DAVIDSON—A truck that was stolen from Davidson on Sept. 27 was recovered in a field in Regina the following morning.

Sometime in the early morning hours of Thursday, Sept. 27 between 2 and 4 a.m., a white Ford F-350 Super Duty diesel pickup truck was stolen from a Herman Crescent residence in Davidson.

Craik RCMP issued a notice about the theft, seeking the public’s help in catching the culprits.

Const. Matthew Sansoucy of the Craik RCMP Detachment said the truck was recovered at about 8:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 28 in Regina, abandoned in a field.

He said these types of trucks are used as fleet vehicles and are popular with thieves because they are easy to steal, are common and thieves will often swap licenses plates on the trucks to try to avoid detection.

Stolen tools

On Wednesday, Sept. 26 some tools were stolen from the bed of a pickup truck parked at a residence at the corner of Government Road and Francis Street.

Someone out for an early morning walk noticed the truck’s tailgate was open and items were strewn on the ground. He alerted the truck’s owner Mike Hoehn.

Some tools were missing and it appeared the culprits had tried to take the slip tank out of the back of the truck. They were unsuccessful in the attempt.

Craik RCMP are investigating both of these crimes and ask that anyone who has information that would help to contact them at 306-734-5200 or Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

DAVIDSON—People eligible to vote in Division 6 of the R.M. of Arm River 252 will be casting ballots in the Oct. 24 municipal election.

After no candidates responded to the initial call for nominations, two individuals answered a call for further nominations.

Dan Reich and Kristopher Williams, both farmers, are seeking the councillor position to represent Division 6.

Voting takes place Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the R.M. of Arm River municipal office on Lincoln Street in Davidson.

Only voters qualified to vote in the division may vote for the councillor candidates. Ratepayers should consult their property tax notice for information about the division in which they are entitled to vote.

To be eligible to vote in a rural municipality people must be at least 18 years old, Canadian citizens and qualify as one of the following:

• be either a resident in the rural municipality for at least three consecutive months preceding the day of the election;
• the registered owner (or purchaser under a bona fide agreement for sale) of land in the rural municipality;
• assessed with respect to an improvement in the rural municipality;
• hold a permit in the rural municipality with respect to a trailer or mobile home;
• a spouse of a person mentioned above; or

• the chief executive officer of a duly incorporated co-operative, corporation or religious association that is assessed on the last revised assessment roll with respect to property in the rural municipality that is not exempt from taxation.

By Dave Adsett, The Wellington Advertiser

Every town has one. In Fergus, his name is Ian.

He is a champion of history, safeguarding a vast collection of newspapers titles at the local archives. Some titles pre-date Confederation but in recent years his workload has markedly slowed.

This region has lost its share of newspapers as seasoned publishers faced with shrinking subscription income, diminishing advertising revenue and ever-increasing costs, gave up and closed titles. Oddly, it isn’t that news isn’t wanted, it is that people mistakenly believe it can be had at no cost.

Nine in ten Canadians derive their news from trained journalists each week although a scant 20% value it enough to pay a fee to receive it. Advertisers, an essential part of the business equation for traditional media, continue to reallocate their ad dollars with online marketers—even though published surveys identify traditional Canadian media platforms as a more trusted source.

Ironically, 70 per cent of those online ad dollars are now spent with Google and Facebook—two U.S.-based, global conglomerates. An American study, The Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy, concluded that news is as vital to democracy as “clean air, safe streets, good schools and public health”. Governments across Canada, however, continue to rush headlong into the digital age by shifting advertising to these two companies with virtually no regard for Canada’s cultural identity, let alone integrity.

In a recent Ipsos-Reid poll, 63% of Canadians were unable to distinguish between real news sites and fake news stories. Truth seems to be a casualty.

Perhaps that is why a generally stoic Ian, introduced at the beginning of this column, recently became quite emotional when discussing newspapers and their role within a democracy. You see, he is not just a keeper of history; he is a student of history.

The volumes and issues of newspapers past hold clues as to how corruption breeds, democracy wanes and tyrants come to power. Seldom has tyranny taken root overnight, and in virtually all cases, impairing the ability of journalists and destroying a free press are part of the process to destabilize a free society.

This National Newspaper Week, we hope Canadians will support and encourage journalists because newspapers matter—now more than ever.  Pledge your support for newspapers at www.newspapersmatter.ca.

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