Town council has agreed to help the curling club pay for replacing its chiller.
The agreement with the curling club on capital expenses—which had expired, said Amanda Bors, the acting chief administrator—had a clause that the two entities would agree in advance to any cost-shared capital upgrades. However, councillors ultimately decided to overlook that during their Jan. 19 meeting.
“Basically, they changed the chiller and they’re asking us to fund it,” Mayor Trevor Hay said during the meeting. Under the former agreement, “We generally offer up to $10,000 on a capital project on a 50-50 cost share,” Hay said.
After some discussion, councillors passed a motion to contribute $10,000 “from the 2025 financial year” to help pay for the chiller that the club bought in 2024.
Club executives made two requests for help in paying for it, in mid-October 2024 and last Nov. 17, a letter signed by Rosetown Curling Club president Don Campbell noted.
Previous capital projects carried out with the town’s financial backing have included new upstairs windows, flooring, lighting, heaters, emergency exit stairs and exterior tin siding, Hay and recreation director Kelli Emmons recalled.
The club has paid for the chiller and would like the town to pay $10,000 over five years to help restore their account balance, Emmons thought. The club has over $400,000, raised when its members were considering building a new curling rink, councillors learned.
“Having a clear decision will help the curling club to plan responsibly and move forward with certainty as we manage our operations and budget,” the letter said. Campbell also suggested an annual meeting with councillors to help “strengthen our relationship as a regular user of a town-owned facility.” Councillors thought such a meeting should happen in early fall.
Councillor Kimiko Otterspoor said, “It doesn’t matter too much what they have, how they’ve done it or what they’re going to spend it on; I think it’s more of what we as a council want to support.”
While the old agreement instructed the town to approve spending on a curling club project in advance, Otterspoor thought the town should change the agreement “and offer to help them with projects over multiple years,” she said.
A line to the chiller was damaged when the town was doing other work, “and we did end up paying for the
repair,” Emmons said. The previous chiller had an expected life of about 22 years; the chiller was 19 years old, she thought, “and I think they questioned whether us hitting that line affected the chiller,” she said.
Councillor Greg Carlson suggested making a one-time payment of $10,000 toward the chiller, “even though it wasn’t predicted and a set-up project,” and councillors soon passed Carlson’s proposal.
With the current agreement over, Bors suggested that council consider revising the next agreement.
ROSETOWN
SLIP SLIDING AWAY! Highway #7 was a skating rink on Saturday morning after freezing rain hit the area late Friday night. The photo was taken near the Anglia Road curve at McGee between Rosetown and Kindersley. Thank you to Arun Subramanian for permission to use the image.
JOB OPPORTUNITY
R.M. of Lacadena No. 228 GENERAL LABOURER
The R.M. of Lacadena No. 228 is accepting applications for a General Labourer for the 2026 construction season (April 1 - October 31).
Must be able to lift 50 lbs and work outside in all weather conditions. Class 5 drivers license required. Please forward resumes to the undersigned.
R.M. of Lacadena No. 228 Box 610 Kyle, SK S0L 1T0 Fax: 306-375-4705 Email: rm228@sasktel.net
For more information contact the R.M of Lacadena offce at 306-375-4753. PLEASE APPLY BY FEBRUARY 15, 2026 Stay
JOB OPPORTUNITY
R.M. of Lacadena No. 228
Grader/Heavy Equipment Operator
The R.M. of Lacadena No. 228 is accepting applications for Seasonal Equipment Operators for the 2026 construction season (April 1 - October 31). Equipment operator responsibilities may include road maintenance, equipment operation and servicing, and sign and culvert maintenance as directed by the foreman. Must be able to lift 50 lbs and work outside in all weather conditions. Pension plan and benefits are available. Please forward resumes to the undersigned.
R.M. of Lacadena No. 228 Box 610, Kyle, SK S0L 1T0 Fax: 306-375-4705; Email: rm228@sasktel.net
For more information contact the R.M of Lacadena office at 306-375-4753.
Four plead guilty to traffic offences at Rosetown court session
Four people pleaded guilty to traffic offences during the provincial court session at the Elks Hall in Rosetown on Jan. 22.
Most court officials stayed in Saskatoon due to the cold weather that day.
• Judge Brad Mitchell, participating by telephone, fined Fiayaz Momen of Calgary $500, accepting a prosecutor’s suggestion to reduce the amount. Police charged Momen with going 150 km/h on Highway 7 after the accused vehicle passed the officer, a prosecutor said.
• Ifeanyi Ngwoke of Saskatoon was fined $500 after he pleaded guilty to going at least 50 km/h over the limit. He had made a deal with the prosecutor in a case that had been set for trial that day.
• Robert Wilkins of Calgary must pay a fine of $300 after negotiating with the prosecutor for a lower official speed of 135 km/h and a lesser charge of speeding. Police had charged Wilkins with going at least 50 km/h over the limit.
• Leroy McKinnon of Calgary was fined $168 after he reached a resolution for an official speed of 109 km/h instead of 120 km/h.
• Judge Mitchell also denied a request from Baljinder Singh to reschedule his traffic trial, set for that day, and fined him his voluntary ticket amount. Singh’s emailed request had apparently reached the court clerk’s office at 11 p.m. the night before, said the prosecutor, who said he had contacted the police witness that morning in time to have him return to Saskatoon.
Rosetown Seniors Club
Members of the Rosetown Seniors Club enjoyed a lively round of card games recently, with strong participation across several events.
In Whist, top honours went to Joyce Morin, followed by Carol Gates in second place. Marlene Dawson finished third, with Jim Wright placing fourth. Bingo proved popular, with multiple winners throughout the afternoon. Carol Gates picked up two wins, while additional prizes were claimed by Maxine Taylor, Jim Wright, Laurie Carpenter, Pauline Johnston and Joyce Morin. In Cribbage, Ron Haye secured first place, with Jayne Labrecque taking second. Jim Wright rounded out the top three with a third-place finish. The club continues to offer enjoyable social activities for members, with good sportsmanship and friendly competition throughout the events.
QUOTABLE
The human being who lives only for himself finally reaps nothing but unhappiness. Selfishness corrodes. Unselfishness ennobles, satisfies. Bertie Forbes, U.S. financial journalist (1880-1954)
MEDITATION
For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of one who waits for Him. — Isaiah 64:4
“OLD RED” BY KERRI REDEKOP SPONSORED BY PRAIRIELAND WINDOW COVERINGS
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EAGLE STAFF
Just a gal from Glidden
Hope springs eternal (and please, please let it be cloudy)
BY KATE WINQUIST
Well, here we are—already into February. How did that happen? February always brings with it that age-old question: will that furry little rodent see his shadow or won’t he? I can never remember whether we’re supposed to cheer or groan, so I finally looked it up. If the groundhog emerges from his burrow and sees his shadow, he scurries back inside and we’re stuck with six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t see it, spring arrives early.
So please, please let it be cloudy on Monday.
Now, I’ll admit, this winter hasn’t been that bad—but as the saying goes, “Hope springs eternal,” and lately it feels like we could all use a healthy dose of that.
February is also Heart Month, and our friends at the Kindersley & District Health & Wellness Board will once again be canvassing for donations for their Heart to Heart campaign. This year’s focus is on updating the dining area for residents at Heritage Manor, along with purchasing a much-needed Medication Cart for Acute Care. The estimated cost for these projects is approximately $65,000. So when that familiar pink piece of paper shows up in your mailbox, I hope you’ll consider supporting this very worthwhile cause.
And speaking of hearts… is love in the air?
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for romantic couples. It’s a chance to celebrate every kind of love in your life—your friends, your children, your family members,
and yes, even your co-workers. Everyone deserves to be reminded how much they’re appreciated.
This time of year always makes me reflect on lifelong friendships—especially since one of my dearest friends is celebrating a birthday this week. Back in high school, we had a pretty tight-knit group, and every time I look at this photo of the nine of us (circa 1987), I can’t help but smile. Is it the acid-wash jeans? The industrial-strength hairspray? The hairstyles that required both commitment and courage?
Probably all of the above.
What a time it was—playing basketball, cruising Main Street for hours on end, passing notes in Mr. Gordon’s Biology class, drinking Bianca in Erickson’s basement… Some of those stories may or may not be suitable for print. I’m not saying I’d want to relive my high school days, but I would love to pile into Koska’s big red Suburban
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Front Row: Karla Longmire, Danora Weber, Michelle Campbell, Trina Koska
Missing: Kathy Auger, Francie McCallum
one more time, crank up some Bon Jovi, Poison, or Tom Petty (sorry, Danora—I know you still don’t like Tom Petty!), and just go for a drive.
I consider myself incredibly fortunate that after being away for almost 30 years, I was able to come back to Kindersley and still sit down for lunch with a few of these beauties, picking up conversations as if I had never left. Those friendships are forever treasured. New friendships have blossomed over the years as well, especially through work. Joan Janzen is one of the most thoughtful and caring individu-
als you could ever hope to meet. Greg Paulhus and I have known each other since Grade 1 at Westberry School, and truthfully, without Greg’s support—especially when it came to creating our website and sharing his knowledge of the newspaper industry—I’m not sure I would have felt comfortable starting from scratch.
And then there’s the woman I work alongside every week through texts and emails: Patti Moran, whom I have never met in person. Patti works remotely from our nation’s capital, and sometimes I wonder if we weren’t separated at birth (even though she is MUCH older than I). We are clearly wired the same. We’ll text each other at the exact same moment, asking the exact same thing. Honestly, it kind of freaks me out.
So on February 14, do something small to show your appreciation for someone you love. Better yet—don’t limit it to just one day. Let the people in your life know how much they mean to you, and the positive impact they have simply by being there.
Because love, like hope, is always worth sharing.
Comment
Iran crackdown leaves tens of thousands dead, reshaping the country’s future
After two weeks of near-total silence following the mass killing of Iranian protesters on Jan. 8–9, the partial restoration of internet access has allowed the first credible assessments of the death toll to reach the outside world. The picture that is emerging is grim.
International Opinion
By Gwynne Dyer
The most plausible estimates range from roughly 22,000 to more than 30,000 deaths over two days. These figures are drawn largely from hospital admissions, mortuary records and reports of mass burial sites compiled before authorities fully shut down communications. Numerous witnesses report that security forces carried out executions inside hospitals, targeting protesters already receiving treatment for gunshot wounds, including injuries to the eyes and groin.
Iran has experienced deadly crackdowns before, but nothing on this scale. Security forces killed an estimated 3,400 people during unrest in 1981–82, more than 1,000 in 1988, 72 in the 2009 protests, between 300 and 1,500 in 2019, and 551 during the 2022–23 demonstrations. Even by the regime’s own standards, the January killings represent a qualitative break from the past.
Iran’s population of about 92 million is spread across a vast country, yet protests were reported in more than 400 cities and towns. With casualties this widespread, nearly every Iranian will know someone who knows someone who has been killed, wounded
Iran has experienced deadly crackdowns before, but nothing on
this scale.
or imprisoned. The social and political consequences of this violence are irreversible.
Until now, the Islamic Republic retained the loyalty of a substantial minority of devout Shiite supporters, while many others tolerated the system in exchange for stability and personal space. That tacit bargain has collapsed. The state now governs primarily through fear. History suggests such regimes can endure for years, but only at a high human cost.
Recent Middle Eastern history offers contrasting precedents. During the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011–13, both Egypt and Syria faced large, initially non-violent protest movements. Egypt’s long-time ruler Hosni Mubarak was overthrown, and a free election brought an Islamist government to power. The military soon reversed the result, seizing control and crushing renewed protests. Security forces killed about 2,400 demonstrators in central Cairo, after which mass resistance subsided. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi remains in power, with consistent U.S. backing.
Syria followed a different path. The Assad regime responded to early protests in 2011 with immediate and sustained violence, triggering a civil war that lasted more than a decade. The conflict devastated the country and displaced roughly half the population. For a time, President Bashar al-Assad appeared to have survived, largely due to Russian military support.
That support weakened after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine diverted Moscow’s resources and attention. In late 2024, Assad was overthrown in a rapid offensive led by a small militia headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former Islamic State member. Al-Sharaa has pledged to govern Syria as a pluralistic democracy. While the promise is welcome, the country’s recent history counsels caution.
Iran is not an Arab state, and Shiite clerical rule differs from Sunni authoritarianism. Still, the region’s political trajectories have often converged. Even if Iran’s January protests had not been drowned in blood, the odds of a peaceful democratic transition were always low, given the regime’s entrenched security apparatus and ideological rigidity.
External factors further complicate the picture. Former U.S. president Donald Trump has again inserted himself into the Iran crisis, warning Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that a U.S. naval force is “floating beautifully toward Iran” and threatening another direct military strike. The remarks appear aimed less at aiding Iranian protesters than at regaining political attention.
Trump previously urged demonstrators to continue protesting and suggested that help was imminent. In reality, there was no practical military option to assist them, and by the time he spoke, the worst of the killings had already occurred. His current threats are tied instead to pressuring Tehran into renewed negotiations over its nuclear program—one he previously claimed to have dismantled.
The rhetoric is unlikely to alter events inside Iran. The violence has already reshaped the country’s political landscape, and the future will be determined primarily by forces within its borders.
Royals basketball in action at home as bowlers head to provincials
The Rosetown Central High School senior boys basketball team hosts a tournament this Friday and Saturday.
The Biggar Blazers, the Kindersley Kobras B team, the Shaunavon Shadows, the Eaton Spartans from Eatonia, the Davidson Raiders, the Maple Creek Redmen and the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation School Falcons, a late replacement, are expected to take part.
The senior boy Royals won’t lack for competition. They lost games in Biggar on Jan. 15, at every game at a tournament in Hafford on the 16th and 17th and in Outlook on the 23rd, said cocoach Ben Cressman.
Despite no wins, “we’re working on the process; we’re improving,” said Cressman.
The senior girls team split games in a Jan. 9-10 tournament in Wilkie and defeated the Kindersley Kobras 46-23 on the 21st.
Teams dropped out of the tournament in Wilkie, leaving Kerrobert, the host McLurg Broncs and the Royals.
The Royals lost to Kerrobert in overtime and defeated the Broncs in overtime, said coach Trinity Grant.
They started slowly in Kindersley and led by six at halftime.
“Then we came out strong in the sec-
Bowling
ond half to pull away from them, said Grant. “We tried a new offensive set and a new press which the girls executed effectively after getting the hang of it in the first half.” Willemina Heinrichs scored 12 points, Rayna James got 10 and Sydney Dessert had eight in Kindersley, said the coach.
The provincial round of the Masters – YBC tournament was to be played on Sunday in Regina. Rosetown had representatives in two categories: senior-aged youth bowlers Katherine Lindridge and Layla Vallely teamed with Master bowler Bill Shkolny; and bantam bowlers Daxon Summach and Tate Ironside with Master bowler Kelly Graham.
SPORTS THIS WEEK with David McIver
Sports
Koepka alone in return to PGA Tour
What could have been a mad dash by some of the greatest golfers in the world from the upstart LIV tour back to the PGA Tour turned out to be hardly a trickle. Does one even count as a trickle?
Sports By Bruce Penton
Brooks Koepka, a fivetime major champion who is one of a handful of big names who took the Saudi Arabian money and fled the PGA Tour a couple of years ago, had buyer’s remorse in December and announced to the world he was leaving LIV.
Paul Simon wrote that there are 50 ways to leave your lover, but would there be more ways for the LIVers to leave the LIV? The PGA Tour brass wanted to find out, so they established what they called the “Returning Member Program” which specifically targeted the cream of the crop — Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cam Smith. Criteria set out by the PGA said the program was open only to major champions or Players’ champs who won their titles between the years of 2022 and 2025. Those four aforementioned players all fit the criteria while everyone else — Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia and others — didn’t, nor did they have the star power sought by the PGA Tour. They therefore didn’t qualify for return to the bright lights of what is indisputably the best pro tour in the world.
Given a deadline of Feb. 2 to accept the PGA Tour’s
offer, DeChambeau, Rahm and Smith all immediately pledged their fealty to LIV and left Koepka as the lone returnee. SI.com said Smith was committed to his all-Australian team on LIV while Rahm’s contract with the breakaway tour runs through 2027. DeChambeau is a superstar in the YouTube golf world and has earning power from that source potentially greater than what he could accumulate playing on regular tours.
New PGA Tour commissioner Brian Rolapp said there was no guarantee the Tour would leave the return window open forever. “Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again,” said Rolapp.
Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour didn’t come without some financial pain. He will have to make a $5 million charitable donation; he won’t be eligible for the 2026 Fed-Ex Cup $100 million bonus program; he will not be able to play in the Tour’s big-money signature events in 2026; and he will will not be able to earn any money from the Player Equity Program for five years. That last condition could reportedly be worth up to $80 million.
“The penalty is significant, but I understand why they’ve done it. It hurts but it’s supposed to,” Koepka told Golfweek. “I’ve got a lot of work to do with the players and I want to do that one-on-one. I want to have those conversations, but behind closed doors.”
Initial reports said the majority of PGA Tour players are glad to have Koepka back but while LIV will survive, it’s more irrelevant than ever without Koepka.
• Cathal Kelly of the Globe and Mail, on Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour: “You almost feel sorry for the Saudis. They made Koepka monstrously
rich, and in return he shanked them. But when you pay mercenary money, you get mercenaries.”
• Comedy guy Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver: “Senators’ captain Brady Tkachuk says he’s giving up fighting after undergoing thumb surgery. Oh well, he’ll always have his stick.”
• Snipped from Jack Finarelli’s sportscurmudgeon. com: “Jake Gaither, longtime head coach at Florida A and M, on his ideal defensive player: ‘He should be agile, mobile and hostile.’”
• David Aldridge of The Athletic, on AI challenges facing sports journalism: “You don’t get rich being a reporter, but you can make a decent buck. In contrast, ChatGPT can write a decent paragraph or two, for free, and never complains about having to fly Southwest to get to Cleveland.”
• Columnist Norman Chad: “Enough with Joey Chestnut. Now he’s going for the world bagel eating championship. He’s just stuffing wieners and bagels down his throat while the world burns.”
• Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun, about Flames’ Jonathan Huberdeau, who had 21 points in 45 games with the Flames through Jan. 24: “Hard to believe, but just four years ago, Huberdeau had 115 points in a season. Honest.”
• Steve Simmons again: “Without Bo Bichette, the Blue Jays still need one solid bat, one starting pitcher, one high-leverage relief pitcher and more affordable tickets.”
• Headline at theonion.com: “Groundskeeper Unsure What To Do With Unconscious Player Left In Medical Tent”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
Town of Eston - Public Works Foreman
Date Posted: Thursday, January 29, 2026 Department: Public Works
Deadline: Sunday, February 15, 2026
POSITION OBJECTIVES
The Town of Eston is seeking a motivated and experienced Public Works Foreman to oversee and support municipal operations. This is a working foreman role that combines hands-on operational responsibilities with administrative and supervisory duties. Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, the Public Works Foreman is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Public Works Department and for ensuring the safe, efficient delivery of municipal services. These services include, but are not limited to, transportation infrastructure, landfill operations and other municipal facilities and operations. (E.g. Library, AGT Community Centre) The typical work schedule is Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with periodic on call duties or shift work as required. The Town supports training and professional development and offers opportunities for advancement for the right candidate
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Key Responsibilities
• Lead, supervise, and work alongside Public Works staff in daily operations, including roads, facilities, fleet, and grounds maintenance
• Plan, prioritize, and assign work while ensuring service levels and safety standards are met
• Prepare and obtain quotes, assist with budgeting, and manage operational expenditures
• Complete required reporting, documentation, and records as requested by Administration
• Monitor inventories, equipment maintenance, and asset condition
• Ensure compliance with applicable bylaws, policies, OH&S requirements, and regulations
• Communicate effectively with Administration, Council, contractors, and the public as required
• Support long-term planning and continuous improvement of Public Works operations
DESIRABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: Qualifications
• Experience in municipal public works or a related operational environment is an asset
• Strong understanding of public works operations and infrastructure
• Demonstrated ability to lead by example in a hands-on, team-based environment
• Experience with budgeting, quotes, reporting, and administrative tasks
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Knowledge of workplace health and safety practices, asset
• Valid driver’s license (Class 3 an asset)
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
• Team player who works collaboratively with staff and Administration
• Self-motivated, dependable, and accountable
• Able to balance fieldwork with administrative responsibilities
• Strong work ethic with attention to detail and follow-through
BENEFITS: Compensation
Wage will be based on experience and qualifications.
Benefits and Pension
MORE INFORMATION:
How to Apply
Interested applicants are invited to submit a resume to: Town of Eston
first meet, at the Calico club in Humboldt last weekend. The first competition for Gilroy will be at the Marian club meet in Saskatoon this weekend.
BY DAVID MCIVER
Charity hockey game to support Walker family
The U-18 Western Prairie Redwings will play a charity hockey game here against the U-22 Western Prairie Klippers on Feb. 21, starting at 7:30 p.m. The Redwings’ half of the guaranteed $1,500 half-and-half fundraiser will be donated to support former resident Scott Walker and family of Wainwright, Alta., who have daughter Peyton undergoing cancer treatments in Edmonton.
As well, admission to the game “will just be a donation to the Walker family,” said Redwing coach Trent Aylward.
“Donate what you want,” he said.
Putting on the game “I guess was the idea of me and my wife (Katie),” said Aylward.
The Kindersley-based Klippers don’t
have any Rosetown or area players, but their coach is Mike Clayton, who is originally from here, he said. It’s a junior hockey team, “so they’re province-wide,” said Aylward.
Teanna Crossman of Rosetown plays for the U-22 Outlook Ice Hawks of the same league, he said.
The Redwings are from here and places such as Elrose and Dinsmore.
Being older and drawn from all of Saskatchewan might give the Klippers some obvious advantages. “I don’t even care what the score is. That’s not what it’s about,” said Aylward.
It’s also not a matter of extra travel for the Klippers, “because most of those girls live in Saskatoon anyway,” he said.
“Wear your jerseys in support,” said a poster for the game.
Dynamos set for fourth-place playoff matchup after split results
BY DAVID MCIVER
Prior to their last regular-season game, the Dinsmore Dynamos had split recent games, remaining in fifth place in the 10-team Sask Valley Hockey League.
The Dynamos were to finish the regular schedule in Lucky Lake on Sunday.
It looks like they will place the fouth-place team, whether that’s the Loreburn 19ers or the Davidson Cyclones, said Dynamos manager Kurt Jones.
The 19ers and Cyclones were each tied with 39 points and a game to be played at press time Friday.
All of the Dynamos but Brayden Atkinson - out with a knee problem - remain available to play, said Jones then.
The Cyclones had edged them 6-5 in Dinsmore on Wednesday after a Dynamo 5-3 home-ice win over the Outlook Ice Hawks on Jan. 23.
Rosetown-area product Josh Uhrich got a hat trick and Justin Ball and Trey Doell also tallied against the Cyclones. Daven Smith had two assists.
Declan Hobbs made 20 saves in the Dinsmore net.
Mark Walchuk scored four goals and Braden Olszewski got two more Cyclone markers. Brett Matlock stopped 32 Dynamo shots.
Logan Casavant with two, Uhrich, Chad Westman and Parker Atkinson scored against the Ice Hawks. Colin Berglof, Josh Atkinson and Otto Lammers each had two assists.
Hobbs made 29 saves.
Dawson Kurz, Alex Phillips and Kobe Kindrachuk got Outlook goals.
Despite it being a loss for him, Ice Hawk netminder Derrick Hucul made 55 saves.
Arabella Gilroy does a split jump on the balance beam while Myla Van Hove (standing), Ivy Turk and Avery Hay watch. Rosetown Gymnastics Club members were practising on Thursday night prior to the club’s
PHOTO
EAGLE STAFF
Hendrix Pridmore of the U-13 Redwings moves in to check Jaxson Roesch of the U-13 Dundurn Ice Wolves provincial team during the second period here on Friday. Goalie Matthew Winny watches. The Ice Wolves won this 13-0, the second game of their U-13 C first-round playoff series. They won 23-0 in Dundurn on Jan. 22, eliminating the Redwings. PHOTO BY DAVID MCIVER
Biggar’s Garrett Hawkins closing in on Major Leagues
BY KATE WINQUIST
From a small west-central Saskatchewan community better known for grain elevators than radar guns, Garrett Hawkins is steadily pitching his way toward baseball’s biggest stage.
The 6-foot-5 right-hander from Biggar has emerged as one of the San Diego Padres’ top pitching prospects, capping a remarkable comeback season in 2025 that earned him a spot on the club’s 40-man Major League roster and put him firmly on the radar for a future bigleague call-up.
Drafted by San Diego in the ninth round of the 2021 MLB Draft, Hawkins has taken a long and winding road to this point — one that included leaving the province to chase elite competition, battling serious injury, and proving he belongs among the game’s rising arms.
After developing at the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball in Alberta and pitching collegiately at the University of British Columbia, Hawkins entered professional baseball with promise but faced a major setback in 2023 when an arm injury led to Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for most of two seasons.
When he returned to the mound in 2025, the results were emphatic.
Used primarily out of the bullpen, Hawkins dominated at both High-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio, posting a 1.50 earned-run average over 60 innings, striking out 80 batters and allowing very little solid contact. At one point, he rattled off a scoreless streak approaching 40 consecutive innings, one of the longest in the minor leagues last season.
The Padres took notice.
In November, the organization added Hawkins to
HOCKEY NEWS
its 40-man roster, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft and signaling confidence that the Saskatchewan product could soon contribute at the major-league level.
Armed with a fastball that has touched 98 miles per hour and a sharp breaking pitch, Hawkins has transitioned seamlessly from starter to power reliever — a role increasingly valued in today’s game. The Padres recognized that progress by naming him their Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
For Biggar and the surrounding west-central Saskatchewan region, Hawkins’ ascent is a source of pride. Saskatchewan has produced only a handful of Major League players, and Hawkins is now within striking distance of becoming the next.
While his journey has taken him thousands of kilometres from home, those roots remain central to his story — proof that elite talent can emerge from even the smallest prairie towns.
As spring training approaches, Hawkins will arrive with a legitimate chance to push for his Major League debut, carrying with him not just Padres expectations, but the hopes of a hometown that has been following every inning.
SWHL, CRHL release award winners
BY PHIL HEILMAN
Friday was a busy day for both the Sask West Hockey League and the Cross Roads Hockey Leagues as they both revealed award winners
Sask West
1st Team All-Stars: Goal – Logan Drackett (Kindersley), Defense – Daniel Hilsendager and Derek Keller (Wilkie), Forwards – Rick Cey (Wilkie), Jonathon Redlick (Biggar) and Jaxon Georget (Kindersley).
2nd Team All Stars: Goal – Taryn Kotchorek (Edam), Defense – Carson Grolla (Kindersley) and Tyler Baier (Macklin), Forwards – Keegan Tiringer (Edam), Shayne Neigum (Kindersley), Linden McCorrister (Asquith).
Top Scorer was earned by Jaxon Georget (18G, 27A for 45 PTS in 15 games), while the Coach of the Year was given to Les Aylward and Gary McManus of the Kindersley Klippers.
Rookie of the Year was handed out to Rhett Partington of the Macklin Mohawks, who had 4 goals and 6 assists, good for 10 points in 15 games played.
Both the Best Defensive Forward and Most Gentlemanly Player awards were given to Ryne Keller of the Wilkie Outlaws, while brother Derek won the Top Defenseman and League MVP awards.
The Harvey Somerville Memorial Award was handed to Jerome Ehry. The Somerville award is a prestigious award given to an individual to recognize their years of service in both hockey in their town and the Sask West Hockey League. It
was created in 2006 to commemorate the work of Harvey, who was a longtime supporter of the Eatonia Huskies and the Sask West Hockey League.
The Bill Cey Memorial Award was given to Tyler Baier of the Macklin Mohawks. The Cey award is another prestigious award given to a hometown player who exemplifies work ethics in both on and off ice activities in their communities. This award was created in 2023 to honour Bill, who was a very avid supporter of the Wilkie Outlaws.
Cross Roads
Top Scorer honours went to Jordan Johnston of the Rosetown Redwings (17G, 15A for 32 PTS in 10 games), while Coach of the Year went to Curtis McLean of the Unity Miners.
Best Defensive Forward award was won by Jon MacDonald of the Dodsland Stars. Most Gentlemanly award was given to Troy Joyce, also of the Dodsland Stars.
Noah Gumpinger of the Unity Miners took home the Rookie of the Year. He went 4-1 in 5 GP, sporting a 2.20 GAA and 0.904 Save %.
The Redwings took the rest of the awards, with Best Goalie being awarded to Noah Martens, Best Defenseman given to Eric Robbie, and Jordan Johnston taking home League MVP.
Jim Reiter, MLA
Rosetown-Elrose Constituency 215 Main Street, Rosetown Monday-Friday, 9:00 – 5:00
Tel: 306-882-4105
Fax: 306-882-4108 Toll Free: 1-855-762-2233
E-mail: jimreitermla@sasktel.net
“Trusting a groundhog with the weather feels very on-brand for winter.“
Garrett Hawkins
PEDIGREE SEED FOR SPRING 2026
WHEAT
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*100 FT. LEGAL SCALE ON SITE*
LENTILS
• CDC MONARCH CL lg. red
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NAKONECHNY SEEDS
(306) 932-7771 • Ruthilda, Sask. “Where Quality Comes First!”
“While it is February, one can taste the full joys of anticipation. Spring stands at the gate with her finger on the latch.“
Patience Strong
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Owens & Sweitzer (1972) Ltd. in Eston, Saskatchewan is looking to fill the following positions: SALES PERSON
Primary focus to cover on road sales and territory management of areas including and surrounding but not limited to: Rosetown, Milden, Elrose, Kyle, Dodsland.
PARTS COUNTER PERSON
Retail parts sales, ordering and customer service within the dealership.
SERVICE TECHNICIAN
Minimum 3rd year apprentice to service all of our brands.
Owens & Sweitzer offers the benefits of working for a locally owned, in house management group that is community and family oriented.
Wages and salaries that meet or exceed industry averages, comprehensive benefits plan.
If you think you have something to offer our team, are energetic, and ready to help us grow our business, apply to: Cordell Goheen at 124 Railway Ave in Eston, SK cordell@owensandsweitzer.com
Bob Bertolo, grand knight of the Rosetown Council of the Knights of Columbus, hands a cheque to treasurer Jackie Bell of Rosetown and District Wheels for Wheels Inc. for the new van, surrounded by other Knights including Dr. Dan Ledding (L), Bill Decker, Father Habila Musa, Ken Sinclair, Gerry Rogal, Jacques
Ray Labrecque and Leo Labrecque.
office,
A better bath at last thanks to Western Sales
ing,” she said.
Bath time has gotten much better for residents of a Wheatland Regional Centre group home in Rosetown. Participants living at the centre’s Biggar House, in the 300 block of Sixth Street East, are enjoying a new hot tub, courtesy of Western Sales.
Michelle Morris, the supervisor at Biggar House, convinced senior executives with the John Deere implement dealership to provide a grant for the tub and its installation, Wheatland executive director Lana Hamilton said.
FOR SALE BY TENDER
LARGE BLOCK OF TAME AND NATIVE GRASSLAND ~ RM of Lacadena and RM of Monet ~ Highlights:
• 21 deeded quarters + 45 Saskatchewan Government lease quarters (buyer must qualify for lease transfers)
WHEAT COUNTRY 1 West Road, Kindersley, SK S0L 1S1 Arlene Boisjoli • 306-460-7785 • royal3@sasktel.net Mary Kloster • 306-372-7832 • marykloster@royallepage.ca
The tub “has enriched” residents’ “lives so much,” Morris said. “We’ve been struggling to get a bath in there for about 13 years. Funding just hasn’t been there.”
“People have mobility issues” so the old tub “didn’t work for them,” Hamilton said. “It was dangerous and difficult.”
The new, walk-in tub has a door on its side and “a bunch of features,” she said. “You can have aromatherapy; there are jets; you can have music play-
People can improve their mental health and well-being by sitting in the warm water and enjoy the experience, Hamilton added.
Morris explained to sales manager Jason Hintze “how important this was for the residents of the group home, then I put some paperwork together and (Western Sales) made it happen,” she said.
Workers gutted the washroom area where the previous standard tub stood, the new tub was installed over a day and a half and connected to electricity that runs its jets.
The leading executives with Western Sales - McGrath, Carl Persson and Hintze - “are absolutely a godsend, not only to Rosetown but to all the other communities around it,” Morris said. She also singled out finance manager Henry Pretorius, saying, “If it wasn’t for him, we couldn’t have had the accounts paid.”
She attended the company’s Christmas party with her husband, Gary Morris, a senior technician with Western Sales, and spoke to McGrath, who suggested she take the request to Hintze, she said. She talked with him two weeks later “and this is what happened,” Morris said.
The tub, its installation and electrical work by Long and Son cost about $20,000, said Hamilton, who joined Wheatland in August. She grew up on a farm near Dodsland and moved to Calgary, then Winnipeg, where she spent 21 years.
Leblanc,
A telethon in 1979 on CKKR Radio, broadcast from Main Street outside the post
raised money for the first van, Knights said, disagreeing over whether the new one was the third or fourth van. PHOTO BY IAN MACKAY
EAGLE STAFF
June Prehodchenko shows off the new hot tub at Wheatland Regional Centre’s Biggar House, recently provided by Western Sales. It replaces a conventional tub that some residents had trouble climbing into.
PHOTO BY IAN MACKAY
A new year at Orange Memories - songs, stories, and the ties that bind
BY BETH ROBERTSON
Here we are, launched into 2026. We wanted the the new year to start with a celebration, so we held an impromptu gathering on the evening of January 1st. We sang the old songs, danced in our heads to the HeelToe Polka, old time waltzes and other old time dances. We clapped our hands to the rhythm of the piano music. Someone suggested we needed a snack and voila! popcorn and juice appeared. Thanks Jeff! Then the storytelling began. Stories of New Years Eve Dances in community halls and local schools, where babies were put to sleep on piles of winter coats, where blizzards sometimes caught the revellers off guard and they were forced to stay in the local hall/school, hoping the morning would bring relief. Oh, the stories these white-haired folks have to tell!
On January 6th, a visit from Enid Smith of Luther Riverside Terrace, Saskatoon, and her son, Ross, brought an impromptu performance by the duo. With Ross, on his trumpet and Enid on the piano, we enjoyed the old favourites. Then, Ross with his Michael Buble-type voice, serenaded, first his mother, and then the rest of us. Touching moments. We hope they will come again.soon.
A group of residents visited the Wheatland Regional Centre on January 15, travelling on the new Wheels for Wheels bus. Thank you for the ride and the good time at the Centre.
On January 21, despite the cold, the Senior Choral Group brought an hour of joyful singing and some laughs.Songs included good old Scottish tunes to honour Robbie Burns Day . We appreciate the joy and enthusiasm the singers bring.. Following the singing we shared friendly conversation and snacks.
The cold weather brings groups from two to eight around the fireplace(s) to share stories, enjoy some company or have a nap while absorbing the warmth. Love those fireplaces!
A sincere word of appreciation to our local churches whose ministers and lay people bring music and meditation to us each Tuesday.
To close our the month with cheer, Ernie Hamilton came on January 29th to sing and play for us. Thanks always, Ernie!
February is “love” month. I thought readers would be interested in a couple of “how we met” stories. Much has changed in dating and marriage norms since “our day” when there was no online dating, no social media other than the party line and “co-vivant” was frowned upon.
Meet Steve and Elvina Suru, married for sixty-two years and still in love. Elvina attended Mirror Lake
School near Mildred. Steve grew up on a farm near Shell Lake. He had attended dances at_Mirror Lake School but when you are twenty (Steve) ,you don’t look seriously at a sixteen year old (Alvina).
Elvina graduated in1959 and moved to Saskatoon to work at the bus depot. Steve had been independent since the age of seventeen and called himself a bachelor. But, aha! Steve was a good friend of Elvina’s brother, Ron. The two young men decided to go to the Drive-In Theatre in Prince Albert, some ninety miles away, an almost unheard of drive. Steve suggested they invite Elvina . Elvina accepted the invitation.
What transpired on that drive we will never know for sure, but Elvina and Steve began dating and soon were engaged. Elvina’s mother hoped the wedding would be in June of 1964. Steve and Elvina did not want to wait that long so they planned their wedding for November 1963. Elvina’s mother had two comments. The first: “He’s too old for you.”, a comment Elvina did not understand because her sisters had married men eight and nine years their senior. The second: “I had better get crackin’.” Elvina wanted a white wedding. Her wedding dress and a November snowfall provided that.
Steve had cattle to tend so there was no honeymoon. The honeymoon came years later. when in their camper van with four children, they travelled to many places, including Niagara Falls.
Asked why their marriage has lasted sixty-two years, they agreed it was their Catholic faith and their determination to live the vows they had made.
When you see them together, it is evident that the “love, honour and obey” is still an important part of their marriage.
Meet Jean (Houston) Hannay
Let your mind drift back to the 1940s. Jean was a teenager living on their family farm near Herschel. A young man from McGee regularly sped by on his motorcycle. Jean’s mother did not approve of “bikers” and by default, the young man. Love will not be thwarted. Jean, a year or two later, supervised by an aunt and uncle, attended a dance in Brock. Bob and Jean, soon to be lovers, had their first dance together. They loved to dance. Jean commented, “Bob was such a good dancer .” and no doubt Jean was, too.
After high school Jean trained as a nurse at City Hospital in Saskatoon. Now it was a truck that burned up the miles between McGee and Saskatoon. Jean laughingly commented that she was always hungry and so their dates were mainly going to AandW for hamburgers.
After graduating, Jean worked at Rosetown hospital. She and Bob were married October 12 1956. Jean worked as a special nurse briefly but demands on the farm were such that she decided she was needed there. It was on the farm that they raised their four children. On retirement they built a home in Rosetown. They later moved into Orange Memories. Bob passed away in 2025. Now Jean lives in her suite alone and with a gentle smile recalls their loving years together.
Community newspapers are living history books, recording all facets of the lives of community residents, as well as providing news that is relevant to them.
Highland games proposed for Museum Day celebration
BY IAN MACKAY
Highland games competitions could join the next Museum Day activities.
During a late-January meeting, members of the Rosetown and District Museum Association welcomed a proposal to include weight throws and other competitions for the June 7 celebration. They decided to discuss the idea more before deciding.
“It’s not as much of a brute-force event as you’d expect it to be,” said AJ Nichols, a member of the Saskatoon Scottish games organization who manages Market Tire in Rosetown.
“It’s more (using) techniques,” Nichols said. “It’s a lot of fun when once you start trying it. You don’t need a whole lot of strength to be reasonably good at it.”
A typical full-scale event involves stone throws, hammer throws, throwing weights for distance and over a bar, the sheaf and cabe, most with at least two different weights, he said. Competitions involve different
weights for men and women and for those for people weighing more than 200 pounds.
People compete behind a safety cage, usually at least eight feet high, built to create “a cup around where you’re throwing” Nichols said.
He suggested an event here could attract up to 10 people from Saskatoon and that members of the city club could conduct practice sessions in Rosetown in advance for newcomers who’d like to join in the fun.
“We’re always trying to grow and expand,” Nichols explained.
On Jan. 27, museum members went though the acquisition process for many of the items donated over the past few months, identifying donors where possible, deciding which to keep, then photographing and numbering them and deciding where to store them or put them on display.
Also, the museum association is staging a Valentine’s Day tea, offering cookies, squares, coffee and tea from 2 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 14.
a full-time seasonal position with potential to become full-time permanent.
Eligible applicants should possess the following qualifications:
• Knowledge of road maintenance and construction equipment operation.
• Ability to operate tractors and other heavy equipment.
• Experience in operating graders is considered an asset.
• A basic mechanical aptitude.
• Additional duties may include but is not limited to culvert installation, equipment repairs, signage, and shop work.
• A valid driver’s license is required and a clean drivers abstract may be requested.
• Class 1A License is considred an asset.
Salary will be negotiated based on experience and qualifications. The RM offers an excellent health & dental plan as well as a pension plan. This position has an expected start date of April 1, 2026, however this date is flexible and an alternative start date may be negotiated.
Please forward resumes stating experience, qualifications and a minimum of three references by February 26, 2026 to:
Crystal Springs 4-H Club among west-central recipients of FCC grant
The Crystal Springs 4-H Club is one of three west-central Saskatchewan clubs that received a grant from FCC for 2025.
Forty 4-H clubs in the province received up to $500, “helping to offset program costs, support club activities and enhance learning opportunities,” a Farm Credit Canada statement said. Other 4-H clubs in the region getting similar help are at Eston and Lacadena.
The Crystal Springs club intends to use the money “to buy club clothing, so that when (members of) the different projects go to different regional and provincial shows, it’s easy to determine who all belongs together,” leader Judy White said last week.
The clothing will also “make us feel like part of a team and create a bit of unity,” White said. She expects the money to arrive in February.
Crystal Springs “used to be a light horse club for many years” but became a multiple club over about the past five years, she explained.
“We do have beef, because Ridpath Beef Club joined with us last year,” White said. Besides beef and light horse, “We just added a rodeo project this year and we have a member who doesn’t have an animal so he’s doing a computer coding project on his own,” she said.
She led “geology for those nonhorse people, but I ran out of material,” White added.
Members of each project meet once a month and the club meets together four or five times a year. Registration ended in November. The club operates from September to June.
The Crystal Springs achievement days are scheduled for May 31 for beef, with a show and judging, and June 7 for the light horse and rodeo projects at the Fiske sports grounds, the day af-
ter the annual sports day, White said. In a statement outlining the grants, new national 4-H head Christina Franc said, “Volunteers are better equipped to create engaging, safe and inclusive spaces where young people can build confidence, leadership skills and a strong connection to agriculture and their communities,” thanks to grants from FCC’s 4-H Club Fund.
Franc, who became 4-H Canada’s chief executive in early January, runs a dairy and maple sugar farm with her husband at Très-Saint-Sacrement, Que., south of Montreal.
“We’re helping local clubs deliver hands-on learning experiences that build leadership, confidence and practical skills young people will carry with them into the future,” added FCC senior executive Todd Klink of Regina.
Indulge in rich past this week
This seasonal position may commence between April 1 & May 1 depending on weather, and end Oct. 31, but could be longer or shorter dependent on weather.
Experience is an asset, but willing to train the right candidate.
Must have a valid Class 5 Driver’s Licence.
Class 1 Licence is an asset.
Must possess WHMIS or be willing to obtain.
Your Resume Should Include:
• Past and present work experience;
• Education, training and skills;
• Copies of all certifications;
• Two work references
• A current driver’s abstract must be provided upon acceptance of employment.
• Must be able to provide a current criminal record check within 30 days of the acceptance of employment.
The RM offers competitive wages & benefits.
We thank all applicants for your interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Position
Archives Week in the province, which started yesterday (Monday) runs until and including Sunday.
The week marks the 21st anniversary of Archives Week, stated the Saskatchewan Council of Archives and Archivists in a news release last week.
To celebrate the week, historical photographs, distributed by the council, will be displayed at the local library, said Brittany Booth, chief librarian and archivist for Rosetown Centennial Library.
The library Facebook page will also post “what we do, what we have” throughout Archives Week, said Gilchrist.
As well, people can peruse the council YouTube “to indulge in our rich past,” said the release.
A couple of dozen more salt and pepper shakers are destined to join this collection at the Rosetown and District Museum after members assessed and catalogued recent acquisitions last week. PHOTO BY IAN MACKAY
EAGLE STAFF
EAGLE STAFF
Red Cross Creations group donates
$1,200
to local organizations
BY KATE WINQUIST
The Red Cross Creations group in Rosetown continues to make a meaningful impact in the community through creativity, generosity, and volunteer spirit.
Members of the group knit, crochet, sew, bake, and create a wide variety of handmade items, most often using donated wool and materials. Proceeds from the sale of these items are donated either to local charities or to the Saskatchewan Red Cross.
Recently, the group donated $600 to the Rosetown Senior Citizens Hall and $600 to the Rosetown Youth Centre to support its Friday night youth activities. The donations were made possible through funds raised since last spring.
Those present for the cheque presentations included, in the back row (left to right), Jim Wright, Lynn Farquharson, and Larry Deitsch; middle row Jayne Labrecque, Cindy McRae, and
Carol Gates; and in the front row, Darlene Aitken, representing the Red Cross Creations group, and Wendy Clayton, president of the Rosetown Seniors. Also pictured were Pat Aylward, representing the Red Cross Creations group, and Crystal Storey, representing the Rosetown Youth Group.
In addition to those pictured, the Red Cross Creations group is supported by many dedicated volunteers, including Susan Wiebe, Loretta Haugen, Alva McTavish, Lorrayne Freistadt, Pat Green, and Rita Clark.
Handmade creations and baked goods from the group can be purchased locally at Riches Antiques & Collectibles in Rosetown, thanks to the continued support of community partners and residents.
Through their ongoing efforts, the Red Cross Creations group demonstrates how small acts of creativity can make a big difference close to home.
Wheatland Regional Centre Celebrating 50 Years JOB POSTINGS
We’re Hiring! Join the Wheatland Regional Centre Team
Wheatland Regional Centre Inc. is seeking caring, motivated, and skilled individuals to join our team. We provide opportunities and supports for individuals with intellectual disabilities to enhance quality of life through a person-centered approach. We are currently accepting applications for the following positions:
Finance Administrator
Position Overview
The Finance Administrator is responsible for all financial operations of Wheatland Regional Centre and works closely with the Executive Director and Office Administrator.
Key Responsibilities
•Payroll and employee benefits administration
•Accounts receivable and payable
•Billing, deposits, and bank reconciliations
•Financial reporting and submissions
•Ensure compliance with legislative and funding requirements
Qualifications
•2-year post-secondary accounting certificate or equivalent experience
•3–5 years of accounting experience (non-profit experience preferred)
•Proficiency with QuickBooks and Microsoft Office
•Strong understanding of financial principles and reporting
•Valid Saskatchewan Class 5 driver’s license
•Clean criminal record and vulnerable sector check
•Willingness to complete First Aid, CPR, WHMIS, and related training
Start Date: ASAP
Prairie View Park Campground Manager (Seasonal, Full-Time)
Position Overview
The Campground Manager oversees the daily operation, maintenance, and financial recordkeeping of Prairie View Park Campground, including supervision of summer student employees.
Key Responsibilities
•Supervise, train, and schedule summer students
•Grounds maintenance and facility upkeep
•Equipment operation and basic repairs
•Collect camping fees and complete deposits
•Track income, expenses, and employee time sheets
•Manage reservations and on-site operations
•Open and close campground for the season
Qualifications
•Valid Saskatchewan Class 5 driver’s license
•Clean criminal record check
•First Aid/CPR and WHMIS certification (or ability to recertify)
•Ability to perform physically demanding outdoor work
Working Conditions
•Seasonal, full-time
•Includes evenings, weekends, and on-call duties
Support Staff (BH1) – Temporary Full-Time (4 Months)
Position Overview
Support Staff (BH1) provide direct support to individuals with intellectual disabilities at Biggar House and the Day Program.
Key Responsibilities
•Assist with personal care and daily living skills
•Support recreational and social activities
•Work collaboratively with supervisors and program staff
•Follow organizational policies and care protocols
Schedule
•4-on / 4-off rotation
•Weekdays: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
•Weekends & holidays: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Qualifications
•Positive, flexible, and team-oriented attitude
•Relevant education or experience preferred
•Willingness to complete mandatory training (TLR, CPP&SP, First Aid/CPR, WHMIS)
•Clean criminal record and vulnerable sector check
•Valid Saskatchewan Class 5 driver’s license (asset)
Start Date: ASAP
Wage: $19.05/hour
Casual Support Staff
Casual Support Staff assist participants in group homes and the Day Program on an as-needed basis.
Wage: $19.05/hour + 3/52 holiday pay
How to Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter indicating how you meet the required qualifications to:
Lana Hamilton, Executive Director Lana.Hamilton@wheatlandregional.com
Closing Date: February 8, 2026
(Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.)
Wheatland Regional Centre Inc., Rosetown, SK www.wheatlandregionalcentre.com
Pat Aylward, representing the Red Cross Creations group, and Crystal Storey, representing the Rosetown Youth Group. SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Back row (l-r): Jim Wright, Lynn Farquharson, and Larry Deitsch; middle row Jayne Labrecque, Cindy McRae, and Carol Gates; front row, Darlene Aitken, representing the Red Cross Creations group, and Wendy Clayton, president of the Rosetown Seniors.
Coffee Time
Posting Date January 26, 2026
1. HISTORY: When did the Easter Rising insurrection take place in Ireland?
2. GEOGRAPHY: What is the capital of India?
3. MEDICAL TERMS: What is a common name for lateral epicondylitis?
4. MOVIES: The “Back to the Future II” characters travel forward in time to which year?
5. LITERATURE: What color is the badge of courage in Stephen Crane’s novel about the Civil War?
6. GAMES: How many points is the center red bullseye on a dartboard worth?
7. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of floating otters called?
8. AD SLOGANS: Which car company used the slogan “Drive your dreams”?
9. TELEVISION: What is husband Darrin’s profession in the “Bewitched” sitcom?
New Delhi; 3. Tennis elbow; 4. 2015; 5. Red; 6. 50; 7. A raft ; 8. Toyota;
Playoff picture clarifies as Redwings, Miners advance
BY DAVID MCIVER
The Rosetown Redwings, who, with a last-game loss, finished at 9-3 and tied for first, play either the Kerrobert Tigers or the Kindersley Kodiaks in the second round of Cross Roads Hockey League playoffs.
Early this week they should know which team, said Redwing coach Curtis MacDonald on Friday.
The teams were to play in Kindersley on Friday and in Kerrobert on Sunday with, if necessary, a mini game to immediately follow.
The Redwings lost to the Kerrobert Tigers 4-1 in Kerrobert on Jan. 24.
The Unity Miners, also 9-3, await the winner of the Dodsland Stars and Luseland Mallards.
The Stars won 5-1 in Luseland on Wednesday.
The second game is tonight (Tuesday) in Kerrobert.
Jordan Johnston scored for the Redwings late in the second period in Kerrobert but that was all. They outshot the Tigers 39-34.
Noah Martens made 30 saves in the Redwing goal.
Rylan Borschneck scored twice
and Matthew Roblin and Drake McKinnon got singles for the Tigers.
Preston Plamondon made 38 saves for Kerrobert.
In Luseland, the Stars got scoring from Riley Dipple with two, Brandon Kelly, Adam Bradley and Brad Buckingham. Kelly, Dylan Kruesel and Jon McDonald each had two assists.
Kyle Turk made 24 saves in the Stars net.
Koby Reiber scored for the Mallards.
Avery Kohlman made 54 saves for Luseland.
Saskatchewan reports four virus-related deaths
Four Saskatchewan residents died during mid- to late January from the viruses that cause influenza and Covid-19.
The two people who succumbed to the flu both died between Jan. 11 and 17, while one person died from Covid-19 that week and the other between Jan. 18 and 24, the most recent week covered in the province’s latest report.
“Over the past four weeks, influenza activity has declined, Covid-19 activity has remained stable and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) activity has increased in Saskatchewan,” the Jan. 30 Health Department statement said.
“RSV test positivity doubled during this period, with the majority of cases and hospitalizations occurring among children under five years of age.” Toddlers made up 56 of the 97 people with RSV during Jan. 18-24, a chart showed.
A total of 33 people sick with Covid-19 that week were between 20 and 64 years old, as were 31 of the 82 people with the flu.
The number of residents who tested positive for the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 dropped to 82 during Jan. 18-24 from 89 between Jan. 11 and 17. Those declines followed larger ones from 122 and 124 during the two previous weeks.
Positive cases of influenza sank to 94 during the most recent week from 767 during Dec. 28-Jan. 3.
A total of 35 people with Covid-19 were admitted to hospitals during the two most recent weeks, down from 67 during the two previous weeks. Four required intensive case, compared to six in the two earliest weeks the report covered.
Eight of the 42 people admitted with the flu during the two latest weeks needed intensive care, down from 20 of the 233 admitted over the two previous weeks.
A total of 65 people went to hospital with RSV during the recent two-week span, with three needing extra care, down from four of the 67 admitted during the two earlier weeks.
“Approximately 22 per cent and 14 per cent of Saskatchewan residents are vaccinated against influenza and Covid-19, respectively,” the statement added.
dersigned. R.M. of Lacadena No. 228 Box 610, Kyle, SK S0L 1T0 Fax: 306-375-4705; Email: rm228@sasktel.net For
information contact the R.M of Lacadena office at 306-375-4753.
Kevin Zho awaits the bird that zips past partner James Paquette. Jeremy Bides watches in the background during badminton at the civic centre on Wednesday. They were playing Greg Piska and Blake Dinsmore.
Rosetown/Kyle RCMP responded to a range of calls across west-central Saskatchewan between Jan. 23 and Jan. 29, including fraud complaints, break and enters and an impaired driving incident.
On Jan. 25, officers were called to a disturbance in Rosetown shortly after midnight. Police spoke with the parties involved and no further action was required. Later that day, RCMP received a report of a gas-and-dash at a Rosetown business.
Police received multiple fraud-related complaints on Jan. 26, including one in Fiske and another involving a fraudulent $100 bill in Elrose. Both matters remain under investigation. That afternoon, officers assisted the Combined
Traffic Services Unit with a 60-day provincial driving suspension on Highway 7 near Fiske. RCMP also investigated a report of suspicious persons in the RM of Lacadena, which remains ongoing, and responded to a disturbance at the Elrose Uniplex. No further action was required in that case.
Later that evening, officers were dispatched to an erratic driving complaint on Highway 7 near Zealandia. While en route, police were advised the vehicle had entered the ditch. Following an investigation, the driver was charged
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AGRICULTURE
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AGPRO MARKET REPORT: Farmers, call to sign up for Free Today!
Spencer Gilchrist at 306-831-9432
Cassidy Kerr at 306-831-8425
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Is there someone you would like to see inducted into the
Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame for their contribution to Baseball in Saskatchewan for 2026?
NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN for Induction in the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame for 2026. Information and Nomination Forms are available by contacting the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame by phone or email. 306-446-1983
saskbaseballmuseum@sasktel.net
COMING EVENTS
Rosetown UCW Valentine’s Lunch is on Friday, February 13 from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM at the Rosetown United Church. Lunch is $10 per person.
Position may be eligible for remote work for the right self motivated individual. Full Job Details Posted On saskjobs. ca
Water Treatment Plant Class 2 Operator/ Maintenance Worker Wanted Clearwater Lake Regional Park ( near Kyle SK.)
Seasonal position May to October.. Full Job Details Posted On saskjobs.ca
with impaired operation of a motor vehicle.
On Jan. 27, RCMP received a report of a break and enter at a Rosetown business. The investigation is ongoing. Police also responded to a trespassing complaint in Kyle, which was resolved without further action, and a report of vehicle vandalism in Rosetown that remains under investigation.
Early on Jan. 28, RCMP were notified by the Beechy Fire Department of a structure fire in the RM of Victory. Police attendance was not required. Later that
morning, officers and EMS responded to a motor vehicle collision in the RM of Lacadena, where minor injuries were reported.
That afternoon, RCMP were dispatched to a possible break and enter at a residence in Rosetown. The investigation remains ongoing.
Between Jan. 23 and Jan. 29, Rosetown/Kyle RCMP issued 42 traffic-related charges and responded to two 911 misdial calls and one false alarm.
Police are asking anyone with information related to these or any other crimes to contact the Rosetown RCMP at 306-882-5700 or Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222TIPS (8477) or online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
TRAVEL
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Extraordinary villa in Osoyoos, BC, with breathtaking lake views and just 3 minutes from town. Vacation in Canada’s warmest destination. Or wanting warmer weather?
Two luxurious 5-star resort units in Phoenix, Arizona. Doug 306-716-2671 osoyooslakevilla.com
Maintenance Forman Wanted - Clearwater Lake Regional Park ( near Kyle SK.) Seasonal position April to October. Need to work well with summer students. Full Job
Rosetown SK 44tfn-c
Mobile On-Farm Seed Cleaning Plastic Auger Flighting For Bookings Contact: Jodi 306-378-7854 Mike 306-831-8199
HEALTH
HELP WANTED
Bookkeeper WantedClearwater Lake Regional Park ( near Kyle SK.) Part-time year round position.
Details Posted On Facebook or saskjobs.ca
Septic-Pump Truck
Operator WantedClearwater Lake Regional Park ( near Kyle SK.) Seasonal position May 15 - September 30. Full Job Detail Posted On Facebook or saskjobs.ca
PROPERTY FOR SALE
DWEIN TRASK REALTY
INC. 3 year old workshop located on double lot in Wiseton SK. 30 x 40 building full finished with white steel interior. LED lighting with over 17 plugs with 3 different beakers. Flawless cement floor with 10’ wide x 12’ high overhead door complete with opener. Meticulously built by the Seller, this shop is spacious lot that would be significantly more expensive in a larger town or city. Please call Dwein Trask for information (306) 221-1035.
Looking Back
With David McIver
110 years ago - Feb. 3, 1916
Two more soldiers wrote home from the front.
“There has been a great deal of rain here this winter and there has been no snow in this part,” wrote William Nixon.
The rain helped, explained J. Lindsay. The German fired artillery shells on them every day, he said.
“I nearly got mine, when a shell burst ten yards away and wounded a fellow standing right close to me and threw another up in the air,” said Lindsay.
“It is good that the ground is so soft, as the shells sink deep in the mud and stops the shrapnel from spreading.”
Rosetown council decided to start a fire brigade.
Cleland Grain Growers Association members organized the Rosetown Northern Rural Telephone Co.
100 years ago - Feb. 4, 1926
“The winter season has been unusually mild and the snowfall light.” Automobiles have been able to reach town from all directions until near the end of January. “Very seldom has the thermometer got near the zero mark.”
70 years ago - Feb. 2, 1956
In the fall of 1953, local boys Jimmy Gardner, Sterling McLeod and Donald Sanderson started a club to help the Red Cross. They raised money by shovelling sidewalks and cleaning back yards, said editor John Pinckney.
In the fall of ’55, they had $3.50 in the treasury and added members Garry Clarke and Everett Sanderson. Once they reached $10, they would donate that sum to the Red Cross, said Pinckney.
The Rosetown High School basketball teams played teams of local adults. The men defeated the boys 54-24 and the women beat the girls 22-7.
Norm Luker got 20 points and Bill Pfeiffer, 13 for the men. Bill Quinney had 10 high school points and Wayne Glass got eight.
Shirley Mullens scored eight points and Marg Brookbank and Marg Benson each got six points and Irma Irwin “led a tight defence” for the women. Liz Driedger scored three points and Betty Lust and Donna Evans had two each for the high school.
50 years ago - Feb. 4, 1976
A former resident made one of the fastest bank-robbery arrests.
A man entered a Bank of Nova Scotia branch in Nanaimo, B.C., and passed a note to a teller: “The money. I am armed. No fuss. No alarms.”
The teller handed over $945 in cash. As soon as the man left, the teller told accountant Hugh Clark, the son of Lloyd Clark of Rosetown.
Clark chased the robber down the street, along an avenue and back to the rear of the bank. There Clark knocked him down and sat on him until the arrival of Cst. Gary Appleton, who had been in the bank, for an official arrest three minutes after the robbery.
John Cloutier got 186 votes to win a Rosetown council seat. Denis Sabo received 134 votes and Norm Mackie, 122.
Nicole Normand was crowned as ice carnival queen.
30 years ago - Feb. 5, 1996
Deer were struggling to survive minus-40 weather. A photo showed Dean Morrison, Ralph Masear and Rick Waite unloading feed for the 250-300 deer near Anglia. Roughly 500 were in the Harris game preserve and 30-40 within the village of Harris, said RM of Harris administrator Jim Angus.
20 years ago - Feb. 6, 2006
A break-in at the Harris post office on Jan. 30 was connected to another in Vanscoy the same night, said Sgt. Mike Zens of the Rosetown RCMP. Another break-and-enter, at the Hood restaurant here on the night of Jan. 26-27, was apparently unrelated, said Zens.
Remember When
A wide-shot of the town of Zealandia in 1909. All four elevators can be seen in the background, along with a plume of smoke rising in the left-middle of the photo. It’s unclear what the cause is. Zealandia was incorporated as a village in 1905 until the Canadian National Railway came through in 1909, at which time it gained the title of town. The introduction of the railway brought with it the construction of a hotel, churches, livery and feed barns, a butcher shop, a drugstore, and more, making Zealandia into a business hub in the early 20th century.
It’s Saskatchewan Archives Week
BY BRITTANY BOOTH Rosetown Librarian
Check It Out
February 1 to 7 is Saskatchewan Archives Week. With the Rosetown Archives being housed inside the library, we want to shed some light on the special work these organizations do.
Archives Week began 21 years ago and the Saskatchewan Council for Archives & Archivists keeps it going to this day. Trading cards with photos from archives around the province can be picked up at the library, and curious folks can visit scaa.sk.ca to learn more or keep an eye on the Rosetown Centennial Library Archives Facebook page for some fun pictures and facts about the work small town archivists do.
The Astral Library by Kate Quinn (fantasy). Growing up unloved in the foster care system, Alix has always found refuge in books. While reading in the Boston Public Library, Alix stumbles upon a hidden door that leads her to a secret library. In the Astral Library, you can find a new life inside your favourite book. As Alix befriends the Librarian and prepares for her new life, an enemy emerges who threatens the very foundations of the library.
Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams (mystery). Although they have been drifting apart since high school, Tess finally agrees to go caving with her travel influencer friend Allie. In the depths, Tess and Allie run into a strange man who starts harassing them. When Allie insults him, he retaliates and Tess finds herself trapped underground in a desperate fight for survival. As she recounts the events to a detective, Tess learns that Allie has been lying and the encounter wasn’t as random as she thought.
The Girls Before by Kate Alice Marshall (thriller). Trapped in the dark, running low on food and water, Stranger decides to attempt one last escape from her prison. Meanwhile, Audrey is a search and rescue expert who has never given up searching for her best friend who disappeared as a teenager. When she finds evidence that a teenage runaway might have been held on land by one of the town’s most prominent families, Audrey begins to search through decades of girls who have disappeared before.
Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson (historical fiction). Living in Occupied Germany in the 1950s, Ethel Gathers sets out to find homes for abandoned mixed-race orphans, children of German women and Black American soldiers. In 1948, Ozzie Phillips is stationed in Germany where he meets a local woman who changes his life forever. In 1965, Sophia Clark attends an all-white school in Maryland and learns a secret that will upend everything she knew about herself.
Free Falling by Jill Shalvis (romance). Retired hockey player Caleb Colburn needs this new construction
project to go smoothly to prove he’s earned his place in the family business. There’s only one problem. The architect liaison is Emma Sumner, the woman who made his life a living hell in college. Emma’s feelings toward Caleb lean more towards hate, but forced proximity and surprising common ground have these enemies starting to wonder just how fine the line between love and hate is.
Weekly Recipe
Honey Oat Buns
Ingredients
2 cups water warm, 100-110 F
1 tbsp active dry yeast
1/4 cups honey
3 tbsp canola oil
2 tsp salt
1 cup quick oats
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups all-purpose flour
Oat flour or all-purpose flour, for kneading (plus additional, if required)
1 large egg, beaten 1/4 cup rolled oats and quick oats
Preparation in Body Subhead style
In a large bowl, stir together yeast and 1/2 cup of the warm water. Let stand for 10 minutes to dissolve and activate the yeast. Stir in remaining water, honey, oil, salt and quick oats. Add whole wheat and all-purpose flour, to form a soft dough.
Turn out onto an oat-floured surface and knead until dough is smooth, adding additional flour, if required. Place in a lightly oiled bowl and let rest, covered, for 30 minutes. Divide rested dough into 12 equal pieces. Shape each piece of dough into a round bun and flatten slightly. Place buns on a parchment-lined baking tray, cover with clean kitchen towel and let rise for another 45 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C). Brush tops of each bun with egg wash and sprinkle each with a few oats. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown. Cool on wire rack before serving.
IPreparation time: one hour, 30 minutes; total time: one hour, 45 minutes.
Makes 12 buns, 259 calories ach.
— Canadian Food Focus
“The Lavender Child”
by Harriet Richards
Published by Shadowpaw Press Reprise REVIEW BY TOBY A. WELCH
The Lavender Child is a beautifully unique and creative story with unforgettable characters and a plot that keeps readers intrigued. I wasn’t surprised to learn that this powerful read was a winner of the Saskatchewan Book Awards First Book prize when it was initially published. If you are like me and wonder what the title is referencing - what the heck is a lavender child? - I have the answer! When one of the main characters is born, Dion, he is limp and looks close to death. Another child was born into the family decades earlier that only lived for two weeks and fought for every breath. Both babies were a shade of blue, hence “lavender child.” (I should mention that
this book might be a bit challenging for people who have lost babies or experienced children with health issues.)
I loved that when reading this story about three generations of a family that we are thrown back into a time when life wasn’t so chaotic and technologically driven. But it’s not so far back that this would be considered historical fiction. After all, the book mentions Dairy Queen, John Candy, and Wheel of Fortune. It’s a great reminder of a simpler time.
There are so many pluses to this novel. The chronological layout is seamless in the best way. Chapter one takes place in September and chapter two takes place in October. This continues throughout the book with each chapter being one month. It ends with chapter thirteen, which is September of the year after the first chapter. It flows smoothly.
Another bonus is the perfectly balanced amount of dialogue mixed with descriptions mixed with scenes that carry the plot strategically forward.
The Lavender Child was first published in 1998 by Thistledown Press. Myself and anyone else who picks up a new copy will be thrilled that Regina-based Shadowpaw Press Reprise dusted it off and published the second edition in 2024. It’s heartbreaking to think that it may not have been given a second life if Shadowpaw Press didn’t see the value in this entertaining read.
Saskatoon-based Richards has published three book-length works of fiction and all three have been either finalists or award winners. Having read The Lavender Child, that was not surprising to learn. Additionally, Richards has published short fiction in literary journals in Canada and Wales. Richards is also a painter and her work has graced book covers. I hope she puts down her paintbrush soon to create another beautiful piece of literature.
For book lovers searching for a story that is somber and uplifting at the same
list! This book is available at your local bookstore or from www.Skbooks.com
Saskatchewan promotes mining, energy investment on western Canada tour
Saskatchewan’s energy and resources minister is promoting the province as a top destination for mining and energy investment during a multi-day visit to British Columbia and Alberta focused on export access, infrastructure and interprovincial cooperation.
Chris Beaudry said the trip is aimed at supporting growth in Saskatchewan’s resource sectors by strengthening connections to markets and working with other jurisdictions to improve shared infrastructure.
Beaudry attended the Western Mining Ministers Summit in Vancouver on Jan. 25, where ministers from western provinces and northern territories discussed economic corridors and access to export routes, including ports on the northwest coast, Hudson Bay and Grays Bay. The ministers signed a memorandum of understanding committing to reduce unnecessary delays for major natural resource projects as part of efforts toward a Western Canadian Crit-
ical Minerals Strategy.
Saskatchewan is Canada’s largest primary producer of critical minerals, including potash and uranium, and the province has been positioning itself as a key supplier for global supply chains.
On Jan. 26, Beaudry attended AME Roundup, a major mineral exploration conference in Vancouver, where he met with resource companies and toured a lithium processing facility operated by Saltworks Technologies Inc. Saltworks is working with EMP Metals Corp. on Project Aurora, a lithium refining demonstration plant planned for southeastern Saskatchewan. The project has
PHOTO BY BRIAN ZINCHUK
received provincial support through the Critical Minerals Innovation Incentive.
The minister also visited the Port of Vancouver, one of the main export gateways for Saskatchewan commodities. Provincial officials say expanding port capacity is increasingly important as production grows across sectors such as potash, energy products and critical minerals.
Beaudry concluded the trip in Calgary on Jan. 28 with meetings focused on Saskatchewan’s oil and gas industry and the province’s target of increasing production to 600,000 barrels per day by 2030.
The government says it will continue working with industry to support investment and long-term competitiveness in the sector.
time, The Lavender Child should be the next book you read. Picking up a copy should be on the top of your to-do
Chris Beaudry This is the Tableland switchyard, under construction west of Estevan. It will be the point where an additional 500 megawatts of power can be sent or recieved to or from the US. The photo was taken on Jan. 20, 2026.
