Battlefords News-Optimist

Cando's family gospel band, Canada's Double Portion, has earned another award from Gospel Music Canada, this year for their song, Just in Time.

Brett Kissel and his family cattle ranch proudly run Speckle Park Cattle. The Flat Lake, Alta. singer will be entertaining for the third year running at a Speckle Park Cattle Association Christmas fundraiser.

The pucks drop in the opening round of games in Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League action this weekend.

City officials expressed optimism that provincial officials are hearing their concerns about the crime issue in North Battleford after wrapping up initial meetings with cabinet ministers in Regina.

North Battleford has seen another in a string of recent public safety meetings in the city.

Between 6 a.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday Battlefords RCMP responded to 20 occurrences. Three of those were false alarms. Thursday 10:12 a.m. - Report of suspicious person near some yards/homes on Borden Crescent.

I have an important declaration to make in my column this week. I am declaring the month of November to be "Newsroom Appreciation Month," in honour of the hard work of those individuals who work in the news media around the world and here at home.

The premier recently said too many changes in education may have been made too quickly. Now there's been a cabinet shuffle, a pair of consultants touring the province and the development of a draft education sector plan.

A byelection will be held Nov. 27 to elect a new councillor for Division 4 in the RM of Manitou Lake No. 442. The two candidates are Kevin Bossert and Rick Swanstrom. Advance polling will be held Nov. 22 at the Marsden Seniors' Centre.

Great show. Lousy attendance. That sums up the feeling in a nutshell expressed by Battlefords Chamber of Commerce directors about the Best Business Showcase and Trade Fair that ran Oct. 24 to 26 at the NationsWEST Field House.