Battlefords News-Optimist

The F.E. Holliday Water Treatment Plant is now pumping to full capacity. The electrical problem was repaired early last evening and the plant was able to pump throughout the night.

Birds coming to the feeders are not nearly as plentiful as in past years. One birdwatcher was visited by only a few Pine Grosbeaks. These birds usually visit in flocks and are seen often throughout the winter. This is true of many birds.

The Pizza Hut restaurant in North Battleford had to be evacuated Thursday as emergency crews dealt with a natural gas leak at the restaurant. The incident happened shortly after 11 a.m.

The Battlefords North Stars were in La Ronge Tuesday, but fell 4-3 to the top team in the Bauer Conference. Doug Lindensmith led the way for La Ronge with two goals, while Travis Eggum scored and Graham Smerek had the game-winning goal.

In The Provincial Scene this week, veteran political observer Murray Mandryk floats the notion Saskatchewan's population boom needs to be spread out more evenly around the province.

North Battleford has awarded the contract for drilling and developing new wells at its groundwater treatment plant to Elk Point Drilling Inc. of North Battleford. The winning bid was in the amount of $138,885.

January is starting to buzz in Maidstone. As usual, the arena is a busy place with figure skating, hockey, curling and school activities but there are other activities coming up beyond the ice. Jan.

North Battleford was not spared from construction delays in expanding Water Treatment Plant No. 1 last year, due to the unusual wet weather the province received.

Battlefords RCMP have arrested two men in connection to a vehicle break on 26th Street in Battleford Friday. According to police, the incident occurred around 11:15 a.m.

Well, no one called me names, but I definitely didn't get to play any reindeer drinking games. Even so, Operation Red Nose was the most fun I've had volunteering since I volunteered for the Gemini Awards.