• Business Cards • Coroplast Signs • Postcards CALL FOR Local. Professional. Printing. • Flyers • Vinyl Banners • Labels A FREE 1-844-GNG-NEWS (ext. 229) • Brochures • Greeting Cards • Envelopes QUOTE $150 PER COPY (GST included) www.heraldsun.ca Publications Mail Agreement No. 40006725 Friday, April 2, 2021 Serving Whitewood, Grenfell, Broadview and surrounding areas • Publishing since 1893 =VS࠮0ZZ\L COVID-19 testing clinic ELAINE ASHFIELD | GRASSLANDS NEWS Vehicles were lined up for blocks around the Whitewood Community Centre on March 29 as people took part in a drive-up COVID testing clinic. The commu- nity has seen a jump in COVID cases which resulted in the Saskatchewan Health Authority issuing a statement urging people from the community to take precautions in preventing COVID. Whitewood becomes a hot bed for COVID Businesses close and nursing home shut to visitors as cases rise in adults and youth By Elaine Ashfield be calling to cancel/reschedule appoint- “Over the past year of COVID-19 in a.m. to 2 p.m. for drop-in testing. Previ- Grasslands News ments. Thank you for understanding.” our midst, we have been fortunate not ous clinics had been held prior to this Kathleen Francis, the local veterinar- to have a huge amount of illness in the date with very low numbers dropping ian, also posted, “As some of you may community and area but unfortunately, in for testing. Whitewood has seen a spike in the know, the vet clinic is closed as I have we are now hearing of a few more cases At this Monday’s testing clinic, vehi- number of positive COVID-19 cases over tested positive for COVID. If you were at that have crept into our area. cles lined up in front of the Whitewood the past week resulting in the Saskatch- the clinic between March 19 - 25 please “This past year, we have all seen the Community Centre from the curling ewan Health Authority (SHA) issuing contact public health for contact info, 14 effects of the pandemic, forcing some re- rink entrance and continued to cir- a public alert for the town on Monday day self isolation or testing. Please take strictions and hardships on businesses cle the whole block where the centre urging people to take precautions and this message seriously as I have never and not only the businesses, but fam- is located, resulting in the last vehicle announcing the closure of the nursing been so sick in my life. Stay safe.” ilies have made some major sacrifices that was parked in line waiting, being home, except for compassionate reasons. Archibald’s Diner have notified as well with not seeing their fami- parked where the first vehicle in line SHA would not confirm how many their customers that they lies or loved ones and living was situated. Reports are that the clinic positive cases there were in the com- will be closed until fur- through the restrictions. lasted more than two hours past the al- munity, instead providing only the ther notice and Lee’s “We just want ev- lotted time due to the large turnout. case numbers for the south east zone 2, Kitchen stated, “We eryone to be aware The statement presented by the SHA which includes Broadview, Cowessess will be closed for and pull together to on Monday about the COVID-19 num- First Nation, Fairlight, Fleming, Ken- dine-in until fur- make the best of a bers in Whitewood was released due to nedy, Kenossee Lake, Kipling, Mary- ther notice due poor situation at the spike of cases that is beyond what field, Moosomin, Rocanville, Wapella, to COVID-19 in present. We are has been usual or normal over the past Wawota, Welwyn and Whitewood, which town. Thanks for close to the end year in the community. The SHA stated has a combined population of 15,366. As understanding. and are starting that there is no set rule of hitting any of Wednesday, the south east zone 2 had Take care.” to see light at the set number before notifications to the 46 active cases with three new cases re- The Town of end of the tunnel public are sent out but it is done by a de- ported while the entire south east zone Whitewood has with vaccines now cision of the medical community when has 139 active cases. A total of 35,996 also notified the being available. there is concern of the rising numbers tests have been performed in the south- community that “This reminds in any set area or community. east zones. due to the increase of me of a hockey say- Saskatchewan Health Authority Phy- While the SHA would not provide COVID-19 virus in the ing – ‘you have to play sician Executive Dr. Kevin Wasko told specifics for Whitewood, there are area, the Whitewood handi the full 60 minutes.’ So the Moosomin World Spectator on Mon- more than a dozen unconfirmed cases van service is not accepting let’s give wholeheartedly, try day, “We don’t have rising numbers reported in the town, including both any bookings for the next two weeks. to contain the virus by wearing your of variants of concern in every single adults and youth. As a result, many The situation will be re-evaluated at masks, social distance, stay home if you community. We do have rising numbers businesses have been forced to close that time to see if services are safe to are feeling ill or observe any symptoms. across rural Southern Saskatchewan in and people went into isolation in their begin again. We don’t want this virus to get any multiple communities, and it is a con- homes. Several people were reportedly Prairie Valley School Division had worse; we don’t want to lose the battle. cern,” he said. also hospitalized. also cancelled all classes in the division Everyone has sacrificed so much in the Wasko leads the Saskatchewan Over the weekend, one local business, effective last week (Thursday) and will past so we don’t want to lose now. Be Health Authority’s Integrated Rural Mon Sherry’s Haircare, posted a notice re-assess opening for Monday, April 12 aware and do your due diligence as we Health team for the southern part of the on social media stating, “We are inform- due to the increased number of cases in are not quite at the finish line. province. ing you that someone who was present various schools. Whitewood School has “If we all give wholeheartedly at this Wasko confirmed that variants of at our location has recently tested posi- 2 cases confirmed by SHA at press time. time, together we can work to contain concern are on the rise in the Moosomin tive for COVID-19. Whitewood mayor Rhett Parks spoke the virus and keep everyone safe.” area, but not to the same extent as in “As a precaution we are temporarily with Grasslands News and shared some A clinic for Drive Up Testing for Whitewood and Moose Jaw, which also closing effective March 29, 2021. We are words of concern and encouragement COVID-19 was held on Mar. 29 at the had a warning from the SHA issued. hoping to reopen April 6, 2021. We will for the community. curling rink scheduled to run from 11 - SEE COVID, 13 2 April 2, 2021 0HOYLOOH$GYDQFH:KLWHZRRG*UHQIHOO+HUDOG6XQ)RUW4X·$SSHOOH7LPHV Grasslands News Firefighting program gets back to class in July By Emily Jane Fulford be demolished and a new association with the Grasslands News facility was built in its Saskatchewan Public place.” Safety Agency, offers a It wasn’t long after thorough combination Over the past year, the that terrible bout of irony of theory and hands-on Parkland College Fire- that COVID-19 made its skills required for entry fighting Program held debut, throwing most of into a firefighting career. just outside of Melville, the globe into upheaval Part of this training re- Saskatchewan has had a and crisis. The pandemic quirement is set by the terrible run of luck. How- was also responsible for National Fire Protection ever, it looks like things the closure of many ed- Association (NFPA) and are back on track after ucational institutions incorporates practice what was a difficult year across the world, the runs and practical activ- for most of the world. country, and the prov- ities. NFPA 1001 training “On Easter weekend ince. While some pro- provides the basic train- 2019, a fire damaged an grams that focus mostly ing required for many in- under-construction class- on bookwork were able dustrial safety positions room building at Park- to be done online, pro- and is considered to be land College’s Emergency grams that required on- the starting program for Services Training Site, site training, vocational a full-time firefighter ca- east of Melville,” said training, lab work and reer. Class resumes 68%0,77('_*5$66/$1'61(:6 Brendan Wagner, Coor- group projects were not The results of both dinator, Corporate & In- able to continue as per blows to the program )LUHÀJKWLQJFODVVHVDUHVHWWRUHVXPHWKLV-XO\DW3DUNODQG&ROOHJHDIWHUWZR ternal Engagement for the normal routine. in such short succes- GHYDVWDWLQJEORZVOHIWWKHSURJUDPXQDEOHWRRSHUDWHIRUD\HDU Parkland College. “The The 14-week program, sion resulted in the col- charred structure had to which is conducted in lege having little choice but to postpone the last year’s scheduled course and wait out the storm. However, that time has now come and the new classroom is finally up and running again as the program is set to get un- derway in the summer of 2021. “There are 18 students from 10 different commu- nities in Platoon #17,” said Wagner.