Larissa McLaren (left) and Jill McIvor head down the ice during play on Saturday in the Davidson Ladies Bonspiel.
By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — Twelve teams took part in the annual Ladies Bonspiel on March 10 and 11 in Davidson.
“I think the whole thing turned out good,” said organizer Marla Dezotell.
Team Anderson from Saskatoon finished on top in the A event. The team consisted of Hanna Anderson, formerly of Hanley, and her teammates Stephanie Thompson, Kaylin Skinner and Jessica Thompson.
Coming in second in the A event was the Diane Hryniuk rink, which also included Donna Cross, Tasha Boyenko and Laura Church.
Liza Dahl and her teammates Jill McIvor, Ruth Percy and Larissa McLaren won the B event.
The Gail Prpick rink, which also included Karen Reich, Vonné Johnson and Selma Laird, took second place in the B event.
The Siroski rink defeated the Renee Manz rink to claim first place in the C event.
The Beth Booker rink beat the Agnes Viczko rink to win the D event.
Roughly 35 businesses and organizations donated prizes for the event, which also included a supper served Saturday afternoon by Roy and Corinne Kenny and crew.
From left, Jeannie Lockwood, Erik Johnson and Mary Jane Morrison are pictured during a medical service trip to Nicaragua in February.
By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — An average farm labourer in rural Nicaragua can expect to earn $5 US for a day’s work.
At that salary, even inexpensive dental care — $50 for a tooth extraction, $80 for a filling — is beyond the reach of most people.
“You can understand why a lot of them aren’t getting to the dentist,” said Mary Jane Morrison. “That’s got to be pretty tough.”
Morrison was part of a team of 24 Canadians who visited Nicaragua last month on a medical mission trip, providing free dental and optical care to rural residents in the developing country in Central America.
The trip lasted from Feb. 11 to 20 and was organized by Change for Children, an Edmonton-based organization that celebrated its 40th anniversary last year.
The group was evenly split between medical professionals and volunteers, with four senior dentists, three student dentists, two hygienists and three optometrists on board.
Three of the participants had local connections, including Morrison, who lives in Davidson and works as secretary for the Sacred Heart Parish.
Another was Jeannie Lockwood, a longtime resident of the Davidson area who now lives in Saskatoon, where she works as a licensed practical nurse at City Hospital.
Also taking part was dentist Erik Johnson, the son of Everett and Vonné Johnson of Davidson.
Johnson, who practises dentistry in a clinic in Lloydminster, has made two prior trips to treat patients in developing countries.
For the full story, please see the March 13 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
From left, Erika Swedberg, Emmerson Tastad and Jordyn Dorward skate in a circle to the theme from “Footloose” at the Line 19 Figure Skating Club carnival on March 5.
By Joel van der Veen
LOREBURN — There may not have been a red carpet, but it was still a star-studded affair as the Line 19 Figure Skating Club presented its annual carnival last weekend.
The Loreburn Arena was the site of the “Hollywood Walk of Fame,” held the afternoon of March 5.
The program was themed around the movies and featured 15 performances, including solos and group routines with the CanSkate, CanPowerSkate and StarSkate programs represented.
A total of 50 skaters were enrolled in the club this year, ranging from small children to high school students.
Merkayle Lakinger, a Grade 10 student, is the oldest registered skater. She performed a solo set to the Madonna song “Material Girl.”
She began skating when her family lived in Porcupine Plain and continued after their move to Loreburn when she was in Grade 5.
“I think you just need to have a passion for it to keep going,” she said last week, adding that she enjoys working with the other skaters and helping teach the younger ones.
For the full story and more photos, please see the March 13 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
Eugene (Gene) Anton Oct. 8, 1944 — March 8, 2017
Gene passed away at his home in Sherbrooke Community Centre, Saskatoon, with his sister Fran and brother-in-law Bill by his side.
He was predeceased by his father and mother Eugene and Anna, brother Hugh and sister Julie Taylor.
He is survived by sisters Fran (Bill) Moncrief, Dorothy Goldsborough, Betty (Len) Benko, Judy (Doug) Parker; brothers Bill (Shirley), Bernie, and several nieces and nephews.
We will all miss his quick wit and determination in light of the many trials he endured in his life.
A special thank you to Dr. Kurt Roelens and the entire staff at Sherbrooke for the excellent care and love shown to Gene during all his years at the centre.
Graveside service to follow at a later date.
Hanson’s Funeral Home (Davidson) in charge of arrangements. Donations may be made to the Sherbrooke Community Centre or the Kenaston Cemetery Fund.
This pair of signs, located east of Davidson on Highway 747, was recently targeted by a vandal.
By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — Armed with blue paint, an unknown vandal apparently decided to go public with their opposition to a pair of pro-life signs east of town.
Graffiti was recently discovered on a pair of roadside signs that were installed by Mid-Lakes Pro-Life along Highway 747 in the RM of Arm River.
One side depicts an infant with a bow wrapped around its middle, surrounded by the slogan, “Life: The Greatest Gift of All!”
The other side features an older gentleman crading a newborn baby, accompanied by the words, “Respecting All Life as a Gift from God.”
The words “Pro Choice” were added in blue paint on both sides sometime in late February.
Deborah Doell, the chairperson of Mid-Lakes Pro-Life, said she was out of town when the vandalism was discovered, returning on Wednesday of last week.
She said the organization doesn’t have a meeting scheduled until mid-March so they haven’t had a chance to discuss their response yet.
Doell said the incident has not yet been reported to police, but that will likely be part of their course of action.
She said she’d like to find out who was responsible for the graffiti, adding, “I believe they’re hurting.”
The affected sign was installed by Mid-Lakes on private land with the permission of the landowner. The organization has installed roughly half a dozen similar signs around the district.
Another such sign was placed at an intersection further east on the same road.
In December, Mid-Lakes was ordered by the RM to remove the sign, on the grounds that it did not conform to the zoning bylaw and would obstruct the view of motorists.
Doell said they have complied with the order but have plans to re-install the sign further back so that it meets the RM’s requirements.
She said they’re disappointed by the vandalism, but not deterred, and they intend to keep installing signs.
Other attempts by Mid-Lakes to spread its message have met with challenges of various kinds.
Four years ago, the group sought permission to install a sign at the Davidson rink. The request was denied, on the grounds that council was opposed to religious or political messages appearing on town property.
Doell also said Mid-Lakes had inquired in the past about sponsoring a scholarship for graduates of Davidson School and was told they could do so, but would not be allowed to present the award at the graduation ceremony.
She said the group seems to be up against limits that other organizations don’t face: “Why is our freedom of speech squashed and theirs isn’t?”
Pictured is the entrance to the older section of the Davidson cemetery.
By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — After 65 years, the bylaw regulating Davidson’s cemetery is looking a little long in the teeth.
Town councillors agreed at Tuesday’s meeting to the formation of a new committee to oversee the cemetery.
Their first order of business will be to develop and draft a bylaw to replace the current one, which has been on the books longer than any of the current council members have been alive.
Bylaw No. 155, “A Bylaw to Provide for the Maintenance and Improvement of Davidson Cemetery,” had its three readings and approval on June 5, 1951.
The typewritten, one-page document bears the signature of Mayor J. A. Vopni and town clerk K. H. Ketcheson — both of them since buried in that same cemetery.
The bylaw was amended in September 1979, adding restrictions on the placement of plants and limiting the sale of burial plots to two at the time of need. Otherwise, it is unchanged.
“It sounds like we need to redo this,” said Mayor Tyler Alexander, one of four members appointed to the new committee. “It’s definitely a work in progress out there. . . This is a good first step.”
Public works foreman Doug Torrie and assistant administrator Donna Bessey were also appointed, along with Coun. Todd Lockwood, who is also the town’s only funeral director.
“I’m happy to do it,” said Lockwood. “I’m out there, I hear the questions and I feel the heat when something’s not right.”
The cemetery’s condition and maintenance have been perennial sources of concern in recent years.
In the past, visitors and residents have complained about damage to headstones, the state of the grass and roads, and even the type and volume of soil used to top up gravesites after burials.
For the full story, please see the March 6 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.
