Twenty-six wrestlers participated at Weyburn’s home tournament.
Page 7
By Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Weyburn city council gave first reading to a bylaw to close the Queen Street rail crossing, due to safety concerns and plans for widening of Highway 39 to accommodate a new round-about at the intersection of Highways 13 and 39. Council was told the crossing does not meet Transport Canada’s standards, and there were recommendations made in 2016 and 2019 to close that access to Highway 39.
This is the only rail crossing in Weyburn’s city limits that has had train-vehicle collisions since 2017, and since 2010, there have been 10 collisions, the most recent one on Nov. 6.
Design work on the proposed round-about began in 2022, and in November of this year, the Ministry of Highways issued a tender for twinning of Highway 39 and building the round-about, with a closing date of late December.
Once the rail crossing is closed, Queen Street will be a dead-end that will go up to the south property line of A&B Concrete.
Coun. Ryan Janke said his main concern is one of timing, as he didn’t want to see the crossing closed by March but nothing built for the round-about until 2027.
City engineer Renee Cugnet said a condition of the tender is that construction is to begin with the widening of Highway 39. She noted also the department of Highways is to assume all costs of the construction, and are coordinating with CPKC Rail.
Coun. John Corrigan asked if the City has any real choice in the matter, and Cugnet pointed out that with the widening of the highway, it will go right up to the rightof-way for the rail crossing, so it will happen regardless.
The City still has a number of administrative steps to take to close the crossing, including giving public notice, notice to the Crown utilities
in case of any utilities that might be under the road, and a public hearing will be held by council at their next meeting on Jan. 13, 2025.
Formal consent from the Ministry of Highways will be needed for the closure, and once received, the bylaw will be passed and signage will be put up to indicate a dead-end for Queen Street with no access to Highway 39.
• In other council business, the city will make a counter-offer for the sale of six city-owned residential lots on McTaggart Drive at a reduced price. Wally Maurer proposed buying the six lots for a total price of $180,000 plus taxes, and the show home incentive program be implemented, where a show home will be built on one of the lots, and homes are to be built on the other lots within the next four years.
In making the motion
Young Fellows Club donates
The Weyburn Young Fellows Club made a number of Christmas donations recently. Page 9
Weyburn RM’s new reeve up for the challenge
By Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
The RM of Weyburn’s new reeve, Bud Grohn, is finding out he has a steep learning curve as he dives into his new role of leading council. He defeated incumbent Norm McFadden in the Nov. 13 municipal election, and is now beginning to learn the ropes of his new role as reeve.
Leading the Honour Band in concert Band director Jeff Lunde, at right, conducted the Honour Band at the Christmas band concert at St. Michael School on Wednesday evening. The concert also featured the jazz band, and the Grade 7, Grade 8 and Grade 9 bands, with standing-room only in the school gym to hear the music performances.
City of Weyburn to close Queen Street rail crossing
for the counter-offer, Coun. Janke added that this is part of the city’s strategy to get out of the business of selling residential lots.
Coun. Corrigan agreed, and noted the city has a number of other lots around the city that have been sitting idle. “It’s time to remove these from our inventory,” Coun. Janke noted he is conflicted on this, as by selling lots at a reduced price they are undercutting someone else. “There is no easy obvious answer here, but selling these lots and considering offers is the best move right now,” he added.
• An update on the Leisure Centre was provided by Andrew Crowe, director of leisure services, noting they have requests for proposals out for options to repair or replace the indoor pool.
The pool had to be closed as they found they were los-
ing about 13,000 litres a day, and ground-penetrating radar determined that the rebar in the concrete basin of the pool is damaged, causing a structural failure in the basin.
The hope is that options can be brought to council by the first meeting of February. Once options are available to consider, the City will have community engagement so that the public and pool user groups can have input as to what the best option will be for the pool. “We know how important the pool is to the community, so we want to make sure they are part of the process,” said Crowe.
Meantime, the Leisure Centre will remain closed until they are able to open the outdoor pool next springsummer.
“It’s unfortunate there was nothing we could’ve done maintenance-wise to prevent this,” said Crowe.
This was Grohn’s first foray into politics as a candidate, and was joined by two other new candidates along with three veterans of the RM council.
“I ran on the premise that people need to get involved. Watching the world go by is just not an option,” said Grohn in an interview on Monday. “If you question the status quo, then you need to get involved.”
In the campaign, he said one of the biggest concerns brought up to him was about the Airport Road to North Weyburn.
“I want ratepayers to know it will be resolved, as well as the rest of our roads, water utilities, along with transparency and equity,” said Grohn, noting he heard a lot of concerns from acreage owners that they feel they are paying a lot of taxes for the amount of services they get.
“I feel a definite push for ‘being open for business’ coming into our RM, but proper research and vetting must be achieved,” he said.
In regard to Enbridge’s proposal for wind turbines in the RM, the municipality put forward a resolution at the recent SARM convention, and the resolution was passed with over 90 per cent in favour.
The resolution asks SARM to lobby the provincial government to put standards and regulations in place for wind turbine projects, as there currently aren’t any, and if the province isn’t willing to do that, then there should be a moratorium in place on any new wind turbine projects until there are regulations in place for municipalities to follow.
Grohn noted in the bearpit session with members of cabinet, a number of RMs spoke about problems they have had with wind turbine projects in their areas.
“I was elected and I have a job to do. I will
Reeve Bud Grohn look at the project based on the facts,” said Grohn, noting he will be at the public meeting on Wednesday night, to be hosted by Enbridge at McKenna Hall. Since the election, he and the RM council have had two meetings so far, and Grohn said the second one went very well. He admits there is “a huge learning curve” as he learns about what’s all involved, from the RM’s bylaws to how to run meetings.
The council will also be putting their 2025 budget together, and he noted he will have to review last year’s budget as they decide on next year’s priorities.
The reeve noted there is a good mix of returning councillors and new ones. Chad Culham and Doug Dembiczak join him as new members of council, while Josh Mainil, Jeromy Charlton and Dustin Bell all have two years left in their terms.
“There will always be disagreements, and differences of opinion, but that’s what makes good decisions too,” said Grohn.
“People have different perspectives on things, and I’m okay with that.” Considering everything he needs to learn for his new role, Grohn said, “It’s almost overwhelming, because there is so much to learn about.” He went into the election with the thought he could win, and did some preparation and research into such areas as community planning.
“It’s definitely a challenge, and I’m looking forward to the challenge. My goal is to leave the RM in better shape than what it is right now. I’m not saying the RM is in bad shape, but I want to have a positive impact going forward,” said Grohn.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Peeking out from the igloo Elias and Gracie Mainil peeked out from the doorway to their ice-block igloo, built by their dad Josh on the front lawn of their Barber Crescent home in Weyburn.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Weyburn family builds lit-up igloo, inspired by childhood memories
By Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Josh Mainil was inspired by memories of ice castle walls built for him by his mom Deana on the farm as he grew up, and decided to try an igloo project on his front lawn for his three kids.
Where his mom used empty milk cartons, saved up all year, to make the frozen ice blocks, he went to Dollarama and bought 150 lasagna tins, and filling them with water and food dye, he set them out on his back deck at first, then on his front steps.
Josh and wife Lexie then began taking these blocks of ice and built an igloo on the front lawn of their Barber Crescent home, spending a good four or five hours a night for five days in a row to build the structure up and enclose it.
The couple estimates they spent a total of about 18 hours in building it, using around 350 blocks of ice altogether, made blue by the food dye.
Once the igloo was finished, he added projection lights inside to light it up, and on Thursday, added strings of light around the exterior to make it truly stand out.
Josh guessed the first night they began, the temperature was around -18 overnight, but then it dipped to -25, and the ice blocks froze much faster each night.
For mortar, he used a slush mixture with water and snow, and it helped to freeze each block in place as the wall was built up.
As the kids enjoy going in and out of their igloo, Josh indicated he may not quite be done, as he may yet build a small
One person injured in truck-semi collision
Weyburn RCMP received a report of a twovehicle collision on Highway 13, approximately five kilometers east of Hume, on Dec. 3, at approximately 7:30 p.m. Officers responded along with local fire and EMS. Investigation determined a truck and semi collided.
The passenger of the semi reported non-life threatening injuries to police, and was taken to hospital for further assessment. The driver of the semi and the driver of the truck reported no injuries to police. Highway 13 was closed for a time but has since been reopened. The investigation by the RCMP continues.
The Council of the City of Weyburn, pursuant to section 207 of the Planning & Development Act, hereby gives notice of its intention to consider passage of a bylaw to amend Official Community Plan Bylaw 2020-3411 and Zoning Bylaw 20203412 as further described below..
Intent: It is proposed to amend the Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 2020-3411 as follows:
1. Land Use Designation Map be amended by changing the land use designation 916 1st Ave NW - Lots 15-17, Block 3, Plan AZ357 and 415 Alymer Street – Lot 24, 32, Block 3, Plan AZ357, 101371520; 411 Alymer Street – Lot 25, 26, Block 3, Plan AZ357 and 409 Alymer Street – Lot 27, 28, Block 3, Plan AZ357 from POS (Parks and Open Space & Recreation) and Mixed-Use District (MU) to LI (Light Industrial).
It is proposed to amend the Zoning Bylaw No. 2020-3412 as follows:
1. That the Zoning Map be amended by changing the Zoning of 916 1st Ave NW - Lots 15- 17, Block 3, Plan AZ357 and 415 Alymer Street – Lot 24, 32, Block 3, Plan AZ357, 101371520; 411 Alymer Street – Lot 25, 26, Block 3, Plan AZ357 and 409 Alymer Street – Lot 27, 28, Block 3, Plan AZ357 from POS (Parks and Open Space & Recreation) and Mixed-Use District (MU) to LI (Light Industrial).
Affected Land: 916 1st Ave NW - Lots 15-17, Block 3, Plan AZ357 and 415 Alymer Street – Lot 24, 32, Block 3, Plan AZ357, 101371520
411 Alymer Street – Lot 25, 26, Block 3, Plan AZ357 409 Alymer Street – Lot 27, 28, Block 3, Plan AZ357
Reason: The reason for the amendments are to allow for the development of a Tire Repair Shop as well as a space for advertising.
Public Hearing: Council will hold a public hearing on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 6pm in Council Chambers of City Hall. Any person that wants to comment on the proposed bylaw is welcome to attend or to submit comments prior to the meeting. Council will consider all comments received.
All written submissions for City Council’s consideration must be forwarded to:
His Worship the Mayor and Members of City Council c/o City Clerk’s Office, City Hall 157 3rd St, Weyburn, SK, S4H2K6
All submissions received by the City Clerk by noon, Monday, January 13, 2025, will be forwarded to City Council.
The amended bylaw can be viewed at the following locations:
• https://weyburn.ca/public-notices
fireplace inside with an ice chimney.
Getting help from Glinda the good witch
Glinda the good witch, played by Samantha,
Magical Land of Oz” musical, to be
p.m. both nights. This musical version of the Wizard of Oz story features new songs, and tickets are $10 each at the door.
St. Michael junior high to put on Oz musical
After weeks of rehearsals, the junior high music-drama students at St. Michael School are ready to perform “The Magic Land of Oz”, a new musical version of the Wizard of Oz story. The musical will be
performed twice this week, tonight, Dec. 11, and on Friday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. both nights in the school gym.
Tickets are $10 each at the door, and any funds raised will go towards the costs of buying the scripts
and making the sets for the play.
The musical has a large cast, headed by Katelynn as Dorothy, Tim as the Wizard of Oz, Jaydyn as Scarecrow, Clare as Tinman, Hently as the Cowardly Lion, and Lyndsay as Toto.
Samantha is Glinda the good witch, and Helen Mary is the Wicked Witch of the West, with several students as the munchkins, citizens of Oz, and the flying monkeys, among other characters. The musical is directed by staff Melissa Renz, Megan Woodard and Jenna Wenet.
Mainil family enjoys ice-block igloo
Josh Mainil, holding daughter Gracie, Elias, and Lexie holding baby Lydia, have enjoyed making and playing in this igloo, built on the Mainils’ front lawn of their Barber Crescent home.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
helped out Dorothy (played by Katelynn), in a scene from “The
performed at St. Michael School tonight, Dec. 11, and Friday, Dec. 13, at 7
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Variations sing tribute to former member
Members of the Variations community choir held candles as they sang “May It Be”, as they paid
was a longtime member of the Variations choir. The group put on two performances of their
Fire destroys a house in Macoun; family needs support
By Ana Bykhovskaia, Estevan Mercury
A fierce overnight blaze consumed a home in Macoun, leaving a family displaced and firefighters battling tough conditions into the morning.
“We’re not sure of the origin of the fire yet or what the cause of it is,” said Laverne Hockey, fire chief of the Midale/Cymri Fire and Rescue & First Responders. “When we got a call around eight o’clock to come to [the fire], it was a garage fire to start with, but by the time we got to the hall and a few minutes later, it had already spread to the house.”
The fire, which began
on the evening of Dec. 8, rapidly engulfed the home.
“When we got here, the garage was fully involved in flames and quite a bit of the house was already on fire,” Hockey explained. With 11 members of Midale/Cymri Fire Rescue responding, mutual aid was called in from Estevan at about 8:30 p.m. The Estevan Fire Rescue Service sent an engine and a tanker to assist the Midale/Cymri fire department. Estevan crews were on scene throughout the night as well.
Efforts to extinguish the fire were complicated by challenging conditions. Firefighters struggled at times to maintain a
water supply in the winter weather.
“We had a few times we ran out of water,” Hockey said, noting that Estevan’s tanker and local resources helped them push through.
“And it was a wooden basement,” Hockey said. “So, it had started burning underneath the floor. … We weren’t able to save much of the house because it was a wooden basement, and the floor got so weak that we couldn’t walk on it. And then it had tin on the roof, which made it difficult to get any water in from the top down.
“But we finally got a trackhoe out in the morning at eight or nine
o’clock. The trackhoe came out from Turnbull’s and we pulled a bunch of the tin out of the basement that had already collapsed in and put that part of the fire out,” Hockey explained.
Fortunately, all residents escaped without injury, but the fire’s rapid progression left little to be salvaged.
“All the firefighters, the family got out safe and sound with their pets,” Hockey confirmed, noting that the house was a loss.
Despite the devastation, the fire did not spread to nearby structures.
“There was another garage just a few feet away, but the wind was in our favour for most of the night,” Hockey said.
Fire crews finally extinguished the last of the flames by 11 a.m. on Dec. 9.
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.
Reflecting on the incident, Hockey expressed sympathy for the displaced family. “Just feel sorry for the family and wish them all the best,” he said.
The Village of Macoun made a post on Facebook Monday morning, calling for help for the Loewen family.
“Macoun and surrounding area, we need your help,” the post says.
“Cody, Chantelle, Kensley and Brexley were devastated by fire last night. The Loewen family is part of our commun -
ity here in Macoun and we would like to help out any way we can. We are asking for immediate assistance to gather clothing for the family. Currently looking for youth size 1012 for the girls, ladies’ medium for Chantelle and men’s 1XL-2XL for Cody. Clothing donations can be dropped off at the Macoun school, Macoun Co-op and Macoun village office.
“Cash donations are also being collected to allow this family to focus on healing while they transition to their new normal until their home can be rebuilt. E-transfers can be sent to loewenfamilyaid@ gmail.com. Cash and cheques can also be dropped off at the village office or Macoun Co-op.”
The Weyburn Police Service responded to 66 calls for service during the period of Dec. 2-8, resulting in a total of 17 charges. Of the charges, seven were laid under the Criminal Code, 10 under the Traffic Safety Act.
In the very early morning hours of Dec. 3, officers responded to a welfare check. A concerned caller reported that an individual known to them, entered their home intoxicated and holding a knife. The caller was able to get the unwanted individual to leave their residence and believed the subject of the complaint drove home.
The caller requested officers attend to ensure the mental wellness of the subject. Officers located the subject behind
the wheel of a vehicle, with multiple knives in the vehicle, and arrested the individual for impaired operation of a conveyance as well as breaching their probation and conditional sentence order. The subject in this matter was remanded in custody to appear in Estevan Provincial Court on Monday. Officers attended to a report of a break-and-enter to a business on the east side of the city on Thursday. The business was subject to a break-and-enter where a fence was cut and theft of an ATV was attempted. The would-be thieves attempted pulling an ATV from the business with a tow strap but were unsuccessful. This investigation is ongoing and if anyone has information
regarding this, please con tact the Weyburn Police Service or Crime Stop pers. While the winter weather has hit Weyburn and area hard with cold temperatures and freezing rain, few accidents have been reported and city crews have kept the roads in good shape. Officers were also kept busy with offender management checks, bylaw concerns and well-being checks.
*Anyone with informa tion regarding one of these matters, or any other mat ter of a criminal nature, is encouraged to contact the Weyburn Police Service at (306) 848-3250, the lo cal RCMP Detachment at 310-RCMP (7267), or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
tribute to former member Rick Wanner, who recently passed away. He
“Christmas Traditions” concert over the weekend at Grace United Church.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Proud of snowman ornament
Sofia smiled for the camera as she showed off her snowman ornament, made at the “Jingle and Mingle” Christmas event at the Weyburn Public Library on Thursday evening. Families could make a Christmas craft, and listen to the Spirit Singers as they performed on the upper level of the library.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
4 agriculture, oil &business
SATCC apprenticeship celebration held for skilled trades
The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) celebrated outstanding achievement in the skilled trades at the 24th annual Apprenticeship Celebration Dinner on Friday evening.
Nearly 350 people attended this year’s event sponsored by more than 30 organizations at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina. The Apprenticeship Celebration Dinner brought together industry partners and stakeholders, training providers and employers who help build a successful apprenticeship system in Saskatchewan to recognize award winners and celebrate their achievements.
“Skilled tradespeople in Saskatchewan play an important role in building a growing province, and our government is committed to creating more skills training and education opportunities, as guided by the Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy,” Deputy Premier and Immigration and Career Training Minister Jim Reiter said.
Thirty-one journeypersons who achieved the highest mark on their trade’s certification exams between July 1,
2023, and June 30, 2024, received the Outstanding New Journeyperson awards.
These included James Mead of Ogema, who is a journeyperson boilermaker.
In addition, Kylee Carver of Fillmore’s 33 Central School was presented with one of four Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship Champion Awards.
“We are proud to honour and recognize the people who demonstrate excellence in the skilled trades,” SATCC Commission Board Chair Bryan Leier said. “On behalf of the SATCC and the Commission Board of Directors, congratulations to all the award winners for your outstanding achievements that contribute to a strong and successful apprenticeship system in Saskatchewan.”
Queen Street crossing to be closed
The City of Weyburn council has introduced first reading of a bylaw to close this crossing of the CPKC Rail line at Queen Street. It’s due in part to a number of accidents at the crossing, and in part to future widening of Highway 39 for a new round-about at the nearby intersection of Highways 39 and 13.
Weyburn-Estevan area has most interest in oil-gas lease sale
The provincial government’s Crown oil and gas lease sale held on Dec. 3 raised a total of $11,392,502, with the Weyburn-Estevan generating most of the revenue. Of the 56 parcels posted for this offering, 51 received acceptable bids, covering a total of 13,561.38 hectares.
The Weyburn-Estevan area brought in
$8,088,540 for 29 leases, covering a total of 3,412.246 ha. This compares to $5,417,916, or an average of $650.37 per hectare from the last offering.
Veren Inc. was the most active bidder in this sale, picking up nine leases for $3,961,331. These leases are all situated south of Kipling, near the northeastern
boundary of the Viewfield Bakken Sand Oil Pool.
The highest bonus bid from Veren in this area was $2,351,041, an average of $4,543.25 per hectare. This was for a 517.48-ha lease located 18 km south of Kipling.
The highest dollars per hectare received on a parcel in this offering was $5,501 per hectare, a total of $713,925 for a
129.766-ha lease from Millennium Land Ltd.
This parcel is located 20 km northwest of Alameda, within the Willmar Frobisher-Alida Beds Oil Pool.
After five public offerings this fiscal year, the province has raised $48,775,025 in total revenue. The next lease sale will be held on February 4, 2025. There are six scheduled
offerings of oil and gas dispositions held each fiscal year in Saskatchewan. This process uses an open and competitive bidding system to issue oil and natural gas dispositions. Several factors affect public offering activity, including changes in oil and gas prices, land availability, geological and technological constraints and various market conditions.
Mobile mammography bus to be in Weyburn for screening
The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency’s screening program for breast cancer mobile mammography bus will be in Weyburn from Jan. 6 to Feb. 14, 2025, weekdays only.
The bus will be parked at the back of the Coast Weyburn Hotel (formerly Canalta Hotel), provid -
ing convenient access for residents.
The City of Weyburn urges women aged 47 years and older to take advantage of this screening opportunity. Early detection is key in the fight against breast cancer, and the mobile service ensures accessibility for residents.
To book a screening mammogram, call 1-855584-8228. Limited appointments are available, so early booking is encouraged.
“Regular breast cancer screening is a vital step in maintaining health, especially for women in the recommended age group,” said Laurie Pearce, early detection coordinator.
“We’re proud to offer this mobile service to help women across Saskatchewan access high-quality screening close to home. Early detection truly saves lives,” she added.
Breast cancer screening is a quick and effective way to detect changes that may require further investigation.
The mobile unit is equipped with proper medical technology and staffed by trained professionals committee to making the experience as comfortable as possible.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
editorial opinion
& Community input enhances local wind energy project
By Alex McNichol, Director, Power Business Development
with Enbridge
Enbridge has been a part of southern Saskatchewan for more than 75 years, delivering the oil and gas and renewable energy we all rely on every day. Being a good neighbour within the communities we serve – and an ability to adapt to the changing needs of society – is how we’ve been able to achieve that.
When Enbridge introduced the Seven Stars Energy Project to the Weyburn community at our first open house in July, we were eager to share preliminary plans to develop a wind farm similar in scale to the nearby Golden South and Bekevar projects.
We were excited to begin dialogue on a project that will provide renewable power to 100,000 Saskatchewan homes annually and generate significant, sustained local and regional economic benefits during two seasons of construction and over its anticipated 30-year lifespan.
It was immediately apparent that residents southeast of the city had concerns about wind turbines operating in proximity to their homes and farms.
It was clear we needed more time to listen, seek out and gather input from residents.
And so, in the fall, we took a pause and pledged to deepen our engagement with the community. As a direct result of feedback received, we’re now sharing some important enhancements to the Seven Stars project:
• We’ve revised our project design substantively, moving turbines further from residential locations to align with local zoning bylaws;
• We’ve moved eight of the turbines from the RM of Weyburn to a more remote area in the RM of Griffin;
• To optimize turbine layout, Enbridge is pursuing Neighbour Agreements with some landowners who wouldn’t otherwise directly benefit from the project;
• To address concerns about continuously flashing lights, we’ve committed to install turbine tower lighting that activates only when aircraft is detected in the vicinity; and,
• We’ve lengthened our original project timeline to continue to engage the community in our development plans.
These enhancements, we believe, are indicative of Enbridge’s commitment to getting the details of this project right. This came as a result of conversations with people of the community and those conversations will continue.
We’ve seen so often in Saskatchewan and throughout our entire footprint across North America how important strong local economies are to creating and maintaining thriving, vibrant communities. The Seven Stars Project will create wellpaying construction and operations jobs and contracting opportunities for local goods and service providers.
It will generate ongoing tax revenues to build and maintain schools, hospitals and roads, and stimulate local economies. It will result in grants and sponsorships from Enbridge that support community-driven, not-for-profit programs and initiatives.
Over its anticipated 30-year lifespan, we expect the Seven Stars project will create more than $100 million ($3.4 million to $4 million annually) in estimated economic benefits for the Weyburn region.
We’ll be talking about these benefits and more as we continue to engage residents in the days and weeks ahead. In the meantime, we’re happy to answer any questions you may have about the project by email (power.operations@enbridge. com) or by visiting enbridge.com/sevenstarsenergy.
MEET THE STAFF
Publisher/Sales Manager: Andrea Corrigan acorrigan@glaciermedia.ca
News Editor: Greg Nikkel gnikkel@sasktoday.ca
Production Supervisor: Leslie Coulter lcoulter@glaciermedia.ca
Weyburn’s city council gave first reading to a bylaw to close the Queen Street rail crossing off Highway 39 at their meeting on Monday night.
It was a move that was needed, and in the end the City had no choice in the matter.
The rail crossing was a dangerous one, located very close to Highway 39 and used by motorists as a shortcut to either the highway, or to go across to Sims Road and the businesses located there.
The crossing has been used in spite of not meeting Transport Canada’s standards of safety, with recommendations to close it in reports made in 2017 and 2019.
According to Transport Canada’s Rail Network database, there have been 10 vehicletrain collisions there since 2010, with the most recent one occurring on Nov. 6.
In that collision, involving a pickup truck, the two occupants of the truck somehow escaped death and received injuries, treated at the Weyburn hospital.
Most times, the contest between a train and a vehicle is not a fair one, as the size, weight and speed of a train usually means bad news for those in the vehicle that it hits, and clearly
By Greg Nikkel
it has happened a few times too many at that crossing.
What finally is forcing the closure of that crossing are plans by the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, as they want to build a round-about at the nearby intersection of Highways 13 and 39, and will be widening Highway 39, requiring the closure of that crossing.
It is another matter altogether to consider whether a round-about is a good idea or not for that intersection. One thing is for sure, this will be much better than the weird angles the two highways are at now.
A number of years ago, there were a few bad accidents at that corner, but there haven’t been any for a few years now. Still, having a round-about will be better than having to approach the intersection at a weird angle just so the driver can see if traffic is coming or not.
Having driven through a few round-abouts, the worst ones being in Edmonton, it sounds to me like more potential for collisions. It will be much cheaper than building an overpass, which would be ideal there, but hopefully it will be a safer option than what is currently in place.
A WRITER’S ODYSSEY
By Sabrina Kraft
The days continue to get shorter and shorter as we approach the Winter Equinox, the longest night of the year. It also marks the first day of winter, even though the weather has already given us several winter storms.
In Christian tradition, the Advent Sunday following the Winter Equinox, is known as a Blue Christmas. On this day, some churches in Christian denominations hold a church service that honours people that have lost loved ones and are experiencing grief.
The holidays can be a difficult time for people who are grieving because they are full of memories and traditions that are associated with the person who is no longer there.
It is important to acknowledge that not everyone is feeling a reason to celebrate or be joyful. Grief takes time to process, and our bodies and our brains have to process the pain.
Events like a Blue Christmas service are important to those in our community who need
that moment to remember they are not alone, and that they can find community support.
Also do not forget those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and that reduced sunlight exposure can disrupt circadian rhythms and serotonin levels in the brain, which can affect mood regulation.
The holiday blues do become very real for some people, so make sure you are providing support for those people in your life who might need it. Also take time to do your own mental health check, and ask for support from others when you need it.
Even during those times when you do not have the mental energy for big holiday celebrations, find times to make meaningful memories with the people who are still in your life.
For those who want to provide support, remember that sometimes it is the small gestures that matter. These can include a hand-written note, a hug, a warm meal. Also remember that daylight is returning soon, and to hold onto that in your heart.
Weyburn Red Wings split games with Battleford North Stars
The Weyburn Red Wings brought home an overtime win and a loss from their road trip to Battleford to play the North Stars over the December 6 and 7 weekend.
They won 5-4 in an overtime shootout on Friday night, then lost 9-3 on Saturday.
In Friday’s game, Braigh LeGrandeur got the Wings on the scoreboard first, assisted by Lucas Schmid and Josh Karman. Ethan Dekay then scored, with assists to Max Chakrabarti and Jerome Maharaj.
After the Stars got one back, Maharaj then made the score 3-1 with 56 seconds left in the first period, assisted by Dekay and Jaxson Ruthven.
Battlefords tied the game up in the second period, then Schmid scored in the third period, assisted by Karman and Liam Fitzgerald, and the North Stars tied the game up with 54 seconds to go in regulation time.
After no scoring in
the overtime period, the game went into a shootout, and out of three shooters, Dekay scored to give Weyburn the win. He was also named the game’s first star.
Angelo Zol was the goaltender for the full 65 minutes of play, making 41 saves on 45 shots on net.
In Saturday’s game, Weyburn’s three goals were all scored in the first period.
Ryder Rommelaere scored first, with an assist by Chakrabarti; Fitzgerald scored, assisted by Simon Martin and Schmid; and Ethan Dekay scored, assisted by Maharaj and Ruthven.
Dazza Mitchell was in net for the Red Wings, making 36 saves on 45 shots on net.
Following a road game to Melville on Tuesday night, the Red Wings will have two home games this weekend, hosting the Kindersley Klippers on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13 and 14.
Weyburn Gold Wings have tough losses to Saskatoon Stars
The Weyburn U18 AAA Gold Wings had a tough road trip to Saskatoon over the weekend, dropping two games to the Stars.
On Sunday, they were edged out 2-1 in overtime, and on Saturday, they suffered a 6-0 loss.
In Sunday’s game, there was no scoring for the first two periods, and the two teams traded goals in the third period, with Peyton Halayka scoring for Weyburn on an assist by Kiah Shields, with 1:31 left in the game.
This sent the game into overtime, and Saskatoon scored at 3:52 to take the win.
Amy Swayze was the goaltender for the game and overtime period, and made 45 saves on 47 shots on net. She was also named the game’s second star for her performance in net.
For Saturday’s game, Tila Boyd started the game in net, making 11 saves on 15 shots, then Swayze was brought in for the second and third periods, making 25 saves on 27 shots.
The girls will have two road games before the Christmas break, on the Dec. 20-21 weekend.
On Friday, Dec. 20, they will be in Saskatoon, and then in Battlefords on Dec. 21 to play the Sharks.
Lining up a shot on net
Two Weyburn teams went head-to-head in this game at Hockey Weyburn’s U9 Outdoor Classic on Saturday, as a player for the Quality Plumbing Red Wings lined up a shot on the Weger Paradis Leafs. The Leafs went on to win the ‘D’ side of the tournament, held on the outdoor rink at the Credit Union Spark Centre.
Weyburn hosts first-ever U9 Outdoor Classic
A total of 16 U9 hockey teams took part in Hockey Weyburn’s first-ever Outdoor Classic on Saturday and Sunday, held at the outdoor rink at the Credit Union Spark Centre. The
rink was divided in half, to enable two hockey games to be held simultaneously throughout both days.
In addition to the games, a bonfire was kept going with hot chocolate
available for the families there to watch the action.
The following were the tournament winners:
The ‘A’ side winners were the Estevan Whitecap Resource Cubs; the
‘B’ side winners were the E. Bourassa Oilers of Weyburn; the ‘C’ side winners were the Quad Town Rebels, and from Weyburn, the ‘D’ side winners were the Weger Paradis Leafs.
Battling for the puck
Players for the Quality Plumbing Red Wings and the Weger Paradis Leafs, both Weyburn teams, battled for the puck in this play of a round-robin game on Saturday. This was part of the action at Hockey Weyburn’s U9 Outdoor Classic, held at the outdoor rink at the Credit Union Spark Centre over the weekend. The Leafs went on to win as D side champions of the tournament.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Trying to control the ball
A player from Team Pink got her foot on the ball to keep it away from Team Blue, in a girls soccer game held on Saturday in the Credit Union Spark Centre.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Keeping the upper hand in match
Weyburn wrestler Landon Leroux had the advantage in this match at the Barber Motors Wrestling Tournament on Saturday, held at the Weyburn Comp’s Eagle gym. Leroux went on to win a gold medal for his weight class, the peewee male 42-44kg category.
Brothers wrestle in tourney action
Weyburn wrestlers and brothers Tommy Orr and Rio Orr wrestled in this match in the peewee male 46-50kg weight category. They were taking part in the Barber Motors Wrestling Tournament on Saturday. Rio is three years younger than Tommy, but both are in the same weight class.
Weyburn wrestlers win medals at home tournament
The Weyburn Wrestling Club hosted the 2024 Barber Motors Wrestling Tournament on Saturday.
The home club had 26 wrestlers who participated, and the Weyburn club members won 13 medals, including five gold, three silver and five bronze.
The results for the Weyburn wrestlers are as follows. In the Freshie category, in the 18-20 kg weight category, Raef Pirlot won first for gold; Kansas Dureault placed third for bronze, and Wattson Furgason came fourth.
In the Freshie 2022kg category, Saint Asapace placed fifth; for the Freshie 2123kg category, Maxton Manko-Bauche came in fifth; in the Freshie 2427kg category, Madyx Weiss placed fourth; in the Freshie 27-28kg category, Cassius Henning won first for the gold medal, and Hunter Wagner placed fourth; in the Freshie 28-30kg category, Ivan Asapace came in fifth; and in the Freshie 34-35kg category, Brantley Schachtel-Pocha placed second for silver. In the Novice 2324kg category, Lochlan Pirlot won second for silver; in the Novice 2526kg category, Grady McLeod placed fourth; in the Novice 26-28kg category, Felix MankoBauche came in fifth; in the Novice 28-29kg category, Meagan Kerr placed fourth; in the Nov -
ice 29-31kg category, Owen Pulfer won fourth; in the Novice 34-37kg category, Mirabelle Leroux won third for bronze, and Abigail Mason came fourth. In the Peewee Male 40-43kg category, Jep Furgason won third for the bronze medal; in the Peewee Male 42-44kg category, Landon Leroux won first for the gold, and Conner Pocha won third for bronze; in the Peewee Male 53-53kg category, Rastyn Weiss won first for gold; in the Peewee Male 57-62kg category, Brysen Richaud placed third for bronze; and in the Peewee Male 46-50kg category, Tommy Orr won fourth, and his brother Rio Orr placed fifth. In the Bantam Female 85-93kg category, Lily Forseth won first for gold, and Danika Tocher won second for silver. Some Weyburn members attended the 2024 Kelly Dumont Memorial High School Tournament in Regina. Weyburn had four wrestlers participating and brought home four medals, three gold and one silver. In the Female Elite 4650kg category, Avlynn Drake won first for gold. In the Male Elite 5661kg category, Chris Dayaan won second for silver; in the Male Novice 52-54kg category, Ephraim Henning won first for gold; and in the Male Novice 53-53kg category, Seth Peeler won first for gold.
Team Streifel, representing Saskatchewan at the 2024 Everest Canadian Seniors Curling Championships in Moncton, N.B., advanced as far as the playoffs on Thursday and Friday.
The team, based out of the Nutana Curling Club in Saskatoon, is comprised of skip Tracy Streifel, third Candace Newkirk, second Danette Tracey of
Weyburn, and lead Julie Vandenameele.
At the end of roundrobin play, the team was second in Pool A with a 4-2 win-loss record. On Thursday, they had an 8-5 loss to Ontario, and an 8-5 win over Prince Edward Island. In Friday’s action, the team fell 9-4 to B.C. in the morning, and 8-2 to Alberta to finish out their play.
Team
Sask at national senior curling
Team Streifel members, including Weyburn curler Danette Tracey, considered their options for the next shot in this game versus Team Manitoba at the 2024 Everest National Senior Women’s Curling Championships in Moncton. The Saskatchewan went on to win this game, but lost out in the playoffs on Friday.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Photo – courtesy Calli Benko
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Shirley Blackmore
Shirley Irene Lois Blackmore, late of Ceylon SK passed away peacefully on November 25 2024 at the age of 88 years Shirley was predeceased by her parents Auguste and Irene Labelle and her husband Gaenel Blackmore Her memory will be cherished by her son Steven (Janice) and their children Tara-Lee (Andy), Britney (Tyler) and Jolisa (Wes); her son Brent (Tracy) and their children Brady (Chelsea) and Riley (Rhett); and her great-grandchildren Danika Teegahn Sadie Nixon Dax Harlo Levi Elliot Sawyer and Saffron She is also remembered by her sisters-in-law Florence Start (Dale)
Audrey Pelletier (George) and Glenda Larson; in-laws Elaine Blackmore, Marg Blackmore, and Jack Fornari; as well as many nieces nephews numerous Labelle cousins and many relatives from the Cole, Ziehlke, LaBelle, Eidsness, Dionne, Charbonneau Mowrey and Van De Velde families along with her musician friends Shirley was born on May 16, 1936, in Radville, Saskatchewan and grew up on the family farm in the Roundup School District south of Ceylon She met the love of her life Gaenel Blackmore at one of the small schools she attended They were married on November 11 1957 and moved to their farm north of Ceylon in 1958 This farm became home until 2022 when they relocated to Weyburn Growing up on a farm with many horses was a dream come true for Shirley She had been a horse lover since she was a small girl Encouraged by her dad, Auguste Labelle, she spent countless hours riding and helping with the horses and cattle She raced her horses at community sports days and fairs in the 1950s, with her favorite horse being a palomino mare named Goldie Shirley s mother Irene was a teacher and as a result Shirley attended many one-room schools in the area always in her mother s classroom She completed her high school education in Ceylon and worked for SaskTel in Regina for two years after graduating She was a United Church board member and part of the Ceylon Homemaker organization Shirley was an avid reader with a fondness for Western novels and the biggest fan of any sports her kids and grandkids participated in After marrying
and move
Elsie Richter Elsie Richter, late of Weyburn SK passed away on December 2, 2024 at the age of 91 years She was predeceased by her parents Reinhold and Emma Dreger; husband Ernest Richter; brothers, Edward and Clarence Dreger; and several brothers and sisters-in-law Elsie is survived by her children: Gail (Rick) Murray of Yellow Grass SK; Neil (Donette) Richter of Weyburn, SK; Gord Richter of Yellow Grass SK; grandchildren: Eric (Steph), Dean (Kim) Lindsay (Kyle) Krista (Mike) Kimberly, Justin (Samantha) Jessica and Megan (Kristopher); great grandchildren: Taryn (Kyle) Rilyn (Ethan) Jaden Lawson Westyn Jack Leo Anderson Brady Drew and Roslyn; her sisters-in-law, Donelda Richter, Doris Hill and Sheri Richter; as well as numerous nieces nephews and friends Elsie Richter passed away at the age of 91 years at Weyburn, SK Her parents were Reinhold and Emma Dreger of Lang SK Her mother saved money during hard times to buy her a Heintzman piano that she learned to play well After graduating from Grade 12 she worked at Alberta Government Telephones for a year She married Ernest Richter in 19512 They lived in the oil patch boom years in Edmonton Leduc and other areas including Peace River and Estevan They returned to the farm in Yellow Grass in 1958 She earned her certificates in Bookkeeping and
Elsie was an active member of the
the organ at Peace Lutheran Church In
and
they did some travelling and in 1986 they bought a house in Creston BC and enjoyed many years there Elsie s hobbies were sewing knitting playing the organ playing cards gardening and her beloved writing, A few of her poems and short stories were published in Grainews Western People local newspapers and even a joke in the Reader
horse to check
Fall was her favourite time of year as it meant full-day trail rides to bring the cows from the south pastures back to their farm in Ceylon for the winter They raised purebred Arabian horses and Shirley took a keen interest in researching Arabian bloodlines This hobby took them to many horse shows particularly enjoying the Royal Red show when it was held in Regina Later, when they began spending winters in Arizona they attended the large Arabian horse show in Scottsdale Mom loved to dance She taught her boys and grandkids how to dance shortly after learning how to walk Many trips were made around the kitchen getting the Waltz Polka and foxtrot steps down pat Mom and Dad were involved in a few square dance clubs and travelled around the prairie provinces and northern US states to attend square dance events Gaenel had been playing the accordion for dances since he was a teenager, and Shirley didn t want to miss out on the fun Shortly after they were married she learned to play the bass guitar and banjo, becoming a part of the band For her grandchildren Grandma and Grandpa s house was the highlight of any visit, whether for a few hours or a couple of months in the summer Time spent there was filled with dancing card games endless treats picnics and road trips pure fun with few rules Mom was an incredible cook Despite loving outdoor farm activities she ensured there were always three square meals a day with plenty of baked goods for the snacks in between She could whip up a roast beef dinner with all the fixings in no time The house always had the aroma of baking or some special dish being cooked Anyone who has pulled up a chair for a cup of coffee can attest that it always came with some baked goods and if you got even close to a meal time she was very persuasive in convincing you to stay for a meal In 2008 Shirley and Gaenel began spending their winters in Mesa Arizona rekindling their love for music by playing at jam sessions across the East Valley They formed lasting friendships and played in a band called the Saskatchewan Stubble Jumpers later renamed the Country Gold Band For 12 years they embraced the snowbird life with Shirley cherishing the view of Superstition Mountain A nature lover at heart, she appreciated travelling through Canadian forests but also grew to love the palm trees and cacti of the south A Celebration of Shirley s life will be held on Friday December 20 2024 at 2:00 p m from the Ceylon United Church, Ceylon, SK with Judy Beck officiating Luncheon will be held at the Prairie Pride Community Centre Ceylon SK Interment will take place at a later date at Ceylon Cemetery Ceylon SK For those wishing to attend virtually please follow the live stream video by opening Shirley’s memorial page on RD Family Funeral Chapel s website starting at 1:45 p m on Friday December 20 2024 For family and friends so wishing, charitable donations in memory of Shirley may be made to the Ceylon United Church Ceylon SK S0C 0T0 Arrangements are entrusted to RD Family Funeral Chapel & Crematorium Weyburn SK (848-0333
community lifestyles 9 &
office.
Young Fellows donate to Envision card drive
Young Fellows Club of Weyburn donated $2,000 to Envision Counselling’s gift card campaign. Members Jeremy Wall and Ryan Bader, and club president Ray Jarvis, stopped by the Weyburn office last Wednesday afternoon to make the donation.
The overall goal of Envision’s campaign is to offer support and hope during the holidays to the individuals and families
we serve and have identified as being unable to meet their basic needs. Whether it be food, warm clothes, gifts for the children, or even gas for the car, gift cards help to fill the gaps that these families may experience during this colder holiday season. Envision also uses gift cards from various businesses to disburse to people who need emer-
gency help, based on their situation. Clients may be going without items such as baby supplies or clothing if they flee a relationship without time to properly pack up. They might need gas cards, specifically to attend counselling sessions, when they are isolated in a rural location. And particularly this year, they may be unable to purchase gifts for the holidays.
By donating gift cards, Envision is able to provide support to as many clients in need as possible. This campaign gives individuals more choices and an added sense of empowerment, or autonomy, which is really important to the agency.
The preferred stores are those with gas or grocery options, such as Walmart, Co-op, No Frills or Wholesale Club, Dollarama or Esso.
Local resident organizes fundraiser to help couple
A fundraiser event will be held for Fred and Teresa Sandeski on Friday, Dec. 13 at the Weyburn Legion Hall, to help assist them to secure care as they deal with their health issues.
The Fred and Teresa Sandeski fundraiser will be held at the Weyburn Legion Vimy room, with music by Weyburn band Assorted Nuts starting around 6:30 p.m.
The band will include Johnny Knox, Mark Girar-
din and Don Pokletar, with perhaps a guest or two during the evening.
Organizers are allowed to have a silent auction. If anyone wishes to donate a product or service for the silent auction, you may drop it off with Contessa Hill or contact Knox directly by text or phone at (306) 861-6582, and he will come and pick up the donation.
There will be a donation box at the function for
those who wish to make a cash donation to help the Sandeskis, or those interested can email them an e-transfer directly at tsandeski@sasktel.net.
Organizers will not be allowed to have a 50-50 draw, because of the specifics of the draw itself going to an individual, and would need a permit that would not likely be approved by Friday.
“It is so encouraging to hear about all of the
Envision Counselling and Support Centre invites women over the age of 18 in the Weyburn area to join their “Women’s Empowerment Group.”
If you’ve ever felt like the needs and opinions of others overshadow your own, or that being “perfect” is the only way to be accepted, this is your opportunity to break free from those limiting beliefs and rediscover your strength. This transformative group offers a supportive, judgment-free environment to help you stand up for your rights, express your feelings, and navigate life with confidence, courage, and clarity.
“My life has changed for the better after having been in the Women’s Empowerment class with Envision. It’s taught me so many things about living in the moment, not living in the past. The facilitators made me feel accepted and part of the group instantly. The ladies who were a part of the group with me connected so well. This was truly meant for me. All women should do something like this just once in her lifetime. We all need a boost and to feel empowered by others!” said a previous Envision Counselling group participant.
“Participants will leave with tools to implement real, positive changes in their daily lives,” explains Elizabeth Lambe, counsellor at Envision. “Whether you’re facing challenges with self-esteem, relationships, or overcoming past abuse, this group is a
safe space to explore your experiences and reclaim your personal power.”
This group is designed to nurture and uplift, exploring vital topics such as: identifying triggers and managing them effectively; practicing self-care that truly nourishes you; techniques for grounding and building resiliency; strengthening self-esteem and communication skills; and boundary setting and enforcing.
“Setting boundaries is an essential act of selfcare and empowerment for women, enabling us to protect our emotional well-being and maintain healthy relationships,” said Jolene Roberts, counsellor at Envision. “Boundaries help define what is acceptable and respectful in our interactions with others, ensuring that our needs, values, and limits are honoured. Recognizing when boundaries need to be adjusted often starts with noticing feelings of overwhelm, resentment, or being taken for granted. This group will help you with this.” This free group will run on Wednesdays for eight weeks, starting Jan. 8, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. All applicants are asked to please pre-register before Jan. 3.
Empowerment starts with saying “yes” to yourself. Take this step toward creating the life you deserve. It’s time to embrace your strength, connect with like-minded women, and make meaningful, lasting changes in the New Year.
people that wish to help with this function. My phone has been ringing off the hook and my messages are filling up the gigabytes on it,” said Knox, who has spearheaded this fundraiser effort. “I have secured someone to do up the silent auction sheets. The only way to make this financially successful for the Sandeskis is to ensure we have a good turnout, even as a come and go function.”
Young Fellows donate to Envision
Jeremy Wall, Ryan Bader and president Ray Jarvis of the Young Fellows Club donated $2,000 to Envision Counselling’s gift card campaign, accepted by Raven Daer at Envision’s Weyburn
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Food bank boosted by Young Fellows Club
Nicole Strickland of the Salvation Army, left, was presented a donation of $5,250 by members of the Young Fellows Club of Weyburn on Friday. They include Jeremy Wall, Scott Moffat, Ryan Bader and club president Ray Jarvis.
