By Kevin Gilby
DAVIDSON—R.M. of Arm River council members and Davidson town council met Tuesday to discuss the RM’s letter of request to install a small water tank at the R.M. Shop in Davidson.
R.M. councillor Billy Gust was present to answer questions the town had regarding anticipated demand on the town’s reverse osmosis plant.
The town was requesting the estimated demand a pump would introduce to their system. Gust was able to present usage for a year, which included spraying and cistern applications not intended to be applicable to the proposed in-town water pump.
Further, the R.M. intends to install either a flow-rate limited pump or restrictor valve at the R.M. shop to provide potable water to its population. The limit of the flow rate would make it impractical for bulk users to use the supply.
Confident that the usage would not negatively impact the Davidson water supply, town council agreed to allow the R.M. to proceed with installing a water pump. In addition, town suggested that the R.M. contact Young’s Equipment to determine if they could ‘tap into’ Young’s service when it is installed.
A fee schedule is to be determined at a future date.
Category Archives: featured
Davidson donates $2 per capita to STARS
By Kevin Gilby
DAVIDSON—STARS emergency air ambulance service has asked rural communities of Saskatchewan to voluntarily donate an annual amount of two dollars per resident to help cover operational costs.
At its meeting Tuesday, Davidson town council voted to make the voluntary donation of about $2,000 because members feel the community has already used its services enough to justify the sum.
Rural communities have been quick to respond favourably to the request, with the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) having already urged its member communities to contribute resulting in $300,000 towards costs.
STARS has also requested cities to contribute at the same level as rural areas, reminding residents that they are spending leisure time and travel in rural Saskatchewan as well.
The non-profit service obtains approximately half of its $20 million operational costs from the provincial government, with the remainder coming from corporate donations, and fundraising. Money raised through donations is expected to ease the challenge of raising the funds necessary every year though fundraising activities.
In 2013, STARS operated over 800 missions throughout the province, four to Davidson itself, and eight to communities within Davidson EMS’s coverage area. The province currently has the service of two STARS helicopter bases, one in Regina and one in Saskatoon.
Flu shot campaign is underway
DAVIDSON—It wasn’t the fifth of May, but staff at Davidson Health Centre enjoyed a Cinco de Mayo like celebration last Tuesday to launch this season’s influenza vaccination campaign.
Staff at the health centre were treated to a Mexican-themed fiesta by Heartland Health Region as a reward for having the highest rate of staff immunization in the region last season.
As part of their treat, staff enjoyed a supper of Mexican cuisine with Heartland Health CEO Greg Cummings, board member ML Whittles and Dr. David Torr, medical health officer for Heartland Health, to name a few, attend the feast and launch the region’s flu shot campaign.
With 98 per cent of staff receiving their flu shot last year, Davidson Health Centre’s record is close to perfect.
“We’d like to see 100 per cent of people immunized,” Dr. Torr said.
He says immunization is people’s best defence against influenza.
“Influenza is one disease where at least we have a vaccine available and vaccinations is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself,” Torr said.
“What we’re looking at is patient safety. For years we encouraged patients and staff to get flu vaccinations.”
He said this had success, but it reached a plateau.
Now the health region asks staff to get immunized to improve patient safety—to prevent patient illness and deaths.
Staff who are unable to get the flu shot or those who refuse to must wear protective respiratory masks in patient care areas. All health facilities in the province must follow an immunize-or-mask policy this flu season. Visitors who do not get immunized may also be asked to follow the mask-up policy.
Ingram brothers compete on all levels
By Jamie Harkins
IMPERIAL-The Ingram boys have all achieved success in the various athletic activities they have each taken up and a couple more championship titles may follow two of the four boys back to their hometown of Imperial after this season.
Mark Ingram, 24, is currently starring for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team (4-1 and tied for first in the Canada West University Athletic Association) as a starting safety. Meanwhile, his younger brother Connor, 17, is filling the crease as a third string goaltender with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers (6-3-1 and second in the B.C. Division of the WHL Western Conference) in his rookie season with the major junior hockey club.
“It’s really good out here,” said Connor, who has manned the Blazers net twice this season and holds a 0-1 record. “Kamloops is a really nice city. It’s a lot different than small town Saskatchewan. This league is a lot tougher than anything I’ve ever played in before. It’s a lot better hockey (and) a lot faster hockey, so I’m still trying to adapt to the lifestyle of the game.”
The 6’1 and 212 lb. goalie came to the Blazers this season after backstopping the Prince Albert Mintos AAA hockey team to a 2014 Telus Cup championship title, which is Canada’s national midget championship, last spring. Connor logged over 108 minutes in the April 27 final in Moose Jaw that saw the Mintos beat the Grendiers de Chateauguay 4-3 in triple overtime thanks to a 60-save performance from the Imperial net-minder.
Mark, 5’9 and 190 lb., has already scooped up two Huskies athlete of the week honours this season as well as a Canada West defensive player of the week award in early September. This comes on the heels of an outstanding rookie season last year with the U of S where the Agriculture and Bioresources student snagged a Canada Interuniversity Sport second team all-Canadian and Canada West all star selection for recording 30 tackles and one interception in seven games.
To read more, please see the print edition of the Oct. 20 Leader.
Kenaston celebrates new playground
KENASTON—Kenaston School celebrated its new playground structure Oct. 3 with a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony.
Dignitaries were on hand to officially open the structure that was constructed on the Labour Day weekend thanks to the efforts of many volunteers.
Oct. 3 also marked the dedication of Purves Field in honour of former Kenaston School primary teacher Linda Purves.
“It was very humbling and greatly appreciated,” Purves said of the School Community Council’s decision to name the field in her honour.
Purves taught at Kenaston School since 1980. During her tenure she headed the school’s recycling and environmental programs, leading the Blue Green Team. She harnessed the enthusiasm of elementary-aged students to promote recycling and at the same time collecting recyclables to raise money for school initiatives.
Purves retired from teaching in 2010. She said that year her Blue-Green Team did its final campaign, donating proceeds from recycling to the library.
Purves said at the time she’d asked then school principal Darren Gasper to designate any money left over in the account to go to elementary students because those were the students on the Blue-Green Team.
“It wasn’t until after I retired they talked about revamping the playground,” she said. “My vision became a reality.”
Local blood donors help boost Canada’s supply
DAVIDSON—Donors from Davidson and district did their part Oct. 1 at a Blood Donor Clinic to boost Canada’s blood supply.
Describing Canada’s blood inventory as critically low, on September 30 Canadian Blood Services appealed to all eligible donors to make a blood donation immediately. All blood donors were needed, in particular those with type O and A blood.
Canadian Blood Services Clinic in Davidson saw 106 people attend to donate blood with 87 units being collected. The turnout was better than organizers had expected, given the fact that many people in the area were still busy harvesting their crops.
This was up from the February clinic when 75 units were collected. There is room for improvement. The quota for the Davidson Clinic is 100 units of blood.