Weyburn

Today marked the delivery of the first 2024 Grain Rush driven by Great Plains Ford, and we treated Kelly Ashworth and his crew to some delicious KFC in the field just northeast of Tribune.

Ashworth, who is also a cattle farmer, said the grain harvest is rolling along, and they're about halfway there.

The federal government has added 56 properties to a new public lands bank of locations that are suitable for long-term leases so developers can build housing, a move the Housing Minister says will help boost the supply of homes Canadians can afford. 

Sean Fraser made the announcement Sunday in Halifax just ahead of a three-day cabinet retreat intended to prepare for the upcoming fall sitting of Parliament.

"Making public lands available for home construction is going to reduce the cost of construction and in turn reduce the cost of living," Fraser said. 

MORRIS DALE MELLON, late of Regina, Saskatchewan, born October 6th, 1939, passed away on August 21, 2024 at the age of 84 years. At the request of Morris and his family, cremation has taken place and a Private Family Service will be held at a later date.

Three thunderstorms in five days hit the Weyburn area. The timing of the storms could have been slightly better, though, with many of the producers in the area in the full swing of harvest. Now, some producers are having to take a day or two while things dry out and inspect for damage at the same time.  

“Quite a bit of crop damage,” said Dale Paslawski. He farms north of Weyburn.  

To the chagrin of some farmers in the Weyburn area, record-setting rainfalls have come in the past week, accompanied by intense thunderstorms. Last Wednesday, 33 millimetres fell during a storm, setting a new record for August 21st. Then, early Saturday morning, another 30 millimetres fell in another storm, setting a record for August 24th. The records, though, aren’t too big of a surprise said Terri Lang, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. 

CUPE Saskatchewan has had a busy year working with members from across the province and helping them get out in the community.

That includes a series of Community BBQs to spread awareness of what they do across the province, including one in Estevan last week.

CUPE Saskatchewan President Kent Peterson said they've also been busy in other sectors over the summer.

Work is underway to get Canada's rail system back up and operational.

The Canada Industrial Relations Board released its decision late Saturday, reinforcing the Labour Minister's order for binding arbitration and the extension of collective agreements until a new deal is signed. 

A statement on the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference website says they will comply with the decision, but will also appeal the ruling to federal court.

CN started gearing up late last week, while CPKC workers were back on the job early this morning.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government will reduce the number of low-wage temporary foreign workers with stricter rules, urging employers to hire Canadian workers instead.

The federal government announced today that it will refuse applications for low-wage temporary foreign workers in regions with an unemployment rate of six per cent or higher.

Employers will be allowed to hire a maximum of 10 per cent of their workforce from the temporary foreign worker program, down from 20 per cent.

The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings made some roster moves over the past weekend, ahead of training camp for the 2024-25 season, which opens on Friday.  

After going for an extended period without a lot of precipitation in the Weyburn area, the past week has seen three thunderstorms move through that has brought quite a bit of rain just as farmers get into the field for harvest. 

It all started last Wednesday, when a storm dumped 33 millimetres of rain on Weyburn, with some areas around the city also receiving hail. The hail was reported in some areas as being as big as a golf ball.