WestCentral

The Centennial Cup, Canada's national championship tournament for Junior A hockey, gets underway Thursday from the Max Bell Centre in Calgary, Alberta.

Representing the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League for a second straight season, the Melfort Mustangs have two local connections to the roster in forward Austin Shepherd from Kerrobert, and assistant coach Tye Scherger from Macklin. The Mustangs made a run to the finals in 2024 where they lost a low scoring heartbreaker 1-0 to the Collingwood Blues.

Saskatchewan is expanding its infant immunization program to protect all newborns from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) during peak respiratory illness season, the province announced this week.

Beginning this fall, every baby born in Saskatchewan from one month prior to the start of RSV season — which typically runs from Oct. 1 to March 31 — will be eligible to receive a publicly funded RSV immunization at birth, with parental consent.

Unity RCMP responded to a variety of calls for service between April 29 and May 5, ranging from theft and trespassing to wellness checks and mental health concerns.

Mounties received two separate theft complaints — one of which remains under investigation, while the other had insufficient evidence to proceed. Officers were also called to address a trespassing complaint. A verbal warning was issued to the individual involved.

As the 2025 crop season begins, farmers across the prairies are already on high alert for potential insect damage. Dr. Meghan Vankosky, a research scientist in field crop entomology with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, provides insights into what farmers might expect this year based on last year's conditions and winter observations.

A possible travelling scam is being reported in and around west-central Saskatchewan.

The following statement came courtesy of the Rosetown and Kyle RCMP on Wednesday at 10:34 AM.

Hugh Krips Obituary

1939 ~ 2025 (age 85)

Hugh Darwin Krips passed away peacefully with family by his side on Sunday, May 2, 2025 at 85 years in Unity, SK.

Beloved husband of Celine (nee Senecal); loving father of Natasha and Nicole (Cory Anderson); and cherished uncle.

A Celebration will be held for Hugh this summer.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Hugh’s name may be made to the Unity Food Bank & Resource Centre, P.O. Box 445, Unity SK S0K 4L0 or online at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/40008

BN: 847758968RR0001

The Kindersley Kobras football team has seen generous support from the community over the past few years when it comes to the team's bi-annual bottle drive. The day of work tends to raise anywhere between $3500-$4500, getting bigger each year, parents and players making their rounds likely expecting a plateau at some point.

Well, that wasn't the case back on May 3, as the football team brought in possibly their biggest haul to SARCAN yet.

An investigation stemming from December 4, 2024, in Luseland has come to a close.

Luseland Police Service, in partnership with neighbouring RCMP detachments, arrested 41-year-old Shawn Hartnell back on April 22. Hartnell was charged with two counts of credit card theft and forgery after a pair of fraudulent transactions at a local business.

Premier Danielle Smith says her government is pursuing a stronger role for Alberta within Confederation and launching negotiations with Ottawa on a new “Alberta Accord” — while defending recent changes that would make it easier for citizens to trigger a referendum, including on the province’s possible separation from Canada.

RCMP members responded to a range of calls in the Wilkie and Macklin areas between April 29 and May 5, including mental health concerns, a vehicle collision, a structure fire and public intoxication.

Officers responded to two separate Mental Health Act complaints in the Wilkie area. In one case, the individual involved was transported to Battlefords Union Hospital for further assessment.

Police also mediated a family dispute and responded to a complaint of uttering threats, though the complainant later declined to pursue further action.