By meadowlakeNOW

2016 Year in Review — October

Dec 30, 2016 | 7:00 AM

As we prepare to say goodbye to 2016, meadowlakeNOW.com is taking a look at some of the top news items that made headlines and newsmakers over the past 11 months since our launch.

Eviction program growing in Saskatchewan

Over 4,000 eviction notices have been handed out in nearly 300 communities in Saskatchewan. The Safer Communities and Neighbourhood Act (SCAN) team who have handed out the notices want every drug dealer to know they’re coming for them.

The SCAN program is a provincial mandate started in 2005 comprised of retired RCMP officers with drug and gang experience.

Deputy Director of SCAN North, Bruce Ehalt, said the team investigates complaints across Saskatchewan of suspected drug or gang activity.

SIGA

SIGA and Northern Lights Casino main sponsors of the 31st PAGC Fine Arts Festival

15m ago

Workplace incident

City of Prince Albert pleads guilty to workplace safety violation, handed fines

2h ago

ACAC bound

North Stars' Medernach talks commitment to NAIT Ooks

4h ago

New detachment commander for M.L. RCMP arrives

Meadow Lake’s RCMP detachment has its new commander in place after Staff Sgt. Tim Sartison arrived in October.

Originally from Swift Current, Sartison has 15 years of experience with the RCMP. He’s served in Estevan, Yorkton, Fort Qu’Apelle, Yorkton, Indian Head, and Regina.

“My full 15 years in the service has been in detachment policing,” Sartison said. “I believe I bring a wealth of experience in that regard and because of that and my short stint in criminal operations I also have knowledge on the administrative side and how those decisions are made.”

Enrollment up for NWSD

With a month of classes under its belt, the final enrollment numbers for September were in for the Northwest School Division (NWSD)

The month’s end numbers show an increase of two students in the division from the first week to the last week of September. Duane Hauk, Director of Education said NWSD has 4,702 students enrolled so far in the 2016-17 school year.

Library celebrates 70 years

Marking its 70th year, staff and board members at the Meadow Lake Library were hosting an evening of memory sharing, tea, and a history in photos.

Library board and staff members were putting the final touches on image displays and videos of different moments which have happened throughout the library’s history.

Fundraising group disbands after decades

After more than 60 years fundraising money for healthcare groups in Meadow Lake, the auxiliary board is disbanding due to a lack of interest.

Starting in the 1950s, the healthcare auxiliary board formed to raise money to purchase equipment for the hospital. Joanne Krause, president of the board, said the group raised money not only for the hospital but also for the Northland Pioneers Lodge, home care workers and the Strides program.

“Our members are 80-plus years old and our eight core members don’t feel like being out all the time because they’re just too old,” Krause said. “Our younger people don’t wish to step forward and take over.”

NWSD recognized for reading scores

Staff in the Northwest School Division (NWSD) have worked hard to bring all students’ reading skills either above or at grade level. Recently, the division was recognized by a provincial leadership team aimed at improving reading scores on their excellent work.

Duane Hauk, NWSD director of education said there’s a number of things the division has done to get the recognition.

“The fact teachers work extremely hard and know all their students, they’re incorporating strategies and using response to intervention to meet the needs of students,” Hauk said. “As a division, we’ve done a lot to try and provide resources and professional development to help our teachers with that.”

City council elected

While voter turnout numbers remained low, residents of Meadow Lake cast ballots in October and elected the next council to lead.

Every incumbent was re-elected with Kim Chiverton getting the majority of votes with 486. In order of most votes, Merlin Seymour received 462, Conrad Read received 438, Tom Harrison got 401, Curtis Paylor 398, and Glen Winkler received 390.

With 307 votes, Richard Levesque is the lone candidate not elected.