Davidson

Lt.-Col. Eyre takes charge of 437 Squadron

Lieutenant-Colonel Ryan Eyre, a former member of 553 Sherlock Squadron Royal Canadian Air Cadets in Davidson, took over command of the 437 Huskies Squadron at CFB 8 Wing Trenton June 15 to the delight of family and friends in Craik as well as military personnel across Canada.

“We’re certainly proud of him,” said Gwen Eyre, Ryan’s mother and longtime Craik resident.  “He has dedicated his life to his career and worked hard.  This will be a challenge, but he’s always looked forward to challenges.”

Lt.-Col. Eyre will be entrusted with transporting military personnel along with VIP members of the government and various heads of state including the Prime Minister, Governor General and the Queen of England on the Airbus.  He will also be tasked with in-flight refueling of jets such as the CF-18, which enables them to remain in the air for longer periods of time.

“Ryan was a dedicated top cadet,” said Gordon McRae, the liaison between the parents, officers and cadets with the Department of National Defence and the Sherlock Squadron when Ryan was a member.  “He had his mind made up.  He wanted to be involved with the air force and he wanted to be involved with the cadet program.

“It’s kind of not a surprise that he’s the commanding officer of the Huskies now, but I’m very glad for him and sure he’ll do really well.”

Lt.-Col. Eyre starts as Commanding Officer of the Huskies for the second time this summer.  He began his career with the Canadian Forces in 1992 and originally served with the 437 flying the Airbus from 2006 to 2010.   He has racked up over 5,800 hours of flying time through his career.

Davidson

Police respond to break and enters in Strasbourg

On June 15th, 2012 Southey/Strasbourg RCMP responded to two break and enters in progress near the community of Strasbourg.  The first call was received from the Pioneer Grain site south of Strasbourg on highway 20.  The second call was received only 20 minutes after from the Viterra site north of Strasbourg on highway 20.
At both locations, the suspect(s) forced the main front door open and rummaged through drawers.  A small amount of money was stolen.  Damage to the door and frame was significant.  RCMP believe the same suspect(s) is responsible for both Break and Enters due to the similarities and the time frame between the incidents.  A witness did see an SUV type vehicle, possibly white in color with two large spotlights on the cab of the SUV  at one location.
If you have information about this or any other crime, please contact the Southey/Strasbourg RCMP or your local police service.  If you wish to remain anonymous Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, *8477 on Sask-Tel Mobility, text TIP206 plus your message to CRIMES (274637) or submit a tip online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com If your information leads to an arrest or a case being cleared, you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
Davidson, featured

Drivers needed to operate Handivan

DAVIDSON—The town is looking for a few good men or women to take the wheel of the Handivan.

The Handivan, which is owned by the Town of Davidson, is important to the social lives of many of Davidson’s senior citizens who rely on it for a ride to and from the senior centre.

Currently, Murray Lloyd is driving the van.

He’d like to see more drivers come forward so he can take some time off.

“It’d be nice to have three or four drivers,” Lloyd said.

This way they could take turns, sharing the responsibility so it didn’t fall on one or two individuals.

Although this seems easy enough, coming up with a schedule for multiple drivers, hasn’t really been done before.

The drivers keep a log. Leafing through it, Lloyd finds Earl Johnson’s name and then Con Painchaud’s.

“He drove it for ages. I drove it 68 times last year.”

Currently, when Lloyd cannot drive the van, Bob Bender drives it, however, there are times Bob, who farms, cannot drive the van because he is busy working.

Lloyd hopes that other people who have some time on Tuesdays and Thursdays may help out the seniors.

Usually there are between five and seven passengers who require a ride to and from the Davidson Senior Citizens Centre on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

Lloyd said he takes them to the senior centre at 1:30 p.m. and returns at 3:30 p.m. to take them back home.

“It’s not a hard thing to drive. It’s no worse than driving a car,” Lloyd said.

Because the van is accessible for people with disabilities, it is easy for people to get in and out of.

Women as well as men are welcome to drive it. No lifting is required.

The only training required is for drivers to learn how to secure a wheel chair.

“I don’t mind doing the volunteer work. I think it’s part of community service, but I’m sure there are others who could do it as well,” Lloyd said.
Anyone interested in helping out with the Handivan should contact Davidson’s town office.

featured, Kenaston

New intersection proposed for Highway 11 and 15

KENASTON—Residents of Kenaston and area had a chance to view proposed changes to the community’s main intersection.

Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure put on an open house June 6 seeking people’s reactions to four options dealing with the intersection of highways 11 and 15.

As part of planned upgrades to Highway 15, the provincial government is studying options to improve the intersection of highways 11 and 15.

The current intersection is skewed, meaning the highways intersect on angles, so as part of the upgrade, the government is proposing to move the intersection to make it safer.

“It’s not very safe at all,” said Tracy Danielson, director of regional design and construction for Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure.

They had four options for people to look at. Most suggested moving Highway 15 either north or south of town.

Option 1 proposed no change and would leave it as is.

Option 2 proposed moving the intersection south of Kenaston that would require 4.73 km of upgraded Hwy. 15 and 2.46 km of service road. A new bridge/culvert and rail crossing would be required. As well, this route would require the highway to be constructed on environmentally sensitive grasslands south of Kenaston.

Option 3 offered moving the Highway 15/11 intersection north of town requiring 2.90 km of Highway 15 to be built and a service road of 1.83 km in length.

Option 4 also proposed moving the intersection north of the village, but giving the village even wider berth so that 4.84 km of highway 15 and 2.76 km of service road would be built. As well, this option needs either a new bridge or culvert and a railway crossing.

“They missed the most important option: an overpass,” Kenaston resident Allan Krpan said. He said that with 12,000 vehicles going by each day, the intersection is one of the busiest in Saskatchewan.

Kenaston’s Mayor Dan O’Handley said he liked Option 4 the best.

“The noise level would be cut way down and by looping way north, we have room for northern expansion,” he said.

Increasingly, Highway 15 is experiencing more heavy truck traffic. It has been designated as a high clearance corridor through Saskatchewan.

Transport trucks hauling very tall loads must travel Highway 15 so they can use the bridge in Outlook to get their cargo across the South Saskatchewan River.

“For us tonight, the most important part is finding out what people who live in the area think about it,” Danielson said.

She said the community should hear back within 12 months on the plans for the intersection.

“We don’t have a specific timeline, nor is there a design or budget in place,” she said.

Davidson

RM of Loreburn fined for burning at dump

The Rural Municipality of Loreburn was found guilty of one count under The Environmental Protection Management Act for failing to comply with the terms and conditions of a permit to operate a waste disposal ground and was fined $2,800 in provincial court in Outlook.

The charges were laid as the result of a complaint received by the Ministry of Environment that the RM of Loreburn waste disposal ground was burning. Conservation officers investigated and found that household garbage was being burnt contrary to the conditions of the RM’s Permit to Operate a Waste Disposal Ground which had been issued to them under The Municipal Refuse Management Regulations. The RM was contacted and they were found to be responsible for the burning of their landfill. The RM had received previous warnings for burning their landfill in 2008.

“The unauthorized burning of waste disposal grounds can cause toxic chemicals to contaminate our air, land and water and be hazardous to human health and our environment,” Ministry of Environment Compliance and Field Services Executive Director Brent Webster said. “The Ministry of Environment permits landfills to burn clean lumber and trees at separate designated areas in the disposal ground but does not allow the burning of household garbage or mixed waste.”

Anyone who is aware of or who suspects environmental, wildlife or fisheries violations is encouraged to report them to the nearest Ministry of Environment office or to call the province’s toll-free Turn In Poachers (TIP) hotline at 1-800-667-7561 or #5555 for SaskTel cell phone subscribers. Callers may be eligible for cash rewards through the SASKTIP Reward program.

Davidson

Revived thrift store to open soon

DAVIDSON—If having a garage sale, for the sake of getting rid of stuff and making a few extra bucks, isn’t your ideal way to spend a sunny Saturday, Russell and Angela Sparks have a deal for you.

Forget the garage sale and instead, consider donating those unwanted items to Revived Family Thrift Store, a not-for-profit enterprise the Sparks intend to open later this summer.

They plan on opening the store Aug. 14 on Washington Avenue in the spot formerly occupied by the Laundromat next to The Davidson Leader building.

They are seeking donations of gently used clothing, shoes, toys and household items.

“Everyone has at least five items of clothing they don’t wear,” Sparks said.

They will accept small appliances such as blenders or toasters, but ask that people do not donate furniture or major appliances.

“We’ve got less than 600 square feet,” Sparks said. “No pianos or organs, please.”

Nor will they accept books, magazines or music either.

Another consideration is that donations be in good condition and in working order. Clothes should be clean and unstained.

“There is lots of gently-used stuff out there. It’s either going to the landfill or to places like Value Village,” Sparks said.

He’d rather see it remain in the community where it may be purchased at low prices giving people without means an affordable way to buy goods they need.

“A lot of people are too proud to take a handout, but if you give them a good deal like a shirt for two bucks, they’ll take it,” Sparks said.

Proceeds from the sale of goods will first be used to pay the thrift store’s lease and then surplus funds will go back into the community to support local causes such as helping needy people with household repairs or supporting the DICA food vouchers and food hampers program.

To read more please see the June 18 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan