There was heated debate at the legislature on Wednesday as proposed changes to the Prairie and Forest Fires Act were discussed during question period.

The act was updated in 1982, but is still one of the oldest legislations on wildfires in Canada. Because of this, the government feels a rewrite of the act is needed.

With the threat of flooding across the province, the Ministry of Government Relations opened the door to the Emergency Management and Fire Safety Logistics Base to help ease some concerns.

The Logistics Base is located in Prince Albert and is the largest facility of its kind in Saskatchewan.

The base houses much of the tools, equipment and machinery that support not only flooding, but forest fires, brush fires and more for the entire province.

A Wahpeton Dakota First Nation woman accused of second-degree murder appeared in Prince Albert Provincial Court Friday.

Valerie Standing, 26, stood for a short first appearance trial today.

She was arrested on April 10 after RCMP was called to the scene of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle.

Brant Fox, 28, was found dead on-scene by emergency workers.

Standing was originally charged with operation of a motor vehicle causing death, but after further investigation RCMP reported they had charged her with first-degree murder.

A Pelican Lake woman who allegedly hit and killed a Prince Albert man with a vehicle will go to trial in September.

Danielle Nadine Chamakese, 22, has had her trial moved to the fall due to medical reasons.

Chamakese was arrested in September 2010 when she allegedly hit 21-year-old Daniel Carter near Stavros Lounge. He died a few days later in hospital from his injuries.

She was charged with failure to remain at the scene of an accident and death caused by criminal negligence.

Her trial by judge is now set to run starting Sept. 9 to 13.

A female is in police custody in relation to a fatal collision with a pedestrian on Wahpeton Dakota First Nation.

Prince Albert RCMP was called out to the reserve just after 2:30 a.m. Wednesday for the collision.

Officers found a dead 28-year-old man from Prince Albert at the scene.

The female that was arrested has not been charged. Sources say the victim was known to the driver, however RCMP are not releasing further details while the investigation is ongoing.

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The man who allegedly caused the collision that killed pregnant Chrystal Rivet will find out if he’ll be granted bail on Friday.

Craig Kopichanski, 22, from Weldon, was in Prince Albert Provincial Court on Monday for a hearing to decide if he would be eligible for pre-trial release.

The judge heard arguments from both the crown and defence counsel and will deliberate until Friday before making his ruling.

After closing its doors in 2006, the Big River sawmill is once again a place of activity fueling optimism in the once-proud forestry town.

“Yeah, it’s pretty positive outlook to see some action around the mill,” said Big River Mayor Robert Buckingham.

Since February, the mill’s owner Carrier Forest Products has had a handful of specialized contractors working to get the facility back into “ready mode” for eventual production. Carrier is also using the kilns in Big River to dry wood from its Prince Albert facility to take advantage of stronger lumber markets.

The brother of a man disqualified as a candidate in the race to become the chief of Sturgeon Lake First Nation said he expects an appeal soon.

 “I believe there’s going to be an appeal to have a new election. Period,” A.J. Felix said Tuesday.

The end of the Prince Albert Raiders and Mintos season will indeed mean the end of the Art Hauser Centre’s (AHC) ice season in 2013.

City council voted Monday evening not to extend the arena’s ice season beyond the end of the Raiders’ and Mintos playoff run. The A&W Bears had requested the AHC’s season be extended, so the team could hold a spring camp April 13 and 14.

If the Mintos are eliminated, then the Bears will be forced to find another venue for its camp. The Mintos forced a game five Wednesday in its series with the Saskatoon Contacts.

Prince Albert Raiders assistant captain Harrison Ruopp will likely start his professional career in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization next season and who knows where he’ll be after that.

But one thing’s for certain. No matter where Ruopp is, at least a small piece of his heart will be with the Raiders and the connections he’s made with the team, his billets and members of the organization.

“They will always be with me,” said Ruopp, who battled in the last of his 224 career games with the Raiders on Wednesday against the Red Deer Rebels.