I hope you enjoyed your long weekend. I understand many farmers could be near the completion of their seeding. And the moisture has certainly given us mosquitoes to contend with, but considering we wanted to complain about that relentless surge of these pesky insects, we stopped for a moment and thought of those suffering either side of our province either by flood or fire, and we realized the mosquitoes were a small inconvenience in our lives.
The ball diamonds will host the 17th annual Miners Slo-pitch Tournament on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the grounds is free if you want to take in some fun ball entertainment. There is also a dance Saturday night featuring Paradise Road, the band who has entertained at the last two oilmen's bonspiels.
The ball diamonds continue to be busy through the week. The youngest teams through to the bantams and midgets, in both baseball and fastball, are playing league games, while travelling to tournaments on the weekends. The squirt girls' softball teams is hosting a home tournament June 4, while the bantam girls' softball host a double header against Maidstone Sunday, June 5 at 2 p.m.
May 17th was the local track meet at UCHS. Seventy-five athletes from UCHS advanced to district qualifiers in North Battleford, which were to take place on May 25 and 26. Job action by the teachers has moved this event to May 30. Junior high athletes will not get to compete in districts this year but are concentrating their shorter schedule to accommodate the senior high athletes who can move on to the provincial level.
Those advancing from districts will compete at provincials the first weekend in June and Unity has high hopes again this year.
Senior boys advancing were Michael Pool, Eric Surine, Victor Pernitsky, Dustin Ubell, Keenan Laing, Dustin Wallace, Cody Hobelsberger, Brydan Zbytovsky. Senior girls advancing were Alix Knowles, Kerry Gerein, Nicole Wagner. Junior boys who advanced were Dawson Bertoia, Dustin McAleer, Kyle Bowey and junior girls advancing to districts were Tanisha Arthur, Kaitlyn Robertson, Kelsey Wildeman, Megan Donald and Sydney David. There were numerous boys and girls advancing from midget, bantam and peewee divisions as well. Only senior high athletes are able to advance to provincials. Good luck to those athletes representing UCHS at the district meet.
The UCHS drama club entertained around 175 audience members over the three days they presented this year's drama production, Harry Potter and the Harry Potter Musical Parody. It was easy to tell how this production won several acting and technical awards at this year's drama festival. Written and directed by staff member Roxanne Mamer, the play was sure to entertain. Jason Keller displayed the most uncanny resemblance to Potter himself while his sister Hannah outdid herself as Hermoine Granger. Never to disappoint, Jonathon Neigum thoroughly enticed the laughs and giggles from all audience members with his superb ability to entertain the crowd, especially in his comedic interaction with fellow cast member Nicole Wagner, as lustful Lavender Brown. A next favourite in the cast was Rheann Jackson as the ditzy Luna Lovegood. Out of the 19 cast members and eight backstage crew, there was a standout moment or two for each, which helped make the production so successful and entertaining. Thank you UCHS drama for another grand performance and farewell, and good luck to the six grads who have been with the drama club their high school years.
The Unity Soccer club has 135 kids registered with 64 of those registrants being under six. They continue to play on both UCHS and UPS fields on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The club plans to host a tournament June 18. If you are looking for an event sure to put a smile on your face, the soccer kids will certainly be glad to have you.
And still in the sports news, congratulations to Unity Lazers goalie, Ryan Rewerts, who has been chosen by the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL's bantam draft.
Also Congratulations to Chantal Wagner who won a $1,000 bursary from RE/MAX, being named one of the recipients of 16 in Western Canada.
And a special congratulations are sent out to a special couple in Unity. Si and Irene Campbell celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary and Irene's 80th birthday in a joint celebration May 21 with many friends and family attending. Their afternoon social was full of fun, food and song.
The Unity museum office has officially opened for the season. The museum folk are hoping again for your support of their work by either personally visiting, bringing visitors or recommending this fine facility.
If you didn't get to the town office May 24 and 25 to register your child for swimming lessons you can register right at the pool, which is slated to open on June 5.
May 28, the Unity credit union branch is hosting a children's carnival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in their parking lot. This event will host various games, face painting and a barbecue.
The annual western days and rodeo takes place June 3, 4, and 5. There will be many events to partake in including the annual citizen of the year banquet Friday as well as the parade Saturday at 1 p.m. The weekend will include pancake breakfasts, barbecues, rodeo events and more. Mosie on down to Unity and check out what this event is all about.
The RCMP musical ride is slated to take place on June 8, with a few tickets still available. Call Brian Woytiuk at Unity Motor Products for tickets.
Coffee row is now worrying about the dryness in the area. From thoughts of flooding, we have quickly turned our attentions to the many fire hazards around us and the already implemented water restrictions have some residents concerned. So, debating the arrival of the rain, coming before seeding is complete or now, has been discussed but not yet decided. Again, our freedom of speech is appreciated in our province and our country when we can discuss, in public, and with friend and stranger alike, any topic.
You can see we keep busy in Unity with activities and wisdom from our friends on coffee row. Until next week
