DAVIDSON — The next step towards the construction of Davidson’s new pool is on the horizon, town councillors heard at this week’s meeting.
Recreation director Trevor Ouellette, who visited the July 21 meeting as a delegation, received approval from council last week to make arrangements with Regina-based firm Walker Projects to start seeking proposals from contractors.
“They are ready to get started as soon as we sign,” he told council at the meeting, distributing documents outlining the company’s services and fees.
With a total of $1,065,000 raised for the pool in three years, Ouellette said that it’s likely the first phase of construction could begin by the spring of 2016, with the pool being ready for use the following year.
Estimates on the cost of the project have varied, but based on current information, he placed the total cost at somewhere between $1.25 million and $1.3 million.
Ouellette was joined later in the meeting by a delegation from the swimming pool fundraising committee, consisting of Crystal Johnson, Brenna Siroski and Erin Gust.
Like the town councillors, committee members welcomed the news, but they also took the opportunity to voice some concerns.
To read more, please see the July 27th print edition of The Davidson Leader. To subscribe email:davidsonleader@sasktel.net
SASKATOON — Lynne Yelich’s 15-year career in federal politics appears set to draw to a close this fall.
Last Monday, broadcaster Kevin Waugh defeated the longtime MP and cabinet minister in the race to be the Conservatives’ candidate for the newly-created Saskatoon Grasswood riding.
Once the writ is dropped for the next federal election — expected to fall on Oct. 19 — Yelich will lose her seat in the House of Commons after representing the Blackstrap riding since 2000.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Yelich said simply that she was “disappointed in this result,” but added that she had been honoured to support the work of the Conservative government.
“It has been a privilege to represent the constituents of Blackstrap for nearly 15 years,” she stated, thanking residents for their “support and trust in my leadership, and for this opportunity to serve a strong and free Canada.”
She did not offer any details regarding her future plans, political or otherwise, nor any further comments on Waugh’s win.
Yelich, 62, a native of Kenaston, was first elected to represent Blackstrap in 2000 as a member of the Canadian Alliance.
She remained on board in 2003 when the Alliance and the Progressive Conservatives merged to form the new federal Conservative Party of Canada.
Yelich was re-elected in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011, receiving 54.4 per cent of the vote in the most recent federal election.
Having served as a critic for multiple portfolios as a member of the Opposition, Yelich became parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development after the Conservatives formed a minority government in 2006.
Two years later, she joined the federal cabinet as Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification. In 2013, she was appointed to her current portfolio as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Consular.
In 2012, the province’s federal electoral districts were reconfigured, based on the population statistics provided by the previous year’s census.
The current riding of Blackstrap covers both urban and rural territory, combining the southeast quadrant of the City of Saskatoon with the surrounding area, extending south to Elbow, southeast to Bladworth and east to Jensen.
It will be replaced in the upcoming federal election with its area divided into two new ridings. Southeast Saskatoon will become part of the Saskatoon Grasswood riding, while the rural area will be incorporated into Moose Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan.
Kevin Waugh, a sports director and anchor for Saskatoon’s CTV affiliate, announced in June that he would challenge Yelich for the nomination.
He offered some pointed comments to the StarPhoenix last month, saying that with a new, strictly urban riding, a change in leadership was needed.
“We only have three ridings now, so you’d better come from Saskatoon, in my estimation,” he was quoted. “You better understand what the city needs.”
The end of Yelich’s term will also mark the end of a 22-year span in which Kenaston natives represented the village and surrounding area in the House of Commons.
Allan Kerpan was elected to represent Moose Jaw-Lake Centre as a Reform MP in 1993. After new ridings were established, he was re-elected to represent Blackstrap in 1997.
He remained with the Reform Party as it dissolved to form the Canadian Alliance in 2000, but did not stand for re-election that year, paving the way for Yelich to run in the riding.
According to her online biography, Yelich has a background in administration. She and her husband Matt have two daughters and three grandchildren.
Yelich was unavailable for further comment last week.
Rainwater is seen accumulating on Hamilton Street in Davidson on Monday afternoon in this picture taken by Ken Desiatnyk.
By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — A cloudburst on Monday afternoon left several streets in Davidson briefly flooded with water, thanks to clogged storm drains.
Once the heavy rain started falling around 2:30 p.m., some residents observed that the water began to pool on some streets as the drains could not keep up with the rush.
In several places, the rainwater quickly reached the curbs, spilling over onto adjacent sidewalks, driveways and lawns.
Ken Desiatnyk, who lives at the corner of Hamilton and First streets, said two-and-a-half inches fell in roughly 25 minutes.
He said he attempted to unclog the drains and also saw town employees doing the same, but the water did not begin to recede until the rain stopped. It took a couple of hours for the street to drain out, he added.
Desiatnyk, who has lived there with his wife for around 25 years, said they’ve never had water in their basement, “but it’s a concern because it’s been close.”
He said the water encroached on several nearby lawns, including that of Ida Stewart on the next block, leaving her yard “like an island” surrounded by water.
Norma McNabb, who lives across the street from the Desiatnyks, said she was out at the time of the rain, but three or four inches of water accumulated in her garage.
“It’s come close before, but it never got in,” she said. “It was raining pretty darn hard.”
When heavy rains fall, McNabb said, even a car passing by can send the water cascading towards her house. One time, she recalled, the water was so high that kids went wading in the street.
Desiatnyk said a similar rain event happened three years ago, causing extensive damage to the electrical system of their new car. The town agreed to cover the deductible on their insurance following that incident.
“There’s a lot of elderly in that area,” he said. “If we ever had a four-inch rain, I’d hate to see what would happen.”
Town administrator Gary Edom said Davidson’s public works staff headed out to clear off some of the drain covers after the rain started.
Often, he said, grass clippings or leaves from nearby lawns will end up in the drain along with other debris, either blocking it or slowing down the flow of water.
“We clean them off every once in a while,” he said, “but you never know when something like that’s coming . . . That was a lot of rain in a short time.”
According to residents on Herman Crescent, town employees were seen using rakes to clear the drains at the south end of the street, after which the collected water was soon cleared from the road.
“The guys get out to open them up as fast as they can,” said Edom.
Two storm drains were replaced near the corner of First Street and Garfield Street earlier this year.
Edom said the rest of the drains in town seem to be in working order and none are scheduled to be replaced this year.
Seen here is the Watrous Royals bantam girls softball team.
By Joel van der Veen
WATROUS — The Watrous Royals bantam girls softball team overcame multiple injuries to win silver at provincials last weekend.
The Royals hosted seven visiting teams in the 16U “C” event, which ran from July 10 to 12 at the sports grounds in Watrous. The team played four round-robin games on Friday and Saturday, defeating Muenster, Kindersley and Moosomin, and losing to Kerrobert.
In the semi-final on Sunday, the Royals defeated Muenster and went on to face Langenburg in the finals, in which they lost 7-2.
Coach Jason Shaw said the team did well over the weekend despite both of its main pitchers, Alexa Koupantsis and Breanna Shaw, coping with injuries.
Koupantsis was injured by a returned ball that bounced off her glove and struck her in the face during the semi-final against Muenster. Shaw had injured her wrist but filled in for the remainder of that game and the final.
“It took us a little bit to regroup and keep going,” said the coach, noting that the team had aimed to reach the playoffs. “We tried to get everybody in (for) a bit to get ready for Sunday.”
Shaw estimated that between 300 and 400 people attended the weekend tournament, which featured teams from Muenster, Kindersley, Moosomin, Kerrobert, Macklin and Langenburg.
He said many of the team parents assisted the town staff with tending the grounds, as well as scorekeeping, announcing, and running the 50/50 draw, the gate and the concession stand.
The provincial tournament marked the end of the season for the Royals. Shaw said the team got along well, and that the season was an educational experience for the players as well as the coaches.
Local players on the team included Jocelyn Millham, Sarah Allan, Caroline Seidlik and Breanna Shaw from Davidson, and Kylee Evans from Kenaston.
Bryson (former married name Stewart), Elizabeth Mary “Betty.”
Our mother died peacefully on July 1, 2015, while residing at Northridge Nursing Home in Oakville, Ont. She would want this notice to be published in the Davidson newspaper even though very few former friends, acquaintances and patients of herself and her former husband, Dr. Nairn Stewart, may be alive.
Our mother grew up in Toronto and was a graduate of the Wellesley Hospital School of Nursing in 1945. While at nursing school she met Nairn Stewart, of Elstow, Sask., who was a medical student at the University of Toronto. They married on Jan. 5, 1946, and had two children, Tom and Sue. Soon after graduation Nairn set up his family medical practice in Davidson, Saskatchewan where the family went to live.
Nairn and Betty were very very much in love, and quickly built up a group of friends who, we were always told, were very dear to them. Sadly, Nairn drowned on July 27, 1950. Approximately a year later, Betty with Tom and Sue moved East, to live and work in Oakville, Ontario, and to be near her parents.
On two occasions during the 1980s, Betty, accompanied by her son Tom, visited old friends in Saskatchewan, including Nairn’s sister, Margaret Jackson of Saskatoon. Both visits were wonderful times for Betty, and a revelation to Tom. Betty always held very dearly her cherished memories of her times and friends in Davidson.
Please join our family to celebrate the life of Edna Leeper. She was born Edna Anna Rieck in Wilmer, Sask., on July 22, 1930 to immigrant parents from Germany. At age 10 the family moved to Saskatoon. In 1951 she met and married Harvey Leeper, started their life together in Grayburn, Sask. and then Rowletta, Sask. They then moved to Girvin, Sask. where Harvey was the elevator agent for UGG and raised four daughters. In 1979 Harvey passed and Edna remained in Girvin for five years. She then moved to Saskatoon and then Winnipeg, Man. to live with her sister Evelyne. In 1991, Kathy, her oldest daughter moved her to Stony Plain, Alta., area where they shared an acreage home until returning to Saskatchewan in 2007. Edna and Kathy shared another acreage home north of Saskatoon until her passing in Rosthern Hospital on July 4, 2014. She loved gardening and her flowers, crocheting, reading and making her house a home. Her favourite birds in her yard were finches and hummingbirds.
She is predeceased by her parents, Walter and Anna Rieck; four brothers, Heinz, Hans, Guenther and Walter Jr.; her loving husband Harvey; and her favourite pet dog Keeko. Left to mourn and miss her are four daughters, Kathy Leeper, Carol (Ron) Reiniger, June Titley and Claire (Dale) Bennett; one brother, Werner; two sisters, Evelyne Parno and Alice Rushinko; three grandchildren, Clayton (Whitney) Markson, Chad Markson/Reiniger and Alexander Reiniger; four great-grandchildren, Zachery Markson, Dutch Markson, Liam Marskon and Finn Markson; and her two pets, Lily (mini dachshund) and Mr. Tweeter (canary).
A Lutheran service led by Rev. Sonje Finnestad will be held in Davidson United Church on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. Lunch will be served after the service in the basement. Her urn will then be interred at Girvin Cemetery to join Harvey. In lieu of flowers please send a memorial donation to the Canadian Cancer Society, 101 – 440 2nd Ave. N., Saskatoon, Sask. S7K 9Z9.
