Humboldt

As the summer sun beats down on us, it is also the perfect conditions for harmful blue-green algae in our local waterways. 

Blue-green algae is a naturally occurring bacteria that is present particularly in lakes and reservoirs. Buffalo Pound Lake has been known to have blue-green algae in the past. 

The blooms thrive under the summer heat and can give the water a shimmering, foamy, and pea soup-like appearance. 

After a very wet spring, July saw incredibly hot and dry conditions. Environment Canada meteorologist Natalie Hasell says the month of July typically sees 66 mL of precipitation; this year saw just over half with 37 mL. 

Hasell says the dry season is mainly accredited to an area of high pressure with high temperatures, and a cycle of dryness begetting more dryness.  

The Alberta wildland firefighter killed while battling a blaze in Jasper National Park last weekend is being remembered for his bold personality and sense of humour.

Alberta Wildfire spokeswoman Melissa Story confirmed in an email Friday that family, friends and colleagues are mourning Morgan Kitchen.

A memorial post circulating on social media says Kitchen, who was 24 and lived in Calgary, had a “bold and brilliant” personality, a nimble wit and an “outrageous and ridiculous” sense of humour.

A research project at the University of Saskatchewan, if successful, could lead to less waste in the potash and fertilizer industry.

USask professor Lifeng Zhang says when potash comes into contact with moisture, it forms into large clumps. These clumps can no longer be used in the industry, and many of them end up getting wasted.

“So, as they form the clumps, they basically cannot be used directly, so either they need to be recycled or be wasted. That is what the current challenge is for using potash fertilizer.”

"Freedom Convoy" organizer Pat King was released on bail Friday after spending more than a week in jail on Crown allegations that he breached his bail conditions.

The Crown alleged King broke his previous release conditions, which only allowed him to use social media to fundraise for his legal defence. The Crown says his online activity extended beyond what was allowed between July 10 and 29.

King, whose criminal trial ended last month, flew from his home in Alberta to Ottawa last week to turn himself in to police after learning of the allegations. 

When he was growing up in Humboldt, there was a good chance you would have found Jacob Leicht at the outdoor rink near St. Dominic School playing hockey with his friends during the winter. 

Soon, everyone in the city will get to experience the same passion that Jacob enjoyed with a brand-new facility. 

Students who have been hunting for a summer job and recent immigrants looking for work have felt the brunt of the country's weakening labour market, Statistics Canada's latest employment report shows.

The federal agency’s July labour force survey released on Friday says the overall jobless rate held steady at 6.4 per cent last month as the economy shed a modest 2,800 jobs.

The employment rate, which measures the share of the population aged 15 and older that is employed, fell slightly as fewer people looked for work. 

The Humboldt Hammerheads season ended last weekend in Swift Current with provincials. 

It was another successful swim meet for the Hammerheads even with the hot weather and shallow pool which meant diving blocks couldn’t be used by the swimmers.  

26 individual event medals were awarded to Hammerheads along with 22 relay teams with Hammerhead swimmers also topped the podium.  

The most recent crop report for Saskatchewan is showing that the province is seeing harvest begin for some crops.

With a lack of moisture and hot weather in plenty of areas, some early cereals such as winter wheat and fall rye are ready for harvest with farmers already in the fields.

Crop Extension Specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture Meghan Rosso talks about the conditions that led to that.

The Cool to School contest is heating up, and we're excited to announce our first early bird winner!

Congratulations to Ryan Washkowsky, who has won a $50 gift certificate to Office Experts Office Pro, just in time for back-to-school shopping.

Don't worry if your name wasn't drawn this time—everyone who enters stays in the running for next week's draw and the grand prize: two $200 shopping sprees!