Ftq March26-21

Your community... your newspaper! Call 1-844-GNG-NEWS to renew subscribePSBEWFSUJTF today. $1.50 Vol. 59 No. 50 • Friday, March 26, 2021 Appeals board named in Pine Lodge dispute By Alan Hustak Grasslands News The union that represents Pine Lodge employees wants the province to rebuild the old facility which burned in Indian Head in December or find a new location for the addiction treatment centre. An attempt to re-locate the centre to Fort San failed last week when the village council voted against that idea on the grounds that a substance abuse centre does not fall within the definition of a residential care facility as set out in the zoning bylaws. Although the vote was not officially recorded, some media outlets reported that three councillors voted against Pine Lodge and that the Mayor Steve Helfrick abstained. In fact, Councillor John Naumetz said he intended to vote in favour of the re-location, but “jumped the gun” and voted no. “My intent was to vote in favour. But I made a mistake,” he told Grasslands News. Naumetz also said The Friends of Fort San, which presented its petition against Pine Lodge, made a number of misleading statements in their submission to council. “They claimed there is no room for parking. There is plenty of room for parking on the PCTC grounds; it has space for as many as 60 cars. PCTC has handled up to 100 guests without any problems.” ALAN HUSTAK | GRASSLANDS NEWS However, because Brad Williams resigned from COVID shot council before the vote was taken, the end result would 9HOYD6TXLUH O JHWVD&29,'YDFFLQHVKRWIURP-DFNLH.HOPDQ U DWWKHVHQLRU·VFHQWUHLQ)RUW4X·$S- have been the same. Even if the mayor, Steve Helfrick, SHOOH$SSUR[LPDWHO\SHRSOHUHFHLYHGWKHVKRWDWWKHFOLQLFWKDWZDVKHOGODVWZHHNHQG who is sympathetic to Pine Lodge, had voted Yes, a tie vote would have defeated the motion. The Canadian Union of Public Employees says COVID-19 council’s decision has contributed to a crisis which is creating longer and longer wait times, which could lead to even more drug related deaths than last year’s record numbers. Fort residents receive first vaccines “We have qualified addiction treatment counsellors cases in the provinces south east are protected by the vaccine, masks with years of experience who are left sitting on their By Alan Hustak Grasslands News zone which includes Fort Qu’Ap- must be worn, even after you have hands because patients can’t get to treatment. People pelle, Wolseley and Indian Head. been vaccinated.” are dying in record numbers and the province is not Saskatchewan’s daily pandemic Public health officials reported even talking about this,” said Judy Henley, president Velva Squite, one of the first update reports 151,507 doses of that as of Wednesday there were of the CUPE employees union. people in Fort Qu’Appelle to re- COVID-19 vaccine have been ad- 190 new COVID-19 cases with the James Archer, who now owns the old PCTC and ceive the Moderna Coronavirus ministered in Saskatchewan. It ran overall infection total in Saskatch- had hoped to accommodate Pine Lodge in the reno- vaccine last weekend says she was out of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vac- ewan now at 32,181. The new sev- vated building, has said he plans to take his case to impressed by the way the Saskatch- cine which was being given with- en-day average of daily cases is up the Board of Revision and Development Appeal Board. ewan Health Authority set up its out an appointment to seniors over from 146 on March 21 to 173. There Clint Krismer was named chairman of the board vaccination clinic in the senior’s 60 at the Regina drive-thru clinic. are 147 patients with COVID 19; 125 which includes Gordon Krismer as vice chair, Cam- centre. “It was a good system, in “Saskatchewan residents are are receiving inpatient care and eron Duncan as second vice chair, and members, one door, out the other,” she said. being vaccinated as fast as sup- 22 are in intensive care. To date, Kirby Bodnard, Jeff Hutton, Dave Lang, Pam Malach, “I felt perfectly fine after the poke. ply allows, and it is happening in 640,259 tests have been carried out Brenda Lauf and Christina Krismer. I never felt a thing until later that phases so people most at risk get it in the province. So far, 420 people Pine Lodge Executive director Foster Munson says day when I went to bed and rolled first, including areas with increased in Saskatchewan have died from he remains in a “bit of quandary” because he still over and my arm was a bit sore.” risk of variants of concern,” the the infection. doesn’t know whether the building that burned in In- The clinic was fully booked on Sat- SHA says in a media release. “More As of Mar. 23, 954 variants of dian Head can be rebuilt. “The Saskatchewan Health urday and Sunday, and Squire was groups and areas will be eligible as concern (VOC) have been identified Authority is attempting to make some temporary pro- among the 100 or so who signed up Saskatchewan receives more doses. by screening in the province, 45 of vision for us, but it still doesn’t have ministerial au- for the shot. Until most Saskatchewan residents which are in the South East zone. thority to do so,” he said. As of Mar. 24, there are 79 active 2 March 26, 2021 0HOYLOOH$GYDQFH:KLWHZRRG*UHQIHOO+HUDOG6XQ)RUW4X·$SSHOOH7LPHV Grasslands News Understanding the vaccines and misconceptions By Rob Paul, human body must learn how to stop clude mild fever, chills, headache, joint reaction to only one dose to provide pro- Local Journalism Initiative Reporter by creating antibodies that can fight or muscle pain, nausea and vomiting, tection from COVID-19. against it and that’s where the vaccine enlarged lymph nodes under the arm, Two doses are required. When re- comes into play. or feeling tired. As with all vaccines, ceiving the first dose of the vaccine, As Canada continues its COVID- According to the Government of Sas- there’s a chance that there will be a se- people will be provided documentation 19 vaccine rollout and works towards katchewan’s health professionals, the rious side effect, but these are rare. A of which vaccine they have received and vaccinating the general public, people mRNA vaccines teach human cells how serious side effect might be something when to return for the second dose. have questions about the specifics of to make a protein that will trigger an like an allergic reaction. All residents Even after receiving both doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines that immune response without using the will be asked to report any adverse or the vaccine, people still must wear their are being administered by health pro- live virus that causes COVID-19. Once unexpected reactions to your local pub- masks and follow all provincial health fessionals. triggered, the human body then makes lic health nurse, a pharmacist, doctor, and safety guidelines. The Government of Saskatchewan antibodies. The antibodies help fight the or nurse practitioner as soon as possi- While experts learn more about the wants all residents to feel comfortable infection if the real virus does enter the ble, the government states. protection that COVID-19 vaccines pro- receiving the vaccine when it’s read- body in the future. The vaccine is given As to why two doses of the vaccine vide under real-life conditions, it will ily available to the general population as a needle in the upper arm. The Pfizer are needed, it’s because one will not cre- be important to continue using all the and has plenty of resources accessible and Moderna vaccines will require two ate enough antibodies to fight the virus. public health protection tools available to give people a better understanding of doses. According to the governments health to help stop this pandemic, like wearing the vaccine. As of now, the vaccine is being prior- professionals, there is no evidence that a mask, washing your hands frequently COVID-19 vaccine science from the itized for health workers and high risk individuals have a sufficient antibody and maintaining physical distancing. Government of Saskatchewan: Canadians, but as it becomes more read- Scientists all over the world have ily available to the general public most worked on developing and testing Covid- people are encouraged to get vaccinated 19 vaccines. with a few exceptions. The technology was recently applied There has been some concern over to this situation, but the work has been different groups potentially struggling going on for years. to tolerate the vaccine, but other than Approved COVID-19 vaccines use pregnant women, children, and those “messenger RNA” to make the body allergic to ingredients, there is no defi- Spring produce antibodies to fight the virus. It nite reason to worry—those worried due is not DNA, and has no effect on a per- to other health risks are encouraged to son’s genes. It only triggers the body’s speak with their doctor. immune response, to help it get ready Based on the clinical trials and the to fight the virus. approval by Health Canada, the Pfizer Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are 95 vaccine can be used for anyone 16 years per cent effective in preventing people of age and over and the Moderna vac- from getting COVID-19. Two doses are cine can be used for anyone 18 years of required for the highest effectiveness. age and over. The vaccines should not at There have been no shortcuts taken be given to people who are allergic to in developing COVID-19 vaccines.

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