By Roger White

2017 Year In Review – June

Dec 27, 2017 | 1:00 PM

As we prepare to say goodbye to 2017, battlefordsNOW is taking a look at some of the top news items that made headlines and newsmakers over the past 12 months.

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North Battleford firefighters were out in full force June 8 battling two stubborn house fires on Centennial Crescent. North Battleford Fire Chief Albert Headrick said firefighters attended to two fully engulfed structures on Centennial Cres. Town of Battleford firefighters assisted and manned the North Battleford fire station because NB firefighter resources were depleted while responding to the two house fires. The two houses were completely destroyed in the blaze and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

In June, the Rendezvouz Hotel caught fire. It was the third blaze in connection to suspicious fires to businesses in the Village of Edam.Sgt. Ron Robinson of the Turtleford RCMP said all three fires are considered suspicious and the investigation to date has yielded no evidence of a connection between them. The first fire occurred on Dec. 14, 2016 when the Edam General Store on Main Street was destroyed. The second fire occurred at a business on Highway 26 in Edam on April 13. 

North Battleford RCMP charged two male adults following standoff at 101st St., just north of 20th Ave. on Saturday, June 24. Eighteen-year-old Darby Johnson and 23-year-old Marty Moccasin, both of North Battleford, were charged with three counts of pointing a firearm, one count of possession of a weapon, one count of possession of a firearm, one count of possession of a prohibited weapon, one count of possession of a firearm while prohibited, and one count of mischief. Police say a long barrell firearm was seized during the search. The standoff lasted for several hours. Battlefords RCMP along with the Emergency Response Team, Community Safety Officers and the Police Dog Unit were involved. Both suspects eventually came out of the house and were arrested without incident. 

Riderville

Riders Have Options Heading into Tuesday CFL Draft

1h ago

Induction Ceremony this June

North Stars relish opportunity to host SJHL Hall of Fame

2h ago

ACAC bound

North Stars' Medernach talks commitment to NAIT Ooks

Apr 25, 2024

Shock waves were sent through the Battlefords North Stars organization as Nate Bedford resigned as the team’s head coach and general manager after just one year at the helm. Bedford accepted a head coaching position with Portage College of the Alberta College Conference. He led the team to an amazing 48-9-1 record in 2016-2017 and the franchise’s first Canalta Cup championship since 2000.

Business-wise there was another huge announcement for the City of North Battleford with word the city is getting another big name hotel. At the June 16 council meeting, it was approved that administration go ahead with the sale of land to a developer looking to bring a Holiday Inn and Suites to the city. City Manager Jim Puffalt said the venture shows how strong the economy of North Battleford is. Puffalt said the developer wants to start construction as quickly as possible so he hopes to clear all the permits over the summer and get shovels in the ground this fall.

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @RJWtheReporter