Vol. 103 No. 42 MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2012
Biggar, Saskatchewan
www.biggarindependent.ca
24 pages
$
1.25 tax included
Sadler has unÀnished business; wants town to move forward by Kevin Brautigam of The Independent
Current Mayor of Biggar, Ray Sadler, seeks another term, believing there is still more he can offer the citizens of Biggar and district. “I believe I have unfinished projects which I was helped by Council to start many years ago, and they’re very important to me: opening of the new lodge, fixing the streets which we are starting on our project level, Prairie Malt - we’re still working on things with them, the newcomers that are coming to our town, making sure that they arrive and have a place to stay, and that they do stay,” says Sadler. With the province becoming an economic engine of the country, looking for a greater cut of money from provincial and federal levels is high on his list. “The meetings that we can attend that will help us financially, possibly directing more dollars to our rec board and rec departments. Right now we are working on a community plan to develop the RM and the Town of Biggar and [with] other rural municipalities, and that community plan is very important to us.” He would like to see a better fire department, improved housing. “I believe that we need to petition both federal and provincial governments for fire department equipment. Assisted Living housing, I’ve talked to Bernie Caleo about it, and Level 1, 2, 3 is something we should definitely look into, the province hasn’t really given any additional money for it, but I believe that this is housing we could use. In fact, the development of the old Diamond Lodge, which could be part college, part Assisted Living, possibly even part hotel, will help with our development.” Sadler and Council have been looking into all possibilities for the care home, soon to be vacated
for the new lodge project, attached to the Biggar Hospital, and have talked to various politicians over its future, including Biggar MLA and Minister of Rural and Remote Health, Randy Weekes. In addition, Sadler will be meeting with Great Plains College officials and Minister of Advanced Education, Don Morgan, over the possibility of using the soon to be retire building for a college facility. Sadler is quite pleased with the progress he and Council have made. The importance of working with his councillors and rural municipality councillors and reeves, is vital - a stronger together approach, Sadler hopes to continue fostering. “There has been too
Rockin’ Rob . . . St. Gabriel School teacher, Rob Meschishnick does his best Eddie Van Halen with the acappella group, Hoja. Held Thursday evening, the
event was all part of the school’s annual Family Night Celebrations. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
many years where there has been gaps between rural and urban when it
we bought a fire rescue vehicle [with the RM of Biggar], water projects, et
comes to making decisions. Just the unification of the fire department where
cetera,” he explains. “The RM of Biggar has helped …see Sadler, page 3
Rickwood steps forward in mayoralty race by Kevin Brautigam of The Independent
James Rickwood feels a strong affinity for his community, and feels now is the time to start giving back to a town that has giveN so much. “My family moved to Biggar in 1936 . . . I was born in Biggar, I’ve lived my entire life in Biggar, I’ve never left Biggar, and it’s time to give back. It’s not that I don’t like what I see,
it’s just time I become part of it,” Rickwood explained. “You shouldn’t complain if you’re not willing to put your name forward.” Rickwood says our town is in really nice shape, but there is always room for improvement. “ We h a v e t o k e e p abreast with the changing times and diversify, look at improvements. West Central Saskatchewan is definitely coming into
being, it’s time that we become dynamic in that force, put a good face upon it and offer what we have to offer. What we have to offer is pretty inviting.” he said of the lifestyle, the people, but we have to open the doors to more industry, and a greater use of current facilities. “I live behind the pool, and I see where we have to do something to make that
Sparky’s a kids best friend . . . Sparky the Fire Dog gets some hugs from BCS and St. Gabriel school students, Tuesday. The hound was visiting the schools, telling kids about fire safety. Check out the biggarindependent.ca for more content this Wednesday. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
more user friendly, because I look over my fence in the summer and there’s six, seven people in [the pool] - this is one of our core recreational facilities, and we really have to make it more usable, otherwise it’s a white elephant.” And yes, we have to remain fiscally responsible, but things that are there, simply to be there, bear their own costs if they aren’t being fully utilized, Rickwood adds. “People are burdened with taxes, and we have to do what we can do to keep the tax base low, but we have to be fiscally responsible in getting the most bang for our buck.” Rickwood sees responsible y o u t h a s t h e t o w n ’s future. “We have to teach our youth to be very respectful of our town - have some civic pride,” he said. “If people are proud of their town, we’ll have less vandalism; we have to teach our people to be more vigilant for things that will reduce our crime rate. Biggar has its problems that are known far and wide, and we have to do things to correct those problems. We have
a police force here and we have to encourage them to keep our town safe for everybody: our seniors and our youth, because our seniors got us to where we are, and we have to respect what they did for us - we have to look after them in the future.” Rickwood calls the new long-term care project “a phenomenal” endeavour, but wonders what will become of the old Diamond Lodge, wanting the town to move forward and get the building filled with something to compliment the community. Wo r k i n g w i t h t h e current council and other levels of government, is a partnership, Rickwood reasons. The mayor is simply the ‘face’ of town. “Hopefully my face fits that expectation. But it’s not that the mayor has ‘super power’, it’s the power of council, it’s the power of committee, it’s the sum total of everyone working together to get the best for our community.” Rickwood wishes Ray Sadler the best of luck in the campaign, adding a thanks for his years of service to our community.