Local News

School’s out for the summer, and for Grade 8 classes, the final bell marked more than just the start of holidays. It signalled the beginning of an exciting new chapter as they look ahead to high school in the fall. Last week, the Oakville School community came together for a farewell BBQ, honouring the students who are heading to high school this fall. Approximately 150 students, faculty, and family members gathered to recognize the students’ achievements and share in their send-off.

Students heading to post-secondary institutions this fall can now apply for Saskatchewan Student Aid. The online application assesses eligibility for a range of provincial and federal support, including loans, grants, scholarships, bursaries, and loan forgiveness programs.

A Swift Current land owner is claiming an abandoned well site and gas leak, which was supposed to have been fixed, is now in worse shape.

The site, located just outside of Swift Current city limits, across the road from the Pioneer grain elevator, is owned by Johanna Lee. She recently hired a private inspector to check on the leak after Taqa North had crews working to repair it in late May and early June.

Lee says that the repair, which saw an entire drill crew re-drill the well to implement a fix and determine the cause of the leak, is now leaking more than before.

This week in West-Central Saskatchewan and beyond, emergency crews responded to a semi-truck crash near Kenaston causing traffic delays, while a tornado watch was issued for parts of the region amid severe weather concerns. Meanwhile, a motor vehicle collision in Kindersley left one injured, and two people tragically died in a small plane crash near Vermilion, Alta. On a more positive note, the federal and provincial governments announced a $3.4 million investment in a University of Saskatchewan genomics project aimed at advancing sustainable beef production.

With the upcoming Canada Day looking to be a hot one, the provincial RCMP is taking the opportunity to remind people of safe boating practices, such as avoiding drinking and driving. They advise boaters that drinking and boating can result in losing your driver’s license, hefty fines, and even time in jail.

Nature Saskatchewan is drawing attention to one of the province’s most unique and endangered grassland birds, the chestnut-collared longspur. 

“This is a super cool grassland specialist songbird,” explained Emily Putz, Habitat Stewardship Coordinator with Nature Saskatchewan. “They have a very bold colouring and they’re the 2025 Avian Ambassadors of Birds Canada.” 

Two events, separated only by the Bow River, encapsulated Cochrane's rich family and community spirit on Saturday.

It was a landmark day for Cochrane Wolves FC, a club that has been growing rapidly in recent years. For the first time, the schedules aligned for five top-tier boys’ and girls’ teams to host games at Ranger Field.

Portage la Prairie has received its third consecutive clean audit opinion for its annual financial statements, marking a significant achievement under the current City Council and administration.

The approval of the 2024 audited financial statements by Council on Monday solidifies this streak, underscoring strong financial management within the Manitoba municipality.

Money well managed

City Councillor and Finance Chair Joe Masi confirmed the results, emphasizing the rigorous process behind the audits.

The search for a missing 21 year old man has concluded, according to the Moose Jaw Police Service who provided no further details.

Discover Moose Jaw will provide more detail as it becomes available.