Vol.114 No. 36 - Weyburn, Saskatchewan
weyburnreview
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 - 10 Pages
Football season underway
Receiver Tace Odima caught a ball in an exhibition game against the Miller Marauders. Page 6
Weyburn Independent Riders
ANNUAL TOY RUN
Saturday, Sept. 7
1 :00 p.m.
Toys will be collected on Sept. 5 & 6 in front of Walmart
Shaw wins bronze in Paris
Keely Shaw of Midale captured a bronze medal at the
Threshing wheat the old-fashioned way Glen Stomp, at right, watched over the threshing machine’s operations as two volunteers pitchforked sheaves of wheat onto the conveyor belt. This was part of the demonstration of threshing as it used to be done almost a century ago in the southeast region during harvest time. The threshing bee was held at Stomp’s farm at Griffin on Sunday.
City of Weyburn to swear in new police chief
The City of Weyburn will hold the official swearing-in of its new police chief on Thursday, Sept. 5.
The ceremony will take place at City Hall outside the council chambers at noon, as interim police chief Brent VanDeSype will officially assume the role of police chief on Sept. 1.
He was appointed as the interim police chief after Jamie Blunden resigned his position on Aug. 10, as he was announced to be moving to Estevan to take over as their police chief this fall.
VanDeSype brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the position, and his transition from interim to permanent police chief reflects the City’s
confidence in his ability to lead the Weyburn Police Service effectively.
Ron McCormick of the Weyburn Police Commission expressed the board’s confidence in VanDeSype.
“We are thrilled to have interim police chief VanDeSype step into the role of Police Chief. His leadership during his time as deputy police chief and interim chief has been outstanding, and we are confident he will continue to strengthen the Weyburn Police Service.”
The WPS employs an invaluable team of dedicated sworn and civilian members, who ensure the residence of Weyburn receive efficient, professional, and effective frontline and administrative service.
Two more Weyburn councillors to seek another term this fall
By Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Two more Weyburn city councillors have decided they will be seeking another term, Laura Morrissette, who is finishing her second term, and Ryan Janke, just finishing his first term.
Fellow councillor Mel Van Betuw has indicated he will not run for another term, and councillor Jeff Richards has indicated he will be running for the mayor’s chair. Other members of council have not yet declared if they are running.
The municipal election will be held on Nov.
13, and nominations will open on Sept. 25, to close on Oct. 9, a month prior to voting day.
For Morrissette, this second term had some differences from the first time she was on council, as her two daughters were one and four when she first got on in 2012. She was not re-elected when she ran again in 2016, but was successful in getting a second term when she ran in 2020.
She had a very steep learning curve in that first term, but now feels as she ends her second term she will be able to help out any new councillors who
are elected this fall.
Morrissette currently sits on a number of committees, including the Weyburn Library board and Southeast Regional Library, along with Leisure Services, Tourism and the Weyburn Care-AVan Society.
“I’m loving my library board. The previous board set such a great framework,” she said, noting the community support for the library and its programs and events has been “amazing”, such as the two recent book sales, held each fall and spring.
On council itself, she
noted the group has been working on a strategic plan, and she loves the mission statement and vision that have now been put up on the walls of the council chambers.
“It was a collaborative effort with council and staff,” said Morrissette, noting the plan is a forward-thinking initiative that is setting the direction for the City to follow.
The plans include taking a look at the city’s facilities, such as the state of the roofs and equipment, so they can do long-term planning and not require putting on a 10-per-cent tax increase if something
big comes up.
“I always mention we’re taxpayers as well. We have to make sure we can meet all of the needs we’re committed to,” she said, adding they don’t want to see taxpayers need to decide between paying their tax bill or putting food on the table.
The revitalization of the city is also an important issue for her that she wants to be able to continue working on if she is re-elected. This includes attracting new businesses to the city as well as helping the businesses that are here.
“We want to make sure
businesses come here, and want to stay,” she said. Meantime, she is looking forward to seeing new blood on council if she is elected to another term and help them out, and noted, “I remember when I was the newbie. It was great to have all the other councillors there to help me.”
Finishing up his first term on council, Janke said there certainly is a steep learning curve at the start, but he encourages anyone who has a desire to serve on council to put forward their names on the ballot. Continued on page 3
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
A dance of the Northern Lights The skies over Weyburn were brightly lit up on Aug. 27 in all directions as a geostorm hit the Earth’s upper atmosphere. This
St. Michael families treated to BBQ
Many families of St. Michael School came by to drop off their students’ supplies in their new home rooms, and the School Community Council provided a free barbecue, on Thursday evening. The evening was in preparation for the first day of school on Tuesday.
FCAA advises: be cautious with direct sellers
The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan (FCAA) remains committed to protecting consumers and ensuring that all direct sellers in Saskatchewan comply with The Direct Sellers Act and Regulations. All door-to-door salespeople, also known as direct sellers, are required to be licensed in Saskatchewan and must adhere to specific contract requirements and cancellation rules. To view a comprehensive list of licensed door-to-door sellers, visit: FCAA411.
This includes compan-
ies such as Tartans Paving and Hortons Paving and Masonry, who were conducting unlicensed doorto-door sales in Moose Jaw and the surrounding area. While information available indicates these direct sellers have ceased their operations, consumers are reminded to only deal with door-to-door sellers licensed by the FCAA.
Consumer Rights for Door-to-Door Sales
If a salesperson comes to your door, here are some rights you should be aware of:
• All contracts must be
in writing unless the sale is less than $100.
• All direct sales contracts must include a statement of cancellation rights.
• You have 10 days to cancel a contract without needing to provide a reason.
• If a contract is canceled, the vendor must refund all money received under the contract within 15 days of cancellation.
Tips for Consumers Considering Door-to-Door Purchases
If you decide to purchase goods or services from a door-to-door seller, consider the following tips:
Meeting the new students
families were also treated to a free barbecue by the
• Ask to see a copy of their license and verify their listing on FCAA411.
• Read the contract carefully, including the fine print. Ask questions if you do not understand something.
• Do not feel pressured to make an immediate purchase.
• Keep down payments to a minimum; the higher the amount paid in advance, the greater the risk of loss.
• Never hand over a blank cheque.
• Check the seller’s rating and customer reviews on the Better Business Bureau directory at https:// www.bbb.org/ or call 1-888-352-7601.
For questions about door-to-door sellers, please contact the FCAA’s Consumer Protection Division toll-free at 1-877-880-5550 or by email at branch.consumerprotection@gov. sk.ca.
Weyburn police investigate B&Es to a home and a business
The Weyburn Police Service (WPS) responded to 100 calls for service during the period of Aug. 26 to Sept. 1, resulting in a total of 20 charges. Of the charges, 14 were laid under the Criminal Code of Canada and six under the Traffic Safety Act (TSA).
Of the 14 criminal charges, one charge was for assault on a police officer, two charges of assault with a weapon, one charge of breaking and entering to a residence, one charge of assault, two charges of forcible confinement, three charges for uttering threats, two charges were in relation to impaired driving, one charge of mischief, and one charge for failing to comply with conditions of a release order.
Police responded to a reported residential break and enter on Aug. 29. Officers discovered the occupant was also assaulted during the incident. Further investigation resulted in an adult female being located and charged in relation to the incident.
Officers were called to a local business location that had their compound fence cut in the very early morning hours of Aug. 26. Items inside the compound had been gathered up but the individual was likely scared off and left the items behind. Although nothing was stolen, the fence was damaged. This matter is still under investigation.
Police were called to a noise complaint on Aug. 28 involving an individual who was causing a disturbance and unwilling to leave a residence. Officers learned that the individual resided at the residence and were able to mediate the
situation without any further intervention.
City police received two calls of a suspected impaired driver on Friday afternoon. Both callers expressed their concern as the driving action and speed of the suspect vehicle was very unsafe. Officers were able to locate the suspected driver and conduct a traffic stop. The driver displayed signs of impairment and further investigation resulted in the driver being charged with impaired driving. A motel employee requested assistance in removing an unwanted guest on Saturday. Officers attended and spoke to the adult male who left without further incident.
Also on Saturday, a resident reported that rocks had been thrown at windows and some solar lights had been stolen from yards in the area. The caller advised the police of who they believe are responsible and the matter is being investigated further.
The Weyburn police also responded to a variety of other calls including alarms, domestic 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.
*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).
Two Stoughton men charged with drug trafficking, firearms offences
Saskatchewan RCMP’s Fillmore detachment and Yorkton Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team (STRT) executed a search warrant at a residence in Stoughton on Aug. 28 as part of an ongoing investigation.
Officers located and seized a firearm, two airsoft firearms, ammunition, a small amount of cocaine, trafficking paraphernalia,
and a sum of cash.
Two adult males were arrested without incident at the residence.
Jyron Englot, 23, and Paul Englot, 46, both from Stoughton, are each charged with one count, possession for the purpose of trafficking; one count, unauthorized possession of a firearm; and one count, careless storage of a firearm.
Paul Englot is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order.
Jyron Englot is also charged with one count of breach of a release order. Both appeared in Weyburn Provincial Court on August 29.
Saskatchewan RCMP’s Critical Incident Response Team assisted with this investigation.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Clouds painted by sunset colours
The clouds over Weyburn were coloured by the setting sun on Wednesday evening, in this view on Government Road looking to the north-northwest.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Teacher Sean Galvin had a chat with one of his new students, as families came in to drop off the school supplies on Thursday evening at St. Michael School. The
School Community Council.
Morrissette, Janke to seek re-election as city councillors
Continued from front page
“There’s a lot to learn, but there’s a lot of support, and a lot of smart people at City Hall,” he said.
Janke said he’s proud of the work that council has been able to do, including the infrastructure work they’ve been able to do over the summer, and feels it’s important council continue to make long-term plans around
infrastructure needs.
“I see a lot of opportunities for the City of Weyburn to foster economic development,” he said, noting they have a partnership with the RM of Weyburn on development and on infrastructure needs.
In regard to the mall property, he noted while it’s not owned by the city, he thinks there must be something the city can do
to help the owners, such as incentives through the Weyburn Builds program, and going on from that, downtown revitalization is an important issue as well.
“It’s an exciting time for downtown Weyburn,” said Janke.
In regards to the city budgets, he noted that city staff have worked hard to find efficiencies and stretch dollars as much as
possible.
“I think Weyburn taxes compare to most of the province quite competitively,” he said, adding that striking a balance in a budget is one of the most difficult tasks council has had to do, in making sure city services and facilities have what they need, and on the other hand that there isn’t a large burden to city taxpayers.
Barbecue offered for APES families
Barbecued hot dogs and hamburgers were provided to the families of Assiniboia Park Elementary School on Wednesday, as they were also invited to drop off the school supplies for their children.The families were able to see their child’s new classroom and meet the teacher, in preparation for the first day of school on Tuesday.
Meeting the new teacher in class
Families came to drop off the school supplies at Assiniboia Park school on Wednesday, enabling the students to meet their new teachers prior to the start of school on Tuesday. The School Community Council also provided a free barbecue for the families as they dropped by.
Independent Riders to hold Salvation Army Toy Run
The Weyburn Independent Riders will again be collecting toys for the Salvation Army, with their annual Toy Run on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Last year, the group opted to collect food donations instead of toys as the need was greater. This year, the Riders will return to collecting toys for
Wheatland holds games at end of August
The Wheatland Seniors Centre hosted a number of games and activities in the last week of August, with the following results.
The winners of Spades on Aug. 26 were, in first, Ernie Lokken; in second, Marge Schultz; in third, Janet Van Winkoop; and in fourth, Mildred Sandiford. In Kaiser on Aug. 27, Betty Knibbs and Jean Knibbs placed first; Rose Levesque and Shirley Sparks were second; Ray Boucher and Gladys Lokken were third, and Norma Kapusianyk and Melba Bent were fourth.
the Salvation Army to distribute through Christmas hampers this holiday season.
The Riders will have their Santa sleigh parked at the Wal-Mart store on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 5 and 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., collecting toy or monetary donations. The parade of motor-
The winners of Canasta on Aug. 28 were, in first, Trina Maas; in second, Marg Warnke, and third was Chris Herlick. In Hi-Low Whist on Aug. 28, Betty Herlick and Chris Herlick won first; Ray and Connie Boucher placed second; Fay Johnson and Marge Schultz came third, and Elaine Frasz and Basil Holyer placed fourth. The winners of Thursday Crib on Aug. 29 were Cheryl Vogel and Emily Zyla in first; Stan Hubick and Sheila Greiner in second; and Ray and Connie Boucher in third.
The Weyburn Arts Council and Weyburn Art Gallery are gearing up for a full slate of activities for Cultural Days, which will run from Sept. 20 to Oct. 12 in a number of locations around the city.
The first really busy day for Cultural Days will be Saturday, Sept. 28, with a wide variety of arts and culture-related events.
There will be an outdoor demonstration of Raku pottery firing in Jubilee Park, starting at 10 a.m., facilitated by the Weyburn Pottery Club.
Residents can try the sport of cricket at 11 a.m. on Mainil Field in the Credit Union Spark Centre.
A community mural will also be open for residents to contribute a square, starting at 11 a.m. in the Spark Centre.
A demonstration of the art of Rangoli will be put in the Weyburn Art Gallery by Harwinder Kaur. This is an art form from India, using a variety of colourful items to create a design on the floor, and once it’s created, it will remain on the floor of the gallery for the rest of Cultural Days.
cycles will be held on Sept. 7, leaving from the Legacy School bus lot at 1 p.m.
The Riders will ride a route through the city that will take them down Third Street through the downtown area, across Highway 39 and end at River Park. The donations of toys and cash will then be delivered to the Salvation Army.
There will be cultural dances presented at 1 p.m. in the mini-gym of the CU Spark Centre.
Residents can try their hand at painting their flag
of their country’s origin, starting at 3 p.m. in the CU Spark Centre.
There will also be a popsicle stick craft available for visitors to the Spark Centre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., facilitated by the Weyburn library. The Treaty 4 time-line display will be up for viewing in Jubilee Park along the pathways, and there will be a Walk for Reconciliation to go through the display on Sept. 30, starting 1 p.m. from the CU Spark Centre. Also that day, there will be a feather garland creation event in Jubilee Park near the Spark Centre.
There will be an artist talk by Iris Hauser on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m., about her exhibit, “Crone Ascendant: In Praise of Older Women” at the Weyburn Art Gallery. A potluck movie matinee will be held on Oct. 5 from 11:30 to 3 p.m. at the Weyburn Public Library.
The Regina Symphony Orchestra’s core players will put on a concert at the Weyburn Public Library on Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m.
An opening reception for a new exhibit, “Zero Degrees of Separation”, will be held on Oct. 11 at the Weyburn Art Gallery at 7 p.m. Residents can also learn about how to make perogies on Oct. 12 at the Weyburn Public Library, at 2:30 p.m.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Ryan Janke
Laura Morrissette
4 agriculture, oil business &
Governments fund more child care spaces
The Government of Canada and Saskatchewan announced an investment of $71.3 million to allocate more than 5,000 child care centre spaces across the province throughout 2024-25.
To date, 1,537 of these child care centre spaces have been allocated to new child care facilities or added into existing facilities in 27 Saskatchewan communities and 36 organizations. The other 3,463 spaces will be allocated throughout the remainder of the fiscal year.
“This investment will create more opportunities for families to find accessible and high-quality child care in their local communities,” Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill said. “Expanding child care facilities throughout the province will be an addition to supporting the wellbeing for Saskatchewan families.”
“More than 5,000 child care spots will make a real difference for families across Saskatchewan,” Canada’s Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Jenna Sudds said. “This is an important step that will ensure more kids can get
off waitlists and into highquality centres, and provide more families with access to affordable early learning and child care in their communities.”
Funding for the creation of regulated child care spaces will be allocated by the province on an on-going basis throughout the year to notfor-profit organizations including cooperatives, municipalities, non-profit corporations and parent groups. The spaces will be approved based on community need and each organization’s readiness to move into the development stage.
To respond to the needs of the sector and to help address the costs of establishing child care spaces, space development capital funding for centre development is further increasing from $10,000 per space to $13,360 in 2024-25.
The funding has increased by $10,000 since 2017. Funding for start-up grants for regulated centres is also increasing from $861 per space to $1,360 in 2024-25. Additionally, the start-up grant for regulated family child care homes will also increase by $200.
‘Elevate and Connect’ with Regina Airport Authority luncheon
The Weyburn Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a luncheon with the president and CEO of the Regina Airport Authority, James Bogusz, on Friday, Sept. 13 at the Weyburn Legion Hall.
Bogusz will give a recap of how 2023 went for the airport authority, and will provide an update on the efforts to bring air service back to the region. He will also talk about how the airport helps to
boost the Saskatchewan economy, and will showcase the latest improvements and projects at the airport.
The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Vimy Room.
The cost is $16 for chamber members, or $20 for non-members. Register by calling the Chamber office at 306842-4738, or go online to www.weyburnchamber. com for your tickets.
Combines take off canola crops
A pair of combines worked on taking off a canola crop on Dennis Mainil’s farm land north of Weyburn on Friday afternoon. Mainil said the crop looked really good until a recent hail storm moved through the region, and noted they were about one-third done harvesting.
Harvesting in SE interrupted by series of storms
Producers in the southeast were making good progress in their fields before a series of large storms halted some harvest operations. These storms caused delays as well as damage by blowing around swaths, lodging crops and flooding and hailing out crops.
The harvest in the southeast region as a whole is 28 per cent completed, but in the Weyburn region, and to the south and west, harvest is over 40 per cent completed. The progress for the southeast is ahead of the five-year average of 22 per cent.
Some producers have noted their crops are not yet ready for harvest, and
are hoping they dry down quickly to avoid any issues in September.
There has been significant progress with fall cereals, with winter wheat now 79 per cent in the bins, and fall rye is 86 per cent done. Field peas and lentils are also nearing completion, with 85 per cent of field peas and 73 per cent of lentils harvested for the year.
Producers are focusing on spring-seeded cereals, with 40 per cent of durum, 36 per cent of oats, 33 per cent of barley and 16 per cent of spring wheat harvested in the southeast. For oilseeds, mustard leads the progress with 53 per cent of the crop in the bin, and
11 per cent of canola harvested so far.
From the series of heavy downpours from thunderstorms, the Creelman area received about 76 mm of rain, and the Radville area had 55 mm, while the RM of Weyburn had 87 mm, and the RM of Brokenshell saw 60 mm of rain.
The heavy rain has flooded low-lying areas, and caused issues for farmers with swathed crops.
Soil moisture in the southeast improved due to the rain. Six per cent of crop land is rated to have surplus moisture, 70 per cent is adequate, 19 per cent is short and five per cent is very short.
Hayland topsoil moisture is rated as 56 per cent adequate, 38 per cent is short and six per cent is very short. Pasture land is rated as 54 per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and eight per cent very short.
Crop damage in the past week was mostly due to wind, heavy rain and hail damage, which saw some crops be completely cut down.
Producers are busy with harvesting and are working cattle. The recent rains will hopefully allow some cattle to stay on pasture longer into the fall and reduce the need to provide supplemental feed in the form of bales.
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Parkland CPAP cuts ribbon for new location
Weyburn Chamber of Commerce and local dignitaries were on hand for
new location
The annual ban on pruning elm trees ended on August 31, paving the way for Saskatchewan residents to begin their seasonal pruning September 1. Saskatchewan prohibits pruning elm trees during the spring and summer to reduce the risk of spreading Dutch elm disease (DED). Elm bark beetles, which carry the fungus that causes DED, are most active between April and August, and can inadvertently
be attracted to healthy elm trees by the scent of fresh cuts from pruning.
Early fall is an ideal time to prune elm trees as elm bark beetle are less active, and unhealthy branches are easier to spot and remove with leaves still present on the tree. Pruning is essential for maintaining tree health and reducing vulnerability to disease. By removing dead branches regularly and pruning properly, elm trees
become less attractive to the elm bark beetle, which results in a lower overall risk of DED. Incorrect pruning practices - whether you do it yourself or hire a professional - can injure or stress trees, making them more vulnerable to disease. For more information about DED and proper elm disposal, contact the Ministry of Environment’s Inquiry Centre at 1-800567-4224 or email at centre.inquiry@gov.sk.ca.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Photo – courtesy Weyburn Chamber of Commerce
The
the grand opening of Parkland CPAP’s
on Fifth Street on Wednesday. From left are Chamber board member Nilesh Jejurakar, Reeve Norm McFadden, Parkland CPAP Director of Operations Tracey Alcorn, Jordyn Joslin, MP Dr. Robert Kitchen, and Mayor Marcel Roy.
editorial opinion & review weyburn
Why does it always take a tragedy? EDITORIAL
The world of hockey, and across Canada and the United States, was stunned and shocked last week with the sad news of two hockey players, and brothers, killed in an awful tragedy late last week.
An alleged drunk driver killed Johnny Gaudreau, known by the nickname “Johnny Hockey”, and his brother Matthew, while they were out cycling near their family’s home in New Jersey.
Both are married with children, and both were set to be the groomsmen in their sister Katie’s wedding on Friday, when they were struck and killed the night before.
The tragic loss is unimaginable for their families at what was supposed to be a special family celebration of a wedding, and it’s also a loss to the respective brothers’ teams.
For Johnny, the tragic loss was felt not only by his current NHL team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, but by the Calgary Flames where he spent nine seasons. In many ways, Calgary fans saw him grow up from a novice fresh out of college hockey into an accomplished hockey star who was a part of the community.
Hearing and seeing the outpouring of grief and anger and sadness over this senseless tragedy, one question that arose in many people’s minds is, how could this happen?
For years, police and other organizations (like MADD) have campaigned and let the public know, driving while drunk or high is simply not acceptable and not to be tolerated, particularly as it puts the lives of other people at risk besides their own.
Why does it take a tragedy to hammer this particular point home with people? It shouldn’t take a tragic death or deaths for people to realize that it is a criminal act of ultimate negligence to get behind the wheel and drive when one is impaired by drugs and/or alcohol.
There have been innumerable tragic deaths in the Weyburn and surrounding communities, and indeed in most communities around the province and across the country, all due to the selfish and negligent act of driving while impaired.
There have been accidents causing death and injury involving single vehicles, and more tragically, involving other vehicles and pedestrians and cyclists, and this is one more tragic incident that could have been avoided.
An “accident” is a collision where nothing could have been done to prevent it — but an incident like this is absolutely and totally preventable, and should not happen. There are no excuses, as everyone knows and has heard, there are stiff penalties and fines for people convicted of impaired driving. Clearly, the penalties need to be far harsher to hit home to all motorists, it is not acceptable to get behind the wheel and drive if you’ve been drinking or using drugs. Just don’t do it! — Greg
Nikkel
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Letter: plastic straws vs wind turbines
To the Editor:
It’s time we stop sitting back as the polite, good natured Canadian citizens we are known to be and speak up before it’s too late. Today’s topic the Seven Stars Energy Windmills project.
What is Saskatchewan known for? We have valuable minerals but we are better known as the breadbasket of Canada. However our farmland is being eaten up by expanding cities, wind turbine and solar farms.
Most of the new immigration (another topic for another day) is of course heading to the cities and other urban areas, which is natural but also unfortunate, when you see that the cities are expanding outward to accommodate the needs of the increased population. However, take a minute to think about where our ancestors originally settled. In the 1900’s they weren’t looking for a quick and easy commute to work, they were concerned with growing enough food to feed themselves. A lot of our best farmland around large urban areas such as Regina and Saskatoon has already been eaten up by their expansion, so that fertile land is now covered by houses, condos, apartment buildings, office buildings and shopping malls. (In 1903 Regina’s population was 3000 and it is now over 226,000.).
Saskatchewan should be looking at preserving its farmland for the purpose of raising crops to feed people here and abroad which is an issue for today and the future, but instead we are focussing on carbon emissions and replacing the use of carbon fuels when Canada is rated 93 out of 134 in the world for CO2 emissions. Priorities! Education, health care, Medicare just to mention a few. Satisfying questionable federal mandates should not be our priority.
So what are some sources of pollution? Can you explain to me why I now use a paper straw with a plastic cup? Or why I gave up using paper bags years ago to use plastic bags and am now back to using paper bags?
When I think of wind turbines the first thing that comes to my mind is not that I am using a cleaner source of power. I think pollution! They are a form of noise pollution, create shadow flicker and infrasound (which have health implications), they pollute the scenery and there is no way of disposing of them when the turbines have reached their life expectancy of 20-25 years (let’s not get off topic and think about electric car batteries which have similar disposal problems).
If the foundation/base parts are not being built on site, there will also be a need for better roads to accommodate the delivery of these parts to the various sites plus the huge propellers. Who is paying for this? Maintaining this?
Also consider the CO2 emissions used in making the concrete to build the base for the turbines. Cement plants are already a big concern for CO2 emissions. There’s a lot of technical stuff out there that you can read and probably understand better than me, but the US Department of Energy report I read said that in 2019 the USA produced 93 million metric tons (MT) of cement and reported 69 MT of CO2 equivalent and they expected production to increase to 150 MT. Why am I not able to find newer reports? (Interesting fact I learned, cement is the second most consumed material on a per capita basis after water.) So the turbines are a source of pollution when they are being built and an even bigger source of pollution when they are being decommissioned or cleaned up.
Cleanup does not mean what you or I would think of as cleanup, as in removal of everything from the site so it is left in the same pristine condition as it was before the windmill turbines were built. Ckeanup apparently only goes to 48” deep and the foundations are much deeper than that, so they do not ever intend to remove the concrete bases in the ground that form the base for the turbines, which are full of cement and rebar and who knows what else. Anybody know what the long term effects of that might be?
In googling and trying to find out more about the cleanup process, I found that there is only one company in the USA that is breaking up the propellers and they can’t keep up to the demand, so the majority of the used propellers are just sitting in landfills or somewhere else (probably taking up more farmland) in what they call “turbine graveyards”. The use that one company has found for the broken up propellers? It’s such a green solution! They are being used to build the hotter fires that cement plants require to make klinker (a component of cement) and the making of cement as I said above is already a concern for CO2 emissions.
There’s also no legislation in place to ensure that anyone will take care of the cleanup or ensure that funds are even available to do the cleanup which will ultimately affect you and me as taxpayers. The Sask. Power blog says the cost of building wind turbine farms is less because of federal tax incentives and we pay less carbon tax. I do not see that as a savings to me, because I know that as a taxpayer you and I fund the federal tax incentives and if we eliminate the carbon tax that would be an even bigger saving to me.
Think of Saskatchewan’s past history in abandoned oil well cleanup. Another article I read said that annual costs to maintain one wind turbine was about $45,000.00 and estimated costs would be about $532,000.00 for Xcel Energy to decommission each turbine ($71 million total for 135 turbines) at their Noble facility in Minnesota and those are 2019 figures and were for a lot smaller wind turbines than the 673’ turbines that are proposed for the Seven Stars project. I don’t know why there isn’t further information about what the actual cost was, so are those turbines just sitting out there still waiting to be decommissioned?
What I see is that the provincial government does not have a lot of law in place protecting us in the building of, or in the decommissioning of wind turbines. This should not be left to the RM’s who do not have access to the resources and information that the province does.
In my opinion, farmland is further being wasted by solar fields. Put your solar panels on an office building, on a mall or a parkade, you can even put them on my roof (and probably everybody’s roof) and Sask. Power can take all the power for its use rather than ‘benefit’ me personally when I sell it back, all much better options than wasting valuable farmland.
In closing, which do you think is taking up more space in the landfill… my plastic straw or a propeller from a wind turbine? We are creating a bigger pollution problem which our children or grandchildren will need to deal with in 20 years. Let’s just say NO to any more wind turbine farms in Saskatchewan, not just the Seven Stars project and get some research done and legislation put in place to protect us from the next proposal.
Debbie J. Giroux,
Weyburn
Running for extra yards
Weyburn Comp Eagles running back Markus Paquet carried the ball for a first down in their exhibition game against the Miller Marauders on Friday at Darold Kot Field. The Eagles will host North Battleford for an exhibition game on Friday, Sept. 6 at 3 p.m.
Chasing the ball in scrimmage
Players from both teams in a scrimmage chased the ball in a drill exercise, held as part of a three-day soccer camp at the Credit Union Spark Centre. The camp, held in conjunction with the Celtics FC academy, ran from Aug. 20-22 for all age categories.
Opponents go after the ball
Players from the green team and white team both went after the ball, during a drill scrimmage held as part of the soccer camp hosted by Weyburn Soccer at the Credit Union Spark Centre. Celtics FC put on the camp, supplying instructors for all of the age levels, from Aug. 20-22.
Weyburn Comp Eagles host 6A champs for preseason exhibition
It was a game between two provincial champions, as the 5A provincial champion Weyburn Comp Eagles hosted the 6A provincial champions, the Miller Marauders, in a preseason exhibition game on Friday afternoon at Darold Kot Field.
As it was exhibition, there were some different rules, and the score was not posted on the scoreboard. Some of the rules included whistling a play dead immediately if there was roughing a passer.
“We’re pretty happy with the opportunity. We got what we wanted to start things off: a good solid program to match up against,” said the Eagles head coach Jody Kerr.
“We will take some good things out of this game for sure, with some things to take back and look at,” he added.
The first half of the game featured both teams’ first and second string players, which ended in a 14-7 lead for Miller at half-time.
“This showed us that we have some things to improve, but that we also are on the right path
moving forward. Our coaches will take a look at film now and use the game to help our kids improve and prepare for our upcoming season,” said Kerr.
The second half of the game was more rotational and saw lots of players from both sides on the field.
“It definitely showed us as coaches, at least for our team, who is ready to play and who needs a bit more time to develop before they can contribute at the senior level for the Eagles,” noted the coach.
“A big thanks to Miller for coming down and being a part of this day, and we hope this experience was helpful for them as well as they prepare to defend their own title in the 6A category,” Kerr added.
The Eagles will host North Battleford in a second exhibition game on Friday, Sept. 6 at 3 p.m., and then will open the regular season in Yorkton on Friday, September 13.
Weyburn’s first senior home game will be on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 4 p.m. versus Moose Jaw Peacock at Darold Kot Field.
Weyburn Minor Football opens in Moose Jaw
Weyburn Minor Football opened their 2024 season with road games in Moose Jaw, with both the U12 Ravens and U14 Falcons teams playing on Saturday.
The nice weather and a field packed with football fans was the perfect setting for the U12 West Country Ravens to open their season against the Moose Jaw Bull Dogs.
Many of the players on the Ravens were enjoying their first football game day experience, and the coaches noted, they had typical first-game jitters to get through.
“As the game progressed, they settled in and started to roll on offence and hunt on defence. Offence found the endzone three times on the day on the legs of two returning vets and leaders on the team,” said a post by the coaches to Minor Football’s Facebook page.
“Defence found their
stride as well, as our defensive captain looked like a human torpedo, tallying 15 solo tackles and three helpers on the day. The team laid an excellent foundation to build on. They played hard through adversity all the way to the final whistle.”
The U14 Falcons opened their season on Saturday in Moose Jaw against the Moose Jaw Raiders.
Though they fell short in a 48-6 loss, they played a very well fought game.
A lot was learned by both the players on the field and coaches on the sidelines.
The defensive game ball went to Preston Walter and the offensive game ball went to Brenden Hope.
“We’re looking forward to getting back into practice this week and improving for the next game,” said the coaches in their Facebook post.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Making a key catch Weyburn Eagles receiver Tace Odima leapt up to make the catch and a first down in their exhibition game against the Miller Marauders on Friday.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
sports 7
Weyburn Red Wings hold fall camp, set for preseason
Battling behind the net
Players from Team Blue and Yellow battled for the puck behind the net, during a scrimmage game on Saturday evening at Crescent Point Place during the Red Wings fall training camp. Team Blue won this match by a score of 3-2.
Sask athlete Keely Shaw wins bronze medal at Paralympics in Paris
Midale’s Keely Shaw has won a bronze medal for the second consecutive Paralympic Games. Shaw won the bronze in the women’s C4 3,000-metre individual pursuit in cycling. She also took third place at the same event three years ago in Tokyo. Shaw beat Samantha Bosco of the U.S. by 1.6 seconds in the head-tohead race with a time of three minutes and 46.942 seconds. She had a lead of 2.099 seconds late in the race, and Shaw chipped into the advantage in the final laps.
On the Town of Midale’s Facebook page, residents have been posting their congratulations for her. In pursuit, each rider tries to both post the fastest time and attempt to overtake the other cyclist before the end of the race at the velodrome. Shaw, who will also compete in the road race later in the Paralympics, was involved in a horse-riding accident in 2009 at age 15 that left her with partial paralysis on her left side. She became a paracyclist in 2016.
The Weyburn Red Wings held their fall training camp set over the long weekend of Aug. 30 to Sept. 2 at Crescent Point Place.
A total of 60 players took part in the camp, with a mix of veterans, prospects and walk-ons, with sessions for the defence, offence and goaltenders.
There were workout and drill sessions during the day for forwards, defence and goaltenders, and two scrimmage games at the end of each day, and the annual Red-andWhite game was held on Monday afternoon, with the Red team winning the Eric Calibaba Cup, as they defeated White by a score of 5-2. On Friday evening, Team White defeated Team Blue 3-2, and Team
Black won 6-3 over Team Yellow. On Saturday, Team Blue defeated Team Yellow 3-2, and Team White beat Team Black 5-4. In the games on Sunday, Team White won 5-4 over Team Yellow, and Team Blue won 8-4 over Team Black.
The first preseason game will follow this week, as the Red Wings will host the Melville Millionaires on Friday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m., as part of a home-and-home series.
The Notre Dame Hounds visit on Tuesday, Sept. 10, then Weyburn will have a home-andhome series with their Highway 39 rivals, the Estevan Bruins, hosting Estevan on Friday, Sept. 13 and visiting Estevan on Sept. 14.
Circling around for a shot on net
A player for Team Yellow circled in around a defender for Team Blue, during a scrimmage game at the Weyburn Red Wings fall training camp on Saturday evening. In this matchup, Blue defeated Yellow by a score of 3-2.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca A teaching moment at soccer camp Coach Andy, from the Celtics FC Academy, took a moment with Quinn to give some tips on ball control, during the three-day soccer camp hosted by the Weyburn Soccer Association on Aug. 20-22 at the Credit Union Spark Centre.
Proudly showing her medal Midale’s own Keely Shaw showed the bronze medal she won at the Paralympics Games in Paris.
Photo – courtesy Team Canada
parents Adrian and Blanche Roy (Boily) husband Armand Yogi Floran Prost and brothers and sister Richard Roy Peter Roy Johnny Roy Hubert Roy and Nanette Roy Irene will be forever loved and missed by her son Allen Prost of Kamloops, BC; daughter, Michelle Minish (David) of Swan River MB; daughter Charlotte Prost (Paul Cushing) of Vancouver, BC; son, Lawrence Prost (Marj) of Radville, SK; son, Mark Prost of Kelowna BC; daughter Elizabeth Prost (Don Murray) of Calgary, AB; son, David Prost (Leanna) of Regina, SK; 13 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren; brothers and sisters Wilf Roy Margaret Lambert Lucy Roy-Maksymchuk Celest Dick Adrian Roy Jr and Jerome Roy; as well as many other relatives and friends Our family would like to acknowledge and thank all the staff and residents in house 3 at Tatagwa View for all the care and support they showed mom over the 3 years she was with them They truly became a second family for her, and we are forever grateful Donations in memory of Irene may be made to the CNIB (Canadian Nationale Institude for the Blind) at 1929 Bayview Avenue Toronto Ontario M4G 3E8 or cnib ca/memorialgift
Rosella Nellie Zyla May 3 1932 August 21 2024 It is with great sadness to announce that Rosella Zyla (nee Gdanski) passed away peacefully in Comox Valley Hospice in Courtenay, BC the evening of August 21 2024 She was 92 years of age when she slipped gently into the loving arms of her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ She was pre-deceased by her husband of 69 years, Dominic Zyla; and all but two (Henry and Ron Gdanski) of her 11 siblings Rosella is survived by her four sons and four daughters and their spouses 21 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren Her children, Gary Zyla, Ken (Gayle) Zyla David Zyla (Beverley Truman) Louise (Brendan) Bitz, Elaine (Jules) Durette, John Zyla (Dana Clay), Gail (Janusz) Szostek and Christine Zyla (Terry Senuik); who will all greatly miss the spunk laughter music and wisdom of their mother Rosella was born in 1932 in Fillmore Saskatchewan the ninth of 12 children to John and Apolonia Gdanski She learned hard work fun play and deep faith raised with eleven siblings on a farm in the dustbowl of the prairies She was a gifted musician, who had the opportunity to teach herself to play a piano that landed in their farmhouse by chance from her older sister Mary (Ludwig) This gift of piano playing carried Rosella from her 9 year old beginnings right through to her 90 s She shared that gift with the community - as part of a band in the 1950 s as a teacher to countless youngsters in and around Fillmore through the 1970’s and 1980’s; and as the organizer of singing groups to entertain in Senior s Homes through the 1990’s in Fillmore the 2000’s in Poplar Ridge Alberta the 2010 s in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and from 2023 onwards in Courtenay BC The echo of her yodels will ever be heard and felt by those who were graced by her entertaining musical skills Rosella married Dominic Zyla (from Tyvan Sask) in 1953 and raised a family of 8 children through the 1960 s and 1970 s on her home farm two miles north of Fillmore Saskatchewan Her faith and prayers carried the
Gaenel Blackmore Gaenel Roland Blackmore late of Ceylon SK passed away peacefully on August 21, 2024 at the age of 88 years Gaenel was predeceased by his parents, Leonard & Jean Blackmore; siblings (spouses), Helen Blackmore Art Blackmore Adela (Don) Malcolmson Laurel (Elsie) Blackmore Leona (Doug) McCutcheon; Bernice Lawrence (Arnold) Lois (Kyle) Lawrence Stewart Blackmore, Harold Blackmore Opal Walker (David), Ruth Fornari, Doris Lawrence (Lannon) Brother in law, Reynold Larson and his inlaws Auguste Labelle and Irene Labelle He is survived by his wife Shirley Son Steven (Janice) and their children Tara-lee (Andy) Britney (Tyler) and Jolisa (Wes) Son Brent (Tracy) and their children Brady (Chelsea) Riley (Rhett) and great grandchildren Danika Teegahn Sadie Nixon Dax Harlo, Elliot, Sawyer, Saffron and Levi, his sisters Florence Start (Dale) Audrey Pelletier (George) and Glenda Larson and in laws Elaine Blackmore, Marg Blackmore and Jack Fornari and many nieces and nephews Gaenel was born April 22 1936 at Ceylon, Saskatchewan and grew up on the family farm in the Big 4 School District south of Ceylon He married Shirley LaBelle on November 11 1957 They moved to their farm north of Ceylon in 1958 which became home base for their next 67 years of adventures Dad was an accomplished musician having played accordion since his early teens and also mastered the guitar bass and banjo He started playing in bands early in life and was joined by mom after they were married Gaenel passed on his love for music to his sons who both played in the family band for a number of years Gaenel and Shirley did everything together in their life journey and you can t talk about what dad did during his life without including mom as well They loved family and entertaining You would not stop in for a visit without having a coffee some cake or cookies and if it was close to meal time you had to pull up a chair and join them as there was always enough They both loved horses and raised purebred Arabians for a number of years They were square dancers and travelled to events across the USA and Western Canada They travelled with friends and family whenever there was an opportunity and particularly enjoyed attending their kids and grandkids and great grandkids special events and sporting activities Staying at Grandpa and Grandmas house was a common event for all their grandkids for short and extended stays where they would get severely spoiled as they went on road trips picnics in the Big Muddy afternoons at the Ceylon Park pool or a quick trip to Radville for ice cream Dad and mom were active farmers/ranchers into their 80's and after he no longer ran the equipment, he and mom delivered fuel, ran for parts and helped shuttle equipment to the various farms They were active members of the Ceylon United Church and dad was also on the church board You would always find Dad checking people in at United Church fall supper and Mom had likely cooked a turkey or 2 and a lot of pies for the annual event In the 60's and 70's dad was a lineman for the north Ceylon telephone company and also ran the north Ceylon snowplow for a number of winters Dad was a kind patient and thoughtful man His calming demeanour was greatly appreciated especially when working with the livestock and working on farm equipment that had a breakdown In 2008 they made their first extended winter trip to Arizona They thrived in this new environment They took their love of music to a new level, got re-acquainted with some old friends and made a ton of new friends Mesa Dunes as it was known then, was the perfect retirement park for them and their new home again became a hub for entertaining and visiting The east valley of Mesa has a number of senior parks that organized music jam sessions to which Dad mom and their friends were regular participants as well as playing in a band called the Saskatchewan Stubble Jumpers which later became the Country Gold Band We are fortunate to have many video recordings of their musical events A Service of Remembrance will be held on Thursday September 5 2024 at 2:00 p m from Ceylon United Church, Ceylon, SK with Judy Beck officiating Luncheon will be at the Prairie Pride Community Centre Ceylon SK and interment will be held at the Ceylon, Cemetery, Ceylon, SK For family and friends so wishing charitable donations in memory of Gaenel may be made to the Ceylon United Church Ceylon SK S0C 0T0 For those wishing to attend virtually please follow the live stream video by opening Gaenel’s memorial page on RD Family Funeral Chapel s website starting at 1:45 p m on Thursday September 5 2024 Arrangements are entrusted to RD Family Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, Weyburn SK (848-0333 1-888-848-0333) Expressions of sympathy to the family may be sent to our website at: www rdfuneralchapel com Honouring Life and Celebrating Memories"
HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS
Motor scrapers, dozers, excavators, rock trucks, packers; wide range of machines.
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@xplor net.ca www brydenconstructionandtransport.ca
community lifestyles &
Residents and visitors in Weyburn can order delivery from their favourite restaurants along with everyday essentials, groceries, alcohol, pet supplies, and more on Uber Eats.
Uber Eats is now available in over 300 cities across the country, expanding rapidly as more Canadians embrace the convenience of delivery.
As cities and towns across Canada grapple with challenging macroeconomic trends, Uber Eats offers local restaurants a new way to
connect with hungry customers and local delivery people to make delivery fast and easy. This expansion also means that the company is creating flexible earning opportunities for people from all walks of life who choose to deliver on the platform. Get almost anything from your local favourites to popular national brands all available at the click of a button on your phone on Uber Eats.
Over the last few years, Uber Eats has grown rapidly. Uber Eats is already the
leading delivery platform in Canada with our business being more than twice the size of the largest competitors in Canada.
“As the delivery platform of choice for Canadian consumers and merchants, we’re proud to partner exclusively with hundreds of restaurants across the country,” said the company in a statement.
The follow are some of the latest consumer ordering and delivery trends, highlighting the growing popularity of the app:
• Almost half (44 per
cent) of Canadians reported using delivery apps to order food or essential items and the majority of these individuals said that they have used Uber Eats.
• Convenience was listed as the most important reason people used Uber Eats, with 76 per cent of food delivery service users citing this. Following convenience, users highlighted that they ordered when they were tired of cooking or doing the dishes (39 per cent) and liked the quick delivery times (41 per cent).
Friends share last days of summer
As the public use of drones and laser pointers steadily increases, STARS is raising awareness to ensure these devices are used safely and responsibly for the safety of its aircraft, crew and patients.
The use of drones and lasers near aircraft in areas such as helipads, emergency scenes, or airports can pose a real threat to aircraft safety. From potentially distracting and disorientating pilots, to creating a glare in the cockpit or blocking the flight path, the risks of unsafe drone and laser usage can impact the crew and cause further harm to the patients STARS serves.
Should a situation escalate, under the Aeronautics Act, legal action can be taken against an individual using a laser or a drone close to an aircraft.
“We want people to enjoy using their drones and lasers, but to do so safely. Drones flown irresponsibly near our flight paths, can endanger our crew and our patients onboard, so we are looking to our community and our supporters to help raise awareness of these dangers and to prioritize safety over curiosity,” said Frank Eigenbrood, STARS director of safety and quality.
During a mission, the STARS flight crew can face a variety of challenges such as weather, harsh terrain, dense city landscapes, etc. and although these are aspects of oper-
ating an air ambulance that can often be hard to navigate, they are uncontrollable, and sometimes unavoidable.
Unlike these challenges, lasers and drones can and should be controlled and avoided, and it is important to ensure that there are no added stressors throughout a mission.
“Our pilots and crew members are highly trained to handle a variety of challenges, but the increased use of lasers and drones, especially this summer, near our aircraft is a growing concern. From night operations to challenging conditions, our pilots try to minimize these hazards which can disrupt critical rescue missions and put both our crew, patients and the communities we serve at risk,” said Jason Arthur, STARS director of flight operations.
The government requires all drones between 250g and 25kg to be registered, once registered drones must be marked with their registration number.
Although STARS encourages all drone and laser operators not to use them near airports, helipads or emergency scenes, operators can still fly drones: where they can see it at all times (below 122m), 1.9km from heliports and 5.6 km from airports and controlled airspaces, and away from emergency sites and advertised events.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Friends spent a quiet afternoon on the dock at Nickle Lake Regional Park on Saturday, enjoying time at the end of summer before going home from the campground.
10 Stomp Threshing Bee
Feeding
Filling up the hay rack
A volunteer pitchforked stooks of wheat onto a hay rack, which was then taken to an antique threshing machine, at a threshing bee held at the Glen Stomp farm.
Photos – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Powering the threshing machine
Lyle Stomp, left, ran an antique McCormick-Deering tractor to power the threshing machine, at the annual threshing bee held at his father, Glen’s, farm at Griffin.
Making adjustments to the thresher
Glen Stomp made some adjustments as he stood on top of an antique McCormick threshing machine, during his farm’s annual threshing bee.
the threshing machine
A pair of volunteers fed sheaves of wheat into a McCormick threshing machine, as they demonstrated how harvest used to be done almost a century ago in the southeast region. This was at the annual threshing bee at the Glen Stomp farm at Griffin on Sunday afternoon.
Horse team at threshing bee
A horse team made the rounds of the field during the annual threshing bee at Glen Stomp’s farm.
Adjusting the grain spout
Glen Stomp adjusted the grain spout, which dumped the threshed wheat kernels into a grain wagon, as bushels of wheat were threshed by the antique machine.