WAKAW — The Wheatland Express Station/Museum regrettably informed the public that the fundraiser golf tournament, set for Aug. 7, has been cancelled. This decision was made due to an insufficient number of entries, which ultimately prevented them from proceeding with the tournament as planned.
However, despite the cancellation, the silent auction will still take place as originally scheduled and will remain open until 4 p.m. on Aug. 7. The auction items remain on display at the museum, and everyone who entered the tournament and supporters are invited to take part in the auction to help raise funds for the museum. All proceeds are dedicated to paying for moving the small church from Wakaw Lake Regional Park (WLRP) to the Little Big Town site in Wakaw. While being an asset to ‘Little Big Town,’ the church will also be a unique rental venue for weddings, family reunions, and other events in the Town of Wakaw.
A new fundraising event has been created for Aug. 1. The Wheatland Express Museum hosted a “Hootenanny” from 3 to 7 p.m., with live music provided by Crooked Creek.
On Aug. 8, a Murder Mystery Wheatland Express Excursion will be held.
This year’s Murder on the Wheatland Express centres around the death of the beloved cobbler, Grover Anderson. He was found dead by the saloon; the cause of his death is unknown, the murderer is unknown, and the motive is even more unknown. Guests search the town for clues, talk to the townsfolk and discover the truth as they ride the rails on the Wheatland Express.
The small church in WLRP sits, for the most part, unused, and the decision was made to donate the building to the Wheatland Express Museum, with the understanding that the museum would pay for the move. Museum manager Lori Kobialko said she is excited about the opportunity presented to the museum and hopes that they can soon raise enough money to facilitate the little church’s move from the park to Little Big Town, where it will add a missing component to Little Big Town’s building infrastructure.
Organizers hope that many of the visitors to the Wakaw & District Farmers Market will linger and take in the hootenanny, which is an informal party or gathering with music, possibly dancing, and a relaxed atmosphere where people come together to enjoy music and celebration with friends. Crooked Creek is a country band based in Saskatchewan, consisting of members Rocky Lakner, Don Millikin, and Kelly Read. The band has a history that dates back to the early 1970s and is known for live performances at a variety of venues, including one-room country schools, urban clubs, and major festivals such as the Ness Creek Music Festival. Their work showcases their songwriting skills and chemistry on stage.
Wheatland Express Inc. is a not-for-profit organization. Formed in 2017, the organization’s goal has always been to generate tourism and economic and employment opportunities in the local community while “providing outstanding experiences and events to domestic and international visitors to Saskatchewan.”
