6
17
THE COUNTDOWN IS ON
WEEKS
WEEKS
Social
Community
Sports
Anti-racism message heard
Local school in national finals
Storm claim Championship
⇢A4
⇢B1
⇢A3
Issue 45
SERVING THE ENERGY CITY FOR 113 YEARS
www.estevanmercury.ca
Wed., Mar. 23, 2016 Mailing No. 10769 | Publication No. 40069240
Four candidates disclose their plans By Sam Macdonald smacdonald@estevanmercury.ca
Candidates running in the provincial election put forward their political philosophies and priorities at the Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion last Thursday. The Estevan Chamber of Commerce Election 2016 All Candidates Forum featured the presence of four candidates: Lori Carr, running for the Saskatchewan Party; Cameron Robock, running as an independent candidate; Progressive Conservative candidate Paul Carroll; and NDP candidate Tina Vuckovic. Candidates laid out the framework of their campaigns to the audience by answering a series of questions prepared by the Chamber of Commerce and spontaneous questions from guests, during the two-hour forum. Carr described her role in the community, saying she has raised a family, worked in financial planning, served on city council and many boards and committees in the constituency over the years. She stated that those things provide a good background to be a voice for Estevan. She said that the Sask. Party has acted on the priorities of the people of Saskatchewan, and maintains a strong financial background. “I want to become a part of that team, and work on continuing to move Saskatchewan forward,” said Carr. Carr said one of the most important factors to improving life for Saskatchewan residents is to strengthen the education system, “better preparing (youth) for the real world.” Carr proposed that high school students be required to take a personal finance course in high school, and that the graduate retention program be enhanced to encourage more
Candidates present at last week’s All Candidates Forum included the Sask. Party’s Lori Carr (left), independent candidate Cameron Robock, PC candidate Paul Carroll and Tina Vuckovic, who was representing the NDP. people to stay and work in Saskatchewan. Robock asserted that he sees a climate of change beginning to occur in Saskatchewan. He said he has been door-knocking in many small communities, and wants to do something about the high costs of living and the need for better services. Robock described education, health care, and infrastructure, such as that of Highway 6 and Hwy. 39, as lacking and in need of more financial support – something he said he’ll work to obtain, if elected. Robock said he wants to see infrastructure projects kept in the hands of Saskatchewan businesses, rather than being outsourced. Later, in response to a question from a guest about what he’d do about declining funding going to Saskatchewan universities, Robock proposed an overhaul of the educa-
tion system and the manner by which scholarships, bursaries and other forms of financial support are distributed in the province, so that free post-secondary education could be available in Saskatchewan. “We deserve better. Change is necessary because of bad choices, from smart meters to not helping the lives of the elderly …all through bad choices,” said Robock. “Together, we can do this. The time has come for change and I’m ready for that change.” Carroll spoke of how running a local business for 15 years has allowed him to learn how to manage finances responsibly, and said “I want to make it clear that I’m not running against Brad Wall. I’m running against these folks here. They are my opposition.” Carroll described water and transporta-
tion as important local needs. He stated that, “water and transportation are both essential elements for agriculture, while deeply important for various oil processes and recreation.” Carroll noted that the RaffertyAlameda dam was an accomplishment of the Progressive Conservative government, and has “unlimited potential.” He said he would work to enhance shortline railways, and get more goods onto the railway, rather than the roads in the region. Vuckovic emphasized the need for major improvements to the economy of Saskatchewan, particularly in health care and education. She referenced how unaffordable post-secondary education is becoming, and how “underfunded and under-resourced” Candidates ⇢ A2
Officer pulls woman from smoke-filled apartment By David Willberg dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca
A member of the Estevan Police Service (EPS) is being hailed as a hero, but for him, it was just part of a day’s work. Cst. Landon Polk pulled a 69-year-old woman from a smoke-filled apartment at Trinity Tower on March 14. Polk was working at a hit-and-run clinic hosted by the EPS and Saskatchewan General Insurance (SGI) at the SGI claims centre on Fifth Street when police and other first responders were notified of the alarm call at Trinity Tower. He promptly headed to the building, which is just a few blocks away. “When I arrived, I was met by a female outside,” Polk recalled in an interview with the Mercury. The woman he encountered told Polk there was an unresponsive woman on the sixth floor of the tower. “I went to the trunk of my police ve-
hicle and grabbed our fire extinguisher,” said Polk. “I ran up the six flights of stairs and found her room, where the smoke was coming out of. “I forced my way into the apartment and found the elderly female unconscious on the floor. I tried to wake her by giving a sternal rub, which is pressing on her breast bone with your fingers, trying to get her to wake up.” She wasn’t reviving, so Polk picked her up, took her outside the apartment and placed her in the elevator with another elderly female. From there, paramedics tended to the elderly woman. “I went back into the apartment to make sure nobody else was in there,“ said Polk. “Once the apartment was cleared, I just stayed outside, making sure nobody else entered the apartment.” He also opened the windows of the apartment to help rid the apartment of the smoke. Meanwhile, Estevan Fire Rescue Services members were able to clear the building of smoke and determined that no hot spots remained.
The fire department further examined the scene and determined the source to be cooking. The woman was treated on scene by firefighters and Estevan Emergency Medical Services personnel, and then she was transported to hospital for further examination. She remained in hospital for several days. Polk visited the woman while she was still in the hospital. His visit came a few days after the incident, and she was in much better condition than she was after the incident. “She actually offered to take my wife and me out for supper once she gets a little bit better,” Polk said. Chief ⇢ A2
Cst Landon Polk
OIL CHANGE SPECIAL ON NOW SAVE SAVE
Receive FREE tire rotation and full inspection.
20
%
ON ALL FUEL AND AIR FILTERS AND WIPER BLADES
CALL OR STOP BY TODAY! NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY.
Senchuk Ford Sales Ltd.
118 Souris Ave. N., Estevan 306-634-3696 www.senchukford.ca