Strathmore

Abandoned wells are a significant environmental and safety risk. These wells can act as a conduit and allow contaminated surface water to enter the well and severely impact water quality, posing risk to drinking water supplies, as well as plant, animal and aquatic life.

Abandoned wells, especially large diameter wells, are also physical hazards that can result in injury or death to humans or animals who may accidentally fall in. Proper decommissioning of these wells is crucial to protect our water sources and improve public safety.

Saskatchewan farmers now have 97 per cent of the provincial crop in the ground, but now face the challenge of dry conditions.

The federal government's grain monitor Quorum Corporation released its weekly performance update for Grain Week 42.

Space in primary elevators is good - as road bans remain in effect across the prairies, country stocks dropped to 2.34 million metric tonnes. 

Total Western Port terminal stocks increased to 1.52 MMT in Week 42, utilizing 79% of the working capacity.

West Coast unloads were 6,332 cars and 2,051 for Thunder Bay.

The total average terminal out-of-car time (OCT) increased to 15.2% from 6.0% the previous week. 

The BeGrainSafe program is making significant strides in enhancing safety for farmers. rural firefighters and emergency responders across Canada. This initiative provides specialized training and equipment focused on grain entrapment rescues, a critical need in the agricultural sector.

The Strathmore Farmers' Market celebrates its 30th summer season.

The local event kicks off Friday (June 6) from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m at the Kinsmen Park Pavilion. The opening day will feature local vendors, as well as coffee and cake for shoppers.

"It's a struggle for most markets in a lot of areas, but the fact that we made it this long is absolutely amazing and just shows what great community we have," explained market manager Tracy Yochim, reflecting on the milestone. 

Wheatland Lodge celebrated Seniors' Week with a special carnival.

The lodge's residents participated in games and activities on Wednesday (June 4), with the event being put together by volunteers from Strathmore StoreFront School.

The Liberal government has introduced legislation aimed at cutting down barriers to internal trade by recognizing provincial and territorial rules at the federal level.

Officials who briefed reporters this morning say the goal is to reduce the number of redundant standards across the country.

They say that, for example, a company that produces washing machines that meet a provincial energy efficiency standard won't have to meet a separate federal standard to sell outside that province.

In 2023, as Canada suffered through its worst-ever wildfire season, the federal government was looking at creating a national disaster response agency.

Two years later, the country is again facing another summer of wildfires. There is still no sign of such an agency, though governments are tapping the private sector to help with evacuations.

Ali Asgary, a York University professor of disaster and emergency management, said the work to establish a national agency is "unfortunately … not going as fast as our crises are going."

You could win a $500 utility credit or a $100 gift card by completing the City of Chestermere's municipal census.

The census began on May 12 and consists of eight questions. The census can be completed online or over the phone.

Alberta's government has ditched a new fee schedule for breweries that would have seen the province's oldest beer maker pay significantly more in taxes.

The schedule, introduced in February after Alberta tabled its budget, substantially lowered the production threshold breweries needed to meet before they paid the highest fee to the government, while also adjusting the production limits and fees building up to the cap.