Sign In Register The day after Drew Kocur was named the permanent head coach and general manager of the Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins junior A hockey club the team held its annual Sportsman's Dinner fundraiser at the Power Dodge Curling Centre the long-time NHL enforcer and Drew Kocur's second cousin The speakers for this year's dinner were announced weeks before the Bruins announced Drew Kocur's hiring predicted his younger family member would do an "awesome" job in Estevan "I've been gone a long time," said Kocur "I don't know him as well as I know my relatives … but I'm a first cousin to his dad." and they've appeared on a podcast together They've also talked at family reunions The new Bruins' coach and GM isn't the only reason Kocur is familiar with the Bruins' organization He played numerous games against Estevan during two seasons in the SJHL with the Yorkton Terriers His first season with Yorkton ended in a loss to the Bruins in seven games "I didn't like Estevan at that time," Kocur said with a laugh who later came to Estevan and guided the Black and Gold to the SJHL championship in 1985 "Gerry was one of the true mentors for my game and he convinced me that playing tough was the way to go first with the NHL's Detroit Red Wings and then on his son's team He said he applied lessons from James to his coaching "Gerry told me early on in my career that if you ever want to do anything or go anywhere in hockey you have to do something better than anyone else that's what got me to the next level," he recalled is nicer than a lot of the rinks he played in while playing in the Western Hockey League Long-time NHLers Brian Skrudland and Andre Roy joined Kocur for the banquet in Estevan SaskToday will have full coverage of the event later Kocur finished his career with 80 goals and 82 assists for 162 points in 821 games Kocur won the Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994 and the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998 ESTEVAN — Souris Valley Theatre has unveiled its 2025 summer lineup the theatre’s upcoming season will feature two mainstage productions as well as two concerts kicking off in July and running through August The season begins with Saskatchewan-born singer-songwriter Jeffery Straker Straker is known for his energetic piano performances and award-winning storytelling with a fanbase that extends internationally audiences can saddle up for Yellowstone: A Wild West Musical, a comedic spoof inspired by ranch life and family drama The production is presented by Kingston Midstream the spotlight shifts to the Golden Gals Vacation, a musical comedy that imagines the iconic Golden Gals navigating a chaotic trip to the Great White North The show runs Aug. 4 to 15 at 7:30 p.m. Rounding out the season is a long-anticipated reunion of The Johner Brothers for a one-night concert on  Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m the performance brings the celebrated Saskatchewan country duo back to the stage after two decades now performing alongside three of Brad Johner’s sons Tickets are available now at tickets.sourisvalleytheatre.com with local in-person sales starting soon at Henders Drugs in Estevan SaskToday will have more on this story soon ESTEVAN — The Estevan Police Service (EPS) made several arrests during the last week of April for a range of offences including assaulting a police officer EPS members also assisted the Integrated Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit and partnered with other agencies including the local health region, who have a member assigned to the Police and Crisis Team (PACT) based out of EPS.  They have been instrumental with calls in progress and follow-ups with community members relating to mental health and addictions As warmer weather draws more people outdoors community members are reminded to report any suspicious activity or crimes in progress EPS officers will be actively patrolling high-traffic areas and focusing on public safety along walking paths and outdoor recreational sites Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan (CTSS) officers will also continue their presence in Estevan and southeastern Saskatchewan municipal corridors and provincial highways police responded to a false burglar alarm at a business in the city’s south industrial area on May 1 The building was secure and the property representative was informed Officers were dispatched following a noise complaint about loud music at a residence The homeowner was warned under the local bylaw and complied by lowering the volume Police also attended a local hotel following a report of a female causing a disturbance she had retreated to her room and did not respond and the complainant was advised to call back if necessary police responded to a report of two suspicious individuals in the Hillside area The individuals were located and explained they were attempting to fix a flat tire on a vehicle EPS received a report of damage to a vehicle parked at Affinity Place and the matter remains under investigation Members also provided traffic control during the memorial procession honouring tow truck operator Christian Burt EPS received a report of a gas drive-off at a local gas station on May 4 The registered owner of the vehicle was contacted and returned to pay for the fuel The investigation concluded that the incident was not criminal in nature Police also received a report from an individual who had been threatened on social media by an unknown person demanding money in exchange for not releasing intimate photos EPS officers responded to a burglar alarm at a local business It was determined there had been no break and enter ESTEVAN - Drew Kocur is looking forward to leading the Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins both behind the bench and the overall decision-making process The club announce on May 2 that it had removed the interim tag from Kocur's title, and he would be the head coach and general manager moving forward. Kocur finished the 2024-25 season in the role after the club parted ways with Jason Tatarnic in mid-January. The Bruins' executive went through a lengthy selection process, but ultimately felt Kocur was the best applicant. Kocur said he wanted to be at the helm of the Bruins because of the team's history and tradition. He described Estevan as a great hockey community. It helped that he's familiar with the community. Kocur was hired as the assistant coach and director of sales in 2023. He said he has met a lot of great people, and there are excellent sponsors. He also learned a lot from his time as the interim head coach and GM. "It's different from junior B to junior A," said Kocur, who guided the Pilot Butte Storm to a provincial junior B championship before coming to Estevan. "There's those two extra days a week with the guys." "There's obviously managing the bench in certain situations, travel is a little different for sure, but I definitely learned a lot," he added later. Hours after the club announced Kocur's hiring, he was evaluating the team's future during its annual spring camp. Some players have already committed to the Bruins for next season. "We have a lot of good prospects here looking to next year, and we're looking for some new bodies coming in and making an impact right away," said Kocur. Members of last season's team that they have talked to are planning to come back, he said. Kocur was also busy on May 3 with the club's annual Sportsman's Dinner fundraiser, where his second cousin, former NHL enforcer Joey Kocur, was among the guest speakers. Bruins' president Riley Tetreault said Kocur brings a lot of passion and pride to the job, and has a desire to develop players and deliver a strong product on the ice. "Someone who has development at the forefront of their mind aligns with what the board's goals are moving forward," said Tetreault. "And the plan that he laid out was incredibly detailed and intimate, had a lot of information in the approach, his strategies for team building, and how he can be collaborative with the rest of our organization." Tetreault said Kocur was very complimentary about the team's scouting staff, the prospects they're identifying and how they can fit in the system. Kocur's experience in the last two months of the regular season didn't factor into the executive's decision, and every candidate had a clean slate during the interview process. "You can see the sincerity in how he talks about the contacts and the relationships he's made in Estevan, but we were very careful throughout our entire process to make sure that we were seeing everybody for the first time," said Tetreault. According to Tetreault, the club had more than 50 candidates with varying experiences in the game. "That's the tough thing about hockey. There's very few jobs and a lot of people that are able to do it and can be a good fit. It's not an easy decision and we're happy with our choice." Kocur said he has received a lot of congratulatory messages from sponsors and other people he has met during his time in Estevan, and he and his wife are happy to be in the Energy City. 6 months agoDuration 2:46'We're the energy city': Estevan's new mayor Anthony Sernick optimistic about future6 months agoNewsDuration 2:46Estevan's next mayor, Anthony Sernick, says his city intends to continue focusing on energy production, whatever that looks like in the future. The province's planned small modular reactors will play a part in that, he says. B.C. moves to speed up energy projects amid growing demand and environmental concerns5 hours agoVideo2:02 Advocates, families call for coroner's inquest into deaths of Indigenous women, girl5 hours agoVideo2:44 Duty free shops fear Trump’s trade war will force them out of businessThe National |5 hours agoTrending NowVideo2:17 Video evidence, NHLer testimony raise questions in world junior sexual assault trialThe National |May 2Video4:45 Trump repeats 51st state taunt as Carney prepares for White House visitThe National |May 5Video11:28 It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem ESTEVAN - The Estevan Motor Speedway delivered some closes finishes and exciting moments for its fans during the opening-night program May 3 Aaron Turnbull and his son Eli were among the winners Aaron Turnbull finished first in the modified division passing Kody Scholpp on the restart following a caution flag with a few laps remaining Turnbull then used the high line to pull away and win comfortably over Scholpp and Steven Pfeifer took the lead immediately and was in first for the majority of the feature He had a comfortable lead when the final caution hit he won the slingshot division for his first feature race win at his home track of Estevan he seized the lead and never looked back to handily win a feature that didn't have any cautions Gunner Raynard was second and Hudson Mann finished third Diezel Raynard was the class of the division He moved up from third on the starting grid to first almost immediately and built a large advantage by the final laps only to have a caution with a couple of laps to go as several drivers have moved up from other divisions who was one of the top stock car drivers last year worked his way up from the 13th spot on the grid and finished first Gabriel Deschamps was second and Chase Davidson was third The race was slowed down considerably due to six caution flags Deschamps was the winner in the sport modified class finishing well ahead of Leevi Runge in a caution-free feature and has now won five straight features in the division in Estevan Seventy-six vehicles were entered through the five divisions are sanctioned by the International Motor Contest Association The next program at the track will be May 17 at 5 p.m ESTEVAN - The Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins have announced the hiring of Drew Kocur as the team's permanent head coach and general manager Kocur was named the Bruins' interim head coach and GM in January after the club parted ways with Jason Tatarnic. The Bruins won just six of 22 games after Kocur moved into the role but played a more entertaining brand of hockey The club announced after the season it would go through the process of hiring a permanent head coach and GM but ultimately decided Kocur was best for the job Kocur will be heading into his third season with the team first joining the club as an assistant coach in the spring of 2023 Bruins’ president Riley Tetreault said the organization “is thrilled to have Kocur at the helm as head coach and GM.” and his staff was evident throughout the close of our regular season," said Tetreault in a news release and expectations of his players aligned with the long-term vision of the board and we’d like to congratulate him.” Kocur said he’s looking forward to making the most of the opportunity ahead “To be named the head coach/GM is truly an honour and I am very grateful for the opportunity to be the club’s next leader,” Kocur said “It is something that I have worked hard for and to be able to do so in the community of Estevan is truly something special “When my wife and I moved here in the spring of 2023 I knew right away that this community bleeds passion for hockey and the Bruins because of the history and success the Bruins have had over the years The people I have been fortunate enough to meet over the years Kocur led the Pilot Butte Storm to back-to-back Prairie Junior Hockey League (PJHL) finals winning the 2022-23 junior B provincial championship Kocur was also named as the PJHL’s coach of the year that season Kocur said he’s looking forward to the task ahead of getting the Bruins back among the premier teams in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League standings “I look forward to building a team with my staff and getting the Bruins back to where we all want them to be,” Kocur said “Looking into the 2025-26 season what you will see is a team that is blue collar You will see a group that will play with high intensity and carry such pride to be an Estevan Bruin Putting on that Bruins sweater is an honour and I look forward to working toward the goal of bringing a championship back to Estevan.” Kocur led the Pilot Butte Storm to a Junior B Provincial Championship in the 2022–23 season earning Coach of the Year honors in the Prairie Junior Hockey League (PJHL) ESTEVAN - A group has been meeting to discuss and study options for a future recreation facility in Estevan who has been involved with multiple sports organizations in the city said he reached out to most sports groups in Estevan to bring them together and get their thoughts They held their first meeting on March 5 with about 30 people in attendance Additional people were invited but couldn't make it "Everyone I've talked to after the fact was very positive with how the meeting was," said Mortenson "I think they're glad that we're putting our necks out there and … possibly building something because … as one of the coaches for football we went up to Weyburn twice this winter to use the Sparks Centre." He envisions a project that could include a field house a hard-court surface for multiple sports and more although Mortenson recognizes such a project would carry a hefty price tag He was also at city-wide registration March 26 where he approached some groups that weren't at the first meeting about the project and Mortenson said some groups will be present that weren't at the first meeting "Anybody that I've talked to that's been using a gymnasium over the winter [says] there seems to be less and less availability like there was in previous years," said Mortenson The school gymnasiums aren't suitable for some sports like football or baseball Among the groups invited to the table was the Estevan Minor Hockey Association which has publicly expressed its desire for a third arena in the Energy City Mortenson was impressed with a letter to the editor that president Stephen Truman submitted to the Estevan Mercury during the civic election campaign last year that explained the economic benefits of a third arena "It would be a nice luxury for us to be hosting these types of things and look at the economic windfall that would go along with it It would save a lot of parents driving time Lampman and Alameda – wherever they all have to go," said Mortenson Business leaders and representatives from the City of Estevan and the RM of Estevan were present for the first meeting They also invited the Estevan Exhibition Association to attend because a new facility could be close to the exhibition grounds He hopes the meeting on the 16th will be a chance to get more information from the participating organizations on the economic benefits and the usage of such a facility how it would improve the program and how they think such a facility would improve the community Mortenson said they will eventually go to Estevan city council with a letter of intent and support Mortenson said he and the committee want to have minimal stress on the taxpayers He recognizes it would take some creative fundraising but the next step is where are we going to find the funds to build this and I think that's part of the next discussion He expects federal and provincial governments will have grants for the project And he stressed the facility isn't guaranteed to proceed But he believes it would be well-used if it did ESTEVAN - Interest remains in the effort to bring a new The second meeting for the project was held April 16 at the Days Inn who is among the people involved with the project One new organization was represented at the discussions; the others present were people who attended the first meeting in March or different delegates for groups who attended the first meeting Scheduling conflicts prevented some people from attending there's different ideas and opinions," said Mortenson in an interview with SaskToday It became difficult to come to a consensus on some matters Mortenson has been hoping to see a field house at least one ice surface and hard-court surfaces for basketball and volleyball constructed Some at the meeting suggested building something smaller "I'm hoping we can get some sort of endorsements from the clubs find out what something like this is going to cost Then we have to sell it to the taxpayers," said Mortenson Reports from the different user groups would explain how the facility would affect the sport the ways it would enhance the community and what kinds of events they would host Mortenson has stressed that this concept is in its preliminary stages They don't have anything from the engineers or the architects And he doesn't know how much it would cost but if the full facility that he envisions were to go ahead He vowed he wants to keep the burden on the local taxpayers to a minimum through fundraising efforts and seeking government grants "For us to raise money for something like that there's going to be some potholes along the way." A date for the next meeting has not been set He recognizes it will be tough to get everyone together with baseball and soccer starting soon And he hopes he can have some continuity from the organizations and who attends the meetings The vast majority of the feedback has been positive thus far and Mortenson said he is still very encouraged SaskToday.ca will continue to have updates on the story ESTEVAN - The 2026 edition of the Saskatchewan Firefighters' Calendar will have a distinct Estevan flavour Two members of the Estevan Fire Rescue Service – Tanner Weger-Brandow and Brandon Schopp – were selected for the popular provincial fundraiser during a selection night at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina on April 12 The two friends work at Westmoreland Mining LLC's Estevan mines have both been part of the mine rescue team and joined the Estevan fire department at approximately the same time.  Weger-Brandow applied first and asked Schopp to also try out so Weger-Brandow would have someone on stage with him Weger-Brandow said he wanted to be part of the calendar because proceeds go to the children's hospital He also exercises regularly and has lost a lot of weight over the years they had to go through a lot of training and dieting They also needed to collect a lot of support from family and friends through online vote purchasing with proceeds going to the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation The selection night was an interesting experience It was more challenging than he expected because there were more people than anticipated They really like firefighters," said Weger-Brandow in an interview with SaskToday A lot of the firefighters from around the province were really awesome to meet." He's not one who is comfortable in front of a crowd so the selection night was "very intimidating" But he made it through the event and was successful in his bid Weger-Brandow said he was really happy to be selected He believes his hard work paid off and looks forward to further supporting the foundation A date for his photo shoot has yet to be decided But it means he has to remain in shape for a little longer "I'm going to be dieting a lot more I'd like to get a lot leaner for the calendar Friends and family have been quick to congratulate him and he said they are looking forward to purchasing the calendar "The support from the fire hall was a lot I wouldn't be able to do it without them."  It was also nice to have another Estevan firefighter in the calendar and Weger-Brandow was excited when Schopp's name was called They don't know how many votes they sold or how much money they raised for the hospital foundation; Weger-Brandow said it would be nice to find out They were just told who would be in the calendar "I do know quite a few people had told me they voted for me so I would imagine it's a fair amount," he said Schopp said he also wanted to be involved because it's for a good cause He has never done anything like the selection night before Making it to selection night wasn't easy sell votes and exercise to get himself into good shape you want to look really good," said Schopp Those who attended the selection night also voted for the firefighter of their choice throughout the event The night also included a video biography of each hopeful calendar model and the finalists had to participate in challenges on stage and he did what he could to get the crowd excited "You're trying to sell yourself to the audience in a way," Schopp said two audience members joined Schopp on stage The MCs gave one of the audience members a cucumber and they had to use their knees to pass the cucumber back and forth "Everybody out there had a different challenge Some people had to do push-ups with an audience member on their back and some people had to demonstrate firefighter carries All their different challenges were based around teamwork and stuff like that."  because it will be a few months before the photo shoot He's grateful for everyone who supported him and the children's hospital foundation and glad he went through a process that started with supporting his friend ESTEVAN - The City of Estevan has provided an update on the downtown revitalization project "As we enter the 2025 construction season residents and businesses can expect visible and significant activity as the revitalization advances into its second year," the city said in a news release issued April 9 The 2025 phase of the project is scheduled to begin around April 22 with work focusing on the completion of the 1100-block of Fourth Street including channel drains and adjustments around key utility areas This is expected to continue until mid-May the city says work on the south side of the 1200-block will be carried out in two stages starting from the 1200-block and moving westward crews will transition to the north side of the 1200-block beginning at the east corner and progressing westward the final portion of work will involve the installation of bollards and the completion of surface finishes and pavement markings all aspects of construction including sidewalk upgrades and streetscaping will be carried out in a phased manner to minimize disruptions and maintain access to businesses whenever possible The press release states Mayor Tony Sernick and city council remain committed to improving the quality of life for residents while supporting a vibrant "The city extends its appreciation to residents and visitors for their continued patience and co-operation as we move forward with this transformative project," the news release states The city invites the public to follow ongoing updates via the city’s website and social media channels According to the City of Estevan's Facebook page the 1300-1500 blocks of Fourth Street are open again.  ESTEVAN - Three blocks of Fourth Street in Estevan were shut down for most of April 21.  the City of Estevan said the 1300-1500 blocks were to be closed and the blocks would be closed starting at 7 a.m.  Semis were encouraged to travel via the bypass while detours were in place for westbound/eastbound traffic "Thank you for your understanding while we attend to this maintenance," the city said.  *The article was edited after its original publication to include the EPS update from April 27 ESTEVAN — An Estevan woman faces several fraud charges after police were called to investigate the alleged misuse of government assistance vouchers members of the Estevan Police Service (EPS) were alerted by the Ministry of Social Services to the fraudulent use of multiple vouchers a local business reported that a customer was attempting to make a purchase with a suspicious voucher Officers attended and arrested a 32-year-old Estevan woman She was charged with three counts of fraud and is scheduled to appear in Estevan Provincial Court at a later date Police say the investigation is ongoing and further charges are pending a 22-year-old Estevan man was taken into custody after allegedly stealing a bicycle from outside a local business Police say the owner had left the bike unattended for a short time and returned to find it missing Officers located the suspect shortly afterward as he was spray-painting the bike in an attempt to disguise it He has been charged with theft and mischief to property and was remanded into custody to appear in court police received a report of a female acting inappropriately and partially exposing herself during a verbal altercation outside a downtown business She was arrested and the matter remains under investigation Officers were also called to assist staff at a local liquor establishment after a woman who had previously been banned entered the premises who was cautioned and left without further incident officers responded to a driving complaint involving an unauthorized driver operating a vehicle without a proper licence EPS received a report of a woman in distress walking with a large suitcase in central Estevan Police and a crisis worker responded and determined the woman was waiting for a ride She was transported to a safe place to wait police were called to Walmart to a report of a male and female leaving the store with a lawnmower.  Police attended and located their vehicle with the lawnmower in the back seat and found the subjects in the store filling up another cart of merchandise.  The individuals are a 53-year-old female and a 57-year-old male from Regina both of whom were arrested. The investigation determined that the pair are also suspects in a theft from Canadian Tire in Melville and from locations in Weyburn.  Charges for each of the offences have been laid with matters set for appearance in both Estevan and Weyburn Provincial Courts EPS members also attended to a disturbance call at a local business downtown. As a result of the complaint a 53-year-old Estevan female has been charged under the Alcohol Gaming Regulations Act for re-entering a license premise after being asked to leave Police were called to a local restaurant in response to a report of an intoxicated male. Members attended and arrested a 22-year-old Estevan male for being intoxicated in a public place. He was lodged in cells to be released when sober A noise complaint related to a loud stereo was received during nightshift.  Members attended and warned the residents under the noise bylaw Residents agreed to lower the volume on the stereo A report of a disturbance at a local trailer park was investigated and determined to be a loud verbal argument. Both parties were warned Staff at a local lounge reported several males causing a disturbance. Members attended the business and assisted with removing the unwanted patrons A report of a male breaching court ordered conditions of no contact with another person was received and remains under investigation ESTEVAN - A couple of people facing charges related to animals were on the docket in Estevan Provincial Court on Feb Winston Klassen had his matter heard for the first time in court Klassen's attorney said he has sent a disclosure request to the Crown's office and Klassen's matters were adjourned to March 10 Background: The Estevan Police Service reported in early January that it had been notified of an injured animal in the north part of the city Members attended and a male was charged with injuring/endangering an animal He was subsequently released with the court date in February His matter was adjourned to March 10 so attorneys can continue resolution discussions Background: According to the Saskatchewan RCMP the Estevan RCMP received a report of an individual injuring a cat near Bienfait Investigation determined the cat had to be euthanized as a result of the injuries the Estevan RCMP arrested an adult male in Bienfait on Nov is charged with one count of causing animals or birds unnecessary suffering None of these charges have been proven in court ESTEVAN — Estevan Police Service members responded to 60 calls for service over the weekend of April 4 to 6 and made several arrests in separate incidents Members conducted SGI high visibility check stops and roving traffic stops at multiple locations on April 5 looking for impaired drivers.  Multiple mandatory breath sample tests were conducted with all drivers found to be sober Several tickets were issued for individuals unlawfully possessing alcohol in pubic One individual was located grossly intoxicated and passed out in the central area of Estevan.  He was arrested for being intoxicated in public EPS also received a report of a theft of motor vehicle by a former spouse of the complainant. The matter is under investigation EPS responded to several complaints of stolen bicycles during the weekend. Police would like to remind the public to ensure that bicycles are locked up to prevent crimes of opportunity a 60-year-old Estevan man was arrested for impaired driving and refusing to provide blood samples for analysis as required by law He was charged with impaired driving and refusal to provide a sample and subsequently released with a future court date a 22-year-old Carlyle woman was arrested for assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest after police approached her for having open alcohol in public A 31-year-old Estevan man was issued a three-day driver’s licence suspension Blood samples were obtained for analysis to confirm the presence of drugs in his system at the time of driving A report of a theft from a local business led to the arrest of a suspect The individual was charged with theft under $5,000 and for breaching the conditions of a probation order Police also responded to a noise complaint at a local apartment complex Officers spoke with both parties and issued a warning under the city’s noise bylaw responded to a report of a dog that had fallen through the ice at Woodlawn Park Officers also attended a residence to keep the peace while individuals collected their belongings EPS members arrested a 40-year-old man for failing to comply with court-ordered release conditions He was lodged in cells and was scheduled to appear in court end of the week Members were also dispatched to the ball diamonds on Wellock Road following a report of a vehicle driving on the grass between two schools EPS received a report of an attempted fraud The complainant said she received phone calls from someone claiming to be from her credit card company She did not provide any information and hung up Police are also investigating a report of criminal harassment A report of a hit-and-run in a local business parking lot is also under investigation Police were dispatched to a business after a small plastic bag containing a suspicious substance was found in a bathroom Officers determined the substance was an illicit drug and disposed of it EPS received a report of suspicious individuals in the north part of the city Officers made contact and determined the individuals were collecting bottles They were cautioned not to enter private property while searching for recyclables An electric bicycle that had been reported stolen was located and returned to the owner ESTEVAN - Estevan city council heard an appeal during the April 7 meeting from a local woman about a proposed development on Drader Street in the northern part of the city appeared before council during a public hearing She told council she received notice about the proposal to create the three lots in her area including one on the south side of the street adjacent to her property my family has been the ones who have maintained that property – cutting the grass controlling the weeds … planting the trees and have spent thousands of dollars each year," said Michel She said she spoke with land development services Richard Neufeld a month and a half ago regarding her concerns and she said she was told the city had already entered into an agreement in principle for the sale of the property Michel went on to say she and her husband approached the city to purchase the vacant lot more than a decade ago They went before the city council of the day and their request was denied as the property was needed for drainage and they were told the city would never sell it "Now I am told that a random citizen approached the city to zone it and sell it to them and it is being done without any regard of our previous requests or consideration for drainage needs," she said She believes her family's previous request should be the one entertained by council Michel asked for a written response by council and next steps to be taken by April 14 so she can share it with her legal counsel Michel said they had put considerable expense into the property Dave Elliott if Michel has seen anyone from the city on the property to ensure proper drainage she replied there was a natural drain at the back of the property Shelly Veroba said Michel is the first person that she knows of who wanted to purchase property there since Veroba joined council who was on council at the time of the Michels' request wanted to know if she still had the letter from the city he said that your [the city's] records would indicate … this was brought to council and his predecessor kept pretty good records." Johnson said he couldn't recall the Michels' request said he would have to go through the request and he knows of another property owner who made a similar request more than a decade ago Kirsten Walliser wanted to know why the Michels were interested she said they wanted to create a green space They made it clear they didn't intend to build something at the site Land development services manager Richard Neufeld said he didn't receive written objections about the subdivision itself but added he was made aware of Michel's concerns Council tabled second and third readings of the subdivision request Neufeld wrote the city is commencing with the intent to create three additional residential properties on the east portion of Drader Street in north Estevan The property is undeveloped and part of a larger parcel of land approximately 31 hectares in area The land to be subdivided is generally flat with a small ridge that borders the eastern boundary of the proposed lots The property is used by area landowners for parking utility trailers Each property would be .17 hectares (.4 acres) in area with a minimum 30-metre frontage He wrote land development received some landowner inquiries for the proposed subdivision Questions related to potential impacts on surrounding agricultural land and if Drader Street would become a hard surface City engineering has recommended that sanitary services be extended to service the three proposed lots the city is looking at closing the northmost two metres of road allowance within the proposed subdivision that comprises the new lots The result will provide a uniform 20 metres along the entire street The land within the closed roadway would be included within the proposed subdivision Land development received two in-person inquiries regarding the proposed road closure from people who thought the intent was to close Drader Street in its entirety "Once the meaning of the proposed road closure was explained the issue was of no concern," Neufeld wrote The proposed road closure would not take effect until the proposed subdivision is registered at Saskatchewan land titles ESTEVAN - A member of the Estevan Police Service who is facing charges after an incident last year had his matters back in Estevan Provincial Court on March 17 Vaughn Golden's case was set aside to April 14 to be spoken to He is charged with one count each of assault mischief under $5,000 and violating his release conditions Background: The provincial Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) announced late in 2024 it had laid charges against Golden after the EPS had notified SIRT of an allegation of interpersonal violence involving the member Golden was released with several conditions administrative duties by the EPS after his arrest the EPS notified SIRT that Golden was believed to have had contact with one of the individuals despite the release order Following a review of the evidence gathered both by the EPS and SIRT it was determined that reasonable grounds existed to believe Golden had committed a Criminal Code offence Golden has been relieved of his duties and is on a paid leave under the Police Act SaskToday.ca will have updates as they become available ESTEVAN - One of the candidates to be the next MP for Souris-Moose Mountain was in Estevan on April 11 for a meet and greet Steven Bonk of the Conservative Party of Canada spoke to a crowd of more than two dozen people at the Days Inn After providing the audience with his background and touching on his experiences in the cattle industry and international trade he spent 45 minutes answering questions from the audience Bonk noted he travelled throughout North America and worked in Australia in the cattle industry while in high school and university He also spent a decade working in Europe before returning to Canada and working in the livestock sector Bonk was elected as the MLA for the Moosomin riding in 2016 and spent the next 8 1/2 years in that role for Pierre Poilievre's successful leadership bid for the Conservative Party there's not too much I don't see eye to eye with … that guy is the reason I decided to take a run at federal politics." He became the Conservative Party's candidate last August in a contested nomination Bonk noted a lot of people are really nervous about what they're seeing in the polls with the Liberals passing the Tories for the lead but Bonk cited the party's internal polling In places like Greater Toronto or Atlantic Canada and Bonk said they are on the cusp of a majority He views this as the most consequential election of his lifetime and everyone he spoke to at the Estevan event knows the importance of the election The question-and-answer session covered numerous topics Some he deferred an answer because they were provincial or municipal matters or the issue hadn't been covered in the party's platform yet Bonk said Poilievre would repeal the rules brought in by the Liberals during the past decade "It just makes no sense that a legally acquired firearm can be confiscated by the government," said Bonk The person who asked the question noted he had 250 firearms that became prohibited overnight comes from gangs from illegally-acquired firearms in the United States," said Bonk it would be just the second time in 40 years that the riding's MP wouldn't be from the Estevan area Bonk said he would maintain that connection with the Estevan area "I served as an MLA for the past eight years for all of the communities I feel a little bit bad for my home community because I actually had to ask for a bit of a free pass from them because they knew I was so busy everywhere else "But if I'm elected in this constituency I'll do my utmost to represent everyone equally fairly and to the best of my ability." Bonk noted he and Estevan-Big Muddy MLA Lori Carr spent a decade fighting the federal Liberals on jurisdictional overreach by the feds That includes energy and environmental policies Bonk cited the potential of the Canada-First National Energy Corridor announced by the Tories early in the election campaign.  it's going to unleash production of our resources like we haven't seen," said Bonk some of the most innovative producers in the world All we need to do is create the environment for them to just take off and boom here." has exposed some of the cracks that exist in the Canadian system and Bonk believes Canada needs to be more self-sufficient Bonk said Poilievre has promised the largest income tax cut in Canadian history with a 15 per cent decrease ESTEVAN - An Estevan man is being held in custody after he was arrested for three separate thefts in April was in Carlyle Provincial Court on April 9 He was remanded into custody and is expected to make an in-person appearance in court in Estevan on April 14 for a show-cause hearing it received a report of a theft of alcohol from a local retailer April 8 Members located a 22-year old man nearby who was observed to be in possession of the stolen item He was arrested and charged with theft under $5,000 He was also charged with theft of a cell phone from a previous occurrence being investigated by EPS Flatfoot was also arrested for theft of memorabilia from a local business on April 3 He is also facing multiple charges for breaching his probation Flatfoot was previously arrested a couple of times in late March and charged with 15 offences damaging a police vehicle and breaching conditions the EPS received a report of criminal harassment through social media posts that is being investigated A report was received of three individuals going through dumpsters and possibly smashing items in the downtown area Members located and spoke with the individuals A complaint was filed of criminal harassment through telephone contact is under investigation The EPS received a complaint of a theft of items from a vehicle parked in the central area of Estevan.  The matter remains under investigation A two-vehicle collision April 7 resulted in one vehicle being towed from the scene and one driver being issued a ticket under the Traffic Safety Act for failing to make a safe lane change A hit-and-run collision was reported outside of Estevan's Canada Post outlet Members attended to a report of an assault that A fraud was reported in which an individual electronically sent money to pay for travel plans after which he received an email advising that he would need to send additional money to unlock the tickets ESTEVAN - A member of the Estevan Police Service who is facing multiple charges had his matters brought forward in Estevan Provincial Court on April 14 Vaughn Golden's case was adjourned to May 5 Background: The provincial Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) announced in late 2024 it had laid charges against Golden Following a review of the evidence gathered by both the EPS and SIRT Golden has been relieved of his duties and is on paid leave under the Police Act None of the charges have been proven in court.  ESTEVAN - A member of the Estevan Police Service who is facing a number of charges had his case heard for the first time Monday in Estevan Provincial Court Vaughn Golden has been charged with assault speaking on behalf of Golden's attorney Darren Kraushaar said they are still waiting for disclosure Background: The provincial Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) announced late in 2024 that it had laid charges against Golden The officer was arrested by SIRT investigators Golden was required to refrain from having contact with multiple named parties the EPS notified SIRT that Golden was believed to have had contact with one of the individuals on the undertaking Following a comprehensive review of the evidence gathered both by the EPS and SIRT REGINA - The 2024-25 Saskatchewan budget includes a number of spending commitments for Estevan and the southeast.  said there is $2.5 million for the design phase of the new Estevan Regional Nursing Home The province has committed money to the project each of the past few years and a ground-breaking ceremony was held last fall.  The map for the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure's budget shows there is a commitment to complete Highway 18 from west of Estevan to Outram Carr said all of Highway 18 will have been resurfaced from Estevan to the junction with Highway 6 in the past few years There is also a commitment for the Rafferty Road from Highway 18 to Highway 39 "We will be rehabilitating the bridge and putting a hard top on that and then the rest of the road will get a product called MG30 it's a dust-free surface," said Carr who noted the government is working with the RM of Estevan on the project.  SaskPower will continue to work on ensuring the province has reliable and affordable power production There isn't money in the budget for the new MRI at St but Carr said the project is still proceeding with the province's blessing.  "The project is being led by Emmanuel Health so what they will do is they order the equipment they do the renovations to the building and get everything all set up obviously recruit the staff they need to run an MRI machine will be turned over to the SHA [Saskatchewan Health Authority]," said Carr She predicted it would take another full year before the MRI is operating If it were to be ready for use before the end of the 2025-26 fiscal year Carr said "obviously" the government would fund operations.  The government says it is also reducing the Education Property Tax (EPT) mill rates for all property classes to offset the impact of property revaluation and it has committed $361.8 million for municipal revenue sharing.  the budget has additional support for the new prekindergarten to Grade 12 school in Carlyle "This new school will replace and consolidate the existing Carlyle Elementary School and Gordon F The new school will accommodate up to 500 students from prekindergarten to Grade 12 and will also include a 51-space childcare centre The Town of Carlyle has secured and dedicated 21 acres of land for the new school site," states a budget document.  SaskToday will continue to have coverage on the budget.