Led by elder Russell Buffalo Calf (right), the Cypress Hills Singers marked the opening of Aboriginal Day celebrations at Cypress Park on Monday. Photo by Kaylie Blair

By Sheri Monk Kanekaneet School will not reopen this September. The $4.7 million school was built at Nekaneet First Nation five years ago. “The funding has ceased for the operation for the school effective September 1,” said Gaylene Anaquod, a spokesperson with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

By Kaylie Blair Organizers at Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park kicked off their annual Aboriginal Day celebrations Monday afternoon. The event came exactly one month after Canada’s National Aboriginal Day.

By Sheri Monk Water and sewer rates are going up in Maple Creek. At a July 22 council meeting, a bylaw was unanimously passed to approve the hike and must now be submitted for the approval of the provincial government.

By Sheri Monk Dr. Kabuya Mudingayi is the latest doctor to be recruited from South Africa to Maple Creek. The complement of doctors practicing out of Maple Creek is currently at four and a nurse practitioner (NP) begins August 11.

By Sheri Monk As of July 15, the government of Saskatchewan has not found any West Nile virus in mosquitoes, horses or people. However, Culex tarsalis mosquitoes, the species most commonly responsible for transmitting the disease to people has started showing up in town traps.

By Sheri Monk Hail pounded the ground just north of Piapot around 2 p.m. on July 18, devastating crops and damaging homes. The storm appears to have been relatively isolated, affecting a small area northwest of Piapot.