Meladv May28-21
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE MELVILLE Friday, $1.50 PER COPY GST INCLUDED May 28, 2021 Vol. 95 No. 17 Agreement # 40011922 PROUDLY SERVING MELVILLE AND SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1929 • WWW.GRASSLANDSNEWS.CA • 1-306-728-5448 Ice storm devastates Melville Ice storm cleanup CHRIS ASHFIELD | GRASSLANDS NEWS Dustin Harrick cuts away a tree that fell onto a camper in front of his house on Quebec Street after it snapped from the weight of ice during the May 21 ice storm that struck Melville. Much of the city was left in a disaster from the storm, which downed thousands of trees and branches and caused the closure of a number of streets and all public spaces in the city. See more photos on page 2. By Emily Jane Fulford city. situation to be a state of emergency. ing power outages and an additional Grasslands News “It was early Friday morning in Shortly after, a cavalry of aid showed six vegetation management employees the range of 4:30 to 5 a.m. and Jeremy up including SaskPower and multiple to help clear branches and trees from Fairbarn and I took a tour around the tree removal services. service lines. The storm that brought Just days after a blaze in the city city and there were branches falling “Whether it be forest fires, flood or the devastation also brought with it a that took multiple firefighters to deal down, at that time there were roads you others, one of the first things you do is show of community support across the with, Melville was hit once again with couldn’t travel down because of the fall- you try to evaluate the circumstances city as neighbour helped neighbour a major disaster, one where mother ing branches. So we organized a work- you have to work within, identify the and countless people stepped in to help nature did an about-face and changed force; public works rolled out at around risks and measure your capacity and clean up trees. The Melville Golf and the landscape from one of late summer seven on Friday morning and by eight workforce and amount of equipment,” Country Club put out a call on Monday conditions to something usually seen in the morning we re-directed parks explains McCullough. “It became abun- looking for 10 to 15 volunteers to help in the winter months. While the results and recreation staff to join us, and even dantly clear that we wouldn’t have the clean up the course and more than 50 may have been good for anybody with a at that point there were lots of branches resources to manage this by ourselves people turned up bringing with them 14 truck, a chainsaw, and a wood-burning and trees still coming down. Our pri- and so one of the things that we decided trucks, 8 trailers and many chainsaws stove, the storm devastated many yards mary focus was just clearing them up to do was to assist residents as much as and other tools to help remove fallen and left a number of citizens without and clearing the streets and not tack- possible.” trees and branches. power through the long weekend. ling anything that was dangerous at Melville opened up the landfill to While it is speculated that there may “The grass fire incident was short that point.” residents for free disposal of organic be a high cost associated with the mess and fast and intense and we were at To make matters worse, the forecast debris until May 29th. For individuals that the storm caused to Melville, the the point of declaring it under control that day called for continuing rain and who do not have access to larger vehi- silver lining is in the foreseeable end and out and then the rain and ice storm ice to add to that which was already cles or cannot make those trips, fallen that the storm brought to the dry spells happened,” explains Melville City Man- built up. After that rain added more ice trees and branches were taken curbside which threatened crops and were re- ager, Ron McCullough. “We went from and more weight to the trees and the for pickup by the city as well as Better sponsible for the grass fires in previous fire to ice in about 48 hours flat.” branches, the mess continued to pile up. Call Cleaning, who chipped in to pick weeks. What sounded like sharp cracks of In order to secure the aid, including up loads of wood from yards around As the city continues to clean up de- thunder for miles around Melville were the use of equipment and human re- town. bris from the neighbourhood, residents actually the sounds of large limbs snap- sources from neighbouring communi- As of Sunday evening, SaskPower are encouraged to visit www.melville.ca ping off of hundreds of trees around the ties, The City of Melville declared the had 48 workers in Melville address- for updates on the progress. FREE DELIVERY Melville, Grayson & Neudorf by calling 306-728-5625 or to shop online go to... shop.rubiconpharmacies.com/royal-drug-mart/ New Business Hours: 306-728-5625 Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 135 - 3rd Ave. E. Melville, SK Holidays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 2 May 28, 2021 0HOYLOOH$GYDQFH:KLWHZRRG*UHQIHOO+HUDOG6XQ)RUW4X·$SSHOOH7LPHV Grasslands News Melville trees snap, crackle and break from freezing ice Stripped bare CHRIS ASHFIELD | GRASSLANDS NEWS This popular tree on Dielscheinder Road and Fourth Avenue West was nearly peeled of all the branches and leaves. Just missed LLOYD SCHMIDT | GRASSLANDS NEWS This truck at Queen Street and Eighth Avenue West narrowly escaped the branches that broke after the ice storm that hit Melville and area on Friday, May 21. Property damaged ALAN HUSTAK | GRASSLANDS NEWS 5RQ+DVNHOO·VPHWDOJDUGHQVKHGGLGQRWVXUYLYHWKHZUDWKWKDWWKLVWUHHGLG to it following the city-wide devastation last Friday. Windshield ice ALAN HUSTAK | GRASSLANDS NEWS Mark Keller scrapes the ice of the windshield on Friday morning. Broken branches can be seen on the grass behind him. Uprooted elm CHRIS ASHFIELD | GRASSLANDS NEWS This tree broke at the base at City Hall on the corner of Main Street and Fourth Avenue East. SaskPower was repairing power lines, as many cus- tomers were without power that stretched into the weekend. Cleaning up debris LLOYD SCHMIDT | GRASSLANDS NEWS Karate kick EMILY FULFORD | GRASSLANDS NEWS City workers on the 100 block Eighth West tackle the huge job of cleaning up Mother nature came out kicking on Friday morning, knocking down dozens PHVVRI)ULGD\·VWUDJLFLFHVWRUP7KHFOHDQXSFRQWLQXHGRYHUWKHZHHNHQG of trees and causing havoc across the city, like the Sil Foo Kung Fu building and into the following week. on Main Street and Sixth Avenue West. www.grasslandsnews.ca 0HOYLOOH$GYDQFH:KLWHZRRG*UHQIHOO+HUDOG6XQ)RUW4X·$SSHOOH7LPHV May 28, 2021 3 Schools preparing for graduation ceremonies By Sarah Pacio helped cover the cost, and Parents are also orga- Grasslands News municipal employees will nizing a parade to allow assist with hanging the community members an banners. opportunity to share in Changes to public Last Thursday, the stu- the celebration. The pa- health orders have made dent body dressed in their rade will wind its way it difficult to plan gradu- formal attire and the through town, following ation programs this year, graduates walked down the ceremony around 7:00 but schools are finding the hall amidst applause. pm. alternatives to traditional An online assembly fol- Whitewood School has celebrations and devel- lowed, during which two scheduled its graduation oping tentative plans for of the graduates shared ceremony for June 12 at ceremonies in June. their class history. 1:00 pm. Although details Similar to last year, Graduates and staff have not yet been final- the SCC at Grenfell High members will pre-record ized, school leaders hope Community School has a ceremony to be released to hold the program in- arranged to display ban- publicly online, June 26 doors with a few family ners of the graduates at 7:00 pm. The fourteen members in attendance. along Desmond Street in graduates will each re- A parade may also be the centre of town. Za- ceive a USB copy of the organized to provide the gime First Nation and ceremony. community a chance to the Grenfell Lions Club In Broadview, banners congratulate the gradu- featuring graduates from ates. Broadview School were Fort Qu’Appelle’s Bert hung along Main Street Fox Community High at the end of April. The School will hold its grad- SCC, Broadview Lions, uation ceremony on June and Town of Broadview 17 at 7:30 pm. The pro- provided assistance and gram will likely be held financial support for this. outdoors to accommodate The school is planning the maximum number a ceremony for its six of guests permitted by graduates on June 4 at public health orders. The 5:30 pm. school is still finalizing Weather permitting, details for a venue. the program will be held Meanwhile, staff at outdoors on the school Melville Comprehensive lawn and attendance is by High School have not yet invitation only to ensure set a date for graduation compliance with gath- and are still determining ering limits imposed by the format for this year’s public health orders. celebration. Grad walk 68%0,77('_*5$66/$1'61(:6 Last week, Trenton Sangwais and his fellow graduates walked down the hall- way at Grenfell High Community School amidst applause from the rest of the student body. A Great Learning Tool FISHING for Young Readers! -=';,'+-đ3(£'!82-2+;3@3<8 3<2+'!&'89W 268-2;!2& 32£-2'T'2/3@;,'#'2');9!2& GEAR SOLD HERE £-('£32+£'!82-2+;33£9!2'>96!6'8 9<#9$8-6ধ32$!2683=-&'R Don’t tackle the season with old gear! See us,for all your Fishing supply needs! SUPPORT NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION -;,!3<2+'!&'89<#9$8-6ধ32W!££f¥f f'>9;39<#9$8-#';3&!@R 1-844-GNG-NEWS ext.