A 28-year-old woman is facing a charge of second degree murder in connection with a homicide in August of this year.

Francine Ballantyne was charged in connection with the death of 40-year-old Doris Broussie, who died on August 5.

Prince Albert Police say the incident happened on the 3600 Block of 2^nd Avenue West, early that morning.

Ballantyne made her first court appearance last week and will next appear in court on October 22, 2021 at 9:30 am.

Despite an additional 35 cases added to the COVID-19 case load in the North Central zone, there were no new deaths or hospitalizations reported today.

A total of 42 people remain in hospital with seven in ICU and 77 have died since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

There are 402 active cases in the North Central zone, a reduction of 25 as some people recovered. Recoveries stand at 6,492 on Oct. 4.

Also reported today were 274 new doses of vaccine, with 127 being second doses, bringing to 49,887 the number of fully vaccinated people in the zone.

In the sub-districts, North Central one, there were 17 new cases and 158 remain active.

In North Central two, there were seven new cases and 161 are active while North Central three has 83 active case and 11 were added in the last 24 hours.

Provincial COVID highlights:  

As of October 4, there are 445 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 69,089 reported cases.

The new cases are located in the Far North West (14), Far North Central (1), Far North East (18), North West (39), North Central (35), North East (16), Saskatoon (116), Central West (6), Central East (29), Regina (90), South West (26), South Central (7) and South East (33) zones and fifteen (15) new cases have pending residence information.

24 cases with pending residence information were reassigned to Far North East (from September 23 (1)), North West (from September 13 (3), September 16 (2), September 20 (1), September 29 (1), October 2 (1)), North Central (from October 2 (4)), Saskatoon (from October 2 (1)), Regina (from September 26(1), September 27 (1), October 1 (1), October 2 (6)), South East (from October 1 (1)) zones.

-69,089 cases are confirmed

-16,703 cases are from the North area (7,194 North West, 6,971 North Central, 2,538 North East)

-16,663 cases are from the Saskatoon area

-13,972 cases are from the Regina area

-8,333 cases are from the Far North area (3,916 Far North West, 538 Far North Central, 3,879 Far North East)

-8,305 cases are from the South area (1,849 South West, 2,616 South Central, 3,840 South East)

-4,559 cases are from the Central area (1,267 Central West, 3,292 Central East)

-554 cases have pending residence information

4,635 cases are considered active and 63,738 cases are considered recovered.

Nearly one-third (32.6 per cent) of new cases are in the age category of 20 to 39

More than one in four (25.6 per cent) of new cases eligible for vaccination (aged 12 years and older) were fully vaccinated

As of October 4th, a total of 325 individuals are hospitalized, including 250 inpatient hospitalizations and 75 ICU hospitalizations. Of the 325 patients eligible for vaccination, 250 (76.8 per cent) were not fully vaccinated.

Five (5) new deaths reported today. 716 Saskatchewan residents with COVID-19 have died, with a case fatality rate of 1.0 per cent.

1,147,351 COVID-19 tests have been performed in the province.

As of September 30, 2021, when other provincial and national numbers are available from PHAC, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 961,276 tests performed per million. The national rate was 1,143,428 tests performed per million.

The 7-day average of new COVID-19 case numbers was 456 (37.9 new cases per 100,000)

Starting today, October 1, proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative test must be presented by anyone 12 years and older before entering certain City of Prince Albert facilities.

The City had previously released guidelines but they have now been updated to reflect the wording of the Public Health Order, released today.

Vaccination proof or negative test is required at all events the EA Rawlinson Centre, all ticketed sports events at the Art Hauser Centre, all gym and fitness classes at Alfred Jenkins Field House and Margo Fournier Centre, the Knotty Pine Bistro and all public events or gatherings at the Ches Leach Lounge and Community Halls.

The order does not apply to the Museums, Library or the Steaurt or Kinsmen Arenas as previously indicated.

For those that would like clarification on the order and how it applies, please contact the facilities directly. Contact information and further details, including what proof is required, is available at https://www.citypa.ca/en/living-in-our-community/covid-19.aspx.

Proof can be provided with the wallet card given at time of vaccination or with a printed or digital copy of the eHealth vaccination record, which includes a QR code.

An 18-year-old man from Prince Albert is facing multiple charges after a vehicle was stolen with a baby inside.

Riley Lemaigre is charged with kidnapping without firearm, operation while impaired (alcohol) over 80 mg per cent of a motor vehicle, operation while impaired (alcohol), and failure to comply with a release order condition.

In an early morning incident on Sept. 30, Buffalo Narrows RCMP were called by a distressed mother who was by the lagoon near the community,

The female caller said an adult male passenger had stolen the car they were driving in with her baby still inside.

Police received the call at 1:30 am, and police immediately started searching for the car, along with help from other detachments nearby.

Beauval RCMP began patrolling the highway between the communities and La Loche RCMP were preparing to deploy and assist.

At 3:00 am, officers located the car along Highway 155, south of Buffalo Narrows.

The adult male driver was asleep in the driver’s seat. Officers finally broke the passenger window after multiple attempts to waken the driver were unsuccessful.

The baby was safe and asleep in their car seat in the back of the vehicle.  

Lemaigre’s will next appear in La Loche Provincial Court on Monday, October 4, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.

Prince Albert’s new Deputy Chief of Police, Farica Prince, was sworn into office in a ceremony that included strong reminders of Prince’s Indigenous heritage and messages about relationship building between cultures and law enforcement.

Prince was drummed into the room at the EA Rawlinson Centre followed by a ceremony that was started with an opening prayer by the PAPS’ Elder Leonard (Bunny) Ermine on October 1.

A welcome was extended by Sheryl Kimbley, chairperson of the Police Board of Commissioners, who told Prince that she would love the city.

“The City of Prince Albert has all walks of life and we know how to support each other,” she said. “I want to say to your parents, your daughter will not be alone. Your daughter will be supported and welcomed into the City of Prince Albert.”

Prince’s parents attended the ceremony.

Kimbley also said that as an aboriginal person herself, she was taught to be afraid of the police and to run and hide when they were around but now, as part of the police commission, she is working on rebuilding the trust between her people and the police.

Prince was sworn in by Provincial Court judge Earl Kalenith, who administered the oath of office.

Prince introduced herself as Holy Spotted Elk Woman, but Farica for short, and said that some of the initiatives she sees in the community are what made her want to work for PAPS.

“I’m invigorated and encouraged by the community’s clear commitment to true truth and reconciliation,” said Prince. “Prince Albert is definitely leading the example for others to follow on how to facilitate understanding of Indigenous issues, specifically the traumas and historical issues that are causing repercussions today.”

Prince grew up in a family that did its best to eliminate the effects of residential schools and she had a good relationship with the aboriginal police force in her home community.

“As a youth, I only had positive interactions with the local police, which was the Ojibway Police Service,” she explained. That was what led to her joining that service at age 19.

She has also spent time with the Blood Tribe police service in southern Alberta and the RCMP.

She also pointed out that what happened in residential schools and in the 60s scoop are not ancient history as her parents and close family members were directly affected by the policies and are still living and young.

“Awareness, understanding, healing, wellness, identity, connection and collaboration are all part of our path forward and together we each have a role to play,” she said.

Prince also referred to the millennial scoop, murdered and missing Indigenous woman and the two-spirited crisis are very much an active concern amongst a younger population.

She then acknowledged her role as someone from a different Treaty area, having grown up in Sioux Valley of the Dakota Nation in southwestern Manitoba.

“I’m proud to making my home here in Treaty Six as a visitor and proud to be part of the family at Prince Albert Police Service. I’m especially humbled to be one of the few police leaders to transition from Indigenous police leadership into municipal police leadership,” she stated.

Three more people have been charged in connection with the death of Richard Netmaker, 36, following his abduction from his home on the Big River First Nation last year.

Riley Ahenakew, age 30, of Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, Stephanie Starblanket, age 34, also of Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, and Roderick Dreaver, age 26, of Big River First Nation were all arrested.

All three are charged with criminal negligence causing death and two counts of forcible confinement.

-Riley Ahenakew next appearance: Ahtahkakoop Provincial Court on October 13 at 10 am.

-Stephanie Starblanket next appearance: Whitefish (Big River First Nation) Provincial Court on October 12 at 10 am.

-Roderick Dreaver next appearance: Prince Albert Provincial Court on October 20 at 1:30 pm.

The new charges are in addition to identical charges against Karlyne Morin, age 20, of Big River First Nation who was arrested and charged on July 26 of this year.

The incident that led to the death of Netmaker happened on January 6, 2020 when police received information that Netmaker had been taken from his home and was last seen in an isolated area northwest of the community.

His body was found four days later in a rural area near Pekakumew Lake.

A 22-year-old male is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after being struck by a vehicle in La Ronge.

RCMP in the community said that on Sept. 30 at about 3:30 am, they were called to a report of an injured male in a parking lot on Francis Robert Street.

They found the 22-year-old male who was taken to hospital. Investigation has determined that he was struck by a vehicle, which then left the scene.

On September 30, 2021 at approximately 3:30 a.m., La Ronge RCMP were dispatched to a report of an injured male in a parking lot on Francis Robert Street in La Ronge.

The vehicle, a blue hatchback, has since been recovered. La Ronge RCMP officers, with the assistance of the Saskatchewan RCMP’s La Ronge General Investigation Section, Prince Albert Forensic Identification Services and Collision Reconstruction, continue to investigate.

As part of the ongoing investigation, investigators would like to identify and speak with the individual walking in the attached image. The vehicle recovered by police is also pictured in the image.

Anyone with information should call the La Ronge RCMP at 306-425-6730. To report information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Buffalo Narrows RCMP are looking for the person who shot a gun at an RCMP residence and hit an empty, marked police vehicle.

On Sept. 27 at about 12:30 pm, the detachment got a report that a gun was fired several times outside of the officer’s residence on Clark Street.

An empty RCMP vehicle outside the resident was hit, with one bullet travelling through an exterior wall and entering the home.

Investigators found that the incident happened between 5:00 and 5:30 am.

No one inside the residence was injured.

RCMP General Investigation Section is investigating the circumstance of this incident and are seeking the public’s assistance to identify anyone involved.

 Investigators would like to locate and speak with the individual in the attached photograph. This individual is not considered a suspect; officers would like to speak with them as they may have important information which could assist this ongoing investigation.

If you have information about this incident, please contact Buffalo Narrows RCMP at 306-235-6660, call 310-RCMP or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477