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2017 Year In Review – October

Dec 29, 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.

It was a story that grabbed national headlines, when Battlefords RCMP shot and killed 22-year-old Brydon Bryce Whitstone from Onion Lake on Oct. 21 during an incident at the intersection of 15th Ave. and 105 Street. Battleford RCMP said they received a call of a male being chased by a vehicle and shot at by the occupants. Police located the vehicle and a brief pursuit ensued. It ended after the suspect vehicle rammed a police cruiser and became immobilized. Several witnesses said a verbal altercation between RCMP and the driver began. One witness said they heard the RCMP yell the driver was reaching for something and that was when a member fired their weapon and injured the occupant of the vehicle. A second suspect, an adult female who was also in the vehicle sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment then taken into custody. An independent, external investigation into the incident is being conducted by the Regina Police Department.

A local woman pleaded guilty to defrauding her employer, Canada Post, of more than $5,000 by concealing funds when she appeared in North Battleford court on Oct. 30. Susan Boyer will be returning to court on Jan. 8, 2018 for sentencing. The offence date covers the period between Jan. 5, 2011 and Oct.1, 2015, in North Battleford. The Crown prosecutor confirmed the total defraud value is $325,000.

There were some anxious moments at the Red Pheasant First Nation on Oct. 17 as a prairie fire backed by hurricane force winds raced towards the community. Luckily for the community of nearly 600, Mother Nature intervened and there were no injuries or property damage. Chief Clinton Wuttunee said the community was very fortunate to escape disaster. Volunteers from the Red Pheasant and Mosquito First Nation helped battle the blaze.

While the date hasn’t been set yet, North Battleford will be joining other communities in the province on the list to receive new fibre optic technology – and faster Internet service. SaskTel spokesperson Greg Jacobs said in a community similar to North Battleford the average connection speed currently is about five to 10 megabits per second. However, with a fibre optic system people would see much faster internet speeds. So far, SaskTel installers started work in Prince Albert and Saskatoon. 

North Battleford city council voted against a proposed amendment to its panhandling bylaw at its Oct. 10 meeting. In September, city administration asked council to amend the bylaw that prohibits panhandlers from operating within 10 metres of any doorway to a beer, liquor or wine store, a bank or cash machine and bus stops and increase the distance to 100 metres. Mayor Ryan Bater said the city will examine other options to deal with problem panhandling downtown.

 

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@RJWtheReporter