Estevan

The major heat wave is continuing to scorch the southeast, as temperatures have climbed well past the 30-degree mark and are continuing to rise. The current system will bring high daytime temperatures with heat sticking around overnight as well.

Environment and Climate Change meteorologist Crawford Luke talks about the precautions people should be taking as the heat continues.

The province of Saskatchewan is seeing some lower wildfire numbers as rain up north and other helpful events have tamped down on blazes in the region.

As of 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19, there were 60 active wildfires in Saskatchewan. Of those active fires, six were categorized as contained, eight were not contained, 33 were ongoing assessments, and 13 were listed as protecting values.

Thanks to the improved situation, there are currently no evacuated communities in the province, and all highway access is open. 

Police in Estevan are investigating after receiving two reports of a suspicious man who was allegedly recording youth at a local spray park. Officers say the complaints came in on Aug. 18, but the man had already left by the time they arrived. A potential suspect has since been identified and the investigation is continuing.

CN Rail submitted its 2025-26 Grain Plan to Transport Canada at the end of July.

CN's Assistant Vice-President of Grain, David Przednowek, says the grain plan is based on what CN knows from customers and other stakeholders about the volume of grain and processed grain products that it expects to move over the course of the 2025-26 crop year.

The province is now undertaking mandatory testing for white-tailed deer, mule deer and elk in select Wildlife Management Zones (WMZs) during the 2025-26 hunting season.

"We are committed to protecting the health of Saskatchewan's wildlife populations," said Environment Minister Travis Keisig. "Monitoring wildlife health protects Saskatchewan's vibrant hunting and agriculture economies. We rely on hunters to submit samples for testing, and we appreciate their cooperation and thank them for their continued support."

The City of Estevan has a new face leading its Emergency Measures Organization (EMO). Rhonda Gillespie has taken over the position from long-time coordinator Helen Fornwald, who retired after many years of service.

Gillespie says she is eager to continue the work of keeping Estevan safe and prepared for any potential emergencies. “Helen left very large shoes to fill,” she shared. “I hope I can continue on and keep the community as safe as possible and be prepared as much as we can for future events.”

An exciting opportunity lies ahead for several southeast artistic swimmers as they prepare for the upcoming Saskatchewan Winter Games.

The team representing the region will be the Southeast Connections, made up of seven athletes: Seirra Mantei, Rowyn Shier, Ava Donnison, Mahaley Fonstad, Isabelle Pyra, Kayden Pukas, and Brinley Groenveld. Pukas and Groenveld will compete as a duet, Donnison and Pyra form another duet, while Mantei and Shier will perform as soloists.

The Coal Creek Festival is gearing up to light up the Roche Percee Campground with music, community, and celebration, and one of this year’s headliners is promising a show to remember. Earl Pereira, a three-time Juno nominee and Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee, is set to take the stage with his genre-blending band, The Steadies.

Estevan is set to host the ICE World Conference on September 23 and 24, bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders from across Canada. Executive director of the Southeast Tech Hub, Gordon Moore, joined a local broadcast this week to highlight the exciting lineup of events, including a pitch competition modeled after Shark Tank and Dragon’s Den.

The Estevan Motor Speedway hosted some make-up races Friday night, allowing racers to earn some more points before the championship night. Having previously been scheduled for last Saturday, but being rained out, the races covered all classes.

President of the Estevan Motor Speedway, Brad Pierson, talked about the night and how the track fared.