By Roger White

2017 Year In Review-December

Dec 30, 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.

The Robyn Silvernagle rink representing the Twin Rivers Curling Club will once again compete in the Viterra Scotties Provincial Women’s Curling Championships. The team consisting of North Battlefords own Robyn Silvernagle, Jolene Campbell of Regina, Dayna Demers of Meadow Lake and Kara Thevenot of Prince Albert were one of five teams announced to compete for the championship. Other teams include Team Ashley Howard, Penny Baker, Nancy Martin and Chantelle Eberle. The other four teams vying for the title earned spots by way of qualifier tournaments and include Sherry Anderson, Candace Chisholm, Stefanie Lawton and Amber Holland. The Silvernagle foursome lost to Moose Jaw’s Penny Barker in the final of the event last year. This year’s event will be played in Melfort Jan.2-7

Battlefords RCMP confirmed recent violence in North Battleford is due to factions of regional gangs targeting each other for various reasons, and are promising to bring in whatever resources are needed to put an end to the recent gun violence. In an exclusive interview with battlefordsNOW, Staff Sgt. Darcy Woolfitt and Insp. John Sutherland addressed the issue after several violent incidents in the city which included a stabbing, a high-speed pursuit and several homes being shot at. Inspector John Sutherland said the RCMP begun conversations to have more help in connection with the rise of crime in the area. Police also confirmed that three young people have been arrested for property and weapons charges and the investigations are ongoing.

Many residents came out to see Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his meet and greet in North Battleford on Dec. 7. Trudeau paid a visit to show his support for Larry Ingram, the local Liberal candidate who ran in the Dec. 11 Battlefords- Lloydminster federal byelection. Trudeau took the opportunity to talk about Canada’s agricultural industry, reconciliation and the economy.

The Battlefords-Lloydminster electoral seat stayed Tory blue following the byelection as Progressive Conservative candidate Rosemarie Falk easily captured the seat with almost 70 per cent of votes cast in the riding. Falk garnered 8,965 votes while the NDP candidate Matt Fedler had 1698. Liberal Larry Ingram finished third with 1345 votes followed by Independent candidate Ken Findlayson who collected 681 votes. The Green Party candidate Yvonne Potter-Pihach had just 200 votes.

Trades in Sask.

Skilled trades need not limited to building homes

15h ago

Battlefords Volleyball Club

13U BVC Impact take provincial silver in Warman

19h ago

Spirit Group

Battleford Community Spirit Group needs members to stay open

20h ago

Just 27 per cent of the possible 47-thousand eligible to vote cast their ballots in the byelection. The 29-year-old Falk replaced outgoing Gerry Ritz who stepped down this summer after more than 20 years as the sitting MP for the riding.

Innovation Credit Union members voted overwhelmingly in favour of Innovation’s proposal to become the first federal credit union in the province. Eighty-two per cent of the more than 17,200 members who cast a ballot voted in favour of the resolution meaning the board of directors can now move forward with the application process. CEO Daniel Johnson had earlier indicated that 75 per cent support of the proposal would be needed to proceed. Other Canadian regulatory bodies will have to approve the application process as well.

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @RJWtheReporter