Very Rev. Father Kevin McGee (left) officiates the installation of Father Madonna-Godwin Aghedo, O.P., as priest of the Davidson pastoral region at Sacred Heart Church on Jan. 15.
By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — When Father Madonna-Godwin Aghedo told his colleagues in Nigeria that he was moving to Canada, many had the same response: “Were you not told about the weather?”
Since his arrival in Saskatchewan, the Catholic priest has seen firsthand exactly what they were talking about.
As he said Sunday during his installation, winter is nothing to fear when God is present, and he explained why.
Father Godwin pointed to the list of parishes in the Davidson pastoral region, beginning with Sacred Heart in Davidson and ending with the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Outlook.
With the heart of Christ and the heart of the Holy Mother, he said, “Are you not cared for?”
Around 80 parishioners gathered at Sacred Heart on Jan. 15 for the installation, including visitors from the other parishes in the region.
Officiating at the mass was the Very Rev. Father Kevin McGee, who serves as administrator for the Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon.
For the full story, please see the Jan. 23 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
Pictured is the white Ford F-350 truck belonging to John Sperling, reported stolen from Davidson on Tuesday morning.
By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — John Sperling left his truck parked at the back door of his butcher shop on Monday night, with the doors locked and a full tank of gas.
When he returned on Tuesday morning, it was gone.
“My first thought was, ‘I sure hope Jon borrowed it,” said Sperling, but a quick chat with his stepson confirmed his fears.
The truck — a white Ford F-350, dating from the mid-2000s — had vanished from the parking lot behind JMR Meats on Davidson’s Washington Avenue.
The vehicle was stolen sometime between 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 16 and 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 17.
Sperling said police arrived around 8 a.m. to investigate. He also reported the theft to city police in case the vehicle was spotted right away.
Const. Kevin Morrissette of the Craik RCMP confirmed that the truck was reported stolen and that the incident was under investigation.
Police had not identified any suspects as of last week, but Morrissette invited the public to contact the police with any information.
Sperling, who lives in Craik, said having his vehicle stolen gave him a better sense of the frustration felt by others in that situation.
“You feel violated,” he said Wednesday. “I had a knot in my stomach all yesterday morning … (and) I was pretty angry yesterday. It hurts.”
Making matters worse, Sperling said he would also have to replace the equipment that he kept inside the truck, including a power inverter, gun rack and other tools.
Losing a full tank of gas was no small potatoes either, he added: “She was topped right up.”
Anyone with details is asked to contact the Craik RCMP at 306-734-5200.
Organizers accept a cheque for $25,000 towards the artificial ice project from the Town of Hanley during “Hockey Day in Hanley” on Jan. 7. Pictured from left are Elias Kempton, town councillor Andrea Townsend, Julie Bessey, Cindy Prosofsky and Bekki Kempton.
By Joel van der Veen
HANLEY — A jump in temperatures last week didn’t bode well for hockey players in Hanley.
The town’s arena, in operation since 1982, is perhaps the last operating facility in the area that still relies on natural ice.
“I think we are pretty close to being the only natural ice around here for a while,” said Cindy Prosofsky last week.
With winter temperatures on the rise, residents can only expect to use the rink for a couple of months each year.
Prosofsky said the rink wasn’t up and running till the end of December, and several days in a row of above-zero temperatures could put the rest of the season in jeopardy.
“You look at the weather we’re having right now,” she said. “Who knows what will happen to our ice?”
After three years of fundraising, Hanley is moving closer to bringing artificial ice to the rink.
Back in 2014, organizers set a fundraising goal of $1.5 million for an ambitious project that would have included a cement pad over top of the existing rink floor.
Prosofsky, who serves as president of the artificial ice committee, said they are in the midst of revising their plans.
As of last week, they had not released their new fundraising target — indicating only that it would likely be significantly lower — or the total raised so far. Prosofsky said that information would be publicized soon.
The Hanley Arena was built between 1980 and 1981 and officially opened on Feb. 21, 1982, replacing an earlier skating arena constructed in 1928.
For the full story, please see the Jan. 23 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
Valerie Baker passed away on Jan. 13, 2017 at the age of 79. Valerie lived and grew up in Regina, Sask. After she left high school she joined the Air Force and met her first husband, Garry Smith. The two married and had three children. Garry passed away in 1974. Valerie then met Richard Baker and married in 1991. Valerie loved having her family around; she loved drawing, painting and making dolls. She also loved being at the cottage.
Valerie is predeceased by her first husband Garry Smith and parents Jack and Vera Shorten.
She is survived by her loving husband Richard Baker; children Lee-Ann (Jeff) Schaan, Russ (Sandy) Smith and Kelly Barrett; grandchildren Steven Schaan, Kelsey Schaan, Cody Smith, Alisha Smith, Kari Smith and Krystal Smith; great-grandson Ethan Efonoff; and siblings Jo-Anne (Ray) Racette, Bob (Lois) Shorten and John (Fran) Shorten.
A Celebration of Life Funeral Service for Valerie was held in the Craik Community Legion Hall on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 at 2 p.m.
For friends so wishing, memorial donations in memory of Valerie may be directed to the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan.
Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson was in charge of arrangements.
Brent and Joni Ingram, parents of Team Canada goalie Connor Ingram, wear their jerseys at their home in Imperial.
By Joel van der Veen
IMPERIAL — For the Ingram family, Christmas dinner is coming a little later than usual this year.
Brent and Joni, their four sons and significant others were gathering in Imperial this past weekend for a belated holiday meal.
Normal traditions were put on hold in December as the family travelled east to watch their youngest son on the world stage.
Connor Ingram, 19, was one of two goalies for Team Canada during the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship, helping the team to a silver medal.
His proud mother and father spoke to the Leader last week from the kitchen of their Royal Street home.
Coffee and baked goods were on the table, and playing in the background was a radio station from Humboldt.
Connor was on the air, answering questions of all sorts — like what makes goalies different, or what his favourite meal is. (“My mom’s homemade soup.”)
In recent weeks he has given a string of interviews to radio, TV and print media, and his parents also spoke to multiple reporters.
“We talked to a lot of people,” said Brent. “It was a way to get the message back home . . . When you live in a small town, you don’t do that very often.”
The tournament brought an unprecedented level of attention to the town of 350 residents, with two of its native sons taking part.
Kris Knoblauch, 39, was assistant coach for Team Canada, working with head coach Dominique Ducharme and assistant Tim Hunter.
Following a successful career as a forward on multiple WHL teams, Knoblauch spent two seasons coaching the Kootenay Ice. He currently coaches the Erie Otters, one of three U.S.-based teams in the Ontario Hockey League.
“We had two from a town this size there at the same time,” said Brent Ingram. “It was good for Imperial.”
“Imperial doesn’t usually get a lot of love,” said Connor, who spoke to the Leader last week by phone. “I think they liked it.”
For the full story, please see the Jan. 16 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
Deputy chief Don Willner and chief Clayton Schilling of the Davidson Volunteer Fire Department pose with the rapid rescue unit at the fire hall.
By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — Don’t worry if you’re not exactly calendar material — the Davidson Volunteer Fire Department can use your help.
The department is looking for new recruits, putting out the invitation to all men and women aged 18 and older.
“We need members and I don’t care who it is,” chief Clayton Schilling said recently.
“We need to keep our department strong,” deputy chief Don Willner said, adding that local residents need to feel “confident that when they call 9-1-1, somebody’s coming.”
The department currently has 10 active members. That number includes EMS employees, who often have to leave a scene to transport patients to the hospital.
On average, around five members respond to a typical call.
The chiefs said they’re confident in the ability of their modest team to provide a fast and effective response.
But with fewer members, it’s harder to guard the scene of an accident or collision, or to provide relief when firefighters need a break.
“Everyone is so well trained, they have lots of experience,” said Willner, adding that without backup available, “you get physically worn out.”
The department responds to an average of 50 calls a year. About 80 per cent of those are located on or near Highway 11, and the chiefs have noticed a greater volume of traffic, as well as increasingly unsafe driving.
“People are going faster than they ever have, and they’re totally unprepared,” said Willner.
The remaining calls are mostly structure fires and field fires.
The Davidson department covers a large area for rescue service, stretching north to the townline road at Bladworth and south to Chamberlain, extending into the valley around Buffalo Pound Lake.
The main service area includes the Town of Davidson and the RMs of Arm River and Willner, as well as a small part of the RM of Wood Creek. Officials said they have also responded to structure fires in Bladworth, Craik, Elbow and Loreburn.
Davidson also provides mutual aid to other departments, including Craik and Kenaston.
For the full story, please see the Jan. 16 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
