Category Archives: featured

featured, Hanley

Hanley ag fair draws crowd a thousand strong

web-hanley-fair
Brennen Bear (left) of Saskatoon takes the lead from Hanley’s Tyler Thall in the finals of the lawnmower races at the Hanley Ag Fair.

By Tara de Ryk

HANLEY — Good weather and good times helped ensure record attendance at Hanley’s Ag Fair Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 18.

They had 1,100 people through the gate Saturday, said Patti Prosofsky, one of the organizers of the event.

“It went really well, we had great turnout and everyone had a good time,” she said.

This year’s Ag fair featured popular events such as the parade, lawnmower races and burnout competition Friday night and minor ball, slo-pitch tourney and horticultural competition on Saturday.

Entries were down in the horticultural competition, said Darla Holland of Holland Garden and Greenhouse, the event’s sponsor.

This year competitors were judged on who had the best fairy gardens and best succulent gardens. The winners for adults were Kim Bohrson, first, and Jodi Zdunich, second. In the children’s category Mason Wandler took first prize with Jesse Westman finishing second. Hailey Richmond and Madison and Adelita Carter won third place ribbons.

This year, the Hanley Agricultural Society brought back the baking, bread, knitting and crochet contests that were once a staple and a tradition of agricultural fairs.

The Hanley 4-H Club returned to the Ag Fair to hold its annual achievement day on Saturday. The achievement day gives 4-H club’s 27 members, from seniors to younger cloverbuds, a chance to show off their projects including demonstrating showmanship and grooming skills.

Dave and Krista Erixon of Clavet served as judges.

For the full story and more photos, please see the June 27 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, featured

Golf course staff help injured fawn

An injured fawn found at the Davidson Golf and Country Club on June 7 is shown in this submitted photo.
An injured fawn found at the Davidson Golf and Country Club on June 7 is shown in this submitted photo.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Staff at the Davidson Golf and Country Club took a hands-on role in rescuing an injured fawn found on the course earlier this month.

Maintenance worker Tori Sarich said she and co-worker Matt Edwards were out touring the grounds the morning of June 7 at around 7 o’clock.

“Every morning we take a drive around the golf course to see how it’s doing, how the greens look and everything,” she said. “We stopped by the third green. There was something lying right beside it.”

Upon closer inspection, they found a fawn, less than a week old, shivering and wet with dew. There were bite marks and blood on its head.

“We weren’t exactly sure what to do first,” said Sarich, adding that they did a Google search to find information and then left a phone message with wildlife authorities.

Officers returned their call later, telling them to keep a close eye on the deer and to keep him out of the tall grass so he could be located.

For the full story, please see the June 20 print edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, featured

Best class ever: Davidson honours class of 2016

Pictured is the Davidson School class of 2016 during its graduation ceremony on June 11: (back row) Gabriel Ebenal, Alex Rettger, Ben Nykiforuk, Kieran Boehm, Carter Shaw, Trevor Nelson, Dylan Sweet, Nicholas Chomyshen, James Morrison; (front row) Tristan Cool, Cheyanne Nordmarken, Kaitlyn Baldwin, Tina Stone, Sydney Booker, Jacey Sanden, Leland Millham and Killian McDonnell.
Pictured is the Davidson School class of 2016 during its graduation ceremony on June 11: (back row) Gabriel Ebenal, Alex Rettger, Ben Nykiforuk, Kieran Boehm, Carter Shaw, Trevor Nelson, Dylan Sweet, Nicholas Chomyshen, James Morrison; (front row) Tristan Cool, Cheyanne Nordmarken, Kaitlyn Baldwin, Tina Stone, Sydney Booker, Jacey Sanden, Leland Millham and Killian McDonnell.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — As Davidson School’s class of 2016 looked on, Karrie Stamnes paid tribute to them for helping her face her fears.

Years ago, in her first year at Davidson, Stamnes had confided her fear of snakes, spiders and other creepy crawlies to a class of Grade 5 students.

As the school year went on, those students did their best to help her overcome that phobia, in the form of rubber replicas that kept popping up in the classroom.

Stamnes said with a smile that those students “broke her in” as an educator, but she had more encouragement to offer.

“You have overcome many challenges to get here today,” she said. “Be willing to go out of your comfort zone, and you will constantly be surprised at what you can achieve.”

Stamnes was the master of ceremonies for Davidson School graduation exercises on June 11, as the school said goodbye to 18 outgoing students.

For the full story, please see the June 20 print edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, featured

Air Cadets take flight with final review

The cadets of 553 Sherlock Squadron march during their ceremonial review at Davidson Town Hall on June 13.
The cadets of 553 Sherlock Squadron march during their ceremonial review at Davidson Town Hall on June 13.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — As he spoke to a crowd of Cadets, leaders, parents and supporters on Monday, Gordon McRae knew he was preaching to the choir.

McRae, longtime area director for the Air Cadets program, was speaking at the 553 Sherlock Squadron’s annual ceremonial review at Davidson Town Hall.

For years he has promoted the program as a way of teaching leadership and citizenship skills, but as he acknowledged Monday, those gathered for the event were well aware of its benefits.

“We are all here tonight because we all believe in the Cadet program,” said McRae. “I’m at a loss for words as to what could make it better.”

The review — held June 13 with roughly 30 people in attendance — marked the end of Air Cadets in Davidson after 30 years.

The local squadron has faced declining enrolment for years, with just eight cadets registered as of this spring, coming from Davidson, Bladworth, Craik and Stalwart.

The head office laid down the law this year, telling organizers that they needed to have 25 cadets registered by the end of February. After that deadline came and went, it was announced that Sherlock Squadron would be suspended at the season’s end.

For the full story, please see the June 20 print edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Craik, featured, Sports

Para athletes bring tour to Craik

Craik student Quinn Nielson takes a spin in a handcycle under the guidance of former Paralympic athlete Colette Bourgonje.
Craik student Quinn Nielson takes a spin in a handcycle under the guidance of former Paralympic athlete Colette Bourgonje.

By Joel van der Veen

CRAIK — As he took control of a handcycle for the first time, the look on Quinn Nielson’s face was equal parts hard work and joy.

His arms pumped back and forth as he manoeuvred around the gym at Craik School using the hand-propelled, three-wheeled vehicle.

It didn’t take long for Quinn to get the hang of it, and soon he was picking up speed, making sharper turns as he continued doing loops of the room.

His sister Maren — like him, a Grade 12 student at Craik — also had a go at the handcycle, with every bit as much enthusiasm as her brother had.

“I need one of those,” she said afterward, grinning widely. “I don’t know how good this is going to go over with Mom.”

The handcycle was brought to Craik School on Tuesday by a group of athletes headed across the province on the Saskatchewan Para-Sport Tour Dream Relay.

Between June 8 and 17, the team of 14 athletes travelled from Prince Albert to Regina to promote parasports and physical activity in general, and to recruit new athletes.

“Sport changes lives, and we’re having a ball,” said organizer Colette Bourgonje, “and we want to change other people’s lives as well.”

The 363-kilometre tour included stops at six schools — Queen Mary in Prince Albert, Duck Lake, Warman, Hanley, Craik and Lumsden.

For the full story, please see the June 20 print edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Davidson, featured

Kenny all smiles on 100th birthday

Paula Kenny chats with a guest during a party in honour of her 100th birthday on June 4. Seen at her left is her daughter Marlene Chanski.
Paula Kenny chats with a guest during a party in honour of her 100th birthday on June 4. Seen at her left is her daughter Marlene Chanski.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — A steady stream of well-wishers was on hand to congratulate Paula Kenny on her 100th birthday, and she was ready with a friendly smile for each and every one of them.

Kenny’s family celebrated her centennial birthday with a come-and-go party at the Davidson Seniors Centre on the afternoon of June 4.

Upwards of 130 people signed the guest book for the event. The guests quickly filled the hall and eventually spilled outside, where they continued to socialize and enjoy the warm summer-like weather.

For the full story, please see the June 13 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.