Feature

To our soldiers
Caption: Estevan resident Olive Murphy has been sending encouraging cards and letters to Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan who otherwise wouldn't receive any such messages.
By David Willberg
Estevan's Olive Murphy is doing her part to boost the morale of Canadian troops fighting in Afghanistan.
Murphy has sent about a dozen letters and cards to soldiers during the past 12 months. She started writing to troops after she read a newspaper article, penned by a person in the military, which stated that many soldiers don't receive any correspondences from Canada.
"He was asking people to take the time to send Christmas cards," said Murphy. "He gave an address for Kandahar."
Letters are shipped first to Belleville, Ontario, and then to Kandahar - the volatile region in southern Afghanistan where many Canadian soldiers are battling the Taliban - the fundamentalist Islamic group that ruled Afghanistan until 2001.
She has also sent letters to Canadian soldiers in Kabul - the Afghan capital which is a more stable region.
"I would drop a card once in a while, or a note," said Murphy. "I just didn't realize that there were troops there that didn't receive mail."
The letters aren't long - it's not easy to know what to say, she said, other than "we're thinking of you." She is always certain to thank the soldiers for what they are doing in Afghanistan. She also mentions life back in Canada - little details such as the weather.
Most of her cards are sent during special times of the year: Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. She'll send a few at Christmas again this year.
Mail is sent "to any soldier," instead of to a specific soldier. The letters are then forwarded to those who aren't receiving any mail from home.
Murphy has yet to receive a response, and she doesn't expect one, either. Her motives are selfless, and she doesn't send the letters for personal recognition. She can't even remember if she has ever provided a mailing address with one of the cards. But she always signs her name.
Murphy's support for the troops isn't due to an extensive military history in her family, or friendships with the people in Afghanistan. She has neither.
Her family's military contributions include a brother and an uncle served with the Air Force during the Second World War.
Murphy doesn't know anyone who has served in Afghanistan. She has corresponded with one person, Laurelle Callaghan-Tudor of Edmonton - the sister-in-law of a good friend - but Murphy has never met Callaghan-Tudor.
Callaghan-Tudor was in Afghanistan about a year ago, Murphy said, and she has since returned home to her base in Edmonton.
But she has always supported Canadian troops and the contributions that they make overseas.
Murphy wrote a poem, "To our Soldiers," earlier this year as a way to convey her support for the soldiers. The poem was published in a senior's magazine in November, and read out during Remembrance Day services in Montmartre and Estevan.
"I was so pleased and honoured when a lady from Montmartre phoned me, asking for my permission to read the poem at their Remembrance Day service," Murphy said.
The inspiration for "To our Soldiers" came while she was writing a letter to a soldier in Afghanistan, she said.
Murphy has an idea to get more letters to Canadian troops in Afghanistan. Project Christmas Card, as she calls it, would see elementary school students send a homemade card or a letter to a soldier. She hasn't spoken to anybody in the school system about her dream.
"Thinking about them wanting mail for troops, what better way than school children?" asked Murphy. "This makes school children stop and think about what these troops are doing over there.
"They're far away from home, from their families, and they're peacekeeping. I think children should be made aware of that."

News

Rider Pride
(L-R) Michelle Avery, Jeff Ward and Jessica Young supported the Saskatchewan Roughriders by sporting the green and white on Grey Cup Sunday November 25. They were three of the many fans who went to the Orpheum Theatre in Estevan to watch the Riders beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19 and win the third Grey Cup in franchise history. Grey Cup parties were held in restaurants, bars, homes and other venues across the province.

Police report
*Football fans were mostly well behaved during and after the Saskatchewan Roughriders' Grey Cup victory. Police responded to only one noisy party - on the west side of the city. Chants of "Go Riders Go" could be heard from the street because the windows were open. The homeowner was warned. Vehicular and pedestrian traffic increased considerably after the game. Cheering pedestrians were advised to stay on the sidewalk due to icy streets.
*Several fence boards were broken in a willful damage case.
*A vehicle experienced mechanical problems, causing the driver to lose control and hit a parked vehicle.
*Gun shots were reported from the area around the brick plant. Several shots were fired in the direction of a residence. Members did not locate the offenders. The shots are believed to have come from deer hunters in the area. Conservation officers have been advised of the incident.
*An assault at a downtown drinking establishment is under investigation.
*Tailgates were stolen from two different pick-up trucks. Police are seeking the public's assistance.
*Numerous harassing and nuisance calls were made to the Estevan Police Service, 9-1-1 and SaskTel. The offender's telephone service was temporarily disconnected.
*A male brandished a knife and additional weapons were involved in a melee. The altercation, which involved a number of males, continued inside a local convenience store. One person was arrested, and the incident was under investigation.
*A 16-year-old male was charged with obstructing a peace officer, possessing stolen property and possessing alcohol in connection with an October 20 incident. Police learned the youth gave them false information about his identity. He also had outstanding warrants in Saskatoon for a noise bylaw offence.

Government clarifies used vehicle stance
Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer has offered new details on the provincial government's commitment to eliminate the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) on used cars and trucks.
"As of today (November 26), people buying used light vehicles will not have to pay the PST where tax has previously been paid in full, and dealers will no longer have to collect the tax," Gantefoer said.
"Those who have paid the PST since Nov. 8, 2007 can apply for a refund. We made a promise to the people of Saskatchewan; we are keeping that promise."
Light used vehicles eligible for the PST exemption include: all cars; all sport utility vehicles; all light vans (mini-vans, passenger vans and cargo vans that are rated "one-ton" or less); and all light trucks (quarter-ton, half-ton, three-quarter-ton and one-ton trucks).
Where a vehicle is not previously tax-paid, the value of any trade-in will continue to be deducted before the PST is applied and the vehicle will be deemed to be fully tax paid thereafter.
The change saves Saskatchewan people an average of $450 on their purchase of an eligible used vehicle. Estimated annual impact for government is $45 million.

Provincial cabinet ministers visit Estevan
Three Saskatchewan Party cabinet ministers were in Estevan November 23, less than 48 hours after they were sworn into cabinet.
Environment Minister Nancy Heppner, Enterprise and Innovation Minister Lyle Stewart, and Bill Boyd, the Minister for Energy and Resources and Intergovernmental Affairs, met with Sask. Party backers, and thanked them for their support during the provincial election earlier in the month.
Heppner was elected to the legislature in March 2007. She held the Sask. Party's environmental critic post when the party was in opposition. She looks forward to learning more about the clean coal plant that was proposed for the Estevan area.
"I'll be working with the department to get briefed up on what the proposals have been," said Heppner. "I know there was some concern about the technology."
Heppner said she would need to do more research on clean coal before she could comment on whether the project is economically feasible.
"I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of information is available, to find out exactly what kind of direction we need to take here," said Heppner.
The first sitting of the Legislature with the Sask. Party in power will start December 10.

Council notes
Highlights from the November 26 meeting of Estevan City Council:
*The budget will be deliberated December 3 and 5. The Estevan Chamber of Commerce and the Souris Valley Theatre submitted their budgets, and funding requests, to Council at the November 26 meeting.
*Audited financial statements showed that the City suffered a $1.6 million deficit in 2006. Included in that was $867,441 in long-term debt repayment. The City budgeted a $2.8 million deficit for 2006.
*Letters will be sent to Estevan MLA Doreen Eagles and Souris-Moose Mountain MP Ed Komarnicki to get a railway overpass in downtown Estevan.
*The CP Rail advisory committee is touting several accomplishments since they were established more than two years ago, including noise abatement, reduced engine idling, and a longer break between trains. The City and CP Rail are working to improve the appearance of CP Rail's property.
*Council approved a temporary overdraft increase to $4 million at the Royal Bank to pay for Fourth Street resurfacing, Fourth Street water and sewer main replacements, and the latest phase in the Trojan subdivision development.
*Council approved the rezoning of a lot in the 900 block of Fourth Street to a single residential dwelling. It was previously a commercial/residential dwelling.
*Two resolutions will be sent from Estevan to the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention. One requests SUMA to petition the provincial government to support clean coal, and to partner with SaskPower, the federal government and the oil industry to make a clean coal plant happen. The other encourages government funding for recycling paper, plastics, glass and tin.

Changes announced in senior civil service
Deputy Premier Ken Krawetz today announced a number of changes in senior civil service positions as part of the Saskatchewan Party government's transition process.
"The transition team has been working for quite some time and is pleased to have put in place qualified individuals to fill key positions and to assist in implementing the new Saskatchewan Party government's platform and vision for our province," Krawetz said.
"Throughout this process, there will be some transfers, some promotions, some terminations, as well as some new hires."
The government released Orders in Council announcing the appointment of Deputy Ministers. The government also announced the appointment of a number of Chiefs of Staff to Ministers.
"I am extremely pleased with the quality and experience of those who are coming forward to work in the new government," Krawetz said. "Many individuals have stepped out of successful careers to help us deliver on the mandate Saskatchewan people gave us on November 7."

Environment minister tours Souris-Moose Mountain
Caption: Souris-Moose Mountain MP Ed Komarnicki (middle) looks on as provincial minister Bill Boyd chats with federal Environment Minister John Baird.
Federal Environment Minister John Baird was non-committal about federal funding for a clean coal plant in Saskatchewan during a visit to the Souris-Moose Mountain constituency November 23.
SaskPower's Shand Power Station near Estevan was chosen as the site for the plant late last year, but the former NDP provincial government shelved the project in favour of natural gas nearly three months ago.
Soaring costs were a primary reason. The plant's estimated price tag ballooned from $1.5 billion to $3.8 billion due to soaring costs for construction and coal-fired plants.
"We're keen on working with the new Saskatchewan government, and I guess SaskPower would be one of the partners in that," said Baird. "There's no specific timeline for that."
The NDP said in September that clean coal would be re-examined in 2009.
Other provinces are seeking funding for projects to diminish their environmental burden, Baird said.
The federal government is very keen on finding environmentally friendly ideas for coal-fired plants, Baird said. Not only could those solutions be used in Canada, they could be employed in China and India, he said.
"The technology that was presented today can be added on to existing facilities. You don't have to tear down a $2 billion plant. You can adapt."
Baird toured EnCana's carbon dioxide flood fields near Weyburn, and the coal fields that surround Estevan. He met with community leaders in Estevan who have formed a clean coal coalition.
Baird raved about EnCana's efforts.
"I've heard about it for a long time, we visited the University of Regina on a previous trip," Baird said. "But to see this is not just some obscure science in a lab, this is a mass scale technology that's working."
Baird also touched on biofuels. Saskatchewan MPs have been pushing for biofuels, and Baird said he is a big supporter of the biofuels concept. Baird said he has been working with federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, and Baird said there will be an announcement on biofuels coming soon.

Construction boom continues
It's been another excellent year for construction in Estevan. New homes have been built. Many of them are in the Trojan subdivision. Construction has started on a few others, including this one on Brooks Road in the Trojan area.

Nominations open for Saskatchewan Youth Awards
Saskatchewan residents are encouraged to nominate an outstanding young person, between the ages of 15 and 24 years, for the Saskatchewan Youth Award.
Saskatchewan residents have until January 30, 2008 to nominate individuals for the award, which recognizes young people for their personal achievements and/or contributions to their communities and the province.
"In Saskatchewan, we appreciate the diverse perspectives and talents of our youth," Premier Brad Wall said. "The Saskatchewan Youth Award is an opportunity to formally recognize and pay tribute to youth who help make this province great."
All nominations are adjudicated by an independent committee, comprised of members of the Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council and up to two youth.
Each year, four or five nominees will be recommended based on a broad range of achievements and endeavours, including, but not limited to, leadership, voluntarism, innovation, artistic or cultural accomplishments, academic excellence, athletics and other personal achievements.

Help save lives during the holidays
Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is asking Canadians to remember the quote by Mark Twain this holiday season: "to get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with".
This year, Canadian Blood Services is inviting Canadians to help save twice as many lives by donating blood with a friend. Together, they can brighten the holidays and be stars in the lives of those needing blood and blood products.
A recent Ipsos Reid survey suggests that most first-time donors came in to give their gift with a friend, family member, or colleague who was already a blood donor. CBS is asking blood donors to fill out cards from December 3 to January 4 to give to a friend who has never donated.
Another Ipsos Reid finding is that over 70 per cent of Canadians would prefer less emphasis on gift-giving during the holiday season, while maintaining some form of gift exchange.
This time of year can be a difficult time to collect blood. Hospitals continue to draw on the supply of blood and blood products, while donors, preoccupied with holiday activities, do not continue to replenish the supply.
This year, Canadian Blood Services estimates it will need to collect 75,000 red blood cells, plasma or platelet donations nationally between December 3rd and January 4th to help meet hospital needs.

Rotary Carol Festival is December 9
The Estevan Rotary Club's annual Christmas Carol Festival will be held at St. Paul's United Church on Sunday, December 9, beginning at 7 p.m.
A prelude of instrumental music will be performed by a brass ensemble. School bands, church choirs and other groups will perform a variety of Christmas favourites and other holiday music. About 10 to 12 groups have traditionally performed during the carol festival.
Members of the public will have the opportunity to sing several Christmas carols, too. The evening will conclude with Rotary members singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."
There is no admission fee for the Carol Festival. A free-will offering will be collected at the door. Proceeds will be donated to school band programs in Estevan.

Government invests in early childhood development
Caption: Prairie Children Prairie Futures coordinator Ruth Barker discussed plans to give children a better start in their early years.
The Prairie Children Prairie Futures (PCPF) Understanding the Early Years (UEY) Community Coalition is collecting information that they hope will further the development of children in the region.
A launch for the PCPF was held November 23 at the Estevan Family Resource Centre. Coordinator Ruth Barker said she wants to provide a strong start for children, and to ensure a positive future for Saskatchewan.
An inventory of community programs and services for children in early years is already being developed.
"That information is going to be used in conjunction with Census Canada information, and social index information," said Barker. "All of that is going to be compiled together and put into what we call a community mapping profile."
The mapping should be ready in spring of early next year. They are also creating an early development instrument with the schools.
"The information from that tool will be incorporated into the mapping for the second year of our project," said Barker.
A Parents Inventory and Developmental Assessment of Children Survey will be administered to a sampling of 500 children and families.
Research shows that brain development is at its peak in the early years, Barker said, and it's important to meet children's needs early.
Barker has many years of experience in early learning. She is excited to be involved, but also overwhelmed, as the PCPF region covers one-sixth of the province.
The PCPF coalition includes representatives from the Sun Country Health Region, the Estevan Family Resource Centre, and the Southeast Cornerstone and Holy Family Roman Catholic Separate School Divisions.
The federal government will invest $371,682 over the next three years through their UEY funding program.
"I know we're talking about advancing the lives of young people, and becoming the people that they are destined to be," said Souris-Moose Mountain MP Komarnicki. "They have talents, and we want to be sure that those talents are enhanced to the degree that they can."
PCPF is one of seven UEYs in the province.

Holiday Train to visit Estevan
Estevan will be one of the final stops for CP Rail's Midwest U.S. Holiday Train when it rolls into the Energy City on Monday, December 17 at about 4:45 p.m.
The Holiday Train will be in Estevan for an hour, and then it will continue its journey to its final stop in Weyburn. The Holiday Train features hundreds of thousands of lights, and several brightly-decorated rail cars that will light up the early evening sky.
Those who attend the Holiday Train's visit in Estevan are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for the Estevan Salvation Army's food bank.
The mid-west train's travels will start December 8 in Gurnee, Illinois. Stops will be in Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota. The train will cross the Canada-U.S. border at North Portal on the 17th.
Entertainers will include country music singer Tracey Brown, Juno award winner Colin Linden, and Celtic music duo Ennis. Brown has been a part of the Holiday Train for seven years, and has a music career that spanned more than 30 years.
Linden is a musician, vocalist, songwriter and producer who has dabbled in blues guitar, country and folk. Sisters Maureen and Karen comprise Ennis. They perform Irish music.
More than $3 million and 1.6 million pounds of food have been collected for North American food banks through the Holiday Train.

Theatre receives new seats
The Souris Valley Theatre has received 299 theatre seats from the Conexus Art Centre in Regina.
The seats will add to the comfort of the audience, and provide continuity in seating, creating a visual improvement for the theatre.
To cover the cost of installing the seats, the theatre has announce a "Buy a Seat" promotion. For $150, the donor will receive a permanent plaque on one of the new theatre seats. Donors will also receive a charitable tax receipt.
The seats that were removed have been donated to the Town of Lampman. Many of the seats have been installed in the hockey rink. Not all seats were used, and some seats are still available.
The Souris Valley Theatre will once again host two new musicals next year. Many of their plays have a Saskatchewan flavour and a historical perspective.

New student of the day program
The Spruce Ridge School Community Council is pleased to announce the Spruce Ridge Student of the Day program.
The concept is to give every student attending Spruce Ridge School a day where they are made to feel "special" by being recognized and acknowledged by other students and the staff. Every day, three students will be randomly chosen to be the students of the day.
The students' names will be announced over the intercom in the morning; their profiles will be posted in the display case; they will receive a button and a treat from principal Brent Hoffos or vice-principal Doug Stallard; they will be allowed to stay in during recess with a friend; and their names will be published in the newsletter.
Also, everyone is to be extra nice to the students during their day.

St. Joseph's auxiliary meets
St. Joseph's Heath Care Auxiliary met November 19 at St. Joseph's Hospital.
Final touches are being applied to the tea, bake sale and Chinese auction, which will be held Wednesday, December 5.
Tea, coffee and dainties have been served for the new dialysis unit.
Sharon Penner, one of the auxiliary's new members, is a new knitter for toques and slippers.
Auxiliary members travelled to Moose Jaw for the provincial convention. Guest speakers included Father Mark Miller from St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon, and Brenda Schultz, who works in a care home.
Miller spoke on caregiving, palliative care, working with families, pain, and ethics in health care. Schultz, who received a liver transplant more than 10 years ago, shares her beliefs on the importance of organ transplants.

Large crowds attend Bienfait theatre
Caption: (L-R) Roxy Barn (Jan Dunbar) and “Ian” Wayne (Dwight Thompson) were among the characters in “Knock ‘Em Dead.”
Sold-out crowds of roughly 200 people a night attended the Bienfait Lions Community Theatre's presentation of "Knock 'Em Dead" November 23 and 24 at the Bienfait Weldon School.
"Knock 'Em Dead" is a murder mystery comedy set at Vinnie's Belly Laugh Club. Entrants in the annual talent contest will try anything to win. But when the comedy club's owner turns up dead, everyone becomes a suspect.
The play featured plenty of crowd interaction, and the audience played a role in finding out the identity of the murderer.
Proceeds from the play will go to Lions projects.

Angel Tree at Wal-Mart
Jean Broadhead from the Order of the Royal Purple volunteered at the Angel Tree at the Estevan Wal-Mart November 28. Pink angels for girls and blue angels for boys, each with an age inscribed, adorn the tree. Supporters pluck the angels from the tree, purchase a toy, and return the toy to the volunteer working at the Angel Tree. The Angel Tree will continue until December 8. It's a project of the Community Hamper Association, and hamper recipients with a child will round out their hamper with a toy.

Saskatchewan's Biggest Gas Rebate
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is requesting that the new Saskatchewan Party government end the Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit (SFETC).
Saskatchewan taxpayers handed "Corner Gas" $4.8-million toward labour costs in its first three seasons and are set to hand over millions more. A total of $37 million has been handed out through the SFETC from 2002 to 2007.
"CTV-Globemedia which airs 'Corner Gas' hardly qualifies for a government handout," said Lee Harding, Saskatchewan director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. "The company made $4 billion last year in part because of ad revenue successful programs like 'Corner Gas' generate."
According to Sask Film's website, the SFETC can write off up to 55% of eligible labour on each individual project with no content or copyright restrictions. Unlike other tax credit programs, Saskatchewan's incentives are available for each production, without obligation to film additional projects in the province to qualify for an additional rebate.
Movies "Tideland" and "Just Friends" received $1.6 million and $3.1 million, respectively. The short-run TV series "Body and Soul" received $1.7 million. Three episodes of "Mary Higgins Clark" received $1.5 million. TV program "Renegade Press" received $1.9 million over three years.
Regina-based Mind's Eye Productions received $1.7 million for "MythQuest," $1.5 million for "Sins of the Father" and $1.6 million for the "Tommy Douglas Story."

Recognizing signs of women abuse
The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women is December 6, and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) experts are speaking out and sharing what they have learned on the health implications of violence.
The experts are looking at issues related to antisocial behaviour, exposure to partner violence for mothers and children, ethnic background, childhood maltreatment and school bullying. There is also a computer-assisted program to detect victims of abuse in doctor's offices.
Almost 1 in 10 women are physically abused by an intimate partner in any given year, and on average, 72 women are killed by their partner, or ex-partner, every year in Canada.

Agribition wraps up
Canadian Western Agribition president Shannon McArton believes that this year's show has fulfilled its objective to provide an effective, hospitable and entertaining atmosphere to market Canadian agricultural products and expertise to the world.
"Canadian Western Agribition provided 'A World of Opportunity' as visitors and qualified buyers from across North America and abroad attended this year's event," McArton said referring, to this year's theme. Agribition's first day, November 19, coincided with the opening of the Canada-United States border to mature bovine and breeding stock, resulting in several cross border sales in the Agribition auction rings.
Purchasers representing the states of Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Idaho, Texas, Indiana and North Dakota were recorded, along with embryo sales to the United Kingdom.
Agribition's purebred beef sales also saw purchasers representing eight provinces as Canadian seed stock producers continued to show the value they place on Canadian Western Agribition as the place to assess trends and bloodlines in their chosen breeds.
Visiting international delegations attended Agribition from Norway, Scotland, Ireland, Jamaica, Argentina and Brazil. A total of 464 international guests from 55 countries and 22 U.S. states registered.
The high seller in the purebred beef sale rings was the feature attraction in the Angus sale. An interest in a two-year old bull sold for $60,000.

Columnists

GIVING GOD OUR WORST
By Linda Wegner
I really love giving; shopping is another matter. Money fits all sizes but most times I'd like to choose something more specifically suited i.e. that "perfect something for that special someone." That too rarely happens, though, and I usually end up offering them a gift card or a somewhat mundane version of what I'd really like to give.
I'm not proud to admit it but the thought of giving a really horrible gift to someone I consider a bit "less than special" occasionally crosses my mind. Thankfully I've not been stupid enough to carry through on those dark intents. After all, the best deserve the best and the worst - well, they need mercy.
As Christmas approaches, most of us have heard exhortations to give to the Christ Child. Songs such as the "Little Drummer Boy" (which I have always loved, by the way) point out the beauty of giving ourselves, including, of course, our individual talents and abilities. It's probably not necessary to point out that sharing our material possessions with those less fortunate than us is also a direct gift to the heart of God. But as I've thought about the matter, I suddenly realized that what God desires from us is the worst we can give.
Huh? Well, think of it this way: He invites us to give Him every less than upright thing we have ever done or thought of doing. He then takes that junk and replaces it with good things like justice, mercy and humility. Not our idea of the "perfect gift for the perfect Person" but it's what He wants most…and aren't gifts about the recipient, not the giver?
"And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:7-9
We give - He replaces.

GARDEN NOTES
By Gerry Fichtemann
HOUSEPLANT HELPS (Part 2)
LIGHT FOR HOUSEPLANTS: A page the size of this newspaper would be needed for this subject, however two points to remember is that blooming plants need sunlight and most tropical foliage plants prefer no direct sunlight but a shadier location. WATERING: Most people kill their plants with kindness. Over watering is the major problem with plant loss. If your plant has good drainage and the water runs through the soil easily it means your plant has good soil mix and there will not be very much water retention which makes roots decay. Every type of plant needs a different watering program so it is difficult to write about.
The top of the soil could be dry to the touch but down deeper the soil could be wet. Take a fork and loosen the soil and check the soil halfway down. If it is moist, that is what you want. If it is a wet muck refrain from watering unless the plant has already suffered from excess watering. It is far better to keep your plants just moist. If in doubt, keep them a little on the drier side. If your plant is placed inside a jardinière or pottery, make sure you remove the plant for watering as too many times the water drains into the decorative pot and the plant sits in water. This is a hasty way to kill plants. Another point to remember is to always use water at room temperature.
Let the water sit overnight in an open container. This will allow the chlorine and fluorine gases to escape. Melted snow or rainwater (at room temperature) is ideal for watering plants. Water that has gone through a water softener is an absolute no because of the high soluble salt content.
All plants need a resting period and with houseplants, winter is the time to cut back a bit on the watering. No fertilizing should be done over the winter months. There will be an article on fertilizing at a later date.
SPECIAL NOTE: If you are buying plants for Christmas, do not purchase them or move them from the store to your house in sub zero. This past week the wind chill has been dangerously cold. No matter how they package these plant in a store, they will definitely freeze when moving the plant from the store to your car on the parking lot and then from your car into the house. Wait until you have a day with no bitter windchill and the temperatures begin to moderate. The thin bags over
the plants will definitely not be enough to keep them from freezing.
Gerry Fichtemann is the owner of River Bend Nursery.

Sports

Locals advance to southerns
(L-R) Landon Lafrentz, Andrew Batt, Marcus Lau and Kris Keating of the Benson Curling Club accepted crests from Jason Krupski, after winning the Region 4 Junior Playdowns at Whitewood November 23 to 25. They beat their opponents in two straight games in a best-of-three final to qualify for the junior men's southern playdowns January 4 to 6 in Davidson.

Mermaids compete in first meet
Caption: (L-R) Estevan Mermaids president Brenda Lyons, Mackenzie Dahl, Tess Rensby, Dezirae Franke, Brittany Gervais and Alyssa Gibson with the Membership Growth Award from Synchro Saskatchewan.
The Estevan Mermaids synchronized swim team travelled to North Battleford November 24 for their first meet of the 2007-08 season.
In Tier 1 competition Dezirae Franke placed fifth, Tess Rensby sixth and Mackenzie Dahl seventh out of a field of 46 swimmers from across the province. In the Tier 2 Open class, the Mermaids swept the top two positions: Brittany Gervais came in first and Alyssa Gibson was second.
Outside of the pool, the Mermaids picked up several honours at the annual Synchro Saskatchewan Awards Banquet for the 2006-07 season. The Mermaids received the Membership Growth Award for having the largest growth in the province. Six swimmers worked hard to recruit new members to keep the club going.
Taylor Kuntz received the Most Improved Recreational Athlete Award for her constant improvements. And Caroline Tompson was presented with the Tier 1-5 Coach Recognition Award, for her contribution to developing and encouraging young athletes.

Bruins enter second half
The Estevan Bruins started the second half of the regular season on a winning note: a 7-1 drubbing of the Nipawin Hawks November 28 at the Civic Auditorium.
The win was Estevan's third in four games, and their second over the Hawks in less than a week. Estevan also won 3-2 in Nipawin November 23. Sandwiched between the two wins over Nipawin was a 4-1 road loss to the Melfort Mustangs November 24.
The Bruins are fifth in the Sherwood Conference with a 15-13-2 record and 32 points. The Yorkton Terriers are one point ahead of Estevan, and the Bruins have one game in hand. Estevan visits Yorkton November 29, and hosts Melfort on the 30th.
Head coach/GM Karry Biette said he's not happy with the Bruins position in the standings, but he's happy with their performance.
"As of late, we've been playing better," said Biette. "But we had a pretty big turnover here. We had nine guys leave the hockey team and nine new guys come in."
Players have worked hard and learned a lot, he said, and they're a better hockey team than they were in October.
Biette would like to see improved play at home in the second half, and more performances at home like the one against Nipawin.
"I think we've done a very good job with our goals against," said Biette. "I think that was what we were looking at in the month of November up until the Christmas push. Our goals against has come down and our defensive play is a lot better.
"And now if we can start winning at home, we'd be a tough team to contend with."
The first of two trade deadlines this season is approaching. Teams have until December 1 to trim their rosters to 25 players. The Bruins currently have 23.
Biette would like to address a shortage on defence. Defenceman Brady Dew has left the team, and Biette isn't expecting him back this year. That leaves the Bruins with six defencemen, and one of them, Devon Jonson, is injured.
Tory Willfong, a 16-year-old defenceman from midget AAA in Moose Jaw, was called up for the home game against Nipawin. Defenceman Dmitri Levin has been acquired from Ontario, and he's willing to come to Estevan, but Biette can't get Levin released from the major junior's Oshawa Generals.
"I'm looking for another defenceman," said Biette. "Are they out there? If they're out there, we'll find them."

Carlyle wins atom tournament
Caption: The Stoughton goalie dove to make the save with players from Stoughton and Estevan JL's Bike and Skate nearby during an atom tournament in Estevan.
The Carlyle Cougars defeated the Oxbow Huskies 9-8 in the A final to win the Estevan Minor Hockey Association's annual atom house tournament November 23 to 25. The Lampman Imperials beat the Estevan A&W Bears 9-2 in the B final. Twelve teams entered the tournament. Three other squads were from the Energy City - Estevan JL's Bike and Skate, Estevan Office Plus and Estevan Prairie Power. Two were from Weyburn, two were from Radville and one was from Stoughton.

Hobby stock talk dominates meeting
The demise of the hobby stock division at the Estevan Motor Speedway dominated the November 26 annual general meeting for the track's governing board, the Estevan Auto Racing Association.
The 2007 racing season was the last in Estevan for hobby stocks, which have been a fixture since the speedway opened in 2000. The Estevan Motor Speedway will have the modified, stock car, pure stock and mini-sprint divisions in 2008.
"We have a fairly strong contingent of drivers who still have an interest in that (hobby stock) class, however, we've made a made a move towards supporting the IMCA stock cars and going towards a more entry level car (with the pure stocks)," said Dave Mack, the track's president the last two years.
Mack left the door open for hobby stocks to return to Estevan in 2009.
The pure stocks are a better entry level car than the hobby stocks, Mack said. They're simpler and more affordable to build, and easier for a first-time driver to navigate.
"It allows them to have a starting point as far as building a car and starting to accumulate parts and experience," said Mack. "The guys that don't have a stockpile of parts take a while to get going."
There should be enough drivers for all of the classes, Mack said. They have more than 25 in the modified division. Eight to 10 drivers were regulars in the stock cars and the mini-sprints in 2007, and 15 were in the hobby stocks, but only seven drivers competed in the pure stocks.
Some hobby stock drivers won't be back next year, Mack said, but others will move up to stock cars.
Also during the annual meeting, Mack, Lynn Trobert, Davin Emmel, Tim Fedyk, and Richard and Gregg Mann were re-elected to the association's executive. New executive members are Alvin Dube, Mike Stang and Les McLenehan. Specific duties will be determined at a future meeting.
The track enjoyed another financially successful year in 2007, with nearly $32,000 in net income. Mack said the net income was down from last year, but he attributed that to the rain-out of their biggest event of the year, the Dakota Modified Tour, in July.

Oxbow ties Midale for lead
The Midale Mustangs and the Oxbow Huskies continue to pace the Big Six Hockey League.
Both teams are 4-0 and lead their respective divisions. Oxbow beat the Wawota Flyers 3-1 November 23 and they downed the Bienfait Coalers 5-4 in overtime the following night.
Oxbow is one point ahead of the Bienfait Coalers for first in the East Division. Bienfait is 2-1-1-2. Their most recent win was 9-2 over the Pierson Bruins November 22.
The defending champion Carnduff Red Devils remain at 2-0. They haven't played since November 16. Redvers is fourth at 2-2, and Pierson is 0-2 and last in the East.
Midale leads the West Division. A game against Pierson, scheduled for November 24, was postponed.
The Carlyle Cougars improved their record to 3-1 and strengthened their grip on second in the West with a 7-5 win over the Arcola-Kisbey Combines November 27. The Combines are third at 1-3-1.
Wawota is 1-3. They won their first game of the year, 14-4 over the White Bear Redhawks November 24. White Bear is 0-5.

From the
Sidelines

The Saskatchewan Riders win the Grey Cup
By Kyle Kapiczowski
The Saskatchewan Roughriders won their third Grey Cup in franchise history when they beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19 in a close game. The Riders defense won the game for the Riders because the offense didn't show up. Defensive back James Johnson, with his three interceptions and one touchdown, was named the MVP and wide receiver Andy Fantuz, with 4 catches for 70 yards and one touchdown, was named the Canadian player of the game.
In other CFL news, the B.C. Lions have released quarterback Dave Dickenson.
In the NFL, the Minnesota Vikings hammered the New York Giants 41-17. Minnesota's record is 5-6 and their next game is against Detroit.
Other scores were: Dallas beat the New York Jets 34-3 on the American Thanksgiving, Seattle beat St. Louis 24-19, San Francisco got past Arizona 37-31 in overtime, San Diego beat Baltimore 32-14 and New England got past Philadelphia 31-28.
In CIS football, the Manitoba Bison won the Vanier Cup. They beat the Saint Mary's Huskies 28-14.
In NCAA Division I football, the Utah Utes lost 17-10 to Brigham Young. The Utes record is 8-4 overall and 5-3 in conference play.
Other scores were No. 10 Florida beat Florida State 45-12, No. 12 Boston College beat Miami 28-14, No. 14 Tennessee got past Kentucky 52-50 in four overtimes, UCLA beat No. 18 Oregon 16-0 and Oklahoma took out Oklahoma State 49-17.
In NCAA Division II football, the North Dakota Fighting Sioux lost 21-14 to Grand Valley State in the second round of the playoffs. The Sioux have finished their final season as a Division II School. Their final record was 10-2 overall and 7-1 in the North Central Conference.
In the English Premier League soccer, Manchester United lost 1-0 to Bolton. Manchester's record is nine wins, two losses and three ties.
That's all folks!

Viewpoints

Editorial:
Tea Time
What does Christmas Mean for you?
By Dani Stobbs
So the decorations are going up across town, and the lights from each house can be seen upon the distance. Christmas time is slowly creeping into the world once more and we prepare with the celebratory decorations and writing out Christmas cards to those we want to wish well for the season and the new year. People are looking forward to their days off over Christmas, or complaining because they have to work Christmas.
The city is bustling at night with parents starting to get presents for their children. Husbands awkwardly walking around the lingerie aisle. Children walking around the store with their wish lists and pens ready to jot down what they are going to ask for Christmas.
This scene is predictable and happens each year, and it's the same in England. This is what we have come to know. This is what we expect. This is no surprise to me or to most of us I guess.
I will wake up on Christmas morning and I will have presents to open. I will wake up to a beautifully decorated house with smile and hugs. There will be music playing on the stereo, and I will look forward to watching 'it's a Wonderful Life' on T.V.
But what does Christmas mean to someone else outside of my bubble world. What does Christmas mean for the person living on the streets, watching this all happen from the outside? What does Christmas mean for the single mother who is desperately trying to earn enough money just to feed her children, let alone worry about Christmas presents? What does this season mean for someone who has lost a loved one? What will be their Christmas joy to partake in?
When we bustle around worrying about whether we have enough presents for the kids, or whether we have enough chocolates and chips to eat during the season, I wonder what these people are thinking.
How do I stay warm tonight? How do I find food so my children don't go hungry? How do I manage to make it through the next year without the one I love?
It makes you stop and think right now doesn't it?
All that worrying for nothing.
I want to be thankful this year that I have a bed to curl up in with a blanket to keep warm. I want to be thankful that I don't have to worry about where my next meal is coming from. I want to be thankful that I have the ones I love around me.
I'm going to make sure I take time to step outside of this Christmas bubble this year and try to do something that will effect someone else in a positive way. Maybe for you it may be putting a dollar in the pot, that someone is shaking on the street. Maybe it is just a smile. Maybe it's just loving someone.

Letter To The Editor
Dear Editor,
The focus on the whole global warming issue has now been correctly directed toward climate change. The world has always experienced climate change and the world needs to clearly determine what part of that climate change is conclusively attributable to the activities of humankind on the planet earth. Once that is determined then the world, not just Canada, should begin to take measurable and effective steps toward contributing to a cleaner environment.
Prime Minister, Stephen Harper is correct to position Canada so that we are equally sharing with all other nations a responsible plan toward a cleaner environment. Harper is correct to include both rich and poor nations in a formulated plan that has each nation doing their part on an equal basis.
The Kyoto Protocol on the environment is simply not realistic. We didn't come to this situation regarding our environment overnight and nor should we be expected to drastically reduce our lifestyle in order to resolve the issue overnight. Any environmental plan must be a formulated long-term plan that has every nation reducing emissions. There is no reason for Canada to take a lead role on this issue anymore than they should be the slackers on the issue. Setting targets is unrealistic. It is kind of like teenagers declaring that they are going to be millionaires by the age of thirty. I wish that were possible, but generally life just doesn't work that way.
The general public is supportive of Canada taking steps toward a cleaner environment, but the liberals will fail if they stake an election on climate change. If the liberals make this mistake you can count on Harper telling you, in detail, what you will have to give up if the Government of Canada is to achieve even modest measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other factors that are harming our environment. In short, what are Canadians really prepared to give up in the interests of a better environment while other nations may not be required to give up anything?
Yours truly,
Larry Birkbeck
Regina, SK

What's Happening

Christmas trees on sale
(L-R) Estevan Kinsmen Club life member Dave Seipp and volunteer Zach Seipp sold Christmas trees at Canadian Tire November 24. The Kinsmen club has started another year of tree sales. A wide variety of trees, in different sizes and at different prices, are available. All proceeds from the Christmas tree sales will go to various Kinsmen projects in the community.

Christmas sales begin
The Estevan Farmer's Market has moved their markets indoors in advance of the Christmas shopping season. The first market was November 24, and there will be additional markets December 1, 8 and 15, all at the Estevan Exhibition building. Crafts, decorations, food and Christmas baking are for sale.

Senior bonspiel
The Estevan Curling Club hosted its annual senior bonspiel November 23 to 25. Arol Phair's team beat Frank Elberg's squad in the A final to win the eight-team tournament. The bonspiel started with a round-robin - teams were divided into two brackets of four - and the top team from each bracket advanced to the A final.