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The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
National

What's making news in the Prairies

(CORRECTS fourth item, only some bushes being pulled out. )

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COURT DATE FOR CALGARY DOUBLE-MURDER SUSPECT PUT OVER

The case of a man charged in the deaths of a Calgary woman and her five-year-old daughter will be back in court Sept. 7.

Edward Downey was represented by his lawyer during a brief court hearing Wednesday.

Gavin Wolch says the defence has received disclosure of evidence but needs more time to review it.

Downey was charged with two counts of first-degree murder after the body of 34-year-old Sara Baillie was discovered in her northwest Calgary home last month. The body of her daughter, Taliyah Marsman, was found a few days later in a rural area east of the city.

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WILDERNESS GROUP WANTS LOGGING ROADS SHUT DOWN IN MANITOBA

An environmental group says the Manitoba government must ensure a forest products company shuts down logging roads when it closes its plant near The Pas.

Tolko Industries has announced that the mill will close on DeC. 2, putting 332 employees out of work.

The Manitoba chapter of The Wilderness Committee says Tolko is required to close the logging roads under its environmental licence.

The group says the roads will continue to disrupt Grass River Provincial Park, woodland caribou and northern forests unless the company decommissions them. It also suggests that some of the communities affected by the mill's closure should be given first crack at any decommissioning work.

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DWINDLING DONATIONS FOR BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS IN CALGARY

Alberta's hard hit economy is taking a toll on services for young people in Calgary.

Big Brothers Big Sisters says it has been forced to suspend applications for new volunteers for the majority of its programs in the city due to dwindling donations.

Last year, the organization had to reduce its waitlist, because the time to get a mentor was pushing one year.

However, it is still accepting volunteers for all programs in Airdrie, Cochrane, High River and Okotoks.

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MAN ESCAPES BEAR IN SASKATCHEWAN

A Saskatchewan man says he narrowly managed to escape after he was attacked by a bear while walking along a path to his aunt's home near Cumberland House.

Charlie Stewart says he turned to run after spotting the bear.

He only made it a few steps before the animal swatted him in the lower back and he went flying into a ditch.

He was knocked to the ground again before he finally made it a nearby house.

Stewart received medical care from his family for whiplash and says he also has a large bruise on his lower back. He planned to get checked out at the hospital in Nipawin later Wednesday.

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BERRY BUSHES CAUSING BEAR PROBLEM IN ALBERTA

Buffaloberry bushes that attract bears are being removed from some campgrounds near Banff.

Parks Canada says it's also considering pulling the bushes in and around Lake Louise, although that wouldn't happen until next year.

Staff recently issued a special warning about grizzlies frequenting the Lake Louise townsite and surrounding areas.

A human-wildlife conflict specialist with Parks Canada says it's fortunate there have not been any major incidents involving bears in the Lake Louise area so far this summer, and notes the berry bushes are quite prolific and grow quickly. 

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SASKATOON POLICE FIND GUNS, DRUGS

Three people, including a 15-year-old girl, are facing more than 30 charges after a police search of an apartment in Saskatoon turned up guns and illegal drugs.

Police say they found four firearms — two which were loaded — along with about $14,000 in cash and a small amount of methamphetamine and marijuana.

The girl and a 44-year-old woman each face numerous charges, including possession of a dangerous weapon and drug possession.

The girl faces an additional charge of assaulting a peace officer, while a 17-year-old boy is charged with possessing ammunition while prohibited and breaching a court order.

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WINNIPEG TRAFFIC STOP YIELDS COCAINE

RCMP say they have seized three kilograms of cocaine after pulling over a car in Winnipeg last week.

Police say the traffic stop on Thursday followed a short term investigation.

The driver of the Toyota Corolla was arrested and charged with possession of a control substance.

Thirty-nine-year-old Graham Gordon Spence of Winnipeg has been released on bail and is due back in court on Sept. 22. 

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(Prairie Update by The Canadian Press)

The Canadian Press

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