ESTEVAN — The past year brought ups and downs for Estevan, with major projects progressing and topics that affect everyone continuing to be discussed. The community has seen a return of major events, the start of new activities and big sports competitions.
The Estevan Mercury's Year in Review will walk you through all major southeast happening of 2023.
July:
July brought heat, long days, community events and plenty of fun summer activities for residents of southeast Saskatchewan.
Canada Day was celebrated in the southeast, with festivities held in many communities.
Estevan's Caroline Saxon and Joanne Choma were a part of the Dino Challenge on Canada Day in Dundurn, helping the small Saskatchewan town set a new Guinness World Record for most people gathering together in dinosaur costumes.
The second annual Energy City Exposure Showcase softball tournament in Estevan, held from June 30 to July 2, provided young softball players in the U17 and U15 divisions with the opportunity to showcase their abilities to scouts.
Estevan's Desiree Da Silva came in third in her category at the Canadian Armwrestling Championship in Nova Scotia from June 30-July 3.
Sixty-eight steers were available during the Estevan Rotary Regional 4-H Show and Sale on July 6 at the Estevan Exhibition grounds. The average sale price was around $4 per pound.
A section of pathway was named after local author and historian Marie Donais Calder on July 6.
The Estevan OTS held its second annual mixed golf tournament on July 8 at the Hidden Valley Golf and RV Resort's Hideout Golf Course.
July 9 was the 19-year anniversary of the disappearance of Courtney Struble, who vanished after watching a movie with friends west of Estevan. She was 13 at the time.
The Estevan U11 AA Brewers won the Baseball Regina league title on July 9, defeating the Balcarres Broncs 4-1.
The Dakota Classic Modified Tour made its return to the Estevan Motor Speedway on July 10 for the first time since 2019. Local favourite Kody Scholpp took top spot in the modified feature.
The Military Police National Motorcycle Relay made its way to Estevan in support of its Fund for Blind Children, and it was greeted by members of the Estevan branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
International delegates were at SaskPower's Boundary Dam Power Station on July 12 as part of the International Energy Agency's CCS Summer School in Regina and elsewhere.
The Estevan RCMP celebrated the 150th birthday of Canada's national police force by hosting an anniversary bash on July 13 at Woodlawn Regional Park.
The Estevan Golden Eels swim club hosted its annual swim meet at the Estevan Leisure Centre on July 15, with swimmers coming from throughout southern Saskatchewan.
The OM Yoga Festival brought many participants to Woodlawn Regional Park on July 15 and 16 for a two-day festival.
The Estevan U13 AA Brewers won the Baseball Regina league title on July 17 by defeating the Swift Current 57s 16-6 in Estevan.
Jenna Knibbs from Estevan was part of the Team Saskatchewan Green entry that won a bronze medal at the U16 Canada Cup volleyball tournament in Niagara from July 18-23.
The Estevan OTS Oilwomen's Golf Tournament was held July 21 at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course and attracted 119 participants for a Texas scramble event.
The Estevan Fire Rescue Service, EPS and Estevan EMS were called to a structure fire in the 400-block of Third Street on July 21. The fire was later deemed to be an arson, but no arrest has been made.
The Estevan Motor Speedway honoured inspirational local hobby stock driver Riley Raynard before the start of the July 22 program, naming its annual Dirt Wars program after him.
The Estevan Downtown Business Association's Street Dance on July 22 attracted 1,100 people to a big community bash. A thunderstorm that rolled through the city around midnight couldn't dash the fun for revellers.
Firefighters spent about six hours combatting a blaze on July 23. A residence on Spruce Drive sustained significant damage in the fire, and an adjoining house was also impacted. The fire was not deemed suspicious.
Zachary Lewis was given a 13-month conditional sentence order on July 25 in Estevan Provincial Court after he was found guilty of charges following an incident that shut down Fourth Street in November 2022.
Statistics Canada released its Crime Severity Index on July 27 and Estevan's figure for 2022 was at 79.54, down from 88.2 in 2021.
Local oilfield business TS&M Supply celebrated its 50th anniversary on July 27, with a massive crowd turning out for a barbecue lunch and tours at TS&M's head office in Estevan.
Redvers' Travis Patron, the former leader of the now-defunct Canadian Nationalist Party, was charged after a series of incidents in Saskatoon. He is scheduled to go to trial next year.
The Â鶹´«Ã½AVeast U18 AAA Twins' baseball season came to an end in the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League's semifinal on July 30. They were the top team in the regular season, while Carter Beck of Carnduff was named the league MVP for the second straight year.
The Carlyle Cardinals defeated the Estevan Tap House Wolves 12-2 in five innings on July 30 at Lynn Prime Park in Estevan to win the Saskota Baseball League's Jack Harbourne Memorial Tournament, which crowns the Saskota Baseball League champions, for the fourth straight year. Carlyle also won the Senior AA Tier 2 provincial title in August.
