Monthly Archives: April 2014

Monday’s paper – news, people and photos

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Next week’s issue of the Unity Wilkie Press-Herald could be called “meet the people in your community!” Check it out to read about:

  • Sister Valentia Leibel, author of Heart of God – Living in the Spirit of Love;
  • Eugene Schell, lifelong Unity SK resident who has retired from farming and started his own construction business; and
  • Brian Honeker of Luseland SK, the Rivers West District Heritage Volunteer of the Year.

You’ll also find stories about, for example, the weather and high school badminton, along with the RCMP Report. You’ll see photos of the Wide Open Puppet Theatre and Quilt Till You Wilt. And check out the ads to learn about some upcoming events.

Quilt Till You Wilt

 

RCMP Report – April 1 to 7, 2014

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UNITY SK REPORTS

Police received a report of online fraud but the complaint was unfounded.

A member assisted the Saskatchewan SPCA with a search warrant on two rural residences.

RCMP attended a single vehicle rollover north of Winter. The driver sustained minor injuries. Speed and alcohol are considered factors and the accident is still under investigation.

Bank cards and a driver’s licence were turned into RCMP. The cards and identification were returned to the owner.

There was a minor vehicle collision in Unity that was reported for insurance purposes.

RCMP received a complaint of a dog barking early in the morning and late at night.

Police assisted with a complaint of a suicidal male.

Members executed one subpoena to an individual in Unity and there was one false alarm call.

Unity Music Festival scholarship and award winners

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A number of scholarships and awards were handed out to students who played, sang and recited at the 88th annual music festival in Unity, Saskatchewan, the week of April 7 to 13. Participants were from Unity, Wilkie and Cut Knife.

PIANO

Primary, 8 and under, Cut Knife CWL, $50 – Molly Orobko; primary, 10 and under, Unity Ladies Legion Auxiliary, $75 – Abby Rutley; elementary, 12 and under, Delta Co-operative Association Ltd., $100 – Zenon Orobko; junior, 14 and under, Unity Baptist Church, $125 – Kyra Huber; intermediate and senior (15 and over), Unity Knights of Columbus, $150 – Katherine Ulrich.

Unity St. Peter’s CWL, first year of instruction, $50 – Hailey-Lynn Aldred; Unity Lutheran Church, promising student up to and including age 12, $50 – Susannah Ulrich; Barbara Surine, duet/trio, $100 – Kyra Huber and Jolene Gruber; North West Terminal Ltd., promising student 12 and under, $50 – Ainsley Orobko; Joyce T. Smith Memorial, promising student 13 and over, $50 – Kabri Rutley.

Unity SK Music FestivalWilkie CWL, recital class 12 and under, $50 – Zenon Orobko; H.N. Wismer Memorial, recital class 13 and over, $50 – Jacelyn Stabbler; Wilkie CWL – test piece 12 and under, $50 – Abby Rutley; Wilkie Kinsmen, contemporary pop, 13 and over, $50 – Jolene Gruber; Saskatchewan Culture Centennial Legacy Scholarship (Sask. composer), $50 – Isaiah Mamer; Dr. M. Ashing Memorial, Canadian Class (12 and under) Award – Zenon Orobko; Wilkie Kinsmen, Canadian Class (13 and over) $50 – Jolene Gruber.

Unity Music Festival Association, Bach/Baroque (12 and under) Award – Owen Keller; Unity Music Festival Association, Bach/Baroque (13 and over) Award – Kyra Huber; Unity Music Festival Association, Sonata/Sonatina (12 and under) Award – Sophia Ulrich; Unity Music Festival Association, Sonata/Sonatina (13 and over) Award – Katherine Ulrich.

Myrtle Cleall Memorial Cup and keeper award, both donated by Battlefords Registered Music Teachers Association, $50 – Tyrell Kuhn; Wilma DeBelser Memorial Scholarship to a promising piano student, $100 – Jolene Gruber; Kathleen Keesey Memorial Scholarship, $100 – Katherine Ulrich; Dr. Fred and Evelyn Weeks Trophy and keeper award – Anthony Witzaney.

VOCAL

Primary, 8 and under, Cut Knife Royal Canadian Legion, $50 – Kaybree Spendelow; primary, 10 and under, Unity Elks Lodge, $75 – Ainsley Orobko; elementary, 12 and under, Cut Knife Elks Lodge, $100 – Rheanne Hofmann; intermediate, 14 and under, Unity Royal Canadian Legion and Unity Ladies Legion Auxiliary, $125 – Kyra Huber; senior, 15 and over, Unity Lions Club, $150 – split between Alison Kuhn and Rachel Mamer.

North West Terminal Ltd., first year of instruction, $50 – Jorja Gumpinger; Butch and Judy Boskill, musical theatre, 12 and under, $50 – Megan Bazley; Unity Order of the Royal Purple, musical theatre, 13 and over, $50 – Alison Kuhn; Cut Knife Elks Lodge, duet/trio, 12 and under, $100 – Ainsley Orobko and Rheanne Hofmann; Barbara Surine, duet/trio, 13 and over, $100 – Alison Kuhn and Rachel Mamer; Unity United Church Choir, sacred solo, $50 – Brooklyn Gray.

Glassford’s Funeral Home, recital class $50, Rachel Mamer; Unity Queen Esther OES No. 31, Canadian, $50 – Iza Belle Lucenio; Saskatchewan Culture Centennial Legacy Scholarship (Sask. composer), $50 – Megan Bloder; Barry and Chris DeRoo-Davisson, promising student, $50 – Molly Orobko; Unity Music Festival Association, folk song/ballad (12 and under) Award – Jenifer Deuchar; Unity Kilwinning Lodge, folk song/ballad (13 and over) – Katherine Ulrich; Wilma DeBelser Memorial  Scholarship to a promising vocal student, $100 – Rachel Mamer.

SCHOOLS AND CHOIRS

Division I

Don and Marilyn Wildeman Award and Unity Order of the Royal Purple, $50 – Unity Public School Grade 2

Division II

Louis and Grace Sloboda Award and Unity Lutheran Church, $50 – Unity Public School Choir; North West Terminal Ltd., choral speech, $50 – Unity Composite High School Grade 7; Len and Audrey Boxell Memorial Trophy and Scholarship, best school chorus, $100 – St. Peter’s School Choir; Vivienne Cantelon Memorial, deserving children’s chorus, $100 – ‘In Harmony’ Choir; Joyce M. Demerchant Memorial Children’s Choir Award and North West Terminal Ltd., $50 – St. James Junior Choir.

BAND

Unity Lions Club, open, $50 – St. Peter’s School Band, Grades 5 and 6; Unity Arts Council, open, $50 – Tyrell Kuhn (trumpet).

OPEN SCHOLARSHIPS

Wilkie CWL, $50 –Kyle Parker, piano; Wilkie Knights of Columbus, $50 – Anthony Witzaney, piano; Cut Knife Royal Purple, $25 – Adam Stifter, piano; Cut Knife Royal Purple, $25 – Wesley Shanner, piano; Cut Knife CWL, $50 – Shevaun Feser, vocal; Unity St. Peter’s CWL, $50 – Madison Gilbert, vocal; Wilkie United Church, $25 – Rachel Cey, vocal; Unity Kilwinning Lodge, $25 – Danielle Irons, vocal; Unity Queen Ester OES No. 31, $25 – Owen Keller, piano; Unity Queen Esther OES No. 31, $25 – Sophia Ulrich, piano; Unity Eureka Rebekah Lodge No. 58, $25 – Kaybree Spendelow, piano.

Unity Music Festival Association, Most Outstanding Performer of Festival trophy and keeper – Alison Kuhn.

Unity Music Festival Volunteer of the Year – Irene Thiessen-Campbell

Grain bag recycling program extended

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Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart announced funding of $100,000 to extend the Grain Bag Recycling Pilot Project into 2014.  The announcement was made April 16.

The program includes recycling for both grain bags and twine.

“The high level of farmer participation in this project demonstrates the importance of responsibly disposing grain bags,” said Ritz.  “Our government is proud to continue to partner with the Government of Saskatchewan to support this program for producers.”

“We are pleased to extend the Grain Bag Recycling Pilot Project until a permanent program is implemented,” Stewart said.  “With increasing use of grain bags to store the record crop from last year’s harvest, we want farmers to continue to have an option to responsibly dispose of their bags.”

The Grain Bag Recycling Pilot Project was first implemented in March 2011.  Since inception, approximately 325,800 kg of plastic (2,172 bags) and 6,600 kg of twine has been recycled.

Recycling grain storage bagsThe Ministry of Environment is currently working on the creation of regulations that will form the basis for an industry-led, permanent recycling program for 2015.  The Grain Bag Recycling Pilot Project is administered by Simply Agriculture Solutions Inc. (formerly the Provincial Council of Agriculture Development and Diversification Boards) and funded through the federal-provincial Growing Forward 2 framework.

“Simply Agriculture Solutions looks forward to continuing to provide an environmentally responsible solution for the disposal of the grain bags and twine and working with producers across the province as we incorporate additional plastics (silage plastic and net wrap) into the pilot program,” Agricultural Plastic Recycling Co-ordinator Travis Quirk said.

Farmers and ranchers can access collection sites across the province in a number of locations, including Unity, SK.

For more information, producers can contact Simply Agriculture Solutions Inc. toll-free at 1-866-298-7222.

The Press-Herald next week

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You will find something new in next week’s paper – a reader poll on which block in town you think is most in need of some TLC from Public Works. You can submit your own selection by clicking here or on Poll at the top of the page.

Along with information on the “worst street in town” poll – results to be published in the May 12 issue of the Unity Wilkie Press-Herald – in next week’s issue, you will find coverage of:

  • the showcase performances of the Unity Music Festival;
  • awards won by one of our reporters;
  • a student who brought her horse to school;
  • April 12th activities, including the co-op Easter egg hunt and the Spring Trade Show.
Unity SK Music Festival

Awards for performers at the Unity, Saskatchewan 2014 Music Festival

Photos accompany all those stories. We also have other odds and ends, along with regular features such as the RCMP Report, Faith Matters and a letter to the editor. All Things Financial reminds you that CRA will not contact you by phone or email; do not give out any personal information to anyone calling or emailing you “out of the blue” and claiming to be from CRA!

And finally, HAPPY EASTER TO ALL OUR SUBSCRIBERS, READERS AND VISITORS!

 

RCMP Report – March 25 to 31, 2014

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UNITY, SK REPORT

RCMP attended a single vehicle collision on Highway 14 between Wilkie and Landis. No injuries were reported. Poor road conditions were a contributing factor.

Members assisted two families with disagreements in separate occurrences.

A concerned citizen reported a single vehicle collision on Highway 14. When police attended, the vehicle and driver were no longer at the scene.

Police attended a domestic assault where charges were laid against a 29-year-old male.

RCMP received a report of a break and enter at a residence garage. Money and a portable DVD player were stolen out of a vehicle. This matter is still under investigation.

A 53-year-old male was charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle after RCMP received a report of an erratic driver.

There were two false alarms, one false 911 call and one traffic complaint.

Persons with information about crimes being committed in the Unity / Wilkie/ Macklin areas are urged to call the Unity RCMP detachment at 306-228-6300; the Wilkie RCMP at 306-843-3480; or the Macklin RCMP at 306-753-2171. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may also call Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or *8477 on the SaskTel Mobility Network. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2,000 for information which leads to the arrest of person(s) responsible for any serious crime. Crime Stoppers is anonymous and does not subscribe to call display, nor are your calls traced or recorded.

You can also submit a tip online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com

NWT posts strong financial results for first quarter

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The board of directors of North West Terminal Ltd. is pleased to announce positive financial results for the company after its first three months of operations in 2013-14.

For the period beginning Nov. 1, 2013 and ending Jan. 31, 2014, NWT posted revenues from consolidated operations of $25.6 million and an EBITDA of $2,501,111 (unaudited). This resulted in a net profit of $1,192,218, or 36 cents per share.

The financial performance of the company is slightly behind the same period last year when the company posted revenues from operations of $43.5 million, an EBITDA of $2,540,192 and a new profit of $1,309,765, or 40 cents per share. Management reported earnings were down from the previous year primarily because of reduced margins due to vessel demurrage charges associated with rail shipping delays for the grains division and higher feed stock costs for the bio-products division.

“The board of directors is pleased with the company’s performance,” says NWT’s president John Leier. “The grain industry faced unprecedented challenges over the winter months given the delays experienced in rail shipping. We have seen higher costs and reduced margins as a result of vessel demurrage and contract delay penalties that are impacting the bottom line. We are hopeful that new government regulations will include reciprocal penalties for the railways and a reasonable level of service for customers shipping grain.” Leier farms near Denzil.

NWT is an independent farmer-shareholder owner company headquartered near Unity, Saskatchewan. NWT owns and operates an inland grain terminal and a bio-products manufacturing facility at its Unity SK location.

North West Terminal, Unity, SK

Next week’s Press-Herald

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Lots of varied information in next week’s combined Unity-Wilkie paper, including reports on the following:

  • fundraising for the Unity, SK swimming pool complete, now focus is on the ground floor hall;
  • special donation made to Unity fire department;
  • report on Special Olympics conference and awards
  • the Red Cross Day of Pink, which was April 9; and
  • learning how to square dance.

Along with the reading are plenty of photos this week too – along with photos accompanying those stories are pictures of music festival practice at UPS, Revolution Dance Showcase and the baseball hitting clinic.

Revolution Dance Showcase

Trophies, plaques and accolades at Miners’ Awards Night

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Starting out with the Rookie of the Year award, won by Dustin McAleer, and ending with the Playoffs’ Most Valuable Player trophy going to Cory Grant, a total of 11 awards were handed out to members of the 2013-14 Unity Miners at their awards night March 28, held at the community centre hall in Unity, SK. The Rookie of the Year award was sponsored by the Jim Lee family and Gilbert Agencies sponsored the playoff MVP award.

The Miners claimed the Sask West Hockey League championship the weekend before, sweeping the Lloydminster Border Kings in three straight games.

miners behn1Forward Behn Robertson was the biggest winner, as the Miner’s top scorer of the season, sponsored by Wildeman’s Sports Excellence and as the best defensive forward, sponsored by Unity Motor Products.

Robertson was called to the stage at the Unity Community Centre a third time by MC and Miners’ manager Brent Weber as a co-winner of the season MVP award, along with goalie Cory Grant. The Miller brothers sponsored that award.

Best Defenceman, sponsored by the Peter Gartner family, went to Bobby Davey, while Brett Mosher was this year’s Unsung Hero, sponsored by Don Fesiuc. Dillon Belliveau was named the Most Improved Player, sponsored by Sperle’s Tire and Battery. The Delta Co-op’s Most Sportsmanlike Player award was won by Cody McCubbing.

Unity, SK men's hockey

Captain Adam Shirley was chosen by the players as Most Popular; the award was sponsored by Cinema Satellite.

The coach and executive chose Michael Shirley as the recipient of the Lawrence Gordon Fesciuc Memorial Award, which goes to the player showing the most perseverance and dedication throughout the year.

With the Miners finishing the regular season in the Sask West Hockey League in fifth place with six wins and 14 losses, fans may have regarded their march to the championship victory as a bit of a Cinderella story. Manager Brent Weber, MC for the evening, said he always believed the championship was possible, even though there “were a few bumps along the way.”

Co-manager Jake Senger told the players, family members and fans it takes a “true team effort to win a championship. We do have a great team and we definitely want to see you guys back next fall.”

Coach Lorne Nielsen, who coached the Miners for the first time this year, said he knew the team had some top-end talent but had to ask himself whether he wanted to be dealing with some of the drinking and discipline issues which can come up in senior men’s hockey. He “stuck with it” and said, “I’m glad I did.”

With some injuries to key players in the playoffs, 50-year-old Nielsen and the rookies had to “fill some holes and give the front line a breather.” Nielsen concluded, “It’s pretty satisfying when you win something you’re not supposed to.”

 

 

Mischief and theft of tools from motor vehicle

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The Unity/Wilkie/Macklin RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance in determining the person or persons responsible for a mischief/theft from a motor vehicle investigation in Macklin, Saskatchewan.

Sometime between the hours of 11:45 a.m. on Monday, March 31 and 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 1, 2014, a vehicle parked behind a residence on the 5100 block of Leader Street had its driver’s side key hole damaged. A tool box located in the cab of the vehicle was broken into and the following tools were stolen:

• 1/4 inch socket set worth approximately $75

• 1/2 inch socket set worth approximately $330

• Twenty-piece wrench set with pliers worth approximately $120

stolenPersons with information about this crime are urged to call the Macklin RCMP at 306-753-2171. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may also call Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or *8477 on the SaskTel Mobility Network. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2,000 for information which leads to the arrest of person(s) responsible for any serious crime. Crime Stoppers is anonymous and does not subscribe to call display, nor are your calls traced or recorded.