Category Archives: Davidson

Grain slowly rolling off Prairies

A train of loaded railcars stretches out along the siding at Cargill’s grain terminal at Davidson. One hundred grain cars arrived the evening of Saturday, March 17. They were loaded Sunday and shipped out Tuesday.

By Tara de Ryk

DAVIDSON—It’s a hurry up and wait situation when it comes to moving grain this winter.

As soon as grain railcars arrive at local grain handing terminals, they’re quickly filled, freeing up space in the terminal so farmers can haul in more grain.

One hundred railcars arrived at the Cargill grain terminal in Davidson the evening of Saturday, March 17.

Facility manager Mike Hoehn said when the cars arrived, they brought in a crew Sunday to load them. The five workers started at 6 a.m. and were finished loading 17 cars of durum and 83 cars of canola by 4:30 p.m., in time to return home for Sunday dinner.

Hoehn said this freed up more space in the terminal, with the 100 cars holding about one-third of the elevator’s capacity. A Canadian National Railways (CN) train moved the cars out of Davidson around mid-day Tuesday. Hoehn said they expected to receive another 100 cars on the weekend.

He expected a line of grain trucks at the terminal Tuesday morning.

“As soon as we make space, everybody wants to haul,” he said.

At Gardiner Dam Terminal (GDT) at Strongfield, which is on the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) line, grain movement has been challenging, however, grain has been moving. The terminal hasn’t been sitting with empty bins this winter.

Last Week the terminal loaded a train with a string of 112 railcars that was about three weeks late, said Randy Haugen, marketing and logistics manager at GDT.

“We think it’s challenging, but knock on wood, it’s not doom and gloom,” he said of the situation in this area compared to other parts of Western Canada that haven’t been receiving trains.

He expected another train to arrive Monday or early this week and is hoping to have a train every week for the next month.

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Bulls bound for new pastures

The ringman keeps an eye out for bids a the Palmer Charolais bull sale.

By Tara de Ryk

BLADWORTH—Over 100 bulls were sold in a few hours at the Palmer Charolais with Nielson Land & Cattle Co. Bull Sale on March 12, culminating weeks of work and effort.

Buyers from near and far filled the bleachers set up in the shop at Palmer Charolais’ farm west of Bladworth. Others submitted their bids online or phoned them in.

It was a good turnout that created an exciting atmosphere as auctioneer Brent Carey talked up the bulls with colourful descriptions such as “Here’s a bull made for travel. He’s got a wheelbase. Wow!” and then rattled off the prices as the ring men kept track of the bids.

Carey even broke his gavel, when emphasizing the “sold” status of a two-year-old Charolais bull that goes by the name HVA Vermont.

This has become a yearly event and is the seventh time Palmer Charolais of Bladworth and Nielson Land & Cattle Co. of Craik have teamed up to sell their purebred bulls.

Helge and Candace By of By Livestock managed the sale for them.

Before the auction Leah Herback of Palmer Charolais thanked everyone for coming out and for supporting the sale.

“The guys have been working seven days a week to make this happen,” Leah said, acknowledging the efforts of family and friends who worked long hours to get ready for the sale.

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Cyclones crowned as East Central Hockey League champs

Members of the Davidson Peewee Cyclones celebrate their league championship win.

By Tara de Ryk

DAVIDSON—Davidson Peewee Cyclones last Wednesday won the East Central Hockey League championship with an 11-2 win over Wynyard 1 in the final and deciding game of the best of three games series.

The series was tied 1-1, after Davidson won Game 1 by a score of 9-2 in Davidson on March 15, but recorded a 9-5 loss in Wynyard on Monday, March 19.

After the first period in last Wednesday’s game, the Cyclones left little room for doubt over who’d win the game. The Cyclones dominated the game and had a 4-0 lead after the first period and held a 7-0 lead by the end of the second.

Wynyard used its man advantage early in the third period to score a powerplay goal. Davidson responded to score three more goals for a 10-1 lead. With 11:45 remaining, Wynyard scored on the powerplay, but that was all the outmatched team could do.

The Cyclones scored their final and 11th goal of the game for the 11-2 game and league championship win.

Hayden O’Brien led the Cyclones with four goals and an assist. Zack Prpick had two goals and three assists, Parker Ackland had two goals, Kale O’Brien and Mason Palmer each had one goal and an assist and Cameren Rudniski had one goal. Quayden Dean and Evhan Allan each had a pair of assists, and Carson Palmer, Aiden Pasher, Kaden Berry, Dylan Hryniuk and Morgan Tastad each had assists in the game

Winnifred (Winnie) Scott

June 19, 1919 – March 10, 2018

Winnie Scott passed away Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Davidson Health Centre at the age of 98.

Winnie was born at the family farm between Craik and Aylesbury, Saskatchewan, the third child of Arthur and Fanny Boyce. She attended Foxbury School with her five other siblings until she graduated from Grade Twelve. She worked for a year as a hired girl and then went on to Normal School in Moose Jaw to get her teaching certificate. She taught school in several different places before and after she was married. One of her teaching positions was at Meryton School just east of Davidson. Here she met Ken Scott and they were married in 1943. Their first home was in the yard at the Scott family homestead. A couple of years later they moved to the Concord district remaining there raising a family of four children. In 1972 they quit farming and moved into Davidson where they had bought the pool hall.

Winnie was always a very active member of the community serving as secretary-treasurer of the Concord School board, the Trenton-Concord Ladies Aide, local farmers union, and teaching Sunday School at Maple Valley. When they moved to Davidson she became very active in the United Church singing in the choir and serving as lunch convener for several years. After moving into town she enjoyed travelling to England and several places in the United States. She enjoyed golfing, re-upholstering furniture, reading, camping, going to the lake and having coffee with a neighbour. She also did a lot of sewing for herself and family. She made quilts for some of her grandchildren doing the quilting by hand.

After Ken passed away in 1987 she became a active member of the Davidson Seniors serving as treasurer for awhile and spent many enjoyable hours there socializing, playing cards and participating in the clubs many activities.

In the fall of 2012 Winnie moved into the Davidson Health Centre where she was well cared for until the time of her passing.

She was predeceased by her husband George Kenneth Scott, an infant son Douglas David Scott; her parents Arthur and Fanny Boyce; sisters Hilda and Mary; brothers Geoff, Harold and Dave; brothers-in-law George Miller and Harlon Bowen; sisters-in-law Lillian, Adele, Gladys and Helen.

She is survived by sons Ron (Lynn), Dick Susan Amrud ) and Grant, one daughter Joan (Paul) Didur; as well as seven grand children and twelve great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Winnie’s life was held on March 17, 2018 at the Davidson United Church, Reverend Mathias Ross officiating.

Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson was in care of arrangements. If you wish donations can be made in her memory to the Davidson United Church, the Davidson Senior Centre or the Davidson Health Centre.

RCMP seek help to solve property crimes

DAVIDSON—Craik RCMP are seeking the public’s help to solve some property crimes that occurred in Davidson in February.

The first report concerns a break-and-enter and theft that took place sometime between Feb. 10 and 20. A residence on the 200 block of Ottawa Street was entered and a baby swing and a home theatre system with speakers were stolen.

The second incident happened sometime over night on Saturday, Feb. 24 and Sunday, Feb. 25 on the 200 block of Garfield Street.

RCMP report that an SUV that was parked legally on the road appears to have been struck by another vehicle. The damage to the rear hatch of the SUV caused the rear windshield to shatter.

Police ask that if anyone has information that will help with their investigation of these or other crimes to contact the Craik RCMP detachment at 734-5200 or Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, text *8477 on SaskTel Mobility or submit a tip online at saskcrimestoppers.com where you can also view other unsolved crimes. Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2,000 for information that leads to the arrest of any person responsible for this or any other serious crime. You do not have to give your name and calls are not traced or recorded.

SGI drops non-productive call rate

Pictured is Davidson’s town hall.

DAVIDSON—Services provided at motor vehicle collisions by volunteer fire departments such as Davidson’s will now be better compensated.

SGI (Saskatchewan Government Insurance) recently announced it is dropping the non-productive call rate for time spent by fire departments responding to motor vehicle collisions on provincial highways.

As of March 1, fire departments will now be compensated at a rate of $913 per hour spent at a collision in 2018 instead of having their time spent at a call being classified at the lower, “non-productive call” rate of $549 per hour.

It’s good news for municipalities such as Davidson with a fire department that serves busy Highway 11. The change means the time spent by fire departments taking care of people in car wrecks or controlling traffic will be better compensated.

“This is going to make a big difference. It’s great that we kind of won one for a change, but we can’t give up the fight yet, but we’re a lot closer than we were,” Davidson’s community development officer Donna Bessey said.

She said according to a study conducted by fire departments last fall, $1,200 per hour is the number needed to break even, so they’re still about $300 short.

Davidson’s volunteer fire department responds to motor vehicle collisions and provides support throughout the area from north of Kenaston to Aylesbury on Highway 11, to Gardiner Dam to the west and Highway 2 to the east. Its costs are borne by the Town of Davidson and the local rural municipalities.

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