Category Archives: featured

Davidson, featured

Hospital to see staff levels increase

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By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON —  Local nurses said they’re cautiously optimistic about announced staffing changes at the Davidson Health Centre.

The facility will see an increase in staffing levels, boosting the number of nurses and technicians working there.

As well, measures are being made to improve the facility’s efficiency, safety and quality of care, with a slight reduction in the number of program beds available for convalescent, respite and palliative care.

“It’s not exactly what we hoped for,” said registered nurse Lindsay Cross, adding, “We’re happy that they came back with some level of increased staffing.”

“I think we’re hopeful that it’s going to address some of our issues, and I’m sure it will,” said senior RN Audrey Hamm. “This is certainly going to make a difference.”

Administrators met with the local staff on Oct. 5 to outline the staffing changes, which include the addition of a licensed practical nurse (LPN) on the night shift, 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

As well, an assistant head nurse position has been created, scheduled to work three eight-hour shifts per week, or 24 hours each week.

A combined lab/X-ray technician (CLXT) will also join the staff for eight hours per week.

Gayle Riendeau, acting CEO for Heartland Health Region, confirmed the news to the Leader on Oct. 7.

She said the recruitment process for the new staff has started, noting that they are posted as temporary positions to allow for a trial and evaluation period.

Riendeau said the region “continuously reviews its operations and services, including Davidson,” while being mindful of the need to control spending and focus on priorities.

The new positions were included in the budget approved this past summer, she continued, stating that a business case had been developed for Davidson.

“Davidson was identified as a (facility) that was experiencing some staffing pressures,” she said. “When that happens, that’s what we take a look at.”

For the full story, please see the Oct. 17 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

featured, Kenaston

Growth a top topic at Kenaston election forum

The Village of Kenaston held a municipal candidates forum on Tuesday. Pictured from left are Mike Menzies, Leon Tomlenovich, Don Matzner, ML Whittles, Mike Hertz, Brad Owen and Florence V. Greke.
The Village of Kenaston held a municipal candidates forum on Tuesday. Pictured from left are Mike Menzies, Leon Tomlenovich, Don Matzner, ML Whittles, Mike Hertz, Brad Owen and Florence V. Greke.

By Joel van der Veen

KENASTON — All agreed that Kenaston is green and growing.

How to handle that growth, however, was another question.

Seven hopefuls for village council faced the public at an election forum, held Thursday night at Kenaston Place with around 100 people in attendance.

The candidates — including two seeking the mayor’s seat and five running for council — were given the chance to make statements and answer questions on a variety of topics.

Mike Menzies, a current councillor and a business development manager with Prairie Centre Credit Union, is running to become Kenaston’s new mayor.

Current mayor ML Whittles, a paralegal who has served one term, is running for re-election.

Five candidates are vying for four council seats: Florence V. Greke, store manager; Michael Hertz, farmer; Don Matzner, business owner; Bradley Owen, senior reliability technologist; and Leon Tomlenovich, business owner (incumbent).

For the full story, please see the Oct. 17 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

 

Davidson, featured

Local leaders speak out on carbon pricing

An early October snowstorm put a stop to harvest activities throughout south central Saskatchewan. Four snow-covered combines sit idle behind a pile of grain near Reginald Zdunich’s farmyard at Kenaston. One combine flies a Toronto Blue Jays flag. At least the Jays made it into the post season, giving farmers something to cheer about.
An early October snowstorm put a stop to harvest activities throughout south central Saskatchewan. Four snow-covered combines sit idle behind a pile of grain near Reginald Zdunich’s farmyard at Kenaston. One combine flies a Toronto Blue Jays flag. At least the Jays made it into the post season, giving farmers something to cheer about.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — October has been a month of bad news for farmers so far, with continuous snow and rain bringing harvest to a grinding halt.

But for Gerrid Gust, Justin Trudeau’s announcement of a federal carbon pricing program was the cherry on top of the sundae.

Gust, who farms with his family east of Davidson, said the increased costs of fuel, fertilizer and transportation will be hard on producers across the board.

“I don’t know why we would want to be a leader in taxing ourselves to death,” he said Thursday. “Will this accomplish what they’re trying to do?”

Unless other countries introduce similar schemes, Gust said, the added costs will make Canadian farmers less competitive on the world stage.

“Russia is never going to do this,” he said. “It just compounds the amount of money that will flow out of resource economies.”

The Liberal government announced Oct. 3 that it would move forward to institute a carbon pricing plan in 2018, setting the initial price at $10 per tonne, and rising to $50 per tonne by 2022.

Provinces and territories will be able to implement the system as they see fit, meeting or exceeding that price, using either a direct price on carbon or a cap-and-trade system.

The federal government will impose carbon pricing on any province that does not establish its own mechanism by the start date.

Trudeau’s announcement came during a Montreal meeting between environment minister Catherine McKenna and her provincial counterparts, three of whom walked out of the meeting in protest.

British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec already have plans in place for carbon pricing.

The Liberals said the plan would be revenue-neutral and all taxes would remain in the provinces where they are collected.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall was among the outspoken critics of the carbon pricing plan, calling it a tax and predicting widespread economic damage as a result.

For the full story, please see the Oct. 17 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, featured, Hanley, Sports

Thrashing through the snow: Hanley ends regular season with 77-44 win

The Hanley Sabers' Conor Prosofsky presses forward as the Davidson Raiders' Ryan Skinner (left) and Dawson George attempt to bring him down during Tuesday's senior football game.
The Hanley Sabers’ Conor Prosofsky presses forward as the Davidson Raiders’ Ryan Skinner (left) and Dawson George attempt to bring him down during Tuesday’s senior football game.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — The Hanley Sabers proved themselves an all-season team on Tuesday, defeating the Davidson Raiders on a wet field surrounded by snow.

Temperatures hovered below the freezing mark throughout the game, and most spectators abandoned the stands by the second half for the comfort of their vehicles.

Both teams pressed on, but Hanley held onto an early lead and eventually won 77-44.

Even with the scoring gap, Sabers head coach Mark Anderson said his team had to keep up their efforts, knowing the Raiders could catch up with a few well-executed plays.

“They were a pretty happy group,” said Anderson. “We worked pretty hard to prepare for this one.”

He said they tried to correct the mistakes from their last game against Davidson, tightening their defence and working to keep Raiders quarterback Andrew Read under control.

Anderson said the Sabers also showed improvement in their passing. He had particular praise for quarterback Conor Prosofsky, saying some of his throws were “post-secondary worthy.”

Though the snow and weather were factors in the Raiders’ performance, coach Jason Low said the team ultimately fell short against the Sabers.

“Hanley was just better than us on that day,” said Low. “I don’t think we necessarily played poorly. They just played better.”

Strategy adjustments in the second half helped the team recover somewhat, along with rotating in younger players.

For the full story and photos, please see the Oct. 17 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Craik, featured

Insurance payout could fund Craik water solution

 

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By Joel van der Veen

CRAIK — The next step in restoring Craik’s drinking water will be up to voters.

Town council is seeking residents’ permission to direct the insurance payout from the Eco-Centre fire — estimated at roughly $380,000 — towards the Water Fund.

The referendum question will be on the ballot presented to voters in the Oct. 26 municipal election, when they will also select a mayor and six councillors.

The question reads as follows: “Do you agree with crediting the net insurance payment from the loss of the Eco-Centre to the Water Fund?”

A “yes” answer means work will begin immediately on a plan developed by the town and KGS Group, an engineering firm based in Regina, while a “no” answer means the town will return to the drawing board to look at other funding options.

Bringing drinking water back to Craik has been the top priority for the current council, said Coun. David Ashdown.

A positive response to the referendum question “should bring us to potable water by this time next year,” he told the Leader on Thursday.

A written update was distributed by the town to local residents late last week.

Craik has been under a boil water advisory since August 17, 2010, for “failing to meet minimum disinfection levels (ozone),” according to the Water Security Agency (WSA).

The town has had ongoing problems with a water plant completed in 2009 by Mainstream Water Solutions, a Regina company which has since gone into bankruptcy.

Progress has been made recently towards restoring Craik’s drinking water, in co-operation between the town council, the WSA and a local water task force (since disbanded).

Last year, the town engaged with KGS, citing their expertise in working with rural communities. The company recently worked with the Town of Radville, which has a Mainstream water plant similar to Craik’s, to restore drinking water there.

For the full story, see the Oct. 10 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Craik, Davidson, featured

Small but fervent crowd at NDP health care forum

Saskatchewan NDP leader Trent Wotherspoon and NDP health critic Danielle Chartier listen to David Ashdown (in foreground) during a town hall meeting in Davidson on Tuesday.
Saskatchewan NDP leader Trent Wotherspoon and NDP health critic Danielle Chartier listen to David Ashdown (in foreground) during a town hall meeting in Davidson on Tuesday.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — She knew the end was near, and she wanted to be in her hometown hospital when it happened.

Registered nurse Lindsay Cross told the story of an elderly lady with failing health who had been in and out of the Davidson Health Centre in recent weeks.

She was back in the hospital in mid-September and wanted to stay put, but because of a service disruption, caused by a shortage of available staff, she had to be sent elsewhere.

Cross said the patient was transferred temporarily to Saskatoon, where she died that weekend.

“She wanted to die in Davidson,” Cross said, adding that the nurses couldn’t help feeling guilty over the situation. “It shouldn’t be that way.”

Cross was speaking at a public meeting about health care in the province, organized by the New Democratic Party and held at Davidson Town Hall on Tuesday.

Leading the meeting were NDP leader Trent Wotherspoon and health critic Danielle Chartier.

Wotherspoon said the meeting was the first of many planned across the province in coming weeks, in both rural communities and urban centres.

The forums are being held in response to a recent string of job cuts in multiple health regions as a result of limited funding.

“Day after day, we’re seeing too many cuts across Saskatchewan,” said Wotherspoon. “Services aren’t up to the standard that they need to be.”

He was also critical of the review currently underway by the provincial government, which is seeking options to reduce the number of health regions in Saskatchewan.

A formal feedback process was open to the public between Aug. 29 and Sept. 26, and the advisory panel also held consultations with key partners and stakeholders.

According to the government, over 300 submissions were received from the public.

Chartier said they are concerned about the speed at which the review was carried out as well as the methods being used.

“Our goal is to be an effective opposition,” she said. “We’re very concerned that these local voices are not going to be part of the discussion.”

“We’ll be advocating in a constructive way, whenever and wherever possible,” said Wotherspoon, adding that his party would work to protect, improve and strengthen Saskatchewan’s health care system.

He acknowledged that Tuesday’s event was somewhat “intimate,” blaming the inclement weather and the Blue Jays game for the low turnout.

Just 14 people were in attendance, including seven residents of Davidson and Craik, but those present had plenty to say.

For the full story, see the Oct. 10 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.