Davidson

Community garden planned for Arnold Park

Davidson’s Communities in Bloom committee hopes to develop a community garden in this area of Arnold Park.

DAVIDSON—A plot of land in Arnold Park will be more productive.

Davidson will soon have its first community garden.

At its April 17 meeting, Davidson town council approved a request from Davidson Communities in Bloom (CiB) committee for a community garden spot in Arnold Park.

The garden will be located at the far edge of the park adjacent to Second Street.

Stuart Dougan, chairman of the CiB committee, said this will be a new project for the group.

Last year they planted vegetables in the planters on Washington Avenue across the street from the post office. People, particularly those who live in apartments around town, made use of the free food, helping themselves to the fresh produce.

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Sports

Top hunters and anglers win Wildlife Federation awards

Chris Payne won so many awards in the Arm River Wildlife Federation’s bird category that he had to have daughters Jasmine (far left) and Kayleigh help hold them for the picture. Randen Boschee (far right) won for his sharp-tailed grouse that weighed 2 pounds.

BLADWORTH—It appears a youth movement is taking over the Arm River Wildlife Federation.

Many of the awards at the federation’s annual awards banquet April 21 were won by the club’s younger members.

Hunting and fishing is often a multi-generational family activity with grandparents and parents sharing this sporting tradition with their children and grandchildren.

Members of the Arm River Wildlife Federation are continuing this tradition and have always included kids.

One reason that the youth awards were up is that parents are making the effort to have the fish, birds and the game their children catch and hunt weighed and scored, says Jeff Doyle, vice-president of the Arm River Wildlife Federation.

He’s happy to see that kids are active in the wildlife federation and the sporting community. Next year the federation will include a youth division in the fish award category.

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Sports

High school rodeo competitors impress with speed and skill

The grand entry marks the start of the senior portion of the high school rodeo.

EYEBROW—In the blink of an eye, OK, maybe it took a second longer than that, Austin Leposa lassoed her calf in last Sunday’s senior breakaway roping event at the high school rodeo held at Twin Curves Ranch near Eyebrow.

In less than 2 seconds, 1.9 to be exact, Leposa, who had the second run of the day, set the standard in the event that featured 21 other competitors. None of the girls who followed could match her blistering speed.

She roped her calf, catching it by the neck the moment it ran from the chute.

Her horse barely broke a sweat, just did its job perfectly, stopping suddenly so the rope broke and the calf could run free.

Eyebrow’s Danita Esmond tried to match Leposa’s time. Esmond caught her calf in 3 seconds flat, a very good time most other days, but last Sunday it was only fast enough for fourth place.

Time is the enemy of rodeo competitors where every second matters and Saskatchewan High School Rodeo Association (SHSRA) events are no different, expecting similar feats of skill displayed at adult rodeos.

Twin Curves Ranch near Eyebrow played host to the first high school rodeo of the spring season April 21 and 22. The competition featured 115 students in grades 6 to 12 from across the province competing in various events including barrel racing, goat tying, pole bending, saddle bronc, bareback, bull riding, chute dogging, steer wrestling, ribbon roping, team roping and breakaway roping.

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Davidson, Obituary

Marcella Strange

Jan 26,1924- April 18, 2018

It is with great sadness that close friends and family announce the passing of our dear Marcella at the age of 94. She was predeceased by her parents, loving husband Howard in 2007 as well as numerous siblings and other family members.

Marcella (Swede) as she was known to our family was very special. Our bond was unexplainable. She was a very, very independent lady.

We became neighbours with Howard and Swede in 1972 and that was the beginning of a beautiful long-lasting friendship.

She was hands down the best cook east of Davidson, That “little house on the prairies’’ was always overflowing with company and with love. And when you visited (invited or unannounced) you had to eat. And no one said no to Swede’s food.

In the last few years she would say to me, “You can be my daughter’’ There was no question she definitely made me feel like her daughter.

Her biggest worry was when she passed away she was going to leave us a “Big Mess” as she called it. We went to her suite after she left us and opened the drawer she had told us about and there was the Will and a five-page letter hand written in October 2016.

Emotionally we read it. It was like she was still talking to us, so in response. This letter is for you Swede.

Dear Swede

I know you love getting letters! You always kept telling us that you were such a “pest” to us. Well you were the best pest we ever had, and as days go forward we will always remember you and keep you in our hearts forever, We enjoyed many family meals together with our kids and grandkids. These are very special memories for all of us. We all loved your HUGS. I will personally remember our shopping trips to Moose Jaw. You tried on many things and always came home with a bag full. You were the best-dressed little lady in town.

Remember the day you bought 5 pairs of shoes, You said on the way home,“I can’t believe I did that, And those fancy jeans, Wow! And then there was your fancy winter boots. I told the saleslady you were looking for winter boots. She brought you short boots You said, “Those are old lady boots. I want tall fancy ones for church.”

And did you know you missed your hair appointment on April 18. You were a precious little “lady” that was as beautiful on the inside as the outside. You had an infectious smile and Giggle that made everyone smile and a sense of humor that was loved by all who knew you.

Your nieces and nephews all loved you very much. They were a VERY Big Part of your life. The phone calls, the letters and the visits kept coming.

We love you Swede.

XO Biggest hug ever from Randy and Judy Gust; Nicole and Glenn, Kirby and Morgan Manz; Scott Gust, Jill and Garth and Ruby and Keenan Osborne.

P.S. This was the last paragraph of her letter to us:

In case there is any doubt – all my nieces and nephews are wonderful, I love them all. My side of the family and Howard’s.

Bladworth, Davidson

Hall renos impress steak-fry crowd

Dan Campbell dropped by the Leader office with a toy tractor that was made from a Singer sewing machine. A similar tractor was auctioned off at the Bladworth Elks Steak Fry in memory of the late Albert Seifert.

BLADWORTH—The Bladworth community got to show off some of the renovations at the community hall April 14 at the Bladworth Elks Steak Fry.

The fresh paint, bright interior and new ceiling tiles were a hit with the large crowd that gathered for the annual fundraiser.

The acoustics in the hall are much improved thanks to lowering the ceiling height and the installation of acoustic tiles that helped deaden the sound made by noisy crowds.

More than 200 steaks were served at the Steak Fry, which is an annual fundraiser. This year’s event featured a local small item auction that brought in just over $3,000.

All proceeds from the auction will go towards the hall fund.

A featured item of the auction was replica John Deere toy tractor made from parts from an old Singer sewing machine. The Seifert family donated the tractor to the auction in honour of Albert Seifert, a long-time member of the Bladworth Elks, who passed away in July 2017. Bladworth Elks member and friend of Albert’s, Greg Brkich, bought the tractor.

“That was Albert’s last contribution to the Elks,” says Dan Campbell, Albert’s brother-in-law.

Dan had the tractor made for Albert just before he was diagnosed with cancer. Dan, who is married to Albert’s sister Heimke, lives in Calgary and he knew of a fellow there who makes these unique tractors from pieces of old Singer sewing machines as a hobby. The gas engines in the tractors come from broken weed eaters. Campbell says when he first saw the tractor, he knew Albert, who was a farmer, would appreciate it, so he had one made for him.

“Papa (Bruno) liked it, so I got one for him too and I got one for me,” Dan said.

The tractor auctioned at the Elks Steak Fry was the one that belonged to Albert. Dan said they wanted to auction it off in his name to honour his service to the Elks.

The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan