Battlefords News-Optimist

For me, seed catalogues arriving in the mail is just as sure a sign of spring as the longer days post winter solstice (because the -30 C that I woke up to today as I am writing this certainly isn't doing it for me).

I admit that my attention was somewhat divided in the early part of this morning's church service.

The holiday season is winding down for another year, and thanks to the Battlefords and area, 382 local families had a better season than they might have without the help of the Empty Stocking Fund.

The sexual assault charge against radio personality Harry Michael Dekker is still not resolved. The case remains in mediation, as Dekker's lawyer Mark Brayford indicated in provincial court in Saskatoon Tuesday morning. There, Brayford set Feb.

A few years ago I discovered a product few people outside of professional photography circles have heard of, yet most people could greatly make use of: Eneloop batteries.

Some major stories stood out in education in 2013 in the Northwest region. Many of the biggest education stories of the year concerned the Living Sky School Division, faced with some tough decisions in the face of a budget crunch.

Battlefords RCMP made 15 arrests between 6 a.m. Friday, Jan. 3 and 6 a.m. Monday, Jan. 6, while responding to more than 70 calls for service/occurrences. Also attended were two alarms and there were four false/nuisance 911 calls. Friday 7:15 a.m.

A year of celebration and reflection came to a conclusion New Year's Eve at the North Battleford centennial closing ceremonies.

Regan Yew scored twice to lead the Battlefords North Stars to a 5-3 win over the Humboldt Broncos Saturday night at the Civic Centre. The North Stars swept the home-and-home series against the division-leading Broncos.

Michael Gudmandson got the Battlefords North Stars off to a great start in 2014. Gudmandson made 37 saves to earn his third shutout of the season in a 4-0 win over the Broncos in Humboldt Friday night.