Craik, featured

Murray gets 90 days in prison for fraud

Jeff Murray, former administrator for the Town of Craik, leaves Moose Jaw provincial court on Wednesday morning with his lawyer, Gail Wartman.
Jeff Murray, former administrator for the Town of Craik, leaves Moose Jaw provincial court on Jan. 25 with his lawyer, Gail Wartman.

By Joel van der Veen

MOOSE JAW — Craik’s former administrator is headed to prison after admitting to defrauding the town to the tune of more than $14,000.

Jeffrey Todd Murray, 42, was sentenced to 90 days in the Regina Provincial Correctional Centre, which he will serve on weekends.

In addition, Murray received three years of probation and was ordered to pay back the entire sum by which he defrauded the town, plus a $200 victim surcharge.

As he handed down the sentence, Justice Daryl Rayner told Murray that multiple factors were at play in his decision.

The greatest aggravating factor was the fact that he took advantage of a small town, said the judge.

“It’s not a large corporation, it’s not someone who can well afford to suffer losses,” he said.

“Craik has suffered a loss . . . Money is what we’re talking about, but it’s also a loss of trust.”

Murray had entered a guilty plea to a single count of fraud, representing a total of $14,181.30 in misspent funds, in an appearance in Moose Jaw provincial court on Jan. 25.

He returned to court on Thursday for a sentencing hearing, accompanied by his wife Karla and other relatives.

Murray appeared calm upon his arrival in the courtroom. For most of the hearing, he was in tears, at times shaking while he listened to the submissions.

He spoke briefly to the judge, expressing his remorse to his fellow townspeople and to his family.

“I am very sorry for what I have done to the taxpayers of the Town of Craik,” he said quietly. “I take full responsibility for my actions.”

In his submission, Crown prosecutor Rob Parker provided background information.

Murray served as the town’s administrator from 2010 to 2014. He was placed on leave in April 2014 as the evidence of his activities came to light.

Previously, Murray faced 33 counts of fraud, laid in March and May of 2016, totalling $41,079.81.

Those charges were withdrawn earlier this year and a single charge of fraud, representing roughly one-third of the former total, was laid by the Crown.

Murray was accused with using the Town of Craik’s Visa card to make more than $12,000 in unauthorized purchases at various businesses, ranging from Cabela’s to Princess Auto.

For the full story, please see the March 20 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

featured, Kenaston

Fire destroys Pavelich farmhouse

The Pavelich farmhouse northeast of Kenaston was destroyed by fire March 8.
The Pavelich farmhouse northeast of Kenaston was destroyed by fire March 8.

By Joel van der Veen

KENASTON — Carmelle Pavelich can instantly remember what time it was when her son Dallas phoned to tell her the family home was on fire.

It was 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8 when she took the call.

“I was just about to say my rosary,” she said. “I went immediately out there . . . I watched it for three-and-a-half hours. I sat in my vehicle out on the road there and I watched it.”

The two-storey farm house — located six miles east, two miles north and another half-mile east of Kenaston — was built in 1919.

It had been the Pavelich family’s home for more than 55 years. Her late husband George had purchased the farm from his uncle Rocko.

Carmelle said she and George moved in on their second wedding anniversary on April 18, 1961. She gave birth to their oldest son Kurt two weeks later.

“It was a well-built house,” she recalled. “It was sure cold in the wintertime, though.”

They raised three children, including their daughter Joy and their youngest son Dallas, in that house, constructing an addition in the mid-1970s.

“There’s so much loss you can’t even begin to think about it,” said Carmelle. “It’s just like a death.”

Dallas and his partner, Lynda Sereda, were living in the house most recently.

Lynda was home alone the evening of March 5 when she discovered the fire. She left the house right away, grabbing a pair of Dallas’s work boots on the way out.

Having left her phone behind, she went to a neighbour’s house to call Dallas, who was on his way to Saskatoon for a shopping trip.

Upon taking Lynda’s call, Dallas immediately called 911 to report the fire before phoning his mother with the news.

Ken Remmen, deputy chief of the Kenaston Volunteer Fire Department, said they received the call around 8:30 p.m. A total of 14 members responded.

A benefit night was being organized for Dallas and Lynda on Saturday, March 18 at the rink, with wings on the menu and music by Will Ardell.

A trust fund has been established for the couple, and donations are being taken at the Kenaston village office and at Affinity Credit Union.

For the full story, please see the March 20 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

featured

Police seek suspect in Holdfast bank robbery

A suspect in a March 10 robbery at a financial institution in Holdfast is depicted in security camera images provided by police.
A suspect in a March 10 robbery at a financial institution in Holdfast is depicted in security camera images provided by police.

By Joel van der Veen

HOLDFAST — Police are on the hunt for a suspect following an armed robbery at a financial institution in Holdfast.

According to police, a male suspect entered a bank in the village on March 10 around 1:10 p.m., demanding cash and bearing a weapon.

He received an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the scene in an unknown direction in an older, dark-coloured Chevrolet extended cab truck, possibly with another person.

The suspect is described as a male and roughly 5 feet, 10 inches in height with a stocky build.

Photos of a suspect were circulated to the media on Tuesday. The security camera images depict a heavy-set person wearing a bright orange Under Armour hoodie and blue jeans with their face obscured.

Sgt. Greg Doell of the Craik RCMP detachment said he could provide few details on the incident as police continue their investigation.

He confirmed that a weapon was involved but said police are still determining the facts “as to what the weapon was.”

No one was injured during the robbery, said Doell.

Police did not identify the financial institution that was targeted in the incident, but Holdfast has only one such institution, a branch of Conexus Credit Union.

Anyone with details on the incident is asked to contact Craik RCMP at 306-734-5200 or Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Elbow, featured, Sports

Few fish found at family function

Keeping warm inside this tent shack at the Elbow ice fishing derby on March 11 were, from left, Barb Glubis, Laurie Niska and Jake Glubis.
Keeping warm inside this tent shack at the Elbow ice fishing derby on March 11 were, from left, Barb Glubis, Laurie Niska and Jake Glubis.

By Joel van der Veen

ELBOW — It was a great day of fishing — from the fish’s point of view, anyway.

A family ice fishing derby, organized by the Elbow and District Wildlife Federation, drew 34 participants to the Elbow Harbour on March 11.

A grand total of three fish were caught during the derby, and the organizers had to draw names to find winners for the other prizes.

Despite the slim pickings, organizer Blake Dorward said it was a fun day on the lake for the families who took part.

“We had a good day, it was fun,” he said. “We fully intend on doing it again next year.”

The event drew participants from the Line 19 communities and further afield, as far as Outlook, Moose Jaw and Warman.

Dorward said around 60 people were pre-registered for the derby, some of whom dropped out for hockey and other commitments.

“I’m pretty sure the weather scared a few people away too,” he said. “It wasn’t the warmest out there.”

For the full story and more photos, please see the March 20 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, Sports

Anderson rink wins A title in ladies bonspiel

Larissa McLaren (left) and Jill McIvor head down the ice during play on Saturday in the Davidson Ladies Bonspiel.
Larissa McLaren (left) and Jill McIvor head down the ice during play on Saturday in the Davidson Ladies Bonspiel.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Twelve teams took part in the annual Ladies Bonspiel on March 10 and 11 in Davidson.

“I think the whole thing turned out good,” said organizer Marla Dezotell.

Team Anderson from Saskatoon finished on top in the A event. The team consisted of Hanna Anderson, formerly of Hanley, and her teammates Stephanie Thompson, Kaylin Skinner and Jessica Thompson.

Coming in second in the A event was the Diane Hryniuk rink, which also included Donna Cross, Tasha Boyenko and Laura Church.

Liza Dahl and her teammates Jill McIvor, Ruth Percy and Larissa McLaren won the B event.

The Gail Prpick rink, which also included Karen Reich, Vonné Johnson and Selma Laird, took second place in the B event.

The Siroski rink defeated the Renee Manz rink to claim first place in the C event.

The Beth Booker rink beat the Agnes Viczko rink to win the D event.

Roughly 35 businesses and organizations donated prizes for the event, which also included a supper served Saturday afternoon by Roy and Corinne Kenny and crew.

Davidson, featured

Locals join medical service trip to Nicaragua

From left, Jeannie Lockwood, Erik Johnson and Mary Jane Morrison are pictured during a medical service trip to Nicaragua in February.
From left, Jeannie Lockwood, Erik Johnson and Mary Jane Morrison are pictured during a medical service trip to Nicaragua in February.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — An average farm labourer in rural Nicaragua can expect to earn $5 US for a day’s work.

At that salary, even inexpensive dental care — $50 for a tooth extraction, $80 for a filling — is beyond the reach of most people.

“You can understand why a lot of them aren’t getting to the dentist,” said Mary Jane Morrison. “That’s got to be pretty tough.”

Morrison was part of a team of 24 Canadians who visited Nicaragua last month on a medical mission trip, providing free dental and optical care to rural residents in the developing country in Central America.

The trip lasted from Feb. 11 to 20 and was organized by Change for Children, an Edmonton-based organization that celebrated its 40th anniversary last year.

The group was evenly split between medical professionals and volunteers, with four senior dentists, three student dentists, two hygienists and three optometrists on board.

Three of the participants had local connections, including Morrison, who lives in Davidson and works as secretary for the Sacred Heart Parish.

Another was Jeannie Lockwood, a longtime resident of the Davidson area who now lives in Saskatoon, where she works as a licensed practical nurse at City Hospital.

Also taking part was dentist Erik Johnson, the son of Everett and Vonné Johnson of Davidson.

Johnson, who practises dentistry in a clinic in Lloydminster, has made two prior trips to treat patients in developing countries.

For the full story, please see the March 13 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan