Battlefords News-Optimist

We have not had a new movie column here for some time so now seems the perfect time to write about the state of things for the first four months of 2014.

Battlefords RCMP were called out to more than 20 occurrences between 6 a.m. Thursday, April 24 and 6 a.m. Friday, April 25. Among those calls were three false alarms, five false/nuisance 911 calls and four traffic related complaints.

The Town of Battleford will be using a new building inspector as of May 1. Monday council members passed a bylaw to enter into an agreement with Construction Code Authority, a company incorporated by Ryan Shepherd of North Battleford on June of 2013.

Battleford's budget has been approved and the mill rate set, holding it to last year's levy of 3.85 mills. Town council approved the budget and the mill rate by bylaw Monday.

Dear Editor Tuesday, April 22 the City crews came down our back lane, removing all the dumpsters. Several City employees and equipment spent several hours performing this removal.

Even though dancers were competing out of town as was the high school badminton team, the community was kept hopping with numerous other events being held in Unity April 12.

The last snowfall, April 17, is well on the way to being melted, leaving puddles in places. The juncos have enjoyed themselves bathing. Up until just recently chickadees have been mainly what are coming to the bird feeders.

The Water Security Agency is advising the public to be aware of the potential for ice jamming to occur on the North Saskatchewan River. The ice cover on the Saskatchewan River system is in the process of breaking up.

The Maymont Dance Club had their annual recital April 13. An enthusiastic audience turned out to watch the dancers perform hip hop, jazz and lyrical numbers.

Battlefords Art Club members all worked on a project on a fine spring day Tuesday, including watercolour pieces, sketches and acrylic paint. We invite everyone to our sale at the Chapel Gallery Friday, May 2 from 6 to 9 p.m.