Staff

For parts of the Central Plains, Pembina Valley and Red River Valley, it was one of the hottest days so far this year Tuesday, with temperatures soaring into the mid to upper 30s. The reason? A very hot and moist airmass from the southern U.S. was pushed into the region by a strong upper southerly flow.

It's a name that has been known for decades in Portage and the surrounding area. A name people have trusted for more than 40 years. It's Laramee Enterprises and Rentals and they have now added another name that people have come to trust. Stihl.

Jordan Laramee says that Portage and area have been great to them.

Monday, June 19th is election day in the Portage-Lisgar by-election. Eligible voters will have the chance to cast their ballot for one of five candidates vying to be the region's Member of Parliament. Below you can find details regarding Monday's election, and links to further resources to help you place your vote.

Why is there a by-election?
The by-election was prompted when former Portage-Lisgar M.P. Candice Bergen resigned her seat earlier this year. The by-election was announced Sunday, May 14th, with Monday, June 19th set as election day.

The Saskatchewan RCMP announced a 17-year-old male has been charged with first-degree murder following a February 10 homicide south of Esterhazy and Stockholm.

Here is the news release from police:

On February 10, 2023, Esterhazy and Broadview RCMP received a report of a break and enter and suspicious death at a residence approximately 20 kilometres south of Stockholm and Esterhazy.

The 2023 Energy City Ex's rodeo held a lot of highlights over its three days of action, and several of those came from competitors from southeastern Saskatchewan.

Four contestants that were listed as local members were top finishers in the unofficial results from the Kakeyow Cowboys Rodeo Association.

Kathleen Schiml, of Estevan, placed third in ladies barrel racing on Sunday with a time of 16.40.

Griffin's Sarah Picton finished eighth Sunday in the ladies barrel racing, with a time of 16.62.

Nearly 50 organizations were in the kick-off parade Thursday afternoon for the Energy City Ex, put on by the Estevan Exhibition Association.

The parade started around 1600 1st Street, took 14th Avenue up to 4th Street, headed down Souris to 5th Street, and took 13th Avenue to 8th Street, which it followed to the fairgrounds.

It may be the start of June, but it will be feeling like mid-July this weekend with hot and humid weather settling in for the next few days. A Heat Warning is in effect for much of Southern Manitoba, with muggy conditions being the theme today through Sunday. 

Many of our rain watchers are reporting much-needed rain along with a few thunderstorms in the region yesterday afternoon and evening. After a stretch of temperatures around 30 degrees paired with gusty southerly winds up to 60 km/h, conditions had dried out considerably over the past week or so. Portage la Prairie however did not see any rain at all for the most part.

An Estevan woman has died following a motorcycle crash south of the Canada-US border and the man she was on the bike with suffered serious injuries, according to the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

The crash involved the motorcycle and a pick-up truck, about six miles (or 10 kilometres) east of Fortuna, N.D. around 4:18 p.m. on May 28.

The police report is as follows:

Not only is the 12th-annual STARS Lottery upon us, with 1,604 prizes up for grabs totalling more than $3.6 million. The Lucky STARS 50/50 is also underway, with a max jackpot of $5,005,000.

STARS has six bases in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba. It flew 1,075 missions from its Saskatoon and Regina bases in the 2021-22 fiscal year.

Senior Communications Manager Mark Oddan said in an interview with Rob Carnie of 800 CHAB that community support for the air-rescue service is what enables them to save lives.