The Biggar Independent Volume #114 Issue #35

Yankee Model A now a Canadian Model “Eh” ... Kelly McLellan (inset picture, left) and his buddy, Phil Michalowski take a moment to pose in Perdue with the Model A purchased in the United States. McLellan, formerly of Perdue, along with Michalowski, were in the final hours of their six-day trip which started in Des Moines, Iowa. The car ran beautifully although they did have to stop for a few repairs, put out a fire, and plod along at a sedate 80 km/h, as they made their way to the Model A’s new home in Unity. (Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)

Bronze Courses were being held at the Biggar Aquatic Centre last week, giving the next group of lifeguards the tools needed to be aware of the complications faced in the lifesaving business.

Instructor Cassidy Burton (right picture) sets up a scenario between classmates who are the rescuers and the rescued. The early morning classes are hugely important for keeping our pool open and functioning safely.

(Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)

by Sgt. Dereck Crozier, Biggar Detachment

This past week member dealt with 26 occurrences.

Traffic education in the Springwater area seen half of the six tickets issued this week, while five other motorists were thankful just having a conversation

Biggar RCMP report

with members as patrols were made throughout the area.

Report of two Alberta vehicles racing in and out of traffic westbound on Highway 14. Not everyday you can use this excuse for missing your Par opportunity, as a semi lost part of its load, bouncing a sewer

holding tank down the road alongside the Perdue Golf course off Highway 14.

A report of a male operating a black Dodge Caravan with no plates, leaving Biggar westbound at a high rate of speed without paying for their gas. Members in Unity and Macklin both attempted to engage the male in a friendly conversation. However, he wanted nothing to do with police as he beelined it to the Alberta border. With pedal to the metal, no pursuit was engaged due to public safety, radio travels faster, and Provost was notified of the Caravan entering into their area.

A 2007 GMC caught fire in the RM of Eagle Creek, no other property damage caused. CN Police called to report two crossing malfunctions and a fire on-board one of their locomotives west of town requiring local fire to be called out to assist.

A noise complaint reported in the Town of Biggar and a further noise complaint reported in the Village of Perdue, as well as someone threatening to paint the neighbours house with

a paintball gun. Also in Perdue, report of youth climbing on the light tower on the north side of the tracks. Members assisted in removing a 60-year-old male living in the bush in the Rec Valley after he was lighting fires in the brush area and creating an environmental concern with the collection trash.

Coming up on Friday, September 8, I would like to invite everyone to drop by the detachment from noon until 2 p.m. for a visit. Biggar

Detachment members will be hosting a free barbecue for the general public in celebration of the 150 year RCMP anniversary. Also joining us at the barbecue will be Saskatchewan Crimestoppers and the Saskatchewan Recruitment team that will have information available for those interested in a career as a peaceofficer or as emergency dispatchers with either 911 or police. Take care out there!

The regular meeting of Biggar Town Council was held August 1 at 7:15 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Attending the meeting were Mayor Jim Rickwood, Councillors Alan Boyle, Dakota Ekman, Nicole Hoppe, Kevin McNicholls, Edward Young, and Ivan Young.

Council resolved that this meeting be recessed at 7:30 p.m. for the purpose of conducting a public hearing to hear any person or group that wants to comment on the proposed self storage service units. As no verbal or written comments were received Mayor Rickwood closed the public hearing and reconvened the regular council meeting at 7:32 p.m.

Council resolved that the Council of the Town of Biggar enter into an in-camera session to discuss the policies and procedures concerning the Animal Control Bylaw at 7:33 p.m. Council closed the in-camera session at 7:50 p.m.

Council resolved that Bylaw No. 23-851, being a bylaw to license, regulate and control the ownership and possession of domestic animals within the municipal limits of the Town of Biggar be read a third time and adopted.

Council resolved that the General Accounts Paid in the amount of $128,604.70 and the General Accounts Payable in the amount of $290,347.92 be

approved.

Council resolved that the following correspondence be accepted for Council’s information and filed: Biggar Rural

District Fire Association

- June 2023 Payroll. Ministry of Highways - Engineering Seal Treatment.

CN - Rail Safety Week 2023. Hayden McMahon - Thank You. Water Security Agency - Permit to Operate Sewage Works.

SUMAssure - Mid-Year

Update 2023. Ministry of Government Relations - 2023-24 Transit Operating Grant. Kimberly A. Paulsen - Animal Control

Bylaw Concern. Rita Tavanetz - Animal Control

Bylaw Concern. Recycling and Waste Management Service - Waste Summary. Water Security Agency - Mechanical Plant Compliance. Water Security Agency - Lagoon Compliance Inspection. Animal Protection Services - Bylaw Compliance Review. Tyler FamilyThank You. SUMA - July 2023 Municipal Update. Ministry of Highways - Highway Seal Treatments. Sask. Public Safety Agency - ESO District 3 Information. Commissionaires - August 1, 2023 Bylaw Report.

Council resolved that Town Officials sign the letter of understanding between the Town of Biggar and the CUPE Local 1151.

Council resolved the correspondence from Catterall and Wright with regard

Bingo Numbers for August 31

B-13 I-25 N-36 G-48 O-61

to the Rack Road revised drawings be received.

Council resolved that as the Discretionary Use Development Permit application by First Avenue Collision Centre to allow for the operation of self-service storage units has been advertised in accordance with the Town’s Zoning Bylaw No. 15-763 and that no objections have been received with respect to this application, that this discretionary use be approved condition to the requirements outlined in the Zoning Bylaw No. 15-763. • Meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

DeJong takes best Paralympic

When Biggar’s Lisa DeJong crossed the finish line in second in the women’s SB-LL2 snowboard cross final at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, she etched her name in the history books. She will forever be the first Canadian to win a Para snowboard medal at the Paralympic Games.

The Canadian Paralympic Sport Awards recognized DeJong for her outstanding athletic and team perfor-

Debut Award

mances at the Paralympic Games, presented her with the Paralympic Debut Award.

Para snowboard made its debut at the 2014 Games, and DeJong was the first Canadian athlete to step on the podium in the sport, winning a silver medal at her first Paralympic Games.

At the Paralympic Games in 2022 in Beijing, DeJong was also second in her snowboard cross quarterfinal and semi-final to qualify

for the final, where she stayed in that silvermedal position. She followed winner Cecile Hernandez of France to the finish line, while Brenna Huckaby of the U.S. was third. Her three medals at the 2022 World Para Snow Sports Championships - gold in team, silver in snowboard cross, and silver banked slalom - added to her 2022 Paralympic Games silver medal, along with two silver medals in the 2021

World Para Snow Sports Championships (snowboard cross and dual banked slalom). Her results this past season were the cap to an incredible season for DeJong, who had become a medal contender earlier in the year with strong results on the World Cup circuit and three medals at the world championships. Well deserved, Lisa! Congratulations!

Lisa DeJong is adding to her already impressive trophy case, this time with the Best Paralympic Debut. (Submitted Photo)

On August 24, semi lost part of it's load on Highway 14 near the Perdue Golf Course. (Photos for The Independent courtesy of Sgt. Dereck Crozier, Biggar RCMP)

On September 23, a male driving a black Dodge Caravan with no plates fled out of town at a high rate of speed. Both Unity and Macklin attempted to stop the male who had no interest in discussing anything with the police. No pursuit engaged due to public safety. Provost was notified the vehicle would be passing through their area.

by Gerry Chidiac, specialist in

languages, genocide studies, recipient of an award from the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre for excellence in teaching about the Holocaust

If there’s a hell, it’s a teenage mother with a sick child strapped to her back, breaking rocks and putting them into a sack while she and her baby breathe in toxic dust. If she’s lucky, she’ll make a dollar or two and they will buy something to eat.

They will both be dead in less than a year.

This is not a dystopian fantasy. This is the reality for an artisan cobalt miner in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). She is the one who gathers the minerals needed so you can recharge your smart phone, your laptop, your headphones, and your shiny electric vehicle.

Though manufacturers will tell us they source their cobalt only from ethical mines, that is a myth. The DRC has by far the richest cobalt mines in the world, and they are linked to the supply lines bringing the materials needed to make our batteries.

I thought I had seen the worst of human

Inconvenient truth: Green energy is the colour of Congolese blood

suffering when I lived in the DRC in the early 1990s. At that time, the region now producing cobalt was known for its copper production.

The riches from these largely industrial mines lined the pockets of the American puppet dictator, Joseph Mobutu Sese Seko, while his people lived in squalor.

In their dark humour, Congolese spoke of a non-existent law called “Article 15: Débrouillezvous”, which meant “figure it out; find a way to get by”.

Ironically, that is the way of life in the DRC. I never saw people work harder, and it is that spirit that foreign corporations continue to exploit.

In the aftermath of the Rwandan Genocide, Mobutu lost control of his country and was overthrown by Laurent Kabila. When he was assassinated, his son Joseph took over. Warlords gained control of the eastern region of the Congo, exploiting tantalum, gold, and other minerals needed in our computers and cell phones. Millions have died in the carnage fuelled by these conflict minerals, and foreign mining companies have profitably exploited the

situation.

Misery expanded southward as the demand for cobalt, a by-product of copper mining, became essential to modern technology. Joseph Kabila made deals with Chinese, Swiss, Canadian, and other foreign mining corporations and enriched himself as Mobutu did.

Mobutu and the Kabilas modelled their economies after that of King Leopold II of Belgium and his Congo Free State. In 1890, Joseph Conrad travelled by steamship up the Congo River and later recounted his experience in his book Heart of Darkness. His words describing the exploitation of the Congolese continue to disturb our collective conscience: “The horror! The horror!”

Félix Tshisekedi, the first democratically elected president of the DRC since 1960, has done little to bring foreign mining corporations under control. Today, millions of Congolese men, boys, women, and girls dig cobalt from the ground, break stones, wash them in contaminated water, put them in raffia sacks, and carry them out of the mines. They

often end up seriously injured or dead when walls of earth collapse over them. The children cannot afford to go to school, the water is undrinkable, and the once-fertile soil is poisoned. Foreign nationals living in walled-off compounds see this happening as they send their wealth overseas.

Life for the Congolese will not change until consumers demand proof that there is only clean cobalt in their electric vehicles and other technology. We are seeing history repeat itself. The spirit

of King Leopold lives on in foreign mining, automobile, and technology corporations.

Much credit for our awareness of the cobalt crimes in the Congo has to go to Siddharth Kara for his groundbreaking book Cobalt Red. He has been speaking on

every possible platform, from Joe Rogan to Democracy Now, since his account was published in January. Now we just need to listen.

Cobalt is not blue, and green energy is not green; they are both the colour of Congolese blood.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME

They MUST be signed, approximately 300 words in length and are subject to editing. Thank Yous will not be permitted in letters

Is Governor General Mary Simon worth the $2.7 million price tag?

Troy Media viewpoint

Mary Simon broke barriers when she became Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General in 2021.

Fast-forward a year, and she’s breaking the bank - $2.7 million in travel expenses, to be exact, and that’s with the meter still ticking, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF). While Simon is a champion for Indigenous rights and Arctic conservation, does her eye-watering travel budget reflect an equal value to the Canadian public?

Simon’s 2022 globetrotting escapades were

nothing short of lavish. Five international jaunts and myriad domestic voyages, and she’s hardly ever alone. Her husband, aides, and an entire entourage typically accompany her, inflating the bills even further. Case in point: a Middle Eastern tour last March saw in-flight meals alone costing close to $100,000.

CTF Federal Director Franco Terrazzano puts it bluntly, “While Canadians are tightening their belts, especially during a pandemic, Simon’s exorbitant expenses are tone-deaf at best.”

It’s not just the flights;

the accommodations have been sumptuous, to say the least. Imagine checking into the RitzCarlton in Berlin or the iconic Great Scotland Yard in London.

But let’s provide some context. Simon isn’t the first Governor General to lean into luxury. Her predecessors, including Julie Payette and David Johnston, racked up nearly $3 million and at least $2 million in international travel, respectively. Governors-General Adrienne Clarkson and Michaëlle Jean each spent over $8.9 million during their tenures.

Yet the question

remains: What are Canadian taxpayers getting in return?

“Rideau Hall has been spending far too much for far too long. It’s time for fiscal restraint,” Treason says.

The timing for this indulgence could hardly be worse. The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General already enjoys a federal funding cushion of $33 million. Add to that Simon’s salary, recently hiked to $351,600, an increase of $48,800 since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. All these numbers loom large, especially as Canada grapples with

a shaky post-pandemic economic recovery and rising living costs. Simon’s appointment brought promise and optimism, as she was touted to be a bridgebuilder between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. The question is, can these noble goals and cultural diplomacy be quantified against a backdrop of such high spending? As important as the Governor General’s role might be in ceremonial and constitutional contexts, the financial aspect is increasingly difficult to justify for the average Canadian taxpayer.

In a time when Canadians are feeling the financial pinch more than ever, Simon’s highflying expenditures are not merely a point of discussion; they’ve become a symbol of broader questions about fiscal responsibility and value for money in public service. Is Mary Simon’s Governor Generalship worth the opulent price tag?

That’s the $2.7 million question now facing Canada.

Notable Notes

Bob Mason

Kind of afraid that he would get out of practise, or even worse, lose interest entirely, Yours Truly (Y.T.) picked up his pen and thought, “I’d better put something - anything - down on this piece of paper and try to keep in touch with myself before I for-

by Delta Fay Cruickshank

for the Biggar Museum and Gallery

The summer holidays are over. Back to school Biggar goes!

Did you know that there have been schools for Biggar students to go back to since 1910?

The very first schoolroom was in the Biggar Hotel in 1910. The students got their education in the hotel while the Biggar Public School was being built on the north side of Fifth Avenue on the first block.

By 1914 an addition had to added to accommodate the need for high school classes. While the building was going on, classes were being held in the St. Paul’s Anglican Church on the corner of King Street and Fourth Avenue East. It was demolished in 1962.

In 1924 Thornton School was built. Four rooms and two stories were built on the north side of the second block on Sixth Avenue East. On the opening of

Writers

get how to altogether!”

I’m kind of getting away from what I started out to tell here but there is a great solace (I think that is the right word) for all of us in writing.

Many people take another route that accomplishes the same thing. The coffee shops and bars are full of folks from all over seeking, as they sip their separate brews, to kind of ease the tension of the times and somehow lessen the pressures of the modern rat race.

Getting away from it all is a necessary thing, and most of us do it, like I say, often in different ways. My way happens to be writing. I under-

stand that Robbie Burns did both!

This writers point-ofview, however flawed, is often recorded. And, if The Independent prints it, is read - not always understood, mind youand the whole relaxing process accomplishes something, mostly for me.

So, like mentioned above, I picked up my pen - darn it, I think it’s going dry! Sometimes I think that this happens to people when they don’t keep their “ink” brains working!

I wondered what in the world I could write about. Yet, here we are, halfway down the page. This is a good time to

leave a little bit of advice for the reader.

The people who wait for some great inspiring thought to come so that they can mark it down, often wait a long, long time. Whereas, with a pen in their hands and a blank piece of paper in front of them, often those long awaited thoughts come thick and fast. I always try to have a blank sheet of paper, for if there is something written or printed on it, it demands immediately to be read, and someone else’s thoughts crowd in and there goes the ball game!

Back to Square One! Some pessimist is bound to say, “My mind

is blank! Whatever will I write about?”

Dear Pessimist: A few moments ago, at the top of this page, this writer wondered the very same thing! His mind was blank (well, blanker than usual) but he had a pen in his hand and a blank piece of paper...

One can far better understand and appreciate the so-called “Great” writers and give them a lot more human place in our memories when we realize that many times even they picked up their pens, stared into space and wondered what they should write about! Once a person gets started, sometimes it’s kind of difficult to

Students went to the hotel for school!

the school, Grade 1-11 attended, 405 students and 10 teachers.

In 1927 a four-room two-storey addition was built on the north side of the school. At that time there were 508 teachers and 14 teachers. A story I heard from a Biggar old-timer was that the foundations of the old school were so deep and thick, when it came time for demolition, they

could not be removed. Instead, dirt was used to cover them up and it is now where the playground is behind BCS. It was demolished in 1972.

The Biggar Composite High School was built in 1957 on the east side of school yard. Nova Wood was built in 1962. It’s now the dentist office, Prairie Branches and the dance studio. Woodrow Lloyd was built in 1972.

Woodrow Lloyd is now the small gymnasium of Biggar Central School 2000.

Observation; the Town of Biggar had trouble keeping up with the educational needs for the community, and yet was able to make sure students had a school to go to.

stop!

I’d better cut this philosophy stuff off before

The Independent does!

Final all-knowing note: Everyone knows that there are a lot of quiet people out there, much like the writer, who look as though they never had a thought in their lives. Don’t be fooled!

Everyone has a story to tell! They just haven’t picked up their pens! I often wonder what it would be like to have a conversation with some of those “Great” guys. Of course, we never will. But I’ll bet my bottom buck that a lot of them spent quite a bit of their time on coffee row!

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Saskatchewan wholesale trade stays strong

Saskatchewan’s economy continues to strengthen with latest numbers from Statistics Canada showing very strong wholesale trade.

Wholesale trade saw year-over-year growth, with a 70.5 per cent increase compared to June 2022 (seasonally adjusted). There was a total of $7.2 billion in wholesale trade in June 2023.

“Wholesale trade growth is a key element to ensuring the province’s economy continues to grow,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “Today’s increase is further proof that Saskatchewan has the food, fuel and fertilizer that the world needs.”

These numbers show Saskatchewan continuing to build on a recordbreaking 2022. Exports to the United States hit a record $29.3 billion last year. The province’s GDP growth was the highest in Canada as well, up 5.7 per cent from 2021 to 2022.

Wholesale trade measures the value of goods purchased in large quantities with the intention of being sold to resellers, but not to final consumers. For example, this can include farming products like wheat or lentils. Wholesale trade indicates businesses’ spending confidence, consumption patterns, and signals the current and expected future state of goods-producing industries.

The first students in Biggar 1910, met in the Biggar Hotel. Miss Hassard was the teacher. (Photos for The Independent courtesy the Biggar Museum and Gallery)

The first schoolhouse, Biggar Public School on Fifth Avenue East, on the north side on the first block.

A view of the residential area on the east side of town in 1910. See the Biggar Public School in the background.

Ask The Money Lady

Christine Ibbotson

Dear Money Lady Readers,

Do you know the difference between the Big-5 Banks and a Canadian Credit Union?

We’re all stressing about inflation and interest rates these days and the demand for “good” financial advice is on the rise. Homeownership, mortgage renewals, investment assistance, and basic budgeting can’t be found on social media sites.

That being said, most people automatically gravitate to one of Canada’s largest banks (BMO, RBC, TD, BNS, and CIBC), especially millennials, and why not? The “Big-5” now dominate this country’s financial sector with approximately $1.05 trillion in Canadian assets.

But credit today is expensive, and many millennials feel home ownership may not be a reality in their lifetime or they feel they just don’t get the right advice to save and invest for their future.

We have all been systematically trained by the banks to seek financial advice online and do our banking through a “do-it-yourself” app. It was widely believed that millennials would never value a relationship with a banker, and the Big-5

banks ramped up the online banking movement during COVID to reduce costs, lower overhead, and increase profits for their shareholders.

But this is not what I hear from my readers who send me hundreds of e-mails every week worried about their future. Today more than ever, Canadians want good customer service, honest financial advice, and they do indeed want a partnership with their bank to help them create a future for their families.

The online banking movement has alienated many Canadians and made them very cautious. Are they being sold a product for their benefit or the banks? Is it worth having a relationship with a banker only to find out later

$ driving ag research

cocktail of funding dollars with the potential for significantly different views of what those dollars should be spent on in terms of research.

Agriculture

Calvin

by Calvin Daniels

Daniels

Scientific research is

a key to our future in almost any area you wish to point to, and that most certainly includes agriculture.

But there are two huge questions related to ag research; who will supply the dollars, and who sets the agenda regarding what should be researched.

In general terms there are three general funding sources; producers themselves - money generally collected as a levy on sales, corporate investment and government dollars.

It’s an interesting

First comes producer dollars. There you will at least generally find some consensus - at least within a particular commodity group - about what needs to be researched but they are not always paying the largest portion of the bill to have the final say.

That’s where the other funding sources come into play.

There is always a profit associated with anything a corporation does, and while at times those efforts can be in lockstep with producer needs, it will ultimately be about adding to the corporate bottom line before that of the farmer.

And, that leaves government dollars, which can come with their own strings attached.

With government - any and all stripes of government - have political agendas and those are often reflected in where dollars go.

At times the agenda is also influenced by the

that they are no longer there, and they have to start over with someone new?

Why not consider a credit union instead?

Canadian credit unions are financial institutions, just like banks. Both organizations have brick and mortar locations where you can go and do your banking. Both offer chequing and savings accounts, mortgages, loans, lines of credit, investments, and retirement products.

The major difference is credit unions are nonprofit organizations with a mandate to serve their members and their community, with their primary goal to provide better products and services to members.

Commercial banks, on the other hand, are large for-profit entities that work for their sharehold-

ers. At this time when we really need financial advice, it’s now important to establish a partnership with a financial institution.

Ken Shea, CEO of East Coast Credit Union said, “Our advisors stay in their roles longer to build solid relationships with our members. We work with clients to create a future plan for home ownership even if they can’t get into the market right now and we promise to still be there in the future to help them through the entire buying process. We pride ourselves on going that extra mile to help our members and we look for ways to be more creative to help them get ahead. One example is our lower mortgage rates and cashback offers to assist with down payments or

expenses. Providing an exceptional experience and superior customer service set us apart from the commercial banks.”

Right now, we could all use a little help in this economic environment.

Finding a professional could save you thousands of dollars, give you peace of mind, and provide you with a customized solution to build the future you have always wanted.

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. Send your money questions (answered free) through her website at askthemoneylady.ca

general public in the sense government dollars come from all taxpayers, the vast majority well-removed from the day-to-day activities of farming.

A taxpaying voter in Toronto has little chance of knowing about the potential impact of blackleg on canola production, but they are aware of the aura of climate change. An MP in a large metro city can ‘sell’ investing in research to help agriculture producers adapt to climate change far more easily.

From a producer perspective the impact of blackleg - again as an example - is more directly understood as a threat. Canola is the big dollar crop and anything that can reduce yields is a threat to profitability. Climate change is far different.

Some see it as a great mirage with scientists and politicians around the world forming a grand cabal to fleece the public.

Others see climate change as a natural occurrence that is simply going through another cycle - which it might be - but still leaves the question how we adapt because there are far more mouths to feed now.

Still others are willing to kick-the-can of climate change down the road, leaving it to others.

Suddenly research funding becomes far more complicated because there is never enough money to do everything, and which is the best path depends largely on who you might ask.

How to purchase and store apples to prevent rotting

Chef Dez on cooking

Chef Dez

We’ve all encountered the disappointment of biting into a once-promising apple, only to be met with a mushy, unappetizing surprise.

Rotten apples can be quite frustrating, especially when you were looking forward to enjoying a crisp and juicy bite. Rotten apples are a result of various factors, primarily centred around improper storage conditions and the natural processes of decay.

Here are some key reasons why apples go bad:

Moisture: Excess moisture can lead to mould growth, causing apples to rot from the inside out. If you are washing them prior to putting them in the refrigerator, make sure they are completely dry before doing so.

Bruises and Damage: Apples with bruises or cuts are more susceptible to rotting, as these areas provide entry points for bacteria and fungi. Make sure you are inspecting apples thoroughly when buying them. Although this may be a bit difficult if they

are in pre-weighed bags with printed advertising, do your best to turn the bag around a few times to examine more thoroughly. You can also try gently squeezing the apples to see if any give way to your touch as this may be a sign of spoilage. Also look for apples that still have their stem intact. Apples with no stems could be a sign of maturity, as well as an opportunity for moisture to gather and an advanced opportunity for deterioration to start.

Air Exposure: Apples exposed to air, especially if the skin is punctured, tend to deteriorate faster due to oxidation. This is the same idea as a cut slice of apple going brown.

Temperature: Warm temperatures can accelerate the decay process, making it essential to store apples in cool environments.

Consuming rotten apples is not advisable, as they may contain harmful bacteria and mould that can lead to foodborne illnesses. Eating a rotten apple can cause digestive issues, such as upset stomach, nausea, or diarrhea. To ensure your health and wellbeing, it’s best to avoid consuming any part of a rotten apple. The best way to prevent rotting apples is through proper storage.

Store apples in a cool, dry place, ideally in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer. This slows down the ripening process and helps prevent moisture buildup.

Make sure you are also inspecting the apples before storing them. Examine apples for bruises, cuts, or signs of damage before storing them. Remove any damaged apples to prevent the spread of spoilage and keep them separate from the ones you want to have on hand as snacks.

You can also separate apples from other fruits and berries in your refrigerator. Apples release ethylene gas, which can speed up the ripening of other fruits nearby. Keep them separate to extend their freshness.

If you notice slightly soft or bruised apples, consider using them in recipes like applesauce, smoothies, or baked goods to prevent waste.

While rotten apples can be disappointing, understanding the causes and effects of spoilage can help you make informed decisions about consuming or discarding them. By taking proper storage precautions and being mindful of their condition, you can enjoy the full potential of fresh, crisp, and delicious apples.

So, the next time you reach for an apple, remember these tips to ensure that each bite is a delightful and wholesome experience. 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.

4 tech tools every business owner should know about

Even the most techaverse people will recognize that there can be time- and cost-saving benefits to using digital tools. If you’re a business owner, here are four you may want to add to your portfolio.

Project management

No matter how big

or small your team is, cloud-based project management tools can make it easier to track activities, meetings and deadlines from wherever anyone is working. There are free programs available, but it’s probably worth investing in one of the better-known

platforms to take advantage of extra features such as large-file storage, messaging tools and the ability to grant limited access to freelancers or other third-party suppliers.

Digital documents

Since their introduction, documents with

Harvest continues at slow and steady pace

Producers continued to make progress harvesting their crops this week, according to the weekly crop report for the period August 15-21.

Scattered rain helped with moisture levels as systems moved through the province. Saskatchewan is now 21 per cent completed harvest, ahead of the five-year average of 14 per cent and the 10-year average of 11 per cent.

The southwest continues to lead the province in harvest progress, with 38 per cent of the crop harvested. This is followed by the west-central, which has 27 per cent harvested so far. The northwest has received moisture these past few weeks and as a result only four per cent completed harvest.

Harvest progress advanced in all crops this week. Fall cereals continue to lead the crops being harvested; 89 per cent of fall rye and 74 per cent of winter wheat crops are harvested. Field peas and lentils continue to lead the spring-seeded crops in harvest progress; 66 per cent of field peas and 60 per cent of lentils are harvested. Barley leads the spring seeded cereals, with 30 per cent of the crop harvested. With 27 per cent of crop in the bin, mustard leads oilseed

harvest progress, ahead of canola and flax.

All crop districts received rain as scattered moisture moved through the province again this week. The most rain reported was 59 millimetres in the Barthel area. The Cabri area in the southwest also received significant moisture, with 52 millimetres reported. The scattered showers resulted in an increase in topsoil moisture across the province. Thirty-two per cent of crop land has adequate moisture, 41 per cent is short and 27 per cent is very short. In hay and pastures, 24 per cent have adequate moisture, 42 per cent are short and 34 per cent are very short.

Pasture conditions in the province have improved with the recent moisture. Twelve per cent of pastures are in good condition, 29 per cent are fair, 40 per cent are poor and 19 per cent are very poor. Nine per cent of forage acres did not get cut or baled this year due to drought conditions.

Crop damage this past week was due to wind, localized flooding, drought, grasshoppers and gophers. Producers are also noting aster yellows in crops this week.

Producers are busy combining, desiccating crops to encourage dry-down

e-signatures have saved countless hours on the job. While in the past you had to gather all signatories together in one room or use a secure courier service to move the documents around, today you can instantly share and sign contracts and work orders from anywhere in the world. You also end up with secure, searchable digital backups without having to store banker’s boxes of paperwork that can become misfiled, damaged or lost.

Customer relationship management

Once your business has

grown beyond serving your network of friends and family, a customer relationship management tool - better known as a CRM - is essential. These tools make it easy to manage and track all your customer interactions, see who is opening and reading your e-mails or visiting your website, and more. Also, cold calling to drum up new business is not the most efficient approach. Instead, with a CRM containing detailed info about past clients, you can reach out to get them back on board and track new leads.

Cloud-based accounting

As a business owner you know how important it is to stay organized, keep track of payments owed and expenses made, send invoices and accept payments. With a cloud-based accounting program you can automate many of these tasks while storing all of these documents safely. Small business owners can also apply to receive funding toward a subscription to digital accounting platforms through the Canada Digital Adoption Program.

PRECISION AUTOBODY WRITING

SGI ESTIMATES IN BIGGAR!

We’ve been working with Fred & Patsy at Spyder Autobody for the past 3 years, and will continue servicing the Biggar community with mobile SGI appraisals

I-Car Gold Class and OEM Certified Technicians

and monitoring moisture levels. Many are also busy hauling water for their animals and moving livestock.

Harvest is a very busy and stressful time for producers, and they are reminded to take safety precautions in all the work they do. This includes having fire mitigation resources at the ready and taking precautions when working around powerlines.

The Farm Stress Line is available to provide support to producers toll free at 1-800-667-4442. The public is reminded to use extra caution when encountering machinery on the roads, and to give extra time and space.

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by Trudy and Dale Buxton

Our story into British Columbia is almost complete, however, I wanted to tell you about a great summertime event that transpired this past week weekend - the Blueberry Festival from St. Walburg, Saskatchewan.

St. Walburg was named for an English nun who was made a saint for her efforts and tireless work with the German people. Many residents of St. Walburg contend that the community was named after Mrs. Walburga, who has established a reputation of a ever working community/ church worker in the area.

Mrs. Walburga was very instrumental in the early

years of the community, making it what it is today.

The present town site was established in 1921 when the Canadian National Railway had established a rail line from North Battleford.

That was the end of the line for the rail in this part of the north. There was plans to go farther north, but that didn’t happen. The rail line was officially abandoned in 2008 by the CNR.

The first store in St. Walburg was a general store run by the Musch family who had moved into town from three miles south of the present

Have you heard of a lung attack?

You know of heart attacks, but have you heard of a lung attack?

If not, it might surprise

you to learn that lung attacks are part of why a health condition called COPD is the third-leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

COPD, which stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a lung disease that causes difficulty breathing. Lung attacks, also known as flare ups or exacerbations, can be mild, but moderate to severe attacks are extremely dangerous and often require emergency medical intervention.

During a severe lung attack, symptoms like shortness of breath and extra coughing suddenly intensify, airway muscles tighten significantly and air supply is cut off. This can lead to blue lips or fingers, confusion, drowsiness, extreme shortness of breath and, when not treated, death. In fact, in the first 10 days after

day town site.

The area in and around St. Walburg was originally settled by German folk with some Polish, Ukrainian and French arriving later.

Today’s population is around 750 people.

The main industry of St. Walburg continues to be grain and cattle farming, but in recent years the oil and natural gas industry has played a very important in the local economy.

One of the most notable people from St. Walburg is Count Berthold von Imhoff, who is an artist that known around the world for his murals and paintings, mostly religious paintings. He was awarded Knighthood in the Pontifical Order by

Pope Pius XI in 1937 and was buried with his wife in St. Walburg.

The Imhoff Museum, which included his home, farm and studio, was designated as a Saskatchewan Heritage Property in 1993.

Today there are many churches around Saskatchewan and North Dakota that have one of its walls or ceilings painted by Count Imhoff.

On this day it was a beautiful summer day with clear skies and very little wind, travelling with some friends we arrived in St. Walburg.

Finding a parking spot was going to be challenging, however.

With a little help from a local we were able to get pretty close to the festival grounds.

From there we had some walking. The downtown core was filled with many many vendors ranging from wood crafts, some homemade clothes, food, coffee and a number of other ideas that you would see at a arts and trade show.

I would have to say that there was between 1,000 and 2,000 people wandering around the various booths, looking for that perfect deal.

If you wanted to sit and relax there was some live entertainment that lasted most of the day. To top it

off there was a fantastic car show along with many vendors to satisfy your hunger.

This was first time that I have travelled to this event, and I hope to return in the future. This was a great day.

Stay tuned for more adventures of The Saskatchewan Traveller.

a lung attack, the risk of heart attack doubles and the risk of stroke increases 40 per cent.

“Even if an exacerbation is mild, one of the most crucial steps to take during the recovery period is to report the incident and current symptoms to your healthcare provider so they can re-evaluate your treatment plan,” says Peter Glazier, executive vice president of the Lung Health Foundation.

“Unfortunately, about 40 per cent of exacerbations are not reported, and patients experiencing symptoms like persistent coughing and phlegm are at greater risk of having another lung attack within a year.”

It just takes one moderate lung attack to increase the risk of hospitalization, so if even something seems like it “wasn’t as bad as it could have been,” it should never go unreported. Find more information about the condition at lunghealth.ca/copd

The NEW HORIZONS will be having a GARAGE SALE

September 9th from 9:00am - 3:00pm in the New Horizons Hall

As an added bonus there will be a Fabric and Sewing Sale in the basement of the hall. We are accepting donations of gently used items. For furniture donations please call the office at 306-948-5115 and we will arrange to do an online sale.

SEE YOU THERE!!

Tips for eco-friendly family fun this season

There are plenty of fun, eco-friendly activities that the whole family can enjoy this fall.

Here are some greatand green - ideas.

Explore the great outdoors

Fall is great weather for hiking, and the changing leaves make a great background for family portraits. To keep the kids engaged, play a fun game like “I spy - nature edition” or see what they can find on a scavenger hunt.

With 37 national parks and 10 national park reserves in Canada, as well as many provincial parks and local nature reserves to explore, nature isn’t far from your doorstep. Don’t forget to leave only footprints behind.

Plan a family game night

Stay warm on a cool fall evening with a funfilled family game night. Pour some mugs of hot

chocolate or warm apple cider and pick a game you all love. Get creative without creating waste - there are many family-friendly options like Charades, Spoons or Apples to Apples.

Visit a pumpkin patch or a local farm

Pumpkin patches and local farms are great for day trips and the perfect spots to find fresh seasonal produce and treats. There are plenty of ways to ensure your pumpkin carving is ecofriendly and low-wastetoast the pumpkin seeds for a yummy snack, and if desired, save the body of the pumpkin for future meals or desserts and compost any leftover pieces.

Make a seasonal recipe

From warm soups and stews to pastas and casseroles, cozy recipe options are endless, and a great way to use up vegetables and leftovers.

When grocery shopping for additional ingredients, look for a carbon zero logo on food packaging. This can help you identify companies that are prioritizing ecofriendly initiatives.

Crispy Baked Chicken with Fall Root Vegetables

Prep time: 10 minutes. Cook time: 55 minutes. Serves: four.

Ingredients:

8 chicken thighs.

1 sweet potato, peeled and diced.

1 cup (250 ml) of butternut squash, peeled and diced.

2 small beets, peeled and diced.

2 carrots, peeled and sliced in half lengthwise.

1 head green cabbage, sliced into wedges.

2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil.

1 tbsp (15 ml) maple syrup.

1 tbsp (15 ml) butter.

1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) rosemary.

Tips

1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) garlic salt.

Salt and pepper, to taste.

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Place sweet potato, squash and beets in a large bowl. Drizzle 1 tbsp of olive into bowl followed by maple syrup, rosemary and garlic salt. Toss well to coat and arrange onto a baking sheet.

Place chicken into the same bowl and drizzle with remaining 1 tbsp of olive oil. Season well with salt and pepper and toss to coat.

Nestle chicken around the vegetables on baking tray. Cut butter into small cubes and place on top of each piece of chicken.

Place cabbage wedges and carrots on another baking tray and drizzle with salt and pepper.

Place chicken on middle rack of oven and cabbage and carrot tray on the rack below. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, then flip carrots and cabbage, cooking until tender. Change oven to low broil and roast chicken for three to four minutes until golden and crispy. Arrange onto a family style serving platter and drizzle with pan drippings.

to

take back time in your busy day

In our fast-paced world, the demands of daily life never seem to slow down. If you find yourself constantly behind on deadlines or struggling to stay on top of everyday tasks, here are four ways to save some time every day.

Track and organize your time

Make a list of all your recurring daily, weekly and monthly tasks. Then, track how much time you spend on each task. After a few weeks, you’ll have a clearer picture of which activities take up most of your time. Tracking your time can show you whether you can pass on some of those tasks to a colleague, an employee or outsource them to a third party.

Avoid the myth of multitasking

Many people claim to be great at multitasking and wear the title as a badge of honour. But researchers have repeatedly shown that it’s not possible to juggle complex tasks simultaneously without making mistakes. Research also suggests it takes longer to complete two jobs at

once compared to focusing on completing one task at a time.

Schedule breaks

When you’re facing looming deadlines or struggling to complete a new pitch, it can be easy to work through or skip lunch, push back a planned holiday or avoid going to the gym. But we all need some time to recharge our batteries. If you don’t take some time for yourself, you run the risk of burning out, which can have negative impacts on your healthand your job.

Automate routine tasks

If you run a business, tracking expenses, issuing invoices and following up on those that are overdue are key tasks for your financial well-being. But they are also time consuming. A cloudbased accounting program will automate many of those jobs, while safely storing these important details for you. Small business owners can also apply for grants from the Canada Digital Adoption Program to help fund cloud-based accounting solutions.

by Travis Longman

They say anything can happen on Labour Day Weekend in the CFL, The Saskatchewan Roughriders are hoping to do something they haven’t done since October 2019 ... defeat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The last time that happened in the regular season was October 5, 2019. Earlier this season, Winnipeg knocked off Saskatchewan 45-27 to improve to 2-0 and drop the Riders to 1-1. The Blue Bombers now sit at nine wins and two losses which puts them in first place in the CFL West.

Saskatchewan on the other hand has five wins and five losses to sit in third place in the CFL West. On paper this looks like it could be a mismatch but anything can happen on Labour Day.

The two teams began meeting on Labour Day weekend back in 1949.

Saskatchewan won 20-9 and in 1950 the Roughriders were victorious by a 17-2 score. The Bombers won in 1951 and 1952 to even up the series at two. Saskatchewan won in ‘53 and ‘54. The meeting in 1954 was the final time in the 1950’s they would meet on Labour Day Weekend.

The next time the two bitter rivals would tangle on the September long weekend was in 1961. The Bombers won that year and then again in ‘62. The next year under the direction of head coach Bob Shaw, Saskatchewan won the final Labour Day classic of the 1960’s by a score of 15-9.

Saskatchewan won the 1970 and 1972 editions of the Labour Day Classic. The Bombers were victorious in 1974 but the Riders avenged the loss a year later when they won 27-23. The two sides faced off again in 1977 with Saskatchewan winning 26-18. This was the last time Saskatchewan would win in the decade. Winnipeg won in 1978 and 1979.

The Bombers continued their dominance on Labour Day into the 1980’s Winnipeg won in ‘80 and ‘82 to make it four consecutive wins. In 1983, two months before my brother was born, the Riders ended their four game Labour Day losing streak to the Bombers with a 32-30 win. The following year Saskatchewan won as well before

The history of The Labour Day Classic

dropping the ‘85 affair.

In 1986 Saskatchewan was victorious 34-30. In 1987, mere months after I was born, Saskatchewan lost 29-25. The two teams would trade victories to close out the ‘80s, Saskatchewan winning in ‘88 and Winnipeg in ‘89. Saskatchewan would get their comeuppance later on in 1989 when the Green and White won the Grey Cup thanks to a Dave Ridgeway field goal in the dying seconds

The ‘90s were tough times for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and the CFL in general. The league would even try expanding to the United States. The experiment failed miserably and ended shortly after it began.

One thing that was not a colossal failure in the CFL in the ‘90s was Saskatchewan on Labour Day.

The Riders won in ‘90, ‘91, ‘92. In 1993 Troy Westwood hit a 37-yard field goal with four seconds remaining to give the Bombers the win. Saskatchewan would win the Labour Day Classic in 1994, 1995, and 1996. Then in 1997 disaster struck and the Riders were on the brink of folding the franchise. Despite the Labour Day dominance throughout the decade Saskatchewan was going through a dark time. The stands at Taylor Field were nearly empty, it took a season ticket telethon to save the franchise. The province of Saskatchewan came together as it so often does and saved the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The Riders however dropped the 1997 Labour Day Classic 43-12.

That same year they had a November to Remember, led by mobile quarterback Reggie Slack the Riders made it all the way to the Grey Cup game before losing to Doug Flutie and the Toronto Argonauts.

In 1998 the Riders knocked off the Bombers 32-18 on Labour Day but finished with a dismal 5-13 record. Cal Murphy took over as head coach in 1999 but the team struggled and finished with a 3-15 record. One of the three wins for the Riders was on Labour Day. Both teams would finish with 3-15 records on the year.

The new millennium brought a new coach and new hope for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Danny Barrett took the reins as head coach. Barrett didn’t have the most success his first year but

on Labour Day Saskatchewan knocked off Winnipeg 38-29.

In 2001 Winnipeg was led by quarterback Khari Jones and wide receiver Milt Stegall. The blue and gold were almost unbeatable that season, including winning on Labour Day but ended the season losing in the Grey Cup game.

The 2002 game will go down in history as the Rocky Butler game. Heading into the contest Saskatchewan had lost quarterbacks Nealon Greene and Kevin Glenn to injury leaving the Riders a huge question mark at quarterback. Butler made his first start in arguably the toughest regular season game to

do so. Butler completed nine of 16 passes for 165 yards in addition to that he ran for 63 yards to lead the Riders to a 33-19 win. The Bombers would win in 2003 and 2004 before the Riders would go on a lengthy Labour Day win streak.

In 2005 Saskatchewan won 45-26 then 39-12 in 2006.

The 2007 Labour Day Classic was truly a classic. The game was back and forth, it remained in the balance until the end. The Bombers had the lead with 12 seconds remaining in the game when quarterback Kerry Joseph took the snap and ran the ball 27 yards into the end zone to lead the Riders to a come from

behind victory. The two teams met in the Grey Cup later on that season and Saskatchewan won 23-19 for its first Grey Cup since 1989.

The Riders Labour Day dominance continued from 2008-2015. Saskatchewan did not lose.

In 2016 under the direction of Chris Jones however the streak ended and Winnipeg won 28-25, ending a decade of Labour Day dominance for the Riders. After dropping the 2016 game Saskatchewan would go on to win the next three before losing in 2021.

Winnipeg won last year’s meeting as well 20-18. Throughout history the Labour Day classic has been unpredictable with

Saskatchewan holding the series lead 37-20 but Winnipeg has won the last two including a 20-18 win last season, It is one of the most intense weekends of the season.

Saskatchewan and Winnipeg have been meeting on Labour Day almost every year since 1949.

Labour Day weekend sparks a rivalry between Saskatchewan and Manitoba, it promises to be a heated contest Sunday evening at Mosaic Stadium. The Bombers enter the game as favourites but anything can and probably will happen on Labour Day.

Sunday’s game has the potential to be an instant classic.

Green and Gold hit the field ... Biggar Central School Senior Blazers were practising this week, getting ready for the upcoming football season. Junior Blazers are also getting ready for their season. The Senior Blazers will host Eatonia, Thursday, September 7, followed by another home game, September 15 versus LCBI. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

Expectations high for Rodgers in New York

to the green and white of the Jets.

But does Rodgers have any magic left in his football backpack? The world will find out when the Jets play host to the Buffalo Bills in Week One’s Monday nighter. It’s scheduled for 9/11 in New York.

Penton on sports

Bruce Penton

Aaron Rodgers is headed for the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio - that’s a given - but the 39-year-old quarterback is first making a pit stop in New York.

How long his stay with the National Football League’s Jets will be remains to be seen, but Jets’ fans on the eve of the 2023 season are already making playoff plans after a 12-year post-season drought. They’re expecting the Rodgers magic that resulted in a decade or more of success with the green and yellow in Green Bay will transfer

After a brilliant 15-year career in Green Bay, Rodgers and the Packers’ management had a falling out that resulted in an off-season trade to the Jets. Rodgers made it clear he did not want to return to Wisconsin, but also made it clear he wanted to continue playing. Age 39 is ancient in most sports, but since Tom Brady didn’t retire until he was 45, Rodgers looks absolutely childlike at 39.

While he didn’t set the world on fire with the Packers in 2022 (an 8-9 record as a starter was only his second losing season in 12 years), his resume is sublime. A Super Bowl win in 2010. Four Most Valuable Player crowns. Ten Pro Bowl selections. He has

thrown for 475 touchdowns in his career and carries an impressive 1.4 per cent interception rate. While opponents won’t have to worry about Rogers scrambling around or rushing the ball, his ability to find receivers and be in control of an offence is something coach Robert Saleh doesn’t have to worry about teaching.

For the past two seasons, Saleh and the Jets have pinned their hopes on 2021 first-round draft pick Zach Wilson, but the former Brigham Young QB hasn’t panned out. With Rodgers at the helm for this year and perhaps a couple more, Wilson can be tutored in the finer points of NFL quarterbacking so that when Rodgers finally retires, the student will be able to take over. Rodgers will see some familiar faces when he begins guiding the Jets’ offence. Former Packers Alan Lazard and Randall Cobb are new faces with the Jets, and former KC Chief wide receiver Mecole Hardman has

also joined the team. For offensive variety, the Jets recently signed former Vikings’ star Dalvin Cook to lead their running game.

Rodgers, who has never met a video camera or publicist he hasn’t embraced, will be a star in New York. ‘Broadway Aaron’ doesn’t quite have the same theatrical ring as ‘Broadway Joe’ but if Rodgers and the Jets were to winor even contend for - a Super Bowl, they’ll be ordering up a statue in no time.

• Headline at fark.com: “Houston Texans expected to be really good on offence in 2023 up until all their quarterbacks get hurt.”

• Comedy writer Gary Bachman: “It’s National Pickleball Day. Are they sold in a jar and hard to open?”

• RJ Currie of sportsdeke. com: “Over 150 Santas have recently met at the World Santa Claus Congress in Copenhagen to discuss next Christmas. It was unanimous: no presents for 76ers mal-

content James Harden.”

• Jack Finarelli, at sportscurmudgeon.com, being reminded of a line from his father after two Iowa athletes were suspended for wagering on games in which they were playing: “I remember when I was a kid and I did something stupid, my father would tell me, ‘You must be twins because no one person can be that dumb.’”

• RJ Currie again: “The city council in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, discovered two employees had been collecting roughly two years of pay without working. ‘That’s a bad thing?’ asked Randy Moss.”

• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel: “The NBA fined 76ers star James Harden $100,000 for trying to force his way out of another contract by demanding a trade. Like that’s a real deterrent! Hell, Harden spends $100,000 making it rain at his favourite strip clubs!”

• Headline at fark.com: “Auston Matthews agrees to help the Toron-

to Maple Leafs come up short in the playoffs for four more years.”

• fark.com again: “Yankees LLLLLLLLLast place LLLLLLLLLosing streak continues.”

• Former Major League Baseball executive Theo Epstein, on the changes made this year to speed up the game: “If we had let this game evolve on its own, we were on our way to an unwatchable sport.”

• Eamon Lynch of golfweek.com on the questionable U.S. captain’s picks made by Jim Furyk for the 2018 Ryder Cup in France: “He was carved up ... five years ago when not a single point came from three of his four picks, one of whom - Phil Mickelson - was more likely to hit Luxembourg with his driver than the punishingly narrow fairways of Le Golf National. Care to comment? E-mail brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca

Create a greater work/life balance

A more even balance between professional and personal life is a goal for many individuals.

The demands of work too often extend beyond traditional working hours, leaving many professionals to confront work-related challenges long after they’ve left the office or left the desks in their home offices.

With work never more than a smartphone notification away, it can be hard to create and maintain work-life balance.

Work-life balance is rarely discussed in terms of individuals’ overall health, but that could be a mistake. In fact, when workers’ lives are balanced and workers are happy, they are

more productive, take fewer sick days and are more likely to remain in their jobs. Each of those things benefits workers and employers equally. With so much to gain from creating a greater balance between work and life, professionals can consider these tips to do just that.

• Make a concerted effort to be an effective communicator. It is noted that the benefits of being honest with colleagues and superiors when challenges feel overwhelming. Open and effective communication can be a great way to solve work-related problems, but professionals need to remain calm and suggest prac-

tical alternatives when confronting such issues. Simply accepting more work or responsibilities when you already feel overwhelmed can tip the scales even further away from an even work-life balance.

• Establish manageable daily goals. Research has found that individuals feel less stressed about work when they feel as though they have more control over it. Setting daily goals is a great way to achieve that sense of control, and this can be as simple as creating a daily to-do list.

• Seek alternatives to your working arrangement. Previously unthinkable working arrangements are now possible after companies were forced to confront pandemic-related changes to their operations. If you’ve found it impossible to create an equitable balance between work and life, speak with your supervisor about alternatives to your arrangement. Flex time and hybrid working are some measures that could ensure you have as much time for your personal life as your professional life.

• Unplug at the end of the workday. One of the simpler, though not necessarily easier, ways to create and maintain a greater work-life balance is to unplug at the end of the workday.

Turn off work-related smartphone notifications at the end of the work day so you aren’t tempted to work during those of times of day that you’ve earmarked for your personal life.

Smartphones can be addictive, so unplugging could test your

resilience. If possible, block work-related notifications automatically after a certain time each day so you don’t have to turn them off manually. Once the blocking is automated, you might not think twice about all those missed e-mails. There’s no secret for-

mula for establishing a healthy work-life balance. But various strategies can help professionals achieve greater balance between their professional and personal lives.

Barracuda’s hold Awards Night

The Biggar Barracuda Swim Club held their Awards Night, August 10, recognizing members who had an excellent year and made improvements in their swimming competition goals.

Two Barracuda swimmers will be going to time trials for Summer Games competition. Congratulations to Abigail Dowson and Adriana Sanchez!

9-10 High Point: Girls - Presley Steeg; Boys - Everett Dowson.

11-12 High Point: Girls - Abigail Dowson; Boys- Kayden Thomas.

13-14 High Point: Girls - Adriana Sanchez.

15-17 High Point: Girls - Valerie Sanchez; Boys - Cody Doering.

Most Dedicated Junior: Girl - Heidi Kramer; Boy - Evan Poole.

Most Dedicated Senior: Girl - Adriana Sanchez; Boy - Keiran Massie.

Most Promising: Girl - Elena Sneddon; Boy - Tyson Poole.

Sportsmanship Award: Jakob Thomas.

Most Improved Swimmer: Keiran Massie.

Back row: Valeria Sanchez, Adriana Sanchez, Keiran Massie, Cody Doering.

Front row: Jakob Thomas, Everett Dowson, Kayden Thomas, Heidi Kramer, Presley Steeg and Abigail Dowson. (Photo for The Independent courtesy of Kris Doering)

With so much to gain from creating a greater balance between work and life, professionals can consider these tips to do just that. (Submitted Photo)

THURSDAY, AUGUST

Business & Professional …

ARIES – Mar 21/ Apr 20

Aries, you may want to move your relationship in a different direction, but your partner is resistant. This could be a conflict, or something that opens up a dialogue.

TAURUS – Apr 21/ May 21

OPTOMETRISTS

dr. kirk Ewen dr. Michelle Skoretz Doctors of Optometry

in BiGGAR

Every Tuesday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. New Location 315b Main Street, Biggar, SK

For appointments…

1-833-948-3331

DENTAL

Rosetown Dental

115 - 1st Avenue West Rosetown, Sask.

OFFICE HOURS

Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Phone:306.882.2123

New Patients Welcome! Dr. Krista Maedel & Associates

HAULING

Taurus, you might feel like doing all you can to make a problem go away, and think that acting immediately is the way to go. But ponder a few options beforehand.

GEMINI – May 22/ Jun 21

Gemini, a professional opportunity that seems to have many positive financial outcomes actually could have a down side to it. It’s best if you do your research before acting.

CANCER – Jun 22/ Jul 22

You may think that others do not understand you, Cancer. But that may be a good thing. You can focus on explaining your position and maybe make a few friends along the way.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug

23

Leo, you tend to be attracted to things that tempt fate or may even be considered forbidden. When others want you to walk the straight and narrow for a bit, it could be tough.

VIRGO – Aug 24/ Sept 22

Virgo, an opportunity to get away presents itself. Enjoy this much-needed respite and don’t he afraid to go the extra mile to ensure the trip is as memorable as possible.

LIBRA – Sept 23/ Oct 23

You may want to do it all, Libra, but sometimes you have to let others know you have limits. When you don’t, it is easy to get taken advantage of or run yourself ragged.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/ Nov 22

Scorpio, are you ready for an adventure? Identify some new hobbies and then learn all you can about getting out there and doing those types of activities with frequency.

SAGITTARIUS –Nov 23/Dec 21

A loved one may want to be more cozy with you this week, but you’re content to have ample space and do your own thing, Sagittarius. Let your views be heard on this situation.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20

Capricorn, you may want to tell a loved one what they want to hear right now to make a difficult situation go away. However, that only postpones the inevitable tough talk.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

You have been feeling like it is time to break away from your regular routine, Aquarius. It could be because there has been added stress on your shoulders. A vacation may be needed.

PISCES – Feb 19/ Mar 20

There are some limits to doing all of the work on your own, Pisces. First off, you may lack the time and the expertise. Bring on helpers this week if anyone is available.

306.237.7671

Troy May, owner/operator Fax: 306-237-TROY email: tmay@hotmail.ca

Super B outfits hauling grain and fertilizer in Alberta and Saskatchewan

Rockin D

Trucking & Cattle

• Cattle Hauling with 21 ft. gooseneck trailer

• Grain Hauling

• round and large square bale hauling with step-deck or highboy semi-trailers

• also buying and selling straw and forage

• also Machinery Hauling Dan • 306-948-7843 Biggar, Sask.

FOR RENT

BIGGAR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Housing for families and seniors

Rent based on income

Call: 306•303•7246

FABULOUS FRENCH

Ingredients

5 med. Onions

3Tbutter or margarine

41/2c. quartz water

1/4 c. WATKINS BEEF SOUP AND GRAVY BASE

1T. WATKINS ONION SOUP AND GRAVY BASE

1/4t. WATKINS PURE GROUND BLACK PEPPER

1/4t. WATKINS ORGANIC CAYENNE PEPPER

1/4t. WATKINS ORGANIC THYME

6 slice french bread

1c. shredded cheese (swiss/chedder)

Direction peel and cut onion thinly cook onions in butter/margarine until golden brown gradually add water, soup base and seasoning bring to a boil cover and shimmer for 15 minutes meanwhile toast bread one side put soup into oven safe bowls put toasted bread on top sprinkle with cheese put under broiler until cheese is melted and enjoy

OBITUARIES

SHEILA MARGARET COOKE

September 4, 1935- August 24, 2023

Shelia Margaret Cooke, late of Regina SK, passed away peacefully at the College Park II Retirement Residence, on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at the age of 87 years. Margaret was predeceased by husband Geoff; parents Harold and Annie Ackroyd; and brother-in-law Malcolm. Mum is survived by son Neil (Donna); daughters Kate (Tony) and Jill (Greg); grandchildren Matt (Samantha), Chelsea (Alexander), Nicole (Cody), Erica, Joel, Ella, Abby; and great-granddaughter Aubree. She is also survived by brother David (Marguerite), sister Judy (George) who resides in England; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Margaret was born on September 4, 1935, in Bradford, England. After the Second World War she moved to Bridlington, where Mum started training to be a nurse at the age of 15 and proudly achieved registered status a short time later. As a head nurse on a geriatric ward, she met the love of her life Geoff while there caring for his grandmother. Geoff and Margaret were soon married in 1963 and started a family

in southern England, prior to moving to Saskatchewan in 1968. Neilburg, Saskatoon and Kerrobert were communities that the Cookes resided in prior to settling in Biggar for more than 40 years.

Mum's interests included Girl Guides, which she enjoyed as a child in England as well as a leader in Biggar. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles and a good glass of wine, especially with family. She also enjoyed sewing for various theatre productions and was known as "the fasted needle in the west”. And Mum's church community of St. Paul's Anglican church was very near and dear to her.

The loss of Geoff in 2019 devastated Mum, as well as everyone that knew him, and living without him left a big hole in her life. The family would like to thank the staff of College Park II for their kindness, care and compassion provided to Mum during the last four years without dad. Family interment will be held at a later date. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com.

August 25, 2023

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our dear Husband, Dad, Grandpa and Great-Grandpa, Jack Cattell on August 25th, 2023. Jack is survived by his wife Arlene; sons Dean (Trish) and Darryl (Denise); and his daughter Sandi (Jeff); brother Les and sister Joanne; grandchildren, Macy, Chloe & Cooper, Brigitte & Daniel, Braden (Jade) & Dylan; and greatgrandson Barrett. As well as countless nieces, nephews, and extended family. We will all miss Jack’s sense of

by Rev. Daphne Bender, PALs

What are your priorities in life? What do you hope are the priorities of your family members? Community? Nation?

September is the month that we find ourselves making decisions about the priorities and values in our lives.

In September, students make choices regarding which classes they want to enrol in, which after-school activities will warrant their attention and time, and with whom they will become friends.

When September arrives, parents begin counting the cost of their children’s choices. Will there be enough money to travel every weekend to their child’s hockey games, or dance events? Should they try

Everyone Welcome!

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

humour, his countless funny stories and songs he sang. His devotion and love for family and positive outlook on life will be something all who knew him will carry with them for life. A Celebration of Jack's Life will be arranged by the family at a future date. Tributes for Jack may be directed to Biggar and District Health Services Foundation: Box 1003, Biggar, SK, S0K 0M0. Arrangements entrusted to Gerein Funeral Service.

REFLECTIONS

“steering” their child in a different direction of what they do with their extracurricular time?

When September appears in the world of employment, work goals and visions are re-evaluated. Employees are encouraged to “gear up” to achieve their personal goals on the job.

In September those who are in positions of governing communities, provinces and nations, are re-energized to carry out their mandates and demonstrate where their priorities lie.

Perhaps it was a time like the month of September that had Jesus thinking and teaching about priorities.

Jesus knows that we make order in our lives by first deciding what is important to us and then giving our time and

Biggar and District Arts Council Annual Meeting

Tuesday September. 5 at 7:00pm at the Biggar Museum. We welcome new members. Meetings monthly except July and August.

attention to our priorities. This activity is what gives us meaning in our lives.

Jesus addresses this aspect of life, when he said, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘this fellow began to build and was not able to finish’” (Luke 14:2830 NRSV).

Jesus encourages us to “count the cost” of following our priorities, making sure that what we spend our time and effort on is indeed giving us the fulfilment that we desire.

After all, Jesus knew of

what he was speaking. He counted the cost of loving us; it cost him his life! The cost was great, but the reward was even greater. His life, death, and resurrection gave us reason to live. Our response to his love for us is to love others. When we follow him, the result is a meaningful life for ourselves and for the world we live in.

As you are making decisions on how you will allot your time and resources in this fall and coming winter, it is my hope that you will find meaning in following Jesus - loving others as he loves us.

St.Pauls Anglican Redeemer Lutheran 205 4th Ave. E 319 7th Ave. E SEPTEMBER 1O at ST. PAULS ANGLICAN

Worship - 10:30 a.m.

SEPTEMBER 24 at ST.PAULS ANGLICAN

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 CHURCH SERVICES EVERY SUNDAY AT 11:00am Minister Dale Worrall EVERYONE WELCOME!!

INQUIRIES CALL CHURCH OFFICE 306-948-2280

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

SATURDAY SERVICES

BIBLE STUDY 10:00a.m. CHURCH SERVICE 11:00a.m. 320 - 6th ave.east contact: 306-948-2481 3 abn www.amazingfacts.org

NEW BEGINNINGS CHURCH

“The Lord’s mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness(Lamentations3:22-23)”

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 SATURDAY NIGHT DANCE CLUB

“THE SHADOWS”

Sat. September 2, 2023 7:00p.m. - 11:00p.m.

Biggar Community Hall Guests $15.00 per person

LUNCH - CASH BAR

Everyone Welcome

Did you know we offer Social Media Advertising? Would you like to advertise on Social Media but are unsure where to start?

We can design full color Social Media friendly Ad’s

JOHN “JACK” HENRY CATTELL

Saskatchewan celebrates resumption of provincial firefighting training

Saskatchewan residents can once again be trained as certified firefighters in the province. Suncrest College has reopened its firefighting program in Melville, Saskatchewan.

The Government of Saskatchewan, Suncrest College and community representatives recognized the returning program’s first summer cohort. Fourteen students have already begun their National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) training with more programs and courses becoming available this fall. “Becoming a firefighter is

more than just a job; it’s a rewarding career for skilled professionals who are committed to the safety of our communities,” said Advanced Education Minister Gordon Wyant. “Students trained here at Suncrest College are benefiting from up-to-date, high-quality training that is tailored to meet the needs of our growing province.”

This year, the Government of Saskatchewan invested a combined $1.8 million toward the college’s firefighting training program through the Ministry of Advanced Education, the

Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency and the Ministry of Immigration and Career Training.

Suncrest College’s provincial training site, newly named the Saskatchewan Emergency Response Institute, will provide continued municipal firefighter education to train pre-employment, volunteer and industrial firefighters.

“This program will ensure firefighters in Saskatchewan benefit from robust firefighting training, including continuing education,” said Marlo Pritchard, Saskatchewan Public Safety

Agency President and Fire Commissioner. “Firefighters play a critical role in safeguarding and protecting the people, property and resources of Saskatchewan, and our government’s support of this program is an investment in them and their commitment to improving public safety throughout the province.”

Firefighting training was previously available through Parkland College until 2021 when it was placed on hold due in part to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, those who were seeking to become profes-

sional firefighters needed to go outside the province for training.

“Firefighting training has been a flagship for our College for the past 15 years,” said Alison Dubreuil, President and CEO of Suncrest College. “Moving forward, this partnership ensures that we can continue to provide a coordinated, responsive, high-quality training and evaluation system for professional firefighting, volunteer services, and industrial training by incorporating SPSA’s expertise in emergency response with Suncrest’s expertise in program development, delivery, and student records. With additional gov-

ernment funding, we were able to upgrade the training facility in Melville and relaunch the NFPA 1001 professional firefighting program.”

The next intake for the NFPA 1001 program is Spring 2024. Current students will have access to the Emergency Medical Responder course immediately following the completion of their program. Industrial fire training will also be expanded to meet industry needs this fall.

“It is good to have a school in a rural location because it prepares us for where most firefighters end up working in Saskatchewan,” said current NFPA 1001 student Ethan Rugg. “The school is well-equipped to prepare us for anything you could expect from city fires to basic wildland fires.”

Summer Fun ... Biggar’s Summer Day Program comes to an end last week, a sure sign school is about to start. Kids had days of fun at the Jubilee Stadium, and last week, they were squeezing in the last moments of summertime freedom before hitting the books. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)