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Mailing No. 10769 | Publication No. 40069240
Issue 12
SERVING THE ENERGY CITY SINCE 1903
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Estevan’s crime severity rate hits a new alltime low By David Willberg dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca
The crime severity index (CSI) for the city of Estevan reached a new low in 2017. According to information released by Statistics Canada on Monday morning, the Estevan municipal CSI – the area covered by the Estevan Police Service (EPS) – was at 75.72, the lowest it’s been since Statistics Canada started tracking the figure in 1998. The previous low was 75.73 reached in 2000. Estevan ranked No. 103 in the country. Police Chief Paul Ladouceur said the EPS has seen a decline in the local CSI figure over the last two years, since it was at 128.50 in 2015. “I’m always optimisticly cautious when I look at crime severity index stats and so forth, because there are so many variables involved, but obviously it does play into what we look at as far as our benchmark of how we’re doing,” said Ladouceur. “While we don’t want to rely solely on statistics, it is one of the things we do look at, obviously. To see us going in that lower direction is obviously a positive thing.” The city’s violent crime severity index – which includes assaults and sex crimes – stood at 71.94, a 3.58 per cent decrease. The non-violent crime index, which ranges from mischief complaints to most impaired driving and drug-related arrests, was at 76.90, a decrease of 28.50 per cent. The national ranking was 23rd in 2015 and 52nd in 2016. “In 2015, to be 23rd on the list of all those communities (in the country), isn’t where you want to be. When you start getting to 103, it’s certainly looking good,” said Ladouceur.
Estevan ranked 104th in Canada for non-violent crime and 110th in violent crime last year. The police chief believes the changes that have been made in the organization, with the introduction of a dedicated Drug/Intelligence Unit and a Criminal Investigations branch, have paid off. Also beneficial is the work the EPS is doing in the community for crime prevention and deterrence. “The members of this organization are doing an absolutely fantastic job,” said Ladouceur. The community has also been very supportive. “We see the number of phone calls increasing constantly from people in this community calling to report incidents of drug trafficking and incidents of impaired driving, and all kinds of criminal activity, that we weren’t seeing quite as robust in the past,” said Ladouceur. A high number of impaired drivers who have been apprehended have come in through the Report Impaired Drivers line. When people call the police to report a drug complaint, Ladouceur said they need to be able to trust the police to keep their identity confidential, and they need to know the police will do something. Other factors are also at work, he said, include the reduced activity in the oil industry in recent years. He also stressed that one serious violent offence in a given year can skew the CSI rating for a community. “There’s a little bit of luck that plays into that, too, that we have to be realistic about. But overall, we’re talking to people in the community, and people are telling us they feel safe in this community.” Optics are important in a safe community, he said. A2 » POLICE
Teddy bears’ picnic The Souris Valley Museum offered lots of activities for people and teddy bears alike on Saturday during the second annual Teddy Bears’ Picnic. In addition to the picnic itself, families and bears enjoyed a scavenger hunt, crafts, tours of the museum grounds and breaking piñatas. Among those who attended were, from left, Breanne Wright (with Gooch), Jessica Saxon, Brooklyn Saxon-Haux (with Buttons), Brooklyn Wright (with Max) and Jennifer Carson.
Risk of West Nile virus is increasing in Estevan The Saskatchewan Health Authority is warning residents in southeastern Saskatchewan that the risk of West Nile virus infection is increasing. This past week, some of the mosquitoes (Culex tarsalis) caught in surveillance traps were found to be infected with West Nile virus. The provincial mosquito surveillance program identified the infected mosquitoes in traps collected on July 10 in the Estevan area. This positive pool is occurring a few weeks earlier than 2016 but about the same time as 2017. It is expected that there may be an increase in the number of pools, increases in infection rates and possible human infections. To reduce your risk of
infection, residents are advised to take the following precautions throughout the rest of the summer: We a r a n e ff e c t i v e insect repellant containing deet. Repellents with Icaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus are also effective. Apply according to directions. Drain standing water. Mosquitoes require water to complete their life cycle. Eliminate or reduce all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can lay eggs like wading pools, wheelbarrows, containers, rain downspouts and gutters, pet dishes and birdbaths, etc. Reduce places in your yard where adult mosquitoes can thrive like tall grasses and weeds. Reduce the amount
of time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn. The mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus are most active at dawn and dusk and in the early evening. They are especially active for two hours after sunset. Dress appropriately, wear long sleeves and long pants (wear light-weight clothing to minimize the potential for heat-induced illnesses). Mosquitoes may be more attracted to individuals wearing perfumes and colognes. Mosquito-proof your home. Make sure that doors and windows have tight fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes. “All people in the region need to prevent infections by getting rid of
mosquito-friendly places in their yards and taking personal precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes in the places where they live, work and play,” says Dr. Lanre Medu, medical health officer with the Saskatchewan Health Authority. “People who work outside, especially at dusk and dawn, and those who are camping over the next few weeks are at higher risk of being bitten by mosquitoes and should pay particular attention to preventing these bites.” While the risk due to Culex tarsalis mosquito is increasing, there is no need for adult mosquito control now. For more information on West Nile Vile, see the Government of Saskatchewan website.
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