The Biggar Independent Volume 115 Issue 13

On the loose, this moose ... A moose takes a moment to pose for the camera, south of Biggar this past weekend. With warmer temperatures slowly coming to our area, spring is just so tantalisingly close, and this furry “eater of twigs” - the Algonquin term for moosewas scratching out a meal. (Independent

Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

It was another hit musical weekend for New Creation Community Players as their latest offering, Chicago, hit the Majetic Theatre stage. Wildly entertaining, NCCP has to be extremely proud of their cast and crew for a four-day musical theatre extravaganza. Hats off to them all - they should be very proud of their hard work. People are buzzing already for next year!

(Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)

RCMP Report

by Sgt. Dereck Crozier, Biggar Detachment

This past week Biggar

Detachment handled 28 occurrences. The majority of events involved vehicles, seeing five drivers receiving traffic education and nine more warned on traffic safety.

Highway 14 and Highway 4 north was a scene of a collision where a driver pulled out in front of oncoming traffic and was not quick enough to make it across. A white cube van was reported driving all over Highway 14 from Landis to Biggar, the driver could not multitask eating with vehicle operation. Report of an impaired driver in a black Chev S10 near Kinley, and a report of a white Toyota swerving on Highway 14. A suspicious vehicle

reported on the 372, turned out to be local youth.

Report received of a 43-year-old female going through parked vehicles behind the day care. Fraud complaint of Publishers Clearing House calling for prepaid Visa card numbers. Complaint of an aggressive German Shepherd in town, handled by the local bylaw officer.

Uttering threats complaint received between two 17-year-old BCS students.

Report of a stolen red/ white-faced bull from the RM of Eagle Creek.

A big shout out to the cast, crew and volunteers for the “Chicago” production put on at the local theatre. Great job by all!

Take care out there!

Budget 2024-25: Classrooms, Care and Communities

Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Donna Harpauer last Wednesday tabled a budget that includes the largestever increase in school operating funding, the largest-ever increase in health funding and the largest-ever increase in municipal revenue sharing for Saskatchewan communities.

“Saskatchewan is growing at its fastest pace in more than a century and will reach 1.25 million people sometime this year,” Harpauer said. “This budget addresses the challenges of a growing province by reinvesting the benefits of growth in the areas that matter most to Saskatchewan people - education, health and our communities.”

In addition to more people, the labour market continues to grow, with more jobs and a low unemployment rate combining to help fuel the provincial economy.

“The 2024-25 Provincial Budget makes these important investments without introducing any new taxes or increasing existing ones,” Harpauer said. “Our government continues to keep Saskatchewan an affordable place to live by delivering more than $2.0 billion in previously announced tax reductions and other affordability measures, as well as by removing the federal carbon tax on home heating.”

The $19.9 billion revenue forecast for the 2024-25 Budget is up $184.2 million from last year. The increase is primarily due to growth in all revenue categories, except non-renewable resources largely due to the moderation of potash prices.

Total expense is projected at $20.1 billion in the 2024-25 Budget, an increase of $1.5 billion, or 7.9 per cent, over last year’s budget.

The 2024-25 Budget

has a projected deficit of $273.2 million, but is expected to return to a surplus position in 2025-26 due to increasing revenues driven by a growing population, labour force and economy.

The 2024-25 Budget supports students and teachers through a record investment of $3.3 billion for the Ministry of Education, up 8.1 per cent over last year’s budget. This is an increase of $247.8 million to support Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12 students, early learning, child care and libraries.

Saskatchewan’s 27 school divisions will receive $2.2 billion in school operating funding for the 2024-25 school year - a record increase of $180.0 million, or 8.8 per cent, over the previous year.

The budget provides the Saskatchewan Health Authority with nearly $4.7 billion, including

an operating increase of $248.3 million, or 5.6 per cent, compared to last year - another record investment in the 202425 Provincial Budget.

Of the record funding allocated to health care, $71.4 million focuses on increasing the capacity of the acute care system.

This includes $30.0 million for the Saskatoon and Regina Capacity Pressures Action Plans, as well as an increase of nearly $10.0 million for the Regina Urgent Care Centre. Funding is also being directed to continuing to reduce the surgical waitlist, working to achieve a threemonth wait time target years ahead of schedule.

It also includes investments in the Health Human Resources Action Plan to hire, train and retain more health care professionals in the province. Additional funding in the budget provides credential recognition supports,

including streamlined and accelerated assessments, training and licensure pathways and settlement programming for internationally trained health care workers.

For cities, towns, villages and municipalities throughout Saskatchewan, this budget provides a record increase of $42.4 million in municipal revenue sharing. This is an increase of 14.2 per cent from the previous year, for a total of $340.2 million in unconditional support for municipalities in the province.

The budget provides $29.5 million to support municipalities and industry partners in making investments in the provincial transportation system. These investments support economic growth and safety on rural and municipal roads.

There is $719.4 million in this budget for the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, which includes more than $228.0 million to fund RCMP operations and $21.6 million for the RCMP’s First Nations Policing Program. It also includes $7.0 million for the Saskatchewan Marshals Service in anticipation of beginning operations in 2026. Saskatchewan continues to maintain among the lowest personal taxes in the country. Since 2007, Personal Income Tax exemptions have removed more than 112,000 residents from the income tax role. Exemptions provide Saskatchewan people

with over $830.0 million in annual income tax savings.

The 2024-25 Budget will also help low-income individuals, families and seniors provide for their basic needs. It includes a $17.0 million investment to deliver the first full year of the Saskatchewan Employment Incentive Program to make life more affordable for working families with lower incomes.

The 2024-25 Budget invests $741.0 million in safe and efficient transportation infrastructure to meet the growing needs of Saskatchewan’s businesses, families and communities.

The Ministry of Highways budget provides $417.3 million for transportation capital to improve more than 1,100 kilometres of provincial highways, including 260 km of repaving, 765 km in light and medium pavement preservation, 58 km of Thin Membrane Surface improvements and 25 km of gravel rehabilitation.

The 2024-25 Budget invests $570.6 million in agriculture, an increase of $22.4 million, or 4.1 per cent, from last year.

Recognizing the challenging weather and soil conditions some producers are facing, the ministry’s budget provides $431.7 million to fund federal-provincial risk management programs, including Crop Insurance and Agri-Stability.

The budget also provides $89.4 million for strategic initiatives under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

Lenten season ... Reverend Daphne Bender, Barb deHaan, Pastor Dale Worrell, Father Edward Gibney, Cindy Hoppe (left to right) lead the last ecumenical service at Biggar New Horizons, Friday. A noon hour of worship and fellowship, Friday’s service was the last of five noon services at the New Horizon. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

In Stereo ... Piano Heist’s Nico Rhodes (standing) and Patrick Courtin, play a tune for Ryan and Jennifer Massie, March 20 at the Community Hall. Piano Heist, the seventh and penultimate concert of the Biggar and District Arts Council season, was a hilarious and entertaining evening of tickled ivory. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

Justin, stop whining and just go already

by Michael Taube, Troy

Media syndicated columnist, Washington Times contributor Prime Minister Justin Trudeau got himself into hot water last week, again.

“Uh huh,” some of you are probably thinking. “What else is new?”

Well, this controversy was different. It’s the first time he’s admitted publicly that he’s thought about quitting.

The PM revealed this during an interview with Radio-Canada on March 15. With his Liberals well behind Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives, radio host Alec Castonguay on ICI Première asked him whether he was going to leave politics.

BBC News’s Jessica Murphy broke the story for English-speaking audiences that same day.

“I could not be the man I am and abandon the fight at this point,” Trudeau reportedly told Castonguay. After this ridiculous moment of bluster, his tone began to change. “I think about quitting every day. It’s a crazy job I’m doing, making the personal sacrifices. Of course, it’s super tough. It’s super boring at times.”

Before we go any further, it should be noted that the Frenchlanguage translation for one small part was incorrect. Trudeau didn’t say, “It’s super

boring at times,” but rather remarked, “It’s very challenging at times.”

Fair enough. It wasn’t an intentional mistake. I know Murphy. She’s a very good reporter from Canada who used to work at Sun Media. She could have made the translation error, or it came from a translator associated with the BBC.

Either way, it was corrected. These things happen.

What happened next was both amusing and predictable. Some Liberal partisans immediately tried to bury the Radio-Canada interview because of the translation mishap. Since the PM had said “very challenging” instead of “super boring,” they felt there was nothing further to discuss.

Au contraire, mesdames et messieurs.

That wasn’t the most important part of this story. The fact that Trudeau thinks about quitting every day is.

The PM has been hounded by the media and pounded by his critics for years. The reasons for this are plentiful. Here are a few of them:

1.) Three older instances of Trudeau wearing blackface.

2.) Two ethics violations.

3.) Public spats with female MPs and ministers.

4.) Spending taxpayer

dollars like a drunken sailor.

5.) SNC Lavalin affair.

6.) The two Michaels and the Meng Wanzhou affair.

7.) Allegations of Chinese election interference in the 2019 and 2021 elections.

8.) The crippling national carbon tax.

9.) WE Charity scandal.

10.) ArriveCAN app controversy.

11.) Surfing with his family in Tofino, B.C. during the first National Truth and Reconciliation Day.

12.) The Freedom Convoy and the Emergencies Act.

13.) Shifting Canada back to the foreign policy kiddie table.

14.) Talking out of both sides of his mouth about Israel and the Middle East.

15.) Allowing a Nazi to be honoured in Parliament.

16.) Icy relations with China, India and two U.S. presidents, Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

These issues (and others) have made him a laughingstock at home and ruined Canada’s reputation abroad. The vast majority of Canadians, both left-leaning and right-leaning, understand this quite well and are fed up.

Four recent polls make this abundantly clear.

Angus Reid had the Conservatives at 40 per cent, followed by the Liberals (23 per cent)

year.

Sure, this is going to mean $273-million deficit in coming year - one that follows a $483-million deficit in 2023-24 that was supposed to have been a billion-dollar surplus.

But this is a provincial election year and governments are going to do with what governments do in election years.

The theme of the 2024-25 Saskatchewan budget is Classrooms, Care and Communities, but it almost seems as if the most often repeated words are “the largest ever”.

than what the provincial government pulled in last year.

But that that doesn’t appear to be discouraging the Saskatchewan Party government from planning to spend more than $20 billion in the coming year - about a $1.5 billion more than was actually spent last

Finance Minister Donna Harpauer’s presented a budget the largest-ever capital spending of $4.4 billion - something she proudly hinted to New Democrats the day prior when she said her capital spending this year would be 10 times as much.

We also see the largest-ever health budget at $7.6 billion, the previously announced largest-ever increase in the school funding at $2.2 billion and the also largest-ever increase to the municipal revenue sharing pool hiked to $340.2 million.

Did we mention that this was an election year?

However, what didn’t quite make the government headlines is that we are now seeing the largest-ever Saskatchewan debt at $31.8 billion this year that will increase to another largest-ever $34.8 billion in 2025.

In that vein, this rising debt will also cause us to pay the largest-ever “financing charges” (the interest payment to pay for past deficits) that will be $911.5 million this year or 4.5 per cent, of all total annual gov-

and NDP (21 per cent) on March 4. Abacus Data listed the Conservatives at 42 per cent, followed by the Liberals (24 per cent) and NDP (18 per cent) on March 6. Nanos Research placed the Conservatives at 40.6 per cent, followed by the Liberals (23.3 per cent) and NDP (21.2 per cent) on March 8.

Here’s the real eyepopper. Mainstreet Research put the Conservatives at 46 per cent, followed by the Liberals (25 per cent) and NDP (15 per cent). This was the first poll to show a 20-point or more gap between the two major parties with Poilievre and Trudeau

ernment expenses.

That, alone, is $99.3 million more than we were paying last year.

Worse, this situation won’t improve any time soon.

After the coming year’s $273-million deficit, the budget suggests we can expect meagre surpluses of $19 million in 2025-26, $225 million in 2026-27 and $340 million 2027-28 (unfortunately, this government hasn’t been especially good and coming through with predicted budget surpluses of late).

But while our revenue may be down, it appears nothing is going to stop this government from pouring billions more into capital and other spending to, hopefully, keep voters happy.

The 2024-25 budget states it “will invest $417.3 million in capital projects and programs

at the helm.

It’s also important to keep this in mind. The Poilievre Conservatives have led in every poll except two since March 13, 2023 - and in double digits since last September. The trend has been consistently leaning in one direction, and it’s not anywhere close to the Trudeau Liberals.

That’s why the PM is thinking about quitting his “crazy job” every day and why he believes it’s super tough and very challenging. He’s failed as a national leader time and time again. He’s repeatedly lost the narrative and the plot. His international reputation is in ruins. His heart doesn’t seem to be

through the Ministry of Highways.”

“This investment will improve more than 1,100 kilometres of highways,” the budget states.

It goes on to proudly proclaim Since 2008-09, its invested more than $13.0 billion in highways infrastructure and “improved over 20,700 kilometres of the provincial roads network.”

It’s obviously good news for those of us that even occasionally drive our highways. But the critical question - one that doesn’t exactly get answered in this budget - is how much can we really afford?

According to the government, we are doing fine because: Saskatchewan’s economy was resilient in 2023.”

The government’s budget cites favourable numbers from 2023 including the “secondhighest growth among

in the job, either. Trudeau has also been unable to withstand the waves of criticism coming at him from every corner of our country. Many Canadians either don’t trust him or respect him. Quite a few Liberals and other progressives are publicly and privately tired of all the drama (if you’ll pardon the pun).

The end is nigh. It’s just a matter of time. There’s a way for this to end, of course. Trudeau could quit, and Canada could finally start to move forward once more.

That’s the type of response that would never be lost in translation.

the provinces in housing starts” (a 9.7 per cent increase) and building permits (an 11.4 per cent increase), and the third-highest growth in investment in building construction (a four per cent increase) compared with the previous year.

There are also reasons to be optimism in 2024, notwithstanding declines in manufacturing sales and goods exports.

The budget also cites more Saskatchewan people and more working people, so one supposes there would be a need to spend more to service their needs.

But then there is that problem of less revenue (potash revenue is decreasing of $580.1 million and corporation income tax revenue is expected to decrease $615.9 million.

It begs the question: Can we afford all this?

Notable

Notes

Bob Mason

For those of you who haven’t read the Koran lately, it states:

“Allah reckons not against a man’s allotted time the days he spends in the chase!”

We were watching TV a while ago when a advertisement came on of some draw or another, and it stated what a person could do if they won the huge amount that was at stake. Of course it showed a man walking along, pulling a golf handcart.

Imagine! The wonder of what a person can do if they won $15,000,000 or so! I felt kind of bad about this because a lot of people we know have been pulling their carts around the Biggar Golf Course for years and we never realized how wealthy they must have been!

Heavens forbid that an ordinary peasant - like Yours Truly - should be able to indulge in this active sport that

$ versus Health

is reserved for millionaires! I guess I just failed to notice the diamond studded wheels on those carts!

We got the impression that if a person craves a bit of relaxing activity, they have to win big at some lottery first! It must be true because our TV said so!

Years ago we knew a guy who had been hurt when he was young and couldn’t walk anymore.

Of course I have no idea how many dollars he had but one day when calling on him he told me that he would give a million gladly if he could walk around the golf course with me! Believe me, when I walked out of his place I felt that I had won big somewhere myself! For all our medical technology, no one can put a price on their well being!

That some of these realizations about the value of exercise are slipping by some of us, became very apparent to me the other day.

Recently we acquired a new set of wheels - I was going to say “new truck” but that’s kind of an old fashioned way. And there not being too much snow yet, walked downtown for the mail.

“What are you doing down here on foot?” a fellow scolded me in the post office. “I hear you’ve got a new truck at home!”

Well, a fellow might as well walk while he still can, and besides that, the truck motor gets poorer with use and mine gets better!

Pretty philosophical, eh?

Walking is the best darn exercise that anyone ever took on, and for those who can, it should never be given up. Exercise never cost anyone nothing, and one doesn’t have to win a whole lot in order to qualify for it.

The age of automobiles is here, all right, but that doesn’t mean that the age of exercise is out!

I got a letter from an old soldier the other day. George is way over 80 and is still going strong. He never mentioned it but as I read that letter I remembered that on many an army evening we went over the obstacle course together an extra time or two.

Admittedly being in the infantry isn’t conducive to a persons longevity, but I often wonder if going over the obstacle course was!

For all the million dollar advertising about retiring in the Caribbean, to my mind it doesn’t beat walking downtown on a crisp winter day.

Years ago a friend of mine was invited to retire on one of the leeward Caribbean islands and had visions of stroll-

ing down a beach wearing only a ragged pair of shorts and sandals as he picked up seashells that the tide had brought in. But it occurred to him that he might meet another fellow doing the same thing ... a native peasant who had strolled down that beach every day of his life and didn’t even know what “retirement” was!

We’re glad you decided to stay here with us, Al!

RM OF BIGGAR NO. 347

Toll

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY – ASSISTANT FOREMAN

The Rural Municipality of Biggar No. 347 invites applications for the full-time permanent position of Assistant Foreman. This position is directly responsible to the Council, Administrator and Foreman. This position will interest you if:

• You possess the skills to motivate a dedicated sta� of 6 -10 crew employees;

• You are self-motivated with a good work ethic;

• You are a proactive planner who identifies, and documents all needs of the municipality;

• You work well in a team environment as a leader;

• You possess the skills to treat everyone with respect;

• You are willing to be trained in occupational safety, asset management, contract administration, budget and cost controls and use these skills for team leadership and supervisory techniques.

Qualifications/skills:

• Public works experience as it relates to municipal operational functions and equipment, including working knowledge of project management and municipal regulations;

• Considerable knowledge of municipal infrastructure, including methods, practices, specifications, and techniques used in conjunction, with operations and maintenance of, roads, drainage, and other facilities;

• Capable of operating and servicing various equipment such as tractor/mower, grader, semi/trailer, track-hoe, dozer etc.

• E�ective Management, team building, facilitation, leadership, and supervisory strengths, with a commitment to continuous improvement;

• E�ective interpersonal and communication skills;

• Good organizational and record-keeping skills including word and excel;

• Have grade 12 or GED equivalent;

• Valid Class 1A Driver’s License

The Rural Municipality of Biggar No. 347 o�ers a pension plan and benefits package. The salary is negotiable depending on experience and qualifications. The position will remain open until a suitable applicant is employed. For the Assistant Foreman job description, contact our o�ice for more information.

Please submit your cover letter with resume, including three references, job -related safety courses and certificates along with a drivers abstract to:

Sandi Silvernagle, Administrator P.O. Box 280

201 – 2nd Avenue West Biggar, SK S0K 0M0

Email: rm347admin@sasktel.net

Phone: 306-948-2422

All applications are appreciated, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

The Biggar Museum & Gallery is now accepting applications for the summer position of Programming/Curatorial Assistant. The

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Ask The Money Lady

Christine Ibbotson

Dear Money Lady Readers, Today’s column came from a conversation with one of my ATML Partners, Ana Cruz in Burlington, Ontario.

Ana is a mortgage agent in Halton and shared a story about a good friend of hers who was able to reduce her mortgage and shed years off her amortization. Something we should all consider doing, especially due to the higher lending rates.

“For the first year of Karen’s five-year mortgage term, she didn’t do very much other than move to accelerate biweekly payments. Now, you may think accelerated biweekly payments are a small change, but let me explain, this small move from $1,597 monthly to $798 biweekly means Karen could shave off three years of her mortgage and saved close to $9,000.

“The next year Karen increased her payments by 15 per cent ($120 biweekly) and made lumps sum payments of $3,000 every quarter towards her mortgage. After five years, upon her mortgage renewal, Karen’s mortgage balance was $312,575 with an amortization of 11.8 years.

“If she had only made her monthly payments on her original 30-year mortgage, she would have had a renewal balance of $337,668, and

Here’s what Ana said: “In 2019, I reworked a mortgage for a friend who was buying out her partner with a new mortgage of $380,000. Let’s call this friend, Karen (not her real name and she did give me permission to share this story). In order to qualify, Karen would have to take a 30-year mortgage with monthly payments at $1,597.

her amortization would be 25 years.

“Instead, by making a few simple changes and extra lump sum payments she had saved thousands of dollars in interest and reduced her overall amortization by 13 years.”

This is a great success story and one we can all do so simply.

Often times we stick with the payment structure our banker or broker give us when we sign a new mortgage. We fit this payment into our lifestyle and don’t think about it anymore.

Of course, this is to the benefit of the lender, not the borrower.

Canadian mortgages are calculated “semi-annually, not in advance,” which means they are broken into two interest calculations with all banks working on a calendar year. So as of January 1, your interest is calculated based on the payment selection you chose, and interest is laid down over the first six months. On July 1, the mortgage balance is reviewed again, and interest is calculated on the remaining balance, based on your payment

NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF ASSESSMENT ROLL Rural Municipality of Eagle Creek No. 376

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll of the Rural Municipality of Eagle Creek No. 376 for the year 2024 has been prepared and is open to inspection at the office of the assessor from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the following days, Monday to Thursday, March 18th to April 18th, 2024 except all public holidays.

A Bylaw pursuant to Section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and assessment notices have been sent as required.

Any person who wishes to appeal against his or her assessment is required to file his or her notice of appeal, including the appeal fee by the 18th day of April, 2024 with:

KRISTEN TOKARYK, Secretary to the Board of Revision Western Municipal Consulting Box 149

Meota, SK S0M 1X0

Dated this 18th day of March, 2024

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TAX ENFORCEMENT LIST

Trent Smith, Assessor

Village of Landis Province of Saskatchewan

Notice is hereby given under The Tax Enforcement Act that unless the arrears and costs appearing opposite the land and title number described in the following list are fully paid before the 28th day of May, 2024, an interest based on a tax lien will be registered against the land.

NOTE: A sum for costs in an amount required by subsection 4(3) of The Tax Enforcement Act is included in the amount shown against each parcel.

selection, until December 31.

This is a basic analogy but demonstrates how Canadian banks calculate interest semiannually.

Obviously, the best payment selection to reduce the amount of overall mortgage interest would be accelerated weekly, and the best time to do your lump sum payments would be in November-December or May-June.

Most banks provide online mortgage calculators for you to work out different payment options. At the very least, try to

line up your amortization on your mortgage with the year you plan to retire since you want to make sure you are debtfree at retirement.

For example, if you are 45 years old and want to retire at 60, then your mortgage amortization should be no more than 15 years. If you are able to manage the payments with an amortization to match your retirement, then push it a little more and go with accelerated weekly payments. After a while this payment should fit into your new monthly budget but be careful not

f Marrio� N invites applica�ons for the posi�on of

to stretch your cash-flow too much.

Paying off debt, especially a big mortgage, is a tremendous accomplishment, one that we should all strive for sooner rather than later.

Good luck and best wishes!

Written by Christine Ibbotson, author, finance writer, national radio host, and now on CTV Morning Live, and CTV News @6, syndicated across Canada. Send your money questions (answered free) through her website at askthemoneylady.ca

The RM of Marrio� No. 317 is West Centrally located in Saskatchewan, halfway between the communi�es of Biggar and Rosetown, and is accep�ng applica�ons for a Municipal Gravel Truck Operator. This is a seasonal posi�on with the possibility of being extended to full �me. Primary du�es would include comple�ng the RM s Annual Gravelling Program, loading, hauling, and spreading gravel on municipal roads.

Eligible applicants should possess the following qualifica�ons:

 Load, haul, and spread gravel using RM owned equipment to complete annual road gravelling needs, while tracking loads and quan��es hauled.

 A valid Class 1A driver’s license is required and a clean driver abstract may be requested.

 Addi�onal du�es may include but are not limited to stockpiling material, hauling rocks, culvert installa�on, equipment repairs and maintenance, signage, and shop work.

 Knowledge of and ability to operate and perform maintenance on the following equipment would be considered an asset: Scraper, Dozer, Grader, Tractor, and other heavy equipment

Salary will be nego�ated based on experience and qualifica�ons. The RM offers an excellent health and dental plan as well as a pension plan. This posi�on has an expected start date of May 1, 2024, however this date is flexible and an alterna�ve start date may be nego�ated.

Please forward resumes sta�ng experience, qualifica�ons and a minimum of three references to: RM of Marrio� No. 317

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Agriculture

Calvin Daniels

by Calvin Daniels

In the world of technology five years can be enough time for huge leaps forward.

It does seem tech tends to develop ever faster,

Autonomous vehicles changing the farming landscape

likely because as innovative advancements are made, they can then be piggybacked, or blended into something else out there and the combo is a larger step than the two original developments were.

And one can certainly imagine the flow of information about new ideas is far faster than it would have been only a few decades ago. While no doubt proprietary agreements will keep the developments at many companies under wraps, there is so much information out there it is

still being shared.

Each tidbit of information gained can be a key to help someone else unlock a problem they had encountered, or the information is another building block in creating something bigger.

So when I saw a story at producer.com about John Deer’s vision to introduced autonomous machinery for every job required to grow a corn or soy crop, from tillage to harvest, it was surprising of course but only moderately so.

There is little doubt farm machinery will be

more autonomous as we move forward.

The difficulty is finding farm workers with the skills to operate a machine that might be worth near $1 million is increasingly a challenge, and there are ongoing costs with staff to consider too.

Add in the likely ability of an autonomous piece of equipment to operate 24 hours a day, with only maintenance, and you realize they could shrink the crucial seeding and harvest seasons, or allow a producer to take on additional acres.

The trend of grow-

ing farm size has been around for decades and it is not likely to change now.

What is interesting about the general goal by John Deere is that the target is 2030, which is just around the corner. That again speaks to the often rapid advancement of technology - in this case in the field of agriculture.

It also leaves an unanswerable question of what is possible in 10-15-25 years?

Certainly, the farm of tomorrow - literally

tomorrow in this casewill be distinctly different, but that of course is not a new thing on the farm.

We have gone from a hoe in human hands, to horse drawn equipment, to steam powered, through more recent designs, and now we are on the verge of equipment with computer brains taking over field work.

For producers it must be an exciting time following developments, and determining how what is unveiled might work on their farms?

Taekwondo comes to BCS for a tournament

… The Biggar Taekwondo Club hosted a tournament this past weekend, bringing in nine Taekwondo clubs from Saskatchewan and Alberta. There were a total of 67 participants ranging in age from 5 to 47 competing in this year’s tournament. There were various categories ranging from 9th degree black belt to the beginners of white. The participants were awarded a first, second, or third in each category. Fun was held by all and looking forward to the next tournament to test their skills.

(Photos for The Independent by Dale Buxton)

I would like to shout out a huge thank-you to everyone for all the love, calls, messages and gifts on my 65th birthday.

A special thanks to my daughter-in-law Jaylynn and son Brant for organizing and making it all happen. Thank-you to everyone who could attend. It was such a wonderful and memorable people in my life. I feel beyond blessed!!

THANK-YOU Karen Silvernagle

Saskatchewan Traveller by Trudy and Dale Buxton

We continue north on Highway 10, arriving at the community of Cranberry Portage.

A community of about 650 people, Cranberry Portage was named after the First Nations sayings, “Cranberry Carrying Place”, and “Portage Road”. It was the name given to the trail used by the first settlers that came to Cranberry.

After researching the history, I found out that this particular junction in the river system has been used for centuries by the Cree and Assiniboine people’s. There have been archaeological digs that have found artifacts dating back 2,500 years.

(Distant Early Warning System) during the Cold War for for detecting activities from Russia. In the mid 1960’s the system was scrapped.

Tourism plays an important part of this area with the communities slogan as “Heart of the New Wilderness Adventure”. There are many recreational activities that can be done summer and winter. Forestry and fishing also play an important role.

With the discovery of copper Flin Flon was founded in 1927 by the Hudson Bay Mining Company and began working large parts of the area. The community grew quite quickly as many mining opportunities were welcomed by people looking for work during The Depression of the 1930’s.

Cranberry Portage connects the routes from the Hudson Bay to the Saskatchewan River system. Once on the Saskatchewan River system it opens up many waterways through the Prairies and into the Rocky Mountains. It was believed the first European reached this gathering point around 1760. From there it was known as the “North America Fur Trade Route”. The first town site established in the early 1900’s was wiped out by fire in 1929 and had to be rebuilt.

Interesting to note that after the Second World War, the Department of National Defence became very interested in the area and built a radar station just south of the village. This radar system was part of the developing DEW

Continuing on the northern trek and we come to our destination, Flin Flon. A city of around 5,000 people, it sits on the Manitoba and Saskatchewan border.

Named after the fictional character, “Josiah Flintabbatey Flonatin” or “Flinty” as the locals refer to him, Flin Flon’s claim to fame came from the discovery of copper by a prospector named Tom Creighton. It was said that when Mr. Creighton discovered the copper he thought of the fictional character out of the book.

The vast majority of the population live on the Manitoba side of the city and the local government services are shared equally between Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Interesting though the people on the Saskatchewan side use a Manitoba postal code while people on the Manitoba side use the Saskatchewan area code for phones.

Sitting on the exposed Canadian Shield, Flin Flon’s nickname is “The City Built on Rock”. You will not see any agriculture in the area.

Stay tuned next week as we continue with Flin Flon and the ride home.

Welcome to Cranberry Portage

The

Cranberry Portage, Manitoba

Co-op donates to Food Bank ... Duperow Co-op’s Nathan Hawkins hands over a cheque to Barb deHaan of the Biggar Food Bank. The Co-op won a prize for best Christmas display at the Sandra Schmirler Olympic Gold Park this year, and the staff decided to donate the prize money to the food bank. That is going above and beyond ... an outstanding gesture! (Photo for The Independent courtesy of Adrian deHaan)

Chef Dez on Cooking Mashed Potatoes & Cranberry Sauce for Easter

CHEF DEZ ON COOKING

Easter is one of the special times of the year where our whole family gets together. The cherished relationships we have with each other are rekindled and we celebrate with food and drink.

Two of our most popular side dishes with an Easter dinner are Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Homemade Brandied Cranberry

Sauce, so it is today that I share these recipes with you. Please make note that potatoes that are steamed, instead of boiled, are always better in mashed potatoes as they don’t absorb as much water - water has no flavour.

Side dishes are never the “star of the plate”, but these will be a close second. Enjoy...

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

“These will spoil you for any other mashed potatoes - very rich and flavourful.”

• Five russet potatoes, peeled and diced approximated half-inch

• Half cup butter, cubed.

• Six to eight garlic cloves, crushed.

• Two teaspoons salt.

• Half teaspoon pepper.

• Half cup whipping cream.

1.) Steam potatoes over boiling water for approximately 20 minutes until tender.

2.) Drain water out of the pot and put cooked potatoes in the pot.

3.) Add the butter, garlic, salt, and pepper.

4.) Mash by hand until almost smooth.

5.) Add the cream and mash again until smooth.

6.) Taste and re-season with salt and pepper if necessary.

Makes approximately six to eight portions.

Brandied Cranberry Sauce

“Very intense flavour - a homemade cranberry sauce to be proud of.”

• One 340g package fresh cranberries (approximately 3.5 cups).

• Half cup packed dark brown sugar.

• Half cup brandy.

• Two cinnamon sticks, broken in half.

• Zest of one lemon, finely chopped.

• Pinch of salt.

1.) Combine all ingredients in a heavy bottomed medium-sized pot. Turn heat to medium-high and bring to a boil uncovered.

2.) Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook mixture for approximately 10 to 15 minutes until desired consistency is reached, while occasionally stirring and mashing berries with a wooden spoon.

3.) Remove from the heat; transfer the sauce into a different container and cool in the refrigerator. Once cooled, remove the cinnamon sticks and serve.

Makes approximately two cups.

Send your food/cooking questions to dez@chefdez.com or P.O. Box 2674, Abbotsford, B.C., V2T 6R4. Chef Dez is a Food Columnist, Culinary Travel Host and Cookbook Author. Visit him at chefdez.com.

Rosetown-Elrose

Fax:

Toll free; 1-855-762-2233

E-mail: jimreitermla@sasktel.net

Box 278, Rosetown SK S0L 2V0

Please call with questions or concerns

Chef Dez

Easter Reflections

by Pastor Bev Dyck, Biggar Church of God

Luke 24: 6-8

“He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee:’ The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’

Then they remembered His words.”

This is the message that the angels at Jesus’ empty tomb told the women as they came to anoint the body of Jesus.

The empty tomb makes all the difference.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is not about a religion. It is not about keeping rigid rules. It is not about earning our salvation. It is not about appeasing an angry God. It is about God creating the world

and everything in it, and sending His only Son to die for the sins of the world, and being buried, and then rising again with resurrection life. And that whosoever will believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. That believer is given eternal life that begins at the moment the person believes on Jesus. That person is born again and reconnected with God Himself.

It is marvellous how there are prophecies about the Promised One throughout the Old Testament and how these prophecies were fulfilled in the birth and resurrection of Jesus.

Years ago in Drumheller we took in the dramatization of Jesus as St. Mark shares in the New Testament. We watched as the stories

of Jesus going about healing and preaching the good news took place in the villages and countryside.

It was the good news over and over as Jesus touched lives, healing them and setting them free.

Then as the Chief Priests and Pharisees turned against Jesus, it was depicted how Jesus was rejected and finally He was crucified. He was wrapped in cloth and buried in an new tomb. Jesus was silenced but then He rose again.

It was displayed in a marvellous way - the grave opening, Jesus emerging from the grave, angels lighting up the countryside and the hills in a glorious display.

Jesus Christ our Saviour is alive and this makes all the difference!

-30-

Easter Reflections

by Rev. Daphne Bender, PALs

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb ... (she) went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”.

John 20:1, 20

Easter Sunday is March 31 this year, and although the date for Easter varies from one year to the next, we know that Easter happens each year. One weekend per year. But then it’s over.

Or is it?

Just as the story of Easter did not end when Mary discovered that the tomb was empty, the story of Easter does not end when April 1 (this year) begins.

Easter means we are freed for new life in

Christ Jesus. We are freed for living as new people with the power of Christ’s forgiveness, new beginnings, faithful witness, healing, and vision for tomorrow. The story of Easter begins afresh daily, weekly, yearly.

Christ appeared to Mary, and to the disciples, giving them the same power of life that brought him out of the tomb. Christ’s presence continued to live on in Mary, the disciples and all of his followers until the end of time.

Easter goes on and on in our lives because the risen Christ is with us giving us hope, courage, new beginnings. The power of Easter never ends. It lives on in those who follow Christ.

You and I keep writing the story of Easter as we live out our lives

Jesus is God and He died for us

by Father Edward Gibney, Biggar/Landis Roman Catholic Church

On several occasions, during Lent, we have hear Jesus use the expression, “I am,” in describing Himself, and in those moments, we are transported back in time, and to the mountain side where God addressed Moses in the form of a burning bush.

On that mountain side, Moses asked God His name so that he could tell the Hebrew people who had sent him to them, and God replied, “I am who I am. You must tell them, the one who is called ‘I am’” has sent you.

In the use of this expression, Jesus is guiding the Evangelists, to tell the world that Jesus is one with God. It is an expression of Jesus’ divinity being equal to that of God the Father. The Jews understood this. This is why when

they heard Jesus use this expression, they picked up stones to throw at Him. They considered His words blasphemy, and the punishment for blasphemy was stoning. I, myself, have never experienced stones being thrown at me, and I assume that neither have you. However, at times in my life I have found myself receiving “verbal stonings,” false accusations and attacks, which may not kill, but certainly hurt, and leave emotional scars.

I do not regret the sufferings and pains that I have experienced from these verbal stonings. Figuratively speaking I have picked up those stones and stacked them near me, for I celebrate them, for they unite me to the stonings, and the whippings, and the mockery, and all the other sufferings that Jesus endured in His Passion and His

Crucifixion, for our sake. I don’t believe that I would do this for any human being, but for the divine Son of God, I want my sufferings to be united with His.

The British theologian C.S. Lewis once said that in trying to describe Jesus, “There are only four choices open to you. Jesus is either a fool to be pitied, a madman to be shunned, a devil to be stoned, or the Lord to be adored.”

When Jesus uses the expression “I am,” He is telling us which of those is true. When He says, “Before Abraham was, I am,” Jesus is telling us that He is God. And that God, who suffered greatly for me, is the only one for which I can endure the sufferings I face in the world.

May God Bless you and may you have a Blessed Easter.

-30-

Easter Reflections

by Barbara-Ann deHaan, Biggar Associated Gospel Church

in Christ. We, who experience new life every day, take Easter life to our family, our friends, our community, our world.

Easter keeps being lived out in our lives when we live with hope. When we offer hope to others in their darkness, Easter morning happens again. When we enter in other people’s lives to walk with them, we are the risen Christ walking beside them.

Easter is here among us. We were set free when Christ died and rosefreed from death, fear, weakness - freed for life, hope, and courage. The risen Christ goes with us.

Have a Blessed Easter (for the rest of your lives!)

-30-

“Medical science and health experts diligently explore ways to prolong life and delay death. But death remains an established fact that cannot be avoided. It is real, certain and final, the end of life on earth. We are born, we live, and we die; our life is short, fleeting and uncertain. At any time from infancy to old age, death can snatch a person into eternity. The young may die and the old must die.”

(Mark Kropf)

At Easter time we reflect on death - the death of Christ. Death comes to us all - it is an appointment with God that none of us can avoid. At the time of

death our eternal destiny is determined. This brings fear to many people, especially if they are not ready to meet God.

Amazing Grace is a well known hymn. It was written by John Newton 250 years ago. He was a very evil man who captured and tortured many people and sold them into slavery.

He nearly died in a shipwreck.

That experience made him think seriously about life and death. He penned those words in gratitude for the saving grace of God that spared his life.

We should live everyday with a conscious awareness that there is no promise of tomorrow. When we think about

death at Easter, also think about the eternal life that is available to us because of Christ’s resurrection and defeat of death.

God’s amazing grace is available to all who accept it.

This Easter may you accept God’s gift of grace and His promise of eternal life. But it has to be a willing, conscious decision on your part to accept that amazing grace. Do not delay.

“Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement. Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people ... to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.”

Hebrews 9: 27, 28.

-30-

Because He Lives, We too Shall Live

by Marjorie Fortney, Seventh-day Adventist Church

The slaying of the Passover lamb was a shadow of the death of Christ. Says Paul: “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” 1 Corinthians

5:7. The sheaf of first fruits, which at the time of the Passover was waved before the Lord, was typical of the resurrection of Christ. Paul says, in speaking of the resurrection of the Lord and of all His people: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming. 1 Corinthians 15:23.

Like the wave sheaf, which was the first ripe grain gathered before the harvest, Christ is the first fruits of that

immortal harvest of redeemed ones that at the future resurrection shall be gathered into the garner of God. What a wonderful Saviour!

Because Christ was resurrected, those who are His, will also be resurrected at His second coming. In fact, the Bible tells us that there were many that were resurrected after His resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared unto many. Matthew 27:52 and 53. Our hearts should be encouraged to know that those who sleep in the Lord will be resurrected at the second coming of Christ.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle is with men, and He will

dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Revelation 21:3... Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns!

Revelation 19:6.

Because He lives, we can face tomorrow, and every day. We serve a risen Saviour who loves us and is interested in our daily lives. He is up close and personal. He knows our names and the houses we live in and the struggles and challenges we face. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. Praise and honour belong to Him. Happy Easter everyone, from our house of worship to yours. -30-

Easter Reflections

by Philip Watson, New Beginnings ChurchBiggar

There are four major events enshrined in Christianity.

We remember Christ’s birth at Christmas, we remember the Passover or the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday, followed by the celebration of the Risen/Resurrected Lord on Easter Sunday, and we recognize the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Three of these events are also enshrined in the Old Testament and are part of the festivals that God insisted should be celebrated by all future generations (Leviticus 23).

At this time we reminisce on the events that Christ went through in the hours before His crucifixion. His betrayal by a close and trusted friend, other friends scattered into the darkness at His arrest. Trusted companions denying any relationship with Him.

He then appeared before magistrates that took Him through mock trials. All of this before being humiliated by the guards, before He was beaten by men trained in the art of torture.

Then He went to the cross (hung on a Roman cross), the humiliation of being made a public display.

Then the Supernatural Phenomenon took place, the crimes we have committed against God the Father, transferred to this one man, God’s one and only son Jesus, hanging between heaven and earth.

The Father couldn’t even look on His Son at that moment and the sky went dark as the life drained from the body of Jesus.

This is what “we” call Good Friday, but it was good because Jesus paid the price that all humanity owed. The proof that He had settled our debt was that He rose from the grave.

Jesus the first fruits of the resurrection. The penalty for sin was paid, and all who accept His actions, believing in Him can now regain that lost relationship with The Father, for all eternity.

In the Biblical culture the Sunday after the Passover Meal was called The Celebration of First Fruits. That was the day that Jesus rose from the grave, and as Paul states in [1 Corinthians 15:20 NIV] “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

This Easter, let’s remember that Jesus went to the cross for our sins, to pay the penalty that we owed but couldn’t pay. Let’s celebrate the new era that Jesus ushered in, giving us freedom from our sins and now being able to live an eternal life with God the Father, Jesus the Son and The Holy Spirit. -30-

by

Easter Reflections

Pastor Ken Davidson, Perdue United Church

On Good Friday, we commemorate how Jesus suffered and died on the cross for our sins. On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the new life we have through His resurrection from the dead.

However, let’s look at the Thursday before these events, when Jesus changed the world with a prayer!

That evening, Jesus shared a meal, the Last Supper, with His disciples. He knew Judas had gone to betray Him. He knew the torture and pain that would be His to endure.

He took Peter, James and John with Him and went to a place called Gethsemane. He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. He said to the three, “My soul is

PALs

exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”

He went a little farther and fell on the ground and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.

Then in Mark 14:36, Jesus made this amazing declaration: “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

When he returned to His friends, He found them asleep. Mark 14: 37-38, “Could you not watch for one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

After the supper, Jesus sung the Psalm 118, which speaks of these incredible statements of faith.

“The Lord is on my side;

I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death.”

This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. Jesus was bound to the cross by His love for us, then was raised from the dead by His father. Through Him, we have His life, His resurrection and His light!

So when you feel hard pressed or weak, fight the good fight of faith and hold on to hope. As it says in Romans 8:37: “Yet in all things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

Amen.

Easter Reflections

by Rev. Daphne Bender,

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb ... (she) went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”.

John 20:1, 20

Easter Sunday is March 31 this year, and although the date for Easter varies from one year to the next, we know that Easter happens each year. One weekend per year. But then it’s over.

Or is it?

Just as the story of Easter did not end when Mary discovered that the tomb was empty, the story of Easter does not end when April 1 (this year) begins. Easter means we are freed for new life in

Christ Jesus. We are freed for living as new people with the power of Christ’s forgiveness, new beginnings, faithful witness, healing, and vision for tomorrow. The story of Easter begins afresh daily, weekly, yearly.

Christ appeared to Mary, and to the disciples, giving them the same power of life that brought him out of the tomb. Christ’s presence continued to live on in Mary, the disciples and all of his followers until the end of time.

Easter goes on and on in our lives because the risen Christ is with us giving us hope, courage, new beginnings. The power of Easter never ends. It lives on in those who follow Christ.

You and I keep writing the story of Easter as we live out our lives

in Christ. We, who experience new life every day, take Easter life to our family, our friends, our community, our world.

Easter keeps being lived out in our lives when we live with hope. When we offer hope to others in their darkness, Easter morning happens again. When we enter in other people’s lives to walk with them, we are the risen Christ walking beside them.

Easter is here among us. We were set free when Christ died and rosefreed from death, fear, weakness - freed for life, hope, and courage. The risen Christ goes with us. Have a Blessed Easter (for the rest of your lives!)

-30-

Biggar Dancers shine in ‘Toon festival

The Biggar School of Dance is celebrating an incredibly successful week at Spring Stars Dance Festival in Saskatoon.

The School competed in 45 routines and received 24 awards and special recognitions. Most Notably, Biggar School of Dance was chosen for the “Studio Spirit - Beyond The Lights Award” recognizing the studio who demonstrated overall positivity, genuine sportsmanship, respect, and kindness. This is an award which the club is incredibly honoured and proud to receive out of the

22 clubs who attended the festival. Dancers will be rewarded with a pizza party for their sportsmanship. Performance Awards received by the club include: Most Outstanding Small Acro Group Age 9-11. Most Outstanding Small Lyrical Group Age 8-10. Most Outstanding Small Jazz Group Age

11. Most Outstanding Small Character Ballet Group Age 8 and under.

Most Outstanding Small Classical Ballet Group Age 9-11.

Most Outstanding Medium Contemporary Group Age 14. Most

Outstanding Medium

Character Ballet Group Age 8 and under. Most Outstanding Jazz Duet Age 9. Most Outstanding

Contemporary Solo Age 15. Most Promising Small Jazz Group Age 15-plus.

Adjudicators Choice

Small Tap Group Age 8 and under. Adjudicators

Choice Small Acro Group Age 8 and under. Adjudicators Choice

Small Jazz Group 8 and under. Adjudicators

Choice Jazz Solo Age 17. Adjudicators Choice Acro Solo Age 10. Adjudicators

Choice Lyrical Duet Age

15. Adjudicators Choice

Contemporary Duet Age 17. Outstanding

Choreography for Character Ballet Group Age 7. Outstanding Choreography for Pointe Group Age 15. Outstanding Choreography for Acro Group Age 9. Congratulations to all dancers! Biggar Festival of Dance is hosted at the Majestic Theatre this April 13 and 14. The Festival will bring to town 11 different dance clubs and approximately 250 dancers. Community members are invited to support our dancers and cheer them on as they perform their award winning routines on our hometown stage.

1/4 Page

Adjudicators at Spring Stars Present dancers and teachers with the “Studio Spirit - Beyond The Lights” Award. Back row, left to right: Teigan Furber, Presley Steeg, Brooklyn Mundt, Miller Anderson, Blake Dearing, Mya Kennon, Lila Danychuk. Front, left to right: Abby Donahue, Sadie Soloway, Ava Kennon, Becca Poitras, Remy McGregor, Heidi Kramer. (Submitted Photo)

Penton On Sports

Shohei Ohtani, currently embroiled in a gambling controversy but blessed with the amazing ability to throw and crush a baseball, is the best player in the world, but he’s not making this list because at the age of 29, he doesn’t qualify in the annual “Best Player 25 or Under” category.

Major League Baseball teams are flush with young superstars and it’s our duty to list the best dozen.

So let the countdown begin:

12.) Michael Harris, Jr., age 23. In two years, the Atlanta Braves star and NL Rookie-ofthe-Year in 2022 has 37 home runs, a .298 batting average and has great speed and range in centrefield for the perennially contending Braves.

11.) Isaac Paredes, 25. The Tampa Bay infielder broke out in his second full season last year, belting 31 homers after a 20-HR campaign in 2022.

10.) Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., 25. Still one of the baseball’s great young slugging stars, Jays’ fans are still hopeful for more, more, more. Vladdy won the All-Star game home-run derby in 2023. Toronto’s first baseman has 130 home runs in five seasons, including 48 in 2021.

9.) Elly de la Cruz, 22.

Biggar Bowl weekly scores

Monday Adult Mixed

One of the fastest players in the majors, shortstop de la Cruz broke into the Cincinnati Reds lineup in mid-season last year, bashing 13 homers and seven triples while stealing 35 bases in only 98 games.

8.) Spencer Strider, age 25. Atlanta Braves’ ace is the only pitcher on this list. Coming off a 20-5 season with 281 strikeouts in 186.2 innings, the righthanded Strider has reportedly developed a wicked curve this spring, so hitters should beware.

7. and 6.) Gunnar Henderson, 23, and Adley Rutschman, 25, two reasons why Baltimore Orioles became an MLB power last season. Infielder Henderson was AL Rookie of the Year after a 28-homer season while Rutschman (33 homers in two seasons and strong defensively) is one of the game’s best young catchers, finishing runner-up as the 2022 Rookie-of-the-Year.

5.) Corbin Carroll, Arizona, 23. Last year’s NL rookie of the year (voted unanimously) also placed fifth in voting for Most Valuable Player as the speedy outfielder’s 25 home runs,.285 batting average and 54 stolen bases led the Diamondbacks to the World Series, where they lost in five games to Texas.

4.) Julio Rodriguez, 23. The speedy outfielder has had two great seasons for the Mariners, with 60 homers and 62 stolen bases. He was the AL’s Rookie-of-the-Year in 2022.

3.) Fernando Tatis, Jr., 25. Injuries and a drug suspension sidelined Tatis in 2022, but in his two full seasons (2021 and 2023), the swift and powerful outfielder

Talented youth abound in MLB

crushed 67 home runs and stole 54 bases.

2.) Bobby Witt, Jr., 24. Twenty homers as a rookie, 30 as a sophomore. The KC infielder can do it all.

1.) Juan Soto, 25. A career .284 hitter with 160 homers in five seasons inspired the Yankees to sign the talented outfielder to a one-year contract for $31 million.

• Sean McIndoe of The Athletic, in a story about some of hockey’s unwritten rules:

“Unwritten rule No. 14: When somebody shoots the puck over the glass, everyone has to stop and wave their arms around like first-graders who just realized they have to go potty.”

• RJ Currie of sportsdeke. com: “CFL Hall-of-

Fame QB Warren Moon played only six seasons in Canada, and on a recent TSN interview he pronounced Saskatchewan perfectly. So what’s Milt Stegall’s excuse?”

• Super 70s Sports, on a great Canadian athlete: “George Chuvalo had 93 professional fights and squared off with six heavyweight champions, including George Foreman, Joe Frazier, and Muhammad Ali twice. He never once got knocked off his feet. Ever.”

• Vancouver comedy guy Torben Rolfsen: “Fourgame suspension for the Rangers’ Matt Rempe. When does his Upper Deck Young Goons rookie card come out?”

• Janice Hough at leftcoastsportsbabe.

com, after Yale upset Auburn in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament: “And if millions of Americans didn’t already hate the Ivy Leagues, Yale just busted several million brackets.”

• From someone named Jeff on X: “Welcome back to SportsCenter presented by ESPN Bet. For more on the Shohei Ohtani situation we go to our FanDuel MLB Insider Jeff Passan at our DraftKings Studio in Los Angeles brought to you by Caesar’s Sportsbook. Jeff, how could something like this happen?”

• RJ Currie again: “The score went up by 2s between CanadaSwitzerland at the women’s world curling championships: Canada

2, Switzerland 2; then Canada 4, Switzerland 4; and finally Canada 8 over Switzerland 4. The game was played on twos-day.”

• Headline on fark.com: “As we approach this QB draft, let’s remember ‘one of the best classes in decades, blessed with the cannon arm of Zach Wilson, unlimited ceilings of Trey Lance and Justin Fields, and the pinpoint accuracy and well-rounded passing profile of Mac Jones.”

• Late comedian Bob Hope, who said he once shot a 69 on his home course, but later revised it to 68. “I’m improving my lie.”

• Care to comment? E-mail brucepenton2003@ yahoo.ca

Sask West Hockey League This Week

by Phil Heilman

Provincial finals kicked off for both the Wilkie Outlaws in the ‘C’ Division and the Macklin Mohawks in the ‘D’ Division.

The Outlaws travelled two hours south to Kyle to take on the Elks in Game One of the best of three, and it was Wilkie coming away with the 7-4 win. Wilkie leads the series 1-0.

The game started out in a flurry as Rick Cey took the first touch, instantly scoring on Elks’ goaltender Richard Palmer just 11 seconds in. Just 13 seconds after that, Nelson Schneider’s second shot on goal fired over Outlaws’ goaltender Jared Herle pad to tie it up at 1. Mitch Suchan would score five minutes later to give Wilkie the 2-1 lead, with Ryan Keller adding to it a minute later. Five minutes after that, Darby Crozier would score to cut the deficit to 3-2, which was held after 20 minutes.

scoring 38 seconds in, extending the lead to 4-2. Near the midpoint of the middle frame, Dakota Boutin would fire one past Herle, cutting the lead back down to one.

The third period didn’t start with a goal in the first minute but carried on the chippy and tough play from the first two periods. Jeff Marshall would score early (2:44 in), tying the game up at 4. After the Elks got themselves into some penalty trouble, Brett Boehm would fire one home on the man advantage, regaining the lead. Boehm would add his second on the evening on a shot through the wickets. Austin McDonald would tie a big bow on the evening with an insurance marker late. Herle stopped 17 of 21 shots in the win, while Palmer stopped 30 of 37 shots in the loss.

a 4-3 overtime victory. Macklin leads the series 1-0.

The Rockets opened the scoring off the stick of Drew Hoff, giving the visitors the 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Macklin would get on the board in the early stages of the middle frame from Brad Buckingham, tying the game up at 1. Redvers would take the lead back just two minutes later thanks to Colby Potapinski, but Corey Doetzel would once again tie the game up just two minutes after that.

In the third, Carson Pickett would give the Mohawks their first lead of the evening at 3-2, but the Rockets answered back midway through the period as Koltyn Miller would score.

the best of five SWHL Championship series, the Kindersley Sr Klippers hosted the Wilkie Outlaws. In a game with some pretty high stakes, it was the Klippers stealing a win on home ice with a 3-2 OT victory. The series is now tied at 2.

Kyle Donaldson opened the scoring in the later stages of the first period, and it took until the midway point of the middle frame before Ryne Keller would score on the power play to tie it up at 1.

The Outlaws opened the third on the power play again, which Ryan Keller converted on to put the visitors up by 1. In ‘magic hour’, Jonny Calkins would score to tie the game back up and send it into overtime.

In the extra period, Jessey Pocock would score to lift the roof off the WCEC.

This sent the game into overtime, and with just 1:45 left, Tyler Baier would send the Credit Union Legacy Centre into a frenzy with the OT winner.

Tuesday Night Mixed

Thursday Afternoon Seniors

YBC

No goaltender stats were available.

Jared Herle took the OTL, stopping 26 of 29 shots, while Logan Drackett took the win stopping 56 of 58 shots.

Ladies High Single - Marilyn Miller 198. Ladies

High Triple - Marilyn Miller - 518. Mens High

Single - Jonathan Redlick - 242. Mens High Triple - Tristan Otterson - 577.

Ladies High Single - Melissa Raschke 247. Ladies

High Triple - Melissa Raschke 247. Mens High

Single - Michael Hebert - 209. Mens High TripleMichael Hebert - 547.

Ladies High Single - Sue McGuire 188. Ladies

High Triple - Nina Carruthers 491. Mens High

Single - Larry Tavanitz - 187. Mens High TripleGerry Besse - 500.

Bowlasaurus - Alex Friesen - 76. Pee Wee SingleHarlan Tilsley - 95; Double - Harlan Tilsley - 181. Bantam Single - Kash Greer - 135; Triple - Peter Olson - 358. Junior Single - Bentley McNaughton - 176; Triple - Dominic Raschke 449. Senior High

Single - Noah - 200; High Triple - Noah 574.

Spengler Cup Keller opened the second period with a bang,

The Mohawks welcomed the Redvers Rockets in Game one of their best of three, and the Mohawk fans went home happy with

In Game Four of

Bruce Penton

Another championship for Biggar ... Congratulations to former Biggarite, Robyn Silvernagle and her teammates Jason Ackerman, Sam Wills, and Colleen Ackerman on their Sask Mixed title! They will go on to represent Saskatchewan at the 2024 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship, November 3-9 in St. Catharines, Ontario. (Submitted Photo)

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Monday

ARIES –

Mar 21/Apr 20

Aries, communication with a spouse or a loved one is vital this week; otherwise, you risk arguments for no reason at all. Sit down and have some frank conversations about your needs.

LIBRA –

Sept 23/Oct 23

Libra, while you should be mindful of your goals, you also can support those around you as they pursue their own. Serve as inspiration to people in your life right now.

CAPRICORN –Dec 22/Jan 20

Capricorn, high energy may have you swinging at the fences every time you try to tackle something. You may want to dial things back and take a more measured approach.

306.237.7671

Troy

TAURUS –Apr 21/May 21

Taurus, when you face adversity you should rest assured that you can handle anything that is thrown at you. Although, you may need a little help from some close friends or family.

GEMINI –May 22/Jun 21

Gemini, others may not understand who you are and could make assumptions that are inaccurate. They may just need some more information to get a clearer picture.

CANCER –

Jun 22/Jul 22

SCORPIO –

Oct 24/Nov 22

Scorpio, this is a good time to start tackling some projects around the house that have been put off for some time. Redecorating and remodeling can be an inspiration right now.

SAGITTARIUS –Nov 23/Dec 21

Take a step back and reevaluate your approach to a situation because the way you have been doing it just hasn’t yielded the results you expected, Sagittarius. Take suggestions and tips.

AQUARIUS –Jan 21/Feb 18

Various transitions in your life could temporarily disrupt your daily activities, Aquarius. You’ll find a new groove soon enough that will feel comfortable and provide you with what you need.

PISCES –Feb 19/Mar 20

Don’t take stock of what all the naysayers have been dishing out, Pisces. You know yourself better than others and recognize what you are able to accomplish. Get started on plans.

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Cancer, many elements of your life are starting to level out this week. That can be a comfort to you because you seemingly have been running around for some time and could use a break.

LEO –

Jul 23/Aug 23

Leo, others have nothing but good things to say to you this week. Bask in their kind words and adoration, and use this as motivation for future endeavors.

VIRGO –Aug 24/Sept 22

With no big events on the horizon, you may want to manufacture one to have a reason to party, Virgo. Start planning your guest list and come up with a fun theme to get behind.

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CHIPMAN EUGENE ANDERSON

February 20, 1940 - March 20, 2024

Eugene (Chipman, Chip, Eugene, Gene, Gramps, Pops) was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and a friend to many far and wide. He lived his entire life on the family farm north of Perdue, with the exception of the years he attended university in Saskatoon.

As a child his days were spent exploring the vast Saskatchewan prairie with friends, his two sisters, and cousins Merv and Bill; it was then that he began to develop his lifelong and unbreakable connection to the land. As a teen he spent many days and weekends exploring the streets of Saskatoon with his cousin Neil.

After finishing high school, he graduated from the University of Saskatchewan’s School of Agriculture and then joined his dad Chipman in running the family cattle and grain farm. A few years later he married his high school sweetheart Barbara New, and they raised four children on the farm. He reveled in watching his kids enjoy the same rural upbringing that he had been privileged to experience. Some of his best memories included watching them galloping on horseback through the wheat fields, learning to drive their first snowmobile, teaching them to water-ski at the lake, and coaching and cheering them on in hockey, softball, curling, and volleyball.

He excelled at baseball and curling, both of which took him many places throughout Saskatchewan, and in 2007 was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame with the Asquith Braves; he continued to be active in the baseball community in many ways right up to his last years.

While he was most at home under the big prairie sky, he enjoyed vacationing in California and Vancouver and was always up for an adventure, including luging at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary and partaking in the New Years Day Polar Bear Swim at English Bay in Vancouver. He had an incredible love for life and people, and was a consummate story teller. He travelled every highway and road from Alberta to Manitoba in his semi delivering hay bales; he remembered each farmyard and

The family of the late Bryan Donahue would like to thank the communities of Biggar and Perdue for all their support and kindness during this difficult time.

Thank you for the gifts of flowers, food, cards, phone calls and visits.

To the Drs. and staff at Biggar Hospital, the EMTs, and Gerein Funeral Home, thanks for your care, compassion and professionalism.

To the Perdue Complex Ladies, thank you for the lovely lunch.

Bryan had a special place in his heart for that building which he helped build and maintain for many years.

His love of family and community will live on in those whose lives he touched. Our Sincere thanks to all.

Cathy, Erin Tempel, Joanne Kerslake, Kerry Donahue and their families: Todd, Chris, Ian Hawkins and their families

interaction with every farmer and rancher he met, never turning down an offer of a cup of hot black coffee or a piece of fresh pie.

In late 2014, he had his first open heart surgery; in 2015 he was air ambulanced to Edmonton and became a rare survivor of a cardiac redo. During his recovery, he developed an even rarer form of pulmonary fibrosis. However, he did not let deteriorating health interrupt his love for life and farming, spending time with family and friends, or being active and volunteering in his community. He particularly loved spending time with his grandchildren at the family cabin and watching them at hockey, basketball and dance.

In December 2023, he and Barbara moved from the farm to Saskatoon. He spent the last month at Royal University Hospital and then City Hospital. On his last day, surrounded by his family, he expressed how grateful he was for the people he loved and the life he had lived.

He was predeceased by his parents Chipman James and Edna, sister Linda and daughter-inlaw Tanys. He is survived by his wife of 59 years Barbara, children Lisa (Jim), Loral (Doug), Krista, Morgan and grandchildren Ryder, Ben, Avery and Hudson, his sister Norma and numerous nieces and nephews.

Sincere thanks to all the physicians, nurses and staff at Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute in Edmonton, Saskatoon Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon City Hospital, as well as his caregivers from Saskatoon Home Care - he truly appreciated all that was done for him and for the ten “extra” years. In addition, many thanks to cousins Merv, Bill, Robert and Faye Anderson, for all the help on the farm in recent years.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada or the Canadian Lung Association.

A celebration of his life will be announced at a later date. Condolences can be left at www. saskatoonfuneralhome.com

Arrangements are in care of SASKATOON FUNERAL HOME.

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR,

St. Gabriel roman CatholiC ChurCh 109 - 7th Ave.W, Biggar Father Edward Gibney

Parish Phone: 306-948-3330

Saturday Mass.......7:00p.m.

Sunday Mass....... 11:00a.m.

our lady of fatima CatholiC ChurCh, Landis

Sunday Mass.......9:00a.m.

Presbyterians, Anglicans and Lutherans

St.Pauls Anglican Redeemer Lutheran

Worship - 10:30

205 4th Ave. E 319 7th Ave. E MARCH 24, ST. PAULS ANGLICAN

MARCH 31, ST.PAULS EASTER WORSHIP APRIL 14, REDEEMER LUTHERAN

Rev. Daphne Bender Pastor’s cellular Phone: 1-306-621-9559 Office Phone: 306-948-3731 (Messages are forwarded to Pastor’s phone immediately)

Biggar associated gospel church 312 - 8th Ave.W. and corner of Quebec St., Biggar

Sunday Service 10:30 a.m.

All are welcome to come and join us

Biggar United ChUrCh

REGULAR SERVICES

SUNDAY 11:00 am

Pastor Dale Worrall

Inquires Call Church Office 306-948-2280

Leave Message

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

SATURDAY SERVICES

BIBLE STUDY 10:00a.m.

CHURCH SERVICE 11:00a.m.

320 - 6th ave.east contact: 306-951-8445

3 abn

www.amazingfacts.org

NEW BEGINNINGS CHURCH

...In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope...1Pe 1:3

You are Invited

Sunday Tea and Coffee -10:15am Worship - 10:30am

NEW HORIZONS 117 3rd Ave. W, Biggar

For more info - Philip Watson - 250-487-8476

Biggar United Church BBQ, Garage & Bake Sale 907 Quebec St.

Friday, April 20 - BBQ starts at 4:00

Friday, April 20 - 5pm to 8pm

Saturday, April 21 - 9am to Noon. Call the church at 948-2280 for pick up of garage sale items.

Eagle Creek Wildlife host annual banquet/awards night

The annual Eagle Creek Wildlife Federation banquet and awards was held at the Perdue Complex, March 23.

There were a total of 193 tickets sold for this event with 180 being able to come out and enjoy a fantastic Roast beef and Chicken supper catered by Val Fossen, who looks after the concession booth at the Eagle Creek Regional Park. The evening started with the cocktail hour as you could have a look

at the spectacular raffle prize table from donated items from the many sponsors of the event.

Raffle tickets were sold for your chance at these prizes.

After supper the awards were given out for the past year’s fishing and gaming trophies. The major trophy winners (and in no particular order) was Best PhotographyCarlene Sarvas and her sister Nadine Sarvas.

Best Junior AnglerPresley Poletz. Best Overall Angler - Darcy Stack. Best Overall Waterfowl - Merick Sarvas. Junior Master Sportsman - Sarah Drapak. Best Overall Big Game - Laura Jenkins.

Chase The Ace

All trophies were presented by E.C.W.F. Board President Susan Pezderic.

The evening was finished off with a dance by the band, The Band Wagon.

The history of the Eagle Creek Wildlife goes back to January 17, 1971, when a handful of members of the old branch had decided that the sportsman of the area were underrepresented and with that a new branch of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation was born. The first president

of the new Eagle Creek Branch was Les Farthing. Over the next few years memberships ballooned to over 400 that would include the communities of Perdue, Sonningdale, Arelee, Kinley, Harris, Asquith, Delisle and Langham.

The mandate of the federation is “The wise use and management of all our natural resources” and “The preservation of habitat for all species of fish and wildlife”.

Some of the monies raised by this event goes into buying up more habitat land, stocking the Eagle Creek Regional Trout Pond with fish and with many children’s programs to teach the youth the benefits of preserving the habitat.

Good job to the organizers of this event.

3

Communities in Bloom donates to Biggar Legion ... Dale Buxton, left, President of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 138 accepts a cheque for $1161.03 from Floyd Oesch, President of the Communities in Bloom. The money will go towards the Legion Banner Program, an initiative to have street lamp banners made of veterans to be displayed during Remembrance season from October through November. (Photo for The Independent courtesy of Jesse Joe)

by Delta Fay

Cruickshank for the Biggar Museum and Gallery

One hundred and fifteen years ago, Eugene Baron built a three-story building with a balcony, facing south on First Avenue West in Biggar.

He called it the Biggar Hotel.

Born in France, when Baron was nine, he and his parents left France and emigrated to Montreal. Baron was a well-educated man,

A Biggar Landmark

having gone to McGill College in Montreal and then took training for general store business in Megantic, Quebec.

He ran a general store for 10 years, then moved to Calgary prospecting for a business in the West. Then he heard the rumours of a new town in Saskatchewan becoming famous as a location for a new enterprise. That is how he ended up in Biggar!

He built what a brandnew community needed ... a hotel! An August 15, 1909 advertisement reads all there was available at the brand

new establishment: “Comfortable and Commodious Hostelry, Special Attention Given to Commercial Trade, Large and Well Lighted Rooms, First Class Cuisine, Finest Wines, Liquors and Cigars, Courteous and Careful Attention Given to Guests”.

I do know that no booze was served in the Biggar Hotel between the years 1914 and 1925, the Temperance Movement convinced voters of the evils of drink, and this township was dry for these years.

Sounds like The place

by Rick Herity

My grandfather was George Herity. He owned the Biggar Hotel from 1943 until his passing in 1962.

George was living in Kerrobert in the 1940’s. Along with his brother Walter, they owned the Herity Hardware Store in Kerrobert. He sold his half of the Hardware Store to Walter and purchased the Biggar Hotel.

Around 1956, my parents and family moved from Edmonton to Biggar. My dad was going to run the bar at the hotel for his father George. We purchased the Sam P. James house on Second Avenue and settled into Prairie life.

My father, Jack Herity, worked seven days a week at the bar. In those days the bar was closed on Sundays but dad spent the day cleaning the bar, cleaning out the beer lines and getting everything in order for Monday openings.

Saturday night at the Biggar Hotel was liken to the Wild West. There was always someone causing a ruckus who needed to be tossed out of the bar. My father was a Second World War Sergeant Major who served six years over seas. He was well trained

to stay when one came to the new Village of Biggar. There are likely hundreds of stories about the Biggar Hotel and events that took place inside the walls of the establishment.

In 1927 there was a fire in the hotel and if it wasn’t for the quick thinking of J.L. Mulligan, a former member of the Calgary Fire Department who happened to be staying at the hotel at the time, the hotel would have burned to the ground. Grabbing a hose, Mulligan fought the fire until the local department could arrive. His quick thinking saved the hotel from certain destruction.

At one time, a “Streaker” entered the back door only to yell and scream with a mask covering his face, exiting out the front to a getaway car. The hotel had up to 48 furnished rooms to rent and a busy bar in its glory days. At the end of life for the hotel the bar part was the only thing that remained operational, the rooms

had long since been shut down.

The final owner is Integra Tire, who have knocked down the hotel to expand on their business in Biggar. How many tired travellers stepped off the train at the train station at the end of Main Street, and spotted the Biggar Hotel and thought, “That’s where we will stay tonight.”

I heard one story on how when the Janis Joplin Cheap Thrills train trip came through on the tracks, and emergency stop happened here in Biggar ... to restock at the Biggar Hotel!

Definitely a longstanding landmark in our town.

The Biggar Hotel’s advertisement in the August 19, 1909 “Biggar World” newspaper. We still have the original paper here at the Independent.

My Memories of the Biggar Hotel

in hand-to-hand combat and never backed away from a fight. If someone was tossed out one week, the next week he would bring a bigger friend with him and see what would happen as the night progressed! Needless to say there were many bruised knuckles.

The bar had a separate entrance from the hotel. I remember a large commercial kitchen with several cast iron stoves and large laundry facility at the back of the hotel.

Mrs. Weatherly was the cook at that time. I would often visit her in the kitchen. She made the best beef soup with shredded carrots and always made sure there was enough for me to have a bowl too. I remember the hotel rooms housed many retired railroaders.

The west side of the hotel had a parking lot, beautiful manicured lawn and flower gardens that were tended to by the retirees at the hotel.

I remember, before the new highway was built, the main road through town was First Avenue. There were three passenger trains a day that stopped in Biggar. Along with the traffic and the visitors on the train, the hotel was a bustling

place for a lunch or dinner stop along the journey.

I remember on the main floor, along the east side of the hotel there were ‘Sample Rooms’. The travelling salesmen would arrive by train, set up their wares in these sample rooms and invite the local businesses to come and place their orders for the newest and most fashionable items they could sell in their own stores in Biggar.

I remember when you entered the hotel lobby there was a grand staircase.

I remember in the lobby there was a large wooden Lshaped desk under the windows, with chairs, where guests of the hotel could sit and write letters and postcards. In the lobby was a big humidor that contained the best cigars for the gentlemen

guests. I remember my grandfather putting apple slices in the humidor to keep the cigars fresh. I remember the old tin tile ceiling in the bar. As a child, I remember exploring the scary basement of the hotel only to discover a huge boulder that wasn’t removed at the time the hotel was built.

As time went on and things evolved the sample rooms were converted into main floor living quarters for George in his later years. He passed

away, in bed at the hotel on July 23, 1962. The hotel was sold several months later in 1963. Jack Herity went on to work at the post office. One night in the 70’s my sister, Susan Herity, was at the bar in the Biggar Hotel. She was talking with the barmaids and made a comment

that her grandfather George had died at the hotel. The girls faces went pale and they were awe-struck. They had experienced a ghost in the hotel and they nicknamed him George! Could this have been our George? Is this a coincidence? Maybe.

1910 - The very first classroom for the young community was in the Biggar Hotel.

1913 - An exterior view of the Biggar Hotel with seven cars parked in front, people on the balcony and standing among the cars.

1913 - The day the circus was in town. The elephants parading down Main Street advertising for the Biggar Hotel ... Meet me at the Biggar Hotel. Good meals, Cool Beer, Fine Liquor, Good Cigars. There was no alcohol served in the Biggar Hotel from 1914 to 1925. The Temperance Movement were successful in stopping the sale of alcohol during these years.

1919 Returning Soldiers - 93 men and one woman standing in front of the Biggar Hotel. Most of the men are in military uniform and had served during the First World War.

1913 - the Biggar Hotel, with a sign which reads, “The Commercial Travellers Home The Biggar Hotel”. Doesn’t it look like it could be the beginning of the gardens in front the train station.