Saskatchewan athletes earn 11 medals at Olympics
Premier Brad Wall congratulated all of the Saskatchewan athletes, volunteers and other participants on a very successful Olympic showing.
"Saskatchewan athletes earned an impressive 11 medals in total," Wall said. "Nine of those medals are gold, one silver and one bronze."
Medal recipients included Corinne Bartel, Silver in Women's Curling; Ryan Getzlaf, Gold in Men's Ice Hockey; Ben Hebert, Gold in Men's Curling; Gina Kingsbury, Gold in Women's Ice Hockey; Lucas Makowsky, Gold in Speed Skating Team Pursuit; Patrick Marleau, Gold in Men's Ice Hockey; Meaghan Mikkelson, Gold in Women's Ice Hockey; Brenden Morrow, Gold in Men's Ice Hockey; Lyndon Rush, Bronze in Men's Bobsleigh; Colleen Sostorics, Gold in Women's Ice Hockey; and Hayley Wickenheiser, Gold in Women's Ice Hockey.
"I want to say a heartfelt congratulations to all our Saskatchewan athletes," Wall said. "They represented our province and our country incredibly well. We are proud to call you our own."
The Saskatchewan Pavilion closed on February 29 after 17 days at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. More than 120,000 people passed through the pavilion over the course of the Games.
"We had people from Australia, China, Germany, Poland, Saudi Arabia - literally from all over the world - visit our pavilion," Wall said. "We told an international audience that Saskatchewan is a great place to make a living and to make a life."
Visitors were exposed to all aspects of Saskatchewan, including the province's economy, industry, food and entertainment. They were also greeted by friendly staff and 150 volunteers from Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan people were also involved in other ways at the games as officials, coaches and in other roles.
"This was an incredible experience," Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Dustin Duncan said. "I can't believe it is over. We put on a fantastic show and I am proud of our team and proud to be from Saskatchewan."

Police deal with careless drivers
Weyburn Police Service report for February 22 to 28:
*On February 28, at approximately 2:30 p.m. an accident occurred at 16th Street and Coteau Avenue. A female driver was north bound on 16th Street while talking on her cell phone and lost control of her vehicle. The vehicle veered off to the right and struck the SaskTel and Access Communication distribution mains that are on that corner, knocking out a large portion of the city's SaskTel and Access services. Charges have been laid in this matter.
*On February 24, police attended a South Hill residence responding to a complaint of damage to a vehicle. A person or persons appeared to have taken a baseball bat to the driver's side of the vehicle. Investigation into this matter is continuing.
*Police received a complaint of a youth shooting paintballs from his vehicle. The vehicle was stopped and the youth was charged.
*The City of Weyburn has amended Bylaw 2010-3168 which deals with public fighting. The amendment has raised the fine for a violation of the bylaw to $500.
*Police attended to 86 calls for service during this reporting period.

Pink girls on parade

\(L-R) Weyburn Sparks Soraya Blunt and Jamie Labbie hung girl-shaped fact sheets recently in recognition of International Women's Day, March 8. The pink paper "girls" contain information about women worldwide, obtained from the International Women's Day website. The Weyburn Girl Guides are displaying the fact sheets at public locations to bring attention to women's issues.

City considers plans for Souris Valley Hospital site


One of five Souris Valley Hospital site concept plans.



(L-R) Ken Linnen of Stantec Consulting showed City Councillor Dick Michel the Souris Valley Hospital commemorative space that is planned on each of the five site concept plans presented by Stantec at an open house on February 25.

The City of Weyburn is seeking public input to assist them in establishing a plan for future development of the former Souris Valley site.
The City hired Stantec Consulting to create several concept plans for the site. An open house highlighting five of these plans was held at the Royal Canadian Legion on February 25. Consultants from Stantec and members of the City were there to answer questions.
The five concept plans focus on several potential uses for the site including residential, educational, recreational, health care and office space.
"Some of the plans are quite similar," said Stantec consultant Ken Linnen. "Through earlier dialogue with the City we determined a few fundamental land uses that were appropriate."
Linnen said that the plans have a few consistent elements among them such as the existing buildings including Tatagwa View, Public Health Services and SaskPower, which will remain. Another consistent element is a central commemorative space for the City's Souris Valley Hospital memorial and the existing Tatagwa Parkway paths.
The City will have the concept plans at City Hall for public display and are seeking feedback from residents.

Tourism Saskatchewan award nominees
The Weyburn and District Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with Weyburn Tourism are congratulating two businesses that have been nominated for Awards of Excellence from Tourism
Saskatchewan.
"The Canalta Hotel has been nominated as Rookie of the Year, and Harbour View Bed & Breakfast has been nominated for the Service Excellence Award from Tourism Saskatchewan," announced Weyburn Tourism Manager Lacey Johnson. "We're very proud to have two nominees from our area."
The Canalta Hotel opened in Weyburn in August, 2009. The Harbour View Bed & Breakfast is situated on the banks of the Rafferty Reservoir near Mainprize Regional Park.
"Being recognized by Tourism Saskatchewan is a great honour, and we expect both the Canalta and Harbour View to do well at the awards," concluded Johnson.
"Clearly Weyburn's business community is causing not only the rest of the province to take notice, but indeed the entire country," said Chamber Manger Jeff Richards. "As we continue to build and attract world class businesses, we can expect to see more visitors and awards. The Chamber is proud to have two of our members nominated for Tourism Saskatchewan Awards of Excellence, and we wish them the best of luck."
The winners will be announced at the Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence Gala on March 15.

Saskatchewan's revenues increase despite potash decline
Saskatchewan's fiscal position has found some traction in the latest financial update as the province experienced an overall revenue improvement since mid-year.
The Third Quarter Financial Report released on March 2 shows revenue is up since mid-year due to higher oil revenue, Crown Land sales and additional taxes generated from stronger-than-anticipated income growth.
This increase has more than offset further declines in potash revenue, which saw an unprecedented decline in sales volumes in 2009.
The potash forecast is now negative. At the end of March 2009, the potash industry made instalment payments equal to 25 percent of their full calendar year profit estimates. These estimates were too optimistic and, as a result, these payments have to be refunded. The refunds will exceed revenues collected this year by $203.9 million.
However, the net result shows revenue at third quarter is forecast to be $153.8 million (1.6 percent) higher than at mid-year, thanks mainly to increases in oil and tax revenues.
Debt levels remained unchanged at $4.2 billion, and the third quarter report projects a General Revenue Fund surplus of $424.5 million, also unchanged and requiring a lesser drawdown from the Growth and Financial Security Fund (GFSF) than previously forecast at mid-year. The year-end GFSF balance is now projected at $705 million, an increase of $54.2 million since mid-year.
Expenses are anticipated to increase by $99.6 million from mid-year to address specific priorities and pressures mainly at Health, Municipal Affairs, the Public Service Commission and Social Services.
These increases were partially offset by decreases at the ministries of Agriculture, Highways and Infrastructure, Finance and a reduction in total debt servicing costs.
"Our government will continue to meet the fiscal challenges we currently face in a prudent and responsible manner as we prepare for this month's Budget," Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer said. "By controlling spending and making responsible choices, our government will deliver a balanced, forward-looking budget."
Gantefoer has announced that Budget 2010-11 will be delivered on March 24.

New local business to serve oil and gas sector
The Weyburn and district Chamber of Commerce and the City of Weyburn welcomed a new business to town that will serve the booming oil and gas sector.
BAR Engineering is expanding its project/mechanical, electrical/instrumentation, structural, municipal and building systems engineering firm by opening an office in Weyburn. They provide service to the oil and gas sector through a variety of means including heavy oil batteries, salt water disposal facilities, flow lines, gas compression, cavern facilities, thermal recovery, refinery and pipeline projects.
Primary shareholders Kent Smith and Neil Noble made a presentation at City Hall on February 25 to discuss their business plans for Weyburn.
"We're a small firm and we provide hands-on service," said Smith.
Smith said that the firm researched the area, including Estevan and Moose Jaw, and its business opportunities for over a year before deciding on Weyburn as the site for their new office. The office will be located on Railway Avenue and will be home-base to BAR's engineering manager Tom Korte.
"I look forward to doing work with local business and local people," said Korte.
The firm currently has a 60-employee firm in Lloydminster, Alberta.

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