Feature

Seeking treatment in China
Caption: Estevan resident Becky Kelly will be travelling to China later this year for stem cell treatments. She was diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis 10 years ago.
By David Willberg
Stem cells have proven to be a pivotal new tool in the battle against several medical conditions that previously didn't offer a treatment.
For an Estevan woman with progressive multiple scleroses (MS), stem cells provide new hope.
Becky Kelly will travel to China on December 10, and will undergo several stem cell injections. Treatments will occur at a hospital in Shenyang, a city of seven million people north of Beijing. Shenyang is home to one of three hospitals that offer stem cell procedures.
The stem cells are from the umbilical chord blood of newborn babies. Umbilical cord stem cells are from the umbilical chord and placenta left over from the birth of a baby. They are not the controversial stem cells from aborted embryos.
"They don't do it here, or in the United States, or really anywhere," Kelly told Lifestyles. "I know it's in clinical trials in other places, but China is the only place that will do it."
The trip is costly - $40,000 for the treatments, airfare, accommodations, treatments, and food. Kelly's husband and sister will accompany her to China.
Kelly's treatment will include several transfusions of 10 to 15 million stems cells. There will be rehabilitation for six days between transfusions. Stem cells are transfused via the bloodstream in the spinal column.
She will also undergo a bone marrow transplant. Her own bone marrow will be removed, cultured, expanded and purified, and then transfused back into her.
Kelly first heard about the Chinese treatments six months ago. A man from Regina is in China right now and undergoing the same treatment that Kelly will have. Once she found out about it, she knew it was something she had to do.
Stem cell treatments are used for more than just MS, Kelly said. It's not a cure - there still isn't a cure for progressive MS - but patients do see improvements.
"People take their babies there, let's say that have vision problems - I think one of them was an optic nerve - and they told them in the United States that there was nothing they could do," said Kelly. "And they took their baby to China, and he's seeing."
The hospital's website has a blog forum, and Kelly said several patients with progressive MS listed their improvements.
"They've noticed such improvement with balance, and a lot of other things. People that use walking sticks don't need them anymore. And its not that all the improvements will happen while I'm there. These are stems cells that will continue growing once they're put inside of me. They need the best environment to grow in."
Kelly was diagnosed with MS 10 years ago. Double vision was the first symptom. Fatigue was another problem for her.
"When I look back at it now, I had symptoms long before, but nothing to cause any alarm," said Kelly.
Now she has many symptoms of MS. Balance is a problem; she can't walk without a walker.'
Kelly said stem cells are the best treatment that she knows of for the progressive form of MS. There's another type of MS, relapsing-remitting, which does have some treatments.
Friends and family are hosting a fundraiser for Kelly on Saturday, November 3 at the Wylie-Mitchell building. At first she was hesitant about the fundraiser, but when she heard that so many people wanted to help her, she agreed to allow the fundraiser to proceed.
A live band will be performing. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the band will start to play at 9 p.m. There will be raffles and a silent auction. Friend Laureen Price said tickets will be available October 9, and it will be a fun night to help out the Kelly family.

News

Showcase brings in the crowds
Caption: Dennis Moe (R) from Century 21 Border Real Estate Service promotes the new ECI Estates to a potential customer at the Showcase.
Exhibitors and the general public were both thrilled with the 2007 edition of Showcase, according to coordinator Janna Joyce.
About 3,700 people passed through the doors of the Souris Valley Aquatic and Leisure Centre from September 28 to 30. There was about 800 on the 28th, 1,900 on the 29th and 1,000 on the 30th.
"Attractions like the fashion show and the skateboarding competition have drawn in a lot of the numbers," said Joyce.
Ninety-four exhibitors lined the Lignite Miners Centre (LMC), offering a variety of products: clothing, food, electronics, real estate and others. Several non-profit agencies were in the Leisure Centre hallway. Three businesses had outdoor displays.
Exhibitors were happy, Joyce said. Several posted record sales during the weekend, and the local clothing merchants raved about the show. Joyce said she already has 45 booth requests for next year.
Entertainment was in the Wylie-Mitchell building, except for a skateboard competition, which was at the skate park. The fashion show featured apparel from local clothing stores, modeled by Estevan residents. Other entertainment included dancers, singers, bands and featured entertainer Chester McBain of Tisdale.
Joyce was pleased with the entertainment and the steady flow of people into the Wylie-Mitchell building. Suggestions have been made to boost the traffic flow to the entertainment building, such as a coffee shop so that people can relax while enjoying the entertainment.
"Other than that, we don't want to take too much away from the exhibitors, that's the point of the business trade show, we just wanted to add something a little extra for people, and we believe we've accomplished that," said Joyce.
Food booths were in the Lignite Miners Centre this year instead of the Wylie-Mitchell building. Joyce would like to see the food booths remain in the LMC, so that they enjoy the same amount of traffic as the exhibitors.
Several awards were handed out. Juice Plus won for the best boothmanship. Something Sweet by Fadiah was named the best decorated. Anita Paslawski from Tupperware was named the most enthusiastic person.
One of Joyce's goals for Showcase this year was to start building the event so that it would be ready to expand when Estevan's new arena is finished. The new rink would able to accommodate up to 300 exhibitors, she said.

Police report
*A SaskTel switcher box sustained damage in a hit and run in the southeast area of the city.
*A shoplifter was arrested following a theft from a retail store.
*A 41-year-old Alberta male was arrested for impaired driving.
*Police are investigating a criminal harassment case involving two family members. Young children are also involved.
*A 36-year-old, who is well-known to police, was arrested for assault and uttering threats. The subject tended a local business owned by the two victims. The subject has been harassing the wife and causing problems. The accused assaulted them and threatened the husband. The accused had ignored previous police warnings about bothering the couple. He has been placed on strict conditions, including "no contact" and no alcohol, pending the outcome of the matter in court. He was apprehended for twice breaching his no alcohol restriction.
*Complainants out walking noticed a suspicious vehicle slowly following them. The vehicle would stop when the complainants stopped and turned around to look at the vehicle. Police were unable to locate the vehicle but they do have a licence plate number.
*Police received two erratic driving complaints: one involving an elderly man driving in and out of traffic who nearly struck another vehicle; the other involving a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed and passing another vehicle on Kensington Avenue.
*Two 17-year-old youths were arrested separately for breaching curfew. One had outstanding warrants for his arrest.
*Police are investigating a hit-and-run accident in the east side. A vehicle struck a mailbox.
*A complainant received harassing, obscene text messages from an unknown sender.
*A 26-year-old Estevan male was arrested for driving while over .08.
*Willful damage was reported to several vehicles in Pleasantdale. Damage ranged from broken mirrors to windows to antennas.
*Police are investigating an assault at a local night club. One male was knocked unconscious and transported to hospital by ambulance. Charges are pending.
*A hit-and-run occurred in east Estevan. The complainant reported hearing a bang, and upon looking outside, noticed the offending vehicle driving off.
*A woman and her friends had left a restaurant when they were approached by the suspects and threatened to kill the woman. She fled and upon returning with police noticed her vehicle was damaged. The matter is under investigation.
*The Estevan RCMP is seeking the public's assistance with a theft in the Estevan district between September 1 and 5. A home-built, eight-and-a-half foot by 21-and-a-half foot hay trailer with metal decking was stolen. The trailer is made of an old school bus, and has a grey metal tool box in front of the hitch.

Renal Dialysis Unit to open in November
Construction of the $1.7 million renal dialysis unit for St. Joseph's Hospital in Estevan is complete and the staff is being trained this month.
CEO Cal Tant told board members of the Sun Country Regional Health Authority at their monthly meeting that four registered nurses and two licensed practical nurses have started training to operate the dialysis unit.
Tant told the board members that the unit is expected to be operational in November.
"We have completed the construction and the dialysis equipment is being installed now," he said.
A dialysis unit purifies the blood of a patient, when their kidneys are not functioning. It fills a significant need in the region, Tant said. Some patients were travelling more than three hours for treatment in Regina.
The dialysis unit, to serve 12 patients, will be operated as a satellite unit of the Regina General Hospital and it will be supported by their staff and medical expertise.
After the new unit opens, clients in the Sun Country Health Region will continue to be assessed by a nephrologist, or kidney specialist, from Regina. Some high risk patients will continue to be treated in Regina.
A joint fund-raising committee, with representatives from the board of directors of both St. Joseph's Hospital and the Sun Country board, has raised about $500,000 for the new dialysis unit.

Saskatchewan's population continues to grow
Saskatchewan's population continues to grow.
According to the latest numbers from Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan's population was estimated to be 996,869 as of July 1, 2007.
"We're up almost 5,000 people since the last quarter and up over 9,000 people since a year ago," Finance Minister Pat Atkinson said. "Clearly, the promotion we've done out of province and right here at home is working - people are moving here and staying here because our province is a great place to live, work and raise a family.
"We've experienced five consecutive quarters of population increase, and it's a fair prediction we're going to see that continue," Atkinson said.
The July statistics show an increase of 4,631 people since April 1, 2007. This is the largest quarterly population increase since the third quarter of 1982. Saskatchewan's population is up 9,349 people from one year ago.
The second quarter of this year was also the third consecutive quarter where Saskatchewan was a net recipient of inter-provincial migrants from Alberta, for a net increase of 1,507 people.
"The Graduate Tax Credit for new grads, the personal tax relief and business tax cuts we've introduced, a low cost of living including the lowest-cost utility bundle - not to mention the short commutes, our vibrant cultural scene, and our incredible landscapes - all of these combined make Saskatchewan a great place to be," Atkinson said.

New spillway for Boundary Dam
Caption: (L-R) Mike Zeleny, Justin Lacelle and Jeff Jickling stand in front of Boundary Dam Power Station's lower spillway, which will be replaced.
SaskPower will invest $30 million over the next three years to construct a new spillway near the Boundary Dam Power Station, even though the current spillway hasn't been used since 1983.
The spillway was completed in 1957. It has been used in several high-water years to release water from the Boundary Dam reservoir in a controlled manner.
"We have the diversion channel from Boundary Dam to Rafferty Dam which really has been able to handle any high run-off years that we've encountered in the last 20-some years," said Boundary Dam plant manager Mike Zeleny.
"Even though we haven't used the spillway, it still has to be ready ... to go in case we ever have a really, really high snowfall in the winter, coupled with ... a heavy rainfall event sometime in the spring."
An independent review in 2005 found that the spillway did not meet current Canadian Dam Association capacity standards. The normal flow capacity is currently 425 cubic metres of water per second. Maximum capacity, in the event of an emergency, is 800 cubic metres per second.
The new maximum capacity will be 1,270 cubic metres per second.
"The guidelines say we have to be able to pass a certain amount of water in order to be able to pass it safely without the water overtopping the walls we have now," said Zeleny.
The spillway has never come close to 425 cubic metres per second. Zeleny said the highest flow was around 170 cubic metres per second in the late 1960s.
Design work has started and construction will commence in the spring of 2008. The upper portion of the spillway will be constructed from May to November 2008, and connected to the lower portion during the winter.
The lower part will be constructed in 2009 to be ready for run-off in 2010.
About 60 or 70 people will be on-site during construction.

Chamber to attend Work West fair
The Estevan and District Chamber of Commerce will promote employment opportunities in Estevan at a Work West career fair November 2 and 3 in Toronto.
Community development manager Bert Roach said the Chamber is representing the needs of local business. Murray GM has booked a booth at the trade show. Roach said other businesses are interested in attending, but can't afford it.
For a fee, Roach said the Chamber will tout the business' strengths and available employment.
"We'll also have the current list from the Sask. Jobs website," said Roach.
Four businesses have agreed to participate already, Roach said. They could accommodate 16 to 20 businesses.
Roach said a lot of manufacturing companies have shed jobs. Those people could fill vacancies that exist in southeast Saskatchewan, Roach said.
"The unemployment rate in southern Ontario is floating up around nine or 10 per cent, depending on the community that you get into," said Roach. "With that in mind, it's one of the biggest labour pools available for Western Canada to tap into."
Work West is a Calgary-based firm that specializes in labour recruitment. They host trade fairs around the country.

Polynesian dance theatre coming
Maia Maori Dance Theatre will bring their "People of the Pacific" performance to Westview School in Estevan on Thursday, October 11 at 7 p.m., as part of the Koncerts for Kids series.
"People of the Pacific" is a presentation of the dances, songs and culture of the Polynesian people of the Pacific from Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, the Cook Islands and New Zealand. Narrations explaining costumes, customs and songs and dances are part of the presentation.
The dancers perform the traditional songs and dances, and trace the history of the Maori people of New Zealand, and their relatives in the Polynesian Islands. Audience interaction and humour are part of the presentation.
The Maia Maori Dance Theatre is under the direction of Aroha Crowchild. They are in their 21st year of performances and workshops.

Lewis and Royal in concert
Stars for Saskatchewan will bring Lewis and Royal to the Estevan Comprehensive School on Sunday, October 14 at 2:30 p.m.
Lewis and Royal features vocal harmonies, storytelling through song, and spontaneous humour. Their material appeals to all ages and is rich with prairie images.
Lewis and Royal grew up in Alberta. They met in 1993 when Lewis began apprenticing at the Rosebud Theatre where Royal was working. Their voices blended well and they began bringing compositions together and arranging them.
They wrote the arrangements for the musical "Chickens," which is the top-drawing musical in Rosebud, and they produced a CD call "Ampersand." They have played across Alberta and BC, and their songs have been featured on radio stations in Alberta and Ontario.
Lewis' composition "God Bless the Innocent," a tribute to the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, received international airplay.
Stars for Saskatchewan is part of the Estevan Arts Council.

Food bank shelves filled
Caption: Justin Gonzalez
A total of 7,221 pounds of food - more than three-and-a-half tonnes - were collected for the Estevan Salvation Army's food bank during Canada Post's annual food drive September 29.
Canada Post staff and other volunteers circulated the community and picked up various food products. Other residents brought their food donations at the food bank.
Major Margaret Foley said some of the shelves were a little empty prior to the food drive. All of the food hasn't been sorted yet, she said, but the shelves look much better than they did before the food drive. A lot of soups and canned vegetables were received.
Foley believes they shouldn't be lacking in any products. With Thanksgiving quickly approaching and Christmas not far away, Foley expects the number of people needing the food bank's assistance to be on the rise.

Aboriginal comedian visits Estevan
Caption: Maureen Belanger
Aboriginal comedian Maureen Belanger entertained visitors to the Estevan Public Library September 29.
Belanger gave a history of the Metis people to communicate who she is. She also incorporated humour into her presentation. Aboriginal comedy is different, she said, as humour is communicated via oral tradition stories that are passed on.
Belanger said she adjusts her presentation based on the audience demographics.

Local students receive bursaries
The Sun Country Regional Health Authority (SCRHA) has awarded 36 bursaries to students who are enrolled in post-secondary health care programs.
"We are extremely pleased that our local students are interested in health care and willing to commit to obtaining a professional health care designation," says Don Ehman, vice-president of human resource for the SCRHA. Ehman said the provincial government incentives for health care education and the additional bursaries announced this year by the SCRHA will continue to ensure a trained and enthusiastic work force for health care organizations in the future.
SCHR increased its bursaries earlier this year to $5,000 for each student each year, to a maximum of $20,000, in exchange for a return of service agreement.
Among the recipients of provincial bursaries are: Laura Wood, Alameda, Basic Critical Care; Brittney Hesketh, Bienfait, RN; Chrysta Folbar, Estevan, LPN (clinical); Mayra Gonzalez, Estevan, Physical Therapy; and Shayna Scott, Midale, Speech Language Pathology.
Recipients of Sun Country bursaries include: Rhonda Nicolay, RN, Stoughton; Lisa Guest, RN, Estevan; Kennan Bert, RN, Estevan; Kyra Clark, CLXT, Estevan; Megan Forrester, RN, Bromhead; and Jessi Henderson, Speech Language Pathology, Estevan.

Comedians perform in Estevan
Caption: Jim McNally
Three funnymen visited Estevan September 28 as part of the Investors Group Western Canadian comedy tour.
Doug Funk, master of ceremonies Jim McNally and featured entertainer Jim Short regaled Investors Group clients with their routine. Hundreds of people were in attendance.
McNally and Funk are both from Ontario, and have known each other for a long time. Short was born in Australia and now lives in the U.S. It's the first time McNally and Short have worked together.
"We're all having a good time," said McNally. "Doug and I have both worked the circuit for many years."
All three have performed at the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal, and at other festivals. Short recently made an appearance on David Letterman's late night show.
Stand-up comedy is the toughest business to break into, said McNally. It takes a long time to create an act, he said, and it takes more time to be recognized as having an act.
"Overnight success takes about 10 or 15 years," said McNally. "You have to develop an act and the act has to be your own. A lot of times it's just experience to make it look smooth and to get used to working in front of all kinds of different audiences."
Performers have to be able to perform in front of different audience demographics, and tailor their shtick to their audience. Estevan was an "older" crowd, McNally said, so it has to be clean.
"Some of the stuff you saw in the acts tonight has been honed and put together over a 10-year period," McNally said.
Stand-up comedians also have to be able to interact with the audience with off-the-cuff remarks.
Investors Group donated $1,000 to Estevan's food bank, and audience members brought non-perishable items for the food bank.

United Way ready for Marathon
Caption: (L-R) Jim Warner, Larry Elash, Debbie Gress and Brian Senchuk painted United Way logos around Estevan October 1.
The United Way of Estevan will set its sights on reaching their $231,000 goal during their 31st annual Marathon October 12 and 13 at the Royal Canadian Legion.
This year's goal is the highest they have ever set. President Mark Pettitt said this year's goal has an extra-special significance.
"We decided on $231,000 because it's our 31st year, and we thought it would be a symbolic number to have for our total this year," Pettitt told Lifestyles.
Pettitt said the goal is daunting, but it must be reached so that the member agencies can get their allocated amounts.
The theme is "Community Matters."
Several businesses have already had fundraisers, and there will be more in the days before the Marathon. Those functions not only collect funds, Pettitt said, but they also boost awareness of the United Way.
Board members have been meeting weekly since late August to prepare for the Marathon.
Entertainment slots are filled. Pettitt said it's a relief to have all of the entertainment booked. In past years, they have had a hard time finding performers during the overnight shifts.
"We have individual performers, we have bands," said Pettitt. "It's really nice to see that people will step up and help us in this way."
The biggest task that remains is setting up the Legion on October 10 and 11.
Homemade, hand-crafted bid items are still needed. The raffle item is a cedar chest with the United Way logo on the front, donated by Estevan Diversified Services.
The marathon starts at 8 a.m. on the 12th and wraps up at 6 p.m. on the 13th. Estevan has been the first United Way in Canada to reach their goal in 29 of 30 years.
Proceeds will be divided among the United Way's 19 member agencies.

October 7 to 13 is Fire Safety Week
Estevan Fire Services members will be resuming their home smoke alarm inspections during Fire Safety Week October 7 to 13.
Only 40 per cent of homes that the firefighters visited last year had the right number of working smoke alarms in proper locations: one on each level of the home outside of the sleeping area. Only one house that was checked last year didn't have any smoke alarms.
Estevan Fire Chief Rick Perry is hoping for better results this year.
New technologies are being released to make smoke alarms more effective in waking people up, Perry said. For example, parents can record their voice into the smoke alarm, telling children to wake up because there's a fire in a house.
Other smoke alarms contain strobe lights that will wake up individuals who are hard of hearing.
"We also recommend a smoke alarm that has a silent button on it, so that if you burn some toast or something like that, and the alarm goes off, you can actually push the silent button, and silence that alarm for a short period of time," said Perry. "But it doesn't deactivate the smoke alarm itself."
This year's theme is "Practice Your Escape Plan." Perry said people are being encouraged to design, prepare and practice their escape plan.
Perry said only 30 per cent of people have a home fire escape plan. Single people between 18 and 25 are most likely to not have an escape plan.
"It's a proven fact that most people, even if they live there their whole entire life, as soon as they get smoke in the house, they get disorientated, sometimes confused, sometimes overcome by the smoke, even before they get out," said Perry.

Bird flu case affects hunters
In reaction to the recent outbreak of Avian Influenza on a chicken farm near Regina Beach, the United States Department of Ag & Food has banned the importation of all uncooked bird products from Saskatchewan.
"This has serious implications to the thousands of American hunters in our province taking advantage of our terrific migratory and upland game bird hunting opportunities" said Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation executive director Darrell Crabbe.
"The inability to take birds home is certainly going to curtail the quantity of the harvest, but we're confident that the vast majority of our hunting guests will ensure that, through local contacts and friends, no birds are wasted as a result of these circumstances.
"We would also recommend contacting the local food banks as our initial discussions with food bank staff have been favorable for accepting cleaned birds."
The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation has 26,000 members in 125 branches across our province and, per capita, is the largest wildlife conservation organization of its kind in the world.

Columnists

Football and Faith
Thanks to a friend of mine, I attended the recent "Athletes in Action" supper that was held in town. Saskatchewan Roughriders Kerry Joseph and Wes Cates as well as defensive line coach Ron Estay came to talk about their faith and about how God has blessed them.
One of the things that impressed me was the fact that these guys did not have to be here. In fact, I asked Wes, "How many hours of community service do the Riders require you to do?" His answer, "None! We do not have to do anything if we do not want to. They encourage us to get involved in the community, but we are not required to".
These three men gave up their day off to drive down here, speak at the supper and drive home again. Why would they bother doing that?
Kerry Joseph answered that question by saying (and I am paraphrasing here), "As football players, we have some influence on others. People look up to us and listen to us, so I have decided to use that for good. If being a football player gives me an opportunity to speak to others, then I am going to use it to speak about God".
He went on to point out that everyone one of us, regardless of what we do, can influence someone else. Each of us is a role model and an example to someone. The question that Kerry left with us is, "How are you using that influence? Are you using it for God?"
So, what do your co-workers see in you? What priorities are you teaching your children? Do others see the joy of the Lord in you? What legacy are you leaving?
I was impressed that these men would choose to spend their free time to encourage others to think about their relationship with God. It made me think, "I need to be doing the same thing".
Maybe our example of faithfulness can encourage others too.
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing" (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Tim Pippus, Estevan Church of Christ

DISINTEGRATING SOLES
By Linda Wegner
I engaged the clasp on my necklace, ran the comb through my hair one last time, and slipped on my shoes. Smiling, I looked down…I liked those shoes. "They're fine," I reassured myself. "After all, shiny black patent seems to be making a comeback and the style is certainly in sync with what I'm seeing on others." I grabbed my belongings and headed to the car, pausing only momentarily to wonder why the floor was so sticky.
We arrived at church in time for me to arrange music on the piano and go over my choice of songs with the pastor. "Strange," I thought, "this floor is sticky, too."
Because there was still time before service began, I walked across the room to chat with a friend. "I don't know what they did to the floors this week but maybe it's a new wax," I began. "The floor is so tacky.
"It's your shoe," she quietly informed me. Glancing down I saw a large piece of patent leather-framed foam stuck to the floor. There was no use protesting that it wasn't mine because it was obvious by the shape and appearance that I was, indeed, walking out of my shoe's foundation. In horror I discovered that the offending pieces were deposited in a trail across the sanctuary. The greatest disappointment, however, was that they were as shiny and attractive as they were 40 years before. I'd kept them polished and properly stored them but still, they simply had deteriorated with age.
The morning message seemed somehow appropriate to my dilemma: the principles of godly living stand the test of time but human nature, being what it is, demands new grace for each day. Yesterday's strength alone won't stand up to today's needs.
"By standing firm you will gain life." Luke 21:19
Keep a solid under-standing!

GARDEN NOTES
PUTTING YOUR GARDEN TO BED (part 2)
MULCHING: If you have already mulched any new perennial plantings or newly planted bulbs you DID THE WRONG THING: Get, out in your garden and rake it off to the side until a later date Mulching or covering your plants just in case we have lack of snow this winter for a natural insulator should only be applied after the ground is frozen. Doing this job too early will prevent the ground from freezing for some time. After the ground is rock hard, then place your mulch on top of the areas you' need to protect. Mulching materials can be your fallen leaves, grass clippings, straw, or you can purchase a bale of peat moss which you rake off in the spring and use it in your garden beds so nothing is lost.
Your deciduous trees and shrubs (the ones that remain bare over winter and lose their leaves) should not be watered anymore. Let them go to sleep for the winter but the evergreens never sleep so water them until freeze-up.
Now is the time to plant or divide your L.A. and Asiatic lilies. The safest time to move them is right now when the ground is cold.
If you are planning to put bagged manure on your garden do it in the fall. It makes the working in so much easier than in the spring. It's also a wonderful exercise to dig your garden first and leave it rough to admit oxygen and to catch snow.
AUTUMN LEAVES: Please do not bag your leaves that you raked off the lawn and garden. They make wonderful humus for the garden. A little fertilizer should be added which is high in nitrogen. The leaves breaking down uses a small amount of nitrogen from the soil. I can never figure out why gardeners remove every leaf that they see and throw them away, turn around and buy some expensive products to do what the leaves will do for free.
Beats all!
These few pointers will greatly increase the health of your garden next spring.
I again repeat...Mulching must not be done until the ground is frozen otherwise it will keep the ground from freezing which will cause more trouble than being a great benefit.
Last but not least...SAY GOODNIGHT TO YOUR GARDEN!
Gerry Fichtemann is the owner of River Bend Nursery.

Sports

Motocross champions crowned
The fifth and final race in the South Corner Racing Circuit season was held September 23 in Carlyle.
The top three finishers from each division were:
A Class: Randy Franke, Estevan, 107 points; Cody Rouse, Weyburn, 100; Bryce Friess, Estevan, 96.
B Class: Cheyenne Sernick, Estevan, 104; Matt Marciszyn, Moose Jaw, 83; Tyler Haddow, Estevan, 72.
GP Beginner: Dustin Schroeder, Estevan, 113; Robert Graham, Estevan, 107; Chris Istace, Estevan, 74.
85 cc: Matt Marciszyn, Moose Jaw, 122; Kade Anderson, Bienfait, 86; Alex Matte, Estevan, 80.
65 cc: Kade Anderson, Bienfait, 122; Rylan Evans, Moose Jaw, 91; Kirkland Maisey, Estevan, 68.
50 cc: Roark Franke, Estevan, 97; Brandon Istace, Estevan, 87; Cody Wasilinchuk, Carlyle, 77.
Women's: Morgan Marciszyn, Moose Jaw, 125; Tory Franke, Estevan, 89; Keeley Toles, Midale, 62.
Youth 16 to 29: Bryce Friess, Estevan, 106; Cody Rouse, Weyburn, 100; Tyler Haddow, Estevan, 78.
Veteran 30-plus: Randy Franke, Estevan, 119; Dean Evans, Moose Jaw, 87; John Rouse, Weyburn, 80.
The circuit featured three races in Estevan and two in Carlyle.
The club will host a wind-up banquet October 6 at Allie's Dining. Awards will be handed out during the evening.

Bruins road trip yields one win
The Estevan Bruins won one of three games during their first northern road trip of the season.
Estevan started the road trip with a 3-1 loss at the Flin Flon Bombers September 28. Kyle Stroh scored the Bruins lone goal. Guillaume Perusse made 34 saves in the loss.
A 6-3 win at the La Ronge Ice Wolves on the 29th evened their road trip record. Captain Kyle Garagan scored twice, and Perusse made 32 saves for the win. All three members of Estevan's top line - Stroh, Kyle Ermel and Payden Benning - had a goal and an assist. Vincein Scott also scored for Estevan.
The Black and Gold led the Melfort Mustangs 2-1 late in the third period of the final game September 30, but Melfort tallied twice in the final four-and-a-half minutes, including the game winner by Cam Oliphant with one second remaining.
Garagan and Brennan Wrigley scored for Estevan. Karsten Felske made 32 saves in the loss.
"It's a tough road trip early in the year for a young team, and I thought we fared all right," said head coach/GM Karry Biette.
Biette said the finish against Melfort was the result of an unlucky bounce off the end boards. Biette's not concerned that losing a game in that fashion will have long-term consequences for the Bruins.
Fatigue was a factor late in the game versus Melfort.
"I could see that the guys were starting to struggle to get out there and skate and keep up," said Biette.
The Bruins worked hard in the victory over La Ronge, Biette said, seizing and maintaining control of the game from the start.
The road trip concluded a stretch of six of seven games on the road. Estevan played seven of their first nine away from the Civic Auditorium, but managed a 5-4 start.
The Bruins' next game is Sunday, October 7, at home against the Notre Dame Hounds. Game time is at 5 p.m.

Bienfait Rocktoberfest is October 13
The second annual "Rocktoberfest" will rock the upstairs level of the Bienfait rink October 13.
The event includes supper, games and entertainment from the Estevan band Shattered. Door prizes will be handed out.
This project is organized by the Bienfait Parks and Rec Board and the Bienfait Fundraising Committee. The Parks and Rec Board consists of volunteers from eight recreation groups in town and funds raised by the group are divided among them.
The Fundraising Committee was born a few years ago to pay off the debt incurred from the re-modeling of the Bienfait Memorial Arena. Cooperation of these groups and tireless Bienfait volunteers makes events like the Rocktoberfest successful and enjoyable.
"It's not only a way to raise money for our town and our kids, but it's a way for local people to come out and have a lot of fun," says Richelle Perkins, Rec Board member representing Minor Hockey in Bienfait. "The tickets seem costly, but most people don't hesitate when they see it's well run and the money is really making a difference in our small community."

Elecs win at home
The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs girls' volleyball team won gold at their home tournament September 28 and 29.
Estevan finished the tournament with a perfect 7-0 record. They were 4-0 in the round robin, beating Regina Usher and Carnduff in three sets, and Oungre Lyndale and Caronport in two sets.
Estevan defeated Regina Johnson in two sets in the quarter-final, and Usher in two sets in the semi-final. The final against Caronport went three sets, but Estevan prevailed 2-1 (25-16, 19-25 and 15-12).
Coach Tammy Millions said the Elecs mental approach to the game was their forte during the tournament.
"Our skill has been improving this year," said Millions. "Our hitting was a lot more consistent, as was our serving, but the big thing was our mental game, I think, and that pulled us through to the end, because we had so many tight games, and the girls just stayed focused, stayed positive through the whole thing."
Millions is optimistic that the home tournament title will give the Elecs a boost as they prepare for provincial playdowns in November.
"This will hopefully give them a positive boost and show them they can do it in the next few tournaments," said Millions.
In past years, Estevan's girls' volleyball tournament has employed the "Play till you Drop" format, in which each team played 11 45-minute games. But Millions said that it's the first year coaching for her and co-coach Sheena Summers, and they wanted to keep the tournament simple.

Big Six adds two more teams
The Big Six senior hockey league has added two more teams for the 2007-08 season.
The Pierson Bruins and the White Bear Red Hawks were added to the league during the annual meeting September 30 in Wawota. The Big Six is now a 10-team league.
"We thought it would be a good idea to keep a good balance of teams," said spokesperson Don Horvath. "You never know when we might run into trouble and lose a team, and then we'd be out looking for somebody."
Pierson is an existing team that has played in Manitoba leagues. White Bear has some local players and they should be competitive, Horvath said.
The Weyburn Devils will continue their leave of absence that started last year.
Teams will play 22 games. Three games are against each of their division foes. Two will be against each of their non-division opponents.
The East Division will have Pierson, the Oxbow Huskies, Bienfait Coalers, Redvers Rockets and the defending champion Carnduff Red Devils. The West Division has White Bear, Carlyle Cougars, Arcola-Kisbey Combines, Midale Mustangs and Wawota Flyers.
Last year's president, Russ Lillejord, has been transferred to Southey and couldn't fulfill the last year of his term, so the new president is Emile Balogh of Kipling.

From the Sidelines
Mets choke in season finale
By Kyle Kapiczowski
The New York Mets lost their final game of the Regular season, 8-1 to the Florida Marlins. The Mets had a seven-game lead on the Philadelphia Phillies and they blew it. The Phillies are now National League East champions.
In the CFL, the Saskatchewan Roughriders beat the Montreal Alouettes 35-22 in a one sided game. The Riders are in second place and their next game is against the Calgary Stampeders.
In NCAA football, the No.9 Florida Gators lost 20-17 to the Auburn Tigers.
Other scores were: Arkansas hammered North Texas 66-7, Utah beat Utah State 34-18, Army beat Temple 37-21, No.2 USC beat Washington 27-24 and Texas Tech put the boot to the Northwestern State Demons 75-7. Did only one team show up?
In NCAA Division IAA football, the North Dakota State Bison beat Western Illinois 41-28. Their record is 4-0 and their next game is against California-Davis.
In NCAA Division II football, the North Dakota Fighting Sioux beat Augustana 37-0. The Sioux's record is 5-0 overall and 3-0 in divisional play. Their next game is against Minnesota State.
In the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys beat the St. Louis Rams 35-7. The Cowboy's record is 4-0. I hope they keep the winning going.
Other scores were Tampa Bay beat Carolina 20-7, Atlanta beat Houston 26-16 and Oakland beat Miami 35-17.
The NHL's regular season has started. The Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles kings split a home-and-home series which was played in London, England.
I think the Ottawa Senators will finish first and win their conference. The Dallas Stars will finish second in the Western Conference. I hope the Calgary Flames will finish first in their division.
I think the Ottawa Senators will face the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup final.
That's all, folks!

Viewpoints

Editorial
Tea Time
Feel Estevan Between Your Toes
By Dani Stobbs
Driving through green lush land, with the smell of freshly fallen rain on the trees. The dew drops on the spider webs each morning, and the vivid array of autumnal colours gliding through the air. The seasons go through transition as the autumn lays upon the English countryside. The winter preparing in the cold breeze for the months to follow, and the Christmas decorations begin to creep onto shop shelves and window displays.
The sheep are beginning to grow their fluffy fleece back to keep warm; the birds are flying south for their vacation. Bikinis and summer clothes are packed away under the bed, and big woolly coats are sent to the dry cleaners to begin their season.
The umbrellas are on full alert, as the rain sends refreshment to my English land. These are all things that I am looking forward to walking through this vacation.
I want to fully appreciate the land of my past. I actually want to be patriotic about everything that derives from being English. Something the Canadians have taught me is to be proud of your country, something that is not made as big a deal.
I am looking forward to becoming a tourist in my own country, and beginning to take in the things that I didn't appreciate when I lived there.
To stop at the sights that I once walked by and failed to stop and take note. To think that I would be there forever, so I never took time to just see what was around me. When I recollect to people the things I miss about England, they are all the things that I didn't really make the most of when I lived there.
I want to be able to do all these romanticized things, and take photo upon photo of the sights that I have forgotten for so long. I want to be able to run around in the rain and feel fresh green grass between my toes. I want to take dry woodland walks barefoot to feel the crispy autumn leaves underneath my feet. I want to stand on the Tower Bridge and scream and hear it echo over London. I want to have my picture taken outside of Buckingham Palace sipping a cup of tea. All these silly things that are little fantasies that can come true but I let them slip away as I sat in my comfort zone of England.
BUT… NO LONGER! I will do these things. This is my goal for my holiday. I will run around in the rain and take a walk barefoot in the crispy leaves. I will stand on Tower Bridge and scream my name, and sip a cup of tea outside Buckingham Palace. I will try at least.
What are the things that you would do if you became a tourist in your own home? Join me this week to romanticize the place you live - feel Estevan between your toes!

What's Happening

Books for sale
Jean Garratt was one of many people who visited the Estevan Public Library during their book sale September 27 to 29. The library had hundreds of books from many different genres for sale at a discounted rate.

Flea market
The Estevan Antique Auto Club hosted their annual fall flea market and swap meet September 29 at the Estevan Curling Club. Hundreds of people dropped by, looking for a trade or a discounted item. Automotive parts were available, along with many other products.

Schools support Terry Fox Run
Elementary schools in Estevan participated in the nationwide Terry Fox school run day September 28. Sacred Heart School put a unique spin on the event - the start line was marked as the Atlantic Ocean, and the finish line was the Pacific Ocean. Students carried provincial flags and signs during the walk.

Thanksgiving tea
The Estevan Public Library hosted a Thanksgiving tea October 2 in honour of senior's week. Local senior citizens enjoyed music provided by Nathan Pylypuk, refreshments and fellowship.