Your West Central Voice - August 2, 2022

Eatonia congratulates Dakota Buttar with surprise celebration

BY ANNIE DUNCAN

Your Southwest Media Group

The town of Eatonia surprised 2022 Calgary Stampede Bull Riding Champion Dakota Buttar with a celebratory welcome home gathering at the Eatonia Community Hall on Monday, July 25.

Locals Sarah and Dave Becker, Brennan Sommerville, Kristen and Kevin Quinney, Susan Theaker and Kim Becker planned a gathering to celebrate not only Buttar’s win at the Calgary Stampede but also all his accomplishments leading up to this moment to show him how proud his community is of him.

Buttar and his competitor Shane Proctor tied the event with matching 88.5-point rides, deeming them co-champions, sharing the title, and splitting the winnings between them.

“Shane is a guy I have looked up to for a long time; I have a lot of respect for that guy. If I had to pick someone to share it with, it would be Shane,” said Buttar.

Friends, family, and fans gathered at the Eatonia community hall Monday night, the room buzzing with excitement to see Buttar. When he arrived, shocked, he was brought up on stage to be asked questions about his experience. The crowd watched reruns of Buttar’s rides and spent the night celebrating and congratulating Buttar on his victory.

“I know when I am gone, things are safe at home. I wouldn’t be able to do this without everyone here,” said Buttar.

Buttar is at home, for now, resting from his recent competition and preparing for his upcoming events.

Locals in Eatonia gathered at the Eatonia Community Centre to surprise Dakota Buttar in celebration of his recent win at the Calgary Stampede.

Your Southwest Media Group welcomes Annie Duncan

Photojournalist from Northern Ontario joins our news team

BY ANNIE DUNCAN

Your Southwest Media Group

Hi! My name is Annie Duncan, and I am Your Southwest Media Group’s newest team member!

I am a photojournalist originally from Northern Ontario, and just two weeks ago, I made the cross-country journey to move to Kindersley. I drove 2,500 kms, 28 hours, through three of Canada’s provinces - just me and my pup, Charlie, to get here.

I recently graduated from Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario, from their photojournalism program. I spent the last two years building my skills as a photographer and writer to be a visual storyteller that focuses on telling stories of the people. Your stories.

I fell in love with photography when I was just ten years old, and now ten years later, I am living my dream of travelling and taking pictures. I am excited to see what hidden treasures I will find in Saskatchewan and to bring you the stories of, well … you. You can keep up to date with my work on Your West Central Voice’s Facebook and Instagram.

| PHOTO BY ANNIE DUNCAN

Dakota Buttar is welcomed by hundreds of family, friends, and fans at the Eatonia Community centre in a surprise celebration of all he has accomplished as a bull rider. | PHOTO BY ANNIE DUNCAN

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and MLA Doug Steele pay visit to Leader

BY JOAN JANZEN

Your Southwest Media Group

The residents of Leader welcomed Premier Scott Moe and MLA Doug Steele to their town on Friday, July 22nd. The Premier and Mr. Steele were visiting some of the municipalities in the Cypress Hills Constituency. The town of Leader was fortunate to be chosen as one of the stops along the way.

Aaron Wenzel, mayor of Leader, said there were 25 people present at a round table discussion. The communities involved included the Town of Leader, RM of Happyland, Town of Cabri, RM of Miry Creek, RM and Village of Fox Valley, Village of Richmound, and the Town of Burstall.

The meeting presented an opportunity for these municipal leaders to bring up concerns and discuss issues they are facing. Many topics were covered, but primary subjects received most

of the Premier’s attention. These included the low water levels on the west end of the lake at the Diefenbaker Dam, poor cell phone coverage and limited high-speed internet in the rural areas, and healthcare concerns.

School division concerns included funding and dispersal of funds, while municipalities noted the challenges in maintaining and replacing ageing infrastructure with little to no government funding. Management of water levels in the South Saskatchewan River was another valid concern. Also discussed was the importance of short line rail lines to the area communities.

“We toured the rail line with Aaron Wenzel,” Doug Steele said. “They’re doing wonderful things there, and there’s room for growth.” The Premier, Mr. Steele, along with the mayor and council members, enjoyed a tasty lunch at Scott’s

Fine Foods.

“We want to maintain the businesses in our communities and enhance services,” Steele said. “In my mind, there’s no better place to live than rural Saskatchewan. It’s so important to have good internet services; it’s part of the growth in our community.”

He noted that Leader is scheduled to receive high-speed internet within the next year and a half, with better services provided in the rural areas as much as possible.

“We also discussed the interruptions in health care. We even talked about police services because criminals have no boundaries. That’s the type of discussion we had,” he explained.

Also discussed was the condition of Highway 21, which is vitally important for moving commodities. “These are quality conversations when we sit down with transparency,” Steele said. “We really appreciate the

input from the folks who were there. They were so respectful, and it was such great dialogue.”

Mayor Wenzel agreed, saying, “Overall, it was a good meeting with the Premier.”

Kids enjoy VBS at New Life Church

New Life Church in Kindersley invited kids to their week-long Vacation Bible School (VBS). VBS Monumental ran Monday to Friday mornings from July 18th to 22nd, with approximately twenty-five children attending each day at 401 - 4th Avenue West. Abby Lee, director of VBS, said the children learned about God’s monumental love for them. Every day they were encouraged to find examples in their life that reminded them of God and his love for them. Each of these examples was called a ‘God sighting’, which were represented by the flowers they are holding in the photo. | SUBMITTED PHOTO

Whitecap Resources Inc. (WCSK area) is currently seeking FULL-TIME CONTRACT FIELD MAINTENANCE PERSON

The job duties include tractor work such as mowing, road maintenance, discing, some bobcat work, pumping of water from leases, vegetation control with company supplied spray trucks, light equipment maintenance and general house keeping. The successful candidate will have proven success in the ability to be flexible and adapt to change. The successful candidate will be required to get themselves to and from work and once they are at work they will be operating WCP equipment and vehicles.

The schedule will be a 5-2 8 hours/day with some flexibility for extra hours when needed or extra days off when required.

Whitecap’s positive work environment contributes to its success as an energy producer and a steward of the environment with a focus on safe and responsible operations. We are looking for candidates with the following qualifications and training but are also willing to train the chosen applicant.

• 5-15 years of relevant industry experience with strong preference given towards oil operations

• Driver’s license and clean driver’s abstract

• H2S ticket

• First Aid ticket

• A disciplined work ethic

• Capable of working in both a team and individual environment

• Proven and demonstrated commitment to HSE expectations and requirements.

This position is available immediately; please email a cover letter and resume to: Kayla Flanagan – Kayla.Flanagan@wcap.ca

We thank all interested candidates who apply, however only those being considered will be contacted directly for an interview.

L-R: MLA Doug Steele, Premier Scott Moe, Scott Wenzel, owner of Scott’s Fine Foods, and Mayor Aaron Wenzel, enjoyed lunch at Scott’s Fine Foods in Leader.

SUBMITTED

Are food shortages man made?

Thecouple opened their door and discovered a cow had been delivered to their front door. The wife explained to her husband, “I joined one of those sites where they send you fresh ingredients and you cook it yourself.”

Sounds crazy, right? I just returned from a fun holiday in B.C., to discover some of the crazy things that continue to take place at home and around the world. You probably heard that our country is now home to the world’s largest cricket processing plant in London, Ont., funded by $8.5 million of our tax dollars. The co-founder of the cricket ranch known as Aspire Foods said, “Our longer-term vision is to make sure this is a protein source that can be available and affordable to genuine ly address food insecurity in many countries around the world.” This new source of protein was introduced at this year’s Calgary Stam pede, where customers

could purchase a cricket and worm hot dog for $17. Does it sound appetizing?

The representative for Aspire foods continued to explain, “We’re seeing a significant reduction in arable land and resources to produce food.” MP Leslyn Lewis observed large corporations and rich Individuals like Bill Gates (269,000 acres of

has also stated they will take land from these fifth generation farmers who do not comply to the new regulations. This will result in looming food shortages, since the Netherlands is one of the top five agriculture exporters in the world. The Netherland farmers are sounding the alarm bell, not only for themselves, but

to ensure food security, we have taken this decision.” Vast tracts of farmland were abandoned after the import ban was introduced. It’s no surprise the masses are protesting in Sri Lanka, since they have no other options available.

Iversen admitted she is a staunch environmentalist, but questioned what would happen if farmers are bought out or wiped out due to rising costs, in lieu of government owned largeduce food? “A lot of people don’t want mass produced, genetically modified food,”

Let’s pause and take into consideration cricket farms, increasing carbon taxes, inflation, Dutch farmersing unrealistic restrictions, and Sri Lanka’s devastatinggent restrictions. And then-

house gas emissions in the agriculture sector by 30% below 2020 levels within ten years, and capping oil and gas sector emissions to net-zero emissions by 2050 and reduce oil and gas methane emissions by 75%

Let’s ask the question, “Are food shortages a man

Pop89 Campfire Lore for Future Campfires

BY MADONNA HAMEL

Your Southwest Media Group

“That’s the third time that cop’s been down this road,” says Avril as we watch the dusty SUV roll by while we devour burgers on her back deck.

“Yeah, I know. Ever since you got here, the place’s been crawling with them.”

“Haha.”

“Maybe there’s been a breakin.” It’s not something we want to consider in a village where we leave our doors unlocked so that if our neighbour needs a Robertson screwdriver or a cup of sugar and we’re not home, they can just go in and get one. And besides, who would rob from someone here? We know everyone in town.

But robberies do occur. People pass through, people with no attachment to anybody, so there’s no attack of conscience. Not that the local kids haven’t performed their share of vandalism. And then, there was that whole rash of slashed tires when the village split over the new trail up the Butte. If you are new to town and you dare criticize how things are done, be prepared for blowback. But I’m not about to re-open that wound; it’s taken a long while to heal and move on. And some people are still sore, and others are not likely to trust anyone any time soon, at least not within the next couple of generations. And by then, the story will have expanded exponen tially, with a few deaths tacked on to the climax. People may move on, but some of us move more slowly than others.

a communal fire and set up a supper tent.

My heart aches for my own family as I watch these lucky tykes and teens play with their cousins and forge bonds that will form stories to be re-told decades down the road around future campfires. I am lucky to come from a big family, six kids in all, and never lacked for playmates as a kid. We are all close, and we try to work through our differences, and as we get older, we value each other more and more. And now, when I am troubled by everything from a bad dream to a bad cough, I can call anyone of my siblings and know they will be there for me. We will talk, laugh, compare notes, placate, flatter, promise feedback, and repeat reassurances for no less than an hour before hanging up. And then, when I do say goodbye, I always feel less alone, less estranged from the world and even my-

approaches, I yearn to be that adult that little kids lean into for protection or reassurance or diversion. I also want to be that great aunt who starts squealing like a “big silly,” like the kids are doing now when it starts to thunder. I want to be the “fun” great auntie who lets them know it’s ok to be loud and rambunctious and thrilled at the power of nature while safe with the grownups. Watching these kids, I think of my sister who yearns to be a grandmother, and it makes me want to pick up the phone right now and call my nephews and say, Hey! What gives?! Move it already! While we’re still mobile!

The families are returning to the campground from Palais Royale, the town hall, Val Marie’s first dance hall and cinema. They rented it for pot luck supper and home movies and to stay out of the coming storm. The kids are racing each other down the gravel road in front of the school. One of the Bleau sisters explains to me they’re not actually racing each other; they’re trying to register their speed by running in front of the speed monitor at the end of the road. I see the police car in front of the hall.

“Yeah,” explains Ms. Bleau, “We invited him to join us for supper.”

“Sure he wasn’t just collecting intel?” I joke.

Annual Oil Revenue $23,440 Baytex Wells.

All offers and inquiries to be submitted on or before Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at 3:00 p.m.

Please contact Edge Realty Brad Edgerton at 306-463-7357 or brad@edgerealty.ca

See www.edgerealty.ca for all the tender details.

Under the provisions of The Alcohol and Gaming Regulations Act, 1997,

Notice is hereby given that Marianna Schmalzbauer has applied to the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) for a Special Use - Salon/Spa permit to sell alcohol in the premises known as Tranquil Water Spa at 213 Main St. Kindersley, SK.

Written objections to the granting of the permit may be filed with SLGA not more than two weeks from the date of publication of this notice.

West Central Crisis & Family Support Centre Inc.

At the same time as the cop keeps circling the village, the campground behind my apartment fills up with happy campers, nearly a hundred of them. And they’re all from one family: The Bleaus. It’s the Bleau Family reunion, and the organizers, moms mostly, have made it easier for us all to discern who comes from which limb of the four major branches of the family tree by dressing the descendants of each Bleau sibling in their own primary-school colour. By Friday night, kids ablaze in bright blue, red, orange and yellow t-shirts scamper and squeal through the trees while parents visit, build

VICTIM SERVICES

And yet. And yet there’s no wee ones running around, bumping into things, squealing for no reason. Only two of us had kids, and we’re all - parents and aunties and uncle - breathing down their necks to have grandkids and grandnieces and nephews so we can spoil them, give them unwanted advice, and, most of all, hear them make all those noises and maneuvers one makes at the beginning of one’s life when the world is your oyster and all things are possible, and it takes an hour just to walk from the tent to the toilets because: “Look what I found! A rock!” Or “A bug!”

• Domestic Violence Response

• Traumatic Events Response

• Sexual

Watching the kids in the campground gather around their parents as a big storm

“Well, he certainly would have his fair share of it with us,” she laughs. “Not to mention the kids who were actually playing pool in the hotel. And the softball team that was betting on them!” says another mom. “Not my kids,” she quickly adds.

The storm is a doozy. The lightning is lasso-shaped, and the thunder starts with a low rumble and then cracks like a tree split in half and then grumbles off like a tired old dog looking for peace. The kids register their appreciation with more shouts and squeals. The supper tent blows over. Families retreat to their RVs and camper vans, where the soft glow from their tiny kitchen lamps casts shadows on the parents, playing cards and telling stories, on past the storm and into the night.

Every person filing a written objection with SLGA shall state their name, address, and telephone number in printed form, as well as the grounds for the objection(s). Petitions must name a contact person, state grounds, and be legible. Each signatory to the petition and the contact person must provide an address and telephone number. Frivolous, vexatious or competition based objections within the beverage alcohol industry may not be considered and may be rejected by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Licensing Commission, who may refuse to hold a hearing.

Write to: Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority Box 5054 REGINA SK S4P 3M3

2022 MUNICIPAL BY-ELECTION

The Council for the Village of Empress is composed of three Empress residents, chosen by election every four years. The roles of Mayor and Deputy Mayor are chosen by the Council amongst themselves once per year.

The last regular election was on October 18, 2021. To learn more about that election, see our 2021 Election webpage. A by-election for all three Councillors will take place on Monday, August 8, 2022.

Voting will take place between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., in the Curling Rink Lounge, which is in the northwest corner of the Empress Bindloss Agridome, 311 - 2nd Street West

Notice of Election, Notice of Nomination Day, Oath of Returning Officer

The nominations were closed 12:00 noon, July 11, 2022 and we have (7) residents who stepped forward to represent the voters as councilors for the Village of Empress. In alphabetical order, they are:

Kelly Burgess Laureann Patterson

Leo Hensel Yvonne Robertson

Arlen Johnston Neal Sunderland

Dawna Martin

Mark your calendars! There will be a Candidates Forum for the by-election, Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at the Empress Community Hall, 314 Centre Street

Kindersley RCMP Report: July 2022

Sometime between July 2nd and July 9th thieve(s) stole the cemetery gates that were being repaired at Merrifield Cemetery. ‘These are pretty distinct items and have the cemetery’s name right on them. We are hoping that if someone saw these items being taken or knows of their whereabouts that they give us a call.’ stated Staff Sergeant Kevin Peterson. ‘If someone does have information about the gates there is always the option to call Crime Stoppers as well.’ Peterson went on to say.

With the theft of the gates and some more reported thefts in and around Kindersley the Kindersley RCMP would like to get the public thinking about taking steps to help prevent these thefts from happening.

The Kindersley RCMP offer these tips for theft prevention:

• Lock your vehicles and equipment. Don’t leave valuables, tools or keys in them.

• Lock and secure your home, sheds and slip tanks.

• Consider lights with motion sensors, as well as a monitored security or alarm system.

• Report suspicious people and/or vehicles to police.

• Report crimes, even if they are small, to police as soon as possible. When all crimes are reported to the police, officers get a clearer picture of the types and numbers of crimes occurring in their area. This information helps them launch future police projects, initiatives

and education campaigns.

The Kindersley RCMP also want to remind all area residents that security cameras act as a good theft deterrent as well as assist the RCMP with investigations. If you have a security camera you are reminded that the Kindersley RCMP has a security camera registry and you can always voluntarily register your camera at saskcapturecw.ca. By registering your security camera, it greatly assists the RCMP and the community with detecting criminals in the area.

Kindersley RCMP

Recover Several Bikes

Through the course of an investigation over the weekend (July 16-17) Kindersley RCMP located several stolen bikes. Some of the bikes were returned to their owners immediately while others are still unaccounted for. If you are looking for your bike the Kindersley RCMP are asking that you call the Detachment in hopes of reuniting the bikes with their owners.

Thanks to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the RM of Milton on

Sunday July 17th the Kindersley RCMP arrested a suspect in possession of a stolen SUV. ‘Our officers attended for a report of a male in a parked car acting out of the norm. Subsequent investigation revealed that the vehicle had been stolen out of Saskatoon and the driver was arrested without incident.’ stated Staff Sergeant Kevin Peterson. ‘This is a perfect example of the

public being vigilant and why we encourage members of the public to call us in regards to suspicious activity.’ Peterson went on to say. 40-year-old Darren Rouzes of Saskatoon was charged with one count of Possession of Stolen Property over $5000 contrary to Section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code and will be remanded for court in Saskatoon.

Between July 11th to July 17th, Kindersley RCMP responded to 37 calls for service*. These calls included, but were not limited to, 2 assault investigations, 1 fraud call, 1 breach of court conditions call and 1 possession of property over $5000 investigation.

A set of keys was turned into Kindersley Detachment on July 11th. If you are missing your keys please call us to see if we have them. (The owner has been found).

Between July 19th and July 25th, 2022, Kindersley RCMP responded to 34 calls for service * including 2 motor vehicle collisions, 3 suspicious person complaints, a harassing phone call complaint and two investigations where people were violating their release conditions.

Kindersley RCMP would like to remind residents in the rural area to check on their properties often and to call Police if they notice anything suspicious or items going missing. Having this information help the Police direct their patrols and monitor criminal activity.

If you need to report any suspicious activity in your community, please contact the Kindersley RCMP detachment by calling 306-463-4642 or their local police service. Information can also be provided anonymously through Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers by calling 1800-222TIPS (8477) or submitting a tip online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

* For more information on the calls to service please contact the Kindersley RCMP Detachment.

PARKINSON’S AWARENESS

The Spinning Wheels Tour makes stop in Kindersley

BY ANNIE DUNCAN Your Southwest Media Group

The Spinning Wheels Tour, a group of four individuals living with Parkinson’s Disease; Steve Iseman, Jim Redmond, Mike Loghrin and Darlene Richards-Loghrin, are cycling cross country to spread the message and raise awareness about the benefits moving your body has on this disease.

They started their tour in Victoria, BC, beginning June 2022 and are riding through every Canadian province. Their route is roughly 9,000 kms, and they attempt to average 125 kms daily, six days a week. On July 18, they arrived in Kindersley, SK slipping into town just before a thunderstorm hit.

Iseman was diagnosed with Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 48, but as he had lived most of his life as an avid skier and cyclist, he was not ready to give up on his two loves quite yet. In 2019 Iseman and Loghrin, who was diagnosed at the age of 50, co-founded a group called Rigid Riders, a Parkinson’s cycling group to motivate people living with Parkinson’s to take charge of their symptoms through intense exercise.

When Iseman reached out to others living with Parkinson’s about getting active, the most common response he received was “I’d love to, but I can’t.” The more he heard I

can’t, the more he was determined to prove to them that through training, they could.

When Redmond came to Iseman with the idea of crossing the country by bike, “Almost before the words left his lips, I said yes,” said Iseman.

When the idea was brought up to Loghrin, his instant reaction was to start laughing and didn’t stop laughing until he got home and told his wife, who said she wanted to help them with this almost impossible challenge by driving alongside them. Richards-Loghrin has been married to Mike for 38 years and has spent every day since his diagnosis supporting and fulfilling the role of caretaker.

Coming into Kindersley last week, the group celebrated reaching the 3,000 km mark of their journey. The Kindersley and District Plains Museum hosted a barbeque on July 19 to welcome The Spinning Wheels Tour. All funds from the barbeque were donated to help aid in the research to cure Parkinson’s disease.

“This has been the biggest, warmest welcome we have received by far,” said Redmond.

The group left Kindersley on the morning of July 20 as they headed for Regina.

You can follow along their journey at spinningwheelstour.ca

Steve Iseman and Jim Redmond take off on bicycle, from Kindersley, heading southeast to Regina, to continue their cross-country journey to end Parkinson’s.

| PHOTO BY ANNIE DUNCAN

Money making noise in world of sports

BY BRUCE PENTON Sports Columnist

If you have a child and like money, groom him or her to be a sports star. Sports is where you’ll find the real loot.

Money has become the talk of the sports world lately, and here are a couple of examples:

— Juan Soto, a baseball player of considerable talent for the Washington Nationals, said thanks but no thanks to a contract offer of $440 million over 15 years. C’mon, he’s got a family to feed. Soto thinks that’s was an insulting offer, considering it averages out to less than $30 million per year and some of his fellow major leaguers, whose stats don’t measure up to Soto’s, are already making in excess of $30 million. Another mitigating factor? Soto is only 23 and two-plus years away from free-agent eligibility, so he has a couple of hundred games to put up even more impressive stats before some team (probably the Yankees or Dodgers) pushes his offer to a cool $500 million for …. oh, 12 seasons.

— The Saudi Arabian money pit that has thrown

a wrench into the world of professional golf is on the verge of winning the battle because players can’t say no to offers of life-changing riches. Could you turn down $90 million, as was reported to have been offered Cameron Smith, winner of the Open Championship at St. Andrew’s in Scotland? Is there a chance Phil Mickelson would have said thanks, but no thanks to $200 million showing up one day in his chequing account?

If you were Richard Bland, Kevin Na, Pat Perez or Taylor Gooch, would guaranteed millions of dollars for fewer ‘working’ days be attractive enough to say ‘sayonara’ to the PGA Tour, as Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama is expected to do one of these days?

The catch-phrase slogan about money being the root of all evil may have some legitimacy, but money can also be the root of a great deal of happiness. Just ask lottery winners, or Michael Jordan, whose net worth is $2.2 billion, or soccer star Lionel Messi, who pulled in $130 million last year, $75 million for playing soccer, and $55 million from offfield income. LeBron James made twice as much ($80

million) off the basketball court than he did on it ($40 million) while aging tennis star Roger Federer pulled in only $700,000 last year for his tennis accomplishments, but is keeping creditors at bay thanks to $90 million in off-course income.

And then there’s Tom Brady. He’s 44 years old, still playing quarterback in the toughest league in the world and making $84 million in on- and off-field income. And his net worth of $250 million ranks second in his family. His wife Gisele Bundchen, one of the world’s highest paid supermodels, has a net worth of $400 million. It’s safe to say Tom and Gisele can afford extra butter on their popcorn when they take in a movie.

• RJ Currie of sportsdeke. com: “According to Orange News, a farmer who built his own submarine tested it by diving to the bottom of a nearby lake. He christened it the Cincinnati Red.”

• Super 70s Sports, on Twitter, recalling a line from former Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips, after Earl Campbell failed to complete a one-mile run in practice: “When it’s first and a mile, I won’t give it to him.””

• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel: “I’m still having a hard time grasping why nobody complains when American corporations and, yes, American presidents do business with Saudi Arabia, but American golfers get ripped for it.”

• Greg Cote of the Miami Herald: “Steph Curry will host The ESPYs . . . poor guy is finally getting some attention!”

• Steph Curry, hosting the ESPYs, on Tom Brady unretiring from the NFL at age 44: “He’s the only guy I know who’d rather get hit by Aaron Donald than hang out with a supermodel.”

• Hockey Unplugged, on Facebook: “The reason they built the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto is so that

Leafs’ fans can go see what the Stanley Cup looks like.”

• Another one from Greg Cote: “Juan Soto rejects $440 million offer from Nationals. Dude. You’re hitting .250.”

• RJ Currie again: “A fang-toothed vampire deer was recently spotted in Afghanistan for the first time in 66 years. Speaking of rare sightings, the Seattle Mariners are in a playoff spot.”

• Headline at fark.com, after USA Today ran a story detailing the most overrated player on each NFL team: “Well, except for the Texans because they’re all accurately rated as terrible.”

• Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times; “Magnus Carlsen, Norway’s five-time world chess champion, announced he will not defend his title but denied he is retiring. What, are the Saudis going to bankroll a LIV Chess Tour too?”

• David Whitley of the Gainesville (Fla.) Sun, on 769 nudists plunging into the Atlantic Ocean last week: “That broke the previous record of 391 naked people in Rob Gronkowski’s hot tub after the Bucs won the 2021 Super Bowl.”

Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo

Batter Up!

Kindersley hosts 35 Annual Western Canadian Oldtimers Baseball tournament

BY ANNIE DUNCAN

Your Southwest Media Group

The Kindersley Klippers placed fourth in the 35 Annual Western Canadian Oldtimers Baseball Championship held on the July 15 weekend, coming up short in their final game against the Saskatoon Sportsmen in a 9-6 loss.

Overall, it was a successful weekend of baseball at the Berard and Flanagan fields here in Kindersley, as eight teams from across Western Canada went head-to-head for the bragging rights to the title of Western Canadian Oldtimers Champi-

on. It’s been a long time coming for the teams, as the tournament had been on hold for the past two years due to the pandemic.

The sun was hot all weekend, but the bats were hotter! The crack of the bat, balls hitting gloves, and fans cheering could be heard throughout the stadium. Although the crowd was less than plentiful, they made up for size with volume as they cheered on their teams.

ANNIE DUNCAN

The Saskatoon Joes defeated the Regina Drifters in a 3-1 victory to claim the Oldtimers Championship title to finish off the incredible weekend. | PHOTO BY

Stallions get ousted in NSRBL playoffs - set to host Senior AA Provincials this weekend

BY KATE WINQUIST Your Southwest Media Group

There will be no repeat championship season for the Kindersley Stallions.

The quarter-finals of the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League pitted the #6 ranked Stallions against the #3 ranked Wilkie Brewers.

Kindersley travelled to Wilkie for the first game of the best

of three series, but lost a heartbreaker in extra innings. The final score was 5-4. Kyle Donaldson pitched a solid game for the ponies and Corson Harris cranked a 2 run homer.

Game 2 was played in Kindersley on July 14. The Stallions got off to a great start with a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Joel McGrath pitched 5+ innings before Tylin

Hilbig came in for relief. Unfortunately, the Stallions had one bad inning with some errors in the field and they couldn’t get the bats going. Wilkie came away with a 6-4 victory and a sweep of the defending league champs.

The Stallions will be hosting a provincial tourney on August 5-7 and hope they will be well rested.

Ron Cannon, member of the Kindersley Klippers senior baseball team, stands as third-base coach to aid his teammates as they run the bases in their third game of the weekend against the Saskatoon Joes. | PHOTO BY ANNIE DUNCAN

Brett Sautner pitches for the Kindersley Klippers in their final game of the tournament against the Saskatoon Sportsmen. | PHOTO BY ANNIE DUNCAN

| PHOTO BY KATE WINQUIST

Kindersley Dirt Drags and Tractor Pulls Return!

BY ANNIE DUNCAN Your Southwest Media Group

The Canadian Mud Racing Organization and Prairie Pulling League hosted their dirt drag and tractor pulling competition, one of the largest motorsports shows in Western Canada, in Kindersley over the July 22 and 23 weekend.

Kindersley welcomed drivers and fans from all over Saskatchewan and Alberta to enjoy a weekend of racing. After two years off from the show due to Covid-19, fans were revved up as they cheered on their favourite drivers as they raced for the finish line. Rocks, dirt, exhaust and if they were lucky, their competitor in the rear-view mirror.

A modified car kicks up dirt and rocks as it races to the end of the track.

PHOTO BY ANNIE DUNCAN

Let’s Go Golfing For FREE!

Leader settlers enjoyed the theatre

BY JOAN JANZEN Your Southwest Media Group

Back in 1917, residents of Leader, Saskatchewan, were able to enjoy an evening out at the theatre. The featured movie showing at the time the photo was taken was called “Mixed Blood,” a 1916 silent western film accompanied by piano music.

German immigrants began arriving in the Leader area around 1907. Most of them came from southern Russia. The village of Prussia was incorporated after the Canadian Pacific Railway came through in 1913. However, in 1917 the German name was changed to Leader, a more English-sounding alternative.

Leader’s history book,’ Pages from the Past,’ makes note of a new arrival named Fred Reumper, who built a theatre because he believed Leader needed a few luxuries. The theatre was quite modern for that era, sporting a sloping floor and fastened-down cushioned seats. Candy, popcorn and refreshments were available at a concession, and admission was a whopping 35 cents for adults and 20 cents for children. However, any energetic young person could gain free admission if they agreed to sweep the

floor after the movie was over.

Movies were shown three nights a week. A young lady named Mable Shori played the piano for silent films, and Eva Bonn was recorded as the first ticket seller. Unfortunately, the theatre building was destroyed by fire in 1920.

That year, Massey Harris Implements opened, and in 1927 it was converted into Leader Lux Theatre. A man named Mr. Weir, along with Hank Well, ran the silent movies; later, Phil Sherman and Henry Sherman were operators for the movies. Eventually, the building became the town’s community hall, where movies were still shown.

According to the online En-

cyclopedia of Saskatchewan, the names of settlers who may have enjoyed watching films at the Leader theatre are family names which are still familiar to the area. Those names include: Bischoff, Blehm, Deering, Deines, Doran, Dorsey, Elsasser, Frank, Fuchs, Heddinger, Holstein, Keil, May, Meier, Morasch, Riehl, Rossman, Scheck, Schimpf, Schmunk, Stricker and Wunsch.

The building which previously housed Leader’s theatre is located at 152 - 1st Street West, where Leader Agri-Motive conducts business.

Leader one of 30 communities to get wireless network upgrade

SaskTel announced last week that it is investing approximately $10 million to install Samsung Radio Access Network (RAN) equipment and significantly improve the 4G LTE data capacity of its wireless network serving 30 rural communities. SaskTel has already begun work to upgrade these towers and anticipates the majority of upgrades will be complete by the end of March 2023.

“This investment by SaskTel will ensure residents in these rural communities continue to enjoy high quality and reliable communication services so that they may take full advantage of the economic, social, and educational opportunities the modern world has to offer,” said Don

Morgan, Minister Responsible for SaskTel.

These upgrades will increase the 4G LTE data capacity in each of the communities by over 100%. The added capacity will ensure that SaskTel wireless customers can continue to fully utilize their smartphones without being slowed by network congestion.

“In addition to enhancing the wireless experience that our customers receive today, these upgrades will lay the foundation for the deployment of 5G in the future as we continue our work to bring the next generation in wireless technology to our customers across the province,” said Doug Burnett, SaskTel President and CEO.

Kindergarten kids visit Rosanna Farms

Weekly Sask Crop Report: July 28

Grain-fed vs grass-fed beef

BY JOAN JANZEN

How to manage animal waste

Your Southwest Media Group

Grass­fed and grain­fed are terms used to describe the feeding program for grazing animals like cattle. Here’s an overview of what these terms mean for the beef you’re eating.

GRAIN-FED

Kindergarten students from Westberry School enjoyed a fun field trip on Thursday and Friday, June 9th and 10th. Miss. Robertson and Mrs. Dimitroff brought their students to Rosan na Farms, located south of Kindersley, home of Robin and Brenda Walde.

While most cattle are raised eating grass, many farmers “finish” their cows on feed mixtures made from grains and corn. This process fattens the cattle up faster and gets

Where rain was received this past week, crops have continued with normal development, while areas in the west central region that remain very dry the crops have begun to go backwards in development and condition. Crops in areas that have received semi-regular rain showers are faring much better and some producers are expecting a better crop compared to last year. Some grain producers in the southwest and west-central regions have begun desiccating some of their pulse crops to get them ready for combining as the heat and dry conditions has shortened the growing season.

Crop Report Peas

Rainfall varied this past week, ranging from none in many areas to 69 mm in areas around Bienfait. The Lipton area received 51 mm, the Duck Lake area 32.5 mm and the Kindersley, Eyebrow and Vanguard areas received 22 mm.

While there’s nothing harmful about grain finishing, it does change the composition and flavour of the meat. For example, grainfed beef is heavily marbled and has a buttery, slightly sweet taste. Most people describe it as melt­in­your­mouth tender.

Devin Walde, Payton Walde, Brennon Ness and Colt Beswitherick hosted groups of students at different farm stations. The children learned all about seeding, harvest and bin storage. They also spent time inside the shed where they learned about seed, fertilizer and chemical.

Grass­fed beef comes from cattle that spend their entire lives eating grass. Typically, they graze on pastureland in the spring and summer, then eat hay in the fall and winter. Raising beef this way takes a lot of time, as grass­fed animals take six to 12 months lon ger to reach market weight than grain­fed animals. This extra time makes it more ex pensive for the rancher and the consumer.

The hot weather across the province last week has caused a slight decline in topsoil moisture, with the highest concentration of dry soils being in the western half of the province. For this past week, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent surplus, 63 per cent

Natural service (NS) and artificial insemina tion (AI) are the two most popular breeding programs used by cattle breeders and produ cers worldwide. Here’s an overview of these methods.

adequate, 26 per cent short and six per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 62 per cent adequate, 26 per cent short and 10 per cent very short.

Due to a break in the extreme heat and some timely rains, crop conditions are largely rated as fair to good. Some areas of the province have large portions of crops rated as excellent with the highest ratings being seen in cereals.

My eyes deceive me.

ing operations are now at 24 per cent standing, 24 per cent cut and 52 per cent baled or silage. Hay quality is rated as 19 per cent excellent, 62 per cent good, 18 per cent fair and one per cent poor. Hay yields for dry land hay range from 1.06 tons/ac to 1.84 tons/ac; for irrigated hay, the yields range from 2.16 tons/ac to 2.97 tons/ ac. Some producers are able to replenish their feed stocks from last year while others are still worried about going into the winter short on feed.

Animal waste contains many useful and re cyclable components. However, if incor rectly stored, it can negatively impact soil, water and air quality. Here are a couple of the most common animal waste manage ment strategies.

DRY STACKING

To finish off the event, they all ate their lunch in the shop, where they decorated the cement pads with their creative chalk art. Thanks to Rosanna Farms for hosting this field trip!

| PHOTOS BY BRENDA WALDE

Dry stacking animal waste involves piling solid manure and soiled livestock bedding in a covered storage bin with a concrete bot tom. Farmers must ensure the pile is com pacted, covered and sealed to prevent ma nure nutrients from leaching into the soil. Dry­stacked manure can be treated with ad ditives such as lime to help reduce unplea

Grass­fed beef is leaner and darker in colour than grain­fed beef and has a slightly gamey taste. It is somewhat higher in nutrients like beta carotene and vitamin E. It also has more omega­3 fatty acids.

Some adverse weather has made haying difficult for some producers and has resulted in lower quality hay than some were expecting. However, hay-

Strong winds, drought stress, hail, heat, grasshoppers and crop disease were the main issues of concern. Many producers are still actively spraying fungicides to protect their crops from fungal diseases as they continue to get rain followed by hot days that create ideal conditions for pathogens. The most common diseases being reported are anthracnose, ascochyta and root rot on pulse crops like lentils and field peas, and some cereals are being pressured from fusarium and rust (stem, leaf or stripe).

Despite variations in cost and taste, both grain and grass ces of protein, B vitamins, iron and zinc.

A complete, printable version of the Crop Report is available online at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/crop-report.

cow’s reproductive tract.

Americanized versions of our articles are included in the online page folder when necessary. Documents are identified as follows: TITLE_US.doc.

Independent Grain and Special Crops Market Analysis

Most days, I see rainbows and unicorns.

• Natural service is used by most cattle breeders and producers. It’s the natural breeding method where the cow and bull are allowed to mate without technological intervention. In other words, the bull and cow mate as they naturally show heat.

each of us, across all cultures throughout history.

This breeding method is labour­intensive and requires farmers to invest in expensive facilities, equipment and estrous synchronization drugs. However, it often results in improved reproductive performance and herd genetics. In addition, AI reduces the risk of disease transmission.

Independent Grain and Special Crops Market Analysis

Other days, I don’t see the rainbows.

It was a Friday afternoon. Early February.

Although the bulls must be fed and taken care of all year, this method is relatively hands­off and doesn’t require special equipment.

Why do individuals have different memories of the same event?

We were in the dressing room following a Farmer Hockey skate. Dark Team was enjoying the spoils of victory.

Can we trust memories when individuals remember events differently?

Our experiences and our traumas affect our perception of the world.

Can we trust what we see if we project our emotions into our reality?

It has been a long season for the White Team. They are a talented lot, far more skilled than the Dark Team, similar in fashion to the Maple Leafs or perhaps the Oilers.

Why they cannot be victorious is beyond me.

Do your emotions affect how you see the market and your behaviour?

Life is good for the Dark Team. Often, the conversation involves grain prices.

What is your energy level when you are bearish in a rising market?

My January Sell Signal was recently triggered with that analysis questioned based on Durum price seasonality.

What is your energy level when you are bullish?

Do you ignore price action and search for reasons to support your position?

Not being aware of Durum’s price seasonality, I asked a few questions and decided to investigate, which brings us to today.

You are not alone.

This behaviour is present in

I reviewed the High and Low prices from each of the eight crop years post-CWB.

We see what we want to see while ignoring the only thing that matters.

Some farmers use a combination of both methods to improve the health of their herds.

Price.

Price does not lie.

Price does not care what we think.

Price does not care what we see.

Only Price Pays.

Take a look at the Red Lentil’s parabolic move to the $60 area before the 41% sell-off. Yes, 41%

How can this be?

We see that there are more mouths to feed and less lentils to feed them.

We see that the world has only 10 weeks of food supply.

We see how the Russia invasion of Ukraine is reducing food supplies.

The sample size is small; how ever, you may better understand Durum’s historic price seasonal ity.

We see several reasons for the price to move higher.

The histogram shows the dis tribution frequency of the crop year highs and lows.

However, the monthly combination of July and August has resulted in crop year highs most

5. Another word for fish farming is aquaculture. The word aquaculture combines the , meaning

Buyers compete to secure supply leading up to and during har-

Farmed fish often has a milder flavour than

July through to September are most likely to have the crop year

There are three main fish farming systems: completely closed, flow­through and open

Except when they don’t, and then they often have the high

4. The earliest evidence of fish farming dates to ancient China, Egypt and Rome. ever, the modern form of fish farming was introduced in Germany in 1733.

July and September had the low crop year price in 7 of 8 years.

One should not be surprised, considering the psychology of the market participants.

When done correctly, fish farming is a highly eco­friendly and sustainable way to raise fish. It helps create healthier habitats and rebuild stocks of threatened and endangered species.

We don’t see that the price is dropping because there are more sellers than buyers.

We see what we want to see.

If you question the math, some crop years had multiple months with the same highs and lows.

To summarize:

Growers compete to sell for cash-flow and storage reasons before and during harvest.

The month of November has had the crop year highs most often.

Did you know that many fish farms and hatcheries offer tours? Look for one near you to get a glimpse into this fascinating industry.

It is apparent how vital the July crop condition forecasts are as they can almost make or break the price. Does this information align with your understanding of the Durum market?

Trent Klarenbach, BSA AgEc, publishes the Klarenbach Grain Report and the Klarenbach Special Crops Report, which can be read at https://www.klarenbach.ca/

Do you consider seasonal pricing when buying or selling Durum?

The photos and images in this issue are available to download in black & white and in a larger size from the online page folder.

Trent Klarenbach, BSA AgEc, publishes the Klarenbach Grain Report and the Klarenbach Special Crops Report, which can be read at https://www.klarenbach.ca/

BY BRIAN ZINCHUK

Wind power generation in Alberta collapsed yet again, but renewables are our salvation, right?

BY BRIAN ZINCHUK PipelineOnline.ca

The evening of July 26, I did something that’s become routine for me – check on the status of Alberta’s power grid.

I can do this because that province posts minute-by-minute data on the power generation from each and every facility connected to the grid. That includes 20 solar facilities totaling 977 megawatts nameplate capacity, 26 wind facilities totaling 2,269 megawatts, and three battery backup facilities totaling 50 megawatts.

Nameplate capacity is the maximum capacity that facility can put out. When you build a coal, natural gas or nuclear plant, generally speaking, you get that nameplate capacity all the time, unless you purposely dial it down because you don’t need that much power. But for wind and solar, as seven months of study of the Alberta grid have shown, it’s an entirely different thing.

Wind and solar, our supposed renewable, green power salvation, are “intermittent power,” meaning they come and go. And that’s a problem. Because from my observations, they come and go a lot. And at times when our society needs power the most, they will occasionally disappear almost completely.

Since the last week of December, I periodically check out the Alberta Electric System Operator website, which you can also do, here at this link http://ets.aeso.ca/ets_web/ip/ Market/Reports/CSDReportServlet.

SaskPower won’t put out this information. In April I was told, “Saskatchewan’s electric utility is a vertically integrated system that has the responsibility for planning the system expansions to meet domestic demands, maintain system reliability at a stable, reasonable cost rather than the whim of the market. Due to this dif-

ference, displaying real-time market sensitive information would put Saskatchewan rate payers at a significant disadvantage when looking for opportunities to supply domestic load over the tie lines during periods of potential internal shortfall due to unforeseen outages or to displace internal generation during times where external market may provide short-term economic options.”

Alberta’s grid data is updated minute-by-minute, showing not just how much every power plant is contributing to the grid, but each unit. There are only three coal units left in Alberta, a province with more coal underground that can be possibly imagined. At this moment Genesee Unit 1 is producing 394 megawatts out of 44, Unit 2 is 401 out of 400, and Unit 3 is 460 out of 466 megawatts. With coal, you literally get what you pay for – reliable, consistent baseload power.

There are times when I see individual solar and wind facilities actually hitting their nameplate capacity. But those times are rare and fleeting. At this very minute, just before noon on July 27, three of Alberta’s 20 solar facilities are producing maximum power, and a handful more are just a megawatt or two shy. But other solar facilities at the exact same moment are producing two megawatts out of 15, 12 or 14. Apparently it’s cloud at Brooks at this moment.

I asked SaskPower some hard questions about this back in April. I was told SaskPower’s expectation is that the wind facilities will produce roughly 40 per cent of total capacity on a long-term basis. For solar, that number is 25 per cent. And to their credit, in announcing the new solar facility near Weyburn, the press release reflected that 25 per cent when talking about how many homes it could supply power to.

Getting back to last night, at around 10 p.m., being night, surprise surprise, there was no solar generation. But notably there was only 122 megawatts coming out of those 26 wind facilities – 5.4 per cent. I didn’t have time to do a story on it, but resolved to check it out again the next morning.

And at 10:16 a.m., just as people are getting up from their morning coffee breaks, I did. And wind, at the time, was contributing just 22 megawatts, out of 2,269. Less than one per cent.

This wasn’t at night, as people were going to bed. It was during the middle of the morning, when conceivably almost the entire population is at work, being productive. Industry is running. Welders are welding. Computers computing. Maybe even some electric cars are being charged at work. And wind was producing less than one per cent. That’s effectively nothing.

CONTINUED PAGE 14

Wind turbines on the Alberta side of the Saskatchewan/Alberta border, northwest of Macklin, Saskatchewan. | PHOTO BY BRIAN ZINCHUK

Final step in Line 3 pipeline project underway

Decommissioning work taking place in Alberta and Saskatchewan

Along a 1,097-km corridor – stretching underground across the Prairies from Hardisty, Alta. to the U.S border at Gretna, Man. – is a new, 36-inch pipeline placed into service by Enbridge in October 2019. With the above-ground pipeline right-of-way returned to its pre-construction condition, work to decommission the ‘legacy’ Line 3 continues in 2022.

“This is the final step toward completing the entire Line 3 Replacement Program in Canada,” said Construction Manager Allen Sawatzky. “We’re done in most of Manitoba and this year we’re focused on the remaining segments of Line 3 from Hardisty and throughout Saskatchewan to west of Cromer (Manitoba).”

The decommissioning project in 2022 will focus on three segments, beginning with the 255-km leg from Regina to Cromer in late spring, followed by

Hardisty to Kerrobert (176 km) and Kerrobert to Regina (355 km) in late summer into fall.

The general contractor for Hardisty to Kerrobert is Gee Bee Construction while the general contractor for Kerrobert to Cromer is Maxx North American Services Ltd.

Work in each segment will have a peak workforce of about 60, including crews of between seven and 10 construction and contract personnel.

“Decommissioning is a logistically challenging job,” said Sawatzky. “It’s different than building a pipeline – you don’t just work from kilometre zero to kilometre 100 in a straight line. You go back-andforth, from site-to-site, and the particular job in Manitoba in 2021 involved 31 different locations for segmentation, valve isolation and for installing engineered material in the pipe beneath railway and road crossings.”

There are 23 locations for segmentation, valve isolation

and railway fill between Hardisty and Kerrobert, 34 locations

between Kerrobert and Regina and 40 locations between Regi-

na and Cromer.

Contractors and Enbridge personnel remove a valve during Line 3 decommissioning near Morden, Man. Small construction crews will be visible to the public doing similar work along the pipeline’s right-of-way in eastern Alberta and western Saskatchewan beginning in early August.

Seasonal Pipeline Work

From late July/early August through October, small Enbridge work crews will begin decommissioning of the Line 3 pipeline in southern Saskatchewan. With the new, replacement pipeline providing commercial service since late 2019, this essential field work will take the old Line 3 pipeline out of service safely and permanently.

Line 3 decommissioning will involve cleaning, disconnecting, segmenting, filling the pipeline at strategic points and ongoing monitoring, even after decommissioning is complete.

To learn more about how we plan to safely decommission the old Line 3, please visit enbridge.com/l3d

Brian Zinchuk Column: Banging the same drum

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

There is no way to describe this other than a complete and utter failure.

And this has happened time and time again. I’m losing track of how many times I’ve seen this, and written about it. But it’s a lot. I’ve listed a number of those stories at the bottom of this column.

What happens when we double or triple or quadruple our reliance on wind and solar? What happens when the whole fleet, as Alberta’s 26 wind farms, drops to a cumulative 1 per cent in the middle of the day? Will it be better when there’s 75 wind farms? So far, more is not proving better. So do we have rolling blackouts?

And if you think solar power is so much better, it’s not. A few weeks ago another random check of the Alberta grid showed that Alberta was getting just 13.5 per cent of its solar capacity –at noon! And that was during the week of the summer solstice, when not only should we be getting the most hours of solar energy in a day, but its highest intensity due to the

angle of the sun in the sky. Alberta is far further down this path to renewables than Saskatchewan. Their build out of the aforementioned 26 wind facilities, 20 solar facilities and three battery backups makes us pale in comparison. As of today, Saskatchewan has nine grid-scale wind facilities and two solar facilities connected, and they’re working on a 20 megawatt battery storage facility for Regina. This is the path Saskatchewan is on. SaskPower is continually moving towards implementing more power generation from wind and solar.

Real impacts

So far, Saskatchewan and Alberta have been able to cope with the intermittency of solar and wind. But what happens when it becomes a much high fraction of our power generation?

My wife is a longtime ER registered nurse. Does my wife’s emergency room have to run on generators? If she’s doing a code blue on your father, or maybe even you, what happens if the power goes out? What if the

generator fails to fire up?

Do we shut down our steel mill in Regina? Close your business’ doors? Do we just accept regressing to the power generation reliability of a third world country?

Time and again, when I go online just to check how things are going in Alberta’s power grid, and this is what I find: Wind, or solar, has flatlined, and battery backups are contributing precisely zero.

And what happens when, in 12.5 years, the federal government has banned the sale of internal combustion engine light vehicles, and everyone is plugging in their electric vehicles?

Banging the same drum

Yes, I keep banging on this drum. Why?

Because we cannot run a modern 21st century economy on a power supply that, in the middle of the day, can and does drop to less than one per cent output.

And the supposed salvation of battery backup? In seven months, I have yet to see Alberta draw one megawatt from its 50

Decommissioning 101

A decommissioned pipeline is defined by the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) as one that is taken out of service safely and permanently while other existing or new pipelines in the same right-of-way continue to provide service to end users.

Enbridge has approval from the CER (formerly the National Energy Board) to decommission Line 3 in place, a standard practice which minimizes the potential effects on communities and the stability issues that surround soil disturbance.

“Leaving the line in place avoids disturbance from the significant construction required for excavation and removal,” said Terry Kwasniewski, Manager Projects, at Enbridge. “It also reduces risk of soil and slope instability, settlement and compaction that could compromise the safety of active pipelines sharing the right-of-way.”

Line 3 decommissioning involves cleaning, disconnecting, segmenting, filling the pipeline at strategic points and ongoing monitoring, even after decommissioning is complete.

Here is a look at the five steps involved in decommissioning:

1. Clean the pipeline: A combination of cleaning instruments (often referred to as ‘pigs’) and cleaning solution are used to wipe and clean the pipeline.

2. Disconnect the pipeline: The pipeline is physically disconnected and sealed off from active operational facilities, like pump stations, to prevent oil from re-entering the system.

3. Segment the pipeline: Permanent physical barriers are created inside the pipeline to prevent the pipeline from acting as a conduit. This includes valves and permanent segmentation installations. Valves are closed and permanently disabled, and small pieces of the pipeline are removed so it can be sealed at select locations.

4. Strategically fill the pipeline: The line will be filled with an engineered material at railway crossings, which can also provide protection against water conduits.

5. Monitor the pipeline: Cathodic protection will continue to be applied to the decommissioned pipeline. It will be monitored with regular pipeline patrols, pipeline signs indicating exact location, and depth-of-cover surveys, and it will remain on Click Before You Dig program databases.

megawatts of battery backup. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen. But every time I do a story on wind or solar flatlining, there’s nothing coming from the batteries. It’s a life preserver that never gets thrown out to the drowning grid.

Maybe the grid’s not drowning, yet. But Alberta is on track to shut down its last coal plants soon, and the feds are pushing Saskatchewan to do the same. And there’s no way in hell we will have nuclear in place in time to replace our remaining coal. So we either stretch out the life of our coal facilities, build out 1,389 megawatts of gas-fired power in 7.5 years, buy a similar amount from Manitoba, Montana or North Dakota, or sit in the dark. And that’s just to replace existing coal, not dramatically increase power production due to the impending electrification of the transportation fleet.

And while I keep banging this drum, ask yourself when was the last time you saw any of the other media asking about this, questioning this supposed green transition? You won’t see it, because the mainstream media has bought it hook, line and sinker.

I keep finding examples of the complete and utter failure of either wind or solar, or sometimes both, to provide power during our times of greatest need – the hottest and coldest days of the year. This pattern is not a fluke. It’s consistent. The people pushing these renewables either know this

and choose not to talk about it, or they are willfully ignorant. Neither is acceptable. We need to keep the lights on. We cannot start to experience brownouts and blackouts like California. We can’t have hospitals running on generators because we choose to screw up the best thing we have going in modern society – reliable power generation. Lives will hang in the balance if we get this wrong, and our society is rapidly moving towards screwing this up.

Two hours later, at noon on July 27, Alberta’s wind had picked up to a whole 67 megawatts of 2,269. It was now 3 per cent of capacity! Just 11 of its 26 wind farms were producing zero megawatts at 12:10 p.m. Some might call that progress.

Brian Zinchuk is editor and owner of Pipeline Online. He can be reached at brian.zinchuk@pipelineonline.ca.

PHOTO BY BRIAN ZINCHUK

Classifieds

RATES (25 words or less). $10.00 plus GST. Additional words are 20¢ each. Deadline is Thursday noon. 306-463-2211

COMING EVENTS

On Saturday, August 6th, the Eston Museum will be re-opening the Homesteaders Shack and will be serving hamburgers as well as hotdogs from 11:00 to 1:00. This is a fundraiser. Thank you for your support. Everyone welcome.

CONDO FOR SALE

Condo in CALEB VILLAGE, Kindersley. Prime ground floor 2 bedroom condo, win-

dows facing three directions with a great view. Open design living room, dining area and Kitchen, 9 foot ceilings and very bright throughout!

Walk-in closet in main bedroom, good size second bedroom with closet, nice size bathroom and entrance side closet. Outdoor ground level balcony facing beautiful outdoor grass grounds and Gazebo area, locker area upstairs

above condo, furniture is optional. Contact Allan at 306-962-7996.

HELP WANTED FOREFRONT

INSURANCE is hiring office & remote brokers & marketing/support brokers. Hybrid Schedules, Commission, & Equity opportunities. Contact Michael 403-501-8013 / mhollinda@excelrisk. ca

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

In the Estate of WILFRID STANLEY BETTSCHEN, late of Kindersley, in the Province of Saskatchewan, Deceased.

ALL CLAIMS against the above Estate, duly verified by statutory declaration and with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, must be sent to the undersigned before the 20th day of August, 2022.

SHEPPARD & MILLAR

Solicitors for the Estate of WILFRID STANLEY BETTSCHEN

Barristers & Solicitors 113 - 1st Avenue East

Box 1510, Kindersley, SK S0L 1S0

Attention: MONTE J. SHEPPARD

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

In the Estate of JOSEPH HENRY SCHELL , late of Madison, in the Province of Saskatchewan, Deceased.

ALL CLAIMS against the above Estate, duly verified by statutory declaration and with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, must be sent to the undersigned before the 15th day of August, 2022.

SHEPPARD & MILLAR

Solicitors for the Estate of JOSEPH HENRY SCHELL

Barristers & Solicitors 113 - 1st Avenue East

Box 1510, Kindersley, SK S0L 1S0

Attention: Mark L. Millar

PHOTOS BY ANNIE DUNCAN

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You face the possibility of raising your relationship to another level. However, your partner might demand that you make promises you’re not sure you’re ready for.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) As changes continue, expect things to get a little more hectic at your workplace. An unexpected travel opportunity could open new career prospects.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Confront the person who caused your hurt feelings and demand a full explanation for their actions. You’ll not only recover your self-esteem, but you’ll also gain the respect of others.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) That personal problem in the workplace is compounded by someone’s biased interference. Stand your ground, and you’ll soon find allies gathering around you.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) You don’t accept disapproval easily. But instead of hiding out in your den to lick your wounded pride, turn the criticism into a valuable lesson for future use.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) That former friend you thought you’d cut out of your life is still affecting other relationships. Counter their lies with the truth. Your friends are ready to listen.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) What appears to be an unfair situation might simply be the result of a misunderstanding. If you feel something is out of balance, correct it.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A stalled relationship won’t budge until you make the first move. Your partner offers a surprising explanation about what got it mired down in the first place.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A coworker shares some startling news, but before you can use it to your advantage, make sure it’s true. The weekend favors family matters.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Your usual conservative approach to family situations might not work at this time. Keep an open mind about developments, and you might be pleasantly surprised.

1. TELEVISION: Which “Star Wars” character did Tina Fey dress as in the sitcom “30 Rock” to avoid jury duty?

2. GEOGRAPHY: What is the largest desert in Africa?

3. HISTORY: Who was the first American to win a Nobel Prize?

4. ANATOMY: Where in the body is blood produced?

5. MOVIES: Which movie features a theme song titled “Dueling Banjos”?

6. U.S. STATES: Which state was the first to make same-sex marriage legal?

7. SCIENCE: Where did the first manned spacecraft land on the moon?

8. LITERATURE: Which 20th-century Southern novel features a character named Frankie Addams?

9. MUSIC: What is the first movie that featured the singer Elvis?

10. AD SLOGANS: Which company’s slogan once was “At the corner of happy and healthy”? © 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Plans might have to be put on hold because of a family member’s problems. Don’t hesitate to get involved. Your help could make all the difference.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Relationships in the home and in the workplace need your careful attention during this period. Be careful not to allow misunderstandings to create problems.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a keen, insightful intellect and enjoy debating your views with others who disagree with you. You also love to solve puzzles -- the more challenging, the better.

Trivia Test Answerst

1. Princess Leia; 2. The Sahara; 3. President Theodore Roosevelt, Peace Prize; 4. Bone marrow; 5. “Deliverance”; 6. Massachusetts; 7. Sea of Tranquility;

8. “The Member of the Wedding”; 9. “Love Me Tender,” 1956; 10. Walgreens

TORRENS - It is with great sadness that the family of (Wilmar)

Wayne “Butch” Torrens of Smiley, Saskatchewan, announce his unexpected passing on July 9, 2022. He was 75 years old. Wayne, better known as Butch, was predeceased by his parents, William and Grace and his older brother Terry.

VAVRIK - It is with sadness the family of Anne Vavrik announce her passing on July 26, 2022 at the Biggar Hospital at the age of 98 years.

Left to cherish his memory are his children that he shared with Colleen Torrens (nee Whatley), Daron (Kelly), Krista (Shawn), and Tyler (Naomi), as well as his granddaughter Kennedy. Also left to mourn are his two nephews and niece, Jonn Alden, Todd Torrens & Gillean Scaddan (nee Alden) along with many cousins and a lot of close friends who were like family to him.

Wayne was born February 9, 1947, in Kindersley where he grew up making many friends along the way. He and his family were active farmers in the Glidden, Coleville and Smiley areas. In 1973, he and Colleen moved to the Elmer

Enger farm on Section 16 North of Smiley, Saskatchewan. It was there that they set down roots to raise their family. He was very active in the community and was well known in the surrounding farming community. He enjoyed visiting with his family, friends, as well as checking his crops and tending to his sweet peas. Butch always liked meeting new people and was genuinely interested in their “story”.

Wayne enjoyed life right to the “end”. He went to the Stampede parade on Friday with Daron, Kelly, Colleen and friends. On Saturday he went to the Stampede Rodeo with Krista, Shawn and his good friend Lou-

is Schmidt. After the rodeo he toured around the grounds on his own where he met more people and visited with them. After he was done, he came home to Daron & Kelly’s house, where he held “court” with Daron, Kelly, Tyler and Naomi for a few hours. That night he reflected on many things and people in his life, specifically his longtime friend David Mitchell who predeceased him. Butch mentioned something he wished he told David…”I’ll see you down the road”. Within an hour he passed away after enjoying the “best stampede day he has ever had!”. We, the family, are so thankful we were able to spend time with

him on his last few days, he did not suffer and was not alone.

There will be a Celebration of Wayne’s Life on Saturday afternoon, October 1st, 2022, at the Elks Hall in Kindersley, Saskatchewan. A Graveside Service will be held October 1, 2022 prior to his Celebration of Life (time to be decided yet).

“I’ll see you down the road”

Anne enjoyed reading, Archie comics, playing cards with family and friends, gardening, cake decorating and playing the organ. She was a spiritual woman, connecting

Anne was born on January 15, 1924 and raised on the farm in the Ruthilda district. She attended Daisy Hill School before attending LaBelle for hairdressing. She met the love of her life; Stan and they were married in January 1962. Anne and Stan adopted two children in 1968 completing their family.

with God and her community at church brought her much joy over the years. She was a caring and loving wife and mother, she was determined and enjoyed joking around, she was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need, she enjoyed a good adventure and also was very prim and proper, a true lady.

She enjoyed her time serving her community by volunteering with the Dodsland Museum as well as belonging to the Legion and the Dodsland Seniors group.

Anne is survived by her daughter Lynn (Dan) Hague, grandchildren Shawn (Charly), Sandy (Serena) and Abigail (Taylor), great-grandchildren Gunnar and Weston and step-great-grandchildren Kyra and Davyon. She was predeceased by her parents Joseph and Anna, husband Stan, sister Josephine and son Gerald.

A Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, August 6, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Dodsland Druid Cemetery followed by a tea at the Dodsland Hall. Donations in memory of Anne may be made to the Dodsland Museum or the Dodsland Clinic. To send online condolences please visit shanidarfuneralservices.com. Arrangements entrusted to Colette Thompson.

ALSASK

Saturday, September 3

• Beer Olympics 3.0. Theme: Anything But A Human. For mor infomation contact Emily 306-430-8084 or Katina 306-430-1102 by text.

EATONIA

Saturday, October 22

• Eatonia & District Chamber of Commerce Fall Trade Show 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.

ESTON

Ongoing

Eston Lions Swimming Pool Summer Hours Public Swim

Monday-Friday 1:00-5:00 & 6:00-8:00 PM

Saturday & Sundays 1:00-8:00 PM Lane Swim

Monday, Wednesday & Friday 6:00 - 10:00 AM

Monday-Friday 5:00-6:00 PM Hours subject to change due to weather

Ongoing

Eston Wheatland Library Summer Programming

Ages 5 and up or under 5 with adult wranglers.

Mondays: Lego Day 3:00-4:30 pm

Tuesdays: Quiet Reading Day - All Day

Wednesdays: Sock Puppet Day 3:00-4:30 pm

Thursdays: Quiet Reading Day - All Day

Fridays: Story / Craft Day 3:00-4:30 pm

Various stories and related or unrelated crafts.

Saturday, August 6

• The Eston Museum will be re-opening the Homesteaders Shack and will be serving hamburgers as well as hotdogs from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Saturday, August 13, 20, 27

• Eston Museum Hot Dog and Drink Sales 11:00 am to 1:00 pm (weather permitting). This is a museum fundraiser. Thank you for your support!

August 15-19

• Vacation Bible School “Monumental - Celebrating God’s Greatness” for ages 4-12 at the Eston Full Gospel Church 9:30 am - 12:00 pm each day. New friends, amazing experiments, creative games, super-fun snacks, surprising adventures and incredible music! It’s FREE! Register at estonfullgospel.ca/vbs

Thursday, August 25

• Mental Health Matters: The Eston & District Health Care Committee is hosting and event to raise awareness regarding Mental Health Issues in our area. 6:00 pm at the AGT Community Centre (Olorenshaw Farm Services Mezzanine). The evnt is open to the public and there will be a free pizza supper provided by Central Plains Co-op with presentation to follow.

Saturday, October 15

• Gala Dinner and Sports Memorabilia Auction. Dr. David S. Mulder Eston District Health Care Foundation. Saturday, November 19

• Christmas in November. Prairie West Historical Society, dinner, fashion show, silent auction, speaker artist: Christine Code.

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.

Wednesday, August 10

• Customer Appreciation Day BBQ at the Hoosier Coop from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm.

KERROBERT

Ongoing

• Aquasizes daily Monday - Friday 11:30 am -12:00 noon

• Lane Swim and Water Walking daily 5:30-6:00 pm

• Library Storybook Trail

• Men’s Night is Thursdays at the Kerrobert Golf Course

• Ladies Night is Tuesdays at the Kerrobert Golf Course

August 2-5

• Parent and Tot Swim Lessons

Tuesday, August 2

• Twoonie Tuesday at the Pool & Park Program visits Museum

Wednesday, August 3

• Mobile Playground 10:00 am - 2:30 pm (reguister at Pool)

Tuesday, August 9

• Sprinkles the Clown visits the Library 3:30 PM

August 22-24

• Groovy Dos Kids Art Day Camp from 10:00-12:30. Pre-registration required: 306-834-4300. Art, Crafts, Games & more.

October 1

• Fall Market

October 7-10

• Community Celebration

November 3-5

• Prairieland Players Dinner Theatre

November 26

• Winter Market

KINDERSLEY

Tuesday, August 2

• Downtown Kindersley Association meeting 12:00 - 1:00 pm at Highway Host Curry House. Everyone welcome.

• Paint Night “Textured Art Canvas Design” at Kindersley & District Plains Museum. Ages 16+ (Limited spaces available). Sweets & Refreshments provided. $15 fee upon entry (Cash or cheque). Particpants must pre-register.

Friday, August 5 - Sunday, August 7

Kindersley Stallions host the Senior AA Tier 2 Provincials at Berard Field. Admission: $10 / day or $20 / weekend. Beer Gardens and Daily 50/50. Teams competing include: Kindersley Stallions, Cabri River Rats, North Battleford Beavers, Standard Hill Lakers, Wilkie Brewers.

Wednesday, August 10

• Blast from the Past Fashion Show at the Kindersley & District Plains Museum. Doors open at 6:30 pm & Show begins at 7:00 pm. Sweets and refreshments provided. Tickets available for purchase at the Museum. Tickets and seating are first come-first serve.

Saturday, August 27

• Kindersley Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament September 22, 23. 24 and 25

• Goose Festival Days!

Saturday, September 24

• Kindersley Flatlanders Speedway 3:00 pm Hobby Stock Invitational, Legends Touring Series, Wingless Sprints, Street Stock, Truck Stock. $10 admission. Sunday, September 25

• Kindersley Flatlanders Speedway 1:00 pm Hobby Stock Invitational, Legions Touring Series, Wingless Sprints, Street Stock, Truck Stock. $10 admission.

Saturday, October 15

• Duck’s Unlimited Annual Banquet. Tickets on sale September 1st. Contact Sherry Casswell at 306-4606708 for info.

* Kindersley Clay Busters Trap Shooting every Wednesday (6:30 pm) and Sunday (2:00 pm) at the Kindersley Wildlife Federation Range. Your first round is on us, each round after that is $5. Contact Jeff Vass 306-460-5373 for more info.

* Kids Summer Camp at Kindersley Aquatic Centre “All Summer Long”. Open to ages 5-10 years. Outdoor games, drees-up days, treasure hunt, story telling, themed weeks and field trips. Lessons included! Pre registration required. For more info 306-463-2081.

LEADER

Marketplace Dates

• August 4, 9, 11, 18, 25, 27

Saturday, August 6

• River Ridge Golf Course 25th Anniversary Tournament. 4 person Texas Scramble. Tee off at 10:00 am. $400/team (includes steak supper). Enter as a team or individual. Call Brian at 639-932-7155 to register or for more info.

Friday, August 26

• Farewell to Summer Concert featuring 8-time SCMA award winner JJ Voss at the Leader Millennium Gardens. Concession opens 6:00 pm. Concert 7:00 pm. Bring lawn chairs. In case of inclement weather, concert will be held at the Leader Community Centre. September 17

• Young Entrepreneur Tradeshow 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Cost $10. Call/text Lee 306-628-7887 for more info. Friday, October 21

• Leader & District Arts Council presents Justin Labrash 7:30 pm at the Leader United Church. Friday, November 18

• Leader & District Arts Council presents Twin Flames 7:30 pm at the Leader Community Centre.

LIEBENTHAL

Sunday, October 16

• Come join us for our 1st Liebenthal German Supper. Seatings at 4:30 pm and 6:00 pm at the Liebenthal Community Hall. Adults $20; 12 & under $10. For tickets please contact Cheryl Eresman 306-6627368, Joan Wagner 306-661-8075, Gerald Wagner 306-628-7677.

MAJOR

Ongoing

• Major Play Pals Pre-School Bottle Fundraiser from June 1 to September 30. All funds will be put back into our pre-school program. Call Megan 780-2378077 or Bailey 403-700-7145 to make arrangements for pick up.

• Major Play Pals Pre-School is seeking toy donations. Please ensure your donations are clean, in good working order, not missing pieces and appropriate for ages 3 to 5. Call Megan 780-237-8077 or Bailey 403700-7145 to make arrangements for pick up.

Sunday, August 7

• 100th Anniversary of St. Catherine’s Anglican Church at Prairiedale (south of Major). Following the service there will be a potluck supper at the Patton farm. BBQ Beef on a bun supplied by the Patton and Jeffries families. Please bring a salad or dessert. For more info call Murray 306-463-8028 or Delmer 306460-8739.