WestCentral

Parks Canada is offering visitors a rare chance to step inside the native habitat of one of the prairies’ most misunderstood species, the Prairie Rattlesnake.

On Sept. 27 and 28, park staff and a herpetologist will lead small guided groups from the Frenchman Valley Campground into the West Block of Grasslands National Park. The hikes will take participants to a remote overwintering site used by rattlesnakes and other reptiles.

RCMP in Vermilion issued a shelter-in-place order Saturday afternoon as officers responded to a firearms complaint.

Police said a suspect was seen fleeing the scene with a long-barrel firearm. The order covers the area between 51A Street and 50 Street, and 47 Avenue to 43 Avenue.

Residents in the zone were asked to stay inside, avoid opening their doors to strangers, and refrain from posting photos of responding officers on social media.

This week on WestCentralOnline.com, West Central Saskatchewan saw a mix of historic sports achievements, severe weather, and local incidents making headlines. From Saskatchewan’s first-ever Canada Summer Games medal in women’s beach volleyball to powerful storms and traffic disruptions, here are the top five stories our readers followed closely this week.

A new passing lane project is underway on Highway 17 along the Saskatchewan-Alberta border, as both provinces continue investing in road safety and infrastructure.

The $14.4-million project will see the construction of five passing lanes north of Lloydminster. Drivers can expect reduced speed limits, traffic stoppages, single-lane traffic, local detours, pilot vehicles, traffic signals and minor delays while the work is carried out. Completion is scheduled for the summer of 2026.

Saskatchewan’s uranium industry is back in full swing with the resumption of operations at the McClean Lake mine and mill, Energy and Resources Minister Colleen Young said Tuesday.

The site, a joint venture between Orano Canada and Denison Mines, recently reopened after a period of downtime. Minister Young toured the facilities alongside Orano representatives, discussing the mine’s restart and future plans to expand uranium production.

Saskatchewan residents and visitors have several opportunities to enjoy the province’s parks over the next two weeks, with events ranging from art festivals and vintage RV shows to outdoor movies and guided hikes.

Douglas Provincial Park will host the Vintage RV & Boat Show from August 22 to 23. The weekend includes Friday evening bingo and a chance to paint a vintage RV, followed by a full day of activities for all ages on Saturday, ending with live music at the picnic shelter.

The 8-1 Saskatchewan Roughriders will have a chance to exact revenge on the only team to beat them so far this season when they take on the 6-3 Calgary Stampeders on Saturday night to close out Week 12 in the CFL.

Back on July 12, the Stampeders handed the Roughriders a 24-10 loss in what was a postponed game from the day before. Poor air quality caused by smoke forced the teams, and fans, to wait around Mosaic Stadium until past 11:00 PM before the game was officially moved to the next day.

Combines making their first passes through the field, race cars circling the track at Flatlanders Speedway, and a few great "people" stories headline this week's look at the local news.

Check out the most recent wrap-up of local news from around West Central below:

Combined federal and provincial government debt interest payments will cost Canadian taxpayers an estimated $92.5 billion in 2024/25, or between $1,937 and $3,432 per person, depending on the province, according to a study released Thursday by the Fraser Institute.