News Optimist January 23

News

GOTV on the minds of candidates

Richard Bee: No dull moments at the library

3 City Awards

Sports

Everybody Has a Story

Staff honoured

Strong January for Sharks

10 Featured

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Volume 110 No. 23

Pedestrian killed on Highway 16

North Battleford, Sask.

Staff

RCMP were called on Jan. 19 to a fatal motor vehicle collision with a pedestrian on Highway 16 east of North Battleford.

A lone 22-year-old male from Saskatoon had been walking in the middle of the highway, dressed in black, and he was struck by a westbound tractor trailer

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

unit.

Emergency Medical Services and RCMP attended to the scene where the male was pronounced deceased by EMS.

RCMP does not believe the incident is suspicious and the driver of the tractor trailer hadn’t consumed alcohol.

The deceased’s family has been notified.

Winter Residents Is spring also on the minds of these winter-hardy residents? Photos by Louise Lundberg

On the Minds of Gardeners The recent warm weather and the arrival of seed catalogues in the mailboxes of prairie gardeners has them looking forward to spring, even though it is only January. Contributing to hope eternal is the annual announcement of winning plants for 2018 chosen by the nonprofit organization All-America Selections. AAS recently announced their winning flower and vegetable varieties for 2018. This year, six ornamental annuals made the cut, including Canna ‘South Pacific Orange F1’, above. See Erl Svendsen’s Garden Chat on Page 8 for the rest of the results. Photo courtesy of All-America Selections

PAGE 2 - Tuesday, January 23, 2018

City of NB acknowledges employees Submitted For the 25th year, the City of North Battleford celebrated and honoured its employees at the Annual Service Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 17.

The Western Development Museum was the stage to acknowledge city employees for their 5, 10, 15 or 25 years of service to the city and the community.

The awards were presented by Mayor Ryan Bater and members of council.

The following employees were acknowledged for their longtime commitment to the City of North Battleford: 5 Years of Service: Dwayne Braun, Don Bush, Matthew Funk, Leah Garven, Robert Knutson, Ronald Moore, Haixin Niu,

Mila Baker and Alta Hamilton.

10 Years of Service: Brad Caron, Crystal Carruthers, Brennan Radchenko and Justin Rafuse.

15 Years of Service: Brett Johnson and Ross MacAngus.

25 Years of Service: Bill Samborski.

In addition to the service awards, the city acknowledged workers of the City of North Battleford that contributed significantly to a safer work environment and reduced injuries and illnesses.

Safety Manager Raeann Ducharme presented this year’s Champion of Safety Awards to: Andrew Friesen, Kevin McConnell, Brandon Steffenson and Warren Crawford.

The 2018 City of North Battleford Service Awards recipients are (back row, left to right) Bill Samborski, Haixin Niu, Brad Caron, Brennan Radchenko, Ross MacAngus with Jim Puffalt. Front row, left to right: Alta Hamilton, Ron Moore, Don Bush, Leah Garven, Matthew Funk and Dwayne Braun.

Picturesque City Manager Jim Puffalt and Safety Manager Raeann Ducharme (standing) presented the 2018 Champion of Safety Awards to (seated left to right) Kevin McConnell, Brandon Steffenson, Warren Crawford and Andrew Friesen. Photos submitted

Drivers better behaved this season Staff

That sun is bright! —­Photo by Louise Lundberg

FIRST

3

MONTHS

SGI is reporting that their Traffic Safety Spotlight campaign during December saw some positive results.

According to an SGI news release, Saskatchewan drivers were “better behaved” during the holiday season with fewer people on the “naughty list” for impaired driving, even with enforcement increased.

Overall numbers from

police saw 238 impaired driving offences reported.

These numbers compare to 353 impaired driving offences reported for the December 2016 Traffic Safety Spotlight, 308 in 2015, and 381 in 2014.

The numbers for 2017 include the following: A total of 205 Criminal Code charges. Those include such things as blood alcohol concentration (BAC) exceeding .08, impaired driving or refusing

a breath test.

A total of 33 roadside suspensions (experienced drivers with a BAC ranging from .04 to .08).

Other results include 526 distracted driving offences (443 of those for cellphone use), 216 offences related to seatbelts or car seats, and 3,969 speeding/ aggressive driving offences Includes all traffic safety focus results for December 2017 submitted by police as of January 15, 2018.

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Tuesday, January 23, 2018 - PAGE 3

Chamber backs provincial cannabis policy

By John Cairns Staff Reporter

The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce is voicing its support for what the Saskatchewan government is proposing on cannabis sales.

In a news release Wednesday, the provincial Chamber said they were encouraged by the announcement the province would pursue a private retail and distribution model for cannabis, and also stated the appropriate role of the government was as a fair and impartial regulator of private sector activity.

“In endorsing the sales process we fully acknowledge that not all business people believe legaliza-

tion is the right course of action. However, we realize all Canadians want a safe and legal process, rather than the Wild West that is the current situation in pot sales,” said Steve McLellan, CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, in a statement.

“While the legalization of cannabis will create new business opportunities in the province, legalization will also bring with it some new challenges for employers, particularly those operating in safetysensitive environments, such as construction, oil and gas, mining, forestry, and transportation. On these matters, the Chamber calls on both the Government of Saskatchewan

and the Government of Canada to provide greater clarity for employers by establishing a legal definition of impairment, developing reliable, standardized, and legallysanctioned drug testing protocols, and establishing a legal definition for the term ‘safety-sensitive position.’”

The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority is issuing 60 retail permits to private operators in 40 Saskatchewan communities. North Battleford is slated for two of those permits; Battleford one. However, communities also have the option to opt out.

The provincial chamber has also recommended that 19 be the legal

minimum age for purchasing and consuming cannabis, in line with the legal age for alcohol. The Saskatchewan Chamber also is seeking additional guidelines related to workplace safety before full legalization takes effect.

The news release is timely given that the issue of the retail sale of cannabis is now before municipalities. It was slated to return to North Battleford council Monday night for further discussion on whether the city will allow two cannabis retail outlets in the city, or whether it will decide to opt out. (See Thursday’s Regional Optimist for the report from Monday’s meeting.)

At the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce

board meeting last Tuesday, the issue of cannabis retail was also discussed at length.

Executive director Linda Machniak said the Canadian Chamber has been doing some work on the issue, working closely with the federal government, and a report is expected to be out shortly.

Machniak said she has also had discussions with the provincial Chamber.

The indication is the provincial chamber is planning to hold a series of educational events on marijuana legalization, in conjunction with local Chambers.

Machniak said plans in the works for a “drug panel” to go around the province featuring speak-

ers on the issue.

The intent would be to include speakers from HR, growers, lawyers, or others involved in the process.

The panel would travel to various communities and hold informational and educational events with members (ie. a luncheon or an evening event).

Machniak indicated at last week’s meeting there is plenty of interest from members.

“There’s a lot of questions and we’ve already had members ask us about it,” said Machniak. “We’re just trying to work with the provincial Chamber about getting the best speakers possible.”

Leadership race counts down

Cheveldayoff in NB seeking last-minute votes

By John Cairns Staff Reporter

The race to select a new Saskatchewan Party leader and new premier of Saskatchewan is in its final days, and candidates

continue their efforts to find any remaining votes still out there.

On Thursday, Ken Cheveldayoff took his getout-the-vote effort to the Battlefords as he did doorknocking throughout the

community.

Joining him in the afternoon was David Buckingham, MLA for Saskatoon Westview; MLAs Randy Weekes and Eric Olauson were also out canvassing for

Ken Cheveldayoff was campaigning door-to-door in North Battleford Thursday afternoon as the race for the Sask Party leadership is in its final days. Photo by John Cairns

Arrest made after firearm incident Staff

A man has been arrested after another incidence of a firearm being discharged in North Battleford.

According to Battlefords RCMP, they were called to the scene Jan. 15 around 10:25 p.m., in response to a call of a firearm being discharged at a residence on the 1600

block of 104th Street.

A male victim was taken to Battlefords Union Hospital with a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the leg. The investigation has led to the arrest of a 45-year-old North Battleford man, who was formally charged and remanded later on Wednesday.

The accused, Timothy Leask, made his first court

appearance in North Battleford Provincial Court at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. Leask is charged with aggravated assault, uttering a threat, possessing a prohibited weapon while not holding a licence, possessing a firearm while not holding a license, pointing a firearm, discharging a firearm with intent to wound, and assault with a weapon.

Cheveldayoff.

Cheveldayoff’s efforts Thursday focused on meeting Sask Party eligible voters whose mail-in ballots had not yet made it in to the party to be counted. They had a list with them of party members who were not yet checked off as having voted.

The importance on getting the vote out in the Battlefords was not lost on Cheveldayoff, whose campaign has made multiple trips to the area.

“I have a tremendous amount of support here in the Battlefords, but we want to make sure that each and every person gets out to vote,” said Cheveldayoff.

“The information I have is about half the people have voted already, so I’m going to the half that haven’t voted already, go-

ing to their doors, having a discussion about the issues and the leadership, and encouraging them to vote for me and support me and then encourage them to get their ballots in the mail as well.”

He called his approach the “grassroots way to talk to every voter and to make sure that they vote.”

Cheveldayoff said that at the doors he has talked about his background and his vision for the province, and asked for their support. “It’s been very, very favourable here in the Battlefords,” he said.

The campaign has gone well for Cheveldayoff, who is encouraged by the recent news that he has again led the five-candidate field in fundraising for the most recent reporting period. Despite that, the candidate says he is

taking nothing for granted and is working “like I’m five points behind.”

His North Battleford appearance comes on the heels of campaign stops

by Scott Moe and Gord Wyant earlier this month, as candidates continue to go all-out during the last month of the leadership race.

It is not long now before the Sask Party announces the results on Jan. 27 at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon. Cheveldayoff has continued to concentrate on going door-to-door in various communities, and the campaign has been phoning Sask Party members, to remind supporters to send in their votes.

“It’s called GOTV, it’s about getting out the vote, and that’s what I’m doing each and every day,” said Cheveldayoff.

PAGE 4 - Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Opinion:

Cancelling SHNB P3 would save millions of dollars: CUPE

The commentaries offered on this editorial page are intended to provide thought-provoking material for our readers. Contributors’ articles, cartoons or letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion of any News-Optimist staff.

Sandra Seitz, President CUPE Local 5430

For years the Sask Party government has been championing the benefits of public private partnerships (P3s) as a way to build public infrastructure. It has used the P3 model to build four major projects in the province, including the controversial Regina highway bypass and the new Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford.

But our government has been surprisingly quiet after news that Carillion, a major UK-based construction company involved in P3 projects worldwide, went belly up ... leaving the British government scrambling to provide payroll and replace public services for projects that had been outsourced to Carillion.

How does this affect us in Saskatchewan? Carillion’s Canadian subsidiary is a partner in the $407 million contract to finance, build and maintain the new Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford over 30 years. Carillion Private Finance Ltd., based in the UK, provided 50 per cent of the equity to the P3 hospital.

The response from our government through SaskBuilds was surprisingly nonchalant: “the hospital project is not affected but, if it is, we can find another partner.” But it appears that the project is affected: the day after Carillion collapsed, Moody’s Investors Service changed the rating outlook on this project from stable to “negative.”

Saskatchewan residents should be concerned about financing capital projects through P3s not only because private companies can go bankrupt, but because the construction and maintenance costs are higher and we lose public control and financial transparency.

Already we are paying quadruple the original estimated cost for the mental health facility. In August 2011 when Premier Brad Wall first announced the Saskatchewan Hospital would be rebuilt, he said the price tag would be $100 million. Less than three years later when the government issued the RFQ for the facility, the construction cost jumped to between $175 and $250 million. When the contract was signed in 2015, the costs ballooned to $407 million.

In addition to inflated construction costs, we are on the hook to pay Carillion (or its replacement) and Graham $185 million over 30 years to maintain the

Don’t miss these online opinions

By Brian Zinchuk

Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers

Association 2012 Columnist of the Year History & Commentary from a

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Catalogue available from: Speargrass Specialties Box 298, Eatonia, Sk., S0L 0Y0 Phone: (306) 967-2910

ohn rairie Perspective Cairns Books by William Wardill News Watch www.speargrassspecialties.com newsoptimist.john@sasktel.net

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New homes burn faster. Should residential sprinklers become part of the building code for new homes?

• No, new home construction is expensive enough as it is.

49%

This week’s News-Optimist online poll:

the top of

By Brian Zinchuk

Last week’s News-Optimist online poll:

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the top of

facility. That’s $6.2 million per year – for one facility.

Considering Moody’s says the facility is small, relatively simple to operate and only needs 11 full time positions to operate it, why are we paying $6.2 million per year?

The former health region used to spend $3.1 million annually for all its facilities.

As a public sector worker, I don’t understand how the government can hand over hundreds of millions of dollars to private companies, but says the cupboard is bare when it comes to funding more front-line staff in healthcare or more resources for the classroom.

There is a simple solution. The government needs to cancel this overpriced and risky P3 contract and take over the maintenance of the building as it has always been done – by using public sector workers. They would save millions of dollars that could be invested in much needed public services.

Sandra Seitz of Weyburn is the president of CUPE Local 5430, representing 14,000 healthcare workers. Local 5430, the largest health care union in Saskatchewan, replaces the CUPE Health Care Council and the five health locals that voted last summer to merge into one.

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arden Chat

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If almost half of what consumers pay right now for beer is tax (among the highest in the world), would you sign Beer Canada’s petition against upping taxes even more on an annual basis?

• Yes. Beer is a Canadian food group. Leave it alone.

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as I know it Letters to the editor are welcomed by the NewsOptimist.

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• No. Better to tax a non-essential item like beer than things everyone needs.

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• No. If Canadians drink less, that can only be a good thing for everyone.

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Tuesday, January 23, 2018 - PAGE 5

Cairns on Cinema

Molly’s Game review: Focus is on story and characters, not shock value or foul language

By John Cairns Staff Reporter

This week my review is Molly’s Game, the new biopic about the infamous “poker princess” who ran multimillion-dollar underground poker games in LA and New York involving the rich and the powerful.

The story is based on the bestselling book of the same name that Bloom wrote a few years ago.

The reason I hit the road for Saskatoon to see Molly’s Game is because this movie deals with a lot of subject matter that I am personally interested in, like the poker world.

And the entertainment world. And of course, the criminal justice system, of which I have more than a passing interest as people who know me realize.

In fact, the courtroom scenes in Molly’s Game reminded me of the numerous times lately that I’ve had to sit in court-

room number one in North Battleford, covering the people responsible for the recent crime mayhem in our community. So even when I go see a movie, I can’t get away from my job.

Anyway, on to the movie review.

The focus of the story is Molly Bloom, played by Jessica Chastain. Molly was a member of the US Ski Team before going down a path that led to her organizing high-stakes poker games in LA for a decade.

Her games attracted the Hollywood elite and the financial movers and shakers. Later, after she moved to New York, her games unwittingly attracted members of the Russian mob – and that ultimately got her in big trouble with the FBI despite her attempts to keep her own involvement above board.

Molly’s Game marks the directorial debut of

Aaron Sorkin, of The West Wing. You can tell that his background in network-TV is a strong influence when it comes to directing this movie, because there is a focus throughout on story and characters, not shock value or foul language.

If I were to describe Molly’s Game in TV-show terms, it is part Poker After Dark and another chunk Law and Order, with some Entourage and Wide World of Sports thrown in for good measure.

If you are expecting a movie full of sex and debauchery, you are going to be disappointed: this is not The Wolf of Wall Street.

I am convinced this is by design: Sorkin tried to show that Molly was not about debauchery. There are scenes where Molly is forever being interrogated about whether she arranged for hookers to show up at these poker

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games and the like. It was almost as if the FBI agents expected these poker games to be worse than they were.

So, the world Molly inhabits was not about debauchery. It was about skullduggery, which is different.

One of the main players in the games is Player X,

played by Michael Cera. He portrays a nameless famous Hollywood actor who would routinely take the other players to the cleaners; in reality, everyone thinks that in

real life this was Tobey Maguire of Spider-Man fame. A memorable quote from Player X: “I don’t like playing poker. I like destroying lives.”

Another memorable character was a guy re-

ferred to as “Bad Brad,” played by Brian d’Arcy James. Brad was “bad” in more ways than one.

For one thing, he was bad at poker. He was an incompetent “fish” who kept on dropping thousands upon thousands of dollars to these other players in poker games.

But it was worth it to him because Bad Brad was able to convince all these players to invest even more money in his decidedly shady investment schemes.

The thing I like about this movie is that the characters were memorable and realistic. You really did believe that Jessica Chastain was Molly.

The poker scenes are realistic, but also surprisingly hilarious. There was one scene where “Bad Brad” unwittingly bluffs his opponent out of all of his money that must be seen to be believed.

Through the story, Molly tells her story about how she navigates through this world.

Unfortunately, what starts out as glamorous, exciting and lucrative takes on a serious tone as the characters and activities become shadier and more dangerous. You

really see it late in the movie as it all takes a toll on Molly, as her confident persona melts away and she shows some real vulnerability.

The overriding question of the movie is: what was it that drove Molly down this dark path to begin with? She could have had it all if she had stayed on the straight and narrow path. She could have become an attorney!

Why did she throw it away for the poker life, this life of skullduggery?

That question underscores the scenes where Molly is in the office of her attorney (played by Idris Elba), and particularly the scene late in the movie with her father, played by Kevin Costner.

If you want my take on it – I think it’s obvious, based on what’s I’ve seen and read about Molly Bloom, that she would have been miserable as a lawyer. For one, she was too much of a rebel. For another, Molly was clearly an adrenaline junkie who needed to be where the action was. There was no way a legal career would satisfy that.

I think that even if Molly tried to go the conventional straight-andnarrow path, she ultimately would have quit, and the poker life would have roped her in sooner or later.

There is one more question that comes through clearly from Sorkin, and it is this: Why the heck was the FBI so interested in Molly Bloom to begin with?

Why weren’t these people going after the real crooks on Wall Street? Instead, they’re going after poker games. Don’t these folks have bigger fish to fry?

That’s “fish” as in “more important work to do,” not the poker “fish” who unwittingly hands their chips over to Player X. That’s different.

PAGE 6 - Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Richard Bee: s t n e m o m l l u d o N at the librar y ds, Richard When asked what he rea Battleford rth No Bee, head librarian of dard nerd an “st ers sw Public Library, an stuff.” s fascinated In his teen years, Bee wa L’Amour. uis Lo

by Tom Clancy and turned sts ere int his d sai Later in life Bee an tion d fanto nonfiction, science fic he finished d tasy, and a series he sai ronicles of Ch st recently was The La phen DonaldThomas Covenant by Ste recent convert to son. He also said he’s a Dungeons and Dragons. on a farm 15 Bee was born and raised Man. He at, wa epa Ne minutes south of l in the town of tended elementary schoo ut 100 people) Brookdale (which had abo l in Neepawa oo and attended high sch to 5,000). se clo of (with a population don UniverBee then attended Bran n do after gradusity, and stayed in Bran university, Bee to ating. While going y as a student rar lib s pu worked in a cam library assistant assistant, then took on a role for six years. a Masters of After that, Bee pursued ces degree ien Sc on ati Library and Inform berta. He began One of the major requirements for being a head librarian, according to Richard Bee, is “trying to stay openat the University of Al August of in d for ttle Ba rth inded about the people coming through the doors.”

No in working r. yea s thi d librarian Bee said working as a hea ence.” experi has been an “eye-opening ,” Bee said. at and, because we cred- itself is working o als “It’s been very interesting the botHe . ed ect aff t sn’ the public, a lot of those funding wa from city has a are open to Library, Bee said, is c the “It’s an adjustment going bli t at the Pu tha t d fac for tle the ty to rsi s small unive ms are ref lected in wh staff its thi tom of the hierarchy at a library and that proble ical searches. A library the og th eal wi gen on l ati bia rel ” ver se th. pro clo wi ls of the ed in geneay support for staff dea setting to then being top member with experienc rary.” there is strong communit lib libraries can attract home c e o bli hil wh pu W s all ron sm pat a e, p of Be hel in d. can for es ttle as rch food cha Ba see sea l rth e ica No som log in y ich ff rar wh ervising sta ing their fam- the lib vari- less individuals, Bee’s role includes sup th other local leaders in ns want to begin search wi sness, helping those tio ng les sec me alo sub ho a ng for s bli use ble ena ho nsi o als to y ing rar go lib e ess Th hel who are respo y. net tor meless is one ous positions, is no as a day-to-day ily his who find themselves ho archives.

18 al 20 loc the of to n tio within the library, acting ion lec ent col att ge , Bee said, se tions manage- lar - be paying clo of the library’s purposes operations manager, collec g with tech the presence of First Na ven et.

Gi s and printdg ter bu l pu ng com lin y, provincia esn’t sim- such as offeri do ment, and occasionally, dea d librarian tions people in and around the cit ree deg e also said r’s Be ste ma es. e’s um Be hea liers to prepare res t bu , ian rar lib a problems. He also said the nt organiz- Bee said one of his goals as head be library as re one to eve recent immigrants use the English First Nations ply prepa to y the d nit an rtu exp po role involves much more op to is n the rn ria ts lea bra studen a resource to help them y’s collection, offers ing than he anticipated. culture. broad concept of librariirie - materials in the librar the pra mo e to lor ll ze du exp ati ny lim ma chacc tea d too to as fun- an ies “There aren’t rar lib s see ements for uir particularly pertaining ich req wh jor p, One of the ma library’s anshi , the ies of nit me mu So s. com ments,” Bee said. age in gu s Bee said, is l location Library is in ing lan being a head librarian, oks for chil- damenta the bo e e tur hav o pic North Battleford Public e wh s lud der inc s lea ok as en-minded about the and its staff gion, a puzzle- bo s and “trying to stay op nce ee. sta Cr ng the Lakeland Library Re cum rni cir lea ve n pro the doors.” dre im es lity to t also includ people coming through isn’t just for silent abi change. y rar piece-shaped area tha lib e Th rary, on Feb. lib te ma the ct nster, Pri sts ena Upcoming at inng sti ere int Meadow Lake, Lloydmi raries in the reading either, as it periodically ho e som event hosted in “We do have lib the public. y 1, is a storytelling to ma e y fre the are d, an and Borden. There are 32 ich in wh e nts com o eve th Library Services iduals wh t,” Bee conjunction wi t Bee says is enthu- div sor tha tic b region. clu ma ble ok bo pro A re mo the ewan Aboriginal Peobe the nch has nature of for Saskatch The North Battleford bra once a month, while the the of ets d me kin stic t’s ginal storysia tha t li“bu the d, out of ples. February is Abori . A recent sai a ers is ak spe ere Th sts d. ho highest lending statistics o for als ttle y Ba e said there are librar audi- being in North ling month. braries in the region. Be issues that the city tel er detailed, in front of an of ak lot spe ole ing wh lud inc s, thi experience a number of reasons for d from people ence, his usage from Battleford an ing last year’s and Glaslyn who follow who drive from Cochin ipse. Bee is ecl d to, for exam- solar travel to North Battlefor also planning for an present a ple, buy groceries. oks to librar- author to The library also lends bo nch to take d the truck trav- book lau this year. ies in towns, and Bee sai er lat place day. of the ect els about 400 kms each eff e Th nch car ries dget The North Battleford bra bu 17 20 rch Ma s, ok luding bo de ma a diversity of media, inc ies rar DVDs, and vid- on lib r lie ear magazines, newspapers, nes headli the as eo games. r, yea s thi ,” Bee said. ern“We cater to a lot of tastes their west- provincial gov get to n kee giori “Some people are ght want large ment had erns fix, other people mi eone has an nally planned to som library print romance, or maybe they’ll take out a decrease though so st ere int vie mo ion act Al g. din fun .” lot of action movie DVDs ies are the the decreases were rar lib o tw no Bee said ed afording to the fully restor blic acc y var ies rar lib d pu same, an g on str ter communities distinctive features of the th the staff reaction against ng wi they happen to be in, alo the decreases, Bee y. rar lib the rary’s who work at North Bat- said the lib A popular feature at the

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 - PAGE 7

The Home Place

Seeds are made up of an outer seed coat that protects the inner parts of the seed during dormancy. Inside the seed coat lies the endosperm, which serves as the food supply that is essential for the early growth of the seedling. In the center of the seed is the embryo, which is really a very minute undeveloped plant.

Let’s get growing There is something in the air that makes me want to grow things! Gardeners everywhere are looking for excuses to spend a little bit of time dreaming of spring. For many of us, this is the time that we sow a little magic … after all, one of the most magical parts of gardening is to take some tiny little dried up seeds, put them into some kind of soil or media, add some water and presto, they become a garden! Every year I am amazed at the wonder of nature – how a tiny little spec of a seed can become a mature plant over the course of a few short months.

Growing your own plants from seed means that you can grow almost anything your heart desires. There is an amazing selection of different varieties and cultivars of plants that sometimes makes it rather difficult for us to decide what we should grow. It is easy to get carried away and grow too much as this time of year we are craving green growth and those tiny little packets don’t seem to hold that much. It is only once those plants get growing we see how a few seeds can easily grow into way too many plants. Instead of planting all the seeds in the package, only plant as many as you will need.

Share the leftovers or store them in a cool, dry place.

In order to be successful starting seeds, it is useful to understand a little bit about the seed itself and what it requires to germinate. Seeds are made up of an outer seed coat that protects the inner parts of the seed during dormancy. Inside the seed coat lies the endosperm which serves as the food supply that is essential for the early growth of the seedling. In the center of the seed is the embryo, which is really a very minute undeveloped plant.

There are four things that seeds need to germinate. Water is essential for penetrating the seed coat which causes the

Hanbidge on Horticulture

by Patricia Hanbidge

Saskatoon School of Horticulture endosperm to swell. The water dissolves nutrients in the endosperm which are then available to the embryo and life begins!

Some seeds need light in order to germinate while others do not. Oxygen is also necessary as the seed needs to respire in order to break down those nutrients in the endosperm.

Last but not least, germination requires heat. Each seed will have an optimum germination temperature for the best rate of growth.

If you are new to starting seeds, then choose to grow those plants that are relatively easy to germinate and do not need special conditions. Most seed packages will give directions on how to plant those specific seeds. Generally, small seeds need not be covered with soil but instead gently pressed into the media or soil. Medium seeds can be lightly covered and large seeds can be poked right into the soil. A good rule of thumb is to plant the seed to the depth of their diameter.

Keep the soil moist to ensure even germination whether you are seeding indoors or directly into the

garden. Use a gentle spray to avoid washing the seeds around, or they may pool into dense clumps. Keep the humidity high until the seeds germinate by covering seed pots with saran wrap. Once you see the plants germinate uncover the seedlings to avoid conditions that are too wet for the new seedlings.

Once the seeds germinate those young seedlings will need adequate light in order to grow. Placing them directly under a fluorescent light fixture will ensure that the seedlings are strong and sturdy. If you find that your seedlings are tall and spindly it is because they are not getting enough light and are reaching for the sun.

Growing almost anything from seed is not difficult and can be extremely enjoyable. So let’s bring the new year in with a bang and get growing!

Hanbidge is a horticulturist with the Saskatoon School of Horticulture and can be reached at 30 6 -931- GROW(4769); by email at growyourfuture@gmail.com or check out our website at saskhort.com

Several weeks ago people gathered for the funeral of my wife’s nephew.

He had ended his own life to avoid the relentless agony of terminal cancer.

He was 53 years old and an only child, the third generation of his family to live on the home place.

Days later, I sat in my favourite chair in a warm room, hugging myself because I felt cold enough to shiver.

The feeling was familiar. It is the way my body grieves.

My wife’s family name is Besler, a name prominent among the German settlers that Catherine the Great of Russia brought to the Ukraine. Her parents, Alfred and Anna, fled with their young son Walter to Saskatchewan from Stalinist Russia before the dust-filled disaster of the Dirty Thirties began.

I think I first saw the home place in the summer of 1950. In a time when the euphoria of a war fought and won still lingered, the home place was a memorial to the years between the two great wars. There was a house and a few other buildings, all unpainted, sun-bleached and pitted by the sand storms of the past.

There was an empty stable for the horses and cows that were banished from the farmyard only a few years before. There was a garage for one half-ton truck.

In 1950, there were no telephone or power lines reaching the home place. The nearest telephone was across the river in Estuary. Although most of its former population was gone, there was still a general store there and grain elevators and a bulk fuel dealer. There were still trains running on the Swift Current-Bassano line, where Empress, Alberta, had the biggest CPR rail yards west of Winnipeg and people there still remembered when it was planned to have eight railway branches passing through their town.

When Alfred and Anna retired to the town of Leader, Walter stayed on the home place. He married; his son

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Ronald was born. He expanded his land holdings, added to the buildings on the home place, filling them with equipment and machinery. He was energetic, inventive and a master builder and organizer. Those were the happy years. I remember the fishing trips when we went down to the river with a boat he had built. My memory of those years is idyllic rather than accurate. The sun always shone; the breeze was always gentle; the river was never in flood.

When it was time for their son Ronald to go to school Walter and Ruth Besler made a home in Leader.

Much too soon, Ruth died of cancer.

Then Walter became a victim of Parkinson’s Disease. Ronald became the only one to work on the home place.

And then cancer ended his life. The tragedy of one farm family is over.

I wish I could have intervened to rewrite the realities of their lives, but nobody has that God-like power.

When I am in my favourite chair, the tragic history of people I knew and loved expands into a concern for the suffering and death of millions of families trapped in the struggles between those who are powerful and evil. Honesty and good will in international leadership could rescue them. I can’t see it happening.

I would like to go back to the time when people didn’t carry telephones in their pockets, when they went to town on Saturday night to shop and to have face-to-face meetings with friends. I would like to go back to the hope-filled time when the nations came together to build new pathways to a permanent peace.

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PAGE 8 - Tuesday, January 23, 2018

2018’s All-America Selections are showstoppers

By Erl Svendsen

The non-profit organization All-America Selections (AAS; www. all-americaselections.org) recently announced their winning flower and vegetable varieties for 2018.

This year, six ornamental annuals made the cut.

Canna ‘South Pacific Orange F1’: This canna is compact, reaching 15-52 inches and sports longlasting bright orange flowers. Compared to other cannas, it produces more basal branches (which equals more flower spikes).

It needs neither staking nor deadheading. Start from seed in mid- to late February. Transplant seedlings to individual pots when large enough to handle.

Plant outdoors in full sun after last frost. In fall, you can dig up the fleshy rhizomes and store as you would begonias, dahlias and other tender bulbs, tubers, roots and corms.

Great for containers or a compact border.

Cuphea FloriGlory® Diana: Very showy and floriferous, this Mexican heather forms a carpet of magenta flowers overtop dark glossy green leaves, reaching about 12 inches tall by 16 inches in diameter. This is a great plant for the prairie garden being drought, heat, wind and rain tolerant as well as providing colour well into fall. A full sun plant, great for containers, hanging baskets, and edging in beds and borders.

Gypsophila ‘Gypsy White Improved’: Described as a ‘fluffy white mound of beauty,’ this annual baby’s-breath produces hundreds of large semidouble white flowers over a dense, 10-inch compact globe. Does best in bright and cool conditions; will tolerate warmer condition if given enough water (not

drought tolerant). Grow in containers or in the garden as an edger or ground cover. [Note: ‘Gypsy White Improved’ is a non-invasive baby’s-breath species, Gypsophila muralis].

Marigold Super Hero™ Spry: This compact, early blooming French marigold, 10-12 inches tall, produces large (two-inch) bicolour flowers: bright yellow-gold petals overtop maroon lower petals. Drought and heat tolerant once established, plant in full sun for best results. Deadhead to promote blooming.

Ornamental Pepper ‘Onyx Red’: A real stunner – dark purple-black leaves and stems contrast with bright red fruit on this compact bushy plant. Plant in full sun, this ornamental pepper, provides seasonlong interest even without fruit. It has some drought tolerance once established and needs August heat to really perform. In containers, it will grow to about six inches; in the garden (beds, borders, mass plantings), it can reach up to 10 inches.

Zinnia ‘Queenie Lime Orange’: Zinnias are as popular today as they were in your grandmother’s garden. This new variety is sturdy (no staking required) and compact (1.5-2 feet) with fully double bicolour blooms that progress through shades of lime, yellow, peach, salmon and orange as they age.

Drought and heat tolerant, plant in full sun. Super for the cut flower garden, flowers can last up to three weeks in a vase. When mass planted, the striking

Cuphea FloriGlory® Diana Gypsophila ‘Gypsy White Improved’

Marigold Super Hero Spry

Ornamental Pepper ‘Onyx Red’

large dahlia-like flowers are a real showstopper.

In addition to about 80 trial gardens across the USA and Canada, there are nearly 200 display gardens

showcasing some of the latest AAS winners, including one next to the south entrance to the Agriculture Building on the University of Saskatchewan Campus.

Zinnia ‘Queenie Lime Orange’

Put a note in your calendar to visit it this summer.

Erl gardens in Saskatoon and recently started tweeting about it @ErlSv. This column is pro-

vided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society (SPS; www.saskperennial.ca; hortscene@ yahoo.com; www.facebook.com/saskperennial).

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PAGE 10 - Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Lucas Punkari

Sports Reporter

Phone: 306-445-7261

Fax: 306-445-3223

Email: newsoptimist.sports@sasktel.net

Sharks wrap up January on winning note

By Lucas Punkari Sports Reporter

With just three games left in their Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League regular season schedule, the Battlefords Sharks are turning in some of their best performances of the year.

After splitting a pair of games last weekend in Wilcox against the Notre Dame Hounds, the Sharks picked up 7-2 and 3-2 wins on Saturday and Sunday over the Weyburn Gold Wings at the Battleford Arena, which gave the team a 3-2 record for the month of January.

“We’ve had some good performances here lately and we’ve made a lot of improvements from where we were before Christmas,” Sharks captain Keara Amson said.

“We aren’t looking too far ahead right now though.

Our main focus is just building off of what we’ve done and getting ready for our next opponents.”

Although the Gold Wings have yet to record a win this year, they presented the Sharks with a number of challenges Sunday, as they pushed their opponents to the limit after losing a lopsided affair a night earlier.

“We let off a bit and Weyburn is a team that you can’t afford to do that against,” Sharks head coach Gary Berggren said.

“They are a team that takes advantage off teams by working hard and playing

the body, which makes them a tough opponent even if their record doesn’t show it.

“The effort that we had on Saturday was really good and there were times where we played well on Sunday. However, there were a few shifts here and there where we didn’t play up to that strong level that we are capable of.”

Maya Tupper led the way for the Sharks on offence Sunday with a pair of goals, while Brooklyn Rowley also found the back of the net.

Jayden Lindholm and Janna Kelsig replied for the 0-22-1 Gold Wings, who received a 35-save performance from goaltender Daneka Dickson.

“She was excellent,” Berggren said. “We had our chances in both games, but she was able to hold down the fort for them in this one to keep it close until the end.”

Haylie Biever made 23 saves for the Sharks, who improved their record 7-18-0 with Sunday’s win.

In Saturday’s contest between the two sides, Tupper scored twice as she found the back of the net for the first time since a 4-1 road loss to the Melville Prairie Fire on Oct. 1, 2017.

“Maya plays defence for us normally but we moved her up to forward this weekend due to an injury” Berggren said.

“Obviously, that move paid off as she capitalized on her chances in both

Celena Kissick of the Battlefords Sharks makes her way by Kate Goranson of the Weyburn Gold Wings at the Battleford Arena Sunday afternoon. Photo by Lucas Punkari

games.”

Rowley had two goals and an assist in the win, while Ali Aitken scored once and had a pair of helpers as she now sits 12th in SFMAAAHL scoring with 25 points in 25 games.

The Sharks also got goals from Sydney Rowley and Madison Sansom, while Biever turned aside 22 shots.

Kierson Hennes and Sierra Meroniuk each scored for the Gold Wings, who received a 36-save performance from goaltender Amara

Lewendon.

Thanks to their two wins over the weekend, the Sharks are now three points back of the 8-15-1 Prairie Fire for sixth place in the standings, though the Prairie Fire have a game in hand over the Sharks.

Earning that spot will prove to be important when the best-of-five quarter-final series begins at the end of February, as the lower seed is guaranteed to face either the defending champion Prince Albert Northern Bears or the highscoring Saskatoon Stars,

who are currently battling it out for first place in the SFMAAHL standings.

“Right now our main focus is finishing up the year on a strong note and competing hard in our last three games of the regular season,” Amson said.

“Our goal is to make it past the first round of the playoffs this year and I think we can match up well against whoever we end up facing. We just need to bring that strong effort all the way through that series.”

The Sharks are now

off until Thursday, Feb. 8 when they will travel to the Agriplace Arena in Saskatoon to face the Stars.

Their final home games of the campaign will be on Saturday, Feb. 10 and Sunday, Feb. 11 against the Swift Current Wildcats at the Battleford Arena. .

The SFMAAHL regular season will conclude on Sunday, Feb. 18, with the playoffs expected to begin the following week with all eight games in the league advancing to the quarterfinals.

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The recent increase in temperatures proved benficial for the Battlefords Community Disc Golf Club as 26 participants took part in the annual Ice Bowl on Sunday, Jan. 14. A total of $350 and close to 100 pounds of non-perishable food items were donated from the event to the Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre. Photo courtesy of Evan Zimmer

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 - PAGE 11

Combines dominate against Beaver Blues

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By Lucas Punkari Sports Reporter

Meota Combines goaltender Josh Alook prepares to make a save on Battleford Beaver Blues forward Kevin Bendall at the Battleford Arena Friday night. Photo

by Lucas Punkari

By Lucas Punkari Sports Reporter

If followers of the Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League weren’t quite convinced by the Meota Combines, they have certainly taken notice now following a pair of big wins for the team.

After knocking off the previously undefeated Hafford Hawks by a score of 5-2 at the Civic Centre last weekend, the Combines followed that performance up in style Friday night at the Battleford Arena with an impressive 8-1 triumph over the Battleford Beaver Blues.

“Even though we had a really good showing tonight, we were missing some of our key guys like Blake [Tatchell], Brody [Tatchell] and Riley [Albert] from the lineup,” Combines forward Aaron Cadrin said.

“For us to come in here and have guys on our third and fourth lines step up

into big roles, I think it says a lot about our group and we’ve made a big statement.”

The Combines were relentless from the start Friday as they raced out to a 5-0 lead after 25 minutes of play and silenced the Beaver Blues fans in attendance.

“We caught them kind of flat-footed and we pretty much took off from there,” Combines forward Michael Pylypow said.

“That entire game was a total team effort. We were all working hard and we also killed off a lot of penalties, which definitely sparked the guys and gave us some momentum as they tried to claw their way back.”

Daxen Collins led the way on offence for the Combines with two goals and an assist, while Pylypow potted home a pair of goals.

Scott Maunula, Vince Sauvie, Troy Watt and Cadrin also scored for the

Better Plan

Better Life...

visitors.

Brent Salzl had the lone goal for the Beaver Blues, who dropped a 7-6 decision to the host Radisson Wheatkings Saturday and now sit third in the standings with a 9-4 record after losing their last three games.

Although the 11-2 Combines are tied with the 11-1 Hawks for first in the SPHL standings, they still have three games left on their schedule before they know what awaits them in the playoffs.

After facing the Hawks in Hafford Friday, they’ll travel to Radisson to face the Wheatkings Saturday before wrapping up their regular season slate on Friday, Feb. 2 against the Maymont Settlers.

Meanwhile, the Beaver Blues will be hosting the Shellbrook Silvertips at the Battleford Arena Saturday at 8 p.m. in their last home game before the playoffs get underway early next month.

AGING IN PLACE AT HARWOOD MANOR, a Licenced Personal Care Home!

After splitting a pair of games to the Flin Flon Bombers last weekend, the Battlefords North Stars returned to their winning ways as they continued their travels around the province.

The defending Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League champions cruised to an 8-2 over the host Yorkton Terriers Friday and followed that up with a 4-1 win over the Melville Millionaires in Balcarres Saturday, in a game that was held in conjunction with Hockey Day in Saskatchewan.

“There were a couple of big positives for us from the weekend,” North Stars head coach and general manager Brandon Heck said. “We scored a lot of goals in the first game against Yorkton and we were able to lock things down really well against

Melville to shut down their offence.

“It was a massive difference from how we played in our own end against the Terriers. The guys bought in to what we were telling them to do and they were focused on what was best for the team and not what was best for themselves.”

Young had three assists in Friday’s dominant performance against the Terriers, which saw defenceman Levi Kleiboer score twice and Parker Smyth have a goal and two assists.

Connor McIntosh, Troy Gerein, Cole Johnson, MacGregor Sinclair and Blake Fennig also scored in the eight-goal outburst, which was their highest offensive out away from home since an 8-6 thriller over the Estevan Bruins at the SJHL showcase in Saskatoon on Sept. 25, 2017.

The most goals that the North Stars have scored this season came in a 10-2 romp at home over the La

Ronge Ice Wolves on Nov. 28, 2017.

“I think everyone’s clicking together a little bit more after the trade deadline, plus we moved the puck around well and got some good looks on offence,” Heck said. “We traded chances with Yorkton in that game, so we were able to get some oddman rushes down the ice.”

Joel Grzybowski got the start in both games for the North Stars and improved his record to 10-0 and his goal against average to a stellar 1.50 mark after turning aside 55 shots over the weekend.

He’ll be in goal for their next two road contests on Tuesday against the Kindersley Klippers and Wednesday against the Melfort Mustangs as Taryn Kotchorek received a three-game suspension for a gross misconduct penalty he received during a late-game fracas against the Terriers Friday.

CATHY RICHARDSON Citizen of the Year

EMILY SIMON Junior Citizen of the Year

BANQUET CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AND JUNIOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

TICKET PRICE: $30 • AVAILABLE AT DISCOVERY CO-OP (ADMINISTRATION OFFICE) • JOIN US FOR AN EVENING TO HONOUR OUR 2017 CITIZEN & JUNIOR CITIZEN RECIPIENTS • TICKETS ON SALE JANUARY 5 - 31, 2018

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AND

JUNIOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR 2017

Harwood Manor

FRIDAY FEB. 2, 2018 WESTERN DEVELOPMENT MUSEUM, NORTH BATTLEFORD

RECEPTION: 6:30 P.M. DINNER: 7:00 P.M. DISCOVERY

E

PHONE: 306-445-6990 FAX: 306-445-6995 Email: harwoodmanor@sasktel.net

PERSONAL CARE HOME

COM WEL E R A STS p.

GUE D. & Co-o N TS y E r N T e E T I v CIP TO A t Disco T RE a e l PAS b aila s av t e k Tic

PAGE 12 - Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Scan here for careers online

All the right choices for you to reach More People...

Deadline: Tuesday 11 a.m.

Deadline: Friday 11 a.m.

OBITUARIES KIRK: Gordon Neil Kirk 19382018 With his gentle relief and our great sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved stepfather Gordon Kirk.

After a short battle with cancer, he quietly passed away with our family at his side on January 16, 2018 in Regina, Saskatchewan. He was predeceased by his wife Bernice and is survived by and will forever be treasured by his family: Cheryl (Mark) Davidson; Marla (Wayne) Rimbey; and Joanne (Dave) Breton. Affectionately he will always be remembered as ‘SNORDY’ to his 10 loving grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his mother Gladys; four sisters Marguerite, Gwendolyn, Doreen, and Vivian; one brother Arthur as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Gordon leaves behind a son Gordie and daughter Carol whom reside in BC. Gordon’s early years were spent in Edmonton. At age 40, he met Bernice and they were married 5 years later in 1983. In 1989 they moved to Meota, SK to spend their retirement years “at the lake”. In January 2015, Gordon and Bernice moved to Regina to be closer to family to help care for them. A Memorial Service will take place in the spring where Gordon will be set to rest peacefully and eternally next to his wife in their beloved Meota. Please contact Cheryl at 306-209-9929 for info regarding spring interment. You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence at the family’s on-line obituary at: www.myalternatives.ca __________________________________________________ NEALE: Doris Unne Anetta (Leite) August 18, 1926 January 2, 2018 passed away at her residents of Battleford District Care Centre. She is survived by her loving husband Willie of 70 years, daughter June of St. Walburg, SK sons; Terry (Paulette) of Battleford, SK and Cyril (Jill) of Abbotsford, BC. Sister; Sophia Parkinson, brother; Harold (Winona) Leite, sisters-inlaw; Shirley Leite, Jessie Smith, brother-inlaw; Neil Smith. She was predeceased by her parents; Ingeborg and Lars Leite, sisters and brothers-in-law; Ida (Earl) Gobert, Nora (Tom) Rayner and Jim Parkinson; brothers and sisters-in-law; Alfred (Joyce), Louis (1917), Anton (1925), Louis (2012), Henry (Elsie), Martin (Aline), sisters and brothers-in-law; Violet (Leo) Meckling, Ada Smith, Isabella Neale and Bruce Smith. Born and raised on the family farm in the Bjelde Creek school district Doris moved over to the next school district of Eagle Hills when she married Willie Neale. Working hard alongside him on the farm.

She went from horse back riding, horse and buggy to tractor and truck (standard) then in 1964 they bought their first car. After raising their family she followed her husband in the work force by driving a school bus for Simpson and Lane for eight years.

They were active members in the Eagle Hills Community; Urland and Zion Lutheran Church and Sons of Norway Organization where they learned her parents country of origin culture and language. Doris on her accordion; her sisters Nora (accordion) and Sophia (piano) did a lot of entertaining with their music, meeting and playing with other like minded musicians. They played at family gatherings, the nursing homes, seniors lodges, church open doors and anywhere they were needed. In their retirement years Doris and Willie moved to Battleford in 1997 leaving the farm to their son Terry. Doris joined the Battleford Legion Auxiliary #9 from 1997 to 2005. They enjoyed getting together with family and friends and had many coffee and lunches at restaurants with them. Celebration of Doris’s Life was held on January 6th 2018 at Zion Lutheran Church, North Battleford, SK. with Pastor Sheldon Gattinger. Interment will take place at a later date at the Willowmore Cemetery, Battleford.

Card of Thanks To family and friends for your support and words of comfort.

Thank you for your care Doris received at the Battleford District Care Centre, Alzheimer ward 4 and to the recreation staff for your many hours of providing entertainment to the residents and visitors. To Pastor Sheldon Gattinger for your guidance and the Zion members for your services at BDCC. To T’Neale and Jenn of Sallows and McDonald-Wilson & Zehner for your patience and guidance. __________________________________________________

Full Color NOW AVAILABLE for your CLASSIFIED AD!

FOR SALE - MISC

MONUMENTS

2006 Western Star 4900 515 Detroit 18 speed-46 rears. Rubber is very good. Just rebuilt 4 inch T&E fluid pump $34,990 OBO. Call Ken@ 306-441-9251

Rose City Memorials Ltd.

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Dedicated to Quality, Craftsmanship and Service.

Cut Knife ........ 306-398-4717 Lloydminster .. 306-825-9444 Family Owned with Pride since 1961

FUNERAL SERVICES

Professional Services Provided with Heart and Compassion ROBERT MACKAY GEORGE HAEGEBAERT P.O. Box 806 North Battleford, SK S9A 2Z3

306-446-4200 ANNOUNCEMENTS

FARM STRESS LINE If you are experIencIng symptoms of stress, the farm stress LIne Is avaILabLe 24/7 at

1-800-667-4442

Advertisements and statements contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or reliability of such advertisements. For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Association’s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.swna.com.

Bosch 800 watt Mixers $509 & up VITAMIX Blenders, Kitchenaid Mixer attachments, BUNN Coffee Makers, Perogie makers, LEFSE supplies, Vacuums Call 1- 8 8 8 - 6 9 2 6724, shop online www.hometechcanada.ca Hometech 375 B r o a d St, Regina For sale. Dorwood Smoke Master Furnace in great condition. Comes with lots of piping and bonnet for top of furnace. Call 306-386-2628 or 306-441-0505 Half section pasture land for sale.

A creek runs through it, has a fence but poor. R.M. of Medstead.

W 1/2-4-49-15-W3. Call Ken@ 306-441-9251 PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call this newspaper NOW or 306-649.1405 for details.

WANTED TO BUY

Big River, Saskatchewan

WANTED TO PURCHASE SPRUCE AND PINE SAWLOGS

TUESDAY’S BEST

ONLINE

www.newsoptimist.ca

Call Office: 306-922-6700 or Bart: 306-961-2635

FUNERAL SERVICES

Eternal Memories Funeral Service & Crematorium 2741 - 99th Street, North Battleford, SK 306-445-7570

Trevor Watts - Director/Owner

The Battlefords only Locally Owned Funeral Provider

“The only crematorium in the Battlefords area” Traditional Casket Burial and Cremation Services Serving Families with Dignity, Respect & Compassion Counsellor for Bronze and Granite Memorials Free pre-planning guides available, assistance with pre-planning services

www. eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca

Ph.: 306-445-7265 / 306-445-7266

WANTED

MOBILE/MANUFACTURED HOMES FOR SALE

Collector looking for silver coins.

Paying 12 times face value. Also looking for paper currency pre 1964. 306-226-4646

GOT OIL? Free Property Evaluation for Mineral

Rights holders.

Royalties paid on suitable drilling locations!

Call with your land co-ordinates

1-403-291-0005 www.briskenergy.com LIVESTOCK

Yellowhead Modular Home Sales Canadian built by MODULINE Last Chance price Event !

960 sqft 2 bedroom 2 bath $79,900 1216 sqft 3 bedroom 2 bath $91,900 1520 sqft 3 bedroom 2 bath $114,900 Single wide, Multi Sections, Lake House, Motel Units

Custom Orders Welcome We sell & service homes across Western Canada, On Site Consultation.

Weekend calls Personalized Service

306-496-7538

Black and Red Angus yearling and 2 year old Bulls on moderate growing ration - Performance Info available. - Adrian or Brian and Elaine Edwards. Valleyhills Angus - Glaslyn, SK. Phone 441-0946 or 342-4407

Butcher for Hire

Will come to your farm to slaughter Beef, Bison or Lamb (slaughter only!!)

Phone/Text 306-386-7874

LAND FOR SALE

FARMLAND WANTED NO FEES OR COMMISSIONS! PURCHASING: SINGLE TO LARGE BLOCKS OF LAND. PREMIUM PRICES PAID WITH QUICK PAYMENT. Great References Available a total of 590 QUARTER SECTIONS SOLD across saskatchewan RENT BACK AVAILABLE Call DOUG 306-955-2266 saskfarms@shaw.ca

www.yellowheadmodularhomesales.ca HWY #16 West of Yorkton (Sheho, SK.)

APARTMENTS/CONDOS FOR RENT 1 bedroom apartment for rent. 961 -107th Street. Rent is $600 Fridge/Stove included. References required. Call 306-445-4646.

$1000 MOVE-IN BONUS! MOVE IN TO YOUR NEW OR RENOVATED SUITE ON OR BEFORE FEB. 1ST Rent with us to receive great perks! ° 24-hour customer service ° Pet friendly communities ° Newly renovated suites ° Maintenance guarantee ° On-line account access ° Resident member only events, contests and more!

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Regina: 306.994.2800 Saskatoon: 306.700.3551 Bwalk.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Professional

D I R E C T O R Y CHARTERED PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS

300 - 1291 102nd Street North Battleford, SK, S9A 3V4

Phone: 306-445-6234 Fax: 306-445-0245 PARTNERS

Suzanne L. Odishaw, CPA, CA Jacques la Cock, CPA, CA Derek Sieben, CPA, CA Stephen Mann, CPA, CA

Let Us Help You Keep Your Business Rolling!

PLACE YOUR AD ON THIS PAGE

306-445-7261

Fax: 306-445-1977 Email: newsoptimist.sales@sasktel.net

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 - PAGE 13

HOUSES FOR RENT

FEED & SEED

One and two bedroom house for rent $500 + $650/ month, plus all utilities and security deposit. Applications being accepted, please call 306-441-7816 applicants will require references, no smoking permitted. No pets.

SUITES FOR RENT

COMING EVENTS

NORTH EAST PRAIRIE GRAIN INC. Currently Buying: Feed Barley, Wheat, Soybeans & Faba Beans. OFFERING: Competitive Prices, On Farm Pickup & Prompt Payment! CALL: 1-306-873-3551, WEBSITE: neprairiegrain.com

FEED & SEED

Wrecking over 250 units... cars and trucks. Lots of trucks...

Dodge... GMC... Ford... Imports...

1/2 ton to 3 tons... We ship anywhere... Call or text 306-821-0260.

Lloydminster.

BUSINESS SERVICES

Buying/Selling FEED GRAINS heated / damaged CANOLA/FLAX Top price paid FOB FARM

Visit our website

www.newsoptimist.ca

877-695-6461 Visit our website @

306-445-7261

Alcoholics Anonymous

CLASSIFIEDS SELL IT FASTER

Please call our 24 hour helpline at 306-446-6166 for support or information.

www.westerncommodities.ca

HEATED CANOLA WANTED!!

- GREEN CANOLA - SPRING THRASHED - DAMAGED CANOLA FEED OATS WANTED!!

- BARLEY, OATS, WHT - LIGHT OR TOUGH - SPRING THRASHED HEATED FLAX WANTED!!

HEATED PEAS HEATED LENTILS "ON FARM PICKUP" Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252

Al-anon Family Groups

STEEL BUILDINGS/GRANARIES STEEL BUILDING SALE ...”REALLY BIG SALE IS BACK EXTRA WINTER DISCOUNTON NOW!” 20X23 $5,798. 25X27 $6,356. 30X31 $8,494. 32X33 $8,728. 35X35 $11,670. One End Wall Included. Pioneer Steel 1855-212-7036 www.pioneersteel.ca

Tuesday, January 30 Kaiser Tournament at the Borden Seniors Room at 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 30 Understanding Dementia via Telehealth at the Battlefords Union Hospital at 7:00 p.m. Learn about Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementia, the warning signs, getting a diagnosis, risk factors and ways to keep your brain health. To register call 306-683-6332, 1-800-263-3367 or www.alzheimer.ca/sk

Wednesday, January 31 Borden Senior’s Potluck Supper, Birthdays and Program at the Senior’s Room at 5:45 p.m.

Saturday, February 3 Family Justice Services Offers A Parenting After Separation and Divorce Program. These public information sessions are intended to help people who are considering or may be in the separation/ Divorce process. Sessions will be offered in North Battleford from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Topics of Discussion: Options for resolving disputes and stages of separation and Divorce. Presentation of the various stages, losses, and changes experienced by separating or divorcing couples. Discussion of the options available for dispute resolution. Information on Child Support Guidelines. Registration is mandatory.There is no fee for these sessions.To register for these sessions call toll-free 1-877-964-5501. Location will be advised when you register. Classes are for adults only - no child care is provided.

Saturday, February 10 Club 70 Dance with Harry Startup at the Royal Canadian Legion, 1352 - 100th Street, North Battleford starting at 8:00 p.m. Everyone welcome. Lunch served at 12:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 10

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018 - 7 PM ES VALENTIN IFT DAY G

DEKKER CENTRE NORTH BATTLEFORD

Tickets available in person at the Dekker Centre Box Office.

Call 306-445-7700 ext. #2, or visit www.dekkercentre.com

Wanted Dead Or Alive

Borden Lions Mystery Dinner Theatre at the Borden Community Centre. Opens at 5:30 p.m. with supper at 6:30 p.m.

Monday, February 12 Donors Needed - Blood Drive at the Don Ross Centre, St. Thomas Dr., North Battleford from 2:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, February 13 Shrove Tuesday Pancake/Sausage Supper at the Borden Seniors Room from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. - by donation. Hosted by Borden Anglican and United Church.

Tuesday, February 13 Kaiser Tournament at the Borden Senior Room at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 21 Cash Bingo at the Borden Senior’s Room at 7:00 p.m.

This section, which will appear weekly in Tuesday's News-Optimist and Thursday’s Regional Optimist, is provided free-of-charge to non-profit organizations. To list the Community Calendar please call News-Optimist at 306-445-7261 or fax the information to 306-445-3223. Please provide complete information including event, time, date and location. Although we will do our utmost to make sure your event appears in this section, News-Optimist does not guarantee all submissions will appear.

Deadline for submissions is 5:00 p.m.

Thursday prior for Tuesday's & Thursday’s publication.

Canadian Pickers are returning to your area buying coin collections.

The PICKERS will be purchasing Royal Can. Mint Sets or bags, boxes or truck loads of loose SILVER & GOLD coins.

CANADIAN PICKERS also buying old, broken or unwanted GOLD JEWELRY and paying HIGHEST CASH PRICES. The PICKERS will be providing discrete home visits during the month of February.

To arrange a free in home appraisal kindly call Kellie @ 778-257-8647 BONDED SINCE 1967

@

Place your ad online anytime!

battlefordnewsoptimist.adperfect.com

Classifieds keep you on the right track.

News-Optimist The Battlefords

1A Drivers License required for preventative maintenance, repair & service of heavy equipment fleet.

Journeyman with min. 5 year exp with CAT, JD and heavy trucks. Both camp and shop locations. Service truck and accommodations provided.

Wage negotiable.

Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction and Transport Co. Inc., Box 100, Arborfield, Sk. S0E 0A0; Fax: 306-769-8844 Email: brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca www. brydenconstruction andtransport.ca with

Light of Christ School Division invites applications for the position of

Saturday, January 27 Topline Social Dance Club with Leon Ochs at the Sloan Auditorium in Royal Canadian Legion, 1352 - 100th Street, North Battleford from 8:00 - 12:00 p.m. Minimum age is 19. Lunch served.

Phone Sharon at 306-446-0446, Leela 306-445-7240 or Jean 306445-8815.

Heavy Duty Mechanic

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

If someone’s drinking troubles, attending Al-Anon Family Group provides understanding and support. Meetings Monday at 7:00 p.m. and Friday at 10:00 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church, corner of 15th Ave. & 108th Street. Contacts 306-937-7765, 306-937-7289 or 306-441-9324.

COMING EVENTS

EAT MAKES A GR

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! Indemand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available.

Get online training you need from an employer-trusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855768-3362 to start training for your workat-home career today!

for more community events

Community Events Calendar

Western Commodities

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

ROADEX SERVICES requires immediately: Class 1 company drivers and O/O 1 tons for our RV division to haul RV’s throughout North America. Competitive wages and incentive bonuses paid. Border crossing required with valid passport & clean criminal record.

1-800-867-6233; www.roadexservices.com

AUTO MISCELLANEOUS

Bachelor suite for rent. 1691-101st Street. Rent is $475. Fridge/stove included. References required.

Call 306-445-4646.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Maintenance Tradesperson This is a permanent full-time position commencing February 19, 2018.

For details and to apply, please choose the Careers tab on or website at www.loccsd.ca

The Battlefords Regional Optimist is currently looking for a

Newspaper Carrier for

Route NB12 107th Street 1100 - 1600 Blocks 126 papers FOR MORE DETAILS CALL CHUCK Monday to Friday — 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

306-445-7261

or leave message if after hours or weekends

892-104th Street, North Battleford

306-445-7261

306-445-7261

BOOK YOUR CLASSIFIEDS

PAGE 14 - Tuesday, January 23, 2018

PUZZLE NO. 757

10.Zilch 11.Snow coaster 19.Cut one’s molars 21.Spiders’ structures 22.Angel’s headgear 23.Like some cheese 25.Song 28.Commits perjury 29.Skilled 30.Army eatery

33.Aretha Frankl 36.Snare 37.Bar 39.Trait c 41.Turn o quickl 42.Camp helper 43.Foal 45.Praye conclu 49.Brewe bevera 50.Prose 51.Wish

Copyright © 2015, Penny Press

newsoptimist.ca

28.Take it find ACROSS on the ____ 1. Judge’s 55.Dogs and concern 31.Made holy cats 5. Signal assent 32.Clan 56.Fountain 8. Has ____ 34.Turf ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 757 12.Draft animals 35.Stags and 57.Young adult bucks CLUES ACROSS (abbr.) alphabet 13.Hot temper 1. Measurement (abbr.)

25. Rounded knob (biol38.Foot parts 33. Dash 14.Moderately DOWN 4. Returned material au- 34. Owed ogy) cold thorization39.Polite 1. Shy language (abbr.) chap 35. Caucasian 26. French philosopher 15.Decade 7.unit 2. Woodsman’s Sorting40.Winding 37. One thousand (Span.) Pierre 12. Attribute 39. Musical style drum 28. Mothers curves implement 16.Short-term job 15. Poked holes in and bass 29. Dardic ethnic group 41.Coin side 41. Evergreen 3. Caribbean, 17.Pine ____ 16. Angers trees native 32. Supports the rudder 18.Alternate 18. Doc 44.Hobo to warme.g. climates 36. An ugly evil-looking 19.

MLB journeyman 42. Begin __: start fresh old woman 4. Registers 46.MGM’s 20.Got the best pitcher Dillon trademark 44. Marshy outlets 38. Of a fasting time 5. Close, once of 20. Not don’t 47. A chicken lays one 40. Filled with passen47.Glass part 48. Yemen’s 6. Adjust to city 21.Largest21. Snubs someone largest gers surroundings 24. Where48.Effortless kids bathe 49. Conversion rate 43. Below the ribs and mammal 27.

One might be in dis50.

Single Lens Reflex above the hips 7. Unit of heat 24.Close 52.Resting tress 52. Atlanta rapper 44. Binary-coded deciHappen 26.Bald bird 30. Chair 53.Act like 53. 8.

Reduce the impormal CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWER Music industry honors tance 51 is a famous one USE45.

AMERICAN SPELLING 27.Half of 31. twenty 9.ofDates 54.Detective’s

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MIGNEAULT LAW OFFICE Barristers and Solicitors Sallows Building

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Email: val@newsoptimist.ca

HIGGS

56. Faces of buildings 61. Something achieved 63. Distribute again 64. Tooth caregiver 65. 007’s creator

CLUES DOWN 1. Skater Lipinksi 2. Data 3. Single step 4. Destroyed financially 5. Fail to interpret correctly 6. Fava d’__: tree found in Brazil 7. Vehicle 8. Limited 9. Old English 10. Aussie golfer Norman 11. Job 12. Loose-fitting undergarments 13. Protected by balancing 14. Give up 17. Fifth note of a major scale 22. Extravagantly bright 23. Takes dictation 24. 19th letter of Greek

46. Goes into a funk 51. Chief O’Hara actor 54. Videocassette recorder 55. Scored perfectly 56. Type of tree 57. __ Spumante (Italian wine) 58. Popular commercial “pet” 59. Supreme god of Ancient Egyptians 60. Room in a home 62. __ and behold

Puzzle Solution

We Need Your Help ... Not Your Name

Tuesday, January 23, 2018 - PAGE 15

Some helpful comparisons to this mortal life Fictional movie character Forrest Gump said it: “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

It’s an apt description, at least of one aspect of our lives. The way unexpected things can happen to us.

Others have tried to sum life up, sometimes thoughtfully: “Life is like a mirror. If you frown at it, it frowns back. If you smile, it returns the greeting.” Or, “Life is like walking through snow.

Every step shows.” Or, how about, “Life is like an eraser. It gets smaller and smaller after every mistake.”

Sometimes more humorous comparisons are made: “Life is like a bar of soap. Once you think you’ve got a hold of it, it slips away.” Or, “Life is like a hot bath. It feels good while you’re in it, but the longer you stay in the more wrinkled you get.”

In the Bible, the emphasis in poetic descriptions of life is often on its brevity. Even when an individual lives eighty or ninety years, or beyond that, what is that span in comparison to eternity?

“What is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (Jas. 4:14).

Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase may capture something of the sense of

King Hezekiah’s words, in a time of life-threatening illness: “This body I inhabit is taken down and packed away like a camper’s tent. Like a weaver, I’ve rolled up the carpet of my life as God cuts me free of the loom” (Isa. 38:12).

Others speak in a similar vein. Life is like: a flash flood, a short sleep, grass that sprouts and is quickly mown down (Ps. 90:5-6), and like drifting smoke (Ps. 102:3).

Job, in particular, in the midst of what was almost unparalleled suffering, used a number of graphic metaphors. Life is like: a swift weaver’s shuttle (Job 7:6), a breath (7:7), a cloud that vanishes away (7:9), a speedy runner (9:25), a swift ship, a swooping eagle (9:36), a fading flower, a passing shadow (14:2).

A more positive analogy is used frequently in both Old Testament and New. The life of the believer is said to be a pilgrimage. A journey through this sinful world, where we are aliens, and on to our true and final home in heaven. “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims [aliens and temporary residents], abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles [the unsaved]” (I

Robert Cottrill, B.A., B.R.E. http://wordwisehymns.com/ www.Wordwise‐Bible‐Studies.com

Pet. 2:11-12; cf. Ps. 39:12; 119:19).

An interesting take on the pilgrimage imagery is found in the gospel song Life’s Railway to Heaven.

Published in 1890, it describes the Christian life

as a journey on a railroad, a trip that requires courage, and alertness to danger, as we travel toward our destination.

There’s some uncertainty about the origin of the song. M. E. Abbey, a

Seek integrity Although there’s so much more to explore about wisdom, in this week’s column I want to move on to the topic of integrity. Several parts of the definition of this virtue include moral uprightness, a strong code of ethics and a state of being whole or undivided; another source speaks of consistently doing the right thing regardless of the circumstances.

In attempting to walk with integrity I’ve proven practicing moral uprightness can make us the object of scorn or

rejection and that sometimes integrity comes at considerable, if not great, personal cost. (I should also note here that there are times when we bring negative reactions on ourselves by an attitude that borders more on self righteousness rather than on genuine integrity.)

Baptist pastor in Georgia at the time, is credited with the words–at least of the refrain. And singing evangelist and music publisher Charles Davis Tillman (1861-1943) composed the tune. Whether that is the full story is open to question. Some suggest that Eliza Roxcy Snow Young (1804-1887), one of the wives of polygamous Mormon leader Brigham Young, may have supplied some of the text.

The song has been much recorded, even by secular artists such as Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline. There’s no rich

On the other hand, integrity provides rich benefits that include God’s guidance (11:3) and deliverance from potential moral, personal or even financial failure (11:6 and Psalm 25:21) though Integrity is rated even higher than financial wealth (19:1) Having said that, I don’t ever want to leave the impression that to have wealth is to automatically lack integrity – there are some who possess an abundance of both and there are those who lack both.

How we live is a personal choice, not an automatic characteristic.

Sir Frances Bacon, Sr.

doctrinal content or deep devotional thought here.

But even so, the lyrics are interesting.

“Life is like a mountain railroad, / With an Engineer that’s brave; / We must make the run successful, / From the cradle to the grave; / Watch the curves, the fills, the tunnels; / Never falter, never quail; / Keep your hand upon the throttle, / And your eye upon the rail. / Blessed Saviour, Thou wilt guide us, / Till we reach that blissful shore; / Where the angels wait to join us / In Thy praise forevermore.”

once said: “It’s not what we eat but what we digest that makes us strong; not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned; and not what we profess but what we practice that gives us integrity.”

In matters big or small, “He who walks with integrity walks securely; but he who perverts his ways will become known.” (10:9).

“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord but a just weight is His delight (11:1) Honouring God includes Integrity.

Worship Together TerriTorial Drive alliance church Pastor: Rev. Allen Huckabay

1372 102 St 306-445-3009 nd

ANGLICAN PARISH

Notre Dame (RC) Parish Corner of 104th Street & 12th Avenue Rev. Father Cuong Luong MASSES: Saturdays - 7:00 p.m.

Sundays - 11:00 a.m. & 5:00 p.m.

SUNDAY SERVICES Rev. Trevor Malyon

St. George’s Anglican Church - 9:00 a.m.

191 - 24th Street West, Battleford, SK

OFFICE 306-445-3836

St. Paul’s Anglican Church - 11:00 a.m.

Email: notredame.nb@gmail.com www.notredameparish.ca EVERYONE WELCOME

1302 - 99th Street North Battleford, SK

Living Water Ministry

Battlefords Seventh-Day Adventist Church Pastor James Kwon

Spend some quality family time together. Worship at the church of your choice.

Our community has a number of churches and a variety of denominations for you & your family.

Corner 16th Ave. & 93rd Street, North Battleford

Come Join Us Sundays at 11:00 am

Phone 306-445-9096

Saturday Services Bible Study - 10:00 a.m.

Worship Service - 11:00 a.m.

1702 - 106th Street North Battleford, SK

Loving God Growing Together Serving Others Phone Church: 306-445-4818 Fax: 306-445-8895 Email: tbcnb@sasktel.net www.trinitybaptistchurch.ca

Sr. Pastor Brian Arcand Pastor Anand George Phone: 306-445-3803 Cell: 306-441-9385 Fax: 306-445-4385

Sunday Evening Service 7:00 p.m.

Bible Study Wednesday 7:30 p.m.

1371 - 103rd Street (Use East Door)

Maidstone/ Paynton United Church of Canada Phone: 306-445-4338

Clergy Person: Rev. Ean Kasper

10:30 a.m.

Service

Church & CE Wing:

306-893-2611

For booking the Wing:

306-893-4465

Third Avenue United Church Sunday Worship Service - 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School 1301 - 102nd Street, Phone 306-445-8171 Rev. Frances Patterson

Everyone Welcome

www.thirdavenueunitedchurchnb.ca Email: thirdaveunited@sasktel.net

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