Davidson, featured, Sports

Fourth high-point title for Sigfusson

Scott Sigfusson is pictured in action during Frontier Days in Swift Current. (Photo courtesy of Teresa Bellows)
Scott Sigfusson is pictured in action during Frontier Days in Swift Current.
(Photo courtesy of Teresa Bellows)

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Another season of hard work paid off for local cowboy and rodeo champion Scott Sigfusson.

“I’m a super competitive person,” he told the Leader in late October. “You just hope to go out and do the best you can do and let the chips fall where they will.”

Sigfusson ended this season as the Canadian Cowboys Association (CCA) high-point champion, taking both the finals rodeo title in Swift Current and the year-end title.

This is his fourth time claiming the high-point title, which he earned for the first time in 2012 and now for three years running.

At the finals event he finished third in calf roping, fourth in steer wrestling and sixth in team roping.

The last event of the current season was the Manitoba Rodeo Cowboys Association (MRCA) finals, held the last weekend of October in Brandon.

There, Sigfusson finished the weekend as both tie-down roping champion and high-point champion, also competing in the steer wrestling and team roping events.

In total, he competed in roughly 70 events this year — enough to make the season feel like “a pretty big blur” by the end.

“It’s a super busy summer,” said Sigfusson, who turns 28 in December. “Weren’t very many days spent at home, that’s for sure.”

For the full story, see the Nov. 7 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Kenaston, Obituary

Obituary: Krpan, Ken

web-obit-krpanJohn Kenneth Krpan

Ken was born September 6, 1941 in Kenaston to proud parents John and Mary Krpan. He was raised on the family farm east of Bladworth along with his five sisters Helen, Ann, Kay, Cecele and Isabelle. He resided there until his passing.

He started farming with his dad at an early age. He loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He had a great love of horses raising them in his younger days.

In 1964 he married a local girl Valerie Bessey and they made their home on the farm where they raised their four children Brian, Marcia and twins Mark and Michael.

In 1966 he started driving the school bus and drove for 42 years. Like it was said, “You could set your watch by him.”

Over the years, he went on many hunting, fishing and skidooing excursions with family and friends and we enjoyed many family camping trips. We took trips to Nevada and Arizona and for the last eight years spent part of the winter in Osoyoos, B.C.

His children were the centre of his life and the farm was the gathering place for many family functions. His children and grandchildren will always have great memories of being at the farm. It was the place to be on weekends and visitors were always welcome.

He passed away at the Davidson Health Centre on September 25, 2016 surrounded by his loving family.

Ken is lovingly remembered by his wife Valerie; children: Brian (Karen) Krpan and their children Rachel (Jack and Makenna), Johnny (Bobbi), Luke (Victoria) and Jarred; Marcia (Jim) Kimmerly and their children Raylene and Ryan (Carlyne and Maverick); Mark (Charlene) Krpan and their children Tyson, Quinn and Kendall; Michael (Diana) Krpan and their daughter Sarah; sisters Ann Kowalski, Kay (Bill) Burgess and Cecele Cebuliak; brother-in-law Paul Kerpan and sisters-in-law Lorna (Orest) Marusiak and Darlene Bessey (Ken Pontikes); also numerous nieces and nephews and their families, aunts and cousins.

He was predeceased by his parents John and Mary Krpan; in-laws Fred and Amy Bessey; sisters Helen Kerpan and Isabelle Duda; brother Lewis and brothers-in-law Les Kowalski, Ivan Duda and George Cebuliak.

The Celebration of Life Funeral Service for Ken was on Friday, September 30 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Interment took place on October 1 in the family plot in Bladworth Cemetery.

Rest in peace Ken, we love you and miss you. “The world will never be the same.”

Davidson, Obituary

Obituary: Manz, Sandy

web-obit-manzSandy Manz (nee Gust)

Sandy Gust was born in Davidson to Robert and Nina Gust on January 20, 1955. She is the oldest of eight children. She met Vernon Manz in Sunday School and they started dating in Grade 9. They were married on March 3, 1973. They began their life together in Davidson and soon gave birth to their first daughter Pam. They moved to Saskatoon in 1975 and had their second daughter Krista. Not even one year later, their son Perry arrived. They lived in Saskatoon for 10 years during which time Sandy enjoyed running a daycare out of their home. In the spring of 1984, they moved back to Davidson and she began a long career of working at the local grocery store for 23 years and most recently she was employed with the Town of Davidson for seven years.

Sandy enjoyed playing and watching various sports including volleyball, basketball, swimming, softball, golfing and track. She also enjoyed 4-H, sewing and crafting. She loved singing and for years was in the Lutheran Church choir as well as Harmony Suite, and sang numerous solos at weddings and funerals. She had a beautiful voice.

In 1998, after their children left home, Sandy and Vern went on a tropical vacation to Manzanillo, Mexico and soon realized they loved the weather, beaches, snorkeling and meeting new people. They continued to go to various destinations in the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Mexico. They thoroughly enjoyed these holidays and looked forward to them yearly, especially the last few with Tory and Nikki and Bill and Joan.

In 2014, Sandy began to experience health issues and ultimately, she succumbed to cancer. Sandy was spiritual, inspirational, graceful and strong-willed until the end. She never complained about her failing health and was always more concerned about others than herself.

Sandy passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on October 25, 2016 at the Davidson Health Centre. Her family will be forever grateful for the outstanding care and compassion shown by the entire staff during her brief stay.

Sandy will be fondly remembered and forever missed by her friends and family. She is survived by her husband Vernon, her children and grandchildren, Pam and Wyatt, Krista (Shaun), Skye, Ryker, Sierra, and Ryder and Perry (Carol), Brooklyn and Luke She is also survived by her parents Robert and Nina Gust as well as siblings Les (Tammie) Gust, Sharon (Rob) Trimble, Gloria (Alan) Gieselman, Brian (Samantha) Gust, Carleton (Carol) Gust, Brad (Tammy) Gust, Trevor (Vanessa) Gust, Maxine (Ted) Skibinsky, Crystal (Neil) White, Marvin (Donna) Manz, Darwyn (Bernie) Manz, Dana Gayle (Les) Dahl, Marcia Palmer, Marla (Marvin) Dezotell and Darryl (Noreen) Manz, along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, godchildren, nieces and nephews, friends and extended family. She is predeceased by her grandparents, Vernon’s parents Leonard and Joyce Manz, and brother-in-law Gary Manz.

In lieu of flowers, Sandy wished any donations be made to the Spina Bifida Association of Canada, the Davidson Redeemer Lutheran Church or the Davidson Health Centre.

Davidson, featured

Lockwood leads vote in Davidson election

Teaka White hands her ballot to deputy returning officer Donna Bessey to be placed in the ballot box, thereby casting her vote in the Town of Davidson municipal election on Wednesday. Also pictured is administrator and returning officer Gary Edom.
Teaka White hands her ballot to deputy returning officer Donna Bessey to be placed in the ballot box, thereby casting her vote in the Town of Davidson municipal election on Wednesday. Also pictured is administrator and returning officer Gary Edom.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Six new faces will be sitting around the Town of Davidson council table next month.

Voters had their say in Wednesday’s municipal election, casting their ballots for the council that will serve the town for the next four years.

Twelve candidates were on the ballot, just falling short of the record set in 2006, when 13 people ran for Davidson town council.

Leading the pack in Wednesday’s vote was funeral director Todd Lockwood, who received 383 votes, attracting the support of upwards of 95 per cent of Davidson voters.

Also elected to council were sales manager Gene Stangland with 300 votes; grain buyer Gord Cross with 241 votes; user interface developer Jessica Foster with 230 votes; teacher Arlene Low with 203 votes; and electrician Jared Shaw with 201 votes.

Those six councillors will join mayor-elect Tyler Alexander, who was elected by acclamation as the sole candidate for the position.

For the full story, please see the Oct. 31 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

Craik, featured

Water plan gets OK from Craik voters

web-craik

By Joel van der Veen

CRAIK — Voters have given the go-ahead for Craik to direct $380,000 in town funds towards restoring potable water.

The question was put to the public in a referendum vote on Oct. 26, held in tandem with the election for Craik’s mayor and councillors.

Funds are needed to pay for an engineering plan, developed by the town and the Regina-based firm KGS Group, to end the boil water advisory that has been in place for more than six years.

The town sought permission to pay for the project using the anticipated insurance payout from the fire that destroyed the Eco-Centre facility on March 24.

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

Voters gave the proposal their overwhelming support, with 199 voting in favour and 14 voting against, along with six rejected ballots.

A written update was provided to residents in October with details on the engineering plan, which involves using both the old water works, built in the 1960s, and a second plant that went online in 2009.

The total cost is estimated at $371,000. At present the town’s Water Fund holds $60,000, leaving the need for additional funding to cover the cost.

Newly-elected mayor David Ashdown said work would begin immediately on the project, with the goal of having drinking water restored by Nov. 1, 2017.

Continuing to monitor the job and ensure it stays on track will be a priority for the new council, he said Thursday.

Ashdown wins in landslide

Ashdown received a large show of support in his first run for the mayor’s office, earning 170 votes, or 77.6 per cent of the total votes cast.

“I was, as they say, humbled and honoured with the level of support I received,” he said. “I’m grateful that the community has put that much faith in my ability to be a leader.”

Ashdown, 66, a retired clergyman, was first elected to council in a June 2015 byelection.

Earlier that year, he was front and centre during a campaign to restore and maintain health services in Craik, and he continues to serve as chair of the local health committee.

For the full story, please see the Oct. 31 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

 

Hanley, Sports

Sharp Sabers send Vikings to Valhalla in playoff game

Hanley's Colten Olyniuk (14) carries the ball as Hafford's Ryan Krsacok (44) tries to head him off during an Oct. 29 playoff game.
Hanley’s Colten Olyniuk (14) carries the ball as Hafford’s Ryan Krsacok (44) tries to head him off during an Oct. 22 playoff game.

By Joel van der Veen

HANLEY — Even as their field turned to mud, the Hanley Sabers played a clean game as they hosted the Hafford Vikings last weekend.

Hanley took on the Vikings on Oct. 22 in the first round of senior football playoffs, racking up a 56-6 win on a drizzly afternoon.

Sabers coach Mark Anderson said there’s been a clear refinement in the team’s performance as they’ve moved from the regular season into playoffs.

In recent weeks, he said, “they’ve really started to buckle down and play some more disciplined football.”

Ongoing training proved beneficial as the team faced the Vikings on Saturday.

Anderson said Hafford was among the most athletic teams they have faced in recent memory, though they suffered from a short lineup and having to run players in both directions as a result.

For the full story, please see the Oct. 31 edition of The Davidson Leader or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.

The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan