Kirsty Hanson

Moonlit hikes, lakeside music, and many more outdoor events and activities are coming up to celebrate the vibrant environment during Saskatchewan Parks Week this year.

Saskatchewan Parks Week runs from July 13 to 19, wrapping up with free admission to all provincial parks next Saturday, July 19.

Dave Bjarnason, park manager at Buffalo Pound Provincial Park, shared that to celebrate, there will be special programming and family-friendly activities at each Saskatchewan park.

Maple Creek RCMP received a report of a seriously injured individual at the side of the Trans Canada Highway near Piapot on Thursday morning.

The call was received around 9:40 a.m., and police, local fire, and EMS responded to the scene.

An adult male was declared deceased at the scene by EMS, and the Saskatchewan Coroners Service is investigating.

The death was not suspected to be suspicious in nature, and further details have been kept private out of respect for the victim's family.

Traffic was temporarily slowed.

A local man was recently awarded the prestigious Lieutenant Governor's Heritage Award to recognize the restoration of a historic building, which took more than two decades to transform.

Hildor Braun, owner of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, Hangar #3, located at the Swift Current Airport, was presented the award last Wednesday in Regina.

Southwest families, rural residents, and more are encouraged to take a moment next week to enjoy the outdoors or participate in one of several upcoming activities to embrace Saskatchewan's unique native prairies.

The Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP) has promoted the third week of June as Native Prairie Appreciation Week for more than a quarter of a century. 

Carolyn Gaudet, manager at PCAP, shared that Native Prairie Appreciation Week has been proclaimed by Saskatchewan's Ministers of Environment and Agriculture for the past 27 years.

Nestled in southwest Saskatchewan is the Town of Gravelbourg, a bilingual community with a rich cultural history and home to a pair of massive, ecclesiastical buildings that are each more than a century old.

An immense cathedral and a looming convent, both crafted from Claybank brick and Tyndall Stone, are a part of a series of national treasures considered a slice of Europe in the heart of the prairies.

Community members who are at higher risk of serious illness or complications from COVID-19 can now receive an additional dose and are being notified about spring COVID-19 vaccine eligibility.

Individuals are eligible for another dose of the vaccine if they are;

80 years of age or older, 
A resident of a long-term care facility or personal care home, 
Over the age of six months and under a condition that leaves them immunocompromised, or
Between the ages of 65-79 and have previously been vaccinated.

Southwest gardeners, local plant enthusiasts, and more can tune in to a free-to-attend webinar coming up next week showcasing the benefits of including native plants in a garden and more.

The webinar is being held on Tuesday, April 29, over the noon hour as a part of the Prairie Conservation Action Plan's Native Prairie Speaker Series.

Gail Fennell, speaker for the webinar and former leader at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum's Nature Regina Garden, shared that even planting one keystone species, such as a sunflower, can positively impact a number of vital insects.

Southwest gardeners, local plant enthusiasts, and more can tune in to a free-to-attend webinar coming up next week showcasing the benefits of including native plants in a garden and more.

The webinar is being held on Tuesday, April 29, over the noon hour as a part of the Prairie Conservation Action Plan's Native Prairie Speaker Series.

Gail Fennell, speaker for the webinar and former leader at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum's Nature Regina Garden, shared that even planting one keystone species, such as a sunflower, can positively impact a number of vital insects.

 former educational assistant at Ecole Gravelbourg recently had her matters involving half a dozen sexual offences against a youth adjourned for another month. 

Dannica Lowes appeared in Assiniboia Circuit Point on Thursday morning, where her case was once again adjourned for a plea.

Gravelbourg RCMP arrested and charged the Moose Jaw resident in November 2023 after an investigation into an adult female employee at the school who committed offences against a teenage male student of Ecole Gravelbourg. 

Lowes is facing the following charges;

A southern Saskatchewan non-profit dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife is undertaking a mission to raise funds for the building of a new and much-needed wildlife rehabilitation clinic.

Last week, Salthaven West introduced a Matching Fundraiser, matching up $20,000 in donations until April 3, thanks to two anonymous donors.

Megan Lawrence, director of rehabilitation at Salthaven West, highlighted that after the campaign's initial announcement of matching up to $10,000, a second donor agreed to match another $10,000.