Kirsty Hanson

As the winter season rolls around, so does cold and flu season.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is encouraging southwest residents, families, and everyone else to stay safe, take the necessary precautions, and receive their vaccines.

Dr. David Torr, medical health officer with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and Area Department Lead for the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, noted that infections and viruses like the flu spread much easier in colder temperatures.

As the winter season rolls around, so does cold and flu season.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is encouraging southwest residents, families, and everyone else to stay safe, take the necessary precautions, and receive their vaccines.

Dr. David Torr, medical health officer with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and Area Department Lead for the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, noted that infections and viruses like the flu spread much easier in colder temperatures.

As the winter season rolls around, so does cold and flu season.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is encouraging southwest residents, families, and everyone else to stay safe, take the necessary precautions, and receive their vaccines.

Dr. David Torr, medical health officer with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and Area Department Lead for the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, noted that infections and viruses like the flu spread much easier in colder temperatures.

With the fall season, the southwest sees numerous bird species passing through on their migration, others leaving for more southern locations, and some coming to stay for the winter.

A few of the southwest's winged winter residents include Canada geese, snow geese, sandhill cranes, juncos, a plethora of ducks, and even a handful of whooping cranes.

Jordan Rustad, conservation coordinator with Nature Saskatchewan, noted most of the province's at-risk species, such as the burrowing owl, have already moved farther south. 

A resident of southern Saskatchewan was recently announced as a new millionaire after winning the Roughriders and Children's Hospital Foundations Lottery.

Wayne Leisle, from the Town of Morse, was shocked and delighted to have won the top grand prize of $1 million in cash. 

"It's a good lottery and it's a good purpose," shared Leisle.

This was the first time the lottery included 10 grand prizes, in addition to more than 300 cash prizes and over 1,000 prizes worth over $2 million. 

With the fall season, the southwest sees numerous bird species passing through on their migration, others leaving for more southern locations, and some coming to stay for the winter.

A few of the southwest's winged winter residents include Canada geese, snow geese, sandhill cranes, juncos, a plethora of ducks, and even a handful of whooping cranes.

Jordan Rustad, conservation coordinator with Nature Saskatchewan, noted most of the province's at-risk species, such as the burrowing owl, have already moved farther south. 

With the fall season, Saskatchewan sees numerous bird species passing through on their migration, others leaving for more southern locations, and some coming to stay for the winter.

A few of the province's winged winter residents include Canada geese, snow geese, sandhill cranes, juncos, a plethora of ducks, and even a handful of whooping cranes.

Jordan Rustad, conservation coordinator with Nature Saskatchewan, noted most of the province's at-risk species, such as the burrowing owl, have already moved farther south. 

With Concussion Awareness Week beginning this week, it's the ideal time to remind southwest residents about the symptoms and dangers associated with concussions.

Concussion Awareness Day, also known as Rowan's Law Day, is set for September 25 in honour of 17-year-old Canadian high school rugby player, Rowan Stringer, who lost her life in 2013 following multiple concussions leading to second impact syndrome.

Swift Current's Great Plains Colege recently received a $100,000 donation to establish a new bursary in honour and memory of long-time southwest resident, Philip Gobeil.

The Philip Gobeil Memorial Bursary is set to provide five $2,000 bursaries to selected students each year for the next decade.

Brad Mahon, president and CEO at Great Plains College in Swift Current, was delighted that the college would be able to help provide students with the means and support to get an education.

Residents of Saskatchewan are filled with pride as a core symbol and the embodiment of the province turns 55 years old today.

Saskatchewan Flag Day not only celebrates the creation of the flag but the mastermind behind it, Anthony Drake, who designed the flag as a part of a competition.

Gail Hapanowicz, owner of the old Hodgeville High School, noted that after she and her husband purchased the old school they learned about the flag and that its creator had once been a teacher there.