RM of Loreburn fined for burning at dump

The Rural Municipality of Loreburn was found guilty of one count under The Environmental Protection Management Act for failing to comply with the terms and conditions of a permit to operate a waste disposal ground and was fined $2,800 in provincial court in Outlook.

The charges were laid as the result of a complaint received by the Ministry of Environment that the RM of Loreburn waste disposal ground was burning. Conservation officers investigated and found that household garbage was being burnt contrary to the conditions of the RM’s Permit to Operate a Waste Disposal Ground which had been issued to them under The Municipal Refuse Management Regulations. The RM was contacted and they were found to be responsible for the burning of their landfill. The RM had received previous warnings for burning their landfill in 2008.

“The unauthorized burning of waste disposal grounds can cause toxic chemicals to contaminate our air, land and water and be hazardous to human health and our environment,” Ministry of Environment Compliance and Field Services Executive Director Brent Webster said. “The Ministry of Environment permits landfills to burn clean lumber and trees at separate designated areas in the disposal ground but does not allow the burning of household garbage or mixed waste.”

Anyone who is aware of or who suspects environmental, wildlife or fisheries violations is encouraged to report them to the nearest Ministry of Environment office or to call the province’s toll-free Turn In Poachers (TIP) hotline at 1-800-667-7561 or #5555 for SaskTel cell phone subscribers. Callers may be eligible for cash rewards through the SASKTIP Reward program.

Revived thrift store to open soon

DAVIDSON—If having a garage sale, for the sake of getting rid of stuff and making a few extra bucks, isn’t your ideal way to spend a sunny Saturday, Russell and Angela Sparks have a deal for you.

Forget the garage sale and instead, consider donating those unwanted items to Revived Family Thrift Store, a not-for-profit enterprise the Sparks intend to open later this summer.

They plan on opening the store Aug. 14 on Washington Avenue in the spot formerly occupied by the Laundromat next to The Davidson Leader building.

They are seeking donations of gently used clothing, shoes, toys and household items.

“Everyone has at least five items of clothing they don’t wear,” Sparks said.

They will accept small appliances such as blenders or toasters, but ask that people do not donate furniture or major appliances.

“We’ve got less than 600 square feet,” Sparks said. “No pianos or organs, please.”

Nor will they accept books, magazines or music either.

Another consideration is that donations be in good condition and in working order. Clothes should be clean and unstained.

“There is lots of gently-used stuff out there. It’s either going to the landfill or to places like Value Village,” Sparks said.

He’d rather see it remain in the community where it may be purchased at low prices giving people without means an affordable way to buy goods they need.

“A lot of people are too proud to take a handout, but if you give them a good deal like a shirt for two bucks, they’ll take it,” Sparks said.

Proceeds from the sale of goods will first be used to pay the thrift store’s lease and then surplus funds will go back into the community to support local causes such as helping needy people with household repairs or supporting the DICA food vouchers and food hampers program.

To read more please see the June 18 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

Shirkey

Earl James, August 9, 1916 – June 4, 2012

Earl James Shirkey passed away on June 4, 2012 at the age of 95 years. He was predeceased by his first wife Agnes, son Ray Shirkey, sisters Bernice Parks, Evelyn Seaman and Mildred Rombough and brother Ray Shirkey. Left to cherish his memory are his loving partner, Lorrain Baade; his children Carole (Norman) Wardlaw, Ronald (Elizabeth) Shirkey, Daryl (Shelagh) Shirkey; Lorrain’s children Evelyn (Joe), Ruth (Rick), Laura Lee, Cyril (Carol) and Marian (Gord); Earl’s siblings Joyce Hodgins, Howard Shirkey and Donna Pritchard and Lorrain’s brother Ken (Phyl) Raymond, along with numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family and friends.

Earl resided in Imperial and farmed in the Imperial district his whole life. He enjoyed his farm site on the edge of Imperial where he maintained a large garden until his passing. The Shirkey family wishes to express gratitude to Lorrain and her family for the wonderful years and extended life that Earl enjoyed.

For those so wishing donations to Long Lake Valley Foundation, Box 94, Imperial, Sask. S0G 2J0 would be appreciated. Earl’s family thank you for attending and for joining them for lunch following the graveside service. The Funeral Service was held in the Imperial Community Centre, Imperial, Saskatchewan on Saturday, June 9 at 11:00 a.m. Officiating was Rev. Alison West. Honourary Pallbearers were Jack Rimmington, Rick Pritchard, Bill Lewis, Ken Raymond and Cyril Baade. Pianist was Sharon Crittenden. Special Music “Glow Worm” was provided by Carole Wardlaw. Pallbearers were David Wardlaw, Stuart Kunaman, Ron Shirkey Jr., Brent Pritchard, Tim Shirkey, David Baade and Brent Shirkey. Eulogy was given by Daryl Shirkey and Evelyn Baade. Interment took place in Imperial Cemetery. Following the graveside service a luncheon was provided by the ladies auxiliary. Fotheringham – McDougall Funeral Service of Watrous and Nokomis in care of arrangements.

Three injured in rollover near Hanley

HANLEY—Both lanes of Highway 11 were closed to traffic Tuesday afternoon due to a single vehicle rollover.

At 3:15 p.m., RCMP Cpl. Rob King said members were on the scene of the rollover, which occurred about one-kilometre north of Hanley.

Three occupants were trapped in the vehicle, two males and one female. Hanley’s fire department were on the scene to remove the victims: a 20-year-old male, a 17-year-old male and a 21-year-old female, King said. All three occupants were transported to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon with non-life threatening injuries.

The highway was re-opened to traffic.

More details to follow.

Fisherman reels in bomb

HANLEY—A man fishing at the Brightwater Reservoir west of Hanley has quite a fishing tale to tell after he reeled in a bomb last Sunday.

Saskatoon RCMP, at about 7:20 p.m. Sunday, June 3, got a call from a fisherman after he had hooked and landed what he thought may be a homemade bomb.

RCMP attended the call and after looking at the device, cleared and secured the area and called in the RCMP Explosives Disposal Unit, said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Rob King.

The bomb squad examined the device and determined it was some type of homemade bomb. The device was neutralized at the scene and police declared the area safe once again for fishing.

King said RCMP cannot give any details about the device or how it was “neutralized”.

“We don’t want the general public knowing the details,” he said.

How it came to be in the water is still under investigation.

While King said he doesn’t know what the man was fishing for, a bomb was most likely not the intended prey.

He said this is the first time a device like this has been found in a body of water.

“It’s never happened before,” King said.

Last week, the incident was the talk of the town in Hanley, on the street, at the coffee shop and Facebook.

If the angler lives around Hanley, he doesn’t frequent coffee row.

“Everybody in town knows about it, but nobody knows who caught it,” said Hanley’s town administrator Darice Carlson. “He doesn’t go for coffee.”

Police would like any witnesses or anyone with information about explosives being used in the area to contact them.

RMs to meet over PFRA pastures

Ratepayers of the rural municipalities of Dundurn, Rudy and Rosedale will meet Wednesday in Hanley to talk about the future of the Dundurn and the Rudy/Rosedale community pastures.

Fred Wilson, Reeve of the R.M. of Dundurn, said community members and pasture patrons have been talking informally since the federal government’s decision to wind down the Community Pastures Program came to light in mid-April.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada plans to get out of managing the pastures over the next six years. The process begins in 2013 when the government will cease operations of 10 community pastures—five in Saskatchewan and five in Manitoba. Another five pastures in Saskatchewan will be transferred in 2014.

Ideally, Wilson said, the pastures would remain in the public domain, if not operated by federal or provincial governments, than the municipalities could possibly take over their management.

“The majority’s consensus is we would like them to stay as community pastures.”

He’s heard rumours about organizations and companies big enough to buy them may be interested in some of the more lucrative pastures. On the other hand, Wilson said, he can’t see the province letting them go because some are rich in resources like oil, gas and gravel.

To read more, please see the June 11, 2012 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan