Starting Monday, Dec. 1, people who haven’t had their flu shot will have to wear a mask when they enter Davidson and District Health Centre as well as other Heartland Health Region facilities where patient care and services are provided.
To minimize the spread of infections, Surgical/procedure masks will be available to people who have chosen not to be immunized against influenza. Instructions on how to put on and take off the masks will be posted to help people unfamiliar with wearing masks.
The requirement to be immunized or wear a mask is part of a new province-wide influenza immunize or mask policy in effect in all Saskatchewan health regions and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency. The purpose is to further protect the health and safety of patients. It also serves to further protect healthcare workers, their colleagues, families, friends and communities.
All people are expected to immunize or mask if they come into hospitals, long-term care facilities, primary health care sites, public health locations and other sites where patients, residents or clients typically access health region care or services. It includes common areas in these facilities such as hallways, lobbies, and waiting rooms, as well as patient rooms, wards, units, departments and other areas where patients, residents or clients typically access care or services.
It is not too late to get your influenza immunizations. Public flu clinics continue in Heartland Health Region through December. From January 2015 to March 2015, flu shots are available at public health offices.
The immunize or mask policy remains in effect until April 3, 2015, the approximate end of the annual influenza season.
Bylaw prohibits feeding strays
By Kevin Gilby
DAVIDSON—At its Nov. 20 meeting Davidson town council discussed a complaint of a resident creating a nuisance by feeding stray cats in the community.
Under Davidson’s Animal Control Bylaw, residents who own or harbour “a dog or cat shall not allow the animal to create a nuisance to any person”. The individual was requested to cease the practice immediately as the animals were causing damage to neighboring properties.
Under the bylaw, No. 751, a first offence is punishable by $100 fine. A second offense is punishable by a $200 fine and any subsequent infractions is $400.
Wild boar spotted roaming near Craik
CRAIK—A feral wild boar shot recently in the R.M. of Craik has people wondering if the menace is putting down roots in the area.
Earlier this November a wild boar was shot and killed a few miles west of Craik. The boar was spotted at night when it ran across the road. The man went back the next morning looking for it, but couldn’t find it. He checked again later in the day and found it in a pasture a few miles from where he’d first seen it the night before.
The hope is that the boar shot near Craik was a lone boar and not a member of a group of wild boar that has taken up residence in the area.
Hilton Spencer, Reeve of the R.M. of Craik, said he saw a wild boar three or four years ago while he was out hunting south of Craik.
“I guess they’ve been around here the odd time,” he said, not aware of any problems caused by boars in the area.
Still, “We’re happy it was shot,” Spencer said.
“They are not good things to have around. They are quick. They are mean,” said pest control officer Lee Storey.
Groups of wild boar have been known to destroy acres of crop overnight due to their feeding habits. Wild boar are omnivorous and eat a wide-variety of plants, roots and animals. They up the ground wherever they go. The species is not native to Saskatchewan. Wild boar were introduced to the province in the 1990s as a form of agricultural diversification. A few animals escaped from their pens and thrived in the wild.
They are smart, they have no natural predators and because sows can produce two litters of four to 12 piglets a year, tough to control.
Storey, who works to control nuisance animals for the rural municipalities of Arm River, Willner and Big Arm said wild boars are not a problem yet in the area, “but they could be.”
About three years ago, he knew of one boar that was south of Girvin and has heard of three sightings in the area that he considers reliable.
Other parts of Saskatchewan are not so lucky.
To read more, please see the Nov. 24, 2014 print edition of The Davidson Leader. To subscribe phone 306-567-2047.
Memory Bulbs to be lit again
DAVIDSON—Davidson’s sky looks brighter at night thanks to the efforts of local individuals and organizations.
About 1,500 LED lights have been strung around the limbs and branches of a large elm tree in Bob Crowley Memorial Garden on Railway Avenue, at the end of Washington Avenue.
The project was coordinated by Davidson’s Communities in Bloom committee with Jeannie Allan supervising the pruning of the tree, Panther Industries donated the lights, Communities in Bloom had power installed, which was done by Halvorson Electric.
Davidson’s public works foreman Doug Torrie spent eight hours stringing the lights.
It was a tedious job, but the efforts are appreciated. The lit tree looks beautiful at night.
The lights will be on from dusk until dawn all year round, said Stuart Dougan, Communities in Bloom chairman.
Elm trees are not the only ones being lit this season. The large evergreen tree beside Davidson Town Hall will again serve as the community’s memory tree.
Communities in Bloom, in conjunction with the swimming pool committee, is selling Christmas Memory Bulbs. People may purchase a light bulb on a string of lights to honour a friend or loved one. On Dec. 10 at tree lighting ceremony will be held and the names of all the people for whom a bulb has been purchased will be read.
Dougan said Communities in Bloom has ordered more lights for the occasion and hopes to have them strung soon before the weather turns cold again.
Cyclones break losing skid
DAVIDSON—The Davidson Cyclones snapped a two-game losing skid by beating the Watrous Winterhawks 4-3 in Davidson Wednesday.
Watrous was first on the board with an unassisted goal early in the first period by Brett Slobodzian. Chad Manz put the Cyclones on the scoreboard with help from Zach Sim and Clinton Maier. Travis Eggum regained the lead for Watrous with 5:05 remaining in the period.
Slobodzian scored his second goal of the game early in the second period to give Watrous a 3-1 lead. Kevin Johnson found the back of the Winterhawks’ net with a goal midway through the period to put Davidson down by one. Cody Danberg tied the score at three all, giving the Cyclones hope going into the third period.
In the third period Danberg scored the game winner with 8 minutes remaining. Cyclones goalie Brady Willner was perfect in the third period turning away Watrous’s shots.
With a 3-1 record, the Cyclones are in last place in the Long Lake Hockey League standings thanks to a 6-4 loss to Leroy in their first game of the season Nov. 7 and a 6-2 defeat to Lanigan Nov. 12.
Craik welcomes new administrator
By Kevin Gilby
CRAIK—Craik’s new town administrator Sarah Wells says she’s a “city girl, but a town girl at heart.”
Fresh at her new job, Sarah is approaching the position with enthusiasm to help “organize the town [and to] see that things get done that weren’t being done before.” Her first few weeks dealt with reducing the backlog from the vacancy, but notes that “it wasn’t so bad. Joanne Yates helped out a lot with that.”
Previously a paralegal for a real-estate company, Sarah is familiar with many of the responsibilities she now faces. Her previous job required her to deal with property titles, property taxes, utilities, and many of the laws and acts that apply to municipalities.
Sarah and her family are excited to be moving to the area with one of her two daughters already enrolled in the Craik School and her husband showing interest in the local hockey team. Currently living with relatives in Craik, she looks forward to getting involved with Communities in Bloom once her family gets established in their own home.
Many features of small town living appealed to the young family, such as the “driving times are cut down so much, it’s much more convenient to have family time,” she adds that “the school is great, the small classroom sizes mean more time to spend [on the kids].”
Major Rick Rogers welcomes her addition to the town and says, “We’re very, very happy to have her here.” A sentiment he previously echoed during Sarah’s involvement at her first town council meeting held earlier in the month.