Feature

Movies and haircuts at Creighton Lodge
Caption: Faye Veroba cut Ivy Hitchcock's hair April 16 at Creighton Lodge. Veroba volunteers at Creighton Lodge several times each week. She also shows movies for residents.
By David Willberg
Faye Veroba says she has always been partial to senior citizens.
The residents at Creighton Lodge are thrilled to hear that.
Veroba, a hairstylist for 44 years, volunteers at Creighton Lodge several times a week. She perms hair for a couple residents on Mondays, and cuts the hair of 12 more on Wednesdays. She also shows movies Monday evenings.
"They asked me to come here and do it," said Veroba, who works part-time at Styles on 12th. "And I just like it. I'm really partial to seniors."
Veroba has been volunteering at Creighton Lodge for four years, she said. Previously she volunteered with the long-term care ward at St. Joseph's Hospital when it first opened. She used to go to seniors' houses for appointments, but that became increasingly difficult, she said.
In an effort to continue working with senior citizens, she agreed to work at Creighton Lodge. And she's a big proponent of the health care facility.
"We're all going to grow old one day," said Veroba. "I strongly believe in the level of care they have here, because these people are in limbo. They're at Level 1 or 2.
"They're not dependent enough to go to the Estevan Regional Nursing Home, and they're too dependent to be in Inglis Court or somewhere like that. They're sort of in limbo, but they're interesting. They're good."
Residents love to see what each person looks like after their haircut or perm, Veroba said.
As a hairstylist, Veroba said she grows old with her clients. She has some clients who were in their 30s when she started her career.
Veroba's clients like to share stories while they get their hair cut. She has learned a lot from them, she said.
At one time, the seniors in Estevan were leaders in community, Veroba said, and she believes don't always get acknowledged for work they have done in the city.
Monday nights are movie nights. Late last year, Veroba's mother, Vera Fichter, passed away. Veroba missed her mother, and she decided that showing movies at Creighton Lodge would be a good way to interact with the residents.
"I was going to her house all of the time. I thought 'this (movie nights) is good, I'll do that.' And so now instead of having one mom, sometimes I have 20."
Upwards of 30 Creighton Lodge residents have attended the movie nights since they started four months ago, Veroba said. They eat popcorn, and they just love it, Veroba said.
"Cheaper by the Dozen" was the most recent film. The tenants love comedies, Veroba said, and they love movies that star the actors from the movies when they were younger. Walter Matthau is one of their favourite actors.
"They like the older movies," said Veroba. "Sometimes they're hard to get."
Even those who can't hear or see are encouraged to come to the movie nights, enjoy a treat and spend time with other people at the lodge, Veroba said. It's at 6:30 p.m., so people are still awake for the movies. They feel good, they laugh and they talk.
Working at Creighton Lodge isn't a job, Veroba said. She likes to be there. Then again, hairstyling isn't much of a job, either - she likes it too much to be considered work.
"It's kind of sad, sometimes. I've seen a lot of ladies pass away, and that's hard, because they all get to be your favourites. And they just love it in the morning when you come and walk in the room and you say 'good morning,' they just love that. It's important to them."
Veroba doesn't know how long she will continue to help at Creighton Lodge, but she will do it as long as she can, she said.

News

POLICE REPORT
*One female driver was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, and later transported for further treatment at a Regina hospital, following a motor vehicle accident at Souris Avenue and Columbus Drive. The female driver of the other vehicle was charged for failing to yield the right of way.
*Police found a stolen wheelchair in the back alley of the 1000 block of Second Street. It appears the wheelchair might have been stolen, and then abandoned at this location. Anyone with information is asked to call police.
*Police located a U-Haul trailer that had been reported stolen from Florida in 2004. The appropriate police agency was contacted and the matter has been dealt with.
*A 20-year-old male is facing charges of possessing a small amount of marijuana when police stopped his vehicle and found the substance.
*A 31-year-old male is facing charges of assault causing bodily harm after police were called to a domestic dispute. He is accused of assaulting his girlfriend. Alcohol was a contributing factor. The female victim required hospitalization.
*A break-and-enter was reported at a residence in the central part of Estevan. The victim's property was damaged, but nothing appeared to be stolen.
*Police are seeking the public's assistance with crimes that have been reported at the Luscar Park ball diamonds. The latest incident came when vandals broke several lights on the buildings.
*Police were patrolling a local liquor establishment parking lot when they noticed a number of physical altercations. Two Estevan males were arrested for fighting in public and lodged in cells.
*Police were called to a two-vehicle accident at 13th Avenue and King Street. One vehicle needed to be towed. No injuries occurred. The cause remains under investigation.
*A 19-year-old male is facing charges of possessing a small amount of marijuana when police noted his vehicle in the city's cemetery.
*A 17-year-old male young offender is also facing charges of possessing marijuana. Police were called to a disturbance at a local apartment building. The accused was located in the hallway intoxicated. He is also facing a charge of breaching his conditions for other criminal matters.
*Police, along with EMS, attended to a car/pedestrian accident in the 1500 block of King Street. A 13-year-old male was skateboarding along the side of the street when he lost control and fell into the lane of an oncoming vehicle. The vehicle struck the child. The child was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. No charges will be laid.
*Police were advised of a vehicle pulling a large horse trailer that drove through the Canada/US border at North Portal. Police intercepted the vehicle and the 62-year-old female driver was turned over to the RCMP and returned to North Portal.

Housing task force stops in Estevan
CAPTION: Housing Task Force representatives Ted Merriman and Bob Pringle were in Estevan April 10.
The two-man task force charged with alleviating Saskatchewan's housing crunch made a stop in Estevan April 10.
Bob Pringle, a former NDP Social Services minister and a current Saskatoon City Councillor, and Ted Merriman, a former Saskatoon Northwest MLA, met with different local groups to learn Estevan's shelter needs. Estevan was the first stop on a 10-city tour of the province.
Recommendations will be made by the end of May to the social services minister on short-term and long-term solutions.
"The concern is when we come to Estevan in this case, we want to make sure there is affordable and secure housing for those who are most in need," said Pringle. Included are people on fixed or low incomes, and those who need assistance.
"The second objective is to look at how we can expand the housing capacity in each of the cities - given there is a rapid demand for growth in the cities, and a demand for housing," said Pringle.
They also want to examine how they can monitor the housing demand in the province, so that they can stay ahead of the growth curve, and ensure sufficient housing for everybody; and ways the province can support local housing plans, so that developers will build accommodations for those with low incomes.
"Right now there is high-end housing and there is housing for condo conversions that low income people can't afford," said Pringle.
Possible solutions include increasing the shelter allowance for people on assistance, but Pringle said that wouldn't solve the lack of affordable housing.
There's a waiting list of 35 to 40 families, seniors and people with intellectual disabilities, in the Estevan area, who want to get into housing, but can't because it isn't available, Pringle said.
Pringle warned that there's no point in attracting people to work in the province if there isn't enough housing. It was mentioned during the meeting that people want to come to Estevan, but they don't have a place to live.
"We don't want to give the image that we're open for business, and the economy's booming, but you can't find housing, or you can't find housing at an affordable cost," said Pringle.
The task force should have been formed four or five years ago, Pringle said, before the economic boom began.

Council Notes
Highlights from the April 14 meeting of Estevan City Council:
*Estevan will receive $92 per capita in provincial revenue sharing this year. A formula to determine revenue sharing grants could be in place by next year. Estevan City Council believes they should be receiving about $2 million each year. Estevan will get under $950,000 in 2008.
*A whistle cessation study for the Woodlawn Avenue North CP Rail crossing would cost the city about $8,400. Council referred the proposal to the CP Rail advisory committee for further study.
*Council is still waiting on the final report for the cost of Estevan's new arena.
*The CANDO incentives program was amended to include apartment complexes. Apartments of at least 12 units will receive a property tax exemption for the year of construction, and the three full years following. Developers can't convert apartments to condominiums for at least 10 years. Council is optimistic that additional apartment complexes will relieve Estevan's vacancy rate, and encourage more people to move to the city.
*More than $6 million in building activity occurred last year through CANDO.
*The new industrial park in the RM of Estevan will have considerable benefits for the city, said city manager Jim Puffalt. Puffalt noted there will be water sales to the RM, plus job creation, workers moving to the city, and people building homes.
*Six Leisure Services tenders were awarded: peat moss worth $1,343.75 for flower beds and flower pots; six vacuum port-a-potties rentals worth a total of $210; a riding mower worth $7,990 for the cemetery; four septic tanks rentals worth a total of $280; a utility trailer for $8,550; and 40 flower pots worth a total of $4,000.
*A sludge hauling semi tractor unit for the waste water treatment plant will be purchased for $35,000.
*Five building permits worth $349,000 were issued in March. A total of 11 units worth $4.69 million have been granted so far this year.
*The Southeast Cornerstone School Division will build a six-bay bus service building which includes a facilities maintenance shop, and an office space, behind the Estevan Comprehensive School. Council gave first reading to a bylaw that will pave the way for the building's construction.

New legislation for school closures
Education Minister Ken Krawetz has introduced legislation in the house that amends the Education Act to expand the process boards of education follow when making the decision to close schools that are located within school districts.
"We felt that it was important to make sure the process boards of education follow to close rural schools is consistent across the province and that affected communities are fully engaged," Krawetz said.
Under the Education Amendment Act, all boards of education will continue to have the authority to close schools or discontinue grades. The section of the act that details the process boards of education must follow when closing a school in a school district has been changed.
School divisions will now be required to provide formal notice to communities that a school is under review in October rather than the current practice of providing notice in February to allow for a longer consultation period.
There will also now be a requirement for the formation of school review committees made up of school community council members, local government and community representatives. Decisions regarding urban schools are not included in the new process, as they are located outside of school districts.
"These amendments balance the need to expand consultation, communication and assessment with the need to ensure the continued strength of the education system through autonomous, locally elected boards of education," Krawetz said.
The act also now allows for the minister of education to designate a school as a School of Opportunity. The criteria are currently being developed in consultation with education partners and are expected to be ready by the end of the school year.
Additional amendments to the act include an update to the provisions on the identification of students with special needs and a new requirement for the education relations board to provide copies of its decisions and an annual report to the Ministry of Education.

Garbage again discussed at Council
CAPTION: Regens Disposal owner Gene Baniulis explained the new garbage pick-up system that will start in Estevan this summer.
Regens Disposal defended their controversial plan for automated, front yard garbage pick-up during the April 14 meeting of Estevan City Council.
Regens owner Gene Baniulis described how automated pick-up will work, explained why he thinks the pick-up system will be beneficial, and answered questions from Council.
The cart that stores the garbage will need to be in front of the house by 7 a.m. on pick-up day. It must be off the curb, and three feet away from parked vehicles and other stationary objects, such as a basketball hoop, Baniulis said.
The mechanized arm on the trucks can scoop up the carts 99.9 per cent of the time, Baniulis said.
Carts are 95 cubic gallons, and can accommodate five to seven garbage bags. They are easy to move, Baniulis said, and require minimal exertion.
Residents who do need assistance in moving the cart can place a fluorescent tag on the window of their home, free of charge, on collection day. A Regens employee will pick up the cart, roll it to the garbage truck, empty the cart and return it to the yard.
There have been few instances of carts blowing away in other communities served by Regens, Baniulis said.
Baniulis noted there was also an outcry in Carnduff when Regens brought automated, front yard pick-up to that community. Residents have adjusted and are happy, he said. The back alleys in the community are clean and free of eyesore garbage stands. Some streets in Estevan will retain backyard pick-up.
Improvements in back alley appearance will be long-term, and they won't happen overnight, Baniulis said.
If a cart is stolen or damaged for reasons beyond the resident's control, the cart will be replaced free of charge.
Zones that currently have pick-up on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays will likely retain the same schedule. Areas with pick-up on Mondays and Tuesdays will likely be combined.
Anything in the carts will have to be bagged or bundled. Tree branches will be accepted, as long as they are bundled and the cart lid closes. Anything placed outside of the cart won't be picked up.
Council awarded a five-year contract to Regens Disposal on March 24, even though a tender from D&G Sanitation was more than $65,000 lower for the first year, and more than $80,000 in the fifth year.
Local residents are upset that the contract went to the higher bidder. They're also upset to lose backyard pick-up, and potential difficulties in moving the carts.
Council wants to host an open house on the system before the end of the month to answer the public's questions.
The new system takes effect July 1.

2008 will be busy for Pure Energy committee
Estevan's Pure Energy committee will plant 300 trees and a record number of flowers in 2008, said president Lynn Chipley.
Tree planting will start on April 26, and it will continue for the next two Saturdays. Planting will start at 9:30 a.m. each week. Tree planting locations include Petterson Drive in the new Trojan subdivision, the paths of Torgeson Park, and the southwest lawn in front of Scotsburn Square.
New tree species, such as dogwood, that can better handle Estevan's dry climate will be planted this year, Chipley said.
Tree planting in 2008 is part of what Chipley believes will likely be a 10-year plan. Eventually Chipley would like to see trees line Fourth Street, King Street, Kensington Avenue, Souris Avenue and 13th Avenue, creating a pleasing view for residents and visitors.
"Along the boulevards … trees have been taken down and never replaced," said Chipley. "Old age has happened, or sewer line replacements or Dutch elm disease. Trees have gone down, and there wasn't a tree replacement program like there was now."
Twice as many flowers will be planted this year than 2007, Chipley said. City horticulturalist Shannon Wanner has ordered 40 additional pots. There will be 32 flower colours, too.
Flowers will be planted from May 27 to 29 along Estevan's main roads and in the city's parks.
"We're using something that Saskatoon uses, with reservoirs in the (flower pot) bottoms, and so even when you get a dry weekend, and the water truck isn't around, the plants have water to draw on," said Chipley. "It should cut down on watering, too."
In addition to the tree planting and flower pots, a new mural, paying tribute to the Andrew King show prints, has been erected on the east wall of Re/Max. A tile mural created by local children is finished, Chipley said, and now it has to be mounted.
The Barrels of Energy should also be completed this year, too. Forty more garbage cans have been decorated as part of Barrels of Energy. A new oil-themed north entrance sign could be installed this year.

Women of Today nominees revealed
NOTE: 4 PIX AND CAPTIONS. ALL NOMINEE INFORMATION IS CONTAINED IN A SEPARATE FILE
1: Nominees for the Shirley Orsted Memorial Award for Outstanding Young Woman of Today are: (L-R) Larissa Padayachee, Alissa Klassen, Avery Lafrentz, Brady Johnson, Cortney Cossette, Kirsten Deitz and Megan Dodds.
2: (L-R) Lesa Seipp, Sherrilee Orsted and Marsha Poole are up for the SaskPower Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace.
3: (L-R) Brenda Lyons and Jody Harris are nominees for the SaskTel Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community.
4: (L-R) Lil Wanner and Lisa Grimes are the nominees for the Ida Petterson Memorial Award for Outstanding Entrepreneur.

Clean-up campaign begins
(L-R) Engineering Services employee Jesse Becker, Councillor Lynn Chipley and city clerk Lyndon Stachoski were among the volunteers who picked up garbage from ditches on Kensington Avenue April 14. The City of Estevan kicked off its annual Keep it Clean campaign on the 14th, and staff and council members picked up garbage along Kensington and at city entrances.

April 22 - 29 is National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week.
The mission of SCODA (Saskatchewan Coalition For Organ Donor Awareness) is to develop and promote inter-agency efforts to educate the public and health professionals about organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
SCODA has identified the need to engage individual people, through public awareness and education initiatives, to improve consent levels and donation rates in Saskatchewan. Today in Canada over 4000 people await transplant to save or enhance their lives; almost 70% are waiting for a kidney. Many will die waiting. There is a wide gulf between the number of people in need and the organs and tissues available for transplant. A single organ and tissue donor can potentially save or improve the lives of at least 11 people.
It is not enough to sign your organ/tissue donor card. The crucial step is to communicate your wishes to your next of kin. Discuss your wishes regarding organ and tissue donation tonight with your family. One or more lives could be saved with that discussion.

ORGAN & TISSUE DONATION: THE GIFT OF LIFE
Note to the reader: The following letter was written by Cheryl Olson, a heart transplant recipient. Under current Canadian standards in transplantation, typically the recipient and donor family remain anonymous to each other. Due to an unusual set of circumstances, Cheryl became aware of who the donor was, and wrote this letter to him as a way to appreciate this gift of life.
Dear Adam,
Today, April 1st, would have been your 30th birthday. I'm sure if you were still here, your Mom, sister and all your friends would be throwing you a party and teasing you about becoming an 'old man'! I know this because I met your Mom and sister a year after you died - a year after you saved my life.
There were a lot of tears that day, and a lot of smiles too as they showed my husband and I photos of you over the years you were growing up. It was hard for your Mom to share the memories because she is still sad about you not being around. She shared with us a story of how the two of you sat at home one night watching the news. One of the top stories was of a young mom in the hospital there very sick, and in desperate need of a heart transplant. Once that news item was over, you turned to her and said, "Wow, don't you wish there was something we could do to help them?" I still get chills when I think of that. You had no way of knowing that within two days you would have a fatal accident that would have your family faced with making an important decision at a difficult time. But Adam, because of what you remarked that night to your Mom, she agreed that donating your organs made sense out of an otherwise tragic time. You were only 21.
At two-thirty in the morning on September 25, 1999 the pager my husband had been wearing went off, letting us know that our prayers had been answered. Please don't take that the wrong way, Adam. Our prayers weren't that someone would die so that I could live, rather that if by chance that it was someone's time to go, that my life could be saved through organ donation. You saved five lives that day. I'm sure you understand. I also want you to know that as my family gathered together to give thanks for this gift, we brought up you, your mom and family in our prayers for God's comfort to be with them as they said good bye to you.
You became our hero. I had no idea I was getting a heart. I was so sick and on life support. The doctors were amazed I had lasted so long on that machine, and it was over 136 hours on it before they wheeled me into surgery. It has been 8 ½ years since that day and I hope you have some way of knowing what your precious gift has given to me. I have been able to see my son learn to ride his bike without training wheels when he was four, and I choked back tears listening to my daughter sing in a children's choir at 7. I have been able to watch them grow taller, and smarter year by year and I have been able to hold them when they have cried or when they just needed a hug. Both of them are almost as tall as me now. My husband and I are more in love than ever, and we have made many memories with our children and families. None of this would have been possible without you, Adam, and the decision to donate made by your family.
Maybe someday I'll be able to say all of this and more to you face to face, but until then, this will have to do…
Thank you, Adam. God bless you and Happy Birthday.
Cheryl

Support for MS Walk
Murray GM's team in the upcoming Super Cities Walk for Multiple Sclerosis held a fundraiser April 17. Hot dogs, soft drinks and popcorn were for sale. The MS walk for Estevan is May 4. Members of the Murray GM team are (seated) Tracy Van de Woestyne and Kim Geisel, and (standing) Kathy Sernick and Loni Ehrmantraut.

Preston's Road Race will be May 31
The annual Preston's Road Race will take place at Regina's Wascana Parkway on May 31.
The five-kilometre fun run/walk starts at 9 a.m. Participants are encouraged to register in advance. There will also be a steak supper night at the Beef Bar and at Blackbeard's Restaurant on Tuesday, May 6.
During the past five years, more than $50,000 has been raised. Included in that total was a record-smashing $35,000 in 2007. Funds will be directed to families with a child who is battling a serious illness.
Since Preston's Road Race started, 14 families have received assistance, most of them from southeast Saskatchewan.
Preston's mother, Lori, said money is directed to families throughout the year. Lori Meyer is encouraging families with a seriously ill child to apply soon.
Preston was diagnosed with Wilms tumor when he was four-and-a-half years old. After his right kidney was removed, he went through four months of chemotherapy.
Three years later, he relapsed and went through radiation and chemo treatments. In December 2002, Preston relapsed a second time and underwent very intense chemotherapy treatments in Calgary and Regina. He passed away in May 2004.
His family has chosen to continue with the race in his memory.

Audrey Andrist to perform in Estevan
Estevan native Audrey Andrist will perform on Sunday, May 4, at St. Paul's United Church in Estevan - the latest concert in the Stars for Saskatchewan series.
Andrist grew up on a farm outside of Estevan, commuting three hours, one way, on the bus for piano lessons. She studied at the University of Regina and later traveled to New York, completing masters and doctoral degrees at the Juilliard School with Herbert Stessin.
Now a soloist and chamber player, Andrist has performed with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, and the Juilliard Orchestra in Alice Tully Hall.
A versatile and adventurous musician, Andrist has performed and recorded music for synthesizer, harmonium and harpsichord, and has served as orchestral pianist in both Canada and New York. Her recent disc, "The Great Square of Pegasus" (music be Andrew MacDonald with violinist Jasper Wood on the Centrediscs label), won the 2004 East Coast Music Award for Best Classical Album of the Year.
Her recent engagements include a concert tour of China, performances in Japan, concerto appearances in California, and an extensive tour of Quebec for Jeunesses Musicales.
Highlights of Andrist's 2007-08 season include recitals at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, D.C., as well as performances in Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, Virginia and Canada.
She currently resides in the Washington, D.C., area with her husband and their son, Kenneth.
The performance is presented in cooperation with the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils, with assistance from Sask. Lotteries, the Saskatchewan Arts Board and Canadian Heritage.

Relay for Life fundraiser
Girard Bulk Services in Estevan held a fundraiser for their Relay for Life team April 16. Many people turned out to enjoy riblets and smokies. Tickets were sold for a raffle. Expect to see more Relay for Life fundraisers in the community as the annual Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser, to be held June 14 and 15, draws closer.

Special Relay events being planned
CAPTION: Estevan Relay for Life special events committee co-chairs Kirsten Deitz and Keisha Padayachee.
Kirsten Deitz and Keisha Padayachee, two Grade 12 students from the Estevan Comprehensive School who head up the Estevan Relay for Life special events committee, are working on a couple of events.
The first is a launch on Saturday, April 26. Participants will walk a few blocks along 13th Avenue from the Canada Post outlet to the Days Inn.
Deitz noted there will be speeches from Canadian Cancer Society southeast regional representative Margaret Hill, plus honourary chairperson Melodye Pierson, the team recruitment, luminary and special events chairs, and last year's top fundraising team.
"It's to raise awareness of the upcoming Relay, and it gets the community involved," said Padayachee. "You don't have to be participating in the Relay to come."
Last year's inaugural launch attracted over 100 people, Deitz said.
The Relay Day will also return this year. It will be at the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Fourth Street on Saturday, May 24. Deitz said it will be similar to the street fair that used to take place each year on Fourth Street.
Each team has been asked to have some type of a carnival booth or a table selling different goods for a fundraiser. It will be one of the last chances for teams to fundraise prior to the Relay, which is June 14 and 15 at the Estevan Comprehensive School track.

The Fun Show
CAPTION: Stompin' Tom Gonnor and Rita McWheel (Al and Joyce Klesse) entertained at the Fun Show.
Nearly 200 people packed the Estevan Royal Canadian Legion April 12 for the Fun Show - a fundraiser for the new floor at the Souris Valley Theatre's Frehlick Hall.
Double Vision - identical twins from Saskatoon who have a magic-comedy show - were the featured performers. Double Vision executed several illusions, and incorporated the audience into their routines.
Several local groups also performed: "St. Onge and his two Angels", which was comprised of Mayor Gary St. Onge and Councillors Lynn Chipley and Lori Carr; Jim Pratt was "The Dashing Dude;" and Al and Joyce Klesse were "Stompin' Tom Gonnor and Rita McWheel."
Art, memorabilia and dessert auctions brought in nearly $3,000. Twenty items were available in a silent auction.
Frehlick Hall will have new seats this summer, and proceeds raised from the Fun Show will go to pay for the new floor that will be installed prior to the seats.

Passover supper
Gertie Lev (seated) shared Passover serving dishes and matzah - a cracker-like bread made of white flour and water - with Grade 7 and 8 students from Macoun School during a recent Passover Sedar meal. The meal was a conclusion to the Holocaust unit studied by Pat Bellavance's Grade 7 and 8 classes.

Local to sing with choir
CAPTION: The Rocky Mountain College Choir and Orchestra, with Estevan's Mark Kuntz, will perform May 12 at Trinity Lutheran Church.
Former Estevan resident Mark Kuntz will be performing with the Rocky Mountain College Choir and Orchestra on Monday, May 12, at 7 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Estevan.
Kuntz is a member of the choir. The choir is on tour, and they will be stopping in Estevan on their way to Minneapolis.
The 55-member Rocky Mountain College Choir and Orchestra from Calgary, under the direction of Andrew Love, has become popular beyond just Calgary. Their ministry has been well-received in churches and concert halls throughout Canada and the United States. They have performed at the annual Calgary Mayor's Breakfast, in Ottawa's Parliament chambers for MPs and senators, in New York City at St. Paul's Chapel - the site of George Washington's Inauguration Prayer Service - and on the nationally televised Canadian TV program "100 Huntley Street."
The group has recorded six CDs, including "Joy" and their 2007 award-winning CDs "Bow Down." The award won the top choral recording at Canada's Gospel Music People's Choice Awards.
The concert is free, but a free-will offering will be taken.

Midale farmers' cattle going overseas
The Soo Line Cattle Company, located outside of Midale, is exporting cattle and cattle embryos internationally.
Cattle embryos have been sent to Sweden and Columbia. Soo Line owner Roger Hardy is a client of a company in Airdrie, Alberta, which has been marketing embryos internationally for years.
"The king of Sweden has apparently bought embryos from Canada before," said Hardy. "We were one of the clients that the company recommended to them, and he bought some embryos from us."
Seven embryos were sent to Sweden. Hardy said Sweden might get four or five animals out of the embryos. The conception rate is about 70 per cent.
Sixteen embryos have been sent to Columbia, and Hardy is working to send more to the South American nation.
"Canada is known for their angus genetics worldwide, both red and black angus," said Hardy. "And our cattle do well in the show rings and in the pastures."
The Soo Line Cattle Company has been marketing embryos for the last eight years, Hardy said. They wanted to propagate their best cows, and the best way to do it is through embryo transfers. They get several animals from a cow each year, instead of one.
"It's a way to propagate your good cows, and to use those genetics in the herd more quickly," said Hardy.
They're also working on sending semen to Australia and to the U.S.
Soo Line will also send 40 heifers to Russia. They'll go to quarantine in Manitoba in May. Then they'll be shipped to Quebec and finally to Europe.
Hardy's cattle won the First Lady Classic at Agribition in November. He has also been named Purebred Angus Breeder of the Year at the annual meeting of the Saskatchewan Angus Association.

Columnists

I GET MY CUT
By Linda Wegner
Mom's sense of humour is indomitable, to say nothing of whacky. It's especially brilliant now - something like a diamond displayed on a black velvet backdrop. I'll explain.
This weekend we received a call that Mom was in bed, gravely ill. One brother, I, and several of Mom's grandchildren left our respective homes across the province and headed to the Lower Mainland to be with her. We took turns "gowning up", complete with mask and gloves and each of us took turns spending a few minutes by her bedside. Conversations were limited due to Mom's weakness but she knew each of us. She was probably prayed for as much in one afternoon as she has been in the past months but who could leave without committing her to the care of our Heavenly Father?
Younger brother, Doug, carrier of Mom's humour gene, prayed with her, too, but he also took a slightly different tack. He was still rocking with laughter when he related his story: "I told Mom I'd recorded her piano playing years before and recently had converted it to a digital recording. That part is true but then I told her I was going to charge each of my siblings $150 for a copy of the DVD," he continued. "Mom opened her eyes, looked at me, then quickly retorted - 'I get a cut!'"
There are days when laughter seems the farthest thing from our personal reality but perhaps that's why it is truly a gift from heaven…it seems to come from nowhere "out of the blue." And maybe, just maybe, King Solomon was thinking of his mother when he wrote: "A merry heart does good, like medicine (it makes the medicine even better)." (Proverbs 17:22)
Laughter doesn't eliminate suffering but it makes life easier to bear. Have you had a good laugh today?

GARDEN NOTES
By Gerry Fichtemann
DAHLIAS
By Gerry Fichtemann
Dahlias are a plant that comes in many different forms and varieties and colors ending in an array of thousands of plants to choose from. Dahlias were originally grown in Mexico by the Aztec Indians for its medicinal and possibly spiritual powers. It was around 1789 the Dahlia was brought to Europe and named after the Swedish botanist Andreas Dahl.
The original Dahlia was smallish red, pink or white. It soon gave way to the first double flower in the early 1800's.Today's Dahlias come in a wide variety of colors and sizes ranging from under 55mm to over 260 mm.
Dahlia tubers are the most popular form of planting, which are stored clumps and rooted in the spring.
CULTURE: Dahlias will thrive in almost any garden soil as long as they receive plenty of sun. They tend to become leggy in the shade. Be sure to wait until all danger of frost is past before planting. In fact, make sure the soil is good and warm so growth can start almost immediately.
Once in the ground, dahlias are heavy feeders and need lots of moisture. They will appreciate thorough soakings, especially during the flowering season. (mid-August).
TYPES: It is a mind-boggler to try and decide what types you are going to try your hand at. There are Dinner-plate, Decorative, Cactus, Semi-cactus, Giant Ball, Pincushion, Fringed Cactus, Collaret, Water lily, and Gallery. Under these categories are the variety names with hundreds of colors to choose from. Personally, I enjoy the Cactus types and the fringed-cactus types.
There have been many books written on Dahlias where to get more information on these marvelous plants. The choice is absolutely endless.
I wish to stress once more that Dahlias are hungry plants and need to be fertilized and watered well in order to achieve success.
If you are not in a sheltered location, staking may be necessary to protect the plant from the westerly winds. If you are growing the large dinner-plate or decorative types, staking may be needed regardless because of the blooms being so large and heavy weight.
These tubers can be dug up the in fall and stored. I will give you that information in late summer.
Gerry Fichtemann is the owner of River Bend Nursery.

Sports

Bruins prospects compete at camp
Nearly 80 Estevan Bruin prospects were able to showcase their abilities for the team's staff and scouts during the annual spring camp April 11 to 13.
Director of player personnel Rick Oakes said several local players really impressed. Defenceman Lucas Stubel, a 1990-born defenceman who started the season with the Bruins last year, stood out, as did Tyler Spencer, a 1991-born defenceman, and Riley Hengen, a 1990-born goaltender.
Oakes applauded the play of three 1993-born local forwards: Klae Bayda, Austin Daae and Marshall Holzer. Goaltenders Klae Pederson and Nevan Tremblay, two more 1993-born local players, played well. Forward Michael Hengen was one of the top two 1992-born players in camp, Oakes said.
Oakes was disappointed that a few local players didn't make it to camp.
Among the players from outside of the southeast, two 1990-born forwards, Mark Cross and Troy Hunter, were impressive, Oakes said, along with 1991-born defenceman Tory Wilfong and 1990-born goaltender Brett Willows.
"We had a good cross-section of young guys, and guys that can step in and play next year, and that's what you want from your spring camp," said Oakes.
"You want to give the young guys a taste of what it's like to go to a camp, and you want to make sure there's some older guys there who are ready to step in and fill some holes for you next season."
Oakes believes there could be six to 10 players from spring camp in the Bruins' line-up next season.
Oakes said recruiting became a lot easier now that head coach/GM Karry Biette is locked up for the next two seasons. Biette signed a new contract several days before camp began. Oakes said it always helps when players know about the coach.

Auction fundraiser for Bienfait rink
A furniture and appliance auction on Saturday, April 26 will be used to reduce the debt at the Bienfait Memorial Arena.
Moose Mountain Auction Services will be conducting the auction. Arena fundraising committee chair Bill Mann said the auction company does a lot of auctions for community organizations.
The auction will start at 11 a.m. and it will continue until all of the merchandise is sold. New but discontinued lines of merchandise, such as appliances, large furniture and flooring, will be sold to the highest bidder. Mann is uncertain how many items will be sold.
The public can view the products at the arena from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 24 and 25.
Moose Mountain Auction Services is guaranteeing the rink a profit of at least $2,000. Any gross sales above $27,000 will be split between the arena and the auction service, Mann said.
Mann would like to see the arena's debt reduced by at least $10,000 through the auction. The Bienfait arena fundraising committee has been working hard to raise funds in the last three years. Mann said the debt has been slashed from $500,000 to about $120,000 since 2005.

Woodlawn course opens April 18
Brett Friess practiced at the Estevan Woodlawn Golf Course's driving range April 16. Many local golfers have been at the driving range to get ready for the upcoming season. The first day of play on the golf course in 2008 will be on April 18.

Golf season begins
CAPTION: Tanner Mack teed off at the Hidden Valley Golf & RV Resort south of Estevan April 16. Hidden Valley's executive length nine-hole course opened on the 13th. Their driving range was open April 8. Warm weather from April 13 to 17 allowed many people to swing their clubs for the first time this year.
Golf season has started at the Hidden Valley Golf & RV Resort south of Estevan. Their nine-hole executive length course opened April 13. The driving range opened earlier in the month. Recent warm weather enabled local golfers to dust off their clubs, visit Hidden Valley and get ready for the upcoming season.

Inaugural fun run will be May 24
The first ever Coal Country Fun Run/Walk will take place in the Souris Valley on Saturday, May 24.
This is the first event of its kind in this corner of the province and will take place in the valley west of Roche Percee. The route is mainly along the valley bottom with only one hill. It is designed to make it a little less challenging for those who have never participated in such an event.
The run will be a five and 10-kilometer event starting in Roche Percee.
There is also a special event for children under the age of 15 called the Mini-Mile. By collecting pledges, children will have a chance to win fabulous prizes like a Nintendo Wii with Guitar Hero, a bike or an I-pod. Children who don't collect pledges can simply pay an entrance fee.
All children who run the Mini-Mile will receive a participation medal. All runners will receive a free brunch. There will also be medals awarded for the top three male and female finishers in each of the age categories; under-16, 16 to 30, 31 to 45 and over-45.
A barbecue will coincide with the fun run.
All money raised from the fun run and BBQ will go towards operating costs for the Bienfait Memorial Arena.

From the Sidelines
Martin Wins Worlds
By Kyle Kapiczowski
Team Canada's Kevin Martin has won the 2008 Ford Men's World Curling Championship. Canada beat team Scotland 6-3 for Canada's 31st win at the World Curling Championship since 1959. This is Martin's first gold medal at the World Curling Championship. He has also won two silver medals. The win now gives Martin a berth into the Olympic Curling Trials, which will be played in Edmonton next year.
At the 79th Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Trevor Immelman won the tournament. He becomes the second South-African to win the Tournament. He now Joins Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Zach Johnson, Vijay Singh and Mike Weir as recent Masters champions. In the Arena Football League, the Philadelphia Soul beat the San Jose Sabercats 58-57 in a close game. The Soul's Record is 7-0 overall and 1-0 in their division. Philadelphia's next game is against the Columbus Destroyers.
Other scores from Week 7 in the AFL were: The Cleveland Gladiators lost 69-66 to the Colorado Crush, the Los Angeles Avengers beat the Utah Blaze 77-62, the Arizona Rattlers got past the Tampa Bay Storm 63-62, Orlando Predators beat the Grand Rapids Rampage 75-56 and the Dallas Desperados beat the New Orleans Voodoo 55-44.
In NASCAR, Jimmy Johnson won the Subway Fresh Fit 500. He finished the race with almost no fuel. Bobby Labonte finished in 12th place. The next race is the Aaron's 499.
In the National Lacrosse League, the Calgary Roughnecks lost 11-9 to the Edmonton Rush in the first game but won the second game 18-7 to split the series with the Rush. Calgary's record is 5-9 and they are in second place in their division.
In the English Premier League, Manchester United beat Arsenal 2-1 in UEFA Champions League Semi final action. Man U's record is 25-4-5 and their next game is against Blackburn.
That's all folks!

Viewpoints

Editorial
Tea Time
Fishing with My Granddad
By Dani Stobbs
There is something that we all have in common. There is a road that we have all walked down before. That path is called memory lane.
This week has fast become a stark contrast to the engagement celebrations of last week. This week I feel like I have put 10-ton weighted shoes on each foot and accounted the many moments in my walk down memory lane.
My Grandad passed away Monday of this week. As I try to capture my breath at a time when I feel like breathing is possibly the hardest thing to do, I try my best to make that walk down memory lane a fun and happy remembrance.
This is the time of affectionately remembering the past. The famous photo of me as a seven-year-old lifting my skirt as Grandma took the picture, and Grandad beside me embarrassed by his first granddaughter's immodesty. The big spike ball on a stick that lay on the fireplace until we would mess Grandad's long grey hair and he would pretend to chase us. We would laugh as we stood at the top of the stairs knowing that we had victory because he would not venture up them.
As I listen to the echoes of my memory, I recall how he affectionately called my Grandma ´chick.´ I hear the resounds of the mid-evening game shows on T.V that he loved.
I recall always knowing that on the right hand side of the T.V was the age old collection of fishing videos and on the other side was the kid's videos.
I remember the many summers I spent with them, climbing from rock to rock at the place known as the meeting of the waters. We would pack up a picnic and sit and enjoy the Yorkshire sun with a jam scone, and little triangle sandwiches.
The woods, where Grandad would watch from the bench, as my sister and I flung rocks into the river. Or Grandad teaching us to catch minnow fish in our little green nets. We were oh so proud of catching those little fish. We felt like conquerors of the north as we proudly showed Grandad.
This walk down memory lane is something that you have probably all done. It comes with tears sometimes, and sometimes with laughter. Life is never perfect, but these memories we can choose to transition into perfection. Not lies, but memories of what was good in ones life.
So as I fly back to England this week to say goodbye to my dear Grandad, I am going to hold my head high as I remember him, just like my victorious glory when I caught a tiny minnow fish with Grandad John.

What's Happening

Books for sale
Trudi Backman found the books she was looking for at the Estevan Public Library's book sale April 17. Hundreds of books are available at the book sale, which will continue through April 19 at the library.

On the road to North Dakota
The Estevan elementary school marching band has taken their practices outdoors. The 46-member group meets every Tuesday at Spruce Ridge School. The marching band will travel to Bismarck and Williston, North Dakota, on May 9 and 10.

Bottle drive
Dustin Cowan holds a couple bags of bottles that were collected during the Estevan Sixth Scouts bottle drive April 12. Members of Estevan's different scouting groups circulated the city, seeking cans and bottles that could be exchanged for money to help pay for some of their projects.