FortSask

There was a smaller pea crop on the prairies last year.

Peas are a popular crop in farmer rotations, as the nitrogen left behind from a pulse crop is beneficial to the next crop.

Market Analyst Chuck Penner with LeftField Commodity Research says the smaller green pea crop last year was a good rebound from 2021 and allowed the market to move a little above yellow peas.

He says that's keeping the market somewhat supported.

The Fort Saskatchewan Community Band have played their way into January's Half Grand Helping Hand. 

The band, which includes players of all skill levels, took home the $500 prize for this month. 

Cathy Williamson, who serves as the treasurer of the band, was on hand to accept the prize at South Fort Chev on Thursday morning (Jan. 12). 

"We're putting that money toward our percussion department," said Williamson. "We've got some equipment that needs to be repaired and we're hoping to acquire some new instrumentation to fill out the band." 

After two months of being closed following the Plaza Hotel fire, a Morinville business has reopened. 

Morinville Pizza, which has operated in the town for the last two years, reopened on Friday (Jan. 6) after a devastating fire had them close their doors back in November. 

"For us, it was very difficult because for insurance we didn't get any money, and for the time we were closed, we were basically out of a job," said Varun Tewari, owner of Morinville Pizza.

Fort Sask residents are in for a treat starting this evening as the C/2022 E3 (ZTF) comet will be visible for the first time in approximately 50,000 years.

While the name might be a mouthful, what sets this comet apart is its distinct greenish colour trailed by two tails. 

It is believed this is the last time in history it will be visible.

A Josephburg family found their dog after 70 hours of searching, and they found her in the strangest of places.

On Monday (Jan. 2), Rebekka Clarke took Shadoe and her two other dogs to the backyard of their four-acre property. When she called them back in, only the two other dogs returned.

"Rebekka heard some snowmobiles and heard some barking, so she went looking for Shadoe and couldn't find her anywhere, so she thought Shadoe took after the Skidoos."

Redwater residents will be getting brand-new waste carts next week. 

The town shared a release from GFL Environmental on their Facebook page on Wednesday (Jan. 11) that detailed plans to replace the existing waste carts. 

"One of the many reasons why we want to exchange the waste carts is that they are starting to show many signs of wear," said GFL in the release. "The carts have started to be much more brittle and can break easily." 

Provinces are awash with expired hand sanitizer that Ottawa sent during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The federal government spent $376 million on more than 21 million litres of hand sanitizer, which the Public Health Agency of Canada distributed throughout the pandemic. More than eight million litres were distributed to provinces and territories, the agency said in an email Wednesday.

But now, most provinces have excess expired sanitizer and getting rid of it through disposal or repurposing comes with a hefty cost. 

A key research announcement coming out of Saskatchewan will benefit producers across the prairies.

Agriculture Minister David Marit announced a total of $17.6 million in crop-related research in 2023.

The Girl Guides of Canada have renamed the Brownies to Embers.

It came down to two choices voted on by current and past members with the other choice being Comets. 

The organization says the reason for the change is so racialized girls can feel welcome.

It did however create controversy right across the country with many saying the decision was 'too woke'.

The change takes effect immediately however it won't be fully adopted until September 1 as it will take time to get everything changed over.

It's been a big year for Sherwood Park Paralympian Lisa DeJong.

In 2022, DeJong became the first Canadian to win silver in para snowboarding at the Paralympic Winter Games. She was also awarded a Strathcona County Award of Excellence later in the year.

DeJong had her left leg amputated just below the knee when she was three years old. Growing up in a ski family, she eventually branched out into snowboarding. In 2019, at 29 years old, DeJong began to compete professionally.