Incredible landmark to be rebranded “Kerrobert Cultural Centre”
JOAN JANZEN joanjanzen@yahoo.com
In recognition of the 100th year of the Kerrobert Courthouse, a Courthouse Centennial Facebook Live Event is being held Saturday, August 29th at 2:00 p.m. Featured will be: a rebranding of the courthouse to the “Kerrobert Cultural Centre”; a ribbon cutting; the sealing of a time capsule, and a presentation by the Mayor, Wayne Mock. The community is proud to showcase this incredible landmark. In previous years, the Kerrobert Museum offered tours of the courthouse during the summer months, to residents and visitors.
The courthouse initially closed in 1996, and was later re-opened by the town. Now it is one of the main attractions in Kerrobert. Over the years it has become the central building in Kerrobert holding the Town of Kerrobert Municipal offices, the Kerrobert and District Museum, various legal professional services, and a local art gallery housed in a former district court room, displaying pieces by Saskatchewan artists. Every Christmas the courthouse is decked out in Christmas decorations, creating a festive display in the town.
CONTINUED PAGE 2
PHOTO BY KATE WINQUIST
The Kerrobert Courthouse was built in 1920 and continues to be a focal point in the community today, housing the Town of Kerrobert municipal offices, Kerrobert and District Museum and the Wheatland Regional Library.
Kerrobert Courthouse turns 100 years old
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
Kerrobert became the seat of the Kerrobert Judicial District in 1913, which necessitated the construction of the Courthouse in 1920. It was designed by the provincial architect Maurice W. Sharon and built by Wilson and Wilson of Regina at a cost of $145,750.00.
Located at 433 Manitoba Avenue, this Municipal Heritage Property sits on its original location, and its value lies in its architecture. During that era, large courthouses were built throughout Saskatchewan, sharing a a colonial revival style, incorporating sloped roofs, rain gutters integrated with projecting metal cornices, central cupolas with attic ventilation and brick cladding trimmed with stone.
Kerrobert’s courthouse is the second courthouse built by Maurice W. Sharon. Kerrobert received a building capable of housing multiple courts simultaneously, demonstrating the optimism of the provincial government at the conclusion of the First World War.
Judges even resided in the community back in the day, handling both low profile cases and heavily-covered trials. One case in particular was a murder trial in 1931, which was defended by John G. Diefenbaker, the future prime minister of Canada, from 1957-1963. The basement of the building housed jail cells and there are rumours that an old skull was locked in the basement evidence room, which led to many more rumours regarding ghosts and whisper-
ing voices in empty rooms.
This in turn led to the Courthouse being turned into a haunted house for Halloween festivities to raise money for the Kerrobert Courtroom Restoration Society. This was done in 2019 and other years previous to this. Funds raised
from this event and many others went towards repairs to the Courthouse.
Now the community is taking the opportunity to celebrate the 100th birthday of one of their main attractions, the Kerrobert Courthouse.
Time Capsule: Be a part of Kerrobert’s history
To help commemorate the occasion of the Courthouse’s 100th year, the Kerrobert Restoration Society is going to put
some items in a time capsule to be opened in 2045. The committee has an “All About Me” form for kids to fill out or, if you are older or would rather, send in a write up about what you love about Kerrobert now and how you see it in 25 years. A prize will be given to the submissions chosen.
You can drop submissions at the Kerrobert Town Office, mail to Box 558 Kerrobert, SK S0L 1R0 or email kerrobert. clerk@sasktel.net by August 21.
The chosen submissions will be included in the capsule to be sealed at the Facebook Live Video Event on August 29.
The Judge’s Bench at the Kerrobert Courthouse. PHOTOS BY KATE WINQUIST
Amazing architecture in the main foyer of the Courthouse.
The bedroom in the judge’s chambers is just one of the Kerrobert & District Museum’s displays in the historic courthouse.
The following letter was submitted to us by Eston resident Lori Ries. She believes that the Town of Eston needs a full-time physician. We are happy to help by sharing this. Her hope is to encourage others to allow their voices to be heard.
Hon. Jim Reiter
Room 204, Legislative Building
2405 Legislative Drive Regina, SK S4S 0B3
August 5, 2020
Dear Minister Reiter,
I am writing to express my concern over the status of health services currently in Eston, Saskatchewan. I am grateful for the efforts of not only your ministry but all employees of Saskatchewan Health Authority as we face the COVID-19 pandemic yet I feel there are still problems outside of that which need to be addressed as well. We have been without a permanent physician in Eston since January 1, 2020. We do have a full-time nurse practitioner and have had locums intermittently however the need for a permanent physician in our community is urgent and critical.
The current population of Eston and the RM of Snipe Lake combined as of 2016 was 1,457 people. But this is not enough to warrant a full-time physician? Why not? When I look at other Saskatchewan communities with similar populations, such as Oxbow or Wilkie, they have similar populations with no hospitals and yet they have physicians…I am unclear as to why there is a different approach for some communities than others.
We live in what could be considered a remote rural area, the nearest hospital and emergency services from the town of Eston are 60KM and 95KM, respectively. We need to have a physician in our community, it is a matter of survival not only figuratively but literally. Consistency in health services is a necessity but also a right for all citizens in Saskatchewan yet in Eston this has not always been the case. I would like to know when we are getting a permanent physician, what you and the ministry are doing to facilitate the process for our local committee and what your long term vision is to ensure consistent services for the residents of Eston and area. The community of Eston needs to know what the future of physician services and health care looks like or as all people do when faced with fear and uncertainty, they start to look elsewhere for service and tend to think only of what they can do for themselves. This approach is fine for the people who are healthy enough and financially stable enough to look elsewhere but it is the marginal members of our community who suffer with a lack of service.
Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns and I do look forward to your reply.
Kind regards, Lori
Ries
CC: Hon. Warren Kaeding, Minister Rural and Remote Health Ken Francis, MLA Kindersley Eston and District Healthcare Committee, Verna Thompson and Wayne Sinclair
Mayor of Eston loves helping his community
JOAN JANZEN
joanjanzen@yahoo.com
AlHeron is a well known individual in Eston, who currently holds the office of Mayor. “We came back to Eston from being in BC, to look after Claire’s dad,” Al explained. “There was a vacancy on town council, and I became a councillor for a term and a half. Then I ran for mayor, and I’ve been doing that for 14 years now,”
Al’s first experience with life in Eston occurred in 1952 when he was working for the CIBC as an accountant, for a period of three and a half years. From there he moved to Winnipeg, then Weyburn, on to Regina, and finally ended up at Victoria, B.C. The couple’s move back to Eston, would have been quite a change for them.
While many seniors may be content to sit back and relax, it didn’t take long before Al was looking for something to do, and became a town councillor. “I won’t tell you my age, but I was born in 1935,” Al teased. “I had the time to do something to help my community. That’s why I did it, and I’ve enjoyed it,” he said.
Al recalled the storm that hit Eston last July. “The thing I was grateful for when Eston had that ten minute storm, was the next day there were four mayors phoning, offering assistance to help. It’s gratifying when you have a situation like that
and everyone is offering to help,” Al said. “The other thing that happened is the staff from the park came to help clean up the trees, and the road and rail crew came and helped clean up the town in just two days.”
Besides being the mayor, Al represents the west central municipal government through the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), and also sits on the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (SAMA) board, which is the board that assesses buildings and properties. “Two days a month I have to go to one of their meetings,” Al added.
This will be Al’s last term as mayor, as the next election will be some time this fall. “I’ll miss the things that are going on. It’s nice to see projects getting closer to completion,” he said. He mentioned that work on the sewer lines was 90 percent completed, paving would be taking place, and the town has an almost brand new landfill.
“The four times I’ve run for mayor I’ve had no opposition,” Al said. Now that he will no longer be running, someone new will need to step up to the plate. “And I hope they’re younger than what I am,” Al concluded.
2020 Municipal Election
Have you ever thought of running
for Town Council?
The Town of Eston Nominations are open as of August 10 for the 2020 municipal election. The dealine for nominations is October 7, 2020. All seats are up for election, which includes 1 Mayor and 6 Councillors.
For more information please visit our website at eston.ca/election
RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF ANTELOPE PARK NO. 322 PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notice is hereby given that the Council of the Rural Municipality of Antelope Park No. 322 intends to adopt a bylaw under The Planning and Development Act, 2007 to amend Bylaw No. 2017-06 known as the Zoning Bylaw.
INTENT
It is proposed that the Zoning Bylaw amendment will:
• Provide a definition of “Solar Farm”;
• Provide development standards for satellite dishes and solar collectors;
• Increasing the minimum site area requirement for Agricultural Principal Uses in the Agricultural Resource District from 4.05 ha. to 16.19 ha. and delete the maximum site area requirement for Agricultural Principal Uses in the Agricultural Resource District.
• Create a new “H – Hamlet Residential District”.
REASONS
• To facilitate and provide appropriate development standards for satellite dishes and solar collectors within the RM.
• To amend the minimum and maximum site area requirements for Agricultural Principal Uses in the Agricultural District to better reflect the agricultural character of the Municipality.
• To provide a zoning district which will accommodate existing hamlet developments.
PUBLIC INSPECTION
Any person may inspect the bylaw at the Municipal Office, located at 20 1st Avenue North in the Village of Marengo, between the hours of 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays. Copies of the proposed bylaws are available at the Municipal Office.
PUBLIC HEARING
Council will hold a public hearing on August 20, 2020 at 6:45PM at the Community Hall, 13 Main Street in the Village of Marengo, to hear any person or group that wants to comment on the proposed bylaw. Council will also consider written comments received at the hearing, or delivered to the undersigned at the Municipal Office before the hearing.
Issued at the Village of Marengo this 4th day of August, 2020. Robin Busby, Administrator
OPINION
CHECK IT OUT
What happens when you dare to disagree?
JOAN JANZEN joanjanzen@yahoo.com
Here’sa short riddle for you.
Question: What do you call a dog that’s been run over by a steamroller? Answer: Spot.
Ontario MPP Belinda Karahalios may have felt like she had been run over by a steamroller after her recent ordeal concerning Bill 195. Bill 195 is known as the COVID-19 emergency bill, and it grants Premier Doug Ford power to extend or amend emergency orders for up to two years without debate. Here’s Belinda’s story.
“I was a parliamentary assistant to the solicitor general; this bill came out of that ministry. I wasn’t part of what the bill looks like and didn’t get a copy of the bill. I got my hands on the bill when it was tabled. When I got a chance to read through it, I felt uneasy about it; there was no talk about voting,” Belinda said, and wondered ... “Why couldn’t we have a vote in the legislature if things had to become more stringent again?”
Belinda had the courage to vote against this controversial government bill that many felt was undemocratic.
Consequently she was booted from caucus and now sits as an independent.
“By transferring away the ability for Ontario MPPs to consider, debate, and vote on how emergency powers are used on Ontarians, Bill 195 essentially silences every single Ontario MPP on the most important issue facing our legislature today. The fact that there’s no voting, that’s where my issue is. No government should be able to do whatever they want without any kind of oversight.”
Belinda noted that a lot of MPPs who took the time to read Bill 195 were not comfortable with it. “But it’s that fear of punishment or retaliation if you are to go against the government,” she said. She should know, because she was punished for voting against the bill. Although she tried to get a hold of the Premier to voice her concerns, he didn’t call her, and his only response was to say he felt like he was blind-sided by Belinda’s vote.
Belinda responded, “At the end of the day I was doing my job, and representing the voice of my constituents. Regardless of their political leaning, there was no appetite for this bill. People thought it was overreach, inappropriate and unfair.”
Her constituents weren’t the only ones concerned about the bill. “I’ve had support from former caucus colleagues, from a few NDP, and all the independents. It’s been overwhelming!” Belinda said, referring to the response she received from the public, both out of province and from Ontario. “They were telling me to hold my head up high and stay true even when it’s really hard.”
Chances are you didn’t hear about Bill 195 from the mainstream media, and there’s a reason for that. Belinda explained, “I’m glad people are paying attention because Bill 195 wasn’t given a lot of media attention.”
When the media did interview Belinda she said, “The focus tended to be on how I felt about being kicked out, and less about the bill itself. They almost made it feel like a gossip column.”
But Belinda’s position as MPP hasn’t changed. “I’m still going to advocate for my constituents. That doesn’t change. I just no longer have a party affiliation.”
So what’s the point that MPP Belinda Karahalios is making to Canadians? “This bill allows the premier to do whatever he wants with these changes without any vote at all. I represented my constituents and voted the way they wanted me to vote. The fact that I got kicked out on a vote like this is unheard of. “
“If government is making decisions on behalf of the people of this province, the people of this province need to have a say,” Belinda said.
We need people like MPP Belinda Karahalios who will stand for democracy, even when her attempts are run over like a steamroller.
“At the end of the day I look at myself in the mirror and know that I did my job and I stood by democracy,” Belinda concluded. It’s a sentiment every Canadian should aspire to.
You can contact me at joanjanzen@yahoo.com
“Near normal” schools a strange approach
The Saskatchewan Party government has been telling us for months now that COVID-19 means a “new normal” for all us.
But that “new normal” surely isn’t being applied to the re-opening of schools in this province in three weeks.
Here, Education Minister Gord Wyant and Chief Medical Health Officer Saqib Shahab are now talking about things being “near normal.
When Saskatchewan’s 27 school divisions re-open their classrooms around Sept. 1, the government insists that things should simply be pretty much as they were when schools shutdown in mid-March.
Sure, there will be a few adjustments, as outlined last week in its Safe School Plan.
Kids will now be assigned seats on buses (preferably, sitting with family members if that is the reality) and buses will need to be cleaned more frequently. Where possible, the government is encouraging parents to drive their kids to schools and avoid buses altogether.
Teachers will be asked to move between classrooms where practical (this likely won’t be the case in larger high
schools where kids in home rooms quickly spread out to different classes) to reduced hallway traffic and the chances of spreading the novel coronavirus.
There will be dedicated entrances and exits doors and directional flow signs kids will be expected to follow. (Good luck with that.)
There will be staggered recesses and lunches, increased sanitation of toys and classroom equipment (although no additional money for hiring cleaning staff).
It calls for limited physical contact hugs and hand-holding (again, “wherever possible”), protocols for backpacks and reconfigurations of existing classrooms (as best as teachers can) “to minimize contact”.
Mask use will be implemented if the government and Shahab feel the need to move to further more restrictive stages.
But that approach, too, flies in the face of how government did gradually re-open the economy by loosening restrictions in five progressive stages.
MURRAY MANDRYK Political Columnist
But already overcrowded classrooms won’t have classroom size limits And while Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia are now calling for kids in schools to wear masks, no such requirements will be enforced here.
When it comes to schools there are four stages, but we begin with “near normal” and will only go backwards if it’s deemed necessary to do so.
Wyant said last week that his government has purchased six million masks for school use in case we have to do just that. And the announcement suggested families to have a couple washable masks per child, but they won’t - at least initiallybe required.
If we are in this COVID-19 fight for many more months as the government suggests, wouldn’t school be one place where we could teach kids about proper mask use and getting them used to the idea?
The government’s approach is not sitting well with many teachers, parents and others who see this strategy as one that risks both children and community safety and hard-won progress we’ve all made in the COVID-19 fight.
And it certainly hasn’t sat well with the NDP Opposition.
“There is a massive gap between what they are telling us needs to happen and what we see today from this Sask. Party government,” said NDP education critic Carla Beck. “What Gord Wyant has produced is not a plan for schools - it’s a plan to fail the test of protecting students, families and education professionals.”
It is rather strange that after having months to prepare special plans to ensure that kids are safe, the Saskatchewan government plan doesn’t go much beyond advising parents to keep sick kids home and doing what very much seems to be the basics.
One gets the government wanting to ensure the learning environment be as normal as possible.
But with recent record numbers of active cases, it does seem the back-toschool plan is taking some big chances.
WhenI had assigned Joan Janzen to do a story about the Kerrobert Courthouse turning 100 years old, I had no idea that it would turn into so much more.
I must admit that my only recollection of Kerrobert is back in my high school basketball days, and those memories weren’t all that pleasant. We generally came out on the wrong side of the scoreboard and were battered and bruised as we got back on the school bus and made the 48 km trek back to Kindersley.
Joan was quick to get back to me with a story and sent some submitted photos from the Kerrobert & District Museum. After reading through Joan’s article, I was immediately intrigued by the history of the century-old landmark. I love historic buildings. The architecture is so impressive. I can only imagine what it would have been like to sit in a courtroom in Kerrobert back in the early 1920s.
Then I read something that intrigued me even more - rumours of the Courthouse being haunted. How cool is that? And a murder trial that was defended by none other than future Prime Minister John G. Diefenbaker. An old skull locked in the basement evidence room. Whispering voices, orb sightings, streaks
of light. I decided that I needed to make that 48 km trip and see this impressive structure for myself.
It didn’t take me long to find the focal point in the community. The building with its beautiful historic park surroundings is now home to the Town of Kerrobert municipal offices. I took a few photos of the outside of the building, knowing that this would be my front-page feature. Upon entering the main foyer, I was in awe of the staircase that stood before me. I used the hand sanitizer that was set out and awaited my turn to enter the Town Office. Two friendly faces greeted me as I introduced myself. They immediately asked if I wanted to go upstairs, even though the museum area was closed to the public due to COVID. They invited me to check out the basement as well, although mentioning that some people are scared to go down there by themselves while others won’t go at all. “Maybe another day,” I said.
I was left to wonder on my own, checking out the old courtroom, which has transformed into an art gallery. The judge’s bench, jury box and judge’s chambers were all worth the trip. There have been orb sightings as well as shadow people sightings in all of these areas. I didn’t feel anything unusual as I made
my way down the courtroom foyer to the witness room. On the door was a sign that said Hanbidge Exhibit. Why did that name sound familiar to me?
Robert Leith “Dinny” Hanbidge joined his brother Jack’s law firm in Kerrobert in 1914. Hanbidge would serve on Kerrobert town council and later became mayor. He won a seat in the Legislature in 1929 and acted as Conservative Party whip throughout Premier James Thomas Milton Anderson’s five-year term. He returned to his law practice after being defeated in 1934 but continued to participate in Conservative Party activities. In 1958, Hanbridge won the Kindersley riding and repeated in 1962. John Diefenbaker was a prominent friend of Hanbridge, and in 1963, he accepted Diefenbaker’s invitation to become Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan, a position he filled from 1963-1970.
As you enter the lawyer’s foyer, you will find two more rooms - the old law office and law library, which are now the Veteran’s Room and Masonic Room/Grocery Store. There has been an apparition ghost sighting at the foyer entrance, so they say. Again, I did not experience anything unusual.
I made my way back down the staircase and thanked the ladies at the Town Office for letting me look around.
I left the Courthouse feeling good about what I had accomplished. I called up an old highschool friend of mine and former KCS Kobra basketball point guard, that calls Kerrobert home. We had a great visit and toured around the community before I headed back to Kindersley to work the night shift.
I downloaded my photos and decided to do a bit more research on ghosts of the Kerrobert Courthouse. What I uncovered blew my mind!
I came across an article from Global News from 2018 about paranormal history at Saskatoon’s Western Development Museum (WDM). There have been sightings of a lady dressed in red looking out into Boomtown Street, a little girl
wearing a pinafore, and a spirit of a little boy named Daniel. A local production company, Bamboo Shoots shot the first episode of its paranormal show “The Other Side” at the WDM. They kept running into a spirit that identified themselves as “lucky.” When they returned to film a second episode, the investigators made contact with the spirit, and he gave them his real name. Who was the spirit? None other than Robert Hanbidge, Kerrobert’s former mayor and Saskatchewan’s 12th Lieutenant Governor!
I plan on making another trip back to the Kerrobert Courthouse, but this time I will go into the basement. Perhaps my old basketball buddy will join me.
Robert Hanbidge
Cyclists raise money for SickKids Foundation
JOAN JANZEN joanjanzen@yahoo.com
Ateam
from Leader is participating in the Great Cycle Challenge during the month of August, to raise money for the SickKids Foundation, helping kids fight cancer. Laura Henderson, who participated in the event last year, organized the team of local participants.
“I got such a great response locally last year that this year we expanded.” Laura said. “There are eight of us: myself, Mandy Lavallee, Nicole Ausmus, Mark Ehrman and Teresa Kozak, all from Leader, and Theresa Mcmullan and Kim and James Wiebe from Medicine Hat.”
Each team member will pool their kilometers together, to reach the team’s 1,850 kilometre goal. “We’re going to do a lot of our kilometers on our own, but we will be planning to do some social distance group rides,” Laura said.
This isn’t the first challenge Laura has faced. “I had a brain aneurism in
2016, underwent surgery and ran my first half marathon seven months later. I’ve been setting goals ever since,” Laura said. “So this challenge is a perfect fit for me.”
Although Marie Stimson isn’t part of the team, she is no stranger to Leader, having grown up and raised a family in Leader. She also frequently comes to Leader to visit family. The Regina resident will also be doing the challenge throughout the month of August at her own pace.
That’s the beauty of this particular challenge; participants set their own personal ride target during the month of August, log their kilometres and track their progress online through their personal challenge page. An app allows participants to easily record their kilometres and automatically adds each ride straight onto their rider profile page, including the kilometres ridden, date and journey. The Great Cycle Challenge is suitable for all fitness levels and all ages, and registration is free.
“I don’t anticipate having trouble meeting my goal of 200 kilometres,” Marie said. “I’m back on my bike and I just need to prove to myself that I can reach my goal,” she concluded, noting that there’s about 3,000 people in Saskatchewan who are participating in this challenge.
If people want to donate, they can go on the Great Cycle Challenge website and look for the team or name of a participant, and donate individually or as a team.
”All my team members are fantastic people,” Laura Henderson said. “Hopefully we can change little lives and make a difference.”
Duvernay-Tardif puts humanity before football
BRUCE PENTON
brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is the poster boy for the definition of the word ‘selfless.’
The Quebecker, a starting guard with last February’s Super Bowl winning Kansas City Chiefs, is also on the verge of becoming a full-fledged medical doctor. So while COVID-19 rages around the world, what does Duvernay-Tardif do as National Football League teams get ready for training camp? He takes a $150,000 payment from the Chiefs (instead of his $2.75 million salary) and opts to skip the 2020 season, preferring to stay in Quebec and be a front-line medical specialist in the fight against the deadly pandemic.
Besides being a doctor, Duvernay-Tardif is one of the best football players on the planet. He’s 29 years old, which means his playing days are limited (the average NFL tour of duty lasts less than four years), but he’s living up to the Hippocratic Oath: Put patients first and treat them to the best of one’s ability.
Definition of ‘selfless’? Look it up in Webster’s Dictionary and not only will you see a photo of Duvernay-Tardif, but
you’ll see the following words: “Having little or no concern for oneself, especially with regard to fame, position, money, etc.; unselfish.”
A statement on social media posted by Duvernay-Tardif said: “This is one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in my life but I must follow my convictions and do what I believe is right for me personally,” his statement read. “Being at the front line during this offseason has given me a different perspective on this pandemic and the stress it puts on individuals and our healthcare system.”
So was Chiefs’ coach Andy Reid fuming with anger over the decision by Duvernay-Tardif, who played every offensive snap in last year’s playoffs for Kansas City? Far from it. Reid told Sports Illustrated: “I’m a huge Larry Duvernay-Tardif fan, and I was also raised by a doctor. I understand the dedication that it takes to be a doctor, and we’re all blessed to have doctors in our lives. They’re givers. They’re not takers. They’re givers. They’re healers. They want the best for you, so Larry has that quality. And you’re seeing it to the utmost here. I just think it’s
tremendous dedication to his profession, what his future is going to be, and mainly to the people that he gets to help.”
Duvernay-Tardif said if he’s going to risk coming down with COVID-19, he’d rather it be while treating patients than from a football rival breathing hard in his direction on an NFL scrimmage line.
Proud to say it: The footballer’s decision is such a Canadian thing to do.
• Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “Lakers reserve guard Alex Caruso skipped his sister’s wedding in Texas because he would’ve likely faced a 10- to 14-day quarantine upon his return to the NBA bubble. In other words, she said I do; he said I won’t.”
• Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe.com, on Texas delaying the start of major high-school football seasons: “In Texas this is like temporarily closing churches.”
• Tim Hunter of Everett’s KRKO Radio: “As a soccer fan, I had a scary thought. What if we get to the end of 2020 and we’re then told there are six months of stoppage time?”
• Sean McIndoe, in the Athletic, surmising how a decision may have been made about how the Columbus Blue Jackets were named: “As if a toddler was asked to name a team based on the first thing he saw on the floor in his front hallway.”
• McIndoe again, on the Mighty Ducks name: “You let a monster media company like Disney into your league, and they thank you by using their team name to advertise a bad movie. … worst team name ever.”
• RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “The Jays released left-handed reliever Marc Rzepczynski. He was hampered by a high pitch count and a low vowel count.”
• Headline in theonion. com: “Rob Manfred Frustrated MLB Season Falling Apart
Despite All The Energy He Put Into Wishing It Wouldn’t”
• Another onion.com headline: “Closed ballpark forces thousands of Phillies fans to be content verbally threatening friends and family.”
• Dwight Perry again: “Several Saskatchewan kid-hockey teams changed their team names, withheld player names on game rosters and forbid parents to post on social media so that they could leave the province in the midst of a pandemic to play in a tournament in Winnipeg, the CBC reported. Nervous team officials sense a delayed penalty coming.”
• Another one from Janice Hough, on the Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo giving the Brewers’ Orlando Arcia some hand sanitizer after Arcia wound up at first base with a hit: “Talk about a clean single.”
• Brewers slugger Christian Yelich, to MLB.com, shrugging off his 2-for-23 showing with 12 strikeouts in his team’s preseason intrasquad games: “I wasn’t struggling. I was just doing my best Bob Uecker impression.”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
Laura Henderson and Teresa Kozak
Mandy Lavalee
Mark Ehrman
Nicole Ausmus
Saskatchewan’s school divisions release Safe Schools Plan
Saskatchewan’s 27 school divisions have plans in place for the safe return of students and staff to the classroom in September.
“Our guiding principle continues to be ensuring schools are a safe place for students and staff,” Deputy Premier and Education Minister Gordon Wyant said. “These plans and eight areas of focus will allow school communities to have the guidance and appropriate time to implement the required safety measures.”
Saskatchewan school divisions had their draft plans reviewed by Saskatchewan Education’s Response Planning Team (RPT), in order to ensure that they adhere to the Primary and Secondary Institution Guidelines, developed by the RPT in consultation with Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer.
All school division plans have incorporated eight safe components that include:
1. Safe Attendance
To allow for all members of our school communities to attend classes safely, self-screening measures will be implemented, including:
Parents and caregivers being asked to monitor their children for any signs or symptoms of illness. If any symptoms are present, the student is to remain home.
For those who are unsure if they or a student present symptoms or may need to be tested for COVID-19, should refer to the Saskatchewan COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool.
Dedicated quarantine area in every school where individuals exhibiting symptoms will properly isolate from the rest of the school until a parent or caregiver can safely pick them up.
2. Safe Transportation
The ministry has also developed the following transportation protocols to ensure students are coming to and from school safely, these include:
Assigned seating for students and a record of this seating plan on school buses.
Students who live in the same household will be seated together. Where possible, the ministry is encouraging parents to transport their own children to and from school.
Cleaning and sanitation of buses or other vehicles used to transport students is required between each run.
3. Safe Access
Students will be able to safely access and move throughout school facilities through the implementation of:
Dedicated entrance and exit doors.
Staggered recess, lunch, and other class transition times to allow for additional space.
Controlled flow of students and staff in common school areas, incorporating the use of directional signage and floor markings.
4. Safe Facilities
Increased sanitation measures in school facilities and the promotion of proper hygiene practices will be implemented. This includes:
• Increased availability of hand sanitizer wherever possible.
• Custodial staff will provide consistent sanitation of school facilities.
• Maintain hygiene of all frequently-touched surfaces and objects such as toys and classroom equipment.
5. Safe Classrooms
Measures are to be implemented to reduce risk of transmission in the classroom, including:
Wherever possible, limiting physical contact such as hugs and handholding, as well as encouraging the use of alternative greetings such as “air high fives”.
Utilizing outdoor spaces for learning when possible.
Clear protocols for bringing supplementary school materials such as backpacks and school supplies in and out of schools.
Classroom configuration to minimize contact.
6. Safe Supports
Considerations have been taken to safely support the learning needs of all students. Local health officials will be providing support to divisions for the implementation of these measures, including:
Personal interactions with intensive needs/immune-compromised students’ conditions will be in place to allow for the provision of supports within a safe and secure environment, which may include in-school setting or other appropriate spaces for the delivery of education.
Medically fragile students will have supports in place to address their educational needs.
School divisions will work with their local medical health officer to address
the unique needs of immunocompromised students, to prepare for the ongoing safety of students and staff in proactive and responsive measures, and will have alternative learning opportunities in place for students who are unable to attend school for medical reasons.
School divisions will communicate regarding these supports directly with their local school communities.
The Ministry of Education will continue to support mental wellness through initiatives such as our work with Kids Help Phone to promote professional counselling services, which are available 24 hours a day.
To facilitate constant communication between school divisions and local health officers as we move through the school year, weekly briefs will occur between the education sector and health officials to bolster monitoring and access to local context and needs.
7. Safe Activities
To ensure adequate safety measures are taken, schools will adapt group activities to reduce physical contact, including:
Established protocols for the reduced use of shared materials and classroom supplies.
Identifying alternatives to in-person assemblies, such as virtual assemblies.
Participation in extra-curricular activities will be dependent on the most current guidelines as provided by Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer.
Extra-curricular activities such as indoor sports are allowed as announced in the second part of Phase 4 of Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan.
8. Safe Alternatives
To ensure preparedness, there are four scenarios that may be activated regionally or provincially based on the advice of our Chief Medical Health Officer, they include:
Level 1: Return to school, as close to normal as possible, with additional health measures and precautions. This is the scenario we are planning for come September 1.
Level 2: Mask usage as determined by the Chief Medical Health Officer. These masks are being purchased centrally by the ministry of education and distributed to school divisions.
Level 3: In the event it becomes necessary, school capacity will be reduced. This may include establishing cohorts and hybrid learning models as considerations.
Level 4: Implementing learning continuity plans, which means transitioning to mandatory remote learning.
Divisions are asked to share their plan with the families, teachers and school staff they support. As the situation with COVID-19 in Saskatchewan is fluid, plans may be updated and adjusted as needed.
The school year is set to start as early as September 1, based on local school division calendars.
Campers keep coming back to Eston Riverside Park
JOAN JANZEN joanjanzen@yahoo.com
Every summer campers gravitate towards The Eston Riverside Regional Park, and this year is no exception. The regular locals returned to the park to enjoy the month of July, many spending the entire month, according to Karen Mullins, vicechair of the board of the park. Besides the regular campers, Karen observed that many campers are coming in from Elrose and Kindersley, as well. A big attraction is the golf course at the park, which is in prime shape, thanks to a little extra care
Longing for country living?
and abundant rainfall.
Although this year’s regulations require golfers to book tee times in advance and pre-pay, memberships are one up from last year, and the course is only down 150 rounds from last year, in spite of opening later than usual. Golfers will be able
to continue enjoying the course until late September or October, depending on the weather. Though swimming lessons were not offered this year at the park, swimmers have continued to enjoy dipping into the pool. And ten members of the pool staff com-
pleted a 44-hour national lifesaving accreditation course, which they were unable to complete earlier because of the pandemic, and the lifeguards have really stepped up and taken on all the extra responsibilities and tasks involved in managing the new guidelines.
For anyone who is craving a treat, the concession is open for take out service. Due to the recent hot weather, the concession is going through a lot of ice cream!
Next door to the Tyner Memorial Hall, park patrons are indulging in a
game of pickleball this summer. Because this is a new activity to the park, a clinic was held to explain the rules and equipment. Regular play times have been set up and many people have expressed interest in forming a league.
The Eston park has been in existence since 1949, becoming a regional park in 1967. The park’s success is attributed to the diligence of many local volunteers, and of course, to the faithful campers and visitors who keep returning each and every year.
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Eston Riverside has treed sites near the river, plantation near park entrance, irrigated nine hole grass greens golf course, licensed clubhouse, community hall, concessions and a swimming pool. Eston is in a beautiful river valley with charming old elms. A hall is the local recreation center, complete with patio and enclosed deck.
Classifieds Your West Central
&
PINTAIL WINTER
WHEAT. Extremely hardy, very high yielding, Awnless. Excellent for Forage or Grain. Low Inputs - High Profits. Call 403-556-2609 or text 403-994-2609; mastinseeds.com.
FOR SALE
Some of the items for sale at: Andrea’s 3R’s Shop, Unique Second Hand Shop, 138 Railway Avenue W, Eston, Sk. 306-962-4270. Oak side table, Queen size
mattress, King size trailer mattress, kitchen table & chairs and much more.
FOR RENT
Rooms for rent. $500. Includes all utilities. Call Tim Schuh 306-4609292.
Please
Winter Road Haul 2016 Class 1 Drivers needed for deliveries in MB & NW Ont. (800) 665-4302 ext. 251 or e-mail: orderdesk@penneroil.ca
EXPERIENCED FUEL
DELIVERY DRIVERS required for deliveries in MB, SK & NW ON. Skills & qualifications include Class 1 with adequate abstract, min. 2-years’ experience long-haul driving with fuel delivery experience, good communication & documentation skills, & ability to perform basic vehicle repairs. We offer extensive paid training, competitive wage, monthly bonuses, medical, dental, & longterm disability benefits, RSP matching, paid stat holidays, & vacation pay. Our drivers have assigned trucks, & a mix of day trips & longer overnight trips, with many nights at home, frequent weekends off, & and mostly rural deliveries. We have many longterm drivers. Please email a resume & abstract to: orderdesk@penneroil.ca or fax (204)989-4309
Heavy Duty Mechanics, Heavy Equipment Operators and 1A Drivers required: Late model, clean CAT, JD equip: winch, dump, gravel trucks and trailers. Both camp and shop locations; R & B provided. Wage negotiable. Clean drivers abstract a must. Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction Box 100, Arborfield, Sk. S0E 0A0; Fax: 306-769-8844 Email: brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca www. brydenconstruction andtransport.ca
CLASSIFIED RATES (based on 20 words or less). $8.95 plus GST. Additional words are 20¢ each. Deadline is Thursday noon. CALL 306-671-0242
Is 100% enough?
LEORA SCHMIDT
During a 48-hour work shift at a Texas hospital in March, the exhausted Christian medical doctor, Richard Bartlett, a man with many years of experience, was silently praying. His burden in prayer was how to effectively treat patients who presented with Covid-19. At one point he took a nap during a quiet time between patients. At that time he was conditioned by all the media to be fearful of this virus. When he awoke he sensed that God had answered his prayer and had given him a treatment that would save lives.
It wasn’t long before he had the opportunity to test the treatment that inspiration brought to his mind during those few moments of quiet time. He treated many patients with this simple, inexpensive treatment. Every one - 100% of the patients recovered completely and quickly - for which he said “Thank you, Jesus.” All fear vanished and he confidently participated in an interview on America Can We Talk on July 2.
He has written a paper that is about to be published, detailing the simple treatment. He is making it available to the public who can request it by contacting Debbie at americacanwetalk@ gmail.com. This same paper has been shared with
political officials who contacted him, and it has also been sent to President Trump. In the current corrosive conduct of the divisive atmosphere there is much pushback against anyone who takes a stand for honesty and integrity. There are several aspects of this interview that are under public scrutiny. The denunciations and verbal attacks began immediately regarding the treatment. They are blatant and ongoing by those with no medical understanding. There is mockery of his admission that he is a Christian, and that he prays for wisdom from God to guide him, and then gives thanks to God for blessing him. Personal attacks on his integrity and medical expertise seem to be part of the effort to diffuse and eradicate any relevancy regarding the treatment. On the positive side, there is encouraging reasonable response, including some of those who were Dr. Bartlett’s patients who approve of his treatment and are grateful for
their recovery.
It is important to realize that the public issues that we deal with on a daily basis are only part of a total picture. The world is in the final throes of a fierce spiritual battle between good and evil forces. We must be aware that moral principles are the real issues. Those who stand openly and firmly for principles of God’s word have become very unpopular, to the point of being reviled and persecuted. For all such individuals the promises of the Bible are indisputable, unchangeable, and always true. We are promised: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5 NKJV). Also, “… all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:2).
Dear reader, the story of Dr. Bartlett is only one example of one person’s unselfish desire to help humanity, but who is being defamed. Let us resolve to seek for divine wisdom to sort through all the many diverse, and even outrageous philosophies and opinions that we are confronted with, in order to know what is 100% truth. Let us then ask for the strength to remain100% faithful regardless of all the accusations and denunciations that may result from our own obedience to God’s word.
PHOTO BY JAMES VILLENEUVE
For the young Burrowing
Owls, it’s
now time to leave the nest!
REGINA - The beginning of August marks the end of an important milestone in the life cycle of a Burrowing Owl and the beginning of another. Young Burrowing Owls are now starting to leave the nest and forage for themselves after weeks of being fed by their parents. The young owls are practicing their hunting and flying skills and venturing out on their own to other burrows nearby. They are a bit like teenagers now and are becoming more independent as they begin to prepare for their fall migration to southern Texas and Mexico. For people travelling
in rural Saskatchewan, this is an especially good time to spot Burrowing Owls. However, it can also be a dangerous time for inexperienced young Burrowing Owls. Owls will often forage in roadside ditches, looking for insects and rodents. “At dusk the road surface tends to be warmer than the surrounding area, attracting many small insects and rodents,” explains Kaytlyn Burrows, Habitat Stewardship Coordinator with Nature Saskatchewan, “as a result, young owls are also attracted to the road and ditch when they begin searching for prey.”
Burrowing Owls are about 9 inches tall, with mottled brown and white feathers, bushy white ‘eyebrows’, and long featherless legs. They are often found nesting in native or tame pastures that have been well grazed. Burrowing Owls nest in abandoned burrows excavated by badgers, ground squirrels (gophers), or other burrowing mammals, and are often seen standing on or next to their burrow, sitting on nearby fence posts, or foraging in roadside ditches.
Every year, young Burrowing Owls are injured or killed by vehicle collisions while they forage along the road. The Burrowing Owl population has been steadily declining, making the survival of each owl critical for the long term growth of the population. “Motorists can reduce the risk of owl-vehicle collisions by slowing down and being cautious for owls foraging on roads and in ditches”, says Burrows. Slowing down will also increase your chances of spotting this endangered bird!
Since 1987 Nature Saskatchewan’s Operation Burrowing Owl has worked with landowners to conserve and enhance Burrowing Owl habitat in Saskatchewan. In addition, the program relies on the participation of landowners to help monitor the Burrowing Owl population. Currently, there are over 350 participating landowners across Saskatchewan. If you spot a Burrowing Owl, please let us know by calling our toll-free Hoot Line at 1-800-667HOOT (4668) or by email at obo@naturesask.ca. Personal and sighting information is never shared without permission.
Kerrobert, Sask.
graduates have made a tradition of painting their names on the barn that sits along Highway 21 just
The former location of the Kerrobert Wheatland Library is the original Canadian Bank of Commerce building. It was constructed in 1911 and is situated at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Bosworth Street. The two lots on which this building sits were the first two lots auctioned in Kerrobert and the bank paid $2,040.00 for the property. The auctioneer was no less than T.C. Norris the future Premiere of Manitoba.
original waterworks system was built in 1914 and featured a
high standpipe Water Tower. This tower with its eleven, 7
of
steel, has a storage capacity of 150,000 gallons of water. This facility is one of
three such towers remaining in Saskatchewan and it is the only one still in
Kerrobert
west of the town. PHOTOS BY KATE WINQUIST
Kerrobert’s
100 foot
fott high rings
riveted
only
use today.
The Canadian Pacific Railway Station site was constructed in 1911 and featured an exotic garden area, complete with fountain. The building has since become the home of the Kerrobert Fish and Game Association.
