The Leader-Post from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada • AS2

ARTHUR WHITE CRUMMEY The COVID-19 picture continues to brighten in Saskatchewan, as the seven-day average reaches its lowest level since October and health authorities aim to fully vaccinate 70 per cent of eligible Saskatchewan people by mid-July. There were 32 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the province on Wednesday. That brought the closely watched seven-day average of daily cases to 61. The last time it was that low was Oct. 28.

Of the new cases, 10 were in the Saskatoon region and eight were in or around Regina. In its Wednesday report, the Health Ministry also reported a one additional death among a person who tested positive, bringing the total to 565. Hospitalization numbers fell on Wednesday along with cases. There were 75 people who had tested positive with COVID-19 in Saskatchewan hospitals, the lowest number since Nov. 17.

Despite the steady downward trend in case numbers and hospitalizations, variants of concern continue to trouble health experts in Saskatchewan. The Delta variant, believed to be more transmissible and resistant to one dose of vaccination, has now been identi- ed in a total of 125 cases through genetic sequencing. update added 18,423 doses to vaccine tally, which now stands at 1,023,698. Yet rst doses remain at a near plateau. Less than one in 10 of the additional doses reported on Wednesday were rst doses.

Saskatchewan remains behind its target of vaccinating 70 per cent of all eligible residents. According to update, 69 per cent of Saskatchewan people aged 12 and over have received their rst doses. The CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), Scott Livingstone, is nonetheless optimistic with the pace of vaccination. In a board meeting on Wednesday, he said the SHA hopes to achieve 70 per cent coverage for second doses by mid-July. He called it huge for the province.

would never have thought that that would be the case back in he said. The province continues to receive large deliveries of the Moderna vaccine. According to the SHA, 86,660 doses have just arrived, as it prepares to open up second doses to all Saskatchewan people on Thursday. All Saskatchewan people aged 12 and over will then be eligible for their second dose after waiting 28 days from their rst. All told, the federal government had delivered 1,146,365 doses to Saskatchewan as of Tuesday.

with files from Zak Vescera SHA hopes to fully vaccinate of eligible by mid-July The Regina Leader-Post is a member of the National NewsMedia Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For more information or to file a complaint, go to www.mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163. WEATHER High: 22C Low: 11C Details: NP4 INDEX CLASSIFIED NP10 COMICS PUZZLES A8 CROSSWORD NP10 FP REGINA NP5 HOROSCOPES NP10 NP IN THE LEADER-POST NP1 OBITUARIES NP9 OPINION A7 SPORTS A9 TV LISTINGS A10 YOU NP7 CONTACT THE LEADER POST Editor-in-Chief: Russell Wangersky, Managing Editor: Tim Switzer, 306-781-5223 Barb Pacholik, 306-781-5300 Digital: Mark Melnychuk, com, 306-781-5429 Sports: Rob Vanstone, 306-781-5216 Greg Harder, 306-781-5225 News Tips: Letters to the Editor: General inquiries: 306-781-5211 Reader Sales Service: com, 1-800-667-8751 Advertising: leaderpost.com, 306-781-5251 Classified: 1-800-667-9999, LOTTERIES TUESDAY Pick 2: 5, 7 Pick 3: 9, 0, 3 Pick 4: 0, 4, 2, 1 Extra: 3214108 Numbers are unofficial. In the event of a discrepancy between this list and the official winning numbers, the latter shall prevail. CITY REGION DREAMING OF THE UNKNOWN A piece from the exhibition have dreamt; planning for the by artist Mai Ly is viewed through the window of the Neutral Ground art galler on Scarth Street in Regina.

BR A NDON HARDER A 2 THURSD AY JUNE 2 4, 2021 REGIN A LE ADER -POS Regina police have charged a fourth person in connection with the latest homicide. Travis Grimoldby, 22, of Regina, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Robert Henry Fuchs. Grimoldby made his rst appearance in Regina Provincial Court on Wednesday afternoon. In addition to murder, also charged with possession of a rearm or ammunition, contrary to a prohibition order. During the brief appearance, court heard orts are being made to arrange a lawyer for him.

Grimoldby will remain in custody until June 30, the next date set. As it has with the others accused, the Crown asked for and was granted an order prohibiting contact between the co-accused as well as another named individual. Fuchs, a 52-year-old man from Carndu died after going to the Pasqua Hospital on Friday with injuries. Regina police initially responded to the hospital shortly after midnight on Friday for a report of an injured male. That investigation led to a residence on the 1300 block of Garnet Street.

Grimoldby was arrested on Tuesday around 3 p.m. in the area of 8th Avenue and Athol Street, according to a police news release. Murder charges were already laid earlier this week against three other people in the death. Marley Dawn McArthur, 35, Richard William Snyder, 36, and Anthony Allan Rus, 24, all of Regina, have appeared in court jointly charged with second-degree murder. Regina police say the Investigation is still continuing in the case and asked that anyone who has information contact the Regina Police Service at 306-777-6500 or Regina Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-TIPS (8477).

This is the sixth homicide this year. Postmedia News Police charge fourth person in Regina homicide HEATHER POLISCHUK A Regina lawyer will take the case of a Winnipeg woman accused of causing the death of RCMP Const. Shelby Patton. Marlene Velma Louise Pagee, 42, appeared brie in court by phone from Pine Grove Correctional Centre on Wednesday. Along with co-accused Alphonse Stanley Traverse, 41, she is charged with manslaughter, leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death, possession of stolen property over $5,000, theft of a vehicle and breaches.

She is additionally charged with drug possession. Court previously heard she was represented by a law rm out of Winnipeg. But on Wednesday, an articling student from that rm clari ed it was only representing her on Winnipeg matters and had not been cleared to represent her on her Saskatchewan matters, which are to be handled on the dime of Legal Aid Saskatchewan. Regina lawyer Thomas Hynes will come on board to represent her on the Saskatchewan matters, court heard. The charges were set over to June 30.

The articling student said his rm was working with Legal Aid in Saskatchewan to put together a release plan. Traverse is also still in custody and returns to court in July. Pagee and Traverse were arrested shortly before 10 a.m. on June 12, approximately two hours after Indian Head RCMP learned Patton a member of that detachment had been seriously injured during a stolen vehicle investigation in Wolseley. RCMP previously reported Patton had been dispatched to check into a suspected stolen truck.

During a resulting traffic stop, while outside his police vehicle, he was allegedly struck by the suspect vehicle. A civilian and emergency crews were unable to save Patton, who died at the scene. A farmer later reported having had a truck stolen and police found both trucks near Francis. Police arrested the two suspects with help from a canine unit, the Emergency Response Team and cers from nearby detachments. Patton was 26 and had been with Indian Head RCMP for approximately years.

While the funeral was private, members of the RCMP, other police agencies and emergency workers have held tributes for Patton across the country, including last week in Saskatchewan while his body was taken to a Wolseley funeral home. twitter.com/LPHeatherP Woman charged in death in court CO VID -1 9 I SA SK A TCHEW AN 905,867 tests performed as of June 23 Far North 2 46 1 0 32,772 51 No rt 4 127 16 3 170,905 146 Centr al 3 62 3 0 114,339 25 Saskatoon 10 152 29 4 275,316 115 So ut 4 63 3 0 155,615 77 Regina 8 150 11 5 245,742 151 To tal 32 607 63 12 1,023,698 565 Rememberthelaughter? ReMIND isaweeklyseriescoveringTV, moviesandcelebritiesfromthe1950sto1990s. Joinusforawalkdownmemorylane everySaturdayinyour ReginaLeader-Post.