WestCentral

An emergency situation at the Eston Lions-Brummund Assoicates Swimming Pool last Wednesday prompted response from not only local EMS, RCMP, and volunteer first responders, but also STARS who arrived on scene with three members and worked closely with others to set up a local landing zone.

Two days after the incident occurred, the Town of Eston shared more information through a press release posted to social media.

Drivers in Kindersley are being reminded to slow down and watch for workers as the town’s annual highway line painting gets underway this week.

Starting Monday, July 14, Kindersley’s Public Works team will begin painting lines at the intersections of Highway 7 and Ditson Drive, as well as 11th Avenue East and Ditson Drive. Work is expected to run through to Friday, July 18.

The Town of Kindersley is asking motorists to exercise caution, watch for signage and be prepared for possible delays in the area while crews complete the work.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says the economy is becoming the primary focus of Canada's relationships in the Indo-Pacific — a shift that appears linked to Canada's recent moves to overcome its security dispute with India.

Anand was in Japan and Malaysia this week for her first trip to the region since taking over as foreign minister in May. Her message coming out of that trip was that Canada's foreign policy is shifting — though not abandoning — the priorities set by the previous Liberal government of former prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Saskatchewan currently has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada according to the latest numbers from Statistics Canada. Despite the US and Chinese tariffs, the provinces unemployment rate sits at 4.9 per cent, well below the national average of 6.9 per cent. In June the province added 20,500 jobs, looking at the year-over-year.

This last week saw everything from arrests to the expansion of tools for Saskatchewan. The RCMP were kept busy, making arrests in local armed robberies to youth committing break and enters in nearby cities. Saskatchewan also saw boosts in local medical numbers and the federal government promising boosts in rural internet. Here are the top five stories from the week.

While most crops are progressing nicely around West Central Saskatchewan, it's forage that's been behind the eight ball so far this year in terms of quality and progress.

West Central still has the most haying left with 72 per cent of the first crop still standing according to the July 1-7 crop report. Of the 18 per cent that is cut, only 10 per cent has been baled or silaged. Its quality is relatively average in comparison to the rest of the province with ratings of six per cent excellent, 56 per cent good, 30 per cent fair, and eight per cent poor. 

Another great year of local softball has come and gone in the Eagle Creek Softball League.

The ECSL has two divisions, U11 and U13. There were nine teams in the U11 division this year, Dundurn, Delisle, Elrose, Lucky Lake, Hanley, Outlook, Biggar, and two teams from Rosetown. Eight teams are in the U13 division, Biggar, Dundurn, Hanley, Outlook, Rosetown, Elrose, Asquith. 

A scam involving STARS was flagged by the Oyen RCMP earlier this week.

"Recently, there have been reports of unknown callers saying they are calling on behalf of the STARS Lottery." shared the Oyen detachment in a Tuesday release. "The caller tells the intended victims that they have won a prize and must send a payment to claim the prize. The caller ID even displayed STARS Lottery” to add legitimacy to the call."

The Department of National Defence is looking at the possibility of complementing its incoming F-35 fleet with uncrewed combat aircraft.

Unclassified documents obtained by The Canadian Press show the department is researching various options for acquiring the emerging technology.

The documents suggest that purchasing a fleet of aerial combat drones that could fly alongside fighter jets could cost as much as $16 billion and would require hundreds of staff.

Canada’s provincial and territorial energy and mines ministers wrapped up their annual conference this week in Charlottetown, P.E.I., with a renewed focus on boosting the country’s resource exports and strengthening its position as a global energy leader.