The Biggar Independent Volume 114 Issue 42

Vol. 114 No. 42

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023

16 pages

$1.50

Warming up to a Block Party ... Biggar’s Main Street was a hub of energy as another Block Party event took place on Lucky 13 - Friday the 13th. Warm-up pits were on hand to keep everyone comfortable, although the weather was beautiful. Pumpkins line a table in the background, games of chance, food, treats and drinks were all available as the town celebrated fall and the Main Street Revitalization. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

2 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023

Perdue now sports an outdoor basketball court, all courtesy of the Village of Perdue, RM of Perdue and Perdue Credit Union. Pictured below, left to right: Jason Zbeeshko (Village Councillor), John Gray (RM of Perdue Reeve), Cherie Lilley (Biggar & District Credit Union), Brad Kraft (VP Sask Rattlers Basketball Team), Terry Fyson (Mayor Village of Perdue), Melissa Cruz (Sask Rattlers Team Staff), Kerry Donahue (Village Councillor). The massive effort received a boost from the Toronto Raptors broadcaster, Paul Jones, and the Saskatchewan Rattlers, who were on hand to present swag to some lucky Perdue School kids and Rattler lanyards to all kids. A great day for Perdue!

(Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)

The BCS 2000 Junior Girls hosted a very successful volleyball tournament this past weekend with teams coming from Saint Gabriel School, Plenty, Perdue, Elizabeth, two Rosetown teams and two BCS teams. Both of the Blazer teams placed well taking first and third place.

Many parents, friends and family members were in attendance to cheer on their girls’ teams.

(Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 3

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023

Macklin Administrator to face Weekes in Sask Party nomination for Kindersley-Biggar

Kim Gartner Kim Gartner, a CAO of the Town of Macklin, submitted nomination papers to represent the Saskatchewan Party for the new Kindersley-Biggar Constituency.

He will face Randy Weekes, current MLA for Biggar-Sask Valley and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and Sask. Party member.

The new constituency is a realignment of boundaries due to population numbers, and will take effect in October 2024,

the provincial election.

Gartner has worked the past 35 years in municipal administration, the last 30 as CAO of Macklin.

“I believe the core strength of our province is based in our communities,” he said. “When we have communities that provide great infrastructure, health care, education, protective services, and recreational opportunities; we present a province that is attractive to current and future residents.

The west-central area of Saskatchewan provides many opportunities for individuals and families to live, work, and play.”

Gartner grew up on the family farm near Macklin.

“My involvement in community organizations has been a lifelong commitment and a great

Palo Bridge removed ... Surveyors plan out a new road to replace the old Palo Bridge, well past its ‘Best Before’ date. The surveyors were making way for a built-up road with culverts. The old wooden bridge was showing its age in the saline water, and with heavy trucks and traffic volume, the RM decided it was time to replace. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam) source of personal pride.

This involvement has helped me to understand and appreciate the community support provided by our agriculture, energy, and business sectors.

I speak from personal

experience when I say, ‘when your community is in need, they are there to support you.’”

He has been Past President of the Urban Administrators Association of Saskatch-

ewan, current Chair of SUMAssure (Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Insurance Program), and a current Board Member of Living Sky School Division. Locally, he is the Past President

Macklin Ball Association, Past President Macklin Minor Hockey, and Event Coordinator World Bunnock Championship.

Biggar and District Recreation Board minute highlights The regular meeting of Biggar Town Council was held September 25 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Attending the meeting were Chairperson Lisa Haynes, Members Isabella Baroni, Hailey Metz, Cari Perih, and Melissa Raschke, Secretary Erin Poitras (Recreation Director).

The Board resolved that the minutes of the June 19, regular meeting of the Biggar and District Recreation Board be accepted and approved.

The Board resolved that correspondence from Community Initiatives Fund regarding the follow up for the 2023 grant was received and that the grant is now complete, be accepted and filed.

The Board resolved that correspondence from Canada Summer Jobs

regarding the follow up for the 2023 grant was received and that payment in the amount of $1,820 will be received be accepted and filed.

A thank you card from the pickleball expressing their thanks for allowing the space of the rink for their pickleball group to start up was received.

Also, a further thank you card from Sam Gaudet thanking the Town for the opportunity to work for the Town this summer was received.

The Recreation Director provided the Board with year-end reports from Biggar Aquatic Centre Manager, Hayden McMahon, and Day Camp Supervisor, Brooklyn Zagoruy.

The Board resolved that further to the request from the Pickleball Group, the Recre-

ation Board is not able to provide funding, but recommend to apply to the Community Grant Program.

The Board resolved that the Board award the contract of the 2023/24 concession booth at Jubilee Stadium to Lauri-Ann Larochelle at a cost of $250 per month (October-March). Fur-

by Cst. Chad Mehl, Biggar Detachment Traffic enforcement, deer, and fires were the main themes of the week for calls for service with the Biggar RCMP and surrounding area.

This past week, 10 speeding tickets and one operating a vehicle while unregistered were issued, along with eight

Fire Hall Chili Chow Line ... The Biggar Fire Department opened their doors, Thursday, October 12, with a chili supper. Kids could go for a ride in the fire trucks, don firefighting gear, and tour the hall - a perfect celebration of our volunteer fire department. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

ther, the Board resolved that the opening date for Jubilee Stadium be September 25, and the closing date be March 16, 2024.

The Board resolved that the Board recommend the acceptance of the Recreation Facility Agreement between the Town of Biggar and the No. 300 Fisher Air

Cadets, Biggar Minor Hockey, Biggar Skating Club, and Biggar Senior National Hockey Club, all for the 2023/24 year as prepared by the Recreation Director.

It was discussed that the Recreation Board will conduct a cash lottery in the month of February 2024, and a lottery licence will be applied

for.

The Board resolved that the bank account transactions for June-August, 2023 be approved.

The Board resolved that the next meeting date be set for October 16, 2023 at 6 p.m.

• Meeting adjourned at 6:56 p.m.

warnings issued in the detachment area.

On October 9, Biggar RCMP responded to a combine fire south of Biggar near a farm. The operator of the combine was able to run like a deer to his homestead for water and to get help.

Fortunately, the fire was extinguished quickly before it spread, and the equipment appeared to be recoverable.

Biggar RCMP also responded to a trailer being towed by vehicle that was on fire on Highway 14 east of Biggar.

An old, flat-deck trailer was being operated on the highway and investigation revealed a bearing went on one of the trailer axles, starting a tire fire.

On October 11, Biggar RCMP responded to a hay bailer that caught on fire along Lizard Lake Road. This was also another accidental fire as a wheel bearing is believed to have went on the old bailer.

Due to high winds at the time which were bear-

ing from the southeast, the fire quickly spread rapidly to nearby brush and was initially uncontrolled. The RM of Eagle Creek Fire Department responded and was able to control the blaze before it spread to the nearby forest. The old bailer was ultimately put out to pasture from this event, to add bearing to the circumstances.

On October 12, Biggar RCMP were informed of a report of two deceased deer in the middle of the road on Highway 4 south of town. Department of Highways were called and the deer were removed from the driving portion of the highway. Police later attend-

ed to ensure the road was cleared. Despite an ambitious attempt of hunting for deer-meat out of season by killing two deer with one vehicle, the vehicle got the better end of the situation and miraculously was drivable.

Biggar RCMP also responded to a suspicious vehicle near Arelee and a vehicle stuck in the ditch that swerved to miss Bambi north of Biggar on Highway 4.

There was no damages and the vehicle eventually got out of the ditch.

To paraphrase an old saying, “Some days you get the deer, and some days the deer gets you.”

Biggar RCMP report

Bingo Numbers for

October 19

B-02 I-23 N-33 G-49 O-70

4 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

Opinions

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023

It’s time to defund CBC and save taxpayers’ money

by Kris Sims, Alberta Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation The CBC should be defunded.

It’s a waste of money to pay $1.2 billion per year to the CBC, and now the government is set to hand it even more.

The Online News Act, Bill C-18, is the federal law forcing big tech to pay media companies when a link to a news story is posted on platforms such as Google and Facebook.

The hidden snare of Bill C-18 is that the CBC will capture the lion’s share of the online link money instead of privately owned newspapers.

Since the CBC is a wing of the federal government, this is now a new tax.

Cheerleaders for the government-funded broadcaster often rely on three arguments to keep the tax dollars flowing.

The first is the CBC is fulfilling its mandate by broadcasting Canadian culture back to Canadians. The second is that minority communities need the CBC. The third is that the CBC provides good value for money.

These arguments don’t hold up.

First, viewership for the CBC is abysmal.

Ratings from 2019 show viewership for the CBC’s local evening 6 p.m. news is about 230,000 across the country. Less than one per cent of Canadians watch the CBC supper hour news.

Recent ratings from Numeris ranked Canada’s most-watched shows, and CBC didn’t crack the top 10. It ranked 16th with The Great British Baking Show, produced by a UK company.

Second, the claim the CBC provides programming for First Nations and minority communities that cannot be found elsewhere is questionable.

The CBC spent $18.3 million on its Indigenous language television, radio and online services from April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2021.

Over that same time, the CBC spent over $21 million on salaries and benefits for its eight senior executives.

In contrast, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network depends large-

ly on subscriptions and funding partnerships with private media companies.

APTN got $1.7 million from taxpayers in 2022 - a fraction of what CBC takes every year.

More than 27 per cent of APTN’s broadcasts are delivered in Indigenous languages. APTN reaches over four million people in Canada, with an average prime-time viewership of 712,000 per week.

For ethnic minorities, there are popular private stations across Canada that offer programming in about two dozen languages.

OMNI TV delivers TV newscasts in Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Punjabi, Portuguese, Tagalog and Italian.

RED (Reflecting Ethnic Diversity) FM radio broadcasts in Punjabi, Hindi, English, Arabic, Bengali, Croatian, Korean, Pashto, Persian, Russian, Sindhi, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil and Vietnamese.

Lastly, while getting poor ratings and trying to duplicate services already offered by private companies, the CBC spends lavishly on its

executives.

The CBC has 143 directors. They get an average salary of $130,906, costing the taxpayer $18.7 million per year.

CBC CEO Catherine Tait takes in an annual salary between $458,500 and $539,300. She is entitled to a 28 per cent performance award.

That’s a bonus of up to $150,000 per year.

The CBC is sitting on more than $444 million in real estate. Most of that is sunk into its headquarters in downtown Toronto, assessed at nearly $314 million.

The CBC takes more than $1.2 billion per year from taxpayers.

That could pay the sala-

through your keyboard is virtually any online information you want on the content of textbooks, courses or what’s going on in your school.

As for the communication between you and your public school teacher, it’s a never-ending stream of notes to all parents, teacher conferences and specific e-mails or calls from the teacher if there are specific issues to discuss. Nothing is hidden from any parent.

If there is a matter of a child using a name in which he was not given or a neutral or opposite pronoun, teachers would, undoubtedly, talk to the student on the path towards a discussion with parents.

If there ever was a situation in which a student expressed concern their parents did not know

about their pronouns because they would not understand, that would be a difficult situation for a teacher to navigate. However, teachers do have a legal/moral responsibility known as “loco parentis” - serving in the role of the parent, in which teachers are burdened with the responsibility and safety for a student in the absence of a parent while that child is in school.

But when asked about this, neither Premier Scott Moe nor any Saskatchewan Party MLA can point to a single case in which a teacher helped hide a student’s pronoun identity from an unknowing parent.

Notwithstanding the hyperbole and exaggerations from new Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill in particular suggesting

there are “tens of thousands” of parents raising concern to every MLA regarding this issue, again, no MLA (including Moe and Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill) has said they have had a parent come forward with to them with issue.

In fact, Moe told reporters prior to the introduction of the bill last week that people should simply wait and see the legislature because it really might not have much of an effect on anything.

Well, if that is the case, why do we need bill? Why did we recall the legislature two weeks early at considerable taxpayers’ expense? And perhaps most pertinently, why is this issue now distracting from issues more pressing to the taxpayers?

Surely, Premier Scott Moe can’t have it both

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 ries of more than 16,000 nurses. It could cover the grocery bills for more than 78,000 families. What we pay the CBC equals the annual income taxes for the population of Sudbury, Ontario.

Canadians are not watching CBC, minority communities do not rely on it, and it doesn’t provide good value for

taxpayers’ money.

Those who want to keep funding the CBC should pay for it through subscriptions and donations. It can also raise money through advertising, which currently brings in approximately $198 million annually.

It’s time to defund CBC and save taxpayers money.

Parental rights bill a waste of legislature’s time

Provincial Viewpoint Murray Mandryk

One can certainly have an opinion on “parental rights” ... although all too many opinions on the matter do seem to be tinged with misinformation and even a bit of hysteria.

But you should know you already have parental rights and tremendous access to what your child sees in school.

At your fingertips and

the

ways. Either this issue is meritorious of the recall of the legislature and the use of the notwithstanding clause or it isn’t.

To concerns from teachers, the Children’s Advocate, lawyers, child psychologists and Justice Michael Megaw who ruled this bill may do “irreparable harm” to a few kids in isolated circumstances, Moe has claimed “judicial overreach”.

Well, if this literally a case of the rights of the parents versus the rights of a child in what would be very specific circumstances wouldn’t this normally be a matter for the courts to decide?

For reasons still gone unexplained, Moe’s government seems to have little interest in appealing Megaw’s injunction ruling in court or even

INDEPENDENT

Phone: 306-948-3344

Fax: 306-948-2133

Publications Mail Registrations No. 0008535 Published by THE INDEPENDENT PRINTERS LTD. and issued every Thursday at the office of publication, 122 Main Street, Biggar, Saskatchewan, S0K 0M0 Publishers - Dale and Trudy Buxton Editor - Kevin Brautigam Advertising Consultant - Dale Buxton Composition - 'BMMPO /FVHFCBVFS

E-mail: tip@sasktel.net www.biggarindependent.ca

defending its charter challenge in court.

The government is threatening to go straight to use of the Charter’s notwithstanding clause again, for a bill it simultaneously also argues won’t change of anything.

Meanwhile consider all the things that are not being discussed as we fret over a bill that may or may not mean anything: Nursing homes closures, the shortage of doctors and nurses, interprovincial migration to other provinces, schools with holes in the roof, high taxes not being addressed by a government with surplus budgets.

The biggest problem with this so-called parental rights bill is that seems a distraction from bigger problems the Sask. Party government is facing.

Newspaper Pricing

Online - $35+gst Pickup - $40+gst Delivery within 40 miles $45+gst Delivery Outside 40 miles - $50+gst P. O. Box 40 Biggar, SK S0K 0M0

COPYRIGHT The contents of The Independent are protected by copyright. Reproduction of any material herein may be made only with the written permission of the publisher.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Biggar Independent invites the public to participate in its letters to the Editor section. All letters must be signed.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.

Signs million stars up there that are all part of our galaxy, and they make me realize how small and insignificant our world really is! What impression do you get, Holmes?”

Holmes: “I get the impression that someone has stolen our tent!”

A young fellow and I were golfing on a course up north a few years ago.

Personally, I’m a lousy golfer (he was too!) and hit his ball smack in the middle of a bush.

He started toward it.

“Don’t go in there,” I hollered.

“Why not?” he asked over his shoulder. “That darn ball cost me three dollars!”

I pointed.

“Do you see that pile of steaming chokecherry pits over there?”

It was obvious, I thought, that a scared bear had just gone into that bush.

“What’s that all about?” he asked.

Having never seen a bear in his life, he went in and found his ball anyway.

Y.T. (Yours Truly) sure made a lot of noise until

countries can at least believe they did something.

Now we have a situation where Canadian pulse growers - in particular lentil growers have to be watching the news to see if the growing rift between Canada and India might limit their access to the massive Indian market.

Recently, India’s Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) sent a letter to India’s minister Calvin Daniels of commerce and industry, Shri Piyush Goyal,

by Calvin Daniels In the world of indepen- urging him to ban the dent business there is a import of lentils from belief that if you work Canada, reported producer.com. hard you can succeed.

The letter was sent in But, there are always response to Canadian outside forces which Prime Minister Jusbuffer business efforts. tin Trudeau revealing In agriculture that starts with the whims of ‘Moth- in the House of Commons that Canada is er Nature’.

But too often it’s also investigating “credible the whims of politicians. allegations” that India’s Trade has long been Hindu nationalist govseen as a hammer used ernment was involved to get the upper hand in the shooting death of in international disputes Sikh separatist Hardeep which generally have lit- Sing Nijjar in a Vancouver suburb. tle to do with trade.

While we shouldn’t Russia invades under play the seriousUkraine, countries move ness of the situation to restrict trade to send should the ‘credible allea message - although in gations’ prove accurate, the case of the invasion but proving such a thing of Ukraine trade sancwill no doubt be a protions have had little vistracted procedure. ible impact, although I In the meantime there suppose pro-Ukraine

is a high likelihood that the two countries will be tossing sanctions backand-forth to prove a point.

If those actions are to recall some embassy staff, or cancel a cricket friendly, it can make a headline without huge impact.

But trade sanctions hurt two groups, both well-removed from the wranglings of national governments. In the case of any sanctions limiting Canadian lentil access to India you have Canadian farmers on this end, and Indian food consumers on the other who could feel the impact.

That trade becomes a hot potato whenever two countries have a tiff, it is disruptive to normal supply/demand trade, and typically is more an annoyance than an effective bargaining chip.

The losers, again are primary agriculture producers and consumers, and neither has the political power to prevent being caught in the middle of such international disputes.

It’s another example of farmers doing their best to produce food efficiently, but having far less ability to manage markets against outside forces.

Bob Mason

Virg and I were coming south of Stump Lake a long time ago.

We’d gone quite a few miles when suddenly he piped up, “By Gosh!” says Virg. “Sure as old heck, there’s a town just up ahead!”

Like I said, we were travelling south, and there were towns up ahead all the way to Mexico! But we didn’t know how near any of them were.

“How come you know that, Virg?” I said.

“Ya gotta be able to read the ‘signs’,” says Virg, who was an old hunter. “Back there a few miles was a beer-box lying right beside the road. This means that

Agriculture caught in the cross hairs of geopolitical disputes

Agriculture

he finally came out!

There is no end of “signs” out there to be read by all sorts of people, and it doesn’t seem fair to list even part of them here. I must mention, though, regardless of that green on No. 4 at the Biggar Golf Course, about some “signs” that weren’t read right. Like the time Oscar and I trailed a deer for quite a ways before its footprints disappeared and we realized that we have been following the track of a weasel as it jumped through the deep snow.

We had a good laugh about that!

Or the time we came on some footprints while we were hunting another time. We analyzed them and made all sorts of phoney descriptions of the fellows who made them ... until we realized that they were our own!

One of the rarer occupations requiring the reading of “signs” is that of the infantryman moving across enemy territory. He has to watch for booby-traps every move he makes! Before we forget it all - I think “forget” is the polite word - maybe I’d better mark some of it down here too.

During the war as we moved down some of the roads in Europe, it wasn’t odd sometimes to see a few metal bombfins lying near a low spot. They were a curi-

osity in a way until we found out why.

Although it must have been obvious to many that by 1945 the Allies were going to win the war, that didn’t stop the enemy forces from employing every little deterrent they could think of until the very end.

One of the things they did was stuff aerial bombs into culverts in order to blow up a road.

And often, the fins being

too large, they just took them off and left them.

It was sure an apprehensive thing to see them lying there, and the road wasn’t blown up. Yet...

I don’t know about all that clue stuff! On green No. 9 at the Biggar Golf Course, it is easy to see that the ball is going to curve to the right. Yet it always goes to the left!

Like Virg said: “Ya gotta be able to read the ‘signs’!”

The Majestic Theatre Biggar Í OCTOBER Í

the fellows who drank that beer were getting kind of loaded and could barely get the empty box out the window of their car. Whereas just now, we passed another box that was 30-feet from the road. This means that there arms were still in pretty good shape!

Oh, we’re getting near a town all right!”

We drove past a grove of trees, and there was Canwood!

It takes a certain kind of person and a really analytical mind to make sense of a lot of this stuff, though. Heck!

I have trouble reading the greens on the local golf course. You have the feeling that a person misses quite a bit by not noticing the obvious.

Something like: “I never saw that forest because all those trees were in the way!”

A lot of people surely have heard the one about Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, who were on a sleep-out.

Holmes: “Dr. Watson?

What impression do you get when you look overhead?”

Dr. Watson: “I see a

Notable Notes

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 5

The Sound of Freedom

Genre: Biography / Crime / Drama 2023--Time: 2 hr 11 min

Rated:14A

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023

Friday, Oct. 20 • 8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct.21 • 8 p.m.

Sunday, Oct.22 • 2 p.m.

Matinee Admission $5

Ratings from the Saskatchewan Film Classification Board

For bookings and information please NEW phone no. 306-951-8244

ŝŐŐĂƌ ,ŽƵƐŝŶŐ ƵƚŚŽƌŝƚLJ ŝƐ ƐĞĞŬŝŶŐ Ă

D /Ed E E KEdZ dKZ

dŚŝƐ ŝƐ Ă ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚ ƉŽƐŝƚŝŽŶ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďůĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐƐ ĂŶĚ ŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƵƐŝŶŐ ĂƵƚŚŽƌŝƚLJ ƵŶŝƚƐ ŝŶ ŝŐŐĂƌ͘ dŚĞ ŵĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚŽƌ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞƐ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ĚŝƌĞĐƚŝŽŶ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŶĂŐĞƌ͕ ǁŽƌŬƐ ǁŝƚŚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚŽƌƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƉŽƌƚƐ ŝŶĚŝƌĞĐƚůLJ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŽĂƌĚ ŽĨ ŝƌĞĐƚŽƌƐ͘

dŚĞ ŝŐŐĂƌ ,ŽƵƐŝŶŐ ƵƚŚŽƌŝƚLJ ŵĂŶĂŐĞƐ Ă ƉŽƌƚĨŽůŝŽ ĐŽŶƐŝƐƚŝŶŐ ŽĨ Ă ĐŽŵďŝŶĂƚŝŽŶ ŽĨ ϴϯ ^ĞŶŝŽƌ͕ &ĂŵŝůLJ ĂŶĚ ĨĨŽƌĚĂďůĞ ,ŽƵƐŝŶŐ ƵŶŝƚƐ͘

dŚĞ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵů ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚŽƌ ŝƐ ƚŽ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ Žƌ ƐƵďĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚ ƚŚĞ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͗  ZŽƵƚŝŶĞ ũĂŶŝƚŽƌŝĂů ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ƚŽ ĂƐƐŝƐƚ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƌƚͲƚŝŵĞ ũĂŶŝƚŽƌ ĂƐ ŶĞĞĚĞĚ͘  ZŽƵƚŝŶĞ ŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ ŵĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƐŶŽǁ ƌĞŵŽǀĂů ĂŶĚ ůĂǁŶ ĐĂƌĞ͘  DŝŶŽƌ ŵĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ĐŽŵŵŽŶ ĂƌĞĂƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞŶƚĂů ƵŶŝƚƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƌĞƉĂŝƌƐ ĂŶĚͬŽƌ ƌĞƉůĂĐĞŵĞŶƚƐ͘  ĐĐĞƐƐŝďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ ,ŽƵƐŝŶŐ ƵƚŚŽƌŝƚLJ ƚĞŶĂŶƚƐ ĨŽƌ ĞŵĞƌŐĞŶĐLJ ƌĞƉĂŝƌƐ͘  DĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ŝŶǀĞŶƚŽƌŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĞƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚ͘  ZĞŐƵůĂƌ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ͕ ƵŶŝƚ ĂŶĚ ǀĂĐĂŶƚ ƵŶŝƚ ŝŶƐƉĞĐƚŝŽŶƐ͘  ŽŝůĞƌ ŵŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŵĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ͘ ;ŝĨ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂďůĞͿ

dŚĞ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚŽƌ ŵƵƐƚ ŚĂǀĞ ĞdžĐĞůůĞŶƚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƚŝŽŶ ƐŬŝůůƐ ĂŶĚ ďĞ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ĐŽŽƉĞƌĂƚŝǀĞůLJ ƚŽ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐ ĂŶĚ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ ŽĨ ǀĂƌLJŝŶŐ ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ͘ ŚŝŐŚ ĚĞŐƌĞĞ ŽĨ ĚŝƐĐƌĞƚŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶĨŝĚĞŶƚŝĂůŝƚLJ ŝƐ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ͘ ďĂƐŝĐ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ŽĨ ĐĂƌƉĞŶƚƌLJ͕ ƉůƵŵďŝŶŐ͕ ŚĞĂƚŝŶŐ͕ ĞůĞĐƚƌŝĐĂů ĂŶĚ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJ ŵĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ ƉƌĂĐƚŝĐĞƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĂďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵ ŵĂŶƵĂů ůĂďŽƌ ĂŶĚ ůŝĨƚŝŶŐ ƚĂƐŬƐ ŝƐ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ͘ ŽŶƚƌĂĐƚŽƌ ƚŽ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ƚŽŽůƐ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŵĞ ĞƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ǀĞŚŝĐůĞ ĂŶĚ ĐĞůů ƉŚŽŶĞ͘

dŚĞ ƉƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚ ĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ ƚŽ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞ Ă ƌŝŵŝŶĂů ZĞĐŽƌĚ ŚĞĐŬ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ Ă ǀƵůŶĞƌĂďůĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ĐŚĞĐŬ ƉƌŝŽƌ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŽĨĨĞƌ ŽĨ ĂŶĚ ĂƉƉŽŝŶƚŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ Ă ƉŽƐŝƚŝŽŶ͘

^Ƶďŵŝƚ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƚŝŽŶƐ ďLJ KĐƚŽďĞƌ ϯϬ͕ ϮϬϮϯ ƚŽ͗

ŚĂŝƌƉĞƌƐŽŶ ŝŐŐĂƌ ,ŽƵƐŝŶŐ ƵƚŚŽƌŝƚLJ W͘K͘ Ždž Ϯϰϭ ŝŐŐĂƌ͕ ^< ^Ϭ< ϬDϬ ŵĂŝů͗ ĐĐĂƌƌƵƚŚĞƌƐ͘ďŝŐŐĂƌΛŚŽƵƐŝŶŐĂƵƚŚŽƌŝƚLJƐŬ͘ĐŽŵ

6 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK low-income or maybe the occasional no-income situation and are finding it hard to save.

What can you do to budget and save for future expenditures, let alone a retirement fund?

It is much harder for those impoverished to improve their situation than it is for those in our middle-class, especially Christine Ibbotson today. Today many are Dear Money Lady Read- struggling to just put ers: food on the table, and According to a recent don’t know how they Stats Canada study, could ever manage to one out of five Cana- save since they are strugdians have saved over gling every month. $350,000 for their That being said, there retirement. That means, are many poor that have there are still four other much more drive, deterCanadians that obvi- mination, and fortitude ously have less than than some who have money. I can guarantee $350,000 saved.

So, let’s talk about you, many low-income what to do if you have Canadians struggle with

Ask The Money Lady

a lot more hardships that most middle-class Canadians would never be able to endure. Poor people, especially single parents, have a lot of challenges and not having enough money for ordinary things that others take for granted causes many in poverty to make decisions that are necessary at the moment, not having the luxury to save for the future.

So, what tricks and tips can someone with low-income do to find money to save. Simply telling you to say “no” more often is not the answer, since I am sure you already do this more often than you would like.

What about if I tell you to make more sacrific-

The day the lights came on!

by Delta Fay Cruickshank for the Biggar Museum and Gallery Back in the day, before electricity became available for everyone, open flame was the way to light and heat the homes in Biggar.

Unlike so many other growing towns and cities in Canada, Biggar had a volunteer fire department to deal with the consequences of careless handling of open flames in a wooden structure!

There is a great exhibit

in the Biggar Museum and Gallery demonstrating the history of our valiant men and women who continue to give of their time and energy to keep us safe from fire.

So, when did electricity come to Biggar? I do know that when the player piano came here from New York City in 1914. Because there was no electricity to operate it, a generator had to be used.

We have an Information Wheel in the Lobby

of the museum. Spin the wheel and many questions can be answered!

I spun the wheel to find out that the first public electric light franchise was sold to W.L. Lay in 1919. (I wonder if he went on to make potato chips?) By 1926, 24-hour service was available in Biggar. In 1949 the Saskatchewan government created the crown corporation; Saskatchewan Power Corporation, and it took over the lighting system here in Biggar.

es, commit to a budget, hold yourself accountable, sell your possessions or start collecting your loose change in a jar?

That won’t do either, will it?

The real answer to lifelong saving and improving your situation right now is in this statement: “The fastest way to save more money is in your ability to earn it.”

Now, I know most of you will say that’s too simplistic and you would rather me give you an investment product or money scheme to try instead - but honestly, this is the only way to improve your situation.

You must believe in yourself and believe in your ability to earn more income.

The fact is you are only making the income that “you feel” you are worth right now. You could be earning more, but instead it is you that has chosen to accept your lot in life, and it is you that believes you are only worth what you currently have and what you currently earn.

I know that sounds

harsh, but you must

TAX ENFORCEMENT LIST ! "#$

Rural Municipality of Grandview No. 349 % &'

Power Pole on Main Street, Biggar High School students on parade.

Unloading Diesel Engine for Power Plant 1913

Province of Saskatchewan

! ! " # $% & '() !

First Power Station on First Avenue. (Photos for The Independent by the Biggar Museum and Gallery)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023 agree, that if you believe succeed. They educate you are only worth mini- themselves; they believe mum wage, then that is they are worth more and all you will make. For they absolutely refuse to those in comfy careers - be kept down by anyyou too are only earning one. what you believe you are You can earn what ever worth and no more. you want in your lifeThis is what you have time, but you first must convinced yourself and increase your productivyour employer you are ity, your performance worth. If you believed and create a decisive you’re worth more, you goal setting plan. Be would earn more. You specific, strategic, and would do everything that always optimistic. I want it took to make a higher you to reprogram your wage, you would change thoughts and stop sayemployers, take courses, ing “I can’t” because you and walk with the confi- totally can. dence and a demeanour It doesn’t matter what that says, “I’m worth it.” happened in the past That is the difference dump it from your mind between high income and make sure you never earners and low-income run back there. Instead earners. keep moving forward Yes - I know that edu- and plan to make the cation, training and right changes for 2024 skills have a lot to do to challenge yourself for with it too, but there more. are a lot of people that Good Luck and Best have multiple univer- Wishes! sity degrees, and they Written by Chrisare not working in their tine Ibbotson, author, field of study, but rather finance writer, national working for a fraction of radio host, and now on what they are worth and CTV Morning Live, and doing a job that just pays CTV News @6. Send the bills. your money questions Conversely, there are (answered free) through people who have very her website at askthelittle education, but moneylady.ca. have a massive drive to

""##%'" ""##%"1 ""## 1% ""## )+ ""## / ""## " ' " #+'1 +%%"'%%) +%%"'% % +%%"'%+ ""##+)' ' " #+%/ ' " #++# ')## 1+ ')## ' ')## )/ ')## # ' " #+ " / %#+ /%""#+) /%#% /+ / 1 ) 1 /+#1+)1 /+#1+ # /%# %)1 '# %#%' '# %"/# '# %# '# %"# '# %#+" / ))1'% / )) 1" / ))1#' / 1+1' / 1+1% / 1+ /# / %'#)' / 1 '""

( % ( ( + ( ' 2 ( ' - ( / ( / ( " - ( " - ( " 2 ( " ( " - ( - ( ) ( % ( 3 2 %% % % 2 ( ( ( % ( ) - ( 2 /

* + ,

%+ %+ %+ %+ %+ %+ %+ %+ %+ %+ %+ %+ %+ %+ %+ %+ %+ 1)1) 1"/ 1# %+ 1 %+ % 4%1/ % 4%1/

4%#"

4%#" 1 %+ ' %' ' %' ' %' ' %' ' %' ' %' / %' / %' 1 %' 1 %' ) %' 1' %' + /+ 1%/' -. 1

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # "

% -. / % -. /) % -. /% % -. / % -. /+ % -. // % -. // % -. " % -. "1 % -. ") % -. /# % -. ") % % % % % -. 1 % %

# # # # # # # # # )1 )1 )1 #

% % -. %' % -. %% % -. %+ % -. % % -. %/ % % % % % % %

+' +#+ +' '"+ +' ' +' ' " +' '/ +' /#/ +' /' +' " 1 +' /% +' / # +' / ) +' ") +' )/1 +' /1" +' '#' +' ''% +' /"' %# ""+' '+"%' '+"%/+ +1" +1")) /%%+1 /%%+1)) #11"1/# ''"+%'# ''"+%%' ''"+%+" ''"+% / ''"+%/1 ''"+%" #11"1%+ #11"1 ' '")/'+# '")/'") /"+" 1 ''"+%)+ /1'#' /

+# "1 +# "1 +# "1 +# "1 +# "1 ) / ) / ) / ) " ) " ) " ) " "+ # ' %) ' %) ' %) ' %% %"/ # +1% #' "1 /+ ) +' ) +' % % +#' )# " 1/ " 1/ " 1/ " 1" " 1" + /" '%/ // / ' 11 )1+ )/ )1 +1 %1" +"' )% +"' )

)+ )+ )+ )+ )+ )+ )+ )+ )+ )+ )+ )+ )+ )+ )+ )+ )+

- . / 0 1 (

/ * *

Hell The Than Dale

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 7

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023

Biggar Masonic Lodge #100 lends a helping hand

Biggar Masonic Lodge No. 100 hands over a cheque to Christina Olson (Markewich) (right picture, second from right) for $1,000. The money to be used for Christina’s ongoing expenses stemming from medical treatments. (The Independent Photos by Dale Buxton)

School Bus drivers provide an essential service to rural communities

October 17 is School Bus Driver Appreciation Day in Saskatchewan.

The Sun West School Division operates 101 routes, transporting 2,343 students, 19,536 kilometres daily.

Behind these impressive statistics are dedicated and skilled school bus drivers who through the varied conditions of Saskatchewan weather and roads, deliver the students safe and sound to their schools and homes every school day.

“Communities and especially parents depend on our school bus drivers,” stated

John Collins, Chair of the Sun West Board of Education, “and their job has never been so important. We owe our school bus drivers a big thank you!”

Even as the need for school bus drivers continues to increase, school divisions across the province, including Sun West, are finding it challenging to recruit enough bus drivers to keep all its routes in service. To help attract more school bus driver candidates, this week Sun West launched a recruitment campaign in local newspapers, radio

stations and on social driver.

“What I find really media.

“We want to show exciting about this job people that becoming a is watching the chilschool bus driver could dren learn and grow and be a great opportunity. being a part of an essenThe position provides tial service to rural comcompetitive wages and munities,” Wiens said.

For currently available a benefit package that includes health, dental, positions, please visit vision and pension. Sun the current Sun West West provides free train- job postings. ing and will reimburse successful candidates for their certifications,” Collins explained.

The School Bus Driver recruitment campaign features Rosetown area driver Garth Wiens.

Wiens indicates he 1/4 Page enjoys being school bus

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 Consumer Choice Award Winners 12 Years Running Certified Aluminum Repair / Hail Repair Experts • Courtesy cars available • Free pickup and delivery

2326 Avenue C North Saskatoon 306-664-4156

customerservice@precisionautobody.ca

Wednesdays at Spyder Autobody in Biggar

0$,1 675((7 81,7 526(72:1 6. 6 / 9 .(//< %/2&.Ÿ3$5/ *& &$ ì .(//<%/2&.03 &$ ì Ŧ Ŧ

Need Help?

Give Us A Call

306•951•8446

We will REMOVE any Junk Car or Truck

CA$H Paid on the Spot!

23104SS2

8 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

by Trudy and Dale Buxton We continue from last week’s story as we head south into Montana.

The border crossing that we chose was the Monchy Border Crossing.

Monchy was a small original settlement along the borders of Saskatchewan and Montana.

All that remains now is the official border crossing that has border officers from Canada and the United States.

Monchy was named after Monchy-le-Preux, a soldier who a had fought with the Canadian forces in the First World War. The border crossing is only open during the day and closed at night.

Monchy is connected with the community of Morgan which is located on the American side of the border.

Like Monchy, Morgan

is an unincorporated community which happens to be the farthest community from an interstate highway in the USA. Forty-four miles south, we come to the community of Malta.

Malta sits on the intersection of Highway 2 and 191 and has a population of around 1,900 people.

Malta sits on the high plains of Montana. The first post office was established in 1890, and like a lot of other communities Malta was started by the railway.

It has been said that the name Malta comes from a railroad official who spun a globe in his office, his finger landing on Malta, an island in the Mediterranean Sea. One interesting story about Malta dates back to 1901 when a very known criminal nicknamed “Kid Curry” robbed a train just west of Malta and made off with about $40,000 . Kid Curry was part of the famous Butch Cassidy Wild Bunch gang.

Known for it archaeological studies and dinosaurs, it features

Insurance advice for home-based businesses For small business owners who are operating their business out of their home, it is important to assess the level of business insurance coverage that you and your business require.

This goes beyond your standard home insurance policy. Your home insurance policy may cover certain activities for your business, however, the coverage limits are generally much lower than what you would receive through a small business insurance policy.

There are also certain types of coverage that your home insurance policy would not cover.

For example, if your

business is temporarily shut down due to an insured event, you would not be covered for any loss of income during this period. Or if a customer is visiting your home-based business, and slips and injures themselves on your premises, you may not be covered under your home insurance policy if you are found liable.

With many providers, you can customize your small business insurance policy based on the needs of your business.

For home-based small business owners, you can learn more by contacting a licensed insurance advisor who can help you address any questions about insurance for your home-based business.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023 a dinosaur museum that has four perfectly preserved fossils unearthed around the community, the latest being 77-million year old “Leonardo” unearthed in 2000.

To the south of Malta is what is known as the Little Rocky Mountains, a group of buttes that covers approximately 765 square kilometres.

Continuing south on Highway 191, which then makes a turn into Highway 19 we come to the community of Grass Range, a small community of around 110 people. It was named after the vast grass lands in the area that are the largest part of a massive cattle industry.

Grass Range is a welcome sight after driving a very long time between communities.

There isn’t much for services, but what they do have is very nice.

Continuing south, this time on Highway 87, we come to the community of around 1,750 people named Roundup.

The name comes from a Montana area that serves as a place for cattlemen to round up their cattle along the Musselshell River.

This area serves as the trailhead of the Great Montana Cattle Drive, which is still a annual event today. Cowboys and cowgirls drove their cattle from Texas ranches onto stockyards in Kansas where they awaited rail transport to other destinations. The biggest part of the of this cattle drive happened in the 19th and 20th century.

Stay tuned as we continue our trip into Montana.

2- THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

1/2 & 1/2

Come out and support our team

Next Home Game

Sunday October 22 @ 2:00pm Biggar Jubilee Stadium vs: Luseland Mallards 23104SS0 23104SS1

T

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 09

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023

Fire Prevention on display at the school

Halloween Party An ounce of prevention ... Biggar Volunteer Fire Department members take kids from both Biggar schools through a fire drill at the BCS2000, all part of Fire Prevention Week. Hopefully no one has to use the tips and drills for real, but this bit of knowledge will help if ever something should go up in flames. (Submitted Photos)

Route 51 Bar & Grill Springwater, SK October 28th 8:00pm � 2:00am Prizes for best Costume

Entertainment by:

DJ SILENT C

Jim Reiter, MLA

Rosetown-Elrose Constituency 215 Main Street, Rosetown Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 5:00 Tel: 306-882-4105 Fax: 306-882-4108 Toll free; 1-855-762-2233 E-mail: jimreitermla@sasktel.net Biggar - Sask Valley Box 278,Constituency Rosetown SK S0LOffi 2V0ce 106-call 3rd with Ave.questions West, Box 1413 Please or concerns

Randy Weekes, MLA

Biggar, SK S0K 0M0 Open Mon-Fri 9am-12pm & 1-4pm

Toll Free: 1-877-948-4880 Phone: 1-306-948-4880 Fax: 1-306-948-4882

Attention: Kathie I gave you a few variations to look at.

Please let me know which you prefer by return email Janet and we can get this ad started Attention: Thursday, November 24.

Please proof and get back to me by return email.

Price: $35.28 plus gst per week

Talk to you later, Thanks, Urla Tyler,Urla Advertising Consultant

Jim Reiter, MLA

Rosetown-Elrose Constituency 215 Main Street, Rosetown Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 5:00 Tel: 306-882-4105 Fax: 306-882-4108 Toll free; 1-855-762-2233 jimreitermla@sasktel.net Open E-mail: Mon-Fri 9am-12pm & 1-4pm Box 278, Rosetown SK S0L 2V0 Please call with questions or concerns

10 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

No matter what you call the metal or plastic troughs hanging on the edge of your roof, they’ve got one job: to catch water running off your roof and direct it away from your home.

But if any part of that exterior drainage system gets clogged or cracked, it can’t do what it’s supposed to, and that can cause problems.

Cleaning and checking the slope of your eavestroughs regularly is the best way to avoid feeling, well, gutted!

When is the best time to clean your eavestroughs?

A drainage system cleanup is beneficial any time, but we recommend putting it on your weekend to-do list twice a year. If there are a few leaf-shedding trees nearby, you may want to clean your eavestroughs even more often!

Doing it in early spring, after the snow melts and the debris has had a chance to dry, gets your eavestroughs ready to deal with heavy rains in the warmer months. Fall is ideal for clearing out both dead leaves and other windblown debris before the snow flies - because when snow on your roof melts, it can cause damage, too - especially if it has nowhere to go.

Why should you clean your eavestroughs?

• If debris - including

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023

Clean your eavestroughs to improve drainage and prevent water damage

shingle gravel - starts to pile up, the troughs can sag under the weight.

Eventually, the whole system may pull away from the exterior walls of your home. This defeats the purpose of diverting water away from the main structure.

• Natural debris is perfect for nest-making, so birds and mice may bed down in your eavestroughs.

Standing water in your troughs can also be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

• Water pooling around your home’s foundation can cause soil erosion and even crack the edges of your foundation, and then seep inside your home.

That in turn can cause water damage, encourage mould to grow, and, as part of the freeze-thaw cycle, expand the cracking even further.

• Water overflowing from a clogged eavestrough can also back up to your roof and walls, damaging the shingles, siding, and roof decking, and can even cause interior water damage.

• If fall leaves and other debris freeze, it can lead to ice damming. While the row of icicles that result from a clogged trough might look postcard-pretty, they’re a sign that water is being pushed up and under your shingles.

How to clean your eavestroughs • If you’re not comfortable on a ladder, hire someone to do the work for you.

• Put your ladder on solid ground. You may want to add a ladder stabilizer or having someone hold onto the ladder while you’re on it.

• For extra protection, you may want to wear work gloves and safety glasses.

• Remove leaves and twigs by hand and scoop compacted debris out with a garden trowel. Flush the gutter out with water from a garden hose fitted with a spray nozzle, starting at the end farthest away from your downspout.

• If the water isn’t draining quickly, your downspout may be clogged. Try feeding the garden hose up the downspout from the ground. If that doesn’t work, a plumber’s snake could help break up the clog.

More ways to keep your exterior drainage system in good shape • Check that your eavestroughs are firmly attached to the eaves with support hangers • Use a level to check if your eavestroughs are sloping towards the drain.

• Ensure that your home’s downspouts extend well away from your foundation - ideally eight to 10 feet • Check the eavestroughs for cracks or splitting, paint damage or rust, pools

of standing water, mildew, and any sagging or pulling away from the wall. Either replace the pieces or fill cracks with an appropriate silicone.

• On a dry, sunny day, check under your eavestroughs

for any water damage, which could suggest the eavestrough is leaking and/ or regularly overflowing.

• Consider installing gutter guards/screens to keep debris from getting into your eavestroughs in the

first place. Keep in mind that gutter guards don’t prevent ice damming, and if they’re made of metal, they should be removed for the winter so that they don’t freeze.

Over 30 Years in Business

306-882-2283 www.allwestsales.com Highway 7 West Rosetown )V_ ࠮ : 3 =

Feature of the Week

WATER STORAGE Call for Details

NEW Demco 2200 Grain Storage

Come on down and check out some amazing sales on all of our new and used farm equipment. ࠮ ࠮ -!

Contact the knowledgeable staff at All West Sales

Established in 1929

124-1st Ave.W

FEATURE OF THE WEEK!

2023 Ford Expedition Platinum Max Regal Price $110,460 +licensing and taxes • Automatic / AWD • Dark Matter Metallic / Park Assist • 400hp 3.5L V6 Cylinder Engine • Heated / Cooled Leather Seats • Power Sunshade / Power Liftgate • Premium Sound / Apple Carplay

• • • •

2023 Ford Edge ST Line Regal Price $54,345 Rebate $5,000 Final Price $49,345 +licensing and taxes Automatic / AWD Burgundy Velvet Metallic Clearcoat 250hp 2.0L 4 Cylinder Engine Sunroof / Heated Seats

Enjoy buying your next vehicle at Regal Motors!

2021 Ford F-150 Regal Price $52,860 +licensing and taxes • Automatic / 4x4 • 76,157km • Space White Metallic • 325hp 2.7L V6 Cylinder Engine • Remote Start / Keyless Entry • Apple Car Play / Android Auto • Lariat Chrome Package • 18”Chrome-Like Wheels

SALES, SERVICE & PARTS 306-882-2623 Toll Free 877-882-2610 Regalmotorsltd.com

23103SS0

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK - 11

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023

Rourke would love to walk in Purdy’s cleats

Penton On Sports Bruce Penton

Nathan Rourke just has to look at the improbable rise of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy to suggest that there could be better days ahead, not to mention multi-milliondollar contracts and professional sports glory.

One year ago at this time, Purdy was still “Mr. Irrelevant.”

That’s the ignominious moniker given to the player chosen dead last in the National Football League draft, because it’s almost impossible for someone that lightly regarded to advance as far as earning a roster spot, let alone a starting position.

Purdy, however, has catapulted into NFL brilliance, quarterbacking the best team in the league (5-0 at last glance) to strong Super Bowl contention and attracting whispers that he’s the leader in the Most Valuable Player race.

The former Iowa State quarterback was chosen No. 262, and last, in the 2022 draft and was given

a courtesy look by the 49ers. But when starter Jimmy Garoppolo got injured and No. 3 overall pick in 2021, Trey Lance, didn’t pan out, the 49ers in desperation turned to Purdy.

And in 13 games in which he has started and finished, Purdy is 13-0.

He still has his skeptics (The Ringer’s Steven Ruiz ranked him 24th out of 35 quarterbacks and is getting roasted across NFL circles for that ranking), but the 49er players are believers.

“I think he’s going to continue to grow,” 49ers tackle Trent Williams told The Athletic. “What we’re seeing now is not where he’s going to be.

He’s going to be better than that. He’s going to continue to get better every week. Our job is just to keep him upright so he can continue to develop.”

Rourke, meanwhile, sits and waits on the practice roster of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

After burning up the Canadian Football League with B.C. Lions last year, the Victoriaborn Rourke sought fame and fortune south of the border. He signed with the Jags, but sits at No. 3 on the team’s depth chart, behind Trevor Lawrence and backup C.J. Beathard. Rourke had a couple of special moments in pre-season play, but Jags’ coach Doug Pederson said he chose to keep Breathard as the No. 2 man ahead of Rourke because of his

experience, although limited, in the league.

Lawrence calls Rourke “the great Canadian” and lauded his pre-season performance.

“He’s had some great plays, and that’s what you got to do,” Lawrence said on Jags Wire, the team’s website. “The guy is looking to stick in the league and get a spot.”

The NFL has a history of underdogs succeeding. Purdy is this year’s example. The player picked No. 199 in the 2000 NFL draft, Tom Brady - you may have heard of him - had a pretty good career.

Rourke’s time may yet come.

• Found on Facebook: Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson on his future: “I might fade into Bolivian.”

• Super 70s Sports, on a retired Arizona Cardinal receiver: “How good was Larry Fitzgerald?

Let’s put it this way: He retired after 17 NFL seasons with 10 more career tackles (39) than dropped passes (29).

Think about that for a minute.”

• Two comments on the passing of Bears’ legend Dick Butkus: From Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel: “I always thought Dick Butkus was too tough to die.”

And from NFL Films producer Steve Sabol: “He was like Moby Dick in a goldfish bowl.”

• RJ Currie of sportsdeke. com: “I’m not saying watching the NY Giants

has become hard to stomach. I’m suggesting if you must see them play, try taking PeptoAbysmal.”

• Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe. com, after the 104-win Atlanta Braves, 101-win Baltimore Orioles and 100-win LA. Dodgers all were knocked out in divisional playoffs: “Who knew that the kiss of death in the MLB 2023 postseason would turn out to be winning 100 games in the season?”

• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel, after Colorado blew a 29-0 half-time lead and lost 46-43 to Stanford: “Wow, I can’t believe Stanford came back to beat Colorado last night.

Looks like Coach Prime might need to change his name to Eion - No ‘D’.”

• RJ Currie of sportsdeke. com: “It’s the first day of another NHL hockey season. You know: the one where TSN claims the Toronto Maple Leafs are the favourite to win

the next Stanley Cup.” • Headline at fark.com: “Turns out Bill Belichick and Sean Payton aren’t very good coaches without Hall of Fame QBs” • One more from fark. com: “Jonathan Taylor says his new contract is a win for running backs, and by running backs, he means himself.”

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

Celebrating Saskatchewan’s Small Businesses Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison recognized October 15 to 21 as Small Business Week in Saskatchewan.

Launched nearly 50 years ago by Business Development Bank of Canada, the week celebrates the important contributions small businesses make to the economy.

“While the businesses may be small, the impact that they have on this province’s economy is massive,” Harrison said. “Small businesses provide the products, services and jobs that are so vital to our everyday lives. More than 30 per cent of all workers in the province work for a small business.”

A small business is considered to have less than 50 employees.

The drive and tenacity

of Saskatchewan’s small businesses ensure the province can continue exploring new markets, create new opportunities and foster innovation.

They are part of why we have the global reputation for having the food, fuel and fertilizer a growing world needs.

Whether in the smallest village or the biggest city in the province, small businesses have an impact far beyond the people they employ.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our province, representing nearly 99 per cent of all enterprises in Saskatchewan,” Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce CEO Prabha Ramaswamy said. “They play a crucial role in shaping our province’s growth, contributing significantly to job creation, community

development, and a quarter of our provincial GDP. Their impact on Saskatchewan cannot be overstated.”

The small business sector is growing in Saskatchewan.

The province has seen 2.6 per cent growth from 2021 to 2022, and 44.6 per cent growth since 2012.

That means 147,116 small businesses in the province in 2022.

With 123 small businesses for every 1,000 people, Saskatchewan has the second highest per capita rate in Canada.

In 2022, the province’s small businesses employed 30.6 per cent of Saskatchewan workers and paid nearly $7.2 billion in wages and salaries, almost 25 per cent of the province’s total payroll.

23104GE0

12-THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

Business & Professional …

ACCOUNTING

C AMPBELL A CCOUNTING S E RV I C E S

ÿ Auto & Home Insurance ÿ Farm & Commercial Insurance ÿ Health & Travel Insurance ÿ Life Insurance & Investments ÿ Farm Succession & Estate Planning ÿ Notary Publics

Biggar Office Hours…

Mon. - Tue, Thur - Fri 8:30am - 5pm Wednesday, 9:30am - 5pm

304 Main St., Biggar Phone: 306-948-2204 Toll Free: 1-855-948-2204

“We’ll getcha covered”

Mon.-Tue, & Fri., 9:00am - 4:30pm Wednesday, 9:30am - 4:30pm

Office: 306-948-3558

Phone: 306-658-2044 Toll Free: 1-855-658-2044

Email: info@biggaraccounting.ca

Thursday CLOSED

Mon,Tue,Thurs,Fri, 9am - 4:30 Wednesday 9:30am - 4:30 Closed at noon 12 - 12:30

117 - 3rd Ave. West,

(New Horizons Bldg) Biggar

Services Provided Include: Compilation Engagements Personal & Corporate Taxes Bookkeeping AgriStability & AgriInvest

Shoreline Realty

ACCEPT NEW C ING LIE Year R NTS ound

Ph: 306-948-4430 or 306-948-4460 rodc@campbell-accounting.ca

Cell: 306-948-9621

Perdue Office Hours

LEGAL SERVICES ProfessionaL CorPoration Barristers & Solicitors Stuart A. Busse, KC Larry A. Kirk, LL.B.

• Personal Tax Returns • Corporate Tax Returns • Farm, AgriStability, AgriInvest • Estate Returns • Bookkeeping • Payroll

201B 2nd Avenue West, Biggar

Landis Office Hours:

Website: www.biggarlandisinsurance.ca Email: biggar@biggarinsurance.ca

Busse Law

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023

(Answers on Page 14) 223 Main Street Biggar

Acres of Expertise.

Cari Perih

Box 580 Biggar, SK SOK OMO

®

REAlTOR

Cell: 306-948-7995

306-948-2183

Dave Molberg

Office: 306-867-8380 carip@remax.net

www.SoldbyCari.ca homesforsale@soldbycari.ca

Farm & Acreage Salesperson (306) 948-4478 dave.molberg@hammondrealty.ca HammondRealty.ca

302 Main Street, Biggar, SK

Email: hrbbiggar@sasktelnet Website: www.hrblock.ca

SERVICES Attention: Deanna Stevenot

BIGGAR Please proof Business & Profe REFRIGERATION the next 52 weeks (year) for $ SERVICES Bill has been sent Franchise Advertising Payable COMMERCIAL AND #102 - 9622 - 42 Avenue, RESIDENTIAL Edmonton, AB T6E 5Ya SERVICES Phone: 780-448-2166; Fax: 780-438-1233; Licensed Journeyman AdrianCSC-Edmonton.accoun de Haan email:

306-948-3346 …serving your community since 1972

Peszko &Watson

is a full service law office that practices…

Criminal Law Commercial Law Real Estate Law Wills and Estate Law and our lawyers,

306-948-5291

Rebel Landscaping

948-2879, evenings 948-7207, daytime Ed Kolenosky s $RIVEWAYS s 3OD s #ONCRETE s 0ATIO s 'ARAGE 0ADS "LOCKS s 0RUNING s 3NOW s 0LANTING 2EMOVAL s 4OPSOIL s &ENCES s ,AWN #ARE xAND s ,EVELING MUCH MORE

Jason Peszko Bailee Massett Sarah Roesler look forward to assisting you and can be contacted at:

306-948-5352 or 306-244-9865

INVESTMENTS

BRETT’S DECORATING & DESIGN

AUTOMOTIVE

M & N REPAIR 701 - 4 Ave. E., Biggar th

Lyndsey Poole PFP

Pamela Eaton PFP

Mutual Fund Investment Specialist, Credential Asset Management Inc.

Investment Advisor Credential Securities Inc.

Jennifer Quessy

Ashley Booker CFP

Mutual Fund Investment Specialist Credential Asset Management Inc.

Investment Advisor Credential Securities Inc.

Located at the Biggar & District Credit Union 302 Main Street, Biggar, SK • 306-948-3352

YH Truck, Ag & Auto s (EAVY TRUCK PARTS s !GRICULTURE PARTS s !UTOMOTIVE PARTS ACCESSORIES WWW YHTRUCKAGAUTO COM

(WY %AST "IGGAR

306-948-2109

Mutual funds are offered through Credential Asset Management Inc., and mutual funds and other securities are offered through Credential Securities Inc. ®Credential is a registered mark owned

by Credential Financial Inc. and is used under license.

Métis Owned Aboriginal Owned • Mobile Welding & Fabrication • 24/7 Emergncy Service • Repairs? Got a project in mind?

• We cater to ALL Give us a call industries… farming, for a quote. commercial, oil field, • NOW offering industrial Skidsteer, Transport, • CWB Hot Shot Service!

Certified Call Chance Parenteau @ 306-948-9465 or Sarah Nagy @ 306-290-9766

306-948-3996

Service Truck Full Mechanical Service Mon - Fri • 8 a.m.-5 p.m. phone: Chris

306-948-3376

Open Monday-Friday Mike Nahorney - Journeyman Red Seal Mechanic

HEAVY TRUCK AUTO TIRES BOATS & RVs FULL MOBILE MECHANICAL SGI Safety INSPECTION

Richard (Chico) Livingston Journeyman Automotive Repair Technician 317 Main Street Biggar, SK

SERVICES

GALLARDO Liner

Macklin to Saskatoon & towns in-between Kindersley to Saskatoon & towns in-between

Special Event, Airport Service or Doctorʼs Appointments

PHONE......306-951-0078 or 306-951-0098

FLOWER SHOP s FLOWERS s CUSTOM WEDDING DECORATING & EVENTS s RENTALS… 4ENTS "OUNCY #ASTLE

Brett…

Price… plus g comm

306-948-9750

Please chang email

Biggar, Sask.

Thank

102 - 3rd Ave. West,

newufitness@sasktel.net /WNED AND OPERATED BY "RETT "ARBER

wyLie seeD &

2 col/6 ProCessing inC.

306-948-5077

chicosautoworks@sasktel.net Naty/Michael…

Passenger Services 122 Main St. - Biggar Depot

9

SEED CLEANING

Chico’s Auto Works

DJ SERVICE FOR BOOKINGS CALL 948-3344

fo

w

3 col/6

For all your investment needs, Visit…

T 9 9

seeds Canada authorized Pedigree seeds & Custom Cleaning fuLL line of Cleaning equipment and Colour sorter

This is what I worked up for the Business & Professional section i Granite excellent Quality at a reasonable Price! paper,Monuments for all your Cereal and Pulse Cleaning 6 monthfor commitment for $161.20 plus gst Less Bill: 948-7457 with Dale: 948-6045

Laser Engraving

Call: 306-831-8987

Plant located 8 miles south of Biggar on Hwy #4, ¼ mile west on triumph rd.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023

HEALTH/WELLNESS

Business & Professional … THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK-13

Natural Solutions for Healthy Living Want to increase your “Health Span”?

Healthy Lifestyle Weight Management Pain Management & Supplements Toning Table Exercise Machines

“Love the way you feel!”

Call Anne

1.306.948.7274 Linktree.ca/AnneLivingston Biggar. Sask

ROSETOWN NATURAL HEALTH

311 Main Street, Rosetown Massage Therapy - Supplements Ideal Protein Clinic Mail orders welcome.

Monday – Saturday 9:00 – 6:00 306-882-2220 rosetownnatural@sasktel.net www.rosetownnaturalhealth.com

CLEANING SERVICE

- together with -

Co-Ed Fitness Centre Healthy Lifestyle Weight Loss Personal Training Fitness Classes

…owned and operated

by Brett Barber

102 - 3rd Ave. W., Biggar

306-948-9750

www.newufitness.ca

OPTOMETRISTS

Dr. Kirk Ewen Dr. Michelle Skoretz Doctors of Optometry

ARIES – Mar 21/ Apr 20

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

TAURUS – Apr 21/ May 21

VIRGO – Aug 24/ Sept 22

Aries, this week you may invite a friend over who shares all of his or her good energy with you. It’s just the boost you need right now to have a positive few days.

You may have an urgent need to get physically active, Taurus. That can propel you to get a gym membership or to organize a walking club with some local friends.

GEMINI – May 22/ Jun 21

315b Main Street, Biggar, SK

You are brimming with energy right now, Gemini.

It’s only a matter of figuring out what to do with it.

A painting or other home renovation project could be the perfect fit.

1-833-948-3331

CANCER – Jun 22/ Jul 22

In BIGGAR

Every Tuesday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

New Location

For appointments…

DENTAL

Rosetown Dental

115 - 1st Avenue West Rosetown, Sask.

You are in the process of widening your field of opportunities, Cancer. This may translate into taking a trip overseas or even across the country for a little bit.

Your typically amicable personality could be nowhere in sight this week, Leo. Perhaps you are feeling disrespected and bullied and want to advocate for yourself.

There are moments when everyone gets strong feelings of where they should be heading in life, Virgo.

Sometime this week you could receive an epiphany moment.

LIBRA – Sept 23/ Oct 23 Take a few moments this week to go over spending, as you may determine that you have to reel in your budget a little more than you had expected, Libra.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/ Nov 22

Scorpio, this week you could be inspired by someone who comes across as a natural leader. Learn from this individual about how you can become more assertive.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23/Dec 21

–

Sagittarius, your help is urgently needed, so there is no time to waste. When the alarm clock goes off, it is time to spring into action each day.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20

Capricorn, put all of your cards on the table this week, especially with those close to you. They deserve to see the bigger picture if they are involved with you.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

The week ahead may be trying for you, Aquarius.

You may have to prove yourself to loved ones by offering a speech or other actions. It could be emotionally draining.

PISCES – Feb 19/ Mar 20

Pisces, you can look forward to your busy week ahead because the time is going to fly by. Do not schedule anything extra, as you will not be able to fit it in for the time being.

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

PLUMBING & HEATING

306.237.7671

SUDOKU

Troy May, owner/operator

only

$6.20 plus

Super B outfits hauling grain and fertilizer in Alberta and Saskatchewan

Biggar, Sask.

306-948-3389 Owners/Operators • Dallas Young • Claude Young

Journeymen Plumber, Gas Fitter, & Electrician on staff

STUCCO

306-716-4021 DEMOLITION & RESTORATION STUCCO , DRYWALL CONCRETE FINISHING

gsT…/week one column x 2 inches

for 26-week

Rockin D Trucking & Cattle

prepaid

FOR RENT

• 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.

in this directory is available for

Fax: 306-237-TROY email: tmay@hotmail.ca

PLUMBING HEATING ELECTRICAL For all your home, business and rural needs

This space

BIGGAR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Housing for families and seniors Rent based on income

Call: 306•303•7246

DEADLINE for ads, classisifeds and news MONDAY - 5 P.M.

BIGGAR INDEPENDENT BOX 40 BIGGAR, SK. S0K 0M0 306-948-3344 tip@sasktel.net SUBSCRIPTION RATES…per year ONLINE… $40.00 + $2.00 gst = $42.00 Inside 40-mile Radius… $45.00 + $2.25 gst = $47.25 Outside 40-mile Radius… $50.00 + $2.50 gst = $52.50

14-THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

email us at tip@sasktel.net

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023

GRANITE HEADSTONES any shape, size , color MORE AFFORDABLE

For Your Loved Ones Phone:306-831-2016 You will not be disappointed!

For rent Central Park Place

has apartments for seniors available in Biggar Call 948-3901 0r 948-7824

Biggar Walking: Exercise Group Biggar Community Hall Starting October 2nd, 2023 at either 9:30am, 11:00am or 1:00pm Monday, Wednesday and Fridays Pick your time

Everyone Welcome - Men & Women Exercise Therapist in attendance monthly?

Contact Cheryl Amy at 306-948-5338 for more information

FOR SALE LIKE NEW!! Small Wood Table and (2) Two Chairs.

Table Ends can drop down.

Margaret at 948-3471

Tired of running out of ink.?

WE CAN HELP JUST SEND US

YOUR DOCUMENTS AND LET US PRINT

Custom made Business Cards for your Business or Personnal

Only $24.95 for 100

THEM FOR YOU.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023

E-MAIL us at tip@sasktel.net

THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK-15

OBITUARIES LENA PAVLOFF JANUARY 9, 1934 - OCTOBER 1, 2023 Lena Pavloff Age 89 of Biggar, Saskatchewan passed away on Sunday, October 1, 2023. She was born to Steve and Ocsinia Demanenko on January 9, 1934.

She spent most of her career at the Biggar Hospital in dietary.

Lena was predeceased by her husband Walter, daughter Beverly, and son in law Clifford.

She was also predeceased by her siblings: Paul (Helen) Demanenko, Polly (John) Snitinski, Nettie (Pete) Kitay, Alice (William) Tavanetz. Her grandchildren

Everyone Welcome! and great grand children were very important to her. She is survived by her 3 grand children: Kevin, Nichole (Chuka Okeke) and Pamela (Jason Good). She is also survived by her 3 great grandchildren- Amaya, Addy and Bri. The family wishes to thank all those who supported her in recent times, especially Jim Rickwood. For those who have known Lena, a funeral service will be held in Biggar at the United Church at 1 p.m. on November 3, 2023.

Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you.

Miss You Always.

happy when her family and friends came to visit.

Sara was a beautiful patient teacher, always caring and kind made everyone feel like family.

She was said to be the “favorite sister”. A friend said since she passed on her birthday she is a Golden Angel, which is a very fitting as she had a heart of gold.

Sara is survived by her husband Bill, son Danny (Amie), daughter Tammy (Steve), step grandchildren Esther (Brandon) and Luke and step great-granddaughter Riley. Her siblings Sheila (Barry) Busch, Cyril (Gwenn) Gartner, Mary Jane (Tom) Metzger, Bertillie Gartner, Patrick (Monda) Gartner, Benita Colwell and Joy (Pierre) Gagnon. Her brother-in-law Jim (Judy) Ochs as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents George and Theodora, her sister Elaine, brother Severin and brother-in-law Gary.

A Celebration of life will be held for Sara on Saturday, November 11th, 2023 at 2pm at the Landis Community Complex.

Memorial donations in honour of Sara may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan #2004545 Parliament Ave., Regina, SK S4W 0G3

Landis Library Craft/Trade Sale Sunday, Nov. 5 10 - 3 Landis Communiplex Admission $2 Lunch (10-1 only) $10 Silent Auction Bake Sale Fishpond Free “Fat Cat” draw

our lady of fatima CatholiC ChurCh, Landis Sunday Mass.......9:00a.m.

Presbyterians, Anglicans and Lutherans

St.Pauls Anglican 205 4th Ave. E

Worship - 10:30 a.m.Redeemer Lutheran

319 7th Ave. E

October 22 at REDEEMER LUTHERAN

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

REFLECTIONS

by Rev. Daphne Bender, PALs Bring Peace to Earth Again

Love Claudette

109 - 7th Ave.W, Biggar Father Edward Gibney Parish Phone: 306-948-3330 Saturday Mass.......7:00p.m.

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

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

SERAPIA “SARA” OCHS OCTOBER 10, 1949 - OCTOBER 10, 2023 Serapia “Sara” Ochs Passed away at the age of 74 Sara Rose Ochs (nee Gartner) was born on October 10, 1949 in Macklin Saskatchewan to George and Theodora. She was the third of fourteen children.

Sara grew up in Macklin where she attended school and helped care for her younger siblings.

When she was 19 she moved to Edmonton where she worked at Canadian Linen for 5 years.

In October 1972 Sara went to a dance in Landis where she met her future husband, Bill Ochs. They were married on October 13, 1973 in Macklin and moved to a farm north of Landis where they lived for their whole married life.

Sara enjoyed life on the farm where she and Bill operated a mixed farm. They were blessed with two children Danny in 1977 and Tammy in 1979.

Sara was very talented at sewing, crocheting, gardening and baking. She was known for homemade egg noodles, cinnamon buns and Nanaimo squares, and enjoyed teaching these skills to friends and family. Sara loved to play cards and had a special fondness for the game of Bunnock which the family calls “Bones”. She looked forward to her weekly coffee visit with friends in Landis, and was always especially

St. Gabriel roman CatholiC ChurCh

Where armies scourge the countryside and people flee in fear, where sirens scream through flaming nights, and death is ever near: O God of mercy, hear our prayer: bring peace to earth again!

Where anger festers in the heart, and strikes with cruel hand; where violence stalks the troubled streets, and terror haunts the land: O God of mercy, hear our prayer: bring peace to earth again!

Where homes are torn by bitter strife, and love dissolves in blame; where walls you meant for shelt’ring care hide deeds of hurt and shame: O God of mercy, hear our prayer: bring peace to earth again!

O God, whose heart compassionate bears ev’ry human pain, redeem this violent, wounding world till gentleness shall reign: O God of mercy, hear

our prayer: bring peace to earth again! (author: Herman G. Stuempfle Jr.) At the time of writing this article, Israel and Hamas have been at war with each other for six days. And I have been praying the above prayer every time I see the devastation and hear the agonizing stories of the victims on television news.

I prayed - and still pray - similarly when I think about the war that Russia has waged on Ukraine. Where there is strife and destruction caused by humans from within or from without any country, I pray that God will bring peace to earth again.

Prayer is the first and sometimes only response we can make when faced with situations that are out of our control.

But prayer is also the most powerful response we can make because God can and will respond to our prayer. We turn to God to bring peace where there is war, to give wisdom and com-

passion to those directly involved and to those who have capacity to respond in helpful ways.

We turn to God to bring peace through us as well, which means praying that God will open our minds and hearts to ways in which we can live peaceably with each other, give support to organizations that promote peace and donate to organizations that provide humanitarian aid in war-torn regions of our world.

May we pray today for God’s peace on earth.

May we turn to God every moment of every day to plead for God’s mercy upon our troubled world.

“O God, hear our prayer: bring peace to earth again!”

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 25 Soup, Sandwich and Dessert Lunch at BIGGAR NEW HORIZONS 11:30 - 1:30 Sponsored by: EASTERN STAR ACACIA CHAPTER PROCEEDS TO CHARITIES

16 - THE INDEPENDENT, BIGGAR, SK

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2023

Argo Bush seeing impressive improvements Argo Bush has been moving in positive directions, bringing the iconic area attraction back from the brink after fire ravage the area. The following are minutes from the all-volunteer organization: We started the year with an open meeting at the library in the Spring.

We had a tonne of local support and interest and formed an actual board.

President: Corine Buxton. Vice President: Whitney Barber.

Secretary: Michelle Keith.

Treasurer: Donna Robillard.

Head of Maintenance: Miles Buxton. Other Maintenance: Jeff Selkirk and Ben Gurel.

We still had some bird houses on hand donated

by Richard Olson that

PASSPORT PHOTO’S Available at The Independent 948-3344 No Reservation Needed

Jeff and Ben put out in the Spring. The BCS2000 shop students made more birdhouses in June, and the residents at Prairie Branches have just completed painting them. Miles has already started putting those out as well.

There were metal frames of benches and a table left over from the fire that Miles rebuilt and painted and has put out on the trails.

The benches are colour coded to the trails they are on.

A new gate was purchased and installed (also thanks to Miles) at the main entrance a few months ago and it is much more user friendly. You can still use the larger, much more difficult gate but it shouldn’t be necessary as motorized vehicles are not permitted and most horses should fit through the smaller new one.

It has been a lot of work to clear the trails post

fire as they were very over grown. Currently the yellow, orange and red trails are cleared. We are still working on the completion of reopening the blue.

Moving forward we will continue to clear the blue, add more signage to the trails and would also like to add a detailed map to follow at the main entrance. We also hope to reopen for cross country ski purposes but would like to have all the trails completely cleared before that happens.

To get to Argo from town, head toward Rosetown on Highway 4 and turn right onto Argo Road after Richmond Lake. Continue down Argo Road until it turns from a grid road to a prairie trail. Less than a kilometre after, you will see a mowed parking area to the left and the gate.

Remember to wear orange this time of year and always close the gate behind you!

supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities

presents:

Fall into Christmas Tradeshow Biggar Town Hall October 28, 2023 10:00a.m. � 3:00p.m.

Town of Biggar wins award ... Councillor Dakota Ekman (centre) and Community Development Officer Cassidy Burton (right), on behalf of the Town of Biggar, attended the Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance (SEDA) Provincial Summit Award Banquet in Saskatoon on October 11 where they were presented the Community Project Award Population under 5,000 for Biggar’s Main Street Revitalization Project. Presenting the award was Kyle Bennett, Director - Southwest Region for Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities (SUMA).

(Photo for The Independent courtesy of SEDA)

NEED A DOCUMENT NOTARIZED? Contact DALE BUXTON at The Independent 948-3344 No Reservation Needed

Wide Assortment of Vendors from the Community get your Christmas shopping done early.

Something for Everyone!!! **Vendor’s Wanted** henrietta.parenteau@sasktel.net

Come check out new stuff for sale at THE INDEPENDENT keeping in touch with Biggar