ramada Hotel on Wednesday evening to get answers for concerns about a wind farm proposed by Enbridge for the RMs of Weyburn and Griffin. Kim Brady, at right, stood on a chair and brought the crowd to order to pose questions to Enbridge representatives, rather than just have an open house where people looked at information boards.
Cooling off in the summer heat
The outdoor swimming pool at the Weyburn Leisure Centre was a busy place on Friday, as the temperature went up to 34 degrees with humidity. The hot weather is expected to heat up even more this week with temperatures up to 37 degrees expected.
City awards contracts for traffic lights, Albert Douglas dam upgrades
By Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Weyburn city council
awarded contracts for new traffic lights at 16th Street and First Avenue, and for new stoplogs on the Albert Douglas dam at Nickle Lake.
For the new traffic signals, the City conducted a recent traffic study at this intersection, and found that traffic lights would be more efficient in controlling the traffic as well as reducing the damage to the pavement, than the four-way stop which is currently used there.
The study found that the constant stopping and start-
ing at a four-way stop was causing the rutting in the pavement at the intersection, before the pavement was replaced last summer. The plan is to replace the four-way stop signs with traffic lights equipped with camera detection. This will supplement the new traffic lights which will be installed at Government Road and First Avenue, as part of the larger road improvements currently underway on First Avenue through the summer months.
For the 16th Street intersection, three bids were received by the City, ran-
ging from $183,476, up to $622,144. The low bid came from Can-Traffic Services Ltd.
The City had applied to the provincial SGI Traffic Safety Fund for the maximum allowable grant of $100,000, and this grant was awarded as of July 4.
The City is purchasing and supplying the infrastructure for the 16th Street lights for about $70,000, which will make for a total cost of $253,476.
Council approved the bid, and the overage of $102,500 will come out of the public works budget, as a project
they had previously applied for federal funding is not going ahead.
• Council also approved a bid for upgrades to the Albert Douglas dam, with a wide variance in bids from companies.
Five bids to do this project came in, with prices ranging from $552,089 all the way up to $12.2 million. The winning low bid was from DMS Industrial Constructors Inc.
A site inspection of the dam was conducted last year, and it was recommended that the spillway structure used on Nickle
Lake should be replaced with new steel stoplogs for each spillway bay, along with a new beam-lifter, new electrical hoist system, and a rehabilitation of the existing monorail system.
There was $500,000 budgeted for this project, and as the winning bid is over by $52,089, these funds will come out of the utilities fund’s water treatment plant budget.
City engineer Jennifer Wilkinson explained that the stoplogs in question can be moved to allow more water through the dam when it’s required, and are located on the
Asked about the wide variance in bid prices, Wilkinson said the high bid was not a typo, and may be due to a number of factors, such as where they would be pulling staff from along with equipment, which would need to be moved here to do the work.
She assured council this Request for Proposals (RFP) was one of the most detailed plans they’ve put out, and the winning company was evaluated to have qualified experience with this type of project.
New Weyburn After School program to launch in September
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Weyburn, along with the City of Weyburn, announced their new After School program at the Credit Union Spark Centre, will be open for registrations in August for the 2024-25 school year.
Mentoring is a specialty of the Big Bros. organization, so mentoring will be embedded into all aspects of the program, including staff training, program development and implementation, and ongoing relationship development with the participants.
The program is committed to responding to the continuing changes in the community of Weyburn, and meeting the needs of children and their families.
The aim of the After School program is to provide quality child care and programming based on explorative, active and creative play in order to stimulate children’s ability to grow socially, physically, intellectually and emotionally.
The program will provide a safe and nurturing
space for children to make friends, develop respect for themselves and their peers, and to grow socially, cognitively, creatively and physically.
“We are very happy to utilize the Credit Union Spark Centre for the Big Brothers Big Sisters After School program,” said Andrew Crowe, leisure director for the City of Weyburn.
“It is a fantastic facility that will greatly benefit the community by providing a safe and engaging environment for our children to learn and grow. This partnership aligns perfectly with the City’s mission of ‘Growing through opportunity’,” he added.
Registration will open in August, and will be available for up to 30 children in Grades 1-6. The hours of the program will be from 3:35 to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, and transportation will not be offered in the pilot year.
The program will not run on statutory holidays or on Professional Development
days, teacher training days, winter break, spring break, or during the summer holidays, however, families will be given priority to register for City programming during those times.
“The results from our recent survey were clear: after school programming is needed in Weyburn. We are excited to work with the City of Weyburn to offer the Big Brothers Big Sisters After School program out of the Credit Union Spark Centre for the 2024-25 school year,” said Dominika
Krzeminska, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters Weyburn.
“As a mentoring organization, we understand the importance of positive role models in the lives of our young people, and we look forward to bringing a mentoring approach to this program,” she added.
Additional information, including costs, and the registration launch date, will be available in the coming weeks. Watch the Big Brothers Big Sisters social channels (@bbbs -
Weyburn police charge man for damaging phone
weyburn) and the website (www.bbbsweyburn.ca/ after-school-program/) for additional details.
Yellow Grass man charged in firearms manufacturing investigation
chief to property.
The Weyburn Police also responded to a variety of other calls including alarms, disturbances, suspicious persons or vehicles, mental health concerns, requests to check on an individual’s well-being, harassing communications, and calls relating to animals, parking, or other bylaw concerns.
A 42-year-old Yellow Grass man has been charged after a firearms investigation. The Regina Police Service Crime Reduction Team, with the assistance of the RCMP, executed a search warrant on a residence in Yellow Grass on July 10. As a result of the search, police located over 30 firearms/receivers (nonrestricted, restricted, and prohibited); boxes of various gun parts; several boxes of ammunition; a 3-D printer with filament; 3-D printed firearms; 3-D printed prohibited magazines; a prohibited muzzle suppres-
sor; multiple data storage devices and computers, and other firearms-related items. Owen Altwasser, 42, of Yellow Grass, is facing two charges of careless storage of a firearm; possession of a firearm knowing its possession was unauthorized; possession of a prohibited device knowing its possession is unauthorized; possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition; and weapons manufacturing.
Altwasser made his first appearance on these charges in Provincial Court on July 18.
RUBBERSTONE
•CoveryouruglyconcretewithSierrastone Rubberstoneondriveways,sidewalks, basements,decks,garages -5 year warranty
VU-BASTONE -driveways,sidewalks,garages, decksandbasements -5 year warranty
POLYASPARTICEPOXYFLAKEingaragesand basements.
BRICKdriveways,firepits,sidewalks,fountains, walls,grainbins,outdoorkitchens.
VI-PEQTHERMALCORKSHIELD -interiorand exteriorcommercialandresidentialbuildings15 yearswarranty Goesovertin,wood,brick, stucco,andsiding.
•Treeandstumpremoval,cutting &stump grinding.
•Industrialandresidentialhedgetrimming. •Farmyardwindrowrestoration.
•Landscaping.
•Lightcarpentry,pergola,gazebos,fences. •Stainingfences,decksandsteps.
•Deckbuilding.
•Skidsteerwork.
•Augerholes (4" to 24"-13"deep)
•Screwpiles (commercial &residential)
The Weyburn Police Service (WPS) responded to 49 calls for service during the period of July 15 to 21, resulting in a total of 13 charges. Of the charges, three were laid under the Criminal Code of Canada, and 10 under the Traffic Safety Act (TSA). Of the four criminal charges, two were in relation to individuals who either failed to comply with a condition of their release or attend court as required, and one was in relation to damage to property.
An arrested male individual was in the process of speaking to his lawyer on July 15, when he damaged the telephone in the police station. He was subsequently charged for mis-
*Anyone with information regarding one of these matters, or any other matter of a criminal nature, is encouraged to contact the Weyburn Police Service at (306) 848-3250, the local RCMP Detachment at 310-RCMP (7267), or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Children’s performer sings fun songs Eric Paetkau, better known to his young audiences as “Mr. Eric”, sang some fun songs for an audience at the Weyburn Public Library on Monday afternoon. He is on a month-long tour to library programs throughout Saskatchewan, and will then be doing an extensive school tour in the fall.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
southeast end of Nickle Lake on the Albert Douglas dam.
3 agriculture, oil business &
Concerns, issues raised with Enbridge
raised.
RM area residents upset at open house of Enbridge wind farm proposal
Continued from front
“SaskPower runs the grid in Saskatchewan, so you have to work with them,” Taylor added.
As to assertions over the health risks from the sounds of wind turbines, he cited a 2014 study by Health Canada, along with “peer-reviewed research”, that say there is very little health risk from the noise of the turbines.
For any current environment concerns, he said the company is conducting environmental studies right now, with the plan to submit an application to the Min-
istry of the Environment by November of this year.
Among other concerns, one resident noted that this region is known to be on a major migratory route for birds, which will be put at risk by the turbines. The resident noted if he shoots an eagle, for example, he would be prosecuted and fined, but if a turbine hits and kills an eagle, what consequence would there be for Enbridge?
Asked when the original contracts were done with land owners, Taylor said they were first done in 2017, and renewed last
summer, before Enbridge bought the project one month ago.
Some residents pointed out that very few of those contracted land owners live anywhere close to where a turbine is going up, and a number expressed anger that only that evening did they find out where the 46 turbines are going.
Jim Hallberg said he just found out he will be “virtually surrounded” by five wind turbines that he didn’t know about in close proximity to his farm east of Weyburn.
On the proposed reduc-
tion to the setback, one resident asked if they will seek further reductions, if the RM agrees to a 750-metre setback, such as down to 500 metres. Taylor repeatedly assured him that Enbridge would not seek any further reduction to the setback.
Asked if the project is a “done deal”, Taylor assured residents that it isn’t, as there are many permits and regulatory hurdles to cross, including their application to Environment. This application would be separate from the application to the RM to reduce the setback, he noted, and
the permit process would not be done by August when they want the first reading to the amended bylaw on the setbacks.
As to why no RM council representatives were present, Taylor said this project is not theirs and the company would not be cohosting a meeting with them, when it’s Enbridge’s project. Heather Cugnet said she was on the RM council for 16 years, and noted they met with a company who told them this area was not conducive to being a good place for a wind farm. Taylor said they had
Southeast crops developing quicker with heat
Warmer, drier weather has allowed for quicker crop development in the southeast region, with more crops moving closer to their normal stages of development for this time of year.
The warmer weather has enabled producers to be busy with haying operations and spraying fungicides. In the coming weeks, producers will continue to monitor for pest and disease development, along with getting harvest equipment ready.
Limited rain fell throughout much of the re-
gion over the past week, except for a few smaller areas within the region.
The RMs of Tecumseh, Weyburn and Laurier have had no rainfall, while the RM of Brokenshell recorded 4 mm of rain.
Weyburn farmer Dale Mainil said this area could benefit from some moisture right now.
“We could definitely use a rain, as this heat is taking bushels away,” he said.
“The lentils are doing okay, but the canola and cereals are the crops the heat is hurting.”
He added there will be a crop to harvest, but there could be 20 per cent of the yield lost compared to how the crops were looking two weeks ago.
The reduced precipitation and increased temperatures continue to reduce topsoil moisture throughout the southeast region.
Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 10 per cent surplus, 69 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and two per cent very short.
Hayland topsoil is reported at two per cent surplus, 76 per cent adequate,
Real estate sales, listings down
Saskatchewan reported 1,675 sales in June, a one per cent year-over-year decrease but nearly 10 per cent above long-term, 10-year averages.
In Weyburn, there were 12 residential properties sold in June, which is down 14.3 per cent from a year ago, and down 9.4 per cent for the year-to-date. This number is also down by 25 per cent compared with the 10-year average for Weyburn.
This brought the sales in Weyburn to 77 for the year-
to-date, which includes 61 detached residences, three townhouses, 12 apartments and one mobile home. This is down nine per cent year-toyear. Sales levels across the province improved in properties priced above $400,000, which nearly offset the pullback in homes priced below $300,000, as inventory challenges continue to prevent even stronger monthly sales.
New listings in Weyburn totaled 18 for June, which is down by 50 per cent from a
year ago, and is down 48.4 per cent compared to the 10-year average. The inventory for the city is at 88 properties, which is down by 22.1 per cent from a year ago, and down 44 per cent compared to the 10-year average.
Weyburn’s benchmark price for June was $245,100, which is up 1.7 per cent from a year ago. This price applies to a three-bedroom residence with two baths, an attached garage and 1,162 sq. ft. of gross living area.
Noticeisherebygivenunder The TaxEnforcementAct thatunlessthearrearsandcosts appearingoppositethelanddescribedinthefollowinglistarenotfullypaidbeforeSeptember23rd,2024ataxlienwillberegisteredagainsttheland.
Note: A sum for costs inanamountrequired bysubsection4(3)of The Tax Enforcement Act isincludedinthe amount shown against each parcel.
LegalDescription TitleNo. Arrears&Costs
Lot13,Block2,Plan AV4761 148049028 $569.11
19 per cent short and three per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is one per cent surplus, 70 per cent adequate, 26 per cent short and three per cent very short.
Haying operations have progressed rapidly throughout the southeast with the drier weather. About 25 per cent of the crop has had its first cut, with 22 per cent baled or silage. The hay quality is rated as 26 per cent excellent, 66 per cent good and eight per cent is fair.
Initial estimates of dryland hay yields indicate alfalfa at 1.58 tons per acre, brome hay is at 1.6 tons per
different
“This is our first step in presenting the project to the community,” said Taylor, noting they are also consulting with land owners within a two-kilometre radius of the proposed turbine locations.
“You’ve got two or three land owners who are good with this, but you’ve 45 land owners who aren’t,” pointed out a resident.
“That’s why we’re here, to listen to you,” answered Taylor.
acre, tame hay is at 1.48 tons per acre, baled forage is at 1.7 tons per acre, and greenfeed is at 2.31 tons per acre. Silage yields are estimated at 5.7 tons per acre.
Areas of crop damage over the past week can be attributed to hail, gophers, grasshoppers, heat and lack of moisture. Producers are continuing to monitor aphid pressure in their fields as well.
Disease has been noted in some areas, with producers applying fungicides to suppress disease already present, along with many proactively spraying to manage disease from developing.
Noticeisherebygivenunder The TaxEnforcementAct thatunlessthearrearsandcosts appearing opposite the landandtitle number describedinthe followinglist are fullypaid before September23,2024,aninterestbasedonataxlienwillberegisteredagainsttheland. Note:Asumforcostsinanamountrequiredbysubsection4(3)of The TaxEnforcementAct isincludedintheamountshownagainsteachparcel.
DESCRIPTIONOFPROPERTY
SE26-03-15-2EXT0 141484327510.07370.00880.07
NE27-03-15-2EXT0 141484316724.49370.001,094.49
NE32-03-15-2EXT0 141484305700.16370.001,070.16
NW33-03-15-2EXT1 149319658718.89370.001,088.89
NE34-03-15-2EXT1 149320188349.91370.00719.91
NW34-03-15-2EXT1 149319849469.00370.00839.00
SE34-03-15-2EXT0 141484282500.33370.00870.33
LOT10-BLK/PAR4-PLANBL709EXT0108180154147.36450.00597.36
LOT 11-BLK/PAR4-PLANBL709EXT0108180165 108244997
LOT21-BLK/PAR4-PLANBL709EXT010818000850.94450.00500.94
LOT22-BLK/PAR4-PLANBL709EXT0108180020
*PenaltyiscalculatedtothedateoftheNoticeandwillcontinuetoaccrueasapplicable. Datedthis17thdayofJuly,2024.
EricaPederson,Administrator
Residents of the RM of Weyburn and Griffin raised many concerns with Enbridge representative Keith Taylor, far right, about their proposal to situate 46 wind turbines in their area. Many issues about health and safety, line of sight, noise levels and property values were
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
4 Creelman Fair
Watching a piglet being bagged
Spectators lining the arena watched as two girls worked together to get a piglet into a bag, during the ever-popular pig scramble at the Creelman Fair on Saturday. Due to the 30-degree heat and humidity, the scrambles were held as early in the day as possible for the sake of the children and the pigs.
Pipe and drum band brings music to parade
The Regina Police Pipe and Drum Band brought the sounds of bagpipes to the Creelman Fair Parade on Saturday morning, as it headed down Main Street. Right behind the band were riders from the Sun Country Riding Club, carrying flags for the parade.
Photos - Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Creelman volunteers awarded Malcolm Carnegie, left, president of the Creelman Ag Society, posed with Gerald and Darlene Swanson and Glen Duck of the SAASE. The Swansons were awarded with honourary life memberships in the Saskatchewan Association of Agricultural Societies and Exhibitions, for their many years of volunteerism with the Creelman Fair, which marked its 120th anniversary this year.
Perusing the exhibits at the Creelman Fair
A wide variety of exhibits were on display at the rink as part of the 120th edition of the Creelman Fair, held on Saturday. The rink also had vendors for a trade show, and a cold plate lunch was also available as people could stay out of the 30-degree heat outside.
Checking out the ponies on display
These ponies were on display, along with many other animals, as part of the competition held for the 120th edition of the Creelman Fair on Saturday.
On the run after the little piggies Children had to be fast on their feet to catch one of the little piglets in the first part of the pig scramble at the Creelman Fair held on Saturday.
weyburn
editorial opinion & review
EDITORIAL
Many answers are needed by Enbridge
Representatives of Enbridge thought they were arranging a quiet open house about their proposed wind farm, with information boards set up so residents who were curious could come in and read them and ask any questions they had.
As those who attended the open house know, it became a meeting with high emotions and many issues and concerns raised by the residents of the RMs of Weyburn and Griffin, where the wind turbines are proposed to go.
The open house turned into a meeting mostly due to one resident who knew there were a lot of questions to be asked, and a lot of concerns to be raised, so he stood up on a chair and said this format wasn’t working, and questions needed to be fielded by company representatives for everyone to hear.
Considering what is at stake, both for the residents and the company, this was the best approach, and as a result many issues were aired out. Not all of the answers were accepted by the residents, but they should now have a clearer picture of what Enbridge is proposing to set up here.
One thing was made clear by the company, namely that this is not a done deal, as some residents very pointedly asked. There are a number of important issues that will have to be worked out.
Among these issues is one of the setback, currently set at 1,000 metres by the RM of Weyburn. The company is applying to the RM to have this reduced to 750 metres, and when pressed as to why they are asking for this, there was no answer given.
If Enbridge has a reason to ask for this reduction in the setback, they should be forthright enough to explain what it is, as clearly many residents indicated they are not comfortable with it.
The RM council will hear this matter at their meeting on Aug. 14, and judging from the emotions and views expressed at the “open house”, this might be a very contentious and crowded council meeting.
The Enbridge representative who fielded most of the questions, Keith Taylor, apologized that he and his team had not anticipated the large crowd that crammed into the small meeting room at the Ramada, nor the extent of feelings and worries that they would express.
Not everyone bought the reasoning that a wind farm is “environmentally positive”, as numerous concerns were raised about everything from the noise to bird strikes, and invasion on people’s sightlines as residents are not anxious to see a huge turbine looming over their property.
It will be up to the RM, and Enbridge, to answer the many emotions raised by residents, a number of whom were very frank in saying they don’t want it in their back yard.
— Greg Nikkel
MEET THE STAFF
Publisher/Sales Manager: Andrea Corrigan production@weyburnreview.com
News Editor: Greg Nikkel editor@weyburnreview.com
Production Supervisor: Leslie Coulter lcoulter@weyburnreview.com
Accounting: Debbie Stuart accounting@weyburnreview.com
Reporter/Production Assistant: Sabrina Kraft skraft@weyburnreview.com
Commercial Print Department: printing@weyburnreview.com
I hate to make any reference to the C-word, and the massive over-reaction people and governments had to it — but there is a lingering effect of that hated pandemic event that is plaguing many communities and non-profit groups, even now when the year 2020 is a year best forgotten by most people.
We all can recall, some with shudders, the lockdowns and restrictions that were clamped down on us during that time, and this had a majorly negative impact on events, on gatherings, on families and on non-profit organizations.
One of the lingering results is that, as groups slowly resumed activities and organizing events and get-togethers, volunteers were not exactly lining up to come help out.
Where have the volunteers gone?
They are still around, but many have decided not to resume their activities again, for whatever reason. It’s hard to make the decision to go back to doing what they did before the pandemic, especially if they feel a lot was taken out of them in dealing with those restrictions.
A number of groups and organizations have felt this impact, and it’s not just in one town or
By Greg Nikkel
city, or in a few groups — all groups are feeling this impact.
There needs to be a new resolve, as people see things going on in the community, to get back in there and make a difference again, to give back to the community again.
There are groups who are trying to respond to needs as they find out about them, such as the Salvation Army, providing lunches for children through the summer as there are no school nutrition programs running in July and August.
They get help from different companies and groups who pitch in to make the lunches or to sponsor a lunch for a day — but then there are days when there is just no one who has signed up to help out, as happened on one day last week. It is an eye-opener for some people to realize there are families who simply cannot afford the higher food prices, and are struggling to provide enough food for their children. In a community that has many people who are doing well, can it be that there are children going hungry?
This should not be happening, but it is a present reality, and we need people to volunteer to help out, and to donate to help out.
A WRITER’S ODYSSEY
By Sabrina Kraft
By the time my loyal reader(s) have this issue of the Weyburn Review in front of them, I will be in Nova Scotia! Don’t worry, it is only vacation time, and I will be back to Weyburn in a few weeks.
I have never had the opportunity to explore the Atlantic part of our country. I have previously been to British Columbia, Alberta (where my family lived for some time), and Toronto before. I am excited to explore and have new adventures.
This trip was originally planned for the entire family to travel to Nova Scotia in 2020 to attend my sister’s wedding. Then COVID happened, and everything had to be cancelled.
Joanna, my sister, instead got married to Scott in Banff a year later. It was a simple ‘elopement’ style wedding, with only the couple and the wedding officiant, as COVID restrictions were still in place.
Fast forward to last year, when Joanna and Scott made the decision to move to Nova Scotia. Now the trip will include a tour of
their new home, in addition to everything that we had hoped to see while on our vacation.
Our itinerary includes a trip to the Anne Murray Centre, visiting Peggy’s Cove, exploring the Acadian Shore, the Bay of Fundy, the Annapolis Valley, and many other places.
It will be interesting to see the many lighthouses in the province, as they are scattered about just like grain elevators are in Saskatchewan. I am looking forward to spending time with Scott’s family, as many of them live in Nova Scotia.
As a foodie, I am excited to try different cuisines and enjoy the fresh seafood. Nova Scotia has built its culture and heritage around the sea, something that is completely different from landlocked Saskatchewan. Plus it was a crucial strategic location for both the French and British colonial expansions, so there will be lots of history to explore.
It is always fun to adventure to new places, and I am sure this vacation will be one to remember.
sports
Jackson family with the Stanley Cup
The Jackson family gathered around the Stanley Cup during its visit to Crescent Point Place in Weyburn on Sunday. In the back are Les Jackson (whose name is on the Cup), and his sons Reid and Brock Jackson; in front are Brock’s daughters Kate and Keira, who both play minor hockey in Weyburn. Reid grew up playing his minor hockey in Weyburn, and is a professional scout for the Florida Panthers.
East prevails over West in WCBL All-Star Game
By Ian Wilson Sweltering heat, a stuffed Seaman Stadium, and a star-studded cast of Western Canadian Baseball League talent punctuated the 2024 All-Star Game.
The WCBL All-Star Game itself saw Graham Brunner, a veteran southpaw with the Okotoks Dawgs, take the mound as the starting pitcher for the West Division, followed by Ian Heck, a two-way player with the Weyburn Beavers from California, who was the opening hill topper for the East Division.
Heck, who went over the fence six times in the home run derby and fell just short of qualifying for the final round, surrendered one run in the opening frame, as did Brunner.
Heck went from six homers in the derby, to tak-
ing the mound as the East Division starting pitcher, to finishing his night with a triple in the late innings on a hard-hit ball off the rightfield wall.
“It was a super fun day. The experience is like no other and definitely trying to take advantage of the moment and doing anything I can to have the most fun and most success that I can,” said Heck.
“I actually didn’t think I was going to get an at bat today because I was supposed to be here as just a pitcher, but I got told I was going to get one and I guess that happened.”
In discussing taking the mound, Heck said: “It felt really cool, especially running out to the mound, and I’ve never played in front of a crowd this big so seeing everybody in attend -
Midale para-cyclist to compete at Paralympics in Paris
Midale’s Keely Shaw will be representing Team Canada at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, France, which will be held following the Summer Olympic Games this summer.
The Paralympic Games are scheduled to run from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8.
Shaw is now an established star in the women’s C4 Para-cycling category on both the track and the road.
The Saskatchewan native reached a high point in her career at Tokyo 2020 with a bronze medal on track in the women’s individual pursuit. She was the only athlete from the province to win either an Olympic or Paralympic medal for those Games.
Three years later she improved that result to silver at the 2023 World Championships in Glas -
gow, Scotland. In 2022, she capped a strong season with a double bronze performance at the Para cycling road world championships held in Baie-Comeau, Que., placing third in the time trial and the road race.
Shaw was Saskatchewan’s Female Athlete of the Year for 2019 and 2021. Her first major international success was a silver in the individual pursuit at the 2019 world track championships. She entered her first road race in 2017.
ance, and then realizing the moment I was in is definitely a special thing.”
The East carried a 134 lead into the final frame. West Division batters did not go quietly, adding two more runs, but the East would not be denied. A rope of a throw from right fielder Nate Mensik of the Moose Jaw
Miller Express to gun down a runner at third provided one of the final outs of the game and helped preserve a 13-6 final score for the East Division, their first All-Star Game win over the West Division in three years.
Carter Beck, an outfielder with the Saskatoon Berries, was named the All-Star Game MVP after going 3-for-3 with a run scored and three runs batted in. Beck is the grandson of legendary player and coach Ray Beck of Lang.
Silver Seals to host South Semi Finals on July 27
The Weyburn Silver Seals will host the South Semi Finals at the Weyburn Leisure Centre on Saturday, July 27. Athletes from around the south district of Saskatchewan will compete in different categories of speed swimming, including: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and the individual and team medley. In addition to the host Silver Seals, other clubs attending the South Semi
Finals include: Assiniboia Aquarians Swim Club, Elrose Prairie Speed Summer Club, Estevan Golden Eels Swim Club, Gravelbourg and District Swim Club, Oxbow Seawolves Aquatic Club, Regina Piranhas Summer Swim Club, Rocanville Tiger Sharks Swim Club and the Swift Current ACT Stingrays Swim Club.
The South Semi Finals starts at 9 a.m. on July 27. Anyone is welcome, as it is
free to attend the swim meet.
In addition to preparing to host the South Semi Finals, the Silver Seals have nine swimmers who qualified for the Southeast District Team, and will be competing in the first half of the Summer Games, set for July 21 to 24.
In the girls category, athletes include Avryelle Molnar, Brenna Torkelson, Daisy Popescu, Hayleigh Hovanak and Shay Warren.
In the boys category,
athletes include Charlie Ashworth, Jacob Gill, Nikolas Nikulin and Topher Wilkinson.
Dalton Molnar, who is the head coach for the Silver Seals, was also selected as the assistant coach for the Southeast District Swim Team.
Lloydminster is the host of the 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games. More than 1,800 participants from nine District Teams across Saskatchewan will compete in 14 sports over seven days.
Shaw became a Para cyclist in 2016 after dabbling in several sports after a horse-riding accident left her with partial paralysis on her left side at age 15 in 2009.
She fell off a horse on her family farm in 2009 and was diagnosed with a broken blood vessel in her brain which caused partial paralysis on her left side. Before her accident she was a high-level hockey player with Olympic dreams.
She completed her master’s degree at the University of Saskatchewan in kinesiology in 2019. Her thesis was on the impact of dark chocolate on cycling at high altitudes. She is pursuing her PhD in kinesiology — exercise physiology and sport nutrition.
She was invited to a Cycling Canada camp in 2017 and that same year won two medals at the national championships. In 2018 she entered her first world championships. She was fourth in the individual pursuit at the track worlds and fourth and seventh in the time trial and road race at the road worlds.
Safely on second base
A member of the U13 Team Southeast softball team safely ended on second base, as the Team Regina second baseman had to handle the throw. Team Southeast defeated the Team Regina girls by a score of 20-12, in an exhibition game on Thursday evening at Jubilee Park, held as a warmup to the Sask Summer Games, now on in Lloydminster.
Plentywood repeats as Borderline Men’s Fastball League Champions
Submitted by Richard Wick
For the second year in a row, the Plentywood Peckers have won the Borderline Men’s Fastball League championship, with a thrilling 6-3 win over the Ceylon Angels on Sunday night. This was the final game of the league’s twoday playoff tournament, held over the weekend in Plentywood, Montana.
Plentywood advanced to the championship game with wins over the Lake Alma Raiders, Midale Blue Jays, and then Ceylon in the A-side final. The Ceylon Angels earned their trip to the championship game with a win over the Gladmar Braves, then a win in the B-side final over the Weyburn Renegades. Weyburn had advanced to the B-side championship game with a
win over the Ogema Colts.
For the second year in a row, too, Ricky Darvis of the Plentywood squad won the Roger Storle Memorial Trophy as “top pitcher” for the tournament. Third baseman Mike O’Toole of Plentywood was named the tournament MVP and received the George Howard Memorial Golden Glove Award. Mike O’Toole also received the 2024 Maverick David Paul Duffy Most Sportsmanlike Player Award.
The league would like to thank the Plentywood Peckers team and their volunteers for doing such a great job of hosting the tournament. The league would also like to thank all the fans who supported the league through the whole season and those who endured the heat and attended the league playoff tournament.
Reaching high for the ball
Two teams had a closely-contested match in the beach volleyball tournament, held as a part of the Creelman Fair on Saturday on the fairgrounds.
Photo - Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Photo - Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Photo - Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Capturing the flag
Nola Somerville ran off with the flag, in a game of “Capture the Flag” recently at the Credit Union Spark Cen tre. For this activity, the children in the Fun in the Sun program from the Leisure Centre combined with the arts program at the Spark Centre to do games together.
Author holds reading for new sci-fi book Rachael Clarke shows her newest science fiction-western novel, Race to
which she did a reading for at the Weyburn Public Library on Saturday. Clarke now lives in Portage La Prairie, Man., and was formerly a police officer in Weyburn.
Nominations have now opened for the new King Charles III Coronation Medal, for residents of Souris-Moose Mountain.
MP Robert Kitchen is taking nominations of individuals for this medal, with applications to close on Sept. 10, 2024. To be eligible for this community, or made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada. Nominations may be emailed to Robert.Kitchen@parl.gc.ca, and must include the name, email, home address with postal code, and a summary of the person’s contribu -
Two public notices were issued by the City of Weyburn on Friday afternoon in regard to the road construction project on First Avenue.
There was an update about access to the Weyburn General Hospital, which will be temporarily impacted during construction.
While certain entrances to the hospital parking lot will be closed as construc-
To be eligible for this honour,
tion reaches certain points, there will always be at least one entrance available to the hospital.
From the south, access is available via Second and Fourth Streets, while from the north, residents should use Windsor Street to access the hospital.
The City advises residents to use caution when driving near the construction site, as the safety of drivers and construction
workers is a priority.
For updates about the construction project, contact the City’s engineering department at 306-8483230.
The second notice is in regard to the removal or tampering of construction signs.
These signs play a vital role in ensuring the safety of the public and of the construction workers, by providing necessary guidance
Teen Power-up Class ready for exercise
and information around the construction zones.
“Construction signs are not merely suggestions, they are crucial safety tools, and removing or tampering with these signs can lead to serious conse -
The park manager said there were no reports of help prevent the “itch” from afflicting the swimmer.
City of Weyburn issues notices about signs, access to hospital
quences, including vehicle and property damage, personal injuries and delays in construction projects,” said Kevin Linnen, public works superintendent.
“We urge all residents to respect these signs and report any instances of removal or tampering immediately,” he added. To report the removal or tampering of construction zone signs, call the public works department at 306848-3290.
Novus,
A Teen Power-up Class was held with instructor Leah Blaire, as part of the Mental Health Capacity Building program at the Weyburn Comp. They also have a mixed art program running through the summer, and this class is funded by JumpStart.The participants are, from near the camera going left, Andrea Bayona, Juney Vermaak, Sakoda Seitz, Charliee Harris and Lexi Hillstead.
Photo courtesy Maria A. Escobar
Kirk Martin
May 16, 1966
July 6, 2024
The death of Kirk Martin, aged 58 years, of Watrous, SK occurred near Watrous on Saturday, July 6, 2024. He is survived by parents Keith and Josephine Martin, sister Bryna Nevill (niece Daryn), daughter Lauren Varley (Luc), son Garrett (Allie) Sherlock, and grandchildren Annalee and Maelie. A Private Memorial and interment will be held at Watrous, SK at a later date. For those so wishing, memorial donations to Carlton Trail and Viscount 4-H Clubs would be appreciated. For online condolences or tributes visit: https://fotheringhammcdougall.com/
10a.m. -5 p.m. 109ForgetSt., Stoughton Locatedbehindthe MoffatResidence 208Assiniboia Avenue
Find QUALIFIED, LOCAL EMPLOYEES, using the strength of community newspapers! Visit www.swna.com or call 306649-1405 to find out how!
PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. 49 local community newspapers, distributing to over, 450 communities, including 14 cities. Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call 306649.1405 or visit www.swna.com for details.
Advertisements and statements contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness, or reliability of such advertisements. For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Association's Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.swna.com.
HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS
Motor scrapers, dozers, excavators, rock trucks, packers; wide range of machines.
PEAS... BARLEY CANOLA... FLAX “ON FARM PICKUP” WESTCAN FEED & GRAIN 1-877-250-5252
Lots of work all season. Camp/R & B provided. Competitive wages. Valid drivers license req’d. Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction and Transport Co. Inc. Box 100, Arborfield, SK S0E 0A0; Fax: 306-769-8844 Email: brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca www. brydenconstruction andtransport.ca
community lifestyles 9 &
Fun summer activities at the Weyburn Library
A number of fun summer activities will be held at the Weyburn Public Library in the last half of July, including games and children’s performers.
Children’s entertainer and magician Danny Kazam will be at the Weyburn library on today, July 24 at 11 a.m., to do magic tricks and stories with puppets.
The junior chef program for tweens, aged nine to 12, will feature galaxy crepes and smoothies on July 24, and for junior-aged children, aged six to eight, on Thursday, July 25, both at 4 p.m.
For teens, there are film canister rockets on canvas, and make and launch a UFO, on Monday, July 29 at 2 p.m.
There will also be water balloon dodgeball and water games on Thursday, July 25 at 2 p.m.
A class in making a clay Baby Yoda will be held on Saturday, July 27, with times at either 10 or 11 a.m., and continuing with this theme, Lego Masters will meet on July 27 at 2 p.m., with the theme of solar systems and Star Wars.
An art-craft class for adults will be held on Tuesday, July 30 at 6:30 p.m., to make an apron with an iron-on vinyl design.
A class in making iced mint green tea and hamand-cheese rolls will be held on Wednesday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m.
Survey of patients shows issues of access to care, under-staffing
A survey and series of phone interviews with patients in the southeast region of Saskatchewan shows a number of challenges and problems, including access to care, and staff shortages.
Responses from 184 patients in the Weyburn area were compiled and presented to health care teams in June.
A number of comments were made about long wait times and staff shortages, with many participants saying long wait times for appointments and procedures were a significant barrier to accessing necessary care.
The shortage of doctors was mentioned by numerous people, with this example of a comment by someone who felt they had to get a doctor in Regina after not being able to access one in Weyburn.
“It is ridiculous that a city the size of Weyburn has no doctors accepting patients, and if you need to see one, it is easily a threeto-four week wait. We can see our doctor in Regina within a week if necessary,” said the patient, adding they would hesitate to go the ER in Weyburn unless it was for a full-blown emergency.
Another person commented, “When I need an urgent appointment, I shouldn’t have to wait almost four months. This includes the mammograms and ultrasounds that I was told are being pushed back for almost a year, when they already were a year behind.”
The lack of available health care professionals was frequently mentioned, both in emergency services and for regular health care appointments.
Some patients said
Getting to sit in a fire truck
Sukhleen Kaur, Matias Rodriguez Escobar and Daxon
A
Neighbourhood” theme for the week.
there is a need for improved communications between health care providers, with some comments made about the lack of being able to see the same doctor leads to miscommunications about a patient’s needs.
“We need more medical teams made of a variety of health professional who actually communicate with each other to ensure my health remains top notch,” said a patient.
There were some positive experiences commented on as well, with positive interactions noted with care providers.
About 95 per cent of respondents said they have access to immunization and public health when they need it.
On the question of, “are you given the information you need to manage your health and well-being?”, 17 per cent said “always”, 32 per cent said “more often than not” and 30 per cent said “sometimes”.
For the question, “To what extent did your care provider explain things to you in an easy and understandable manner?”, 26 per cent said “always”, 25 per cent said “more often than not” and 28 per cent said “sometimes”.
One comment noted that her husband had been in ER and admitted to hospital often, and the staff they encountered were always helpful, kind and efficient, and completely professional.
“They are almost all overworked and frustrated by our system, but the patients are treated with respect and dignity. Imagine what these people could accomplish in an efficient health care system,” said the respondent.
Being cared for by paramedics
glided into the back of an ambulance on Wednesday, as part of a
program. They were able to explain to the
before being taken to a hospital or other care facility.
what happens when
Provincial fire ban modified for municipalities in southern areas
Part of the provincial fire ban issued by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) on July 11 was modified on July 17.
The provincial fire ban will remain in effect for all Crown lands, provincial parks, provincial recreation sites, and the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District located north of the provincial forest boundary, including the 4.5 km burn notification area.
In general, south of Prince Albert, it will be up to individual municipalities, First Nation communities, rural municipalities, and parks to determine if a fire ban is required.
“Each provincial park in the southern part of the province will continue to work with the SPSA to determine risk and implement campfire restrictions if required,” Minister of
Parks, Culture and Sport Laura Ross said. “We encourage all residents and visitors to remain diligent in preventing humancaused fires in all areas of Saskatchewan.”
As of July 17, there were 95 wildfires burning in the province. To date, Saskatchewan has had 367 wildfires, which is 119 more than the five-year average of 248.
“While we are modifying the current fire ban, the situation is dependent on weather, temperature, soil conditions and overall fire risk,” said Minister of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Paul Merriman. “People need to be aware of, and adhere to, all fire bans and burning restrictions placed by municipalities, First Nation communities, rural municipalities and regional parks.”
is
and
Photos – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Weyburn EMS paramedics Lexy Tessier, left, and Jason Roy gave Parsa a ride on a gurney as it was lifted and
visit by Weyburn EMS to the College for Kids
children
a patient
taken in
cared for
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca