Davidson School Grade 8 science teacher Karielle Willner issued a challenge to her students two weeks ago to build a hydraulic machine using cardboard, wood, glue, water, tubing and syringes in an effort to engage the students in learning science through hands-on experience.

Willner said the task gives the students an opportunity to test their problem-solving skills over the two-and-a-half periods they were allotted for the challenge. She said the students had to come up with their own idea for what machine they wanted to build, research how to build it, build it, then present a report detailing their project.

“They could be as creative as they wanted,” said Willner, noting the kids also were allowed to choose what level they wanted to work at with level 3 being grade-level/satisfactory and level 5 being the most challenging task.

Geena Heinrich, who built a dump truck with Justin Sandsbraaten and Jessica Matheson that featured a hydraulic lifting open-box bed at the rear of the machine, said their project has a level 5 assessment. She said they initially wanted to build a car, but that didn’t quite work out.

“Then I was just looking at hydraulics on my farm and came up with this,” said Geena.

Willner said the project is based on inquiry-based curriculum that gives students opportunities of understanding concepts through activities such as problem solving tasks. She said through assignments such as these the kids get to learn as they go and then show her what they have learned through their work.

The project is a great learning tool because kids can experience “that ‘Aha!’ moment” when they find out for themselves what works and what doesn’t, she said.

FHC Holdings Ltd. is bringing the Fields store back to its original location in Davidson with a grand opening scheduled for sometime in late June.

Fields president Jason McDougall said there isn’t an exact date set in stone for the re-opening as the company still has a bit of work to do such as hiring staff, putting up the store fixtures and bringing in inventory before they can cut the ribbon, but he said the former manager of Davidson Fields has already been secured and will resume the job.

“We’re excited to be back,” said McDougall, who grew up on a farm near Liberty. “We like to be involved in the community and part of the community and I’m enthusiastic to have a store close to where I grew up.”

The Fields store in Davidson closed last May after operating for around four years in the Garfield Street building that was formerly Larry and Judi Packet’s grocery store. The Packet’s continue to own the building, but McDougall said his company hopes to eventually buy it ensuring Fields stays in town for the long term.

“We entered into a lease agreement with the landlords, but we actually intend to buy the building at some point,” he said. “We have a lease with the option to buy.”

McDougall said this would be the third Fields store to reopen in Saskatchewan after FHC Holdings closed on its purchase of 57 stores from the Hudson’s Bay Company last spring. He said the discount store has already started operations in Unity and Tisdale and it just took a little bit of time to “gain our footing” before the Davidson location could be announced for re-opening.

“This store will create a better life for residents,” he said. “We’re like a small-town Walmart in a sense. We give people the ability to get their everyday needs without having to travel to the city.”

The Resort Village of Etters Beach is trying to stave off the potential of flooding this spring by leaning on the knowledge they gained two years ago.

Michele Cruise-Pratchler, administrator for Etters Beach, said the village has not had any flooding issues yet this spring, but the provincial Water Security Agency (WSA) has warned them there is potential for it due to the high water level on Last Mountain Lake. She said as a result the village is now in the process of building a berm and a drainage ditch to address the problem should it occur.

“The (WSA) April forecast was for a high water level of about 18 inches less than it was in 2011, which would put us in jeopardy,” said Cruise-Pratchler. “There should be a new forecast shortly and we’ll get a little better read on what they’re thinking as far as lake levels. At this point, we’re sort of in a wait and see mode for what may or may not be high water.”

Cruise-Pratchler said over the next couple weeks a contractor would be preparing the village for the possibility of flooding with funding support for the project coming from the WSA Emergency Flood Damage Reduction Program. She said the equipment is on site and workers began digging the ditch last Wednesday.

“Generally water that comes from the west sort of works its way right through the village, so we’re constructing a drainage ditch to divert it around the village,” she said. “Then we’re putting a section of berm up along the water shoreline side that will help to make the entire shoreline level 492 metres above sea level, which was the high water flood level of 2011.”

The reconstruction of the Etters Beach community recreation facility that was supposed to be completed this spring is still going ahead as planned, said Cruise-Pratchler. She said as soon as the weather warms up they will start work on the outdoor structure, which was damaged in the 2011 flood, and it would be ready for use this summer.

The Town of Davidson is putting out a call for volunteers to help them host the Saskatchewan Twilite Baseball Maxi Tournament July 5 to 7.

Davidson councillor Jason Shaw said the annual men’s tournament could bring 600 people to town over the weekend and volunteer help is needed to perform duties at the tournament including grounds crew, announcer and scorekeeper positions along with diamond preparations crew before the event starts. Shaw said if anyone is interested in one of these positions or would like to help out in any way to come see him at his office on Washington Avenue or give him a call.

“We’re probably going to put a Davidson team together too if we have enough people that are interested,” said Shaw. “If anybody that wants to play that I haven’t talked to, they can give me a call.”

The Saskatchewan Twilite Baseball Maxi Tournament is an over-35 men’s baseball event that travels across the province each summer bringing together sport enthusiasts who enjoy getting together each year to play the game. The tournament, now in its 37^th year, consists of 21 to 24 teams comprised of 12 to 18 players each who play two round-robin games on the Friday and Saturday before heading into playoff action with games played Saturday afternoon and all-day Sunday.

Shaw said there should be around 40 games being played over the three days at Davidson’s three ball diamonds and local people who would like to come and watch can do so at no charge. He said the ballplayers from each team and their families would be staying in town over the weekend, either at the campground or in hotels, so businesses in Davidson will see a boom in sales over the three days.

“The benefit for the town is there will be a lot of people buying groceries, using the Liquor Store, local businesses, restaurants and that kind of stuff,” he said, noting the last time Davidson played host to the tournament was in 2009. “It’s an older group and their kids and (spouses) will be here. It’s kind of a yearly reunion for these teams where they get together, have a few drinks and play a little ball. Some teams are serious and some are not.”

To read more please see the May 6 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

Robertson, Don

Robert Donald Robertson was born on, May 31, 1923, at, Saskatoon, Sask., to Robert and Antoinette Robertson. He was the second of two sons.

Don completed his grade twelve education at Luther College in Regina. He also attended the College of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. He enlisted with the Royal Canadian Signal Corp in the armed forces in 1943. He was lance corporal with the Canadian Postal Corp in the North West Europe German occupation army. This took him overseas where he met, Joyce Holt, from, Manchester, England. After the Second World War, Don and Joyce were married on the farm at Liberty on, August 1st, 1948. They had two children, Bob and Elaine. Don enjoyed music and loved to play the piano with his friends in the Liberty Orchestra. Liberty Orchestra was a fixture in Liberty and played many gigs, as Don would say. The last gig being his granddaughter, Tamara’s wedding in 2007.

Don worked diligently for the National Farmers Union. Miles of Saskatchewan roads were travelled, meetings attended and farmers visited. He worked alongside his friend, Elmer Laird, for the Back to the Farm Research Foundation. He was a member of The Liberty Optimist Club, The Masons and the Canadian Legion. He was a member of the United Church.

Joyce passed away in 1967 and Don lived alone for 11 years until finding a wonderful friend and companion, Juliette Thorson, who also was widowed. Don and Julie were married in 1982. This greatly enlarged Don’s family as Julie brought seven adult children into the family, James, Richard, John, Mary, Lori, Thomas and Peter. The amazing thing about Don and Julie was that everyone was included. All grandchildren were mutually enjoyed and shared. The clan grew to thirty grandchildren and twenty-four plus great-grandchildren.

Don and Julie shared great times together. When life got too busy watching the grandchildren, Don would say, it’s time that we got away! They would usually drive to the coast, visiting relatives along the way. Julie passed away suddenly on, April 12th 2004. Don has stayed busy helping his son, Bob, on the farm, gardening, with his children and grandchildren and playing music with his friends over the past nine years. He lived in his own home right up until this past Christmas.

In January he moved to Long Lake Valley Integrated Facility where he passed away on April 17th. He courageously fought prostate cancer, macular degeneration in his eyes and heart issues over the past two years. He lived a rich, full life and he will be greatly missed. Don was predeceased by his parents, Rob and Nettie, his brother Bill, sister-in-law Ruby, his wife Joyce, his wife Julie, a stepson Richard and nephew Arnold. Left to mourn are, Bob Robertson and Elaine (Barry) Webster, Carey (Joel) Hyndman, Jody (Mark) Fitzpatrick, Scott (Lindsay) Robertson, Aaron Webster, Joel (Alesha) Webster, Tamara (Jeff) Benjamin, Daniel Webster, Jim (Kelly) Thorson, Penny Thorson, John (Jackie) Thorson, Mary (Dave) Ross, Lori (Bill) Sproule, Thomas (Terry) Thorson, Peter (Cheryl) Thorson, Jeremy (Trudy) Thorson, Daniel (Angela) Thorson, Nicole Thorson, Jessica (Rodd) Zoerb, Chris (Sarah) Thorson, Brian Thorson, Katie (Jarrod) Carr, Michele (Jason) Ulsifer, Deonne (Stan) Hrynyk, Adam (Kathryn) Thorson, Andrea (Lonny) Setrum, Bobbi (Rob) Burford, Tony Ross, Randi (Chris) Strunk, Kerry (Darcy) Boyle, Robert Sproule, Patrick Sproule, Krystal Thorson, Vanessa Thorson, Michael Thorson, Evan Thorson, Ashley Thorson, and Matthew Thorson.

A funeral service for Don was held Sat. April 27, 2 p.m. at Liberty Memorial Hall
Liberty SK., Officiant – Pastor Paul Gosslin – Pallbearers – Scott Robertson, Joel Webster, Daniel Webster, Daniel Thorson, Adam Thorson, Evan Thorson, Tributes – Aaron Webster, Carey Hyndman, Chris Thorson, Register Attendants – Elaine Wille, Caroline Wolff, Usher – Eugene Wolff, Craig Wille, Scripture Reader – Lori Sproule, Soloist – Alesha Webster, Pianist – Brenda Robinson, Tribute Slideshow – Jessica Zoerb, Trumpet – The Last Post, Alana Gosslin, Private Famliy Interment – Liberty Cemetery

For those so wishing donations to Long Lake Valley Foundation, Box 94, Imperial, SK, S0G 2J0 would be appreciated. For online condolences and tributes, or to make a donation please visit www.fotheringham-mcdougall.com