Shellbrook Pitcher Goes on Trip of a Lifetime

ShellbrookShellbrook ChronicleChronicle The voice of the Parkland for over 107 years VOL. 107 NO. 12 PMR #40007604 Shellbrook, Saskatchewan Thursday, March 21, 2019 www.shellbrookchronicle.com Shellbrook pitcher goes on trip of a lifetime Most kids who grow up playing baseball in a small town rarely get the opportunity to take their love of the game beyond the local diamonds. Not so for 16-year-old Ethan Bell, a pitcher and Bantam Shellbrook Rang- er who spent part of February touring Australia and New Zealand with the Saskatchewan Junior Royal Canadi- ans. The opportunity arose 18 months ago, when, in the summer of 2017, Ethan was picked up to pitch for the Wadena Wildcats at the Canadian Softball Championships. Around that time, the team’s coach, Darin Faubert, had the crazy idea to take some boys to play ball overseas. Quickly, that idea morphed into con- versations with New Zealand’s Inter- national Softball Academy, and then into frantic planning and fundraising for the trip. Then, before Ethan and his mom, Tricia Bell, knew it, they were travelling across the world with Ethan’s teammates, who were all from the Wadena, Kelvington and Foam Lake region. “It’s only a one-time thing really. There’s not going to be another chance for me to go to Australia and play ball,” Ethan said of his decision to go on the trip. “I’m very lucky to have had this expe- Shellbrook’s Ethan Bell (third from back) recently got the chance to take his love of baseball to Australia rience... and I’m very grateful for that.” and New Zealand, during 12 days of competition and sightseeing with the Saskatchewan Junior Royal Ca- The tour, which ran from Feb. 12 to nadians. Sights taken in included the Sydney Opera House. 25, saw Bell and his teammates play 11 games against teams from Australia 40 teams, from across seven age divi- And for Ethan, and his fellow pitch- says his trip to Australia and New and New Zealand, including the East sions, playing on 10 diamonds. ers on the Saskatchewan Junior Royal Zealand was a great opportunity to re- Coast Bays, Waitekere Bears, Georges “They’re very passionate about the Canadians, the learning curve on the learn the importance of patience and River, and Warwick Farm. game over there, especially in New diamonds came in the form of having mental focus, and that he can use what Over the course of those match- Zealand. When they play ball, they to throw off of a rubber mat that Tri- he’s relearned this coming ball season. es, which were played surfaces that play their hardest, and they’re really cia says differs considerably from Sas- “There weren’t many things I learned ranged from top notch ball facilities to good batters,” Ethan said, adding that katchewan’s pitching rubbers. other than patience in the batter’s box, grass infields with no fence, the team he learned a lot about how Canada can “So it was quite a bit to adjust to, but which is what I needed to practice on racked up a respectable 7-4 record. improve its game as a country. all games were very unique experienc- to choose my pitches better,” he said. And in between all of that ball – and “Canada has a long way to go with es,” she said. “It was basically learning everything taking in all the sights, sounds and men’s ball. Over there, they’re doing it For Ethan, who modestly refers to again. Throughout the winter, you experiences that both countries had great. They have big tournaments all himself as “not the greatest ball play- kind of forget it.” to offer – Ethan and his team also the time.” er,” the love of baseball stems from the With a renewed appreciation for the managed to participate in the Royal Of course, travelling to a different patience and mental focus required to game, Ethan says he can’t wait to get Navy Softball Tournament, an event in country means doing things differ- play the game. After a long winter of back to playing this spring and sum- Devonport, New Zealand that featured ently. not playing on the diamonds, Ethan mer. WE’RE NOT JUST TIRES We also specialize in: Brakes • Shocks • Alignments • Electrical Batteries • Oil Changes *See Store for Details 306.747.3142 431 Service Road E, SHELLBROOK 2 Shellbrook Chronicle www.shellbrookchronicle.com March 21, 2019 Shellbrook budget maintains infrastructure focus A few numbers may have tractor for the work. This, however, carries an at $35,480, and Tomporows- tre, and also spend another 6 per cent provincial sales changed here and there, but “Last year, we only had estimated price tag of $4.6 ki says the town will continue $10,000 on sidewalk revital- tax (PST). the Town of Shellbrook’s $100,000 [budgeted for wa- million. putting money into reserves ization. With the province prom- budget for the 2019-2020 fis- ter valve replacements] and Tomporowski says the for the rink. On the equipment front, ising an extra $10 million cal year looks a lot like last we had no bidders on our town has started putting “We don’t have a big mone- meanwhile, the town will in revenue sharing dollars year’s fiscal road map, as the work at all,” Tomporowski money into reserves in for tary stake in it. But we’ll have spend another $58,000 on for 2019-2020, Shellbrook’s town’s focus remains fixed explained. “Hopefully this the project, but notes that the some in-kind work going on, its grader loan repayment, share will climb to $304,330, on municipal infrastructure. year we’ll have some bid- recent announcement of an- for sure,” he said, noting that and plans to spend another from $288,309 in 2018- In keeping with the town’s ders,” other round of Investing in the Shellbrook Recreation $35,000 on a half-ton truck 2019. legal requirement to run bal- Sticking with infrastruc- Canada Infrastructure Pro- Project Steering Commit- and $30,000 on a wood chip- On the taxation side, anced budgets, the document ture, the budget also in- gram funding could allow tee is facing a tight timeline per. The latter item, Tompo- meanwhile, the town’s mill forecasts that municipal rev- cludes $100,000 for paving, the town to take it on sooner. to get the ice surface and rowski says, will to reduce rate will increase by 3 per enues and expenses will be but Tomporowski notes that “If there is infrastructure boards replaced by the fall. the number of trips town cent, climbing to 3.98 from dead even at $3,810,010. This half of this has already been funding available through Elsewhere, the town will employees make hauling 3.95. This comes after coun- marks a notable increase spent, because the town ex- the federal and provincial spend $53,780 to run the branches. cil opted for no tax increase from 2018’s budgeted spend- ceeded 2018’s budget for pav- governments that we have pool, $80,610 to run the Noting that small com- in last year’s budget, and ing of $3,332,840, which ing by about $55,000. This, to match a portion of, you’re camp grounds and parks, munities like Shellbrook Tomporowski says it’s mostly Shellbrook Mayor George he says, means that the town not going to turn that money and $8,610 on the Shellbrook “never have enough money”, to ensure that the town keeps Tomporowski says can be has no plans to do any paving away,” he said, noting that Museum. Tomporowski says the town pace with inflation, as well as attributed to money being this year. the cost of the project could Looking at the fire and po- would love to complete the potential unforeseen costs brought in from reserves. Also still a major expendi- easily increase, if the town is licing side of the budget, the regarding of 2nd Avenue associated with the federal At least $300,000 of the ture for the town is its annual forced to switch to gas chlori- town of Shellbrook’s share of West, but adds that the mon- carbon tax. nearly $500,000 increase $264,000 loan repayment nation in response to the en- fire fighting costs is pegged ey simply isn’t there. “We don’t really know, but in expenses is directly tied for the lagoon. vironmental protection offi- at $21,170. Meanwhile, af- “That’s a pretty major in all probability things like to infrastructure work that With that loan half way to cer’s concerns over bromide. ter revenues from fines and project because of the creek fuel, and a lot of other things, didn’t happen last year, in- being repaid, though, Tom- “In today’s world, with criminal record checks, the crossing,” he said. “It’s prob- are going to go up because cluding $200,000 for the porowski says the town will those kinds of facilities, $1 RCMP contract will cost the ably $750,000 to $1 million of the carbon tax. As a busi- continuation of the town’s likely have to turn its atten- million doesn’t buy you a town $99,300. to do that. It’s on the horizon, nessperson, you’re going to sewer relining project, and tion to the next major ex- whole lot, unfortunately,” he On that front, Tompo- but we looked at the num- pass that onto your consum- $100,000 for water valve re- penditure: the town’s water added.

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