Estevan Mercury

The new year got off to a tough start for a pair of Estevan residents after their home was destroyed by a fire Jan.2. The Estevan Fire Rescue Service says it was alerted to a blaze on the 1400 block of Fifth Street at approximately 2 a.m.

As we take our first few steps into 2012, there are many reasons to be optimistic about the year ahead.

The Weyburn Red Wings infused some youth into their alumni roster for this year's Challenge Cup against the Estevan Bruins and it paid off.

When No. 23 scored 23 seconds in, it sent a message that this game would not be like the one two days earlier.

The public section of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) is also upset with the provincial government's sudden announcement regarding an increase in funding for private schools to 50 per cent and associate schools to 80 per cent.

Small-market sports are continuing to grow in Estevan, and the turnout at last week's water polo camp was an indication that it has a future in the Energy City.

A pre-Christmas traffic blitz proved to be a success for police agencies across Saskatchewan and here in Estevan. Twenty-five people were charged with impaired driving during a province-wide traffic blitz in mid-December.

After climbing close to the 13,000 mark in 2010, Estevan's population dipped slightly in 2011, according to provincial government numbers. The covered population statistics were released in late December by the Ministry of Health.