Feature

White Bear artist loves to paint
CAPTIONS:
- Paintings such as "JR Dream" (above) and "The Signing of Treaty Four" (below) are among the Michael Lonechild paintings on display at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum.
- White Bear artist Michael Lonechild spoke at a reception April 3 at the
Estevan Art Gallery and Museum. In the background is one of his paintings, “Leaving.”
By David Willberg
Michael Lonechild still remembers his first exhibit at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum (EAGM) 30 years ago.
A local priest, Father Joseph Suroviak, was fond of Lonechild's paintings, and purchased some of them - for about $20 or $30 each, Lonechild said. Suroviak encouraged Lonechild to put some of his paintings in an exhibit and sell them. Lonechild did, and the paintings fetched about $800 in total.
"That's how my art business, my career, got started," Lonechild told a crowd of more than 60 people at a reception April 2 at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum.
"Joe went to me one day and he said 'one day you'll sell a painting for $1,000.' I said he was crazy," said Lonechild. "About a month after that, I sold a painting for $1,000."
More than 25 Lonechild original acrylic paintings are on display in the EAGM's main gallery in April. All of the paintings in the exhibit were previously purchased. They were returned to Lonechild for the exhibit.
Lonechild has had his work displayed in Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Washington, D.C., among other locations, since that first Estevan show 30 years ago. And he has sold many paintings worth more than $1,000.
The older paintings are the ones that stand out to Lonechild. Paintings such as "Summer Scene" - which depicts people and horses on a farm; "Praying for my People"- which shows a First Nations elder in meditation; and "Getting Very Cold" - which portrays life on a farm in the winter.
"They bring back the time that I started," Lonechild told Lifestyles. "I started to paint, and I didn't really have control of the colour yet. As I progressed in painting, my colours became more vivid. I could play with the light and the shadow better."
Lonechild has no formal art training. His first exposure to art came from his father, who drew with a pencil. Three of his brothers paint, too.
"My art is in my head," said Lonechild. "I can't really explain how I paint, because I don't know how I paint. I just sit down and start painting."
Horses are a big part of his artwork. So is his First Nations background. Many of his paintings involve horses or First Nations people, or both.
"I've always admired the horse," said Lonechild, who is a Cree. "It has a spirit all its own. It's a noble animal, it's strong, very colourful, very agile in his moves. And it was a big part of my people a long time ago."
Painting is therapeutic, he said. He gets lost in his work. It helps him to loosen up and relax. It's something he has always enjoyed.
Born and raised on the White Bear First Nation, Lonechild has remained on the reserve throughout his career. There are challenges associated with remaining in a small community. He has sold a lot of art locally, and he likes meeting people and travelling.
White Bear's surroundings have also given him a lot of inspirations.
"If you look at most of these paintings, they all come from my home," said Lonechild. "Everything is there that I need. There are horses on the reserve. Of course there are the people there that pose for me occasionally."
Lonechild also donates his artwork to various community groups. In some cases, it's because he wants to give back. In other cases, he wants to support a cause he believes in.
Painting is the easy part, he said. The challenge is getting an idea in his mind to paint.
"When I start painting, I don't draw anything; I just start painting," said Lonechild. "Maybe I will draw over the background after. But most of the time I just start painting the background and the landscape. And when I'm complete with that, I start to do the subject."
It takes about a week to a week-and-a-half to complete a project once he starts painting. He paints four to eight hours a day.
Art is a tough business to be in, he admitted. He's always looking for new clients and new avenues to sell his art. Financial security will never be attained, he said, and he'll always be an artist.

News

POLICE REPORT
*A 16-year-old Estevan male has pleaded guilty to four charges after a police pursuit in late March. The male pleaded guilty to theft of a motor vehicle over $5,000, dangerous driving, flight from police and mischief under $5,000. Several other charges were stayed as a result of the guilty pleas. He was remanded in custody for a 30-day psychiatric assessment and he will appear in court again in April for sentencing.
*A 32-year-old Alberta male was charged with refusing to provide a breath sample upon demand following a traffic stop. He will appear in court in April.
*A male was detained and transported to his residence following a mischief complaint at a residence.
*A 15-year-old Estevan male was charged with failing to comply with conditions of his undertaking. He will appear in court in April.
*Police received a complaint of a truck windshield being shattered by a beer bottle in the 1800 block of Second Street. Police determined the identity of the male suspect, who fled the scene. Further attempts will be made to apprehend him for charges.
*A break-and-enter into a residence in the Westview area remains under investigation.
*A disturbance was reported at a licenced establishment. Surveillance footage of the incident was viewed and the matter remains under investigation.

Do not prune elm trees
To reduce the risk of Dutch elm disease, pruning of elm trees is prohibited throughout Saskatchewan each year from April 1 until August 31.
Fresh cuts from pruning attract the beetles that can spread the disease, increasing the chance of an infection.
"The annual pruning ban is in effect during the time of year when elm bark beetles are most active," Environment Minister Nancy Heppner said. "Everyone can do their part to protect the elm trees in our communities by respecting the pruning ban."
Pruning remains an important part of regular elm tree care and is encouraged, before and after the annual ban period. Proper pruning helps keep trees healthy and better able to resist disease.
The removal of dead and dying elm wood through pruning also helps to reduce beetle breeding habitat and control the beetle population. Prompt and proper disposal of the pruned wood is also essential to keep Dutch elm disease from spreading.
Provincial regulations also require commercial pruners of elm trees to have taken a recognized training program or be under the supervision of someone who has. Improper pruning techniques can contribute to the spread of many tree diseases, including Dutch elm disease.

Grand opening for new dialysis unit
CAPTION: (L-R) St. Joseph's Hospital executive director Normand Poirier, Estevan MLA Doreen Eagles, Sun Country Regional Health Authority chair Earl Kickley, Health Minister Don McMorris, St. Joseph's board vice-chair Roy Ludwig, Sun Country chief of staff Dr. Veno Padayachee, Regina Qu'Appelle medical director Dr. Cam Wilson and Sun Country CEO Cal Tant participated in the ribbon cutting.
St. Joseph's Hospital celebrated the grand opening of their new renal dialysis unit March 28.
Dozens of people attended a reception. Other highlights included a ribbon cutting and tours of the facility.
Health Minister Don McMorris said that even though he's been the minister for only four months, he knows it took years to get the dialysis unit open. Everyone realizes the importance of dialysis, he said, and it has made an immediate difference in the lives of patients.
Estevan MLA Doreen Eagles noted that one of the first groups she met with, after she became MLA in 1999, was trying to bring dialysis to Estevan.
The dialysis unit opened in November. It is currently running at full capacity with 12 patients. Six patients receive treatment in the morning on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and six more receive treatment in the afternoon on those days. Additional shifts, or an extra unit, could eliminate the wait list.
Patients previously had to travel up to three hours, each way, to Regina for the treatment.
Estevan's unit is the eighth satellite in the province. Regina is the home unit for Estevan.

Another strong year for Spectra CU
CAPTION: CEO Tim Schroh recapped Spectra's highlights from 2007, and looked ahead to 2008.
Spectra Credit Union posted another impressive year financially, with asset growth and high net income, according to audited financial statements released during Spectra's annual general meeting March 31.
Assets reached $447.8 million in 2007, up from $421.4 million in 2006. Spectra expects assets to continue to grow by five per cent per year.
Net income was $4.298 million after taxes. That's down about $250,000 from last year, thanks mostly to expenses increasing by more than $1 million.
Spectra made a $1 million commitment, to be paid out over 10 years, to the naming rights campaign for Estevan's new arena. They donated $90,000 to community groups, and fundraised another $10,000.
The contributions to the community means there won't be a member patronage dividend in 2008.
Spectra was chosen as one of the top 25 small and medium employers in Canada for the third straight year.
"It has a lot to do with the culture that is dominant within Spectra Credit Union," said president Joe Parent.
It was a year of transition, though, for Spectra. Two executive vice-presidents, Larry Pangborn and Garry Gress, along with former CEO Wayne Claypool, retired last year. Tim Schroh was hired as Spectra's new CEO. He started in January.
This year promises to be a busy one for Spectra Credit Union. Their Estevan branch will expand by 5,000 square feet. Construction is expected to start in May or June, and be finished in October.
Expansion on the 22-year-old building is needed to accommodate all of Spectra's employees.
"With the additional staff that you need to help with our growth, we are just bursting at the seams," said Schroh.
Upgrades will be made to the computer system that houses their banking information. The existing system is 11 or 12 years old, Schroh said. It's a significant internal improvement, he said.
"What it will do is it has better functionality for us to serve, so from a service perspective, the membership should see an improvement because it's a way better system in terms of ease of use for our staff," said Schroh.
Spectra is investigating the possibility of starting up a foundation this year, but Schroh said they need to clear a couple of regulatory hoops before releasing any details.

Highway 39 overpass will get face-lift
Repairs to the Highway 39 east overpass this summer will have a considerable impact on traffic in east Estevan.
City of Estevan staff, Ministry of Highways representatives and affected business owners discussed the project at a March 28 meeting at City hall.
"There are several issues that we have with it," said Highway bridge project manager Jeff Nelson. "Some recent bridge inspections have shown there's a high potential for corrosion in the deck steel in the bridge deck. We'd like to go in and fix that."
Reinforcing steel, concrete, concrete barriers, and asphalt will be replaced. A waterproof membrane will be applied to prevent water and salt from seeping into the concrete. The overpass will be able to accommodate current and future traffic demands.
Work is expected to start in late May. The project will require three or four months, and it will cost $2.2 million.
Traffic will be detoured off of 39 on to Kensington Avenue and Escana Street. Temporary traffic lights will be installed at the intersection of Kensington and Escana. Crossing arms will be installed at the south Kensington railway crossing.
The Kensington and Sixth Avenue intersection will be closed, affecting a couple of businesses. Nelson said that for the detour to pass CP Rail's safety standards, the Sixth and Kensington intersection has to be closed due to increased traffic.
"The problem is, as it is right now, if trucks turn on to Sixth, if they're heading south on Kensington, the truck has to slow down and make a wide turn, and that backs up traffic on both south-bound lanes across the train tracks."
Nelson said he knew there would be a problem with cutting off businesses, and they would like to rectify the problem, but it's unlikely anything can be done.

Fundraiser for Rod and Candy Mutton
A benefit auction and dance will be held for Rod and Candy Mutton on Saturday, April 19 at the Bienfait rink.
Doors open at 7 p.m. There will be silent and live auctions, a DJ, a cash bar and a midnight lunch. The event is open to families, and children are encouraged to attend.
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.
The benefit will help the Mutton's cope with the crisis.

Largest population growth since 1952
A lot more people are calling Saskatchewan home, according to the latest report by Statistics Canada.
The province's population grew by 16,492 people in 2007, an increase of 1.7 per cent - well ahead of the national average of 1.1 per cent. It's also the biggest one-year jump in Saskatchewan's population since 1952.
In the fourth quarter of 2007, Saskatchewan's population grew by 3,345 or 0.33 per cent - the largest percentage increase of any province in Canada.
Premier Brad Wall said the huge jump in population is terrific news for Saskatchewan.
"More and more people are discovering that Saskatchewan is not only a great place to make a living, it's a great place to make a life," Wall said. "There are so many opportunities in Saskatchewan right now, while at the same time, our province offers a tremendous quality of life for everyone."
Wall said his government's task is to sustain the economic momentum so that Saskatchewan continues to grow.
"That's why our budget focused on making sure Saskatchewan is ready for growth," Wall said. "I believe we will see continued growth throughout 2008 and beyond.
"Our employment numbers are already up for the first two months of the new year, and while other provinces are talking about a possible recession, Saskatchewan is forecast to lead the country in economic growth."
Unlike previous years, more people are moving into Saskatchewan than moving out. Saskatchewan enjoyed net interprovincial in-migration of 10,174 people in 2007. There were 6,950 more people who moved from Alberta to Saskatchewan than from Saskatchewan to Alberta.
"We live in the best province in the best country in the world," Wall said. "The real question is - why would you want to live anywhere else?"

Seeking bad drivers in Estevan
"Canada's Worst Drivers," one of the top-rated programs on the Discovery Channel, will be coming to Estevan in early May to search for candidates for the fourth installment of the series.
Producers are now accepting nominations to pre-schedule live interviews during their May stopover. The producers will follow up with every nomination received from now until April 30th.
There has never been a candidate from Saskatchewan on the program.
"Canada's Worst Driver" examines why some drivers are so disastrous behind the wheel - both in mechanics and mindset - and the critical science of road safety. With expert guidance and coaching to help them improve, the worst drivers in Canada rejoin the highways as better drivers and with fewer liabilities.
The drivers will undergo a series of intense challenges to improve technique to help them understand basic driving skills and increase spatial awareness. Producers are looking for all kinds of bad drivers, whether it be those who drive too slow, or those who suffer from road rage.

Lafrentz to speak on Nicaragua mission
CAPTION: Kathy Lafrentz (middle front row, kneeling) recently travelled to
Nicaragua, where she helped construct a church.
Bienfait resident Kathy Lafrentz is back from her latest missions trip to Nicaragua.
Lafrentz was in the Central American nation from January 19 to March 2. She will discuss her experiences in the country during a presentation at Faith Lutheran Church in Estevan on Sunday, April 13.
Faith Lutheran's services are at the Nicholson Centre, adjacent to the Souris Valley Aquatic and Leisure Centre.
Pastor Sangrog Choy from Grenfell joined Lafrentz in Nicaragua, and he will also be speaking on the 13th.
This was Lafrentz's third trip to Nicaragua since 2005. She assisted with building a church in the small community of Israel. Lafrentz mixed cement and laid bricks.
She also participated in an outreach to the community, and she handed out food to the people.

Redvers man gets volunteer medal
Kenneth Miller, a retired Redvers farmer, will be one of eight dedicated recipients of the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal this year.
Miller has been the mayor and a councillor on Redvers Town Council. He is a member of the Redvers Agricultural Society, the Redvers and District Recreation Centre, Redvers Tourism, the Redvers Wildlife Association and the Redvers and District Health Foundation Board.
Miller is a volunteer with the Lightning Creek Dam Project. He maintained newly planted trees and he mowed the grass while the project was under construction. He has remained involved with the project, too.
He volunteers many hours building and maintaining ball diamonds, fair grounds, tennis courts, a recreation centre which houses hockey and curling facilities, the swimming pool, the golf course, and an outdoor horse and cattle arena and barns for young people.
He also assisted with the development of community gardens.
Miller was awarded the Saskatchewan 125 Volunteer Recognition Award in 1992, and he has been recognized by several local clubs and organizations.
"The Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal enables us to publicly thank our generous citizens who have made volunteerism a lifelong priority," said Lieutenant Governor Dr. Gordon Barnhart. "The 2008 recipients are outstanding role models who are most deserving of this prestigious provincial honour."
The recipients will receive their awards on April 30 in Regina. Recipients are selected by the Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council from nominations submitted by the public.
The Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal has been presented to 112 individuals since 1995.
Saskatchewan has the highest rate of volunteerism in Canada.

Record-setting year for United Way
CAPTION: (L-R) New United Way of Estevan president Alan Hamann accepted the presidential gavel from past-president Mark Pettitt.
The United Way of Estevan once again set records in 2007 for the amount of money they raised, and the funds they turned over to their member agencies.
A total of $313,324.87 was raised during the 2007 campaign, according to unaudited financial statements released during their annual general meeting March 28. Included in that figure was more than $304,000 raised during their 31st annual Marathon in October.
And they turned over nearly $290,000 to their 17 member agencies, which will help them continue their work in Estevan. Many member agencies were in attendance to commend the United Way for their work.
"What a community," said Mark Pettitt, who was the United Way's president last year. He will be the past-president in 2008.
"Our community came together in such an amazing way last year, and for the first time ever, we went off the air with over $300,000."
Two shows go on during the Marathon, said Pettitt: the program that the public views on television, and the behind-the-scenes work that makes the show possible.
Alan Hamann will be the president in 2008. Hamann said it is "a real honour" to be the United Way's president.
"We are very well-known by the United Ways … across Canada for our unique and very successful methods of raising monies for our member agencies in our community," said Hamann.
The United Way works hard to create lasting change in the community, Hamann said. The Marathon allows the local United Way to avoid door-to-door canvassing used in other communities.
Joining Hamann and Pettitt on the executive will be first vice-president James Lainton, second vice-president James Trobert, secretary Debbie Swain and treasurer Caroline Guest.

Relay teams continue to register
CAPTIONS:
1- Nearly 30 people attended a Relay for Life captain's meeting.
2- Team recruitment committee chairs (L-R) Joyce Bod and Laurie Holzer chaired the meeting.
Team registrations are trickling in for Estevan's Relay for Life, which will take place June 14 and 15. Eight teams are already registered. Fifteen more packages are circulating the community.
Twenty-nine people attended a team captain's meeting March 31. Captains, and potential captains, were in attendance. Team recruitment chair Joyce Bod said there was a lot of good information and questions. Packages were handed out.
Bod said teams need to register before they can start fundraising. The sooner they register, the better, she said.
Bod said the goal is to have 75 teams this year. There were 51 last year.

APF programs continue
The Government of Canada is working with Saskatchewan to deliver new programs for Canadian farm families through the Growing Forward initiative, but while that progress continues, existing programs under the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) was extended for up to one year, starting April 1.
Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud today announced details about the continuation of programs under the APF.
"Growing Forward is delivering real results for Canadian agriculture and this Government is working with the provinces and territories to give farm families stability while we develop important new initiatives," said Ritz.
"Providing this stability while delivering progress on Growing Forward is another example of this Government's commitment to put farmers first," Ritz continued.
"Continuing programs will allow for a smooth transition to Growing Forward and will provide certainty for our farmers and all our partners as that transition takes place," Bjornerud said.
The federal government obtained authority in February 2008 to allow all federally-funded APF programs across Canada to be extended.
With authority now obtained in Saskatchewan as well, farmers will continue to have access to all APF shared federal and provincial programs in the areas of environment, food safety, innovation and renewal.
Consultations will continue so that Growing Forward programs are developed with the needs of the sector in mind. "This gives us the time we need to ensure farmers have the voice they deserve in program design," said Ritz.

Columnists

THE POWER OF FOUR LITTLE WORDS
By Linda Wegner
Did you ever think how easily four words can influence the direction of our lives? Let me explain. Today started out like most every Sunday morning: I slept in a bit; relaxed over breakfast; got dressed for church; then, headed out the door about 10:00. When you consider that my work day often begins at 6:00AM (the mixed blessing of a home-based business), it was pure luxury. But as I said, this morning started out like most every Sunday does. It was a series of four word phrases that made the difference.
The first example took place as I sat in silent prayer. "Oh how He loves you and me," we'd just sung when I sensed the warm embrace of my very best friend, Jesus Christ. In purity and grace I heard him whisper to me, "I love you, Linda," and my heart was warmed. There was no audible voice, no lightening or peals of thunder - just the sense of his presence. In response to such love, tears of joy flowed freely.
"Could you help us?" was another example. By now it was early afternoon and I'd just stretched out for a short nap when the phone rang. A friend from a sister church in the community called, in need of a pianist for an afternoon service at the local seniors' residence. "I can't get anyone today," she explained. "Could you help us?" "Of course," I answered, thankful that I still had fifteen minutes to rest. The blessing of sharing in that service far exceeded my plans for a sleep.
Looking back over my life, there are many things I'm glad I did, yet many that evoke the words, I wish I had. Isn't it interesting how four little words make all the difference?
"For God so loved…."
Four words to bless your life!

HOUSEPLANT AWAKENING
By Gerry Fichtemann
Over the winter period you probably cut down on your watering and fertilizing and letting them have a well deserved rest.
Now is the time to start thinking about waking these guys up, preparing them for another summer of growth. The sun is giving us a few more hours of light and the heat from the sun is also getting stronger.
First you must set your pots back a bit from the south windows so the plants don't get too much intense heat and burn. With the on-coming hours of more sunlight your plants will probably enjoy a little more water, which can be increased slightly thru' the hot summer months.
This is also the time to feed your houseplants. But just any type fertilizer will not do. You can do a lot of damage by not using the right fertilizer. It is also advisable to use a little less of the recommended dose than using more.
In most garden centers as well as a few florist shops have specific formulas such as Tropical foliage plants, etc. These specific formulas are designed to make that certain plant respond well to the food it is given.
Some plants, for example Foliage plants, would need a different formula than flowering plants. Some flowering plants take different fertilizers than other so the feeding of your plant constitutes a bit of research and inquiry.
THE PILL: A Virginia housewife claims that birth-control pills brings sick houseplants back to life. "Just feed them a birth control pill dissolved in hot water" and the Virginia housewife says the treatment has rejuvenated house-plants that should have been thrown out and made them move like mad! (Make sure the hot water is cooled down before feeding the plant).
Trigger flowering: If you are an African Violet fan and have a plant of correct conditions and in the right sized pot but no flowers, try this add a pinch of Epsom Salts to the water ONLY ONCE to trigger flowering season. It could also be that the pot is too large. African violets flower better when slightly pot-bound. Do not re-pot for two years.
NOTE: If you go to the drug-store and tell the druggist you need birth-control pills for your house-plants, don't be shocked if he tells you to see a doctor!.
Gerry Fichtemann is the owner of River Bend Nursery.

Sports

From the Sidelines
JONES WINS WORLDS
By Kyle Kapiczowski
Jennifer Jones and Team Canada beat China 7-4 in the Women's World Curling final. This is Canada's second win at the Women's World Curling Championships since 2000-01. Canada had lost to China in the round robin and again in the one - two page playoff game. Canada finished the championship with a record of 11-3. This is Canada's 15th Women's World Curling title since 1979. The last person to win the title in Canada before Jones was Marilyn Bodogh.
In the CFL, commissioner Mark Cohon announced that a football team will be returning to Ottawa. There were two previous teams in Ottawa and they were the Rough Riders and the Renegades. The new owners are led by Jeff Hunt, who owns the Ontario Hockey League's Ottawa 67's.
In the Arena Football League, the Philadelphia Soul beat the Tampa Bay Storm 59-51. The Soul's record is 5-0 overall and 1-0 in their division. Their next game is against the 0-5 Utah Blaze.
Other scores from Week 5 were: the New Orleans Voodoo got past the Colorado Crush 54-51, the Chicago Rush hammered the Arizona Rattlers59-35, the Grand Rapids Rampage beat the Los Angeles Avengers 84-59 and the Dallas Desperados squeaked by the New York Dragons 33-31.
In the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Philadelphia 76ers 91-88. The Cavaliers are 41-33 and currently sit second in the Central Division.
In NASCAR, Denny Hamlin won the Goody Cool Orange 500. Bobby Labonte finished the race in 25th place. The next race is the Samsung 500 from Texas.
In the Craftsman Truck Series, Dennis Setzer won the Kroger 250. Mike Skinner finished the race in 29th place. The next race is The O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 on April 26.
In the English Premier League, Manchester United beat Aston Villa 4-0. Man U's next game is against Middlesbrough. Manchester United's record is 24-4-4 and they are six points up on Chelsea for first place.
That's all folks!

Wild wins league B side
The Carlyle-based Moose Mountain Bantam Wild won the consolation B side of the South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League bantam division this year.
The Wild were seeded fifth entering the B event. But they defeated the No. 2 seeded Regina Senators in three games in a best-of-three, and the top-seeded Moose Jaw Warriors in two straight to reach the final against the Regina Canucks.
The Wild beat the Canucks 4-2 in Regina March 26 and 6-0 in Carlyle on the 29th.

Mustangs win Big Six title
CAPTION: From left: Cory Fiesel, Chad Leslie, Mike Sarada, Ryan Holdstock, Cory Veroba, Craig Wilgenbusch, Jason Kuchinka, Corey Koski, Christian Cote, Geoff Charles, Jeff Harris, Jeff Clauson, Trevor Warburton, Kurtis Peterson, Ty Magotiaux, Landon Irwin, Cahlan Arnold, Brendon Vertefeuille, Dale Logel, Brandon Kerr,
Dan McLellan, Ryan Thompson, Kelly Orsted.
The Midale Mustangs needed only four seasons to build a Big Six Hockey League champion.
The Mustangs defeated the Carnduff Red Devils 3-2 March 30 to win the best-of-seven league final in five games. Midale capped a remarkably successful year in which they lost just eight of 36 regular season and playoff games.
Head coach Kelly Orsted said their goal from the start of the season was to win the Big Six championship.
"At the initial skate, when we first had everybody there, we talked about it for roughly 10 to 15 minutes, that the goal of the team would be to bring a championship back (to Midale), and how we were going to go about it," said Orsted.
Orsted said it was important to have a 25-man roster, so they could ice a full line-up each night.
"You need that kind of depth to make a true run, with the talent that's in the league with the other teams," said Orsted. "At the end of the day, we were able to do it."
The title was the Mustangs' first since re-entering the league in 2004-05. It was the second Big Six championship for a team from Midale - the Midale Miners won the crown in 1961.
"Initially when we first started the team, it was just to get senior hockey back in Midale, and have something for the community to look forward to on a Friday night," said Orsted.
Midale won their first 11 games this season, and had the Big Six's second best record at 17-3-0-2.
The Mustangs swept the Wawota Flyers in three straight games in the West Division semi-final. All three games were decided by a goal. Then they beat the regular season champion Carlyle Cougars in six games in the West Division final.
Carnduff, last season's league champions, beat Midale 5-3 in Game 1. But Midale won the next four contests: 5-2 in Game 2, 3-1 in Game 3, 4-3 in overtime in Game 4, and finally 3-2 in Game 5.
Goaltending was terrific in the playoffs, Orsted said. Landon Irwin gave the team a boost when the Mustangs were off their game. Orsted also pointed to depth and team commitment to defence as keys to the championship.

Gedak rink wins Oilmen's
CAPTION: Pat Sullivan, Jesse Rosengren, Chris Fleck and Brent Gedak accepted plaques from Estevan OTS president Greg Kallis.
The Estevan Oilfield Technical Society's Oilmen's bonspiel, held March 27 to 30, brought the Estevan Curling Club's season to an end in fine fashion.
Brent Gedak Welding defeated Apex Distribution #1 5-4 in an A final that came down to the last shot. Members of the winning team were Gedak, who was the skip, third Chris Fleck, second Jesse Rosengren and lead Pat Sullivan.
It was Gedak's second Oilmen's title.
"We were close last year," said Gedak. "We lost in the final when I was playing with Supreme. So this year, to win it with my own company, it was nice."
Gedak had two shot rocks in the eighth end. Apex tried a draw with their last shot, but it slid into the back 12-foot ring and collected just one of Gedak's stones. Gedak still had shot rock, and didn't need to throw his final rock.
A one-point steal for Gedak in the sixth end was also important, he said.
"They were looking like they were going to get two or three on us, and that would have been tough to come back on those guys," said Gedak.
Apex had the chance to draw and score three in the sixth, but their last shot jammed a Gedak guard and slid away.
Apex led 2-0 after the first end. After a blanked second end, Gedak scored two to tie the game. The two teams traded points in the fourth and fifth ends for a 3-3 tie. Gedak got the steal in the sixth for the 4-3 lead, but Apex scored one in the seventh to tie the game again.
The win capped a good year for Gedak. He skipped teams to both the provincial men's and mixed tournaments. Ironically, the second on Apex's team, Ken Wallewein, was the lead on Gedak's team that reached the provincial men's tournament.
Other results were from the Oilmen's were: Moose Mountain Mud beat Innicor Completion Systems 9-3 in seven ends in the B final; Jerry Mainil Ltd. beat Spearing Services 7-2 in five ends in the C final; Supreme Oilfield beat Watson Land Services 15-9 in the D1 final; and Tango beat Frontier Inspection 5-4 in the D final.
A total of 48 teams were at the bonspiel.

Bantam A Bruins win province
CAPTION: Members of the Canadian Tire Bantam A Bruins celebrate their provincial championship.
The Estevan Canadian Tire Bantam A Bruins have capped their dream season with the provincial title.
Estevan shelled the Battlefords Barons 9-1 in Game 2 March 28 in Estevan to win the two-game, total-goal series 14-2. Estevan won Game 1 5-1 in the Battlefords. The Bruins also captured the league title this year.
Game 2 in the provincial final was never close. Estevan scored three times in the first period to essentially end any hopes of a Barons' comeback. Estevan also scored three times in each of the second and third periods.
"About halfway through the game, we figured we had it wrapped up," said coach Dan Pratt. "But we still wanted to put a good effort out. It was a great crowd out there tonight."
Pratt said the players were "surprisingly" focused after the first period, even though they knew they were going to win.
Their forecheck was strong during provincials, Pratt said, and different players took turns stepping up their play.
Pratt was the coach for the peewee A Prairie PetroChem Bruins that won provincials and the league title last year. Four players - Jesse Collins, Derek Davidson, Kyle Hovind and Taysen Holt - were on those championship teams.
Several other players on the bantam Bruins have won provincial titles before, too, Pratt said.
"But we also had a few key guys that hadn't won anything before, so there was some hunger mixed in with the experience," said Pratt.
Pratt said there will be nine players eligible to return next season, giving them a good nucleus of talent to build around.
It's difficult to win both the league and the provincial titles, Pratt said, but the hard work is worth it when the players play hard and come together.

Strippers tournament underway
CAPTION: The Estevan Red Eyes played the Estevan Tap House Rookies in one
of the opening games of the Estevan Strippers tournament.
The Estevan Strippers annual Spring Bust tournament is underway.
Opening games were played April 2. The games will continue at the Civic Auditorium and the Lignite Miners Centre until the championship games on the 6th.
Twenty-eight teams are entered in seven divisions: the Ray Frehlick Division, the Preston Meyer Memorial Division, the Bill Dutton Division, the Prairie Mines and Royalty Division, the Einar Fagerheim Memorial Division, the Tap House Division and the Days Inn Division.

Atom Bruins finish season
The Estevan Canetic Resources Tier I Atom Bruins concluded their 2007-08 season by participating in a tournament in Yorkton.
Estevan opened the tournament with an 11-3 win over the East Central Lions. Ryan Smith, Kaelan Holt, Seth Horn and Kyle Seipp each scored twice. Kyle Salaway, Coltan Gingras and Cory Peloquin also scored. Landon Audet got the win in goal.
Their next game was a 13-2 loss to the South East Rangers, which boasts players from Moosomin, Redvers and Oxbow. Holt and Peloquin scored for Estevan. Jordie Hoffos was in net.
Estevan finished second in their pool with a 1-1 round robin record. They dropped down to the B side, and lost 5-3 in the semi-final to Weyburn. Holt, Horn and Seipp scored for Estevan. Audet was in net.
The Bruins rebounded to defeat the South East Oilers - featuring players from Lampman and Oxbow - 10-5 in the B side consolation final. Smith and Talys Halabuza scored twice. Holt, Horn, Salaway, Peloquin, Erik McKersie and Brennan Riddle also scored. Jordie Hoffos got the win in the Bruins' final game of the season.

Viewpoints

Editorial
Tea Time
Sharing Each Others Toys
By Dani Stobbs
By Dani Stobbs
So Baby Boom season in Estevan is still well underway. Another friend has just given birth to a new baby boy! So congratulations to Megan!
That being said, today has been the craziest of days. As she went into labour, I ventured over there to take care of her one-and-a-half-year-old son, and with another friend's child with me, too, for the day. I was expecting it too be a stressful day - trying to keep two children entertained - I even went as far as to buy a book about fun things to do with children from the Salvation Army thrift store.
But to my surprise I didn't need it at all. They kept themselves busily amused with themselves, and playing and inventing ways to put 'Mr. Potato Head' type things on each other.
I sat feeling a little left out, actually, along with being educated by Little Einstein's. I learnt about music and Beethoven - so the phrase "you learn something new everyday" rung true today.
I have just a few pet peeves, and as I get older, the ones that are not that important have worn away and I have grown a lot more patient, but when it comes to people's judgements, it is a thing that I have a hard time listening to.
The phrase "they are just kids", or "children are better seen not heard" or telling a child to stop having fun just because you are not in the mood for it.
I learnt something today. It may not seem like a big revelation, but to me it was. One phrase we do hear a lot, and is a famous Whitney Houston song, is "I believe that children are our future". I have to say that I do agree, but what about them being the children of today. It's healthy to believe for us to be raising them up for the future, but I find that sometimes we focus so much on who we want them to be, that we don't allow them to be who they are right now.
Just in watching these two children today, how well behaved they were, the amount of times that we just sat there and laughed at each other. It was the brightest part of my week. As I feed the little boy soup, he sat and said "oh hot! Oh hot!" His gentle reminder was that when I put soup in the microwave, the likelihood is that it will come out hot. I was totally outsmarted.
I apologised and he sat and blew on it to cool it down. I learnt something.
I watched as they interacted with each other. It didn't matter that they were different ages. It didn't matter who had better clothes on, or who looked the coolest. It didn't matter who spoke differently from someone else, who had what toy. All that mattered was that moment when they sat and played toys with each other.
And as naïve as it may sound, I think that I miss that the most. The ability to get along with anyone with no agenda, just for the pure joy of playing.
I wonder why it's so hard for us as we grow up to not be like these two amazing children, who just sat being in a community. Because when it comes down to it, that's what community is. Sitting down with someone, without judgement or agenda, and enjoying sharing each other's toys.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor
I believe it is time to give credit where credit is due.
This past week Estevan was lucky enough to receive a visit from the Prime Minister to announce funding for the Clean Coal Project.
Any money headed to our area will always be welcomed with open arms, and this was no different. However I do feel that one particular individual was forgotten when it came time to celebrate.
Estevan MLA Doreen Eagles has lobbied tirelessly for the project to move forward over the past couple of years. She brought down provincial Ministers to meet with the local group working to make the project a reality, and it was by far the biggest issue she faced during the election, but yet she has been completely overshadowed by work done on the Federal level.
With the fed's offering 240 million to this 1.4 Billion dollar venture, you can see that the province will be the primary funding source.
I am disappointed to see that media is forgetting to recognize the hard work Ms. Eagles really put in to see her area thrive.
I think we owe her a great deal of thanks for bringing clean coal to Estevan.
Gerry Fichtemann
Estevan, SK

Dear Editor,
On March 26, 2008 I wrote a Letter to the Editor regarding the fight between the federal conservative government and the liberal government of Ontario. The opening paragraph read as follows:
"The constant intrusion by the federal conservative finance minister, Jim Flaherty into the economic affairs of the province of Ontario is unreasonable at the very least. More interesting is that Flaherty's regular bickering with Dalton McGuinty; Premier of Ontario, is apparently directed by Stephen Harper."
Well, today the Prime Minister has thrown up the white flag and appears to be calling for a truce with Ontario. Previously promised federal funds in the amount of $709 million have now been freed up to assist Ontario's financing of their public transit, hiring of more police and helping workers in industries hit by the high dollar. This means that the Prime Minister has ordered the federal finance minister, Jim Flaherty, who has been leading the attack on Ontario, to back off. I congratulate the Prime Minister on this decision to return to cooperative relations with the province of Ontario.
Saskatchewan should not feel left out as the Prime Minister's recent visit to Saskatchewan also contained financial considerations. The Government of Canada will contribute $240 million, in trust after legislation is passed, to the Province of Saskatchewan for the funding of clean coal technology. These funds will be matched with $758 million from SaskPower to partner with industry on clean coal and reduce Saskatchewan emissions by an estimated million tones a year and generate 100 megawatts of clean power according to the Prime Minister.
Getting out of political bickering and getting on with governing is good for the Prime Minister and good for Canada. Hats off to the PM on this one.
Yours truly,
Larry Birkbeck
Regina, SK

What's Happening

Welcome to ECS
Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) principal Mike Little toured Grade 8 students from Spruce Ridge School around ECS April 2. Students got a good look at where they will likely be spending the next four years of their education, and learned about what ECS has to offer.

Learning the Game
Megan Leach brought her one-woman play, "Learning the Game," to Pleasantdale School in Estevan April 3. Leach, a Weyburn native who now works in Regina, told the story of Lanni, a young girl with a learning disability who finds joy in hockey and learns she can never give up.

Construction starts on strip mall
Construction has started on the Prairie Meadow Power Centre strip mall in Estevan. The nine-outlet, 11,880 square foot development is located adjacent to Wal-Mart on Kensington Avenue. It's expected to be ready for occupancy late in the summer.