PRIVATE POT
NFL
Ottawa to privatize medical marijuana production A6
Seahawks pick apart Bills in Toronto NFL game B1
CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER
BREAKING NEWS ONLINE AT WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM
MONDAY, DEC. 17, 2012
Countdown to Doomsday
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Enveloped in an emergency thermal bivouac, Valhalla Pure Outfitters employee Ben Mullen shows off some emergency equipment that could come in handy in the event the Mayan doomsday prophecy comes true on Dec. 21.
Afraid of disaster? There are ways to prepare Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series on emergency preparedness in Central Alberta. part 2 Tuesday: Officials have a plan to deal with disasters. BY HARLEY RICHARDS ADVOCATE BUSINESS EDITOR When Hurricane Sandy
pounded the northeastern United States in late October, it killed more than 100 people, destroyed or severely damaged thousands of homes, and cut power supplies and transportation links. It also illustrated the importance of emergency planning. “Hurricane Sandy was a very sobering reminder for
all of us that have anything to do with emergency preparedness,” said Timothy Wilson, a public affairs officer with Alberta Municipal Affairs — the department that oversees the Alberta Emergency Management Agency. “It was really a horrible thing to see. At the same time, it was a really good reminder that when you’re not in
the middle of an emergency, take some time to prepare a 72-hour emergency kit for your family and to make a plan with your family.” The Alberta Emergency Management Agency recommends making provision for at least three full days of selfsufficiency. It lists blizzards, tornadoes, wildfires, floods, power outag-
CONNECTICUT SHOOTINGS
Fewer families seeking ‘adoption’ BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Please see MASSACRE on Page A2
PLEASE RECYCLE
Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A Newton police officer searches the area around St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church while responding to a bomb threat, Sunday, in Newtown, Conn. Worshippers hurriedly left the church Sunday, not far from where a gunman opened fire Friday inside the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.
WEATHER
INDEX
Snow. High -8, low -13.
Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C3,C4 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5,A6 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C5-C8 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C2 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B7 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-B6
FORECAST ON A2
Please see MAYAN on Page A2
CHRISTMAS CHARITIES
Obama offers ‘love and prayers of a nation’ NEWTOWN, Conn. — A mournful President Barack Obama said Sunday that the United States is failing to keep its children safe, pledging that change must come after an elementary-school massacre left 20 children dead. “What choice do we have?” Obama said. “Are we really prepared to say that we’re powerless in the face of such carnage, that the politics are too hard?” In a vigil for the fallen, in a moment of grief that spread around the world, Obama conceded that none of his words would match the sorrow.
es and industrial or transportation accidents as potential dangers. Some people fear more ominous threats with longer-term consequences. Dec. 21, 2012, has been identified by many as a possible date for a catastrophic global event.
It’s possible fewer families will need help from charities to make Christmas merry this year. About 160 families applied to Red Deer Salvation Army’s adopt a family program compared to 187 last year. “Our numbers started out with a bang. We figured we were going to be swamped and we’re actually are down,” said Red Deer Salvation Army Major Larry Bridger. “I’m hoping it’s a sign that things are maybe better for a lot of families. At this point, it’s hard to say. We had people who made appointments to come in and register and cancelled or just haven’t shown up.”
Please see CHARITY on Page A3
LOCAL
ENTERTAINMENT
BIRD WATCHERS COME STONES KEEP ROLLING Only at a Rolling Stones concert could OUT TO COUNT appearances by Bruce Springsteen and At least 50 bird watchers in Red Deer were poised with their binoculars for the Central Alberta Annual Christmas Bird Count on Sunday. C1
Lady Gaga seem almost like afterthoughts. B7