Feature

Austin Green continues his cancer fight
Captions:
- Austin Green, a 12-year-old Lampman resident, is undergoing cancer treatments in Regina.
- The Green family - (back row, L-R) Austin and his father, Jason, (front row) Caitlyn, Jeremy and Bradley. Inset: Austin's mother, Cindy. Jason, Jeremy and Bradley, as well as other people, have shaved their heads to support Austin.
By David Willberg
Four months ago, Austin Green was in a Grade 7 classroom at Lampman School, and he was playing hockey with the Moose Mountain Wild, a peewee AA team out of Carlyle.
Now, the 12-year-old son of Jason and Cindy Green is undergoing treatment for Burkitt's leukemia and lymphoma, a form of cancer, at the Pasqua Hospital in Regina.
Jason and Cindy said Austin's first symptom was a toothache that developed last October. Knee pains started after an early November hockey tournament in Saskatoon. His parents administered pain killers and RUB A535.
"The thing is, it was working," said Jason. "But he wasn't telling us that the pain was getting worse. And it was within a week that he was asking for the A535 four times a day."
Austin started to whimper through the night. The Green's thought it might be growing pains or even West Nile Virus. Cancer was the last thing on their mind, they said, until they visited a specialist in Regina.
Austin was diagnosed with cancer November 23. He underwent surgery five days later.
The first of nine rounds of chemotherapy started December 3. Four rounds are finished. Each round includes a daily chemotherapy treatment for seven days. He is susceptible to fevers and bacterial infections for 10 to 14 days after the first treatment.
If he doesn't develop infections or fevers, he can head home to Lampman for a few days. If all goes well, the last round of chemotherapy will occur in June.
Austin has been able to keep pace with school work. He is up to date in math, and he even wrote an English essay. A tutor visits in the afternoon from Tuesday to Friday.
Burkitt's leukemia and lymphoma can occur separately or together. When he was diagnosed, the physician told Austin's parents that it was treatable.
"They said this was hard for them to say, but if you're going to have one, this is the best one to have," said Cindy. "It's curable, the rate is up to 80 per cent, and usually within one to two years, you're cured of it."
A survivor of Burkitt's leukemia and lymphoma, who battled the cancer at age 15, visits Austin in the hospital.
A fundraiser for the Green family in Lampman February 10 raised a little under $22,000. A hockey game involved local peewees from Lampman and Austin's teammates from the Wild. Hundreds of people attended a beef on a bun supper and a benefit auction.
Austin wasn't there, as he was suffering from a fever.
"He has his good days, and he has his bad," said Cindy. "He has days where he has accepted this, and we carry on; and then there are days when he wants this to be over with so bad, so he can get on with his life."
Cindy stays with Austin in Regina. Jason has remained in Lampman to work and take care of their other three children.
"People bring meals over for me, and that's a wonderful thing, and even people in Estevan were phoning out and saying we're in their prayers," said Jason. "It's overwhelming to get phone calls from perfect strangers."
When they first learned that Austin had cancer, their immediate focus was Austin's health. Then finances became a concern.
"And then we started talking about, not that we have many things, but we'd sell what we could, and we'd do what we have to do. As we were talking about these things, already, then, people started coming in and tried to give us a gift or a donation," said Cindy.
Cindy's hometown, Kennedy, held a pancake breakfast for the family. The Estevan Wal-Mart sold hot dogs to support the Green's.
For his part, Austin said in a phone interview that he is doing well. Friends and family have visited him at the Pasqua Hospital.
His classmates call him every day. One teacher took a picture of each student waving to Austin and made a banner for Austin's hospital room.
And the Wild have sent him videos of their games. Each player has No. 4 - Austin's number - on their jersey and the back of their helmet. The team is doing well, Austin said, and that keeps his spirits up.

News

POLICE REPORT
*Police responded to an accident at Fourth Street and Kensington Avenue. One vehicle occupant was transported to hospital from the scene.
*An assault report is under investigation.
*Police are investigating a willful damage complaint. A beer bottle was thrown through the back window of a truck in the downtown area.
*An unconscious 55-year-old male was found with cuts to his face in the downtown area. He was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital for medical attention, and then lodged in cells until sober.
*A 19-year-old female was charged with driving over the legal limit following a traffic stop.
*A 31-year-old male was issued a 24-hour driving suspension, and driving without a valid or appropriate driver's licence.
*A quantity of cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana was seized during a traffic stop February 11. An adult male and a youth female were charged with possession. The adult male also faces a charge of driving while prohibited. The youth is charged with possession of a prohibited weapon.

Entries accepted for poster contest
SaskPower's Shand Greenhouse is sponsoring the Energy and Our Environment Poster Contest to help Saskatchewan students understand the impact of energy usage on the environment.
Grade 5 and 6 students are invited to create posters with an environmental theme to demonstrate ways to address climate change.
Posters can feature individual, school or community-wide solutions.
A winning poster will be selected from each school that enters the contest. The top four posters will then be selected. The top four will receive a mountain bike and a bicycle helmet.
The deadline for submissions is April 5. The winners will be announced on Earth Day April 22.

Council notes
Highlights from the February 11 meeting of Estevan City Council:
*Mike Murphy, the safety officer and information technologist, was named the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association safety practitioner award for the Estevan region in 2007. The City was named the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association corporate leadership in safety award for the Estevan region.
*A climate control system for City Hall, worth $7,500, was added to the Legislative Services budget.
*Council approved the next phase of the Trojan subdivision. There will be 12 single-family residential lots, two apartments and one commercial lot. The subdivision is between Kensington Avenue and Petterson Avenue. The project would be eligible for a five-year, interest-free loan from the province.
*Council approved the Prairie Industrial Business Park subdivision, which will be home to 13 industrial parcels, each at least 1.36 acres in size, and two commercial projects. The City has sold their industrial land inventory. The project would also be eligible for a five-year, interest-free loan from the province.
*Three 72-inch riding mowers will be purchased from Nelson Motors for $47,200.
*Four building permits, worth a total of $4.2 million, were issued in January.
*First reading was given to a bylaw to subdivide a commercial parcel of land in the Bay Meadows subdivision into three residential parcels. Two more readings will be given at a future meeting.
*Three readings were given to a bylaw to extend the truck route to include all of Sixth Street. Truckers can now access the east end of the truck route from Second Avenue, via Fourth Street, or from Kensington Avenue.
*Estevan residents will be able to access the landfill for free for one week in the spring and the fall. The annual city-wide garbage pick-up that was traditionally held in May won't be taking place this year due to staff and contractor shortages.
*Graham Construction was hired as the construction manager for the new arena. The naming rights and fundraising campaign for the new arena has topped the $5 million mark, and is less than $1 million from the $6 million goal. Mayor Gary St. Onge said he wanted to reach the $6 million mark before starting any work, but they need to know costs of the project. They also had to award the project now, or they could miss this year's construction season, adding to the project's cost. Councillors Lori Carr and Brian Johnson opposed the motion.

Clean coal talk continues
Highlights from the February 13 meeting of the Estevan and District Tourism, Trade and Commerce:
*Clean coal coalition chair Herb Padwick provided an update. Padwick spoke on four technological processes for clean coal - the post-combustion capture, critical boilers, the oxyfuel process - which was favoured for the proposed plant in Estevan - and the gasification procedure, which will be used at a clean coal plant in Illinois. The coalition recently met with Estevan MLA Doreen Eagles and Government Services Minister Dan d'Autremont. Padwick said the coalition's ultimate goal is to ensure power generation and coal mining jobs are in Estevan in 25 years.
*Two youth members were at the meeting: Justin Marcotte and Bailey Murray. Marcotte already has his own flower business. They are the first two youth members for the Chamber in a long time.
*John Hotte from Sunrise Aviation and Aaron Turnbull from Wide Open Graphics also spoke at the meeting. Hotte discussed his new charter service out of the Estevan Airport; Turnbull talked on his sign business.
*Melissa Davidson was introduced as the new Estevan Tourism coordinator.

New arena donation
(L-R) Estevan Oilfield Technical Society (OTS) president Greg Kallis presented a $25,000 cheque to city manager Jim Puffalt February 7. The money is the OTS's contribution to the naming rights campaign for Estevan's new arena. It will be used to purchase a section. More than $5 million has been collected through naming rights sales and fundraising. The goal is $6 million.

Women of Today Awards launched
Caption: Estevan Quota president Valerie Hall discussed the impact of women in the school, workplace and community.
Quota International of Estevan and SaskPower launched the 10th annual Women of Today Awards February 13. The awards recognize women's achievements in the community.
Awards will be handed out in four categories: the SaskPower Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace Award, the Ida Petterson Memorial Award for Outstanding Entrepreneur, the Shirley Orsted Memorial Award for Young Woman of Today, and the SaskTel Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community.
"It is an honour to be recognized in your workplace or your community, and to know how life has changed for many women by being nominated," said Estevan Quota president Valerie Hall. "They're in all aspects and all walks of life, whether it be in the oil industry or retail, women have really taken a stand in the workforce."
Previous award candidates can be nominated again, Hall said.
The awards will be handed out at a luncheon April 23 at the Days Inn Plaza in Estevan.
"A committee will select four women from among the nominees to receive awards at the luncheon," said Hall.
The deadline for nominee submissions is March 20.
The keynote speaker at the luncheon will be Jo-Ann Bannatyne-Cugnet, the author of A Prairie Alphabet. Bannatyne-Cugnet is a Quota member from Weyburn, and she was the keynote speaker at Estevan's first Women of Today Awards.
Proceeds from the Women of Today Awards will be directed to the Violence Intervention Program; the Southeast Cornerstone School Division and the Holy Family Roman Catholic School Division for the placement of FM Sound Systems in classrooms to improve sound quality; and St. Joseph's Hospital in Estevan for an infant hearing screening system.
"Every newborn baby can have their hearing tested before they go home," said Hall.
Over $11,000 was distributed from the 2007 event.

Reception for local artist
Caption: Doug Ingram's work is now on display at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum.
A reception was held for the artwork of the late Doug Ingram February 9 at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum.
Ingram grew up in Ontario, but he spent the last few years of his life in Estevan. He passed away last September. Two daughters and one grandson were in attendance at the reception for his work, which is on display in the community gallery in February.
The artwork in the exhibit was completed when Ingram was in his 80s, and was legally blind. The paintings are done with watercolour, and most of them capture the Prairie landscape. None of the pictures are of real locations, but they are views of Ingram's inner world.
Ingram also served as a commercial artist for the Eaton's catalogue in his younger years while living in Ontario.

Preparing for Telemiracle
More than a dozen members of Estevan's Kinsmen and Kinettes Clubs will be travelling to Saskatoon for Telemiracle 32 March 1 and 2.
The local Kin club members usually work as messengers, said Estevan Kinsmen member James Lainton. They will be responsible for transporting people, money and other items. Local members will also answer phones during the broadcast.
Lainton said the Kinsmen and Kinettes have been holding fundraisers throughout the year, and some of the proceeds from those activities will be directed to Telemiracle.
This year's Telemiracle will start at 9 p.m. on March 1 and end at 5 p.m. on the 2nd. The national entertainment will include favourites such as Beverly Mahood, Bob McGrath and Brad Johner.
Telemiracle in 2007 raised a record of more than $5 million.

Sunrise hosting workshops
Sunrise Community Futures will offer seven workshops in Estevan during the months of February and March to help managers and employees 'boost' their professional skills and business knowledge.
Included in the series are two webcast sessions where participants can learn on-line in real-time.
"The seven workshops we're offering cover areas that are really important to the success of any business," said Sunrise CED coordinator Verna O'Neill.
"Participants will learn about business planning, creative marketing, employee recruitment, business taxes and the GST. These sessions are interactive, informative and participants will walk out of class with important tools."
Classes include: business plan basics on February 20; smart marketing February 21; successfully employee recruitment March 5; GST and your business March 5; small business taxes March 26; and self-employment and planning for business success March 27.
The classes on the 27th will be offered via webcam.

Magical moments for Estevan audience
Caption: Marion and Ted Outerbridge performed at the Estevan Comprehensive School February 7.
Ted and Marion Outerbridge performed their "Magical Moments in Time" illusion show in front about 425 people at the Estevan Comprehensive School February 8.
The Outerbridge's executed a series of illusions to the amazement of the audience. Some were simple, but most were complex. Audience participation was an important part of the show, as crowd members were often asked to assist with an illusion.
Many illusions were related to the theme of time.
The event, hosted by Koncerts for Kids, was a benefit for the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) in Saskatoon. Proceeds from ticket sales, as well as merchandise sales and a silent auction, will be directed to RMH.

Century Farm Award nominations sought
Information Services Corporation (ISC) is now accepting applications for the 2008 ISC Century Family Farm Award.
The program pays tribute to the contributions of families who have farmed the same land continuously for 100 years or more. The awards are distributed annually, and this year's application deadline is March 15. Families will be honoured at celebratory events across Saskatchewan in June.
"The ISC Century Family Farm Award recognizes the commitment and hardships of Saskatchewan farm families in building the province we proudly call home," Crown Corporations Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said.
"Through the generations, these families have made significant contributions to our economy and prairie culture, and these awards have become a fitting badge of honour in the farming community."
The following criteria are used to determine if applicants are eligible to receive an ISC Century Family Farm Award:
*Members of the same family have farmed or ranched on the land continuously for 100 years or more.
*The family must live in Saskatchewan and continue to operate the farm or ranch.
*The application form must be completed in full.
Once the application is received, ISC searches its land grant database to determine their date of eligibility on the applicant's behalf, free of charge. Once eligible, recipients receive a replica of their ancestor's original land grant, Century Family Farm Award certificates and a choice of one of three awards.

Deputy minister honoured
A leading Saskatchewan business magazine has chosen Saskatchewan Agriculture's deputy minister Alanna Koch as one of the province's Women of Influence.
The editor of Saskatchewan Business magazine says Koch was chosen for her past and present contributions as a leader in the province's agriculture industry.
"I am extremely pleased that Alanna is receiving this recognition," Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud said. "She is a very knowledgeable, capable, and hard-working person, and I think it is fitting her achievements are being acknowledged."
In addition to receiving this honour, Koch has the distinction of being the first female deputy minister of Agriculture in the province's history. She was appointed by Premier Brad Wall.
Koch has worked in the agricultural industry, both professionally and personally, for most of her life. In addition to operating a grain farm with her husband, she has held senior positions with a number of organizations including the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA), Agricore United, the Western Canadian Wheat Growers and the George Morris Centre at the University of Guelph.

Columnists

The Christian Dress Code
The Bible college I attended had a "Sunday morning dress code" (Guys had to wear a shirt and tie and the girls had to wear dresses or skirts). Considering the range of backgrounds and opinions about what constituted "acceptable attire", the dress code was appropriate and necessary.
Did you know that the Bible specifies a "Christian dress code" that applies, not just to Sunday morning, but every day of the week?
As you may suspect, this dress code does not have to do with physical clothing. Instead, it is focused on our attitudes, actions and how we represent Christ.
A quick tour through the New Testament yields an entire list of things that are to "Put on". That list includes things like: truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the word of God, prayer, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, love and a quiet spirit (see Ephesians 6:11-17; Colossians 3:12-14; 1 Peter 2-4).
Fortunately, as with most things in the word of God, this transformation does not rest on our own strength or goodness. You see, the first thing that we are told to "put on" will help us with all the others. "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ" (Galatians 3:26-27).
When we are "clothed with Christ" then we have the power to change. As Paul says, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:22-24).
This is not about earning salvation. Rather it is about showing, on the outside, the change that is taking place on the inside. As Jesus said, "A good tree bears good fruit" (Matthew 7:16-20).
We immediately recognize a police officer, a firefighter or an astronaut when we see them because of what they wear. When people look at the attitudes that you "wear" each day, will they know that you are a Christian? Will they see Christ?
In this case, our "Sunday best" is not just for Sunday.
Tim Pippus, Estevan Church of Christ

DEM BONES, DEM BONES
By Linda Wegner
The human skeleton is an amazing thing. Composed of 300 bones at birth, some of them fuse together, leaving us with a total of 206 bones in our adult skeleton. From the tiny stirrup bone inside the ear to the longest, the femur thigh bone, each one works in cooperation with our joints to support our body. Just the simple act of typing this article makes use of 52 bones, 26 in each hand. When the system is working as it was planned, the results are truly divine!
But like everything else in this world, parts malfunction or wear out. My step-father, now in his 91st year, testifies to the challenges that accompany a skeleton that no longer functions as it once did. His bones have weakened and he now lives with the horrific pain brought about by a fracture in his spine and a broken rib, among other things. It's given me reason to drink more milk than I have in a while.
The old Judaic prophet, Ezekiel, once referred to Israel as a pile of "dry bones". Thankfully he continued his dialogue and spoke of a coming day when the nation's bones, joints and flesh would be raised up to new health and vigor. Fast forward a couple of centuries and read St. Paul's description of how the Christian church ought to function: "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ." (NIVUK)
I had nothing to do with my conception or birth nor the skeleton that came with them. My job has been to look after it. Belonging to "the body of Christ", like physical birth, is a privilege we could never earn and a responsibility that we shirk at great risk.

GARDEN NOTES
By Gerry Fichtemann
PLANTS OF THE WORLD
Many of you have annuals and perennials growing in your garden and you probably wonder where they came from or where did they originate.
Some of these plants grow more vigorously here than they do in their natural homes. Some have been hybridized with our own native plants to produce fine new varieties. Plant breeders have done wonders with these plants bringing us more colours and stronger plants with much better blossoms.
To this day botanists are busy at work breeding new varieties
for use in the future.
If you have gladiolus in the garden, you will be interested to know that they originated in South Africa. This country is also responsible for geraniums, calla lilies, lobelia, amaryllis, African violets and impatiens.
Spain is the native home to carnations, crocuses and daffodils.
France and Switzerland claim sweet williams, allysum, Shasta daisy, while Switzerland is home to monkshood, Canterbury bells, and some lilies.
The island of Sardinia is where parsley originated, while Italy is home to sage and anemones.
Babys breath is a native of Russia, while Romania is home to lilacs. For those growing the Opium poppy, its origin is Bulgaria.
Crimson peonies come from Crete, while Turkey gives us Lilacs)
mock orange, oriental poppies, and some tulips.
If you wondered where Hollyhocks originated, they came from Israel. Morning glory, salvias, and dahlias are home in Mexico. The Caribbean Islands have the native plants such as Canna and Poinsettia.
South America has given us many fine plants for our yards, including sunflowers, nastursiums, begonias, nicotiana, and the very
popular marigolds. Virginia Creeper is native to the Ohio region
of the USA.
Canada has a few native plants that have been worked on, and the breeders have given us flowering currants, long spurred columbines
and Saskatoons.
You should be happy to know that you have plants that originated right around the world growing in your garden, which makes your yard that more interesting.
"To plant a garden today is to believe in tomorrow".
Gerry Fichtemann is the owner of River Bend Nursery.

Sports

Big Six playoffs begin
The Bienfait Coalers and the Pierson Bruins have the Big Six Hockey League playoffs underway.
Bienfait won Game 1 7-6 in overtime February 12 in Bienfait. The Coalers lead the best-of-three series 1-0. Game 2 is January 15 in Pierson, Manitoba. Game 3, if necessary, will be played January 16 in Bienfait.
Bienfait finished fourth in the East Division with a 7-10-2-3 record and 19 points. Pierson (7-13-1-1) was fifth, three points back. The winner of this series will play the reigning champion Carnduff Red Devils (16-6, 32 points), who finished first in the East Division.
The other first round series will pit the Arcola-Kisbey Combines (7-13-1-1, 16 points), against the White Bear Redhawks (0-21, zero points). Arcola-Kisbey was fourth in the West Division; White Bear was fifth.
Game 1 is February 17 in Arcola, Game 2 is on the 19th in White Bear and Game 3, if necessary, will be February 21 in Arcola.
The series winner will play the West Division champions, and the top overall team in the regular season, the Carlyle Cougars (20-1-1, 41 points).
The Oxbow Huskies (13-6-3, 29 points) and the Redvers Rockets (11-10-0-1, 23 points) were the other teams in the East Division this year. They'll meet in the second round. The Midale Mustangs (15-3-0-2, 32 points) and the Wawota Flyers (8-14, 16 points) will meet in a second round West Division series.

Gedak rink competes in provincials
Estevan's Brent Gedak and his rink - lead Ken Wallewein, second Aaron Schell and third Bob Doerr - dropped all three of their games at the SaskTel Tankard men's provincial curling championship in Balgonie.
Gedak's rink lost 7-3 to Glen Despins in the opener. Gedak kept the contest close, until the eighth end when Despins scored three to blow open a close 4-3 game.
Gedak lost 8-7 to Mark Herbert in a see-saw second contest. Gedak scored in four straight ends, including a steal of two in the third, to lead 5-2 after five ends. Herbert scored three in the sixth, and stole one in the seventh and eighth ends, to take a 7-5 lead after eight ends.
Gedak scored two in the ninth, but Herbert got one in the 10th for the win.
Gedak's tournament ended with a 6-5, extra end loss to Carl deConinick-Smith. Gedak forced an extra end with two points in the 10th end to tie the game at 5-5. But deConinick-Smith scored once in the 11th end for the win, eliminating Gedak's rink from the triple knockout elimination event.
Pat Simmons defeated Darrell McKee 10-5 in the final. Simmons has won the last four provincial championships.

Atoms compete in Brandon
The Estevan Canetic Atom Tier I Bruins finished fourth at the Tournament of Champions in Brandon, held February 8 to 10.
Estevan had an auspicious start to the tournament, losing 7-0 to the Winnipeg-based McDonald Twisters, and 9-0 to the Brandon Wheat Kings' atom AA team.
A 10-0 win over Boissevain turned the tournament around. Erik McKersie had three goals. Talys Halabuza, Ryan Smith, Brennan Riddle, Tyler Hengen, Josh Giblett, Kaelan Holt and Kyle Salaway also scored.
Estevan continue the momentum with a 6-5 win over an A team from Brandon. Smith had four goals. Salaway and Holt also scored.
Estevan concluded the tournament with an 11-4 win over Boissevain. Holt, Peloquin, Halabuza and Salaway had two goals each. Smith, Seth Horn and Ryland Daoust also scored.
Landon Audet was in goal for the two wins over Boissevain. Jordie Hoffos got the win over Brandon.

Two locals chosen as honourary fifths
Two junior curlers from the Estevan Curling Club have been chosen as honourary fifth members for the 2008 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, which will run from February 16 to 24 at Regina's Brandt Centre at IPSCO Place.
Jana Anseth will be the fifth for Team Manitoba; Colby Fessler will be the fifth for Team Nova Scotia. Each team at the event will have a young curler acting as an honourary fifth, thanks to the SaskEnergy Junior Stars Contest.
As an honourary fifth member, each junior curler will take to the ice and practice with his or her designated team, receive a duplicate provincial team jacket and a photo with the players, and sit with the team's coach during their team's game.
Anseth will join Manitoba for their game against Alberta on Tuesday, February 19 at 7 p.m. Fessler will accompany Nova Scotia for their contest against Yukon/Northwest Territory, also on the 19th at 7 p.m.
Junior curlers were asked to submit short essays describing why they should be selected. The theme of the entries ranged from talking about their favourite curlers, to the pride curling provides a community, to the love of competition in the sport.

Medals for Legion track team
The Estevan Legion Track and Field team competed at the Kinsmen Indoor Games in Regina February 8 and 9.
Shalane Haselhan finished first in the juvenile girls' long jump with a leap of 5.23 metres. She was also third in the high jump (1.50 metres), fourth in the shot put (8.36 metres) and sixth in the 60-metre dash (8.48 seconds).
James Chamney had three firsts in midget boys' competition: triple jump (10.63 metres), long jump (5.80 metres) and high jump (1.6 metres). He was also third in the 200 metres (25.58 seconds) and fifth in the 60 metres (8.08 seconds).
Kristina Chamney had two fourth place finishes in bantam girls - 200 metres (32.73 seconds) and high jump (1.25 metres) - and three fifth place finishes - triathlon (830 points), long jump (3.41 metres) and shot put (5.88 metres). She was eighth in the 60 metres (9.77 seconds).
Kristen Skjonsby had two seconds in pee wee girls - 200 metres (34.38 seconds) and high jump (1.05 metres) - and three fifths - triathlon (597 points) shot put (4.92 metres) and 60 metres (10.14 seconds). She was sixth in the long jump (2.87 metres).
William Chamney had a first place finish in the pee wee boys' high jump (1.2 metres). He was also third in the 200 metres (35.03 seconds); fourth in the long jump (3.32 metres); and fifth in the triathlon (374 points), 60 metres (10.30 seconds) and shot put (4.95 metres).

Bruins continue to roll
Caption: Estevan's Cory Demko (17) bested Melville's Matt Kinnunen in a fight during the Bruins 5-1 victory over the Melville Millionaires.
A blizzard did what the Melville Millionaires could not: stop the Estevan Bruins.
The Bruins scored four times in a dominant second period to beat the Millionaires 5-1 at the Civic Auditorium February 12 - the Bruins' ninth win in 12 games. But a blizzard forced the cancellation of the return match on the 13th in Melville.
The tentative make-up date is February 18.
Head coach Karry Biette said the Bruins set a physical tone to start the second period.
"They've got a big hockey club, but I thought we finished checks, and really came out smoking," said Biette.
Alameda native Brody Haygarth scored three times in the second against Melville.
Estevan also split a home-and-home with the Weyburn Red Wings recently. Estevan defeated Weyburn 5-4 in a shootout February 8 in Weyburn. The Wings beat Estevan 4-2 the following night in Estevan.
The Bruins are fourth in the Sherwood Conference with a 28-24-2-2 record. The Black and Gold still have a slim chance of finishing third in the Sherwood Conference, and qualifying for the Selection Series.
If the Bruins win their two remaining games, and the Kindersley Klippers lose their four remaining games in regulation, the Bruins will finish third. If Kindersley gets one point in their last four games, the Bruins will finish fourth and face the Yorkton Terriers in the opening round.
"It's asking a lot that Kindersley loses out, and it's asking a lot that we win out as well," said Biette.
Estevan hosts Kindersley February 16 in the Bruins' final home game of the regular season. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
In off-ice news, defenceman Kealin Wong is one of three finalists for the SJHL's top defenceman award. Wong, in his third year with the Bruins, was an all-star this year. He had 35 points in 56 games.

Archery club hosts shoot
The Estevan Archery Club hosted a Valentine's Federation of International Target Archery shoot February 10 at their indoor range south of Estevan.
Kayla Fawcett won the female cadet recurve division with a score of 500. Tanisha McKinnon was second with a 321. Other winners in the female division were: Tanisha Mack, cub compound, 213; Kaylee Carlson, peewee recurve, 110; Alaina McKinnon, pre-cub compound, 317; and Pauline Ziehl-Grimsrud, senior compound, 538.
In the men's division, Adam George won the cadet compound division with a score of 534. Other winners were: Nicholas Fawcett, cub compound, 454; Alex Grimsrud, junior compound, 538; Marcel VanLoo, master compound, 544; Layton Stropko, pre-cub compound, 459; Bob Hudson, senior ARW2 compound, 558; and Theron Mattei, senior compound, 558.

From the
Sidelines
Pats Sweep Moose Jaw
By Kyle Kapiczowski
The Regina Pats swept the Moose Jaw Warriors in the Trans-Canada Clash. The Pats beat Moose Jaw 4-3 in the first game on Friday Night. Then on Saturday night the Regina Pats Alumni beat the Moose Jaw Warriors Alumni 3-2, while the Pats closed out the weekend with a 2-1 win over the Warriors. Regina took the series 3-0. Because the Warriors didn't make their players available to talk with the media about the game, the team will now be hit with a league-imposed fine.
The Calgary Hitmen are seven points up on the Pats for first place in the Eastern Conference. The Hitmen lost both of their games on the weekend.
NASCAR will start on February 17 with the 50th running of the Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be racing with Hendrick Motor sports and his new car number is 88, J.J Yeley will drive for Hall of Fame Racing and his car number will be 96, and Tony Stewart will be racing with Joe Gibbs Racing. I think Tony Stewart will win the Nextel Cup this year.
In the CFL, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have hired Ken Miller as the new head coach. Miller becomes the 27th coach in Rider history. The Roughriders traded defensive end Fred Perry and a draft pick to the Edmonton Eskimos. The Riders got quarterback Steven Jyles and a second round draft pick.
In the NFL, the NFC beat the AFC 42-30 in a high scoring Pro Bowl. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson had 129 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Peterson was also named MVP of the game.
In NCAA basketball, the Florida Gators beat the Georgia Bulldogs 77-67. The Gators' record is 19-5 overall and 6-3 in conference play.
In the National Lacrosse League, the Calgary Roughnecks lost 17-9 to the Buffalo Bandits. Calgary's record is 2-3 and they are three games back of first place. Their next game is against the Rochester Night Hawks.
That's all folks!

Viewpoints

Tea Time
The Sand Grains of Life
By Dani Stobbs
As I told you last week, I was attending a wedding this weekend, and I was a bridesmaid. It was beautiful and the bride was breath-taking.
When she walked down the aisle, it was one of those moments that seemed to go in slow motion. The groom was in tears, and no wonder, the bride was so stunning, all you could do was cry. Which I did. I know as a bridesmaid I was meant to be lovely and composed, but as soon as she walked in, I started balling like a baby. But that's a compliment so I don't think she will be too mad.
When they stood up at the front, they said their vows to each other, exchanged rings, and then they walked to the back of the stage. There stood one empty glass vase, and beside it were two sand filled vases. One was filled with white sand, and the other with black sand.
The bride poured the white sand and the groom poured the black sand into the empty vase together. It was a beautiful moment, and it began to make me wonder upon this. As you have probably read in the past, certain things make me think harder about the things it life.
This wedding novelty that they did was a great representation of two people coming together. But I was thinking about that empty vase as my life, or yours, and how when we are born we are like this empty vase. As we grow different people, friends and family pour into our vase certain things. Some good, some bad. But what all those little grains of sand represent is the journey that we have been on. The people that we have connected with and invested time in. I wonder what my life vase of sand would look like. It will definitely be colourful.
I hope that the things that I do in my life will add to a little sand into someone else’s life vase.
I heard some say on Sunday, that our world right now is starved of relationship. And I couldn't agree more. It made me stop and really evaluate what that meant. At the end of the day as humans all we want is love. Whether in relationships with boyfriends, girlfriends, friends, family, it all comes down to relationship with people.
How simple it is to have coffee with someone, but what a huge difference it could make to someone that just needed someone to love, for just an hour. How hard we make this simple pleasure.
I hope your vase is full, and is full of colourful grains. Not only that but I hope you have helped fill someone else's vase with sand, that will effect the rest of their lives in a good way.
From the look in the eyes of both the groom and bride, they definitely have began their vase, with happy grains of sand.

Please stop the insanity
By David Willberg
Remember the winter of 2005-06?
You could count on one hand the number of times the temperature dipped below -20 Celsius. There was snow, but not much of it, and because of the unseasonably warm weather, it didn't last long. Environment Canada said it was the warmest winter in 60 years. And yet, people complained. There wasn't enough snow on the ground. For much of the winter, you could see the brown grass protruding through the light layer of snow. And it wasn't cold enough. There wasn't that cold snap that made you yearn for a trip to a warm climate.
The winter of 2005-06 sounds pretty good right now.
Granted, the southeast region has yet to be blasted with that really noteworthy dump of snow. There hasn't been that 30-centimetre snow storm that boosts the sale of snow blowers, shovels and winter tires; and brings a smile to snowmobile owners everywhere.
Drive outside the city, and you'll see fields that have a light, white coating.
The lack of a snow cover has been offset by frequent cold temperatures and high winds. So much for global warming.
It seems there has been a wind chill warning every week in 2007. When it does snow, it's been accompanied by high winds - whipping the white stuff around, and reducing visibility. Highway travel has been an adventure.
Even driving down the wide-open Kensington Avenue in northeast Estevan can be hazardous. Visibility has been a luxury a few times on Kensington this year.
Late November and early December served as foreshadowing for what was to come, when the temperatures were already hovering around -30.
When the conditions become hazardous, there will always be a few people who think they can continue with their normal driving habits. Most motorists are smart enough to use caution. But there are a few who are not. They make winter driving a little more dangerous.
There have been pockets of nice weather, and some extended stretches where the temperature was warm (by December and early January standards, anyways). But those seem like a distant memory thanks to February's winter blasts.
Those who are heading somewhere warm between now and the start of spring should consider themselves fortunate. For the rest of us, survival comes down to mental visualization. A warm, sunny day with no wind, on a well-maintained green golf course, and a 7-Iron in hand.

What's Happening

Knights beat the Legion
The Estevan Knights of Columbus defeated the Estevan Royal Canadian Legion 58-37 in the annual curling match-up between the two organizations February 10 at the Estevan Curling Club. Games were four ends. Points were awarded for wins, ties and ends won.

Fundraiser for the Green family
(L-R) Leona Gervais and Christa Winton sold hot dogs at the Estevan Wal-Mart February 8, as a fundraiser for the Austin Green family. Austin, a 12-year-old Lampman boy, is battling cancer. (For more on the Green family, please see the front page story).

Youth bonspiel
The Estevan Curling Club hosted their annual youth bonspiel February 9. The event was the first bonspiel for many of the curlers. Youth in Grades 5 to 8 played four-end games, and all curlers received a prize after each game.

Valentine's tea
The United Church Women from St. Paul's United Church in Estevan hosted their annual Valentine's tea and bake sale February 9. Many people turned out to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, and purchase some Valentine's goodies.