Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Visitors boost local business

Independent businesses see many out of town customers

A Tourism Moose Jaw trolley drives downtown on July 31, 2015.
Tourists have been good for local businesses this summer.
Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

By Lisa Goudy

Many local businesses have been seeing several out of town folks this summer.

"The local traffic's a little soft, but as far as tourism, we've had lots," said Rick Klein, owner of Clothes Encounter. "It seems to be very strong the last two or three weeks."

Klein said at his store, he sees many repeat customers.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: 'Be not afraid'

Local pastors say churches remain safe and welcoming

St. Andrew's United Church
is seen on July 31, 2015
Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

By Lisa Goudy

Rev. Jim Tenford of St. Andrew's United Church doesn't believe people should spread fear in churches.

"I think sometimes if we focus on the negatives of life, it can almost become self-fulfilling," he said. "I know that some churches in the States have started talking about arming their pastors and bringing in security guards. Churches are supposed to be safe ...

"I would not risk that by starting to be paranoid about who's out to get us. This is a place of safety and healing and I think we'll hold onto that."

Last week, three hooded men took photos of the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto synagogue and yelled threats. Following the incident, churches were encouraged to increase security in Canada, according to Christians United for Israel (CUFI) Canada.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Lisa's Corner: Warping into Earth 2.0

By Lisa Goudy

Our planet now has a cousin.

Recently, scientists discovered Kepler 452b, a far-away planet that closely resembles Earth, from what is believed based on what scientists can see - a brief dimming of its parent star. It's also known as Earth 2.0.

The Kepler Space Telescope estimates 452b is 60 per cent bigger than Earth and is in a 385-day orbit around a yellow star that's 20 per cent bigger than our sun. It's estimated to have a mass five times greater than Earth.

From this, I wonder: What type of life, if any, exists on this planet? What about an alien species, plants or animal life?

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Questions surround proposed potash project

YanCoal Potash development could strain Buffalo Pound reservoir

By Lisa Goudy

PC Party of Saskatchewan Leader Rick Swenson believes there are too many unanswered environmental questions around the YanCoal Potash development.

"A number of them have been raised for quite some time and nothing's been done about it," he said.

However, Brady Pollock, acting director of the environmental assessment branch with the Ministry of Environment, said the project hasn't been approved.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Calculating Moose Jaw's financial rank

City of Moose Jaw releases 2014 audited financial statements

Councillors look at the city's 2014 audited financial
statements at the July 27, 2015 council meeting.
Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

By Lisa Goudy

According to Brian Acker, director of financial services, Moose Jaw's financial position is "very favourable" compared to other Saskatchewan cities.

Coun. Brian Swanson, however, would disagree.

"Some of the other cities actually have net debt," said Acker, citing Prince Albert's net debt at $3.5 million and stating Regina and Saskatoon have smaller net financial assets because of large capital expenses.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Talking about potential transit changes

Executive committee to discuss possible amendments to transit

By Lisa Goudy


There is currently no bus route to serve the new hospital, set to open in October, on Diefenbaker Drive.

"Athabasca East is the closest route, but in order to serve that, we need to increase the run time by approximately 10 minutes around the city," said Mark Sture, transit manager with the city.

"Given that would put that particular route out of synchronization with everything else, it's an opportune time to look at serving some of those other growth areas."

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Personnel committee passes changes to fire dep't

Deputy fire chief Brian Wilson says the changes will increase public safety

By Lisa Goudy


Brian Wilson recognizes that change is hard.

That said, he also believes the recent changes to the Moose Jaw Fire Department will increase public safety.

"All change can be, I guess, a challenge to wrap your head around and fully understand, but this was all done with public safety in mind," said Wilson, deputy fire chief. "What the department wants to be able to do is provide a safe, efficient, effective and ultimately sustainable fire department to meet the needs of our community."

In the July 24 edition of the Times-Herald, there was an open letter printed from the Moose Jaw Professional Firefighters Association outlining their concerns following the layoffs of the five members of the local call centre dispatch team on July 17.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: The day after the storm

Clean-up efforts were underway in the city on Wednesday

By Lisa Goudy

Tree damage is seen on the 1300 block
of Montgomery Street on July 29, 2015.
Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald    

For Kelly Mentanko and his staff, it's not easy seeing a tree that's been there for decades get uprooted.  

This was, however, the case for several trees that were uprooted around the city on Tuesday because of the storm, which included winds gusting up to 90 kilometers an hour.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: City pelted by rain and wind

Rainfall and windfall warnings were in place Tuesday

A tree fell onto the street on the 100 block
of Ominica Street West on July 28, 2015
amid heavy rain and wind in Moose Jaw.
Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

By Lisa Goudy

With constant rain and high winds, fallen trees and broken branches were a common sight in Moose Jaw on Tuesday.

The city - as well as much of southern Saskatchewan - spent most of the day under a rainfall and wind warning.

However, as of late Tuesday afternoon, Patrick Boyle, spokesperson with the Water Security Agency, said there hadn't been many calls, although he is expecting more phone calls Wednesday morning.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Comparing wages at two city halls

Moose Jaw, Prince Albert release 2014 municipal accounts detailing salaries

Moose Jaw city hall is pictured.
Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

On average, city employees and councillors in Moose Jaw make less than their counterparts in Prince Albert.

This week, the City of Moose Jaw and the City of Prince Albert released their 2014 municipal accounts, which details the salary and job title of all city employees earning over $50,000. It also includes council’s salaries and expenses, as well as any contractual expenses and grant of $50,000 or more.

But that’s not to say it’s fair to compare the two cities.

“I think that in terms of the municipal sector, although we have similar roles, we do have vastly different areas of responsibility and authority,” said Al Bromley, director of human resources with the City of Moose Jaw.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: A fellowship stretches from Kansas to Moose Jaw

Guests from nine churches in Kansas are visiting the Friendly City

 A group from Kansas dances and sings during
Vacation Bible School at Calvary Baptist
Church in the morning of July 28, 2015.
Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

By Lisa Goudy

Upon coming to Moose Jaw from Kansas, Richard Taylor noticed several similarities.

"This area is a lot like where we live in Kansas," he said on Tuesday, wearing a Saskatchewan Roughriders hat. "It's a cultural exchange, but when you think of it we have a lot in common. In a sense, we are family. We just haven't met this part of the family yet."

"We share a common faith," added Pastor Bob Butt of Calvary Baptist Church, wearing a Kansas City Royals hat.

Taylor, who is the director of missions with the Flint Hills Baptist Association in Kansas, helped organize a group of 22 guests from nine different churches come to Moose Jaw this week at Calvary Baptist Church for fellowship and volunteer work.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Revised changes to Main and Thatcher approved

Affected business and property owners relay concerns; council approves project

John LaBuick of LaBuick Investments Inc. addresses
city council on behalf of concerned business and
property owners regarding the changes coming
to Thatcher Drive, Main Street and the service
roads at the July 27, 2015  council meeting.
Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

By Lisa Goudy

Despite concerns raised by affected business owners, councillors decided to go ahead with the work on Thatcher Drive and Main Street.

At Monday's council meeting, the majority of councillors voted in favour of a revised option that would include building an approach off of Main Street and a U-turn lane. This increased the cost of the project by $165,000 and the source of those funds will be from the land development reserve. It will also reduce the operating grant the city receives from the province.

"Everyone in the gallery has something that they would like to see with their particular business," said Coun. Candis Kirkpatrick.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: An investment into arenas

Federal gov’t provides funding to Pla-Mor Palace, Pense Memorial Rink

 Mayor Deb Higgins talks with Ray Boughen, MP for
Palliser, after the funding announcement from the
federal government to support upgrades to the
Pla-Mor Palace in the City of Moose Jaw and the Pense
Memorial Rink in the Town of Pense on July 27, 2015.
Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

By Lisa Goudy

Users of the Pla-Mor Palace Arena and the Pense Memorial Rink will be noticing some improvements soon.

On Monday, the federal government announced the funding of $482,547 for upgrades to the Pla-Mor Palace Arena and the funding of $123,500 for renovations to the Pense Memorial Rink.

"We here in Moose Jaw are going to have some rink projects that are in need of repair, so we're tickled about that," said Ray Boughen, MP for Palliser, after the funding announcement was made. "Buildings don't fix themselves."

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: All smiles while dancing and singing

Two Moose Jaw performers loving their time with Sask. Express

Tanner Schier (centre) and Miranda Rose (right) of
Moose Jaw perform during the Saskatchewan Express
performance at the Mae Wilson Theatre at the
Moose Jaw Cultural Centre on July 22, 2015.
Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

By Lisa Goudy

Soon, Tanner Schier and Miranda Rose of Moose Jaw hope to be dancing with Disney Live on a cruise ship.

On Wednesday night, they were seen on stage at the Mae Wilson Theatre at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre as part of the Saskatchewan Express’ high-energy 35^th anniversary summer tour, ‘Here’s to Us!’

“It’s been a completely new experience travelling around with everybody. It’s lots of fun,” said Schier.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: ‘Starting a family of 10’

Couple builds care home from ground up; opening planned for fall

Lauren Kleckner and Victor Salzsauler stand
outside the front entrance of their care home,
Memories on Brigham Road, on July 22, 2015.
Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

By Lisa Goudy

Lauren Kleckner and Victor Salzsauler didn’t plan on building a care home in Moose Jaw.

“Originally when I bought these two vacant lots, I was thinking about building a duplex. I was all excited and I phoned my friend in Saskatoon and said, ‘I’m going to build a duplex’ and he said, ‘Hmm. What are you doing that for? Why don’t you build a care home like you did in Saskatoon?” said Salzsauler.

“Then I couldn’t get the idea out of my head … A week later, I was drafting.”

Now their care home, Memories on Brigham Road, is set to open in early fall. It is located at 27 Brigham Rd. in the Westheath subdivision.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Expanding options for blood work

FHHR hopes to ease pressures in early-morning hours

By Lisa Goudy

Starting on Monday, residents' waiting time for blood work should be alleviated.

That's when Crescent View Clinic's laboratory blood work services will be available at 131 First Ave. N.E. starting at 7:30 a.m., the same time as the lab at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital.

It will be the third lab location in the city in addition to Alliance Medical on South Hill at 890A Lillooet St. W. and Professional Medical Associates at 550 Main St. N.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Talking about parking at Crescent View

Resident raises potential concerns about parking

By Lisa Goudy

The Crescent View Clinic has moved back to its First Avenue location, but resident Clarice Palsich has concerns about parking.

All of the parking out front of the building at 131 First Ave. N.E. is metered.

"I'm very disappointed. I don't know where anybody's going to park," said Palsich, a retired lab technician and employee at the former Providence Hospital.

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Moose Jaw Times-Herald: A new home

Change of command of 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School

Col. Alexander Day, 15 Wing Commander
(front right) and Lt. Col. David Smith,
new command of 2 Canadian Forces Flying
Training School, inspect the parade during
the change of command ceremony at
15 Wing Moose Jaw on July 20, 2015.
Lisa Goudy/Times-Herald

By Lisa Goudy

Monday felt like a homecoming for Lt. Col. David Smith.

“It’s by far the easiest move we’ve had for our family. It’s like we never left,” he said. “It’s fabulous. We know where everything is. The children are comfortable. It’s great. We’re happy to be here in every sense of the word.”

Following a change of command ceremony and parade on Monday afternoon, Smith officially became command of 2 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at 15 Wing Moose Jaw.

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