Estevan

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.

Estevan Police Service responded to a range of calls on Wednesday, including reports of erratic driving, suspicious individuals, and an impaired driver.

Officers responded to a report of a motorcycle speeding and driving erratically on King Street. The vehicle was located and the driver was cautioned about his driving behaviour.

Police were also called to a local park to mediate a situation. All parties involved left the scene without incident, and nothing criminal had occurred.

The first long weekend of the summer is coming up for Canada Day, and many anglers may have their sights set on the lake. Senior Conservation Officer Lindsey Leko reminds fishermen of some regulations to be aware of.  

Leko begins with a licensing reminder, as everyone over the age of 16 must have a fishing license to be able to fish, with the exception of free fishing weekends. He says they are running into many people fishing without their license on hand. 

Yesterday, Environment Canada was forecasting a big thunderstorm, but most people in the southeast ended up dry, with no thunderstorm in sight. Usually, that's a case of thunderstorms tending to be tightly packed and missing areas, but in the case of Wednesday's weather, it was completely missing from most of the southeast.

Crawford Luke, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, says at least one area did see a bit of rain.

One conversation during Monday night's city council meeting included discussions around a new taxi service coming to the city, with the assembled councillors voting on whether to accept the motion. The service, replacing a former locksmithing business at 326 4th Street, was seeking a development permit from the city, as well as recognition that they are within City Tax Bylaw and provincial regulatory standards.

Land Development Services considered their request, looking at the issue and making a recommendation, while noting that the Council had final approval.

Canada's elections commissioner said Wednesday she has no evidence to suggest the federal election result in April was affected by foreign interference, disinformation or voter intimidation — even though the volume of complaints about the campaign shot way up.

In a preliminary report, Commissioner Caroline Simard said her office received more than 16,000 complaints about the spring campaign that ended on April 28 — seven times the number of complaints received in the 2019 and 2021 elections.

Sen. Patrick Brazeau is said to be recovering after collapsing on the Senate floor on Wednesday in the midst of debate on the federal government's major projects bill.

Brazeau, 50, rose to speak shortly after 4 p.m. before falling over sideways onto the floor.

A Senate spokesman says Brazeau appears to be recovering following an examination by paramedics.

Warning: The following video contains mild foul language and a medical event.

With grass growing strong along Saskatchewan's roads and highways, the province is reminding farmers that they can take advantage of the plants with their hay salvage program. Under the program, farmers have the first right to cut and salvage hay along highways and roadways to help keep their livestock fed through the winter.

The Hillcrest Early Learning Centre hosted its first large-scale Family Fun Day this past weekend, and organizers are already thinking ahead to next year.

Held as a fundraiser for the Estevan-based daycare, the event brought together families, children and members of the community for an afternoon of games, food and fun. Shawna Attwater, director at Hillcrest, said they were thrilled with how it all came together.

When people think of summer in Estevan, they picture burgers, golf clubs, and standing ovations — but they might not realize just how much those things drive our economy. From weekly community barbecues and packed charity golf tournaments to the much-loved Souris Valley Theatre and returning summer concerts, events big and small generate real economic impact. Community Development Officer Becca Foord with the Estevan Economic Development Board returned to talk about BBQs, teamwork, and being a tourist in your own town.