Releases from Rafferty and Alameda dams in southeastern Saskatchewan were set to begin Tuesday and continue until spring runoff. Saskatchewan Watershed Authority said the current flow of .5 cubic metres per second from Rafferty reservoir would increase to five m3 per second. Flows from Alameda reservoir would be initiated and rise to three m3 per […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Ritz backpedals on claim CWB stealing from farmers
Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz last week withdrew his accusation the Canadian Wheat Board was “stealing” farmers’ money for an advertising campaign after the board chair threatened legal action. “This word was only used figuratively and I retract it,” Ritz said in a statement Nov. 11, a day after an earlier statement drew the reaction […] Read more
Flood forecasting fails RMs
The final cost of the 2011 flood won’t be known for some time but the toll it took on rural Saskatchewan residents is clear. A couple of angry delegates at the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities midterm convention last week said the provincial agency charged with flood forecasting didn’t do a good enough job. Dennis […] Read more
RMs want changes to compensation
Some Saskatchewan rural municipalities that declared disasters due to flooding are finding they don’t qualify for all the financial help they thought they would get. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities last week sent out a survey to find out just what its members are experiencing with the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program. President David Marit […] Read more
Flood related issues, prevention plans among resolutions at SARM convention
Saskatchewan rural municipalities say they know when to declare a local emergency, and when to call one off. RMs dealing with flood emergencies the last two years had to declare a new state of emergency every seven days, according to the province’s Emergency Planning Act. One section of the act says a local emergency declaration […] Read more
Winter road weights come into effect Dec. 1
Winter road weights in Saskatchewan come into effect Dec. 1. This is about two weeks later than some years due to the mild weather. Roads aren’t yet cold enough to allow heavy winter weights, the highways ministry said. The weights remain in effect until March 14, depending on conditions. The restriction orders and updates can […] Read more
It’s not a sweep, but it’s close
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Brad Wall and the Saskatchewan Party steamrolled over the opposition Nov. 7 on their way to a second, larger, majority and captured a record 64 percent of the popular vote. Not since 1912, when the Liberals earned 57 percent, has a party earned that much approval from Saskatchewan voters. Unofficial results […] Read more
Cattlemen’s association welcomes new directors
Two new directors have been elected to the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association. In District 1, Ryan Beierbach of Whitewood replaces outgoing chair Jack Hextall, who did not seek re-election. He defeated Kevin Woods of Moosomin. Beierbach is no stranger to cattle politics. He is a director for the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association and has been the […] Read more
Sask. farmer was fierce foe of CWB
A Saskatchewan farmer who fought passionately for the right to market his own grain has died just as the legislation to end the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly appears to be near the end of its journey through Parliament. Art Mainil, who farmed near Benson, was 78 and had cancer. He died Nov. 5. He was […] Read more
Dining with the Stars’ 13-part TV series pairs chefs with food producers
Take chefs from 13 Saskatchewan restaurants, add produce from 17 organic farmers, and stir until meals are ready. Film from start to finish. Dining with the Stars,a project of the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate with Smart Ideas Creative Communications, took about a year from gathering the ingredients to producing a 13-part television series now airing on […] Read more
