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The Weekly Bean - Kindersley, 116C Main Street, Kindersley, SK (2026)

06/07/2026

Trivia Test: Powerpuff Girls

By Fifi Rodriguez

1. TELEVISION: What are the names of the three girls in the animated series "Powerpuff Girls"?

2. GEOGRAPHY: Which ocean lies between Australia and Africa?

3. MATH: What is the Arabic equivalent of the Roman numerals MMXXVI?

4. MUSIC: Who won Best New Artist at the 2026 Grammys?

5. U.S. STATES: Which state is an archipelago?

6. MOVIES: Which classic movie has the tagline, "From the moment they met it was murder"?

7. GAMES: How many basketball players can be on the court at the same time?

8. SCIENCE: What is the heliosphere?

9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is vexillology?

10. HISTORY: Who was the only English king to be executed for treason?

* * *

Answers

1. Blossom, Buttercup and Bubbles.

2. Indian Ocean.

3. 2,026.

4. Olivia Dean.

5. Hawaii.

6. "Double Indemnity."

7. 10, five from each team.

8. The Sun's solar winds and magnetic fields create a protective bubble around our solar system.

9. The study of flags.

10. Charles I in 1649.

(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.

06/06/2026

Strange But True: Hello Kitty Police

By Lucie Winborne

• Police officers in Thailand can be forced to wear Hello Kitty armbands as punishment for transgressions such as illegal parking or arriving late to work.

• Historians cite runaway inflation as a major cause of ancient Rome's fall.

• During World War II, the SS ran a wiretapped brothel named "The Kitty Salon" in Berlin where prostitutes would glean information from clients through seemingly innocuous conversations.

• "Hoover wagons," named after President Herbert Hoover, were broken down cars pulled by mules during the Great Depression.

• Actor Jimmy Stewart was rejected by the military after he was drafted, for being too thin.

• When Napoleon attacked Vienna in 1809, Beethoven hid in his brother's basement and covered his ears with pillows, afraid the noise would destroy his remaining hearing.

• The FIFA World Cup is the world's most-watched sporting event.

• Most tornadoes in the Southern Hemisphere rotate clockwise, while their Northern Hemisphere counterparts rotate counterclockwise.

• When serving as a lawyer, Abraham Lincoln only argued one case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court -- which he lost.

• In ancient Egypt, chief embalmers often wore a mask of the god Anubis.

• Soccer is known as "football" everywhere except America. The name refers not to the fact that it's played with the feet, but that it's played on one's feet, rather than on horseback.

• About two-thirds of the world's lowest literate adults are women.

• Before the year 1000, all chess pieces were male figures or animals. The queen made her debut when the game was introduced in southern Europe.

* * *

Thought for the Day: "After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him ... The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut." -- Will Rogers

(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.

06/06/2026

How many times can you run around the spray park in an hour?

If Donovan Wagner and his younger brother Chase had been keeping track of their steps, they might have broken a world record last week. The brothers had fun cooling off while expending plenty of energy at Kindersley’s Fat Cat’s Splash Pad.

PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN

06/06/2026

aMoments in Time: First Blood Transfusion

The History Channel

• On June 15, 1667, French physician Jean-Baptiste Denis performed the first blood transfusion, on a feverish boy, but with lamb rather than human blood. While the boy survived and recovered, two more patients died following the same procedure, leading to a centuries-long ban on transfusions.

• On June 16, 1943, Oona O'Neill, the 18-year-old daughter of playwright Eugene O'Neill, married 54-year-old Hollywood legend Charlie Chaplin. It was his fourth marriage (and his third to a teenage girl). Oona's father, who was Chaplin's age, disapproved of the union so strongly that he disinherited his daughter, but the marriage, which produced eight children, was successful and only ended with Chaplin's death more than three decades later.

• On June 17, 1976, the National Basketball Association announced a merger with its rival, the American Basketball Association, and acquired the latter's four most successful franchises: the Denver Nuggets, the Indiana Pacers, the New York (later Brooklyn) Nets and the San Antonio Spurs.

• On June 18, 1979, at a summit meeting in Vienna, President Jimmy Carter and Soviet leader LEOnid Brezhnev signed the SALT-II agreement dealing with limitations and guidelines for nuclear weapons. Roundly criticized in America as a sellout to the Soviets, the treaty never formally went into effect and did little, if anything at all, to slow the arms race.

• On June 19, 1865, on what is now known as Juneteenth, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the news that the Civil War had ended and slavery in the United States had been abolished. Despite the fact that President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation had been issued on Jan. 1, 1863, a lack of Union troops in the rebel state of Texas had made the order difficult to enforce.

• On June 20, 2003, the Wikimedia Foundation, an American nonprofit organization best known for being the host of Wikipedia, one of the world's most-visited websites, was founded in St. Petersburg, Florida.

• On June 21, 2001, one of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo's iconic self-portraits was featured on an American postage stamp, making her the first Hispanic woman to be honored in that manner.

(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.

06/06/2026

Train fires keep Kindersley firefighters busy during hot, dry May

By Stu Salkeld

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Your West Central Voice

KINDERSLEY - The Kindersley Fire Dept. had a very busy stretch recently after a train with mechanical issues passed through town and sparked multiple fires east of the community.

Fire Chief Jeff Soveran said in a phone interview that the fires were complicated by hot, dry and windy conditions at the end of May. One factor worked in firefighters' favour, however: much of the nearby farmland was stubble rather than growing crops, limiting potential damage.

"So it's a huge group effort," said Soveran, noting that farmers working in the fields were prepared with their own water tanks and equipment. He added that proper organization, training, equipment and communication helped minimize the impact of the busy day.

After the fires were extinguished, the department monitored three or four smouldering spots for days to prevent flare-ups.

Firefighters also responded to unrelated fires during that period, including a lightning strike on a power pole. Soveran said he was pleased to report no injuries or property damage resulted from any of the incidents.

Soveran welcomed the return of wet weather in early June but acknowledged dry conditions will likely return to southern Saskatchewan. Water trucks are already staged and ready for action.

The fire chief credited successful fire prevention work for the farm community's preparedness, and noted that behaviour has changed over the years, with fewer people leaving hot vehicles running in tall grass.

In town, Soveran reminded residents to observe fire bans and attend to small details, such as ensuring propane barbecues are fully shut off. He noted that some appliances, including propane barbecues and pellet stoves, may still be permitted even when a fire ban is in effect.

Kindersley residents can find the town's fire bylaw information on the municipal website.

Smoke and steel - A Kindersley Fire Department truck sits on a highway east of town as crews battle one of several grass fires sparked by a train with mechanical issues during a hot, dry stretch in May 2026.

PHOTO KINDERSLEY FIRE DEPARTMENT

06/06/2026

Divas on a Dime: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

By Patti Diamond

Proof that oats, peanut butter and kitchen laziness can produce excellent results. PHOTO CREDIT: www.JasonCoblentz.com

* * *

The No-Grocery-Trip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

Some recipes arrive after careful planning and a thoughtfully organized shopping list. Others happen after opening the pantry, spotting peanut butter and oats, and deciding leaving the house sounds far too ambitious.

These bars belong firmly in the second category.

Made with pantry staples and very little effort, they land somewhere between a cookie, snack bar and possibly breakfast with questionable intentions. They're soft, chewy, peanut buttery and just responsible enough to feel acceptable while still tasting like a treat.

Food of Flexible Moral Identity

Not quite health food. Not exactly dessert. Foods that occupy a charming gray area and suggest, "Look, we're all doing our best here."

These recipes use ingredients that could certainly be worse. Oats are involved. Peanut butter has protein. Sometimes fruit appears.

They carry just enough nutritional credibility to avoid being lumped in with frosted toaster treats or plastic-wrapped snack cakes.

Of course, balance matters. For every Food of Flexible Moral Identity we eat, perhaps we balance the universe with a kale salad containing absolutely no bacon.

* * *

PEANUT BUTTER OATMEAL BARS

Yield: 16 pieces

Total Time: 35 mins.

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt (or table salt)

• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

• 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

• 2/3 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup milk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 9x9 pan with parchment paper to make the bars easy to lift out and cut.

In a small bowl combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, stir together the oats, peanut butter, brown sugar, milk and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and mix briefly, just until everything comes together. Fold in the chocolate chips, press into the prepared pan and bake for 18 to 20 minutes. Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for about three days.

Recipe Variations:

Think of this recipe as more of a suggestion than a contract. Swap the chocolate chips for peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, chopped nuts, dried fruit, shredded coconut or even a big handful of berries. Feel free to bump the mix-ins up to about 3/4 cup if you're feeling generous. Crunchy peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter or sun butter all work beautifully too. These bars are easygoing and not particularly interested in enforcing rules.

Want to send these over the top? Peanut butter and chocolate are one of history's strongest alliances. Drizzle with melted chocolate chips or top with this quick peanut butter chocolate topping.

* * *

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE TOPPING

• 1/2 cup peanut butter

• 1/4 cup butter

• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

In a 2-cup microwave-safe measuring cup, heat the peanut butter and butter in 30 second increments just until melted. Stir until smooth, add cocoa powder, and stir again. Spread over cooled bars and refrigerate until set. Your humble oatmeal bars have now become considerably more fancy pants.

Some of the best recipes begin with, "I'm absolutely not going to the store today." A little pantry creativity and a willingness to work with what's already on hand can produce delicious results.

* * *

Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime -- Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com

(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.

06/06/2026

Funny Business: Farmer's Bank Loan

A farmer walks into the bank in Kindersley and asks to see the loan officer. He sits down and says he needs to borrow $500 to buy a new pig.

The loan officer asks, “Do you have any collateral?”

The farmer thinks for a minute and says, “I got a horse.”

The loan officer says, “A horse. Okay. What kind of horse?”

“A quarter horse.”

“How old?”

“About twelve.”

The loan officer types something into his computer, frowns, and says, “I’m sorry, sir. We can only loan you $375 against a twelve-year-old quarter horse.”

The farmer scratches his head, thinks it over, and says, “Fine. I’ll take it.”

He comes back three weeks later, walks up to the same loan officer, pulls out a wad of cash, and slaps $375 on the desk.

The loan officer counts it and says, “Sir, I have to ask. You paid this off in three weeks. Did you sell the horse?”

“Nope.”

“Did you sell the pig?”

“Nope.”

The loan officer leans forward. “Well, what happened?”

The farmer says, “Horse won a race.”

The loan officer’s eyes go wide. “A twelve-year-old quarter horse won a race? That’s remarkable. How much did you win?”

The farmer says, “$1,400.”

The loan officer leans back, impressed. “Well, congratulations. What are you going to do with the rest?”

The farmer says, “Pay back my wife. She’s the one who loaned me the $500 in the first place.”

$Fun Fact: Bananas are RadioactiveBananas are radioactive — yes, really! They contain potassium, and a small fraction of ...$

06/05/2026

Fun Fact: Bananas are Radioactive

Bananas are radioactive — yes, really! They contain potassium, and a small fraction of it is naturally radioactive. But relax: You'd have to eat about 100 bananas in a single day just to match the radiation your body already absorbs from the world around you.

© 2026 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

World rights reserved.

06/05/2026

Best Bites: Stacked Caprese Salad

By Donna Erickson

PHOTO CREDIT: Donna Erickson

* * *

Stack Caprese Salad With Couscous in a Tin Can

When it's time to prep a dinner meal this week, get your kids stacking the green, white and red layers of fresh basil, mozzarella and tomato. If they say that their culinary creation reminds them of winter's Christmas colors, guide them to a photo of the tricolor green, white and red Italian flag. You'll be on a fresh course into a new season of the year -- and globally for that matter! This fun-to-make version using a surprise ingredient -- couscous -- is a tasty spring and summertime twist on Italy's traditional caprese salad.

I've always believed in using the right tools for the right job. In this recipe, it's four recycled aluminum cans. Once you've removed the labels and both ends of the four 7- to 8-ounce clean cans (I used 7-ounce diced green chilies cans and made sure that there weren't any sharp edges), gather the following ingredients to create a fancy-looking presentation:

* * *

STACKED CAPRESE SALAD WITH COUSCOUS

• Four aluminum 7- to 8-ounce cans with both ends removed

• Nonstick cooking spray or olive oil

• 2 medium ripe tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices

• 1 cup cooked couscous mixed with 2 tablespoons Italian dressing or prepared pesto

• 8 slices fresh mozzarella cheese

• Fresh basil leaves

• Parsley for garnish (optional)

• Balsamic vinegar

* * *

Spray with nonstick spray, or lightly wipe oil in the interior of the four cans. Set each can on end on a salad plate.

Trim the tomato and cheese slices to fit the interior of a can, then stack the individual portions in layers inside the can as follows: a tomato slice, 2 tablespoons of the couscous mixture, and a cheese slice. Repeat.

Cover with plastic wrap and press down on the stack gently with a jar or can that is slightly smaller than the opening of the can.

Remove wrap and slowly lift the can to reveal the layered salad. To serve, garnish with a fresh basil leaf or a sprig of parsley. Drizzle balsamic vinegar to taste.

* * *

Donna Erickson creates relationships and community through food and fun. Find more to nourish and delight you at www.donnaerickson.com.

(c) 2026 Donna Erickson

Distributed by King Features Synd.

06/05/2026

Streaming Source for the week of June 8

Here's what to watch and where to watch it for the week of June 8, 2026.

• ON NOW: "Love Island USA" (Season 8) -- Peacock

• ON NOW: "Bring Me the Beauties: A Model Cult" (Docuseries) -- HBO Max

• ON NOW: "Hannah Berner: TITLE: None of My Business" (Comedy Special) -- Hulu

• 8-June: "Gamechangers: The Ashlyn Harris Story" (Documentary) -- The Roku Channel

• 8-June: "Alice and Steve" (Limited Series) -- Hulu

• 10-June: "Every Year After" (Season 1) -- Prime Video

• 11-June: "Bonaroo" (Music Festival Livestream) -- Hulu and Disney+

• 11-June: "Sweet Magnolias" (Season 5) -- Netflix

• 12-June: "I Am Frankelda" (NR) -- Netflix

• 13-June: "Song Sung Blue" (PG-13) -- Netflix

(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.

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