FOR FEBRUARY 20, 2012
 Silver lining for Kaatz
By Mark T. Buss
For Selena Kaatz, the 2012 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Curling Championships is memorable for many reasons.
The Beausejour curler and her St. Vital teammates finished first overall after round robin play in Napanee, Ont. Feb. 4 to 12, they earned a berth into the gold medal final, and three of four members of the team – including Kaatz – were named first team all-stars.
Unfortunately, the Manitoba rink didn’t earn the top prize as they dropped a 12-6 decision to Alberta’s Jocelyn Peterman, leaving Kaatz and company with a silver medal.
 Oak Bank students make a difference
By Dianne Hamill
A little bug is having a big impact on the students at Oak Bank Elementary School.
Since September, staff and students have been learning about homelessness and poverty while making a difference in lives of those less fortunate through their involvement with the Ladybug Foundation.
Started in Winnipeg in 2004 by then eight-year-old Hannah Taylor, the foundation has gone on to raise over $2 million in cash and donations for homeless projects throughout Canada. Providing food, shelter and other needs, support for the program has come from various fund raising events including donations from the business sector and entertainment events.
And now Oak Bank students can proudly add their name to that list of supporters.
“We wanted to be involved in something the whole school could understand,” principal Gwen MacFadyen said about the decision to become a part of the Foundation’s ‘MakeChange’ education project.
Ready, set, fish!
By Lory Mitton
March 10 will be the long anticipated day of the sixth annual Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby, and as it approaches, residents are coming together to ensure its success.
“It takes a lot of people to pull off an event of this size,” explains derby coordinator Kim Buhay.
As many as 1,100 anglers, of all ages, take part in the derby, hoping their catch will reel in the $10,000 grand prize. With 50 available awards, over $25,000 worth of prizes are up for grabs.
For the near 100 volunteers, the derby is something they look forward to every year.
“It all comes together pretty quick. People are amazing,” Buhay said of the help. “It’s a good vibe out on the ice surface.”
 Destination ImagiNation
By Lory Mitton
Sunrise School Division is spreading the word about a unique educational program that is preparing young people today for the unknown challenges they will face in the future.
Entitled Destination ImagiNation, the program is a collaborative endeavour involving student teams of two to seven participants in creative problem solving.
After a team from Edward Schreyer School (ESS) in Beausejour finished 15th in the global competition last year, Sunrise is seeking to get more schools involved.
 'Go big or go home'
By Dianne Hamill
He’s an unknown on the political scene and has never run for public office – not exactly someone you’d expect to see in the federal Liberal leadership race.
But Shane Geschiere says that his anonymity and inexperience are likely two of his greatest assets as he prepares to face off against some of the well-known faces that make-up Ottawa’s parliamentary landscape.
“We’ve had experienced leaders before – where has it gotten us? It’s time to review why and how we do things. We need a game changer, ” Geschiere said.
A member of the Liberal party for just a few weeks, the 32-year-old Oakbank resident said he has always had an interest in politics but only recently decided it was time to ‘step-up’ and try to change the direction the party and the country are headed.
“We can’t complain unless we do something about what’s going on.”
Citing the recent decline in Liberal support across the country, Geschiere said he hopes to inject new energy into the flailing party.
“This is an opportunity for change. There’s no better time to lead. This is an opportunity to go in and make a difference. It’s time to go big or go home.”
 Discharge route error discovered
By Mark T. Buss
The discovery of a provincial error regarding Beausejour’s sewage lagoon discharge route has council hoping provincial regulations on the lagoon’s discharge frequency will be loosened this fall.
Beausejour has submitted a minor alteration request to Manitoba Conservation regarding the environmental licence on their sewage lagoon by asking for an increase in discharge days over the summer from May 15 to Oct. 31.
The request comes after a 20-plus year discrepancy in the distance the treated effluent travels from the lagoon to the Brokenhead River was recently discovered.
In the past, the province believed the discharge route from the lagoon was a mere two kilometres from the cells north of Beausejour as it travelled east along Highway 44 directly to the Brokenhead River.
Because of the short proximity, the province had very strict and unrealistic guidelines on when Beausejour could release the treated water, according to Beausejour Mayor Brad Saluk.
 RM called on the carpet
By Marlene Watson
The discovery of a provincial error regarding Beausejour’s sewage lagoon discharge route has council hoping provincial regulations on the lagoon’s discharge frequency will be loosened this fall.
Beausejour has submitted a minor alteration request to Manitoba Conservation regarding the environmental licence on their sewage lagoon by asking for an increase in discharge days over the summer from May 15 to Oct. 31.
The request comes after a 20-plus year discrepancy in the distance the treated effluent travels from the lagoon to the Brokenhead River was recently discovered.
In the past, the province believed the discharge route from the lagoon was a mere two kilometres from the cells north of Beausejour as it travelled east along Highway 44 directly to the Brokenhead River.
 Strathcona provincial curlers coming to BCC
By Mark T. Buss
Beausejour will again be in the provincial curling spotlight next weekend as the Strathcona Senior Mens Provincial Curling Championships will spring from the hack at the Beausejour Curling Club Feb. 23 to 27.
Event co-chairs Doug May and Daphne Keck say next weekend’s bonspiel will cement Beausejour’s reputation for hosting provincial-calibre curling events.
“We last hosted this event in 2008 and it was very successful,” May said. “Curl Manitoba thought we did such a good job last time that when the opportunity to host this came up again they didn’t hesitate in awarding it to us.”
Beausejour landing the senior event also comes on the heels of hosting one of the most successful Safeway provincial mens curling championships last February.
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