Estevan

A $3.75 million annual investment from the Government of Saskatchewan into a new program to help fund school playground equipment in communities across the province is coming this fall. Through the program, up to $50,000 in matched funding will be available for schools to build new or update existing playground equipment.

"Our government recognizes that every child deserves a place to play," Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Alana Ross said in the announcement.

The biggest music festival in southeast Saskatchewan is coming back for another year - and it's happening fast!

The Coal Creek Festival is happening tomorrow at the Roche Percee Regional Park. You can get directions below with the Google Maps pin attached: 

It's the final opportunity for racers to win some points for the Estevan Motor Speedway, as tonight is their championship night. Across all of their divisions, racers will be battling to get the last points they need for the top spot in their division.

Speedway President Brad Pierson says that there'll be plenty of competition that night.

In a move that blends practicality with community spirit, the Village of North Portal has officially relocated its office to a new home, the village’s recently acquired church building. Gifted to the village this past April, the church offers a unique blend of charm and functionality, making it an ideal location for both administrative and community use.

When it comes to restoring our canola trade with China, the Canadian canola industry wants to see action and engagement from all levels of government, with everyone working together to protect our market share.

Premier Scott Moe, along with his Agriculture Minister Darryl Harrison and Trade and Export Minister Warren Kaeding, met with federal/provincial canola groups, as well as exporters, canola crush and value-added companies.

Looking for something to do in Estevan this weekend? Here’s what’s happening: 

FRIDAY: 

Estevan Motor Speedway Championship Night – Experience high-speed thrills and championship-level racing on the track.

Living Hope Church Free Drive in Movie- Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, Living Hope Community Church is hosting a free outdoor showing of The Lego Movie 2. 

Saskatchewan's financial fortunes this year have taken a dramatic hit.

The province had budgeted a $12-million surplus this fiscal year, but a first-quarter update issued Friday announced that the modest surplus is now on track to be a $349-million deficit.

It's tying the reversal to a $172-million drop in revenues, most of it from its Crown agency, SaskPower.

Today, an outage is affecting cellphones across Saskatchewan, as SaskTel has sent out a notice that its services are being affected.

As of 8:45 a.m., SaskTel says an issue is preventing calls from being dialled. They also state they have identified the issue and are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Saskatchewan RCMP sent out a similar notice with the 310-RCMP line being down, however, 9-1-1 is still functional in the province for emergency services.

As of 10 a.m., SaskTel says they are still working on a solution for the outage.

As combines roll and pollen fills the air across southeast Saskatchewan, many residents are reaching for the tissue box, battling the familiar symptoms of seasonal allergies. To shed some light on this annual affliction, Dr. Stanley Enebeli, Medical Health Officer for the region, explained what causes these allergies, how to tell them apart from a common cold, and what you can do to find relief. 

Although the weather hasn’t exactly been something to brag about this past month, August has still been filled with excitement thanks to festivals, concerts, and plenty of other outdoor events across southeast Saskatchewan. It’s also been a wonderful time for companionship, with just enough picture-perfect days to enjoy quality moments with our furry friends.

This month’s contestants are a mix of cats and dogs, and one of them will take home two $50 gift cards, one each from our generous sponsors, Rodeo Dawg and All Creatures. Who do you think will win?