Year in Review – December 2017

As we prepare to say goodbye to 2017, meadowlakeNOW is taking a look at some of the top news items that made headlines and newsmakers over the past 12 months.

On Dec. 4 a sentence was handed down to a 14-year-old male youth who brandished a knife while uttering threats at Gateway Elementary on Nov. 2. He was sentenced to a six-month deferred custody and supervision, and a curfew between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. The incident resulted in all Meadow Lake schools being placed on a hold and secure. He was arrested and charged less than an hour later. He is also ordered send an apology letter to the school by to his youth worker through Child and Family Services.

On Dec. 11, The Meadow Lake Primary Health Care Centre announced it expanded to meet increased demand from the community. Effective Jan. 2, 2018, the clinic will open at 7:45 a.m., remain open over lunch and close at 5:30 p.m. For walk-ins, a minimum of 40 patients will be seen a day. Clinic Manager Krystina Penner said the changes reflect a great deal of feedback from the community and cooperation and support from the clinic staff. Moving forward, clinic staff will closely monitor the effectiveness of these changes. The facility currently serves over 18,000 patients from surrounding and northern communities.

After initially projecting a $1.4 million deficit, on Dec. 11 the City of Meadow Lake tabled a balanced budget for 2018 and decided to raise property taxes 1.9 per cent. Operation highlights included an investment of $300,000 to recap asphalt, $5,000 to improve drainage in Lions Park to reduce standing water areas in the spring and hiring a consultant for a one-time fee of $35,000 to improve Meadow Lake’s Emergency Measures Organization. Council also decided to add $2,425 to the operating budget for the installation of a new security system at the Public Works shop, which had five break-ins in 2017. On the capital side, the city is investing $110,000 for pavement improvements to Highway 55, $600,000 for general pavement improvements throughout the city, and $200,000 to improve drainage on the East end.

What started as an idea one year to make his family smile has turned into a holiday hobby for Daryle Gladue. The Flying Dust First Nation man loves to decorate his property with some lights, but it’s not a few here and there, his whole yard is adorned in lights, inflatable props, candy canes and even a sleigh and reindeer. The reserve holds a Christmas light contest each year in December, and Gladue has been crowned first for the last four years. He said he almost didn’t do it again this year, as there were several deaths in the family, but he and his wife Esther decided to do it in their loved ones’ memories. The Gladues have many people slowing down outside their house on Meadow River Road, honking and acknowledging the nice display.

Riding boundaries changing

MP Gary Vidal announces he won't seek re-election in next election

3h ago

Fire Risk

Meadow Lake under fire risk warning

4h ago

Leadership Needed to Stop Federal Overreach

10h ago

Meadow Lake’s Rebecca Merasty, a Flying Dust First Nation actor, was part of the feature volleyball film The Miracle Season, alongside Oscar-winner Helen Hunt. The trailer for the movie was recently released online and will be playing before the new Star Wars movie. It was filmed in Vancouver over a few months in 2016, and Merasty said it was an amazing experience, and she was incredibly honoured to have participated in a meaningful film showcasing female athletes.

A 30-year-old female and 35-year-old male from Meadow Lake are accused of neglecting five children after an investigation that started July 2016. The children were removed from the residence at that time and have not been in the care of the two adults since then. They will not be identified publicly in order to protect the identities of the children involved. Both are charged with five counts of failure to provide necessaries, five counts of forcible confinement, and two counts of assault causing bodily harm. The male is also charged with one count of aggravated assault. 

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