Estevan Mercury

A sunny day on Feb. 2 left weather forecasters Wiarton Willie and Punxsutawney Phil to view their shadowy reflections and call for six more weeks of winter.

Many students at Hillcrest School have put on skates for the first time recently. Hillcrest was one of the schools from across the country which had their application selected to take part in RBC's Learn to Skate program.

Local officials were given a heads up a week ago from Health Minister Dustin Duncan that any reference to a CT scanner for St. Joseph's Hospital in Estevan may not be mentioned in next month's provincial budget.

The Estevan Bruins will have to beat some good teams if they are to avoid the survivor series this year. It's become a tradition for the Black and Gold. They've played in the SJHL's survivor series in five of the last six seasons.

As the gears of government continue to grind, it appears a decision on the bid to acquire a CT scan unit for St. Joseph's Hospital may not be included in the upcoming budget.

A panel comprised of executive members of the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation has decided that a former teacher at Midale Central School will have her teaching certificate cancelled. The ruling came on Feb. 6 at a penalty hearing in Regina.

The Estevan Comprehensive School senior girls kept it close. The senior boys, however, struggled greatly, and as a result the Elecs are in a deep hole in the 79th annual McLeod Series.

Estevan Police Service members had a busy week responding to calls regarding intoxicated citizens and they also initiated a charge of crack cocaine trafficking following a major drug bust on the night of Feb. 7.

The Bienfait Coalers have passed their first test in the Saskatchewan Hockey Association provincial playoffs. The Coalers took care of the Milestone Flyers last week in the first round of A provincials, winning 4-3 in Milestone on Feb.

The steps are cautious while the details are being tended to, but the possibility of having a significant number of wild turkeys flitting around southern Saskatchewan is closing in on reality.