Agriculture

Speaking and singing at Moose Mountain Ag Day
The third annual Moose Mountain Ag Day, held January 27 at the Prairie Place Hall in Arcola, offered producers a chance to learn from guest speakers and to hear the singing talents of a rising Saskatchewan star.
Event chair Don Lees was pleased with the speakers, the entertainment and the attendance. About 60 men listened to the afternoon speakers, and another 25 women turned out for a session of their own.
A sold-out crowd of about 160 people packed the hall for the dinner and a concert from Manoah Hartmann, who finished in the top 10 of the 2004 Canadian Idol competition.
Ron Moss from the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Association in Manitoba kicked off the day with a brief speech on brush control in native pasture.
“He was telling us the different things that they do to control their brush,” said Lees. “Brush is becoming a problem in some of these native pastures, so he gave us some pointers on what to do.”
Barb Stefanyshyn-Cote, who has been recognized by Outstanding Young Farmers of Canada, offered tips on negotiating skills to get the best deal.
Les Johnson of Fillmore explained the new volunteer verified beef program, in which cattle producers document anything that has happened to their cattle, so that if there are health problems, the animal’s history is on file.
Harry Seemans encouraged producers to stay positive in the face of BSE, drought, frost and low commodity prices during his motivational speech.
“He speaks on a positive note, that we’ve come through the worst of this thing, and things will get better,” said Lees.
Gerry Fichtemann of the River Bend Nursery in Estevan gave a two-hour talk to women on ornamental gardening, gardening tips and tricks, and all the new items arriving on the horticultural scene.
“He talked about landscaping for the Saskatchewan prairies,” said Lees. “He talked about the kind of plants that we’re recommended to grow if they’re fixing their yards up.”
Lees said the speakers were all well received for their relevant topics and messages.
Hartmann’s concert was a major attraction.
“It gives everybody a little time to relax and enjoy something for a change,” said Lees. “She was good, and she did a good job of recounting some of her experiences. She’s a very good singer.”
The Moose Mountain Ag Day was sponsored by the Cornerstone Regional Economic Development Authority, the R.M.’s of Brock and Moose Mountain, the Town of Arcola, and Sask Agriculture, Food and Rural R

Feature

Endeavoring "To keep the past"
By Delila Hesketh
Winston Churchill once said: "There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man." Lars Norman Kjersem of Roche Percee concurs.
The 79-year-old retired farmer was raised on a farm and broke horses most of his life. If not for injuries sustained when he was wedged between a horse and a cow and later hit with a 60 pound bale which fell 21 feet, he said he'd still be there.
But rather than dwell on the disasters that sent him into retirement, Kjersem prefers to enjoy his fondest memories.
"I drove eight horses one time. Four ahead of four on a triple bottomed plow - that's three different furrows. It was fun… When you have good, well broke horses it's no problem," said Kjersem.
"If you don't load them too heavy he can go all day - except he's gotta have his dinner same as you do and water - providing they are broke and don't act foolish. They can play themselves out in 10 minutes if they want to act stupid but we used to have them broke in the winter time on a bobsled."
The Kjersems got their first tractor in 1954. Until then they farmed with horses. Although lots of people had tractors long before them, Kjersem said the family continued to use horses because horsepower worked for them.
"Dad, he figured if you bought a tractor you were broke," said Kjersem.
Some modern farming practices don't make sense to him.
"This is something I can't figure out: why we have to spray because we plowed our land and we sold our crops and I can't remember it being weedy like today."
"One thing, we cut it with a binder; we blew everything in a straw pile and the combine spreads the seeds back on the ground which the thrashing machine didn't do," said Kjersem.
He added that farmers also worked their land more often in the past, whereas now many simply spray and seed.
"We'd wait until the weeds got about that high [motions with hands] and start to blossom, then we'd plow them underneath and it was like plowing manure under. That would be summer fallow and the next year you'd plant it."
Kjersem enjoys helping his son farm during the summer but spends much of his time now carefully preserving pioneer history by constructing replicas of various implements and the animals that pulled them.
"I made horses and stuff when I was a kid," said Kjersem, "I figured it all out myself. Nobody showed me nothing."
Returning to this hobby happened a short time after retirement when he noticed various woodworking tools were on sale at a local store. Once Kjersem got started, it seemed there was no turning back. His living room is filled with replicas of horse and oxen drawn carts, wagons, a hayrack, covered wagon, dump wagon and early road building equipment.
He focuses on wood construction in the garage over the summer months, and in winter sews harnesses with an antique sewing machine altered to use a leather needle.
If he wasn't doing this, Kjersem says he'd either go crazy, or drive his wife in that direction.
He calls his collection "stuff of the past" and its quality has been widely admired and even sought after. He was offered $4,000 for a covered wagon which took him a year to build. Kjersem however, refuses to sell, maintaining that these replicas are heirlooms for his children and grandchildren.
Added to the care Kjersem takes in construction are the memories he weaves into the carving of the horses. These aren't mass produced paint-by-number or prefabricated snap blocks. Each horse, harness and fixture is unique.
"I make everything different to keep the past," said Kjersem.
Sometimes he works with the help of old photographs or magazine articles, but often simply uses his memory. Each item is as much a treasure to him as the memories it evokes. One jewel of his collection is a replica of a cookhouse.
"My mother worked on one of those when she was fourteen years old. And all I got was what she told me and therefore I had to use my memory the best I could."
During threshing in pioneer days, a cookhouse on wheels followed the threshers. Everything in that house was made to save room. Kjersem's replica is made to scale, complete with the benches, which doubled as storage areas and a pot bellied stove.
"That oven…held three loaves of bread. You'll never have bread taste better than cooked in an old cook stove," said Kjersem, describing the functions of the building.
"I don't know how the hell they ever lived in there with that stove going. The women slept in it. They moved from one yard to the next and this thing went with them. It took one team to pull this."
Cookhouses were replaced by housewives who cooked for the thrashers as farms became closer together.
"Now the distance is getting further apart again. Yeah, I don't know if it's for the better or for the worse but it's one of the things that happens," said Kjersem, considering the state of farming pretty dire.
"But you've got to look at it another way. You can't live without them. They're a necessity. You've got to have meat. You've got to have grain to make flour. If we had to ship in, say wheat from another country to make flour for all our people, it would just be so expensive. You couldn't afford to buy it."

Lars Kjersem displays one
of his horse drawn wagons.

Front view of a cookhouse replica made by Lars Kjersem

Lars Kjersem and his
late brother Hans Kjersem on horseback - a treasured photo Lars displays
in his living room.

News

Farmer’s Day nominations still sought
It’s not too late to submit a nomination for the annual Farm Family of the Year Award.
Producers who own land in the RMs of Coalfield, Estevan, Cambria, Souris Valley, Browning, Benson, Cymri, Brock and Tecumseh are eligible for the prestigious award.
Farm Family may include an individual, couple or group of individuals that manage a farming unit together. Nominations are to include brief information regarding nominee’s past and present farming and ranching history, as well as any special awards, achievements, recognitions and accomplishments.
Nominations can be dropped off at the Estevan Chamber of Commerce office in the Wicklow building.
The Estevan Farmer’s Day Committee will determine the award recipient in the middle of February.
The honour will be presented at the annual Estevan Farmer’s Appreciation Evening February 24.

Educators Prepare for 2005 Heritage Trek
Grade 4 educators in the southeast met with organizers of the 2005 Heritage Trek at the Estevan School Division Office January 26.
Presentations were made by head organizer of the trek Don Strelieff, local historian Roy Sanderson, and Estevan Rural School Division curriculum consultant Nicole Smigiel.
Sanderson said the most important part of the trek would be the challenging role played by school teachers.
“How do you impress upon our students, the vast changes that have taken place in the past 119 years?”
“When the trek left Moosomin there was nothing but a sea of waving grass in all directions and no sign posts to direct the traveler,” said Sanderson
Smigiel further emphasized the importance of the event, concurring with Sanderson’s sentiments.
“One of the first things he said to me…was ‘how can we celebrate Saskatchewan’s 100 years if we don’t know where we’ve come from? And if we don’t know our history and why things happened the way they did 100 years ago?’”
“And that’s a very good point and so I became involved at that point to see how we could help our teachers to share some of that information,” said Smigiel.
Smiegiel provided teachers with early maps of the southeast, tourism materials, a copy of the story of the historic 1886 trek, and photographs of historic importance to the area.
Sanderson gave background information on these materials, explaining how the NWMP trek left Regina by train, unloaded at Moosomin and assembled their wagons, before marching on to Cannington Manor, Carlyle and Alameda. The NWMP then set up a post called Souris River and marched down the Boundary Commission trail to Wood End Post.
Strelieff outlined the responsibilities of day guides and trail bosses on the trek and explained the logistics of transport and listed the challenges and expected rewards. He said rules for riders would be very strict all along the trek.
“If you don’t have it structured, you’re in big trouble. I can almost assure you that there will be some challenges throughout the ride but in general principal we don’t have very much trouble with people on the trek. It’s really surprisingly a different brand of people,” said Strelieff.
The ride is 11 days long and participants can expect to travel between 16 to 24 kilometers per day, with one 32 kilometre ride.
Registrations have not yet gone out since these are in the final stages of approval.
Students will not be on the trek but will be invited to visit in Moosomin, Cannington Manor and Roche Percee where activities will be organized for them.
In Cannington Manor Strelieff said he expected First Nations and pioneer activities for the children. Events in other locations were still in the planning stages.
Challenges still faced by trek organizers include obtaining uniforms for the NWMP re-enactment. Organizers are looking at renting, remaking and buying uniforms for the 16 men who will be representing the NWMP.
“Once we find the sizes out, we’re going to have to do some advertising. If you fit this bill you can be one of the riders. If you don’t, don’t bother applying to be one of the first two wagons,” said Strelieff.
Organizers have also not yet decided whether or not the same uniforms will be worn throughout the trek or simply adorned a few miles before stopping at key locations.
“We don’t know what will happen if they all put them on and we get the biggest downpour of rain and we have to slosh through mud, especially when they’re borrowed or rented uniforms,” added Strelieff.
“It can be lived with, Don,” Sanderson poked in, “because on the original trek they wore them for about four months. And they only had one pair of pants!” he laughed.
In keeping with historical living conditions, shower facilities will not be provided along the trek.
Other outstanding needs faced by trek organizers include a school bus to move people back to the starting point at the end of each day in order to retrieve their horse trailers and other necessary equipment, a truck with a 2,000 gallon tank of clear water, and a motor home to be used as a headquarters for the 11 day trek.
Lastly, Strelieff said the total cost of putting on the trek is estimated at between $16,000 to $21,000, meaning that organizers were working hard at generating money from organizations and volunteers, municipalities and grant sources.
April 30 is the cut off date for early registration. After that date the cost to join the trek will double.
“In two months we should be able to take a second breath…to sit and wait for the registrations to come in,” said Strelieff.

L-R Don Strelieff (trek organizer), Roy Sanderson
(local historian and advisor), Nicole Smigiel curriculum consultant for Estevan Rural School Division

Positive reaction to multi-purpose facility
A coalition of skateboarding youth and supportive adults who are looking to build a multi-purpose outdoor facility in Estevan believes a February 1 meeting was a step in the right direction.
Nearly 40 people, most of them backers of the plan, attended the meeting at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Estevan. The city’s beautification committee and local skateboarders have teamed to bring a skateboard facility to Estevan this year.
They met with the Leisure Services Advisory Board February 3. (Results of meeting not available at press time).
The proposal has three phases: a skateboard park to be built this summer, an outdoor rink for the fall and a bike trail for next year. All will be located on the swampland adjacent to Spruce Drive and south of the Estevan Comprehensive School.
If Estevan City Council approves the plan and drainage isn’t a problem, the school’s board has already agreed to donate the land.
Beautification committee members Laureen Price, Betty Anderson and Lynn Chipley explained their reasons for support, and local skaters Brad Tinant and Logan Reiter described the need for a permanent structure.
“I’m really pleased and I’m very positive,” said Price. “I was pleased to see the boarders out. They’ve had a rough go of it the last three years. I know Council says that they’ve been working towards a solution, but it just seems to stalling.”
The Estevan Church of God currently has a few ramps and pipes in their parking lot during the summer.
Price estimated the cost at $200,000 for the entire facility, but they believe the burden on taxpayers can be greatly reduced through volunteer labour, donations, work-in-kind and grants.
“There are so many companies out there that give to the youth, that we’re going to pull out all the stops,” said Price. “We’re going to apply to all of them, and see how much money we can come up with.”
Another rink would be welcomed in the community, she said, because many children are still playing late in the night.
“We need more. We need skating ponds, too, not just for the kids to go out and play hockey. We need for the younger girls to go out and practice their figure skating.”
A common sentiment voiced during the meeting was on the lack of unorganized leisure for Estevan’s youth. Some positive activities would help keep them out of trouble.
Another consensus opinion is the skaters should be consulted to make for a better facility.
The park would be easily accessible to students from the Estevan Comprehensive School and Spruce Ridge School.
Tinant’s brother Blair previously fought hard to get a skateboard park built in Estevan. The younger Tinant was pleased with the support voiced during the meeting, and was surprised with the number of adults in attendance.
“The fact that we actually have people that want to do it and put it together is probably the best help we’ve got so far,” said Tinant.
The negative image and stereotypes associated with skateboarders has held their cause back before, he said. It’s an image they want to change.
“In Estevan, there are a couple bad people that do it, but the people you see that do skateboard regularly won’t affect anything. I’ve never had any problem with anybody.”
Tinant has seen the drawings for the multi-use facility and thinks it’s a good start. He believes skateboarders should have some input.
“That’s probably the best way to do it, is to get people talking to us so they know what we want,” said Tinant.

Reward offered for Courtney Struble
The Missing Children’s Society is offering a $10,000 reward for any information that may directly lead to the whereabouts of missing Estevan teenager Courtney Struble.
After conducting an extensive investigation into the case, the organization is disappointed to say there have been no substantiated sightings since Courtney went missing July 9, 2004. They have followed up on every lead and rumour, but there is no evidence to suggest she has been spotted since she vanished.
Courtney was last seen in the vicinity of Highway 39 and Woodlawn Avenue in Estevan. She was wearing a grey hoodie, blue jeans and running shoes. She is described as being five-foot-three with an olive complexion, medium build, brown hair and hazel eyes.
She has a birthmark on her neck and a large scar on her left shin.
Anyone who may have seen Courtney or knows anything about her disappearance is asked to contact the Estevan Police Service at 634 4767 or the Missing Children Society of Canada at 1-800-661-6160
The Missing Children Society of Canada offers police and searching parents a free investigative program called Project: Reunite. This program includes investigation, parent support and poster distribution.
Each year over 67,000 children are reported missing in Canada. Many of these return home quickly and safely. Courtney is one of the many others who haven’t come home yet.

City receives gas tax funding
City of Estevan representatives received some good news while attending the 2005 Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention January 29 to February 3 in Saskatoon.
Estevan will receive money from the federal gas tax, ending months of speculation. Estevan Mayor John Empey is uncertain how much money they will receive, but predicted it will exceed $100,000.
“It’s less of an operational thing; it’s more designed to assist with capital infrastructure replacement,” said Empey.
Infrastructure repairs to Fourth Street from Second Avenue to Third Avenue, and at the corner of Sixth Street and 14th Avenue, have been targeted with the money.
The most significant resolution passed, according to Empey, called for a renewed effort from the municipalities to press the provincial government for more money in revenue sharing. While revenue sharing has gone up in recent years, it still lags behind the figure from the late 1980s and early 1990s.
“They aren’t tied to anything sustainable,” said Empey. “If the economy grows, we believe that the revenue sharing should grow in concert to that, at the same rate. As the province realizes additional revenue, we would receive a comparable increase in revenue sharing.”
Other motions at SUMA dealt with protective services, the environment, transportation, assessments, the timeliness of Saskatchewan Municipal Board Decisions, economic development and health care.
Councillor Brian Johnson and city manager Jim Puffalt also attended the convention. Nearly 1,000 delegates were present, including many from other communities in the southeast.
Representatives were also able to attend numerous seminars during SUMA. One of them, Empey said, dealt with current health issues. Empey, a board member of the Sun Country Regional Health Authority, was able to speak with Health Minister John Nilson about the possible designation of St. Joseph’s Hospital as a regional health facility.

Beefeater Inn now a Days Inn
Estevan’s Beefeater Inn, which has over 30 years of history in the Energy City, is now a Days Inn.
The change officially took effect February 3 with the installation of new signs. The Petticoat annex will have its name changed to the Beefeater. All remaining amenities at the hotel – the two restaurants, the Beef Bar and the meeting rooms – will remain the same.
The purchase of the Days Inn franchise is the final chapter for the hotel’s lengthy, multi-million dollar face-lift. Most of the work was completed in November 2003. Some minor touch-ups were finished recently.
The renovation, done to the highest specifications, meets Days Inn standards.
Financial terms for the transfer to a Days Inn were not released, but expenses include a franchise fee, signage changes and a new computer system. A commitment was made to Days Inn about six months ago.
Local Days Inn part-owner Marv Symons gave several reasons for choosing Days Inn over other hotel chains. Chief among them was Days Inn’s continued expansion into western Canada.
“Just in dealing with the Days Inn people, a huge majority of our business comes from Western Canada…and Days Inn has been, by far, the most aggressive hotel/motel brand,” Symons told Lifestyles.
Days Inn was persistent in enticing the Beefeater to join their chain.
“I like the brand, I like the standards, and, to date have been impressed with the company,” said Symons.
Symons praised Days Inn’s Trip Rewards program as “probably the best rewards program” in the world. Guests who stay at Days Inn and other Cendant hotels – which owns the Days Inn corporation - can earn hotel points, frequent flyers miles or Amtrak rail points.
Accumulated points can be used for savings at Days Inns and other Cendant hotels. Cendant owns Super 8, Travelodge, Ramada, Howard Johnson and many other chains.
Days Inn works very hard to promote its hotels through highway billboard signage, which Symons said attracts much of a hotel’s clientele.
Symons expects the changes to highway billboards to take about a week. Changes to stationary and computer systems have already taken place. Staff underwent three days of training and a seminar in late January.
Days Inn staff will inspect the hotel three times a year. If the hotel falls below standards, it will lose its Days Inn status.
“They have some very, very good brand requirements and standards, with respect to housekeeping, front desk operations, and food and beverage,” Symons told Lifestyles. “So we have to get on board with all those things, and that allows us to be consistent in all those areas.”
According to Symons, only 20 to 25 per cent of hotels were affiliated with a chain eight years ago. That number has skyrocketed to 80 per cent. Being part of a chain should drive up their business, because people are more likely to stay at a chain hotel, where they know what they’re going to get.
Dropping the Beefeater name for the main part of the hotel was a difficult decision.
“We’ve been the Beefeater since 1973,” said Symons. “There’s a lot of emotion in our family, a tremendous amount of emotion, because our hearts are Beefeater hearts. But the nature of the beast is the old name doesn’t carry you everywhere you want to go.”

The new Days Inn sign was installed February 3.

Gainsborough preparing for Saskatchewan’s centennial
The oldest incorporated village in Saskatchewan is gearing up to celebrate Saskatchewan’s 100th birthday.
Gainsborough, which received village status in March of 1894, will have their crack at a provincial centennial event on August 6. Mayor Colin Bennett said they have yet to finalize an agenda for the day, but there will be several events.
“They haven’t really come out with everything yet, everything’s still in the planning stage,” said Bennett.
Gainsborough started their festivities at the curling rink on New Year’s Day, with a potluck supper, curling, skating and card games.
The Saskatchewan centennial party won’t be as large as the village’s 100th birthday, which was celebrated in 1994. More than 2,000 people attended that bash.
Approximately 300 people call Gainsborough home. The current council features Bennett and Councillors Gerald Reynolds, Vic Huish, Elaine Morgan and Garnet Burke.
Curling is still strong in the community, with a four-sheet, artificial ice facility. The rink recently played host to a 21-team, Border Bonspiel that attracted competitors from Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Gainsborough and Carnduff alternate as the host communities each year.
Their skating arena is also busy during the winter.
The last new house constructed in Gainsborough was completed about two years ago. However, three retired couples have moved to the community from British Columbia in the past 12 months, Bennett said, due to the lower cost of living.
Like many small Saskatchewan communities, Gainsborough is fighting to survive. They do boast several businesses that meet a variety of needs.
“The one thing that keeps us going here is the oil business,” said Bennett. “We have several families connected with oil, so that helps to keep our town as it is. Of course, there’s agriculture and cattle around this community.”

Gainsborough through the years
Gainsborough district was settled by people of Scottish and English ancestry. Little did the homesteaders know that in years ahead they would be part of the province now called “the bread basket of the world”.
Very few settlers came into these parts without first determining the prospect for a railway. The first train to Melita arrived June 14, 1891, and steel was being laid through Gainsborough on the Brandon-Estevan branch. The first passenger train ran through Gainsborough on August 1st, 1892.
Gainsborough, named by Jesse Johnson Saddler as a tribute to the great English painter, became a thriving community very early on. Grain companies built elevators up and down the line due to increased demand for services. Flour mills sprang up to mill wheat locally.
With the coming of the railway there was more consistent mail service. The Canadian Pacific Railway’s first station at Gainsborough was only a boxcar. A more suitable building was erected and also served as a residence for the first station agent, Oscar Shuman, and his family.
The station served its purpose well until passenger trains were discontinued and mixed trains became sparse; finally only freight was carried by the boxcar. Today the diesel locomotive with a string of boxcars whistles while rumbling through town.
Gainsborough’s first school, an 18-by-30 foot-structure, was built on the north side of the track the summer of 1892. The pupils each had reading and arithmetic books, a slate and a pencil. Gainsborough’s second school was built of brick in 1904 with $4,000 borrowed on the security of the Gainsborough S.D. No. 229 of the Northwest Territories.
Grade 12 was first taught in 1930. In 1931, an American teacher, Mr. Bean, introduced school cheers and colours – purple and yellow. An orchestra was organized and dances were held in the school.
A monthly paper “The Chaff” was printed on a press owned by Alec Simpson. This paper was financed by advertisements from the local merchants.
Modern services in Gainsborough include a United Church, an Anglican Church, a regional health centre, Level III care home, an artificial ice curling rink and skating rink, a Kindergarten to Grade 6 school and several businesses. Children enjoy the movie theatre, which is open from April 15 to December 1, and swimming during the summer.
The people are friendly as always and, as the first pioneers did, work together to make their community an inviting, enjoyable place to live.

Community Theatre ‘a hoot’ in Gainsborough
The Gainsborough Village Players have been entertaining audiences annually since March of 1999.
Their next play will be shown March 18 through 20 in Cocktail Theatre, Dinner Theatre, and Matinee - all taking place at the Gainsborough Community Hall. This year’s show is a comedy by David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Junior with the longest title of any play ever tacked by the Players: “They Came from Mars and Landed Outside the Farndale Avenue Church Hall in Time for the Townswomen’s Guild’s Coffee Morning” Founding member and co-producer for the theatre group Valerie Olney, said the annual productions are huge community undertakings.
Volunteers run the show from acting, directing and set design to construction, costume and food. And, she said Gainsborough is well known for its food.
“We’re usually always sold out. We sell 124 tickets for Friday night and Saturday night…And Sunday’s the matinee and it’s just rush seats and we usually have about 100 people at it.”
For a small community, the time and effort required behind the scenes might seem overwhelming but, “In the end it all comes together, amazingly enough,” she added.
Since inception the community theatre group has raised an $18,250.00.
“We give it all back to the community: the swimming pool and the rink and the seniors and the library,” said Olney.
Having acted three times, been involved in organizing the food, as well as putting in time backstage, Olney has seen community theatre from all angles and says she really enjoys the experience.
The Village Players have a core set of actors, but Olney said the spotlight isn’t limited to these and in the last few years new members have joined.
“We like to give other ones a chance to act. We have a couple of new ones this year. We like to get the younger people in the community involved more.”
She also indicated that there are other benefits to the annual event.
“It’s a hoot and it makes the winter go by so fast.”
Tickets for this year’s Gainsborough Village Players’ production go on sale February 19 at the municipal office in Gainsborough.

Gainsborough Village Players from last year’s cast of
“Don’t Tell Mother” Standing L-R: Jim Marr, Val Olney, Elaine Morgan, Steve Smith, Jamie Currie
Sitting L-R: Judy Burke (director) Rhonda Huish,
Pat Wolenski, Lori Henderson.

Sports

Bruins unbeaten streak snapped
The Estevan Bruins five-game unbeaten streak is over, thanks to a couple teams with a chance of catching them.
The Notre Dame Hounds defeated the Estevan Bruins 2-1 in overtime February 1 at the Civic Auditorium. The following night, the Yorkton Terriers knocked off the Bruins 4-3 in Yorkton in the first game of the annual, two-game, total goal Casino Cup.
Estevan still possesses a comfortable grasp on first place in the Sherwood Conference with 67 points (30-12-6-1). Notre Dame is seven points back. Yorkton trails them by 11, but they have several games in hand.
Their unbeaten streak reached five with a 4-3 overtime win over the Nipawin Hawks January 29. Lorne Tytlandsvik scored the winner in overtime.
But they started slow and incurred 10 penalties in the first period against Notre Dame. Chris Hahn scored the winner in the first minute of overtime.
“I think we have to stick to the positives (of getting a point),” defenceman said Scott Collier after the Notre Dame game. “We didn’t come out like we would have wanted to tonight.”
Forward Tim Spencer said the first period penalties against Notre Dame sapped the team of their momentum and physical play.
“After a penalty, we try to build off that with a great penalty kill, and then we’re right back in the box,” said Spencer. “We just couldn’t seem to get it going for ourselves and get any energy going.”
Tytlandsvik scored twice in the loss to Yorkton. Penalties were again a factor, as the Bruins had one power play compared to six for Yorkton.
The Bruins host Yorkton February 5 in the second half of the Casino Cup; and Melville visits the following afternoon at 3 p.m. Then they enjoy a five-day break.
The rest should give some of the injured players a chance to recover. Forward Kyle Pellerin (shoulder) and defenceman Ken Patzack (knee) are close to returning. Forward Donovan Hall (rib) missed the last two games.
Forwards Cam Jarvis and Patrick McGillicky have battled the flu.
“I think guys who have had to step up in place of other guys have done a great job,” said Collier. “I don’t think injuries have been a factor.”

Lorne Tytlandsvik barges to the front of the Nipawin goal moments before scoring the overtime winner in the Bruins 4-3 victory January 29.

Cougars upset Devils
The Carlyle Cougars pulled off possibly the biggest upset in the Big Six Hockey League so far this season, when they defeated the Weyburn Devils 4-3 in Arcola January 30.
Carlyle, which has a record of 9-9-1-0, knocked off the league-leading Devils, who have lost just twice in 20 league games this season.
Carlyle is now on a three-game winning streak, after a 5-1 win over the Carnduff Red Devils February 1. They have a .500 record for the first time since early in the season.
The Bienfait Coalers appear to be making strides as the playoffs approach, too. The Coalers tied the Wawota Flyers 4-4 in Bienfait January 29. Wawota has won 18 of 21 games this season. The following night, the Coalers beat the Carnduff Red Devils 7-4, creeping closer to Carnduff for third in the division.
They also stayed close against Weyburn, losing 5-3 February 2.
It was a good news, bad news week for the Oxbow Huskies. Oxbow hung tough January 28 against Weyburn, but lost 5-4. A 5-2 win over Carnduff January 30 lifted them into second place in the division.
Moosomin shelled the Huskies 8-1 February 1.
Despite losing their last three games, the Red Devils are still in third place with 18 points, and are only one point behind Oxbow.
The Midale Mustangs tied the Redvers Rockets 4-4 January 29 for their seventh point of the season.

Alameda rocked for Saskatchewan’s centennial
Alameda got an early start on Saskatchewan’s centennial celebrations January 26 to 30 with the reincarnation of their 64-team bonspiel.
More than 250 curlers converged on the small town for five days of non-stop curling. About 40 teams were from the Alameda area. Many of the other squads featured former residents.
“It was an excellent event,” said Brent Dunnigan, vice-president of the Alameda Curling Club and a member of the organizing committee. “We had a lot of people come home and a lot of people from the southeast community came to the town. It went over very successful.”
In the end, Carnduff’s Mel Fitzpatrick emerged as the big winner, defeating local favourite Fred Freitag in the A final.
The Alameda Curling Club offered three sheets of ice; and the town’s hockey arena was transformed to accommodate an additional five sheets. Doug Wright from Wright Ice in Manitoba was hired to convert the arena from hockey to curling.
“(Ice conditions in the hockey arena) were awesome,” said Dunnigan. “As far as timing, it was 24 or 25 seconds, which is very keen ice. It was straight, and very good for curling.”
Former residents who returned for the bonspiel were pleased with the state of the community and the sports facilities, said Dunnigan.
“It was nice to see old friends and acquaintances, and the whole community chipping together,” Dunnigan told Lifestyles.
People who helped build the hockey and curling facilities in the 1960s returned for the weekend and participated in the opening ceremonies.
The 64-team bonspiel was a fixture in the community until its final year in 1979.
“Alameda’s been known as a fairly strong curling community, and that’s why the idea came to fruition.”
A committee of about 30 to 40 people worked to make the event possible. They had volunteers in the kitchen and hospitality room, and before and after the event. They also had to compile a draw for 64 teams.
Dunnigan said they wanted to have their centennial event in the winter so they could avoid conflicts with other communities.
Several June events - the passing through of the Northwest Mounted Police trek, the annual Agriculture Day June 11 and the Alameda Dam fishing derby - may also be incorporated into the centennial.
Other pool winners were: Brad Knutsen of Norquay beat David Hammermeister of Estevan in the B final, Curtis Walliser of Bienfait defeated Bill Neuman of Alameda in the C pool, Rick Schell of Lampman knocked off Darcy Bergsveinson of Alameda in the D final, Jason Petlak of Oxbow beat Jason Kopec of Alameda to win the E pool, and Sylvia Mohrbutter of Oxbow won the F pool over Greg Freitag of Alameda.

Ron
Moncrief offers instructions to his teammates for their next shot during the Alameda’s centennial bonspiel January 29.

Gedak’s team advances to provincials
Former Estevan resident Brent Gedak – the third for Moose Jaw’s Joel Jordison - is returning to the SaskTel Mobility Tankard provincial men’s curling championship.
They defeated former provincial champion Jamie Schneider 4-2 in the B final of the SaskTel Mobility Southern Playdowns – held January 27 to 30 at the Callie Curling Club in Regina - to reach provincials for the second straight year.
The Jordison rink won their first three games – beating Trevor Thomlinson, Howard Wilson and Murray McEachran – to reach the A final, but they lost 8-4 to Pat Simmons.
They recovered to defeat Daryl Williamson 7-5 in the B semi-final and then knocked off Schneider.
Benson’s Robert Keating and his team of Lyle Brown, Bill Fonstad and Doug Bella came up two wins short of provincials. A 7-5 loss to Rick Schneider in the C side quarter-final ended their tournament.
After opening with a loss to McEachran, Keating’s team rattled off wins over Jim Nikolejsin and Howard Wilson. A loss to Jamie Schneider relegated them to the C pool.
Keating responded with an 8-2 win over Vince Schick, but the loss to Rick Schneider ended his team’s weekend.
Estevan’s Jeff Mosley – whose team also included Trevor Fauth, Doug Greenwald and Greg Freitag – were winless during the tournament, dropping games to Max Fitzpatrick, Monte Marshall and Schick.

Atom Bruins split versus Weyburn
The Estevan StarPoint Energy Atom A Bruins split two weekend home games against the Weyburn WIT Wings.
Weyburn won the first game, 6-5, in a see-saw contest January 29. Weyburn led 3-2 after the first period and 4-3 after two. Tanner Mack and Jayden Storozuk scored seven seconds apart early in the third to give Estevan a 5-4 lead.
But Derrick Pouliot and Tuck Neubelger scored 11 seconds apart in the final 90 seconds to lift Weyburn to the win.
Estevan responded the following afternoon with a 3-2 win. Rhett Handley scored the winning goal – his second of the game – with just over two minutes to play in the third period. Joel Mack had the other Estevan goal.
Estevan led 1-0 after the first period and 2-1 after 40 minutes. Weyburn tied the game midway through the third, but Handley broke the tie for a final time and lifted his team to victory.
Estevan has two games remaining in their 2004-2005 regular season, to be played in Swift Current February 5 and 6. The Atom Bruins 7-5-2 record puts them second in the league, one point behind Weyburn, who have completed their season.

Estevan’s
Joel Mack (4) battles with a Weyburn player during the Atom Bruins 3-2 win over Weyburn January 30.

Super Bowl XXXIX is around the corner – From the Sidelines
With Super Bowl XXXIX coming February 6 in Jacksonville, Florida, the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles are in Jacksonville getting ready for the big tilt.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said they are acting like they have been to the Super Bowl before. I think it is a good thing because it shows the team is not over confident and they are experienced.
My Super Bowl pick is New England over Philadelphia by 10, because the Eagles can't handle Patriots' running back Corey Dillon.
New England quarterback Tom Brady has a lot more playoff experience than Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb, and New England just has too much talent for the Eagles.
I don't think Eagles' wide receiver Terrell Owens will be 100 per cent for the game.
My boss, David Willberg, predicted New England will win 21-16. New England is too deep, too smart and too well coached to lose, he said. He also fears my gloating the day after the Super Bowl.
Some other predations came from Estevan Comprehensive School principal Mr. Little, who told me that the Patriots will win 24-17. Another came from vice-principal and one-time Eagles fan Mr. Giesbrecht, who picked the Eagles to win 24-20.
In the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers were still in first place as of January 31, with the Detroit Pistons half a game back. LeBron James has been out with an ankle injury, but the Cavs keep going without him, as they pulled off a 104-87 romp over the Milwaukee Bucks.
In the WHL, the Moose Jaw Warriors still stink. With an 8-35-7-1 record, the Warriors were five points back of the Regina Pats, who were on a four-game losing streak and haven't won in 12 games.
In the OHL, the London Knights gave the Kingston Frontenacs the ultimate trip to the back of the woodshed, 14-1. Corey Perry scored five goals and one assist, and David Bolland had four goals and two assists. Now that is just a butt kicking!
In the Canadian Open of Curling, Randy Ferbey lost to Kevin Martin 8-7. I thought Team Ferbey played well, but not well enough to get past Team Martin.
Congratulations to Robert Keating, who represented Benson at the SaskTel Mobility Southern Playdowns in Regina; and also to Jeff Mosley, who represented Estevan at the tournament.
That's all, folks!

Viewpoints

Numerical Simplicity
There are certain things that erase the brain. Just doesn't seem fair but there you go, minding your own beeswax and all of a sudden you don't have anymore.
Now I've heard enough blonde jokes to wallpaper a barn but they don't explain the mind stalls I contend with on a daily basis. For the record, I oppose blonde jokes along with racial slurs and incessant knock knocks.
Blonde jokes are not just annoying, they're condescending and either serve as a put down for the blonde woman to whom they are repeated or draw attention to the blonde telling the joke as she bounces her shoulder-length hair from shoulder to shoulder sporting a feigned vacant grin. I have no use for such humour.
Everybody's made differently, I figure; some with an aptitude for numbers and trivia, others bent on wrestling with issues of primal importance. Guess where I fit.
"So, how many clicks on your vehicle?"
Apparently, I'm supposed to know and be able to rattle off information like my height, weight and blood type. Well, I can't, and make no attempt to maintain these mental records any more than I catalogue and track changes in the length of my index finger or how far I can spit.
"What did you pay for that car?"
Is this something normal people endeavor to remember - or did I do the right thing and unconsciously try to forget? It's paid for, who cares? I know what it costs to fill the gas tank and service it but I don't care to discuss that either.
"What do you get for mileage?"
Not near enough so let's talk about something else. Not just because I haven't a clue but I fail to see how it would make anyone's life better by calculating that particular unknown. Gas!
What I want to know is why are we still using gas? My chicken brains can't fathom the need for incessant use of polluting petroleum products when we could be using something else like sun, wind and water as energy sources.
Alternative technology is rumored to exist but for some reason wars are being fought over this dirty black stuff. When I drive by oil fields the first thing I notice is that the smell really makes me ill.
Still, nobody's talking about the rapid depletion of the Amazon Rain Forest and what that will mean to our oxygen supply in less than 20 years. Wonder why.
It's my inaptitude for numbers, I'm sure, that prevents me from fully appreciating the economic bonus of petroleum development. In the long term, when outdoor air is so polluted by exhaust, indoor air so putrefied by off gassing synthetic chemicals, our health care system so overwhelmed with environmental disease and the cost of pharmaceutical band-aids, we'll have to find a better way to clear our heads. The cost of what little petroleum is left at that point will be even more insane, so healthy alternatives to the lucrative pollutants we now chase like puppies pursue their tails might be a consideration.
I don't pretend to be all that smart. In fact, I flunked algebra in 11th grade, didn't learn to tell time until I was about thirteen and, well, still get snowed by numbers.
When I read economic predictors from the Bank of Canada, speculating on this or that interest rate and the relative strength or weakness of the Canadian dollar against GDP or any kind of number tracking economic growth, my brains go into overdrive and spin for nothing.
Yup, like bald tires on wet blue clay, there's no friction to move one thought against another or propel me toward any kind of understanding. So I keep my numbers simple, ignore the stock market, trim my budget as necessary and hey, I get by. Having kids makes the quest for numerical simplicity even easier.
My son loves counting lately. We line everything up and he's tickled to rattle off the numbers.
"Look peanuts; let's count dem…Oh, I got corn. Count dem mum!" There's some depth of satisfaction in that for him, pure glee actually, even when he gets the numbers wrong. What is it about quantifying a set of items that gives one power over them?
"Momma, I like your eyes. Let's count dem. One, two, swee…"
"No, here, just one, two. That's all; see? How many do you have?"
He poked a finger into each eye socket and counted the same, still grinning.
"I got eyes, two!"
"Yup, you do. And I like your eyes!"
These are the moments I count on.

Roscoe’s Rants
Happy birthday to…Me!
Reached quite a milestone the other day. It was such a big deal, I thought the Whitmans might give me some table scraps.
January 31 was my first birthday. Yep, it's been one year since the doggie universe was changed forever. If I do say so, it's been a change for the better.
I understand that one year for a dog is equivalent to seven years for a human. Great, so I'm only one year younger than youngest person in the family. Within a few years, I'll be the oldest one in the house
Before I know it, I'll be in a canine nursing home, gumming Dr. Ballard's dog food.
I didn't feel any older on January 31 than the day before. My eyesight didn't deteriorate. My sense of smell didn't disappear. My barks were as loud and powerful as they ever were.
I honestly don't understand why there's such a big deal about birthdays. As far as I'm concerned, I want to age as quietly as possible. They say that each birthday brings you closer to death. Where's the fun in that?
The worst part about getting older is you have to sit politely and roll your eyes quietly while a bunch of people sing happy birthday. Thanks for another reminder. You think they'd compose a special song for a pooch like me.
But there were perks associated with my birthday. I got a little more food in my dish. Now that I'm a big dog, I need a little more food to get by.
I got a blanket, some doggie treats, and numerous other gifts from family and friends. The only thing that I didn't get was a date with that attractive, young, female poodle down the street.
Plus, dogs can't operate phones, so I don't have to endure all the annoying birthday phone calls.
So here's to my birthday. One, spayed and single never looked so good.

What's Happening

Addictions Informational
Addictions counselor Harry Ohrn from Estevan’s St. Josephs’s Hospital gave a presentation entitled “Women and Addictions” at the Estevan Public Library January 31. Ohrn began by providing a definition of substance abuse from the world Health Organization and engaged participants in a discussion regarding the issue. He also answered questions and provided information on various addictions and how to get much needed help. The presentation was sponsored by the women’s support group: Females Really in Everyday Need Deserve Support (FRIENDS).

Creature Tour
The Spruce Ridge Kindergarten class enjoyed a tour lead by Brenda Eagles of Eagles Taxidermist on January 27. Eagles introduced the students to taxidermied animals, fish, insects and reptiles on display in her Estevan basement. Teacher Lenora Wanner said she brings her students for the tour each year. Students were able to view, talk about and identify a variety of creatures composing the extensive collection.

Art Class
Eight students were on hand in all on January 31 for Set 1 of Norma Jones’ Art Attack course at the Souris Valley Aquatic and Leisure Centre Craft Room. The course is designed for students eight to 12 years old, and features various projects including sketching, painting and collage.

Norma Jones assists art students (R-L): Colby Fessler, Karlee Fessler and Tara Dodds.

Junior curling bonspiel
The Estevan Curling Club hosted their annual junior curling bonspiel January 28. Twelve teams in Grade 5/6 and Grade 7/8 categories competed. The winners of each game received $4, whaile their opponents receiver $2. The team of Tanner Dutton, Justis Grimsrud and Colby Fessler won the Grade 5 and 6 class; while Devon Drummelsmith, Axel Grimsrud, Nick Bennett and Dylan Hauck were the top Grade 7 and 8 team.

Catch the Saskatchewan Express
Dozens of children participated in Saskatchewan Express’ “Reach for the Stars” workshop program January 29 at Spruce Ridge School. After meeting the instructors and setting goals, they honed their singing, dancing and acting skills. Saskatchewan Express taught each of the sessions. The day concluded with a concert for parents, friends and members of the community.

Girl Stuff
Back L-R: Sienna Johnson (instructor), Kaitlyn Pilloud, Kenzie Bolen, Sammy Barbour, Lexie Mcgovern, Melanie Stendal (instructor). Front: Kiana Stepp, Stephanie Feglerud, Brittany Vanin. Not pictured: instructor Kerry Gilroy.
Enjoying their last class of a three-session course given by Kerry’s Kutting Krew, these girls learned about hair styling techniques on January 30. Kerry Gilroy, instructor and owner of Kerry’s Kutting Krew said the girls asked a lot of questions, got involved and put a lot of effort into their work. Two previous classes focused on manicure and make-up.