BREAST CANCER MONTH A6
MIDGET AA BRUINS
Survivor shares her story
A15
Two games to open season
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Issue 22
SERVING THE ENERGY CITY SINCE 1903
www.estevanmercury.ca
Mailing No. 10769 | Publication No. 40069240
Man hits semi while transporting meth, gets 40 months By Brian Zinchuk
brian.zinchuk@sasktel.net
Driving while high led to a man getting a 40-month prison sentence on Monday. However, in colliding with a semi, the sentence could have been death. Dustin James Whitrow pleaded guilty to several charges during his first appearance in Estevan Provincial Court after a traffic collision near Stoughton landed him in the clink. The 34-year-old from Yellow Grass pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, impaired driving by drug and driving while suspended. Other Criminal Code charges were stayed by the Crown, but he is still facing other charges in Regina. Crown prosecutor Scott Moffat read out the agreed facts in the joint submission between the Crown and defence. He explained that on Sept. 27, Fillmore RCMP responded to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 13 near Stoughton. (An RCMP press release noted that Stoughton Emergency Medical Services had also responded.) Whitrow had been driving when he crossed the yellow line into oncoming traffic, striking a semi. The police press release noted the driver of the car, Whitrow, had received minor injuries. Moffat said police observed he had slurred speech, which resulted in the impaired driving charge after he was taken back to Weyburn for testing. RCMP found a backback behind a nearby power pole. Their subsequent search found four grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, baggies, drug pipes, four cellphones, and $1,075.25 in cash. They also found a โflick knife,โ as Moffat described, something Whitrow was prohibited to possess due to a previous undertaking. Moffat noted that Whitrow had a โsignificant recordโ which went back many years. He had two previous drug convictions, and the last sentence was for 24 months. Moffat pointed out to Judge Lane Wiegers that Withrow was pleading guilty at the very first opportunity. Defence attorney Mike Weger said that Whitrow has three children that he pays child
support for from a previous relationship, and currently has a girlfriend whom he has been dating for a year who is expecting their child. She was present in the courtroom, sitting behind him in the gallery, and the two whispered to each other during the proceedings. Weger said Whitrow has had a small drywall business for some time and, more recently, a new mechanic business. He had gone through drug treatment with his previous sentence. However, Weger noted, โHeโs fallen off the straight and narrow path again.โ To that end, Weger said Whitrow would take drug treatment again with the new sentence. Moffat asked for a 40-month sentence, composed of 36 months for drug trafficking, and four months for his breech of his previous conditions. A concurrent 18-month sentence was requested for possession of proceeds of crime. Moffat listed 15 items for forfeiture, including the drug paraphernalia, cash and cellphones. A lifetime weapons ban was also requested, as well as DNA samples be taken. On the driving while impaired charge, Crown Prosecutor Chris Gratton sought the minimum sentence of a $1,000 fine and $300 victim impact surcharge, along with a 12-month driving prohibition. Wiegers went along with the joint submission. He set the driving prohibition to begin when Whitrow gets out of the penitentiary. And thatโs where heโs going, with a 36-month sentence for drug trafficking,plus four months consecutive for breaching his previous conditions.A concurrent 18-month sentence will be served for possession of the proceeds of crime. The forfeiture order and DNA order were granted. Whitrow will have a total of five years from now to pay the victim impact surcharge, which was $300 for the impaired driving charge and a further $500 for the drug charge. โItโs a tragic case. Youโve got a very long record,โWiegers said, noting Whitrow had made very sad decisions. He pointed out the sentence could have been much longer, and that if he got any more sentences, โThey could get extremely long.โ
From left, committee members Nancy Bourbonnais (slo-pitch), Laurel Buck (downtown business committee), Roberta DeRosier (soccer), Kevin Mortenson (football), Josh LeBlanc (head organizer) and Peter Sereggela (Tower Cafรฉ) announced the return of the Rafferty Rumble during a press conference Friday afternoon.
Rafferty Rumble will return to Estevan next year By David Willberg
dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca
The Rafferty Rumble was, at one time, a popular event in the city โ a street dance that was initially held to celebrate the completion of Rafferty Dam. It โs been some time since that event was held in Estevan, but now a committee is bringing it back for next year, and it will be much bigger than before. The resurrected Rafferty Rumble will be held from July 26-28 at locations throughout the Estevan area.
Not only will there be the street dance once associated with the rumble, but there will be sporting events, community activities and other attractions as well. Josh LeBlanc, who is the head organizer of the event, said the weekend will feature a slo-pitch, flag football, ball hockey and soccer tournaments, as well as an event at the Estevan Motor Speedway. Plans are still in the works for golf and beach volleyball tournaments and a fishing derby. โThe weekend is being organized by many volun-
teers across the city, with co-operation from sports organizations, business owners, community members and members of the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum,โ he said. Downtown Estevan will be busy on July 27, he said, with a pancake breakfast at the Tower Cafรฉ, a large street fair hosted by the downtown business association, and an artisan and art market and a music festival hosted by the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum. The Ross LeBlanc Trio, Megan Nash, Nick Faye and
the Deputies, El Guitaro and Fogdog have been confirmed for the musical entertainment. Additional bands will be announced leading up to the day, including headliners for the event. The downtown show and shine will also return for the Rafferty Rumble. โThe idea behind this event is to revitalize and improve on a strong event our city has seen in years past,โ said LeBlanc. โThere has been a large interest for this to come back, and it is our hope that this event will A2 ยป RAFFERTY
School divisions release official 2018-19 enrolment numbers The South East Cornerstone Public School Division and the Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School division have released their official enrolment numbers for the 2018-19 school year. The official numbers for school divisions in Saskatchewan are finalized on Sept. 30 each year. This yearโs numbers show an increase for both the public and separate school divisions. South East Cornerstone had 8,312 students, compared to 8,261 on Sept. 30, 2017. Several schools in the Estevan area also had an increase. The Estevan Comprehensive School had 724 students, up from 713 a year earlier. Hillcrest School enjoyed a significant increase, jumping from 113 students
LOADED WITH INNOVATION TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER
last year to 130 this year. The other schools in Estevan declined. Spruce Ridge School dropped from 424 to 406 students, Westview School slipped from 193 to 186, and Pleasantdale School slid from 202 to 200 students. Total enrolments for the five Cornerstone schools in Estevan, including ECS, was 1,646 students, up from 1,645 a year ago. As for those in the Estevan area, Lampman School dropped from 207 to 196 students, Lyndale School in Oungre increased from 56 to 67, Macoun School grew from 53 to 55, Midale Central School was up from 154 to 156, and Bienfait Weldon School went from 135 to 139 students. Holy Family had an
increase from 1,322 students, as of Sept. 30 a year ago, to 1,370 students this year. They have 654 students in their Estevan schools, up from 637 one year earlier. Sacred Heart School/ รcole Sacrรฉ Coeur remained stable at 367 students, while St. Maryโs grew from 270 students last year to 287 this year. โWe didnโt expect the numbers to come in quite so high, but we were certainly pleased, and obviously itโs always a challenge when you look at making sure that schools are staffed accordingly, and that we can meet the needs of all our students,โ said director of education Gwen Keith. St. Maryโs is a school with a large percentage of
English as another language students, she said, and that played a role in the increases at the school. The division is aware of its needs caused by more students, and schools have been staffed accordingly. Some students have special needs and have to be accommodated. โWe have strong teams in the schools, and we certainly have ways to address the unique needs of students as we move along,โ she said. There will be adjustments made to staffing due to the increase in enrolments. The year has started with lots of support and professional development for staff, and proper orientation has occurred from administrators to instructional assistants.
ALL ENDS JULY 3 RD
0
%* APR
60
UP TO
MONTHS
PURCHASE FINANCING ON MOST NEW 2018 SUV MODELS
1,000
SUV LEADERSHIP BONUS^
MORE SMART REASONS TO OWN AN F-150: ยท Best-in-class fuel ef๏ฌciency^ ยท Class-exclusive, available Pro Trailer Back-Up Assist* โ 2018 EXPLORER -camera with split-view display* ยท 360
2018 F-150 2018 ESCAPE FOR DETAILS, VISIT FORD.CA.
Senchuk Ford Sales Ltd.
118 Souris Ave. N., Estevan 306-634-3696 www.senchuk.com