All posts by Tara de Ryk

Davidson, featured

Flu vaccine available starting today

Public health nurse Sheri Warkentin gives the flu vaccine to Vi Siroski in this 2015 photo.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Time to roll up your sleeves again — flu season is here.

Health officials are again advising Saskatchewan residents to protect themselves by getting immunized against influenza.

The vaccine is available free of charge to all residents six months and older.

Public flu vaccination clinics are being held across the province beginning this week.

The first clinic for Davidson residents is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Davidson Town Hall. (A complete list of scheduled clinics in Davidson and other communities follows at the end of this article.)

Patients aged nine years and over can also receive the vaccine at participating pharmacies, including Midway Pharmacy in Davidson.

Local pharmacist Dave Nykiforuk said just over 180 people received the vaccine through his business last year. Customers have already been asking about this year’s vaccine for a couple of weeks, he said last week.

The program is designed not to compete with the scheduled clinics, but rather to improve access to the vaccine across the board, said Nykiforuk.

“I think people find it convenient,” he said. “Lots of people like to go to the clinic when they have them, but it doesn’t always work for everyone.”

The vaccine will be available from the pharmacy till sometime in March, generally considered the end of flu season.

Nykiforuk said 90 per cent of customers looking for the vaccine will receive it in the first month. After that the demand drops off substantially, though they will still get the occasional request — from snowbirds returning home in the new year, for instance.

The vaccine is also available through the Royal Street Pharmacy in Imperial, according to a list provided by the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan.

Officials advised that high-risk groups — such as seniors, children, pregnant women, and people with underlying health conditions or compromised immune systems — are particularly encouraged to get the vaccine.

This year’s vaccines contain the influenza A and B viral strains predicted by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the most likely to circulate in the upcoming flu season.

The effectiveness of the vaccine depends on the match between the vaccine strains and the flu strains circulating in the patient’s community. The patient’s age and immune response are also factors. Continue reading Flu vaccine available starting today →

featured, Hanley, Sports

Coach: offensive push needed as Sabers head into playoffs

Hanley’s Tyler Halabi (84) tackles Hague’s Jared Unger (11) during Thursday’s senior football game. Surrounding them are Wyatt Hildebrand, Parker Mooney and Tanner Anderson.

By Joel van der Veen

HANLEY — A win over Hague on Thursday capped an undefeated regular season for the Hanley Sabers.

But coach Mark Anderson said he’s aware of a worrying trend as he looks towards playoffs.

The Hanley senior football team hosted the Hague Panthers on Thursday, winning 80-55.

The week before that, they travelled to Carrot River, where they won 76-57 — their closest score so far this season.

“We’ve been challenged offensively the last few weeks,” said Anderson following Thursday’s game.

He said it appeared the team was taking “a couple of steps back,” calling it a somewhat dangerous place to be heading into playoffs.

“The guys have just got to figure out how bad they want it,” he added.

The Sabers have won six out of seven games in their regular season. (The sole exception was a cancelled Sept. 28 game in Viscount, which was recorded as a tie.)

The team dominated in its first four games, winning by at least four runs in each one.

They are first in their 1A conference with a 6-0-1 record, followed by Viscount in second and Carrot River in third. Rounding out the ranks are Porcupine Plain, Hague and Hudson Bay.

The Sabers rotated through their roster in Thursday’s game, allowing both seniors and juniors time on the field.

Hanley held the lead throughout, though Hague proved themselves more than worthy competitors. Continue reading Coach: offensive push needed as Sabers head into playoffs →

Davidson, featured, Sports

Raiders wrap up year with playoff loss

The Davidson Raiders senior football team poses for a group photo following the Oct. 13 playoff game in Lanigan. Shown here are: (back row) coach John Jamieson, coach Greg Bennett, Trystan Stacowich, Carson George, Clay Murfitt, Coy McPhee, Carter Lemke, Deacon Nolting, Cole Sanderson, coach Garrett Bailey, coach Jason Low; (middle row) Hunter Wall, Reegan Taylor, Kane Nolting, Brody Yelich, Ryann Skinner, Tyson Sanderson, Jackson Firby, Logan Nelson-Schneider; (front row) Jacob Schilling.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Low numbers and a string of injuries made for a challenging year on the field for the Davidson Raiders.

But in terms of team building and camaraderie, coach Jason Low said the Raiders reached new heights.

Low told the Leader that the team is starting to build traditions, growing as a unit and also having more fun on the field.

“I think the program took some great strides forward,” said Low. “I feel like we went to the next level this year, so I’m excited for next year.”

The senior football team finished its regular season with a 1-4 record, after which they lost in the first round of playoffs.

The Raiders visited the Lanigan Lazers on Oct. 13, losing 54-20.

The game was a rematch of their Sept. 8 season opener, in which Davidson had defeated Lanigan 46-36, their only win this year.

The second time around, the Raiders were coping with the loss of three starters due to injuries.

“When we played them healthy at the start of the year, we beat them,” Low said.

While Lanigan had improved from the season’s start, Low said missed tackles and other mistakes likely cost Davidson the game.

Jacob Schilling scored two touchdowns against Lanigan, while Hunter Wall scored the third.

Clay Murfitt, who suffered a twisted leg in the Sept. 22 game, was back on the field in a reduced role.

Low said the Raiders took time to warm up, a problem that has repeatedly plagued the team this season.

A decision in the last quarter to iron-man some of the senior players, getting on them on both sides of the ball, seemed to shift the momentum somewhat.

“It seemed like we were always a second half team,” the coach observed.

Continue reading Raiders wrap up year with playoff loss →

Davidson

Grower Stories: Steve, Billy and Gerrid Gust

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There aren’t many quiet days on the Gust’s farm in Davidson, Saskatchewan. Steve Gust, and his two adult sons, Billy and Gerrid, along with their wives and the six kids between them, all pitch in to keep the acreage brimming with durum wheat, canola, lentils, soybeans and field peas. “I’ve been farming since ’67,” says Steve. “My grandfather was a farmer when he came to Canada in the 1920s. My dad farmed, then he and my brother went into business together and I went my way. For me, the best part of farming is working outside, and working with family,” adds Gerrid.

With a family like this one, there’s rarely a dull moment, or a moment without laughter. “I quit high school to go custom harvesting.” Steve recalls, adding with a chuckle, “You know, you can’t be going to school in a combine, you’ve got to choose your path.”

Steve, true to the family’s name, is never in the same place for long. Having travelled to places like Thailand and Australia many times over the years, he’s settled into a “snowbird” schedule, spending his winters in Mesa, Arizona. In his absence, Billy and Gerrid manage the day-to-day with a team of hired hands from Australia. All of whom live in a spacious apartment above the Gust’s equipment shed. “There’s a lot of us around,” says Billy. “So, many hands make light work.”

While there may be no scarcity of labour, it’s a testament to the family’s team ethic that there’s no sense of “too many cooks in the kitchen.” Everyone in the family has a job, and each job is integral to keeping the business growing and profitable. Billy’s wife is the farm’s accountant, Gerrid’s kids help cut the grass and with meal preparation, and Steve and the guys put in the bulk of the elbow grease. The way things are headed, the team working the fields might be on track to grow even more. “My two younger kids are talking farming already,” Gerrid says with a laugh. “But you can’t throw a 12-year-old out on the field for free when you’re paying grown men wages for it.”

By the looks of the fields, those wages were well earned. The Gusts prefer to grow DEKALB® 74-44 BL, as the hybrid has taken to their land perfectly. The glowing fields are on track for a strong yield this year, having held up beautifully against weather, weeds and disease. “Our region has trouble with group two weeds, like stinkweed and shepherd’s purse,” says Billy when talking about seed genetics, “We spend a lot on chemicals, so anything you put in the seed that you don’t have to spray on, I’m all for.” “I like to look for the best performers,” Steve adds proudly. “It’s best to stick to what grows well in your area.”

The family is also considering giving DEKALB® 75-65 RR a try. With the kids growing fast, the Gusts are finding the time-saving potential of straight cutting more and more attractive. “We would have straight cut last year, but the weather didn’t turn out,” says Steve.

In the meantime, the clan is investing in other tactics to manage their crops as efficiently as possible. That’s when they bring in yet another helping hand—their DEKALB® Sales Representative, Carmen Gruber. “This is a family that really aims to farm smarter,” says Carmen. “So, we work together to really look at the land and see what makes sense.”

Sometimes that means trying different tank mixes and comparing results. The Gusts have found a formula that works, but having Carmen close by keeps them on top of innovative new products. “If something goes wrong, I can phone Carmen and get the support I need,” Gerrid says earnestly, “Even before Carmen joined the team, DEKALB® has always had great staff who will take you places and show you what you need to see.”

And when the sprayer is parked, you can’t have too many pairs of boots in the fields. “I really believe in this expression,” says Billy with a grin, “The best thing you can have on your crop is your shadow.”

We thank the Gusts for choosing DEKALB® brand seed for their farm and wish them a safe and successful harvest this year and for many generations to come. Check out the results of farmer-managed DEKALB Market Development trials on DEKALB.ca this fall.

If you’re interested in growing DEKALB this growing season…

FIND A REP NEAR YOU   SEE TRIAL RESULTS

Davidson, featured

Canada Post to staff: Stop sorting mail by hand

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Canada Post is cracking down on rural postal employees sorting mail by hand.

The company says all mail received at rural post offices like Davidson must be sent to a regional centre — in this case, Regina — to be sorted automatically.

A Canada Post spokesperson said the corporation is simply enforcing an existing policy, and that there haven’t been any changes to the rules.

“To confirm, this is not a new process for Davidson or other rural post offices in your area,” Phil Legault said in an email to the Leader.

At a recent district meeting, rural employees were reminded of the policy, which is intended to standardize services for all customers.

The policy applies to all outgoing mail, whether it’s going to a post office box in Davidson or across the country.

Continue reading Canada Post to staff: Stop sorting mail by hand →

featured, Kenaston

Kerpans, MADD unveil roadside memorial

The family of Danille Kerpan unveils the signs for a roadside memorial to Kerpan during a ceremony near Bladworth on Oct. 10.

By Joel van der Veen

KENASTON — For the family and friends of Danille Kerpan, three years has done little to relieve the pain of her untimely death.

“It’s a feeling and a situation you can’t possibly describe,” her brother Josh said Tuesday. “If I could bottle it up and give it to everybody, to have a sip and understand, that alone would eradicate drunk driving.”

Danille, 25, was killed Oct. 10, 2014 in a collision on Highway 11 south of Bladworth, when her vehicle collided headfirst with a truck headed north in a southbound lane.

The driver of that truck, found to have a blood-alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit, was later sentenced to four years in prison.

Danille was one of 59 people killed in Saskatchewan that year in auto collisions in which alcohol was a factor.

Last week, signs were installed on Highway 11 marking the site of that crash, as a permanent memorial to Danille and a reminder to the hundreds of drivers who pass the site daily.

The signs were unveiled at a ceremony held the afternoon of Oct. 10 at the Kowalski farm shop southeast of Bladworth, roughly a half-mile east of the crash site.

About 45 people were in attendance, including her parents, other family members, dignitaries, media and local first responders.

While roadside memorials for victims of impaired driving have been installed in other provinces over the last two decades, this is only the second one in Saskatchewan.

The first was installed on Aug. 29 north of Saskatoon in memory of Jordan and Chanda Van de Vorst and their two children, who were killed in a 2016 collision.

Danille’s parents, Allan and Melanie Kerpan, both spoke during the ceremony.

“There’s still not a day that goes by that I don’t think about Danille and what might have been,” said Melanie, who was initially opposed to having a permanent reminder at the collision site.

She later changed her mind, in hopes that Danille’s story would wake people up to the tragic results of impaired driving.

“People passing it would know that a life was lost at that spot,” she said. “That’s the hope for what we are doing . . . It becomes a real person.” Continue reading Kerpans, MADD unveil roadside memorial →