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Minister ofÀcially opens Saskatchewan’s 12th shortline railway Big Sky Rail now operating southwest of Saskatoon
Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter officially opened Big Sky Rail today last Thursday, Saskatchewan’s 12th shortline railway. “The Government of Saskatchewan is proud to play a role in helping establish this latest addition to the provincial rail transportation network,” Reiter said. “Shortline railways support economic development in rural Saskatchewan, give shippers another option to move their goods and help reduce truck traffic on our busy highways.” Big Sky Rail will receive a $5.6-million interest-free provincial government loan toward a portion of the purchase of 354 kilometres of track from CN which stretches west to east from near Laporte to near Macrorie and from south to north from Beechy to Delisle. Big Sky Rail took over operations of these two segments of track from CN in early September. Formal purchase agreements and land title transfers will be finalized later this year for these two segments. “This is all about working together to find the most
effective way to move grain from southwestern Saskatchewan to export,” C N We s t e r n R e g i o n Senior Vice-president Mike Cory said. “West
Central Road and Rail and Big Sky Rail, with the support of the Government of Saskatchewan, have the local expertise to source the …see Railway pg 16
Harvest well ahead of five-year average Saskatchewan producers are well ahead of the fiveyear harvest progress average with 76 per cent of the 2011 crop combined, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report for the period, September 13 to 19. Seventeen per cent is swathed or ready to straight-combine. The fiveyear (2006-2010) provincial average for this time of year is 61 per cent combined and 23 per cent swathed or ready to straight-cut. Rain showers late in the week slowed harvest progress in some areas. Harvest progress across the province varies. The southeast has 84 per cent combined; the southwest 81 per cent; the east central 74 per cent and the west central 76 per cent. The northern regions made great harvest progress
during the week. The northeast has 72 per cent combined and the northwest has 59 per cent combined. Seventy-five per cent of the durum, 74 per cent of the spring wheat, 72 per cent of the canola and 33 per cent of the flax have been combined. Across the province, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as two per cent surplus, 68 per cent adequate, 27 per cent short and three per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 63 per cent adequate, 31 per cent short and five per cent very short. The majority of livestock producers have adequate or surplus hay and straw supplies going into winter. Farmers are busy harvesting, hauling bales and controlling weeds on unseeded acres.
Province commits anadditional $34 million for flood costs The provincial government is moving to provide an additional $33.9 million t o t h e S a s k a t ch e wa n
Watershed Authority to cover costs related to this y e a r ’s u n p r e c e d e n t e d flooding.
Of this amount, $22 million will cover additional costs incurred through the Emergency Flood Damage
When every object’s a mountain . . . Alexander, Benjamin and Samuel Young (left to right) scale the sign at the Sandra Schmirler Olympic Gold Park last week, shortly after school was out for the day. Ah, to be a youngster again, where everyday is an adventure, every object must be climbed, and every puddle jumped into. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Power Spike . . . Biggar Central School senior Blazer, Michael Muller is about to send the ball downrange, September 16 as the boys hosted their home tourney. Blazers came in a solid second on the two-day tournament. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Reduction Program, which was designed to help communities, rural municipalities, businesses and individuals prepare for anticipated spring flooding. Because of the need, the program assisted more than 1,100 clients, much more than the 650 originally anticipated. “The exceptional spring runoff this year meant many more citizens and communities requested assistance than anticipated back in February,” Minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Dustin Duncan said, Thursday. “The premier made a commitment at that time
to ensure assistance was available to those who needed it. The additional funds announced today will cover the costs and ensure assistance is available in case of further flood threats through the fall.” Under the Emergency Flood Damage Reduction Program the Saskatchewan Wa t e r s h e d A u t h o r i t y provided engineering assistance and shared the cost of flood protection measures. Evaluations of projects so far indicate approximately $10 in flood damages were prevented for each dollar government invested. Additional funding is also being provided to allow Watershed Authority to complete work on
emergency flood projects at Fishing Lake and the Waldsea, Deadmoose and Houghton lakes flood control projects and to repair damage at dams and related infrastructure damaged by the high water. Total project funding allocated to the Watershed Authority for emergency response to the 2011 flood is $76 million. The federal government has agreed to pay a portion of these flood prevention costs, but the exact federal contribution is not known yet. The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority leads the management of the province’s source water to ensure safe, reliable water supplies.