Hayden Michaels

The provincial government is changing the legal age to buy smoking products from 18 to 19. 

The change is set to occur sometime this fall and will affect the purchasing requirements for tobacco and vape products. It will bring them up to par with both the legal drinking age in Saskatchewan, and with the required age to purchase cannabis. 

Saskatchewan Minister of Health, Everett Hindley, says that this change is being made after the last couple of years have seen a tracked increase in youth smoking. 

The Village of Stewart Valley was out in force for the unveiling of their new school building plans. 

These plans were unveiled at the RM of Sask Landing Valley Rural Fire Hall. Being displayed on three printouts, folks were packed tight around the images showing the new building layout, the planned exterior, and a mock-up of what the interior could look like after being finished and furnished.

After speaking about the plans at the unveiling, folks headed over to the site of the old school, which will hopefully host the new building by fall 2024.

The provincial government is changing the legal age to buy smoking products from 18 to 19. 

The change is set to occur sometime this fall and will affect the purchasing requirements for tobacco and vape products. It will bring them up to par with both the legal drinking age in Saskatchewan, and with the required age to purchase cannabis. 

Saskatchewan Minister of Health, Everett Hindley, says that this change is being made after the last couple of years have seen a tracked increase in youth smoking. 

The Highway Hotline is showing reports that a bridge north of Leader on Highway 21 is damaged. 

The report indicates that the southbound lane is down on the bridge. Motorists are being advised to use extreme caution and to slow down in the area. 

Get ready West Central, winter is coming.

Forecasts are predicting snow arriving this evening, expected to amount to 10-15 centimetres. 

Meteorologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada, Terri Lang, warns folks to brace for impact. 

"Folks should get ready for that, and have it in their mind to get over the psychological impact of snow coming in," said Lang. "And just get that mindset ready [for the snow]."

An arrest has been made in Richmound, following an altercation between adult males. 

Leader RCMP arrested Ricky Manz, following reports of an assault in the Village. 

The 59-year-old was charged with one count of assault after an investigation revealed he and another man had an altercation. No injuries were reported. 

Manz is set to appear in court in Leader on November 16, 2023.

Leader was pumped as members of the Pumpkin Growers came together for the yearly weigh-in. 

For the uninitiated, the Pumpkin Growers is a group out in Leader that has members who, like the name suggests, grow pumpkins each year using the club's very own seed batch. Throw out the growing season, folks work to grow the biggest, heaviest gourd they can manage. While they might not set any national records, each year they have pumpkins brought in that weigh hundreds of pounds. 

An arrest has been made in Richmound, following an altercation between adult males. 

Leader RCMP arrested Ricky Manz, following reports of an assault in the Village. 

The 59-year-old was charged with one count of assault after an investigation revealed he and another man had an altercation. No injuries were reported. 

Manz is set to appear in court in Leader on November 16, 2023.

It was a busy day in Leader, as the town came out for the Fall Market. 

The Fall Market featured vendors at the Sandhills Credit Union Marketplace, as well as a pie-baking contest. Folks were also able to enjoy wagon rides and car shows, all the while mixing and mingling with friends and neighbours. 

Travellers heading east for Thanksgiving tonight will want to use caution on the Trans-Canada Highway.

Sometime before 6:30 p.m., there was a head-on collision in the eastbound lanes between what eyewitnesses are reporting to be a green sedan and a black pickup truck by Mortlach.

Traffic is being redirected off the highway onto dirt roads, with the detour later rejoining the highway.

Motorists are advised to use the Highway Hotline to check for road closures and conditions.