A look back at 2021 with Mayor Kathy Wurz
Kathy Wurz began her tenure as mayor of Luseland in November of 2020 after serving three terms as councillor for the town. After filling numerous and varied committee and board appointments, Wurz was more than able to take on the role.
“It wasn’t a huge learning curve because I had a good understanding of the needs of the community,” Wurz said, adding that she had the support of the rest of the council. All councillors returned, except for the addition of one. “We have five women and two men; it’s almost unheard of.” This isn’t surprising since the latest census shows Luseland’s approximate population of 628 has women outnumbering men 5-1.
Luseland’s mayor noted the town’s population is not shrinking, and includes many young families. “We had one of the biggest kindergarten classes we’ve had in years,” she added. Students from Tramping Lake, Denzil and Major help maintain a healthy attendance at the Luseland School.
The community of Luseland offers a safe place for families to raise small children. “Activities for children are definitely less costly, making the town more attractive for people with small children,” Wurz said.
A strong agriculture and oilfield business sector play a prominent role in the area, however, Luseland’s small businesses employ a lot of people. “We have people looking for space; we could use another building downtown. We have a lot of thriving small business opportunities,” Wurz explained. Nevertheless, there are challenges that need to be faced.
“The first year was challenging, putting in policies and procedures that work,” Wurz noted. In 2021, the agriculture community took a big hit because of a drought. The cancellation of senior hockey, which was the arena’s most significant draw, caused it to
suffer, and the local theatre has been closed during the past year.
The community hall has also taken a hard hit with the absence of functions and only one wedding celebrated in 2021. Nevertheless, a new hall committee was formed, and they promptly began fundraising for hall maintenance by hosting a paint night.
“It’s an amazing community! There’s great local
support. When something is needed, people support it in droves. It’s amazing!” Wurz said. “Everyone’s getting creative. The golf course decided to do an online auction, which has been very successful.”
In 2021, the Flahr family returned to their hometown for support of their Flahr MS Bike Ride, raising money for MS research. Although the event had to be modified with a drive-thru BBQ and outside entertainment, the family said it was their most successful fundraiser in the seven years they’ve been running it. Mayor Wurz invited the Flahr family to come back next year.
“Our Community Development Committee is amazing!” Wurz said. The committee hosted Luseland’s first fall fair. The event was a success, even though the committee had to make changes just before the event began to accommodate new regulations.
“We also hosted a mental health workshop, which I can’t even describe the timeliness of,” Wurz said. Funding was provided through a partnership with Canadian Agriculture, which paid for the one-day workshop; local businesses kicked in money for the lunch, which enabled people to attend free of charge.
As the festive season approached, Luseland went ahead with Santa Day. The kids enjoyed a ride around town with Santa, tobogganing and a bonfire. “We got lucky and had snow, so it went over well,” Wurz said.
“We’re finding ways to make it work,” Wurz continued. “I’ve started a Facebook page and have had a very good response, and people are liking the communication. We have a large senior population, and a lot of people are housebound and want to know what’s going on.”
Although Mayor Wurz admits there were challenges throughout 2021, she enjoys being the mayor of Luseland.
JOAN JANZEN
Your Southwest Media Group
LUSELAND
Quinon St. Pierre
Jason Neufeld
Kerrobert Recreation News
BY BOBBI HEBRON Kerrobert Recreation Director
Happy New Year from the Recreation Department! January is always a very exciting time in Recreation as we reflect on the previous year, look for ways to improve and then plan and make goals for 2022. The Recreation Board did not meet in January due to Covid concerns and holidays but the work continued and February will be an exciting meeting to approve the budget and get 2022 off to a roaring start!
Covid Guidelines
Public Health Measures
Luke Alberts
1. Masks must be worn at all indoor public spaces.
Greg Bahm
Jaden Thiessen
ADMINISTRATOR ASSISTANT
Gord Thompson
Jace Kissick
Jordan Mackinnon
Caitlynn Alberts
Brad Murphy
Quenton Murphy
The Festival of Trees has been cleaned up by Courthouse Restoration Society. Hats off to these volunteers to put on an incredible event that was enjoyed by so many in the month of December. The Kerrobert Restoration Society continues to raise funds for the replacement of the front stairs at the Courthouse. If you are interested in learning more or donating, call the Town of Kerrobert at 834-2361.
Kerrobert Football Association
Devin Charteris
Travis Turnbull
Jon Shepherd
The Kerrobert Football Association is running a major project to install power and lights at the KCS “Bowl”. This month they have sent out a detailed letter as to how you can donate to this project. If you are interested in learning more or donating email kerrobertfootball@gmail.com.
Dylan MacKinnon
Dustin Oikor
Chris Kipling
R.M. of Prairiedale No. 321
Gary Lee
Village of Smiley and Village of Major
The joint office of the R.M. of Prairiedale No. 321, Village of Smiley and the Village of Major invites applications for a part-time Administrator Assistant. Interested applicants must be flexible to work 3 days per week, but willing to work more and possibly full weeks when required. All applicants must also be prepared to submit a current criminal records check.
As an ideal applicant you should possess excellent communication skills, public relations, and time management skills as well as be proficient with Microsoft Office and knowledge in basic accounting. You should also possess the ability to work both independently and with others. Deadline for applications is 4:00 p.m., Monday, February 7, 2022
Duties include, but are not limited to:
• Filing, typing and all other aspects of clerical duties
• Accounts Receivable
• Accounts Payable
• Bank Reconciliations
• Payroll
• Taxes
• Utilities
Individuals interested in this position can send their resume, three work related references, and salary expectations, with the envelope clearly marked “Administrator Assistant Application” to:
Charlotte Helfrich
R.M. of Prairiedale No. 321 PO Box 160
Major, SK S0L 2H0
Phone: 306-834-1201
Fax: 306-834-1202
Or email administrator@rmofprairiedale.ca
2. Proof of vaccination or negative test must be shown for volunteer workers and public access to the Kerrobert Museum, Courtroom Gallery, Double Take Out Lounge and all public events held at the PCC. Children under the age of 12 are exempt from the proof of vaccination or negative test requirement.
Chelsea Kissick
3. Mandatory Covid-19 Vaccination or proof of negative test by Jan. 10/22 for Affected Persons who are registered with Hockey Saskatchewan. Call Hockey Sask for more information as there are changes weekly.
Kerrobert Memorial Arena
Kerrobert Minor Hockey Day will be scaled back from its regular events to less games on Jan. 15th, but the weekend is full of local talent sure to provide great entertainment! Kerrobert Recreation and the Town of Kerrobert are happy to donate the cost of ice to the Kerrobert Minor Hockey organization for Minor Hockey Day. This agreement has been in place for many years as a way to show support for youth hockey.
KCS elementary students will begin curling practise at the rink this month and continue until the end of the season. Currently there are no high school teams but we hope to see the interest increase. The cost of the ice to offer this program is covered through Sask Lotteries. Curling Rink ice bookings can be found on the online calendar on the Town of Kerrobert website under Recreation Calendars. We are always open and available for private or group rentals. There is no set date or plans yet for the Kerrobert Curling Club Men’s Bonspiel but it is typically held in early March.
Thank you to all those who contribute to the success of the curling rink by donating through on ice advertising, renting the facility or using/volunteering at the Double Take out Lounge. With everyone’s support, we will keep the curling rink going for years to come. Please contact Mark Neumeier at 494-7356, Brennan Murphy at 834-7044 or Drew Heidt at 8347780 if you are interested in getting involved.
Kerrobert Library, Courtroom Art Gallery & Museum
The Kerrobert Library continues to offer many programming opportunities. Stop in or call to check out their new books, the Librarian recommended reads, the very popular VoxBox, the snowman busy bags or join the Sugar and Spice Club and the Wheatland Winter Challenge being offered in January. Mom & Tots is continuing to meet and we see great new friendships and connections being made. This month they will meet on Jan. 12th and 26th at 3:00.
James Semilet
Dylan Beaudoin
Prairieland Community Center
Wyatt Knorr
LUSELAND VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Back row (Left to Right)
We have recently received many calls for bookings for later on in 2022 as people are excited to get back to events and celebrations. Please check the online calendar to see what is happening or what weekends are available. This week we did a clean out, organization, inventory and labelling of the kitchen cupboards to help us keep track of when items go missing or are damaged. The hall has a capacity for 464 people so we try to keep our kitchen stocked with enough settings to accommodate a meal for 425 people.
Garrett Flueny, Jayden Olfert
Matthew Siwak (Lieutenant)
Kerrobert Swimming Pool
Steven Meissner, Brenden Obrigewitch
Devon Townsend
Front Row (Left to Right)
Nick Anderson Brad Galbraith (Captain)
This week we received news that Red Cross has decided to wind down their involvement in swim and lifeguard training across Canada in order to direct more attention to humanitarian demands such as disaster and pandemic response and opioid harm reduction. This means that the Lifesaving Society will be the primary contact regarding water safety. This comes as welcome news as the Lifesaving Society is an amazing organization to work with however, it will cause some minor disruption to the Kerrobert Swimming Pool. We will need to work with our guards to update their training if necessary and we will be required to offer the Lifesaving Swim Lessons instead of the Red Cross lessons. Parents can be assured that previous lessons will easily convert and we encourage our guards not to worry as we will help walk them through this process. And lastly, we encourage teens to start their lifeguard training at the Kindersley pool as they offer courses this month and into February.
Matthew Rumohr (Chief)
Missing:
Randy Gottfried, Brian Gottfried
Matthew Thrun, Garret Walford
Christopher Brost, Kevin Sloboda
Austin Gleave, Adam Franko
Neil Kennedy, Koby Reiber
Keagan Bazylinski , Kirk Meyer
Shane Bardick
DODSLAND VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Programming and Events
From left to right
Fire Chief Vic Sittler, Shane Kruesel, Jarret Johnson, Deputy Chief Grant Sittler, Deputy Chief Grant Christison, Michael Bowden.
If you have an event or celebration planned for 2022, let the Recreation office know! There is so much excitement planned for later this year and if we work together we can make our events exceptional and ensure that there is no double up dates. Call the Recreation office at 834-2344 or 834-8355 for more information on the following (events subject to change) :
• Walk this Way – every Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30am to 11:00am at the PCC
• Shuffle Club – every Monday, 1:30pm at the PCC
Missing:
• Recreation Hockey teams – call the Recreation office if you are interested in joining!
• Public Skate and Shinny – check online calendar for more information
• Curling events – Be sure to call if you are interested!
Steven McMillan, Caleb MacDonald, Cory Turk, Dean Ellis, Devon Lovenuk, Jordan Halter, Kaid Hoffman, Patrick McGrath, Ryan Neumeier, Trent Nienaber, Travis Kennon
• March 21 – Credit Union Annual Supper
Tyler Srigley, Ryan Webber
• March 26 – Ducks Unlimited Supper
Kerrobert Seniors Centre
Pie a La Mode & Coffee
Wed., Jan. 19 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Come and enjoy some great food and friendship at the Seniors Hall!
ert hosted the Can-Am Bowl we are grateful that they chose us to share with. They are also hopeful that we can get this project completed by the time the football season starts! Thanks again for your support! Pictured is Brennan Murphy from the Can-Am Committee, Don Snell and Marli Shepherd from the Kerrobert Football Association. | FACEBOOK PHOTO
Rec report continued
• April 9 – Spring Market
• April 11 – 14 – Kerrobert Music Festival
• April 23 – Wildlife Supper (tentative)
• May 1 – Siebens School of Dance
• June 30 – KCS Graduation Ceremony
• Nov. 3 – 5 – Prairieland Players Dinner Theater
Omicron has created concern but we see smart choices being made in our community and in our province to help reduce risks, to keep kids in school and to keep people active. This includes picking up and using the rapid test kits from the Town Office, wearing masks, staying home when sick and postponing major events for a later date. I believe the best thing we can do to reduce Covid fatigue is to be
Veikle Agro (Denzil) Inc. is hiring a yard person to do various jobs around the yard including but not limited to:
general maintenance of fertilizer plant and equipment
yard cleanup
loading/blending fertilizer
delivering chemical/seed
unloading delivery trucks
preparing orders
Please submit your resumes to don@veikleagro.com
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FUN TO DO?
kind – be kind online, be kind on the street, be kind to your vaccinated and unvaccinated friends and family, be kind to those who are isolated. This pandemic WILL END and we need these relationships when it’s over. If you have it in you, be super kind. Show others how it’s done.
Curvessence Apparel is now booking private parties for you and your friends! Gather your tribe and pick an evening or Sunday to shop, visit and have some fun! Message Trina on Facebook or text 306-463-9231
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY RISK & COMPLIANCE OFFICER
Kerrobert Credit Union is committed to providing personal, friendly, quality financial services to fulfill the needs of members and the community.
We are looking for a full-time employee to:
• act as a resource on matters relating to anti-money laundering/terrorist financing compliance, privacy, market code and other related legislation.
• ensure compliance with established policies, procedures and legislation
• assist management with review of business plans
• oversee monitoring, investigation and tracking of internal control processes and losses due to fraud, forgery and theft
• assist in development of marketing and promotional material to build a positive community image
Knowledge of credit union products and services, computer literacy and dedication to ongoing self-development would all be assets. Salary will be commensurate with experience, qualifications, and competency.
We appreciate the interest of all applicants; however only those under consideration will be contacted.
Submit resume by January 25, 2022 to:
Trina Duhaime, General Manager
Kerrobert Credit Union
PO Box 140, Kerrobert, SK S0L 1R0
Ph: 306-834-2611 Fax:306-834-5558
Email: trina.duhaime@kerrobert.cu.sk.ca
with ‘Risk & Compliance’ in the subject line.
The Can-Am Committee has a love for football like we all do! They had some funds from when Kerrob-
OPINION
CHECK IT OUT with Joan Janzen
Lessons from a homeless hero
Did you hear about the super hero - X-ray man? When a concerned citizen shouted, “Quick! The thief is getting away!”, X-ray man calmly responded, “Yes, I can see that.”
A recent news story revealed an unlikely hero coming to the rescue. Police in California were assisted by a surprising source, who stopped a suspect who had stolen a fire truck from a medical centre.
A firefighter described the incident, saying two firefighter medics were transferring care to doctors and nurses at the hospital. The captain and engineer were busy loading the gear back on to the rig. At that point someone stole one of the trucks, and started driving it away from the hospital.
A police chase began, but at some point, a homeless man stepped out in front of the stolen fire truck, and talked to the suspect until the situation was
resolved. A witness captured a photo of the incident.
The witness said it was amazing how the homeless guy walked up in front of the fire truck and started talking to the driver through the windshield. He kept telling the suspect to please get out of the truck, saying ‘we don’t want to hurt you’. Finally the suspect opened the truck door and surrendered peacefully.
When the homeless man was asked why he had courageously intervened, he said it was because he didn’t want the suspect to get hurt. While many people will be quick to take photos at crime scenes, not many will step in and do something to hep. However it’s amazing that this homeless man wasn’t concerned about the stolen truck, but was motivated by compassion for a thief. Many would say the thief deserved to be hurt, but the homeless man didn’t.
Not only did he courageously step in and do the right thing, but he approached the suspect with compassion. He may have been able to sympathize with the man. He may have realized what causes desperate people to go to such extreme measures. Unlike people who live comfortable lives, the homeless man may have played the part of a hero because he had little to lose.
While we are more prone to look to government, professionals and leaders to provide solutions and come to the rescue, a homeless man courageously stepped forward and did what few government leaders or professionals would do.
Our government leaders could learn a few lessons from the homeless hero. Could our Prime Minister benefit from lessons from the homeless man, given the PM describes a group of Canadians as “taking up space” and asking if we should “tolerate these people”?
Does the government need pointers on how to protect Canadians, as they continue to print money, causing surging inflation and an increased financial burden on the next generation? Could the official opposition use some lessons on courage, when their members choose to vote to meet the approval of their caucus?
The good news is, there are people, like the homeless man, who are courageously stepping out. We’ve seen everyday citizens join forces to rescue Afghanistan families from death, and find accommodation for them in North America.
A group of five concerned women in the Dallas area had compassion on these single mothers. They reached out to families who were living in empty apartments; they weren’t expecting the government to provide a solution. The small group was overjoyed when a hotel manager found out about their efforts on Google. The hotel was renovating 146 rooms and donated all their furniture to the refugees. We may not all step out in front of a stolen fire truck, but we all have opportunities to step out and show compassion and courage.
LUSELAND CLINIC HOURS
January 4
January 7
January 11
January 14
January 18
January 21
January 25
January 28
JANUARY 2022
Tuesday Dr. Wentzel
Friday Yvonne Veronelly
Tuesday Dr. Wentzel
Friday Yvonne Veronelly
Tuesday Dr. Wentzel
Friday CLOSED
Tuesday Dr. Wentzel
Friday Yvonne Veronelly
February 1 Tuesday Dr. Wentzel
Please note: Clinic hours are subject to change at any given time
Pop89
“The bankruptcy of a city is of no interest to the citizens of a city who are themselves bankrupt.”
Fran Lebowitz said that. She’s in her seventies now, but at eighteen, she moved to New York to be a writer. So, she was broke. But she worked at various jobs as a house cleaner, a cab driver, a proofreader just long enough to pay bills and rent and then quit her jobs to just write for a while. I understand this approach to living, as I am a writer myself. And, at the age of 63, I don’t imagine I’ll be changing my lifestyle any time soon.
My vocation as a writer has taken various forms - essayist, columnist, monologuist, songwriter, blues singer, copywriter, poet, reviewer of books, art exhibits and albums, radio writer-broadcaster, translator, blogger, scriptwriter, producer, teacher, ghostwriter, biographer and the like. But I have also worked as a collagist, parade-float decorator, house-painter, window-dresser, language teacher, art teacher, car washer, fruit picker, cook, dishwasher, waitress, bar-maid, house-cleaner,
chambermaid, ad infinitum.
For a few years I had a lucrative job recording English voice-overs for French ads. If you ever lived in Quebec City, I was that voice you heard in certain super-market aisles announcing a sale on concord grapes. I directed your calls on the answering machines of a variety of elegant hotels. Often I’d be out late the night before, singing in a bar with my band, Aunty Maddy, and not making it home til 2 or 3 in the morning. The next morning, sitting behind the microphone in the studio of the ad agency, my boss would request that I “start over and try to sound happier this time. Maybe smile while you talk?” she suggested. But it’s hard to sell wieners and prescription glasses when you’ve been up all night singing about renegade lovers and empty larders.
Here’s my point: Throughout my life, I’ve never had to fear for my investments or contemplated ending it all over a stock market plummet because I’ve never made that kind of money. I’ve
never been rich, but I’ve always felt lucky - even prosperous. Definitely surrounded by a wealth of treasures- good books, great friends and enough money to pay rent and bills. I am sometimes broke but never do I see myself as poor.
Here’s my theory: I was raised by good providers who gave all their children four years of post-secondary education. I was instilled with a “you can do anything you put your mind to” posture toward living. When you have a stable foundation, you aren’t afraid of reaching beyond, exploring different horizons.
Some years I worked at jobs that paid so well my per diems were more than a week’s wages in a previous job. Some years I won awards and was invited to dinners with celebrities. Others I was fortunate to have siblings in the same town to offer me a couch for a week or so. Such is the life of an artist; you never know when your talent is no longer the flavour of the month. One day you have a corner office; the next day you, and your
Built to Bend
By Madonna Hamel • madonnahamel@hotmail.com
mentor, who has no more job security than you, are both packing your desks while mentally planning a pilot for a new project.
In case I haven’t hammered the point home, there are advantages to living close to the ground, grazing on garden greens and gathering nuts and berries; you don’t have far to fall, and it never occurs to you to jump. But above all, you learn to be versatile. And nobody knows that better than rural people. Just this evening Glen Baxter came by with my old fake cast-iron fireplace, the one I bought a few years ago, with a plastic pile o’ logs and a small heater. I loved that heater, and they don’t make them that small anymore. “I can’t bear to throw it out. Besides, I happen to know that farm people can fix anything,” I told my city friends. “Oh, those things are built to break,” they’d reply. It’s the way the economy works.
If your things are built to break; then your country is built to break, as well.
If I can’t fix something myself, I make a
trade with someone who knows how. Last week I brought Adam a tortiere and a sleeve of homemade shortbread for fixing my computer. This week I made another pie for Page, who lent me ending me this computer on which I am now writing.
The notion that we can just throw something away and buy a new one is actually the definition of prosperity and wealth for a whole generation of boomers.The opportunity to cavalierly jettison not only household objects but the Depression-era habit of thrift has infiltrated my generation.
Being someone of meagre means, I continue to buy my clothes in thrift stores and my books at used bookshops. I’m a bad consumer, but I am a good recycler, long before it had that name. I darn my socks; I patch my pants; I re-stuff my oven mitts. Unseduced by niche marketing and fancy packaging, I know that vinegar will just about clean anything.
I’ve been down many a time, but rather than break, I’ve learned to bend like prairie grass in
the wind.
We’ve all been recipients of a free lunch somewhere along the way, starting with Mother’s milk and ending with neighbours bringing casseroles to funerals. From the gate, I have been surrounded by generous people- friends who have taken me on exotic vacations, siblings who have put me up, given me lifts, treated me to meals, bought my art when they have no walls left to hang it on, an editor who puts in free time encouraging a particular vision, a local accountant friend who files my tax forms for cake and a landlady who delivers homemade relish and a new rake. Out here on the prairie, the bounty never ends.
Omicron frustrations getting to everybody
The longer this pandemic goes on, the more frustration grows … and, sadly, the more deeply divided we seem to be getting.
One supposes this was inevitable. No one thought there would be two years of this.
Nevertheless, the best way for all of us to get through this is a thoughtful, reasoned approach.
That’s something we’re not seeing right now.
Some of the problems begin with those who now basically believe the pandemic is over or at least that is nearing the end and morphing into a fifth wave that sees Omicron variant producing a disturbing rise in cases but with cases producing less harmful outcomes.
They point to a smaller number of hospitalizations than even in the fourth wave, notwithstanding the reality that known cases have tripled and quadrupled.
Premier Scott Moe and his Saskatchewan Party government have interpreted this to mean that there’s less reason to
worry about the current high infection accompanying the Omicron variant.
Some even take this one step further to mean now is a safe time to remove all restrictions in Saskatchewan, even though other provinces who were hit with the high infection rates slightly earlier than Saskatchewan saw a need to re-introducing measures to prevent transmissions through large gatherings.
Many are even re-introducing the idea that Omicron is simply creating “herd immunity” in what they see as COVID-19 morphing into what amounts to a cold.
This approach is frustrating and maybe even potentially dangerous.
Sure, it would be nice if this was the case, but that’s not necessarily what we are being told by those who are knowledgeable.
Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab has been rather blunt in his assessment that while the Omicron variant is not as devastating as the
BY MURRAY MANDRYK Political Columnist
Delta variant, it remains rather dangerous. Shahab has repeatedly suggested people keep their own gatherings to a few people, notwithstanding the reluctance of the Sask. Party government to reinstitute crowdsize limits in public places or social-distancing requirements. Moreover, doctors explain that hospitalizations are what they call “lagging indicators,” meaning they come a few weeks after a surge in the numbers of people who have contacted the virus. With the sheer
volume of Omicron cases, more hospitalizations are inevitable.
As troubling, the higher percentage of people getting sick with Omicron applies equally to health care workers, which now puts further strain on a health system that is already facing a backlog of surgeries.
All this has frustrated a growing number of critics of Moe and the Sask. Party government who fear that we are taking a huge gamble by not imposing similar restrictions like other provinces.
At an update news conference Wednesday, Moe justified not adding restrictions by arguing they are not bringing down case rates elsewhere.
But the biggest news out of the press conference was that maybe Saskatchewan has to start planning to increase its hospitalization surge capacity because Omicron is far more contagious.
And while the Premier is asking Saskatchewan people to “double-down” their efforts — later clarifying that that means more people getting vaccinat-
ed because the unvaccinated are still the bulk of problem — there were no added measures to encourage the unvaccinated to get vaccinated and certainly no added measures to stop the spread.
The frustration of many is justifiable.
However, what’s less justifiable is some people’s frustrated reactions.
Some are now arguing that what needs to be done is something similar to what the Quebec government has proposed — taxing those who wilfully aren’t getting the vaccines. A few have gone as far as suggesting they pay their own hospital bills.
Wisely, Moe rejected such nonsense. It would defy the Canada Health Act and the public health premise of user-pay. And would one legally enforce it?
Right now, we all need to be reasonable — something admittedly hard to do in these frustrating times.
Calls about suspicious cats, a frustrated grandparent and a forgetful golfer make top 10 calls that “missed the mark” for 2021
Emergencies happen when you least expect them and the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Divisional Operational Communications Centre (DOCC) is here for you 24/7, 365 days of the year.
In 2021, DOCC received 350,667 calls for service, an 8.5 % increase from 2020. Calls ranged from 9-1-1 mis-dials and false alarms to serious incidents regarding matters of public safety.
Please remember: whether you’re a frustrated grandparent, a forgetful golfer or someone who is suspicious of a couple cats – calling 9-1-1 must be reserved for emergencies only.
Here are the top 10 calls that “missed the mark” in 2021:
1. Helpdesk – A call was received from a concerned individual whose laptop had suddenly stopped working. The caller requested an RCMP officer attend to their home and fix it.
2. Theft – 9-1-1 dispatchers received a call from a person wanting to report what was determined to be a romantic gesture - that their spouse had stolen their heart. (Remember: there are other ways to report non-urgent theft – though not of one’s heart – such as by calling your local police or RCMP directly or by using our Online Crime Reporting tool: https://ocre-sielc.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/saskatchewan/en)
3. Fishing in the dark – An angler had located a shopping cart in the water while out fishing and wanted an RCMP officer to return the cart to the store it came from.
4. Not sleepy – A frustrated grandparent called 9-11 and complained that their not-so-sleepy grandchild was refusing to go to bed. The caller was hoping an RCMP officer could persuade the child to go to sleep.
5. Just hear meowt – A 9-1-1 caller advised they seen some “suspicious activity” in the community. This caller was concerned about two cats that had been hanging around an intersection close to the caller’s home over the last few days.
6. Lost and found – After a great day of golfing, a 9-1-1 caller realized that their cell phone had been left at the golf course and was requesting that an RCMP officer retrieve the cell phone for them.
7. Hangry – A 9-1-1 call was received from a hangry caller as they were having technical difficulties making their lunch purchase on a restaurant’s debit card machine.
8. Gummy bear – One concerned puppy parent had called 9-1-1 looking for help from an RCMP officer as their dog had gotten into the caller’s edibles. (This one may constitute an emergency, just not for 9-1-1! If you suspect your pet has gotten into something dangerous to them, call your local vet or animal emergency medical centre.)
9. Upgraded room – This caller wanted to share with 9-1-1 dispatchers that the RCMP had a much nicer detention area than that at their local police station.
10. Time flies –A caller was wanting to know what day it was. (9-1-1 Dispatchers know how easy it is to lose track of time as they’re typically very busy answering calls for service; however, this certainly would not be considered an emergency.)
We want to remind the public that misuse of 9-1-1 can potentially delay someone experiencing a life-threatening emergency from getting help. Before dialing 9-1-1, please remember that calling the police should be reserved for police-related matters only and calling 9-1-1 should be reserved for life-threatening emergencies only.
If you have a crime to report, please do so by calling your local RCMP detachment or by calling 310-RCMP from anywhere in the province.
Kerrobert HandiBus
The Kerrobert Handibus operates every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for those who are in need of transportation and have a disability (temporary or permanent). The HandiBus operates within Kerrobert and within 200 km from the corporate limits of the Town of Kerrobert. It will also make a monthly scheduled trip to a community, for no less than six people, upon availability of a driver. The rates are $6/passenger for in town trips. Please call the Town office for more information at 834-2361.
Important Phone Numbers
West Central Crisis Center – 1-306-463-6655
West Central Crisis after hours – 1-306-463-1860 (24 hour line)
Kerrobert Food Bank - 834-2376
Kerrobert Handibus – 834-2361 OR 834-7464
Kerrobert KidSport – 834-2344
Recreation on call phone – 834-8355
CORRECTION
We apologize for a spelling mistake in the January 10th article “Kerrobert Arena has a Long and Proud History” ... Local car dealer was Kay Pedersen, not Peterson.
A Little Bit Western Calendar Girl
By Tara Mulhern Davidson
WhenI was creating our holiday cards, I came across a slogan on a template that I couldn’t get out of my head: “What a year.” Like many threeword combinations, they said it all. When I look back on the past twelve months, these are some of the memories that make the highlight reel.
When we flip the calendar to January each year, we enjoy a bit of downtime before diving right in to preparing for calving and bull sale seasons. We had lots of fresh air, rosy cheeks, hot chocolate, and some calm before things hit the fan.
Once February arrived, it was darn cold for a long time, making calving a marathon and sprint. (There were no mosquitos, however). We celebrated the birthdays of a lot of baby calves and also half the members of our household, so in between dressing warm and tagging and chores, we carved out a little time to eat cake.
March brought warm spring winds, very little mud, music festival, and early clothesline weather (if you don’t know yet, you soon will realize –I’m obsessed). Between bull deliveries and outside work, the kids got creative feeding themselves and one another. Necessity (hunger?) is the motherhood of invention.
In April, we branded and paired off most of the herd to pasture, checked fence, picked crocuses, and decorated Easter cookies. I also ripped apart and reorganized the hardest-working room in the house – the porch/ laundry room. I don’t function well with a discombobulated house, so I probably yelled a lot, but I believe the results were worth it.
There were baby kittens, optimistic trips to
the greenhouse, sorting and hauling more pairs, and rounds around the field planting the crop in May. Branding season started and the kids kicked up their 4H work into the next gear.
In June, we said good bye to a faithful horse, and hello to a couple fresh ones. Achievement Day, baseball games, family milestones and birthdays, the end of school, lots of days in the saddle, and an early start to haying season rounded things out.
Like everyone else who’s been surviving weird pandemic times, in July we got a puppy!
(Note, this is the first time we’ve had a pup when I haven’t had a baby to care for simultaneously so I had time to bond with this border collie and channel my inner annoying dog mom). We had family visits and birthdays, swimming lessons, and we put up canola silage for the first time ever. Because, 2021.
In August, we baked pies, took a quick trip to the Cypress Hills, moved cows, and kept our eyes to the skies. Oh, and we picked choke cherries, because that’s what you do. What you do with them after is up to your discretion and if you still have full bags in your freezer, who am I to judge?
September started with school. It was no one’s first “first day,” and no one’s last “first day,” so I got to enjoy
an unsentimental return to routine. We weaned purebred calves, sowed a hopeful acreage of fall rye, got really good at hooking and unhooking the water hauling unit, and I snuck away to the mountains for a quick working vacation.
In October , we shipped steers, which is my favourite time of year. With one truck appeared an entire 36 hours ahead of schedule, it made for a memorable Thanksgiving. We got through fall run smoothly and it felt a bit like we got across the finish line, simply making it to this season. There was a lot to be thankful for.
In November , we moved the herd home (a good seven weeks earlier than normal) to optimize feed and water. Later in the month, we took our herd of humans (and a few cattle..and horses) to Agribition. During the day, we reconnected with friends and fellow cattle producers…By night, we would cozy up in our single hotel room and discuss the finer points of who’s turn it was to sleep on the chair.
December saw decorating and dugout skating, catching up at the Medicine Hat Pen Show, chores, little sis’ birthday, and a move to the “big boys’ room” for little brother. We had a quiet Christmas with time to reflect on what happened in the rear-view mirror and what may lie ahead.
In 2021, we may not have seen a lot of pasture and crop growth, but we grew in other ways – in our adaptability and capacity to solve problems. Here’s to a new calendar year, with 52 weeks’ worth of opportunities, challenges, and ideas. May we all enjoy growth in 2022 - both forage and personal.
Huge thank you to the Kerrobert Composite School 2021 Grad Class for your generosity! Thanks for choosing our project to donate to! The 2021 Grad Class had 4 football players that were unable to have a season in their last year at school.
Pictured is Clark Snider from the 2021 Grad Class, Kerri Blanchette from the Kerrobert Football Association and Montana Kissick from the 2021 Grad Class. We appreciate the generosity and hope to see them on the field! | FACEBOOK
Business
“The blizzard doesn’t last forever, it just seems so.”
JOAN JANZEN
Your Southwest Media Group
The most talked about subject in Saskatchewan is the weather, because let’s face it, we experience our fair share of it, especially during winter. We all remember last year’s blizzard on January 13, complete with lots of snow and wind gusting up to 100 km/ hour. However, some winter storms seem to be remembered more than others, especially for seniors in our province.
Many seniors who experienced the blizzard in February 1947 had stories to tell. However, most people noted the most memorable blizzard blew throughout Saskatchewan a few years later, from December 12-14, 1955.
By early Monday afternoon on December 12, winds were blowing at 45 mph and gusting up to 60 mph. That’s as fast as most vehicles travelled back then.
Environment Canada climate records list a threeday blizzard resulting in 70-90 km/hour winds and gusts peaking at 121 km/hour. Not only were wind speeds high, but snow banks were also high.
A Saskatchewan senior remembered walking to school on top of the snowdrifts and touching the tops of the telephone poles. Another fellow said he walked off a snowbank and walked right onto the roof of the school. According to information published in The Clarion, school buses spent all afternoon delivering about 160 stranded school children from the rural areas to billets in townhomes.
A man recalls attending school at D’Arcy, Sask. The kids walked a quarter of a mile from the school to the local general store. They were all roped together, and once they got to their destination, they spent three days in the store. The good news was - the store owners had just received a good supply of food before Christmas, so the children had plenty to eat, including mandarin oranges, which were a rare treat.
Wednesday morning, a municipal caterpillar with bulldozer, the town’s patrol grader, and the front-end loader tractor were busy clearing drifts. Only the main business area had been made accessible to traffic by the end of the day.
The Clarion reports that men were stranded at the power plant and hadn’t eaten in 24 hours. At that time, a few brave men ventured out in a John Deere tractor, bringing the crew enough food and cigarettes to tide
them over for three days.
Another Kindersley man was heading back to Kindersley during the storm. Two and a half miles east of Flaxcombe, he lost sight of the road and the windswept the rear end of his truck off the highway. Unable to get back on the road, he drove into the field, facing his vehicle away from the force of the wind. During the next twenty-eight hours, the man turned his engine off and on to warm up until he ran out of gas.
A search party from Flaxcombe searched for the missing man amidst very poor visibility. They stopped on the road and got out of their vehicle, but they couldn’t see the missing truck. As they listened, they heard a chain on the truck box clanking against the vehicle as it was swinging in the wind. The lost man had been found!
Others recall truck-mounted V-ploughs cutting through snowdrifts to clear roads, which only filled in higher the next time the wind began to blow. Caterpillars were able to push snow back and open roads, but they were pushing snow 15 to 20 feet high to the side of the road. Most children were transported to school in a sleigh for the remainder of the winter.
Saskatchewan received a record-breaking snowfall of 195 cm during 1955/1956. According to Environment Canada, that particular storm lasted for 43 hours, and for 30 of those hours visibility on the ground was rated at zero.
Storms will come, but eventually, they blow over. All that remains are memories and Environment Canada climate records.
The blizzard of 1947. Photo courtesy Sask Archives.
Brian Zinchuk: Would you buy a washer that could only do one
sock at a time? That’s solar power
Why hello, good sir! Welcome to Brian’s Green-Powered Appliance Store. What’s that? You need a washer and dryer? No problem!
Come take a look at this model. It’s solar-powered, the latest in save-the-world technology. Now, it’s 10:15 a.m, so at this time of day you can wash one sock.
What do I mean, one sock? Why can’t you wash four pairs of jeans, five shirts, four underwear and four pairs of socks at a time? It’s because, as I told you, this is a solar-powered washer. It’s January, you know, and you can only wash one sock at 10:15 in the morning. Now, if you wait until 11:15, you can wash TWO socks. And at noon, you might be able to wash some unmentionables, too. But you better get that all done by 3 p.m., because by then we might be back to one sock again. And by supper, you can’t use it at all until the next morning. Then, around 10 a.m., you can wash another sock. But just one.
That’s not for you? Okay, please come over to this aisle, where we have the wind-powered dryer units. You will surely like this dryer, for instance. It truly sucks when it doesn’t blow.
Now, it’ll work most days, but not all. And especially not all in winter. If you work during the day and like to dry your clothes at night, in winter, you’ll have to be very judicious about it. That’s because this wind-powered dryer will, at times, only put out 0.13 per cent of its rated output. So that means you can wash one G-string. Not full-bottomed briefs, mind you. One G-string. That’s all this baby can handle. Forget about your jeans, shirts, or even socks.
You should expect this, you know. That’s what you get when you buy your appliances from Brian’s Green-Powered Appliance Store.
But you absolutely need your clothes washed and dried, you say? Well, the angle of the sun and the length of days will improve by around March 21, so you should be patient until then. Your solar-powered washer should work just fine,
during the day, at least, after that. That’s assuming it’s not cloudy. But come Sept. 21, you better plan on doing your clothes one sock at a time until the following March.
And that wind, well, who knows? It will blow when it wants to, but not so much at night, and we have to shut it right off when the temperature outside is -30 C. We wouldn’t want the wind turbines to shatter, you know.
Not interested? Why don’t you come on over to Brian’s EV Sales’s, because boy, do we have a deal for you. We’ve got some second-hand Teslas whose heating systems don’t work in -30 C due to a software update. And we have a Model 3 that can’t make it 200 kilometres, the distance from Estevan to Regina, on a full charge in that temperature.
Still not interested? That’s okay, by 2035, you’ll have no choice, anyhow. The only new vehicles sold will be electric. We’re like the funeral home. We’ll see you eventually.
Now, if you think that little humour bit was full of hot air, each and every bit of it was based on facts that have occurred in recent days and months.
I don’t have Saskatchewan electrical grid figures, because they don’t put out granular information on which generating station is putting our how much power at any particular time. But the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) does, and in this past week of consistent -30 C temperatures in both Saskatchewan and Alberta, it’s been enlightening to say the least. Since the weather has been essentially uniform, you can likely extrapolate most of what’s happening in Alberta to Saskatchewan.
I thought things were bad on Dec. 31 in Alberta, but they got worse the night of Jan. 5-6.
At 10:45 p.m. MST, temperatures from -28 C to -40 C blanketed nearly ever square inch of Alberta and Saskatchewan, from Estevan to Zama, with most of that territory, including where the wind farms are located, running around -31 or colder. That’s significant because at -30 C, they shut down the wind tur-
in the winter
bines so that cold brittle behaviour doesn’t cause them to shatter.
So I looked at my favourite website this week, AESO’s Current Supply Demand, found at http:// ets.aeso.ca/ets_web/ip/Market/ Reports/CSDReportServlet. It’s updated continuously, with minute-by-minute power output of each and every power plant and generating unit attached to the Alberta grid. You can see how much a particular coal unit is putting out, for instance Genesee #3 is putting out 464 of its rated capacity of 466 megawatts at this very moment. That’s almost precisely equal to the 462 megawatts of wind being fed to the grid now, at 11:38 MST on Jan. 6. But solar is only contributing 35 megawatts, when the sun is highest in the sky.
So let’s get back to Wednesday night. It’s cold, and there’s zeros across the board for 23 of Alberta’s 26 wind generating facilities. Only three are contributing any power at all – one megawatt each. So at that point, Alberta’s entire wind power generation, with a supposed capacity of 2,269 megawatts, was putting out three megawatts – or 0.13 per cent of its rated capacity. That’s analogous a dryer that can only dry a G-string at a time. Not full-bottomed briefs, but a G-string. Of course, solar was producing precisely zero because, shocker, the sun went down that night. As it will every night, until the end of time.
Everyone knows that solar doesn’t work at night. But did you know it doesn’t work during the daytime, in the dead of winter, either?
The next day it was still cold across Alberta, and solar was still pathetic in its output. Out of an installed base of 736 megawatts, at 10:15 a.m. MST, it was only contributing 15 megawatts to the grid. By 12:15, when the sun was close to its highest point in the sky, that grew to only 45 megawatts, or 6.1 per cent of its rated capacity. So that’s analogous to a washer that can only do one sock at a time, but only for a few hours around noon. It’s useless the rest of the day, during the winter. CONTINUED NEXT PAGE
I don’t know specifically why Alberta’s solar generation was so low during the day. Yes, the sun is near its lowest angle at this time of year. But solar proponents, in promoting these sites, often talk about being at one of the sunniest locations in Canada. (We have a lot of those, apparently). Could it be snow covering the panels? Maybe – but at all 13 facilities at the same time? Do photovoltaic panels not put out as much due to temperature? I have no idea.
But none of that really matters. They’re all excuses. The only number that matters is net power to the grid, and for much of the first week of January, that number has been laughably low, to the point of not even counting. Again, it’s the ability to wash one sock
at a time.
Oh, and at noon on Jan. 6, Alberta was using 11,545 megawatts, just 184 megawatts shy of its all-time record of February, 2021.
Don’t forget, on Oct. 26, 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the world at COP26, “We must find the right solutions for our citizens in their everyday lives. And that is why Canada has set the goal of selling only zero-emissions vehicles and establishing the electrical distribution network for zero net emissions by 2035.”
This is the “energy transition” narrative governments and media are shoving down our throats: For the sake of climate change, in 13 years all we will be able to buy are electric vehicles. We’ll plug them in at night, and they’ll be
Whitecap Resources Inc. (WCSK area) is currently seeking Full-time Contract Field Operators. The Operator will monitor and test oil wells as well as operate all associated facilities and assist with operational and engineering strategies to optimize production. The successful candidate will have proven success in the ability to be flexible and adapt to change.
Whitecap’s positive work environment contributes to its success as an energy producer and a steward of the environment with a focus on safe and responsible operations.
We are looking for candidates with the following qualifications and training but are also willing to train the chosen applicant.
5-15 years of relevant industry experience with strong preference given towards oil operations, specifically oil wells, compressors and batteries
Driver’s license and clean driver’s abstract
•
•
• •
H2S ticket
First Aid ticket
A disciplined work ethic
Capable of working in both a team and individual environment
Proven and demonstrated commitment to HSE expectations and requirements, software experience in field data capture (ProdMan), and electronic flow measurement and monitoring systems as well as the ability to coach and mentor others.
This position is available immediately; please email a cover letter and resume to:
Kayla Flanagan – Kayla.Flanagan@wcap.ca
We thank all interested candidates who apply, however only those being considered will be contacted directly for an interview.
Strong Building Construction Investment
Saskatchewan First Among the Provinces in Year-over-Year Increases
| PHOTO BY BRIAN ZINCHUK
charged by clean, net-zero emissions wind power (since the sun goes down at night, so don’t count on solar).
But on Jan. 5, when you combined Alberta’s wind and solar together, they were generating 1/10 of 1% of their rated capacity. That’s 1/1000 of what they are supposedly capable of, on one of the coldest nights of the year. Oh, and five days earlier, Alberta shut down two more coal generators.
What happens on such nights 13 years from now when everyone is plugging in their electric Chevrolet Silverados and Ford F-150 Lightnings, each with an 80 amp charger running all night? Will a “smart grid” shut down their charging, so that the grid doesn’t go down? What if you need that vehicle the next day for work, or to go to the hospital, or get your kids to school? What it it’s an ambulance that needs to charge?
Someone needs to be pointing these things out. Someone needs to ask the hard questions, and providing the reality checks. Are we throwing out reliable energy sources only to literally freeze in the dark? Are we going to be like Europe, shutting down industries due to energy poverty?
I will be the one asking those questions, and making those arguments. You will want to know the answers, because these things will, very soon, affect your daily lives.
So would you buy a solar-powered washer or wind-powered dryer from Brian’s Green-Powered Appliance Store? Me neither. But that’s what we are being forced to do.
Brian Zinchuk is editor and owner of Pipeline Online. He can be reached at brian.zinchuk@pipelineonline.ca.
On Thursday, Statistics Canada released November 2021 Investment in Building Construction numbers, with Saskatchewan seeing a 16.8 per cent increase (seasonally adjusted) in investment from November 2020 to November 2021, ranking first among the provinces in terms of percentage change. Investment in residential building construction led the year-over-year growth with an increase of 20.4 per cent.
Saskatchewan also placed second among the provinces in terms of percentage change from October 2021 to November 2021, with a 10.6 per cent increase (seasonally adjusted) in investment in building construction. The value of building construction investment in November 2021 was $344 million.
“Today’s numbers from Statistics Canada shows our province continues to be at the forefront of an economic recovery in the midst of the global
COVID-19 pandemic,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “Not only are we seeing significant growth in investment in residential and non-residential building construction and building permits, but also Saskatchewan’s recent job numbers are leading the nation which is certainly an indication that we are building a strong Saskatchewan.”
In the latest Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey, Saskatchewan’s monthover-month employment (seasonally adjusted) increased by 6,000 (up 1.1 per cent) from November 2021, which was the highest growth among provinces in terms of percentage change.
Saskatchewan building permits in November 2021 also jumped by 57.0 per cent (seasonally adjusted) from November 2020 and increased by 49.5 per cent (seasonally adjusted) from October 2021 figures.
Classifieds
COMING EVENTS
CONDO FOR SALE
FOR SALE: Completely furnished one bedroom condo, second floor Caleb Village. For inquiries contact Bob at 306-4639708.
FOR SALE: One bedroom condo at CALEB VILLAGE in Kindersley. Main floor unit with 9’ ceilings and gated access to private entrance. New vinyl plank flooring and dishwasher. Large individual storage area included with the unit. Asking price REDUCED! $220,000. Contact Susan 306-430-7636 or Glenn 306-463-7407 for more details.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
FOREFRONT INSURANCE is hiring external brokers and processors/ data entry positions. Broker partnership opportunities for the right candidates. Call / email Michael 403-501-8013 / mhollinda@excelrisk.ca
HOUSE FOR SALE
#40 OVERLORD CRESCENT (Kindersley). 3 bedrooms, new blinds. Central vacuum, air conditioning, basement newly renovated, new deck, mature landscaping, seria stone driveway. New roofing, water heater. Immaculate inside. Asking $325,000. Consider $310,000. 306-463-3780
NOTICES
baseball and deserves to be considered for induction, please submit a nomination. For further information please call 306-446-1983, or email saskbaseballmuseum@ sasktel.net
CARDS OF THANKS
When you place a classified ad with us, it goes in all three of our community newspapers for ONE LOW PRICE! Call Kate at 306-463-2211 or email: kate@yoursouthwest.com Keith Mitchell
The Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame, Battleford, Saskatchewan, requests nomination submissions into the following categories: individual; team; family or community. Deadline is March 15, 2022. If you know someone who contributes to
We wish to acknowledge all the kindness and generosity given to us during the holiday season. Thank you to the Cadets, BuyLow Foods and the Christian Fellowship Church.Your deliveries and volunteers have been very much appreciated.Tenants from Evergreens
DID YOU KNOW?
Theresia Leonard
FOR SALE BY TENDER
The Town of Kerrobert is accepting sealed tenders for the following properties: Amount
Town Council is permitted by legislation to reject any bid that is lower than the amounts shown above. Sealed tenders will be accepted until Friday, January 28, 2022 @ 4:30 pm. Tenders can be delivered to the Kerrobert Town Office (located in the Courthouse) at 433 Manitoba Avenue. Tenders can also be mailed to: Town of Kerrobert – TENDER Box 558, Kerrobert, SK S0L 1R0 Faxed or Emailed tenders will be rejected. For more information, please call the Town Office at 306.834.2361 or email: kerrobert.admin@sasktel.net. Only accepting tenders until Friday, Jan. 28th.
Tara Neumeier, Chief Administrative Officer
LEONARD - Freeda was born on September 18, 1932 in Wilkie, SK to Frank and Katherine (nee Schmidt) Bahm. She was one of eleven siblings, so she likely had a similar experience to most prairie children with lots of hard work and sharing. She married Barney Leonard on April 14, 1953, in Kerrobert, SK, and they were blessed with seven children. Freeda held a few careers outside of being a homemaker. She was a Telephone Operator for a period of time, then a Member Service Representative at the Credit Union in Kerrobert, and after retiring, worked in Laundry Services at Buena Vista Lodge.
Even though Barney passed away quite young on November 23, 1997, Freeda continued to live in their home until 2010, when she moved to Hillside Lodge. She later lived for a time at Heritage Manor in Kindersley before moving closer to home at the Kerrobert Integrated Healthcare Facility after it opened.
Freeda had many special memories. The best times of her life were spent as the love of Bar-
ney’s life, their shared love of family, dancing, and horse racing. During most summer weekends, once the kids had grown somewhat, they would follow the Saskatchewan Chuckwagon and Chariot circuit, enjoying races, rodeo, camping, dancing and many new friends. This also brings wonderful memories for the whole family. Freeda was a caring mother to her seven children and their spouses and partners, and a very warm and thoughtful grandma to her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The youngsters brought special joy to Freeda, even during recent times when visits could only be made by video. She is fondly remembered for her prowess in the kitchen which her family claims could rival Julia Childs on any given day. She was a great cook, and even better baker and a very fine seamstress as well. At Christmas time, you could be sure to catch Freeda with the Christmas music playing and a flurry of baking activity that resulted in enough goodies to feed the town, not the least of which was her famous rum-soaked Christmas cake. Freeda and Barney loved to dance and nev-
er liked to miss the New Year’s Eve dance in Kerrobert. Her children were with Freeda to bid her farewell on her last twirl New Year’s eve morning 2021.
Freeda was predeceased by her parents Frank Bahm & Katherine (nee Schmidt) Bahm, husband, Earl (Barney) Leonard, siblings Florence Sanders, Walter Bahm, Harold Bahm, Everet Bahm, Margaret Senger, Chris Bahm, Magdalena Bahm, Rose Wain, Jock Bahm and Delora Bahm, mother in law Johanna Leonard and father in law Edward Leonard. She is survived by and lovingly remembered by her children; Wes (Cathy) Leonard, Heather (Doug) Stewart, Nancy Leonard, Kim Leonard, Bob (Carol) Leonard, Bernie (Murray) Meyer & Sally (Roman) Maziarz; sisterin-law Virginia Bahm, grandchildren; Troy Stewart, Jody Stewart, Darcy (Kimmy) Leonard, Curtis (Jennifer) Leonard, Jessica (Brendon) Proce, Anthony Meyer, Sydney Maziarz, Mackenzie Maziarz, and great-grandchildren; Ty Stewart, Ambria Stewart, Mikaila Leonard, Marissa Leonard, Hunter Leonard, Scarlett Stewart, Zinnia Proce and Margot Proce.
tneilson.remcomemorials@gmail.com | www.remco-memorials.ca
Freeda
Sure-Fire Streaming
The best in TV and film from your living room
BY JORDAN PARKER https://parkerandpictures.wordpress.com/
Terminator: Dark Fate
Available On Netflix
The latest iteration of the popular – though sometimes bloated – Terminator franchise has definitely injected some new interest in an old film property.
If only for Linda Hamilton kicking butt again, there’s a nostalgic, morbid curiosity to the event in the sixth terminator film.
It follows an augmented human and Sarah Connor as they try to stop a liquid Terminator from a young girl. As the title suggests, the fate of the universe is in the hands of this small, important child.
With Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes and Gabriel Luna, the cast is fantastic. However much the incredible David S. Goyer – of The Dark Knight’s screenplay fame – may be, this isn’t his best work.
But it’s the direction and special effects wielded by helmer Tim Miller, known for Deadpool, that make this one worth the popcorn, blockbuster thrill ride.
Bad Boys For Life
Available On Netflix
The stakes are higher and the entertainment is topnotch in this long-awaited, compulsively entertaining sequel.
Michael Bay isn’t in the director’s chair in this one, but Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah manage to stay true to what makes the franchise great.
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are back to make us chuckle, and they both bring unexpected emotional resonance to their roles.
As they go against a mother-and-son pair of criminals, it become clear early on that this won’t just be a cookie cutter affair.
With young names like Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, and Charles Melton, it’s a great mix of new and old, and one can’t forget the stressed-out Captain Howard – played by Joe Pantoliano – making a fantastic return.
This one is a whole lot of stuff blowing up, but with more substance than it should rightly have.
The Tender Bar – Available On Prime Video
This adorable, entertaining coming-of-age story may not have a load of twists and turns, but it truly is one of the best feel-good flicks of the year.
It follows a young man growing up on Long Island with big dreams. Despite humble beginnings and a hapless drunk of a father, he tries to make his lofty goals come true with the help of his mother, grandpa and influential uncle.
A film about what it is to truly be a man, what you can become with hard work and not giving up on your dreams, it’s diverting, if not incredible.
Tye Sheridan, young Daniel Ranieri, Lily Rabe, and the wonderful Christopher Lloyd are all fantastic here. But let’s be clear, the film belongs to Ben Affleck as the wise uncle and surrogate father to young JR.
Affleck deserves an Oscar nomination, and he gives a breezy, fantastic turn under director George Clooney. The film is truly worth seeing for Affleck’s turn alone.
Bloodshot
Available On Netflix
For those of you looking to see Vin Diesel in a film that’s not totally centred around cars, Bloodshot is for you.
A passion project of his for years, it follows the Valiant Comics character. Diesel stars as a soldier – killed in action – who comes back through superpowers. However, those who resurrected him then want to use his powers as a weapon.
Diesel is actually pretty good here, and he’s joined by Elza Gonzalez and a terrible, villainous Guy Pearce.
It’s action-packed, interesting and will be a fun little ride for all the action fans looking for superhero movies with some edge to them.
A victim of the COVID-19 pandemic, the film was little-seen due to its March 2020 release date, but if you need a rollicking flick to amp you up, this will do the trick.
Hotel Transylvania: Transformania
Available On Prime Video
This adorable little franchise has been the brainchild of Adam Sandler for years.
Unfortunately, Sandler is not returning to voice Dracula, but YouTuber Brian Hull, an impressionist, steps in. I’m not so sure how I feel about that, big given my love for these flicks, I’ll reserve judgment.
Now, the fourth iteration in the franchise leaves the monsters at a serious disadvantage when a new tool accidentally turns them human.
The film, acquired by Amazon Prime Video, sees the group travel to the jungle to try to reverse their fortunes.
The voice cast, including Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Fran Drescher, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, David Spade, Keegan-Michael Key, Jim Gaffigan and Kathryn Hann is impressive, even if it’s clear Kevin James and Sandler won’t be back.
If you have kids or love children’s movies, though, it can’t hurt to give this one a try.
KERROBERT FOOD BANK
The Food Bank is located in the Kerrobert United Church, 320 Lanigan St. The Food Bank is open for regular use the second Tuesday of each month
Please call one of the people listed for the month the Monday before to make an appointment.
Food Bank Schedule: February - July, 2022
Feb. 8: Boni Seffren/Karen Zinger 306-834-8001 or 306-834-5004
March 14: Lorraine Cholin/Yvonne Schlosser 306-834-5056 or 306-834-8292
April 12: Calvin Ressler/Carol Grosskopf 306-834-5389 or 306-834-2376
May 10: Karen Zinger/Yvonne Schlosser 306-834-5004 or 306-834-8292
June 14: Trina Duhaime/Calvin Ressler 306-834-7646 or 306-834-5389
July 12: LCarol Grosskopf/Lorraine Cholin 306-834-2376 or 306-834-5056
Full Time Position
https://meridianregion.ca/support/careeropportunities
For any inquiry +1.888.919.3800 L. 306.463.1850
Deadline to apply: January 16, 2022
Sonshine Kennels: How to tell if your dog is depressed
By Barbe Dunn
Symptoms of A Depressed Dog
When dogs are depressed, they usually look sad and mopey, they are withdrawn and sleep most of the time. They tend to lose interest in even their favorite toys, games, and - believe it or not - their treats!They will probably show some of these signs as well: Appetite loss Stop drinking enough water Lethargy, no energy Hiding (self-isolation)
Constipation
But of course even if your dog is showing some of these signs, it does not automatically mean that he is depressed, since some health problems can also cause your dog to feel and look that way. It is therefore important to get your dog to the vet if the symptoms persist.
Causes of Depression in Dogs
As in people, there are many reasons why a dog becomes depressed. Here are some common causes:
• Changes in Environment
According to Dr. Raymond Van Lienden, DVM, a veterinarian at The Animal
Clinic of Clifton, Va., change is almost always the cause of canine depression.
“Change” doesn’t have to be big and dramatic. It could be a sudden change in daily routines, or kids going back to school after the summer holiday, etc.
Even seasonal or climate changes can trigger depressive emotions in dogs.
Some other examples of changes in the dog’s environment include: Disappearance or loss of a good doggie or human friend (grief); Addition of a new family member (jealousy) Moving to a new home, new city, new country, and so on (anxiety).
• Physical Problems
Very often, physical problems in a dog can trigger symptoms of depression in dogs as well. This could be more visible in older dogs. When my old dog suddenly lost her hearing, she was visibly anxious and depressed at the beginning. It seemed she had suddenly lost that “spark” in her eyes. Older dogs also tend to have more aches and pains, such as joint and arthritic pain, and chronic pain could cause depression. So, if there
is a sudden change in your dog’s emotions or behavior but there has been no environmental changes, it may be that he has a health problem. Make sure that he is checked out by a veterinarian.
• Boredom or Solitude
Sometimes dogs who are always left alone, or who have nothing to do and are not exercised or entertained enough will develop depression as well.
• Lack of Exercise
We all know that exercise triggers the release of endorphins (the “happy hormones”). It follows that if a dog doesn’t have enough exercise, he cannot have that good positive feelings brought on by endorphins. If your dog is a couch potato and hardly exercises, he is more prone to depression! So be sure to encourage your dog to exercise on a daily basis.
Ways to Deal with A Dog With Depression
Spend More Quality Time with the Dog
Perhaps the most important thing that we should do to help a depressed
dog is to show him love and care. Spending more time playing with the dog, taking long walks together, and bonding with the dog can greatly help lift his spirit.
Get the Dog a New Playmate
If your dog is grieving the death of another dog in your family, consider replacing it with a new dog. If that is not possible, try to let your dog socialize with other dogs (at a park, or doggie day care, etc.).
Get the Dog a New Toy
Sometimes, dogs get depressed if they are not mentally challenged enough. If your dog is moping around feeling bored, get him some interactive toys. These toys allow a dog to use his brain, and the best part is, the dog gets rewarded with treats!
Keep an eye on your dog to ensure their mental health is great.
See you soon at Sonshine Kennels ... The Kennel That Cares 306-463-3361 bddunn@sasktel.net
Posting Date January 3, 2022
1. GEOGRAPHY: Which Russian city used to be called Leningrad?
2. SCIENCE: What is the coldest city in the northern hemisphere?
3. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin phrase “persona non grata” mean?
4. U.S. STATES: Which state’s flag is the only one currently that is two-sided?
5. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What was the first animal to appear on a U.S. coin?
6. FOOD & DRINK: How many herbs and spices are in the original recipe of Kentucky Fried Chicken?
7. MOVIES: How many movies did Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire make together?
8. LITERARY: In the Harry Potter book series, what are N.E.W.T.s?
9. TELEVISION: How many children were in “The Addams Family” sitcom?
10. HISTORY: In what year was the first email sent? © 2021 King Features Synd., Inc.
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A hectic period begins to wind down. Take time to draw some deep breaths and relax before getting into your next project. A long-absent family member makes contact.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You’re eager to move forward with a new challenge that suddenly dropped in your lap. But you’d be wise to take this one step at a time to allow new developments to come through.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You’re almost ready to make a commitment. A lingering doubt or two, however, should be resolved before you move ahead. An associate could provide important answers.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Caution is still the watchword as you move closer toward a decision about a new situation. If you act too fast, you might miss some vital warning signs. Go slowly and stay alert.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) Your new goal looks promising, and your golden touch does much to enhance its prospects for success. In your private life, Cupid does his best to make your new relationship special.
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) That impatient side of yours is looking to goad you into moving before you’re ready to take that big step. Stay calm and cool. Let things fall into place before you act.
LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A legal matter you hoped could finally be settled could be a pesky problem for a while, until all the parties agree to stop disagreeing with each other. Be patient.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Partnerships -- personal or professional -- which began before the new year take on new importance. They also reveal some previously hidden risks. So be warned.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Your associates are firmly on your side, and that persistent problem that has caused you to delay some activities should soon be resolved to your satisfaction.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Favorable changes continue to dominate, and you should be responding positively as they emerge. Someone wants to become more involved in what you’re doing.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A friend wants to share a secret that could answer some questions you’ve wondered about for a long time. Meanwhile, travel aspects continue to be strong.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Stay on your new course despite so-called well-meaning efforts to discourage you. Rely on your deep sense of self-awareness to guide you to do what’s right for you.
BORN THIS WEEK: You have the capacity to meet challenges that others might find overwhelming, and turn them into successful ventures.
(c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.
Trivia Test Answerst
1. St. Petersburg; 2. Oymyakon, Russia; 3. An unwelcome person; 4. Oregon
(state seal on one side and a figure of a beaver on the other side); 5. An eagle;
6. 11; 7. 10; 8. Critical examinations (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test).;
9. Two: Wednesday and Pugsley; 10. 1971
