ReginaNewsSask. company betting big on flax straw with plans for Weyburn processing plantBy Cole DavenportPublished: May 05, 2025 at 1:59PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Sign In Register WEYBURN – A local grassroots movement fighting the controversial Seven Stars Energy Project which plans to install 46 wind turbines up to 700 feet tall in the Rural Municipality (RM) of Weyburn The group behind the opposition is rallying support to cover mounting legal fees something is happening that threatens the very essence of our lives,” said a spokesperson for the group who requested anonymity due to fears of backlash a massive initiative aimed at creating a sprawling eyesore of 46 industrial wind turbines 600 – 700 feet tall The group says this fight isn’t just about stopping a project “It's about standing up for our children The RM of Weyburn held a public hearing on April 29 after giving first reading on April 4 to a bylaw amendment to rezone land for Enbridge's proposed Seven Stars Energy Project Enbridge says the Seven Stars project slated for construction in the RMs of Weyburn and Griffin will deliver millions annually in tax revenue to local municipalities Earlier this week, the City of Weyburn council endorsed the project. say the financial benefit doesn’t outweigh the environmental cost “The Seven Stars Energy Project is set to be built in a location that is crucial to our natural ecosystem—an area home to countless species of birds (we are located in both the Central and Mississippi Flyways) The construction of this facility will not only cause irreparable damage to our local wildlife but will pollute the air and water that sustain us It has already done incredible damage to our community with many afraid to voice their concerns for fear of being persecuted.” The GoFundMe campaign seeks to raise $6,000 with $3,325 already raised toward the goal Funds will be allocated to cover legal expenses and public demonstrations aimed at shedding light on the risks of the project and ensuring that residents' voices are heard “Every dollar you donate will go directly toward legal fees and other critical efforts to ensure our voices are heard.” To learn more about the group’s efforts or to contribute to the cause, visit the GoFundMe page: GoFundMe – Citizens Against Wind Turbines in Saskatchewan [email protected] ReginaNewsSask. Health Authority warns of measles exposure in WeyburnBy Drew PosteyPublished: May 05, 2025 at 12:23PM EDT WEYBURN – The Weyburn Travel Club took 84 youth and adult travellers on an European adventure that went from Athens to Rome.  The WTC journey started in Regina and travelled in three groups to Athens Each group participated in a walking tour of the Plaka District On our third day of the tour we had a guided sightseeing tour of Athens which included a stop at Olympic Stadium the site of the first modern Olympics in 1896 Greek Parliament and we viewed the Arch of Hadrian what was an entry to the Temple of Olympian Zeus.  some travellers returned to Parliament to see the changing of the guard. After lunch in the Plaka district we ascended the Acropolis to view the Parthenon Temple of Athena Nike and an ancient stone amphitheater. We continued to the Acropolis Archeological Museum which included an ancient ruins excavation site.  we departed Athens to travel to Olympia.  We stopped at the Corinth Canal to admire a passageway that took 2000 years to complete.  Once we arrived in Olympia Italy in the morning of the sixth day. We boarded a bus and travelled to Pompeii for a guided tour of city that was covered by ash in the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The excavation of the city of Pompeii continues as archeologists discover new aspects to this buried city.  After visiting Pompeii we travelled to Sorrento to stay for the night.  Capri was our next stop on our journey. We boarded a ferry to travel to Capri where we took a boat tour around the island to view exquisite scenery. We took a funicular up to the top if the island to tour around some unique lookout points enjoy some lunch. We then took a ferry to Naples to board our bus and travel to Rome.   On our eighth day on tour and our first day in Rome we took a guided tour of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel in the morning. In the afternoon our travellers had free time to explore the area around St Peter’s Square and some of our group chose to use their time to pay their respects to the late Pope Francis by entering St Peter’s Basilica and passing by the pope while he was laying in state On our ninth tour day and second day in Rome our group took a guided tour of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum in the morning. After lunch we took a walking tour starting at the Spanish Steps and moving to the Trevi Fountain. We then moved our group to the Pantheon where some of our members went in to view the unique architecture. We continued on to Piazza Navona where we had supper and some free time where students engaged with some local artists to bring home some unique pieces of art.   On our tenth day we departed for home.  WEYBURN — Weyburn city council unanimously gave first reading of two bylaws that introduces a $10 monthly infrastructure fee for all properties connected to city utility services The decision was made during council’s regular meeting on April 28 following a recommendation from the city’s Director of Engineering The proposed bylaw aims to create a funding stream for urgently needed capital utility projects with total estimated costs reaching $10.2 million The flat fee would apply to all utility users and is expected to generate approximately $468,000 annually toward utility infrastructure repairs and upgrades calling it a “good investment” and fair “It applies to every building with a water meter,” he said “If we don’t continue investing our infrastructure could collapse — to put it bluntly.” Kellie Sidloski said the fee isn't ideal but there’s a lot of work that needs to be done on the infrastructure “We are hearing complaints about infrastructure and the reality of it is we just don’t have the money to fix everything,” she said adding she hopes the city can move through the list of work that's required so the city doesn’t “have a catastrophic failure for the community.” Mayor Jeff Richards said it’s pay now or pay later adding that the rate increase will only generate approximately two to four per cent of the immediate need over the next five to 10 years “It’s never easy but it’s the right thing to do,” he said Larry Heggs said similar infrastructure fees are becoming more common in other municipalities This new fee would be in addition to previously approved rate increases council passed Bylaws 2024-3485 and 2024-3486 to set water and sewer rates through 2027 For a typical residence with a 5/8-inch utility connection the fee increase would total $16.68 per month in 2025 — up from the previously approved $6.68 — and $17.23 in 2026 and 2027 Cugnet said that many of the city’s water and sewer systems are nearing the end of their life cycle are in critical need of repair or replacement the current methods of funding these capital projects (which is primarily dependent on general revenue and the occasional government funding grant) is insufficient,” said Cugnet in her report to council [email protected] WEYBURN – Fred Sandeski, a 71-year-old visually impaired senior with COPD, was evicted from a senior care home in Weyburn on April 16 after being deemed "too healthy" to stay was described as cruel and callous by Keith Jorgensen we had two armed peace officers called to evict a very very critically ill man and put his belongings on the street,” said Jorgensen “It’s incredibly cruel and callous.” The local MLA and the Minister of Health were urged to intervene but no workable solutions were provided Fred – who isn't expected to live long – said he was given two options: pay $3,000 upfront for a private facility (with uncertain reimbursement) or go home with limited home care services Fred said he and his wife Teresa can’t afford the $3,000 up-front cost They are still paying rent for Teresa in Weyburn Teresa is confined to a wheelchair and unable to provide Fred with the care he requires Fred had been placed in respite care at the Weyburn Special Care Home for a month he was then required to pay $1,380 per month He was offered medical assistance in dying and then told he and his wife should involuntarily separate to get a small government benefit.  Fred needs round-the-clock support but doesn’t meet Saskatchewan’s strict new eligibility criteria which requires patients to be incontinent before receiving long-term care criticized the government for imposing financial and bureaucratic barriers on low-income seniors “There’s just too many hoops and too many restrictions or cost factors involved and many of our seniors can’t afford them,” said Fred adding that those who can afford to are going into private care homes where limited home care support will leave him vulnerable—particularly when his wife is away He is dying and is at the palliative care stage and fears dying alone without proper assistance “I could pass away in my sleep and that scares me,” said Fred “I don't want to die all by myself where I can push the button and someone will come and give me any help that I need.” Fred founded and ran the Community Low Income Centre for about 20 years at the CMHA building in Weyburn and worked as an advocate for people who needed housing as well as providing a free service to do people’s income tax returns at no charge [email protected] -With files by Greg Nikkel and John Cairns WEYBURN — During their regular council meeting on April 28 the City of Weyburn council formally supported the $500 million Seven Stars Energy Wind Project aims to develop a 200-megawatt wind facility in the Rural Municipalities (RM) of Weyburn and Griffin The motion to provide a letter of support for the project was made by Coun who highlighted the potential benefits for the local community once in a generation half a billion-dollar investment in southeast Saskatchewan and at a time when every infrastructure dollar matters we can’t afford to turn away any investment,” said Janke “Projects like this create opportunities for our local economies.” Larry Heggs said the project has broader importance for the area Heggs said past councils faced criticism for not supporting a similar project “We certainly don’t want to do that.” John Corrigan said council’s decision wasn’t just about supporting a single wind project but about signaling to potential investors that Weyburn is open for business “This is about economic development within our region and letting investors out there know we are open for business and we are willing to listen to every type of project to be brought into our community that can bring investment and jobs Laura Morrissette addressed concerns raised by some community members about the safety of wind energy projects She said that council had conducted thorough research before making their decision and expressed confidence in the project's safety “There has been some disagreement about how safe something like this is coming to our community This isn’t a decision we take lightly. We have done our research I’m very comfortable with all the information provided Just because you don’t agree with what we are doing doesn’t mean we are not listening It’s just we have done our research and the research is sound.” Kellie Sidloski added that she had reached out to three other communities with existing wind projects to learn about their experiences all of whom expressed strong support for their respective wind projects “All three communities were met with a little resistance prior to the projects being built,” said Sidloski adding that they continue to see benefits to their communities and RM's from the projects Mayor Jeff Richards said he believes the Seven Stars Energy Wind Project holds potential for Weyburn and I’m proud of our city council for standing behind it," he said WEYBURN - The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is warning the public of potential measles exposure in Weyburn Individuals who were present at the following location during specific times are being urged to monitor their health closely for up to 21 days following the exposure: Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can spread rapidly through the air People who were at the Walmart during these hours and experience any symptoms are advised to take immediate precautions white spots (known as Koplik spots) inside the mouth and throat blotchy rash that usually starts on the face and spreads down the body appearing about three to seven days after the onset of symptoms with two doses providing almost 100 per cent protection The SHA encourages residents to review their immunization status through their MySaskHealthRecord or consult with their healthcare provider to ensure their vaccinations are up to date Anyone who was at the identified location during the specified times and begins to show symptoms should take immediate action Do not attend any clinics in person if you are symptomatic Call HealthLine 811 for guidance on symptom assessment and care advice contact your healthcare provider and inform them of your potential exposure preventative treatment may be available for those who were exposed within six days of contact Measles can spread very easily to others through the air.  The virus can live up to two hours in the air or on surfaces in a space where a person coughed or sneezed It can spread from four days before a rash appears until four days after a rash develops a person needs to stay in strict isolation to avoid spreading the infection to others working with the Ministry of Highways and CPKC Rail rail crossing between Highway 39 and Regina Ave. The decision supports Transport Canada’s safety regulations and paves the way for the construction of a new roundabout at the intersection of Highways 13 and 39 but it was required by both federal and provincial transportation safety authorities due to ongoing safety concerns at the Queen Street crossing,” said Renee Cugnet “We recognize this change impacts nearby businesses and we appreciate their patience and understanding Our focus remains on ensuring the safety of all road users and preparing our infrastructure for future improvements at Highways 13 and 39." “Council gave this decision a great deal of thought knowing how much Queen Street has meant to our community,” said Mayor Jeff Richards We appreciate the understanding and flexibility of our community as we make changes that will strengthen Weyburn’s transportation system for years to come.” The Ministry of Highways will oversee the construction services and coordinate with CPKC Rail for the portion of Queen St The City of Weyburn will manage the closure from Hwy 39 to Regina Ave Motorists are advised to follow posted detour signs and plan their routes accordingly The City of Weyburn appreciates the community's understanding and cooperation as these essential safety improvements are implemented As Mayor and Council of the City of Weyburn we wish to share our support—both with our own residents and with our neighbouring municipalities—for the Seven Stars Energy Wind Project We recognize that decisions like this one are not made lightly we are all too familiar with the pressure of navigating diverse opinions and the weight of decisions that impact our communities today and for generations to come That’s why we believe it’s important to speak openly and clearly about the long-term benefits this project can bring—not only to one area At a time when infrastructure dollars are stretched thin and the needs of our growing communities continue to mount we believe it is critical to welcome responsible this project represents a long-term investment in our future Turning it away could mean turning down opportunities we may not see again for years The Seven Stars Energy Wind Project is a $500 million investment in southeast Saskatchewan—a scale of investment that is both rare and transformative It brings the promise of construction and operational jobs and the kind of momentum that signals our region is open for business this project strengthens our energy landscape with greater diversity and resilience It positions our region as a hub for innovation and sustainability and it helps attract the skilled talent and additional investment that drive progress in today’s energy economy We understand that no project of this magnitude is without challenges But we also know that through collaboration our region can rise to meet those challenges together The success of this project will depend on open communication and a commitment to making sure the development reflects the values and priorities of those who call this region home The City of Weyburn is proud to stand in support of the Seven Stars Energy Wind Project We look forward to working alongside our neighbouring RMs and municipal partners to ensure this opportunity brings lasting shared benefit to the southeast Saskatchewan region On behalf of Weyburn City Council, Mayor Jeff Richards City of Weyburn A number of pages on the Government of Saskatchewan's website have been professionally translated in French These translations are identified by a yellow box in the right or left rail that resembles the link below The home page for French-language content on this site can be found at: Renseignements en Français Where an official translation is not available Google™ Translate is a free online language translation service that can translate text and web pages into different languages Translations are made available to increase access to Government of Saskatchewan content for populations whose first language is not English Software-based translations do not approach the fluency of a native speaker or possess the skill of a professional translator The translation should not be considered exact and may include incorrect or offensive language The Government of Saskatchewan does not warrant the accuracy reliability or timeliness of any information translated by this system photos and other file formats such as portable document formats (PDFs) Any person or entities that rely on information obtained from the system does so at his or her own risk. Government of Saskatchewan is not responsible for any damage or issues that may possibly result from using translated website content. If you have any questions about Google™ Translate, please visit: Google™ Translate FAQs Find services and information for Saskatchewan residents and visitors Find services and information for doing business in Saskatchewan Find how the Government of Saskatchewan governs and serves the province Patients to Benefit from Increased Access to Mental Health Medication Management Residents of Weyburn and surrounding communities now have another option to access mental health medication The Government of Saskatchewan has launched a pharmacy pilot project to give patients increased access to mental health care Thomas Ofuafor and Pharmasave Weyburn Pharmacy Manager Laura Resler and their team his patients will be able to seek care for mental health medication management and support at this pharmacy.  "The Mental Health Medication Management Pharmacy Pilot Project uses an innovative team-based and patient-centred model allowing management of mental health medication to take place directly within the pharmacy," Mental Health and Addictions Minister Lori Carr said "Pharmacists are highly trained professionals This agreement will allow pharmacists to use their full skills build capacity within our health care system and improve patient access to care." The collaborative practice agreement allows participating pharmacists to start patients on medications change medications or dosages to optimize therapy see those with more complex conditions and add more patients to his caseload.  fostering collaboration between the patient and health care providers," Dr "The project emphasizes giving the patient choices and more flexibility to access services in timely manner It enhances quick response to the patient needs and requests involving them in decision-making about their care medication management such as initiating changes or discontinuations." A similar agreement will be in place with Weyburn's Prairie Sky Co-op Pharmacy which will begin offering this service in early May.  "We are proud to announce a meaningful partnership between Pharmasave Weyburn and Weyburn Community Mental Health built on a strong collaborative practice agreement with our local psychiatrist," Resler said "This partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving access to mental health care and highlights the evolving role of pharmacists in delivering front-line support." Patients who are interested in determining their eligibility to participate in the pilot project are encouraged to contact Dr Ofuafor and his team. Based on the results of an evaluation the program may be expanded to additional pharmacies in the future This pilot is inspired by the Swift Current Pharmacy Care Pilot Project the Swift Current pilot helps increase patient access to health care options In addition, pharmacists across the province are able to provide prescription renewals, vaccinations, travel health consultations and prescribe for more than 30 minor ailments. The full list of conditions is available at the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals website.  There are almost 1,300 practising pharmacists in more than 430 licensed community pharmacies in Saskatchewan. In many communities pharmacies are the primary - if not the only - access point for health care services We need your feedback to improve saskatchewan.ca. Help us improve ReginaNewsVictim assaulted with fists, sledgehammer in case of forcible confinement, Weyburn police sayBy David PrisciakPublished: April 28, 2025 at 4:04PM EDT WEYBURN - Weyburn Concert Series will present an evening of much loved music by Patsy Cline and Hank Williams as performed by Lisa Brokop and Paul Jefferson The concert will take place at the Cugnet Centre on Thursday “Anyone who loves traditional country music will enjoy this show as we perform many of the classic songs from these two artists We love to tell the stories behind the songs as well,” said Brokop who embarked on a heartfelt tribute to the iconic Patsy Cline Lisa skillfully renders classics like ‘Sweet Dreams’ ‘Walking After Midnight’ and ‘Crazy’ She will be joined on stage by Paul Jefferson a celebrated country artist and accomplished songwriter for various artists including Aaron Tippin and Keith Urban Paul channels the spirit of Hank Williams Sr. and blends classics with capitivating tales from Hank’s life “It’s important to Paul and I to keep the traditional sounds of country music alive Patsy was very influential to me as a young girl starting out and Hank was a huge inspiration to Paul especially as a songwriter as Hank wrote most all of his own music,” said Brokop “So many of our legends have passed on and they aren’t played on the radio like they used to be so we are here to keep the music alive!” “The raw emotion of these particular two artists is what really pulls us in,” added Brokop “It’s raw and real and that’s something you don’t hear as much of in today’s music.” This concert aims to delight audiences of all ages “My favourite part of the show is when Paul and I sing together at the end of the show Patsy and Hank never actually met as they were about a decade apart from each other with their music but it’s fun to imagine what it might have been like if they had,” added Brokop “It’s a lot of fun to take people on a walk down memory lane We have a screen behind us that will project images of Patsy and Hank that really adds to the feel of the show as well as an amazing four-piece band!” Tickets to this Weyburn Concert Series event are available at Old Fashion Foods and the Weyburn Review/Weyburn This Week office The much anticipated 2025-2026 season will be annoumced at this concert