All posts by Tara de Ryk

Obituary

Spilchak

Donna Rebecca (nee McJannet)

December 2, 1956 – June 16, 2012

After a lengthy struggle with Multiple Sclerosis, Donna passed away peacefully on the morning of June 16. She is predeceased by her parents Helen (nee Bryan) and John R. McJannet and father-in-law Sam Spilchak. She is survived by her husband John; children Tanya and Jason; beloved dog Patra; and many close friends.

Donna was born in Davidson, Sask., the third of four children, growing up on the family farm and attending school in the area. After graduation, Donna attended the U of S to receive her teaching degree. In 1977, she left this occupation and married the love of her life, John Spilchak, with whom she had two children Tanya and Jason. Donna took great pride in her family’s accomplishments and loved volunteering at the school when able. In 1988, she was diagnosed with MS which caused a slow deterioration of her body, functioning and meant ongoing pain for many years. Despite these struggles, Donna remained positive and was always ready with a joke or laugh. Donna was always a creative soul, engaging in various crafts, painting and music. She was also very outgoing and sociable and loved spending time with her family and friends. Donna leaves us with a legacy of love, smiles and laughter.

A private funeral will be held, attendance by invitation. Memorial donations may be made to the MS Society of Canada.

Arrangements entrusted to Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson, Sask.

Davidson, featured

Craik still looks for physician

The search for a new physician for Craik and the Five Hills Health Region has the mayor of Davidson concerned, but also hopeful that the parties concerned are starting to “look at the bigger picture” in their hopes to alleviate the added pressure that is being put on Davidson’s physician.

“It has a large impact for us because the doctor in Craik shares on call services with the doctor in Davidson,” said Mayor Mary Jane Morrison. “What they’ve been doing up until recently is every other weekend (one of) the doctors serves calls and they share those calls through the week as well.

“That hasn’t been consistent through the last little while because Dr. Maree has sort of been in the process of moving or working away from Craik,” she said. “As a result our doctor here has done his complete share of calls, but then there has been a disruption of service because she hasn’t been able to fulfill her obligation.”

Morrison said if you consider the populations of the towns of Davidson and Craik and the surrounding area that is also being served by those two doctors, Narinda Maree in Craik and F. Lang Bayona in Davidson, you would come up with more than 5,000 people in need of help.

“If you think of our whole region as a large town that has two doctors and all of a sudden you have one, then there is a real concern there,” she said.

Maree is moving to Moose Jaw in August to accept a physician’s job there after serving the community of Craik for the past 16 years. The Five Hills Health Region is in negotiations with another doctor to replace her, but a contract has yet to be finalized, to the frustration of Craik residents and Hilton Spencer, the Reeve of the Rural Municipality of Craik.

To read more please see the June 25 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

Davidson

Davidson’s taxes to increase by 6%

Property taxes are going up in Davidson, by about 6 per cent, to cover increasing costs.

“The cost of everything is going up,” town administrator Gary Edom said.

Council approved the Town of Davidson’s $2.1 million operating budget earlier this spring.

The budget is balanced by transferring $72,500 from reserves to bring down total expenditures from $2,170,354 to $2,098,161.

The 2012 budget covers costs of projects currently underway such as approximately $85,000 worth of upgrades to the town hall that included new windows, doors, wiring and the installation of a backup generator. The town had planned installing air conditioning as well, however, the project is on hold. Edom said they will apply to the Community Initiatives Fund for a grant in the fall to help with the $40,000 price tag.

The budget included costs of upgrading the town water well north of Davidson, work that has been going on this spring and included cleaning the well and installing a bigger pump and motor to match those on the other well.

Other expenses in the 2012 budget included costs of digging a new garbage pit in January.

The town has transferred $35,000 from its surplus funds account into reserves to be used towards the future purchase of a fire truck.

The mild winter last year allowed the town to save some money in snow removal costs, which were about $10,000 less than the $18,000 budgeted for the expense. The lack of snow helped the town save the expense of hiring contractors to assist with snow removal.

Besides the 6 per cent increase in property taxes, residents can expect a 10 per cent increase in water rates once the proposed increase is approved by the local government committee of the Saskatchewan Municipal Board.

This year the town plans to earn $905,500 from property taxes, compared to $833,821 it raised by the municipal levy last year. The town makes up the rest of its revenue from federal and provincial operating grants amounting to $377,278, fees and charges of about $418,000 and utility charges of $299,000.

Davidson

Lt.-Col. Eyre takes charge of 437 Squadron

Lieutenant-Colonel Ryan Eyre, a former member of 553 Sherlock Squadron Royal Canadian Air Cadets in Davidson, took over command of the 437 Huskies Squadron at CFB 8 Wing Trenton June 15 to the delight of family and friends in Craik as well as military personnel across Canada.

“We’re certainly proud of him,” said Gwen Eyre, Ryan’s mother and longtime Craik resident.  “He has dedicated his life to his career and worked hard.  This will be a challenge, but he’s always looked forward to challenges.”

Lt.-Col. Eyre will be entrusted with transporting military personnel along with VIP members of the government and various heads of state including the Prime Minister, Governor General and the Queen of England on the Airbus.  He will also be tasked with in-flight refueling of jets such as the CF-18, which enables them to remain in the air for longer periods of time.

“Ryan was a dedicated top cadet,” said Gordon McRae, the liaison between the parents, officers and cadets with the Department of National Defence and the Sherlock Squadron when Ryan was a member.  “He had his mind made up.  He wanted to be involved with the air force and he wanted to be involved with the cadet program.

“It’s kind of not a surprise that he’s the commanding officer of the Huskies now, but I’m very glad for him and sure he’ll do really well.”

Lt.-Col. Eyre starts as Commanding Officer of the Huskies for the second time this summer.  He began his career with the Canadian Forces in 1992 and originally served with the 437 flying the Airbus from 2006 to 2010.   He has racked up over 5,800 hours of flying time through his career.

Davidson

Police respond to break and enters in Strasbourg

On June 15th, 2012 Southey/Strasbourg RCMP responded to two break and enters in progress near the community of Strasbourg.  The first call was received from the Pioneer Grain site south of Strasbourg on highway 20.  The second call was received only 20 minutes after from the Viterra site north of Strasbourg on highway 20.
At both locations, the suspect(s) forced the main front door open and rummaged through drawers.  A small amount of money was stolen.  Damage to the door and frame was significant.  RCMP believe the same suspect(s) is responsible for both Break and Enters due to the similarities and the time frame between the incidents.  A witness did see an SUV type vehicle, possibly white in color with two large spotlights on the cab of the SUV  at one location.
If you have information about this or any other crime, please contact the Southey/Strasbourg RCMP or your local police service.  If you wish to remain anonymous Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, *8477 on Sask-Tel Mobility, text TIP206 plus your message to CRIMES (274637) or submit a tip online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com If your information leads to an arrest or a case being cleared, you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
Davidson, featured

Drivers needed to operate Handivan

DAVIDSON—The town is looking for a few good men or women to take the wheel of the Handivan.

The Handivan, which is owned by the Town of Davidson, is important to the social lives of many of Davidson’s senior citizens who rely on it for a ride to and from the senior centre.

Currently, Murray Lloyd is driving the van.

He’d like to see more drivers come forward so he can take some time off.

“It’d be nice to have three or four drivers,” Lloyd said.

This way they could take turns, sharing the responsibility so it didn’t fall on one or two individuals.

Although this seems easy enough, coming up with a schedule for multiple drivers, hasn’t really been done before.

The drivers keep a log. Leafing through it, Lloyd finds Earl Johnson’s name and then Con Painchaud’s.

“He drove it for ages. I drove it 68 times last year.”

Currently, when Lloyd cannot drive the van, Bob Bender drives it, however, there are times Bob, who farms, cannot drive the van because he is busy working.

Lloyd hopes that other people who have some time on Tuesdays and Thursdays may help out the seniors.

Usually there are between five and seven passengers who require a ride to and from the Davidson Senior Citizens Centre on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

Lloyd said he takes them to the senior centre at 1:30 p.m. and returns at 3:30 p.m. to take them back home.

“It’s not a hard thing to drive. It’s no worse than driving a car,” Lloyd said.

Because the van is accessible for people with disabilities, it is easy for people to get in and out of.

Women as well as men are welcome to drive it. No lifting is required.

The only training required is for drivers to learn how to secure a wheel chair.

“I don’t mind doing the volunteer work. I think it’s part of community service, but I’m sure there are others who could do it as well,” Lloyd said.
Anyone interested in helping out with the Handivan should contact Davidson’s town office.