Estevan

The province has announced that southeast Saskatchewan will be host to a new lithium operation, as a part of its Critical Minerals Innovation Incentive. The development is a part of EMP Metals Corp.'s Project Aurora, a lithium refining demonstration plant set to be built in the area.

Project Aurora will see a small-scale lithium refining demonstration facility built as a proof-of-concept for larger, commercial-scale lithium production in the future.  

Arcola’s Moose Mountain Health Care Corporation, operating as the Arcola Family Health Clinic, has added a Lucas Chest Compression System to its medical tools, providing a major boost for local emergency services.

The Broadview/Moosomin RCMP are investigating a fatal rollover on Highway #1 earlier this week.

On September 16 at around 9:30 a.m., the RCMP received a report of a single-vehicle rollover on Highway #1, near Wapella.

Officers responded along with local fire and EMS. The sole occupant of the vehicle was declared deceased by EMS at the scene. He has been identified as a 26-year-old male from Moosomin, SK. His family has been notified.

Broadview/Moosomin RCMP continue to investigate with the assistance of a Saskatchewan RCMP collision reconstructionist.

Canada needs to maintain its 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in an open letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday.

Ford said the measure is critical to securing a trade deal with the U.S. and protecting Canada's auto sector.

"If the federal government removes its tariffs against Chinese-made EVs, you will contradict and undermine months of engagement with U.S. officials and lawmakers about the need to protect and enhance our highly integrated cross-border automotive supply chains," Ford writes.

Yesterday, drivers fueled up with a purpose for the Co-op’s Fuel Good Day, an annual event now in its eighth year that donates 10 cents per litre of fuel to a local registered charity or non-profit organization. This year, Southern Plains Co-op is directing the funds to three local child care centers, Hillcrest Early Learning Centre in Estevan, Carlyle Cubs Learning Centre, and Oxbow Child Care Centre.

The recent Board of Police Commissioners meeting took a look at some of the data from August, with a discussion of month-to-month and five-year averages.

Police Chief for the Estevan Police Service, Jamie Blunden, talks about what they saw in the month-to-month figures over August.

"Comparing August of this year to August of last year, when we look at crimes against persons, total violations were down slightly, 20 last year in August, 17 this year overall. When we look at crimes against property, it's slightly up, 39 in August 2024 to 48 this year."

The Estevan Air Cadet Squadron recently hosted an open house on September 9 to introduce the community to its youth program. Captain Danielle Fleury said the event allowed visitors to see what a typical parade night looks like, learn about program requirements, and discover the range of activities cadets can participate in.

The Estevan Sharks water polo club has kicked off its new season with practices underway, but numbers remain on the smaller side for the bantam group. Coach Chad Knoll said they had six returning players and one newcomer take part in the first session.

“The bantam group was a little bit shy in kids,” said Knoll. “They looked like they were out of shape, definitely, and tried to have a tougher practice. They did well, but I think they were played out by the end of the practice, not being in the pool for three or four months.”

Grain Rush is rolling on across the southeast, with farmer Dale Cowan the latest winner out in Storthoaks.

Cowan and his crew of 11 have been working hard to bring in this year’s crop. He shared that the team has been growing “wheat, peas, oats, canola, that’s about it,” and that the harvest is moving along well.

The Bank of Canada cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point on Wednesday as the central bank worries less about inflation risks and more about a slowing economy.

The Bank of Canada’s policy rate now stands at 2.5 per cent, breaking a streak of three consecutive holds since March.

Governor Tiff Macklem said the risks have shifted since the Bank of Canada’s last interest rate decision in July.

Cracks in the labour market and a sharp drop in exports are threatening growth, he said, while earlier signs of underlying inflation pressure are fading.