News Optimist February 6

Sports

AAA Stars in playoff fight

12 Crossword Gerald Stanley, defendant in a second-degree murder trial, and his defence team on the steps of Court of Queen’s Bench in Battleford. See trial testimony inside. Photos by Josh Greschner

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Volume 110 No. 25

Staff The news was dominated last week and will continue to be dominated this coming week by the second-degree murder trial of Gerald Stanley. Accused of the shooting death in the RM of Glenside of Colten Boushie

North Battleford, Sask.

of Red Pheasant First Nation, Stanley has pleaded not guilty.

The trial began last Monday and the Crown wrapped up its case Friday. Now, the defence is proceeding.

At press time, it was unlikely the trial will have concluded, however it was looking like it

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

would not require the full 14 days scheduled. That would see a conclusion on Feb. 15.

The News-Optimist/Regional Optimist has been following the trial, providing at least twice daily recaps of the testimony for our website, www.newsoptimist. ca, and our reporter John Cairns

has been tweeting directly from the courtroom. Reporter Josh Greschner and freelance photographer Averil Hall have been on the courthouse steps catching the happenings outside.

See inside for excerpts from the stories filed last week and watch for more this week.

Citizens of the Year Honoured The community volunteer efforts of 2017’s Junior Citizen of the Year Emily Simon and Citizen of the Year Cathy Richardson were lauded at the annual Citizen of the Year banquet Friday night. At the head table were Kyle Tatton, Emily Simon, Cathy Richardson and Ken Richardson. See Thursday’s Regional Optimist for the full story. Photo by John Cairns

PAGE 2 - Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Gerald Stanley murder trial: Week one The Witnesses The second-degree murder trial of Gerald Stanley commenced Monday of last week in Battleford with the selection of 12 jurors and two alternates. Testimony began Tuesday at Court of Queen’s Bench.

Stanley is being tried in connection to the shooting death of 22-year-old Colten Boushie of Red Pheasant First Nation on Aug. 9, 2016 at the Stanley acreage in the RM of Glenside.

Reporter John Cairns has been in the courtroom, providing live reports on Twitter and preparing at least twice-daily stories for our website at www.newsoptimist. ca.

Following are excerpts from his stories, broken down by witness.

Cpl. Terry Heroux

Excerpted from ‘Stanley trial underway with first witnesses on the stand’ and ‘First day of testimony wraps up’ By John Cairns After an opening statement by Crown prosecutor Bill Burge, first up on the stand Tuesday was Cpl. Terry Heroux of the RCMP, who was called to the Stanley farm in the RM of Glenside on the evening of Aug. 9, 2016.

Heroux’s testimony included plenty of image evidence. It included aerial photos from the Stanley farm, showing the main yard, the driveway and the scene as Heroux arrived late that night.

A picture of a quad runner was shown. There were groove marks in the gravel beside it, which was considered important. There was a second blue Ford Es-

cape at the scene as well, southeast of the house.

Photos were also shown of the rifle found beside the grey Ford Escape. Five bullets were found in the tubular magazine and one bullet was in the chamber of that rifle.

The most graphic images showed Boushie face down outside the grey Ford Escape’s driver-side front door, with blood on the driver’s seat.

Following a break, more images were shown with the focus mainly on ammunition and shell casings found at the scene.

A bullet casing had been found with markings BXN-53. A second was found approximately 18 meters from the power pole in the yard in front of the Ford Escape.

Other casings were found near the front steps of the Stanley home and

One of the case’s Crown prosecutors, Chris Browne, speaks with media after court proceedings finish Thursday, Feb. 1. Photo by Josh Greschner

near the doghouse. Some 17 corroded shells were found near the home. The casings found near the grey Escape were not corroded, however.

Testimony indicated there were 17 live rounds and 11 spent casings in the car.

Heroux testified several guns were found on the Stanley farm.

He also testified about what happened with the grey Ford Escape, which was transported to the RCMP’s secure bay in Saskatoon. He described the search of the vehicle for bullets and for blood.

The bullet that had killed Boushie was not found, Heroux testified.

In cross-examination, defence lawyer Scott Spencer wanted to know what happened to the vehicle after Heroux was finished with it. Heroux responded he informed Major Crimes the processing was complete, and it was towed away.

“I don’t know where they took it after that,” Heroux said.

“Why would it not be maintained so that additional evidence could be gained from it?” Spencer asked.

Heroux admitted those were “questions I can’t answer.”

“Once the processing is complete, the processing 18022JJ0

is complete. Things aren’t held indefinitely,” Heroux said.

An incredulous Spencer asked “don’t you think the defence should have a chance to see if we could find the bullet?”

But Heroux held firm that proper practices were followed.

Sgt. Jennifer Barnes

Excerpted from ‘First day of testimony wraps up’

By John Cairns The second witness, Sgt. Jennifer Barnes, an expert in examination and analysis of bloodstains and bloodstain patterns, testified on the findings of two of her reports, one based on her examination of the crime scene inside the vehicle and another of the .22 rifle found beside the grey Escape.

Her report was that the blood spatter and satellite stains on the driver side door and on the driver seat matched the DNA of Colten Boushie.

Barnes also explained why she had not examined the crime scene; the vehicle had been removed at that point.

She said she was able to determine that the stains were consistent with Colten Boushie bleeding on to the seat in the driver’s compartment.

But defence lawyer Scott Spencer hammered away at Barnes for not being there in person, and for not being a DNA expert.

“You’ve looked at some photos and put a name to it,” said Spencer.

Cst. Andrew Park

Excerpted from ‘Accused’s son testifies in murder trial’ By John Cairns The first witness Wednesday morning was Cst. Andrew Park of the Biggar detachment of the RCMP, who was exhibit officer at the scene. Crown prosecutor Chris Browne handled the questioning.

Dustin Gillanders handled cross-examination for the defence, and his questioning focused quickly on Park’s earlier attendance at the Fouhy farm 15-20 km

away.

Park testified a grey SUV with a flat tire had been at the scene and was reported as suspicious, and that an alleged break-in of a red pick-up truck had occurred at that location.

He also testified a stock from a gun was found in the area.

No charges were laid in connection to what happened at the Fouhy farm.

At the Stanley farm, Park had arrested two females. He testified that when he arrested Kiora Wuttunee she was hysterical and “couldn’t stop crying.” He believed the other woman arrested, Belinda Jackson, was intoxicated and he noted a smell of alcohol.

Photo by Averil Hall

Sheldon Stanley

Excerpted from ‘Accused’s son testifies in murder trial’ By John Cairns Following a break, the much-anticipated testimony of Sheldon Stanley, 28 years old, got underway.

Bill Burge handled the prosecution duties.

Sheldon testified that, in the afternoon, both he and Gerald were working on the fence, and his mother was mowing the grass. He testified that as they were “getting ready to hang the gate,” they heard a vehicle coming down the road with a loud muffler.

“It definitely got our attention,” Sheldon said on the stand.

Sheldon also confirmed that his dad did mechanical work for people in the area. The work would be done in the silver shop on the acreage. Vehicles belonging to others were on the property at the time to

be repaired.

Sheldon then testified a grey Ford Escape pulled up beside a gold Ford. Someone jumpedumped in and out of the gold Ford.

It looked like they were looking for something, Sheldon said. But he thought at the time it was the owner or his son coming out, and didn’t think much of it.

Then the SUV vehicle pulled up to the shop.

Sheldon said he walked up the hill to the shop, and could hear the quad start.

“As soon as we heard the quad start, I started running,” Sheldon said, thinking somebody was trying to steal something.

“I could see somebody standing on the quad trying to get it to move.”

He said he only saw one person on the quad, a male wearing black clothing, who didn’t seem overly tall. This person then ran around the front of the SUV and got in a passenger door.

The vehicle backed up, the only way it could go. As it backed up, Sheldon testified, he went toward it and took a framing hammer and backhanded the front windshield of the vehicle.

Gerald kicked the tail end of the car as it pulled away.

“It looked like it was leaving,” said Sheldon.

It took a right turn where it struck the end of the blue Ford Escape on the property, and then it stopped right by the lawnmower. He said the vehicle had made a 45-degree turn into the blue Escape.

Sheldon was standing at the time in front of the shop. When he saw the collision, Sheldon testified he took off running for the house to get his truck keys, not knowing if the vehicle was going to leave. As he was entering the premises he heard two shots. When he came out, he heard a third gunshot.

Sheldon testified he found his father walking at the side of the grey Escape, and remembered looking into the back seat.

“That’s when I heard a third shot.”

Sheldon turned, and he saw Gerald walking around the back of the grey vehicle with a gun in one hand and a magazine in the other.

Sheldon said his father “turned and looked at me and looked like he was going to be sick,” and added that Gerald said, “I don’t know what happened. It just went off. I just wanted to scare them.”

Sheldon then described two individuals. One wore a windbreaker, and the other had a black T-shirt and black pants. One of them dropped a cell phone, then picked it up, and jogged away.

Sheldon also saw his mother at the front of the Continued on Page 3

Tuesday, February 6, 2018 - PAGE 3

Defence lawyer Scott Spencer and Gerald Stanley leave the courthouse. Photo

by Averil Hall

The Witnesses

Continued from Page 2 vehicle. She turned to him and said, “Call 9-1-1.”

He made “two or three” calls to 9-1-1, he said, with the first call being dropped. Eventually he got through and said what happened.

Sheldon also described the reaction of the two female passengers. They had been in the back seat and started yelling, then dragged an individual out of the front seat.

He described the two females pulling the shooting victim Colten Boushie out of the front of the vehicle.

“His upper body torso fell out onto the gravel,” Sheldon said.

Sheldon testified he also saw a barrel of a gun come out of the vehicle.

“It came out with him,” he said.

After trying again to phone 9-1-1, Sheldon said he saw the two females attacking his mother in front of the grey vehicle.

“They had her on the ground and were hitting her,” he said.

They finally stopped and waited in the vehicle, but soon after the two fe-

males had picked up the barrel of the gun and were “all mocking what happened, pointing at each other and saying ‘bang, bang,’” said Sheldon. They eventually went west down the road.

In the aftermath, Sheldon testified, Gerald was in the shop, pacing back and forth; it wasn’t until everyone else had left that he came to the house.

“He was pacing back and forth on the deck,” Sheldon testified.

Sheldon also spoke on the phone around this time to Cst. Park who was trying to find them. Afterwards, the three sat in silence at the dining room table and drank coffee, until “six or seven” police cars arrived shortly after.

The mother, and then Sheldon and Gerald, came out with hands above their heads, and were placed in separate police vehicles.

Eventually, he and his mother were let out of the vehicles by police and they would eventually drive to the Biggar detachment.

Sheldon said he did not notice injuries to his dad from firing the gun. Usually he shoots with his right hand, he said.

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Sheldon was also asked if he knew Colten Boushie.

He said no, and that he not heard that name before.

Gillanders handled the cross-examination in which he focused on the Ford Escape vehicle coming up to the driveway and Sheldon smashing the windshield with a hammer.

Sheldon also reiterated he saw the grey Escape vehicle leaving “as fast as it can,” and said he didn’t chase after the vehicle.

And he spoke again about the hard right turn it made into the blue Ford Escape.

Photo by Averil Hall

Eric Meechance

Excerpted from ‘Witness breaks down under cross examination’

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called Wednesday, but his testimony came under ferocious cross-examination by defence lawyer Scott Spencer, who assailed Meechance for a previous weapons conviction, for “car-shopping,” and for not telling the whole story to authorities, the media and to his family. Spencer portrayed the group as looking to steal from Stanley’s property.

By the time Spencer turned his focus to pictures from the crime scene, a distraught Meechance could not go on.

After discussions with the Crown, Spencer said there would be no further questioning of Meechance, and court ended early for the day. It was the most dramatic afternoon of the trial so far and a possible turning point for the case.

Up to this point, the picture painted in media interviews by Boushie friends and family about what had happened on Aug. 9, 2016, had been that the group of young Indigenous people had only been seeking help to fix a flat tire. That story took major hits Wednesday as a different picture emerged: one of drinking, car-shopping, gun-shooting and other activities that until now had been subject to court-imposed publication bans.

With Crown prosecutor Bill Burge beginning the questioning, Eric Meechance confirmed he was in a relationship with Belinda Jackson, a passenger in the vehicle that day, and also knew both Kiora Wuttunee and Colten Boushie. They were in a relationship as well.

Meechance also knew Cassidy Cross, who drove the vehicle. Like the others, Meechance was from Red Pheasant First Nation.

Under Crown questioning, Meechance testified that he, Jackson, Wuttunee and Cross had been at Boushie’s grandmother’s place

earlier. Four of them were drinking a “60-pounder” of Crown Royal, he testified.

Meechance had not been drinking at this point. He noted a .22 rifle had been picked up and was used to shoot at targets in the bush.

Meechance also testified there were casings in Wuttunee’s SUV vehicle.

From Boushie’s grandmother’s house, the group headed to Wuttunee’s home. Eventually, they headed out to Maymont, in the direction of the river, to swim, but Meechance testified that he stayed on the shore. He did say he had been drinking.

After swimming, the group left in the Ford Escape.

Soon after, Meechance said, the tire started hissing. Soon after that there was a problem with the muffler and at one point they tried to break it off.

Cross was driving the vehicle at the time and Boushie was seated in the passenger front seat.

Meechance was in the back seat between Wuttunee and Jackson.

Meechance was asked about when their vehicle entered the Fouhy farm.

He testified that one of them got out to check a vehicle there. He said a friend tried to break a window.

Meechance then testified about when the vehicle entered the Stanley farm.

He said under questioning that it was Cross who got out and who had jumped on and off the quad at that location.

At that point, he testified he heard people yelling, “Hey, what the f—.”

Soon after, a hammer hit the windshield of the SUV, with Meechance saying the windshield broke into “a big spider web across.”

The SUV then hit the other vehicle when attempting to leave the scene; at that point, both he and Cross got out of the vehicle and ran.

Meechance said he had started running away when the first shots rang out.

“I heard two shots,” Meechance testified. He also said he believed he was being shot at, saying the shots “whistled by me.”

He testified he was just across the road when he heard the third gunshot.

Meechance testified he ended up walking down the road back to the reserve and was later picked up and arrested by police.

Meechance described how he learned Colten Boushie was dead.

“I found out pretty much the worst way,” he said.

He was in custody.

“We were in North Battleford cells” at the time, he said.

He said Jackson came in first and said, “He’s gone.”

Wuttunee came in later and was crying.

“I just broke down in my cell,” Meechance said.

When Spencer went to work on the cross examination, he began with the drinking that went on.

“How many drinks do you think you had?” asked Spencer.

Meechance responded it was seven shots out of a bottle. They were drinking Crown Royal and “some kind of vodka.”

Spencer later showed a photo and Meechance finally admitted he was drinking flavoured vodka out of a bottle.

Spencer then went over the timeline. The day started with Meechance going to the band hall, with Jackson driving his truck.

Meechance explained he didn’t own the truck but it was registered in his name. They then went to Boushie’s grandmother’s place and around 2 p.m. left to go to the lake to go swimming.

They were shooting targets at Boushie’s grandmother’s, and then shot some more by Wuttunee’s house. They were shooting Continued on Page 5

PAGE 4 - Tuesday, February 6, 2018

The Elmer Report

Do they have the will? Yes, they do!

By Garnet Elmer The Battlefords North Stars can be a championship club if they play the right way.

The writer does not profess to know much about anything in this lifetime, however it can be verifiably stated they played their worse game of the year this past Saturday night at the Civic Centre (you know, the barn) against the Melville Millionaires. As Coach Brandon Heck correctly stated, they played without discipline and were selfish in their individual play.

This is surprising since they have played three quarters of their schedule in this Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) schedule. At this point in time, they should be refining their play.

Some fans claimed the refereeing wasn’t up to par. When folks start complaining about the officiating, they are usually trying to locate an excuse for their own club’s losing style of play. The Melville Millionaires deserved to win the game 4-3 in regulation time. They appeared to work harder and smarter. They had an astronomical number of three on twos against the North Stars. You lost track of the number of giveaways after a couple of dozen lazy plays. If not for Taryn Kotchorek, the game would have been settled much earlier in favour of the visiting club. It appeared the North Stars, who have generally underachieved during the past month, thought they could just show up at the rink and it would be a walkover.

They are very fortunate to have goaltenders Joel Gryzbowksi and Kotchorek. Maybe it is time for the other players

on the ice to show their appreciation for their goalers by playing like a team and for each other.

The time is now for the leadership of this club to take control and stress discipline and teamwork each and every game. It was stated at the start of the year that penalties would come back to bite this team. Months later, this is coming to fruition. Once there is accountability, there will be success. This club is too talented not to succeed and repeat as SJHL champions. Some of the leaders on this club have also not played up to their potential during the last month of the season. Their captain, Layne Young, cannot do it all. The other leaders have to pick it up and show they are worthy of the confidence of their coaches.

Has anyone had enough of the rant? Okay, I get the message. There are an overwhelming number of positives to this club. To see the heart of players such as Owen Lamb and Blake Fennig on every shift is a joy to see. If you see the determination of Layne Young and MacGregor Sinclair, it makes you proud to be a North Stars fan. And if you see the quality teamwork and play of Cody Spagrud and Conor Jensen, players who work hard and try to play the right way on every shift, you appreciate the hard work these individuals put forward during the course of the hockey season.

Newcomer Garan Magnes has been a solid performer since coming over from the Alberta Junior Hockey League. If each individual on this club had the same commitment to winning as Gryzbowski and Kotchorek, they would seldom lose a game. First year players Connor Smith

The commentaries offered on this editorial page are intended to provide thought-provoking material for our readers. Contributors’ articles, cartoons or letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion of any News-Optimist staff.

and Matthew Fletcher have shown they are willing to learn and put forth a solid disciplined effort every night.

The players who have been playing undisciplined and selfish know who they are. And most can be solid players and contributors when they show maturity in their play and dedication to the team. They need to care about their teammates first. Once they start playing together, they

will be successful. The Battlefords North Stars can repeat as Canalta Cup champions. But, to do so, they must hold each other accountable each and every night. And, that is where the leadership group must come to the fore and make sure each player is pulling together in the right direction. Go, North Stars, each and every night!

Garnet Elmer – this time, my words are short and to the point.

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Tuesday, February 6, 2018 - PAGE 5

The Witnesses Continued from Page 3 ducks with a .22, “shooting out the window of the vehicle,” Spencer said.

At this point Spencer brought up the police statement on the incident: “Do you recall mentioning a gun at any point in the interview?”

Meechance responded no. Spencer suggested a reason why he hadn’t.

“You’ve been convicted of a weapons offence yourself! You had a fiveyear prohibition on using a gun.”

Meechance explained the gun wasn’t his, it was Cassidy Cross’s.

“That’s a pretty serious piece of information that the police need,” Spencer said. “That you guys were armed.”

Spencer then zeroed in on Meechance about “checking vehicles.”

“What is checking vehicles?” asked Spencer. “Is that a service you’re providing?”

Meechance insisted they had stolen nothing.

Spencer asked if Meechance had done a break and enter the night before at the liquor store.

He insisted he was at his grandmother’s.

Spencer also asked about Meechance’s conversations with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations. They came to make sure it was handled right, he said. He also asked about his statements to the media and to the family, and asked what he told them.

“You knew what led up to it,” asked Spencer, “the checking of the vehicles and the crashing of the SUV, right? Did you tell the family you were out checking vehicles?”

No, Meechance responded. He said he told them that Colten got shot.

Things got tense as Spencer asked about whether they had deserved

Gerald Stanley arrives at the courthouse for day five of his second-degree murder trial. Photo by Averil Hall

to know the truth about what had happened that day.

“Don’t you think they deserve to know that you were out checking out vehicles and you had a gun in there, you were shooting a gun out of the vehicle, that you drank a 60-pounder?”

But “it’s not like we went there and stole a vehicle,” said Meechance about what happened.

“But at Fouhy’s farm... that’s exactly what you were doing,” Spencer said.

“We’re not here for that.

We’re here for Stanley’s farm,” Meechance responded.

Spencer asked why Meechance went to the media.

The family asked him to, he responded.

“Do you think that had anything to do with you leaving out the parts about checking out the vehicles?” was Spencer’s reaction.

Spencer then zeroed in on Meechance telling the media “you and your friends were unarmed.”

Meechance insisted he was

only talking about what happened at the Stanley farm, not about that whole day.

He also insisted they didn’t check the vehicles at Stanley’s farm, but then Spencer asked about firing up the quad.

“We didn’t fire up the quad,” Meechance said. It did not move, he insisted.

The grilling came to an abrupt end when Spencer showed Meechance photos from the crime scene at the Ford Escape.

“Does that barrel go with the stock... that was beside the red car? And all that was the gun that you guys were shooting during the course of the day?

We need a verbal response, sir.”

A rattled-looking, emotional Meechance could not go on at that point, and a break was called. A member of Victims Services was called up to tend to Meechance.

After several minutes, court reconvened. Spencer indicated he was finished with cross-examination.

Crown prosecutor Burge suggested it was a good time for an “early day.”

Photo by Averil Hall

Cassidy Cross

Excerpted from ‘Credibility of witnesses under attack at Stanley trial’ By John Cairns Cassidy Cross – aka Cassidy Cross-Whitstone

– was called as the next witness. He was the driver of the grey Ford Escape on Aug. 9, 2016. Prosecutor Chris Browne handled the Crown questioning of Cross.

Cross testified he was “hammered” – having had more than 30 shots of liquor.

He also described what happened at the Fouhy farm. There, Meechance said go “check out that truck.”

He also testified he grabbed the .22 gun and tried smashing the window with it.

But Cross testified it was Meechance, not him, who was on the quad at the Stanley farm, contradicting Meechance’s testimony of the day before.

Cross described panicking and running away after their SUV’s windshield was smashed and after it ran into the back of a blue Ford Escape at the Stanley farm. He said he lost his boot, and had to go back and pick it up. Cross said eventually a farmer drove him home.

Cross also described the gunshots, remembering hearing two and saying one went by his right ear.

Scott Spencer launched into his cross-examination by attacking Cross’s credibility.

“Did you change your story last night?” Spencer asked, referring to conversations Cross had with the Crown the night before.

Cross admitted he had told the Crown he did have a gun, contradicting statements he had made during the preliminary hearing.

“Any explanation why

you wouldn’t tell the truth?” Spencer asked.

Cross responded he was scared he would get in trouble.

Spencer later asked Cross about the “lies circulating in the media.” He chipped away at Cross for lying about how much he had to drink.

Spencer also grilled Cross about his police statement about the shots that were fired. “I just told them what I heard, I didn’t think about it,” Cross responded.

Cross said he was the one who had intended to ask for help when they pulled in to the Stanley farm. But then Meechance tried to fire up the quad.

“He started stealing before you had a chance to get help,” Spencer asked.

Cross responded in the affirmative.

Spencer also went through Cross’s criminal record during his lengthy cross-examination.

Photo by Averil Hall

Belinda Jackson

Excerpted from ‘Credibility of witnesses under attack at Stanley trial’ By John Cairns The next witness was Belinda Jackson, Eric Meechance’s girlfriend.

Continued on Page 6

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PAGE 6 - Tuesday, February 6, 2018

The Witnesses: Week One Continued from Page 5 Jackson confirmed there was drinking and driving going on, and that Cassidy Cross was driving the vehicle. She said Cross and Kiora Wuttunee were drunk during the morning.

She described the trip to go swimming. As they were leaving the reserve she started to drink vodka and some rum out of a bottle.

The plan was to go back to the reserve to do more drinking. She said Cross was “driving reckless” and “swerved,” causing the tire to pop off in the SUV. They ended up pulling over “because I was upset and wanted to get out of the vehicle.” Jackson said she didn’t want Cross to drive anymore. But he continued to drive until they got to a farm.

She was seated in the middle seat at the back at this point, she testified, between Wuttunee and Meechance. The alcohol was making her feel tired, she said.

The next thing she remembers is driving into the farm and seeing someone on the right side mowing the lawn.

Jackson recalled trying to look for her phone. She said she didn’t remember much after that.

“I knew something was wrong just being there,” said Jackson. She said she remembered someone smashing the windshield.

She was still in the middle of the back seat at the time.

Boushie was in the front passenger seat, she confirmed.

She also remembered Cross and Meechance getting out of the vehicle and running.

After they ran, she said she heard a voice say, “Go get the gun.” She said she saw a younger-looking man walking inside the

house.

She also recalled seeing someone go into the garage and come out with a handgun. The person was in the garage for about a minute. When she saw him again, he “came directly to the window, up to the window.”

“He came like walking behind the driver,” she said.

Jackson then described the shots, and testified there were four shots. The first shot – “I believe,” she said – was towards Boushie.

She said two shots were fired toward Meechance and Cross, who were “just running.” But she didn’t know where they were. She believed Stanley shot twice at them, and that the first and second shots were actually fired at Boushie. She also said the person shooting at the car was “very close.”

Jackson testified she woke Wuttunee, and that Wuttunee reacted to Boushie being shot.

Jackson described Boushie “falling out” of the front side of the vehicle, contradicting earlier testimony that he had been dragged out of the driver’s side.

She also said she was crying for a while, and testified about punching Mrs. Stanley afterwards. It ended when Wuttunee told her to stop.

Jackson testified she didn’t see any guns in the vehicle and didn’t see any shooting that morning. She said she didn’t pick up a gun that day.

Jackson testified she ended up walking down the road and heard “a chopper coming.”

As for who the person was that shot Boushie, she described them as an “older man.”

Defence lawyer Scott

Spencer then went to work painting Jackson as unreliable, getting her to admit she didn’t remember the checking of vehicles, didn’t remember a gun was in the vehicle, and didn’t remember a gun falling out of the vehicle.

Spencer attacked her statement given to police at the North Battleford detachment. Spencer grilled Jackson for not mentioning the handgun in her initial statement to police and for giving a statement that claimed she saw a woman, not a man, holding a gun.

When asked if she had lied to police Jackson admitted on the stand she “didn’t tell them the whole truth.”

She admitted what was in her first statement is “not the same as I’m saying now.”

“Maybe I was just scared. It’s understandable.

It’s not something I see every day – someone getting shot. I was confused a lot of the time.”

After seeing a picture of Stanley in the media, she said, she started remembering things.

When asked about the handgun, Jackson said she was not comfortable describing how the gun was being held. “Or it didn’t happen, you didn’t see it,” said Spencer.

Spencer asked about other people she made statements to, mentioning the FSIN. “Would it strike you as odd that there was this separate investigation?”

Spencer asked. Jackson admitted yes.

She also took issue with the interrogation.

“He made it seem like I did something wrong,” Jackson said of the RCMP officer interrogating her on Aug. 10. Spencer pointed out that by this point she had been granted immu-

Clearing the steps of the Court of Queen’s Bench in Battleford in preparation for another day of the Gerald Stanley second-degree murder trial. Photo by Josh Greschner

nity from prosecution.

Spencer was dismissive of her police statement, saying none of what she saying in court was in there. He suggested she got together with the other witnesses to craft a story.

“Did you get together with any of the other witnesses and talk about what happened?”

Jackson said she talked to Wuttunee.

When asked if she spoke to their family lawyer Chris Murphy, she said she didn’t remember, but said she did speak to Sheldon Wuttunee about what happened.

Spencer accused her of making the story up after the fact. Spencer suggested the real reason the group wanted to get off the Red Pheasant reserve that Aug. 9 day was because police were looking for stolen vehicles on the reserve.

Photo by Averil Hall

Greg Williams

Excerpted from ‘Thursday testimony at Stanley trial includes Ford Escape occupants’ and ‘Firearms dominate Friday at Stanley trial’ By John Cairns, Staff Reporter Greg Williams is a firearms expert based out of Ottawa. He examined the .22 rifle from the grey Ford Escape as well as the Tokarev pistol. The .22 was damaged and would not fire on its own, but was classified as a firearm. The Russian pistol that Stanley had fired, the Tokarev TT33, is a restricted firearm, a handgun, and not a prohibited firearm. He noted the pistol didn’t discharge a bullet without the trigger having to be pulled.

The expended cartridge cases were compared to the tests fired out of the pistol, and he said it was the same class, the same caliber, and were “found to agree significantly.”

With respect to

Boushie, Williams testified gunshot damage was found on one part of the hood and two areas of the jacket.

Of importance, Williams testified that he could not calculate how close the pistol was to Boushie when it was fired.

Williams testified about shock discharge testing done on the pistol. He said he dropped the gun in six different cubic orientations onto carpet to see if the hammer had fallen. In all those tests, there was no discharge.

In Scott Spencer’s cross-examination, the focus was largely on the defence’s notion that the Tokarev semi-automatic pistol might have somehow malfunctioned or misfired in some way at the time of the fatal shooting.

He questioned Williams at length about various possibilities for what could have happened, such as whether the pistol misfired, whether the ammunition could have malfunctioned, whether the barrel was obstructed, and others.

At one point Spencer roasted Williams for not doing enough investigating of the gunpowder in the cartridge.

“Don’t you think it would have been pretty valuable to pull that gun apart and see if that Tokarev isn’t partially burnt in there?” Spencer asked, wanting to know if a hang fire was possible.

Williams responded he wouldn’t have expected that information to be useful.

“I wouldn’t have requested it, myself,” he testified.

“Wouldn’t you like to know if that gun powder is defective in the actual cartridges?” Spencer responded.

Spencer turned his attention to the issue of hang fires, a situation in which a firearm fails to fire immediately when the trigger is pulled.

Williams said there is a “lot of lore about hang fires” and certain “myths” about them happening at the range. The best place to go for information was scientific research, and those are examples he quotes, he said.

“What if they’re not myths?” Spencer asked.

“What if they’re true?”

Williams insisted he trusted the sources that have researched extensively and studied them from a scientific point of view.

“I wouldn’t trust just Wikipedia or outside sources of information,” Williams said.

At this point Spencer tried to enter into evidence an article from the Internet about hang fires, coming from Reddit.

Justice Martel Popescul immediately expressed reservations about it.

“Are you trying to put in evidence that comes from the Internet from an unknown source?” he asked.

Spencer insisted the article should be put to Williams so he could give his expert opinion on it. But the Crown had a different view.

Prosecutor Bill Burge called it “hearsay from unknown people with unknown experience and qualifications.” He added entering this into evidence was “wrong on so many levels.”

In the end the line of questioning was not entered as evidence.

Sandy Ervin

Excerpted from ‘Firearms dominate Friday at Stanley trial’ By John Cairns With the Crown’s case complete, it was the defence’s turn to call witnesses.

Defence lawyer Scott Spencer indicated to the court he planned to call a number of witnesses, but in the interest of time he proposed calling his expert witness that day and pushing back his actual opening statement to Monday morning.

It was unusual, but the plan was agreed to and Spencer called his first witness: John Robert Ervin, who goes by the name Sandy Ervin, who was qualified as an expert witness in firearms.

Ervin’s testimony focused on his own examination and testing of the firearm, as well as the cartridge case that contained what he described as a “significant misshapen bulge in the casehead of the cartridge.”

Testimony continued from Ervin throughout the afternoon.

Tuesday, February 6, 2018 - PAGE 7

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OBITUARIES FUCHS: Mrs. Lynn Fuchs of North Battleford, SK passed away on Sunday January 21, 2018 at the Battlefords Union Hospital at the age of 74 years. Prayers were held on Friday January 26, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial took place on Saturday January 27, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. with Reverend Father Anthony Afangide officiating.

Both services were held from St. Joseph Calasanctius Roman Catholic Parish. Lynn is remembered by her husband Elwood Fuchs, her daughter Jenn (Kevin) Kreese, her sons Brad (Sarah) Fuchs, Greg Fuchs and her grandchildren Jesse Kreese and Vayda Kreese. She was predeceased by her parents Cyril & Lois Bigham, her brothers Barry, Jack & Ron and her sister Merrell Cox. Memorial donations in memory of Lynn may be directed to the BUH Foundation designated to Palliative Care 1092 107 St, North Battleford, SK S9A 1Z1 or to the CNIB 1705 McKercher Dr, Saskatoon, SK S7H 5N6. For those wishing to leave a condolence you may do so at www.eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Trevor Watts of Eternal Memories Funeral Service & Crematorium.

HANCHEROW: Phillip Hancherow: October 22, 1931 – January 23, 2018. Phillip Hancherow, beloved husband of Lynn Walby, resident of North Battleford, passed peacefully from this life on January 23, 2018 at the Battlefords Union Hospital after a brief illness.

He was predeceased by his parents (Steve and Lily Hancherow from Sotnikova village in the province of Stavropol, Russia), four brothers (Alvin, Jim, Melvin and John); two sisters (Celia and Ruby), and

by Lynn’s parents, Wib and Eileen Walby. Phillip was born and raised on the family farm near Eldersley, Sask. In 1952, Phil began his lifelong carpentry career, employed in southern Saskatchewan repairing grain elevators. He went on to acquire his Journeyman Certificate In carpentry in 1967 and worked on many residential and commercial construction projects over the years, mainly in North East Saskatchewan and Thompson, Manitoba before moving to North Battleford in 1972. In 1995, Phil was awarded a Gold Seal Certificate for Superintendent in General Contracting by the Canadian Construction Association. Phil was an avid reader and was rarely seen without one of his favorite western books in hand when he was at home relaxing. Phil and his wife Lynn shared many pleasurable times pursuing their mutual love of fishing and gardening. He also enjoyed hunting with his friends and was a life member of the Battlefords Wildlife Federation. Phil is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 44 years, Lynn Walby and three children from a previous marriage, Lance, Jeanette and Dianne. He was blessed with three grandchildren, Kelly and Anna (Dianne) and Karl (Jeanette) and four great-granddaughters, Nikiah (Kelly), Evie (Anna) and Kaitlyn and Anya (Karl). He is also survived by one uncle, Nick Shemko of Tisdale, Sask. and two brothers, Robert and Gerald (Eileen). Left to mourn his passing are Craig and Rose Walby, along with their two children Kevin and Michael, and Bill and Donna Walby and their children Morgan and Jennel. Phil will be greatly missed by his extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews and his many friends. At his request, there will be no funeral service. The family would like to extend their gratitude to all who have supported them during this time and to the staff of the hospital who gave Phil such excellent care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Phil’s memory to the Battlefords Union Hospital. Condolences can be sent to mail@battlefordsfuneralservice.com Arrangements were entrusted to Battlefords Funeral Service (306-4464200). __________________________________________________

BUCHKO: Mr. Tony Buchko passed away on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at the age of 82 years. A Celebration of his Life was held on Thursday February 1, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. at the Western Development Museum, North Battleford, SK with Pastor Deb McNabb officiating. Tony will be lovingly remembered by his son, Trevor (Amanda) and their children, Taggert and Ty; his son, Todd (Lynn) and their children, Tanner, Jasmine, Brodie and Nada; Sisters, Mary Ann (Nick) Sanoy and Elsie Roach; and brother, Johnny (MaryLynn) Buchko. He was predeceased by his wife, Ruth and his parents, John and Nettie. Interment will take place at a later date. Memorial donations in memory of Mr. Tony Buchko may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan, 1738 Quebec Avenue, Unit 26, Saskatoon, SK S7K 1V9 or to a Charity of the donor’s choice. For those wishing to leave a condolence you may do so at www.eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Trevor Watts of Eternal Memories Funeral Service and Crematorium.

HAWRYSH: Mr. Yaroslaw “Art” Harwysh passed away on January 11, 2018 at the Hafford Special Care Home, Hafford, SK. Prayer Service took place on Sunday, January 14, 2018 @ 7:00 p.m. from the Descent of the Holy Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Divine Liturgy was held on Monday, January 15, 2018 @ 10:00 a.m. also from the Descent of the Holy Ukrainian Orthodox Church with Very Reverend Father Bohdan Demczuk officiating. Interment followed in the Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, Hafford, SK. Memorial Donations in memory of Art may be directed to Hafford Special Care Home Hafford, SK or to Descent of the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Yaroslaw is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Stella; his son Larry (Diane) Hawrysh; his daughter Debby (Daryle) Schmidt; four grandchildren Jody (Jonathan) Coller, Garett (Meaghan) Hawrysh, Cia Hawrysh and Tyler Schmidt; four great grandchildren Rylie and Zoey Coller and Piper and Hendrix Hawrysh; sister Olive Kindrachuk and Mary (Stan) Woytiuk; and sisters-in-law Anne Hawrysh and Marie Padd. He was predeceased by his parents John and Efymia (Kinash); siblings Mary Hawrysh, Anne (Steve) Bodnarchuk, Helen (George) Kuchar, Natalia (John) Evanishen, Polly (Andy) Karpyshyn, Serafina (Albert) Guest, Nestor (Doreen) Hawrysh, Voloymyr (Minnie) Hawrysh, Anton Hawrysh, Sofia (Steve) Matiation, David Hawrysh; his in laws Nick and Anastasia Swystun, Nick Kindrachuk, Bill Padd, and Kay (Mike) Semko. For those wishing to leave a condolence you may do so at www.eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Zonie Krawchuk of Eternal Memories Funeral Service & Crematorium.

Card of Thanks The Hawrysh family would like to thank Very Reverend Father Bohdan Demczuk for officiating the service, also to Cantors Jim Shevchuk and Larry Klopoushak; to the pallbearers and the ladies who looked after the lunch and anyone else who helped during this difficult time.

Hawrysh Family

GLASS: Isobel passed away January 15, 2018. Isobel is survived by family in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Prince George, and Australia. Her husband George passed away previous. Donations can be made to the Palliative Care unit of Nanaimo Hospital or the Canadian Red Cross. Service to follow at a later date. __________________________________________________ STEPHAN: Mr. Wilfred Stephan, resident of North Battleford passed away on January 23, 2018 in Maidstone, SK at the age of 90 years. A Celebration of Life Service for Mr. Wilfred Stephan was held on Saturday January 27, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. from Sloan Auditorium Royal Canadian Legion Br # 70 with Mrs. Joyce Salie officiating. Wilfred is lovingly remembered by his wife Joan; his children Duane (Rose), Rod (Lori), Karen (Ron) and Joan (Harvey); as well as many other family members including his siblings, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Fredrich and Lidia, son Peter and several siblings. Interment will follow at a later date. For those wishing to leave a condolence you may do so at www.eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Trevor Watts of Eternal Memories Funeral Service and Crematorium.

CADRIN: In Loving Memory of Fay Frances Cadrin, born December 25, 1940 at Kindersley, SK., passed away January 23, 2018 in North Battleford, SK. Fay is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, John. Her five children, Edward (Lois) Cadrin - children Amanda (Birch) Hanson, Aaron (Britney) Cadrin, Jared Cadrin (Darrien Tuffs); Louise Cadrin; Jo-Anne Cadrin (Dave Zdunich) and their son Jesse Zdunich; Sharon Odnokon; Gilbert (Susan) Cadrin and their sons Tal and Evan. Brother Harold Scott and wife Marlene. Numerous nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents Patrick and Doris Scott. Vigil Of Prayer was held on Sunday, January 28, 2018 at 7:00pm from Notre Dame de Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Mass OF Christian Burial was held on Monday, January 29, 2018 at 2:00pm from St. Joseph Calasanctius Roman Catholic Church, North Battleford, Saskatchewan with Celebrant Father Cuong Luong. Cross Bearer was Wanda Weber. Candle Bearers were Louis Hamel and Giselle L’Heureux. Eulogy was given by Ed, Lois and Louise Cadrin. Liturgy Of The Word: First Reading ~ Tal Cadrin; Responsorial Psalm ~ Jaki Esquirol; Second Reading ~ Aaron Cadrin; Gospel ~ Father Cuong Luong. Prayer Of The Faithful ~ Jared Cadrin; Liturgy Of The Eucharist: Gift Bearers ~ Al and Caren Baert. Music Ministry: Dominique Esquirol and Jaki Esquirol.

Honourary Pallbearers were All those who shared in Fay’s Life.

Active Pallbearers were Amanda Hanson, Aaron Cadrin, Jared Cadrin, Tal Cadrin, Birch Hanson, Britney Cadrin, Darrien Tuffs, Evan Cadrin & Jesse Zdunich. Cremation followed the Service and the Interment will be at a later date. The family wish to thank everyone for your kindness and support through this time. Memorial Donations in Fay’s memory can be made to a Charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements were entrusted to Battlefords Funeral Service. __________________________________________________

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PAGE 8 - Tuesday, February 6, 2018

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FUNERAL SERVICES MCLEAN: It is with profound sadness that Lorna McLean and family announce the passing of their beloved husband and father, Grant Mclean, resident of North Battleford, SK., on Monday, January 15, 2018 at the Knapp Medical Centre, Weslaco, Texas U.S.A. Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving for Grant’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, February 9, 2018 at Third Avenue United Church with Rev. Frances Patterson Officiating. Online condolences and memorial donations are requested to Joe’s Place Youth Centre, 402 Main St. N., Moose Jaw, SK S6H 3K2 – joesplaceyouthcentre.ca - “Making a difference in the lives of youth by helping them reach their full and God given potential.” Condolences can also be sent to mail@battlefordsfuneralservice.com The Celebration Of Life arrangements for Grant McLean have been entrusted to Battlefords Funeral Service. (306-446-4200) __________________________________________________________

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Visit our website

www.newsoptimist.ca for more community events

Community Events Calendar Alcoholics Anonymous

Please call our 24 hour helpline at 306-446-6166 for support or information.

Al-anon Family Groups

If someone’s drinking troubles, attending Al-Anon Family Group provides understanding and support. Meetings Monday at 7:00 p.m. and Friday at 10:00 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church, corner of 15th Ave. & 108th Street. Contacts 306-937-7765, 306-937-7289 or 306-441-9324.

Saturday, February 10

Club 70 Dance with Harry Startup at the Royal Canadian Legion, 1352 - 100th Street, North Battleford starting at 8:00 p.m. Everyone welcome. Lunch served at 12:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 10

Borden Lions Mystery Dinner Theatre at the Borden Community Centre. Opens at 5:30 p.m. with supper at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 10

Valentine Tea & Bake Sale at Battleford United Church, 52 - 4th Avenue West from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. for all ages.

Monday, February 12

Donors Needed - Blood Drive at the Don Ross Centre, St. Thomas Dr., North Battleford from 2:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, February 13

Seniors Fun Day at St. Joseph Hall, 1942 - 98th Street from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Entertainment by - The Old Timers. Bingo and lunch.

Bring your dancing shoes. All senior welcome.

Tuesday, February 13

Shrove Tuesday Pancake/Sausage Supper at the Borden Seniors Room from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. - by donation. Hosted by Borden Anglican and United Church.

Tuesday, February 13

Kaiser Tournament at the Borden Senior Room at 7:00 p.m.

BOSKILL: Mrs. Dorothy Boskill, resident of River Heights Lodge, North Battleford, SK., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at the age of 93 years at her residence with family by her side. A Celebration of Dorothy’s Life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to Ronald McDonald House, 4567 Heather St., Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 0C9 – donations that will assist Dorothy’s Great-Granddaughter, Alice Wolter, through her cancer treatment and care. Condolences can be sent to mail@battlefordsfuneralservice.com The Celebration Of Life arrangements are entrusted to Battlefords Funeral Service (306-446-4200) __________________________________________________________

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Wednesday, February 14

Cancer Survivor Support Group at the Third Avenue United Church, 1301 - 102nd Street at 7:00 p.m. It is a self help group for people with Cancer and their family and friends. We meet every third Wednesday of the Month except for February. For further information call Pat Gotto at 306-445-5891.

Sunday, February 18

Retirement Tea for Peter Thiesen at the Borden Community Centre from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Fax: 306-445-1977 Email: newsoptimist.sales@sasktel.net

Tuesdays, February 20 - March 27

Lenten Lunch Series 2018 - The Nails of the Cross at St. Paul’s Anglican Church Hall, 1302-99th Street, North Battleford at 12:00 noon. Soup and sandwich. Everyone welcome.

Wednesday, February 21

Cash Bingo at the Borden Senior’s Room at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 24

North Battlefield A Smash Bros 4 Tournament at the North Battleford Library Registration 11:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Amiibo Tournament 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Amiibo Tournament Rules Custom moves are allowed Equipment points must equal to 120 Banned bonus effects perfect exploding shield and all healing equipment. Ages 10+ Bring your own controller, WiiU pro controllers, Gamecube controllers & Wii remotes.

This section, which will appear weekly in Tuesday's News-Optimist and Thursday’s Regional Optimist, is provided free-of-charge to non-profit organizations. To list the Community Calendar please call News-Optimist at 306-445-7261 or fax the information to 306-445-3223. Please provide complete information including event, time, date and location. Although we will do our utmost to make sure your event appears in this section, News-Optimist does not guarantee all submissions will appear.

Deadline for submissions is 5:00 p.m.

Thursday prior for Tuesday's & Thursday’s publication.

Tuesday, February 6, 2018 - PAGE 9

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KEYANOW CHILD AND FAMILY CENTRE INC. JOB OPPORTUNITY HOME STUDY WORKER 1-Year Term Position The Home Study Worker is responsible for the recruitment, assessment and training of foster care providers for Children, Youth & Clients. The Home Study Worker will be responsible for coordinating the provision of comprehensive specialized foster home serves for children in temporary or permanent care and children at risk, including recruiting and actively promoting the foster care program in the community, investigating, assessing and counseling new foster parent applicants to determine suitability, conducting pre-service education and assessment of foster home applicants, conducting annual review of foster home; conducting in depth home studies and documents all aspects of an applicant’s life. The Home Study Worker will provide counseling and support services and ongoing training to foster parents, investigating quality of care issues in foster homes and reassessments of active foster homes, and consult with First Nations and following established protocols as part of the planning process to ensure quality foster care service delivery.

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Community Safety and Crime Prevention

GET INVOLVED!

Men have a responsibility to stop male violence against women.

A message from the Canada Safety Council

PAGE 10 - Tuesday, February 6, 2018

A few things we miss from the good old days The horse and buggy days are no longer with us. They were phased out about a century ago. If you look at a photograph of the main street of a town from those days, you’ll likely see a mixture. Some horses tethered in front of stores, and a scattering of Model T’s parked, too.

But soon the animals were gone. Do you want them back?

Antique stores, to some extent, trade in nostalgia, with their butter churns, and spinning wheels, and coal oil lamps and more.

But would we really want to go back to churning our own butter, and spinning our own yarn?

It’s easy to look back to those times with the proverbial rose coloured glasses, and wish we were there. However, not everything about the good old days was good.

Women didn’t have the vote federally until 1918 – aboriginal women were disenfranchised until 1960. Diseases that are now treatable were a fearful scourge. There was no penicillin, and no polio vaccine.

In many homes, there was no electricity, no central heating or air conditioning. There was no radio or television either – though some might argue the presence of those is a mixed blessing!

But surely some things

we miss today were worthwhile. There are some things we wish could be brought back. It may be different where you live, but regular family times around the dinner table seem more of a rarity now.

Leisurely times of conversation and, in Christian homes, times of family devotions, of prayer and reading the Scriptures, aren’t as common now. We each have our own schedules, things to do, places to go, and we often eat on the run.

Visiting in one another’s homes seems not to be as frequent, either. When I was young, rarely a week went by that we didn’t have folks in, or we visited elsewhere. Now, we’re all so busy, and our activities pull us apart. It’s another sad loss.

Another relic of the past, at least in some churches, is the mid-week Prayer Meeting. Does yours still have one? How many come? In many churches, well attended on Sunday mornings, only a handful come to Prayer Meeting. I know of one pastor who renamed it the Company of the Committed, which says a lot.

Where are the times of corporate prayer in which believers pray together with passion and purpose, where they storm the gates of heaven with an earnestness which cannot be

Robert Cottrill, B.A., B.R.E. http://wordwisehymns.com/ www.Wordwise‐Bible‐Studies.com

denied (Jas. 5:16), where they pray about things that really matter (Acts 4:29).

Prayer is one of the first things mentioned as an activity of the early Christians, after the church was

born (Acts 2:42), and it comes up at least thirty times in the book of Acts.

A quick look at some hymns of Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) yielded a dozen on the subject of prayer.

One says, “‘Tis the blessèd hour of prayer, / When our hearts lowly bend, / And we gather to Jesus, / Our Saviour and Friend.”

Another asks, pertinently, “Won’t you pray, won’t you pray, / For some loved one lost in sin’s dark way? / Won’t you pray, won’t you pray, / For some dear one who has gone astray?”

The question is, if we won’t, why won’t we?

The present hymn is yet another of Fanny’s which expresses delight in meeting with God’s people for prayer. Called The Hour of Prayer, it says, “Glory to

Marks of true friendship Of all the places we’ve lived in our nearly 50 years of marriage, I can think of only one neighbour who didn’t become a friend. While we certainly didn’t become buddies with every one of them, we always had a good relationship and we were quick to watch out for each other’s welfare. (In fact, just yesterday I received another act of kindness from neighbours across the street. While I waiting for the bus, they stopped and offered me a ride to town where my meeting was being held. It wasn’t

necessary but given the rain and wind, it was most welcome.)

Solomon has a lot to say about friendship; in fact, I counted nearly 20 references to the subject.

For example, I love the words of Proverbs 17:9: “He who conceals a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates inti-

mate friends.” There’s little more valuable and comforting than to have friends you know you can trust completely – after all, who of us hasn’t failed or provided fodder for gossip should someone wish to spread it around?

Given that we all fail, how should real friends react to wrongs done to them or to others? In another passage (Proverbs 25:9) Solomon instructs friends to discuss the matter between themselves: “Debate your case with your neighbour himself and do not

God for the joy to meet / Here at the hour of prayer; / Welcome the bliss of communion sweet / Here at the hour of prayer! / Rich are the blessings that all may seek / Here at the hour of prayer; / Grace for the weary, the faint, the weak, / Here at the hour of prayer.”

“Men [and women too] always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Lk. 18:1).

May we be those who unite regularly in “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18).

disclose the secret to another...” If there’s a key to genuine and lasting friendship, I believe it’s got to be genuine trustworthiness.

Then there is the element of exhorting and encouraging one another; I especially like The Passion Translation rendering of Proverbs 27:9 “Sweet friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy, for good friends are like the anointing oil that yields the fragrant incense of God’s presence.”

Friends – be they living nearby or dwelling in our hearts, they’re a genuine gift.

Worship Together TerriTorial Drive alliance church Pastor: Rev. Allen Huckabay

1372 102 St 306-445-3009 nd

ANGLICAN PARISH

Notre Dame (RC) Parish Corner of 104th Street & 12th Avenue Rev. Father Cuong Luong MASSES: Saturdays - 7:00 p.m.

Sundays - 11:00 a.m. & 5:00 p.m.

SUNDAY SERVICES Rev. Trevor Malyon

St. George’s Anglican Church - 9:00 a.m.

191 - 24th Street West, Battleford, SK

OFFICE 306-445-3836

St. Paul’s Anglican Church - 11:00 a.m.

Email: notredame.nb@gmail.com www.notredameparish.ca EVERYONE WELCOME

1302 - 99th Street North Battleford, SK

Living Water Ministry

Battlefords Seventh-Day Adventist Church Pastor James Kwon

Spend some quality family time together. Worship at the church of your choice.

Our community has a number of churches and a variety of denominations for you & your family.

Corner 16th Ave. & 93rd Street, North Battleford

Come Join Us Sundays at 11:00 am

Phone 306-445-9096

Saturday Services Bible Study - 10:00 a.m.

Worship Service - 11:00 a.m.

1702 - 106th Street North Battleford, SK

Loving God Growing Together Serving Others Phone Church: 306-445-4818 Fax: 306-445-8895 Email: tbcnb@sasktel.net www.trinitybaptistchurch.ca

Sr. Pastor Brian Arcand Pastor Anand George Phone: 306-445-3803 Cell: 306-441-9385 Fax: 306-445-4385

Sunday Evening Service 7:00 p.m.

Bible Study Wednesday 7:30 p.m.

1371 - 103rd Street (Use East Door)

Maidstone/ Paynton United Church of Canada Phone: 306-445-4338

Clergy Person: Rev. Ean Kasper

10:30 a.m.

Service

Church & CE Wing:

306-893-2611

For booking the Wing:

306-893-4465

Third Avenue United Church Sunday Worship Service - 10:30 a.m.

Sunday School 1301 - 102nd Street, Phone 306-445-8171 Rev. Frances Patterson

Everyone Welcome

www.thirdavenueunitedchurchnb.ca Email: thirdaveunited@sasktel.net

Tuesday, February 6, 2018 - PAGE 11

Lucas Punkari

Sports Reporter

Phone: 306-445-7261 Fax: 306-445-3223

Email: newsoptimist.sports@sasktel.net

North Stars split weekend home games

By Lucas Punkari Sports Reporter

The Battlefords North Stars kicked off their seven-game home stand this week with a pair of victories.

However, a subpar showing Saturday night at the Civic Centre left head coach and general manager Brandon Heck with a strong comment about his squad’s performance.

“I don’t think we’ve played well in a while,” Heck said.

That statement came after the North Stars allowed two goals in the final minutes and took numerous penalties over the course of the evening as they dropped a 4-3 affair to the Melville Millionaires.

“Our discipline was the key factor tonight as we took way too many selfish penalties,” Heck said.

“That’s happened to us in the past, but never the amount that I saw us take in this game.

“I thought we did a good job for the most part in the third, but we didn’t score on a long power play, we took a penalty that ended another long man advantage just as it was starting and then we took a really selfish penalty in the final minutes that led to their game-winning goal. It’s really disappointing.”

As the home crowd sat in silence over what transpired in the third period, the Millionaires were ecstatic as they picked up their first win over the North Stars at the Civic Centre since Jan. 30, 2015.

“We had a huge change in our emotional level after the first period,” Millionaires head coach and general manager Devin Windle said.

“I overheard one of our guys saying that we looked like zombies out there, but in the last 40 minutes we dug in and grinded it out against a really good team.”

Leading the way for the Millionaires was netminder Brandon Wells, as he turned aside 37 shots and stopped all 16 that he faced in the third period.

“This win was absolutely huge for us and it should give us some extra confidence as a group going forward,” Wells said.

“We just need to play some consistent hockey here over the last month of the regular season. We’ve been so up and down that we just need to get into a good rhythm in order to

Battlefords North Stars forward Brad Girard was turned aside by Melville Millionaires goaltender Brandon Wells Saturday night. Photo by Lucas Punkari

get some good momentum heading into the post-season.”

Dayton Heino scored the game-winning goal and had an assist for the Millionaires, who have a 16-28-0-2 record and are 12 points ahead of the Yorkton Terriers for the 10th and final playoff spot in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

Eric Soar led the way on offence with a goal and two assists, while fellow defenceman Clayton Eisler set up a pair of goals.

Logan Foster had a goal and an assist in the win and Damien Bentz also found the back of the net.

MacGregor Sinclair scored a pair of goals for the North Stars but was forced to leave the game in the third period after a heavy hit along the board

by Taylor Elmy that saw him tossed from the contest.

Sinclair was helped to his feet and did not return to action with an undisclosed upper-body injury, with his status up in the air for this week’s slate of home contents.

Taryn Kotchorek turned aside 23 shots and Layne Young had a goal and an assist in the loss, which dropped the North Stars’ record to 34-9-2-0 and puts them eight points back of the Nipawin Hawks in the standings.

They also have an 11-point lead over the Humboldt Broncos for first place in the Global Ag Risk Solutions Division.

A night earlier, the North Stars came out on top over the Estevan Bruins in a shootout by a score of 4-3, as Joel Grzybowski made 35 saves over the course of 65 minutes and stymied all three shooters in the skills competition to improve his record to 12-1 for the season.

“I think I’m a lot bet-

ter in the mental side of the game this year and I feel more comfortable out there, which I think has a lot to do with me being in my second season with the team,” Grzybowski said.

“They may have had 38 shots on goal, but a lot of them were from the perimeter and the guys did a great job of allowing me to see the puck as it was coming on net.”

Chaseton Braid had the lone goal of the shootout as he made a nifty move in the third round to beat Estevan Bruins goaltender Bo Didur on a backhanded

shot.

“It’s a move I’ve been working on quite a bit lately in practice and it had worked pretty well on Taryn and Joel, so I felt confident in trying it tonight,” Braid said.

Young led the way up front with a goal and assist while Elijah Loon-Stewardson and Garan Magnes also found the back of the net.

The Bruins, who have a 26-17-3-2 record and a three-point lead over the Weyburn Red Wings for the Viterra Division lead and third seed for the

in a shootout because you have so little control of what happens there from a team aspect.”

Hayden Guilderson and Kaelan Holt had a pair of assists in the loss for the Bruins, who received a 34-save performance from Didur.

The North Stars will continue their seven-game home stand Tuesday at the Civic Centre when the La Ronge Ice Wolves come to town.

The Weyburn Red Wings will pay a visit Thursday evening and the Ice Wolves will make a return visit Friday.

The home stand will conclude Saturday against the Notre Dame Hounds in a divisional matchup.

All four games will get underway at 7:30 p.m.

playoffs, were led on offence by Jake Fletcher as he scored all three of his team’s goals.

Fletcher’s last hat trick came at the Civic Centre on Nov. 19, 2016 when the Bruins won a wild 8-6 affair over the North Stars.

“We feel like these are always big games when we come here as we are two teams who play with similar styles,” Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood said.

“Jake’s someone who has always stepped up for his in big moments and he’s the type of guy that leads the way when we need a spark.

“I thought we played hard all night and matched up with their skill for most of the game, though it’s always tough when you lose

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PAGE 12 - Tuesday, February 6, 2018

BATTLEFORDS

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Battlefords Stars forward Luke Fennig wins a battle for a loose puck against Hunter Schnell of the Prince Albert Mintos Wednesday night at the Civic Centre.

Photo by Lucas Punkari

By Lucas Punkari Sports Reporter

Cain Witzaney of the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings attempts to block Josh Perlitz of the Tommy Douglas Tigers during the Mauraders Invitational Tournament at Walter Murray Collegiate in Saskatoon this weekend. The Vikings finished the tournament in fifth place. Photo courtesy of Averil Hall

With two of the top offensive threats in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League in Adam Beckman and Ty Mossiman on their roster, it’s not often that the Battlefords Stars find themselves held off of the scoreboard.

That’s what happened Wednesday night at the Civic Centre, however, as the Stars came out on the losing end of a tightly contested 2-0 battle against the Prince Albert Mintos.

“For a team that’s in ninth spot in the standings and going up against one of the top teams in the league, I thought we played really well,” Stars head coach Norm Johnston said.

“We had a number of scoring chances, but we just couldn’t put the puck into the back of the net.

“Their coach [Ken Morrison] came over afterwards and told us how impressed he was with how we played. He’s a very competitive guy so that says a lot about how we did

tonight, even if we didn’t score a goal.”

Battlefords North Stars prospect Cale Elder stopped all 30 shots he faced for the Mintos, who sit in third place in the standings with a 28-7-1-2 record.

Kade McMillen and Josh Pillar both found the back of the net for the visitors, who fired 30 shots on goal at Stars netminder Joseph Young.

“I know it’s late in the season and we only have seven games left, but the buy-in process is coming along here for our guys,” Johnston said.

“We saw it in the game against Swift Current last week, even though we lost 7-4, and we saw it again here against Prince Albert.

We stayed out of the penalty box and we played well in our own end of the ice.”

Following this weekend’s slate of games, the 14-22-1-0 Stars find themselves three points back of the 14-20-3-1 Saskatoon Contacts and having a game in a hand over them in the race for the eighth

and final playoff spot in the SMAAAHL. The Beardy’s Blackhawks are four points out of a post-season berth with a 12-21-2-2 record and also have a game in hand on the Contacts.

They will head out on the road to play the Saskatoon Contacts Tuesday night before a pair of games in Yorkton against the Maulers on Saturday and Sunday.

They’ll return to the Civic Centre for their home regular season finale on Tuesday, Feb. 13 against the Blackhawks.

After a visit to the Art Hauser Centre on Thursday, Feb. 15 to play the Mintos, the Stars will wrap up their regular season with a pair of contests against the Moose Jaw Generals on Saturday, Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 18.

“The guys are closer now than they have been all winter to how we want them to play,” Johnston said. “If we can keep this up on the road and stay out of the penalty box, we’ll have a shot at the playoffs.”

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