Williams Lake Tribune, June 26, 2012

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Breaking news, video, photo galleries, and more always online at www.wltribune.com

TUESDAY JUNE 26, 2012

Proudly serving Williams Lake and the Cariboo-Chilcotin since 1930

Missing woman found deceased

2012 stampede queen is crowned

The Alexis Creek RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance with a missing person’s case.
On May 24, 2012 Alexis Creek RCMP received a report of a missing person from the family of Verna Nicol, 81, who was last seen at the Williams Lake Bus Depot on May 18 after dropping off a family relative. Family and friends had not heard from Nicol in six days and contacted police who conducted a search to help locate her. Family advised the RCMP that Nicol suffered from dementia and would often get confused. On May 28, a forestry worker was travelling along the 5500 Road (93 kilometres down Farwell Canyon Road) and found a deceased female on the side of the roadway, later identified as Nicol. RCMP have ruled out any criminality and foul play is not suspected. RCMP are trying to identify Nicol’s movements from the time she was last seen to the time she was located. Nicol was last seen driving her grey Ford truck. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Alexis Creek RCMP at 250-394-4211.

Inside the Tribune NEWS A2 Fire at Williams Lake motel. SPORTS Local bull rider wins big.

A9

COMMUNITY A15 Awards presented at coronation. Weather outlook: Mix of sun and cloud Tuesday, high of 18 C. Mix of sun and cloud, chance of showers Wednesday, high of 19 C.

VOL. 82. No. 51

$1.34 inc. HST

Gaeil Farrar photo

There was a full house at the Gibraltar Room in the Cariboo Memorial Complex Saturday evening for the 2012 Williams Lake Stampede Queen Coronation. Masters of ceremonies were Lorne Doerkson and 2008 Stampede Queen Britnie McKnight, but numerous sponsors and representatives from the community stepped in to present the various awards and talk about various aspects of the competition. The contestants were judged in several categories by a wide selection of judges who are often not known to one another. The totals from each judging category are tabulated and added together to produce the winner. Awards were presented for Miss Congeniality (voted on by the contestants themselves); horsemanship overall, practical riding, horsemanship theory and most improved horsemanship; overall winner and most improved public speaking; written exam about rodeo and the Williams Lake area, personal interview, and fashion show. The evening included slide shows about the outgoing royalty and this year’s contestants, as well as personal explanations on the various judging categories by organizers. At the end of the suspense-filled evening outgoing 2011 Stampede Queen Davana Mahon turned over her crown to incoming 2012 Stampede Queen Alexis Forseille (left). Outgoing 2011 Stampede Princess Bobi Bracewell crowned her successor Terris Billyboy. For more on the story turn to Page A15.

WL Stampede starts Friday Greg Sabatino Tribune Staff Writer You definitely won’t want to miss anything at this weekend’s 86th annual Williams Lake Stampede. But in case you do, Fred Thomas, president of the Williams Lake Stampede Association, is bringing in a bigtime treat for everyone attending the rodeo. “One of the biggest things I think that will make this year special is we’re going to have a large video screen setup on the grounds which will give us the capabilities of instant replay and those types of things,” Thomas says. “We’ll have a couple of cameras situated around the arena too so we’ll be filming all the events, plus the mountain horse race and all the other good things. “Sight lines have always been an issue with the mountain race but be-

ing on the big video screen everyone should now be able to see it each day.” This year’s Stampede is also expected to have the largest participant pool. Thomas says there are currently 466 competitors registered. “That’s way above average,” he says. “Normally it’s somewhere in the neighbourhood of 375 to 400.” He adds not only will many of the top cowboys in Canada be vying for titles and prize money but, also, several of the top U.S. cowboys will be in town for the rodeo. “A lot of the American cowboys — many of them have competed every year at the national finals in Las Vegas — so some of the best in the world will be here, for sure,” he says. In addition, cowboys and cowgirls will be vying for an exceptionally large purse — this year upwards of $150,000, Thomas says.

“I just think our rodeo keeps getting a little better with the better competition we get each year,” he says. “The better competition you have the better rides and better scores, and all in all it makes it a bigger rodeo.” Quickly becoming a household name in Williams Lake, Alberta’s Tyson Pietsch will once again be back, for the fifth straight time, at this year’s rodeo announcing and calling all the action. Anyone who attended any of last year’s rodeo performances will also be familiar with this year’s rodeo clown, Bert Davis. Davis, also known as the Coppertown Clown, has been working the rodeo business since 1974 — and returns to Williams Lake this year with his pack of zany dogs, who play a large part in his act. Rodeo performances, including elaborate opening ceremonies and grand entry each day, start Friday at 6 p.m. with

“Wear Red to Support our Armed Forces,” then continue at 1 p.m. Saturday following the annual Stampede Parade (10 a.m. downtown). Sunday, the third rodeo performance goes at 1 p.m., before it all comes to a close following Monday’s “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” rodeo. Proceeds from the day go to benefit Diane Johnston (Sheer) and Kids Running for Kids. Additionally, local events such as the ranch challenge, wild horse race and mountain horse race take place each day. Live entertainment, including Appaloosa, Robert Rowan and Savage West, will also be performing throughout the weekend in the Let ‘R Buck Saloon and at the famous Williams Lake Stampede Barn Dance Saturday night. See SPONSORS Page A2


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