DAVIDSON—At its meeting last Wednesday, Davidson town council decided to tap into the New Building Canada Fund to repair some of the town’s ageing sewer lines.
Council learned that $436.7 million in federal funding over 10 years is available to Saskatchewan communities.
Administrator Gary Edom suggested the town apply for money to install liners inside sewer mains.
He said this is a high priority project for the town.
“I think it’s a long shot, everybody wants it,” Edom said of the town’s odds to receive funding.
Costs to line the sewer mains cost about $49,400 per block. Council decided to apply for $150,000 to cover the costs of repairing three blocks.
“I think it’s great the federal government came out with this,” Mayor Clayton Schneider said.
“We’re getting close to an election year,” Donna Bessey, community development officer, pointed out.
Applications to the provincial-territorial infrastructure component of the New Building Canada Fund are due Jan. 12.
Monthly Archives: December 2014
Morrison medals come home
DAVIDSON—Two British Royal Air Force First World War medals have a new home in the Davidson branch of the Royal Canadian Legion’s museum.
A British War Medal and a Victory Medal, intended for the widow of Eric Morrison, will soon be on display.
Last week former Davidson lawyer Jim Ulmer gave the medals to Gordon McRae, president of the Davidson branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. The medals will be included in the Legion’s museum that features artifacts significant to the area’s military history.
“I’m very pleased Jim has decided to give us these medals to put up in our museum at the library and hopefully I can capture some of the history they represent,” McRae said.
He said he plans to make a shadow box in which he’ll display the medals as well as including a picture of Eric Morrison and a history of Morrison and the medals.
Flight Lieut. Eric Morrison was killed Sunday, July 7, 1918 shortly after starting on a bombing raid with other members of his squadron in France, with the German lines as their objective. Lieut. Morrison was born in Scotland. Before enlisting he was employed by the T. Eaton Co. in Toronto. He left a young widow and baby boy, James, of eighteen months in Girvin, Sask. His widow was Marjorie (Murdoch) Morrison and she lived in Girvin where she likely met Eric while he was in Girvin working for the bank. She remarried in 1924 and moved away.
Ulmer has had the medals since the 1980s. He received them from his former law partner Morley Coxworth who practised law in Davidson for about 60 years. Coxworth acquired the medals in the early 1920s when the Royal Air Force sent them to the law firm Scott, McKinnon and Rutherford, for whom Coxworth began his legal career. The law firm handled Eric Morrison’s estate and the medals were sent to Davidson in 1923 to be given to Morrison’s widow, however, for some reason the task was never completed, so the medals sat in a box for more than 90 years.
“They were never opened. I always had it in mind to find the family,” Ulmer said, he now lives and practices law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
He rediscovered them while in Davidson this summer and contacted McRae about giving the medals a proper home.
McRae said his first concern was that the medals be sent to a relative of Eric Morrison’s, however, none could be found, and so they will go to the museum.
“I feel really good about this, about where they are going,” Ulmer said.
Check ice before venturing out RCMP caution
Moose Jaw RCMP report that on Dec 17 they received reports of four incidents of vehicles breaking through the ice on Buffalo Pound Lake.
No injuries were reported as a result of the incidents.
Saskatchewan Environment along with RCMP are advising the public to avoid travelling on Buffalo Pound Lake as the ice conditions are not consistent across the lake and ice depth can be deceiving. Please be cautious when travelling on ice at this time of the year.
New Sergeant at helm of Craik RCMP
By Kevin Gilby
CRAIK—The Craik RCMP detachment welcomed Sergeant John Ermel Dec. 8.
A 14-year member of the force, Ermel is “happy to be provided this opportunity to be the sergeant at this detachment” and looks “forward to be involved with all the communities we serve.”
Ermel was born and raised on a farm near Cupar. After completing his training at the Depot, the RCMP Training Academy in Regina, he went on to serve in Tisdale, Swift Current, Broadview, and Regina/White Butte before applying for a posting in Craik.
When the posting came open, Ermel “jumped at the opportunity” and applied. He had previously worked six weeks in the community in 2008 and “really enjoyed the community and the work.”
Ermel is married with two children, ages 8 and 3. His wife is currently serving with the RCMP in the Regina area where their son is enrolled in school. When away from his home, he stays at a rented property in Craik and hopes to one day have time to plant a garden.
When not on duty, Ermel might be found hunting or fishing if he’s not busy spending time with his family.
Upon joining the detachment, Ermel says he didn’t face any challenges. The detachment, now fully staffed with four constables and a staff member, made his transition to the unit easy.
Reich, Colin
Colin Maurice Reich
June 27, 1961 – December 1, 2014
Colin passed away suddenly on Monday, December 1, 2014 at the Davidson Health Centre. Colin was born in Davidson on June 27, 1961 to Norbert and Elaine Reich. He attended school in Girvin and Davidson, graduating from Davidson High School in 1979. Colin was actively involved in sports from a young age and enjoyed curling until his illness in 2006. Colin farmed the family farm from 1979-1998 and also worked off the farm in off-seasons at SEARS, Edwards Electric, Johnsson Electric and True Value Hardware. Colin rented out his farmland in 1998 and began working full-time as Caretaker at Davidson Elementary School until his illness in 2006. Colin had kept active during his illness taking care of his home and yard, both in town and at his farm. He took great pride in his work and his hard work shone through in all he did. Colin’s pride and joy were his wife, Brenda and his two daughters, Katelyn and Allie. He took every opportunity to spend time and travel with them. They were his main loves in life as he was ours. Colin is survived by his loving family, his wife, Brenda; his daughters Katelyn (Jordan) and Allie; his parents, Norbert and Elaine Reich; his siblings: Norlaine (Jim) McIvor, Gail (Dale Glines, Bev (Brian) Ziefflie, Kevin (Lorraine) Reich, Karen (Lindsay) Dieno; grandmother, Molly Reich; brothers-in-law, Rob (Norene) Edwards, Doug Edwards; sister-in-law, Gail (Lawrence) Prill; as well as many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Colin was predeceased by his grandfather, Valentine Reich; grandparents, Ralph Lund, Frances Lund and Edna Lund; his father and mother-in-law, Doug and Eunice Edwards; his sister-in-law, Colleen Reich. A Memorial Service to celebrate Colin’s life was held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Davidson on Monday, December 8, 2014. Memorials in memory of Colin may be directed to Myeloma Canada, P.O. Box 326, Kirkland, QC H9H 0A4 or Saskatchewan Blood and Marrow Transplant Program c/o Saskatoon Cancer Centre, 20 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 4H4. Hanson’s Funeral Services, Davidson, SK in care of arrangements.
Zdunich, Louis
Louis M. Zdunich of Kenaston entered into eternal life with his lord on December 14, 2014. Louis passed peacefully at the Davidson Health Centre after a long battle with cancer.
Louis was born in Regina on January 22, 1944 to Anton and Marie Zdunich.
Louis is survived by his wife Dorothy; daughter Debra (Lyle) Froehlich and their children Sam, Liam and Molly; son Ken and his children Dalton, Kara-lee and Weylan; daughter Michelle (Dean) Blenkinsop and their children Riley, Ayslee, Thea and Maia; and son Jason (Crystal) and their children Jessica, Shannyn, Matthew and Justin. He is also survived by his mother Marie Zdunich; and siblings Gerald (Gina), Teresa (Bill Allen), David (Jo), Lorelei (Dwayne Theaker), Gene (Eileen),
Mark (Kathy); mother-in-law Aileen Sanderson, brother-in-law Jim (Shirley) Sanderson, and numerous neices and nephews, great-neices and -nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his father Anton; his sister Laverne Ringdal and her daughter Elly; brother-in-law Dan Lorer and father-in-law Jim Sanderson.
Louis lived his life in Kenaston where he did what he loved, farming and raising his family. He was raised in the St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church where he was an active member and a member of the Knights of Columbus, until his illness made it too hard for him.
His funeral was held at St. Andrew’s RC church in Kenaston on Friday, December 19, 2014 at 2 p.m. Prayers were on Thursday, December 18 at 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in Louis memory to St. Andrew’s Church Improvement or the Davidson Health Centre Trust Fund, with cheques payable to the Town of Davidson.
Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson was in care of arrangements.