Feature

Ten years of honouring women
Caption: Megan Dodds, Brenda Lyons, Lesa Seipp and Lil Wanner
captured the 2008 SaskPower/Quota International Women of Today Awards April 23.
By David Willberg
Women's contributions to business, school, the workplace and the community were recognized during the 10th annual SaskPower/Quota International Women of Today Awards April 23.
Lil Wanner won the Ida Petterson Memorial Award for Outstanding Entrepreneur; Lesa Seipp won the SaskPower Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace; Megan Dodds won the Shirley Orsted Award for Outstanding Young Woman of Today; and Brenda Lyons won the SaskTel Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community.
A total of 14 women were nominated in four different categories this year.
Wanner has owned Classic Jewelers in the Estevan Shoppers Mall for eight years.
"You get a lot of people that come in there and it's usually with a reason - they want to buy a gift or a nice piece of jewelry," said Wanner. "And I'd say that 99.9 per cent of the time, they walk out with exactly what they came in for. They're happy, so I'm happy."
There are many wonderful woman entrepreneurs in Estevan, she said, and she was honoured to win the award.
When she isn't running the business, Wanner assists at the Estevan Royal Canadian Legion and she volunteers at her church. She enjoys reading, gardening, golfing, curling, bowling, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Seipp said a lot of people in the community do a lot of work, and they all deserve recognition like the SaskPower Award.
An insurance agent for the Co-operators, Seipp said she finds it satisfying when she can help people, and they leave her office happy.
Her job also gives her leeway with her family.
"We've been able to fit family in there as well as work," said Seipp. "So I work until 3 p.m., and then I can run off and do the kids' thing until they're finished for the day."
Seipp helps with her children's activities such as hockey, soccer and music. She has been involved with her church, Estevan Street Fair, Estevan Showcase, the Estevan and District Music Festival and Telemiracle. She also enjoys reading, shopping, baking and spending time with family and friends.
Dodds was surprised to win the Orsted award. She has known the award's six other nominees for four or five years, she said, and she is friends with all of them.
Dodds is a bilingual student with a high grade point average at the Estevan Comprehensive School. She is very active in school musicals, debate, band, the improv club, and the French club. She is the captain of the school's senior girl's soccer team, a youth leader within her church and a member of the Girl Guides.
Estevan has given her so much, she said, and she wants to give back.
"I know they will continue to support me through whatever I do, so I feel I should give back and support others," said Dodds.
Lyons believes there are other women who deserve the SaskTel award more than she does, but she was thrilled to be recognized for her contributions to the community.
Lyons has taken an active role in the youth in the community. She is a co-chair for the Koncerts for Kids series, and she is also a coach with the Estevan Mermaids synchronized swimming club. She volunteers for Estevan Minor Baseball, at her church's Sunday school and with Brownies.
"You can't pay people to run all the clubs and stuff that we need for our youth," said Lyons. "Our youth need to have things available to them. They need to be exposed to different things."
Lyons hopes that her involvements show the young people that they will have to contribute to the community in their future.
Former Estevan resident Jo Bannatyne-Cugnet was the keynote speaker. Bannatyne-Cugnet was born and raised in Estevan, but now farms outside of Weyburn. She has penned six books, including the award-winning A Prairie Alphabet.
Bannatyne-Cugnet said she has followed in the footsteps of women who made a big impact on her life. Her 93-year-old mother is her biggest fan. Other women nurtured her, and made Estevan a better place by volunteering.
Bannatyne-Cugnet was also the keynote speaker at the first Women of Today Awards.
Proceeds will be directed towards three different projects: the Violence Intervention Program, the placement of FM sound systems in Estevan schools, and an infant hearing screening monitor at St. Joseph's Hospital in Estevan. More than $50,000 has been raised for community projects during the Women of Today Awards' history.
FM sound systems were used during the awards ceremony, enabling the audience of more than 300 people to experience the benefits of the technology.

News

POLICE REPORT
*Estevan RCMP, the Estevan Police Service, Estevan Emergency Services and Estevan Fire Services responded to a two-vehicle accident involving a car and a semi unit April 21 on Highway 39 west of Estevan. The driver of the semi was not injured in the front-end crash. The female driver of the car was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. A portion of the highway was briefly closed. The matter remains under investigation.
*Police were summoned to an incident in progress in the Hillside area. Members attended and arrested a 19-year-old male for break-and-enter and assault. The matter remains under investigation.
*Police attended to a complaint of two males fighting in the parking lot at a service station. One male left the scene prior to police arriving. The other male was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital for treatment of a minor injury.
*Police responded to two complaints of hit and run accidents.
*A female was arrested following a domestic complaint.
*A 19-year-old male was arrested after he was observed rummaging through a vehicle in the 800 block of Edward Street.
*A male was arrested on a warrant for several charges of failing to appear in court. He was released on his own recognizance.
*Police attended to two willful damage complaints in the city involving parked vehicles. One vehicle had the taillights broken out and the other had the passenger side window broken. Police are seeking the public's assistance.
*A 15-year-old male was arrested for willful damage following a mischief complaint.
*Police received a robbery complaint. A male had his money taken from him after removing it from an automated teller machine.
*The theft of a motorized scooter from a downtown location is being investigated.
*Police assisted Emergency Medical Services personnel with an injured male at a city core residence. He was transported to the hospital via ambulance.

More money for revenue sharing
Saskatchewan Municipal Affairs Minister Bill Hutchinson has announced an additional eight per cent increase to municipal revenue sharing.
The $10.41 million increase comes on top of a $7.9 million increase announced on budget day, and brings the total revenue sharing increase this year to $18.3 million. Hutchinson is urging municipalities to use the new funding to reduce proposed property tax increases.
"We're extremely pleased to be in a position to help municipalities provide property tax relief to Saskatchewan people," Hutchinson said.
"Our government promised to provide a seven per cent increase in each of our first two years in office, but thanks to a record-breaking oil land rights sale in April, we are able to keep tomorrow's promise today and exceed our two year commitment in year one."
Hutchinson said the new eight per cent increase will be added to the base funding for municipalities. It brings the total amount of revenue sharing to municipalities to $140.5 million, a 15 per cent increase for 2008-09.
The government has promised to negotiate a new municipal revenue sharing deal that includes a portion of the province's own-source revenue.
"After consulting with the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, the Saskatchewan Rural Municipalities Association and New North, we decided to add this new funding to the revenue sharing base," Hutchinson said.

New doctor offices ready to open
Caption: Dr. Khalid Sheikh
The new primary health centre at the south entrance of St. Joseph's Hospital in Estevan will open May 1, with eight new offices for physicians.
Dr. Khalid Sheikh is one of the physicians who will occupy an office. He said this has been in the works for a long time.
"My experience, previously, in England, is working in the hospital, and there are advantages for the patient and for me as well," said Sheikh.
The emergency room is now just metres away from the doctors offices. If a patient arrives at emergency, a call can be made and a doctor will be there immediately.
Sheikh performs a lot of surgeries, so it will be more convenient for him to be on the hospital site, instead of at his current location: across the street from the hospital.

Cornerstone school board meets
Highlights from the April meeting of the Southeast Cornerstone School Division's April 17 board meeting:
*The board will travel across the division in April to meet with school community council representatives from six communities: Estevan, Carievale, Carlyle, Weyburn, Radville and Wawota. The comprehensive governance committee will be meeting with the school community councils of the Estevan and Weyburn Comprehensive Schools.
The meetings provide for sharing of governance and accountability practices, reflection on school level planning, feedback on the Board's strategic plan and system goals, and discussion on improving communication within the school community.
*The board of education ratified its agreement with CUPE local 4612, which represents education associates at the Estevan Comprehensive School; and accepted a letter of understanding from CUPE local 4856, which includes Estevan and area bus drivers. Both contracts will expire at the end of August. Director of education Don Rempel said the board would like to bring all of their support staff workers together under one board.
*Several dates of the 2008-09 school calendar have been approved. Teachers return from summer vacation August 25, 2008. The first day of classes is undecided. The last day that students will be in class is June 26, 2009, and report cards will be picked up June 30, 2009. Christmas vacation will stretch from December 21, 2008, to January 5, 2009; winter break is from February 14, 2009 to February 22, 2009, and Easter break is April 10, 2009, to April 20, 2009.
*The board's next meeting is a budget meeting April 30.

New Oxbow school moves forward
The Southeast Cornerstone School Division is moving ahead with plans for a new Kindergarten to Grade 12 school in Oxbow.
A planning committee has been formed. Design plans for the school could be finished this July, director of education Don Rempel said. He hopes the project could be sent to tender early next year.
Construction could begin next spring, and be finished in time for the start of the 2010-11 school year.
"A slowdown in any phase throughout that process, some of which might be a little bit out of our control, could set back the school's opening date," Rempel said.
The schedule for opening a new school is ambitious, Rempel said. Soaring construction costs put the estimated cost of the new school at $18 million, as of last summer.
The new school would bring together students from Oxbow Elementary, the Oxbow Prairie Heights high school and the Glenn McGuire special needs school. Grade 10 to 12 students in Alameda presently attend Prairie Heights, and they would go to the new school.
Rempel said a final decision hasn't been made on whether Kindergarten to Grade 9 students from Alameda would remain at Alameda School.
Current enrolment projections indicate about 480 students would attend the planned Oxbow school.
Carnduff Central School, which opened in 2004, could be a template for a new Oxbow School, Rempel said, in terms of design and the community partnerships that expanded the scope of the project.
The former Souris-Moose Mountain School Division first looked at a new school in Oxbow in 2003-04, Rempel said. It was one of the top-priority projects for the Ministry of Education this year, and received approval.
"The project has been really driven by the condition of the facilities in Oxbow," Rempel said. "In particular, Oxbow Prairie Heights has had some structural concerns over time. As with many schools in Saskatchewan, the life of a school building is 50 years, unless you have major renovations or refurbishing.
"For the schools in the Oxbow area, that hasn't occurred ... to the extent that the schools are now of an age that we now need to look at a new structure."
Rempel said Oxbow has a growing student population, and they need a new school to accommodate their student numbers.

Safety patrollers chosen
The Estevan Police Service is pleased to announce the six safety patrollers who will be attending the 2008 Safety Patrol Jamboree in Regina.
Chosen were: Joshua Pele from Hillcrest School, Lucas Cochrane from Westview School, Chris Aeichele from Spruce Ridge School, Kourtney Keays from Pleasantdale School, Chandra Tocker from St. Mary's School, and Tianna Threinen from Sacred Heart School.
The patrollers were chosen for displaying leadership, enthusiasm, maturity, promptness and dependability.
The jamboree will take place May 1 to 3 in Regina. Patrollers will be treated to numerous events: tours of the Saskatchewan Legislature, the RCMP training depot and the Saskatchewan Science Centre, as well as bowling, swimming and an Imax Movie.
The patrollers will be chaperoned in Regina by the Estevan Police Service's school resource officer Constable Don Dechief.
A wind-up dance for all safety patrollers will be held Thursday, May 22 at the Days Inn Plaza.
The safety patrol in Estevan is sponsored by CAA Saskatchewan, the Lions Club of Estevan, the Days Inn, 7-Eleven and Pizza Hut. Individual jamboree participant sponsors include Don's Tire Shop, CJ Inspection, Cactus Autobody, TS&M Supply, Weatherford and Brake and Drive Systems.

Minimum wage increase coming
Saskatchewan's minimum wage will increase from $8.25 per hour to $8.60 per hour effective May 1.
The increase is the second of three stages that will see the minimum wage increase to $9.25 per hour in 2009. The minimum call-out pay, which is three times the level of the minimum wage, will also increase accordingly.
There are approximately 12,400 minimum wage earners in Saskatchewan.
The increase in the minimum wage follows a review by the Saskatchewan Minimum Wage Board. The Board is required by legislation to review the minimum wage at least every two years.

Funds raised for the Mutton family
Caption: Dozens of items were available in live and silent auctions during a fundraiser for Rod and Candy Mutton's family.
More than $16,000 was raised for Rod and Candy Mutton's family during a benefit auction and dance April 19 at the Bienfait Memorial Arena. Nearly 300 people attended to support the family.
Highlights included live and silent auctions, Chinese auctions for children and adults, and a dance.
Rod and Candy Mutton and family, who farm near Bienfait, recently lost their family home to a devastating fire. The Mutton's escaped the fire with their lives, and the clothes on their back. Their belongings, everyday necessities and everything else were destroyed.
A second building on the land also burned to the ground.
Funds raised during the evening will be used to help the family cope with the crisis.

Empower on May 1
Parents will learn more about drug and alcohol abuse among young people during Empower, a community event on Thursday, May 1 at Spruce Ridge School in Estevan. The event starts at 7:30 p.m.
Pastor Scott Harrison from Living Hope Community Church, a spokesperson for Empower, said they want to inform adults so they can make good decisions to help prevent drug and alcohol abuse in the lives of their children.
It's a problem in most communities, including Estevan, Harrison said.
Constable Jay Pierson from the Estevan Police Service will inform parents on illegal drugs in the community, and what parents should look for. An addiction services counselor from the Sun Country Health Region will talk about healthy way to parent children to avoid addictive lifestyles.
Harrison and his son, David, will talk about their past history of substance abuse and addictions, how they overcame it, and their father-son relationship in the face of addictions.
There will be printed material available, Harrison said.
Empower is a project of the Estevan Police Service, Victim Services, the Sun Country Health Region and the Estevan Ministerial Association.

Seeking survivors
Caption: Survivor's committee co-chairs (L-R) Stacy Dutka and Candy Smyth.
The survivor's committee for Estevan's Relay for Life is seeking cancer survivors to participate in the survivor's laps that open the relay.
Stacy Dutka and Candy Smyth are the co-chairs of the committee. They want to have 125 to 150 cancer survivors for the opening laps. The survivors walk the first lap, and they will be joined by their caregivers for a second lap.
"They can celebrate what they've been through, and provide hope," said Smyth.
Dutka said it shows the public that a cancer diagnosis doesn't always mean a death sentence.
"Yes, there are bumps, but there is hope, there is a light at the end," said Dutka. "It can be beaten. And it doesn't matter the age."
Dutka and Smyth are also cancer survivors. Dutka was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in 1994. Smyth battled breast cancer in 2004.
About 10 survivors have already signed up, Dutka said. Most will register at a survivors' meeting May 28 at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph's Hospital.
More than 100 survivors participated in the opening laps in 2007.
"It made me reflect, as I was walking … on what I went through, but also the people that were there with me," said Dutka. "For me, it was my Mom, she was my huge support system when I went through it, and I often think about her and what she gave up during that time, and what she sacrificed for me."
Other duties for Dutka and Smyth include a survivor's tent for the Relay, and a remembrance tent, which is new for this year. People will be able to pause and quietly spend time remembering a loved one who passed away due to cancer.

Flick-Fest date and performers confirmed
The date, location and the performers for the inaugural Flick-Fest that will be in Estevan have been announced.
A free, carbon-neutral concert, the Flick-Fest will be Friday, May 30, at the Civic Auditorium. Doors will open at 7 p.m.
Juno and MuchMusic Video Award (MMVA) winners City and Colour will headline the concert. Joining City and Colour will be Black Lungs and Sleepercar.
City and Colour is fronted by rhythm guitarist and back up singer of Alexisonfire, Dallas Green. He's won both the 2006 MMVA for People's Choice Favourite Canadian Artist for his debut hit single "Save Your Scissors," and a 2007 Juno Award for Best Alternative Album for his platinum-selling debut album "Sometimes."
His latest album, 2008's "Bring Me Your Love," debuted at No. 1 on iTunes and it features a collaboration with The Tragically Hip's Gordon Downie.
Black Lungs is inspired by folk, punk, classical, soul and country genres. Black Lungs' architect, Wade MacNeil, has earned a No. 1 debut on the Top 200 Soundscan and a Juno Award for New Group of the Year as vocalist and guitarist of Alexisonfire.
Black Lungs' debut album "Send Flowers" will be released May 20 on Dine Alone Records.
Alternative-country band Sleepercar has been gaining a steady following while touring North America, and their debut album "West Texas" is slated for a 2008 release.
Estevan earned the Flick Fest last year when the city had the most residents, per capita, of any city in Canada visit the Flick Off website and calculate their carbon emissions.
Flick Off is a movement to fight global warming by getting people to use less energy.
Other sponsors of the Flick-Fest are Virgin Mobile, SaskPower and the Shand Greenhouse.

Estevan woman wins on CROSSWORD
Caption: Wilma Perkins holds a copy of the CROSSWORD ticket that won her $50,000.
Wilma Perkins of Estevan recently won $50,000 on a CROSSWORD scratch 'n win ticket.
Perkins purchases one or two tickets a week. She bought two $3 CROSSWORD tickets at Little J's Confectionery in Estevan.
After she scratched the tickets, Perkins thought she had uncovered nine words on one ticket to win $1,000. It wasn't until she took her ticket to have it checked by the lottery retailer that she discovered she had won the top prize of $50,000, as her CROSSWORD ticket contained 10 complete words.
Perkins said she was shocked at first, but then happy.
Perkins plans to share her windfall with her family.

Motorcycle rodeo coming to Estevan
The first ever Bikers Against Diabetes motorcycle rodeo will be held on Saturday, May 31, outside of Estevan.
Organizer Keith Irvine said the event will have several games involving motorcycle riders. There will be a keg roll, in which participants will push a keg across the finish line using the front wheel of the bike. A slow race will require entrants to reach the finish line last, without putting their feet down for balance.
A wiener bite contest will have participants drive under a stand with a wiener hanging from a string. A passenger on the motorcycle has to bite the wiener. Whoever takes the biggest bite wins.
The rodeo will be west of Estevan, at the farm where the United Way trailer is located. The start time is 1 p.m. Irvine said he doesn't know how many entrants they will receive, since this is the inaugural event.
Proceeds will go to send children and/or families to Camp Easter Seals' Diabetic Division camp near Watrous.
Irvine went to the camp as a child. It was one week in his life when he could do everything most children do. It didn't seem like much at the time, he said, but as he grew older, he realized what a special week it was.

Relay for Life quilt unveiled
Caption: Posing with the quilt were (back row, L-R): Hearts and Hands Quilt Guild members Rose Van de Woestyne, Irene Roy, Eileen McKersie, Lil Raiwet, Terry Whitman and Peggy Peters. Front row: Survivor committee co-chair Candy Smyth, Rod Fagerheim from Crown Advertising and Dwight Thompson from Senchuk Ford Sales.
The Hearts and Hands Quilt Guild has completed a quilt for the Relay for Life in Estevan that pays tribute to cancer survivors.
The blue and yellow quilt includes individual pictures of most of the people who participated in last year's opening lap for cancer survivors, as well as a group picture of last year's survivors. The back of the quilt has blue Relay for Life bandanas.
The quilt will be raffled off at Estevan's Relay for Life June 14 and 15.
Only a cancer survivor can win the quilt. Anyone can buy a ticket for the quilt, but it must be purchased on behalf of a cancer survivor.
The quilt was sponsored by Rod Fagerheim-Crown Advertising, Senchuk Ford Lincoln and Federated Co-op.

Reception for Bill Dowhanuik
Caption: Former Estevan resident Bill Dowhanuik spoke at an April 19 reception for his community gallery exhibit.
The watercolour and printmaking efforts of former Estevan resident Bill Dowhanuik are on display at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum's community gallery in April.
Dowhanuik's exhibit features dozens of paintings, most of them watercolour, created in the last 10 years. About 70 people, including friends and family, attended an artist's reception at the gallery for Dowhanuik April 19.
Dowhanuik started to dabble in watercolour in 1998, after he retired from teaching. He said he wanted to do something he knew nothing about. He had done some artwork in the past, but not watercolour.
Watercolour proved to be a challenge because the water runs all over the place. He tried different techniques, and he eventually patterned his style.
Dowhanuik has used his watercolour abilities to create hundreds of cards for birthdays, Christmas and other occasions, he said.
The only painting in the exhibit that isn't watercolour or a print is "Collage," an oil painting that he completed in 1960. It is his favourite, he said, but he is also fond of a series of nine paintings that depict different cats.

Donation for food banks
The Province of Saskatchewan has announced a donation to Saskatchewan Food Banks.
Premier Brad Wall, in conjunction with Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud, Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer and representatives from the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board (Sask Pork) announced up to $440,000 in funding to process animals culled through the National Cull Breeding Swine Program.
The processed pork will be donated to food banks throughout Saskatchewan.
The funding will be administered through Sask Pork, which will co-ordinate the processing of sows with producers and provincial meat processors, and then co-ordinate distribution of the meat to the Food Banks.

Women of Today speaker return home
Author Jo Bannatyne-Cugnet returned to Estevan to give the keynote address at the 10th annual SaskPower/Quota International Women of Today Awards April 23. Bannatyne-Cugnet was born and raised in Estevan, but now farms outside of Weyburn. She is the author of six books, including the award-winning A Prairie Alphabet. Bannatyne-Cugnet shared the 12-year process in creating A Prairie Alphabet during her speech, and discussed the popularity of the book. She also paid tribute to the contributions of women in her life, including her mother, whom Bannatyne-Cugnet called her biggest fan.

Concert proceeds turned over
(L-R) Estevan McDonald's franchisees Chris and Tim Jenish accepted a $3,445 cheque from Koncerts co-chairs Brenda Lyons and Wendy May-Clark. The money - which was raised during a Koncerts for Kids benefit concert in February featuring illusionists Ted and Marion Outerbridge that attracted 425 people - will be turned over to Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon.

Expect more building activity in Estevan
Caption: Construction is underway on several new houses in Estevan, including this one in the Trojan subdivision. Land development services manager Rob Denys is expecting another busy year for building activity in the city.
Rob Denys, the land development services manager for the City of Estevan, is expecting another very busy year for building activity in the city.
Eleven permits worth $4.69 million were issued in the first three months of 2008. It's about half of the number of permits compared to this time last year, but Denys is expecting activity to increase once temperatures warm up.
"From all indications, it looks like it will be a fairly active year across the board as far as residential, commercial and industrial," said Denys. "I think we're going to see fairly good numbers this year. I don't know if we'll match what we did last year, but we certainly expect to see some very good numbers."
Construction has started on the first house in Phase 7 of the Trojan subdivision in northeast Estevan. Another 19 single-family lots, and one multi-family lot, have also been sold in Trojan.
Thirty-seven more single-family lots are still available in Phase 7. Denys said that number is changing on a day-to-day basis.
There is also construction underway in the previous phase of Trojan, and on the final lots of the Dominion Heights subdivision, which is in the city's northwest corner.
Development will start this year on the eighth phase of the Trojan subdivision, which will have 12 single-family lots and two apartment lots. They're also working on an industrial park.
"We're also expecting there will be some land development activity in the private sector," said Denys.

One per cent of seeding complete
Approximately one per cent of this year's crop is seeded, according to Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture's weekly crop report.
Peas, barley, lentils and wheat were seeded during the past week in the southern region of the province. Most northern and central areas are still two to three weeks away from seeding. The effects of the weekend storm will be reported in next week's crop report as much of the precipitation fell on Sunday.
Provincially, 51 per cent of the crop, hay and pasture land is reported to have adequate topsoil moisture - with most regions reporting over 50 per cent adequate. In the southwest region however, 17 per cent of crop land and 15 per cent of hay and pasture land are reported to have adequate topsoil moisture.
Areas that received snow and rain during the weekend storm are expected to report an improvement in topsoil moisture conditions next week.
Reporters indicated that farmers spent last week fixing fences, readying machinery, picking rocks, controlling gophers, applying chemicals and fertilizer, and cleaning grain.

Columnists

A WELL DRESSED BEAUTY
By Linda Wegner
I got the message twice today - once from Tim and once from Coco. In both cases it was directed to women and in both instances the message reinforced what I already believed (hey, who doesn't like someone to tell you you're right - twice in one day, to boot!)
I read Coco Chanel's comment this afternoon while browsing through an outdated magazine. "A woman with good shoes in never ugly," it read. Smug with justification for being well-heeled, I found myself nodding in agreement. No one knows better than I do that I'm your average "mature woman" who has never been nominated for a beauty anything, but I've always worn shoes that are polished, in good repair and mostly, in style. According to Chanel's definition, being less than lithe but neatly dressed and wearing good shoes puts me into the "never ugly" category.
I like what Tim, actually Peter, said even more, though. In the second book he wrote, Peter noted that it isn't fancy clothes or expensive jewelry that makes a woman beautiful - it's who she is inside that defines her. Tim, our pastor, expounded the writings of Peter, the Apostle, in one of the most sensitive ways I've heard in my decades of church going. I left feeling validated and…beautiful.
There's probably no topic that's been abused more than that of "submission" and the role of women but that's far from my point in writing this. Here's what I want to get across - the characteristics that make anyone beautiful (or handsome) are gender neutral, don't go out of style and they can't be purchased.
"…To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…"
Those are free. The shoes you have to buy.

What Good is it?
Have you ever experienced "Jet lag"? I have, once, on a trip to Israel.
Our plane left Toronto at 6 am and, after 14 hours in the air, we landed just outside Tel Aviv at around 8 am their time. I had not slept on the plane (I did not want to miss anything) and so when we got on the tour bus that morning I was tired!
One of my most vivid memories of that first day is simply trying to force my eyes open. As the bus rocked slowly back and forth down the road, the nice, warm sun shone in the window. To make matters worse, my friend Bill was sound asleep and snoring loudly. The first day of that trip was a bit of a blur for a while. It is hard to stay awake and alert when everything around you is encouraging you to relax and sleep through the important stuff.
Unfortunately, I sometimes find myself going through life as if I am sitting on that bus. I am on the journey of a lifetime and yet I can hardly stay awake. My days go by and I really do not know where I am going or why I am here. In other words, I sometimes just float along and do what everyone else does, because that is the easy thing to do.
Recently, though, I have received a couple of "wake up calls", one of which is a verse that I cannot stop thinking about. Jesus asked, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 9:36).
Jesus warns us that it is entirely possible for someone to be a huge success in one sense and yet be living a life that is not worth living in God's eyes.
I think it is time for me to wake up and make sure that I am living by God's priorities. How about you?
"Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33)
Tim Pippus, Estevan Church of Christ

GARDEN NOTES
By Gerry Fichtemann
OVER ANXIOUS!
By Gerry Fichtemann
In the months of late April and early May, many gardeners get way ahead of themselves and especially ahead of nature. Most 'good' gardeners are wise enough not to get caught by Mother Nature.
If you are putting garden seed in your garden including both vegetables and flowers, it won't do you any good whatsoever by being an earl bird. The reason is that seeds will not germinate in cold soil. The soil must be warmed by the sunshine and your seeds will sprout much faster and healthier. I recommend that most seeding (outside) not be done til (at least the 15th of May. You must be definitely a 'weather-watcher' in order to be a good gardener.
Gladiolus bulbs and dahlia tubers can be purchased now however store them in the fridge or a cool basement until planting time to keep them from sprouting too much.
It was a complete shock to visit a big-box store last week and see a few boxes of tulips and daffodils sitting on the shelf. Any gardeners in their right minds would ever plant those items in the spring. WHY? Because spring blooming bulbs must be planted in the fall to give them the cold treatment needed. The reason they were on the shelf is because these were leftovers from last fall and put in the back room until now. What should have been done is clear- the store should have put them in the garbage if they were not sold. This is a total rip-off to the consumer and if you are stupid enough to buy these, it is your own fault. The big box stores that call themselves 'garden experts' is nothing but a big joke!
If you are planning to buy annual bedding plants for your garden, do not plant before the 24th of May weekend, otherwise you are taking a great risk of late frosts and again may I repeat the ground must be warm in order for your small plants to grow big and healthy. The bedding plant growers just love it when you buy early because they know we are going to get a killing frost soon and then you have to buy them allover again!
Many people buy them early and put them in the house until planting time. This is not good because you lose the 'hardening off' process' and your plants will have a tough time adjusting to the outside climate
Don't be over-anxious … just be smart!
Gerry Fichtemann is the owner of River Bend Nursery.

Sports

Wildlife Federation hosts fundraiser
Caption: Dave and Shannon Carriere won the pick of the litter draw and had first pick of the live auction items. They chose an air compressor.
The Estevan Wildlife Federation hosted another successful edition of their biggest fundraiser of the year - their annual dinner and auction - April 19 at the Wylie-Mitchell building.
Forty-six items were sold during a live auction. Artwork, tools, clothing, memorabilia, and many other items were available. A ping pong ball auction for a choice of three firearms brought in $3,700.
Other highlights included a silent auction and several raffles.
Proceeds will be directed to the following EWF projects:
*Hosting a summer youth camp in July, their annual awards banquet in February, and two firearms safety classes.
*Planting 8,000 trees southeast of Torquay in May, weather permitting, for the purpose of increasing wildlife habitat.
*Maintaining a clubhouse and grounds that are available for rent, and maintain a trap range and rifle range that is open to members only.
*Purchasing and release pheasants.
*Hosting the annual Opening Day Walleye Classic in May, and the annual Boundary Dam Bass Master Challenge in June. Both events are at Boundary Dam.

Synchronized swimming demonstration
Caption: The Tier Two team dove into the pool during the Estevan Mermaids' water show.
The Estevan Mermaids synchronized swimming club showed off all they learned during the past year during their annual water show April 19.
Members of the club performed in solos, duets and teams. They also demonstrated some of their techniques and presented certificates. Cake and refreshments were served afterwards, and audience members were able to swim with the Mermaids.
Several members of the club will be travelling to provincials April 26 in Saskatoon.
A total of 13 girls - ranging in experience from one to eight years - and four coaches were involved with the Mermaids this year.

Minor hockey needs a new president
The Estevan Minor Hockey Association needs a new president.
Jody Harris, the organization's president since 2004, announced she is stepping aside during the organization's spring annual meeting April 24.
"It's time for somebody else to step in," said Harris. "Everything's been good. I'd rather leave on a good note than a bad one."
Harris said she is interested in the coordinator job for the Saskatchewan Hockey Association's Zone 1. She also wants to enjoy watching her son play his last season of minor hockey.
Other vacancies on the 17-member executive include registration/publicity director, atom director and learn to skate director.
"It's a good time for somebody to take that spot because there are so many returning executive members," said Harris.
Financial statements released during the meeting showed the organization had a surplus of about $5,000 last year, Harris said. They still have money in their operating and ways-and-means accounts.
It was another successful year on the ice, too. The Apex Distribution Midget AA Bruins won the provincial title, and the Canadian Tire Bantam A Bruins won the provincial and league titles.

Baseball season starts April 28
Caption: Kegan Petrisor worked on pitching during Estevan Minor Baseball clinics.
The 2008 Estevan Minor Baseball season starts April 28.
About 315 youth are registered this year in minor baseball's different divisions: blast-o-ball, junior and senior mites, mosquito, pee-wee, bantam and midget, said president Mel Murray.
Skills training sessions were held at the Civic Auditorium April 18 and 19. Peewee, mosquito and junior and senior mite players brushed up on their skills for the upcoming season.
This year will be a busy one for Estevan Minor Baseball. In addition to their leagues, the organization will host mosquito AA and peewee AA provincials July 18 to 20 at Luscar Park, and bantam AAA and midget AAA western Canadians at Lynn Prime Park August 21 to 24.

Tournament for safety training
The Early Safety Training Program will host their 10th annual golf classic on Saturday, May 24 at Mainprize Golf Course outside of Midale.
The best ball tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Steak supper and prizes will follow. About 70 golfers entered last year's tournament, raising $15,000.
The deadline to register is May 16.
The program is designed to provide bursaries to young people who are taking safety training courses. It's a project of the Southeast Regional College's Energy Training Institute.
About 100 young people pass through the Early Safety Training Program each year, and each student receives a bursary worth nearly $200, once they complete their training.
The bursary covers more than half of the cost of their training.

Locals enter marathon
Caption: (L-R) Amanda Minchin, Terena Friess, Tareina Hunt, Jennifer Olfert,
Lesley Dukart and Tia Dukart participated in the Regina Police Service half marathon.
Two Estevan teams entered the Regina Police Service's 21.1 kilometre half marathon April 20.
Team Nut-Nae Art - consisting of starter Terena Friess, second leg Amanda Minchin and finisher/captain Tareina Hunt - finished 21st with a total time of two hours, two minutes and 52.7 seconds.
Team Yummy Mommies - with starter/captain Jennifer Olfert, second leg Lesley Dukart and finisher Tia Dukart - was 26th with a time of two hours, five minutes and 45.7 seconds.
Olfert, Hunt and Tia Dukart have run competitively in the past. It was the first competitive marathon for Friess, Minchin and Lesley Dukart.
Rain and snow that had been forecast for Regina that day missed the city, but the runners had to compete with 45 kilometre-per-hour winds.
A total of 48 teams entered the event.

From the Sidelines
Holland/ Howard Win Players
By Kyle Kapiczowski
At the 2008 Tylenol Players Championships, Amber Holland won the lady's final by beating Krista McCarville 6-5 in the championship game. In the men's final, Glen Howard beat Kevin Martin 7-1. Both teams won $25,000 and berths into the Olympic trials in Edmonton next year.
In the NHL, the Ottawa Senators do not intend to have goalie Ray Emery back next season. Emery didn't have a very good season this year. He got into fights with his teammates and showed up late for practices. Some say this all had a negative impact on the team. I think he was just a loose cannon.
In the Arena Football League, the Cleveland Gladiators beat the Los Angeles Avengers 83-69. The Gladiators record is 4-3 and 2-1 in their division. Cleveland's next game is against the undefeated Philadelphia Soul.
Other scores from Week 8 were: the New Orleans Voodoo beat the Arizona Rattlers 60-36, the Chicago Rush got past the Grand Rapids Rampage 55-52, the Kansas City Brigade edged the Colorado Crush 55-53, the San Jose Sabercats beat the Utah Blaze 61-40, Orlando Predators got past the Georgia force 65-62 and the New York Dragons beat the Tampa Bay Storm 66-47.
In the Indy Racing League, Danica Patrick won the Indy Japan 300. She becomes the first woman to win an IRL race. This was her first win in her 50th start as an IRL driver.
In the National Lacrosse league, the Calgary Roughnecks have clinched a playoff spot. The Roughnecks beat the Toronto Rock 12-11 in overtime. Calgary's record is 6-9 and they are in third place. The Roughneck's last game of the 2008 season is against the Edmonton Rush.
In the English Premier League, Manchester United tied Blackburn 1-1. Man U's record is 25-4-6 and their next game is against Chelsea.
That's all folks!

Viewpoints

Editorial:
Tea Time
Seeking Over Coffee
By Dani Stobbs
While being back in England I have had the chance to catch up with old friends that I have not seen for a year or so. Even though the trip to England was under unfortunate circumstances, it was still nice to come back and to go for coffee or shopping with friends.
I wanted to share with you a little about this interesting fellow. I have known him since I was 16 - we took the same lesson, religious studies, for two years and then just seemed to naturally keep in touch after.
He has a fascinating tale to tell about his time in Bordeaux of France to a Buddhist retreat. What he learned there was so interesting to listen to. He spent time walking through the streets of France among 2,000 people in meditation - he told me about the people that were there seeking and finding peace in their lives from the teachings of this man (sorry, I can't remember his name).
Now this isn't to say that I believe in the origin of this religion, but to listen to someone on a quest for peace, and to spend what I thought was going to be a half-hour coffee quickly went to four hours, something was stirred in me about this person.
We shared our views on religion, on belief, on the type of people we were and have become. My sister sat in the background catching the last moments of our conversation (poor girl).
The reason that I tell you all this, and just recall the meeting with this one person, is that we sat and talked about everything and anything in total harmony, even though we have different views on the world. We like different things, we live in different countries, yet for that four hours their was unity in the understanding that we are different yet seeking the same things.
When I read the newspapers and magazines, I notice that our world seems to hinge a lot on disunity. We want to read about divorce and break-ups, we read about who is the fattest celebrity this week. We seem to be in an on-going battle of what religion we should be part of, if any, what church denomination is the best one, or makes more sense.
And honestly this week I sat over coffee and just realized WHO CARES? If there is a possibility that we can turn our eyes from each other, and maybe take a moment to look at what it is that we are missing in our own lives.
What are you missing? I think I realized that despite mine and this guy's difference in where the origins of whatever we believe in, what I found was that we were both seeking the same thing… peace. I know that sounds like a wishy washy statement, but just think about what that word actually means. And here is my belief. I believe that we are all looking for that in our own way, but I also believe that we will eventually all come to the same origin, and it's exciting to believe that.

Editorial:
In defence of front yard pick-up
By David Willberg
People aren't always receptive to change. It seems to be especially true for garbage pick-up in Estevan.
Many people are angry that City Council has awarded a five-year residential garbage pick-up contract to a local firm that will change the way the service is provided in the city. Instead of manual backyard pick-up, Estevan residents will now have automated, front yard pick-up.
And instead of garbage cans and stands whose condition deteriorates over time, every house in Estevan will receive a new 95-cubic gallon cart to store their trash.
Many residents have had backyard pick-up for years. And they aren't receptive to the switch. But front yard pick-up is an improvement.
I had front yard pick-up for nearly 20 years in both B.C. and Estevan. Without issue. The biggest concern was the garbage can lid blowing away. The lids on the new carts are attached, so that won't be a problem.
A few blocks will retain backyard pick-up. But they'll get carts, too. And the appearance of Estevan's back alleys should improve dramatically.
Estevan has been spoiled with residential waste pick-up for years. Most municipalities have had bag limits for years. Estevan didn't. The new five-bag limit is still generous.
Estevan residents used to be able to throw out anything. Now, if it isn't bundled or bagged inside the cart, it won't be accepted.
People with disabilities have the right to be concerned, but the carts are easy to move (at least according to the contractor). Anyone who has trouble moving the cart will receive assistance from the contractor.
The biggest concern should be the cost. The shift to automated, front yard pick-up was more than $60,000 higher than the other bid in the first year of the contract, and it increases to $78,000 in the final year.
Front yard service is a step forward, but one must ask if it, along with cleaner back alleys, is worth an extra $60,000 a year.

What's Happening

Appreciation supper
Lampman Fire and Rescue held an appreciation supper April 20 at the Lampman Rink for nearly 200 people who contributed to the purchase of their rescue truck. The truck enables Lampman Fire and Rescue to have the tools to assist other agencies with their response to motor vehicle accidents and other incidents.

Subway reopens
Estevan's Subway restaurant reopened April 21. Subway had been closed for several months due to renovations and a transfer of ownership to Margaret Sereggela. The restaurant has new staff, and a new look for its seating arrangement, service counter and walls.

Say "oui"
Canadian Parents for French held a workshop at Sacred Heart School in Estevan April 19. Students from Kindergarten to Grade 4 participated in games, crafts, outdoor activities and dancing, all in French, to boost their French comprehension, social skills and vocabulary.