Davidson

Provincial rink grants “a pebble in a lake”

The Davidson Communiplex is applying for two $2,500 community rink affordability grants for their skating and curling ice surfaces, but that’s still a couple goals short of a win in trying to keep their utility costs down.

Trevor Ouellette, town recreation director, said the money would help because “$2,500 is $2,500,” but when you factor in the actual power costs for running the Communiplex during the busy winter months it doesn’t come out to much.

“SaskPower, for 2011, we spent $32,000 on just power alone on the skating side and on the rink side it’s another $10,000,” said Oullette. “Just power for the Communiplex is $42,000. So $2,500 sure goes to help it, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s a pebble in a lake type of effect.”

Ouellette said they should qualify for two ice surface grants for the skating rink and the curling rink, but he’s “not banking on it until we see it.” He said they should be eligible because both ice plants are running on separate meters.

The Government of Saskatchewan is doling out $1.9 million to ice surfaces across the province fulfilling a promise by the Sask Party in the 2011 provincial election. The grants will be administered and delivered by the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association.

Ouellette said since they started a program of sending in reports on utility usage and capital projects to the government in 2009, SaskPower has “actually been a leader” in helping the Communiplex reduce power costs, even though the program is run by the provincial government.

“The provincial government is committing $1.9 million, which does seem like a lot of money in the big budget, but when you have 700 eligible participants in that program to divide it up evenly, that’s where you get the $2,500 from,” he said. “If (utility bills) go down, every little bit helps I guess.”

Davidson

Optometrists set sights on Davidson

Doctors Joanna Keall and Chantel Kaytor will look you straight in the eye and tell you the hard truth. Don’t take it against them; they’re just doing their job.

Keall and Kaytor are the new optometrists in Davidson. The two doctors will be running a satellite clinic at the Davidson Family Practice every second Thursday, with the next one scheduled for Sept. 27, where they will be conducting eye exams as well as taking measurements on and dispensing glasses.

“We’re very excited,” said Keall. “We’ve worked for a good year to be set up here and we’re excited to be open finally. People will not have to drive (to the city) for exams and it’s an opportunity to make it easier on them.”

She said their first day on Sept. 13 was a bit slow, but that was “perfect” as it gave them a bit of time to get organized. The two doctors work fulltime out of InSight Vision Care in Regina and also practise in satellite clinics in Indian Head and Balcarres.

Donna Bessey, community development coordinator for Davidson, said the goal of the town is provide its residents with as many health services as possible. She said they will be looking into bringing the duo over more often once they have built up a big enough clientele, but for now it’s just great having them here at all.

“It will enable people to access services that otherwise they’d have to drive to Saskatoon or Regina or over to Outlook for,” said Bessey. “Especially for seniors it can be quite difficult for them or even for people who don’t drive, so it’s providing a needed service.”

Mary Jane Morrison, Mayor of Davidson, said bringing in the optometrists is part of a broader health plan that she hopes will see more caregivers from all areas of medicine come to town to practise including dentists, occupational therapists and podiatrists. She said if the town and the health region could work together and try to bring these services to Davidson and find space for them everyone from young people to seniors will benefit.

“It’s a little bit of a slow process,” said Morrison. “It’s not like we have the funding to build a building, but we’re certainly aware that if we could have a professional building it wouldn’t have to house all of these people at the same time. It could be rotating.

“Whether we work with the health region to try and do something more at the Health Centre or try to get a professional building on Main Street, we have our eyes and ears open for those opportunities. We’ll do what we can to make that happen.”

Keall said for now they are happy working out of the Davidson Family Practice and anyone can book an appointment with them by calling 567-1000 or just “mosey in” on their scheduled days to browse the selection of glasses on display.

Obituary

Frances Hoffman, February 19, 1920 – August 9, 2012.

Frances Alma (Neuberger) Hoffman passed away peacefully Thursday, August 9, 2012 at the Davidson Health Centre at the age of 92.

Frances was the first born to John and Helen Neuberger and raised in the Wyandotte district east of Hanley with her three brothers. Frances married Delbert Hoffman of Kenaston on October 22, 1943. They raised two children on their farm in the Allan Hills district east of Hanley. In 1956 the family moved to Kenaston and took over the telephone exchange and Del became the rural lineman. In 1946 Del became an agent for Saskatchewan Government Insurance, Frances continued selling until 1992. Frances was an avid reader, always learning through the Elderhostel programs – history, art, poetry, archaeology, aboriginal culture and photography.

She was a skilled seamstress and helped with the 4H sewing program. She was a contact for community college classes where she learned many crafts, painting, macramÄ, batik, photography, making wood clocks and rock tumbling from her collected driftwood and rock collection. She made sure her grandchildren were exposed to art by taking them to the Mendel Art Gallery in Saskatoon; to the U of S observatory to see the stars and taught them bread making. Frances enjoyed going to the Saskatoon Symphony, the ballet and musical shows. She learned to curl, golf, swim and drive the combine. She was a member of the Kenaston seniors.

Frances’ greatest passion was travel. Delbert and her travelled many times into Mexico, the United States and Canada. After Delbert’s passing, Frances continued her travels to many parts of the world. She walked on the Great Wall of China, rode a camel in front of the pyramids in Egypt, saw penguins on the southern tip of Argentina; the music and architecture of Austria-Hungary, the Acropolis of Athens and saw the icebergs and polar bears in the high Arctic. She loved her Elderhostel trips to Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump, Chaco Canyon and Albuquerque. At age 70 she spent one week tenting and white-water rafting on the Nahanni River, NWT and wondered not long ago if she could do that again.

Frances moved into Primrose Chateau in Saskatoon in 1992 where she enjoyed playing cribbage, the bus outings and her all important morning coffee. In April of 2010 Frances moved to the Davidson Health Centre among the kind, teasing and caring staff. She enjoyed coffee, music and the car rides out into the country. Her last ride was to Jeanette and Bill’s 50th anniversary.

Frances was predeceased by her husband Delbert (1987), parents John (1947) Helen (Linder) (1983) Neuberger, her three brothers John and Grace, Albert, Margaret and Ina Mae, Herbert and Doris, her three sisters-in-law Leona and Gus Nygard, Esther and Irwin Lundy, Jenece and Leonard Singbeil, nephew Darryl Neuberger and her two special friends Nita Tweet and Joan Greggersen.

Frances is survived by daughter Jeanette and Bill Holder, son Albert and Joanne Hoffmann all of Kenaston; six grandchildren Rob and Cathy Holder, Johanna and Jamie Branigan, Tim and Vickie Holder, Brad Hoffmann, Blair and Pam Hoffmann, Alison and Rob Kraft, thirteen great-grandchildren – Amanda Holder, Brett Holder (Kristin), Shayne and Holly Branigan, Logan, Jorden and Brandon Holder, Avery, Teah and Faith Hoffmann, Connor, Reese and Kaylea Kraft, nieces, nephews and friend Pearl Holder.

A celebration of life was held on August 28, 2012 at 2 p.m. at Kenaston Place, Pastor Gene Whitehead officiated. At the register was her niece Judy Leswick, ushers were Clark Tweet and Cindy Carss. Urn bearers were grandson Rob Holder and Albert Hoffmann.

Grandchildren Johanna, Tim, Brad, Blair and Alison paid tribute to grandma by recalling her teaching how to look at the arts, nature, the northern lights and the prairie sky; appreciating those times they went for a swim, baking in her kitchen, going to the art gallery or just a drive. Always admiring the beauty of nature. They all had many special memories. “Do you want to go for a drive?”

Great-granddaughter Holly chose to play Cello Suite 1 by J.S. Bach. Johanna and Shayne prepared a PowerPoint presentation. A medley of favourite music was chosen, including Ava Maria by Nana Moskouri and Danny Boy by Mario Lanza.

Interment was in the Kenaston community cemetery. The Kenaston seniors served lunch. Hanson’s Funeral Service was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be directed to Kenaston Seniors Inc., Kenaston Cemetery Fund or donor’s choice.

A service of remembrance was held at the Davidson Health Centre on August 31. Johanna Branigan of Pickering, Ontario gave her tribute to her grandmother and great-granddaughter Holly played several cello selections.

Obituary

Barlow 

Barlow, Betty Myrick passed away on Sept. 11, 2012. Betty was born in Saskatoon on Jan. 15, 1921 and grew up on the farm at Davidson. After becoming one of the first women to graduate from the College of Agriculture, U of S, she worked in Calgary and Regina, but then returned to the farm with her husband Les. The farm, her favourite place, was where she spent her last summer with her beloved Teasel. Betty was predeceased by her parents Carl Myrick and Neva Davey Myrick and her husband Les Barlow. She will be forever missed by her children, Lois (Malcolm) Wilson and Ross (Gloria) Barlow and her grandchildren, Niall Wilson and Danee Wilson. At Betty’s request, there will be no funeral service.

Craik, featured

Craik RCMP Const. injured in car crash

A Craik RCMP constable is receiving care in a Regina hospital after rolling his police car last week while responding to a domestic disturbance call.

“All we’re saying officially is that he was in a very serious car crash,” said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Rob King. “He was taken via STARS air ambulance to hospital where he still remains.”

The name of the 35-year-old constable, who has three years experience with the force, has not been released. He was travelling west on the 732 grid road in the RM of Sarnia in a marked 2011 Ford Crown Victoria with his emergency equipment activated when he lost control of his car at around 11 p.m. on Sept. 2. The vehicle entered the north ditch and rolled several times coming to rest on its wheels. The constable was the sole occupant of the car.

“He was on his way to a domestic disturbance, while other officers were tied up on another call,” said King. “The accident happened and then another member of the public came along, discovered it, and then used the police radio to call for help.”

After the concerned citizen radioed for help, first responders from the Holdfast area, Davidson Fire Department, Craik Fire Department and Davidson EMS responded to assist. The constable had to be freed from the vehicle using the Jaws of Life before he was airlifted to hospital.

King said the RCMP member employee assistance program has been providing assistance to the family and members of the Craik detachment as they struggle to get through this tragedy.

“They’re a support service really,” he said. “They’re there for anything that his family needs or any type of assistance for the members within the detachment who work with him and know him well, any type of assistance they might need that is critical stress relief or things like that.”

This is the second serious car accident to befall a Saskatchewan RCMP officer this summer.  Const. Derek Pineo lost his life when his cruiser hit a moose in the early hours of July 20, 7 kilometres west of the town of Wilkie, while reported to a call.

featured

PFRA patrons try to lease pastures

Pasture patrons in the area are forming groups and seeking support from their RMs in an effort to lease PFRA lands from the province, but it appears the Government of Saskatchewan is only interested in selling the land.

Dean Palmer, chairman of the McCraney Pasture Committee patron group, said leasing the McCraney pasture through the RM of McCraney would be the best way for the patrons who use the pasture for grazing cattle to retain it. He said it would not be economical for the 25 patrons who use the pasture to buy it.

“The provincial government is working with Farm Credit to try and come up with some kind of a reasonable financing method to buy these pastures, but I really think, as far as buying it, all that does is create a lot of problems,” said Palmer. “If they start selling it quarter-by-quarter, the fence lines are not on the quarter lines…and with the Arm River valley going through it, it’s tough to divide quarter-by-quarter sections up.

“If we’re interested in buying it, it’s going to take a lot of money or some corporate sponsorship. For young producers, like myself, and a lot of the older producers, if they have to come up with however much money, they’ll just sell their cows and get out. I think that is probably the most realistic way, because I don’t think buying it is a real economic option just to graze cows in. There would have to be some alternative economic strength to help reinforce buying it.”

Palmer said the pasture would essentially be a RM of McCraney pasture instead of just a local pasture if the province accepts their lease proposal. Palmer said the group has already submitted the application to the province, but has not received a final decision back from them as of yet.

Lyle Stewart, Minister of Agriculture for the Government of Saskatchewan, said the first five pastures up for sale in the province will be announced sometime this fall and the government is taking bids for them right now. He said the federal government will continue to manage all of the pastures through the 2013 season, but “deals can be done anytime” and the government wants to have a number of them sold by the end of the next season.

“The patrons will have the first opportunity to own and operate these pastures and we’ve had, in this office, lots of calls and visits from people and individuals and corporations that would just buy them all or individual ones and we’ve turned them all down and just told them that the patrons have the first opportunity with these lands, so there is no competition at this point if the patrons are interested,” said Stewart about whether patron groups are competing with multi-nationals, out-of-province groups or corporations at this moment for the lands.

To read more please see the Sept. 10 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan