Yorkton This Week's top stories of 2011

During the early morning hours of June 20, 50-year-old Yorkton man Jimmy Ray Wiebe was murdered in a robbery while working a late shift at the Shell gas station on Smith Street.

The tragedy shocked the city and led to the creation of a province-wide "Jimmy's Law" petition calling for a ban on retail employees working alone at night.

Kyle Furness, the 20-year-old who confessed to the killing, pled guilty to second-degree murder in November and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 12 years on December 7.

Furness, who blamed his drug addiction for the robbery and murder, made off with less than $50 in the incident.

A new murder trial for Yorkton man Kim Walker, whose previous second-degree murder conviction was overturned on appeal in 2010, commenced in May.

During an emotional week in court that included testimony from both Kim Walker and his daughter Jadah, Walker's defense argued that Walker-who gunned down his daughter's boyfriend and alleged drug dealer, James Hayward, in 2003-was in a "dissociative state" during the murder and not responsible for his actions.

After two and a half days of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter. Walker was eventually sentenced to eight years in prison including time already served, or an additional 18 months.

On March 3, the Sunrise Health Region announced its intention to follow through on the Master Capital Plan completed in 2010, which identified Yorkton Regional Health Centre, Canora Hospital/Canora Gateway Lodge, and St. Anthony's Hospital in Esterhazy as the three priorities for replacement in the next few years.

Conceptual planning for the three proposed facilities began soon after, kicked off by a Health Foundation radiothon on GX94 and FOX FM that raised $130,000: two thirds of the money needed to fund the plan. Private and corporate donations paid for the rest.

The health region contracted Cannon Design to facilitate the planning process, which is now almost completed. A final proposal will be considered by the Sunrise Regional Health Authority at its January meeting, then submitted to the Ministry of Health for approval.

Provincial approval and funding for the three projects is likely, but not guaranteed.

If everything proceeds smoothly, it is expected that Yorkton could have a new hospital within five to eight years.

In the spring, Regina-based Harvard Developments Inc. announced plans for a major new business development in Yorkton beside the Parkland Mall.

Confirmed tenants for the development now include the Days Inn, Dad's Organic Market, The Pita Pit, Bulk Barn, Dollarama, A&W, Subway, and Mr. Mike's Steakhouse & Bar.

The first businesses in the multi-phase development are expected to open this year.

The remains of a couple near the small community of Springside were discovered in early July several days after their starving dogs had already turned to eating their remains.

The 67-year-old man and his 57-year-old wife died of separate causes, leaving their seven dogs with no access to food.

The grisly story drew national attention to the animals, which were quickly adopted from the Saskatoon SPCA.

But many argued that the dogs were dangerous and should have been euthanized, including a neighboring dog breeder who argued that the animals had been a danger even before the incident.