The peaceful passing of a devoted father, Paul Nicholas Rupcich of Kenaston, Sask., occurred on March 8, 2016 at the age of 92 years. Paul is survived by his sons Gregory (Brittany), Michael Scott, and Timothy; granddaughters Jasey and Lydia; sisters Ellen Schmeiser and Peggy Ludlow; also numerous nieces and nephews. Paul was predeceased by his parents Peter and Kata Rupcich; sisters Ann Drage and Mary Sarich; and brothers Dan and Steven. The Funeral Mass of Resurrection will be held on Friday, March 18, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church, Kenaston, Sask. For friends so wishing, memorials in memory of Paul may be directed to the St. Andrew’s Church or Cemetery Fund. Hanson’s Funeral Home, Davidson, in care of arrangements.
Robert Martellacci of C21 Canada presents the organization’s 21st Century System Innovation Award to Sun West School Division officials, trustees and other attendees. (Leader photo by Joel van der Veen)
By Joel van der Veen
KENASTON — Close to 70 years after dropping out of high school, Ennis Waldner had some unfinished business to take care of.
Having joined the workforce after Grade 11 due to her father’s death in 1941, Waldner had made her way through life — including marriage and raising four children — thinking she had missed out on something.
“I always felt that I had been cheated,” Waldner recalled, speaking at the grand opening of the Distance Learning Centre (DLC) in Kenaston on Feb. 26.
After reading a newspaper ad, Waldner said she called the DLC to inquire about finishing her formal education.
“I got a very encouraging reply: ‘Of course it’s possible’,” she continued, adding she had some doubts after learning she needed seven credits to graduate. “I said, ‘I’ll be dead before I finish taking seven classes.'”
DLC staff checked again and realized she only needed four credits, and Waldner went back to school at age 86.
In June 2013, the octagenarian received her high school diploma, graduating with the rest of Kenaston’s Grade 12 class that year.
Waldner, now 91, had encouraging words of her own for other people in her situation as she spoke to a crowd of hundreds in the Kenaston School gymnasium.
“If you have the desire and you have the will, the centre here will certainly have the way for you,” she said. “It is possible.”
Division officials, staff, students and many others were on hand as the new DLC building was officially opened in late February, eight years after distance learning programs were first offered in Kenaston.
The 15,000-square foot building was completed in December and has been in use since early January, when the centre transitioned from its former home in Kenaston School.
The new facility — functioning as the province’s largest online school — houses 55 teachers, along with 10 administrators and support staff, offering a total of 120 courses.
To learn more, please read the March 7, 2016 print edition of The Davidson Leader. To subscribe email: davidsonleader@sasktel.net
Addison Ouellette played the South Saskatchewan Selects at the Texas School of Football’s international tournament in Fort Worth last month.
By Joel van der Veen
FORT WORTH — They say everything’s bigger in Texas, and that goes double when it comes to football.
Addison Ouellette of Davidson was part of the South Saskatchewan Selects U16 team that travelled to Fort Worth, Texas, last month for the Texas School of Football’s international tournament and showcase.
His father Trevor said the team played at a Catholic high school with a large field outfitted with grandstands, artificial turf and lights. The competition, he added, was just as impressive.
“There were no weak players out there on either side,” he said. “It was an elite league competition, and it showed.”
Addison and his team went undefeated in four games from Feb. 18 to 21, picking up the championship trophy at the end of the weekend.
In their opening game, the U16 team defeated the Euless Longhorns 33-0. The game was a highlight for Addison, who made an interception and scored a touchdown.
On Friday, they faced Georgia, winning 19-0, followed by a 27-12 win over the North Oak Cliff Eagles on Saturday. They faced the Eagles again on Sunday in the championship game, winning 19-0.
Trevor said the defence played exceptionally well over the weekend, only giving up two touchdowns. As the games were played according to U.S. rules, Addison served as the free safety.
Tryouts were held for the Saskatchewan team in November. One weekend practice was held before Christmas, with additional practices held every second weekend since then.
Addison was the sole six-man player on the team, as the other players came from larger centres and had played on nine-man and 12-man teams.
He said it was a great experience, from the weather to the competition, and added that he learned lots from watching the other players.
“You watch them do something better than you do, you just pick that up and learn from them,” he explained. “It was fun.”
Trevor observed that as it was the start of spring season for the U.S. teams, some of their competitors were less precise than he expected. He said they may have been sharper if the tournament had been closer to mid-season.
Though the Selects team only played in one tournament together, Trevor said it is considered a stepping stone towards the provincial U18 team.
Tryouts and camps will be held in coming months, beginning with a combine in April and the four-day camp in May. The 2016 Football Canada Cup will be held in Winnipeg in July.
Pictured here is the area damaged in a grass fire that broke out northeast of Craik on Feb. 28. Dan Florizone’s cabin is shown at left, while Paul and Crystal Stinson’s acreage is shown at right. (Contributed photo)
By Joel van der Veen
CRAIK — Last Sunday afternoon, Paul and Crystal Stinson and their son Grayden were out of town, seeing the stage play “Ring of Fire” in Outlook.
Had they been at their home near Craik, they would have witnessed another ring of fire altogether.
A grass fire broke out northeast of town on the afternoon of Feb. 28, torching upwards of half an acre of grass before it was stopped by the local volunteer fire department.
No injuries were reported, nor was there any damage to the Stinsons’ home, or any of the other houses on the east side of Arm Lake.
Fire chief Boyd Sanden said he received the call at 3:54 p.m. on Sunday, adding that his crew subdued the fire in about 45 minutes. Including perimeter checks, the fire department was on the scene for roughly an hour.
He said a resident had started a fire in a small pit near one of the houses, when a strong wind picked up some burning papers and carried them over to the grass.
“When it hit that tall grass, it just took off,” said Sanden, estimating that well over half an acre of grass was burned. Some trees on the edge of the dam suffered minor damage as well.
Sanden said some residents offered their assistance, and that together they were able to work from opposite ends in fighting the fire, eventually meeting in the middle.
Rather than running hundreds of feet worth of hose from their trucks, Sanden said his crew used a combination of shovels and high-powered leafblowers to gradually conquer the flames.
He said the latter tools can be highly useful in putting out certain fires, depending on how the fires are being fuelled. He likened it to blowing out the candles on a birthday cake.
For the full story, please see the March 7, 2016 edition of The Davidson Leader. To subscribe, email: davidsonleader@sasktel.net
