Feature

Local to attend Vimy celebrations
Caption: Second Lieutenant Greg Salmers of Estevan will travel to France in April for the 90th anniversary celebrations of the Vimy Ridge liberation.
By David Willberg
Canadian troops stormed Vimy Ridge in northern France on April 9, 1917.
France and Great Britain had been unsuccessful in dislodging the Germans from the strategic point. But by the end of the day, Canadian troops had removed the Germans from most of Vimy, and on April 12, the Canadians claimed the top of the Ridge, known as the Pimple.
Ninety years later, Vimy is still viewed as Canada's greatest military victory. Many historians view it as Canada's unofficial birth date as a country.
Estevan resident Greg Salmers, a Second Lieutenant with the Moose Jaw-based Saskatchewan Dragoons Primary Reserve, is one of 25 Dragoons who will travel to France from April 5 to 15 for the ceremony and other services.
"My grandfather served in the First World War in the Canadian Army, and I just recently got a lot of his content," Salmers told Lifestyles. "He was in the 29th Battalion. I'm excited to learn more about that as a history major and to see where he served and what he did."
Salmers lived in northern France in 1980 and 1981, and he has studied Canadian war contributions extensively, but he said this will be an opportunity to learn more about the battles.
He'll also try to find the grave of Lieutenant Lester Rooks, a soldier from Estevan who died in the First World War. Salmers would like to take a picture and deliver it to Rooks' family.
Dragoons Honourary Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Carline said Vimy will be an important part of the Dragoons travels. They will participate in the Freedom of the City parade on March 9 in nearby Arras, France.
The Dragoons will also attend the commemoration of the battle and the rededication of the revitalized Vimy Memorial.
Carline noted that the battle at Vimy Ridge took place on Easter Monday in 1917, and the 90th anniversary celebrations are on Easter Monday as well.
But the Dragoons travels will extend beyond Vimy. They will lay a wreath at the Menin Gate in Belgium. The names of 91 soldiers from the 46th Battalion - the regimen from which the Dragoons trace their roots - who perished during the war, are engraved on the gate.
"Every night they stop the traffic at the Menin Gate at 8 p.m., and the local fire brigade comes out and they play Last Post and Reveille," said Carline. "The night that we are there, they are planning a very large ceremony for us."
They will also tour Ypers and Passchendaele in Belgium. The Dragoons will present a Canadian flag to the mayor and council of Passchendaele, which soldiers from the 46th Battalion helped liberate.
"For the nine days that we are there, I will take them to every place that the 46th Battalion fought at, and for all the battle honours," said Carline.
Carline said the soldiers who fought in the First World War contributed a lot to Canadians.
"The First World War army really established Canada on the world scene," said Carline. "The army fought so well and played such a significant part in the First World War, particularly the last 100 days, when our army led the Allies. We were the ramrod that just punched the holes in the German lines."
The trip will cost nearly $2,000 per person. Some fundraising has taken place to offset the expenses.
Salmers has been a reservist for about a year. He said he has enjoyed the experience.
"Every day you're learning, so it's a good learning challenge," said Salmers. "Socially, you're with a lot of people regularly working on shared goals. And I've always had an interest in this area; I just haven't been able to act on it."
He travels to Moose Jaw once per week for physical training, classroom and individual tasks, and paperwork. Salmers said the Dragoons respect the fact that he has a full-time job.
"I feel very well supported," said Salmers. "The learning environment is excellent, during recruiting I felt very supported in all the things I have to do week by week. There are a lot of people working together on shared goals. It's a wonderful environment to learn, make connections and develop their personality."

News

Telemiracle smashes the records
Caption: Telemiracle supporters celebrated a record off-air total of more than $5.6 million.
Twenty members of Estevan's Kinsmen and Kinettes Clubs were in Saskatoon March 3 and 4 for a record-setting Telemiracle 31.
More than $5.6 million was collected during the 20-hour fundraiser. Estevan Kinsmen life member Bill Morrell, who has been to Telemiracle the last 30 years, said that's more than $2.1 higher than the previous record. An estate donation was worth $500,000. "I believe that this continued generosity shows the great trust that the people of Saskatchewan have in Kinsmen and Kinette Telemiracle and the Foundation, how it is administered, and what it stands for - Serving the communities' greatest need," said Morrell.
All of the money raised will stay in Saskatchewan.
Morrell said he never would have "dreamed" of the day in which Telemiracle would eclipse the $5 million milestone.
Members of the local Kinsmen and Kinettes acted as messengers - shuttling people, money and anything else that needed to be transported. They also answered phones, and worked in security and the treasury.

National award for Boston Pizza
Caption: (L-R) Estevan Boston Pizza cook Lee Gemby, server Candace Florizone, kitchen manager Dave Florizone, franchise owner Marco Ricci, kitchen supervisor Kimberly Ball and cook Amanda Sorenson gather for a group picture.
Boston Pizza's Estevan location has been recognized as one of the top performing franchises in Canada by the restaurant's All Stars Program.
All Stars salutes the franchisees and staff of individual restaurants who consistently demonstrate excellence in guest services, operational standards, maximizing sales and menu execution.
The award is based on a business review score and results from guest surveys. Estevan's restaurant, which employs about 65 people, achieved gold level status with a score of 89.24 per cent.
"We are very proud and honoured to have our staff recognized for excellent guest service and store operations," said Boston Pizza Estevan franchisee Marco Ricci. "This is quite an accomplishment in our first year of operation. It speaks volumes about the hard work, commitment and dedication of our staff."
Boston Pizza Estevan also supports a variety of local sports teams and charities year-round: the Estevan Bruins, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Kids Help Phone, and the Canadian Cancer Society, among others.

Police report
*Several accidents were reported due to the weather. One vehicle was hit by an unknown vehicle on Fourth Street, and before the accident was reported, the vehicle was hit again by a semi-trailer. A vehicle had to be towed after another accident. Several accidents were non-reportable. Police also received numerous complaints of motorists failing to remain at the scene of accidents.
*A pick-up truck was ticketed for having window tint and no muffler. The truck had noise exhaust and was spinning its tires, which woke up an infant.
*Estevan Police Service members were called to an attempted break and enter in Hillcrest. Access was not gained and nothing was taken.
*An Estevan male was charged with impaired driving following an accident on King Street that caused damage to City property.
*A 22-year-old male was charged for disobeying a red light, having open liquor in a vehicle and impaired driving.
*A 41-year-old Estevan male was charged for assault with a weapon and breach of a court order after an incident at a local hotel. The subject was remanded in custody and appeared in court March 5.
*A 19-year old Estevan male was charged with uttering death threats after an 18-year-old female complained she received threatening messages on her cell phone.
*Police are investigating a shoplifting complaint against three males at a local convenience store.
*Police are investigating separate assaults in the Hillside area and at the Lignite Miners Centre.
*A 34-year-old Carlyle male was charged for driving while over .08.
*Police were called to deal with an intoxicated male sleeping in a bank teller booth. Officers found the man awake and alert.
*A 33-year-old female was arrested and charged for impaired driving. She will appear in court in March.
*A theft from a local business staff room is under investigation.
*The Estevan RCMP is seeking the public's assistance with a crime at Do All Metal Fabricating on Highway 39 east of Estevan. A Honda 5000 generator, 14 metal halide light fixtures, 28 metal halide bulbs and 17 lighting deflectors were stolen in the evening of February 14 or the early morning of February 15. Please contact the RCMP or Crime Stoppers with information.
*A male was charged with flight from police and impaired driving, among other offences, after a motor vehicle pursuit by Estevan RCMP in the Midale district on March 4.

Lampman teacher losses, questioned
Caption: Principal Marilyn ZimmermanAbout 100 ratepayers gathered at the Lampman School gymnasium March 7 to debate the elimination of two teaching jobs at the school.
The Southeast Cornerstone School Division's requirement for a 16:1 student to teacher ratio will reduce Lampman School to 12.75 full-time equivalent staff in the 2007-08 school year, compared to 14.9 this year.
Lampman currently has 13 full-time teachers, two half-time teachers and one nine-tenths-time teacher. Enrolment at the Kindergarten to Grade 12 school is expected to decline from 204.5 students in 2007-08 to 200.5 students in 2008-09, and 181 in 2010-11.
"It starts a chain reaction that will be detrimental to our school," said Lampman School Community Council chair Valerie Hookenson. "It makes it more difficult to retain teachers, as staff cuts cause uncertainty with their jobs."
Hookenson said she was pleased with the information shared during the meeting. She said they wanted to inform the public Lampman was losing two teachers.
Many people in attendance were optimistic that Lampman could grow, thanks to southeast Saskatchewan's booming economy and Lampman's low cost of living. But they are also concerned that if teachers are cut, people won't move to the town.
Principal Marilyn Zimmerman told the audience that no programs would be cut at the high school.
"As soon as we cut programs, we bury our high school, so I'm going to try my darnedest not to do that," said Zimmerman.
Using the Southeast Cornerstone formula, Zimmerman said that if they attract five more students and one Kindergarten student, Lampman would qualify for 13.20 full-time teaching equivalents.
Zimmerman will review staffing needs and make a recommendation to the director of education on the professional and support staff needed for 2007-08. She said she has made several changes to her plan already.
Up to two teaching positions can be cut from a Southeast Cornerstone school each year. Teachers aren't fired; they are merely sent to other schools.
Garry Hammett, who represents Lampman and several other communities on the Cornerstone board, said he would speak to the board about the 16:1 ratio.
Lampman School should qualify for a small school allocation that other schools in the division receive, he said, because it's a K-12 school in a small community.
"It's away from the big city centre, kids are bussed in here, so there should be an allocation," said Hammett.

Estevan receives infrastructure funding
Estevan and 20 other southeast Saskatchewan communities will benefit from $5.3 million in federal and provincial funding through the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF).
Estevan will receive $650,000 in MRIF funding for the replacement of water and sewer mains on Fourth Street. The total cost of the project is estimated at $2.2 million.
The Town of Midale will receive $127,500 for upgrades to the water treatment plant and to construct a water storage reservoir.
The RM of Benson will receive $500,000 for grid road construction; the RM of Browning will receive $221,200 to complete a road that connects Highways 361 and 13; and the RM of Coalfields will receive $145,938 for primary weight corridors that travel south from the RM to Highway 18, and then west through the RM to Highway 39 and the Pioneer Grain Terminal west of Estevan.
"Through this investment of $5.3 million, Canada's New Government is getting things done for families and taxpayers in southeastern Saskatchewan," said Souris-Moose Mountain MP Ed Komarnicki. "This investment will translate into upgraded wastewater systems, better water supplies and safer roads for our communities."
Before receiving final approval, community projects undergo a review process under both the Canadian Environment Assessment Act and Saskatchewan's Environmental Assessment Act.

"Suspicious" fire at Dinsmore Dodge
A fire at Dinsmore Dodge in Estevan on March 2 is being treated as suspicious.
Fire Chief Rick Perry said flames were shooting from the south window when they arrived. Twenty-one firefighters spent five hours combating the blaze. Firefighters and police officers maintained security at the site until March 6.
The Estevan Police Service has taken over the investigation of the fire.
Perry said this was a difficult fire to contain.
"The type of fire it was, the amount of fire load in the building - stuff to burn - was quite extensive," said Perry.
A mezzanine in the building was about to collapse when firefighters arrived, he said.
"It was a good call not to put anybody inside, but to go to a defensive style of firefighting," said Perry.
The centre part of the building suffered extensive damage, Perry said. Smoke and water damage occurred in the showroom; and heat, fire and smoke damage were in the shop area.
Dinsmore Dodge owner Garry Dinsmore said financial cost from the fire could be $1.5 million. Nine vehicles were lost - three in the showroom and six in the shop.
"Three of the six in the shop were customer vehicles, so we have to look after them first," said Dinsmore.
A structural engineer will determine whether the building can be salvaged. A new building would cost about $700,000 or $800,000, Dinsmore said. If they do need extensive renovations or a new building, Dinsmore said that could take 10 to 12 months.
Temporary operations opened March 8 with a trailer at their lot. Dinsmore hopes they can handle sales and phone calls and catch up on their bookwork. Then they have to find a temporary location for their automotives department.
"First of all we have to have our hoists inspected to make sure they're structurally safe so that mechanics and people don't get hurt," said Dinsmore. "When we do that, then we can find a building (for mechanics), so that could take two or three weeks."

Costs rise for clean coal plant
SaskPower's proposed clean coal plant, which would be at the Shand Power Station near Estevan if it moves forward, will cost more than the $1.5 billion originally anticipated.
The cost for coal fired boilers has increased considerably. After 20 years with little demand, the boilers have been gobbled up since 2005, said clean coal project manager Max Ball.
"Between 1985 and 2005, the electricity industry focused on natural gas as its main supply," said Ball. "The companies that got heavily into natural gas generation have been burned very badly with the increase in price of natural gas."
"The cost of electricity from a coal unit in 2005 looked extremely attractive compared to the natural gas alternative. Of course, that led to a stampede of orders."
A rash of orders came in from the U.S. in advance of stricter greenhouse gas regulations, he said. Several boiler orders were cancelled in recent weeks due to the cost and the lack of supplies.
Ball said the cost for construction workers will remain high, driving up the costs. The Construction Owners Association of Alberta is forecasting over 30,000 workers in 2009, when construction on the clean coal plant will peak.
Greenhouse gas taxes would also increase costs, although the taxes would not be as punitive for a clean coal plant as a compliant coal plant or a natural gas plant.
The project proposal, to be completed in June, will include a business case, provisional equipment and construction contracts, provisional carbon dioxide sale agreements, and a project execution plan. A final project cost estimate will also be due in June.
SaskPower will make their decision whether to proceed with clean coal. The Crown corporation is also considering several alternatives. The provincial government's approval would come in July.

Fifty years for Estevan as a city
Estevan has been a city for 50 years.
Then-mayor Harry Nicholson presided over the incorporation ceremony that established Estevan's city status on March 1, 1957.
There weren't any celebrations on the 50th anniversary date, but festivities related to the Golden Anniversary will take place on June 30.
Activities will include a free pancake breakfast, the dedication of the new Estevan Collegiate Institute monument, a street fair, class reunions, children's activities, free food, a battle of the bands, fireworks and a cabaret. All proceeds from the cabaret will go to the new Civic Auditorium.
The battle of the bands winner will receive $2,500, and an additional $1,000 to play during the cabaret. All bands must supply a CD.
Reunion chair Gerry Westgard said many former Estevan residents will return to the city.
"It's going to be a big show," said Westgard. "We have lot of people coming back for the class reunions. We have people coming back from California and Toronto."
Westgard said they still need sponsors for the event. The names of sponsors will be displayed on a steel fence near the Leisure Centre.

Rotary auction March 15
The Estevan Rotary Club will host one of their largest fundraisers of the year, their annual auction, on Thursday, March 15 at the Estevan Shoppers Mall.
Browsing will start at 5 p.m., and the auction begins an hour later. Auction chair Dennis Bode said the auction will start an hour earlier than in past years, because most of the audience is there by 6 p.m. They also want to finish the auction a little earlier.
More than 200 items will be sold during the evening, Bode said. Luggage, tools, shocks, a bicycle, a leather jacket, t-shirts and a wine rack are among the merchandise available. Many gift certificates will be available, too.
About $3,000 in cash has been donated from local businesses.
Early bird draws include two tickets to their annual Lobsterfest and $50 in gasoline.
Bode said the auction usually raises between $10,000 and $12,000. Proceeds will go to various Rotary projects in the community and internationally.

Open house for clean coal plant
SaskPower will offer plenty of information on their proposed clean coal plant during an open house at the Estevan Royal Canadian Legion on March 15 from noon to 8 p.m.
Bernie Bolen, SaskPower's supervisor of environmental issues management, said SaskPower has an open house in Estevan each year to inform the public about their operations. But they decided to broaden the scope of this year's open house because the Shand Power Station has been chosen as the site for the plant.
Members of the public will be able to drop by and ask questions about the project, said Bolen.
There will be numerous displays. Shand Power Station employees will discuss how the addition of the clean coal plant could affect their operation. The clean coal team, including project manager Max Ball, will also have a booth.
Representatives from Prairie Mines and Royalty will discuss how the clean coal plant could impact their operations. Numerous other displays will also be set up pertaining to SaskPower and clean coal.

VIP offering assertiveness training
The Violence Intervention Program (VIP) will be offering free women's assertiveness training on Friday, March 16.
VIP is pleased to receive a grant from the Status of Women to host the training in celebration of International Women's Day.
VIP usually conducts two workshops per year. The workshop will give participants skills that will help them to be direct, straightforward and most importantly honest with others without experiencing anxiety and guilt.
Women will learn that assertiveness is any behaviour that allows a person to express honest feelings comfortably.
"The workshops provide a safe environment for women to come together and learn to communicate and assert themselves more effectively," said VIP director Patt Lenover-Adams.
The workshop is open to any woman over the age of 18. The deadline to pre-register is March 14.

Benson 4-H results
Caption: (L-R) Katelynn Tedford, Tammy Millions, Cali Van De Woestyne, Allison Mack, Marlee Dukart, Alf Tide, Jessica Klarholm, Hayden Sutter and Meghan Dukart participated in the Benson 4-H speaking competition.
The Benson 4-H Club held their annual public speaking competition March 4.
Jessica Klarholm won the senior division, and Meghan Dukart was second. Cali Van De Woestyne finished first in the intermediate division, followed by Marlee Dukart. Katelynn Tedford was first in the junior division, with Allison Mack second and Hayden Sutter received an honorable mention.
Cloverbuds also spoke during the day.
The top two finishers in the senior, intermediate and junior age groups will advance to the district speaking competition March 31 in Stoughton.

Contributions of farming community saluted
Captions:
-Ray, Doris, Darcy, Jenna, Shelby and Dwayne Frehlick accepted the
Farm Family of the Year Award.
-(L-R) Ron Gallaway accepted an appreciation plaque from Sen. Len Gustafson for Gallaway's contributions to agriculture.
The contributions of farmers to southeast Saskatchewan were recognized during the Estevan Farmer's Appreciation Evening March 1.
The Frehlick's were presented with the Farm Family of the Year Award. The Frehlick's operate Frehlick Farms, which has 12,000 acres of land in the RM's of Benson and Estevan, and Frehlick Quarter Horses, a ranch with 61 quarter horses.
Ron Gallaway was presented with a special award for his many years of service to agriculture and the community. Gallaway is a past member of numerous local, provincial, western Canadian and national boards, many of them pertaining to agriculture, fairs and exhibitions.
He has also been presented with life memberships from several organizations, including the Estevan Exhibition Association.
Bruce Fraser from Prairie Mines and Royalty stressed the importance of farm safety. Fraser said Canada has an unintentional injury epidemic that strikes all industries and generations. Unintentional injuries hinder businesses because they prevent employees from working, and injuries impact communities, too, because of lost volunteer hours.
A farm safety seminar will be held March 29.
4-H members Josh Klarholm, Marlee Dukart, Katlin Tedford and Colin Sutter spoke on topics relevant to farming and youth.
Motivational speaker Brenda Robinson emphasized the importance of teamwork and laughter. She shared several entertaining stories that reinforced her themes.
Robinson grew up on a family farm near Minnedosa, Manitoba. She believes her agriculture background, as well as her father, who was a farmer, played a key role in developing her sense of humour.
"Laughter doesn't just bring people together to get things done, it helps bring out the best in people," said Robinson.
Growing up on a farm also gives people a certain resourcefulness that wouldn't happen anywhere else.
She said communities need to have more work bees and other similar events, since they encourage people to work and have fun together.

Columnists

LET IT SHINE, LET IT SHINE!
COINS OR CHANGE?
By Linda Wegner
I've just returned from a business trip that entailed six airline flights, six bus trips and several thousand kilometers of travel across three provinces. While rather exhausting, it was fascinating to view terrain ranging from green but rain-soaked West Coast scenery to deep (very deep) mountains of prairie snow. Although I'm always tired for a few days following my return, I'm also overwhelmed by the diversity and beauty of our country.
It wasn't just the landscape that was diverse though. With the 2010 Olympics just months away, Vancouver and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia seemed to be, at least to this small town caller, a confused maze of new traffic routes. In contrast, I reveled in the familiarity of often-traveled highways snaking themselves through thousands of hectares of Saskatchewan prairie farmland. So much was the same yet so much had changed.
The last stop on my journey, though, provoked my thoughts for this piece. As part of my quest to complete a Bachelor of Biblical Studies degree, it was necessary to meet with my instructor on campus. It so happened that the college was also the venue for a high-school youth retreat that weekend and I found myself in the company of several hundred enthusiastic young people. One of the displays built for the weekend by the students really grabbed my attention.
An incredibly life-like model of a derelict man was draped across a garden bench, his face a reflection of sadness and despair. Pinned to the blanket draped over him (an acknowledgment, I'd guessed, of the bitter winter days they'd been experiencing in the province) was this note: I don't want coins, I want change.
"As for me," wrote the Psalmist David, "I shall be satisfied when I awake in your likeness." (Psalm 17:15)
Until that day I pray, "Lord, keep changing me!"

When the Going Gets Tough
What do you do when you come up against a difficult teaching in the Bible? You know, one of those verses that makes you realize that you have to change something in your life.
The first option is to "water it down". That happens when we begin to think things like, "I know what it says, but…". This is usually followed by reasons, excuses or other explanations as to why one does not have to follow exactly what the teaching says. By "watering down" the teaching, though, we lose the benefit of it. It is sort of like drinking water right after taking cough syrup. The water washes away the terrible taste, but it also removes the coating that was meant to help your throat. In the end, a diluted teaching is useless.
A second option is to "try harder". While that may be part of the answer, for the most part we cannot try hard enough to do what we should. We are very much like a car that is spinning its wheels while stuck in a huge snowdrift. It simply cannot work hard enough to change its circumstances. What the car needs is some outside help like a tow truck. It is impossible for us be good enough on our own. If we could have done it alone, Christ died for nothing!
So, what can we do? We can be changed! We can be transformed by God. We can live life from a completely different perspective and viewpoint. That is why things like baptism, Bible reading, meditation and prayer are so important. They connect us to God and help us live a life that is infused with the power of his Holy Spirit.
We have hope because God can change us from the inside out.
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12: 2).
Tim Pippus, Estevan Church of Christ

Sports

Bruins lead Yorkton 2-1
The Estevan Bruins used special teams and stingy defence to beat the Yorkton Terriers 4-0 March 6 and take a 2-1 series lead in the Sherwood Conference semi-final.
Payden Benning scored in the first period, Kyle Ermel scored in the second, and Kealin Wong and Scott Collier iced the victory in the third period. Benning and Wong scored their goals on the power play, while Collier scored into an empty net. Ermel's goal came seconds after a Yorkton penalty expired.
Goaltender Guillaume Perusse made 20 saves to pick up the shutout. Yorkton managed only four shots in the third period.
"That was probably one of our best performances," said Perusse. "Obviously it's the playoffs, so the intensity is there. Both games we played at home, I think we played well."
Estevan won Game 1 5-4. Braden Olszewski had three goals and an assist, as the Bruins scored three times in the second period to erase a 4-2 deficit.
Yorkton won Game 2 6-1. The Terriers scored twice in each period to build a 6-0 lead. Ermel scored late in the third.
"I think we came out much stronger with more intensity," said Perusse. "We wanted to win this one. We won our battles one-on-one, we came out with the puck along the boards, and defensively I thought it was great. They didn't have too many odd-man rushes, no two-on-ones or breakaways."
Head coach/GM Karry Biette said his team's execution improved as the game progressed.
"The discipline to system play was better in the last 20 (minutes) than it was in the first 20, and it's sometimes the opposite way for us," said Biette. "They stuck to their guns, and 4-0, I'll take it."
Biette also praised the players' effort.
"(Darnell) Glass blocking that shot at the end (of the game) and then standing up for his teammates, that's just the epitome of a captain. Matthewson, all the role players really played well tonight and did their thing and blocked shots and finished checks and you need these guys to win in playoffs."
Game 4 was played March 8 in Yorkton. (Results not available at press time). Game 5 will be March 10 in Estevan. Game 6, if necessary, is the following night in Yorkton, and Game 7 will be March 13 in Estevan.

SJHL playoff standings (through March 7)
Sherwood Conference semi-finals (All series best-of-seven)
Estevan Bruins vs. Yorkton Terriers
Estevan leads 2-1
March 2: Yorkton 4, Estevan 5
March 4: Estevan 1, Yorkton 6
March 6: Yorkton 0, Estevan 5
March 8: Estevan at Yorkton (Results not available at press time)
March 10:Yorkton at Estevan, 7:30 p.m.
March 11: Estevan at Yorkton, 7:30 p.m.
March 13: Yorkton at Estevan, 7:30 p.m.
Melville Millionaires vs. Weyburn Red Wings
Weyburn leads 2-1
Humboldt Broncos vs. Melfort Mustangs
Melfort leads 2-1
Battlefords North Stars vs. Nipawin Hawks
Nipawin leads 2-1

Keating wins one at provincials
The Kristopher Keating rink, competing out of the Estevan Comprehensive School, won one of four games at the provincial high school boys' curling championship in Kipling.
Keating opened the tournament with a 6-5 win over Kindersley. But he lost his next three games - 9-2 to Kamsack, 6-2 to Regina-Sheldon, and 8-1 to Delmany - eliminating them from the triple-knockout elimination event.
Other members of Keating's team were lead Brandon Smith, second Andrew Batt, third Marcus Lau and alternate Landon LaFrentz. Robert Keating was the coach.

Provincial champions battle through adversity
Caption: (L-R) Carol Christopher, Shirley Palendat, Jean MacLean, Sharon Spence and Crystal Frisk captured the provincial masters women’s curling title.
It was a challenging weekend for Carol Christopher and her rink, curling out of the Medstead Curling Club, but they still managed to capture the provincial Masters Women's curling title.
Christopher scored two in the 10th end to defeat Pat Buglass 9-8 in the final March 4 at the Estevan Curling Club. Christopher and third Shirley Palendat battled the flu throughout the tournament, and Palendat didn't play. She was replaced by Crystal Frisk.
"When we first called Crystal to come, it was for me, and by the time she (Frisk) got here, she (Palendat) was sicker than I was," said Christopher. "It's been a struggle. We played every draw. I just never imagined it would happen."
Other members of the team were second Jean MacLean and lead Sharon Spence.
Christopher had been retired until this year, and this was the team's first year together. It was also Christopher's first provincial title.
"I love it," Christopher said of winning a provincial championship.
Christopher stole two in the first end, and the two teams traded points in the second and third ends to give Christopher a 3-1 lead. But she missed a raise with her final rock in the fourth end, enabling Buglass to score three and take a 4-3 lead. Buglass stole one in the fifth end for a 5-3 margin.
Christopher said the sixth end was the turning point. Buglass tried to raise and remove Christopher's stone, but missed. Christopher knocked out a Buglass shot that was in the eight-foot to score two and tie the game 5-5.
Buglass scored one in the seventh for a 6-5 lead. Christopher scored two in the eight, but Buglass responded with two in the ninth to lead 8-7.
The Christopher rink finished in a seven-way tie for first with a 3-2 round robin record. They had to play three tie-breaker games March 3, and then defeated Liane McLean 8-6 in the semi-final March 4.
Marj Nyeste of Estevan and her team of third Joan Phair, second Shirlee Simpson and lead Caroline Salaway finished with a 2-3 record in the round robin. They won their second game, 10-6 over McLean, and their fourth game, 12-3 over Kay Hunchak, but lost 10-4 to Elaine McKinnon, 14-3 to Lee Morrison and 10-2 to Marlene Wilkinson.

From the Sidelines
Arena football underway
By Kyle Kapiczowski
The Arena Football League got underway on March 1 with the Columbus Destroyers beating the Nashville Kats 58-56. On March 4, the defending champion Chicago Rush were upset by the Kansas City Brigade 54-41. My other favorite team, the Colorado Crush, lost a close game to the Grand Rapids Rampage 44-42. The Philadelphia Soul were the only team who didn't play in Week 1.
I think the Colorado Crush will win it all this year. They will face the Dallas Desperados in the league final.
Other scores from Week 1 were: the Austin Wranglers beat the Las Vegas Gladiators 57-36, the San Jose Sabercats beat the Los Angeles Avengers 66-58, the Georgia force beat the Arizona Rattlers 69-65, the Dallas Desperados trashed the New York Dragons 60-7 and the Utah Blaze defeated the New Orleans Voodoo 63-61.
In the NFL, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed quarterback Jeff Garcia and traded for Denver Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer. The Broncos received a draft pick for Plummer. Plummer said he would rather retire. I don't think it's a smart move. Why would anyone want to quit the Buccaneers?
In the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Houston Rockets 91-85. The Cavs record is 35-25 and they are in second place in the Central Division. Their next game is March 10 against Milwaukee.
In NCAA Basketball, the No. 6 Florida Gators beat Kentucky 85-72. Their record is 26-5 overall and 13-3 in conference play. Their next action is on March 9 when they play in the SEC Tournament.
In the English Premier league, Manchester beat United Liverpool 1-0 in injury time. Man U's record is 23-3-3 and they have a nine point lead on Chelsea for first place. They are on a five-game winning streak.
In the WHL, the Regina Pats have clinched a playoff spot. There is 32-25-2-5. They beat Saskatoon in their last game 5-0.
That's all, folks!

Viewpoints

Editorial
Daylight Saving gone mad
By David Willberg
Daylight Saving Time (DST) used to be so much easier to follow.
On the first Sunday of April, most of North America would set their clocks ahead one hour. Sure, it meant one less hour of sleep one day per year, but it also meant one more hour of daylight for golf and other leisure activities during the spring and summer evenings.
Then, on the last Sunday in October, most of North America set their clocks back an hour. Everyone got an extra hour of sleep, and nobody cared about the earlier sunset, since the outdoor recreation ceased in most of North America.
Saskatchewan didn't care one way or the other. They haven't used DST since the 40s. Same goes for other isolated pockets of North America. The only noticeable difference for people in Saskatchewan was that after DST came into effect, the TV shows started an hour earlier.
It was simple.
Then the U.S. government got another crazy idea and decided to change the DST timeline, throwing everything out of whack.
The U.S. now advances their clocks forward on the second Sunday of March, three weeks earlier than before. They will move the clocks back an hour on the first Sunday in November.
DST results in millions of dollars saved on energy and electricity costs, or so they say. They won't extend the DST any further, because there aren't any economic benefits.
Extending DST may or may not be a bad thing, but at least give the real reason: so that the outdoor attractions in the southern U.S. can remain open an extra hour during a few weeks of the year.
If you're living in North Dakota or Montana, do you really need DST in early November? Does it really make a difference whether the sun sets at 5:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.?
Most provincial governments in Canada followed their American counterparts and extended their DST timeframe.
As for Saskatchewan, it's time to reinstate DST. Businesses and attractions would be on an equal playing field with Manitoba and North Dakota. There wouldn't be a needless one-hour difference between Gainsborough and Pierson, Manitoba - communities separated by 16 kilometres.
DST has been brought to the provincial government on multiple occasions. The government dragged their feet on province-wide DST in 2001, and two years ago they rejected DST for the eastern third of the province.
Rejecting the latter was a good idea - no reason for Regina to be in a different time zone than Moose Jaw for two-thirds of the year.
Without DST, the sun rises before 5 a.m. and sets at 9 p.m. during the summer. There are a few people who might enjoy daylight before 5 a.m., but most people would probably rather have sunset at 10 p.m. than sunrise at 5 a.m.

What's Happening

Gallery celebrates grand opening
The Solar Studio Art Gallery in Estevan held their grand opening March 1. A reception and a ribbon cutting were part of the celebrations. The studio, which opened in January, is located on Fourth Street and displays the works of 10 local artists.

Theatre at Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart School in Estevan hosted a presentation by Persephone Theatre on March 7. "Signe's Lost Colours" depicts the story of a girl who uses colours and friendship to cope with her parents' recent divorce.

Year-end basketball tournament
Elementary school students from Estevan and area participated in a girls' basketball tournament March 2 and 3 at Westview School. Students have been competing in a basketball league since early January, and the tournament was one of the final events of the season.