Davidson, Sports

Cyclones down Winterhawks in double-overtime

DAVIDSON—After nearly two seasons and two extra periods of hockey, the Davidson Cyclones have finally beaten the Watrous Winterhawks.

Last Tuesday’s game against Watrous went into double overtime with the Cyclones defeating the Winterhawks 5-4 in the Long Lake Hockey League semi-final series. Tim Spencer scored the game winner four minutes into the fifth period.

“He’s been a big factor in this series,” said coach Brad Morrison of the Cyclones’ big #57.

In Game 1 against the Winterhawks Spencer got into a fight. “I think that put the fear into Watrous,” Morrison said. In last Tuesday’s game, Morrison said Spencer was nearly hobbled after his knee gave out and could barely walk or skate in the last two periods. Still he came through with the game winner to keep the Cyclones going in the series.

“We’ve lost to them 11 times in a row. It was nice to finally give them a game,” Morrison said. “We’ve been watching Watrous the last two years, figuring out their system.”

He said against Watrous they have to play good man-to-man hockey. Last Tuesday’s win was a team effort.

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Craik

Taking a trip to the farm

Students get a handful of grain during a visit to the Wildfong farm near Craik.

CRAIK—Students at Craik School marked Canada’s Agriculture Day Feb. 13 by taking a trip to the farm.

Students from Kindergarten to Grade 5 visited a cattle farm and a grain farm where they learned about where the food they eat comes from, how it is produced and the people who produce it.

Into its second consecutive year, Canada’s Agriculture Day, a day set aside for a national celebration of food and agriculture, is a relatively new concept in Canada.

The intention is to showcase the agricultural sector and create a closer connection with consumers about where their food comes from and the people who produce it, according to the organization Agriculture More Than Ever, an advocacy group for Canadian agriculture.

Vern Luther’s been having school kids out to his family’s cattle operation at Riskan Hope Farm south of Craik for the last three years.

He says he’s surprised that even in a rural community such as Craik, that there is a disconnect between people and the food they eat.

Besides showing children where the beef on their table comes from, he also hopes to spark an interest in agriculture as a possible career option for children who do not come from a farming background.

Going on fieldtrips to farms is a custom for school kids.

“Back when I was a kid, we went out to Ralph Schollar’s. He had sheep, goats and cows. And, he’d always seem to wrangle it that he’d have a cat that just had kittens,” Vern recalls of the fieldtrips he took when he was in school.

Although he wasn’t able to produce a litter of kittens, Vern did have some newborn calves to show the kids.

The most recent addition was born less than 18 hours before the kids arrived.

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Davidson

Pink is the colour as Riders visit Davidson

Davidson students cheer “Be Someone’s Hero” during an anti-bullying presentation on Feb. 9.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — You don’t need to wear a disguise or have super powers to be someone’s hero.

Davidson School students in grades 5 through 12 heard in a presentation last Friday, Feb. 9, how they can make a difference to others by taking a stand against bullying.

Spencer Moore, a fullback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, told them they each have power, which they can use to do right or wrong.

“Use your personal power to help somebody when they’re down,” said Moore. “I’m challenging you to use your power for good.”

Moore was joined by teammate Eddie Steele for an hour-long presentation in the school gym on Friday afternoon.

Their visit was organized in association with the Canadian Red Cross and sponsored by AGT Food and Ingredients Inc., represented by CEO Murad Al-Katib.

Moore and Steele are among the four Roughriders — also including Dan Clark and Charleston Hughes — who have been travelling across the province to speak to students.

Last year the players visited upwards of 80 schools and spoke to more than 36,000 students.

Davidson has hosted similar events for the last several years, including a prior visit from Moore in 2017. As well, last year teacher Karen McConnell took a group of students to Regina for an anti-bullying seminar.

Cindy Fuchs, vice-president of the Saskatchewan branch of Canadian Red Cross, said they are aiming to reach 40,000 students this year.

Some Davidson students wore pink shirts on Friday, while a total of 30 were awarded with rose-tinted shirts of their own over the course of the assembly.

“Healthy Relationships and Healthy Schools” was the topic for Moore and Steele’s presentation.

The players discussed some of the building blocks of healthy relationships, including respect, trust, communication and conflict resolution.

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Loreburn, Obituary

John “Jack” H. Brooks

St. Albans — John “Jack” H. Brooks, 70, of St. Albans, Vermont and of Loreburn, Saskatchewan passed away unexpectedly at the family’s grain mill in Loreburn, Sask., on the morning of Monday, February 12, 2018.

John was born in St. Albans, Vermont on September 28, 1947, to John B. Brooks and Shirley (Burnor) Brooks. In February of 1967 he married Mary Flanagan.

He graduated from Bellows Free Academy St. Albans in 1965 and attended both Lamar College in Colorado and Lyndon State College in Vermont. John worked on the family farm with his father and brothers in St. Albans Bay until he ventured off to farm on his own in Grand Isle. He purchased his first dairy farm in St. Albans in 1975 and was named Vermont’s Young Farmer of the Year that same year. John continued farming while also pursuing his interest in the grain businesses. He owned and operated Brooks Feeds in Swanton for 12 years until selling in 1994 and then being associated with numerous other grain companies; High Springs Milling, Renaissance Nutrition and ADM.

John’s most cherished professional accomplishment began in 2006 when he assisted his son Shaun in starting a grain merchandising business, F. W. Cobs Co. With John’s knowledge and expertise, F. W. Cobs in 12 short years has grown to become one of the most respected organic grain merchandising companies in North America. John managed the company’s grain storage and loading facilities in Saskatchewan and Minnesota. However, John did not stop his business ventures there. In 2016 John enlisted the help of his grandchildren with his newest endeavor, wine making. In just two years Maquam Wine has garnered awards and is being sold throughout Vermont.

John spent many years of service to his community serving 10 years on the Bellows Free Academy Board of Trustees and many years on the St. Albans Town Planning Commission. He also served as the president of the Holstein-Friesian Association and taught 4H. He was a smart and hardworking man who made a difference in the lives he touched. He had a special knack of making friends wherever he went, enjoyed a good laugh and telling a good story. Above all else, John’s most prized accomplishment was his family. He would do anything or make any sacrifice for his family. He went out of his way to talk to his family members every single day, even if just to send a humorous text to a grandchild or call to see if there was any news. John will be deeply missed by many.

John is survived by his wife Mary, children Lynn and Steve Boudreau, Erin and Andrew Wood, Shaun and Darcy Brooks, and his pride and joy, his six grandchildren Matt and Brooke Boudreau, Meghan and Connor Wood, Jack and Charlie Brooks. He is also survived by his two brothers, Mark (Lorraine) Brooks and Glen (Lise) Brooks and sisters -in-law, Kathy Paquette and Shirley Cota. He was predeceased by his parents, John and Shirley Brooks.

Relatives and friends celebrated and honored John’s life by attending calling hours on Sunday, February 18, 2018, from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., at the Heald Funeral Home, 87 South Main Street, St. Albans.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, February 19, at 11:00 A.M., at Holy Angels Catholic Church, 245 Lake Street, St. Albans.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Connor Roberts Memorial Fund, 47 Bishop Street, St. Albans, Vermont 05478.

To send John’s family a written expression of sympathy or share a memory, please go to his on-line guest book at www.healdfuneralhome.com.

Davidson, Elbow, Obituary

LOCKWOOD, Hazel Eileen

October 29, 1919 – February 2, 2018

Hazel Lockwood passed away on February 2, 2018 after living 98 happy years. She was ever grateful for her many blessings. Hazel was the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan Hudson of Ogema Sask. She had twin brothers, Morley and Mervin. She taught school at Truax, Pangman and Chamberlain. She met farmer Donald Lockwood at a dance at the Davidson airport. They were happily married for 62 years; proud parents of three children – Laurie, Lee and Morley. Don and Hazel lived in Regina for 13 years when Don was Vice-President of Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and returned to Davidson to retire. They were fortunate to travel extensively over the years and live as “snowbirds” for 20 winters in California. Hazel actively enjoyed volunteer work, music, china painting, curling, bridge, golf and writing family history. She moved to Saskatoon after Donald’s death in 2006. Hazel was also predeceased by her son Laurie in 2010 and son-in-law Dale Bristow in 1986. Her loving family survivors are Lee Bristow (Lorence Peterson), Morley (Jeannie) Lockwood and Valerie Lockwood (mother of Todd and Sheri) and grandchildren: Todd (Erin) Lockwood and daughter Norah; Sheri (Brian) Erickson and their sons Avery, Easton and Zachary; Mark (Charmaine) Bristow and their daughters Teryn, Denae and Eden; Ian (Stacey) Bristow and their children Maya, Mason and Sophia; Kimberly Bristow; Cara (Mark) Burton and their children Taytem and Trysten; Logan Lockwood; Ashley (Riley) Hart and daughter Oaklyn; and Drew Lockwood. Hazel is also survived by Glennys McNabb (Laurie’s partner) and numerous nieces and nephews. At Hazel’s request, there will be no funeral. For those so wishing, memorial donations in memory of Hazel may be directed to a charity of choice. Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson in care of arrangements.

Elbow, Loreburn, Mistusinne, Sports, Strongfield

Curlers come home to Strongfield’s new rink

League curling resumes tonight, Monday, Feb. 12 in Strongfield. This new curling rink replaces the older structure that was toppled by a July 20, 2017 windstorm.
(Leader photo by Tara de Ryk)

STRONGFIELD—Curlers along Line 19 have come home.

Monday night curling has resumed at the Strongfield Curling Rink. The season kicks off tonight in the brand new rink that was built to replace the old rink that was destroyed by a July 20 windstorm.

A “Welcome home to Strongfield” banner was hung on the inside wall, greeting curlers as they stepped on the freshly made ice.

The banner is a thoughtful touch courtesy of Ron Sabiston.

When he was sorting through the remnants and equipment of the destroyed curling rink that were stored in the ice-skating rink next door, Sabiston said he found the banner, which was from the village’s homecoming celebration in 2012.

So he brought it over to the new curling rink and hung it up.

“This is like home. We’ve lived here the last four months,” Sabiston says.

He’s a member of a crew of volunteers who have been working nearly non-stop to get the new rink ready for the season.

He is known as “Northend Ron” to differentiate him from the other Rons living in and around the community including Downtown Ron and West Farm Ron.

“I found it kind of ironic. There were four Rons in town and then I get here and found out there’s two more Rons on the farm.”

Strongfield is like most Saskatchewan towns, populated by community-minded individuals who get things done. And they all have nicknames, so it can take a minute or two for a stranger to sort out who’s who.

George “Shorty” Follick was flooding the ice last Monday night. He’s known as Shorty to distinguish him from Strongfield’s former mayor George Bristow, who was of much taller stature.

Also part of the volunteer crew are Ryan Glubis, Strongfield Mayor Jeff Vollmer, Ronny Follick, Dave Wirth, Devon Ellscheid, Ernie Pryor, Jessica April and Amanda Glubis.

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The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan