Monthly Archives: August 2013

Harvest underway everywhere

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swathed canola

Drive anywhere near Unity and you are sure to see swathed canola in the field, waiting for the combine.

According to the latest Saskatchewan Crop Report, released by the Ministry of Agriculture August 29, harvest is underway everywhere in the province. Five per cent of crops had been combined and 14 per cent were swathed or ready to straight-cut. Although harvest operations are behind the five-year average for this time of year, yields are above average. The five-year average (2008-2012) is 15 per cent combined and 22 per cent swathed or ready to straight-cut.

For our area specifically, the crop report says:

West-Central Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 6B – Hanley, Outlook, Loreburn, Saskatoon and Arelee areas; Crop District 7 – Rosetown, Kindersley, Eston, Major, Kerrobert, Macklin, Wilkie and Biggar areas)

Two per cent of the crop has been combined, and 19 per cent has been swathed or is ready to straight cut. Thirty-nine per cent of winter wheat, 21 per cent of peas and 19 per cent of lentils have been combined. Forty-two per cent of canola has been swathed. Very little rain was recorded for the week, allowing producers to get a good start on harvest. Of the crop that has been harvested, crop reporters are indicating yields are above average for most areas of the region. Rain recorded ranged from nil to 10 mm (Biggar area). Soil conditions are very dry in the region as most areas have not had a significant amount of rain for a month or more.

Topsoil moisture conditions are rated as 46 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and 10 per cent very short on cropland. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are rated as 35 per cent adequate, 46 per cent short and 19 per cent very short. All crop districts in the region are reporting more than one third of the crop and hay land is short of topsoil moisture.

Very little crop damage was reported in the region. Dry conditions are causing the majority of crop stress. Producers are busy with harvest operations.

 

New principal at UPS

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By Sherri Solomko

Karalyn Brown, who grew up on a farm near Baldwinton and has been the principal and teaching at Cut Knife Elementary School, will be the new principal at Unity Public School, following the retirement of Doug English this past June.

Karalyn, along with husband Evan and children – Raedyn, 12, going into Grade 7, and Megan,9, going into Grade 4 – are moving to Unity.

Karalyn, who taught Grade 6 at UPS in 1999-2000, said, “UPS has a great reputation so I am excited about the chance to work here once again!”

Along with sitting at the principal’s desk, Mrs. Brown will be teaching one class of Grade 6 ELA, as well as a little bit of kindergarten.

When asked what some of her favourite things to do at school were, Karalyn replied via email, “I just enjoy being with the kids – whether it is in the gym, outside at recess or visiting the classrooms. I enjoy listening to their stories (quite often rather entertaining!) and getting to know them.”

For more on Karalyn Brown, the new UPS principal, please see the August 26 issue of the Press-Herald.

Police report for August 4 to 10

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With the Press-Herald being closed for holidays for two weeks earlier this month, the RCMP report for the week of August 4 to 10 was not printed in the paper, so we are including it here for the regular readers of the RCMP news.

  • A Cut Knife man was arrested on a warrant after a traffic stop in Unity.
  • A tan-coloured 2009 Ford F150 Supercrew cab truck was stolen from a farm site near Wilkie.  Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers or the RCMP.
  • A driver of a car was charged under The Traffic Safety Act after rear-ending a grain trailer on the Reward grid.  Minor injuries to the car occupants were reported.
  • A Wilkie man was arrested on a warrant and transported for medical treatment. No charges were laid in this matter.
  • An erratic driver was seen urinating on Highway 21 during the afternoon. Unity and Cut Knife RCMP looked for the suspect but he was not found.
  • A heritage site sign was stolen near Revenue.
  • An erratic driver was seen in Macklin and it was determined their licence has been previously suspended.  The driver’s car was impounded to prevent future incidents.
  • A stolen Ford F350 was recovered in Unity. It was processed for evidence and it is believed to be related to other thefts which resulted in charges the previous week.
  • A child welfare concern at Macklin Lake was non-criminal and was referred to Child and Family Services.
  • A dark blue “Grind” model BMX-style trick bicycle was stolen from 4th Avenue West in Unity.  Anyone with information is asked to contact RCMP or Crimestoppers.  Found bicycles in Unity are turned in to the RCMP or the Unity Town Office so anyone looking for lost or stolen bicycles should check with both.
  • A 20-year-old North Battleford man was charged with mischief and theft after allegedly damaging property and stealing recyclables.
  • A paving company was reported for being possibly fraudulent; however the company representative attended the RCMP office and was seeking a business licence.  Residents are urged to research any business to ensure it is legitimate before making a purchase.  Reputable businesses will not use high-pressure sales tactics and should be able to offer references.
  • Several houses and vehicles in Macklin were hit by eggs in the early morning hours of August 9th.  A vehicle was also vandalized.  Anyone with information is urged to contact RCMP or Crimestoppers.
  • More suspicious youth were reported in Macklin the following night and an iPod was stolen from a parked vehicle.  RCMP are looking to speak to some persons of interest in this matter.
  • There was one suspicious person, one abandoned vehicle, two erratic drivers, one traffic hazard, one false 911 call and four false alarms reported to Unity/Wilkie/Macklin RCMP this week.
If you have any information regarding a crime please contact Unity RCMP at (306) 228-6300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Reported by Cst. Eric Macdonald, Unity/Wilkie/Macklin RCMP

Saskatchewan Agriculture Crop Report

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swathing canola

Saskatchewan Agriculture’s crop report for August 13 to 19, says “warm weather with very little rain interruptions over the past week has helped speed crop development.  Harvest operations have begun in many areas of the province.” The many areas include Unity as swaths were down in some of the canola fields nearby. The photo above was taken north-east of Unity, near Cloan, Aug. 20.

With reference to crop districts 6B and 7, West-Central Saskatchewan, the report reads as follows:

Warm weather has helped with crop maturity over the past several days. One per cent of peas have been combined in the region. Seven percent of canola, three per cent of mustard, 12 per cent of peas and nine per cent of lentils have been swathed or are ready to straight cut. Very little rain was recorded for the week ranging from nil to 7 mm (Perdue area). Most of the region has been missing the moisture that other areas have received over the past few weeks and soil conditions were very dry in some areas. Most crop reporters are indicating harvest operations are 10 days to two weeks behind normal compared to the last couple of years.

Topsoil moisture conditions are rated as one per cent surplus, 53 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short and seven per cent very short on cropland. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are rated as one per cent surplus, 44 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 13 per cent very short. All crop districts in the region are reporting at least one third of the crop and hay land is short of topsoil moisture.

Very little crop damage was reported in the region. Dry conditions and bertha armyworms are causing the majority of crop stress. Producers are busy getting ready for harvest.

Nominate an outstanding volunteer

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Like many towns, Unity each year recognizes a Citizen of the Year. Did you know that, for someone who truly does an exceptional job in serving the community, further recognition is available?

There are individuals in Unity and area who deserve to be nominated for the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal. Nominations are open until October 18. Here are the details as outlined in the government press release:

If you know an outstanding volunteer or someone who exemplifies exceptional community involvement, then please take the time between now and October 18 to nominate that individual for the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal.

“Our province is well known for our impressive volunteers,” Lieutenant Governor Vaughn Solomon Schofield said.  “I encourage everyone to consider nominating a deserving individual to receive the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal, so that we can celebrate their tremendous contributions to our province.”

Any Canadian citizen who is a current or former long-term resident of Saskatchewan is eligible for nomination.  Nominations are not accepted for sitting members of Parliament, the Legislature or judiciary.  Groups or organizations cannot be nominated and posthumous nominations are not accepted.

The Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal is silver, circular in form and suspended by a V-shaped clasp from a ribbon of green and gold, the provincial colours.  It bears the Saskatchewan shield of arms with the Crown and the motto Nos ipsos dedimus (We Gave of Ourselves).  Recipients also receive a circular silver lapel pin displaying the Saskatchewan shield of arms superimposed on a “V,” a certificate and are entitled to use the post-nominal letters S.V.M.

Recipient names are also inscribed on a board adjacent to the Athabasca Gallery on the main floor of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building in Regina.

The medal is presented by the Lieutenant Governor during an annual ceremony.

Since its inception in 1995, 156 people have received the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal.  Additional information, nomination forms and a list of previous recipients can be found online at www.ops.gov.sk.ca/svm or call toll-free 1-877-427-5505.

Crop Report – Aug. 6 to 12

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pea field

Bright-green peas in the field east of Unity, near Wilkie, Aug. 13 confirm the statement in the Saskatchewan Crop Report for the West-Central District that “Most crop reporters are indicating harvest operations are 10 days to two weeks behind normal compared to the last couple of years.”

Farmers are reminded that the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance deadline to select winterkill coverage for fall rye and winter wheat is Aug. 25.

The Crop Report for our area also said, “Most areas of the region recorded some rainfall for the week which will help crops on dry soil fill as harvest operations get underway. Most of the region has been missing the moisture that other areas have received over the past few weeks and soil conditions were very dry in some areas … Rainfall reported in the past week ranged from nil to 52 mm (Kindersley area). The highest cumulative rainfall in the region since April 1, 2013, has been recorded at Major, SK (352 mm).”

Unity – 3, Bruno – 2

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Cory Wildeman With the Unity Cardinals ahead 3-2, a very happy Cory Wildeman ran in after catching a fly to left field, making the third out in the final inning of the final game of the 2013 Saskatchewan Men’s Senior A2 Provincial Championships.

Unity Cardinals celebrateAfter losing 10-9 to the Bruno Bisons earlier in the day, the Cardinals came back to win the second game of the two-game final, giving them the senior men’s 2A provincial title.

Cory not only made the last play of the game, he started the game off by being the first one up to bat, hitting a single. After he stole second base, a Justin D’Entremont hit to centre field brought him home to score the first run of the game.

Neither team was able to do much with the bats in the next few innings and the score was still 1-0 for Unity, going into the top of the sixth.

Justin was first up and hit a double, then scored when Ryan Greenwald also hit a double. Ryan (“Wheels”) raced home on a single from Regan L’Heureux, to make the score 3-0.

Hanging out at first baseWith two out in the bottom of the sixth, Bruno’s Josh Kerpan hit a double and was brought home on a single by Kyle Sibley. With a potential tying run at the plate, Cardinal pitcher Taylor Heck struck out Curtis Sibley to finish the inning with the score 3-1 for Unity.

A change in pitchers for Bruno brought catcher Cody Thiel to the mound and the Cardinals were unable to get on base in the top of the seventh.

Taylor Heck

Taylor Heck, pitcher for the Unity Cardinals, was recognized as game MVP when the awards were handed out after the game.

Taylor Heck had pitched the entire first six innings, as well as the final inning of the game earlier in the day. After the Brunos got two players on base, Ben Gieni was called in to relieve Taylor, who was ultimately named the game MVP.

Thiel scored for Bruno, making the score 3-2. The Bisons loaded the bases and Cameron Weiman hit to left field where Cory caught the ball, getting the third out and ending the game. The score stayed at 3-2, giving Unity the win and the provincial championship

u-b brunoMembers of both teams were presented with individual plaques to recognize their accomplishments and, of course, the Cardinals get to show off the large championship plaque unitl this time next year.

Congratulations, boys, on your win and competitive ball playing!

Regan L'Heureux and Francis Kiefer

Final #1: Bruno -10, Unity -9

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Bruno Bisons

Bruno Bisons celebrate their victory, after beating the Unity Cardinals and forcing a second game to determine who would be the senior men’s 2A provincial champions.

In a must-win situation, the Bruno Bisons defeated the Unity Cardinals 10-9 in the first game of the championship final series August 11 in Saskatchewan senior men’s A2 provincials.

The Bisons jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runs (Curtis Sibley and Cody Thiel, each an MVP in earlier games) in the first inning.

Corey Wildeman running home
Cory Wildeman runs past his cheering fellow Cardinals on his way to home plate, after hitting a homerun.

Cory Wildeman retaliated for the Cardinals with a homerun out over left field, followed by a Ben Gieni three-base hit and score in the second, tying the game 2-all.

Unity pulled into the lead in the third inning with two runs to Bruno’s one and a score of 4-3.

Justin D-Entremont running home

With the second homerun of the game, Justin D’Entremont runs home past an empty dugout as his teammates are outside waiting to congratulate him.

The fourth inning saw Unity bring home four players to score, including Justin D’Entremont who hit a home run over the right field fence. With Bruno only scoring one run in the inning, Unity was now ahead 8-4 and maintained their four run lead through the fifth inning which ended with a score of 9-5.

Bruno fought back hard, however, and scored five runs in the sixth inning, taking the lead at 10-9. Their runs included a three-base hit by game MVP Chris Osmak, who scored on an RBI from Curtis Sibley. That run proved to be the game winning run for the Bisons.

Bruno Bisons pitcher

The Cardinals, despite their last-bat advantage, were unable to score in either the sixth or seventh innings and, if they were to win provincials, would have to do it the hard way –with back-to-back games.

 

 

 

Bruno Bisons v. Unity Cardinals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bruno – 13, Carnduff – 3

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After a tough 10 inning game against Unity less than an hour before playing the Bruno Bisons, the Carnduff Astros were unable to summon up the energy for a peak performance and will have to be satisfied with third spot in the 2013 Senior Men’s A2 Provincial Tournament.

Bruno Bisons v. Carnduff Astros

Bruno meanwhile moves on to play the Unity Cardinals in the final Sunday.

The Astros played the Bisons in their first game at the tournament, beating them 4-3 with a run in an extra inning played Saturday morning when the game had to be called the evening before as it was getting too dark. Losing to Unity Saturday afternoon, the Astros had to beat the Bisons again in order to move into the championship final but were unable to do so.

Bruno played hard and the second game between the two teams was called after the Bisons scored the 13th run in the bottom of the fifth inning, putting them ahead 10 runs, 13 to 3.

Game MVP was Bisons’ pitcher Cody Thiel.

Bruno Bison fielder

sliding into second base

 

Unity – 13, Carnduff – 11

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It took 10 innings but eventually Unity emerged the victor in game 5 of the 2013 Senior A2 Baseball Provincial Championship Tournament. The win moved Unity into Sunday’s final, while the Carnduff Astros only had a short rest before playing the Bruno Bisons to determine who else would be in the final.

Unity Cardinals score

Keith Heitt slides towards home plate to score for the Unity Cardinals. Carnduff Astros’ Devon Carriere did get the ball right after this photo was taken, and made the tag but not in time.

The Unity Cardinals were trailing 3-2 at the end of the fifth. Whether it was struggling pitchers or hot batters, the sixth inning saw both teams have their entire rotation up to bat. The Astros scored four and Unity five, to end the sixth inning tied at 8-all.

Tightening down defensively, each team only saw four at bats in the seventh inning, with no runs scored by either team, leaving the game tied at 8-8 and going into extra innings.

Cardinal Justin D’Entremont scored early on an RBI by Taylor Heck (who went to the pitcher’s mound in inning six and stayed there for the rest of the game). Then, with two out and the bases loaded, the hometown crowd was hopeful for a bigger lead but Mark Ralston’s hit to centre field was caught by the Astros’ Danny Pool, ending the top of the eighth.

Devon Carriere, first up for Carnduff, got on base and with some aggressive baserunning, stole his way to third. He was able to score on an RBI by Danny Pool, tying the game once again. Danny didn’t get on base and with two out, Jason Boyes hit a foulball caught by Unity first baseman Mark Ralston to end the first extra inning.

Taylor Heck closed the game for the Unity Cardinals, pitching four and a half (approx.)innings, including the three extra innings.

Taylor Heck closed the game for the Unity Cardinals, pitching four and a half (approx.)innings, including the three extra innings.

Neither team was able to score in the ninth inning, both teams seeing “three up, three down.”

With Carnduff’s pitchers tiring, Unity was able to score four runs (Justin D’Entremont, Taylor Heck, Ben Gieni and Mark Ralston) in the 10th inning, but Carnduff still had last bat advantage.

Danny Pool had another RBI early in the bottom of the 10th, bringing home Adam Wilson. Danny’s hit was caught by Cardinal centre fielder Ryan Greenwald, making it two out but Carnduff still had two other runners on base. Jason Boyes was next up to bat and hit a single, bringing home Devon Carriere. The tying run was now on base but Carnduff’s last batter, Justin Crockatt left the runners stranded, ending the inning and the game at 13-11 for Unity.

Unity’s Cory Wildeman was game MVP.

Throughout the game, the sun made catching balls in field a little challenging at times, although Carnduff seemed to struggle with it more than Unity.

Unity Cardinals - Ryan Greenwald Carnduff Astros

 

 

 

 

 

Shielding the sun's glareCory Hoffman