Tag Archives: Luseland SK

RCMP Reports for April 10 to 16

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UNITY SK RCMP REPORTS for April 10 to 16, 2018

RCMP received a complaint of theft. This matter is still under investigation.

Police received a report of a suspicious vehicle in a rural area west of Unity, Saskatchewan. Members patrolled but could not locate the vehicle.

Unity RCMP provided breath technician services for Luseland Police Services.

Members are investigating a break-and-enter into a business and a residence at Denzil, Sask.

Police are assisting a family in locating an individual.

There were also two traffic complaints.

Persons with information about crimes being committed 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 at1-800-222-8477, 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

Co-operatives continuing to contribute to communities

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For over a hundred years, co-operatives have been part of the fabric of Saskatchewan communities.

In Senlac, Saskatchewan, the first grain elevator was built in 1911 – a Saskatchewan Co-operative Elevator Company venture. The farmer-owned SCEC was founded in 1911 and 40 elevators were built in the first year. The elevator at Rockhaven, with many Swarthmore area farmers among its members, was one of another 93 SCEC elevators built the following year.

In Unity, SK, the Producers’ Creamery was established in 1914. Although it was eventually sold to private interests, it started as a farmer owned co-operative.

Snow plow clubs in rural areas operated on a co-operative basis for many years, before rural municipalities took over the job of keeping country roads passable in winter.

co-op red sheildEarlier this year, the Luseland location of Delta Co-op held 100th year anniversary celebrations. Originally the Grass Lake Grain Growers Association Limited, the local co-operative was formed in 1915. In later years, the organization was renamed the Luseland Co-operative Association Ltd, and today is part of Delta Co-op. Delta Co-op itself celebrated its 85th anniversary in 2014.

The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan gives some early history. “Farmers … began to use co-operatives to supply themselves with goods and to help them take control of handling and marketing their produce.” The first co-operative named by the encyclopedia is the Grain Growers’ Grain Company, formed in 1906. The second was the elevator co-op.

The encyclopedia goes on to say, “the hardships of the 1930s strengthened the co-op movement, and co-operative methods were used to meet a wide variety of needs, including marketing, banking, insurance, the refining of oil, and provision of farm implements.”

“Banking by co-operative methods,” of course, are credit unions. Established in 1940, the Macklin Credit Union will celebrate its 75th anniversary later this fall. Unity Credit Union will follow suit with its own 75th anniversary celebrations in 2016. What is now Credit Union Central, in 1941 was the Saskatchewan Co-operative Credit Society – English Canada’s first credit union system.

cu logo

The longevity and continuing success of local co-ops and credit unions are a testament to the power of business by co-operation. In Saskatchewan, approximately 490,000 people – almost half the population – are members of 51 different credit unions. In Saskatchewan, 1,280 co-operatives continue to operate, employing some 15,000 people.

Those involved on boards and in management will say the success comes from the enterprises being owned and controlled locally by members, not by lone CEOs or far-off shareholders. Members are accountable to each other for decisions made, and those decisions are made democratically with everyone having a voice. Profits are returned to members via equity cheques and cash-back dividends.

Because members, directors and staff live and work in the communities served by their co-ops and credit unions, monetary and volunteer hour donations are made to other community organizations and events.

Since 1982, C-op Week has been proclaimed across Canada every October. Members of co-operatives and credit unions will celebrate Co-op Week Oct. 11 to 17 this year.

International Credit Union Day has been celebrated even longer, first being recognized in 1948. This year, Credit Union Day is Oct. 15.

“Co-op Week is a time to reflect on the contributions the co-operative sector has made to the lives of Canadians and celebrate the impact that co-operatives have in our communities,” says the Saskatchewan Co-operatives Association’s website. The Canadian site says it this way: “Co-op Week is the opportunity for Canadian co-operative and credit union members to celebrate the fact that they have collectively helped to build this country. Co-op Week is recognition of their continuing contributions at home and abroad.”

co-op welcome

Stop in at your local co-op or credit union next week to congratulate them and see what special activities they have going on as part of their Co-op Week celebrations.

Hunting/fishing awards and all-you-can-eat in Luseland

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Jackfish, bear ham, rabbit, elk roast, caribou stew, Italian creamed goose, ginger goose, wild boar roast, buffalo roast, moose roast, deer sausage and wild rice – rounded out by beans, potatoes, coleslaw, onion salad and fresh buns – made up the menu at the Luseland Wildlife Federation’s annual wild game supper. 260 carnivores packed the Homecoming Hall in Luseland, Saskatchewan, January 31, to enjoy all the meat they could eat.

luseland game dinner

 

Along with the meal, drinks and socializing, guests supported the Luseland club by buying 50/50 tickets as well as raffle tickets on a wide variety of prize items. Between a number of door prizes and the loaded raffle tables, a significant percentage of attendees went home clutching prizes ranging anywhere from a new ball cap to a Roughrider-green toboggan.

Matt Rumohr, MC for the Luseland wildlife dinner

A silent auction also drew interest, with bidding especially heavy on a Traegar smoker and a John Deere child’s chair and footstool.

The evening’s program also included presentations of plaques for the top weights and scores in the 2014 hunting and fishing seasons. Krystal Bazylinski was a double winner, taking home the plaques for both ladies’ white tail and ladies’ moose, with scores of 132 7/8 and 161 5/8 respectively. Husband Ryan had the men’s top white tail deer, with a score of 157.

MC for the night, Matt Rumohr, won the 2014 plaque for men’s mule deer, non-typical, with the antlers scoring 217 5/8.

In the game bird categories, Candace Rumohr had the largest Canada goose, weighing in at 11.7 pounds. Dennis Obregewitch took home the plaque for men’s mallard, bagging a 3.7-pound bird in 2014.

It seemed to be ladies’ night at the Luseland wildlife dinner as Trish Balness had both the largest walleye, 7.75 pounds, and the largest jackfish, 9.43 pounds, winning two plaques for her efforts at the lakes last summer. Kirk DeSchryver pulled in the men’s largest walleye, which weighed 6.3 pounds.

Capping off the award presentations, a special plaque – not awarded every year – was presented to Jay Taylor for Most Unorthodox Hunting Style.

Matt Rumohr, Ryan Bazylinski, Krystal Bazylinski, Candace Rumohr, Dennis Obregewitch, Jay Taylor

Among other projects funded by and donations made by the Luseland Wildlife Federation, this year the club is purchasing bows and targets for a new youth archery club.

luseland crowd

Last paper of November, 2014

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Yup … already we’re looking at November’s last Unity Wilkie Press-Herald and yes, there are Christmas ads in it! Christmas ads and some interesting news stories, such as:

  • details on the final court appearance by the Blairs regarding the horses that starved to death near Scott, SK last winter;
  • the announcement that Unity will be hosting a World Junior A hockey game in December – Russia vs. Canada East;
  • a new type of energy-efficient construction taking place in Luseland; and
  • some details on a visit to Unity earlier this year by Charles Bauman, who bicycled from Ontario to Alaska and back, raising funds and awareness for the plight of children in Third World countries.

Then we have the police report, hockey reports, an update on golfer Justin Wood and those Christmas ads we mentioned. Check them out to see what’s available in town for your Christmas shopping.

Below, sheets of plywood, bearing the community’s Christmas card organized by the Unity Hospital Auxiliary as a fundraising project, wait in trucks – one a Merry Christmas red – as Lions Club members prepare the base for the card to stand on. The card is up now so stop and see which friends and neighbours are on the card wishing you a happy holiday season. Add your own name by stopping at the Courtesy Car office beside Our Drug Store on Main Street.

on Main Street in Unity, Saskatchewan Lions

Luseland Valedictorian – Class of 2014

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Shawna-Lynn Meier, daughter of Patrick Meier, was the valedictorian for the Luseland  School Class of 2014. We thank Shawna for sharing her speech with us! And thank you to Gerri Olfert for sharing her photo of Shawna at the podium!

Valedictorian - Luseland Class of 2014

I would like to start out by thanking everybody for coming; you guys really succeeded at making us feel special tonight.

Next I would like to thank our teachers because – well, let’s face it, without them we wouldn’t be sitting up here today. With that, I would like to give an apology to Mrs. Fischer on behalf of my class because – well, let’s face it, we weren’t the role model class.

And lastly I would like to thank my class, because without you guys I wouldn’t have even half the memories I will get to take home with me today.

In 50 years from now, when I look back at my high school years I’m not going to remember who had the highest average, who did better on what assignment or even what everybody drove! What I will remember is my classmates, their personalities and what great memories I had with them!

Our little family started way back in kindergarten with, Nick, Virginia, Ashley, Ryshan, Dustin, Christopher and Masyn. We got to know each other through arts and crafts, playing in the sand box and making castles with the big blocks that are still to this day in the kindergarten room. Growing up I learned things about each these people that I will never forget them for.

I will always remember Nick for coming into English late almost every day in Grade 12 and throwing his book on the table making as much noise as possible….. even after Mrs. Wetzil asked him not to for the 30th time.

I will always remember Virginia for being the one who held the clarinets together in band, yeahhhh whenever you left we sounded terrible.

Ashley I will remember as a person who will never give up, this is because she fell off one of my horses about five times in one hour but she never wanted to take a break or quit, after each time she got back on and pretended it never happened.

Ryshan I will remember for her ninja moves. One day walking through the cow pasture I thought it would be a funny idea to yell cow! And well before I could even blink she was gone and through the fence without even touching it.

Dustin I will remember for our competitions of who could beat who to Kindersly on days we had to do work experience…. Yeaaaahhh I think we both began leaving earlier and earlier each morning for that reason.

I will remember Christopher for his ability to almost yell any type of profanity in any class and not get caught or even realized by a teacher….

Masyn will be remembered for her bravery, because she was the only person brave enough to get thrown into the caraganas at my 10th birthday party.

In Grade 3 Luke was added to our family, crying and clinging to his mom’s leg at first but soon he adapted and made a good addition

Luke will be remembered for his mullet, jords, and plaid shirts…..at the same time

In Grade 5 Lars was added to our family with all his Discovery Channel knowledge. I will always remember Lars for crashing into a semi.

We continued as our small family, playing grounders and having pop and chip class parties until Grade 10 when we had another two new additions, Emily and Lindsey. I will always remember Emily for her involuntary glares. She doesn’t mean to glare at you; she swears it’s just how she looks sometimes, but we wonder sometimes.

Lindsey will be remembered for her awesome bracelet-making skills. Whenever I look at starbursts, I will think of you.

In Grade 11, Sammi joined our little family, just in time to experience the Luseland life at its prime. I will remember Sammi for our grain truck cruises at harvest.

In Grade 12, just as we thought our little family was done, Tim joined. We didn’t really get to know Tim very well but I will remember him for his ability to talk … a lot … in any situation.

Our class didn’t always get along all the time but we were always there for each other whether it was helping each other make difficult decisions or helping Christopher finish his assignments.

If I could give my class any advice, it would be to always climb for the top of the ladder because the only thing that should stand between you and the top of the ladder … is the ladder.

And lastly a quote from Dr. Seuss: “You have brains on your head, you have feet on your shoes, you can steer yourself in any direction you choose, you’re on your own, and you know what you know, you’re the guy who’ll decide where to go.”

Thank You.

Luseland’s Brian Honeker recognized at Rivers West banquet

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Brian Honeker of Luseland was recognized as the Heritage Volunteer of the Year at the fifth annual Rivers West District for Sport Culture and Recreation volunteer recognition banquet held in Radisson, April 9.

Brian Honeker of Luseland SK

Ollie Marciniuk, Rivers West District chairperson, congratulates Brian Honeker of Luseland on being named Heritage Volunteer of the Year, at the Rivers West awards banquet in Radisson, April 9. Photo courtesy of Rivers West District for Sport Culture and Recreation

Honeker was nominated for the award by Irene Body for his work and commitment to a number of organizations and events in Luseland.

Body’s nomination letter explained, “Luseland (is) a town of approximately 600 People with numerous service clubs and organizations … the result of many, many volunteer hours which we know often falls on the shoulders of a limited number of citizens. Brian Honeker takes on a leadership role and works relentlessly as one of these persons.”

Of all the organizations with which Honeker is affiliated, the most important one to him is the Royal Canadian Legion. His mother served in the Second World War and he has been an active member of the Luseland branch of the Legion for over 15 years.

He works with the school to encourage participation in the Legion’s Remembrance Day essay, poem and poster context. He also plans the annual Remembrance Day service for the Legion and the community. During his years with the Legion, Honeker spent seven years as president and has been the secretary-treasurer since 1998.

For over 20 years, Honeker has been a key person in the planning and execution of Canada Day celebrations in Luseland. Recently, he cut back on his involvement with Canada Day hoping to encourage others to volunteer, but he continues to serve as treasurer for the committee, a role he has held since 1991 or ’92.

A member of the Luseland Wildlife Association, Honeker is involved in all aspects of the annual wildlife dinner and awards night. He is the cooking co-ordinator, helps prepare food, sells tickets, finds and organizes workers and canvasses for silent auction items. He has been a gun safety instructor for over 20 years.

Honeker first became involved with the board of the Luseland Homecoming Hall as the Legion representative. For some 15 years he has also served, and continues to serve, as the hall “handy man doing general building maintenance, cleaning, painting, monitoring water and sewer lines, takes care of the furnace, keeps sidewalks clean, makes coffee & tea for groups renting the hall,” as set out in Body’s nomination letter.

Body’s letter concluded, “Brian’s level of dedication is unwavering and he is definitely a Volunteer to be recognized.”

Body said that although only one name could go on the nomination letter, there was a group of people in Luseland who got together to help prepare the letter and to make sure none of Honeker’s contributions to the community were missed. She added that he is the type of person that, “if he says he’s going to do something, it’s done.”

Honeker also volunteers as the trainer for the Luseland/Dodsland Mallards senior men’s hockey team. He stepped into that position eight years ago; prior to that he used to run the clock at home games.

Honeker, a bachelor, farms southwest of Luseland. He grew up in the area and graduated from Major School in 1977.

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