Feature

illusionist to perform for Ronald McDonald House
By David Willberg

Ted Outerbridge will levitate his wife Marion and perform other illusions when he appears in Estevan February 7. Koncerts for Kids is bringing Outerbridge to Estevan, and all proceeds will be directed to the Ronald McDonald House.

There are illusionists. There are comedians. And then there is Ted Outerbridge.
Outerbridge's "Magical Moments in Time" performance is coming to the Estevan Comprehensive School on Thursday, February 7, at 7:30 p.m. It's an opportunity to witness one of Canada's illusionists, while helping out a great cause.
All proceeds will go to the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) in Saskatoon. Koncerts for Kids is bringing Outerbridge to Estevan.
Outerbridge was introduced to magic at age seven. By the time he was 12, he was performing for neighbourhood birthday parties under the moniker "Magic Ted."
"I got a job at the local magic store, which was paradise for a magician," Outerbridge told Lifestyles. "I learned a lot from reading the books and meeting the other magicians. By the time I was 19, I was working as a full-time magician, working at birthday parties, schools and restaurants."
Outerbridge's wife, Marion, choreographs each show, and assists with the illusions. Originally from Germany, she's an actor and dancer by trade. They have travelled together for 10 years.
"We're on the road half the year, so we're together all of the time," said Outerbridge.
Levitation is his newest illusion, as Marion is lifted off the ground and into the air. They have a time machine - a seven-foot alarm clock - which sends them, and the audience, back in time. Outerbridge performs a trick that would have been seen in medieval times.
Audience members help Outerbridge saw Marion in half, and they're invited into the Outerbridge's living room for their "A Day in the Life" trick.
"Marion vanishes," said Outerbridge. "She's absorbed by television, something everyone can relate to, because it happens in everyone's living rooms."
Comedy is also important to "Magical Moments in Time." Zelda the Psychic Chicken accompanies the Outerbridge's, and Zelda will make a prediction while in Estevan.
Outerbridge has been a consultant with Cirque de Soleil and Disney, and he has appeared on David Letterman, the Discovery Channel and Much Music.
Koncerts for Kids co-chairs Brenda Lyons and Wendy May-Clark said they wanted to bring Outerbridge to Estevan for a while, but normally he would be too expensive. Outerbridge slashed his fee considerably because it's a benefit for RMH.
"Magic is one thing, but illusion, like levitating, is deeper than just pulling a rabbit out of the hat," said May-Clark.
Lyons said she has met Outerbridge, and she has seen his show on television before, but she has never watched it live, so she expects to be as impressed as the rest of the audience.
Koncerts for Kids also did a benefit for RMH two years ago, when HOJA performed. McDonald's was Koncerts for Kids' first corporate sponsor. They approached Lyons and May-Clark a couple years ago about hosting a benefit concert for RMH.
"It's something we love doing," said Lyons. "We love putting concerts on, so it gives us an excuse to have another one outside of our series. And we get a lot from the community, so we thought it would be nice to give back something."
Tim and Chris Jenish, the operators of the two McDonald's restaurants in Estevan, understand RMH's impact. They concluded a three-year stint on RMH's board of directors last year.
RMH provides accommodations to families who have very ill children. The requested fee of $10 per day doesn't come close to meeting the cost of the room.
Tenants also receive access to a common kitchen and a games room.
"There's a tremendous support group there," said Tim. "The volunteers and the staff are all trained to support the families that are there."
RMH is usually 90 to 100 per cent capacity, Tim said. An expansion is in the works that would allow them to accommodate more people and build a children's hospital.
Chris said the Outerbridge's performance is very unique for people in Estevan. She can't wait to see it. And it's a chance to give to those in need.
"It'll help the house provide what they need to for families who have terminally ill children and sick kids," said Chris.
Proceeds from a silent auction and the sale of Outerbridge's merchandise will also be donated to RMH.

News

Grey Cup visits Estevan

Hailey Persson was one of many people who had their picture taken with the Grey Cup January 29 in Estevan. The CFL's championship trophy was at the Southeast Regional College's Estevan campus. Four members of the championship Saskatchewan Roughriders team - Scott Schultz, Jeremy O'Day, Marcus Adams and Mike McCullough - accompanied the Grey Cup. They signed autographs for fans.

 

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Coverage approved for cancer drug
The provincial government will provide approximately $4 million in funding to the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency for the drug Avastin, for treatment of patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
"We promised to put patients first and to strengthen cancer care for Saskatchewan people," Premier Brad Wall said. "We're making good on those promises.
"Avastin does not cure colorectal cancer, but it can extend lives and alleviate suffering. This option is now available because of the persistence, support and courage of Saskatchewan cancer patients who raised the issue and championed the cause."
Until now, patients with advanced colorectal cancer have had to pay for Avastin themselves, at an average cost of $2,000 per dose. An estimated 80 patients per year will be clinically eligible to receive Avastin.
The funding will cover the cost of the drug and the additional nurses and pharmacists required to administer it to patients. Coverage will be retroactive to November 7, 2007. Patients will be reimbursed for the portion of the cost of Avastin not covered by a third party.
The projected cost of the commitment has declined from an estimated $6 million in 2006. Since then, more clinical information has become available about numbers of likely treatments and associated costs, which has reduced the estimated cost.
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in men (after prostate cancer) and women (after breast cancer) in Saskatchewan. In 2005, about 650 Saskatchewan residents were diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and 250 died from the disease.

 

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POLICE REPORT
*A 20-year-old male was arrested and charged with impaired driving. During the traffic s, two intoxicated males passing by interfered with the officer. They were arrested. One of the males assaulted the officer and bolted from custody. The male is known to police and he is still at large. The officer was not injured.
*A 20-year-old male came to the police station and reported he was assaulted at a house in Estevan. The male suffered significant facial injuries. This incident is under investigation.
*A vehicle that was east-bound on Wellock Road struck a semi-trailer that was south-bound on Souris Avenue. There weren't any injuries, but the car suffered extensive damage and it had to be towed. The driver of the car was charged with driving too fast for the road conditions.
*Police received a report of an accident at Nicholson Road and the south entrance to St. Joseph's Hospital. Two vehicles suffered extensive damage and had to be towed. The male driver of one vehicle was charged with driving while over .08.
*While on patrol January 27, police officers noted a fire burning in the vacant school property in the 1100 block of Valley Street. The Fire Department was called. Police determined there was forced entry into the building, and the fire was deliberately set. An investigation is ongoing, and the Estevan Police Service is seeking the public's cooperation.
*An Estevan male has been charged with assault following a dispute with a roommate. He will appear in court in late February.

 

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Council notes
Highlights from the January 28 meeting of Estevan City Council:
*Head librarian Greg Salmers handed down the Estevan Public Library's 2007 report. This year marks the library's 100th anniversary. Salmers said there will be activities throughout the year. The library has been working hard to ensure they retain only the relevant materials, he said.
*Council approved an amended ice allocation policy for the Civic Auditorium. The new policy requires the Estevan Bruins and Estevan Minor Hockey to work together to accommodate each other in the event of an ice time conflict. If the conflict can't be resolved, Leisure Services will hold a meeting.
*A discipline policy for Leisure Services facility received approval. Patrons can be removed from facilities for various reasons: influence or possession of drugs or alcohol, inappropriate behaviour; damage or disrespect to property; use of tobacco products; excessive use of profanity; or inappropriate conduct towards another patron or staff. Patrons will be given a couple of warnings regarding their conduct. If problems persist, the patron can be removed from the facility, and eventually banned if their behaviour problems are repeated.
*Reduced speed zones for playparks and recreation facility entrances were referred to the police board. The speed limit will be reduced to 30 kilometres per hour at all playparks, and 20 kilometres an hour for the entrance to ball diamonds, the Civic Auditorium and the Leisure Centre. Each sign will cost about $200.
*Smoking will be banned within five metres of all Leisure Services entrances and exits.
*Committee appointments for 2008 were approved.
*Naming rights sales for the new arena have reached the $4.2 million mark.
*Council approved an architectural design, worth $25,000, for a neighbourhood park in the Trojan subdivision. Trojan lot sales will cover the expense.
*Nine s signs will be installed around the city. Eight are at intersections with Petterson Drive. The other is east-bound on Fifth Street at Second Avenue.

 

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MPs return to Parliament
The economy, Canada's mission in Afghanistan and the federal budget will be focal points during the spring sitting of Parliament, said Souris-Moose Mountain MP Ed Komarnicki.
Komarnicki said the minority Conservative government has taken some positive steps to keep the economy strong - slashing income and sales taxes, and reducing the debt by $27 billion in the last two years.
"I think those are all good signals that will certainly allow us to hold our own, but there's also no doubt that the U.S. government is having an economic slowdown, and it's hard to say how they will do," said Komarnicki.
Canada's role in Afghanistan has already been debated in the House of Commons since Parliament reconvened January 28. The mission in the war-torn nation is set to expire next February, and Parliament must decide whether to extend Canada's presence.
If Canada does remain in Afghanistan, the other issue will be Canada's role in the country.
The budget will be handed down in late February or early March, said Komarnicki.
Komarnicki is uncertain whether the Conservative government will be pled during this sitting. Earlier in the month, he was certain the opposition would bring down the government, forcing an election
But he is no longer certain, due to the Liberals position in the polls.
"The Liberals were talking pretty boldly early in the year (about bringing down the government), and they have softened their tone quite a bit, so one never knows," said Komarnicki. "The government may continue."
The Conservatives have been in power for a little more than two years, one of the longest-standing for a minority government in Canada.
"Any extra time we get to govern is a good thing," said Komarnicki.

 

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St. Joseph's front entrance reopens

The main entrance to St. Joseph's Hospital has reopened.

The main entrance to St. Joseph's Hospital in Estevan is open again.
The entrance, which is near to the hospital's main parking lot, reopened January 30. It had been closed since last spring due to the construction of eight new doctor offices. Hospital visitors were forced to use the east entrance, where parking was limited.
St. Joseph's Hospital executive director Norman Poirier said the public has been "very cooperative" during the main entrance closure.
The main entrance is now a cul-de-sac. The front door provides access to both the hospital and the doctor offices.
The doctor offices were scheduled for completion in early February, but issues with flooring and other details have set the project back.
"Our intent is to have spaces ready by the first of March," said Poirier. "There will be a transition period. The early bird (occupancy) will be the first of March. And then it may be a couple months thereafter, when the work is complete, and negotiations are finalized, before we start seeing dramatic occupancy.
There is also landscaping, curbing and asphalt work to be completed. Poirier said that will take place in the spring.
Poirier expects the new doctor offices to assist with physician recruitment. He hopes that St. Joseph's could eventually gain regional hospital status.
"One of the key components of being a regional hospital is to attract and retain physicians with specialized skills," said Poirier.
They do have some physicians with those specialized skills, such as obstetrics and surgery, but they need more, Poirier said. St. Joseph's would have to work closely with the Sun Country Health Region and Sask. Health to gain regional hospital status.

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Shirley new emergency planning coordinator

New Estevan Emergency Planning coordinator Gail Shirley.

Gail Shirley is the new coordinator for Estevan Emergency Planning.
Shirley takes over for long-time coordinator Yvette Wright, who took an emergency planning position with the provincial government. Wright will continue to volunteer with the local group.
Shirley has volunteered with emergency planning for nearly 12 years, and she felt it was a natural progression for her to assume the lead role.
"I've been the director or the alternate director of the emergency social services end," said Shirley. "That was dealing with people once they've been evacuated - set up a reception centre, get them a place to live and to eat, and get them food and clothing."
Shirley's duties as coordinator will be to ensure the plan is up-to-date, and organize activities. She wants to have a table- exercise later this year, and a full-scale mock disaster next year.
"You can never know exactly what's going to happen, but if we throw more situations at them, then they say 'we've addressed it before, this is what we did, this is what worked, this is what didn't,'" said Shirley.
A few positions need to be filled with emergency planning. Shirley wants to get several new people on board, too.
Shirley expects her experience with the Red Cross - she assisted with disaster relief in New York City following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina - to be beneficial in her new duties with emergency planning.

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Winds of the Southern Cross next Stars concert

Winds of the Southern Cross will perform in Estevan on
February 17 as part of the Stars for Saskatchewan series.

Stars for Saskatchewan and Prairie Mines and Royalty Ltd. will present Winds of the Southern Cross on Sunday, February 17 at 2:30 pm at the Estevan Comprehensive School.
Featuring six of Australia's most accomplished musicians, the Winds of the Southern Cross is one of Australia's most respected and successful chamber ensembles. The Winds of the Southern Cross was formed in Brisbane in 1995 and is now recognized internationally for the excellence and vitality of its performances and its innovative and exciting programming.
By the simple device of adding voice to the wind and piano ensemble, they have opened up a remarkable repertoire of song and cantata from the 18th century to the present. Their repertoire ranges from Baroque cantatas through the standard (and not so standard) classical and romantic compositions for winds and piano, to works combining voice and instruments, in particular songs with instrumental obbligato.
Winds of the Southern Cross features the talents of Shefali Pryor, oboe; Margaret Schindler, soprano; Paul Dean, clarinet; Leesa Dean, bassoon; Peter Luff; French horn and Kevin Power, piano.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh is positive that the Winds of the Southern Cross, presently on its second tour of Canada, will make the same warm and enthusiastic impression on their Canadian friends that they did on their first tour. In her words: "Enjoy the music!"
This performance is presented in cooperation with the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils with assistance from Sask Lotteries, the Saskatchewan Arts Board and Canadian Heritage. Advance tickets are available at Henders Drugs.
For more information, visit www.southernxsoloists.com.

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Average wage increases by 6.9 per cent
Saskatchewan's economic boom means higher incomes for working people in our province.
That's the finding of a new report on payroll earnings released today by Statistics Canada. The average Saskatchewan worker now earns $740.66 a week. That's an increase of 6.9 per cent in the past year - the largest increase of any province in Canada during that period.
Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris said the 6.9 per cent jump in payroll earnings is a clear indication that working people are benefiting from the economic boom.
"It's important that everyone benefits from a growing economy," Norris said. "Not only are more people working in Saskatchewan than ever before, working people are making more money than ever before."
The average employment income in Saskatchewan is now fourth in Canada, behind Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia, but well ahead of Manitoba.

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Literacy festival "a big success"

(L-R) Amilia and Keirstin Sheppard created crafts at the
Estevan Art Gallery and Museum's booth.

(L-R) Curious George met with Kyla Seckinger and
Jean Garrett during the Literacy Festival.

Estevan's Literacy Festival was "a big success," according to Estevan Area Literacy Group coordinator Pam Gunnlaugson.
Between 250 and 300 people attended the inaugural event January 26 at the Souris Valley Aquatic and Leisure Centre. They had a good cross-section of people there: children, adults, families and others. The Ocean Man First Nation brought two passenger vans filled with people to the festival.
Attendance was higher than expected, Gunnlaugson said.
Displays were colourful and informative, she said. Different organizations and agencies from the community had booths, ranging from literacy and writing groups to arts groups, First Nations groups to service organizations.
Curious George made an appearance, much to the delight of the children.
Several individuals made presentations on behalf of organizations.
Author and former Estevan resident Sheena Koops read to the audience. First Nations storyteller Tipi Peepers entertained the audience with her performance. The intelligence of local celebrities was tested during an edition of "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?"

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Night riders highway team launched
Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure has implemented a successful pilot program that allows for 24-hour surveillance of high-traffic provincial highways during the winter months.
A team of seven men and one woman make up the Night Riders in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. They take turns operating three specially-equipped vehicles as they patrol provincial highways throughout Saskatchewan from 9 p.m. until 7:30 a.m. seven-days a week.
Their goal is to watch for adverse road conditions such as blowing and sticking snow, freezing rain, ice, and heavy snowfall that requires plowing. Their reports are phoned in to the Highway Hotline every two hours to provide the most up-to-date and accurate road conditions possible.
The Night Riders provide an important early warning system for the first shift of the regular sanding, salting and snowplow crews, which begin their day at 4:30 a.m.
Night Riders also watch for abandoned vehicles, dead animals, downed signs and any other highway-related problems to make winter driving as safe as possible.

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VIP to hold volunteer training
The Violence Intervention Program (VIP) is holding a volunteer training session in February. VIP is seeking women who would be willing as assist with their 24-hour abuse and sexual assault support line.
This is the 13th year that the line has been successfully operating throughout southeast Saskatchewan. Last year the line received 569 calls.
Most callers want to talk to someone about their situation; others are looking for services and assistance. The volunteers offer a compassionate ear and act as a referral service to various community agencies.
Volunteering for VIP's 24-hour support line is a way for people in Estevan and surrounding area to support those in various communities who are experiencing some form of violence. Through the use of a pager, volunteers work out of their homes.
There are always two people on the line at one time, so if a volunteer is unable to respond to the call, another volunteer is paged. The second person on the line is an experienced volunteer or staff member who can offer support and guidance when needed.
"Because volunteers can choose their own shifts, volunteers who work outside of the home or those with small children at home have found it relatively easy to commit to two or three shifts per month," said VIP volunteer coordinator Alana Clow.
All volunteers receive approximately 40 hours of training on ics ranging from partner abuse to community resources to communication skills. Volunteers find the training thorough and effective.
"Before taking the training I wasn't sure if I could do this, but after the training I was amazed how prepared I was when I received my first call," said one anonymous volunteer.
The program requires volunteers to commit themselves to two or three shifts per month. There is also a mandatory monthly meeting that allows volunteers to connect and receive a short refresher.

 

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Farmer's Appreciation Evening February 28
Local producers will be recognized for their contributions to the community, and one outstanding agriculture family will be presented with the Farm Family of the Year Award, during the Farmer's Appreciation Evening February 28 at the Beefeater Plaza.
Event chair Colin Beaulieu said nominations are now available for the Farm Family of the Year Award. The deadline for submissions is February 16.
"Anybody can nominate (a family)," said Beaulieu. "We want to make sure everybody's aware of that. Individuals, businesses, farm supply companies, machinery dealerships - anybody can send us nominations."
Last year's winner was the Frehlick family.
Arlene Jorgenson of Saskatoon will be the guest speaker. She has a background in farming and agriculture. She's a motivational speaker, Beaulieu said, and her ic will be "If you think life is a maze, then you are amazing."
Three 4-H speakers will address the crowd, Beaulieu said. There will also be a speech on the importance of farm safety.
Beaulieu said people are happy with the Farmer's Appreciation Evening format.
"We've asked the crowd if they want a more technical speaker to talk about some things in the ag world, but they're bringing their wives, and they're bringing their friends from business, so they want something a little on the lighter side," said Beaulieu.
Cocktails will be served at 5:30 p.m., followed by supper, the award and the speakers.

Columnists

The Message
In grade 10, my high school basketball team won the city championship and it was a big deal. They had a big reception for us. We all got championship medals. Our picture was in the paper. In fact, our picture still hangs in the gym at Peacock High School in Moose Jaw.
Now, guess how minutes I played in that championship game.
The answer is "none".
I did not play a second (I was in grade 10 in a school of 800 + kids so I was not anywhere near being the best player), but I still got the medal. I celebrated on the court after the game. I can say that I was on the winning team. My teammates did all the work, but I was part of it.
Believe it or not, that story is a good starting point for understanding the message of the Bible. Read these verses and see if you see the correlation.
"He himself (Jesus) bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24).
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God" (1 Peter 3:18).
Did you see it? Jesus did what we could never do for ourselves. He paid for our sins on the cross and we ended up getting his righteousness. Our salvation is not based on being good, going to church or a thousand other things that we sometimes talk about. Ultimately, we are saved because Jesus won the victory for us.
That hope was not just "a message" of the early church; it was "the message". Paul writes, "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:1-2).
If we ever think that we can "Get beyond the cross" to something more important, we are wrong! There was, and is, no bigger message!
If we are on Christ's team, one day we will get to celebrate a victory that he alone has won for us.
Tim Pippus, Estevan Church of Christ

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MAKING WISE INVESTMENTS
By Linda Wegner

Unless you've been living on another planet, you've heard of the recent stock market volatility. My knowledge of all such matters is rudimentary but I do know that what goes up can really hurt when it comes down. Because I'm somewhat of a minimal-investor with a sizeable vested interest, I've keep my ear and eye tuned to Internet sites reporting current activity on the TSX and related US stock exchanges. (Let me explain my investment: a great deal of my writing activity involves researching and contributing material to financial background reports. That counts, doesn't it?)
As if that wasn't traumatic enough though, there's the hiccup-y saga of the Canadian dollar. While the soaring "loonie" is nice if you want to shop south of the border, it's not so nice when you're paid in US greenbacks or if you or your boss sells his or her products down south. Oh, if only there was an absolutely secure investment, guaranteed only to increase in value, no matter what! (No phone calls please, I already have a great financial advisor.)
In her book, Streams in the Desert, Volume 2, Mrs. Charles Cowman wrote of the astonishing returns resulting from regular investments of prayer. She notes that Jonah did plenty of praying while in the belly of the fish and Daniel was "prayed up" before his feet his the bottom of the lions' den….just two examples of "investors" whose service then yielded powerful results. Cowman adds an un-attributed quote that really caught my eye: "The real victory in all service is won in secret beforehand by prayer. Service is gathering up the results."
"The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeks Him." (Lamentations 3:25)
For guaranteed spiritual returns, invest heavily in prayer - then watch your service yield results worth waiting for.

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GARDEN NOTES
By Gerry Fichtemann

ASH TREES UNDER ATTACK
Thanks to an invasion of tiny aphid-like insects called cottony psyllids. The city of Saskatoon is axing 200 black, Manchurian and other varieties of ash trees in city parks and boulevards.
The foreign pests have already devasted ash populations in Edmonton and Calgary and now they have brought their appetites for tree sap to Saskatoon.
Tyler Wist, pest management technician for the City of Saskatoon said the removal of the trees should be done by July to help prevent the spread of the insect.
Cottony psyllids make their home on the bottom of ash leaves and injects a toxic saliva that causes the leaves to curl downward around the insect like a clinched fist. Adult psyllids lay their eggs before the winter in cracks of buds and branches, and the nymphs typically hatch in May and June. A second generation of psyllids usually hatches in July.
The nymphs feed on the tree sap, which causes the leaves to turn into copper-colored, spindle shaped deformations, eventually killing the tree. The insect's name comes from the waxy or "cottony" material it produces around its body.
The city of Saskatoon has more than 100,000 trees in parks, boulevards and buffer zones, and about 25,000 of those are ash. Calgary has also lost thousands of trees to the insect. How these arrived or where they came from is still not known. Edmonton's park supervisor says the most effective treatment to deal with the insects is to bore holes in the trees and implant insecticides. He stressed the dangers of delay. Williams said that you definitely have to deal with the psyllids fast or you are going to lose all those ash trees. Ian Burse, superintendant of urban forestry said implanting insecticides wont work in Saskatoon because the infected ash trees here are much younger than Edmonton's trees and wouldn't stand up to invasive holes.
They have tried direct intravenous injections of insecticides into trees, but with no luck. If the city of Saskatoon has been affected, is it possible that the "cottony psyllid" will reach Estevan? Only time will tell.
These are very tiny, almost microscopic, but look for small, cottony balls about 1 centimeter in diameter underneath ash leave these are the cottony psyllid nymphs. The edge of the ash leaf will be curled up underneath the face of the leaf sometimes in a spindle shape. It can resemble a rippled potato chip.
Gerry Fichtemann is the owner of River Bend Nursery.

Sports

Peewee girls reach A final

The Dayman Trucking Bulldog Peewee Girls of Estevan reached the A final of their home tournament January 26 and 27 at the Lignite Miners Centre.
Estevan went 2-0 in the round robin, defeating the Yellow Grass Wheat Queens 7-0 and the Brandon Predators 8-1.
The Bulldogs advanced to the A final, where they lost 6-1 to the Regina Royals.

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Bruins clinch a playoff spot

Estevan's Kyle Stroh (24) skates past Flin Flon's
Michael Young in the Bruins 3-2 win over the Bombers.

The Estevan Bruins have clinched a post-season birth. Now they need an opponent.
The Bruins defeated the Yorkton Terriers 3-2 in a shootout January 30 to give the Bruins 54 points. The last place Notre Dame Hounds lost 9-2 to the Melville Millionaires the same night. Notre Dame can finish the year with a maximum of 52 points.
Head coach Karry Biette said he was confident throughout the season that his club would make the playoffs, even during a long slump after Christmas.
Estevan (25-22-2-2) is in fourth place in the Sherwood Conference. Yorkton is six points back, but the Terriers have played two fewer games. The third place Melville Millionaires are four points ahead of the Bruins. Melville has also played two fewer games than the Bruins.
The five teams in the conference make the playoffs. The three teams play in a four-game round robin, with the winner choosing their opponent for the next round. The fourth and fifth place teams play in a best-of-seven elimination series.
Biette said they still want to catch Melville for third. The Bruins have a home-and-home with Melville February 12 and 13.
"Right now, I think we're making people nervous, but with the games in hand (that other teams have over the Bruins), we have to keep on winning," said Biette. "If we drop one or two games along the way, it puts in a pretty tough spot."
The win over Yorkton was the Bruins six in the last seven games. They also beat the Flin Flon Bombers 3-2 January 27.
Biette was pleased with how they played against Flin Flon, but he thought they could have played better against Yorkton.
"The good thing about that is we still won," said Biette. "At times when this team didn't play excellent, they weren't winning. They're finding ways to win when they're not clicking."
They have also improved their play on home ice, winning their last three at the Civic Auditorium.
Estevan hosts Yorkton February 1. Game time is at 7:30 p.m. The Bruins visit the Humboldt Broncos February 5.

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Senior provincials underway

(L-R) Ben Anderson, Tony Naka and Ed Dyer participated in the ceremonial opening rock at the senior men's provincial championship. Missing: Cliff MacPherson.

Eight of Saskatchewan's senior men's curling teams are at the Estevan Curling Club for the Affinity Credit Union provincial championship.
Defending champion Bill Weppler from Regina highlights the field. Three other Regina teams are entered: Chris Bohlken, Peter Thiele and Vic Rogers. Teams from the north are Wendell Charbonneau of Wadena, Randy Graham of Kindersley, Jim Hunker of Saskatoon and Eugene Hritzuk of Humboldt.
A seven-team round-robin will determine playoff teams. Two draws were held on each of January 30 and 31. Draws on February 1 are at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The final round-robin draw is at 9:30 a.m. on the 2nd.
If tie-breakers are required, they will be at 2 p.m. on the 2nd, and the semi-final will be at 9:30 a.m. on the 3rd. If tie-breakers aren't required, the semi-final will be at 7 p.m. on the 2nd.
The final will be at 2 p.m. on February 3.

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Haselhan competes in Saskatoon
Shalane Haselhan from the Estevan Legion Track and Field Club competed at the Sled Dog Track and Field Meet, held at the University of Saskatchewan January 26.
Haselhan earned a first place finish in the juvenile women's high jump with a leap of 1.55 metres. She also finished third in the long jump (4.79 metres) and eighth in the 60-metre dash (8.55 seconds).
The next competition for the club is the Regina Indoor Games February 8 and 9.

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Massier rink wins bonspiel

(L-R) lead Melodie Willock, second Helen Fornwald, third Becca Gustafson and skip Christine Massier won the Estevan Curling Club's Ladies Bonspiel.

Estevan's Christine Massier defeated Torquay's Adele Turrett 7-3 in the A final of the Estevan Curling Club's annual ladies bonspiel January 24 to 26.
Turrett led 3-1 after three ends, thanks to scores of one in the first and three in the third. Massier scored one in the second end. But Massier scored two in the fourth end to start a run of six unanswered points.
Massier stole two points in the fifth end, and one point in the sixth and seventh ends, to take a 7-3 stranglehold on the match. Turrett ran out of rocks in the eight and final end.
The Estevan Comprehensive School team, skipped by Stephanie Gress, defeated Cheryl Anseth 7-3 in the B final. Anseth's team ran out of rocks in the eighth end. Candace Newkirk shut out Susan Moser 10-0 in four ends in the C final.

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Carlyle beats Midale
The Carlyle Cougars have tightened their grip on the Big Six Hockey League's overall standings.
Carlyle beat the Midale Mustangs 10-4 January 25 to increase their lead to five points over Midale in the West Division, and for spot overall. Carlyle (18-1-1) has 37 points. They also defeated the Oxbow Huskies 5-3 January 26.
Midale (16-3) responded to the loss to Carlyle with a 5-0 shutout win over the Pierson Bruins January 27.
The Wawota Flyers moved into third place in the East with a 7-0 shutout win over the Bienfait Coalers January 25. Wawota (7-11) and the Arcola-Kisbey Combines (6-11-1-1) have 14 points each, but Wawota has one more win, and they have played one less game.
The Combines lost 6-4 to Redvers January 25.
The White Bear Redhawks (0-18) have six games left to get their first win of the season.
The Huskies (11-4-3) continue to lead the Carnduff Red Devils (12-6) by one point in the East Division. Both teams have six games remaining. They meet February 2 in Carnduff.
The Redvers Rockets (9-9-0-1) have moved into a third place tie with the Bienfait Coalers (7-8-2-3). Redvers has the tie-breaker for most wins, and they have played one less game than Bienfait.
Pierson (3-12-1-1) is last in the East. The Bruins dropped a 7-3 decision to the Rockets on the 26th.

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Schultz among Riders in Estevan

Scott Schultz signed Samuel Chernoff's jersey. Schultz and three teammates were in Estevan, along with the Grey Cup, on January 29.

November's Grey Cup victory still hasn't fully sunk in for Scott Schultz.
The Moose Jaw native and veteran defensive lineman for the Saskatchewan Roughriders was one of four members of the team who brought the Grey Cup to the Southeast Regional College's Estevan campus January 29.
Players haven't had much time off since winning the CFL championship in November.
"We've been on the go with this Cup since landing in Regina," said Schultz. "You realize you've won, but midway through the off-season, when you have a chance to sit down and think about it, and you get that ring on your finger, that's when it's really going to hit."
Schultz said he's been to seven or eight communities thus far. He's thrilled to be able to meet with fans who support the team.
"The Riders are one of the only CFL teams that really get out to the communities in the province," said Schultz. "The bigger cities tend to just stick with their respective large cities."
Head coach Kent Austin left the team in January to become the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, the University of Mississippi. Schultz wasn't surprised, and he called Austin's decision a "no-brainer."
Schultz is confident that general manager Eric Tillman will find the right person to replace Austin.
Joining Schultz in Estevan were offensive lineman Jeremy O'Day, linebacker Mike McCullough and defensive lineman Marcus Adams. They were in Oxbow and Kipling the following day.

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NHLers shine in Atlanta
The NHL held the all-star game in Atlanta for the first time. On January 26, they held the skills challenge and young stars game. Boston's Zedano Chara won the hardest shot with a speed of 101.3 mph; Toronto's Tomas Kaberle won the accuracy shot competition as he beat Nashville's Jason Arnott. Washington's Alexander Ovechkin won the breakaway competition beating Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf.
Then on Sunday they played the All-Star game. The Eastern Conference beat the Western Conference 8-7. Columbus's Rick Nash had a hat trick in the game while Alexander Ovechkin had two goals. Carolina's Eric Staal was the MVP of the game.
In other NHL news, the Anaheim Ducks have re-signed forward Teemu Selanne to a one-year contract worth $600,000. Ottawa Senators goalie Ray Emery is in the dog house again after showing up late for another practice.
In the WHL, the Regina Pats beat the Saskatoon Blades 5-4 in overtime. Right winger Scott Doucet scored the game winning goal. There were a number of fights in the Pats and Blades game, which resulted in participating players being ejected. The Calgary Hitmen held on to the division lead by hammering the Brandon Wheat Kings 9-2.
In NCAA Basketball, the No. 20 Florida Gators beat No. 19 Vanderbilt 86-64. The Gators record is 18-3 overall and 5-1 in conference play.
In the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Los Angeles Lakers 98-95 in their last game. The Cavs record is 24-19. Cleveland is six-and-a-half games back of the Detroit Pistons.
In the National Lacrosse League, the Calgary Roughnecks beat Portland 13-6. Calgary's record is 2-2 and they are two games back of the Colorado Mammoth.
In local news, Estevan's Brent Gedak is off to the 2008 men's provincial curling tankard in Balgonie. I hope he wins it this year. The last times a team from Estevan won the provincial title was in 1989 and 1997 when it was won by Jim Packet.
That's all folks!

Viewpoints

Tea Time

525,600 Minutes
By Dani Stobbs

When I first came to Estevan, and started to meet people and make friends, I came across one very special person. Even though we have only known each other for a year she fast became one of my best friends. Unfortunately she moved to Vancouver in July, but thankfully her return is in one week for a visit.
I am telling you this because this special friend of mine loves a particular song, that I am listening to right now. From the musical 'Rent' the song '525,600 minutes' is one of her favourites, and I am sat listening carefully to the words.
The reason for the name of the song, is that 525,600 minutes is approximately a year. The line reads, "525,600 minutes, how do you measure a year in the life?".
This one line in the whole song triggered a provoking thought. What is the measure of a life?
Is it the number of years that we have been alive? The amount of minutes that we spent at work? Is it the way we have raised our children, or by the amount of money we have? Is it about the car parked outside our house, or the big screen T.V that took you a year to save for.
When I look on my shelf I see a stack of photo albums. Filled with memories of holidays and sleepovers with my girl friends, random road trips with 'the boyfriend'. And when I look back on these photo's there is not one that is filled with bad memories, not one that recalls an argument, or feud, or bitterness, just a moment capture by one click that is forever remember.
I think of the 525.600 minutes that are in one year, and I think about how many of them were spent being truly happy. Those times when you laugh so hard water comes out your nose, or a real deep belly laugh that aches inside from how much giggling you have done. How many of them were spent with someone you love?
Did you take time from the 525,600 minutes to really soak in what it was like to be in their presence, or to just be grateful that they were around?
I worked out that when my friend comes for a visit that the 2880 minutes that she will have here, two days for those of you that do not want to work that out, I want to make sure that those minutes are filled with those times of laughter and times of sharing. Because when we are truly in the presence of real friendship, who cares what car you have, or how much money you have, it's all about how much of a belly ache you have after they leave and the amount of water that comes squirting out your nose!
Welcome back home Mezzles! Looking forward to hearing how your 525,600 minutes is going!

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The never-ending strike story
By David Willberg

Film buffs and couch potatoes everywhere received a glimmer of hope in late January: a return to the bargaining table in the Writers Guild of America strike.
The strike that started November 5 of last year is still going. The central issue: writers want a greater share of the money that studios receive from non-traditional avenues, such as Internet downloads.
And if you think that's not a big deal, just look at all the videos available for download on an iPod. The days of movie revenues coming strictly from the theatre and VHS sales (or DVD sales) are over. The writers want their share.
Both sides have made concessions, but not enough for an end to the walkout.
One victim has already been claimed: the 2008 Golden Globe Awards. Actors said they wouldn't cross the picket line. So instead of a glitzy ceremony, there was a one-hour press conference in which the award winners were announced.
Needless to say, the 2008 Golden Globes won't be challenging the Super Bowl or the final episode of "American Idol" for the -rated show of 2008.
The next victim of the strike could be the 2008 Academy Awards. The show will go on, the Academy says. But instead of an award show with entertainment icons presenting the hardware, footage from great movies of yesteryear will be showed.
While clips of "The Godfather" and "Citizen Kane" might appeal to some, it's not going to attract the masses.
If the strike isn't settled, people will talk about who didn't show up to collect their award. They won't remember who won, or who sported the worst dress.
Of course, if the strike lasts long enough to cancel the Daytime Emmy Awards and the other irrelevant ceremonies that take place during the year, then maybe it won't be so bad.
As for the television, the strike has put the kybosh on new episodes for the hit TV shows. "CSI" and "24" fans might be reduced to reruns until September.
Late night TV show hosts struck a deal of their own with the writers early this year, so Jon Stewart junkies can once again get their nightly fix.
The bad news is that networks might be forced to create more "reality" TV programs to fill the voids in the spring season. Just what society needs: more "reality" TV.
How long can this go on? The writers do hold a big trump card. It's not just about Golden Globes and Academy Awards. If the strike continues, new episodes for hit shows will be scrapped. And studios will have to pull the plug on production for new movies.
Until the strike is settled, maybe the couch potatoes will find something a little more constructive for their time, instead of staring blankly at the television all night long.

What's Happening

Frigid fun

Students from Hillcrest School in Estevan bundled up nice and warm for their winter play day January 24. The temperature was cold, but that didn't s the children from enjoying various outdoor activities.

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French carnival

The French club at Spruce Ridge School in Estevan hosted a carnival January 24.
Students enjoyed an afternoon of games, crafts and other activities.

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All downhill from here

Members of the Estevan Bruins visited the Pure Energy Early Learning Centre and Estevan Daycare Cooperative January 23 to go tobogganing. Riley Tetrault, Riley Hughes and Nick Colliton joined the children to slide down and climb up the hill near the centre's building.