With the year coming to an end, it is once again time to look back at the top-10 news stories of the year, as determined by the editorial staff at Yorkton This Week.
And here, starting with number ten is the 2017 list.
10 - MEKAYLA BALI STILL MISSING
It made the top 10 stories in 2016, but the continued absence of Mekayla Bali remains one of the top stories in Yorkton and area. The Bali family has searched far and wide for the young woman, with tips indicating that she might be on the west coast or perhaps the United States. Closer to home, police searched the forested area behind Sacred Heart High School, where Mekayla attended class, in an effort to find more clues.
Paula Bali’s search for her missing daughter also received attention from Jordan Bonaparte’s The Night Time podcast, which interviewed Paula about the continued search. Paula also travelled to Vancouver to donate purses filled with daily essentials to homeless people and sex workers on the streets, and also ask them if they have any information about her missing daughter.
It’s a rare case where a lack of news is exactly what makes this newsworthy, as even over a year later Mekayla’s location remains unknown.
9 – FIRST PRIDE PARADE IN YORKTON
It was a mere 50 people, but Yorkton held its first ever LGBTQ Pride parade in May of 2017.
Laura Budd, education coordinator for Moose Jaw Pride, said that the small start represented a big victory for the inaugural event.
“To have over 40 people for our first pride march here in Yorkton is incredible. We were hopeful for 12 or more was going to be a success and we’ve almost quadrupled that. I mean, it’s our first ever, it’s hard to get the word out, it’s hard to get people to come.”
Events through the Pride week celebrations were spread between Melville and Yorkton.
“We had 30 people out for that and their deputy mayor giving greetings on behalf of the City,” Budd said. “Their staff sergeant from the RCMP [was] out and member of the newly-formed GSA [gay-straight alliance] at the Melville Composite School.”
8 – NEW MURAL
A black curtain was draped over a wall in a stairwell at the Gallagher Centre. Dozens of people flocked to the upper and lower levels to get a good view of the wall. Representatives from City Hall and the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery were positioned behind a podium.
After several speeches were made thanking artists and volunteers for their months of hard work, four people grabbed the edges of the curtain. With one strong tug, they yanked the curtain down to reveal the newest art piece in Yorkton: The Canada 150 mural.
The painting depicts Yorkton’s farming past (a horse) and future (a tractor). The Yorkton Film Festival’s Golden Sheaf sits between them. A railroad runs along the bottom of the mural.
7 - KIM MADSEN SENTENCED
A Yorkton man who paralyzed another after an incident at the CI was sentenced to three years, four months in prison for aggravated assault.
The incident, which occurred in September of 2015, saw Kim Madsen, 32, repeatedly throw Dennis Peepeetch to the ground.
The prosecution argued that Peepeetch was a smaller, frailer man who was attacked with little provocation. The defense argued that Peepeetch was the instigator of the incident. The defense also tried to raise reasonable doubt that the incident caused paralysis. Peepeetch had a pre-existing spinal condition which was aggravated in the incident.
Madsen was also ordered to take alcohol rehabilitation treatment and anger management.
6 - STOLEN GOODS
An investigation from Yorkton Municipal RCMP with assistance from Yorkton Provincial General Investigation Section (GIS), along with Melville and Esterhazy RCMP lead to a surplus of charges against three individuals.
A total of 110 charges were initially pressed against three individuals, and over $200,000 of stolen property was recovered. The charges were related to a series of thefts from throughout the region in September.
Janelle Brianne Umpherville, 27 of Calgary, plead guilty to 16 of her charges, and was sentenced to 19 months in prison for her role in the crime spree. Her co-accused, Blain Gaudet and Jason Campbell, remain in custody, with Campbell’s next appearance on January 5 and Gaudet is currently seeking new council.
