School safety is on everyone’s minds after recent school shooting tragedies in the United States.

In an effort to put people at ease, schools in Davidson and Kenaston are letting students, staff and parents know they would be conducting drills in the near future at the schools in the event of a potential lockdown situation. Craik School has already been conducting these drills for several years now.

Jason Low, principal of Davidson School, said they have conducted perimeter (external doors locked) and interior (classroom doors locked) drills in the past, but more testing is needed with them. He said these drills are just preventive and they want to have some practice and a plan in place in case of a security situation.

“It’s a hot topic right now because of all those things (in the States),” said Low. “We’re just trying to do our part to stay on top of things and have our procedures in place and make sure that we’re practised and calm.”

Low said school staff has begun discussions at their meetings to determine their role and ways to keep students informed and at ease during a lockdown situation. He said one thing that staff would like to impress upon students is to put away their cell phones during a lockdown situation so as not to spread panic in the community and keep phone lines from being blocked for emergency services.

“It’s a learning curve for us too as we get going,” he said. “We’re trying to figure things out on how we can keep kids informed and calm and work with them.”

Kenaston School principal Ryan Johnson said they have formed a crisis team made up of three teachers and one office staff member and is meeting this week to plan their lockdown drill. He said this drill would be their first of the year, but they have conducted them at the school in the past.

“We’re going to go through the list of things that need to happen, such as the script that will be said over the intercom,” said Johnson about what will be discussed among the crisis team this week. “With the first one, we are going to let parents, community (members), staff and students know about it, so they will be aware about what they should be doing and it’s not a stressful situation.

“Then the next one, if we have one before the end of the year, will probably be a regular unannounced drill for practice purposes.”

To read more please see the March 18 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

In spite of last weekend’s bone-chilling temperatures, spring is coming and people should start preparing for the big melt.
Last week Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency released its March forecast and outlook on spring runoff, advising folks that based on the amount of snowfall this winter, above normal runoff is expected for much of the province, with some parts having the potential for very high runoff and flooding.
The amount of snow in and around Davidson is more than normal.
Citizens could help prevent spring runoff from flooding streets by clearing snow and ice from storm drains near their homes, says Davidson’s town administrator Gary Edom.
“If people notice water building up in front of houses, they should let us know. Some people are really good and they try and open the storm drains themselves,” Edom said.
This is what June Wankel did last Thursday. She used an axe to chop ice from plugging the storm drain in front of her Railway Street home. This will help stop water from flooding Railway and Francis streets.
The potential for flooding will depend on how quickly the snow melts and if the area receives more snow or rain. The ground was fairly dry heading into winter, thanks to a hot dry summer and fall, with below normal rainfall in the area in 2012.
Provided the snow melts slowly, people may avoid the flooding and seepage problems experienced in 2011.
Still they could help prevent water from entering their basements by moving piles of snow away from foundations, ensuring downspouts are clear and draining away from their house and checking that sump pumps are working, Edom said.
People should note that damage to basements caused by water seeping into homes is not covered in Home Paks.
Damage due to melting snow and ice on a roof may be covered depending on the homeowner’s insurance policy. Insurance agent Jason Shaw advises people to check with their insurance broker to see what type of coverage they have.

The Davidson Kinettes are thrilled their “Ladies Night Out” fund-raiser at Town Hall this Saturday has sold out.

Brenna Siroski, a member of the Kinettes, said the club doesn’t have their hearts set on a certain amount they’d like to raise as the main goal of the night out was just to provide a fun evening for the ladies in town. She said 224 tickets were sold for the event that features entertainment from Elvis impersonator Rory Allen.

“He was here quite a few years ago and is a phenomenal entertainer,” said Siroski, noting it was Stacey Siroski who recommended him for the show. “He really attracts a variety of a crowd of people. I know looking at my ticket sales that we have our young 20-year-olds coming out all the way up to my grandma who is in her 80s. We’re getting the whole spectrum with Rory Allen, which is really nice.”

Doors open at 7 p.m. for the night out with Allen taking the stage for the first of two 45-minute sets at 8 p.m. There will also be a silent auction and a 50-50 draw during the evening. There is not going to be a supper, but there will be a bar opened up for drinks along with a “bun lunch” after the entertainment.

A coat check at the door is being put on by Davidson School students, which will be run as a silver collection with all proceeds from the coat check going towards outdoor education trips.

Siroski said the Kinettes have been organizing a “Ladies Night Out” around every other year and always have a “really great turnout” with everyone in attendance having a good night. She said all money raised during the night would go towards “multiple” causes in the community.

“We don’t just designate it for one specific event,” she said. “Over the year the Kinettes give to individual families who apply for financial help or we’ve donated to the swimming pool and Telemiracle. We’ve helped with money going to the thrift store when it opened and we have a scholarship at the school. It’s just a variety of things.”

After the “Ladies Night Out,” Siroski said the next fund-raiser the Kinettes are putting on would be the second annual Davidson Amazing Race this June.

The Davidson Golf Course board of executives and the RM of Willner council have agreed to a settlement for the municipal property taxes paid by the course to the RM.

Kirk Johnson, board member with the Davidson Golf Course, said the two sides reached an agreement a few weeks ago that will see the course pay $3,000 in annual municipal taxes until 2016 in addition to the annual school tax of approximately $6,600. He said the course settled the 2012 taxes two weeks ago and the deal with the RM will cover the next four years on top of that.

The course was facing an annual municipal tax bill from the RM for over $10,000 on top of the school tax portion bringing the course’s annual tax bill to $17,458, which Johnson said would have killed the course.

“I don’t think we could afford to operate and pay $17,000,” said Johnson. “That would probably have finished us. It wouldn’t have done us much good. The deal we worked out between the RM and us I think is a pretty good deal. It’s something that we both could live with.”

Len Palmer, Reeve of the RM of Willner, said the settlement is a “fair deal for everyone” involved and he is glad that they have come to an agreement. He said it is unfortunate that it took so long to get this done, but he is still happy that everyone was able to come to an agreement in the end.

The municipal tax issue arose in 2011 when the RM informed the golf course board they had decided to stop abating the money owed by the course to the RM starting with the 2012 annual taxes. In lieu of the tax abatement, the RM said they would provide the course with a $4,000 recreation grant instead.

Palmer said the RM wanted to stop abating taxes and go to a straight grant system because it is a “better and safer” way to operate. He said this decision was made due to the way taxes have been increasing over the last few years.

The course has been previously receiving abatement on municipal taxes owed to the RM from approximately 2006 to 2011.

Johnson said the taxes are so high due to the provincial government zoning golf courses in RMs as commercial property, which are taxed at 100 per cent of their value.

“Ours is not a commercial (course),” he said. “Ours is kind a non-profit organization that provides a service and recreation. We’re trying to keep the doors open and anything we do get or make we invest back into the course. It’s not like it’s a business.”

Johnson said the course used to receive abatement on municipal taxes from the RM because the course was forced to pay a school tax, which came to $6,753 for 2012, after the Davidson School Division amalgamated with the Sun West School Division. Before the amalgamation, the course also received abatement on education taxes as well.

“We’re a little course just trying to provide a service to the community,” he said, noting the purpose here was just to pay reasonable taxes. “We just want to try and make a go of it and get along with everybody and come up with some kind of agreement and we did.”