Vol. 104 No. 36
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013
Box 40, 102 3rd Ave West, Biggar, Saskatchewan S0K 0M0
email: tip@sasktel.net
20 pages
Phone: 306-948-3344
$1.25
www.biggarindependent.ca
Provincial Students Day was September 3 The Sun West School Division is recognizing the hard work and determination of their students as they head back to class this year. This year students returned to class on Tuesday which has also been declared Provincial Students Day. The main focus of the week is the safety of students as they head back to class after summer break. Drivers around the region are reminded that all of our students from Prekindergarten to Grade 12 will be back in school and it’s important to take their safety into consideration. Some reminders for students and drivers are as follows: • Look both ways before you cross the street. • Only cross the street at pedestrian marked cross walks. • Do not pass school busses when stop arm is out. • All busses are equipped with a flashing roof light that indicates there are children on the bus at this time. • Speed limits in school zones are 30 km/h and are in effect during school hours unless otherwise posted. • Watch for children! They may not be paying attention and see you! If we all remember the rules of the road and teach our children those same rules, then we can be assured that our children will be safe during the 2013-2014 school year.
Nikon in D . . . A Monday evening harvest sunset is the perfect visual of Canon. Okay, too highbrow? Not to worry, the banjo music of winter accompaniment to Johann Pachelbel’s ‘Canon in D’ - get it? Nikon instead is ‘round the corner. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Harvest underway - still behind 5 year average Above average yields reported provincially Harvest is underway in all regions of the province. Warm weather with very few rain interruptions over the past week has helped speed crop development. Five per cent of the 2013 provincial crop has been combined, while 14 per cent has been swathed or is ready to straight cut, according to Saskatchewan
Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report for the period August 20 to 26. While harvest is behind the five-year average for this time of year, above average yields are being reported for most areas. The five-year average (2008-2012) is 15 per cent combined and 22 per cent swathed or ready to
straight cut. Harvest operations in the southwest region are the furthest ahead with 14 per cent of the 2013 crop combined. Across the province, 34 per cent of peas, 20 per cent of lentils, 27 per cent of winter wheat and 10 per cent of mustard have been combined. Twenty-
Books, oh so many books . . . Biggar Central School student, Jenna Voss, goes through a seemingly endless pile of notebooks, duo tangs, pencils and crayons. Alas, summer is over, and for area kids, it was back to school. Turn the page for more. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
six per cent of canola has been swathed. Spring cereals are maturing and in some areas producers have started swathing or are ready to straight cut the crops. Rain recorded in the province last week ranged
from nil to 31 millimetres. Grasshoppers and bertha armyworm caused some of the reported crop damage. Farmers in all regions are busy swathing, desiccating, combining and cutting, and baling greenfeed.
Broten shuffles NDP critic duties Opposition Leader Cam Broten has shuffled the critic responsibilities of the NDP MLAs. “I want to take every opportunity to build a strong, forward-looking opposition” said Broten Thursday. “Matching MLAs’ critic duties with their strengths and the issues they’re passionate about will make us even stronger.” Broten will keep the portfolios he took on when he was elected leader, including executive council, First Nations and Metis relations, intergovernmental affairs and immigration. Among the changes, Danielle Chartier, the MLA for Saskatoon Riversdale, moves into the health and seniors portfolio and deputy leader Trent Wotherspoon, a teacher, adds the education portfolio to his critic duties. “Seniors care and education are my top priorities because this government is seriously failing to hold up its end of the deal when it comes to those critical services,” said Broten. “Danielle and Trent are eager to demand better for Saskatchewan families.” Broten and the NDP MLAs spent the summer listening to the serious concerns of Saskatchewan families, and will use the fall session of the legislative assembly to demand accountability and action from the government.