All posts by Tara de Ryk

Davidson

Optimist Dance Club considering Herb Nelson Centre

DAVIDSON—Tired of doing the Davidson shuffle, the local dance club told town council recently it has found a permanent partner: the Herb Nelson Centre.

Members of the Davidson Optimist Dance Club were at council’s March 20 meeting seeking support for their proposal to convert the lower level of the Herb Nelson Centre into two dance studios.

For years, the Davidson Optimist Dance Club has held classes in church halls, school gyms and community buildings around town.

Club president Vonné Johnson said they have 80 dancers taking lessons from five different teachers, three nights a week in three different buildings from September to May.

However, sometimes the club finds itself without a place to dance due to funerals and other unscheduled events leaving the club scrambling to find another place to hold the evening’s class.

“This year has been a nightmare for scheduling,” dance club member Karen Dieno said.

Johnson said with a few renovations, the lower level of the Herb Nelson Centre could be converted into two studios. This would allow the dance club to hold all its lessons in one spot.

As part of the renovations, she suggested moving a room designated for the Legion from the back to the front of the building so one large room could be created.

“We think we can help each other,” Johnson said. “We need space and you have it.”

She added that the dance club would pay rent.

She said the studio rooms, which will be empty except for a dance floor, large mirror and ballet bar, could be used by others outside of dancing hours.

“I think we have to discuss this with the library first,” Mayor Mary Jane Morrison said.

Davidson branch of Palliser Regional Library occupies the main floor of the Herb Nelson Centre.

Noise was the major concern, librarian September Brooke told council.

She spoke to council after the dance club’s presentation.

“There’s going to be music and lots of kids,” she said, expressing concerns that young children would be upstairs in the library, “hanging out” while they waited for their class to begin.

Coun. Mandy Tichit, council’s representative on the library board, agreed, reminding council that people go to the library to have a quiet reading time.

In their pitch to council, the dance club had said they would instruct dancers to wait for classes downstairs.

Another potential concern with the dance club using the lower portion of the building was that the library would lose a room, if the Legion room is re-located, that it uses for special programs such as the summer reading program, story hour, or if a speaker comes in.

Coun. Clayton Schneider suggested the dance studio rooms could be used for the library’s programming.

He volunteered to mediate a meeting between the dance club and library board.

“It’s got to work for everybody,” he said.

Brooke told council that she thought the library board and dance club could work together.

To limit disruptions to library patrons, Brooke asked that the dance club use the building’s back door, which has a separate entrance from the library.

Council agreed to this request.

“We don’t want to make you guys uncomfortable,” Coun. Cliff Cross said.

“A meeting between the library board and dance club will take place soon.

Kenaston, Sports

Kenaston Blizzards capture Senior D title

The Kenaston Blizzards pose for a picture with the Senior D Provincial championship banner and trophy. The Blizzards won the provincial finals in Lucky Lake on March 25. (Contributed photo)

KENASTON—Tin is the traditional 10th anniversary gift.

But it was silver the Kenaston Blizzards were hoisting on March 25 as they raised the J. W. Hamilton Trophy for winning the Senior D Provincial Championships.

The Blizzards beat Lucky Lake/Dinsmore 6-1 in the third game of the best of three series.

The win came exactly 10 years to the day since Kenaston won its first Provincial D title in 2002.

Since then the Blizzards have been to the semi finals, north finals, and other rounds of provincial playoffs, but “we were never able to do it again until now,” said coach Barry Firby.

He said this year’s team was different thanks to homegrown products Mike Prpich and Aaron Phillips who came home to play with Kenaston after playing professional hockey.

“And we added a couple imports too,” Firby said.

The Blizzards’ roster also includes players from Kenaston, Hawarden and Hanley areas as well as goalie Kevin Hassett and forward Kenton Dulle, who hail from Craik.

After beating the Kyle Elks in the semi-finals, the Blizzards met Lucky Lake/Dinsmore in the finals.

Lucky Lake/Dinsmore won the first game 6-4 in Dinsmore. On March 24, Kenaston won the second game 5-1 at home. The Blizzards travelled to Lucky Lake for the final game beating their hosts 6-1.

Between provincial playoffs and league playoffs, Blizzards have become the best show in town.

“Everybody is very excited in Kenaston. We’ve had some really good crowds watch us,” Firby said.

Kenaston was in Rosetown Saturday night for the fifth and deciding game in the Sask Valley Hockey League. The series was knotted at 2-2.

The Rosetown Redwings won the first two games in the series 9-6 and 6-3 respectively.

The Blizzards came back March 20 to defeat the Redwings 6-5 in Rosetown and then beat them in Kenaston last Tuesday, March 27, 6-3. Lyndon Leard and Alekcei McAvoy had two goals each for the Blizzards with Kenton Dulle and Aaron Phillips getting a goal apiece in the win. Rosetown outshot Kenaston 38-26 with Blizzards goalie Kevin Hassett stopping 35 shots.

Results of Saturdays league final in Rosetown were unavailable at press time.

The Kenaston Blizzards 2011-12 player roster included goalies Jon Sagen and Kevin Hassett as well as Lyndon Leard, Josh Kerpan, Nick Prpich, David McDougall, Derek Butcher, Skylar Feltis, Clint Ringdal, Ryley Lowdermilk, Scott McQueen, Tyrel Kerpan, Kenton Dulle, Garrett Soparlo, Mike Prpich, Don McAvoy, Lee Carpenter, Jesse Ouellette, Chris Prpich, Lucas Ringdal, John Ouellette, Alekcei McAvoy, Mike Hertz and Aaron Phillips.

Davidson, Sports

Cyclones win Provincial C and LLHL titles

DAVIDSON—Davidson Cyclones brought home a Senior C Provincial Championship banner after a decisive 6-2 win over the Kyle Elks in Kyle on March 25.

The Davidson Cyclones won the Senior C Provincial Championship with a 6-2 win over the Kyle Elks. They pose for a picture with the provincial championship banner and trophy. (Photo by Gord McRae)

The Cyclones “played as good as we could,” coach Jason Shaw said of his team’s effort in the second and third games of the best of three-game series.

The Cyclones, after losing Game 1 in Kyle by a score of 9-4, had to win the March 23 game at home. They did, winning 4-3 to force the third and final game in Kyle.

 

Friday, March 23 in Davidson

Kyle’s Justin Williams opened scoring in the first period until Davidson’s Derek Allan tied the score at one. In the second period Danny Williams regained the lead for the Elks until Josh Sim scored to tie it 2-2. Brett Siroski put Davidson ahead 3-2 after a scramble in front. The Cyclones’ penalty kill surpassed expectations as Chase Schafer scored a short-handed goal for the 4-2 lead.

In the third period Danny Williams scored on a breakaway to put the Elks within one. Davidson managed to hang on for the 4-3 win and to force Game 3 in Kyle.

The Cyclones hit the road for the Sunday night final.

According to commentary by “feedmill” on the website Long Lake Hockey League Talk, “I think Kyle thought they would wrap it up easily on home ice, and that cost them as the Cyclones knew that anything less than a solid effort on the road would not cut it.”

About six minutes into the first period, Kyle’s Tom Williams scored for the 1-0 lead. It was short lived. A minute later Davidson’s Chris Babiy, while on the powerplay, scored to tie the score. Zach Sim scored to put Davidson up 2-1 to end the first period.

In the second, after back and forth action, Steve DaSilva scored midway through the period to make it 3-1 for the Cyclones. Then, Colton Allan scored and DaSilva banged in his second of the night to end the period 5-1 for Davidson.

In the third, Derek Allan scored to stretch the lead to 2-1.  With about four minutes remaining, Kyle managed to sneak one past Cyclones’ netminder Mark Zoerb, but that was all.

Davidson won 6-2.

This is the Cyclones third straight provincial title.

The 2011-12 Senior C banner will join two Senior D banners won by the Cyclones in 2011 and 2010 as well as a Senior C banner the Cyclones won in 1989.

Cyclones are Long Lake Hockey Champs

The Cyclones, last Tuesday, won the Long Lake Hockey League final with a 2-1 win over the Drake Canucks.

In the first period, Davidson’s Carter Smith scored the first goal of the game. It would be the only goal until the third period when the Cyclones, who were down two men, received a much-needed cushion courtesy of Josh Sim. The score was 2-0 for Davidson. Then late in the third, Drake finally found the net to make it a one-goal game. With seconds remaining, Drake scored to tie the game, or so they thought. The goal was disallowed because it was batted into the net by a player’s hand.

The Cyclones won 2-1 to win giving them a 3-1 lead in the series and the league championship.

The Cyclones’ season may be finished, but some of the team’s players are still playing hockey.

Steve DaSilva, Derek Allan and Josh and Zach Sim will be lending their talents to the Lloydminster Border Kings who are hosting the Allan Cup. The six-team, round robin tournament for the National Senior Hockey Championship runs from April 16 to 21.

A fifth member of the Cyclones, Carter Smith, may also be playing for the Cup. Smith plays with the Rosetown Redwings, who are in the midst of Provincial A finals against Balgonie. If Rosetown wins, then Smith may have a chance to play against his Cyclones’ teammates.

Obituary

Barbara Burgess (nee Woolf)

Barbara Hamlin of Olds, Alberta passed away peacefully at the Olds Hospital on Thursday, March 15, 2012. Members of her loving family were by her side. A Celebration of Barbara’s Life was held Monday, March 19 in Olds, Alberta. Barbara was predeceased by her mother Emily, father Roger and sister Anne. She is survived by her husband of 60 years Tom; her children Tom (Debra), Patricia and Robert (Sharon); grandchildren Sarah, Brianna (Aaron), Emily, Michael, Latham and Atley; great-grandson River;brother Fred and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Barbara was a kind and generous person who will be greatly missed by those fortunate enough to know her. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Diabetes Foundation or a charity of your choice, would be appreciated.  Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., Olds entrusted with arrangements. Phone 403-507-8610 or email www.heartlandfuneralservices.com.

Obituary

Janet M. Crawford (Firby)

1920 – 2012

Janet M. Crawford passed away March 9, 2012 at the age of 91 with her family at her side. Janet was born on Sept. 30, 1920 and grew up on a farm in the Kenaston area. On May 30, 1944, Janet married Harold Schatz and lived in the Horseshoe District. They adopted a daughter Heather in 1948. Harold passed away in 1959 and Janet and Heather moved to Kenaston where Janet worked for Hamre’s store. Janet then met George Crawford in 1959 and they were married in 1960. She became a farmer’s wife until George’s passing in 1980. Holly and Janet then moved to Davidson. Janet worked at the local restaurant in Davidson as a cook for a few years until retirement. Janet moved to Medicine Hat in 2006 where she resided until her passing. Janet was always helping out at the farm whether it be in the field or cooking meals for the crew. She always had lots of food and made sure no one left the table hungry. In her retirement years she loved to go for coffee and her and her sister Audrey were always at “coffee row” in the morning. Audrey and Janet would hop on a bus tour and see different places as well as hop in the car and go out to Medicine Hat to visit Janet’s daughter Holly. They would drive over to Simpson and check out the crops and make sure Jim was doing everything right. Janet loved being with her grandchildren and always took time out to visit with them. Janet was predeceased by her first husband Harold Schatz in 1959 and her second husband George Crawford in 1980, plus one son Murray, her parents Jim and Eliza Firby, one infant sister Greta, sisters Nellie, Mickey (Delia) and Shirley and brother Fred. She is survived by her children: Heather Schatz, Jim (Holly), Holly (James), Louise (Ray), Linty (Veronica), Hughie (Janet), Ressa (Kris) and Owen as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sister Audrey, brother Ron and sister-in-law Lorraine and brother-in-law Ray. A graveside service was held at Simpson, Sask. on March 13, 2012 with funeral arrangements in care of Hanson’s Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s society or to the charity of one’s choice.

Davidson, featured

Pioneer to buy Davidson’s Viterra grain terminal

DAVIDSON—The Viterra grain-handling terminal in Davidson is one of 19 country elevators that Richardson International will buy as part of a $6.1 billion deal to sell Viterra to Glencore International, a Swiss commodities conglomerate.

Last Tuesday, Richardson International, a Winnipeg-based grain company, announced it will buy in excess of $900 million worth of Viterra assets, including grain handling, crop input and processing facilities, that Glencore plans to divest.

In a news release, Richardson stated that after the successful acquisition of “these assets, current employees at the selected locations will be offered the opportunity to join the Richardson team.”

In cases such as Davidson where there are both Viterra and Richardson grain elevators, the company encourages people to continue working with existing contacts.

Until the deal goes through, Richardson has not determined what’s going to happen in communities where there is a duplication of assets, a company spokesperson said.

Richardson International’s announcement came just after Glencore International and Viterra ended a week’s worth of speculation by announcing that Glencore International would purchase Viterra for $16.25 per share.

Also in the news release, Glencore stated it had agreed to sell Viterra assets to Agrium and Richardson International, which the company expected “to result in the creation of a more robust competitive landscape for Canadian farmers.”

Calgary-based Agrium will acquire the majority of Viterra’s retail agri-products business for $1.8 billion.

Each of the deals requires regulatory approval to proceed.

Perhaps to head-off any concerns in Saskatchewan about the loss of head office jobs in Regina, Glencore stated it will consolidate Viterra’s executive offices in Saskatchewan, making the Regina head office its platform for Glencore’s North American agricultural operations and for expansion into the United States.