Heading to court
Insp. Stickney charged with being in care and control
of a vehicle while impaired 
SASKATOON -- A veteran city police officer has been charged with an impaired driving offence stemming from last summer, but the senior officer who faced allegations of initially trying to prevent the arrest will not be going to court.
Following a review of the case by Saskatchewan Justice, police announced Friday that Insp. Allan Stickney has been charged with being in care and control of a vehicle while impaired. He is to appear in court Dec. 18.
Police Chief Clive Weighill said justice officials recommended no charges be laid against the other officer, a sergeant. Although he wouldn't confirm the name, sources have previously identified the officer as Sgt. Tom Korchinski.
"He's been reinstated and he's back to work," said Weighill, adding the sergeant is now the subject of an internal administrative investigation. He said the internal review should be completed within two to three weeks.
Stickney and Korchinski were suspended with pay following the incident, which occurred at about 2 a.m. on July 28.
Police initially reported two constables walking a beat in the Broadway Avenue area came upon Stickney behind the wheel of a parked vehicle with its engine idling.
Stickney, off-duty at the time, was arrested. Korchinski was called to the scene and made a decision to discontinue the investigation.
The two constables brought the issue forward and were interviewed by internal affairs officers. An investigation resumed into an allegation of impaired driving by Stickney and included the new allegation of obstruction of justice by Korchinski.
Weighill said he's pleased with the professionalism of the two lower-ranking officers. See Stickney A/6
SASKATOON – An 18-year-old is scheduled to return to provincial court next week facing charges in connection with an incident in which a toy gun was pulled on a Saskatoon police officer.
The out-of-uniform officer was jogging on the University Bridge over the noon hour on Wednesday when a man approached the officer while on a bike.
The man pulled what appeared to be a black pistol and pointed it at the officer. With the assistance of two other officers who happened to be passing by the area at the time, the officer apprehended the man and gained control of the gun, which turned out to be a toy made to look authentic.
Winston Leon Joseph Wright has been charged with possession of an imitation of a weapon and obstruction in connection with the incident. He is expected to appear in provincial court on Dec. 13.
SASKATOON -- Lately, if Kathryn McWilliams isn't outside holding a can of expanding spray foam, scouring her house for holes, she's in bed having nightmares about the pitter-patter of tiny mouse feet.
Her trouble began in August, when she saw a mouse dash through her kitchen.
"I was very naive, thinking it might have come in when the back door was open," she said. "Boy, was I wrong."
"It's pretty stressful," she said. "The worst part is, they seem to be just mean. I catch a few, then they'll be gone for two or three weeks. . . . It's like torture. Just when you're starting to feel good about your situation, they come back again."
George Reddekopp, an exterminator who runs Advanced Pet Control, says the number of mice invading Saskatoon homes is on the rise. He's getting at least 30 per cent more calls asking for help eradicating mice compared to the previous two years.
Reddekopp said the mouse proliferation could have a number of causes. Saskatchewan had a soggy spring and where there's water, life blooms. The expanding city and booming housing construction means humans are moving into mouse territory, not the other way around, he said. See Rodents on the Rise A/4
