Feature

They came. They sang. They danced
Caption: The African Children's Choir sang and danced to the delight of hundreds of people at the Estevan Alliance Church.
By David Willberg
Estevan residents were recently able to help impoverished African children get an education, while enjoying a taste of African culture.
The African Children's Choir performed at the Estevan Alliance Church January 16. More than 300 people packed the sanctuary for the concert.
Nearly 30 children, aged 8-11, dressed in fashions from their home continent, danced to and sang traditional African songs, as well as some English gospel music. The audience clapped along with the music, applauded each song, and listened to stories of how the African Children's Choir has improved life for thousands of children.
Estevan was the latest stop on a 15-month North American tour.
Most of the children came from the nations of Kenya and Uganda - home to several African Children's Choir projects.
"We pick an area in Africa where the organization wants to work, and then they hold auditions," said tour director Jenny Kohlrus. "The kids don't really know they're auditioning. They just call it camp, and the kids just think they're going to have fun and play."
Children are taught new songs and they learn how to dance. They are also evaluated for their academic prowess, their ability to interact with others, their financial need and their ability to adjust to the change that comes with travel.
Academics are strongly emphasized, Kohlrus said. Children are in school each day. They have classes in math, social studies, English, Swahili, and Christian and religious studies. The teachers are from Uganda and Kenya.
"Their schooling is really competitive over there," said Kohlrus. "Their test grades determine where they will go to secondary school, and then where they will go to university."
Once the tour is finished, the children will study at schools constructed by the African Children's Choir. An offering was taken during the concert to construct schools in Kenya and Uganda.
"Many kids that are back in school in Kenya and Uganda will never be in the choir, but they're able to go to school and be educated, because of the choir and the funds raised by the choir," said Kohlrus.
For many of those children, their only meal each day comes at school.
The children love life in North America, Kohlrus said. They enjoy the food, especially pizza and French fries. And they love North American appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers.
"I really like to see my world through their eyes, because they are so excited about things like washing machines, because they've never ever seen a washing machine, and they think it's amazing that you put your clothes in there and they come out clean," said Kohlrus.
They aren't fond of cold weather, but they spent most of the day indoors for school, so they didn't have to contend with the frigid temperatures that plunged Estevan into a deep freeze during their visit.
David Kanyosia is a former performer with the choir who returned four months ago to be a chaperone. He teaches three classes, he assists with the music and he helps with the sound.
Kanyosia joined the African Children's Choir in 1991. He was an orphan, and the starvation in his small Kenyan village forced him to move to the capital of Nairobi, about 350 kilometres away. He arrived without a job, money or food.
He heard of the African Children's Choir, and he decided to try out. Thousands of children showed up for the audition. Thirty were selected.
"The worry for me was 'what if I didn't qualify.' But by the grace of God, I qualified and I joined the African Children's Choir," said Kanyosia.
He toured Canada, the U.S. and the United Kingdom. After the tour finished, he studied at one of the choir's primary schools, and then advanced to secondary school and college, where he studied business administration.
Chaperoning the choir is a lot of fun, he said. When the children start to perform, he wants to join them on stage.
"But it's a children's choir," said Kanyosia. "So I just have to allow them to do their thing."
After performing in Estevan, the choir left for Moose Jaw for a concert in that city. They are continuing with a tour in Western Canada.

News

Minor Hockey Day
Estevan Minor Hockey Association players, coaches and volunteers gathered at the Civic Auditorium for the inaugural Hockey Day in Saskatchewan January 19. Teams were introduced, and then they paraded around the Civic's ice. Awards were also handed out during the Hockey Day in Saskatchewan ceremonies. (See p. 19 for more on Hockey Day in Saskatchewan).

POLICE REPORT
*A vehicle was gone through in the Valleyview area of the city in the evening of January 16 or the morning of the 17th. A twin-screen DVD player was taken.
*Two vehicles were ticketed for driving through the flashing lights and stop arm of a school bus that was dropping off children. A third vehicle couldn't be located. Motorists are reminded to stop five metres in front of or behind a school bus when the lights are flashing and the arm is out.
*Police were called to an accident in the Wal-Mart parking lot. A 17-year-old male was operating his vehicle in an erratic manner when he lost control and struck a taxi. The youth was charged for driving at a speed that is greater than reasonable and safe. No injuries occurred.
*A barbecue was stolen from a local business. It is worth a significant amount of money.
*A motorist was distracted by another vehicle and struck a light standard at the Southern Plains Co-op. The motorist didn't suffer any injuries, but the vehicle will likely be written off.
*Exterior mirrors were broken, and the doors were kicked and dented on a vehicle that had been parked near an apartment complex for a night. The matter is under investigation, and the public's assistance is needed.
*Numerous tools and work clothes were removed from an oilfield vehicle in the Hillside area. Police are seeking the public's assistance.
*Three males entered a restaurant and damaged the restroom facilities. The matter is under investigation.

New charter service launched
Caption: John Hotte with the plane that will be used for a charter service out of the Estevan Airport.
Sunrise Aviation has launched a new charter service out of the Estevan Airport.
John Hotte, the chief flying instructor with Sunrise Aviation, said he can take people wherever they want, but he expects cities like Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Fort McMurray will be the most popular destinations.
A five-passenger, Piper Seneca II twin-engine plane has been purchased for the charter service.
A flight is $3.60 per nautical mile. Flights are expected to cost anywhere from $756, plus tax, for a round-trip flight to Regina, to $4,280, plus tax, for a round-trip to Fort McMurray. Hotte charges per flight, not per person, so the flight costs the same for one person or five people.
Business people, especially oilfield workers, are his targeted customers. Hunters and anglers who want to fly to northern Saskatchewan are also potential clients.
The service should be well-used, Hotte said. The oil patch and the economy as a whole are booming.
A lot of people don't want to drive two hours to the Regina airport, and then deal with the hassle of checking their luggage and airport security, Hotte said. They want a charter service that operates around their own schedule.
Hotte expects a flight from Estevan to Calgary will take about three hours.
The charter service should be up-and-running by the end of February, Hotte said.

Two schools facing closure
Two schools in the Southeast Cornerstone School Division could be closing at the end of June, and two others could see a reduction in grades they offer.
Motions to consider closure were approved for Frobisher School and Glenn McGuire School in Oxbow. Frobisher is a Kindergarten to Grade 6 school with 20 students. The projected enrolment for next year is 16.
Glenn McGuire School has a few special needs students enrolled. A residential program at the school ceased in June 2007.
Both schools were on a list of non-viable schools in the division.
Motions to consider discontinuing grades were approved for Grade 9 at Bienfait Weldon School and Grades 10 to 12 at Lyndale School in Oungre. There are no students attending Grade 9 at Weldon. There are 15 students in Grades 10 to 12 at Lyndale, but that number is projected to decline to six next year.
The board looked at eliminating Grade 9 at Weldon two years ago.
Director of education Don Rempel said the three grades at Lyndale are up for discontinuance because of enrolments for next year.
"Delivering a high school program to six students is the issue," said Rempel. "The distance isn't unreasonable as far as bus times. We could still do reasonable bus transportation from Oungre to a number of communities: Estevan, Weyburn or Gladmar."
Meetings have been scheduled in each affected community: January 29 in Oungre, January 30 in Frobisher, February 11 in Oxbow and February 13 in Bienfait. Ratepayers will have their opportunity to question the board about the decisions.
"Considering school closure or grade discontinuance is a process in which the public needs to work directly with the board of education, because the board makes those decisions," said Rempel.
A delegation from Oungre attended the Cornerstone board's meeting in December.
Three other schools were listed as non-viable - Macoun, Ogema and Pangman - but they have been removed from the non-viable list for this year, and they will continue to operate in 2008-09.
"The board will continue to monitor them for viability," said Rempel. "And to work with the school community councils on a yearly process to talk about the viability of the school programs in those communities."

Council continues public transit investigations
Estevan City Council has received the draft report for a public transit system in Estevan.
City manager Jim Puffalt said Council is investigating the feasibility of a system that would also incorporate transit services offered by SaskPower and the schools in Estevan.
Estevan residents were asked to respond to a survey on public transit. About 100 people did so. Puffalt said most of the feedback was positive.
"There were a lot of reasons to support it," said Puffalt. "Many seniors don't have vehicles; kids under 16 don't have vehicles. A lot of people moving to the city - we're having a lot more immigrants coming to the city, and it takes them a while to get a vehicle. People that have lower incomes may not have a vehicle."
A large percentage of the population could use a public transit service, Puffalt said. Those who opposed the project don't want to see tax dollars spent on a public transit service at this time, he said.
Puffalt said the next step is to have the consulting firm compile the final options, and then bring them to Council. A public meeting will be held in the future.

NOVEMBER WHOLESALE TRADE AND RETAIL SALES INCREASES TOPS IN NATION
Figures just out from Statistics Canada on wholesale trade and retail sales provide the latest evidence of Saskatchewan's booming and leading economy.
Saskatchewan's wholesale trade numbers for November show a 14.4 per cent increase (seasonally unadjusted) over November 2006 to $1.2 billon. That's the biggest percentage change among the provinces.
For the first 11 months of 2007, Saskatchewan's wholesale trade totalled $14.4 billion, an increase of 15.5 per cent (seasonally unadjusted), compared to the same period in 2006. That's the second-highest percentage increase among the provinces.
"Figures such as these are certainly a sign of the times in Saskatchewan," Enterprise and Innovation Minister Lyle Stewart said. "The growth and performance of our provincial economy is being felt across a wide range of sectors and industries, and these sales figures are just one barometer of that growth."
Retail sales in Saskatchewan were equally impressive in November, increasing by 17.1 per cent (seasonally unadjusted), to $1.1 billion, compared to November 2006 - the highest percentage increase among the provinces. In the first 11 months of 2007, retail sales totalled $11.7 billion, which represented a rise of 12.6 per cent (seasonally unadjusted) compared to the same period in 2006, again leading the nation.
"The indicators show why independent forecasters call Saskatchewan the rising star of Canada's economic growth scene," Stewart said. "Our province is emerging as a national economic leader, and our government is determined to continue working with businesses and other partners to ensure that this prosperity is encouraged and sustained."

Meeting looks at Creighton Lodge's future
Creighton Lodge's future remains uncertain following a meeting January 17 between the City of Estevan, the Sun Country Health Region and the Creighton Lodge trust committee.
Sun Country has operated the Level 1 and 2 care home for years - the only Level 1 and 2 facility that Sun Country operates. Sun Country's other facilities are Level 3 and 4, which have more dependent patients.
Sun Country wants somebody else to take over Creighton Lodge, such as the trust committee or another corporate entity.
Trust committee chair John Kish would like the City of Estevan or the Saskatchewan Housing Authority to take over operations. The City has already said no. Kish said Sask. Housing indicated that Sask. Housing also said no, but he would like to hold more discussions.
Kish said Creighton Lodge isn't in imminent danger of closing.
Creighton Lodge was a Level 1 to 4 care home for years, Kish said.
'"I still maintain that it was a Level 1 to 4 care home, and since Level 3 and 4 were taken out of there, and there are some patients who are possibly at more than the Level 1 or 2 care stage who require a fair bit of care, I believe it should still operate more or less the same way as it did before," said Kish.
The trust committee could operate Creighton Lodge, he said, but only if the surrounding urban and rural municipalities provide $5 in per capita support.
"With residents paying their rental fees, and with $5 in per capita support, if committed by the whole area, unless there was some major happening, say, a large expenditure that could create some problems … I can't see a restriction that would prevent the facility from operating," said Kish.
In the meantime, the trust committee is fundraising to replace outdated cupboards, some that are 50 years old, which are difficult to open and close.

OTS holds annual meeting
2007 was a good year for the Estevan Oilfield Technical Society (OTS), president Greg Kallis said following their annual general meeting January 23.
The organization had a "nominal" deficit last year, Kallis said, but that was expected because last year marked the 50th anniversary of their annual golf tournament. Nearly 400 golfers entered the tournament, which was a record turnout. Kallis said it was the highlight of the year.
Other highlights from 2007 were the annual curling bonspiel in March, the launch of their new website, and the presentation of awards and a scholarship at a fundraising dinner in October.
The website contains information on the OTS and dates for their upcoming events. Oilfield workers can register on-line for the curling bonspiel and golf tournament, too.
Four long-time oilfield employees - Matt Weinrauch, Dale Fox, Ken Dowhanuik and Roy Arndt - were presented with lifetime achievement awards at the October dinner. Jay Vanstone was the scholarship recipient.
Their plans for 2008 are similar to past years. Their 49th annual OTS Oilmen's curling bonspiel will be March 27 to 30. Their golf tournament is May 30 to June 1. The awards banquet and scholarship dinner will be in October.
Kallis said plans will begin this year for the 50th annual curing bonspiel. The golden anniversary of the bonspiel is set for 2009.
Joining Kallis on the executive for 2008 are vice-president Jeff Mosley, treasurer Carl Henneberg, secretary Trevor Goetz, and directors Lindsey Roy, Bernie Bjorndalen and Terry Hallis.

February is Heart and Stroke Month
Local canvassers will be circulating the community, looking for donations, during Heart and Stroke Month in February.
Pat Rediger, the media relations coordinator for the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Saskatchewan, said the door-to-door campaign will be from February 10 to 16. Volunteers are needed.
"A lot of people are victimized by heart disease or a stroke in Saskatchewan," said Rediger. "Every day in Saskatchewan alone, there are 22 people who are going to have a heart attack or a stroke, and seven of them will not survive."
One-fifth of the hospital stays, and one-third of all deaths, are attributed to heart disease and stroke. It's the leading cause of death in the province.
Canvassers can be identified by their campaign kits.
"They have tax receipts included in those kits, with a charitable number on it," said Rediger.
Businesses in Estevan might have fundraisers of their own during the month, Rediger said.
Funds raised in Estevan will go to various Heart and Stroke Foundation research projects.
"Some of the research is in Saskatchewan, and some of it is national," said Rediger. "We spend money on health promotion - adopting healthy lifestyles and trying to decrease the risk of heart disease and stroke."
A fundraising goal for the Estevan area hasn't been established. The foundation is appreciative of any donations they receive, said Rediger.
More than $21,000 was raised in Estevan last year during the February Heart and Stroke Month. Nearly $55,000 was raised in the city through a variety of program, including Heart and Stroke Month, the Big Bike for Heart and Stroke, and the schools' Jump Rope for Heart.
The door-to-door campaign in February raised $232,698.70 last year throughout the province.

Assistance for Austin Green
Caption: (L-R): Cosmetology instructor: Meagan Roy; Students: Kara Schiestel,
Stephanie Laub and Robin Goudy.
Lampman residents are doing their best to assist Austin Green, a Grade 7 student at Lampman School who is currently battling Burkitt's leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Between 60 - 70 people had their hair cut or styled during a fundraiser January 20 at the Lampman arena. Several young hockey players had their uniform numbers shaved into their hair. A total of $916.25 was raised for the Green family.
Three students and one instructor from the Southeast Regional College's Cosmetology class cut and styled the hair. Stephanie Laub, one of the students, said she was really impressed with all of the people who came out from Lampman and surrounding communities to support the Green family.
A benefit hockey game and supper will be held Sunday, February 10. The Moose Mountain Wild Peewee AA hockey team - the team that Austin was supposed to play with this year - will face Lampman Peewee Imperials. The game starts at 2 p.m. at the Lampman arena.
A beef on a bun supper will be served at the Lampman School, starting at 4:30 p.m. Various organizations will assist with the supper. Merchandise will be sold during silent and live auctions.
All funds will go towards the Green family.

START PLANNING FOR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION NOW
The Government of Saskatchewan has launched Phase 3 of a communications campaign to promote planning and saving for post-secondary education.
"I'm not getting any younger" is the message being used to encourage parents to take action on saving for their children's education. This five-year campaign's primary objective is to increase parents' understanding of the options available for saving.
"As parents, we all must do what we can to provide for the education of our children," Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris said. "Doing so will help our kids reach their limitless potential. Helping our children also helps building strong communities in Saskatchewan."
Saskatchewan has committed $214,000 over the five year period.
The campaign consists of a series of newspaper ads and billboards visible province-wide. It runs for four weeks, from January 21 to February 18.
Norris says parents can obtain additional information by calling 1-800-O Canada, or online at www.canlearn.ca.

Putting Humour to Work
Caption: Mike Kerr explained the importance of fun on the job while in Estevan January 23.
Motivational speaker and author Mike Kerr brought his "Putting Humour to Work" presentation to Estevan January 23.
Kerr explained the importance of having a fun, humourous workplace, and how it will improve employee morale and productivity. He also offered tips on how to foster that atmosphere on the job.
Most adults spend more time at work than anywhere else, Kerr said, so it's important that they enjoy their job.
Prairie Mines and Royalty and the Southeast Regional College's Estevan campus brought Kerr to Estevan.

Learning a new art
Hunter Dureault learned the art of the dip pen and ink January 23 at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum. Participants learned how to write and create shapes using the old-fashioned pen techniques. The dip pen class is one of six that the EAGM is offering through their "On a Whim Wednesday" classes, which will continue until the end of February.

Funding for Oxbow, Alida and Manor
A $321,948 investment from the Canada-Saskatchewan Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) will result in improvements to the Oxbow Arena, construction of a new outdoor swimming pool for Alida and a multi-purpose tarp structure in Manor.
The MRIF contribution represents 50 per cent of the total $643,901 cost of the three projects.
The investment was announced today by Cannington MLA/Saskatchewan Government Services Minister Dan D'Autremont and Souris-Moose Mountain MP Ed Komarnicki.
The announcement is part of a larger group of 56 MRIF cultural and recreational projects being announced across the province.
Under the initial Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) Agreement, the federal and provincial governments committed a combined $76 million to the fund, with participating communities contributing one-half of all costs, raising the total infrastructure investment above $152 million.
In 2007, the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan provided an additional $14.9 million to the fund as part of their commitment to help smaller communities meet their pressing infrastructure needs. This additional funding brings the total federal and provincial investment in Saskatchewan MRIF projects to over $90.9 million.

Two Bienfait Housing members recognized
Caption: (L-R) Bienfait Housing Authority volunteer Margo Hammett, Bienfait Mayor Garry Hammett, authority volunteer Shirley Wheeler and Estevan MLA Doreen Eagles participated in service award presentations.
The Bienfait Housing Authority board of directors has honoured two of its long-serving members.
Shirley Wheeler and Margo Hammett have volunteered on the board for 15 years. Both will remain on the board: Wheeler as the chairperson and Hammett as the secretary.
Wheeler and Hammett received a certificate of recognition from the province and a long-service lapel pin from the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation. Estevan MLA Doreen Eagles made the presentations.
Other members of the Bienfait Housing Authority's board are Claude Schnell, Avis Dronsfield and Dwight Thompson. Joanne Wanner is the authority's manager.
The Saskatchewan Housing Corporation recognizes their volunteers for 10, 15, 20 and 25 plus years of service. An average of 100 individuals from across the province are recognized each year.

Scholarship for Carnduff native
Carnduff native Bailey Wilmot, a third-year student at the University of Saskatchewan, is one of 10 students at the school to receive a $1,000 scholarship through they Bayer Crop Science InVigor Anniversary Scholarship program
Wilmot is studying at the College of Agriculture and Bioresources.
Applications for the scholarships required students to write a short essay on how canola will contribute to the success of Canadian agriculture over the next 10 years. Last year was the 10th anniversary for InVigor and the 100th anniversary for the university. The scholarship program will continue for the next two years.
A formal presentation was made at the University of Saskatchewan's Bean Feed Gala.
The entry deadline for the 2008 program is May 30.

Moose Mountain Ag Day is February 11
Ken Meter, the president of the Crossroads Resource Centre in Minneapolis, will be the keynote speaker at the annual Moose Mountain Ag Day February 11 at the Prairie Place Hall in Arcola.
Meter has devoted more than 30 years to studying local economies. He published a study in 2001, "Finding Food in Farm Country," which provided an economic overview of the region's economy from the viewpoint of the region itself.
Meter will make two presentations while in Arcola: "Finding Food in Farm Country" at 11 a.m. and "Organization of Local Food Systems" at 3:45 p.m.
Other notable speakers will be:
*Dr. Jeff Schoenau from the University of Saskatchewan, "Winter Feeding Options and Soil Fertility"
*Gene Govan of Turtle Lake, North Dakota, "Soil Management"
*Norbert Beaujot of Langbank, "Advancements in Row Spacing"
*Bruce Chern of Stockholm, "Forage and Crop Partnerships"
*Mark Neuman from the Agri Environmental Group Plan
*Vicki East from Ducks Unlimited Canada will speak on 4-H programs.
An agricultural trade show will be held in conjunction with the information day.
The program starts at 9:30 a.m.

Ritz calls for meeting
Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is calling on the Canadian Wheat Board to meet with industry groups, producers, grain handlers and malting companies with the aim of discussing the future of the barley industry.
The meeting is set to take place on January 29 in Ottawa and will focus on finding ways to move toward marketing choice for barley growers.
Ritz is calling for the meeting following the CWB's recent announcement of the CashPlus program. Grower groups, grain handlers and malting companies have rejected the program.
Industry groups have advised Ritz that they have sent repeated requests to the Canadian Wheat Board for such a meeting which have gone unanswered.

Columnists

Not Kid's Stuff
It is interesting what we teach kids in Sunday school. We read Genesis 1 and 2 and tell them how "God created everything just the way he wanted it to be" and then we add "including you". We sing "Jesus Loves Me" and "Jesus Love the little Children". We make sure that they know about heaven. Then, there is the one story that is told over and over again:
"David and Goliath" (1 Samuel 17).
Maybe it is because it is so dramatic, or because it involves a younger person, but I do not think that a year of Sunday school goes by without a re-telling of this story. In fact, you likely know the details.
The Philistines want to fight the army of God. Their champion, a nine-foot tall man named Goliath, issues this challenge: "Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us" (1 Sam 17:8-9). For more than forty days, no one dared to fight him.
When David comes along, he decides that something needs to be done. He tells the King that, "The Lord… will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine" (verse 37) and you know "the rest of the story". With one smooth stone in his sling, David defeats Goliath and wins a great victory for God's people.
We tell that story to our little kids because we want them to know how big God is. We want them to be convinced that God is with them in the same way that he was with David and that, if they follow God, he can do "more than we ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20).
I think that it is great, but my question is, "Do we adults remember the "bigness" of God, or are we too 'big' that?"
You see, "David and Goliath" is not just a kid's story! I think that adults need to sing, "Jesus Loves Me". We all need to remember that we are in the hands of a great, big, loving God.
The kids may be the ones singing, "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there is nothing my God cannot do", but it is a message that we all need to hear.
Tim Pippus, Estevan Church of Christ

WALK A STRAIGHT LINE
By Linda Wegner
Sometimes I wonder if my reading habits should be labeled "somewhat askew." Let me explain: one of the first sections I check in our weekly newspaper is Obituaries. On the odd occasion when I purchase one of Vancouver's daily papers (or take advantage of the free copy at the local coffee shop), I spend a good cup or two's worth of time pursuing the death notices.
That all started when I became a member of the Cancer Victims Society of the World. It's not a formal organization but there's a bond that automatically enrolls you immediately upon diagnosis. I'd read the obits daily to see if one of my fellow travelers had succumbed. Some days I felt so lousy, I checked to see if I was in there. Years after I was declared cancer-free, the practice, now a way of life, continued. The difference now is in how I read each entry. I wonder if that one knew Christ as Saviour?, or Just think, that one is in the presence of the Lord! Gratitude for life and a driving motivation to live what's left of life to the fullest have replaced my angst that I or someone I knew had died.
There's been something else askew lately - but I guess I should have known that eight years is a long time between visits to the optometrist. After verifying that I've no trace of cataracts, macular degeneration or glaucoma, I headed to the local practitioner and got new specs. What a difference after looking and walking askew for far too long.
It just takes a bit of reading these days to see that our world's that way, too and it makes seeing things through the "lens of Scripture" even more important.
"Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." Psalm 119:17-19

GARDEN NOTES
By Gerry Fichtemann
BIRDS IN YOUR GARDEN
A growing awareness of the environmental effects from many daily activities, caused a movement away from the use of pesticides in the home garden.A1ternate methods are being sought for insect contro1,and birds are definate1y an asset in this regard. Many birds eat insects, often in large quantities at least part of the time. Another reason for attracting birds to a home garden is their aesthetic value.
To attract birds to your garden you must provide a habitat for them. This may involve the mounting of nesting boxes and specific planting of trees and shrubs in your yeard.P1antings will not only give birds shelter from the environment and a place to raise their young, but often provide additional food for them.
A key factor when landscaping with birds in mind, is to provide groups of p1ants, rather than single specimen p1antings. This gives the birds a feeling of security and also mimics natural conditions. Genera11y, the greater variety of p1antings, the greater the species diversity of birds attracted.
Berry bearing trees and shrubs are attractive to birds of these species: Robins, Cedar Waxwing, Bohemian Waxwing, Northern Orio1e, Pine Grosbeak, Purple Finch, and Evening Grosbeak.
Plants with berries are not the only ones that attract bird. There are a number of trees which produce seeds that birds eat, and also provide nesting sites. Evergreens, especia11y spruce, provide food in winter for some species which specialize in extracting seeds from cones. Common Redpo11, Nuthatches, Pine Siskins are in this group. In spring and summer, evergreens provide nesting sites for early nesting species such as robins. Deciduous trees are still too bare to be attractive because they provide no cover. When planting to attract birds, don't neglect flowers.
Hummingbirds are often enticed to a garden planted with flowers in shades of red, pink, orange or purple. Tubular shaped flowers are the most attractive, with scarlet trumpet honeysuck1e, gladio1us scarlet runner bean, and properly coloured petunias among the best.
You can enhance this attraction by hanging a hummingbird feeder near the flowers. To prepare a hummingbird mixture, use one part sugar to three parts water -red food coloring is not needed and may be harmful to birds.
You can enjoy birds if you prepare for them!
Gerry Fichtemann is the owner of River Bend Nursery.

Sports

Minor hockey volunteers recognized
Captions:
- Estevan Minor Hockey President Jody Harris accepted the SaskEnergy Volunteer Champion Award from Sherilee Orsted.
- Former referee-in-chief Doug Donald presents the most improved official award to Matt Kuntz.

Local minor hockey volunteers were recognized during the inaugural SaskEnergy Minor Hockey Day in Saskatchewan January 19 at the Civic Auditorium.
Estevan Minor Hockey Association Jody Harris was presented with the SaskEnergy Volunteer Champion Award for her contributions to minor hockey in Estevan.
Matt Kuntz was recognized for being named the most improved official in the southeast. Doug Donald was presented with a gift. He spent seven years as minor hockey's referee-in-chief.
Players and coaches from many of minor hockey's teams paraded around the Civic Auditorium ice.
Estevan Minor Hockey features 29 teams in five different leagues. Over 425 players between the ages of five and 17 are registered.

Gedak qualifies for provincials
Estevan's Brent Gedak qualified for men's curling provincials at the SaskTel Southern Men's Playdowns January 17 to 20 at the Melville Curling Club.
Gedak and his team - consisting of third Bob Doerr, second Aaron Schell and lead Ken Wallewein - posted a 4-1 record at the playdowns. They opened with two straight wins: 7-6 over Regina's Andrew Edgar and 7-4 over Shaunavon's Barry Sonen. A 10-9 loss to Regina's Glen Despins relegated Gedak to the B pool.
Gedak rebounded to defeat Regina's Rick Schneider 7-1 and Moose Jaw's Steven Slupski 4-2 to qualify out of the B event.
Provincials will take place from February 6 to 10 in Balgonie.
Benson's Robert Keating was also at the playdowns. Keating lost 9-3 to Regina's Randy Bryden and 8-5 to Fillmore's Chris Busby. He recovered to defeat Shaunavon's Grant Selvig 9-3, but he was eliminated 5-3 by Kronau's Jamie Schneider.
Third Lyle Brown, second Steve Moulding and lead Jim Brown rounded out Keating's team.

Atom Bruins compete in Regina
The Estevan Canetic Resources Tier I Atom Bruins competed at the Powerade Atom AA Hockey Classic in Regina.
Estevan opened the tournament with a 6-4 loss to the Saskatoon Bobcat Panthers. Kaelan Holt scored twice. Ryan Smith and Talys Halabuza also scored.
The Bruins rebounded to win their next two games: 6-3 over the Lumsden Lions and 5-2 over the Regina North Stars. Halabuza and Kyle Salaway scored twice against Lumsden. Holt and Seth Horn also scored.
Smith paced the Bruins with three against Regina. Holt and Josh Giblett had the other goals.
Estevan's 2-1 record put them first in their pool, and they were placed in the A division playoffs.
Estevan lost 4-3 to the Weyburn WIT Wings in a shootout in the quarter-final. Cory Peloquin scored twice for Estevan. Holt had the other goal.

Speakers announced for Bruin awards banquet
The Estevan Bruins have confirmed the speakers for their 50th anniversary awards banquet February 15.
Grant Fagerheim was born and raised in Estevan. He played with the Estevan Bruins from 1975 to 1978, and finished his junior career with the club in the 1979-80 season. He was the club's MVP in 1977-78, and he was named to the SJHL all-star team that year, as well as in 1979-80.
He also played with the WHL's New Westminster Bruins, the NCAA's Concordia College in Minnesota, and the CIS's University of Calgary. Fagerheim had stints in the organizations of the Vancouver Canucks and the New York Islanders.
Fagerheim has worked in the oil and gas industry in both upstream and downstream jobs. He is the director, president and CEO of Kereco Energy Ltd. He is active in numerous academic, athletic and energy-related organizations.
Brian Skrudland played 15 seasons in the NHL with five different teams - the Montreal Canadiens, the Calgary Flames, the Florida Panthers, the New York Rangers and the Dallas Stars. He won the Stanley Cup in 1986 with Montreal and in 1999 with Dallas.
Skrudland had 124 goals, 343 points and 1,107 penalty minutes in 881 NHL games. He now works in the Calgary oil patch.
The Bruins will hand out awards from the 2007-08 regular season during the banquet. Autographed NHL and NFL memorabilia will be auctioned off.

Bruins win four of five
The Estevan Bruins are back on the right track.
Estevan beat the Battlefords North Stars 2-0 January 23 - the Bruins fourth win in five games. Liam Brennan scored twice in the third period for the Bruins. David Ritz made 20 saves for the shutout win.
The win over the Battlefords was the Bruins second in less than a week. The Black and Gold defeated the Battlefords 5-2 in North Battleford January 17. Estevan won all five meetings with the North Stars this year.
Head coach/GM Karry Biette admitted the game on the 23rd was a little closer than he would have liked, but he never felt his team was in any real danger against the last place North Stars.
Biette said little has changed from when the club lost seven in a row in December and early January. The players are more relaxed, but now they're getting the lucky bounces.
"We lost six in a row after Christmas; we were in five of those hockey games," said Biette. "It was a bounce away from going the other way."
The Bruins are fourth in the Sherwood Conference with a 23-22-2-2 record and 50 points. The Bruins host the Flin Flon Bombers January 26, and they visit the Terriers January 30.
In other news, four players - forwards Kyle Ermel, Kyle Stroh and Payden Benning, and defenceman Kealin Wong - represented the club at the SJHL all-star game January 20 in Yorkton. The four Bruins helped pace the Sherwood Conference all-stars to an 11-5 win over the Itech Conference all-stars.
Wong had an assist, Stroh had three assists, Ermel had a goal and an assist, and Benning had two goals.

Grey Cup coming to Estevan
The Grey Cup will be coming to Estevan's campus of the Southeast Regional College on Tuesday, January 29, from 3 to 5 p.m.
The CFL's championship trophy will be at the school for public viewing and photo opportunities. Accompanying the Cup will be Roughrider players Jeremy O'Day, Scott Schultz, Matt Dominguez, and Marcus Adams.
This will be the first stop in Estevan for the trophy, which has been in high demand throughout the province since the Riders won the championship in November.
"The Riders have been extremely busy filling requests for the Grey Cup," says Dave Harazny of the Southeast Education Foundation, who started inquiring about a Grey Cup appearance in early December. "The trophy has to be returned to the CFL Hall of Fame on February 1st, so we are very fortunate and thrilled to be part of their scheduled tour."
Fans can get a 5 x 7" professional photo taken with the Cup for a fee. Due to a limited amount of time, personal photos with the Cup will be limited to those taken by the professional photographer. Those who bring their own cameras will have about 15 minutes to take pictures of the players who are on the tour.
"Being able to have your picture holding the cup is something special," said Harazny. "We just want everyone to have fun and enjoy the Riders' success!"

Close races in Big Six
The division title races are close with only a few weeks remaining in the Big Six Hockey League season.
The Oxbow Huskies lead the Carnduff Red Devils by one point in the East Division. Oxbow (11-3-3) has 25 points; Carnduff (12-6) has 24. Carnduff has played one more game than Oxbow. A February 1 game in Carnduff between the two teams will be pivotal in deciding who finishes first.
The Bienfait Coalers (7-7-2-3) remain in third with 19 points. The Redvers Rockets (7-9) are fourth with 15 points. The Pierson Bruins (3-10-1-1) are last with eight points.
The Carlyle Cougars continue to lead the West Division, and the overall standings, with 33 points. Their record is 16-1-1. The Midale Mustangs (15-2-1) are second with 30 points, and they have played one less game. They also meet once more this year: January 25 in Carlyle.
The Arcola-Kisbey Combines (6-10-1-1) remain in third with 14 points. The Wawota Flyers are fourth with 12 (6-11). Arcola-Kisbey has played one more game than Wawota. The White Bear Redhawks (0-18) are still winless.

From the
Sidelines
Super Bowl XLII Set
By Kyle Kapiczowski
Super Bowl XLII will be on Feb. 3 in Arizona and the two teams that will be playing in it this year are the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. The Giants got there after they upset the Green Bay Packers 23-20 in overtime in the NFC Championship game, and the Patriots are also off to Arizona after they beat the San Diego Chargers 21-12 in the AFC Championship game. I think the Patriots will win by three and end the season with a perfect 19-0 record. The New York Giants have won the Super Bowl twice 1987 and 1991. The Pats have won it three times 2001, 2003 and 2004. This is a rematch from week 17 when the Patriots beat the Giants 38-35.
In other NFL news, the Miami Dolphins have hired Tony Sparano as their new head coach. He replaces Cam Camron, who was the previous head coach. Sparano was the offensive line coach with the Dallas Cowboys.
In the CFL, Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Kent Austin has stepped down and will become the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, the Ole Miss Rebels. I hope he does well down there. Some of the people that are in the running for the head coaching job are Ritchie Hall, Dave Ritchie, George Cortez and Ken Miller.
In NCAA Basketball, the Florida Gators beat Kentucky 81-70 in overtime. The Gators record is 16-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play.
In the WHL, the Regina Pats beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes 3-2. Regina's record is 30-15-3-1. The Pats currently sit first in the Eastern Division.
As for my other favorite team, the Calgary Hitmen lost to the Tri City Americans 3-2 in a shootout. The Hitmen sit in first in the Central Division with a 32-13-1-3 record.
In the English Premier League. Manchester United beat Reading 2-0. Man U's record is 17-3-3. Manchester's next game is against Portsmouth.
That's all folks!

Viewpoints

Tea Time
Jealous of a Sea Horse?
By Dani Stobbs
In the last few months it appears that nearly everyone I know if either pregnant or just had a baby. Baby boom time is here, and it's a good thing this pregnant malarkey isn't contagious else I would be in a right old pickle.
As I watch the women get bigger, and hear about what is hurting, the aches and pains. Plus the conversations about how there fingers are getting to be the size of sausage (funny to the people that are not pregnant - not to funny to those who are).
I can't help but to think of the sea horse. The lucky thing. Did you know that it's the male seahorse that carries the baby for duration of the pregnancy? I'm guessing that a few of my girl friends right now are wishing that they were a seahorse.
And just to add to the jealously that we should have for these little sea creatures, their pregnancy only lasts two to three weeks. Are you kidding?
We as woman have to carry the babies around with us for nine months? What did the seahorse do to deserve such a happy and wonderful life? That's what I want to know.
For those of you who are maybe going through the time in your life where your children are perhaps driving you a little crazy, I have something else that the seahorse gets that you don't. Their children are independent from the time they are born, just hanging around the ocean plankton to get all good and developed.
Are there a few of you out there despising the seahorses out there?
You are probably wondering why the heck I am talking about seahorses, and thinking that I have maybe lost my marbles.
I am a huge National Geographic fan, and I love to read about this stuff. But why tell you?
Well, while I read about this amazing creature and envied it easy life in this world, and thought about how it got the best of things especially when it came to the whole pregnancy thing, I stopped and thought about what I was wishing for.
We do that a lot. I see so many people do it. They envy the life of someone else. The things they have, or how easy they have it. Maybe they have more money than you, a better car, better job, a nicer house.
How many minutes or hours of your life have you spent envying someone else, or something else.
So while I sit and ponder upon the seahorse, I realise that although on the surface the seahorse has a great life, how much greater is it to be me. That's because all my life I'm only ever going to be me, and because of that I will love my job, my car, my children, my future pregnancy, all because I'll be the one experiencing it - not the person I'm envying. Strive to love yourself, and then it will be easier to love on others.
Still have to admit, I'm a little jealous of the seahorse!

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor:
Due to recent sightings our population is increasing rapidly, we have noticed in the last few years a number of coyotes think Estevan is the place to live, maybe we can sell them a few lots in the Trojan area, they like that area of town.
Well if they move in I'm moving out! If I wanted coyotes in my back yard I would be living in the country but I am not living there. There has been a problem for a few years and the problem is worse this year. Our conservation officer tells people that we have to learn to live with the coyotes, I don't think so. He has also told someone to use a BB gun and shoot it in the butt. If that works why doesn't he do it? I have been told that you can trap them and there are people who can do that, I was told that two years ago, why wasn't it done? Now once you have trapped the coyotes my suggestion is shoot them so they don't come back, in fact shoot all of them there are far too many.
Mrs. Mickel sees the coyotes running through her yard across the street to Mrs. Bridges yard were they hang out there for a while, they run over to the hospital visit their relatives run back through Rusty Duce Park then back to the Wilsons' yard where they have a sing song that lasts for a long time, (too long) occasionally they run behind the Buhlers' yard and aggravate their dog. Now these neighbors have complained to the authorities, should something be done? Yes it should and why wait till it is too late? They have been spotted at the Comprehensive and Spruce Ridge Schools, behind Canadian Tire and in the Trojan area, along the tracks behind the business. There are people who are afraid to walk along King Street because of the sightings. The most recent site the coyotes were spotted was at Tim Hortons, it has to be the coffee, because there are no rabbits there for them to eat. If the Coyotes have been spotted that many times through the city that means that we have a problem, a very serious one.
I live on King Street we have several small children that live in this area that catch the bus every morning and are dropped off every afternoon there are several children that play hockey on the street were the coyotes have been seen. These animals are seen several times during the day and are seen on occasion traveling in twos and threes, when they group together that means that they are looking for larger game (like small children). They howl at night and run freely in our City during the day. Three attacks were reported in Canmor, Alberta in one week in December, these animals were destroyed, officers have been dispatched to kill all coyotes in the area (see CBC News December 14, 2007
Coyote purge begins after attacks on Canmore kids). Now before it gets to that, let us do something about it and make this a safer city to live in. LETS BE PROACTIVE NOT REACTIVE!
Marian Wilson, Estevan, SK

What's Happening

Game time
Cathy Gedak helps her son, Chase, get ready for a game at the annual Estevan Minor Hockey Timbits initiation tournament January 19 and 20. Chase is a member of the Estevan Avalanche squad. Eleven teams played in the annual fun tournament.

Spelling bee winner
(L-R) Miranda Ivanochko was the winner and Mary Parker was the runner-up at Westview School's annual spelling bee January 18. Ivanochko, a Grade 6 student, and Parker, a Grade 5 student, were among 13 students entered. Ivanochko will now have to take a written test to qualify for the provincial event.

Donation to the food bank
(L-R) Estevan Salvation Army Captain Heather Fudge accepted a $2,300 cheque from Chris Wright of the Estevan Eye Clinic. A portion of the sale of every pair of glasses at the Estevan Eye Clinic in December was donated to the food bank.