ESTEVAN — October was a busy month in the southeast, with lots of celebrations and events for people to choose from.
Brian Wenzel gave his father's 1975 John Deere combine a second life with a restoration project, and had the unit out working in the fields during this year's harvest. His father purchased the 6600 John Deere in 1980 as an addition to his older and smaller combine.
The Estevan IG Wealth Management U13 AA Bearcats female hockey team played their first-ever game, losing 9-1 to the Saskatoon Comet Hurricanes on Oct. 1 at Affinity Place. Ruby Graf had the Bearcats' lone goal.
The RM of Enniskillen had the grand opening Oct. 1 of its new wellness centre, which has proven to be a big addition to the community. Many attended the celebration, and the Rapid Relief Team was on hand to serve lunch.
The Saskatchewan Police Commission released a report Oct. 6 on the state of the Estevan Police Service. They looked at morale in the EPS, particularly during the tenure of former police chief Paul Ladouceur, and the changes and improvements that have occurred since the arrival of new chief Rich Lowen.
Travis Patron was convicted in Estevan Provincial Court on Oct. 5 of wilful promotion of hatred against an identifiable group, in this case being Jewish people. Patron was sentenced to a year in prison two weeks later, but with time served, he is to be released in the spring.
One person suffered serious injuries after their vehicle struck several objects during a series of collisions Oct. 7 in Estevan. The motorist was later charged with impaired driving.
Lampman's Mary Anne Veroba and the rest of Hockey Canada's board announced their resignation on Oct. 11 in the wake of a series of scandals that hit the national organization. Veroba spent two years on the board after serving as the first female chairperson of Hockey Saskatchewan's board.
The ECS Elecs senior boys' and girls' volleyball teams won the Co-op Challenge showdown with the Weyburn Comprehensive School Eagles for the first time since 2018. Estevan won all four matches.
Estevan Chamber of Commerce executive director Jackie Wall was named the Executive of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada for chambers with fewer than 500 members.
Over 100 people gathered at the Estevan Market Mall for the Million Dollar Auction on Oct. 13. Eighteen items were up for grabs, with people using play money. The event was presented by the Estevan Mercury, SASKTODAY.ca, and Golden West Broadcasting's Estevan entities – CJ 1150, Sun 102.3, Rock 106 and Discover Estevan. A raffle was also included this year.
The United Way Estevan had one of its most dramatic telethons ever on Oct. 14 and 15. A last-second, $1,800 donation by Jeremy and Leanne Carlson pushed the telethon past its goal of $350,000. The off-air total was $350,053, with money going to the United Way's member agencies and community projects.
The Estevan Model Engineering Show made its return to Estevan on Oct. 15 and 16, attracting people from several Canadian provinces and American states to showcase their love of the hobby. It's the oldest event of its kind in North America.
ECS students set personal bests at the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association's cross-country championship at the Wapiti Valley Ski Hill in the Melfort area on Oct. 15.
The upgraded port of entry at North Portal officially opened Oct. 18. Construction work for this project began in May 2018, while planning, designing and contracting started earlier. The upgrades have improved traffic flow at the border crossing, which is Saskatchewan's busiest.
The Southern Plains Co-op invited the community to join them in celebrating the grand opening of its new Agro Centre on Oct. 20.
Last year's champs, the Estevan Coldwell Banker Choice Real Estate U12 Chargers lost the league final 28-26 in overtime to the Moose Jaw Lions on Oct. 22. Two-point convert attempts were needed to decide the winner.
The men's and women's masters curling provincials were held at the Power Dodge Curling Centre from Oct. 20-23. Nine over-60 men's teams and six women's teams were entered. A couple of local teams were entered in senior men's.
The Estevan, Carlyle and Carnduff RCMP detachments teamed up to host an RCMP regimental ball, which attracted nearly 150 people to the Beefeater Plaza.
The After Harvest Party on Oct. 22 proved to be a great night in Lampman. Not only did MC Rod Pedersen and guest speaker Stu Grimson entertain the crowd, but the event raised big funds for upgrades to the ice plant at the Lampman Arena and Curling Rink.
The Estevan Sharks hosted a home tournament on Oct. 23, with athletes from other communities joining local competitors for the games.
Estevan city council voted at its Oct. 24 meeting to wait until after the current hockey season to install the new score clock at Affinity Place. The clock is the legacy project from the 2022 Centennial Cup.
Estevan's Erin Wilson was recognized for her many years of service when she was inducted into the Order of the Red Cross during an event in Toronto on Oct. 24.
Carter Beck (Male Player of the Year), Carter Williamson (top junior umpire) and Kent Phillips of Performance Pump (Sponsor of the Year) were presented with awards by Baseball Saskatchewan at year-end banquet.
The Southern Plains Co-op's Trail of Terror on Oct. 28 attracted thousands of people to the Preddy Trails at Woodlawn Regional Park.
