HUMBOLDT — When it comes to the most visited Humboldt and district stories on our website, crime dominated.
Five out of the top 10 stories from 2019 were related to crime. The remaining stories were about a Humboldt city worker who died on the job, a profile on Humboldt Broncos coach Scott Barney, planned improvements on Highway 5, a tie for first at the Lake Lenore Lions Ice Fishing Derby, and the opening of the new cannabis store.
1: RCMP need help to identify men at Bruno-area farmyard
In the early morning hours of March 21, two men that appear to be middle-aged entered a farmyard off Highway 5 just west of the Bruno turnoff. They were photographed.
Once on the property, they forced entry into two storage containers, and stole a 12 volt car battery. The pair also attempted to access the fuel tanks on the property.
The unique van they were driving is described as an older model blue and white Chevrolet Panel van, with no side windows.
2: LeRoy pedestrians robbed at gunpoint
Humboldt-Lanigan RCMP are asking for the public's help after two men walking on the 100 block of LeRoy's First Avenue were robbed at gunpoint.
The two pedestrians were approached by a black Ford F350 truck during the evening of June 28. One of the men from the truck exited and approached the victims, demanding they give him items they were carrying. A second man in the suspect truck brandished a firearm during this offence.
The man that exited the truck and approached the victims on foot is described as Caucasian, in his mid thirties, approximately 5’10” tall, having a medium to stocky build, and having dirty blond hair, shorter than collar length.
3: City employee dies in construction work site
The City of Humboldt said a city employee has died in a construction work incident in the southwest area of Humboldt.
On Sept. 18, Ian Irwin died in a workplace accident on Third Avenue in the South Industrial area. Because the incident is under investigation, the city could release few details.
4: RCMP attempted arrest of Saskatoon psychiatric centre escapee
Police tried to stop an inmate who escaped from the federal Regional Psychiatric Centre in Saskatoon on the highway near Humboldt on Nov. 14.
Two men, Matthew Michel, 24, and Kendal Campeau, 29, fled the centre during the night of Nov. 13.
Michel travelled in a stolen vehicle from the Warman area to the Humboldt area. Police attempted to stop the vehicle near Humboldt, but the vehicle fled on Highway 5 toward Saskatoon. The vehicle ran out of gas near Sunset Estates just outside Saskatoon.
RCMP said Michel was threatening self-harm if approached and gave himself up to officers after a short verbal negotiation. Michel was arrested on the afternoon of Nov. 14 and taken into custody.
5: From professional player to coach
For 16 seasons, Scott Barney has played professional hockey in a career that’s taken him all over the globe.
He’s played for teams in Germany, Finland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Austria, Korea, Italy and China.
Yet for the interim head coach of the Humboldt Broncos, his love for hockey had humble beginnings.
“I started when I was three years old skating with my dad,” the 39-year-old former right-winger from Peterborough, Ont. said. “I guess it starts when you’re young and out on the ponds.”
Barney was hired as an assistant coach for the Broncos for the 2018-19 season. He took the top job early in 2019.
6: Highway 5 plans include passing lanes, twinning
Over the next six years, the provincial government will be adding new passing lanes and twinning portions of Highway 5 between Saskatoon and the intersection of Highway 2.
The project will be done in three segments, with work expected to start in the spring of 2020 and be completed by fall 2025.
7: Man facing 14 charges
A 43-year-old Drake man is facing 14 charges, including breaking and entering, theft of a motor vehicle and driving while impaired.
On June 16 at around 7 am, the Humboldt-Lanigan RCMP were dispatched to a report of a break enter and theft of a motor vehicle from a residence in the RM of Usborne.
RCMP said they were advised en route the stolen vehicle had rolled at a location southwest of Lanigan. RCMP attended the scene, located and took the man into custody.
8: Tie for first place at Lake Lenore derby
For the first time in the Lake Lenore Lions Ice Fishing Derby’s 10 year history, there was a tie for first place.
Glen Leniuk of Bruno and Dayton Klashinsky of Humboldt each caught a 6.02-pound jackfish.
The tournament organizers decided to add the $10,000 first place payout and the $4,118.28 second place payout and divide it into two equal halves, resulting in each fisher winning $7,059.14
9: Humboldt motorist passes bus with stop sign out
When the arm on the bus with the stop sign is out and the lights are flashing, motorists must stop.
“We did have a report of somebody passing a school bus while the stop sign was out in the lights were in motion,” said Cst. Geoff Applegate with the Humboldt RCMP, adding that incident happened in Humboldt in the last two weeks around Feb. 1.
10: Humboldt cannabis store opens
Humboldt residents can now buy cannabis legally without leaving town.
The Tweed cannabis retail store, located at Humboldt Commons, opened June 7. Miguel Kreiser, Tweed’s spokesperson, said his company was excited about the opening.
“We really pride ourselves on providing a very safe and knowledgeable space for adult consumers to come in and ask questions. We want to make sure that they leave having chosen the right strain and the right method of consumption for them.”
