Winterfest hits Biggar ... While it might have been on the cool side, the third annual Winterfest went ahead, all courtesy of the Ruthilda Métis Local 105. Dog sledding and sleigh rides were just some of the activities you could take part in this past Saturday, with bannock making, bead work and more made the popular event a celebration of winter.
(Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)
The U18 National Outlaws hit the Jubilee, Saturday night, hosting the Unity Lazers in Hi-Way 14 Hockey League action. It might be a preview of their provincial run as the Nats defeated the Shellbrook Elks 10-1 and 13-0 in their Provincial B opener, looking to Round 2 against Unity or Waldheim. On this night, the Nats dug in and defeated the Lazers 8-4. (Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)
Saskatchewan’s year starts off strong
According to the latest labour force survey numbers from Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan started off 2025 tied for the lowest unemployment rate among provinces at 5.4 per cent, below the national average of 6.6 per cent.
The province also added 9,900 new jobs yearover-year for the month of January.
“Saskatchewan continues to regularly have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation as our economy continues to create more jobs and more opportunities,” Deputy Premier and Immigration and Career Training Minister Jim Reiter said. “Our government is committed to ensuring that
Saskatchewan continues to grow and that is why we are focused on growing access to health care and educational spaces while taking action to make life more affordable for Saskatchewan people.”
Year-over-year full-time employment increased by 3,000, an increase of 0.6 per cent. Female employment is up 4,300, an increase of 1.5 per cent, and male employment is up 5,400, an increase of 1.7 per cent.
Major year-over-year job gains were reported for construction, up 6,300 (+16.6 per cent), health care and social assistance, up 5,900 (+6.5 per cent), and agriculture, up 3,500 (+15.3 per cent).
Saskatchewan’s two biggest cities also saw year-over-year growth.
Compared to January 2024, Saskatoon’s employment was up 10,400, an increase of 5.4 per cent, and Regina’s employment was up 1,200, an increase of 0.8 per cent.
Saskatchewan also saw strong growth across other economic indicators. The province ranked second in yearover-year retail trade growth with a 5.1 per cent increase from November 2023 to November 2024.
Saskatchewan ranked second in the nation for month-over-month growth in building construction investment with an increase of 5.7 per cent. The province also saw an 11.8 per cent increase in year-over-year construction investment from November 2023 to
November 2024. This economic growth is backed by the Government of Saskatchewan’s recently released Building the Workforce for a Growing Economy: The Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy, a roadmap to build the workforce needed to support Saskatchewan’s strong and growing economy, and Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy, a plan to increase investment in the province and to further advancing Saskatchewan’s Growth plan goal of $16 billion in private capital investment annually.
Premier Moe travels to Washington and Mexico to support Canada U.S. Trade
Premier Scott Moe will travel to Washington D.C. this week for meetings with U.S. elected representatives, industry organizations and to participate in the premier’s Council of the Federation (COF) joint-mission to Washington.
Prior to the COF mission, Premier Moe will meet with U.S. elected representatives and businesses to emphasize the strong trade relationship between Canada and the U.S., and the role Saskatchewan plays in supplying the continent with energy and food security.
“It’s important in the current economic environment that we engage with our counterparts in the United States to emphasize the shared benefit of trade between our two countries and turn the conversation toward building on those strengths rather than jeopardizing them with tariffs,” said Moe.
The U.S. is Saskatchewan’s largest and most important trading partner. About $40 billion worth of imports and exports cross the border every year. The current tariff-free border allows businesses to add value to products and economies, whether flowing from north to south or vice versa.
Premier Moe’s meetings will focus on maintaining strong Canada-U.S. relations by addressing shared issues such as the economy, energy, supply chains and the impacts of the Trump Administration’s proposed tariffs.
Premier Moe will also express Saskatchewan’s support for strong
by
measures to secure the Canada-U.S. border.
“Strengthening border security and preventing the flow of illicit drugs like Fentanyl is a concern that has been identified by the U.S. and one that I share,” Moe added. “We are already taking action as a province through our Border Security Plan to ensure we have more officers and law enforcement presence at the Saskatchewan-U.S. border.”
The Council of the Federation’s jointmission to Washington will allow all 13 premiers to present a united voice on the important benefits that free-trade brings to Canada and the U.S. and the concern over the negative impact of tariffs to consumers and businesses on both sides of the border.
The COF program will take place on February 12 and will include meetings with U.S. elected representatives, business leaders and the Canada American Business Council.
Following the COF mission Premier Moe will travel to Mexico to engage with business and elected officials to advance relationships with this key trading partner.
Over the course of the next few weeks, Premier Moe and multiple cabinet Ministers will be travelling within Canada and beyond to advocate for Saskatchewan’s interests. These engagement efforts will focus on promoting the province as a global supplier of food and energy security, while strengthening relationships with our key international trading partners.
Biggar RCMP report
This past week 23 occurrences were handled by the Biggar Detachment.
In traffic, three traffic safety violations were dealt with and one report of a Kia versus deer on Highway 14.
A semi coming into town cut the corner too sharp, making a left turn at the Subway and their trailer caused significant damage to a pick-up truck waiting at the stop sign. A complaint of an older white pick-up truck full of junk disrupting the flow of business in their parking lot, a minor intervention required to resolve the issue.
An incident of disturbing the peace was reported at the bar.
A 32-year-old male was escorted home before he had any more regrets.
A 22-year-old female
from Red Pheasant was tracked down after three individuals entered into the new liquor store and stole a couple of bottles of liquor and left in the family vehicle.
This past week a search warrant was executed at a home on Fifth Avenue West is regards to a multiunit investigation into a series of thefts across the province. Biggar Detachment along with the Battleford General Investigation Unit and the Crime Reduction Team, arrested a 36-year-old female and a 33-year-old male for their involvement in their “Bonnie and Clyde” routine. The couple has since been released back into the community on conditions and are scheduled to appear April 7 in North Battleford Provincial Court. Take care out there!
We have a bingo Winner. New Bingo Starts February 20. Don’t forget your Bingo Cards.
Sgt. Dereck Crozier, Biggar Detachment
Nats take Flyers ... The U13 Poletz Nationals hosted the Leader Flyers, Sunday at the Jubilee Stadium. A real battle, the Nats came out on top with a 7-4 win. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Dreamy performance with Rumour Mill ... The fifth show of the Biggar and District Arts Council concert season was at the Majestic Theatre, Saturday with B.C. band, Rumour Mill. Anna Katarina, right, and Aline Daigle put catchy melodies with soulful harmonies to the forefront, warming the Majestic audience on a cold winter’s evening. A tremendous performance, and one worth watching! (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
The
by Kris Sims, Alberta director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation
Thanks to the carbon tax, Canadians are opening their home heating bills with a sense of dread this month.
Every politician in the warm halls of power should read the painful experiences of Canadians who are struggling to afford the basics. They should ask themselves why any Canadian should be forced to pay the carbon tax for one more minute on an essential like home heating.
When the Canadian Taxpayers Federation asked people to post pictures of their heating bills to show the real cost of the carbon tax, more than 1,000 replies came in.
Some of the messages are tough to read.
“I haven’t been able to afford to fill my propane tank this year, just hoping that no heat doesn’t make my house go mouldy,” Jay told us. He works as a chef just outside Victoria, B.C.
Others are astonishing.
“Our bookkeeper nearly choked; thanks for bringing light to the madness,” Chris wrote while sharing the carbon tax bill for the pub he runs in Peterborough, Ont.
His natural gas bill from last month included a carbon tax charge of $1,044.
Do the Liberal Party leadership candidates
by
Troy Media
Canada’s public service was once the gold standard - efficient, professional and dedicated to serving the public.
Today, it’s a bloated, dysfunctional mess where political insiders and bureaucratic red tape dictate the agenda, not the elected officials or the citizens they’re supposed to serve.
A new report from the Frontier Centre for Public Policy by former MP Dorothy Dobbie lays bare the ugly truth: our government has been hijacked by political staffers, union-driven mediocrity and an army of middle managers who add layers of obstruction rather than solutions.
It’s not just inefficientit’s dangerous. And if we don’t act fast, Canadians will continue paying the price in rising costs, declining services and a government that serves itself rather than the people. How did we get here?
grasp what an extra $1,000 bill tacked on to a business does to prices at a pub, let alone to the small-business owner trying to keep people employed?
Most of the residential bills sent in from cities and suburbs across Canada show a carbon tax charge of more than $50 extra per month, with the tax often exceeding the cost of the home heating fuel itself.
Ron, a tech specialist in east Brampton, Ont., said he’s “sick of the virtue signalling” over the carbon tax from the Trudeau government while his natural gas bill shows a monthly charge of more than $80.
“I don’t think there is one Canadian I know that can afford any more taxes,” writes Michel, who lives near Barrie, Ont.
“This is $32 alone on gas for the home. Now put that on every single item you buy. It’s disgusting. [Politicians] think we are stupid.”
Michel tries to make ends meet living in a small mobile home with a new furnace, but December’s heat bill still carried a carbon tax charge of $32 for the month. The gas itself only cost $20.
In northern Ontario, where overnight temperatures typically drop to -20C, a young mother, Kelly, posted her household’s December natural gas bill showing
It starts with the people pulling the strings behind the scenes. Political staffers - unelected, often inexperienced and more focused on party loyalty than policy - wield far too much power. They act as gatekeepers, deciding what information ministers see, controlling public access and shielding their bosses from scrutiny. They aren’t accountable to voters, yet they dictate policy decisions that affect every Canadian.
Dobbie points to the recent scandal involving foreign interference briefings - critical intelligence was buried, never making it to the officials who needed it most. That’s what happens when power is concentrated in the hands of people who put politics above national interest.
Then there’s the public sector unions, which have transformed government jobs into lifelong entitlements rather than positions of service. Promotions are
a $134 carbon tax charge. The list goes on.
In Manitoba, where winter resembles the ice planet Hoth from Star Wars, the carbon tax on home heating is severe.
Lilly, who lives outside Winnipeg, shared a December bill showing a carbon tax charge of $140 for the month, while Cory, from the southern part of the province, had a monthly charge of $70 for his home heating.
Cynthia struggles to stay warm in eastern Ontario while facing high bills for her propane furnace.
“I keep my thermostat at [16 C] to conserve fuel. Is it cold? Yes! I bundle up, wear layers and use blankets to keep warm. Basically, don’t want my pipes to freeze,” she told us while sharing her monthly propane bill showing a carbon tax charge of $70.
Many people who use propane for home heating do so because they live in remote locations such as rural farms or mountainsides, or they are trying to save money by living in mobile homes or campers.
Saskatchewan residents are getting a reprieve this winter thanks to Premier Scott Moe’s refusal to collect Ottawa’s carbon tax on home heating. Some people still showed their cancelled carbon tax bill and praised Moe for the savings, which ranged from $50 to $80 per
based on seniority, not skill. Firing incompetent employees is nearly impossible. Productivity?
An afterthought.
One senior public servant told Dobbie they were actually advised to “stop working so hard” because it made their colleagues look bad.
Imagine that - putting in an honest day’s work is now frowned upon in Canada’s public service. And the bureaucratic bloat? It’s staggering.
The federal government’s job classification system has 516 occupational categories. That means endless layers of middle managers, each adding more paperwork, delays and inefficiencies.
Instead of empowering civil servants to make decisions, we’ve created a system where process trumps results.
The result? A government so tangled in its own inefficiencies that it can’t deliver for Canadians.
Health care is in crisis, but instead of cutting red
month.
In Alberta, the carbon tax causes quite a ruckus. Alberta’s electric power plants are fuelled by natural gas, which is subject to the carbon tax. Home heating is also almost exclusively natural gas, often resulting in high carbon tax bills.
Shawn, a working father of twins living in Edmonton, sent in his natural gas bill, which showed a carbon tax charge of $136.
“You should see what I spend a week on carbon tax for gas,” Shawn said. “It’s 200 litres every week, 17 cents a litre carbon tax, 34 bucks a week, $1,768 per year. Just in carbon tax on gas for my truck. It’s ridiculous.”
tape and letting doctors do their jobs, we get committees, consultants and reports that go nowhere. Infrastructure projects take yearssometimes decadesbecause every decision has to be approved by layer upon layer of bureaucrats. Public safety and national security take a backseat to political calculations.
And let’s not forget the political parties themselves. Dobbie exposes how insiders manipulate candidate nominations, shutting out qualified, servicedriven individuals in favour of backroom loyalists. The system rewards those who play the political game, not those who want to serve the public.
How do we fix it?
Dobbie doesn’t just diagnose the problem - she offers a roadmap to fix it. And it starts with returning power to where it belongs: elected officials and the people who vote for them.
INDEPENDENT
And back in B.C., Jay still can’t afford propane. That province’s carbon tax is seriously damaging the finances of people trying to afford to live in one of the most expensive places on the planet.
Ken, the owner of two Springer Spaniel dogs in the central Okanagan, paid over $65 in carbon tax last month. In December, Bret had to pay over $50 in carbon tax to heat his small rancher near Vancouver. And in Dawson Creek, where the temperature is often below -20 C overnight, Josh’s family home just received a carbon tax bill of more than $200 for two months.
Josh told us he “sees right through” the Liberal
Here’s what needs to change, according to Dobbie:
Political staffers need to be reined in. Ministers - not their unelected handlers - should be making the decisions. Staffers should be limited in their ability to run for office immediately after leaving their roles to prevent career politicians from manipulating the system.
Candidate nominations should be democratic. No more party insiders hand-picking who gets to run. Open the process and let grassroots members decide.
Public sector hiring must be based on merit. Seniority should not be the only qualification for advancement. The best people should get the jobs, period.
Middle management needs to be slashed. We don’t need an endless web of bureaucrats slowing things down. Decision-making should be streamlined, not suffocated.
government’s assurance that Canadians “get more back than they pay out” in the carbon tax.
So does the Parliamentary Budget Officer. In three separate reports, the PBO has shown that the carbon tax costs average families hundreds of dollars more every year than the rebates they receive.
Jay, Cynthia, Ron, Josh and millions of other Canadians should not have to pay the carbon tax charge on their home heating bill for one more day. The carbon tax is an expensive failure. Scrap it now before people open one more bill.
Unions should not dictate government operations. Compensation should reward performance, not just tenure. Incompetent employees should be held accountable - not protected by bureaucracy. This isn’t just about making government more efficient. It’s about restoring public trust. Canadians are tired of a system prioritizing insiders over citizens, process over results, and politics over good governance. It’s a ticking time bomb. The warning signs are flashing red. If we don’t fix this broken system now, we risk watching Canada slide further into stagnation, inefficiency and public disillusionment. Government isn’t meant to be a self-serving machine - it’s meant to work for the people. But that won’t happen unless we demand real change. The time for excuses is over. The time for action is now.
Unless the Independent moves some of its business to a milder climate, this article isn’t going to tell nobody nothing! A fellow might as well crinkle it up and chuck it in the stove - if people have wood burning stoves anymore - set fire to it and try and keep a little warm!
There are a lot of people in the world who can’t seem to believe how dumb we are to live up here in this cold, windswept country, and yet I find that the farther north one goes into this so-called “hardship”, the happier and friendlier people get!
“Sufficient unto the day” I guess ... and I’m talking long underwear here! Anyone silly enough to face up to our minus40˚ weather wearing only shorts and a sun-helmet deserves what they’re going to get - frozen!
Years ago when it was stylish in our part to go without hats and be tough, a young fellow came up in the hills with me one day to help
For many single and unattached individuals, Valentine’s Day can feel like the most disheartening day of the year.
Dominated by overly sweet Hallmark rom-com and chick-flick movies where two stunningly beautiful people fall hopelessly in love, it serves as an annual reminder to all the single people of the world that nobody loves you on that particular day and perhaps never will, at least not in the romantic way depicted in those
Bundle up!
haul some wheat. The bin was full, and as the northwest wind whirled and whistled around us he huddled on the lee side of the truck and let me do all the shovelling! His ears didn’t get frozen that bad and I had a heck of a time getting him to come the next day - but he made darn sure that he had a hat!
A lot of older types like to claim that there has been a big change in the weather since the “Old Days”, and yet change is what we’ve grown to expect out here.
I often think that the reason the storms were worse, the snow deeper and the weather colder when they were young is because they are the only ones who can remember that far back! And I bet that 60 years down the line, some older person will try and thrill their grandchildren with stories of the terrible winter of 2024/25 ... or was it 2023/24?
In a way, cold is to be feared, all right, and there must be a thousand stories out there about what can happen when nature decides to check whether one is prepared for it or not. But not many Saskatchewan types wouldn’t trade it for the warmer places where earthquakes, tornadoes and landslides seem to happen without much warning.
Note: I don’t know how much real though he had put into it but one
movies.
As a single person myself, last Valentine’s Day I found myself sitting alone at home, quietly lamenting my single status and feeling a bit sorry for myself. While I am far from being the only single person in the world, it certainly felt that way on that special designated day for lovers.
In a moment of selfpity, I posted a Valentine’s Day singles joke on my Facebook page. Admittedly, there was a hint of lonely bitterness in my post. But one of my female Facebook friends saw it and responded with a rather unsympathetic comment: “Boohoo. You can still live and be loved.” Her reply was like a splash of cold water in my face. Perhaps I was being too negative about the whole situation. Her response made me stop and rethink my perspective. After all,
of our old neighbours up north claimed he could predict cold weather by the hourglass shape of a pigs spleen! “January, February and March were going to be cold,” he said, while “May, June and July would be warmer until the cooler weather came again in October, November and December!”
Pretty prophetic, eh?!
It keeps a fellow’s imagination going some, but there are people out here who don’t seem to feel the cold that much. My Dad used to work at the Radisson flour mill and he often told us of a fellow who drove all the way into town from Great Deer out north of Borden, and didn’t have any mitts!
This might have been okay for D.R. Dick but it sure wouldn’t work with R.G. Mason!
My advice to anyone who wants to go out there and try it is to make darn sure they have a pair of mitts hidden away under the seat! A better idea is to curl up on the sofa at home and read a good book or watch something on TV.
When Mother Nature decides to lower the boom and show off what she can do, it sure doesn’t do to be smug about it all. We haven’t seen her worst yet!
Of course people have lived in these northern climates for centuries and handed down their cold-weather know-how
for generations, we’re getting smarter all the time! All the way from the Europeans who came out here from a milder place right down to the modern snowmobiler who seems to be able to take any kind of weather, we seem, like I said, to be getting smarter!
In this day of cellphones, GPS and vehicles that seem to be able to go anywhere through the snow, I suppose the old team of horses and coonskin coats seem a little out of place, and I sometimes wonder what people think when they see Yours Truly all bundled up walking downtown.
There was an old saying about “mad dogs and Englishmen going out in the midday sun” and I suppose that saying could be used out here in the wintertime. There must be a moral in this stuff somewhere and we suppose “bundle up” would be as useful as any.
When one sees a person slopping down the road in a big, warm pair of winter boots, bulging all over from a too-large, roomy snowsuit pulled on over a pair of Mackinaw pants and peering out over a big bandana, at least they know that the wearer has enough common sense - regardless of looksto use what they need to face up to winter in Saskatchewan!
The different kinds of love
if life hands you lemons, make lemonade, right?
Valentine’s Day is traditionally for lovers, but it doesn’t have to be limited to that. Perhaps the theme of ‘love’ can be broadened to include all the different kinds of love that exist in the world. There are many forms of love beyond romantic love, and it got me thinking about the kinds of love that I and other single people in the world might actually have in our lives. Here are some questions to consider: Are you loved by your parents?
If you come from a good home, your parents love and support you, and would do anything to help you and want the best for you. If you are grown and your parents still maintain contact with you, count your blessings. Are you loved by your siblings?
Have old animosities been patched up? Can you reasonably talk to your brothers and sisters, attend family functions, and communicate with them on an adult level? Count your blessings if this is the case. Are you loved by your adult children?
If they still want you to be included in their busy lives and come to see you every chance they get, count your blessings. Are you loved by your young children?
As a single parent, you are the light of their life and their role model. They look to you for love, guidance, security, and support. Tuck them in, kiss them goodnight, and count your blessings. Are you loved by your pets?
Nothing is more heartfelt and pure than the enthusiastic and unconditional greeting of
love you receive from a beloved pet when you get home after a hard day.
If they are always happy to see you, count your blessings.
Are you loved by your neighbours?
In the good ‘love thy neighbour’ kind of way, do you do little things for them and are considerate of others? A good neighbour is hard to find.
If you have one, you are truly blessed. Reciprocate that good neighbour love and be good back to them whenever you can.
Do you love life and appreciate it to the fullest?
While it can be difficult in this COVID-19 era, you can still love and appreciate the little things around you: take time to smell the flowers, enjoy the soothing sound of rain on the roof, relish the joyous smile of a small child, or sit on the porch in the evening and appreciate a beautiful summer sunset. While Valentine’s Day will always be about loving couples in romantic relationships, perhaps for the sake of everyone’s emotional well-being, the scope of love on this day could be broadened beyond traditional gestures like cards, flowers, and candy to include all the different kinds of love one can experience in life; love of true friends, love of family, and love of life. Take heart, single people. They say there is someone for everyone, and your next someone could be just around the corner. You never know.
A very happy Valentine’s Day to all the single people of the world. Somewhere, somehow, and in some way, you are loved, even though it may not be in the romantic way you might want on this particular day.
Bob Mason Notable Notes
Keith Schell Remember When
Dear Money Lady
Readers:
I have had many e-mails from Canadians wondering what to do with their investments if Trump enforces his tariffs on Canada in February.
Tariffs on Canada, I believe is a forgone conclusion. However, we
must remember that the Canadian stock market tends to be manipulated more by the global economy not just by the USA. We shouldn’t expect a rapid fall like we witnessed with COVID. What is more likely, is that we will go into a recession and retail stock picks will be the hardest hit.
If you are invested in a long-term financial plan using dividend blue chip stock, I would probably suggest you stay the course. Why not use the anticipated downward swings as buying opportunities to beefup your portfolio with good securities that will go higher after we come out of this economic funk (perhaps in three to four
years).
Since this tariff ban is aimed at Canada and Mexico, let’s look at the numbers together.
Trade between the USA and Canada is worth over $910 billion per year. Exports to the USA average $428 billion and imports from the USA average $482 billion (office of the United States Trade Representative 2024).
Trade between the USA and Mexico is worth approximately $865 billion per year. Exports to the USA average $362 billion and imports from the USA were $493 billion (office of the United States Trade Representative 2024).
Clearly a lot of money on the table, right?
So, while we wait for the politicians and economists to work it out, we all must deal with the aftermath and potential upcoming changes to our finances.
So how best can we handle a looming recession?
Recessions are a fact of life, you are bound to go through a couple of them during your lifetime, so here are the top three tips to weather this economic storm.
1.) Review your spending. Keep a tight budget. Make sure you have an emergency fund should your job change. Secure any consumer debt and lower your spending. If you have debt, now is the time to refinance it into an existing or new
mortgage. You could also consider a consolidation loan. Basically, you want any debt you have secured in a product with a fixed rate so the interest can’t fluctuate higher, and you know exactly what your expenses are month-tomonth.
2.) Review your income. Don’t be blind-sided to a job cut. Keep your eyes open to what is coming and ask your employer about your job stability. Look for ways to increase your income through a part-time job or sidehustle. If you have one spouse not working or just working part-time, now might be a good time for them to get back into the workforce to earn more money.
3.) Stay invested. Keep to
your financial plan and do not withdraw investment funds because the market goes down. Remember, what goes down in the market, always goes back up (as long as you are diversified and invested in blue-chip stock picks). Don’t panic. We most likely will experience a robust bull market after this slow down.
Good luck and best wishes!
Written
by Christine Ibbotson, author, finance writer, syndicated national radio host, and now on BNN Bloomberg News, and CTV News. Send your money questions (answered free) through her website at info@askthemoneylady. ca
Farm In The Dell offering rural lifestyle and purpose
by Kaitlynn Nordal
Because of stereotypes, it can be difficult for people with an intellectual disability to be taken seriously in a work setting but those at Farm In The Dell are working to change that.
Farm in the Dell, which opened in 2010 near Aberdeen, is the brainchild of Lynette Zacharias after seeing how well the idea worked in the United States.
Zacharias met Lowell Bartels founder of Farm in the Dell International while at her parent’s fishing lodge.
“This gentleman came up fishing all the time,” said Zacharias. “He knew I worked with people with intellectual disabilities so he said I should come check it out”
Zacharias took Bartels up on that offer and was instantly drawn to the premise.
“We thought this would work for the people of Saskatchewan well,” said Zacharias.
This is of course due to Saskatchewan being a farming-based province.
“We are a rural farmbased province. A lot of people grow up on farms and they have a disability, or they grew up in a small town and they don’t want to live in a big city,” said Zacharias. “It gives another option for people to have that lifestyle. Not having to move into the city where they aren’t comfortable or safe. Sometimes people from the city need a safer place to live.”
This gives those working at Farm In The Dell meaningful work day in and out.
“You have to go feed the animals because they need you. Everyone needs a purpose,” said Zacharias.
“We strive to enhance the lives of the people with meaningful productive work, a safe place to live, and a fun social life.”
Zacharias and those at Farm in the Dell started thinking of expanding four years ago and made it official in September of 2024.
“Families were coming forward to ask if it was something we would do in Biggar,” said Zacharias.
“The town donated the land [and] the RM donated the road. Land is so expensive so for them to do that [and] believe in the project and wanting this in their community is huge.”
Expansion has always been in the back of the minds of those at Farm In The Dell.
“That’s always been something that’s been on our board from the beginning. You have to start with one but
NEWSPAPER BINGO
is FEBRUARY 20, 2025
then from there you can expand,” said Zacharias.
“It would be great to have one for every area of the province so that we can help people and they don’t have to move.
“It’s something that works well [and] the model has been proven. We are excited to expand to Biggar. It was a huge moment. This is another step forward getting another location providing for more individuals, their families, and the community.”
The expansion in Biggar will be made up of one big house split in two with five people able to live on both sides like a duplex. There will be a vocational building just like in Aberdeen. People from the community who don’t live at the location can come to work there as well.
“We have a process because we are funded
by the Government of Saskatchewan,” said Zacharias. “They send us in applications we then review and go from there about who will be a good fit to live together. Once we have chosen people can then pick the colour of their room for example and make the space their own because it’s home for life if it’s the right fit for them.”
The large vocational building will be for roughly 20 people.
They have started fundraising with a goal of $700,000.
“Some details are still being worked out but we are working towards that number,” said Zacharias.
Donations can be monetary or equipment that is needed such as a barn or lawnmower.
“We have had people come to us with different ideas,” said Zacharias. “It’s
been great. The community has been incredibly supportive already.
“If people want to give a larger sum of money there are things we can look at doing for naming or signage around the farm.”
They are also selling clothing such as bunnyhugs and hats in various shops around Biggar.
Those at Farm in the Dell are also still doing their license plate program.
“If you give a thousand dollar donation you get a license plate with your name on it,” said Zacharias.
Those at Farm in the Dell are hoping to have everything underway come spring.
For more information you can contact Zacharias at directors@ farminthedell.com or on 1 (306) 253-3325.
Quinn MinutePrehistoric humans
by Rix Quinn
We don’t give prehistoric people enough credit.
These remarkable folks learned to walk upright, discovered fire, and invented the wheel. Sadly, they made that wheel out of wood, accidentally set it on fire ... then had to start over again.
Tribes painstakingly carved mud huts out of the earth. That must have been tough, especially if it rained and the kitchen cabinets flowed into the den.
One day at a hut housewarming, a neighbour said, “Cave Guy, your home really bores me. Why don’t you put some original prints on the walls?”
And Cave Guy said
“Footprints?”
The neighbour said, “No, I mean pictures. You know ... landscapes, impressionist works, maybe portraits.”
Cave Guy then coloured his walls with vivid scenes of ancestors and mythical creatures.
Years later, scientists concluded the paintings told important legends.
But Cave Guy - a practical person - realized he’d invented wallpaper.
Neolithic man, as you know, gets credit for building the first neighbourhood. He realized if he chased wooly mammoths all the time he would never get “yard of the month.”
Well, pretty soon somebody built a hut next door, and one neighbour
decided to construct a fence to keep their pet lizard in, and the stray sabrertooth out.
Yep, thanks to these early settlers, today we’ve got streets, car-pooling, and neighbourhood associations.
In fact, if they’d known how to read, write, and medicate correctly, they might still be around today - 10,000 years later - sunning themselves.
But if they were ... you would not want to see them in tank tops.
Family memory book?
Turn old thoughts into a new memory book ... for a very affordable price.
For more details and a nice discount, contact Memorygram.com, and insert the discount code, “rix20”.
Christine Ibbotson Ask The Money Lady
Research key to the ag science of tomorrow
Calvin Daniels Agriculture
by Calvin Daniels
Those who see science as some dark cloud are often the ones suggesting scientists are ultimately only loyal to who is paying the bills. That is in itself a rather inflammatory statement since in the end funding for science research
by Patricia Hanbidge, Orchid Horticulture
hemisphere gives us super short days and really long nights!
Just like all of the trees, shrubs and perennials, this is the time when I almost seem to hibernate. When it gets dark, I think it is time for bed, and getting up before the sun rises is not that easy. This time of year, soups are my go to and it is hard for me to eat salads and all of the healthy greens I consume voraciously in the summer months.
Just the other day, it hit me that I have not been growing any sprouts.
Home-grown sprouts are a healthy addition to a salad, a sandwich or just about anything else. It is also a great way to get that gardening fix that we need in spite of cold outside conditions.
Growing sprouts is inexpensive, nutritious and easy. One could go so far to say that pound for pound, sprouts are perhaps the most nutritious food there is from the dollar value perspective. Sprouts are the most concentrated and truly natural sources of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids known.
Better yet, they can be grown indoors in any climate and are ready to eat in only a few days. These tiny, easy-to-digest plants are at their peak of nutritional value, as the seed releases all of its stored nutrients in a burst of vitality in the journey to becoming a full sized plant.
You could look at sprouts as a powerful battery of nutrients that can rival citrus fruits in vitamin C and beef in protein, and actually surpass almost any other known food source in completeness! Just one more positive thing is these squiggly little vegetables are delicious, economical and an ideal food for weight watchers as one fully packed cup of mung, alfalfa or radish shoots contains under 20
has to come from somewhere, so there is always someone writing the cheques, for without funding research cannot happen.
Now one might make the argument the obvious answer is for the public - government logicallyneeds to invest far greater dollars in research so that the cheques ultimately come from the people. Of course there is often a rather broad divide between what government does and the majority might want, we will be watching that play out in the United States over the coming months. In the end, however, research by its nature tends to follow its own path. Scientists go looking for answers to
Sprouts
calories.
The challenge of growing sprouts is pretty low. It is easy for almost anyone who wishes to enjoy fresh and natural food year round. If you have a spot where you are living that is comfortable for you, a good source of clean water - then you will be a successful sprout grower. You just need to attend to your babies twice each day. There are many sources for the seeds that are suitable for sprouters. For example, “seed quality” beans are better than “food quality” beans as the seed quality will always show a better germination rate which is important for those wanting to see sprouts grow. My favourite source for seeds to sprout has and will likely always be Mumm’s (sprouting. com/) as they are a local business that is totally dedicated to selling a quality product and have superb selection. They are located close to Shellbrook.
However, you may also purchase sprout seeds in health-food stores, specialty shops and many other mail-order houses and shops.
A basic sprouting system is simply any receptacle that is large enough to hold the finished sprouts, but not made of wood or metal. Since the sprouting container must be kept covered, anything that comes with its own lid is a good choice. I simply use canning jars of various
a question: how to grow more bushels of wheat? or, how to fight cancer cells? Then, through experimentation, answers either emerge or they don’t. It is of course not an exact thing. Science by its nature is very much a trial-and-error pathway to discovery.
The larger question than who is paying should be what the goal of the research is, and who, if the research is successful, will benefit.
For example, if the government funds crop research, what should they be hoping the research achieves?
Traditionally crop research has been largely focused on developments which largely favour the farm producer, whether
sizes depending on the amount of seed I am sprouting. However, you can also purchase a little grow unit from many of our seed supply houses, including Mumm’s. The instructions for growing are simple.
Find a jar or other receptacle, a bit of fine netting, a rubber band, clean fresh water and of course some seeds to germinate. If you have chosen to sprout in a jar you can soak the seed in the same jar. If not, any sterile container that can hold one cup of water to every tablespoon of seed. Soak the seeds for a short time to get that germination started and then rinse and drain your seeds two to three times daily. I like to invert the jar on an angle in a small bowl to allow the excess water to drain. Last but not least, enjoy! Swirl the finished sprouts in clean water to separate the hulls and rinse the sprouts gently. Drain and allow to dry for a few hours and store in the fridge until consumed.
Patricia Hanbidge is the Lead Horticulturist with Orchid Horticulture. Find us at orchidhort. com; by e-mail at info@ orchidhort.com; on facebook @orchidhort and on instagram at #orchidhort. Tune into GROW Live on our Facebook page facebook. com/orchidhort or check out the Youtube channel GROW youtube. com/channel/UCzkiUpkvyv2e2HCQlFl0JyQ?
it is adding genetics for higher yields, or fortifying a crop against disease, drought or insects. Generally that is good for the greater public in the sense it helps ensure food security for the world, but in a country where farmers far out produce production it might not be viewed as best dollars invested by taxpayers. Those taxpayers might be more concerned about environmental sustainability in farming,
or the development of some new crop entirely, or the funds going to medical research instead because that tends to hit closer to home for many.
So when public/ government dollars are already limited, science research has to cast a broader net for funding. The best dollars will come unfettered. Those dollars with the fewest strings allow for the freest research.
But, not every dollar
will be like that. There will be a need for science moving forward to balance what they do, with who ultimately gains from their effort – something not always clear.
While it is a maze to navigate, it is one society needs to find a reasonable path through because it’s only good research that can create solutions for many of the problems we face.
Winter in the northern
Farm in the Dell beef draw won! ... Neil Houdek was the big winner of Farm In The Dell’s beef draw - a half of beef valued at $3,000, donated by Dwayne and Leeanne Zagoruy. The draw was made this past Tuesday. Congratulations, Neil! (Submitted Photo)
The Saskatchewan Traveller ... Nova Scotia Edition by Trudy and Dale Buxton
Continuing up the valley we go through the community of Aylesford, named after the Fourth Earl of Aylesford, Heneage Finch, who was a Lord in the George III reign between the years 1772-1777.
Aylesford is one of the oldest surviving communities in Kings County originally settled by United Empire Loyalists. The main industry has always been centred around farming.
In the late 1800’s when
the railroad came through Aylesford became a major centre for processing and packaging of fruits, mainly apples that were grown in the area. Cranberries and Peat Moss are also important crops raised around Aylesford.
One of the biggest tourist attractions came from the Oaklawn Farm Zoo that opened up in 1984 and was home to a lion named Rutledge.
Rutledge was listed in the Guinness World Records as the heaviest living lion in captivity. The zoo had other animals including tigers, camels and monkeys, sadly the zoo closed in 2023 and never to be reopened.
Continuing on up the road is the Town of Berwick and their selfproclaimed, ‘Apple Capital’ of Nova Scotia. Berwick is nestled in the heart of the Annapolis Valley and is one of the fastest growing communities in Nova Scotia. The area was originally settled by the Mi’kmaq peoples, in the late 1700’s there was several New England Planter families that were granted land, and it wasn’t until around 1810 that there was a settlement.
The original name for the community was Curry’s Corner and then Davidson’s Corner, and it wasn’t until the mid 1800’s when the towns people decided to name their community Berwick after the English town of the same name.
Just west of the community is a large peat moss bog that is named Caribou Bog. This area provided one of the last stands for the
Woodland Caribou that used to be plentiful on the mainland of Nova Scotia, they having all but disappeared in the early 1900’s.
Berwick became the main station house for the railroad in the late 1800’s. With the railway, it transformed the community into a major centre of business. The railway was eventually abandoned in 1990.
Berwick was incorporated as a town in 1923 and built its own hydro electric power dam which is still being used today. More than 60 per cent of the energy comes from renewable sources.
The population of the community has steadily grown to 2,500 people and an outlying area population of approximately 4,000 people.
The economy of Berwick remains to be focused around agriculture, mainly with apples. But
other crops in the area help to boost the economy with the largest employer in the area being Eden Valley Poultry. They process large quantities of chicken and turkeys for markets around the Eastern Atlantic provinces and into Maine.
One of the main notable people to come from this town is Margaret Marshall Saunders, who was the daughter of a Baptist minister. She made her claim to fame with a children’s book in the late 1800’s as well as many other writings.
One great reason to stop in Berwick is to go shopping at Wheaton’s, which is a store dedicated on Christmas shopping. Wheaton’s has a variety of different items that can be bought throughout the year and is one of those stores that is a favourite to many.
Stay tuned next week as we continue of final leg in Nova Scotia.
Berwick Mural, Nova Scotia
Berwick, Nova Scotia
Sask. Premier calls Trump tariff decision “disappointing”
In a statement on Saturday evening, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said Trump’s tariffs are “disappointing and will damage both our countries’ economies, workers and consumers.”
United States President Donald Trump has started a trade war with Canada, imposing a 10 per cent tariff on Canadian energy and a 25 per cent tariff on all other Canadian goods, scheduled to go into effect on Tuesday.
“We don’t need anything they have,” Trump said in a social media post on Sunday, referring to Canadian energy, cars and lumber.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada would respond with its own set of 25 per cent tariffs, beginning with a targeted selection of American goods including alcohol, furniture and natural resources. More duties on American goods could follow by the end of the month.
Moe said he supports “very targeted and specific retaliatory measures to initial tariffs,” while the province works with businesses and other governments “to find
common ground on this important issue to ensure that damaging tariffs are removed as quickly as possible.”
“Make absolutely no mistake, these tariffs will cost American and Canadian families more,” Moe said in a statement on social media. “That will weaken the highly integrated North American economy which benefits ... nations that may not be our allies. Tariffs are harmful to all of us in North America.”
Meanwhile, Moe also pointed out that Saskatchewan has been spending more on security and policing at the province’s southern border, and has argued for more stringent penalties for drug offences at the federal level - measures he says Saskatchewan and the United States agree on.
Also on Saturday, Saskatchewan NDP leader Carla Beck said MLAs should immediately return to the legislature on Monday to hash out the province’s response to this new economic landscape and “put a stop to a no-win trade war.”
“These tariffs and incoming retaliatory measures will increase the cost of food, energy and fuel on both sides of the border,” she said in an e-mailed statement. “Our number one focus is protecting Saskatchewan jobs and industries.”
In 2023, among Canadian provinces, Saskatchewan was the top per-capita exporter, selling $49.3 billion in goods including potash, crude oil and agricultural equipment to international markets.
The United States accounted for over 50 per cent of those exports - but that number had fallen from the previous year. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan was exporting more goods to China, Germany, Algeria, the U.K and Latin America.
In 2023, the United States bought $6.7 billion worth of Saskatchewan agri-food products alone. The province’s nextbiggest international food buyer, China, purchased $4.3 billion worth of agrifood goods.
In a statement on Sunday, Canadian Federation of Agriculture
president Keith Currie said it is “no question” that the incoming tariffs will have “negative consequences for farmers and consumers on both sides of the border.”
- with files from The Canadian Press and Nykole King
A friendly school rivaly…The Biggar Blazer junior basketball team took on the junior basketball team the St.Gabriel Saints. The game was well contested with several lead changes, but in the end the Saints came away with a 39-36 victory. Good boys. (Independent photo by Dale Buxton)
by Charlee Wolfe
The Monarch Multiple 4-H Club is busy once again this year preparing for Achievement Days coming up in summer. This year our club has 22 members, growing every year which is great. This year we have Beef, Light Horse, Canine, and Small Engines.
The executive for the club is as follows: President - Reid Wolfe. Vice President - Haydyn Wegwitz. Secretary - Adeline Zidkovich. Treasurer - Georgia Sagon. Club Reporters - Charlee Wolfe, Madeline Prochera and Ella Rae Malinowski. General Leader - Stacey Sagon. Assistant General Leader - BJ Wolfe. Beef Leader - Clinton Weekes. Light Horse Leader - BJ Wolfe. Canine LeaderMichelle Walerius. Small Engines - BJ Wolfe.
We started our year back in October with registration and elections. In November we had a general meeting to plan
Blazers/Saints advance to District play ... The combined Biggar Central and St. Gabriel school Junior Girls played Kenaston this past weekend for the chance to advance to District play. The Girls defeated Kenaston 45-42 to move on to Eston for District play, February 12. Congratulations, Girls! (Submitted Photo)
2025 already busy for Monarch 4-H
some fundraisers for the year. We had a very successful battery drive and we also sold Bear Tracks sidewalk salt which after the winter we are having has been a huge hit!
We held our Christmas Party at the beginning of January at Mar’s Mini Golf. The kids decided to do a Christmas gift exchange and had a lot of fun!
The weather has been making it a challenge for some project meetings to happen. The beef project has had to reschedule their meeting at SLS but are hoping to go over the February break.
Light Horse has been working on books and in the beginning stage of planning a horse show this year. Once the weather gets nicer and hockey is done they will start with rides.
Small Engines has been working on their project - we had a special guest come in to help the
members and they have been busy rebuilding a motor.
Canine will be getting together to work on a winter project - just trying to plan around several hockey schedules makes it tough!
In February we held our Club Public Speaking.
This is a mandatory requirement for 4-H members and this is so beneficial for the members. The top two in each age group are able to move onto Districts if they wish to do so. Our judges for the day were Michelle Nelson, Janelle Carr, Jesse Tavanetz and
Mazie Hooper. A very big Thank You to these folk for coming out to spend a chilly day with us. All of the members did a great job and the winners were as follows.
Cloverbud: 1st - Georgia Sagon; 2nd - Kaden Thue. Juniors: 1st - Adeline Zidkovich; 2nd - Ashlyn Walerius. Intermediates: 1st - Ella Rae Malinowski; 2ndCharlize Gareau. Seniors: 1st - Haydyn Wegwitz; 2nd - Celeste Gareau. Beef Achievement Day has been set for June 22, other projects haven’t set their dates yet.
Penton on sports
Bruce Penton
Will the LIV golf enterprise ever get on equal footing, or surpass, the PGA Tour in relevance?
With four full seasons under its belt, the upstart LIV Tour is still lagging behind the PGA Tour in importance based on television exposure, having its players compete in the majors and failing to attract a regular following by golf fans.
LIV, armed with a new Fox TV deal, certainly has its stars, led by Bryson DeChambeau, who won the 2024 U.S. Open in a thrilling finish, edging Rory McIlroy with a sensational sand shot on the 72nd hole.
Other big names who would be ranked among the best in the world (if LIV players could earn Official World Golf Ranking points) are Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell
LIV golf still lagging behind PGA Tour
Hatton, Dustin Johnson, Joaquin Niemann and Cam Smith. World ranking points are the most contentious issue facing LIV players today. Because LIV tournaments are not eligible for ranking points, and because most of golf’s majors base their qualifying criteria on the OWGR list, many LiV players have been shut out. The door opened slightly last week, as the USGA said it was granting U.S. Open exemptions to the top three LIV players as of mid-April.
LIV has been deemed ineligible for worldranking points, partly because of its 54-hole, no-cut format and automatic entries into fields, as opposed to qualifying requirements by others such as the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Asian Tour. After a two-year battle to try to persuade OGWR officials to allow LIV players to earn points, the upstart league withdrew its application.
Still, tournaments such as the U.S. Open and the Open Championship are ‘open’ to anyone wishing to try to qualify, and DeChambeau did just that last year. Any former Masters champion is also an automatic entry into the April classic at
Biggar Bowling Weekly Scores
(January 27)
Monday Adult Mixed
Augusta, which annually opens the door to LIV players Rahm, Patrick Reed, Johnson, Garcia, Charl Schwartzel, Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson. Augusta officials also reserve the right to invite anyone they please, and Niemann, a talented player from Chile, has received an invitation the last couple of years.
A recent story in the Global Golf Post by Scott Michaux said LIV has a “misguided belief that the majors are going to want to include their talent so badly that they will carve out exemptions for them into each of the four major championships. But that type of thinking is ‘delusional,’” wrote Michaux.
LIV player Kevin Na said he believes anyone who wins a LIV tournament should be exempt into the majors, as well as the top 16 players from the previous season. Niemann said he believes the top 10 would be more appropriate.
With new CEO Scott O’Neill at the helm, replacing Greg Norman, perhaps some ‘major’ advances can be made. But the players knew the risks when they took the millions of guaranteed money from the Saudis and now they’re paying
the price for what many golf fans see as nothing more than a bunch of talented golfers playing exhibition golf.
• Headline at Canadian parody website The Beaverton: “Leafs revamp power play by adding second pointless drop pass before entering zone.”
• Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: “If (Bills’ coach) Sean McDermott rode the fastest horse at the Kentucky Derby, he’d pull up on the reins and finish third.”
• Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe.com: “What’s in a trademarked name? Even the USPS is afraid of NFL lawyers. Their alert (about possible storm-related delayed packages) calls it ‘The Professional Football Championship Game in New Orleans.’”
• Vancouver comedy guy
Torben Rolfsen: “The Penguins were bidding for Miko Rantenan before he was dealt to Carolina. Apparently they were offering 30 years of Pittsburgh Pirates tickets.”
• Rolfsen again: “I like Gene Principe as a broadcaster, but what’s up with his hair? It looks like he just finished regrowing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor’s mullet.”
• Jack Finarelli on his website sportscurmudgeon.com, on the 125 million viewers of the Super Bowl: “How many watch because it will be a major topic of conversation at work on Monday and they do not wish to look like a doofus?”
• Pre-Super Bowl headline at fark.com : “Five reasons the Chiefs will defeat the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. Presumably the referee, down judge, line judge, side judge and back judge.”
• Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: “The Jays rotation includes Max Scherzer, now 40; Chris Bassitt, 36; and Kevin Gausman, 34. This team should be great on Oldtimers Day.”
• Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue on the Super Bowl’s immense popularity: “We have become the winter version of the Fourth of July celebration.”
• Care to comment? E-mail brucepenton2003@ yahoo.ca
• RJ Currie of sportsdeke. com: “According to a recent study, getting extra sleep on Sundays can help prevent premature death. Finally, some good news for Cleveland Browns fans.”
Tuesday Night Mixed
Thursday Afternoon Seniors
(February 3)
Monday Adult Mixed
Tuesday Night Mixed
Thursday Afternoon Seniors
Ladies High Single - Leisha Redlick 207. Ladies High Triple - Leisha Redlick 530. Mens High Single - Jason Raschke 181. Mens High Triple - Jason Raschke 465.
Ladies High Single - Melissa Raschke 172. Ladies High Triple - Melissa Raschke 450. Mens High Single - Mat Harrabek 230. Mens High Triple - Mat Harrabek 556.
Ladies High Single - Bonnie Rosch 193. Ladies High Triple - Bonnie Rosch 483. Mens High Single - Gerry Besse 169. Mens High Triple - Gerry Besse 438. YBC
Pee Wee Single - Ashton Kramer 79; Double - Blake Foster 171. Bantam SingleKaysen Sauntry 148; Triple - Declan Westgard-Mclay 327. Junior Single - Xander Hebert 181; Triple - Xander Hebert 533. Senior High Single - Tegan Mcleod 159; High Triple - Tegan Mcleod 448.
Ladies High Single - Yvonne Markewich 193. Ladies High Triple - Yvonne Markewich 507. Mens High Single - Jonathan Redlick 194. Mens High TripleJonatan Redlick 573.
Ladies High Single - Jennifer Jirika 194. Ladies High Triple - Melissa Raschke 461. Mens High Single - Michael Hebert 198. Mens High Triple - Michael Hebert 576.
Ladies High Single - Bonnie Rosch 181. Ladies High Triple - Bonnie Rosch 467. Mens High Single - Gerry Besse 154. Mens High Triple - Gerry Besse 392. YBC
Pee Wee Single - Ashton Kramer 88; Double - Ashton Kramer 175. Bantam Single - Nash Wheaton 140; Triple - Nash Wheaton 364. Junior Single - Parker Schweder 191; Triple - Carson Oesch 466. Senior High Single - Noah Park 228; High Triple - Noah Park 559.
Perdue Playoff Action… The Perdue Pirates opened up the playoffs in Perdue against the Meota Combines in a best of three series. The first game was a tight checking game with Meota coming out on top with a 4-1 win. The next game played in Meota on February 7th with Meota again coming out on top with a 7-3 victory and a series 2-0 win. In Provincial play Perdue traveled over to Delisle to take out the Delisle Bruins in thier first game of Provincial Senior (D) action with the Bruins coming out with a 10-2 win. The next home game for the hometown Pirates will be on Friday February 14 at 8:30. Come out and support the Pirates in playoff action. (Independent photo by Dale Buxton)
Sask West This Week
by Phil Heilman
A light weekend for league playoffs for the Sask West Hockey League (SWHL) was balanced by many teams playing in their respective provincial draws.
In league playoffs, the Biggar Nationals travelled south for game three of their best of five series against the Kindersley Klippers on Saturday night. Kindersley swept the series with a 6-1 win.
Markus Boguslavsky and Gage Misskey scored in the opening frame to give the Klippers the 2-0 lead. Chris Henry would cut the lead to 2-1 on the power play in the late stages on the second, but Damon McKenzie restored the two-goal lead after 40 minutes. The third period was the
Boguslavsky show as he scored the natural hat trick to secure the series victory.
Brett Matlock stopped 35 of 41 shots in the loss, while Logan Drackett stopped 28 of 29 shots for the win.
On Tuesday night, the Wilkie Outlaws hosted the Unity Miners in game three of their best of five series, with stats being unavailable at the time of publication.
Provincials
In the ‘A’ bracket of provincials, the Hafford Hawks squared off against the Senior ‘A’ defending champion Kenaston Blizzards of the Sask Valley Hockey League (SVHL). The Blizzards won game one 5-3 and game two 4-2 for the sweep.
In the ‘C’ bracket, Unity lost to the Eston Ramblers of the SVHL to the tune of 6-1 and 7-0. The Wilkie Outlaws played against the Outlook Ice Hawks of the SVHL, with the Outlaws thumping them 14-3 and 13-0 for the series sweep. The Outlaws play the Ramblers in the next round. In the ‘D’ bracket, the Edam 3 Stars and Macklin Mohawks matched up in the battle of SWHL teams. Edam took the opening contest by a score of 8-4. The Biggar Nationals drew the Davidson Cyclones in the ‘B’ bracket, with play beginning this weekend in Davidson. The Kindersley Klippers will face the winner of Biggar and Davidson in the North final.
Business & Professional …
Business & Professional …
MADE GOODS
ARIES –
Mar 21/Apr 20
A good first impression is really important right now, Aries. Be sure to wear your best clothes and check out your appearance before you meet up with anyone this week.
TAURUS –
CANCER –
Jun 22/Jul 22
Cancer, some tech upgrades can help ensure an exciting new project starts off on the right foot. Enlist others to help and welcome any insight.
Jul 23/Aug 23
Apr 21/May 21
Taurus, you are bound to have a lot of fun this week, and you will spread cheerfulness to others. You might host a party or plan some sort of night out with friends.
GEMINI –
May 22/Jun 21
None of the usual strategies to confront family issues are working right now, Gemini. You may need to take a step away and give others distance for the time being until things cool off.
ADVERTISE
Biggar Independent
306-948-3344
HORSESHOE E CHAROLAIS
This week is your chance to take a break and let someone else take center stage for a bit while you enjoy time out of the spotlight, Leo. Right now you may need a little alone time.
VIRGO –
Aug 24/Sept 22
Virgo, you know what you have to get done, so it is well past time to put one foot in front of the other and get moving. Others have helped, but you have to see it to completion.
LIBRA –
Sept 23/Oct 23
Focus all of your energy on the important people in your life right now, Libra. Other things can wait for the time being. Don’t be too hard on yourself for not getting everything done.
SCORPIO –
Oct 24/Nov 22
Scorpio, as things in your life continue to evolve, you may be tempted to jump into something new. You might want to slow the pace and exercise due diligence first.
SAGITTARIUS –
Nov 23/Dec 21
CAPRICORN –
Dec 22/Jan 20
Some tough decisions are ahead of you, Capricorn. It might be best to think things through logically and leave emotion out of the equation for the time being.
AQUARIUS –
Jan 21/Feb 18
Aquarius, it can be dangerous to think you know everything. This week, listen to what others have to say before deciding if their ideas have merit. This approach can benefit all involved.
PISCES –
Feb 19/Mar 20
Annual Bull Sale At the Ranch, near Kenaston, SK. Saturday, March th, 2:00pm Selling 50 yearling bulls and 20 two year olds. Semen tested. Call Layne or Paula Evans 306-252-2246.
Layne (306)561-7147
Catalogue, videos, and online bidding will be on DLMS.ca … need your First Aid Course
… Need to Re-certify? … Don’t have time to leave work or tie-up your
Sagittarius, have you bitten off more than you can chew this week? If so, you probably have to ask for some helpers to step up and pitch in. Teamwork is a good thing.
Step up this week with confidence, Pisces. Now is not the time to be inflexible or shy. Go with the flow as much as possible, and learn and listen along the way.
You are welcome to CHAPEL of HOPE Meeting at the Centennial Room at the Westwinds Motor Hotel Sundays at 10:30am Pastor Doug Motz Coffee & Refreshments provided
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13,
by Warren Charlton, New Beginnings Church, Biggar
Imago Dei is Latin for the image of God in which we were originally created.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Each of us are image-bearers, which means we were created to know and love God, love and be loved by others since like God we are social beings. Also, God made us to be his agents to rule over the earth as its caretakers.
As image-bearers we have great value and special significance. Our worth comes not from our accomplishments but from the God who made us in his likeness. That is why God condemns evils such as murder or slander because they are assaults upon people made in his image.
When we observe the creative skills of people in their art, music, literature, and farming, when we see the loving care given to the disabled, the poor and those suffering horrendous illnesses - we see the image of God.
But where is his image in those guilty of injustice, cruelty, abuse of the innocent and the weak?
The image of God has been damaged by the sin within our hearts. We are curved in upon ourselves with our self-centredness and are turned away from our Creator in rebellion. As image-bearers, we are all damaged goods.
Can we be restored?
The good news is that God sent Jesus the image of the invisible God, the radiance of his glory and exact representation on his being to bring us back to him. Jesus shared our flesh and blood so he might taste death in order to put away our sins. In Christ, we can be made new in the attitude of our minds and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Celebrate your dignity from God by embracing his Son as your Saviour and Lord.
St. Gabriel roman CatholiC ChurCh 109 - 7th Ave.W, Biggar Father Edward Gibney Parish Phone: 306-948-3330
Mass.......7:00p.m. Sunday Mass....... 11:00a.m. our lady of fatima CatholiC ChurCh, Landis Sunday Mass.......9:00a.m.
FEBRUARY 9 10:30am Regular Worship (St.Pauls) FEBRUARY 23 10:30am Regular Worship (St.Pauls) Rev. Daphne Bender
NEW BEGINNINGS CHURCH
Imago Dei
by Delta Fay Cruickshank for the Biggar Art Group
The members of the Biggar Art Group were busy last week receiving and hanging the art from three local artists.
New art in the Credit Union
Breanne Olson was raised in small town Saskatchewan and is grateful to be able to live in such a beautiful world. Her paintings bring a sense of that beauty as
well as the peace and quiet of Saskatchewan’s landscapes. Joanne Marchildon is the other artist whose work is on the walls in the Biggar and District Credit Union. Marchildon was raised in Saskatchewan on a farm in the north. This is where she developed her love of wildlife and nature. Drawing what she loved became a passion and this led to her becoming a professional artist and instructor. She has competed and has won awards in art competitions across Canada. Highlights of her career were studying with Robert Bateman and running her own gallery.
Mildred Fast is a longtime respected citizen of the area, having farmed for years with her husband and children and one of Ben Riley’s children, now comfortably retired in Central Park Place.
Mildred has been creating in many mediums for years: stained glass, quilting, acrylic painting and pours. Some of her art can be seen in Guardian Drugstore on Main Street.
The Biggar and District Credit Union invites their members to come and wander down the hall and to look in the Community room to check out the work of these two artists during their open hours.
Joanne Marchildon kneeling beside her artwork in the Biggar Credit Union. The peace and tranquility of the Prairie landscape by Breanne Olson. (left) Mildred Fast proudly stands beside the cabinets holding her poured acrylic creations. (Submitted Photos)
Homage to fallen members by Joanne Marchildon. (below)
