Southwest Booster Staff

The recent warm temperatures in the province may result in the quick formation of algae blooms. The Water Security Agency and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health are advising the public to avoid direct contact and any consumption of any surface water where blue-green algae blooms are occurring. Blue-green algae blooms can be harmful for household pets and livestock. Residents and...

SGI is asking drivers to take special care on Saskatchewan roads and highways heading into the long weekend, as you’re more likely to be involved in a collision while travelling on a long weekend than during any other time of year. If you add alcohol to the equation, those odds almost double. According to preliminary 2016 data, there were 228...

Except for a strong showing in the Southeast, Saskatchewan’s August public offering of petroleum and natural gas dispositions cooled off following the year’s best sale in June. The Estevan region generated $6.63 million of the province wide $7.86 million in activity during the August sale. The Southwest area had just three parcels available, with two selling at a cost of...

The Ministry of Environment has placed a ban on all open fires for provincial Crown land, provincial parks plus recreational sites across the Southwest. The decision, in consultation with the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, is issued in response to the extreme wildfire hazards which exist in the region. Effective immediately, all open fires are prohibited in the following area:...

The Southwest endured another series of weather records in the midst of a late month Heat Warning. July’s weather has been dominated by dry conditions and long stretches of heat as the Southwest has been under a trio of Environment Canada Heat Warnings during the past month. Maple Creek climbed to a new record high of 36.3 Celsius on Sunday to...

A Heat Warning is now in effect for the Swift Current - Herbert - Cabri - Kyle - Lucky Lake plus the Gull Lake - Leader forecast regions for this weekend. While the Shaunavon - Maple Creek - Val Marie - Cypress Hills forecast region had already been under a Heat Warning since earlier in the week, Environment Canada is...

The Swift Current SPCA is at capacity on the cat side of its operation and looking for some adoptions to help create room for more cats currently on the waiting list. “One of the challenges of being a no-kill shelter is that we do have times when we have as many cats in shelter as we can handle and have...

A July with little precipitation has continued to stress crops, hay land and pastures across the Southwest. The Saskatchewan Agriculture Crop Report for the period of July 18 to 24 noted that the Southwest endured another week of high temperatures and little moisture. In fact, the report highlights that many areas of the Southwestern crop region have not received much...

The Swift Current Rural RCMP Detachment is investigating a series of property crimes that have occurred in the last week, including the Sunday, July 23 theft of a 2002 F350 Super Duty, white in colour with beige on the bottom half. Police would like to speak with two persons of interest who may have information related to these investigations. The...

The majority of crops across the Southwest remain ahead or at normal stage of development despite the dry conditions. According to the Saskatchewan Agriculture Crop Report for the period of July 11 to 17, crop development is keeping pace with past years. Among Fall Cereals, 17 per cent of field are ahead, 79 per cent are normal, and just four...