All posts by Tara de Ryk

Davidson, featured

Davidson Co-op Food Store addresses deadly E. coli beef infections

Davidson beef is safe to eat.

The Davidson Co-op Food Store has pulled all its beef products that were processed at the XL Foods Inc. plant in Brooks, Alta. that is at the centre of the new E. coli infection scare, but want to assure all customers the meat that is on the counter today is safe.

Dale Firby, general manager of Riverbend Co-op, said the plant in Brooks is their “preferred supplier,” but once the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued the recall; the grocery store “immediately” pulled all the products that were specified from the counter.

CFIA first issued the recall in September and further expanded it to dozens of additional products including roasts and sausages last Monday.

“When we were informed of the recall, we addressed it,” said Firby. “Anyone that was asking about the product, we had encouraged them to bring the product back for a full refund and all product was isolated and returned back to the supplier.”

There were 13 E. coli infection cases being investigated in September, which differs sharply from the usual zero to four during that month, by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health to see if they are linked to beef processed at the XL Foods Inc. plant. There have been five confirmed cases in Alberta linked to the processing plant.

The Heath Ministry is reminding consumers to use safe beef handling and cooking procedures such as thorough hand washing when handling or preparing food and making sure that all meat is cooked thoroughly.

People with an E. coli infection will experience symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, watery or bloody diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea and headaches with little or no fever. These symptoms usually appear within three to four days, but can occur up to 10 days later and last about five to 10 days. People most at risk of developing serious complications from E. coli are pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, young children and the elderly.

To read more please see the Oct. 8 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

Davidson, Sports

Raiders and Bisons engage in a hard-hitting affair

The Raiders senior boys football team lost 44-0 to the LCBI Bisons in chilly football weather last Thursday at the Bison Dome, but that didn’t stop them from having a bit of fun and enjoying a game they are all happy to play no matter what the score happens to be in the end.

Raiders head coach Jason Low said he was “pretty happy” with the game, which featured a number of hard tackles, long bombs and interceptions, despite the uneven score. He said the game plan heading into the Dome was more focused on the little things and they pulled off some great plays.

“It’s easy to get down with the score, but to me it’s the second year of the program and we’re looking more at plays and players,” said Low. “We’re gelling as a team, are more focused and I think we did well.

“Mike Kowalski (Raiders running back and quarterback) had a great game and the defence is starting to figure things out.”

Low said the team has to remember why they are playing football in the first place and that is to have fun. He said the goal is to win games, but just having a good game as a team is a great reward as well.

Raiders linebacker Jon Taylor had fun laying out a few bone-crunching hits during the game on a couple Bisons, while defensive lineman Kirby Manz may have had the highlight of the game when he drove into Bisons QB Damon Berggren for a teeth-rattling sack in the fourth quarter. On the Bisons side, tight end Jordan Bott was a force to be reckoned with as he took out any Raiders trying to run down his side of the field.

Phil Guebert, head coach of the Bisons, said the Raiders “played with a lot of heart” and he was even rooting for them to get into the end zone in the fourth quarter when Kowalski tried to muscle the ball in from in-close, but he’s still happy his team held them back too.

“We played with good intensity today, but not high intensity,” said Guebert. “We were short staffed and didn’t have many guys. There were a few guys playing out of position, but they did a good job.”

The Raiders are now preparing to host the Hague Panthers Oct. 11 for their last home game of the year at The Ranch and are hoping for a good crowd.

Kowalski said the team will need to try hard to improve their game against the Panthers, but he is confident they can do better on their home field.

“It’s pretty plausible it’ll be a very close game,” he said. “We’re expecting to give them a run for their money.”

Davidson, Sports

Cross-country running team finish tough season

The Raiders cross-country running team crossed the finish line last week, which capped off a successful season for the Davidson School group that saw them compete in three meets and most recently the district championships last Thursday in Eston.

Karen McConnell, head coach of the running team, said the 15 participants in the group, who range from grades 5 through 9 students, had a demanding but fantastic year. She said the team gave their all to the sport that had the kids run through a gruelling before school practice schedule, not to mention the four meets they compete in during such a short period of time.

“I’m very proud of them,” said McConnell. “I’ve played and been involved with a lot of sports and I can honestly say that cross-country running is the most physically demanding sport I have ever been a part of and they did absolutely excellent.”

The coach had the kids up and running in the early morning hours two to three days a week along the walking trail in Davidson and also doing hill sprints by the Davidson Health Centre to get them used to uneven terrain.

She said they had to complete this rough practice schedule in order to be ready for the demanding meets they compete in that sees the Grade 5 students run through a 2 kilometre marked course, the grades 6 and 7 pupils through a 3 km course and the grades 8 and 9 students in a 4 km course.

“It’s more to set their pace (through practice) and then to be able to sprint after they’ve set that pace,” said McConnell. “They don’t want to start off sprinting the whole thing, because they’ll really never make it. You want to set a nice pace, but it is so demanding at the end of the race that they need to be able to have that sprint left in them for that last coming home stretch.”

She said the great thing about building a love of running in these kids at such an early age is it gives them a life-long connection to the sport that promotes a healthy lifestyle and a dedication to fitness.

“It’s a very easy sport to do, because all you need is a pair of runners. If you’re competitive with yourself, it’s a great sport to do because you can always push yourself to go faster. It doesn’t matter where you are as you can always have that as a physical activity to do.”

Davidson

Health Trust Fund buys needed equipment

The Davidson Health Trust Fund continued its support of the Davidson Health Centre last month by giving over $18,000 to the Heartland Health Region for the purchase of needed capital equipment for the centre that will help both patients and health practitioners in their daily lives.

Glenys Smith, chairperson of the Davidson Health Trust Fund, said the not-for-profit fund is made up of local donations given to the committee over the years and is used for the comfort of the 40 residents at the long-term care facility.

“The fund buys the extra things that the health region does not (fully) fund,” said Smith, who has been on the committee since its formation in 2007. “We’ve bought things like curtains, just to make (the facility) more homey. We’ve bought some tables and chairs, a new TV and extra things that would make it more comfortable for them.”

The extra things the trust fund helped pay for in September were an Arjo Hydro-sonic Bathtub at a cost of $14,024, with Heartland Health Region covering the other 50 per cent of the $28,000 price tag for the tub, and a $4,488 WelchAllyn Vital Signs Monitor. This comes on the heels of the trust fund contributing $12,400 in July to pay for two Arjo Sara 3000 Sit Stand Lifts.

Cathy Hinther, care team manager for the Davidson Health Centre, said the help given by the Trust Fund is needed due to limited provincial funding provided to the centre for capital expenditures. She said the new machines are “state of the art” and much more advanced than what they were previously using giving the 70 professional and non-professional staff at the centre a better way.

“It updates the equipment, which enhances care and allows the staff to give safe care,” said Hinther. “With the policies around lifting as well, (sit-stand lifts) will allow staff not to lift patients.”

To read more please see the Oct. 8 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

Obituary

Sampson

Georgina Sampson passed away peacefully in Saskatoon on Thursday, September 20, 2012 at the age of 93.

She was predeceased by her loving husband Kenneth and infant daughter Karen. Georgina is survived by her loving family: son Norm (Lynne), daughter Tress (Monte), grandchildren and great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and other family members.

The service of remembrance will be held at the Davidson United Church on October 9, 2012 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Diane Eurig officiating.

Interment will be in the family plot, Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Saskatoon, Sask. at a later date.

For friends so wishing memorials in memory of Georgina may be directed to any of the donor’s choice charities (see listed at service).

Hanson’s Funeral Home, Davidson, Sask. in care of arrangements.

Obituary

Frederick Charles McAlaster

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Fred on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at the Davidson Health Care Centre at the age of 94 years.

Fred was predeceased by his parents Hector and Henrietta, his loving wife Verna May and son-in-law Randy Lorencz. Fred is survived by his loving family: sons Fred (Betty Ann) Hawman and family; Grant (Barb) Hawman and family, Joshua and Nicole; Paul (Denise) Hawman and family Joelle and Brittany; son Blain (Eunice) McAlaster and family, Lisa and Ryan Twa and daughter Gabrielle; daughter Sharon Lorencz and family Jason (Lindsay) Lorencz and Cole; Melody (Daryl) Hubich and Rhyen; Travis (Stephanie) Lorencz and family Hayden, Taylor, Skyler Lorencz and Taunya; brothers Sandy and Pat; sisters Florence, Marion, Jean and Evelyn; also numerous nieces, nephews and sisters-in-law.

The celebration of Fred’s life funeral service will be held at the Kisbey United Church, Kisbey, Sask. on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Michael William officiating.

Interment in the family plot, Percy Cemetery, Kisbey, Sask.

For friends so wishing, memorials in memory of Fred may be directed to the Saskatchewan Children’s Hospital, Saskatoon, Sask.

Hanson’s Funeral Home, Davidson, Sask. in care of arrangements.

A memorial service will be held for Fred on Friday, October 12, 2012 at 2 p.m. from the Davidson United Church, Davidson, Sask. with Rev. Diane Eurig officiating.