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Friends of the Lodge set fund raising goal of $2 million The Friends of the Lodge Committee met on August 31 to set the course for the second phase of their efforts to see the building of a new long-term care facility in Biggar. With renewed enthusiasm and a sense of optimism, the group was encouraged to hear that the municipal funds were in place for the 20 per cent local funding required for the project, which has an estimated cost of $25 million. The Town of Biggar, RMs of Biggar, Grandview and Rosemount, and the Village of Landis have committed the funds so that Heartland Health will continue with the planning process. These five municipalities out of a catchment area that spans an area from west of Landis to east of Perdue and includes all or a portion of 11 municipalities, have recognized the importance of this project to the area and its residents. Their willingness to go beyond their individual requirements demonstrates a

commitment to the betterment of their region through cooperation. The fund raising efforts now shift to the money required for the equipment and furnishings, and to provide an allowance for cost increases above estimates. A goal of $2 million dollars was set in anticipation of the generous support of individuals and businesses in the area. Recent pledges and fund raising events have already begun to accumulate funds. Money can now be accepted for this purpose by earmarking donations to the Biggar Community Foundation for the lodge project. They can be dropped off at the Biggar Town Office where a donation receipt will be issued, or mailed to Box 670, Biggar, S0K 0M0. Cheques should be made out to the “Biggar Community Foundation.” For more information please contact Jo Angelopoulos, Chairman of the Friends of the Lodge Committee.

What did you do this summer? . . . Autumn Reid, left, and Dayon Scott talk about their summer holidays during the first day of school, August 30 -- or maybe they were just excited to be back, starting a new school

Catholic school board moves to eliminate school fees All students at community elementary schools and community-like elementary schools in Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools will no longer pay student fees, effective immediately. The fees have also been eliminated for students in Kindergarten to Grade 4 at

all other elementary schools in the division. St. Gabriel School in Biggar belongs to the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools system. The Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Board of Education determined during its meeting on Monday,

Town seeks help in naming new park play area by Kevin Brautigam of The Independent

Kindergarten to Grade 6 students from both schools are being asked to help name Biggar’s newest play area. Situated where Eighth

and Seventh Avenues meet, the newest playground has been open for a while, but missing that last key ingredient: a snappy name. Who better to ask than the folks who will use the facility the most.

year! The St. Gabriel School students, along with their counterparts at Biggar Central School 2000, hit the books last Tuesday, ending the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer for 2011. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

“Part of what we are doing is handing out forms in the schools -- Kindergarten to Grade 6,” explained Heather Miller, Town of Biggar Recreation Director. “There will be a picture of the park on top and on

Market mayhem . . . When the bell rings at 3 p.m., you better be at the Farmers Market if you want to have a chance at purchasing any fresh produce. The Biggar Farmers’ Market is a popular Tuesday afternoon attraction, bringing the capacity of the McPherson Hall to near full. The event is both a time for gathering in something tasty, as it is for a bit of social visiting. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

the bottom will be ‘name that playground’. We’re just looking for names! What will happen is whoever is chosen will get to cut a ribbon with the Mayor. The Recreation Board has also offered a season pass to the pool next year.” Kids have until September 21 to come up with their unique name for the park. “The playground is up and going, already, and we just decided we’d do this because I was talking to Barb [Barteski, Town of Biggar Administrator] about a name and I said ‘What about Heather’s Park?’, and she said no!” Miller laughs. Kids interested in flexing their creativity by finding a new moniker for the park, can pick up forms for the contest at Biggar Central School 2000, St. Gabriel School, or the Biggar Town Office. Contest forms should be available this Wednesday.

August 22 that it would implement this first phase of school fee elimination. The Board has been examining the issue of school fees for several years. Trustees will discuss phase two -- the possibility of eliminating school fees for all elementary students next fall -- at their next meeting on Sept. 26.

Trustees believe elimination of school fees is an important issue for the school division. “We have been working over the past several years to reduce and ultimately eliminate school fees,” said Board Chair Diane Boyko. “The Board of Education believes basic education should be publicly funded.”

NDP nominates candidate In Biggar Glenn Wright will be the NDP candidate in Biggar in the 2011 provincial election. He was selected as the party’s candidate this evening at a nomination meeting in Perdue last Monday. “Glenn is exactly the type of candidate the NDP needs,” NDP Education Critic Cam Broten, the guest speaker at the nomination, said. “He has strong roots in farming and his community, is well educated and has chosen to live and raise a family in Biggar riding. For these reasons and more, we know he will make an excellent representative for this constituency.” Glenn Wright, 34, currently farms near Delisle. He holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan and works as a chief process engineer for Cameco at the McCarthur River uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan. Prior to taking this position, Glenn worked for Cogema Resources (now Areva) at the McLean Lake uranium mine. In his spare time, he enjoys motor sports and drag racing, cross country skiing in the winter and biking and camping in the summer. After completing his first degree in 1998, Glenn biked across Canada. Glenn and his wife Shannon have three children. Including the other nomination August 29 in Swift Current, the NDP has now nominated 54 candidates for the 2011 election.


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