Southwest Booster Staff

A trio of Southern communities reached the 40 Celsius mark during a record setting hot August 10. While a total of 18 Saskatchewan communities set new daytime records highs, Friday’s extreme heat was most potent in the South. Both Maple Creek and Assiniboia reached a scorching 40.1 Celsius, while Swift Current climbed to 40.0 Celsius. Maple Creek’s new record of 40.1...

Six new summer heat records were the main contributing factors in the new summer power demand record recorded by SaskPower on Thursday. On August 9 Saskatchewan established a new summer peak record of electrical consumption, reaching 3,520 megawatts of electricity consumption, breaking the previous summer record of 50 megawatts. The additional consumption is the equivalent amount of electricity needed for...

Lumsden-Morse MLA Lyle Stewart is stepping down from his duties as Saskatchewan’s Minister of Agriculture to focus on his battle with cancer. Stewart will continue in his duties as MLA, but will relinquish his responsibilities for his cabinet position in order to focus on his health. “I was recently diagnosed with colorectal cancer and will be undergoing several months of pretty...

A five-day search for a missing hiker at the Grasslands National Park came to a tragic end on Monday, August 6. Ponteix RCMP reported that Donald Stoliker, 63, was located deceased south of Grasslands National Park. The death of the Newburgh, Ontario man is not considered suspicious, but an investigation is ongoing with the assistance of the Provincial Coroner’s Office. Stoliker...

Environment Canada is forecasting a week of sizzling temperatures in Saskatchewan, with the mercury reaching 30 degrees Celsius and higher for the entire week. Earlier this morning Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for all of Southern Saskatchewan advising that a prolonged period of extreme heat is possible later in the week. The forecast highs for Swift Current and...

A search is still ongoing for a missing hiker last seen in the Grasslands National Park on August 1. Don Stoliker, 63, has not been seen since Wednesday, and Parks Canada is continuing their search efforts along with partners including the RCMP, Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA), and local volunteers. They are searching by foot, vehicle, air, and...

The Saskatchewan RCMP and SaskPower are advising the public of a text message scam which is currently occurring in the province. The text message falsely advises that people have received a payment or refund from SaskPower and provides a link where they are asked to provide personal/banking information. SaskPower advises that they never request banking information via text or other electronic...

After a month long investigation, four men from Manitoba are facing kidnapping charges in connection to a June 13 kidnapping in Swift Current. The four were arrested without incident in Brandon on Tuesday, July 24 following an investigation by Regina Provincial General Investigation Section, with assistance from Brandon Police Service. The Swift Current Municipal RCMP received a kidnapping complaint at approximately...

The Saskatchewan Health Authority has announced that there will be no emergency outpatient services at the Herbert and District Integrated Health Facility from Wednesday afternoon through to noon on Tuesday, July 31. There will be no emergency outpatient services available as a result of physician unavailability. Long-term care services and acute inpatients will not be impacted. In case of emergency, individuals...

RCMP have arrested a man from Gravelbourg in relation to the disappearance of Claude Landry of Kincaid. On Saturday, RCMP arrested 74-year-old Robert Arams of Gravelbourg, and he is charged with First Degree Murder and Indignity to a Body. Arams will be appearing in Regina Provincial Court at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, July 23. RCMP are continuing their investigation into the incident. Anyone...