Natasha Wiebe

With the summer season having officially begun and Canada Day festivities upcoming, many people will be making their way to local lakes and launching their boats to enjoy the sunshine on the water. However, there are a few rules and regulations boat operators should keep in mind.  

The Saskatchewan RCMP issued a release yesterday reminding boaters that impaired boating is punishable under the Criminal Code of Canada and carry the same penalties as impaired drivers. This includes loss of license, hefty fines, and even jail time.  

The first long weekend of the summer is coming up for Canada Day, and many anglers may have their sights set on the lake. Senior Conservation Officer Lindsey Leko reminds fishermen of some regulations to be aware of.  

Leko begins with a licensing reminder, as everyone over the age of 16 must have a fishing license to be able to fish, with the exception of free fishing weekends. He says they are running into many people fishing without their license on hand. 

Some ongoing construction on Highway 39 may affect commuters near Macoun, between Weyburn and Estevan.  

Dan Palmer with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways explains seal coating work is being done to improve the quality of the road.  

“That's when hot liquid asphalt and crushed gravel are applied to the highway surface. Now, the benefit of that once it's completed is it reduces deterioration, cracking and essentially it prolongs the service life of the existing pavement which ultimately is a smoother and safer driving surface for motorists.” 

Sometimes all it takes to keep a community clean is a little competition. Thats how the communities of Midale, Lampman, and Bienfait are organizing their spring cleaning, with the second annual MLB Cleanup Competition. 

According to Theresa Biller, the administrator for the Town of Lampman, it was the community of Lampman who first suggested the competition; however, the idea originally belonged to three other communities in the area. 

The Thackery family from Town of Goodwater is hosting the third annual Pancakes for STARS fundraiser. Sheila Thackery explains they are serving a by-donation pancake breakfast with all proceeds donated to STARS. 

“If you want to put in 10 bucks, 50 bucks, whatever you put in the pot, that all 100% goes back to STARS and we make the donation on behalf of our community.  “ 

Local producers are in the homestretch as the majority of seeds are in the ground. Despite significant rainfall affecting much of the southeast, agrologist Edgar Hammermeister predicts all farmers to have wrapped up seeding operations by the end of the weekend. 

“The seeding operations are nearing completion. [The percentage] will be in the mid-upper 90’s, I'm sure. We've had a good number of days since the big rain event that hit the southeast, and farmers, once field conditions were good to go, they've been hard at it.” 

The Macoun Evangelical Missionary Church (MEMC) is hitting the green for a good cause, hosting the first annual Curtis Fehr Memorial Golf Tournament in support of two nearby Bible camps.  

The event has been held annually for several years; however, this is the first year the name will honour Curtis Fehr, a significant member of the congregation who passed away tragically last year. 

Event organizer and MEMC Pastor Charlie Bowen explains the change was suggested by his wife, Darlene Bowen, because of Fehr and his wife Jessie’s annual dedication to the event.  

With Safe Boating Awareness Week beginning on Monday, the Saskatchewan RCMP are issuing safety tips and reminders. This is especially timely as May long weekend may see more people getting their boats in the water.  

In a release sent by the RCMP, boaters and passengers are encouraged to follow safe boating protocols, including always wearing a life jacket, limiting passengers to not exceed the weight capacity of the watercraft, and having your Pleasure Craft Operator Card (POCC) onboard as it is a requirement for all motorized boat operators. 

The Carlyle RCMP is seeking the public's assistance in identifying a person of interest related to a break and enter late last week.

Early last Friday morning, three Carlyle businesses were broken into, and a few hundred dollars in cash were stolen. The suspect is also believed to have stolen a hamster that belonged to one of the business owners. 

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 40 to 50 years old, between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet tall, with a goatee, wearing glasses and dressed in dark clothing.

Flora and fauna in the southeast are coming back to life as the spring season continues, including ladybugs as they can be found in abundance this time of year. 

Provincial Insect and Vertebrate Pest Management Specialist, Dr. James Tansey explains these beetles, part of the Coccinellidae family, overwinter in large groups in sheltered areas like leaf litter and hollow logs.