Steven Wilson

The warm temperatures and lack of rain in most parts of the southeast have been taking a toll on the crops in southeast Saskatchewan over the past week. This includes heat stress in some crops, as well as reduced yield potential. 

In the first six months of the year, the Saskatchewan RCMP stated they received 105 reports of extortion. This was nearly a 200 percent increase in the number of reported cases, with police being notified of just 36 in the same six-month period in 2022.  

The search continues for Weyburn’s Frances Gazeley, who disappeared in early December 2021. She was last seen on Regina Street in Weyburn before she went missing.

The last time anyone spoke with Gazeley was December 7th, 2021, and a thorough search in Weyburn, and in surrounding areas, has yet to yield any evidence of her whereabouts.

The Saskatchewan government released a plan in Fillmore Friday morning for repaving projects around the province with a focus on important corridors to boost transportation infrastructure. A considerable 230 km of highway improvements, including a sizable portion of Highway 33, are planned for this year. This initiative is a component of the government's larger plan to upgrade 1,000 km of highways this season.

The Government of Saskatchewan has designated July 9 to 15 as Parks Week, a celebration of the province's breathtaking landscapes and recreational areas. With a diverse range of events and programs available in provincial parks, visitors are invited to explore and immerse themselves in the beauty that Saskatchewan has to offer. The Parks, Culture, and Sport Minister, Laura Ross, highlighted the excitement and opportunity Parks Week brings to residents and tourists alike.

This weekend, people by the thousands will be taking to the highways throughout Saskatchewan for a variety of events. The big one for many is Country Thunder Saskatchewan, which runs through Sunday in Craven. There is also the All Folk'd Up festival in Montmartre, southeast of Regina, as well as the Roughriders game at Mosaic Stadium. These are just a few of the events happening in the province. With all of these events taking place, the RCMP is doing what they can to help ensure people can get to these events safely and return home from them safely.

This weekend, people by the thousands will be taking to the highways throughout Saskatchewan for a variety of events. The big one for many is Country Thunder Saskatchewan, which runs through Sunday in Craven. There is also the All Folk'd Up festival in Montmartre, southeast of Regina, as well as the Roughriders game at Mosaic Stadium. These are just a few of the events happening in the province. With all of these events taking place, the RCMP is doing what they can to help ensure people can get to these events safely and return home from them safely.

The spring session of the House of Commons wrapped up last month. Now, Members of Parliament are back in their constituencies, where they will still be working, but do get the chance for some rest and recreation as well. 

In an effort to meet the growing demand for skilled trades workers in Saskatchewan, the Government of Saskatchewan has announced a $2.5 million investment in pre-apprenticeship training. This funding will enable the expansion of more than 200 additional pre-apprenticeship skills training seats in construction-related trades. 

Southeast Saskatchewan's growing conditions are becoming increasingly erratic.

Some farmers are experiencing crop damage from the heat and dry soil while others are enjoying favourable conditions and sufficient precipitation.

The heat and widespread lack of rain have the most detrimental effects on crops grown on lighter, sandier soils. While the region's crop appears to be healthy overall, producers are concerned about how rapidly conditions can worsen in the impending July heat without widespread rain.