Kamsack 2023-02-02

Tımes Kamsack

Mayor urges residents to take advantage of tax discount rate

With only one month left to take advantage of the five per cent tax discount rate before February is over, Mayor Nancy Brunt is hoping people take advantage while there’s still time.

Otherwise the tax discount rate will be lowered to three per cent in March and April, then one per cent in May and June.

Resident concerns over the Handi-Bus were also addressed by the Mayor.

After some Kamsack residents expressed concerns they were negatively impacted by the Handi-Bus being out of service, Mayor Brunt had this to say during a monthly review of the minutes, “Our Handi-Bus is old, and so it has been down because of mechanical issues. So our town mechanic has been working on it. Finally got it up and running.

“Now the good news is that we have ordered a new Handi-Bus but it takes them a year to build. So we are hoping that we will have it by the end of 2023.”

She also mentioned that putting up a new tender for the Handi-Bus driver led to further delay. The tender was awarded to Tim Falkiner, who will be driving the Handi-Bus when it is back in service on Feb. 1.

“So we’re dealing with all the different things that are happening. Things break down and need to be fixed, ” she said, referring to the Victoria School’s water main break that was repaired.

It’s good news that when they received a summary of calls to the Kamsack Volunteer Fire Department, they found that calls went down since last year.

Mayor Brunt also wanted to say,

“We’re happy to be back into the rink.”

“Our recreation director, Ben Sipple, is working over at the rink now.”

The Broda Sportsplex has been approved to have a new scoreboard and that donations towards the scoreboard will be accepted through the town.

When finishing up the monthly review of the minutes, Mayor Brunt said she really wanted to urge residents to stop offloading snow on empty town lots, as it floods the sewer system in spring. Residents should instead make use of the snowfield van, as it hauls snow into the field where no flooding can occur. And that residents should sign up for the Voyent alert program, where she added, “We’re really pushing

for people to get signed up to that. It’s an alerting program that you can have on your cell phone. You can even have it on your landline and receive a phone call on your landline if you’re not a cell or a techie person.”

“Anything that’s going on in town, for instance, the water main break at Victoria school went out as a Voyent alert.”

“We delivered letters to all the people that were affected by the water. If they were all signed up on Voyent alert, we wouldn’t have had to deliver letters; they would have gotten an alert. They would have probably known earlier.”

Otherwise, Mayor Nancy Brunt is happy to say that “Things are kind of just going along,” this month.

Kamsack needs healthcare workers

The Norquay Open Bonspiel first event winners, from left, were: Rebecca Konowalchuk (lead), Rubieann Kluke (second), Evan Rostotski (third), and Ken Newell (Skip). See more on page 6.

Parkland and Cumberland Colleges proceeding with full merger

BY NICOLE GOLDSWORTHY Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Humboldt Journal

Cumberland College and Parkland College will move forward and merge the two colleges effective July 1, 2023.

Approval of the merger was received from the provincial government in January.

The two colleges have been working together since 2019, when a coalition of the Parkland and Cumberland Colleges formed. Since then, they have shared a president/CEO and board of governors.

Alison Dubreuil, the interim president and CEO of both colleges, said that enrolment has gone down and she believes it is because of these competitive markets, the ability to take online learning, the demand for the labor markets is strong and it entices individuals to go right into the workforce. She added that she wants the colleges. to be more effective advocates for rural and indigenous communities. She believes working together, building capacity for new programs will enhance the educational institution.

Ray Sass, Cumberland and Parkland College Board of Governors Co-Chair explained that “by merging Cumberland College and Parkland College, we will be stronger together. This will position our merged college to be

more robust and provide the opportunity to offer more programming to recruit and retain more students.”

Minister of Advanced Education

Gord Wyant said. the provincial government fully supports the merger of Cumberland and Parkland Colleges

“By combining resources,the colleges will be better able to expand programming offered to students and increase opportunities for staff.”

The Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union (SGEU), which represents workers at both colleges, is asking for more transparency and collaboration as

the merger moves forward.

“Since the merger decision was announced in January 2022, the [two colleges’ board of governors] has not been forthcoming with evidence to show a merger is in the best interests of the students, staff, businesses, residents and communities in the area,” said Tracey Sauer, President of SGEU, in a letter to stakeholders.

“We have been calling on the board to provide open and transparent evidence for their decision and a detailed plan for the newly merged college, including holding public consultations to respond to questions and concerns from stakeholders and the public.”

Dubreuil said that both colleges have a strong and respectful relationship with SGEU.

“We have communicated with them throughout the entire process and are committed to work with them. We have committed to no job losses and look forward to continuing a dialogue into the future.”

Currently Parkland and Cumberland College has approximately 270 employees. Parkland has campuses located in Yorkton, Melville, Fort Qu’Appelle, Esterhazy, Canora and Kamsack. Cumberland campuses are located in Tisdale, Nipawin and Melfort.

The president of the colleges said plans are in place to continue to engage with staff and students.

“We anticipate more meetings in the near future with this most recent announcement of the approval from the Government of Saskatchewan. We anticipate meetings regarding programming, rebranding and discussions into the future. We are a large employer in our region and are proud of the contributions of our staff. They are passionate and committed to their students and we want them to have a voice at the table,” Dubreuil said.

By July 1, 2023, a new name and brand for the colleges will have been decided upon and the newly named entity will seek to become a competitive option for Saskatchewan’s ever-changing students and workforce.

“With Saskatchewan’s strong economy we need to continue to provide a strong and diverse slate of educational programs. We are committed to our partnerships, our students and staff and our communities,” Dubreuil said. SGEU said they continue to ensure that they are involved and are at the table to give their expertise on the future of the colleges moving forward.

Written with files from Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Prince Albert Daily Herald.

Parkland College will soon be part of a larger entity after a proposed full merger with Cumberland College. File Photo by Calvin Daniels / Yorkton This Week

Drugs seized near Yorkton, charges laid

BY RCMP MEDIA RELATIONS

From Jan. 9 to Jan. 15, a total of 5,937 reports were received within the Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction. Calls included: 54 impaired drivers, one homicide, 17 sexual assaults, 10 sexual crimes, 360 other assaults, 79 break-and-enters, 160 thefts, 480 mischiefs, 196 traffic collisions, two dangerous driving incidents, and zero fatal collisions.

Drugs seized near Yorkton

At approximately 2 p.m. on Jan. 7, Yorkton RCMP received a report of a vehicle with two occupants in the ditch along Highway 10, east of Yorkton. Officers responded and investigation determined the vehicle and the license plate were both reported as stolen in Regina.

When asked by police, a male occupant of the vehicle provided a false name. He and a female occupant also refused a police command to exit the vehicle. Both occupants were arrested.

As part of the ongoing investigation, officers searched the vehicle and located the following illicit substances: 42.6 grams of cocaine, 32.6 grams of crystal

methamphetamine, 9.9 grams of fentanyl, 720 hydromorphone tablets, five grams of liquid concentrate cannabis, and five methylphenidate tablets. The illicit substances were seized by police for further investigation. Charges laid include: resisting/obstructing a peace officer, possession, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

The male was also ticketed for having, keeping or consuming alcohol in a vehicle, and arrested on warrants from Estevan Police Service for flight from police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and resisting/obstructing a peace officer.

As a result of further investigation, he was also charged in relation to a White Butte RCMP investigation on Jan. 6, when White Butte RCMP received a report of a suspicious vehicle in Pilot Butte. When the officer approached it, the male driver fled at a high rate of speed, colliding with a police vehicle and a garbage bin. No injuries were

reported.

Attempted abduction

Warman RCMP are requesting assistance from the public in locating a pickup truck involved in the attempted abduction of a female youth near a community centre in Warman at approximately 3 p.m. on Jan. 11. Police responded immediately and conducted patrols in the community to locate the vehicle and the suspect involved. The victim was able to return to a safe location and did not report any injuries to police.

The vehicle is described as a black two-door truck believed to be an early 2000’s Chevrolet or GMC model. The truck is believed to be driven by a Caucasian male between 20 – 30 years old, wearing a black t-shirt. Warman RCMP are requesting parents to advise youth to exercise caution if approached by strangers in a vehicle. If this vehicle is seen, do not approach and report this to your local police service immediately.

Death under investigation

On Jan. 11 at approximately 2:25 a.m., Pelican Narrows RCMP were called to assist local EMS with an injured male at a residence located on the 4000

block of Ballantyne Street in Pelican Narrows. Upon arrival, officers located an adult male who appeared to have sustained a lifethreatening injury. He was immediately transported to a local hospital by EMS for treatment and was declared deceased shortly after. He has been identified as 34-year-old Dalton Linklater from Pelican Narrows. His family has been notified and Victim Services has been engaged.

Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes has taken carriage of the investigation, which is being considered a homicide. The Saskatchewan Coroner’s Service also attended and ordered an autopsy. Investigators are conducting witness interviews and examining the scene to create a detailed picture of the incident. Pelican Narrow RCMP have been in communication with the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation to relay steps residents can take to help maintain their safety. Residents can expect to see an increased police presence for an undetermined amount of time as police investigate the incident. The investigation is ongoing.

Traffic collision, assault Estevan RCMP responded to the report on Jan. 13

of a three-vehicle collision on Highway 47, north of Estevan. Initial investigation determined a vehicle was travelling southbound, when an adult male passenger attempted to gain control of the vehicle, causing it to stop in the middle of the road. A second vehicle, with one lone occupant, collided with the first vehicle. The adult male – who was injured as a result of the collision – then assaulted and attempted to rob the driver of the second vehicle. The driver was treated at the hospital with injuries described as serious but non-life-threatening.

The male then armed himself with a shovel and made several attempts to stop and steal other passing vehicles. He climbed in the passenger window of one of the vehicles, which ended up in the ditch. Officers arrived on scene and told the male he was under arrest. The male did not comply and rushed at one of the officers and attempted to pull their conducted energy device from their uniform. Another officer deployed their conducted energy device. The male continued to resist and attempted to assault the officers, but was arrested a short time later. He was taken to hospital for

treatment of the injuries sustained in the collision.

Highway 47 was closed for approximately two hours for initial response and investigation. As a result of continued investigation, the following charges were laid: assault with intent to steal, assault, resisting arrest, disarming a police officer, mischief under $5,000, and failure to comply with release order condition.

Report tips and information

If you have information about any of the above crimes, or other criminal activity, please report it to your nearest RCMP Detachment or police service, call 310-RCMP in non-emergencies, 911 in emergencies. Information can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submitting a tip online at saskcrimestoppers.com. Report some complaints such as damage/mischief to property under $5,000, theft of bicycle under $5,000, theft under $5,000, theft from vehicle under $5,000, lost or found property, and damage/ mischief to vehicle under $5,000 online here: ocre-sielc.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ saskatchewan/en.

Project seeks to document wider COVID-19 impact

BY GORDON EDGAR SASKTODAY

A prestigious group of Saskatchewan doctors, teachers, professors, researchers, and social workers have joined forces to document the wider impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic through a project called Remember Rebuild.

“As historians of medicine, we want to try to remember the pandemic, rather than forget it,” said Dr. Erika Dyck. Dyck is a historian, professor, and Canada Research Chair in the History of Health & Social Justice at the University of Saskatchewan.

“We’ve partnered with a number of organizations from Saskatchewan, like the Nurses Union and the Teachers Federation, just so we can be open to collecting interviews or really any material that people want to submit, either for open access or for closed access.”

Dyck said she and her fellow researchers are aware that many people feel burnt out and tired of hearing about the pandemic. On the other hand, history is always in progress, and historians want

to lose as little material as possible to the inevitable entropy of time.

The Remember Rebuild project is supported by the COVID-19 Community Archive, which Dyck also helped set up. The COVID-19 Community Archive is hosted at the University of Saskatchewan and serves as a raw data dump for pandemic-related material.

The archive website notes that:

“We welcome submissions about your recent and daily experience in a variety of forms – photographs, social media posts, videos, creative projects, e-mails, blog entries, journals, personal reflections, and more. Your contributions do not need to be polished, finished works: your perspective on this experience is the more important element, and this documentation will form part of the raw material for studying and understanding this pandemic.”

The archive is at https:// covid19archive.usask.ca/.

“Imagine 100 years from now, when we’re trying to figure out what

to do with the next pandemic,” Dyck said. “There will be a record, a sustainable record, of how nurses were affected by this, or individuals, or journalists.”

The project has been getting good attention and participation in Saskatoon and, to a lesser extent, in Regina, but Dyck said they’re having trouble reaching other communities. She’s hoping smaller cities such as Moose Jaw and Prince Albert, and the hundreds of rural towns and villages in Saskatchewan, will want to add their stories.

The Remember Rebuild project gets its name from researchers’ belief that documenting the pandemic’s impact on systems and systems inequity will help boost recovery

efforts. In particular, social justice-related areas such as mental health, substance use, housing instability, and food insecurity have lost a great deal of ground.

People already holding the short end of the stick were forced to watch as the ripple effect of the pandemic made their situation even worse. By recording those effects, governments and communities will be able to learn valuable lessons for rebuilding.

“We’re not trying to make a quota,” Dyck noted. “It’s just really to help. We wanted to create a space for Saskatchewan residents to both kind of honour this (period of time), to be frustrated about it, to grieve it, whatever we want.

“Imagine a time capsule of the pandemic. That will be valuable going forward for future planners, policymakers, historians, whoever.”

The Remember Rebuild team hopes that in addition to the historical value of the undertaking, Saskatchewanians can take comfort knowing family and friends lost because of the pandemic — either directly to the coronavirus disease, or because of loneliness or lost services, for example — will never be forgotten.

An upcoming feature on the Remember Rebuild

website, planned for the March anniversary of Saskatchewan’s first COVID-19 case, will be explicitly designed as a digital memorial. The memorial will take the anonymity of public health dashboard numbers and transform them into people. Families and friends will be able to submit a name, photo, and a short bio of their loved one.

To learn more about the project, visit RememberRebuild.ca or email the research team at Remember.RebuildSK@ Usask.ca.

ceremony was held to officially open accessible playground equipment at the

Phone: 306-563-5131 · Fax: 306-563-6144

It is interesting how certain random occurrences create thoughts of a much larger scale.

Hours: Mon., Wed., Thurs., Fri.: 8 am – 12 pm, 1 pm – 5 pm

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Grade 3 students had the opportunity times were like for many pioneers durWeek Appreciation Day at the Preeceville prepared a set of questions for the seniors time when they were growing up and at-

LOOKING BACK A decade ago

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School students and staff celebrated an open house.

For example, I was recently reading Gardener’s Notebook by Debbie Hayward, and she made reference to borage.

Cst. Kimberly Mackey, after years preparing and wanting to be an officer since high school, joined the Kamsack Police Force.

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Week was acknowledged by both the Volunteer Fire Department and the Sturgis

Olympic Speed Skater Lucas Makowsky, the son of late Kamsack resident Shirly Mackowski , went to Sochi, Russia for his second time attending the Olympic Winter Games.

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Regional College announced its strategic plan the new academic year.

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Students of the Kamsack Comprehensive Institute (KCI), Lexie Tomochko , Cassidy Aker, and Kaylie Bowes, were part of the Free the Children Group, running a campaign to raise funds so that they could be three out of 30 students in Canada, to help build a school in Nicaragua. *****

School kicked off its annual magazine

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SGI would no longer be issuing license

The Kamsack Comprehensive Institute also held a “walk-a-thon” event for the community that benefited tele-miracle and “many families and individuals in our own province and community.” said Glenda Tulloch an organizer for the event. *****

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agriculture minister and Greg Steward, Farm Credit Canada signed a partnership recognizing Saskatchewan as the first province partner of the Agricultural More Than program is an initiative focused on industry and improving the perceptions of Canada.

Contrary to what you may have been told, cattle can benefit the environment

When it comes to the environment, the poor cow has become one animal that is much maligned as being a problem.

While Hayward was referring to borage in terms of a garden, my mind jumped back several years to when there was talk in the farm sector in Saskatchewan that it could become an important niche crop since the plant is also commercially cultivated for borage seed oil extracted from its seeds.

Those who oppose eating meat, or basically using animals at all, can give you plenty of ‘reasons’ the cow should be on an environmental wanted poster, but as in most things when a group with an agenda offers up opinions, it might be best taken with a grain or two of salt.

Borage seed oil has one of the highest amounts of γ -linolenic acid (GLA) of seed oil, and in herbal medicine has a long list of applications.

Carnations and candy grams were sold at KCI for Valentine’s Day, the proceeds from these sales were donated to Telemiracle *****

Diane Larson , a representative of the Kamsack Cancer Self-Help Group, presented a Victoria Quilt to the now late Prentice Hilton, a cancer patient who passed away on March 28, 2016. *****

Kamsack public work employees attempted to create an outdoor skating rink by the south side of the Kamsack Swimming Pool. However, they were held back by warm weather, then later finished it when the weather was colder, much to the joy of the community.

to become important crops as the sector looked to diversify.

Of course, the general concept of crop diversification faded as prices for familiar cereal and oilseed crops jumped. Why take risks with a new crop if the value of wheat and canola penciled out as profitable more years than not?

And yes that includes checking what farm groups have to say.

simply disappeared for most.

Niche crops, of course, are also a greater risk with limited markets, and almost none locally.

The Ag Scene

CALVIN DANIELS

So up front reading this weekly column, you have to remember having grown up on a mixed farm in Saskatchewan, and having covered the farm sector for more than three decades I am generally pro farming.

land better suited to growing grass.

And, because the markets are limited it takes only moderate swings upwards in production to see prices decline.

You may also have noticed some recent social media posts pointing to how leather is a sustainable option with varied purposes.

For example, a recent www.producer.com article looked at grasslands, in particular native prairie and its role in preventing climate change.

That does not mean the crops are no longer grown, but broad interest has certainly quieted.

The reality is leather is an alternative for oil-based products such as plastics such as PVC and polyester – and it is a renewable material.

The crop never quite achieved the level of production one might have expected from the ‘hype’ at the time, although to be fair there was a long list of crops that were thought

We have a powerful tool at our disposal these days, the Internet, and we should use that when determining how we feel about important issues such as the environment.

Look around. Check who is saying what, and cross reference things until you feel confident you can boil it all down to an informed decision.

And, in the case of canola, there was a level of diversification within the crop with identity preserved varieties offering farmers some added premiums for production.

That said, of course, there are things that can be done better in farming and how cattle are managed is one area that agriculture always needs to be striving for better options in terms of protecting the environment.

But, even as it is there are a number of overlooked positives about cattle – you can lump sheep and goats in the following too.

In the process, interest in crops such as borage, lupins, caraway, coriander, fenugreek, hemp, seabuckthorn and many others

“Climate change is happening and that’s because of carbon in the atmosphere,” said Cameron Carlyle, associate professor of rangeland ecology at the University of Alberta in the article. “Globally, rangelands hold 30 per cent of soil carbon.”

It’s not a crop-only phenomenon either.

With the Grain Millers Harvest Showdown on the not-so-distant horizon in Yorkton, it is easy to recall llamas were once a highlight of the event with large shows taking centre stage.

Take away cattle, sheep, goats and similar farm stock and at least a chunk of those grassland go under cultivation to grow grain, even though often it is marginal

We should all be aware of just how massive an issue plastics are in terms of the environment. They basically never degrade in landfills, and our oceans have become a dumping ground with ocean life suffering as a result.

Sometimes we need to think of things with a broader lens. Cattle have issues, but there are positives to be considered too.

So, maybe it’s time to go back to the Internet to research all the facts before vilifying or championing the cow.

be imal. story case ostrich, bellied rabbits, again stock hogs plode feed, and fit fertilizer. a time, climbed, issues jumped, tential prospects dimmed. versifying well is one oilseed may denly or good

Orchids can add that extra something special to a

Trying the latest trends can add welcome new life to a garden

Do you remember how Reader’s Digest used to have quizzes about quotes, where we, the readers, had to guess if the quote came from the Bible or from Shakespeare? Okay, here’s one: “The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, ‘Look! This is something new?’ It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.”

If you guessed Ecclesiastes 1, you’re right! And I found this quote relating to a description of garden trends.

So. Would you say that gardening trends are “in” for a while, then fade “out” then come back “in” again?

say is the most exotic flower? For been the orchid. I can still remember Hawaii many years ago, I was asorchids were used in such abundance: for arrangements in restaurant lobbies, huge hanglush cattleya orchids in the Royal to garnish our luncheon plates on anything be more amazing? And before when Keith brought Mom and me orwear to a cousin’s wedding that seemed luxury! with orchids continues. We have one to us last year by some dear friends. that orchids were very delicate, very and had very specific light and water after hearing from gardeners in the are to grow, we decided to be optiAnd guess what? Success. After the the plant when we received it faded, giving us five beautiful lime-green a long time, and have since faded, new stem is appearing. So exciting! thousands of varieties of orchids, but my always been the moth orchid, the phalaeone branch of blossoms that swoops the dark green leaves is so serenely

Think about these. What is currently new under the gardening sun?

Here are a few topics that came up in a garden con versation one day. Growing plants just for the foliage.

A great idea, one that gives gardeners a chance to stretch their imagination, especially in container plantings. This idea urges us to look at plants purely for their foliage beauty, forgetting about blooms. A beautiful and easy-care idea!

The Garden Grapevine

DEBBIE HAYWARD

DEBBIE HAYWARD

The Garden Grapevine

Growing community gardens. Another great idea that can expand to us growing a few extra rows to share in our gardens. Those of us who grow some of our own food know the great satisfaction that this work can bring, whether we are growing enough

Tımes Kamsack

to freeze or can, or just enough to eat fresh over the summer months. This certainly isn’t a new idea, to be self-sufficient, but it has surfaced again in recent years, and brings the added benefit of knowing exactly what we are eating. Growing old-fashioned flowers, especially flowers with fragrance. It’s such a simple idea that perhaps we forget about it in our continual search for new plants and new colours. Why don’t we pore over the

beautiful, like Canada geese about to take flight.

Saving seeds. Here’s one that is new to some, and old hat to other gardeners. I still remember the large shopping bag that my sweet Mom had stored in the cool closet in the spare room: the bag was full of carefully labelled envelopes containing seeds that performed extra well in her garden. The concept of saving special seed for the future is now becoming more appreciated by more gardeners.

Orchids include more than 25,000 species, and did you know that there are orchids on every continent except Antarctica? Orchids in the home like to live under the same conditions that they would in nature, so these are the things to watch for: water, air movement, temperature, and sunlight.

seed catalogues and look for flowers that will give our gardens a heady fragrance? There are so many: alyssum, roses, lavender, sweet peas, nicotiana, and the list goes on. I know that as gardeners we are always looking for the “next new thing,” and why not? That is what gardening is all about, expanding our knowledge and experience. But it doesn’t mean we have to forget about the old favourites that we always planted and enjoyed.

Most of the orchids we have in our homes are epiphytic, that is, they are used to living on trees or other vegetation, surrounded by moss and bark, not anchored in soil. Their roots that stick out of the pot gather moisture from the air. So it is important to provide a loose potting medium of bark or moss, moderate humidity, indirect light, and air movement. And in our northern climes, orchids shouldn’t be too close to a chilly window in the winter.

Some orchids also grow in soil: restrial, and a good example is beautiful cymbidium, which comes of colours, is also a terrestrial. On programs on TV, they showed how to the locals, they were almost treasure they are to us here!

Being kind to nature.

We are all more aware of planting things that will encourage the birds and pollinators to visit our yards, but it can go one step further. I’m sure we all know gardeners who clean up their yards so thoroughly in the fall that there is not a pile of fallen

leaves or stray tufts of grass anywhere. This will not encourage friendly insects like ladybugs to overwinter, because they won’t find anywhere warm and cozy to curl up. We can leave a bit of the garden on the “wild side” to help out these good insects.

It’s interesting, isn’t it, to see how garden trends change over the years. But the surge of interest in gardening gives seasoned gardeners a chance to help novice green thumbs by saying “yes, this is a great idea, we’ve done it before” and teach them how!

Plus there are oncidiums, dendrobiums, the list goes on and on! We’ve the orchid bug, you continue to want each more exotic than the last. So in awe of them to have reached this are just hoping that the orchid we

The orchid plant is definitely beauty for a long time, so if you a store sometime, treat yourself collection. You won’t be disappointed!

Gardening is a hobby that can last and be enjoyed for a lifetime. It offers sunshine, fresh air, exercise, and peace. It’s all good! Have a good day and a lovely week.

In gardening, things are the Usually by this time, we should dens, pulling out our annuals; but we still haven’t had a really hard blooming annuals are still bravely attracting bees and other pollinators. where they are, even if it means us. Gives us more time to enjoy Enjoy your garden today and

Skiing A wonderful source of adventure and entertainment

Skiing used to be my main sport, both cross-country and downhill. Now I partake in the challenging activity of TV channel surfing. However, I have some great memories of my skiing days.

I grew up with skis on my feet and participated in many club events back in Norway. Of course, I brought my skis with me when I immigrated to Canada. As soon as my daughter Annette started walking, I put her on a pair of children’s skis. She refused to move even an inch initially, just standing there bawling her eyes out. However, after multiple attempts she started moving and became quite adept at skiing. I recall on a trip to Jasper, while her mother and I were enjoying the larger slopes, Annette was with the other children

Observations

KAARE ASKILDT

on the bunny run. She got bored and wanted to try the intermediate slope that I was skiing. That entailed being brought to the top by a T-Bar ski lift for her first time. While we were moving through the line to get to the lift, I told Annette to follow the instructions of the operator carefully.

Trudeau’s five tax hikes will harm middle class in 2023

OPINION BY FRANCO TERRAZZANO, Federal Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to govern for “the middle class and those working hard to join it.” Canadians can be forgiven if we feel he’s forgotten that promise.

Whether it’s the nurse working at the hospital, the mom who commutes to work each day or the newcomers to Canada who opened a small business, middle-class Canadians will feel the pain of Trudeau’s five tax hikes in 2023.

A worker making above $66,600 will be forced to pay an extra $255 through the mandatory Canada Pension Plan tax this year. That worker will also have to pay an extra $50 through the Employment Insurance tax.

The total payroll tax bill for a nurse making more than $66,600 will be $4,756 in 2023. That’s a lot of money, and it could otherwise cover nine months of payments on the SUV she needs to drive to work at the hospital.

Every business owner will also have to fork over $5,157 in payroll taxes for each middle-class worker they employ. That’s enough to give that worker an eight per cent raise. Or, it’s enough money to give the college-aged son who works at the family business after school a nice year-end bonus.

Trudeau is also raising the carbon tax to 14 cents per litre of gas on April 1. The government claims that “families are going to be better off” with its carbon tax and rebates.

But that math doesn’t add up. How is the government going to tax everyone, then skim some off the top to pay for 330 new carbon tax bureaucrats and still make everyone better off? The Parliamentary Budget Officer shows the carbon tax will cost the average family between $402 and

$847 in 2023 even after the rebates.

Even if you did receive more back in rebates, that would mean someone else would need to get less. Who are you taking money from? Maybe it’s the mom who moved to Port Hope to raise her kids but still commutes to Richmond Hill and back for work.

Trudeau is also imposing a second carbon tax through fuel regulations next year.

The government’s number crunchers say “lower and middle-income” Canadians will feel the most pain from the second carbon tax as fuel prices rise. That includes “households currently experiencing energy poverty,” such as “single mothers” and “seniors living on fixed incomes.”

By 2030, Trudeau’s two carbon taxes could add 50 cents per litre to the price of gasoline.

You could be forgiven if all these tax hikes drive you to drink.

Maybe you had a tough week at work. The kids could be driving you nuts, or maybe you just need a little extra holiday cheer to get through dinner with the in-laws. But when you pick up the case of Keith’s, a bottle of Pinot or mickey of rum, Trudeau will be taking an extra 6.3 per cent from you through his alcohol tax hikes.

These tax hikes have consequences for real people. And the more Trudeau spends, the more he needs to take.

But is the nurse’s life better when the government gives $295 million to the Ford Motor Company? Is the working mom’s life less stressful when the governor-general spends more than $1 million on a week-long trip to the Middle East? Does the small business benefit when the CBC hands out $51 million in bonuses and raises during a pandemic?

Here’s the simple truth: hard-working Canadians, middle class and not, are paying too much tax because the government wastes too much money.

SARM supports provincial Firearms Act

Concerns are growing over the federal gun bans, and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) members are concerned these are ineffective and politically motivated infringements on the rights and freedoms of farmers, ranchers, and all law-abiding recreational firearm users.

This concern, along with further consultation with the province, has led SARM to support the proposed Saskatchewan Firearms Act, and SARM urges the provincial government to pass it as soon as possible.

“This legislation is another tool to help the people of rural Saskatchewan insulate ourselves from misguided federal policies,”

said SARM President, Ray Orb in a release. “SARM is a strong advocate for responsible and safe firearm ownership. The provincial plan is more practical and is more in line with the needs of rural Saskatchewan. Establishing Saskatchewan-based criteria for responsible firearms ownership is much preferred over the federal government setting the requirements.”

The Saskatchewan Firearms Act will also establish a provincial firearms regulatory system that will promote the safe use of firearms.

“The Saskatchewan Firearms Office is a great resource to promote firearm safety messages and support ongoing safety and education initiatives,” continued Orb.

The operator gave me the T-bar and I told Annette to grab the middle bar on the T, and make sure the T-bar arm was snug under her butt. Of course, she was quite a bit smaller than me, and her butt was below my knees. While I was explaining and giving her instructions, I neglected to hold on to the T-bar, and suddenly the lift jerked us forward. The T-bar hit me below the knees and sent me on an almost perfect backwards somersault. My right leg and ski got hung up on the T-bar and I was sliding up the trail on my back while the operator was laughing so hard, he could barely hit the stop button. We got sorted out right away and made it to the top. I skied back down with Annette between my skis, and we made it safely to the bottom.

Waskahegan Staging Area in Blackfoot Provincial Park, Alta. is a mecca for Edmonton area cross-country skiers, and the home of the Canadian Birkebeiner Event which will happen on Feb. 10 – 27 this year. The event was moved to Blackfoot from Devon in 1988. The Canadian Birkebeiner was the brainchild of my friend Brian Peters, who had skied the Norwegian Birkebeiner, and invited a select few to assist in getting the Canadian Birkebeiner Event off the ground. I obtained written permission to use the name Birkebeiner from the Norwegians. Brian himself did all, and I mean all the grunt work including getting property owners permission to cross their land, and personally ski and at times bushwacking the proposed trail. A total of 127 participants took part the first year and the event has been growing ever since. It has become an internationally

known event, drawing skiers from many European countries including Norway and Sweden and is a pre-qualifier for the American Birkebeiner.

There are qualified medical personnel at the finish area, and one year a skier who had had an accident on the trail, eventually made it to the finish line, stepped out of his skis and walked into the First Aid tent. He got to the medic and said he needed his help, because whenever he touched his right leg, it hurt. It also hurt when he touched his right arm, and his right hip. The medic examined him and ended up putting a splint on his left-hand middle finger. The medic asked him if he had fallen, which the skier acknowledged, and the medic said that after a careful examination he had concluded that the skier had broken his finger. Another skier was overheard muttering to himself after crossing the finish line that he was done with cross-country skiing, he went downhill from there on.

A Scotsman had never skied before and had entered the Birkie on a dare. He finished almost dead last. On the way back to Edmonton, he stopped by a Swiss Chalet Restaurant and was enjoying a cool beer in the lounge area. He noticed the head of a moose hanging on the wall. He had never seen or heard of a moose before. When the waitress served him the beer, he asked her what kind of animal that was hanging on the wall.

“It is a moose,” said the waitress with a smile.

“Holy coow!” exclaimed the Scotsman, “if that is a mouse (moose), how big are the cats?”

Important Dates:

Feb. 2 Yellow Zone Waste & Recycling Collection

Feb. 9 Green Zone Waste & Recycling Collection

Feb. 11 Kamsack Family Resource Centre’s Valentine’s Day Party

Feb. 11 The United Church’s Valentine Tea & Bake Sale

Feb. 13 Town Council Meeting

Feb. 16 Yellow Zone Waste & Recycling Collection

Feb. 19 St. Josaphat Ukrainian Women’s League’s Pre-Lenten Supper

Feb. 23 Green Zone Waste & Recycling Collection

Feb. 25 Duck Mountain Nordic Club’s Annual Loppet at Duck Mountain Provincial Park

Feb. 27 Town Council Meeting Learn more at www.kamsack.ca

Sask Lotteries Community Grant

It is time to Apply for the Sask Lotteries Community Grant, covering April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024! The Application, and Project Guidelines, are available at Town Office or at www.kamsack.ca Completed applications should be submitted at Town Office, or emailed to rec.kamsack@sasktel.net, as soon as possible, but no later than February 17, 2023 Please phone 306-542-2044 or email rec.kamsack@sasktel.net if you have any questions.

Voyent Alert

A New, Free Communication Tool to help our residents & visitors stay informed! Learn more, including how to register, at www.kamsack.ca

2023 Property Tax Discounts

The Property Tax Discounts for Early

Payments are:

- 5% in January & February

- 3% in March & April

- 1% in May & June

The Discount Rate applies to every property tax payment you make, whether partial or in full, and the discount only applies to the Municipal Portion of Property Taxes.

Handi-Bus: On the Road Again

We are very excited to announce that the Handi-Bus service is now available, with a new driver, Tim. Phone (306) 542-7114 at least 24 hours in advance to schedule a ride. Find updates at www.kamsack.ca or call Town Office at 306-542-2155

We Are Hiring!

Do you have co-operative team attitude, above average customer service skills & a high attention to detail?

The Town of Kamsack is hiring an Administration Clerk. Apply before 4 pm on Monday, February 6, 2023. Learn more about this opportunity at http://kamsack.ca/employmentopportunities/

No Handlebars: Learn to Skateboard Do you want to learn how to stand, steer and move on a Skateboard?

We are hosting a new program, Learn to Skateboard, for children and youth at the OCC Hall from 5:30 pm to 6 pm from February 21 to 24 & 27 to 28 as well as March 1. Email rec.kamsack@sasktel.net or phone (306) 542-2044 to learn more and register. No fees. Spots are limited.

Local rink captures top prize in Norquay

Once again curlers returned for the annual Norquay Open Bonspiel held last week from Wednesday to Saturday.

Fourteen teams entered, with the added motivation that ages 18 and under can play for free. Rubieann Kluke, an organizer for the event, was “excited to have eight children out participating in

the spiel.”

A lunch banquet was served Saturday before the final got underway.

The first event winner, sponsored by Burtanck Motorsports, was the Ken Newell rink of Norquay, defeating the Lionel Hanson rink of Swan River/ Benito. Placing third was the Lenard

Bazarski rink, with the Jason Lukey rink fourth.

The second event final was an all-Norquay contest, with the Kevin Ebert rink coming out on top over the Bob Lumley team. Third place went to Kerby Mirva, and the Shawn Foster rink placed fourth.

The third event final also featured a pair

Join the Great Backyard Bird Count

The 26th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) takes place Friday, Feb. 17, through Monday, Feb. 20. Bird and nature lovers everywhere unite in the effort to tally as many of the world’s bird species as possible over these four days. Combined with other bird counts, GBBC results help create a clearer picture of how birds are faring - whether individual species are are declining, increasing, or holding steady in the face of habitat loss, climate change, and other threats.

“Based on the recently released State of the Birds report, we know that half the bird species in the United States alone are decreasing,” said David Bonter, codirector of the Center for Engagement in Science and Nature at the Cornell Lab, in a release. “We absolutely need the eyes and ears of birdwatchers to give us the big picture when it comes to shifting bird populations.”

Each participant or group counts birds for any length of time (but for at least 15 minutes) and enters the bird(s) they could identify at each site where they did their observation, whether that be from home, at a local park, or wilderness area. Sightings are entered online at the GBBC website, the Merlin Bird ID app, or the

eBird website, which powers the GBBC and is the largest database of bird observations in the world. People of all ages and skill levels are welcome. And there’s

another reason to count the birds: it’s good for you.

“Take a moment over this long weekend to observe, listen to, and count birds and

of Norquay foursomes. The Brad Knutson rink defeated Deena Cherewyk. Third place went to the Gerry Peesker team, and the Wes Lylyk rink placed fourth. In upcoming curling to look forward to, Norquay will be hosting the Fireman’s Provincial Playdowns this weekend, Feb. 3 to 5.

improve your health, too. Birdwatching and being in nature can reduce stress and improve your mood,” said Chad Wilsey, chief scientist and vice president at National Audubon Society.

A record number of participants joined the 2022 count. An estimated 385,000 people submitted checklists reporting more than 7,000 species from 192 countries. Many GBBC participants discover a fascination with birds for the first time and enjoy exploring (and comparing) results from around the world.

“The Great Backyard Bird Count is a stepping stone towards bird conservation,” said Patrick Nadeau, president and CEO of Birds Canada. “Taking this step in February launches a journey of discovery whether you’re just beginning to learn about the birds around you or an experienced birder watching out for new feathered friends! From here participants can look for their next steps in resources like Your Guide to Helping Canada’s Birds.”

The GBBC website has tools and information to help birdwatching newbies and veterans participate in the count. You’re also invited to tune in to a special webinar about how to participate in the GBBC being held Feb. 15, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time.

Masons winner

At a draw held Jan. 11, Sandy Nykolaishen, left, of Kamsack was named the winner of $1,000 in the Masons’ 50/50 draw. Presenting her with her winnings of $1,000 was Rick Aikman, the Masons’ Worshipful Master.

First place in the second event, from left, were: Kevin Ebert (skip), John Knutson (third), Darrin Jacquemart (second) and Rob Dyck (lead).

The winning team members in the third event, from left, were: Brad Knutson (Skip), Vi Knutson (third), Shelley Unger (lead) and Stan Unger (second)

Bird and nature lovers everywhere are encouraged to count as many of the world’s bird species as possible during the Feb. 17-20 Great Backyard Bird Count.by Julie Blondeau, Macaulay Library

After three years the annual Wheelchair Funspiel is back

After the COVID-19 quarantine, the annual Wheelchair Funspiel hosted by Kim and Teddy Hudye was unable to operate for the past three years, but now it has returned and is planned to occur again next year.

The event was hosted at the Broda Sportsplex on Jan. 13 and 14, attracting new and old Funspiel curlers. Participants in the event were required to send curling rocks down the ice with a stick while sitting in a wheelchair steadied by a person standing behind them.

The winners of the event were the team of Teddy Hudye, Josh Gogol from Canora, and Aiden Broda and Randy Troffimenkoff of Kamsack. The winners of each year’s Funspiel get their names put on a plaque alongside the previous winners of the event.

They also had various prizes generously donated that were

won by pulling names out of a hat, one such prize being a liquor basket. They also had a shoot to the pin contest which awarded its winner a “mickey of vodka” otherwise known as a small 375ml bottle of vodka.

Proceeds of the event go towards Teddy Hudye’s therapy, parts for his wheelchair, and to help him pursue his shot put and discus throwing career.

Teddy has estimated that they raised $4,000 in proceeds this year.

“I’d like to thank Kamsack and our sponsors for supporting me all these years and for them still coming out and trying and participating,” said Teddy.

Approximately 48 people in 12 teams of four participated in the event, and 40 to 50 people watched upstairs as there was also a senior hockey game on Jan. 13. The registration fee per team was $200.

Sask. Parks 2023 campsite reservation dates announced

Reservations for Saskatchewan Provincial Parks 2023 camping season are set to begin April 3 for seasonal campsites and April 4 to 12 for nightly, Camp-Easy and group campsites.

“Many campers are already looking forward to setting up their home-away-from-home in provincial parks this summer,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Laura Ross said in a release. “With reservation dates set, campers can now begin planning their trips and preparing for launch day.”

Schedule

The complete reservation

schedule for 2023 is as follows.

Seasonal campsites:

April 3: all parks participating in the seasonal camping program.

Nightly, Camp-Easy and group campsites:

April 4: Candle Lake, Good Spirit Lake, Meadow Lake, and Saskatchewan Landing.

April 5: Break.

April 6: Douglas, Echo Valley, Makwa Lake, Narrow Hills and Pike Lake.

April 10: Danielson, Great Blue Heron, Greenwater Lake, Rowan’s Ravine and The Battlefords.

April 11: Buffalo Pound,

Bronson Forest, Duck Mountain and Moose Mountain.

April 12: Blackstrap, Crooked Lake, Cypress Hills and Lac La Ronge.

Reservations will begin at 7 a.m. each day.

Park Fees

Park entry fees will increase slightly this year in response to the growing number of park services provided year-round and in accordance with Provincial Sales Tax. The 2023 entry fees are as follows:

Annual Vehicle Entry: $82 ($7 increase).

Weekly Vehicle Entry: $42 ($2 increase).

Daily Vehicle Entry: $11 ($1 increase).

Camp-Easy sites will increase from $80 to $85 per night and the Mongolian Yurt at Great Blue Heron will increase from $110 to $116 per night. Some swimming entry and equipment rentals will also see a slight increase. For a full listing of fee changes, visit http:// saskparks.com.

All other fees including nightly, seasonal and group camping will remain the same for the 2023 camping season.

New this year

New this year, a notification feature on the reservation system

will allow campers to sign up to receive an alert if a specific campsite becomes available.

Campers can also look forward to a total of 37 new seasonal sites: two full-service in Good Spirit Lake, eight electric in Buffalo Pound, a mix of 18 electric and non-electric in Makwa Lake, a mix of four electric and full-service at Meadow Lake and five electric at Moose Mountain. New Camp-Easy yurts have been added at Pike Lake, Good Spirit Lake and Greenwater Lake provincial parks with a new yurt replacing the old Camp-Easy tent in Crooked Lake.

MPs to vote on new carbon-pricing exemption for farmers

BY NATASHA BULOWSKI Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, National Observer

A private member’s bill that would exempt certain agricultural activities from the federal carbon price is heading back to the House of Commons with a few changes.

The bill would amend the federal Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act to add natural gas and propane used to dry grain and heat livestock barns to the list of farm fuels — including gasoline and diesel — already exempt from the federal price on pollution.

The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food finished its study of Bill C-234 in November, and it is expected to pass a vote in the House despite the Liberal Party’s opposition.

“I know that I’m going to vote in support of it … I think the Bloc Québécois probably will,” NDP MP Alistair MacGregor told Canada’s National Observer in an interview. MacGregor sits on the committee and is the NDP’s agriculture and food critic.

Over five committee meetings, MacGregor and Conservative MPs made the case for the fuel exemption because farmers don’t have other commercially viable fuel options, particularly for grain

dryers. Ontario Conservative MP Ben Lobb tabled C-234, which is similar to a previous private member’s bill that died on the order paper when the last federal election was called. That bill was conceived after the 2019 “harvest from hell” on the Prairies when farmers had to use more energy than expected to deal with a wet grain harvest.

Liberal MP and committee member Ryan Turnbull says the bill will disincentivize investment in developing alternative technology because it removes the carbon price from the equation. Instead of passing a bill that erodes the strength of the carbon price, the solution should be to increase access to financing for farmers to move to renewable energy, he told Canada’s National Observer in an interview.

Compared to heating livestock buildings and greenhouses, graindrying technology is trickier because while climate-friendlier options exist, they are not widely available in Canada, Turnbull said.

“But we could solve that problem in another way rather than just exempting farmers … basically just saying, ‘OK, well go ahead and burn fossil fuels for the next eight years.’”

Biomass-fuelled grain-drying technology looks promising, Turnbull and MacGregor both noted.

“What I heard very loudly and clearly at committee and from my meetings with various stakeholders is that it’s just not feasible at this moment in time and that they would appreciate a little bit of a break, especially when they are having some of those extreme weather events that are leading to very wet harvests for their grain,” said MacGregor, referencing the biomass technology, which he “would love to see us develop” in the coming years.

The committee amended the bill to include a sunset clause that will end the exemption eight years after it comes into force, though there will be the option to extend the exemption if viable technologies are not available. Several witnesses who spoke to the committee recommended they add a clause like this, including National Farmers Union representative Glenn Wright.

The problem is an eight-year exemption leaves no incentive to change or invest in new technology, said Turnbull. “That’s the power of the price signal, and that’s why the price on pollution is often revered and talked about as

the most effective market-based mechanism for moving to a zerocarbon economy.”

MacGregor agrees the price signal from the carbon price is “absolutely crucial” to encourage people to change their operations but said without options available to switch to, there won’t be results.

“C-234 is an important measure only for this interim period … the industry will understand that this is only for a set amount of time,” said MacGregor. The sunset clause means the industry will get “a little break right now, but it’s not going to last forever.”

The NDP’s decision to support the bill surprised Turnbull.

“I’m really shocked that a party that has been calling for the end to all fossil fuel subsidies is essentially supporting a fossil fuel subsidy,” he said.

He cautioned that eroding the price signal in one industry also runs the risk of setting a precedent where any industry can ask for an exemption when there are no commercially viable alternatives.

“I think that that’s the wrong move to make. It’s precisely at that moment that we have to say, ‘OK, how do we advance and assist as a government and how do

we work together with industry partners … advance and scale up and ensure that commercially viable solutions and alternatives are available in all those industries?’”

Since the 2019 harvest from hell, the federal government has made some changes to help farmers. In December 2021, the federal government introduced a tax credit to return fuel charge proceeds to farming businesses in provinces that use the federal carbon pollution pricing system because they don’t have their own equivalent system in place. These provinces are Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.

A $50-million funding stream for the purchase and research of more efficient grain dryers was announced in 2021. The soon-tobe-launched $15-billion Canada Growth Fund will also be able to help mobilize resources to tackle problems like this, said Turnbull.

“Fossil fuels are some of the most volatile fuel prices on the planet and farmers are going to, naturally, I think, try and find a way to get off of them,” said MacGregor.

Conservative MP John Barlow and Bloc Québécois MP Yves Perron did not respond to requests for comment by the deadline.

Randy Troffimenkoff, Teddy Hudye, and Aiden Broda won the Wheelchair Funspeil held on Jan. 13 and 14 and had their names engraved into a plaque.

100-mile ice race uses vintage sleds for competition

BY STEPHANIE ZOER Freelance Reporter

STOUGHTON — Fifteen snowmobile riders came out to enjoy a mild winter day on Jan. 14 for the Mexican Jumping Bean 100-mile Ice Race.

Jay Johnston put on the event with the help of Pat Haddow.

The name of the event comes from Johnston’s nickname, Taco. He felt it was a fitting name to stay in the same line.

Johnston and his family have always been into snow machines and are members of the Moose Mountain Snowmobile Club.

Haddow boasts a large collection of vintage snowmobiles. Haddow got Johnston into the old, single-cylinder machines and now Johnston is hooked.

The event took place 10 kilometres north of Stoughton, on a lake located half a kilometer off Highway 47 to the east.

There is no road leading to the frozen lake, so a wide path was cleared through the field with a large area for parking.

It takes many hours to clear the snow. Also, four volunteers are needed to count laps, and six volunteers are needed with sleds to pull off any machine that might break down out on the lake.

A food booth was on site, run by the Stoughton Girl Guides

and offering hot drinks and sandwiches.

Registration began at 10 a.m. with the lineup for the race at noon.

More than 15 machines sat along the edge of the manufactured track, waiting for the race time to commence.

The track is roughly two kilometres long and it loops and curves on the frozen lake, with straw bales lining the tight turns.

The single cylinder machines needed to be 1975 or older in order to run in this ice race.

This is the third time the

race has been held. The first year they saw 30 riders coming from Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Minnesota.

The second year the race was held in March and a thaw occurred, leaving water a foot deep on the lake. It did freeze but they decided to not hold it that late in the year.

For two years the race was not held, but this year they were able to hold the event once again.

Johnston said, “Sadly we did not have any women participate this year, nor did we have a kiddy class.”

It takes 80 laps to make 100 miles. After 40 laps they refuel and speed off again.

According to Johnston there are few of these races in Saskatchewan, so another one is already scheduled for the second weekend in January next year.

“No one got hurt and everyone had a great time,” Johnston said.

It is their plan to add a modified class to this event next year.

CN worker rescues kittens frozen to the ice from railway shack

BY JULIA PETERSON Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Saskatoon

StarPhoenix

HUMBOLDT — On New Year’s Day, a CN Railway worker in Humboldt found an unexpected surprise: someone had left a little orange kitten in one of the railroad’s warm-up shacks.

He had been left with a bowl of food, but nothing else. And with temperatures in the -20s Celsius, his paws had frozen to the ice. The worker had to chip him out, and found a local family to look after him.

On social media, Kristie Mino has been posting stories and pictures with her new kitten — her family named him Milo — and sharing her appreciation for the quick rescue.

“He is doing very well,” said Mino. “I am so grateful to the CN worker for finding him when he did, because the outcome of how he is doing would have been significantly different. It pains me that anyone would do this to these little cuties, or any animal.”

Notice of Call for Nominations Town of Norquay

But the next day, when the worker came back to the shack, he heard crying. He went in and found another kitten in the snow, badly frostbitten and in need of medical care.

After chipping the little gray cat out of the ice, he took her

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that nominations of candidates for the office(s) of:

Councillor: Town of Norquay

Number to be Elected: 1

will be received by the undersigned on the 15th day of February, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and during regular office hours on Tuesday, January 24th, to Tuesday, February 14th, 2023 at Norquay Town Office, 25 Main Street, Norquay, SK. Nomination forms may be obtained at the Norquay Town Office.

Dated this 24th day of January, 2023

to the Humboldt and District SPCA.

They named her Doodlebug, for her happy, loveable personality.

Shelter staff member Kassidy Remenda, who stepped up to foster Doodlebug, said

12th

the kitten has a long road ahead of her.

“One of her legs got really bad frostbite from being stuck to the ice for so long, because she was placed right on the bare snow,” Remenda said. “We were trying to treat the leg, but unfortunately we weren’t able to save it.”

Soon, they realized they would have to amputate.

“She is doing amazing” since the surgery, Remenda said. “I’m quite surprised. She’s only about five weeks old, so it’s like she never had a leg there.”

Remenda said she can’t imagine why someone would abandon kittens outdoors in harsh winter conditions. She wonders if putting them in the unheated railway shack might have been a deeply misguided attempt to keep them safe — the shack is more sheltered than the open street — but there is no way to know for sure.

“I don’t know why they didn’t even put the kittens in a box, or something, if they were trying to keep them out

of the elements,” she said. “We are all not very happy about it. We can’t believe how anyone would do that to something so small.”

Remenda said the shelter is seeing more and more people looking to re-home their pets this winter.

Some were COVID-19 animals, adopted when people were working from home. In other cases, families simply can’t afford to keep them anymore, she said.

“With the increases in costs, I’ve heard a lot of people saying they can’t afford it. They can’t buy dog food, and things like that.”

There are always better options than leaving an animal out in the cold if you can’t take care of it anymore, she added. The Humboldt and District SPCA encourages people to try to re-home the animal themselves, or take it to the shelter. If the local SPCA is full, they will send people to the surrounding shelters, said Remenda.

23021SS0

Denise Sorrell Returning Officer

As the 1975 or older vintage machines lined up for the ice race, a few needed a little coaching to remain running.

Photo by Stephanie Zoer

Five-week-old kittens Milo (left) and Doodlebug (right) were rescued from a CN Railway shack near Humboldt. Photo courtesty of Humboldt & District SPCA

Classifieds

OBITUARIES

First 20 Words: $7

Extra Words: 22¢ each

Add photo: $15 each

Call 306-563-5131

Nick Bobyk was born Feb. 2, 1931 to Peter and Annie (Tymchuk) Bobyk of Kamsack, SK. He attended Poplar Point School south east of Kamsack. In the winter of 1954-1955, Nick took agriculture short courses for farmers at the University of Saskatchewan, which included motor mechanics, welding and other information to do with farming. He also spent time at University Hospital checking species of disease. In the winter of 1956-57, he worked with Dr. Leon checking cattle for TB and Brucellosis, in 1977 he took machine classes in Yorkton. He preferred farm equipment that he could repair, and remodeled equipment to work better. Nick also made tools he could not buy. Nick built the bed for the University to push from Saskatoon to Regina for Telemiracle 1998. Nick served the minister in Stornoway Orthodox Church, helping out here needed, including the hall where they held dances. He loved to travel, to visit relatives in the U.S.A as well as trips to the Ukraine. He farmed with his parents, brother Mike, Mike’s sons and helped out with his neighbors when needed. Nick is survived by his friend; Patty Nykyforak of Roblin, MB, sister in law; Olga Bobyk her family, Darrell of Kamsack, Les and his wife Alison and son Rowan of Regina, SK, daughters; Donna of Regina, Lorraine and Brad Young of Langenburg and sons Braiden and Stephen, sister; Sonia Leakey’s sons Shawn and wife of Prince George B.C., Allan and Kenny and wife of Fort St. John, B.C. Nick is predeceased by parents; Peter and Annie, sister; Sonia and husband Ed, baby sister, Maria, brother Mike, all his aunts and uncles.

NOTICES / NOMINATIONS

NOTICES / NOMINATIONS

Legislation introduced to modernize liquor laws

FOR SALE - MISC

FOR SALE - MISC

The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced legislation to amend the Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act, 1997 in order to continue to modernize liquor regulations.

“Reducing red tape in Saskatchewan’s liquor laws increases flexibility for the public and creates new opportunities for communities and business, while remaining committed to ensuring the socially responsible sale and service of beverage alcohol,” said Lori Carr, Minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA), in a release.

Among the changes:

• Providing municipalities and park authorities with the discretion to designate outdoor public places such as parks for consumption of beverage alcohol by individuals of legal drinking age;

RYAN MICHAEL KONKINOctober 29, 1985 - January 13, 2023 Ryan was born to Teresa Lapitsky and Russell Konkin in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. On January 12 he sustained injuries from an explosion at work in St Catherines which he could not recover from and passed away on January 13 with his fiancé, in laws, sister Nicole and brother Garrett by his side. Ryan tended to have the least, but give the most, expecting nothing in return. He could make friends with complete strangers at a fishing hole, an upscale event or with a houseless person on the street. To Ryan, all people were equal and deserved his time of day. He loved fishing, woodwork, hiking, kids and animals. Ryan was blessed with the best two years of his life with his fiancé, Natalia Sepulveda-Lastra and her family, in St. Catherines, Ontario. He is survived by his son Vincent, sisters Allison and Nicole, brother Garrett, nieces Kenzlee and Lemon and his nephew Kayden. Ryan’s response to adversity was “Everything is going to be alright” and lived his life to the fullest through curiosity. He was such a comforting and gentle soul who left everyone better than he found them. To honour Ryan in the most authentic way possible, we will meet for a Shishliki BBQ Celebration of Life on May 20, 2023 in Kamsask, Saskatchewan followed by a bonfire and fishing social the next morning. Visit gofund.me/9b33a1b3 for more information and to contact Nicole for the event details and to register.

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PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. 51 local community newspapers, distributing to over 450 communities, including 14 cities. Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call 306-649.1405 or visit www.swna.com for details.

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• Simplifying the recorking provisions for permittees;

• Allowing homemade beer, wine and cider to be served at family events that are permitted with a special occasion permit including products manufactured at a U-Brew/U-Vin facility; and,

• Removing the requirement that applicants publish their intentions to obtain a liquor permit in local newspapers like the Kamsack Times

The changes are being made following discussions with stakeholders. The Bill amending the legislation is expected to pass in spring 2023.

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23021GP2

Throwback

EDITOR’S NOTE: These items were printed in the 1985 issues of the Kamsack Times.

Students of the Victoria School presented a cheque of $438.15 to Cpl. Brian Lynch of the Kamsack RCMP. The money is the amount the students raised in their Children of Kamsack for the Children of Africa campaign. With Lynch were: Troy Moroz, back row, and Lee Symak and Cory Wood.

Darcy Chernoff and Aimee Kerluke, who were kindergarten students of the Victoria School at Kamsack, had the opportunity to exchange valentines they made in class.

Ernie Wosminity of Kamsack was the February winner of the Kamsack air cadets’ Club 250 draw. Presenting him his thousand dollar bill was Cathie Bodnarek, treasurer of the cadets’ civilian committee.

When he served as president of the Kamsack museum society, John Andrychuk was able to oversee significant work at Kamsack’s museum, once the old power plant.

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The Gilles Comeault rink of Kamsack won the Canora Men’s Open bonspiel. Curling with Comeault were: Roger Vogelsang, David Steele and Sam Chernoff. Peter Ostafichuk presented them with their trophies.

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For your free shingling estimate contact Zac McGriskin at 306-590-0019

Couple uses mystique and romance in bison operation

BY WILLIAM DEKAY

Western Producer

HANLEY — Sell a bison burger and you’re selling a story. That’s how Les and Kathy Kroeger approach their business and their customers.

“I’ve got my passion for talking about bison and the land. And I sell my story, whether it’s in a package of steak or a package of ground,” said Les.

Kathy emphasizes the heritage of the animal and the ways people view it.

“It’s important that we keep sharing the stories with one another because everybody who comes in contact with bison, to whatever degree, has a story to tell about them,” she said.

The couple operate Rosedale Bison, a 250head, 1,250-acre ranch bordering the town of Hanley. Part of it was homesteaded by Les’s grandfather, who emigrated from Russia in the 1920s.

Les grew up milking dairy cows with his father, but that mostly ended after they sold a chunk of pasture to make room for construction of the four-lane Highway 11.

“Dad was determined we would never milk another cow. He got the idea of trying bison, so in 1989 we bought our first four bison cows and that began this whole process,” he said.

A few years later, the Saskatchewan Bison Association was established to promote the bison industry and to represent the interests of bison producers, which numbered 24 producers at that time and sits at about 300 today.

Les is a past president of that organization and current president of the Canadian Bison Association, which hosted the International Bison Convention in Saskatoon in July.

“Through those 33 years that we’ve had bison, we’ve seen the evolution of the industry where it’s not the big scary animal. They’re still wild by nature, but we’ve learned with them.”

He credits the late Bud Williams for teaching him low stress handling techniques and ways to work with bison.

“We’ve learned how to read the animals and work with them. We can make the bison go wherever they want, we just have to develop a means to make them want to,” he said.

Kathy is a retired school teacher and

administrator. She met Les when she was principal at the local school and now her administrative skills, honed over 38 years in education, are being utilized as Rosedale Bison’s bookkeeper and record-keeper.

“I’m the brawn and she’s the brains,” said Les with a smile.

The evolution of bison within the Canadian livestock industry requires traceability where every animal that leaves the farm has to have a radio frequency identification (RFID) number.

“It’s a new era we’re moving into where we have to have records of movement on everything, so we have to be able to trace the animals from the consumer right back to the farm of origin,” said Les.

In addition to a five-year drought in the area, the pandemic had further impact on the niche bison meat market.

“The Canadian marketplace has always been typically serving the restaurant industry and the European export. COVID-19 closed the doors on both of those,” said Les.

Burgeoning consumer interest in their homegrown bison meat has been a silver

lining for the Kroegers, whose ranch is conveniently located next to one of the province’s major highways.

“Instead of looking for markets for live animals, we’re doing our own processing and selling products ourselves, so we’re expanding into marketing our own product.

“Farmgating has done the whole industry a lot of good. Ever since COVID hit, consumers are eating more bison and finding out more about … cooking the different cuts or the health benefits of the meat,” he said.

A small shop now sits where the old milk house once stood and offers a convenient place for customers to visit and learn — and tell stories. A display case holds storytelling artifacts that Les has collected from his land, including a few hammerheads and bison horns.

“Because of my involvement and my passion for this, I prefer the customers to come here. We can sit and talk about environmental issues, conservation and other different things. They can see what we’re doing and then enjoy some really great tasting products.”

Added Kathy, “people trust local and personal and to be able to come and have conversations about the animal. The animals are beautiful and majestic and they’re incredibly intelligent.

“They’re different from cattle and they’re different from elk and deer because there’s a richness to them, there’s a depth to them and they’re a big part of our Canadian history.”

Les notes their different approaches to marketing.

“Kathy uses mystique. I use romance…. It’s part of the Western culture. The bison have been here for thousands of years. But there’s still that big, powerful romantic animal. (People) want to find out more about that story. It’s not just buying a burger. It’s buying our story, whether it’s thousands of years ago with the First Nations and then with the buffalo hunters.

“I’m not just selling a burger, I’m selling the story. And when somebody buys that burger, they’re supporting me to do more with my part in conservation of grasslands and the species.”

Considerations for extensive winter feeding sites

BY KEANA BOERE, AAG, Agri-Environmental Specialist, Outlook

Extensive winter feeding is the practice of feeding animals in a field setting during the winter. Feeding using an extensive system can reduce an operation’s feeding, manure hauling and yardage costs. Grazing stockpiled forage (such as dormant perennial forage stands or pastures), swath grazing, bale grazing or feeding with a bale processor are ways that many producers have already adopted extensive winter feeding on their operations. The important difference compared to non-extensive feeding sites (corral systems) is that in extensive systems animals stay on the land where manure and nutrients are directly distributed.

Careful site selection and appropriate site management are critical in ensuring that the benefits of the extensive feeding system are captured, while ensuring that environmental risks are minimized. The greatest environmental risk associated with a wintering site relates to the potential impact on surface and ground water quality. Manure and crop residues associated with the wintering site are a source of nutrients, pathogens and sediments that have potential to move into water sources.

To minimize environmental risks, there are several factors to consider when selecting a site for extensive winter feeding.

• The topography of a site impacts the risk of runoff, overland water flow and erosion. Steep slopes have a greater risk of nutrient and sediment runoff. The

risk for runoff is highest during spring melt when the soil is still frozen. It is recommended to select a site with a slope gradient of less than two per cent. Runoff can also be managed by installing water control structures such as basins, berms or ditches.

• Ground cover of the site also

impacts the amount of runoff. Perennial forage stands or annual cropland with stubble remaining are the best options for reducing the risk of water movement off site. Vegetation cover helps to slow and trap runoff water, reducing the risk of surface water contamination.

• To directly protect water sources from runoff and leaching contamination, select sites that are located away from surface water bodies. Areas with coarsetextured soils and shallow water tables are at a higher risk for contamination by leaching nutrients. Avoid wintering on these sites to protect water sources.

Management of the site after the winter-feeding season is also important. Manure and feed residues can build up over the winter and may need to be addressed before the growing season starts. Harrowing to spread manure or feed residue or tillage operations on annual cropland prior to seeding can help distribute nutrients and manure.

Selecting an extensive winter-feeding site that considers animal needs and limits negative environmental impacts requires careful planning. Consider the limitations of your site and possible management actions. For more information contact your local regional office or call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.

Careful selection of a site for livestock winter feeding is important to maximize benefits and minimize risks at the same time.

Les and Kathy Kroeger operate Rosedale Bison from their ranch at Hanley.

Photo by William DeKay