Red Deer Advocate, December 19, 2012

Page 1

KOOTENAY ON ICE

PARTY’S OVER

Red Deer romps to 5-1 win over visitors B4

‘Jersey Shore’ comes to an end C3

CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER

BREAKING NEWS ONLINE AT WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19, 2012

CENTENNIAL STORE

PIPELINE

Landowner seeks fair treatment BY HARLEY RICHARDS ADVOCATE BUSINESS EDITOR A Bentley-area farmer whose land is in the path of a proposed natural gas pipeline thinks there’s strength in numbers. George Reid spearheaded the formation of the Joffre to Gilby Landowners Association. Its members own property along a 70-km route that AltaGas Ltd. plans to construct a pipeline through. Announced in June, the line would carry natural gas from AltaGas’s Gilby Gas Plant near Leslieville to the company’s ethane extraction plant at Joffre. When Reid was approached about granting a right-of-way through his property, alarm bells went off. He’s had bad experiences with pipelines in the past, he said, and wants to be treated fairly. “Their contract is so one-sided that the landowners get trod on every time.”

Please see PIPELINE on Page A2

Photo by RANDY FIEDLER/Advocate staff

Sheila Bannerman, chairperson of the Red Deer 2013 Centennial Committee, has her hands full with swag from the Centennial Store on 4816- 50 Ave. (Scott Block). The store sells everything from mitts to mugs in the spirit of Red Deer’s upcoming birthday. Please see related story on C1.

Charges dropped in fatal fight BY LANA MICHELIN ADVOCATE STAFF

Coming Thursday . . . The first in a special Red Deer Advocate series examining the horrific toll that impaired driving is taking in Central Alberta.

Assault charges were dropped against William Johnstone-Vince, after the Crown determined the 22-year-old had only been defending himself in a fight that led to the death of a Saskatchewan man. Crown prosecutor Jason Snider came to this conclusion after reviewing the results of an autopsy done on Jake Thue. Thue, 27, was rushed to hospital in Edmonton with serious head injuries after a June 17 fight broke out between two groups of people outside a Red Deer hotel. Thue never regained consciousness before dying

in hospital on June 23. Snider said the autopsy showed Thue’s critical injuries resulted from when his head hit the curb as he fell. There is no evidence that Johnstone-Vince intended to kill him, Snider added. In fact, the Crown prosecutor saw evidence that Johnstone-Vince was acting in self-defence during the fight. He was attacked and “responded in force,” said Snider. Johnstone-Vince had been charged with aggravated assault, but those charges were dropped on Tuesday by Snider. The former accused did not appear in court. lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com

Legally blind father grateful for CNIB, United Way BY RANDY FIEDLER ADVOCATE STAFF Daniel Delorme couldn’t see a future until he discovered the United Way. The 31-year-old was born with glaucoma and lost sight in his left eye at 15. Five years ago, his right eye’s retina detached, leaving him with 10 per cent vision and legally blind. Coupled with raising his one-year-old daughter Satie alone, he became a recluse. “I felt embarrassed because I’d be running into things,” he recounted. “I stayed inside for about 10 months until I found out about the United Way.” It helped him get orientation and mobility training from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind’s Red Deer chapter. “They gave me the tools,” he said, adding that he considered a service dog, but raising Satie meant he couldn’t spare the month of full-time training needed. Unable to work, he and Satie live off Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped payments and a Canada Pension Plan disability pension. He has a business administration diploma and had two businesses before becoming legally blind, but being a single father with young daughter keeps him at home. “I’d love to be in Big Brothers or visit with people at the hospital, but it will have to wait until Satie is in school full time.” Another factor is what little sight he has left is deteriorating. He’s had three surgeries to his eyes with

PLEASE RECYCLE

‘I’VE GOT IT TOGETHER NOW. I’M BLESSED THAT I HAVE A KID AND GET TO STAY HOME RAISING HER. IT’S BETTER THAN ANY JOB I’VE EVER HAND. I JUST WANT TO BE THE BEST DAD EVER.’ — DANIEL DELORME

the prospect of another next year. “I’m going to see a doctor in January about a cornea transplant,” he said, adding it’s perilous because of the glaucoma and detached retina, but necessary due to recurring blisters on his corneas. “I may end up being blind anyway so why not take the risk?” Faith in God has helped him through his trials. “My faith totally helps. Whatever happens, me worrying about it is not going to change a thing. It’s up to the man upstairs.” With Satie now four and in pre-school half days, Delorme has time for workplace presentations to help garner United Way donations. “I did about 20 this year and I made a video for the CNIB.” Despite dim eyesight, Delorme feels his prospects are bright. “I’ve got it together now. I’m blessed that I have a kid and get to stay home raising her. It’s better than any job I’ve ever had. “I just want to be the best dad ever.” rfiedler@reddeeradvocate.com

WEATHER

INDEX

Sunny. High -14. Low -16.

Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-B3 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5,A6 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-D4 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C6 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C3 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B4-B6

FORECAST ON A2

Photo by RANDY FIEDLER/Advocate staff

Daniel Delorme, who’s nearly blind, laughs while playing with his daughter Satie, 4: the CNIB and United Way have made an enormous difference in their lives.

CANADA

BUSINESS

CALL FOR REGIONAL POLICE FORCE HAS MANY FOES

IMPACT OF CPR CUTS UNCLEAR

The final report for the missing women inquiry has revived the debate about whether there should be a regional police department in the Vancouver area. A5

Two weeks after Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. announced plans to slash nearly a quarter of its workforce by 2016, the likely impact on the company’s Red Deer operations remain unclear. B1


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