WestCentral

More than $1 million in provincial funding is being invested in municipal partnerships across Saskatchewan, including several initiatives aimed at improving emergency planning, community governance and infrastructure development.

The investment is part of the province’s Targeted Sector Support (TSS) Initiative, which supports municipalities working together on regional projects. The program is administered by the Saskatchewan Association of Urban Municipalities (SUMA) and focuses on projects that enhance cooperation, capacity building, and more efficient service delivery.

The Riverbank Rodeo is bringing the heat to Outlook this weekend, and you can bet there will be plenty of fun to be had. August 8th and 9th mark the return of the 6th Annual Riverbank Rodeo, and this year comes with some exciting changes. 

A long weekend altercation at the bar in Biggar closed out the latest area RCMP report. 

The following arrest closed out the detachment's August 4 list.

"36-year-old Danielle Ermine from Perdue was arrested, charged and remanded for assault and eventually causing a disturbance at the local bar and resisting arrest."

Alcohol certainly played a factor, according to Sgt. Dereck Crozier.

"Impaired judgment played a significant role in the series of events."

It's a big weekend for outdoor rodeos around West Central Saskatchewan.

The Kyle Community Rodeo is set to run Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, while over by the river in Outlook, the Riverbank Rodeo runs Friday and Saturday!

For the third straight year, and for a third straight time against the Veteran Bulls, the Macklin Lakers are Battle River Baseball League champions after their 4-2 win on Thursday night completed a series comeback, keeping the trophy in Saskatchewan for another year.

The Lakers used a strong start from Jared Hillis on the mound, throwing 5.1 innings with only two runs allowed, making way for Cody Gartner who closed the game with 1.2 innings in relief. 

It was a thrilling game, and heartbreaking loss for the Unity Cardinals on Thursday night in Wilkie. The Cardinals lost 6-5 in extra innings to the North Battleford Beavers, who completed a series comeback to win the 2025 North Saskatchewan River Baseball League title. 

A new provincial highway maintenance contract is bringing jobs and infrastructure support to communities across southeastern Alberta.

LaPrairie Works officially took over operations in Alberta’s Contract Maintenance Area 519 (CMA 519) on Aug. 1, assuming responsibility for provincial highways near Hanna, Oyen, Sunnynook, Empress and Jenner.

The contract has already created more than 20 jobs for local equipment operators, with permanent shop facilities being established in several of the region’s core communities.

Three drivers had their vehicles seized and licences suspended in Luseland last month. Two of them were caught travelling more than 50 kilometres per hour over the posted speed limit.

According to the Luseland Police Service, the high-risk speeding incidents were among the top traffic concerns officers dealt with in July. Both cases triggered immediate roadside consequences under Saskatchewan’s traffic safety laws, including licence suspensions and vehicle impoundments.

A driver also had their licence suspended after failing an approved screening device test for alcohol.

The Biggar RCMP logged a busy report for their first list of August with it being the Heritage Day long weekend. 

A few stolen property calls were detailed, one involving a still at large Husqvarna zero turn mower that was stolen from a rural property in the RM of Biggar. A stolen Ford truck, originally from Saskatoon back in May, turned up stripped and abandoned in the northwest corner of the RM of Biggar. Another partial resolution to an investigation came after a Jeep was found burnt on TWP 400 inside the RM of Glenside. 

Administrators say federal government needs to build more trust into the Advance Payment Program

Administrators of the Advance Payments Program say Ottawa should stop treating farmers as if they are going to default on repayments.

They said the application process should be streamlined and the program made simpler and more consistent.

Dave Gallant, vice-president of finance and APP operations at the Canadian Canola Growers Association, said the CCGA administers about $2.5 billion in advances each year on behalf of the federal government.