Residents were left with a lot of wonder about what summer could bring us, with the extreme weather system June 15 that brought tornadoes, hail and flash floods to the area followed by several repeat tornado watches and warnings through to June 19 And then another big storm with rains, high winds and possible a tornado or two a week later, June 26. Yikes!
Graduation weekend is here. For some parents it's a sigh of relief; for others it is a day of celebration tinged with sadness. Ceremonies begin at the high school June 29 at 10 a.m. for the formal part of graduation day. Grads adorned in caps and gowns grace the high school stage one last time in a ceremony that awards the scholarships and hands out the well-earned diplomas. Later that evening, the part of the grad ceremony that lets those kids shine in their tuxes and gowns will take place at the curling arena. Congratulations, graduates and be safe!
Softball and baseball teams are in their final drives to fine-tune their teams for upcoming provincial competitions.
Teams in divisions from squirts to midgets in softball will head to various parts of the province the first two weeks of July to compete for their chance to bring Unity a provincial title in their division. Also the UK Royals junior ladies' team, which includes five Unity players will head to Moose Jaw to compete in their chance at a provincial title. Both the midget and junior teams are eligible to advance to Western Canadian championships if they are successful at their respective provincials.
Baseball divisions from squirts to midgets will be going through their rounds of district and regional playdowns to earn their chance to compete at their provincial championships throughout the province.
Peewee C provincials will be hosted in Unity July 6, 7 and 8. Seven teams will be vying for their chance at a provincial title. Why not head to the diamonds next weekend to enjoy some great competition in softball?
Watch for details on the Summer Games tryouts being held in Unity. This will send a team to the upcoming Saskatchewan Summer Games in Meadow Lake August long weekend.
And softball tryouts will also be held in Unity for bantam-aged girls to form a Zone 7 team to compete at the annual Fall Ball Zone Provincial Championship to be held in Moosimin September long weekend. The inaugural event was held in Unity last year and was a huge success. Local softball coach Brent Weber will be coaching this year's Zone 7 team along with long-time coach Don Robertson.
Unity Motocross Club is hosting a provincial motocross race at their tracks, next to the airport, July 7. They are still in need of flaggers and you can earn $500 for your club or organization by doing so. Call Carolyn or Dwaine at 228-4113.
The local pool is offering a Bronze Star course from July 23 to 27 from 10 a.m. to noon. Please register at the pool. As well, they will be offering a Discover Scuba course Aug. 18 from 9 to 1 p.m. at a cost of $40 but you must pre register. And the diving clinic will be offered Aug. 21 to 23 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
When the weather is just too darn warm during the day, you can always head down to the swimming pool. There is public swimming every evening from 7 - 8:30 and weekends from 2 - 5 p.m. The pool also offers aqua-sizes following public swimming, in the evenings during the week if you are looking for a great way to get a workout. Currently running Wednesdays until July 4 from 8:30 - 9:30 p.m., in July and August, they will run from 9 - 10 p.m.. Following aqua-sizes in July and August, there will be a moonlight swim Wednesdays from 10 - 11 p.m. Watch for posters at the pool for upcoming activities. Check with the pool at 228-2133 or the town office at 228-2621 for any details you may need on hours of operation or upcoming events.
Unity and District Heritage Museum is open for visitors. Why not take your guests there when you have visitors in town? The museum committee works diligently to have all buildings and equipment ready for visitors throughout the summer. They are also working on the finishing touches to their annual Canada Day celebrations held at the museum grounds each July 1.
Both the Summer Fun preschool program and the regular Summer Fun Centre will be starting in July. These are terrific opportunities for kids in the community to stay active and engaged during the summer months. Be sure to watch for posters or the local paper for registration details, or call the town office for more information at 228-2621.
Don't miss it! July 1 at 5:30 p.m. is the broadcast time that Unity is anxious to hear to discover if they are a finalist in this year's TSN Kraft Celebration Tour. The TSN sports team will visit 10 communities in 10 days across Canada. Check out the entry online and decide who you are going to vote for in the upcoming competition, starting July 9. Unity has had much success with hosting big events in the past and is anxious to show off these skills again with this competition.
Coffee row folks always have plenty of topics on the table. Rider fans are excited about the season opener to see what their beloved team can come up with this season. Hopes are as high as the anticipation. Many coffee row folk have kids and grandkids involved in provincial ball playdowns so there is always room at the table to talk about proud moments of these fans ... So you see we keep busy in Unity with activities and wisdom from our friends on coffee row. Until next week ...
