• This week’s paper features Kenaston School’s graduating class.

• Also inside: Local provincial track results, Hanley Sabers signed to Hilltops, Power outage…and much more. Buy your copy today! It’s how we pay the bills.

To read the full paper, you’ll need to subscribe. Phone 306-567-2047, email davidsonleader@sasktel.net or click the Subscribe button.

The Davidson Leader is available at these fine retailers: Davidson – Stedmans, Shell, Riverbend Co-op Gas Bar and Food Store, The Davidson Leader; Kenaston: KC Distributors; Craik – Big Way Foods.

There is lots to read in this week’s paper including:

District Track & Field Results, Stories from Davidson town council’s meeting, and much more…

To read the full paper, you’ll need to subscribe. Phone 306-567-2047, email davidsonleader@sasktel.net or click the Subscribe button. The Davidson Leader is available at these fine retailers: Davidson – Stedmans, Shell, Riverbend Co-op Gas Bar and Food Store, The Davidson Leader; Kenaston: KC Distributors; Craik – Big Way Foods.

With great love and sadness, the family of Lorne Dean announces his passing on May 31, 2019. Lorne was born on September 2, 1938 on a farm near Elbow, SK; he passed away peacefully in Davidson Health Centre. He is survived by his children:

Julie-Ann Lechman (husband Garry) and family Chad (fiancé Brittany), Amanda (fiancé Chris), Colin (fiancé Maria), Kyle and Jordan;

Laurie-Lyn Daniluk (husband Keith) and family Charla and Cayla;

Daryl Dean (wife Sandy) and family Ashley and Hayley;

Shari Henderson (husband Rod) and family Britney and Logan;

Cory Dean (wife Dixie) and family Bryce, Chase Lyn and Quayden;

His loving partner, Alma Martens and her family:

Mitchell Martens, son Dalyn;

Steven Martens (wife Anika) and family Garron and Reeve;

Ryan Martens (wife Krista) and daughter Haylee;

His sister Dorothy Penner (Cornie), brother Jack Dean (Marjorie) and three brothers-in-law, along with five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Predeceased by his dear wife, Olive Dean, his mother and father Jeff and Maggie Dean and his son-in-law Ken Vandenaweele.

Lorne bought his family farm in 1965 from his uncle whereby he and Olive raised their own family. Lorne was known for his love for his cattle (“the girls”) and spending time teaching his kids and grandkids the way around the farm. Lorne was very fortunate to find love again after the loss of Olive. Alma brought Lorne back to life, which in hand brought joy to Lorne’s family. The two of them lived life to the fullest together, socializing and dancing whenever and wherever they could.

A family service was be held for Lorne and he will be laid to rest in the family plot at Davidson Community Cemetery.

The family of Lorne would like to give special thanks to Dr. Lang and all of the nurses, caregivers and staff at Davidson Health Centre.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Elbow Friendship Club and/or The Cancer Society. Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson in care of arrangements.

To read the full paper, you’ll need to subscribe. Phone 306-567-2047, email davidsonleader@sasktel.net or click the Subscribe button.

The Davidson Leader is available at these fine retailers: Davidson – Stedmans, Shell, Riverbend Co-op Gas Bar and Food Store, The Davidson Leader; Kenaston: KC Distributors; Craik – Big Way Foods.

PENZANCE—Bear sightings in this part of the province are pretty rare.

Don Kennedy happened to get a glimpse of a good-sized black bear at about noon, Tuesday, May 28.

He spotted the bear a half mile north of his farmyard that is located three miles west of Penzance.

At first he thought it was a moose, until he got a closer look and realized it was in fact a bear.

“It was just going across a field, walking, eating on the ground and sniffing,” Kennedy said.

The bear didn’t seem to be in a hurry. Kennedy said it came from the west and was going in a northeasterly direction.

“I watched it for about an hour,” he said.

He drove closer to get a better look. Then the bear ran into the bush.

Kennedy said he phoned a friend to tell him about the bear.

“His wife is one of those who’s got a phone glued to her hand,” Kennedy said.

 “Soon everybody came out. I don’t know how she could get it out so fast. Lots of guys in the field shut it down and came over because there were lots of blackened faces,” Kennedy said of the farmers in the gathering.

He said no one believed him when he first told folks about it.

“Nobody believed me at first. They called me all sorts of names,” Kennedy said.

He has a flip phone, so he couldn’t text message his friends photographic proof.

This was the first time he saw a bear in the area. He reported the bear to the game warden.

He said the conservation officer told him that unless the bear is a nuisance, they would leave it alone. If the bear kills livestock or gets into garbage, Kennedy said then conservation officials would trap and relocate the bear.

Saskatchewan Environment conservation officer Daryl Minter said Saskatchewan has a healthy bear population and it’s not unusual to see them in the wild this time of year. He said spring is when bears are out looking for new territory and will continue to roam until they find an area with a good food source.

“It probably hasn’t come from that far away,” he said. Bears usually travel along water ways.

He said the bear was likely foraging when Kennedy saw it crossing the field.

“At this time of year there is no shortage of dandelions and that keeps them happy.” He said people needn’t report bear sightings unless the bear is hanging around houses or being a nuisance. He advises people to keep their distance and to remember that bears are wild animals.