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Residents of Martensville are reminded to REMOVE garbage bags of grass clippings and leaves and place them in the provided receptacle. The City of Martensville has been seeing many garbage bags dumped along with other garbage in this area intended for GRASS CLIPPINGS AND LEAVES ONLY. Please respect this property and what it is meant to be used for. (Jocelyn Ottenbreit/MM)
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H E T R O ’S DAY M Y P P A H MAY 9
Page 2 - MAY 6, 2021 - martensville messenger Box 970 37 Centennial Dr. S. Martensville, SK SOK 2TO Phone:(306) 931-2166
Visit www.martensville.ca for more information
Civic Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic What You Should Know!
City Hall is Open! - However with some guidelines currently in place. Continue to utilize online and contactless options when possible. Please do not visit City Hall if you are feeling unwell, experiencing flu-like symptoms or have been in contact with someone who is presumptive or tested positive for COVID-19. Residents and Customers are encouraged to carry out transactions electronically such as online banking, preauthorized payments or TIPPS. Cheques may also be dropped off in the drop slot at City Hall. Stay Informed! - The City of Martensville has created a dedicated webpage to provide information, updates, and additional resources around the COVID-19 pandemic. This page is accessible through the homepage at Martensville.ca. Please continue to follow us, media sources and information from the Province of Saskatchewan for the most current information around updates or new measures for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 Use of Masks are Mandatory in Saskatchewan - Residents are required to wear nonmedical masks in indoor public spaces to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This is a Public Health Order and is subject to enforcement and fines. Health officials strongly recommend wearing a non-medical mask anywhere outside the home.
Business Property Tax and Utility Update The City has re-implemented the suspension of interest on property taxes and utilies for commercial or industrial properties retroactive from November 2020 until July 31st, 2021. City Staff are available to work with the public via phone or email. Questions or inquiries can be directed to City Hall via phone (306-931-2166) or inquiry@martensville. ca during this time. Recreation Program Update- Amazing Race, Buster Days, Monster Garage Sale Amazing Race: May 8th 11:30-5pm - Teams of 4 will race around the City, completing tasks and challenges along the way. The team with the fastest time will win the Amazing Race. This year’s race is completely sold out! Thank you to all our participants and sponsors! Monster Garage Sale: May 28th and 29th - It is spring and that means it is time to declutter your house! Register your house for the MGS and you will get your address on all the flyers, signage, and balloons! Registration is now open and can be done via the City of Martensville Website or by calling 306-683-5576. Buster Days 2021: June 4th, 5th, 6th - Registration for all Buster Days events will be on May 10th at 9am on the City registration portal. For a full list of activities follow Buster days on Facebook! Mini Soccer blastball starts on Monday. It’s from 6-7pm in Lions Park.
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
There has been continued progression around the delivery of vaccines with the increase in number of vaccine clinics and eligibility for the public expanding as vaccine becomes administered and available. Commencing on April 1st the North Ridge Centre opened as an available vaccination centre. A comprehensive resource is available at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19-vaccine and includes information around vaccines as well as a gateway for online booking and what you should have ready prior to your vaccine. Bookings for vaccination can also be accessed by calling 1-833-SASKVAX Please continue to watch for updates for vaccine clinics in the area and for when you may be eligible to sign-up.
City of Martensville Public Notice Official Community Plan - Bylaw 2 - 2020 Public notice is hereby given that the Council of the City of Martensville, pursuant to Section 207 of the Planning and Development Act, 2007, intends to consider a bylaw to adopt an Official Community Plan (OCP) No. 2-2020. INTENT - The proposed Official Community Plan bylaw will establish municipal goals, objectives and policies relating to land use and development. This bylaw proposes to update the future land use map and current policies affected by the recent annexation, provincial legislative amendments, and City Master Plans. New sections include policies for reconciliation, climate change, financing growth, Sector and Concept Plans, and working within Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G). This amendment will also adopt the West Sector Plan as an appendix to the OCP. AFFECTED LAND - The proposed bylaw will affect all the property within the corporate boundaries of the City of Martensville.
City ofguide Martensville City Hall by identifying REASON - The Official Community Plan will development decisions municipal goals and objectives. Hours of Operation: PUBLIC INSPECTION - Any person may inspect the proposed bylaws on the City of Monday to Friday Martensville website at www.martensville.ca/ocp2021 or at City Hall, 37 Centennial Drive AMPM, to 5:00 PM to Friday, excluding South, Martensville, SK, between 9:00 AM9:00 to 5:00 Monday Holidays)for free at www. statutory holidays. Copies are available(Excluding to persons atStatutory cost or downloaded martensville.ca. PUBLIC HEARING - Council will hold a public hearing via Zoom at 5:00 PM on May 18th, 2021, to hear any person or group that wishes to comment on the proposed bylaw. Council will also consider written comments received at the hearing or delivered to the undersigned at City Hall prior to May 12th, 2021. Dated at Martensville this April 15th 2021 Bonnie Gorelitza, Planning Manager
May Council Meeting Dates
Please Note: The upcoming Council Schedule or location may be subject to change based around any potential new developments or ease of restrictions around the COVID-19 Pandemic. Anyone interested in attending is strongly encouraged to contact the City Clerk prior to planning to attend. Committee of the Whole May 11th Regular Council Meeting May 18th The Regular Council Meetings are located at Martensville City Hall Council Chambers in Martensville City Hall at 37 Centennial Dr. S. All meetings commence at 5PM. Those wishing to address or do a presentation to Council must be placed on the agenda. To be placed on the agenda please contact the City Clerk’s office at City Hall or visit the website for details. The full Council and Committee of the Whole Schedule can be obtained at martensville.ca.
2021 is a Revaluation Year - What Do You Need To Know About Your Assessment and Taxes?
The City and the Province set tax mill rates which are applied to the property assessment values to determine the tax levy for city and education property tax. 2021 Assessment Notices were mailed to all property owners April 30, 2021. Detailed information about the 2021 Revaluation, Assessment, Taxes and the 2021 Budget can be found at Martensville.ca under, ‘Services for Residents, Property Tax and Assessment’. Property owners may also view their property report and assessment information online for at MySAMA & SAMAView after April 30th. Questions about Assessment can be directed to City Hall at 931-2166, or SAMA directly at 933-5385.
martensville messenger - MAY 6, 2021 - Page 3
POLICE Open Alcohol Found in Highway 11 Traffic Stop On May 2, just after midnight Corman Park Police Service (CPPS) noticed a vehicle failing to maintain its lane on Highway 11 north of Warman. A traffic stop was executed on the vehicle and the driver was found to be consuming alcohol in the vehicle. An ASD demand was made on the driver, resulting in a FAIL. The driver was arrested and transported to Martensville RCMP where they provided two samples of 100mg% and 90mg%. The driver was charged with impaired operation and the vehicle was impounded for 30 days. CPPS noted that the adult passenger in the vehicle was completely sober, and reminded the public that under no circumstances should you ever get into a vehicle with an impaired driver. It could be a fatal decision.
Alcohol a Factor in Highway 11 Rollover On April 30, at 9:40pm, Corman Park Police Service and Warman RCMP members responded to a single vehicle rollover on Highway 11 near Township 381. The paramedics on scene alerted members that alcohol may have been involved. The driver has been charged with Impaired Operation of a Conveyance and was transported to hospital by EMS.
ABOVE: A rollover on Highway 11 resulted in an impaired driving charge. (CPPS)
BEAT
RCMP Ask For Public Assistance Locating Missing Man
ABOVE: Open alcohol was found in a vehicle during a May 2 traffic stop on Highway 11. (CPPS)
Driver Clocked at 170 on Highway 11 At 2:00am on May 2, CPPS patrol spotted a vehicle travelling at 170km on Highway 11 near Warman. They stopped the vehicle and the driver was arrested for impaired driving, along with dangerous driving. The driver provided breath samples that had the reading of 220mg%. The vehicle was impounded for 60 days, and the driver is scheduled to appear in court in July.
ABOVE: An impaired driver was clocked at 170km/hr on Highway 11 on May 2. (CPPS)
Traffic Stop Results in Drug Trafficking Charges
On April 30, Warman RCMP put a release out to the public requesting help locating 23-year-old Travis Curtis Berger, who went missing from a residence in the RM of Vanscoy. Berger was reported missing on April 27, 2021, but has not been seen by his family since April 22, 2021. Berger is described as Indigenous, with brown eyes, short black hair and was last known to have a full beard. Berger is approximately 5’11” and weighs between 250-260 lbs. He was last seen wearing black pants with a stripe down the side, a black nylon jacket with stripes on the sleeves and blue Jordan Nike shoes. On May 1, RCMP updated their notice to the public, adding that Berger was last observed in Saskatoon and is known to drive a grey 2004 Honda Civic. Anyone with any information is requested to call the Warman RCMP at 306-975-1670, or call 310RCMP(7267). To submit information anonymously, one can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a tip online using the P3 App (https://www.p3tips. com/206) or at www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
ABOVE: Travis Curtis Berger. (RCMP)
RCMP Recover Stolen Motorhome
On April 27, Corman Park Police Service and In the early morning hours of May 3, 2021, the Warman RCMP assisted RCMP were alerted to a break and enter in progress. Saskatchewan Highway This was occurring in the RM of Corman Park, north of Patrol on a traffic stop Asquith. RCMP along with Saskatoon Police Service Air on Highway 12 near One support and Corman Park Police, were able to track 71st Street. The vehicle down two separate vehicles that were involved and two had a suspended driver people were taken into custody. A stolen motorhome was in possession of untaxed also recovered in these efforts and returned to the owner. tobacco. The investigation is on-going and charges are expected to Following a be laid and court appearances are planned for tomorrow search of the vehicle, morning. 443 assorted pills, 12 ABOVE: An array of drugs and money were seized The RCMP would like to thank Saskatoon Police syringes loaded with an unknown red substance, 3g of Shrooms during an April 27 traffic stop on Highway 12, near Service and Corman Park Police for there assistance in 71st St. (CPPS) (psilocybin), 2g Crystal Meth, 1g of Cocaine, 37g of Cannabis, bringing this occurrence to a quick conclusion. BELOW: A traffic $1,024.50 in cash and other unknown substances were seized. stop for speeding The driver was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and released with a future led to the seizure of drugs, cigarettes court date. This May, the SGI Traffic Safety Spotlight will see police focus on
SGI Reminds Motorists to #DriveSober
Traffic Stop Leads to Seizure of Illegal Items and Cash Valued at $32,000
On May 2 around midnight, a Corman Park Police Service officer did a traffic stop on a Ford Escape, heading southbound on Highway 11, north of Saskatoon, that was going 134 km/hr. The vehicle was stopped for speeding and two men inside were observed with open alcohol. From there, a search of the vehicle revealed 16 cartons of untaxed cigarettes, 180 grams of heroin, 118 grams of cocaine and over $8700 in cash. The total street value of the seizure is $32,000. The two men were arrested and turned over to Saskatoon Police Service where they were held in custody and are facing a number of charges relating to drug trafficking and possession.
and cash. (CPPS)
impaired driving across the province, with SGI reminding people that even though the weather is getting warmer and there may be plans to have socially distant drinks on the patio or backyard, be sure to always ensure a safe ride home, as well as comply with public health orders. “No one should ever lose their life to a poor decision made by an impaired driver,” said Penny McCune, Chief Operating Officer of the Auto Fund. “The past year has taught us about the importance of looking out for each other. Let’s all keep that in mind. If you’re drinking or using drugs, please don't drive.” Preliminary stats show in 2020, 32 people died and 371 were injured because of crashes resulting from impaired driving. Saskatoon Police Service Drug Recognition Evaluator Patrick Foster noted that we continue to be surprised by the number of motorists that do not seem to know or care that driving while under the influence of cannabis is illegal and dangerous. “Our team is highly trained to determine impairment through field sobriety testing techniques. Driving impaired, because of any substance, is never worth the risk.” Any substance, whether it be legal, or illegal that alters your thinking can impact your ability to drive safely. This includes prescription drugs as well. When it comes to operating a vehicle, impaired is impaired. Impaired driving can lead to death or injuries, but also possible jailtime or a criminal record, license suspensions, vehicle impoundment and seizures as well as financial penalties – both court ordered and Safe Driver Recognition penalties. Other options are available such as utilizing a designated driver, calling a cab or rideshare service, or using public transportation.
Page 4 - MAY 6, 2021 - martensville messenger
MHS Student Selected For Elite Scholarship Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
ABOVE: Students at Valley Manor School took time out of their day to spend some time cleaning up the school yard on April 22 in honour of Earth Day. (Submitted)
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Martensville High School (MHS) student Shaelagh Stephan received some exciting news last week. Stephan was selected for the Schulich Leader Scholarship for the Faculty of Engineering at Western University, a scholarship valued at $100,000 payable over four years. Included in this scholarship is: first choice of residence, guaranteed entrance into her first choice of engineer program after ABOVE: Shaelagh Stephan successfully completing her first year of studies, and a guaranteed student research position with a Western Engineer professor in the summer between her first and second year. Breanne Cooper, MHS Teacher and Guidance Counsellor stated that each year, the school is able to nominate one student that is planning to enter a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) post-secondary education pathway following high school, and this year, was their first recipient ever. “We ask students to submit a letter of interest to our scholarship committee and then the scholarship committee meets and decides our nominee based on the nominee’s letter and how they meet the criteria. This year, Shaelagh was our nominee. Once we submitted the nomination, she was responsible for submitting her application online which consisted of an application, an essay, a list of accomplishments and a reference letter,” Cooper explained. Throughout high school, Stephan has earned honour role with distinction, and also participated in soccer, basketball, track and field, Outdoor Adventure Club, Project Change and Flag Football. In addition to this, Stephan also participated in the first half of a German Exchange where a student from Germany lived with her family, and then the plan was for Shaelagh to travel to Germany in spring 2020; however, due to COVID, these plans were cancelled. Outside of high school, Shaelagh has also competed in numerous science fairs, including a 2018 Regional Science Fair, 2018 Sanofi Biogenius and 2018 Canada Wide Science Fair.
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Lake Vista School celebrated Mrs. Delahey on Admin Assistant Day, thanking her for everything that she does for the school. (Twitter)
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Mental Health Week in Saskatchewan May 3 - 9 Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger
Most everyone has experienced some sort of anxiety, worry or depression dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in this past year. Mental health may have taken a toll towards you or a loved one, and you may have feelings of loneliness, self-isolation, and concerns about what the future may hold. There are resources out there for mental health issues in Saskatchewan, including post-trauma stress, depression, suicide, mood disorders to name a few. If you are looking to find resources and support during this time to seek professional help for yourself or a friend or family member who may be struggling to cope during these times, visit https://www. saskatchewan.ca/mental-health for tips and resources.
MFD Reminding Residents to Plan Ahead During Emergency Preparedness Week Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
From May 2 to 8, Saskatchewan will be recognizing Emergency Preparedness Week, and for the first time, the Martensville Fire Department is taking part. This week, the MFD will be sharing information about how to best be prepared for an emergency situation via their Facebook page. This is a week that the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) is using to remind residents to think about their risks, make a plan and prepare an emergency kit. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," SPSA President Marlo Pritchard said. "Emergency Preparedness Week is a great time to think about what can happen to your home, property or family and take action to be prepared." The SPSA will be conducting a test of the Alert Ready system at approximately 1:55pm on Wednesday, May 5. Deputy Fire Chief Dean Brooman is also looking to conduct a test of our local emergency response system through the City of Martensville – Notify Now. If you haven’t already signed up for this, you can do so by visiting www.martensville.ca, scrolling to the bottom of the page and clicking the ‘Notify Now’ option in the bottom right-hand corner. “We recommend signing up for both our local system and the province-wide system. The nice thing about the province-wide alert is that it will update you as to what is going on wherever you are in Saskatchewan,” Brooman said. Brooman explained that the MFD would be sharing tips and tricks for residents that can help them ensure they are as prepared as possible for at least a 72-hour period in the event of an emergency such as an extended power outage, local flooding, severe weather, fire, evacuation, etc. The MFD has been working closely with the Red Cross as part of the EMO Plan (Emergency Measures Organization) and can now contact them if there is a family or families in need following a fire. “We can call them in and they will come and help with that family – getting them to a hotel and having them set up for 72 hours so they are taken care of while their insurance kicks in, or until family can help out. We have also talked to them about larger scale things such as a condo fire or something of that nature where there are more people affected. They have been very efficient and great to work with. We have set some things in place already and that has helped out tremendously,” Brooman explained. For some, it may seem far-fetched to think of a major emergency situation happening in Martensville, but in reality, it is quite possible. Just this past winter, there were many Saskatchewan residents left without power following a winter storm, so it doesn’t hurt to be prepared – just in case. When it comes to preparing, one of the things that Brooman said is recommended is to have an emergency kit in your home. This can include: water (2L/person/day) non-perishable foods, can opener, flashlight (crank powered, or have extra batteries packed), radio (battery or crank), first-aid kit, cash, etc. “It is a good idea to sit down with your family and talk things out. Have a plan in place where you know how you would connect in case of an emergency and weren’t together, how do you turn off the water and breakers in your home, where the emergency kit is stored and things like that. These are things that we should know, and be educating our children 21052PM0 about,” Brooman added. For more information on how to plan for an emergency situation, visit www. getprepared.ca.
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martensville messenger - MAY 6, 2021 - Page 7
MLA Terry Jenson’s Report from the Legislature Exciting New Economic Opportunities - Good economic news for our province keeps rolling in.
Good Economic News Amidst the COVID Gloom
It was another bad week for COVID-19 in Saskatchewan, but things may be looking up on a couple economic fronts. Things actually may even be looking up on the COVID-19 front as well, although no one — including the Saskatchewan Party government — seems to know for certain. The good COVID-19 news is vaccinations in Saskatchewan surpassed 400,000 shots last week. Premier Scott Moe is right: Vaccines are only our best chance to get out of this pandemic mess. The less-than-good-news, however, is Regina ICUs remain full and the new variants are spreading to Saskatoon and throughout Southern Saskatchewan. To their credit, Moe and Health Minister Paul Merriman delivered a stronger message to anti-mask, antilockdown rallies in the cities and in smaller centres like Maple Creek, stating that any such gatherings break public health orders and slow down our ability to get through this pandemic, but how we can more quickly get through all of this as we administer the first shot to everyone during the coming months continues to be a huge source of debate and contention. While both Merriman and Moe have scolded the more outlandish behaviour of the anti-mask crowd — including their picketing of the Regina General Hospital where people were fighting for their lives — they seem reluctant to advocate more policing and seem unwilling to introduce harsher fines for those breaking public health orders. It’s hard not to suspect that this is because the government fears the backlash of the extreme right … or maybe even a few more moderates who share the frustration over lockdowns. Similarly, the Sask. Party government’s hesitance to impose provincewide restrictions on bars, restaurants and school openings even in places like Saskatoon that recently surpassed Regina in the daily COVID-19 case count. If it is the government’s argument that the strategy is actually working in Regina where government public health officers declared it was safe to re-open schools this week to in-class learning, why wouldn’t the same metrics be applied to Saskatoon? It remains a bit of a mystery as to what those metrics are. Asked last week what level of daily cases or percentage of people vaccinated in the province it would take to one day re-open Saskatchewan, Moe was shy on specifics. One gets the distinct impression that the Saskatchewan Premier would surely love to be talking about most anything else. Who could blame him? Few if any, Saskatchewan leaders have had to deal with an issue of such sustained pressure. The good news for Moe is that, recently, there have been some other positive things to talk about. Accompanying COVID-19 has been a loss of jobs partly due to the drastic fall in oil, but agriculture has remained steady. That industry has recently been awarded with some positive announcements. Viterra unveiled a proposal for the world’s largest canola crushing facility to be built in Regina. It’s plan for a 2.5 million tonnes processing facility followed an announcement by Cargill for a similar $350-million canola crushing plant, also proposed for Regina, capable of processing one million tonnes a year. These announcements follow the March news by Richardson International Ltd. that it was doubling its canola crushing capacity in Yorkton to 2.2 tonnes per year. Toss in the opening of the $32-million North American Helium Inc. plant near Battle Creek in the province’s southwest corner and there is suddenly a smattering of good news amidst all the COVID-19 gloom and doom. While the Sask. Party government does sit on a comfortable majority in the legislature, it is clear that its popularity has taken a beating since the October election. It needs to get back on track and the same can be said for an entire province also bogged down in this pandemic. At this point, we’ll all take any good news we can get.
Viterra Canola Crush Facility in Regina Viterra has announced that a new world-class canola crush plant will be built in Regina. This global grain company – with Saskatchewan roots – is in the feasibility stage to finalize the plant’s capabilities and design, with an initial targeted annual crush capacity of 2.5 million metric tonnes. This would make it the world’s largest integrated canola crush facility. Viterra’s new canola crush plant will support a number of goals in the Saskatchewan Growth Plan: • to grow our agri-food exports to $20 billion; • to increase agriculture value-added revenue to $10 billion; • to increase the value of exports by 50 per cent; and • to grow private capital investment to $16 billion annually. Furthermore, it not only supports the Growth Plan’s goal to crush 75 per cent of the canola produced in this province, it means we have, in fact, now achieved that goal, well ahead of 2030. This project will create jobs during the construction phase, as well as permanent employment opportunities once in operation, and it will create additional career opportunities through the supply chain. Cargill Canola Processing Facility in Regina This builds on another exciting announcement that Cargill will be moving forward with a new canola processing facility in Regina. This $350 million dollar investment will support farmers access to increasing market demand, create 1 million hours of employment throughout construction, and add 50 full-time positions upon completion. These are real jobs for families and a real investment in our economy as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. These investments are a clear sign of confidence in the growth and competitiveness of our world class Saskatchewan agriculture industry – and we know they are among the many good things on the horizon for Saskatchewan. Helium Purification Facility in the Southwest Our province is now home to the largest helium purification facility in Canada. The new $32 million facility, located in southwest Saskatchewan, is owned and operated by North American Helium Inc. and is expected to produce more than 50 million cubic feet per year of purified helium for commercial sale. That’s enough to fill approximately 400,000 party balloons a day. Helium is a highly desirable commodity used in medical research, semiconductor manufacturing, space exploration, fibre optics, and advancements in nuclear power generation. This project, which will create and support local jobs, enable the province to scale up helium production, and grow export capacity, is being supported by our government’s Oil and Gas Processing Investment Incentive program. This will further diversify our natural resource sector and position Saskatchewan as a leading supplier of a critical element that the world needs. It is important we continue providing a competitive investment environment to attract projects that will create jobs in our communities, grow our economy and build a strong Saskatchewan. Easing Visitation Restrictions at Care Homes - COVID-19 continues to be our government’s #1 priority. Our goal is to vaccinate a significant portion of the population as quickly as possible and, while we still have a long way to go, there is one segment of the population where we have achieved this goal and that’s seniors who are living in our long-term care and personal care homes. If at least 90 per cent of the residents in a facility have been fully vaccinated and three weeks have elapsed since the last second dose vaccinations, residents can now welcome up to two visitors at a time indoors, and up to four visitors at a time outdoors. Seniors who are fully vaccinated will also be able to leave the facility and return without having to quarantine. More appointments and opportunities to receive your COVID-19 vaccine will become available as more vaccines become available. In the meantime, let’s all keep protecting ourselves and those around us. Thank you to all staff working at clinics across the province. Every shot, in every arm, makes Saskatchewan a little safer. The vaccines are safe, the vaccines work, and when it’s your turn, I strongly encourage you to roll up your sleeve and stick it to COVID.
Letter to the Editor The Martensville Messenger welcomes letters to the editor for publication. Letters must be signed and a phone number and/or email address included so the writer’s identity can be verified. ALL letters are the opinion of the writer and NOT the Martensville Messenger. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity or compliance with the current standards of public taste. Submit your letter to news@martensvillemessenger.ca or mail to Box 333 - Martensville, SK S0K 2T0.
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