Davidson, featured, Sports

Coach: defence will be key to big year for sr. boys

Davidson’s Derek Schmiedge goes for a basket during Thursday’s senior basketball game against Watrous.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — It might be his biggest team yet, and coach Kim Rettger is hoping that means another big year on the court.

Rettger, Davidson’s senior boys basketball coach, said the team has at least four players measuring 6’4” or higher, bucking the trend of past years.

“We’re very big,” he said, adding that this year’s team also has the deepest bench in recent memory.

With the level of skill shown by each player, Rettger said he hasn’t set a starting lineup, since any of them would do well as starters.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do, but I’m excited,” he said.

Davidson’s senior boys opened their season Thursday afternoon, hosting the Winston Wildcats from Watrous.

The home team established an early lead and stood ahead at 53-22 after the second quarter. The final score was 93-57 in Davidson’s favour.

Mark Rettger led the scoring with 32 points, including two successful three-point shots.

Following closely behind was Clay Murfitt, who scored 22 points, including a three-pointer later in the game.

The roster has 12 players this year, including three Grade 12 students: Mark Rettger, Parker Smith and Reegan Taylor. (Smith suffered an ankle injury early in Thursday’s game, the extent of which was not immediately clear.)

Five boys moved up from the junior team: Riley Berry, Gabe Charette, Nathan Chomyshen, Andrew Moore and Keegan Shaw.

Rettger said junior coach Garrett Bailey has done a superb job preparing the boys for senior play, using similar techniques and training.

“We’ve got like a farm team, if you will,” Rettger said. “It makes a difference.”

For the full story, please see the Dec. 4 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Bladworth, Obituary

Obituary: Anton, Melodie

Melodie (Thomas) Anton
May 14, 1954 — Nov. 20, 2017

With heavy hearts, the family of Melodie announces her passing at the age of 63 following a courageous battle with cancer.

Mom was born in Watrous, Sask., to Nina (Quathammer) and Charles Thomas. The youngest of six children, her childhood was filled with adventure and excitement. Mom attended school at both Simpson and Watrous.

In 1973 she married her true love, Nick Anton of Bladworth, Sask., and this is where she would spend the next 44 years. Mom was blessed with two daughters, Laney in 1974 and Anjie in 1976. Alongside of being a mother, she was also involved hands-on on the farm. From milking cows to combining, she did it all.

Mom was actively involved with her church, as a member of the CWL and a catechism teacher. She was a member of the Midlakes Pro-Life Association and a member of the Bladworth TOPS.

The greatest gifts mom received were her grandchildren. She was a natural. She opened her heart and her home to them and was rarely seen without at least one of them tagging along behind her.

Family was mom’s life: nieces and nephews coming and going throughout summers and school breaks, and still at Thanksgiving this year when it was standing room only. She made sure we all knew there was a place for us in her home.

Predeceased by her parents, her brothers James and Maynard, mom passed away Nov. 20, 2017 at St. Paul’s Hospital, Saskatoon, Sask., with her family by her side.

She leaves to cherish her memory her husband Nick; daughters Laney and Anjie; grandchildren Shelby, Regan, Sabastian, Jody and Dallylah; sisters Ollie and Doris; brother George; sister-in-law Jenny; 12 nieces and nephews; and 17 great-nieces and great-nephews.

The Mass of Christian Burial took place Nov. 25, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Davidson, Sask. Interment took place in St. Andrew’s Cemetery, Kenaston, Sask. Hanson’s Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

For those wishing, donations can be given to the Canadian Cancer Society or Midlakes Pro-Life.

Davidson, Obituary

Obituary: Manz, Joan

Joan Isabelle Manz
August 11, 1939 — November 23, 2017

It is with sadness the family of Joan Isabelle Manz announces her sudden passing on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017.

Joan was born to Dorothy and Vincent Weigel, the oldest of five children. She grew up in the Girvin and Davidson area. She married Eddy Manz in 1956 and they farmed and raised four children. Joan kept busy growing a big garden, raising her kids and many of the neighbour kids as well. Her door was always open and she’d have the coffee on. She loved music and even though she never had the opportunity to take music lessons, she could sit down at the piano and play almost anything! They went to many dances in the area and had many card parties through the years.

They retired from the farm in 1998 and moved to town where her door was still always open for meals, cards, coffee and visits. She loved nothing more than when her kids and grandkids came for visits, as well as her regular coffee drinkers who came most days for a quick visit.

Joan is survived by her children: Connie (Gary) Glines, Rod (Ann) Manz, Tim (Jan) Manz, Tory (Nikki) Manz, foster son Tim (Carolyn) Kamin and family; grandchildren Jody (Jamie) and Geoff (Jen) Glines; Kacie and Lindsay (Jesse) Manz; Ken (Renae), Jared (Beth) and Chad (Shantel) Manz; and Kelsey (Kyle) Manz as well as numerous great-grandchildren.

Also survived by brother Lorne (Nora) Weigel, sisters Judy (Wayne) Ryder and Sherry Parenteau and sisters-in-law Lori Weigel and Nola Manz.

Predeceased by her husband Eddy, grandson Zach Manz and brother Les Weigel.

As per Joan’s wishes, there will be a private family burial at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements in care of Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson.

Davidson, featured

Morning fire strikes auto body shop

A boiler fire spread to the north wall of Legend Autobody and Paint on the morning of Nov. 24.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Quick action by firefighters helped to minimize the damage after a fire broke out in an auto body shop in Davidson on Friday morning.

Barry Millham, who owns and operates Legend Autobody and Paint, said the fire originated from the boiler in the north end of the building on Railway Street.

Employee Trevor Reich discovered the fire shortly before 8 a.m. and called Millham, who was still at home.

Millham said he drove straight to the shop and called 9-1-1 soon afterward.

They tried to fight the fire using a fire extinguisher, but before long the flames had spread to the north wall.

He said the fire department arrived within a few minutes, giving them “two thumbs up” for a prompt response.

While the fire hall is located only one block away, Millham said he was still impressed given the fact that firefighters still needed to travel there and suit up before attending to the fire.

“They were here in record time,” said Millham. “That was pretty awesome.”

Fire chief Clayton Schilling said they received the call at 8:08 a.m., with 10 members responding.

Firefighters removed siding from the north wall, allowing them to combat the hot spots and quickly extinguish the fire.

They remained on scene till roughly 9 a.m. There were no injuries.

The building suffered little in the way of structural damage, while most of the interior damage was smoke-related.

Power, heat and water were shut off on Friday morning, and Millham said he wasn’t sure how soon the shop would be able to open again.

“We haven’t had time to process anything,” he said. “We just have to deal with things as they come up.”

He said he was dealing with “a lot of unknowns — what we’re going to do while we get this fixed up, how quickly we can get rolling again.”

Millham has operated his business in town since 2004 and moved to the current location in 2007. The shop employs himself, his wife Janice and two other people.

Davidson, featured, Sports

Bronze-medal win ends prov. weekend on high note

Members of Davidson’s senior girls volleyball team celebrate during their semi-final game in provincial playoffs on Nov. 18.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — As they prepared for their final game Saturday, the pressure of playing in provincials was catching up with Davidson’s senior girls.

They’d travelled to Kenaston for the last of their pool games, ending with a 2-2 record.

They stayed there for their quarter-final game over Raymore, then lost in the semi-final to Île-a-la-Crosse, sending them back to Davidson to the bronze-medal game.

“They were excited and happy to be playing (for) the bronze, but they were tired,” said coach Sandra Baldwin.

But that changed when they stepped into the Davidson gym.

Music was booming, the room was full of energy, and the stands were packed with family and friends, ready to cheer them on.

“It was really powerful for the girls,” Baldwin recalled. “They were back in their gym playing their game.”

The Davidson girls defeated Birch Hills in two sets, winning the provincial bronze medal and ending the weekend on a high note.

SHSAA representative Shannon Stephenson and Affinity Credit Union’s Dixie Dean presented the girls with their medals in a heartwarming and emotional ceremony.

Davidson School was the host for the 2A senior girls provincial volleyball championships on Nov. 17 and 18, with Kenaston serving as the second gym.

The Muenster Cougars, coached by Joel Taphorn, defeated the Île-a-la-Crosse Huskies in two sets (25-7, 25-13) to win the gold medal.

For the full story, please see the Nov. 27 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Craik, featured

Council picks fix for Craik’s water

By Joel van der Veen

CRAIK — The Town of Craik has taken one more step towards restoring drinking water for local residents.

Councillors have approved a water treatment method, based on the results of pilot projects carried out at the water plant this summer.

Engineers are working on a detailed design proposal, according to a written update provided to ratepayers, and the town expects to begin seeking tenders for the project in December.

Mayor David Ashdown told the Leader last week that the town is making good progress on the matter, despite some delays and challenges.

“It’s taking a bit longer than personally I had hoped,” he said. “It’s certainly important that we do things right.”

The mayor said he was encouraged by the positive results shown from the pilot projects.

Ashdown said he was hopeful that safe drinking water would be available in Craik in the summer of 2018.

Once the town’s water is found to meet provincial standards, a three-month test period will follow to ensure that the treatment system can maintain that level of quality. Only once that’s finished will the boil water advisory be lifted.

“A certain level of caution” is needed, the mayor said, adding, “Once the advisory is off, I’d like it to be staying off.”

Craik has been under a boil water advisory since August 17, 2010 for “failing to meet minimum disinfection levels.”

The town has faced ongoing issues with a water plant constructed in 2009 by Mainstream Water Solutions, a Regina firm that has since filed for bankruptcy.

The update to ratepayers, prepared by Ashdown, states that restoring Craik’s drinking water “has been and continues to be the first priority” for the mayor and council.

Craik began working with engineers from KGS Group in 2015 to find and compare solutions to its water woes.

Their efforts received a couple of financial boosts starting last fall, when ratepayers voted in favour of directing the insurance payout from the Eco-Centre fire, roughly $380,000, towards the water fund.

At the time, the town estimated that the advisory could be lifted as early as November 2017, though various delays have pushed that prediction back.

A federal-provincial grant of more than $1.42 million for Craik, through the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, was announced in January 2017.

The additional funds opened up the possibility of finding a suitable ground water source for the town. An exploratory drilling program began early this year, but five test drills in various locations all came up negative.

As such Craik will continue drawing water from an intake at the Arm River dam east of town. Some modifications will be made to the intake to ensure “the cleanest water possible enters the treatment process.”

Mayor Ashdown said a reliable source of ground water would have been preferable, but ultimately wasn’t an option. Continue reading Council picks fix for Craik’s water →

The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan