By Dorian Geiger
Not many would suspect the small prairie community of Eastend to be a hotbed of motorcycle culture. However, the community of 415 residents, along with it’s motorcycle faithful of the Eastend Dinos Motorcycle Riders Inc. are getting the tires spinning to host their fourth annual Rally in the Valley motorcycle rally from July 9-11.

Those of you – my regular readers – that know me, know that it’s been a bit of a crazy year. Well, hang on tight, because it’s going to get a little crazier still. First, a little history.
In 1999, I purchased my first (and only) home in Winnipeg. I sold it in July of 2007 and moved to Maple Creek. In July of 2008, we moved from our little house in Maple Creek to a larger one. In July of 2009, we moved to Leader. Guess what’s happening July 2, 2010?
It’s funny, …

By Sheri Monk
Though now recognized as having their own distinct culture and status, it wasn’t always that way for the Métis people of Canada. Last week, Fort Walsh National Historic Site, in conjunction with Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, commemorated the Métis peoples of Canada and their contribution to the Southwest.
”This was part of celebrating 2010 as the Year of the Métis in Saskatchewan. This event was really just one part of an entire week of celebrations and here. It was called The Hills Are Alive,” explained Dominique Liboiron, interpretation officer …

by Tim Benzedrine
There was a joke that made the rounds a while back, in which Jesus and Satan were having a competition to see who was the better computer programmer. They each typed furiously for hours, and were neck and neck, when suddenly right before they finished, a bolt of lightning struck, killing the power.
St. Peter, who was presiding over the contest, checked Satan’s progress first. Satan had lost everything. “Too bad,” said St. Peter,” let’s see how Jesus did.”
Jesus types in a command and a wondrous application stars to …

By Sheri Monk
Awarded Citizen of the Year by the town of Leader for 2009, Bill Clary is no stranger to volunteerism, or activism. In 2007, he ran against Wayne Elhard in the provincial election under the Green party banner and in 2008, he ran for the national Green Party against Conservative David Anderson. But now, he is leading the charge in Leader to buck the rigid rules and regulations of the healthcare system. Rules he believe are causing the temporary closure of his hometown hospital.

By Dorian Geiger
Populations in rural Saskatchewan may have been on the decline for years and likely will continue along the same destined route in the future. And it is this same tragic desertion of rural centres that villages like Tompkins take serious pride in organizing homecoming events.
Yet, homecomings are a sacred convention amongst small communities and they are a time when everyone who’s had to migrate away because of families, work or adventure has the opportunity to return where they grew up.

By Dorian Geiger
Baseball is about as old a summer pastime on the prairies as lacing up the skates in winter is – and though baseball might not garner the widespread rural following hockey does these days, the roots of baseball in Saskatchewan are integral province’s athletic tradition.

By Sheri Monk
At the rodeo, a spectator was heard asking, “What’s that bright light in the sky?” when the sun finally came out. Others were making jokes about building arks. But for some, the spring of 2010 has been anything but a laughing matter.
Some ranchers near the West Block of the Cypress Hills lost a devastating number of calves in the May snow storms.

By Sheri Monk
I love Maple Creek – it was my first home in the Southwest and it’s always given me more than I could ever hope to give back.
Like this weekend, when I came back to river hill country with five tons of Maple Creek mud. Thank you! Now I realize I also need an old  rodeo truck with an interior made entirely of plastic.

By Dorian Geiger
Being told you’d never walk again would be a devastating piece of news to cope with.
Chad Jassman of Burstall lost the use of his legs after vehicle accident in 2006. As a means of transitioning into a new way of life Jassman zeroed in on wheelchair basketball.