This year in Estevan and the southeast corner of Saskatchewan was a tough one. Tragedies tend to turn heads when it comes to the news, but there were a few positive stories that cut through some of the toughest parts of the year. 

10. Police Requesting Public's Help in Suspicious Death

Four years after his body was found, Geoffrey Alexander's death was announced at the end of 2019 to be considered suspicious by the Estevan police service. More details are still developing with this story as there was not much known at the time of his passing.

Still, the police service considered the death suspicious internally from the very beginning but decided that the end of this year was the proper time to make such an announcement to try and spur anyone who may know something that they have been hiding all these years to come forward. If you do have any information regarding Geoffrey Alexander, you can reach the EPS at (306) 634-4767

9. Bright Eyes Dog Rescue Held a Saturday of Fun

An adoption drive for dogs and a photo gallery with some of the adorable pups on display. There aren't many things that are more positive and uplifting than that, and our readers were happy to take a look at them to brighten up their day a little.

8. Estevan To Host Centennial Cup In 2022

The rumblings of Estevan hosting the Centennial Cup (formerly the RBC Cup) had been going on for over a year, and Estevan finally got the news they were looking for. After hosting successful events from the Sasktel Tankard and the World Cup of Curling, Estevan was put on display beautifully thanks to great efforts from volunteers and many more.

The national Jr. A championship is known to bring in quite a bit of money to the cities that it visits through tourism along with an electric atmosphere around the hockey community to get things moving.

7. Home Deliberately Burned Down in Lampman

A surprise on a Tuesday morning in the newsroom when rumblings of a housefire in Lampman were spurred on by rumours of a dispute that lead to a man setting fire to someone's home turned out to become reality. 

6. Attorney General Fighting The Carbon Tax Meet In Saskatoon

The debate surrounding the carbon tax has only grown more prominent in the year of 2019, including a lawsuit towards the federal government from the Saskatchewan government. Initial discussion on the lawsuit and the angle it planned to take on showed turned heads throughout the province, including here in the southeast.

5. Local Woman's Journey as a Surrogate Mother and The International Surrogate Baby Has Been Born

A heartwarming story from a local woman was the forefront of uplifting stories this year in the southeast. A same-sex couple that lives in Australia but has family here in Estevan also had their paths cross back with their future surrogate a number of times.

Little Florence spent the first few weeks of her life here in Estevan, but shortly afterward has moved on with her parents Tim and Chewn to her home in Australia.

4. Five Arrested Following Drug Investigation and Drug-Trafficking Charges Laid after Motel Raid

The Estevan Police Service conducted two large drug busts in the month of November in the areas of Estevan, Bienfait, and Midale within the span of two weeks. A total of nine arrests were made from the investigations that hit a hotel in Midale, a motel in Bienfait, two businesses in Estevan, and three residences total.

3. **BREAKING**Estevan to Get Canada's First Geothermal Power Plant

With the future in Estevan uncertain as the federal government works to make Canadian Energy cleaner, and they are moving away from carbon capture technology, jobs and energy production both had a bit of a scare. A bit of relief came from the announcement that a Geothermal Plant in Estevan looks to add some relief in the Torquay area.

2. UPDATED: Death of an Oilfield Worker in the Southeast Identified

In mid-August, oil workers all over the southeast were shut down when and there was a lot of confusion as to why. After speculation bounced around, it was confirmed that an oil field worker had passed away while on the job, and an investigation from the company was launched while the oil workers were off the job for a couple of days.

A GoFundMe Page was set up to help the family and it is still up and running. A donation from the employees of Crescent Point hit over $14,000.

1. Birthday Party Turns Nightmare Situation as Child Finds Crystal Meth

Early in the summer, a child's fourth birthday party out at the park. While they were cleaning up, Addison, the young girl in celebrating, found a small little container that looked similar to glitter. She picked it up and played with it and the stuff inside, and as most kids do, she touched her mouth afterward. Soon, she began to feel the effects of what turned out to be methamphetamines, and she was rushed to hospital where police came and healthcare workers did their best to comfort her, her family, and help her through a scary moment.

The bright spot in our most-viewed story of the year is that the situation could have been much worse than it turned out to be. If nothing else, it serves as a reminder to parents and a testament to the fantastic work of both the police and health care workers we have in the southeast to help her and her family through a nightmare situation come to life.