The Kerrobert Chronicle - April 22, 2025

Local author shares her first work of fiction

BY JOAN JANZEN

KERROBERT—Ashley McLean excitedly brought copies of her debut novel, Shadows Between Us, to the Kerrobert Library on Tuesday evening, April 15. Guests came to pick up their pre-ordered copies and listen to the new author from Plenty, Sask., share about her writing journey and explain how it came about.

“I had the idea for the book about four years ago when I was on maternity leave with my first baby,” she recalled. In 2020, she intended to write the book, but it never happened. “So when my third baby came along, I said I’m going to do it!” And that’s how ‘Shadows Between Us’ was born.

Once Ashley started, it only took her four to six months to complete the book. “It’s the kind of book you can unwind with at the end of the daynothing too heavy, just something enjoyable,” she said. “I wanted to start with something easy and more romantic to ease into the world of writing.”

This busy mom of three has somehow found time to write and can’t wait to share what she’s working on next. She’s already got nine chapters done on her second book and is working on a children’s book.

The idea of writing a children’s book began when her young nephew saw her newly published book and asked his auntie, “Can you write a book I can read?”

Meanwhile, the adults will want to pick up a copy of Ashley’s newly published book. As the book cover states - with hidden twists and unforgettable characters, the story prompts readers to lose themselves in a story that lingers long after the final chapter. It’s a twisted tale of love and betrayal, where trust is shattered and second chances are everything.

New author Ashley McLean from Plenty, Sask., was excited to share her debut novel, Shadows Between Us, with friends and family at the Kerrobert Library on Tuesday evening, April 15.

PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN

Kindersley’s kindergarten kids head out to the farm

BY JOAN JANZEN

KINDERSLEY—All the kindergarten kids at Westberry Elementary School enjoyed a field trip to the Fries family farms, located a few kilometres west of Kindersley. The first group of students headed out to the farm on Tuesday, April 15th. Teacher Shannon Dimitroff said they were all armed with sunscreen and water bottles, ready to enjoy the warm day.

The second group of students wasn’t quite as fortunate. They arrived at the Fries farm on Wednesday wearing winter coats, gloves, and hats, bracing themselves against the cool, windy weather. However, both groups completely enjoyed their time at the farm.

Melody Fries showed the kids different kinds of grain, which they were happy to check out with their little fingers. They all plugged their ears as she turned on the small flour mill and showed them how flour is made. Even though they all got to stick their hands in the flour, Melody said there are always a few kids who aren’t convinced and insist on believing food comes from a grocery store and not from a farm.

In another shop, they learned how butter is made. They all took turns shaking the container, pausing to look at the different stages, from whipped cream to butter and buttermilk.

When asked if they’d like to taste the butter, one student asked if he could have peanut butter. After some convincing, he agreed to try a cracker and butter

and then a second one afterward.

The chicks nestled in a warm incubator were a popular attraction. Then they headed to the chicken coop where the laying hens squawked loudly as the kids checked for eggs.

A short bus ride over to Bobby Fries’s farm home was where the kids got to check out some huge farm equipment. They were told both the combine and air sprayer were five years old, just like all the kids. Inside the cab of the green combine, there was a fridge and a cool horn that the kids got to try out.

Mrs. Dimitroff expressed appreciation to the Fries family for taking time to teach the kids that a lot of stuff they have in their kitchens at home is grown on the farm.

The kindergarten kids from Westberry Elementary School enjoyed a field trip to the Fries farms southwest of Kindersley on April 15th and 16th. April 15th was a warm, sunny day; however the following day kids were wearing winter coats and gloves. PHOTOS BY JOAN JANZEN

If you are interested in helping to preserve

Spring 2025 Kerrobert Courthouse Restoration Society News

BY VERONICA SMITH

Now that spring is here, our committee is beginning to plan new fundraising events for the 2025 year. Our most recent fundraiser was on December 6th, 2024, when the Courthouse Restoration Society hosted our annual Christmas party. This fundraiser is meant to be a night of great food and drinks and live music planned for the community to kick off the Christmas season. It was hosted at the Prairieland Community Centre and the decorating theme was “A Classy Christmas Party”. People were able to come and enjoy a delicious meal catered by Jan Taylor and later there was a dance with live music provided by the “The Bromantics”. As in the past, companies and private groups were able to plan on having this event for their Christmas party with all the organizing done for them so everyone could just sit back and enjoy a relaxing evening! People were also welcome to join the party anytime after 9:00 pm if they only wanted to attend the dance.

We were fortunate to have some prizes donated to our event from the Kerrobert Chamber of Commerce, the Kerrobert Reddi Mart, Mary Kloster with Royal Le page and Stevie Grant with the Vintage Marketplace. We would like to thank the Chamber of Commerce and these businesses for adding to our event. Their support was very much appreciated. We also would like to thank everyone that supported us by coming to our fundraiser! We are going to change things up a bit for the 2025 Christmas party so please stay tuned for future announcements!

The Christmas party is only one of the many fundraisers our committee has hosted since town council approved our formation in 2019. We have hosted the

Festival of Trees for several years. (Thank you to the Kerrobert Kinette Club for taking this event over this past year.) Our committee has served lunch for the summer market in the park, hosted a haunted house in the courthouse, we have initiated donation request letters to the community and have developed pamphlets to promote our restoration efforts. Our committee has also helped support other organizations in the community whenever possible such as Communities in Bloom with courtyard cleanups, working the gate for Tralapa and shifts for the Rodeo committee. We have organized courthouse related events such as the courthouse centennial celebration, the exciting cornerstone time capsule opening and old–fashioned games in the courtyard for the Kerrobert Harvest Festival. We put up Christmas lights in the courtyard to raise spirits during Covid and have continued to do this every year since. We have also committed to giving private tours of the building. Call the town office to arrange a tour if you like. We do theses tours so that the public can gain an appreciation of the history of the building and also so people can see what restoration projects need to be done to keep the building viable.

The Kerrobert Courthouse Restoration Society would love to welcome new members, so if you are interested in helping to preserve Kerrobert’s courthouse building for future generations, we invite you to come to a meeting. We meet the last Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers of the courthouse building. Come see what we are all about! We are always happy to see new faces at our meetings. If you don’t have the time to volunteer, you can always help by donating directly to restoration efforts at the Town office or by supporting our fundraisers. Please check out our Facebook page to learn more about us as well!

Please call 306-463-6655 to make an appointment.

Kerrobert’s courthouse building for future generations, we invite you to attend a meeting the last Monday of each month at 6:30 PM in the council chambers. PHOTO SUBMITTED

Eatonia students sell quality handmade products

BY JOAN JANZEN

EATONIA - The community of Eatonia showed up in full force to support the Grade 7 and 8 students at the Young Entrepreneurs Showcase on the afternoon of April 14th. All the entrepreneurs did a great job of displaying, promoting and selling their homemade products.

Their innovative products included Hudson’s Wallets, Evervae Creations by Nevaeh, Carter’s Crafty Sports Medal Hangers, Jensen’s Pins, Hayden’s Puck Paradise, Speedy Samdles Candles, Vanguards’ Apparel, and Paxton’s Passers. Grace Becker said her Gloss Babe Beauty Products had sold out within the first half hour of the show, as she continued to take orders.

Brendan Becker’s Hydro Splash bottles were made with a process called hydro dipping. He put spray paint in water, immersed the bottles in the mixture and applied clear coat after the paint had dried. He explained that every student was donating 10 percent of their profits to a charity of their choice.

While the students were busy selling their products, their teachers were evaluating the students on their business plan and products, general participation in the project, marketing and entrepreneur skills. Every entrepreneur presented their business plan, including product description, how it’s made and their goals.

Daelon Perry had set a goal to sell most of his Waxy Wonders stock and make $100 in profits. Besides candles, Daelon sold handmade wax bowls. To make the bowls he dipped an inflated balloon in wax 20-25 times, then glued on a dried flower and dipped the balloon in wax a couple of more times. After allowing it to cool, he popped the balloon.

He explained the entire process only takes 20 minutes. He placed sand at the bottom to ensure the bowl won’t melt when a tea light is inserted. He also plans to sell his product at a trade show in June.

The afternoon was a great opportunity to see future business tycoons in action. The students offered a wide variety of quality products that they enjoyed sharing with the community.

Daelon Perry’s Waxy Wonders was a popular venue at Eaton School on April 14th.

Grace Becker’s Gloss Babe Beauty products were sold out within the first half hour of the, and she was taking orders during the remainder of the afternoon.

As you can see Evervae Creations by Nevaeh Moore was a popular spot at the Young Entrepreneurs Showcase held Monday afternoon, April 14th.

Carter’s Craft Sports Medal Hangers was being evaluated by Eaton School staff at the Young Entrepreneurs Showcase on Monday, April 14th. PHOTOS BY JOAN JANZEN

OPINION:

One of the most consequential elections in Canadian history

BY JOAN JANZEN

A golfer hits a ball, and it misses the green by inches. His partner says, “That’s called a son-in-law shot. It is not what you expected, but you will take it.” When Mark Carney became Canada’s Prime Minister, it felt a lot like meeting a new son-in-law for the first time, who you had never heard about before. He’s not what you expected, but you accept it because you have no choice.

Steven LeDrew commented on LeDrew’s 3 Minutes: “People don’t even know who he is. We have somebody who is from England, Ontario, Alberta.” He also gave a bit of a history lesson as follows:

History has shown that people who were elected as Prime Ministers were known to the people as cabinet ministers or premiers. In 1891, Sir John A. MacDonald died, followed by four Prime Ministers who had all been previously elected to office and were acceptable to the people. In 1984, John Turner, who the people previously knew as the Attorney General, replaced Pierre Trudeau. In 1993, Kim Campbell, who had been the Minister of Justice, was elected.

“This small group of Liberals changed that,” Steven said. “But people are saying these are tough economic times; we need someone who knows all about the economy.”

Brian Lilley from the Toronto Sun

weighed in on the topic on Bridge City News. “The fact that you have a PhD in Economics doesn’t mean you’re immune to bad ideas. And Mark Carney has a lot of bad ideas in terms of leaving natural resources in the ground, not building pipelines, and keeping emission caps in place.”

The Prime Minister has also publicly stated that they are announcing a plan to fight crime, to protect Canadians and to build communities that are safe, secure and strong. He continued to explain this will be accomplished by limiting people’s speech. Once you lose your ability to speak freely it is very difficult to get it back and it hinders you from addressing important issues.

Clyde Nichols reported on a recent happening on his podcast. Megan Murphy, a former leftist who was running as a PPC candidate had her bank account frozen. When she inquired at the bank she was given a number to call. She was then told the person who she needed to talk to was on vacation for two weeks and would get back to her on their return. “She wasn’t a big threat,” Clyde concluded.

Brian Lilley continued to say, “Carney is registering in offshore tax havens and avoiding billions in taxes while running a very successful company that he recently moved the headquarters to New York. So don’t tell me you’re captain Canada and avoiding taxes by moving your headquarters to the US.”

TO THE EDITOR:

Hello Kate,

For ages I’ve been meaning to let you know how much I enjoy Madonna’s columns; today is the day.

Religion doesn’t appeal to me in the same way it seems to appeal to Madonna. But what I like hearing from her is the broad strokes of morality, justice and love in our everyday lives that she sees and hears.

We

Often I don’t agree with everything she says, but she always makes me think. Her writing is a valuable addition to our community.

Thank you for running her column in your paper.

Kind regards,

Faye Atkinson Elrose, SK

We reserve sole discretion to decide whether or not a reader submission will be published. We will not publish anonymous submissions or letters containing personal attacks.

We reserve the right to edit or refuse all letters.

Steven LeDrew also had more to say about the Canadian Prime Minister. “Speak to people in Britain, and they say Carney doesn’t know about the economy. Read Carney’s book. I think you’re going to find out we have been fooled.”

Joe Warmington from the Toronto Sun said in an online interview: “Remember, that behind the scenes with Trudeau it’s always been Carney. Everything you hated about the Trudeau government, you’re going to get again if they get a majority government. And he doesn’t even hide it. I hope Canadians are smarter than that.” Sometime after April 28th we’ll find out if they are.

Speaking of April 28th, Project Confederation made the following report on where the individual parties stand on several issues:

The Liberal Party plan to eliminate the consumer carbon tax; however Carney said he plans to hike the industrial carbon tax. Conservative Party plans to scrap both carbon taxes. NDP plans to scrap the consumer tax but keep the industrial tax. Green Party say they will switch to 100% clean energy and People’s Party will cut both taxes.

The Liberal Party will keep the emissions cap in place. Conservatives plan to repeal the oil and gas emissions cap. NDP will keep the emissions cap. Green Party have criticized the cap for being too soft. People’s Party want to abandon unreal-

istic emissions targets.

The Liberal Party will not repeal Bill C-69 (the no more pipelines Bill). Conservatives have pledged to repeal Bill C-69. NDP support keeping Bill C-69 in place. Green Party say they will stop all new fossil fuel projects. People’s Party will repeal Bill C-69.

The Liberal Party will not change equalization payments, and both Conservatives and the NDP made no promises regarding equalization payments. The People’s Party wants to reduce equalization payments.

Brian Lilley made the following observation on Bridge City News: “You’ve got one group of voters who are obsessed with tariffs, and you have another group that are saying my big issue is affordability. Rising crime is not a result of tariffs, neither is our broken immigration system. Rising unemployment numbers predate tariffs; lower standard of living predates tariffs,” he observed. “If you want to fix what’s broken don’t vote for the Liberals, because Liberals still advocate for the same policies.”

All the recent news reports agree on one thing: the federal election is one of the most consequential in Canadian history.

The views expressed by columnists are their own and not necessarily the view of Your Southwest Media Group.

Sheppard &Millar Law

Barristers

CLEANING

Pop89:

Slow-breaking news from The Subtle World

BY MADONNA HAMEL

Today is one of those “That’s enough, shut ‘er down” days. And by that, I mean enough with the doom-scrolling, the gawking at the latest “fast-breaking,” hard-hitting” news! I didn’t move to the vast, open, quiet, dark, mysterious prairie to drag the world with me. Nor to re-live my past life as a daily reporter and researcher, struggling to stay on top of the most “relevant” stories of our day. A past wherein producers –thank God, not all of them – warned: “You are only as good as your next story.”

I came to Val Marie, on the edge of Grasslands National Park, because I was exhausted. Because my “kick-ass” approach to both my work and my life was backfiring. I was kicking myself faster and closer to an early grave.

I’ve written about this before, how it seems this new generation of young women seem to be enhancing a desire to ape male modes of behaviour, claiming that to be a feminist is to be a “Bad Ass,” “kicking ass” where-ere we go. But, as I read the latest clever columns by bright young minds, the language and perspective strike me more as “Smart Ass.” Maybe it takes a Smart Ass to be a Bad Ass. In fact, the the political-ideological spectrum of the reporting world these days seems to be either “smart-assery” on the Left, or “kiss-assery” on the Right. Where are the sane, informed, considerate, intelligent, nuanced, committed brave voices? How long must we stomach virtue-signalers and the sycophants?

The Buddhists say: “Honesty without compassion is cruelty.”We seem to have cruelty coming at us from all directions. The cruelty of the Right may be more blatant: Witness the ruthless carelessness with which immigrants are being victimized while the President jokes and laughs with “cool” dictators and promises his “fans” that America will return to being “a country full of people who look like us.” But the Left is not much better. It showboats victimization, exchanging one victim for another as today’s top story becomes tomorrow’s lost story, tumbling into a news cycle churning new headlines every couple of seconds.

I’m in trouble when I don’t start the morning with a cup of tea and a quiet moment of contemplation. Today, despite the meadowlark outside my window, I went straight to my computer, driven by a compulsion to check the headlines. The first thing to appear was another reference to Canada as the 51st state. The writer was being sarcastic, she didn’t mean it. But this kind of glib and flippant reporting put her neatly outside the realm of humanity. It allows her, and reporters like her, to avoid the pain of the plight of her fellow

I’m in trouble when I don’t start the morning with a cup of tea and a quiet moment of contemplation. Today, despite the meadowlark outside my window, I went straight to my computer, driven by a compulsion to check the headlines.

humans.

Irony is not a luxury we can afford. Glibness, flippancy, and sarcasm is all part of an ironic stance taken by those unable to take risks, or discern between reality and entertainment. In an era where “reality” is supposedly “relative”, we fall into making it up as we go along, fashioning a kind of Bespoke Reality. This is why I moved here: Because nothing says Reality like breaking down in -40-degree weather, -52 with the windchill, and having a local rancher rescue you. Or losing your cell phone along the riverwalk when you bent down to pee, necessitating a jog to your friend’s house to borrow a flashlight. (As happened to me, recently) I grabbed the flashlight, told him to call me in ten minutes, and ran back to comb the grass, cacti and coyote pellets in the dark. Amidst the scanning and combing, I encountered a skunk. She backed away, slowly, as did I, just as I heard the faint melody of my phone ringing. There it was lost in the grass. I looked up at the sky to say thanks in time to see a falling star.

I moved here eleven years ago after reading about The Desert Mothers and Fathers - men and women who left the urban environments of Alexandria and went into the desert, seeking stillness, silence and solitude. They went to “live in vulnerable communion” with their God, their sisters and brothers, and the desert. Mary Earl writes about them: “In stark contrast to the continuous indulgence of gluttony that is our cultural norm, the desert mothers remind us of the virtues of fasting, not only from food but from frenetic activity, from anger, from hurtful speech, from arrogant and mean-spirited behaviour.”

The poet Rilke also reminds me why I’m here: “You are not surprised at the force of the storm - you have seen it growing….Now you must go out into your heart as onto a vast plain….the sky remains. It is what you have.” He reminds me that urbane witticisms fall short when trying to truthfully bear witness to the world.

Yesterday I hiked The Butte to catch the crocuses in bloom before they fade. Witnessing their delicate mauve petals opening to catch the sun is the real breaking news, what I call the Slow-breaking News from the Subtle World. At a recent storytelling event, I played a newscaster delivering Slow-Breaking News Subtle news that is deeply personal and local and real and relevant to our immediate lives.

Truthfully, what is most important to you? It’s easy enough to discern. What’s the first thing you talk about when you meet with a friend? The weather. What crops need planting or equipment needs fixing? Where are your grandkids playing, and in what tournament? What you’re making for supper? Who just went into the hospital? Who’s moving? Who branding? A recipe or culinary discovery like Robin Kerr’s homemade salsa, for sale at the local store.

Don’t let the newscasters on your computer decide what Reality is for you, don’t let them rob you of the Real News happening right here, all around you.

Guerrero, Jr.’s signing highlights a solid April

BY BRUCE PENTON

After a miserable lastplace finish in the American League East in 2024, the trajectory arrow is pointed straight up for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025.

BY BRUCE PENTON Sports Columnist

Let’s start with spring training. The Jays posted an 18-10 record and wound up as the No. 1 team in the Grapefruit League circuit, perhaps a harbinger of things to come. Then, after the first two weeks of the season, they found themselves right in the mix in the A.L East, splitting a four-game series with Baltimore Orioles, a team many had pegged as a potential World Series contender, and then sweeping a three-game set against Washington.

And while those early results were encouraging, the cherry on top came in the first week of April when the Jays announced they had extended their marquee player, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., with a contract that will undoubtedly make him a Blue Jay for life.

The deal was for 14 years and $500 million, not Ohtani or Soto money, but the offer was enough for Guerrero to jump at, and to end the persistent talk about him leaving the team this year, either via a mid-summer trade, or as a free agent at the end of the 2025 season.

Guerrero, Jr., who has averaged 31 homers and 100 runs-batted-in during his six-year career, had issued a fairly strong threat to the Jays about his future, as we paraphrase: “Either sign me now with a nice, expensive contract extension by Feb. 18, or I’ll say goodbye. I will not negotiate during the regular season.”

The Blue Jays’ braintrust, however, couldn’t risk losing their franchise player, the face of the team, so rather than heavy negotiations, they simply put forth the $500 million figure and Guerrero, Jr., said yep, sign me up for that. His contract calls for more than $35 million U.S. per year and it should make him and his family happy. Also happy will be the millions of Blue Jays’ fans across the country, who hope the team’s front office will build another contender around its newly-signed centrepiece.

Team-mate Bo Bichette couldn’t have been happier to see his friend sign the long-term deal. “Super excited for him,” said Bichette to a Sportsnet reporter. “Something that he wanted, something the organization wanted. Seems like it’s going to be a good marriage.”

Newly acquired pitcher Max Scherzer sees the signing as a message to fans about the front office’s plans. “You don’t sign him like that unless you think you’re going to win,” said Scherzer.

Meanwhile, first-month reviews for the Jays have been great. George Springer was leading the league in hitting, and Bichette appears to be bouncing back after a so-so season last year. Free-agent infielder Andres Gimenez was leading the team in homers and Anthony Santander, who signed as a free-agent after a 44-homer season with Baltimore last year, was sure to get hot.

This year’s Jays may not replicate the success of the 1992 and ’93 World Series champs, but they’re definitely moving in the right direction.

• Comedy guy Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver: “Philadelphia 76ers said they used artificial intelligence to help sign over $600 million in player contracts last year. AI stock plummeted 20 per cent on the news.”

• From golf website The First Call Extra: “After a protracted slump, Max Homa fired longtime cad-

die Joe Greiner a week before the Masters. The player can’t fire himself, can he?”

• A post from Twitter, forwarded by Jack Simpson, on the Great 8’s record-breaking 895th career goal: “Alex Ovechkin did something unbelievable today. He got the entire hockey world to watch an Islanders game.”

• Reecey Pierce, on X, after the Masters’ Tuesday night Champions dinner: “Everyone just wants to know if Cabrera and Scottie swapped prison stories.”

• Torben Rolfsen again: “The Masters’ Sunday, the only day of the year outside of St. Patrick’s that anybody wants to be seen wearing a green sport coat.”

• One more from Rolfsen: “The Dodgers placed Blake Snell on the 15-day injury list with shoulder inflation. Oh no, now they’re down to only eight great pitchers in their rotation.”

• Comedy guy Alex Kaseberg: “Scientists have resurrected dire wolves that became extinct 10,000 years ago. Now they will try to resurrect the NBA’s 17-64 Washington Wizards.”

• Headline at the Beaverton.com: “Rogers CEO says joy of torturing Canadians with garbage hockey broadcast worth way more than 11 billion dollars.”

• From the late ex-Major League Baseball manager Tommy Lasorda: “There are three types of baseball players: Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen and those who wonder what happens.”

• RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “I recently drove in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on a highway named after local skip Brad Gushue It was great: No matter how many mistakes I made, it was someone else’s fault.”

Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca

NEW OWNERSHIP! Congratulations to Rayellene Leipert (left) and Shirley Deptuch, the new owners of Kindersley Bearing. They still have the same great staff at your favourite one-stop shop. Customer Appreciation Days are on now until April 30th! PHOTO BY KATE WINQUIST

CRIMESTOPPERS

Leader athletes shine in badminton

BY VALERIE GORDON SWAC Athletic Coordinator

Our senior district championship was held at SCCHS on Saturday, April 12. Thanks to Trish Carleton (Ponteix) and Spencer Davis (Val Marie) for helping run the results table. Each event was one pool with six competitors. The top two after the round robin advanced to SHSAA regionals on May 3 (held in Maple Creek). Regionals is the last step to provincials.

Congratulations to our top two finishers advancing to SHSAA regionals:

• Boys Singles~ 1st Darrell Cuyagan (Maple Creek), 2nd Michael Liu (SCCHS)

• Girls Singles~ 1st Sierra Frey (Maple Creek) 2nd Hannah Riego (SCCHS)

• Boys Doubles~ 1st David Cocks/Karter Ries (Leader), 2nd Jaxson Biermann/Kylin Charnetski (Leader)

• Girls Doubles~ 1st Christine Vicente/AmyScott (Maple Creek), 2nd Ava Kendall/Keira Walters (Ponteix)

• Mixed Doubles~ 1st Savannah Frey/Aydan Buss (Maple Creek), 2nd Saryn Allan/ Tate Unger (SCCHS)

Senior regionals- Saturday May 3 in Maple Creek. Senior provincials- Saturday, May 10 in Estevan.

JUNIOR BADMINTON

Junior sectionals, hosted at three different locations, were on Saturday, April 12. The top two from each of the sectionals advance to the SWAC district championship on Saturday, May 3. The north section was hosted by Cabri (commis-

sioner Carson Benallack. Teams involved in this playoff were Cabri. Hazlet, Leader, Herbert, SCCHS, and Wymark.

RESULTS

• Boys singles: 1st Maverick Friesen (SCCHS), 2nd Kayson Zanidean (Hazlet)

• Girls singles: 1st Abby Bredson (Leader), Jaylin Tumbach (Leader)

• Boys doubles: 1st Isaac Fergusan/ Arvee Santos (SCCHS), 2nd Carson Duchscherer /Colden Dale (Leader)

• Girls doubles:1st Danica Watson/Akosha Gallant (Cabri), 2nd Reece Lantican / Sofia Ubaldo (SCCHS)

• Mixed doubles: 1st Rachel Cocks/ Jett Ward (Leader), 2nd Emberlyn Fritz-Irwin/ Tayvin Carlson (SCCHS)

The East section was hosted by Vanguard @ Ponteix School (commissioner Rob Englot). Teams from Ecole Centennial, Central, Hodgeville, Ponteix, Vanguard, Shaunaovn and Val Marie took part.

RESULTS

• Boys singles: 1st Damon James (Ecole Centennial). 2nd Ethan Mything (Val Marie)

• Girls singles: 1st Bella Neufeld (Shaunavon), 2nd Paige Ulm (Ponteix)

• Boys doubles: 1st Ryder Jorgensen/Willie Penner (Vanguard), 2nd Blake Simpson/ Carter Wall (Ecole Centennial).

• Girls doubles: 1st Ava Marleau / Lacie Kouri (Ponteix), 2nd Ally Watson and Julie Allen (Hodgeville)

• Mixed doubles: 1st Maylii Montgomery/ Abe Penner (Vanguard), 2nd Shay Hanson /Chris Stanley-Wale (Hodgeville)

Alliance Women’s Retreat helps women heal

BY JOAN JANZEN

KINDERSLEY — The Kindersley Alliance Church hosted an all-day Women’s Retreat on Saturday, April 12th, featuring four guest speakers. Connie Moffatt from the Alliance Church said, “The ladies shared their stories about how they dealt with issues in their lives.”

Guest speaker, Barb Friesen is a certified grief recovery method instructor who coached the women on recovering from grief. Connie said the women were reminded that they’re not to be storage containers. “We are to be processing our feelings and emotions,” she recalled. “It was a challenge for people to be vulnerable and real.”

Megan Meijer spoke about healing from despair. “Everybody goes through times when we feel we’ve been branded by an experience or loss of something,” Connie noted. It’s easy to feel as if those times define you. “And yet scars are areas of our life that make us stronger and God is going to use those scars for good.”

Alison Uitti shared her story about the importance of forgiveness and coming to realization that it is for our personal benefit. Forgiveness may be free, however trust is earned.

Olivia Jacobson also shared her personal testimony. “Everybody has had different experiences so each lady present could identify with at least one of the speakers,” Connie concluded.

The day was a great opportunity for ladies from different denominations to connect with one another and share food, visiting and helpful resources.

Bobbi Hebron begins new position at Rivers West District for Sports, Culture and Recreation

BY JOAN JANZEN

KERROBERT - The Rivers West District for Sports, Culture and Recreation is pleased to have Kerrobert resident, Bobbi Hebron come on board as their Community Development Coordinator. She started her new position on April 8th and is excited to bring her years of experience and passion for community building to the communities she serves.

Saskatchewan has seven sports, culture and recreation districts who receive funding support from Sask Lotteries Trust Fund for Sport, Culture and Recreation. “These seven districts work closely with SaskSport, SaskCulture, and the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association to assess needs, and provide information and services to help improve access to opportunities,” Bobbi explained.

Her previous experience as Recreation Director has equipped her with valuable insight into the needs of rural Saskatchewan communities. “I am very excited to connect with community leaders, organizations and volunteers throughout the Rivers West District to discuss their unique challenges and successes,” she said.

Bobbi and her husband raised their large family in

Kerrobert and on the waters of Jackfish Lake, where their lives were enriched by the opportunities offered by sport, culture and recreation in Saskatchewan. “We have made it a priority to build relationships and work with others who are passionate that these opportunities continue to exist for years to come,” she said.

As Bobbi begins her new position she will be working from home, but will also travel to district offices located in North Battleford and Rosetown, as well as communities in the Rivers West District. The area served encompasses Pierceland and Dorintosh in the north, south to the Saskatchewan River and from the Alberta border in the west to Terrier, Hafford and Medstead in the east.

Bobbi’s first week on the job was full of introductions, meetings, as well as a day spent at the SUMA Convention working at a booth for the trade show. There she met people from across the province who are enthusiastic about what is happening in their communities.

“I am beyond excited to be part of the Rivers West District for Sport, Culture and Recreation, an organization I have long admired,” Bobbi said. Congratulations and best of luck in the years ahead.

Kerrobert resident Bobbi Hebron began her new position on April 8th, as Community Development Coordinator at Rivers West District for Sport, Culture and Recreation.

A women’s retreat was held at Kindersley Alliance Church on Saturday, April 12th. Pictured L-R: Zdena Mutlow, Marion Ausmus, Megan Meijer, Alison Uitti, and Karla Hubick. SUBMITTED

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• CDC MARBLE fr. green

• CDC PERIDOT CL fr. green

• INDIAN HEAD sm. black

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• CDC MONARCH CL lg. red

• CDC ROWLAND (Brown)

• AAC BRIGHT (Yellow)

• AAC STARBUCK VB

• AAC WHEATLAND VB

• AAC BRANDON

• AC ANDREW (SWS)

• AAC WEST KING (2026)

• AAC STOUGHTON VB (2026)

• AAC OAKMAN VB (2026)

Many municipalities in Saskatchewan face serious challenges to community safety and well-being due to provincial and federal government policies, negatively affecting their ability to attract people to live, work, and visit. A lack of funding and resources for our RCMP and emergency services, decades of underfunding for social housing, and a slow reaction to the burgeoning mental health crisis have effectively downloaded these difficulties to municipalities, stretching already strained budgets and leading to greater costs in the long run.

“Municipalities are the order of government closest to the people,” noted SUMA President Randy Goulden. “Unfortunately, that sometimes leaves us in the position where we see the greatest negative effects of social problems, despite having the fewest tools to adequately address them.”

Mental health and addictions have been a major issue in Saskatchewan and across the country since the pandemic. Homelessness has also seen an incredible spike, with homeless counts tripling in Regina and Saskatoon over the last two years alone. While health and social issues are primarily the responsibility of provincial governments, we need the next federal

government to amend the Canada Health Act to adequately address mental health issues and to provide support and leadership for governments across Canada to better address these massive social issues.

Removing access to dangerous drugs is another important component to addressing the mental health and addictions crisis, but it will require increased recruitment and substantial investments in RCMP services. In particular, RCMP need to do more to address organized crime and gangs bringing drugs into Canada.

Investment in non-market and affordable housing is also critical, after 40 years of underinvestment by various federal and provincial governments.

“Homelessness may be caused by mental health and addictions issues, but it is just as likely to cause them, and keep those suffering from healing,” stated President Goulden. “A failure to invest in supportive, non-market housing has, in many ways, caused our current crises, and they can’t be properly addressed until we see that investment occur.”

This federal election, make municipalities matter. Visit suma.org for more information and to see the SUMA election hub.

The Rosetown and District Health Care Foundation was happy to purchase a new Hematology Machine for the Rosetown Hospital. This machine is valued at $33,000. Pictured with the new machine are lab staff Ola Mofolasayo and Tara Walker. SUBMITTED

“The Door at the End of Everything”

BY LYNDA MONAHAN

PUBLISHED BY SHADOWPAW PRESS

REVIEW BY SHELLEY A. LEEDAHL

The metaphorical title of Lynda Monahan’s fifth poetry collection, The Door at the End of Everything, is lifted from her long, forthright poem of the same name. The piece is set in a mental health facility, and several of these saturnine new poems—particularly those in the book’s middle section, “Saying the Unsayable Things”—are based on the veteran SK writer, editor and workshop facilitator’s experiences as writer-in-residence at the Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert. I’d bet my snow boots that her facilitation of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Writing For Your Life group, and, much more

intimately, personal and familial experience, also inspired these thoughtful poems.

As Monahan writes, “there is poetry everywhere,” and bravo to her: she surely finds it. It’s on tattooed wrists that cover scars, the bulimic who “gorges even on [drinking water]”, and in the patient treated with ECT (Electroconvulsive therapy) who says he “returned home/like the dry cleaning/my mind pressed flat/as a pair of black dress pants”. These are plainspoken, powerful poems that speak to truth, hope and resilience, even when a donated coat (“buttons long since missing”) is “the closest damn thing” a man experiences “to anything [he’d] call a home.” There’s much empathy for the unhomed and residential school survivors.

Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association Re-Elects President

Last week, SUMA delegates re-elected Yorkton Councillor Randy Goulden to serve as their president.

“I am deeply honoured to have SUMA members place their trust in me once again,” said President-Elect Goulden. “I look forward to seeing our new governance model and policies fully implemented and to continue the great work we have done to strengthen our advocacy and

Randy Goulden

member services over the past several years.”

Goulden was first elected to council in 1997 and became involved with SUMA shortly thereafter. She served for years as East-Central Regional Director before being elected as SUMA President in 2022.

Goulden will begin her next fouryear term at the conclusion of SUMA’s annual convention, on April 16, 2025.

The versatile writer’s free verse also delivers images of domesticity, ie: “laundry/heaped like a small unscalable mountain,” and there’s “an anarchy of wet towers and dirty shirts,” plus family poems. Like most of us, Monahan often writes from experience, and some of her most powerful poems concern a difficult father who was “bigger than all our lives.” She notes that joys seems easier for some people—like her sister— who finds it “in the wild asters at the road’s edge/on the filigreed wings of dragonflies.” For others, the “white lace of baby’s breath in ditches” is not enough. Sadness, loneliness, alienation and invisibility … these are the stones in this collection’s river, and sadness, especially, doesn’t reveal “the way stars sparkle up the sky/or when clouds are doing something to the moon.”

I appreciate how Monahan uses fire, the colour blue, food, and even the forest to manifest mood in her carefully-crafted work. Things decay and relationships stale. In “Poor Mary,” apples and peaches rot in “soggy cardboard boxes,” and, when visiting, the poet writes of “fruit lies flitting around our heads/like miniature Tinkerbells.” What a brilliant simile. The forest is seen both as sanctuary (“here where fox glimmers/in the purple shadowed snow/I know myself best) and, as in the poem “Clear Cut,” a “place of fractured branches/and broken spirit and loneliness.”

The book’s third and final section is rainbow-like. In “These Little Things That Save Us,” we find “a nest of newborn starlings” and “bits of beach glass.” Monahan knows and eloquently writes about the way the simplest things—skin “perfumed with wood smoke”—sometimes make everything better. This new collection brims with poems that anyone with a beating heart must feel in the pit of their stomach. Bravo, Lynda Monahan.

This book is available at your local bookstore or from the saskatchewan publishers group www.Skbooks.Com

4 - p a c k f o r $ 6

you will be conntacted by phone or if not, call or message Pam at 306-463-8362 (Please e-transfer or mail to Pam)

Pre-Order yours todday!

Pre-Order yours today!

KINDERSLEY

If you have supported this fundraiser you will be contacted by phone or if not, call or message Pam at 306-463-8362

If you have supported this fundraiser you will be contacted by phone or if not, call or message Pam at 306-463-8362

(Please e-transfer or mail to Pam)

(Please e-transfer or mail to Pam) Pre-Order yours today! If you have e supported this

If you have supported this fundraiser you will be contacted by phone or if not, call Lee at 306-402-7170 or 306-962-3221

(Please e-transfer or mail to Pam)

May 8th, 2025 at

KINDERSLEY PICK-UP DATE Thursday, May 8th 11:30 AM Western Pizza Parking Lot ESTON PICK-UP DATE Thursday, May 8th 2:00 PM DT’s Parking Lot

KINDERSLEY PICK UP DATE:

Thursday, May 8th, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. Western Pizza parking lot

Position: Field Administrative Assistant (contract)

Teine Energy Ltd. (Teine) is a privately held company with producing assets in Alberta and Saskatchewan. We are a low-cost operator, focused on scalable, long-term profitability. At Teine, we are driven by our most important asset – our people. Our dynamic team thrives on industry disruption and works together to find innovative solutions to everyday challenges. Integrity, accountability, and humility define our character and teamwork is our keystone. We are a proud employer of energy professionals and embrace Canadians’ demand for domestically produced environmentally responsible, and ethically sourced energy.

BY BRIAN ZINCHUK

WINNIPEG – Manitoba Hydro will not be renewing two contracts totalling 500 megawatts of power capacity, and will instead be offering it for possibly two energy corridors – one to the north, and one running east-west. And the Manitoba premier is definitely looking to Saskatchewan for future power sales.

The April 14 announcement tied heavily into increasing talk during this federal election of a national energy corridor.

Teine Energy Ltd. (Teine) is a privately held company with producing assets in Alberta and Saskatchewan. We are a low-cost operator, focused on scalable, long -term profitability. At Teine, we are driven by our most important asset – our people. Our dynamic team thrives on industry disruption and works together to find innovative solutions to everyday challenges. Integrity, accountability, and humility define our character and teamwork is our keystone. We are a proud employer of energy professionals and embrace Canadians’ demand for domestically produced environmentally respo nsible, and ethically sourced energy.

We invite you to join our team.

We invite you to join our team.

Teine Energy is seeking a highly skilled and motivated professional to join our team as a Field Administrative Assistant. This full-time contract position, based at our Coleville Field Office, offers an exciting opportunity for a dedicated individual with a strong work ethic, resourcefulness, and exceptional organizational and planning skills.

Responsibilities:

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew told a press conference in Winnipeg, “I have an order here to bring back 500 megawatts of power that we’re currently exporting to the United States of America, and I have an order here to dedicate 50 of those megawatts of power to stand up a new transmission line to Nunavut.”

Teine Energy is seeking a highly skilled and motivated professional to join our team as a Field Administrative Assistant. This full-time contract position, based at our Coleville Field Office, offers an exciting opportunity for a dedicated individual with a strong work ethic, resourcefulness, and exceptional organizational and planning skills .

• Process invoices using an electronic invoicing system (OpenInvoice).

• Respond to internal and external invoice inquiries.

• Enter data and generate reports using a variety of software applications.

Responsibilities:

• Order and maintain office supplies for all field battery locations.

• Track and manage safety equipment, ensuring compliance with expiry dates and location records.

• Process invoices using an electronic invoicing system (OpenInvoice)

• Respond to internal and external invoice inquiries

• Collaborate and communicate effectively within a team of Field Administrators.

• Enter data and generate reports using a variety of software applications

Required Qualifications and Skills:

• Order and maintain office supplies for all field battery locations

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a field administration or similar role.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Outlook; ability to quickly learn new systems.

• Track and manage safety equipment, ensuring compliance with expiry dates and location records

His signing of the “order” was a spin on President Donald Trump’s extensive use of executive orders. But the intent was serious – Manitoba, through its Crown corporation Manitoba Hydro, is ending the export of 500 megawatts of power to the US and seeking to redeploy it in Canada, internally in Manitoba, but also for export within Canada. And that really means to Nunavut, Saskatchewan or Ontario. Kinew strongly

• Collaborate and communicate effectively within a team of Field Administrators

• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.

• Excellent time management and organizational skills; able to handle multiple priorities.

Required Qualifications and Skills:

• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a field administration or similar role

• Clear and professional communication style, with a willingness to learn.

• A team player with a positive attitude and collaborative mindset.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Outlook; ability to quickly learn new systems

• Must reside in the Kindersley area.

• High level of accuracy and attention to detail .

Please apply online, and submit your resume to www.teine-energy.com/careers

suggested much of that could go to the west. The shift marks an end of two contracts with Xcel Energy which were signed in 2010. Manitoba will continue to sell approximately 1,300 megawatts of power to the US, however, and would continue cross-border power arrangements.

How Saskatchewan ties in SaskPower currently has 350 megawatts of intertie capacity with Manitoba, some of which is used to send power to northern Saskatchewan via the Manitoba Hydro grid since there is no direct connection between SaskPower’s northern and southern grids. That 350 megawatts worth of intertie capacity is largely maxed out, so any additional power sales to Saskatchewan would require the building of additional intertie capacity. SaskPower is currently doing a similar scale project with the Southwest Power Pool, adding 500 megawatts of intertie capacity with North Dakota. That project, currently under construction, will cost around a billion dollars.

• Excellent time management and organizational skills; able to handle multiple priorities

• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills

We appreciate the interest of all applicants, however, only those candidates to be interviewed will be contacted.

• Clear and professional communication style, with a willingness to learn

• A team player with a positive attitude and collaborative mindset

• Must reside in the Kindersley area .

Kinew first spoke of a new powerline to bordering Nunavut to the north, with 50 megawatts capacity. Known as the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link, it would tie the southwest portion of Nunavut to the national grid. The project would also include fibre optic communications capacity. While reporters questioned the viability of such a project for a population of just 11,000 people, Kinew countered that there were mining opportunities as well that could be serviced by

This Manitoba Hydro transmission line crosses the TransCanada Highway near Richer, Manitoba. It’s one of several lines that cross into Minnesota, to the southeast. PHOTO BY BRIAN ZINCHUK

Field Administrative Assistant (contract)

this power, as well as connecting it to Churchill, part of the province’s continued efforts to “build up the port.” He made reference to it being a high voltage direct current (HVDC) line, which would be similar to the province’s Bipole I, II and III lines which bring the bulk of Manitoba Hydro’s power from northern dams to the south.

The Nunavut line’s opportunity to enhance the port of Churchill would improve its capacity for other exports, he noted. Kinew suggested the possibility of hydrogen exports (by way of converting it to ammonia) as one possibility. “The hydrogen industry sounds so exciting. It’s not there yet, but maybe it will be. We’re talking about a timeline between now and 2032. Maybe there will be hydrogen that we could export in the form of ammonia by then. And if we’re talking about other trade corridors. We’re saying we’re serious about starting the conversation.”

“If you get us a polar class icebreaker to have in Churchill year round. Sky is the limit in terms of what Canada can do as an exporter, to the EU, to Brazil, to other jurisdictions,” Kinew said, suggesting the federal government should put up the billions of dollars it would cost to “park an icebreaker there,” year round, thus extending the shipping season.

Referring to power, Kinew said, “It’s great for Manitoba because it allows us to find a new export market for our hydro electricity. And it’s great for Canada, because it brings on board more housing, more mining and more industrial opportunities in both Manitoba and in one of the northern territories.”

Looking west

Kinew continued, “Then when we look west, when we look at our other provincial neighbors, and we think about the prospect of building trade corridors in Western Canada or across the country, in whichever direction, we know that those trade corridors are going to need power. So with that remaining 450 megawatts of power, we have the ability to say we, in Manitoba, are serious about talking with our western neighbors, with our northern neighbors, with all other jurisdictions in Canada. And not only are we serious and stepping up to talk, we’re putting action behind those words, and we’re saying we’re bringing back some of this power to our country so that we can build up the next generation of Canadian infrastructure.”

But Kinew is not really interested in having Manitoba paying for export lines. First referring to the line to Nunavut, he said, “For this to work for Manitoba Hydro, and for Manitoba, we’re not, we’re not going to be building the transmission line. We’re going to be hosting the construction activity. That’s what we’d like to see. That’s why I want to have the Feds at the table, right? To have them see this as a nation-building project that they would invest in through whatever mechanism they deem appropriate. But for Manitobans, we’re saying, What can we bring to the table to bring it to move these conversations on forward? Well, we’ve got the power, so let’s say we’re willing to dedicate 50 (megawatts) to this. We got another 450 (megawatts) that we just freed up for planning purposes. If another trade quarter comes across our desk, we could talk about devoting it to that purpose. And at the end of the day, I want us to be able to build new infrastructure in the province, and have other people pay for it, and us to own it.”

Selling to other neighbours and paying your mortgage

This is a notable shift in policy for Manitoba. The opportunity for SaskPower to buy additional hydro power from Manitoba Hydro had appeared to be off the table. In recent years SaskPower president and CEO Rupen Pandya had noted several times that Manitoba Hydro had informed SaskPower there would not be additional power available to buy, and indeed, Saskatchewan could expect less power would be available in the future.

Kinew said, “Well, if you wanted to pay off your mortgage and have folks in Nunavut pay for it, would that sound like a good deal to you? If you wanted our western neighbors to pay off your mortgage, would that be a good deal? I think if you can structure something that’s a win-win, where they’re paying our mortgage and we’re turning the lights on in their backyard, that’s a win-win, and we have the opportunity to do so.”

Kinew continued, “We have the opportunity to do so when it comes to the environment. That’s why we’re looking at the wind farms and partnering with indigenous nations to stand those up. It helps to diversify the power supply. And again, a lot of folks talk about energy transition, but we also need to do we also need to be thinking about energy addition, which is just we need to add more power to the grid in every in every way that we can that’s consistent with our values as Manitobans.

“Well, you know, I love the folks at hydro, and I’m sure if you ask them, you know, what do you think of Katy Perry landing from space? What do you think of the Jets winning the President’s Trophy? What do you think of the Premier’s press conference today? I’m sure their answer is going to be ‘to build a new dam.’

“‘Build a new dam’ to all those questions. For me, though, let’s do one thing at a time, you know, and I’m saying transmission line to the north, transmission line to the west to other parts of Canada, sounds like a nation building project Manitobans can really benefit from.”

Kinew noted earlier in the press conference, “Baseload power is the most valuable thing in the world right now. Baseload power meaning power that’s not depending on the wind blowing or the sun shining, but what electricity that flows 24/7.

“It’s the most valuable thing in the world right now because of AI. Every time you fire up a filter or search something on Google or Chat GPT, it’s a huge draw on base load power. And the reality is we could probably continue to increase our exports to the United States of America for the foreseeable future. Everyone’s telling us that the price is going to be bid up. But we think that the same economics around baseload power are just as strong in Canada, and we’re making a strategic priority here to invest in Canadian uses for this hydro electricity.”

Manitoba’s announcement comes at a time when the Government of Saskatchewan is seriously considering rejuvenating its existing coal-fired power fleet. It is also exploring the possible development of small modular reactors, with the first ones to be built near Estevan. A final determination of which of two sites would be chosen is anticipated in the coming months. The Manitoba announcement would not be enough to make up for a replacement of the coal entire coal fleet, either. And it’s currently expected SaskPower’s next 370 megawatt natural gas combined cycle power plant will cost between $1.4 and $1.7 billion.

Congratulations to the LUSELAND TRIP OF THE MONTH WINNER

to this

Graeme has won an exciting fishing adventure at North Haven Lodge. Ideal for groups of 6-8, this 3-night self-drive trip includes a cozy cabin stay and a pontoon rental for fishing at Canoe Lake, Saskatchewan.

CONGRATULATIONS GRAEME, and thank you for continuing to support the community you call home.

Congratulations

month’s Trip of the Month Winner, former Luseland resident GRAEME FINLEY.

Posting Date April 14, 2025

1. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What do you call a person who has lived to the age of 100 years?

2. HISTORY: When were cigarette commercials banned from American television?

3. MOVIES: Whose life is depicted in the movie “Raging Bull”?

4. U.S. STATES: In which state are the Catskill Mountains located?

5. TELEVISION: Which long-running TV drama was set in Cabot Cove, Maine?

6. MEASUREMENTS: How long is the ancient measurement called a cubit?

7. FOOD & DRINK: What is a dish called Cullen Skink?

8. CHEMISTRY: A diamond is composed of which single element?

9. GEOGRAPHY: What country is home to the Baffin, Victoria and Ellesmere islands?

10. ANATOMY: What is another name for the condition called “piloerection”?

Trivia Test Answerst

A centenarian; 2. Jan. 2, 1971; 3. Jake LaMotta (played by Robert De Niro); 4. New York; 5. “Murder, She Wrote”; 6. 1.5 feet.; 7. Scottish soup made of smoked

haddock, potatoes and onions; 8. Carbon; 9. Canada; 10. Goosebumps

Caleb Village in Kindersley held a successful craft and trade show on Saturday afternoon, April 12th. Caleb’s facility was lined with vendors selling all kinds of products. It was a busy day, as both the residents at Caleb and their family and friends came to check out what was on display. Manager Nancy Vanthuyne said they had an amazing turnout!

PHOTO BY NANCY VANTHUYNE

April 22, 2025, is Earth Day, a time to remember the importance of protecting the world’s natural resources and prioritizing renewable energies. This year’s theme, established by EarthDay.org, is “Our Power, Our Planet.”

This theme highlights the urgent need to switch to renewable energies in response to the climate crisis. Emphasizing the environmental, economic and health benefits, EarthDay.org recommends tripling the global production of renewable energy by 2030.

Earth Day mobilizes citizens, businesses and governments to accelerate the energy transition. Educational initiatives, interactive tools and community events will be held to raise awareness

and build commitment to this global initiative.

Get involved!

Would you like to get involved? You can participate in many efforts to protect the planet, not just on Earth Day but every day. Join millions of people around the world by taking part in a local event, or by organizing your own, on April 22.

Act now! Make eco-responsible choices and demand rapid renewable energy deployment from your governments, industries and businesses because the planet won’t wait.

For more information, visit EarthDay.org.

In a generous act of support for local healthcare, the KLD Wellness Foundation has proudly donated eight new beds to the Kerrobert & District Health Centre. This significant contribution underscores the Foundation’s commitment to the health and wellness of residents in our community. The KLD Wellness Foundation aims to enhance the quality of care available in our area. All funds received by the Foundation are reinvested directly into local healthcare initiatives, ensuring that resources are utilized to meet the specific health needs of our community, including the acquisition of essential medical equipment like these new beds. In addition to recognizing the KLD Wellness Foundation, we also want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all healthcare workers in our communities and across the province. Their tireless dedication and countless hours of service are invaluable, making our community a safe and nurturing home for all. SUBMITTED

Classifieds

Annual General Meeting

THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2025 11:00 AM Clearview Community Church

EMPLOYMENT

OPPORTUNITIES

NOW HIRING:

Person to

COOK & CLEAN for heavy (road) construction camp this upcoming season. Current location is near Saskatoon, SK. Must have valid driver’s license and safe food handling ticket. Experience in camp setting with 20-30 crew, an asset. Send resume with two work references to: Bryden Construction, Box 100, Aroborfield, SK., S0E 0A0 brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca or fax 306-769-8844 www.bryden constructionand transport.ca

HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS

Motor scrapers, dozers, excavators, rock trucks, packers; wide range of machines.

Lots of work all season. Camp/R & B provided. Competitive wages. Valid drivers license req’d. Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction and Transport Co. Inc. Box 100, Arborfield, SK S0E 0A0; Fax: 306-769-8844 Email: brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca www. brydenconstruction andtransport.ca

FEED AND SEED

BARLEY

AGPRO SEEDS - BUYING HEATED CANOLA, FEED BARLEY & FEED GRAIN. #1 buyer on the prairies, top price paid! For Bids Call/Text: 306-873-0481, Email: sales@agproseeds.com

FORAGE SEED FOR SALE: Organic & conventional: Sweet Clover, Alfalfa, Red Clover, Smooth Brome, Meadow Brome, Crested Wheatgrass, Timothy, etc. Star City, SK. Birch Rose Acres Ltd. 306-921-9942.

*New - AB StANdSwell* Smooth awn, high yielding, grain and forage great lodging reS Stance 1St NitrogeN uSe efficieNt cereAl iN cANAdA AttrActiNg JApANeSe iNtereSt cerveza, cdc auStenSon, cdc maverick, Sundre wheAt Pintail, forage or grain oAtS ac JuniPer, ac morgan, ac muStang derby cdc So1 SuPer oat peAS very early yellow Pea forage PeaS, AlSo AvAilABle PoliSh canola & SPring triticale mastinseeds.com 403-556-2609

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Private mortgage lender. All real estate types considered. No credit checks done. Deal direct with lender and get quick approval. Toll free 1-866-4051228 www. firstandsecondmortgages.ca

HEALTH

advertisements. For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Association’s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.swna.com.

PROVINCE-WIDE

LAND FOR SALE

FARMLAND WANTED

CLASSIFIEDS. 48 local community newspapers, distributing to over 450 communities, including 14 cities. Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call 306649.1405 or visit www.swna. com for details.

I am currently PURCHASING single to large blocks of land. NO FEES OR COMMISSIONS Saskatchewan born and raised, I know farming and farmland and can help you every step of the way.

Find QUALIFIED, LOCAL EMPLOYEES, using the strength of community newspapers! Visit www.swna.com or call 306649-1405 to find out how!

WANTED

Doug Rue, for further information 306-716-2671 saskfarms@shaw.ca www.sellyourfarm land.com

MISCELLANEOUS

Advertisements and statements contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness, or reliability of such

BS & TENDERS

Recruitment: 5 common mistakes to avoid at all costs

4 strategies for retaining your employees

Are you in charge of hiring new staff at your company? Beware of these five mistakes employers often make during the recruitment process:

As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, it can be challenging to retain your employees. Here are four strategies to help keep your talent.

1. Inaccurately defining the skills required in the job. A vague job description can attract unsuitable candidates and significantly increase the risk of making the wrong hiring choice. Specify the essential skills and experience necessary for the position.

1. Focus on communication. Communicate openly with your employees. Listen to their concerns and be open to new ideas. Let them know they’re heard and that you take them seriously.

3. Offer benefits. Ask your employees what your company could improve and add these to their benefits and perks. For example, you could include group insurance, paid holidays, yoga classes, flexible working hours and telemedicine.

2. Underpreparing for interviews. An unstructured interview without targeted questions can lead to assessment errors. Prepare an interview guide

2. Think about development. Employees often quit because of a lack of advancement opportunities. Therefore, provide training so your employees can develop their potential, avoid boredom and take on new challenges.

based on the actual needs of the position to ensure all candidates are evaluated fairly.

3. Basing your decision solely on a candidate’s resume. An impressive resume doesn’t always translate to real-world skills. Many employers include technical tests or simulations in their hiring process to evaluate a candidate’s abilities in practical work situations.

4. Get out of the office. Create opportunities for your employees to socialize and have fun in a context that doesn’t revolve around work. Use the opportunity to celebrate their successes.

4. Undervaluing interpersonal skills. Technical skills are important, but they shouldn’t overshadow interpersonal skills. A candidate who excels in communication and teamwork can positively impact

Employee retention also depends on effective recruitment. There fore, use a specialized agency to start your talent search today.

Find fulfillment at work: expert tips

Working isn’t just about earning a salary; it’s also an opportunity to develop your skills, take on new challenges and make meaningful connections. Since work takes up so much of your life, why not transform it into a source of pleasure and fulfillment? Try these simple and effective ways to help you love your job.

• Identify your strengths, passions and values. This can help give deeper meaning to your work.

• Ask for tasks that challenge you or allow you to develop new skills. Taking relevant training courses can also rekindle your enthusiasm for your job.

• Cultivate positive relationships by collaborating and sharing with your colleagues. A friendly work atmosphere is crucial for personal development.

• Ask your employer for feedback. Constructive comments can help you improve your skills and reinforce your sense of progress.

• Celebrate your successes. Whether your wins are big or small, acknowledging your achievements boosts your self-confidence and satisfaction.

How to welcome a teleworking employee

• Set clear boundaries and strive to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

If you follow these tips, you’ll discover that your job can become a source of lasting fulfillment.

Would you like to run your own licensed daycare home business but don’t want the clutter in your own home or to perform the renovations needed to get licensed?

Telecommuting has become increasingly popular in recent years. It allows companies to recruit qualified talent across the globe. If your company is about to welcome a new telecommuting employee, here’s how to do it.

• Talk about the company. Describe the company’s mission, values and other information to help the employee develop a sense of belonging.

The community of Coleville has a home ready for lease to an individual qualified to become a licensed daycare home operator. All utilities except phone/internet/tv are included in the monthly lease amount at a very reasonable rate. Child sized shelving, tables and chairs, high chairs, crib, sleeping cots, toys and more are already in the house. The home would qualify to run up to 12 spaces with a helper. The home has been renovated to pass the Fire and Heating Inspection. We are looking for a candidate with ECE Level One or experience in childcare and willing to obtain Level One. Candidate must be confident in running their own business. Candidate must be willing to implement an engaging program for the children in their care.

• Present your tools. Familiarize the employee with the tools, software and online platforms the company uses daily.

the work environment and contribute to the company’s success more than someone with impressive technical skills but a negative attitude.

5. Overlooking references and checks. The reference check is a crucial step, as it validates the skills and professional experience of potential hires. Skipping this step could lead to costly hiring mistakes.

By avoiding these five mistakes, you’ll boost your chances of recruiting talent that positively impacts your company. Reach out to a recruitment specialist for personalized advice.

Whether you already work in information technology (IT) or are just starting your studies, here are three qualities essential to

As an IT employee, you’re often required to solve problems. Consequently, you must en joy challenging yourself and looking for in novative solutions. You must also be inhe rently curious to stay updated with the latest technologies in a constantly evolving field.

2. COMMUNICATION SKILLS IT specialists must be able to communicate with their colleagues and clients. This means

lean on and contact if they need help. This will help them feel at ease.

• Introduce the team. to introduce the entire team. You can re serve extra time for the employee to get to know the colleagues they’ll be working with directly.

• Follow up. Make sure the new employee receives feedback from their immediate colleagues in the first few weeks to help them adjust. The recruit should feel free to ask questions without fear of judgment.

Candidate must respect the work, time and money the community has put into the home to get it set up properly. The Daycare Property Committee will continue to maintain the normal upkeep of the physical property.

• Offer mentoring. Ensure the new employee knows they have someone they can

There are several start up grants available through the Government of Saskatchewan to assist with licensing costs. Candidate is required to carry $5 million in liability insurance and pass all record checks. Candidate must be licensed or almost licensed at the end of a three month period.

Are you looking for telecommuting employees to join your team? Do business with a recruitment service.

If you or you and a helper are interested in checking into the opportunity, please contact Kathy Sproule at 306-460-8320 and forward a resume to colevillecef@gmail.com

It’s rare to get your dream job on the first try. Therefore, if you’re offered an entry vel position, it’s necessary to ask yourself if it’s a good idea to accept it. Here are some tips to help you decide.

WHEN

TO ACCEPT

If the job is related to your area of expertise and allows you to use and develop your skills, it may be worthwhile. The job may let you explore a field you’re interested in and help you obtain a better position in the future. The offer may also be attractive if there’s room for career development within the company.

you must be good at conveying your ideas, making yourself understood and finding the

If you want to thrive in IT, you must have exceptional organizational skills. Depending on your job, your colleagues may regularly interrupt you and require you to switch gearstask to keep up with

Do you have these qualities? If so, you have everything you need for a long career in this

If you sincerely doubt that you’ll enjoy your everyday tasks, the job probably isn’t for you. The same applies if most of your skills and educational achievements don’t apply to the job and won’t contribute to your professional development. Finally, it may be best to refuse the position if the salary is significantly lower than your expectations or if the company has a high turnover rate.

Are you having trouble finding a job that suits you? Consult job hunting resources in your area.

housing options

Leader drama group awarded 2nd place at Regional Drama Festival

LEADER — Leader Composite School drama students performed ‘The Monologue Show from Hell’ at the Regional Drama Festival at Swift Current on April 5th. LCS teacher and Arts Council member Pamela Sifert led the drama group, who placed second in the Best Overall Production category. But they also won a number of additional awards.

Logan Duchscherer won a Technical Award of Merit and Runner Up Best Tech Crew. Logan is an Arts

Council member, and so is Millie Jodoin who pulled off an amazing performance. Bria Sifert won an Acting Award for her roles as Bradley and Brenda, as well as Spirit of the Festival Award. Chloe Hwang and Johandre Pretorius won acting certificates for their roles. It was a hilarious and chaotic production that brought the house down at the Regional Drama Festival. Congratulations! It’s great to see drama alive and thriving in Leader!

Rosetown and Kyle RCMP Weekly Report

• Rosetown RCMP are investigating theft of mail from the Post Office in Harris.

• Kyle RCMP are investigating a fraud complaint in Zealandia.

• Kyle RCMP received a mischief complaint in Rosetown. Members spoke to the subjects of complaint.

• Kyle RCMP received a report of a suspicious person in Wiseton. Members patrolled the area but found no suspicious activity.

• Rosetown RCMP are investigating a break and enter to a work trailer in Kyle.

• Rosetown RCMP are investigating a break and enter to a trailer in Rosetown.

• Rosetown RCMP received a shoplifting complaint from a local business. Members spoke to the subject of complaint and the business requested no further action be taken.

• Rosetown RCMP attended a wellbeing request check in Kyle.

• Rosetown RCMP are investigating a

neighbour dispute in Wiseton.

• Rosetown RCMP had a found wallet turned in. The owner was contacted and wallet returned.

There were 42 Traffic related charges issued and 1 false alarm call. Police are asking anyone with information about these or any other crime(s) to please contact the Rosetown RCMP at 306-8825700, Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers anonymously at www.saskcrimestoppers.com 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com

Quick crop establishment lowers flea beetle risk

BY KEITH GABERT

Flea beetles remain the top ranked canola pest, according to the latest grower survey. The Canola Council of Canada 2024 grower survey asked respondents to name the diseases, weeds and insects of greatest economic risk to canola. Flea beetles were the most common answer in 2024, as they were in the 2022 and 2020 surveys.

While flea beetles seem to be unavoidable, growers can reduce the risk. John Gavloski, entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture, says canola crops that reach the four-leaf stage within three to four weeks of seeding are less likely to need protection from a foliar pesticide spray. Canola crops that require in-season foliar sprays are often slow-establishing and non-competitive.

Weather can be a major factor in rapid stand establishment. Canola sown in warm, moist soil will emerge quickly and uniformly. Warm conditions without moisture will often favour flea beetles over the crop. Whatever the weather, the following agronomy steps put the crop in the best possible scenario against flea beetles.

Target 5-8 plants per square foot

Canola crops that establish quickly and have five to eight plants per square foot usually face minimal risk from flea beetle feeding. More plants mean fewer beetles per plant – a situation more likely to keep leaf area loss below the threshold of 25 per cent. The graphic to the right is a visual representation of this point.

Seed shallow into warm, moist soil

A later seeding date may reduce the flea beetle risk if it means warmer soils and faster growth. Note that later-established canola crops could be flowering on hotter days and may have increased fall frost risk.

Consider advanced seed treatment

Advanced seed treatments will improve flea beetle protection in high-risk areas. However, seed treatments don’t work as well or are not actively taken up when the plant is not growing or when moisture is inadequate for the transfer of active ingredient from seed coat to seedling. Flea beetles need to take a bite of the canola seedling to take in the seed treatment insecticide.

Use safe rates of seedplaced fertilizer

The recommendation is to use only phosphorus in the seed row and no more than 20 lb./ac. of actual phosphate. Higher rates of seed-placed fertilizer add more stress, slow the pace of growth and reduce the stand.

Till versus no-till

While canola planted into warmer black-

For more on flea beetle management tips, how to make the spray decision and how to improve foliar spray results, check out these Canola Watch fundamentals articles: Flea beetles: Management tips and The flea beetle spray decision: 8 steps. While there, sign up to receive the weekly Canola Watch agronomy email.

1:00 PM

Please bring rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows, garbage bag, etc. If weather is not good the alternative date will be May 11th, 2025.

ened soil may emerge faster, that same warm ground cleared of obstacles also tends to attract more flea beetles. Also consider that crop residue retains soil moisture, which can contribute to more rapid emergence when moisture is limited.

PHOTO BY CANOLA COUNCIL OF CANADA

LUK

be

NOW HIRING PLUMBERS & ELECTRICIANS Visit lukplumbing.com for more details or email your resume to jeanabaker@lukplumbing.com 306-463-6707 807 - 9th St. W. Kindersley, SK

We try our best to keep events up-to-date, but if you see an error or have a cancellation, please let us know!

DENZIL

SATURDAY, APRIL 26

• Denzil Surf N’ Turf Fest. Supper & Dance at the Denzil Community Hall. Music by Detour. 5:30 & 7:30 PM Supper Seatings available. Silent Auction. No Minors. Dance 9:00 PM - 1:30 AM.

EATONIA

- Every Thursday from 11:30 AM -1:30 PM come to the Eatonia Library for puzzles, visiting and grab your books for the week!

- Check out our TOPS Chapter … it’s free to try! Every Wednesday. Weigh in: 5:45 PM. Meeting: 6:00 PM at the EOL Meeting Room. Contact Mila 306-480-2035.

- Eatonia & District Recreation Soccer Season starts April 30th. Contact Charity for more info at eatoniarec@sasktel.net or call 306-460-7130.

HOOSIER

- Sunday Service Hoosier Community Church 10:30 am at the Community Hall. Contact Joel Hamm 306-460-7056 or Curtis Kornelson 306-460-7327.

KERROBERT

SATURDAY, APRIL 26

• Annual Kerrobert & District Wildlife Supper at the Prairieland Community Centre. Doors open at 5:30 PM. Only 300 tickets available. Adults $30; 12 & under $10. Available at Prairie Sky Treasures or contact Jessica 403-443-3480.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30 & WEDNESDAY, MAY 7

• Clay Charm Craft for Teens (2 Day Activity) 4:00 PM in the Library. Registration required. Contact the Library staff at 306834-5211.

THURSDAY, MAY 1

• Storytime & Tree Craft 10:30 AM at the Library.

SUNDAY, MAY 4

• Cemetery Clean Up 1:00 PM weather permitting. Please bring rakes, shovels and gloves.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, MAY 10 & 11

• Free Dump Weekend. For more information, please contact the Town Office 306-834-2361.

TUESDAY, MAY 13 & TUESDAY, MAY 27

• Spring Clean Up at 1:00 PM. Town of Kerrobert employees will pick up clear bags ONLY. Pick up will only be done on front boulevards and on these two dates.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14

• Kerrobert Seniors Centre is hosting a Mother’s Day event at the Senior’s Hall from 1:00-4:00 PM. Dessert for $5.00 and the Spring Water Colony will be selling hanging baskets, plants, bread and buns.

- MS Support Group at Kerrobert Health Centre Meeting Room every 3rd Saturday 2:00-4:00 PM. Contact Gail Wiebe for more information 306-834-7068.

- Town of Kerrobert Memory Tree program is open. Contact the office for more infomation 306-834-2361.

KINDERSLEY

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23

Bearings for the Bourgault paralink drill & other applications L44643 cone $1395

Submit your Upcoming Event to kate@yourwestcentral.com or text 306-463-2211

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY AT NOON. Not intended for business use. Community and non-profit events are FREE OF CHARGE. Please try to keep wording to a minimum. We try our best to place as many events as possible, but closer dates will take priority. Please support the businesses that advertise in this newspaper. Without them, this publication would not be possible!

Bearings for the Bourgault Mid Row Banders & other applications LM67048 cone $1018 1 1/4” (AEL206-104D1) $3017

COUPLERS These Couplers are a direct cross with the Pioneer Couplers but with a flow rate of 19.8GPM! QAN-08-08NPTF 1/2 nipple

• St. Paul’s United Church invites you to St. George’s Day Dinner. English Menu. Doors open at 6:00 PM. Supper at 6:30 PM. $30/person. Limited seating. Live entertainment following the dinner. Call the church office 306-463-6508 for tickets or more info.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26

• Kindersley Screen Arts presents “Goodrich” 4:00 PM at Sunset Theatre. $10 cash at the door.

• The Road Hammers and Julian Austin at the West Central Events Centre. Tickets available at Ticketmaster or the Town of Kindersley office.

THURSDAY, MAY 1

day of each month from September to May at 7:00 pm at the Kindersley Seniors Centre. All levels of quilters and quilt enthusiasts are welcome! If you are interested in joining the group or would like more information, please contact Regan Overand at 306-460-6467.

- 365 Kindersley Air Cadets meet Thursday evenings at the Kindersley Museum. No charge to be a member, youth ages 12-18, must be a Canadian resident. Contact Ian Kehrer via text at 306-460-0057 or Sheila Kehrer via text 306-6049044. Come Fly With Us!

We have a wide range of safety glasses in stock including Edge Glasses! Please stop in and see our selection.

• Kindersley & District Arts Council presents “The Misery Mountain Boys” 7:30 PM at the Norman Ritchie Community Centre.

SATURDAY, MAY 3

• 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament at Kindersley Composite School.

SUNDAY, MAY 4

• West Central Abilities Inc. “Cash Bingo Fundraiser” at the Elks Hall. Doors open at noon. Early Bird at 12:30 PM. Regular games start at 1:00 PM.

• Grand Opening of Playcare Children Services Inc. Klubhouse 43 - 5th Street Crescent West 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon. Come for a walkthrough to see our Early Learning Facility. Contact Patty Brotzell-Close at 306-463-5437 or email: playcare@sasktel.net for more information.

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

• Kindersley Flatlanders Speedway Show & Shine

THURSDAY, JUNE 26

• West Central Abilities Inc. Annual General Meeting 11:00 AM at Clearview Community Church.

FRIDAY, JULY 25 - SUNDAY, JULY 27

• Kindersley Claybusters Registered Trap Shoot at the Kindersley Wildlife Federation Shooting Range starting at 1:00 PM on Friday. For info please contact Dan Kachmarski at 306-463-7207.

- Parkinson’s Support Group Meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month 1:30 PM at 401 - 4th Ave West (New Life Church). Everyone welcome! For more info call Nancy at 306-463-4514.

- Monday Night Jam Sessions at the Norman Ritchie Community Centre. Doors open at 6:30 to set-up, then the fun begins at 7-11 PM. Call Keith 306-460-8633.

- Interested in a support group for weight management? TOPS meetings; every Monday at 6:00 PM in the Kindersley Senior Centre OR contact Jill at 306-463-4210.

- PickleBall Indoor Season meets Sunday & Wednesday evenings 7:00-9:00 PM at Elizabeth Middle School gym. Cost is $50 for the season or $5 drop in. More info call Teresa Knight 306-460-7304.

- Fit Fighter Group Class. Helping individuals with Parkinson Disease, Fibromyalgia, MS, Arthritis and mobility issues. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:00 AM at Anytime Fitness. Call Karen 463-3607 for more info.

- The Prairie Crocus Quilt Guild meets on the second Tues-

• Every Saturday: Mom N Tots Morning 10:00 - 10:30 AM at the Norman Ritchie Community Centre. Registration required: Kindersleymusic@outlook.com

• Every Tuesday: Community Badminton 6:30 - 9:00 PM at Westberry School. Everybody welcome.

LUSELAND

- Luseland Library Art Gallery presents “Color. Light. Connection” by Debra Scholer (This Little Light Photography). Come see the unbelievable technical expertise, creativity, and composition skills of a local photographer.

- The Luseland Homecoming Hall will be available for indoor walking on TUESDAY & THURSDAY mornings. Please pick up the key at the Town Office to unlock the door. Silver collection at the door.

Recurring events at The Luseland Pioneers Club: PUBLIC

- Every Monday 2:00-4:00 PM Coffee

- Last Monday of the month 2:00-4:00 PM Pie ’n Ice Cream MEMBERS

- Monday-Saturday 8:30 AM - Noon, Coffee, Pool, Cards, Visiting

- Tuesday 1:00-4:00 PM Cards

- Tuesday 7:00-10:00 PM Games

- Wednesday 1:00-4:00 PM Cards

- Thursday 1:00-4:00 PM Cards

- Third Friday of the month Birthday Lunch at noon.

MAJOR

SATURDAY, MAY 24

• Community Garage Sale 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. $20/table or street space. Major Hall & Centre Street. Contact Janice 306834-8180 to book your space or table.

- MS Support Group at Kerrobert Health Centre Meeting Room every 3rd Saturday 2:00-4:00 PM. Contact Gail Wiebe for more information 306-834-7068.

PLENTY

SATURDAY, MAY 3

• Plenty’s 6th Annual Quilt Show “Stitching Together, a Community” 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at the Plenty United Church on Main Street. Admission by donation. Luncheon served from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM in the church basement. Featuring quilts by local quilt makers and special exhibits including our group quilt challenge and artwork by local artists. Special opening address at 11:00 AM by Carol Schmold.