Red Deer Advocate, December 24, 2012

WAXING NOSTALGIC

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Billy Crystal and Bette Midler make strange things happen in first move together C5

CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER

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MONDAY, DEC. 24, 2012

MERRY CHRISTMAS Wishing the best to you and yours this holiday season

Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff

Thousands of LED lights have lit up the night in City Hall Park in Red Deer and will continue to glow brightly into the new year.

PLEASE RECYCLE

WEATHER

INDEX

A mix of sun and cloud. High -22, low -26.

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FORECAST ON A2

LOCAL

CHRISTMAS DAY

HAPPY HABITAT

NO PAPER TUESDAY

Habitat for Humanity had a successful year putting people in homes and working towards future builds and renovations. A2

The Advocate will not publish on Tuesday, Christmas Day, and all offices will be closed.

Publishing resumes on Wednesday, Boxing Day. However, all Advocate offices will remain closed until Thursday, Dec. 27.

A2 RED DEER ADVOCATE Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Successful year marked

BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF Habitat for Humanity had a successful year putting people in homes and working towards future builds and renovations.

Just a few months into her job as executive director with Red Deer Habitat for Humanity Paula Madu said the outlook for next year is positive.

“It’s been amazing, it is an amazing agency,” said Madu. “I’m thrilled to be part of this organization.”

Looking back on the year Madu said it has been positive.

While getting people into homes is the main goal of Habitat, Madu said the ReStore is an asset to the non-profit’s goals.

The ReStore refurbishes old furniture and appliances for resale and also sells building supplies, with the proceeds from the sales going towards fundraising for Habitat.

“We completed a build in Three Hills in the summer, that was a big project,” said Madu. “It was the 100th anniversary project for Three Hills centennial and it was a 100-hour build.”

Right now the organization is working on a renovation of a house that was purchased back from home owners.

“They wanted to resell the house, so we purchased it back and with the generous support of the Canadian Home Owners Association - Central Alberta, are

Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff

Habitat for Humanity executive director Paula Madu chats with Habitat volunteer Devin Slinger at the sales counter of the Habitat For Humanity Re-Store in Red Deer. renovating that house,” said Madu.

“We should probably have a family in there by, we’re hoping around the end of January in Red Deer.” When the ground thaws the local Habitat has a goal of building a triplex at 3818, 3820 and 3822 44th St. “That’s our big project for the spring,” said Madu.

“Some of the preliminary things have been done already.

“We’re waiting for permits from the city, we have formal plans for the building and we have a construction committee we’re building on.”

There are already families waiting for the con-

struction of the triplex and there is even a waiting list for future information sessions for a future build.

Madu said she is hoping to have an open house in January at the Habitat for Humanity office for people who are interested in volunteering, sponsoring or any kind of connection.

“We’re always pleased to have people drop by and fill out a volunteer application,” said Madu. “We have tons of opportunities as far as the construction site, but we have a lot of volunteers in the ReStore as well. We always welcome new volunteers and look forward to that.” mcrawford@reddeeradvocate.com

‘Copycat syndrome’ predicted over mass shooting RED DEER GUN AUCTIONEER WHO ADVISES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON FIREARMS BLAMES MEDIA FOR MASS SHOOTINGS

BY RANDY FIEDLER ADVOCATE STAFF A Red Deer gun auctioneer who advises the federal government on firearms policy fears another mass killing.

Linda Baggaley, who co-chairs the Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee, thinks news coverage in the wake of 27 murders in Newtown, Conn., last week “will start another one.

“It’s the copycat syndrome. Some mentally unstable person will want to go down in a flame of glory.

The news media is the No. 1 proponent of that,” she said, referring to the notoriety shooters gain after such incidents.

Baggaley runs Bud Haynes Auctions, Canada’s oldest, largest firearms auction house.

Her more than 40 years of experience with guns is why she was appointed to the voluntary committee, which has been criticized for suggesting to Public Safety Minister Vic Toews that some gun controls be loosened.

The federal government repealed gun show regulations that were slated to start last month, agreeing with the committee that existing regulations already cover firearm storage and display at such events.

It also deferred to December 2013 a requirement gun makers put new markings on weapons imported to Canada.

The prime minister rejected the recommendation of downgrading some guns from the prohibited to the restricted classification and told the House of Commons that perhaps the committee’s membership be reassessed.

Baggaley rejected criticism that the dozenmember committee, which also includes a police officer, two firearms experts, an Olympic shooting champion and a Nova Scotia academ-

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ic, is stacked with gun advocates.

“We’re not a dysfunctional committee by any means.

“Everyone is well spoken. They don’t just take loose cannons on this committee. We’re not talking radicals.”

The committee meets two to three times annually and by teleconference if needed. Its recommendations, such as extending licences to 10 years from the current five, are often made to lessen the bureaucratic burden on legal gun owners.

“To get a gun licence, you have to answer questions you couldn’t ask in a job interview.

Those licensed owners will do anything to get that licence because they want to be responsible firearm owners.

“I believe in licensing, (but) the tragedy in the States, it’s got nothing to do with Canadian gun control.

“You can’t legislate against insanity. Somebody is always going to slip through these cracks.

Marc Lepine was turned down by the army for being mentally unstable and still got a licence,” she said, referring to the killer who gunned down 16 Montreal women in the 1989 Montreal Massacre.

“The fact that never gets out is .0001 per cent of people are killed by legally-owned firearms.

Criminals don’t register guns.

“I’ve grown up in the industry and know a lot of good people who own guns.”

Prior to her appointment by then-Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day in 2007, Baggaley was on the User Group on Firearms under Liberal Justice Minister Anne McLellan.

“Our committee did very well by her. They treated us better than the Conservatives.” rfiedler@reddeeradvocate.com

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Auctioneer Linda Baggaley, who co-chairs the Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee, worries news coverage of Newtown killings will spur a copycat.

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Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

Too early to tell if law has been effective

BY TYLER DAWSON ADVOCATE STAFF

Holiday season can be hard for people coping with loss due to suicide

DISTRACTED DRIVING

The head of Red Deer City RCMP said that it is too early to tell if distracted driving legislation has been effective.

“As police, certainly we will continue to indicate that distracted driving is an issue,” Supt. Warren Dosko said, noting that it is often a “causal factor” in vehicle crashes.

Edmonton Police Service chief Rob Knecht said distracted driving legislation was “a big deal” when first passed, but said police have seen people using their phones again.

Knecht said that issuing demerits will further deter this behaviour. Currently, distracted drivers face a $172 fine.

The legislation came into effect on Sept. 1, 2011. It prohibits use of handheld cell-

phones, texting or emailing, use of portable electronics, inputting information into GPS, reading, writing and personal grooming.

Except for Nunavut, all provinces and territories have some form of distracted driving legislation. Eight of these issue demerit points for infractions.

A proposal to issue demerit points for distracted driving has been sent to Alberta Justice Minister Jonathan Denis for review. Calgary police chief Rick Hanson raised the resolution at the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police annual meeting in November.

It was passed unanimously.

Knecht said the evidence for the proposal was based on

BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF

feedback and complaints from the public. There has been no official review of the legislation.

Dosko said that Red Deer police are focused on enforcement of the existing law.

When asked about the proposal to issue demerits, he said.

“From a policing perspective, it’s not really our role to talk about legislation.”

While Dosko said he didn’t know if the law had translated into a reduction of incidents, he said it has had a positive impact and opportunity to educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving. tdawson@reddeeradvocate. com

Christmas isn’t always easy for everyone, especially those dealing with the loss of someone who they would typically spend Christmas with.

Though there is not an increase in the number of suicides during the Christmas season, the impact of suicides on families and friends increases because of the holiday’s association with family.

Dawn Adkins, suicide information and education services education coordinator and community helpers coordinator, said the holiday season can be hard for people coping with the loss of a loved one from suicide.

“They’re still suffering that loss,” said Adkins. “The perception might be, this may not be your first Christmas without that person, it could be your second or third, so other people in your life may have moved on and you’re still hurting.

“I think they get lost in that sense because Christmas is not going to be the same, ever.

There is always going to be that loss.”

Adkins said it is a different type of grief experience where sometimes there isn’t something concrete to blame for the car accident, unlike other types of loss such as a fatal car collision.

“The vast majority of society is in that (Christmas) moment and I think sometimes survivors get lost,” said Adkins.

A survivor is someone who has lost someone to suicide, not someone who has attempted, but did not die. Adkins said a survivor is someone who is left behind after a suicide.

Municipal tax increase approved Lacombe County has approved a $41.8-million operating budget that calls for a 2.75 per cent increase in municipal tax rates.

Council also approved a $21.6-million capital budget.

Final tax rates won’t be known until the spring when the value of assessed property is known. The county also finds out in the spring what the province’s school requisition will be, which forms a portion of residents’ total property tax bills.

Of the county’s $41.8 million, just over $25 million is funded through property taxation.

The rest comes through government grants, user and service fees, investment income and transfers from reserves.

An additional $437,470 is collected to fund the Lacombe Foundation, which provides affordable housing for seniors.

In a news release, county Reeve Ken Wigmore calls spending plans a “fiscally responsible budget meeting our current needs and ensuring consistent service levels for our fu-

LACOMBE COUNTY ture.”

County commissioner Terry Hager says the budget maintains the municipality’s position of having one of the lowest property tax rates in Alberta.

“Part of the increase can be attributed to the cost of living, and part to increased service levels in conservation management, weed control, road maintenance and snow plowing.”

The capital budget includes: ● $7.5 million to extend water and sewer services to the industrial park west of Blackfalds ● $6.8 million in capital road projects ● $2.5 million in equipment and vehicle purchases (offset by nearly $800,000 in sales of old equipment) ● $950,000 for broadband Internet.

‘THE VAST MAJORITY OF SOCIETY IS IN THAT (CHRISTMAS) MOMENT AND I THINK SOMETIMES SURVIVORS GET LOST,’ — DAWN ADKINS

There are support groups in Red Deer for some people, but Adkins acknowledged that route may not work for everyone saying counselling is available as well.

And while support groups and counselling can help people throughout the year, facing Christmas day can pose challenges.

“I think expressing themselves to their loved ones,” said Adkins. “To say ‘you know what, I’m not asking you to put everything on hold for me, but just recognize I’m not in a happy place right now.’”

As well as communication, Adkins said while the day is about family and being together, maybe taking some time to be alone and let the family know that is what is needed.

“Take those moments throughout the day,” said Adkins. “To have that moment of reflection, take a deep breath and recognize everything you are feeling is normal.”

For more information call suicide information and education services at 403-342-4966. mcrawford@reddeeradvocate. com

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COMMENT

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Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

Merry Christmas, everyone “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” Andy Williams sang in 1962, describing the celebration of Christmas and all the good cheer, joys and fellowship it brings.

But there are people, admittedly a minority, who today take offence to those lyrics because they rub RICK their own traditions and reliZEMANEK gious beliefs the wrong way.

So does that mean that we must bury traditions to accommodate those with differing views?

Human rights commissions regularly field complaints from minority groups that feel offended and isolated because Christmas runs counter to their beliefs. Some have even suggested that those celebrating Christmas (a tradition deeply entrenched in Cana-

INSIGHT

dian culture) are guilty of intolerance and racism.

That simply defies common sense.

If a family strings up Christmas lights, but a neighbour of differing beliefs finds them offensive and requests the lights be taken down, is that family racist and intolerant if it refuses?

Canada is a country of tolerance and respect for all cultures and beliefs. That means the majority extends tolerance to the minority, and the minority extends the same courtesy to the majority.

But what happens when minority groups insists that the majority changes its traditions to suit their beliefs?

In our never-ending struggle to prove our tolerance, some majority traditions are eroding at the hands of the politically correct — especially during the Christmas season.

Recently, Ashu Solo filed a complaint to the City of Saskatoon because he found the “Merry Christmas” messages posted on city buses to be offensive. Solo said the messages made him feel unwelcome and that they excluded minorities and atheists who don’t celebrate Christmas.

The city refused to remove the mes-

sages.

Solo is now taking the matter to the human rights commission, alleging intolerance, discrimination and racism.

Among the recent Christmas snubs, two others stand out in Canada. The Town of Mount Royal banned all religious symbols last year from city property, including a nativity scene that was a staple for years. And at the high school in Embrun, Ont., the principal cancelled the Christmas concert because a few non-Christian student refused to participate.

Not all of the news, however, is focused on minimizing Christmas. Federal government employees are now allowed to decorate their desks as they see fit, one year after a Christmas flap banned such practices.

Treasury Board president Tony Clement said the Christmas spirit will not be “grinched” this year.

“Christmas and Hanukkah are special times of the year that Canadians look forward to,” said Clement. “The lights and decorations lift the spirit and instil the season with a sense of wonder and celebration.”

He added, “There are those who would like to snuff out the holiday

spirit in the name of political correctness or expediency. Our government will not allow the Christmas spirited to be grinched.”

The federal NDP party is following the politically correct line, opting to replace the word Christmas with “holiday.” The Liberals, on the other hand, are embracing the traditions of the holidays.

We should always be mindful and tolerant of dissenting views. But we all should be aware that tolerance is a two-way street.

If you do not celebrate Christmas, may you still be blessed with peace and happiness during the holiday season, and beyond.

And may you exercise the same kind of respect that you expect from everyone else.

And if you do celebrate Christmas, be mindful that the message of the season should be applied every day of the year. And that love, peace and tolerance have always been, and should always remain, the cornerstones of this great nation.

Merry Christmas.

Rick Zemanek is a former Advocate editor.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Defence spending indefensible How much do 65 F-35 fighter planes cost?

Prime Minister Harper: $9 billion; auditor general: $25 billion; parliamentary budget officer: $30 billion; KPMG: $45 billion.

The new study by KPMG was requested by the Harper government after the auditor general last spring challenged the government over the real cost of the F-35 fighter planes.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is making promises to review the F-35 program — but he is not actually ruling out the F-35, or committing to having an open competition, or even asking Canadians what kind of role our military should be playing the world.

The reset button announced by Defence Minister Peter McKay needs to cover more than looking for a fighter jet we can afford, it also needs to determine why or what we need it for.

In my view, Canadians do not want to be “a warrior nation,” eager to respond with military power when unrest and trouble breaks out. The Harper government is trying to glorify our military history by such activities as funding the celebration of our War of 1812 with the United States. Every war we enter is a sign that we have failed to settle issues dividing us by peaceful means and are resorting to the mentality that the people who have the most guns or fighter jets get to decide what happens.

Our armed forces have had costly experiences doing that.

Many Canadians believe their role should be redirected to maintaining and protecting our borders and while doing that, provide northern communities with the benefits of better communication and accessibility and infrastructure. Our Coast Guard should be given the resources to do their critical work on all our coasts.

The American/Canadian military-industrial complex is the source of great power and as long as we continue to seek military solutions to human conflicts, great profits will be made in the manufacture and sale of products whose sole purpose is to kill human beings.

The gravy train should end.

The billions we put as a planet into making weapons of war would be better used to find a way to support the needs of our world in transportation infrastructure, affordable housing, clean water, education and health care.

As Canadians, we honour those who gave their lives in our man-made wars to protect our liberty, but we would honour them more if we were leaders in the pursuit of finding peaceful solutions to the complex problems that exist within our world.

There is really no security in knowing that we now have the capacity to blow up our world several times over (surely once is enough).

Security comes when we are committed to peaceful solutions among our human community.

Canada can be a leader in the world without $45 billion worth of military power. It just depends on how we choose to lead.

Brenda Corney Red Deer

Government waste, a penny at a time I received a note in the mail the other day from Revenue Canada stating that I am not eligible for the B.C. HST/GST credit for the January to April 2013 tax year due to my recent move from Surrey, B.C. I used to live in Edmonton and moved to B.C. to be with family, and moved back to Alberta due to the economy in B.C. However, I found this funny for the government to send me statement that I have a one-cent credit on my B.C. HST/GST credit.

The funny part is that it cost more to produce and mail the letter to advise me of the one cent that I can’t even spend in Alberta anyway.

It is common sense that when I move to another province, I would not meet the residence requirements for B.C. This is a fine example of how the government

CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER Published at 2950 Bremner Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, T4R 1M9

by The Red Deer Advocate Ltd. Canadian Publications Agreement #336602 Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation Fred Gorman Publisher John Stewart Managing editor Richard Smalley Advertising director

spending is hard at work with our tax dollars.

Can’t wait to go to B.C. for a visit and spend that one cent, which is supposed to be obliterated in the near future.

Andrew Kelly Olds

One Maritime super-province?

Just read in Trouw, a major Dutch newspaper, that the central government is proceeding with negotiating a plan to amalgamate three provinces by the year 2015 in time for the next elections. The provinces concerned are North Holland, Utrecht, and Flevoland.

Eventually, four more super-provinces would be created, down from the 12 that exist now.

What about doing that sort of thing in Canada with P.E.I., Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick?

Harlan Hulleman Red Deer

Gun control column off target As usual, whenever the Advocate prints an antigun article in their editorial pages, I feel compelled to respond.

This time your columnist has taken issue with our prime minister being advised on firearms matters by individuals who represent the recreational firearms community.

These individuals, who head up various shooting organizations, are well educated, well informed, and articulate on matters pertaining to firearms control and its effect on the law-abiding firearms community.

They have also given reasoned, well-researched presentations in opposition to the United Nations, which is presently attempting to eliminate civilian ownership of firearms, apparently to make it easier for Third World thugs and dictators to terrorize their populations, particularly in Africa.

These individuals advising our prime minister are the same ones who warned the previous Liberal government that the long gun registry would be unworkable, useless and prohibitively expensive while doing nothing to deter crime.

In this they were proven correct.

Perhaps your columnist would be happier to see them replaced by the same left-wing social engineers

Scott Williamson Pre-press supervisor Mechelle Stewart Business manager Main switchboard 403-343-2400 Delivery/Circulation 403-314-4300 News News tips 403-314-4333 Sports line 403-343-2244 News fax 403-341-6560 E-mail: editorial@reddeeradvocate.com John Stewart, managing editor 403-314-4328 Carolyn Martindale, City editor 403-314-4326 Greg Meachem, Sports editor 403-314-4363 Harley Richards, Business editor

403-314-4337 Website: www.reddeeradvocate.com Advertising Main number: 403-314-4343 Fax: 403-342-4051 E-mail: advertising@reddeeradvocate.com Classified ads: 403-309-3300 Classified e-mail: classifieds@reddeeradvocate.com Alberta Press Council member The Red Deer Advocate is a sponsoring member of the Alberta Press Council, an independent body that promotes and protects the established freedoms of the press and advocates freedom of information. The Alberta Press Council upholds

whose rudimentary knowledge of firearms matters resulted in the $2-billion waste of the failed long gun registry.

Your writer seemed aghast that this group of advisors recommended that prohibited firearms outlawed by the previous Liberal administration be reinstated to legal status.

This is simply a property rights issue that would never have survived a Charter of Rights challenge had these rights been enshrined originally.

It appears that some left-wing committee of bureaucrats thumbed through a gun catalogue and decided to ban whatever looked scary to them.

Predictably, they forgot to include the actual firearm used in the Ecole Polytechnique shooting.

For good measure, they also decided to ban any handgun with a barrel length of less than 101 mm.

This effectively outlawed half of the registered handguns in the country.

They were rendered worthless with no compensation offered by the government for what were legal purchases with after-tax dollars.

There was no logic to this decision and the advisory committee simply wants an injustice reversed.

Any hesitation on the part of Stephen Harper to accept these recommendations probably lies in the realm of practical politics.

Quebec is obsessive-compulsive when it comes to gun control and wants access to the registry records to set up their own system.

It is not a coincidence that the province with the toughest anti-gun stance has also been the site of the only mass-murder shootings by deranged individuals in the country.

Prior to the Dawson College shooting, I predicted in a letter to this newspaper that an event like this was inevitable.

Tragically, my prediction was correct.

In simple terms, it boils down to more gun control equals more crime.

When it comes to both gun control and separation, it appears that Quebec embodies the definition of insanity, that being the repeating of the same mistakes over and over while expecting different results.

Personally, I am more than comfortable with the members of the firearms advisory committee as it ensures that the government is listening to actual experts in these matters and not a bunch of left-wing social engineers with absolutely no understanding of the issues.

Terrence Rawlyck Lacombe

the public’s right to full, fair and accurate news reporting by considering complaints, within 60 days of publication, regarding the publication of news and the accuracy of facts used to support opinion. The council is comprised of public members and representatives of member newspapers. The Alberta Press Council’s address: PO Box 2576, Medicine Hat, AB, T1A 8G8.

Phone 403-580-4104.

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A5

CANADA Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

‘Canadian Psycho’ Luka Rocco Magnotta chosen 2012’s Newsmaker of the Year

BY ANDY BLATCHFORD THE CANADIAN PRESS

File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Reporters attend a news conference in Montreal, June 5, 2012 where details about the arrest of Luka Rocco Magnotta were announced. ously wanted, isn’t it?�

Benjamin, who spoke on condition that his family name not be published, told The Canadian Press. “That’s something he’s been wanting for a very long time and he got it.

But just on the cost of a life and our friend.�

Magnotta, a native of Scarborough, Ont., collected 22 per cent of Newsmaker of the Year votes to finish ahead of Vancouver-area teen Amanda Todd, whose video and suicide prompted an international discussion on bullying.

Todd, who was sexually exploited online and subsequently bullied, received 18 per cent of the vote.

Editors who chose Todd highlighted how her story could have a positive impact. “This tragic teenager whose life ended far too early has the potential to live on in our memories and improve the lives of future tortured teens,� said John Hadley, news director of Vancouver’s

CHQM-FM. Amid the NHL lockout, a combined entry of league president Gary Bettman and players’ union head Donald Fehr garnered 15 per cent of the votes to finish third.

Liberal leadership front-runner and MP Justin Trudeau was the top vote-earning politician of 2012 with eight per cent support. He shared fourth spot with the collective Quebec student protester.

Stephen Harper did not get any votes in what is believed to be the first time in the last two decades a sitting prime minister has been shut out in the survey.

Magnotta was elected Newsmaker of the Year even though he didn’t receive a single vote from a newsroom in Quebec, where much of the story

Limited quantities on some items

was anchored.

Quebec had several big news stories in 2012, including the monthslong student protests, the explosive Charbonneau Commission looking into corruption, and the shooting only metres away from Pauline Marois on the night she returned the Parti Quebecois to power. “As news goes there were certainly far more significant issues that touched our nation,�

Doyle MacKinnon, the Lethbridge Herald’s managing editor, said in explaining why he chose Magnotta.

MacKinnon said it’s a sad commentary that men such as Magnotta and former colonel Russell Williams become household names while many Canadians don’t know who the recently canonized Kateri Tekakwitha is. “But the fact is,� he said, �the truly reviled invariably make bigger news than the moderately revered.“ Since the first Newsmaker of the Year poll back in 1946, politicians, diplomats and sports heroes have dominated the selection list — including figures such as John Diefenbaker, Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Terry Fox. Very few nominees have earned the most votes out of infamy.

Among the rare exceptions are 1965 selection Lucien Rivard, a convict who pulled off a spectacular prison escape, and colonel-turned-killer Williams in 2010.

Even high-profile Canadian killers Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka — the latter with whom Magnotta reportedly had an obsession — did not reach the top of the list.

Other notable criminals who weren’t voted Newsmaker of the Year include serial killer Robert Pickton, serial child killer Clifford Olson and Marc Lepine, the gunman who killed 14 women in Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique massacre.

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MONTREAL â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Before 2012, Luka Rocco Magnotta was a littleknown, 4-a.m regular at a Montreal diner, where he munched on poutine and guzzled water to rehydrate after performing at a nearby strip joint.

He ends the year as a notorious international figure â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an accused killer charged with stomachturning crimes that set off a global manhunt and horrified people around the world.

Driven by his headline-grabbing spring, Magnotta has been voted Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2012 Newsmaker of the Year in the annual poll of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newsrooms by The Canadian Press.

The choice, made by editors and news directors, is rooted in the eyeopening reach of a story that erupted last May after the death and dismemberment of university student Jun Lin. Magnotta now sits in a Montreal detention centre, where he awaits trial on several criminal counts, including firstdegree murder in Linâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s killing. The 30-year-old has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The Montreal slaying touched regions across Canada after Linâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hands and feet were mailed separately to four locations in British Columbia and Ottawa.

The bizarre circumstances around Linâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death also hit the public radar on two other continents.

The news landed in Linâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s native country of China, where his parents still live. He had left his homeland to study computer engineering in Canada.

The story also spread to Europe. The high-profile search by authorities for Magnotta ended with his June arrest in a Berlin Internet cafe, where he was reportedly reading online articles about himself.

The publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interest was drawn in by the rare horror of the accusations against Magnotta, a small-time porn actor, stripper and escort who was dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Canadian Psychoâ&#x20AC;? by some foreign media. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The depravity of the charges that Luka Magnotta faces proves truth truly is stranger than fiction,â&#x20AC;? said Victor Krasowski, CJUK/CKTG news director in Thunder Bay, Ont., who voted for Magnotta.

James Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor, managing editor of the Brandon Sun, said the allegations against Magnotta â&#x20AC;&#x153;ripped the lid off the unimaginably depraved underworldâ&#x20AC;? of sadistic sex, mutilation and death.

The 33-year-old Linâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s torso was found in a suitcase outside Magnottaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apartment building, his hands and feet were mailed to political offices in Ottawa and schools in B.C., and his head was discovered in a Montreal park.

There was also the infamous video posted online that police believe showed the dismemberment.

In the gruesome footage, a person is seen repeatedly stabbing a naked young man with an ice pick. The killer later dismembers the corpse and appears to commit sexual and cannibalistic acts on it.

Magnotta had a prolific online presence, with details about his life embellished and fabricated on Internet message boards and social media.

One of Linâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s close friends believes Magnotta would take satisfaction from his selection as Newsmaker of the Year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what he obvi-

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Arrest made after alleged targeted shooting THE CANADIAN PRESS CHILLIWACK, B.C. — RCMP have made an arrest in a non-fatal shooting of a Chilliwack, B.C., man who they believe was targeted.

Police say they arrested a 31-year-old, also from the city east of Abbotsford, without incident in a residential area on Saturday.

A 46-year-old was rushed to hospital before dawn that morning after calling police about the attack, and he remains in hospital in stable condition.

The accused is in custody until he is expected to make a first court appearance today.

Cpl. Tammy Hollingsworth says it’s not believed the shooting was related to any recent gang murders in B.C.’s Lower Mainland.

Crews rescue second snowboarder WEST VANCOUVER, B.C. — Search crews have rescued a snowboarder who got lost in the mountains north of Vancouver, the second man to be saved in a week despite public warnings not to venture out of bounds.

West Vancouver Police say they were notified about 3 p.m. on Saturday that two snowboarders who had left the designated recreation area on Cypress Mountain became separated.

The man who made it back to safety reported his friend had not emerged, launching a mission by North Shore Search and Rescue.

Members used GPS and cell phone to determine the man’s location, eventually reaching him below the snowline near a creek by voice contact at about 8:15 p.m. and inperson by 10:15 p.m.

The search team and snowboarder hiked down the mountain and by 12:30 a.m. Sunday the 30-year-old was celebrating his birthday at the team’s command post, uninjured.

Last Sunday, a 33-year-old snowboarder from Ottawa was rescued from the wilderness is the same mountainous region but it took the crew three days to locate him.

Avalanche risks remain high in the backcountry.

Community mourning deaths TRACADIE-SHEILA, N.B. — A northern New Brunswick community is mourning the death of four young people who were killed Saturday after their car crashed into an icy river.

RCMP said 17-year-old Marie-Helene Gauvin of Pointe Canot, 18-yearold Tommy Losier and 19-year-old Brian Basque, both of Ste-Rose, and 20-year-old Alexandre McGraw of Losier Settlement died in the crash near TracadieSheila.

Claude Landry, the MLA for the area, said the community is in “shock.”

“They are grieving and it’s a difficult, difficult time,” said Landry in an interview on Sunday. “It’s a tragedy here.”

Community members packed the Saint-JeanBaptiste and SaintJoseph Church Sunday morning for a service to pray for the friends and families of the victims, said Landry.

“The church was full,” said Landry, who attended the service.

“It’s a shock to the community.

Police said the car slipped off a dirt road in a remote area while trying to go uphill and plunged into the Tracadie River.

JUSTICE CANADA STUDY EXAMINES BROAD RANGE OF ECONOMIC IMPACTS

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA, Ont. — A major federal investigation into spousal violence says it cost society at least $7.4 billion for the thousands of incidents that occurred in just one year.

The Justice Canada study examined a broad range of economic impacts, from policing and health-care to funerals and lost wages, for every incident of spousal violence in 2009.

Drawing on a Canada-wide police database, researchers found almost 50,000 cases of spousal violence reported to police that year, more than 80 per cent of them involving female victims. The cases included 65 homicides, 49 of them women.

The study also mined an annual Statistics Canada telephone survey, which estimated some 336,000 Canadians in 2009 were victims of some form of violence from their spouse. The definition of spouse included married, common-law, separated, same-sex and divorced partners.

The authors then meticulously accounted for all costs associated with the violence, from the obvious — legal bills for prosecutions and emergency-room visits — to the painfully personal.

The latter includes purchasing special telephone services, such as call display, to identify a stalking spouse or ex-spouse, usually male; or moving expenses incurred to escape harassment and assault by relocating to another community.

Altogether, total costs were conservatively estimated at $4.8 billion for female victims and $2.6 billion for male victims.

“Spousal violence is a widespread and unfortunate social reality that has an effect on all Canadians,” says the 145-page report, completed this fall and obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act. “Victims of spousal violence are susceptible to sustaining costly and long-lasting physical, emotional and financial consequences. ... Every member of society eventually feels the impact of spousal violence through the additional financial strain imposed on publicly funded systems and services.”

The study is the third produced by Justice Canada since 2011 on the comprehensive cost of crime, all using similar methodology.

The first looked at the economic impact of all reported crimes in 2008 ($99.6 billion); the second, the costs of gun-related crime in 2008 ($3.1 billion). The latter was never published, given the politically charged subject matter, but was obtained earlier this year by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act. A Vancouver academic who has conducted her own costing research into women who have left abusive partners welcomed the study as strong evidence that violence against women remains all too prevalent in Canada.

“There’s this ‘you’ve come a long way, baby’ kind of ethos in Canada ... where peo-

ple have a sense that perhaps violence is lessening, perhaps it’s less of a problem, perhaps women have greater equality, and that translates into less violence,” Colleen Varcoe said in an interview.

“There simply isn’t any evidence of that.”

Varcoe was lead researcher for a 2011 study that examined in detail costs associated with a sample of 309 women who left abusive partners. The study then extrapolated the annual economic impact across Canada for all such abused women at $6.9 billion. Differing methodologies do not allow for direct comparison with the Justice Canada study.

In the Justice Canada study, researchers found Canada’s justice system bore only about seven per cent of total costs, including legal aid. Third parties — such as employers, social-service agencies and children — incurred some 12 per cent.

Victims themselves bore the greatest cost burden, at more than 80 per cent or some $6 billion in 2009.

The sometimes murky estimates for the dollar value of victims’ pain and suffering, loss of life, and other so-called intangibles amounted to $5.5 billion. The researchers were careful to draw on commonly accepted amounts established by courts, insurance companies and even the Treasury Board of Canada.

The report is also deliberately conservative: “Some cost items are underestimated as a precaution while others are omitted entirely.”

Survivor of Nunavut plane crash recalls a mother’s anguished cries THE CANADIAN PRESS SANIKILUAQ, Nunavut — A woman on a plane that crashed in Nunavut, killing an infant, says she heard the child’s frantic mother crying as she and the other survivors clamoured from the wreckage to safety.

Malaya Uppik says she doesn’t know how the tiny six-month-old was killed and she doesn’t remember much about the crash, but she can still hear the mother’s screams.

“I remember she was crying: ‘My baby. I lost my baby,”’ Uppik, 46, said from her home in Sanikiluaq.

“I only hear that she was crying ’My baby’ and ‘I lost my baby’ and that’s all I remember.”

Uppik was one of nine people — seven passengers and two pilots — on the chartered Fairchild Metro 3/23 twin-engine turbo prop when it crashed while landing Saturday night at the airport in Sanikiluaq.

Sanikiluaq is a community of 800 located on the Belcher Islands in the southeastern corner of Hudson Bay. As in all Nunavut communities, flying is the only way in and out.

RCMP say the crash occurred near the end of the runway, which sits on the north tip of Flaherty Island, roughly 150 kilometres from the Quebec shoreline.

The Transportation Safety Board confirmed there was some blowing snow at the time of the crash, but said it was too early to say whether that

played a role.

Flight 671 originated in Winnipeg and was chartered for Keewatin Air, which schedules three trips a week between Winnipeg and Sanikiluaq.

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The aircraft belonged to Winnipeg-based Perimeter Aviation.

Some of the passengers on board, including Uppik, were in Winnipeg for medical appointments and were on their

way home.

Uppik says the baby, a boy, came along on the trip with his mother because he was still breast feeding. RCMP would not confirm the child’s identity.

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Mourners worldwide send toys, money, other gifts NEWTOWN, Conn. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; People around the world are grieving with the residents of Newtown over the murders of 26 school children and staff, offering their support by sending toys, money and other gifts.

An outpouring of tens of thousands of teddy bears, Barbie dolls, soccer balls, board games and more has come from toy stores, organizations and individuals worldwide. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s their way of grieving.

They say, â&#x20AC;&#x2122;I feel so bad, I just

Troops free hostages held by pirates THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NAIROBI, Kenya â&#x20AC;&#x201D; NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Forces of Somaliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s semiautonomous Puntland region raided a hijacked ship and safely rescued 22 hostages who had been held captive for nearly three years, authorities said Sunday.

A statement from the Puntland government said their forces captured the Panamaflagged MV Iceberg 1 which was docked near the Garaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ad coastal village in Mudung region.

The rescued crew members include eight Yemenis, five Indians, two Pakistanis, four Ghanaians, two Sudanese, and a Philippine, Puntland Ports and Anti-piracy minister Saeed Mohamed Rage told the Associated Press. The ship was hijacked March 29, 2010.

Close to 120 seafarers are still held by Somali pirates, though that number is considerably down from the height of the piracy crisis two years ago, when more than 600 hostages were held at once.

Hijackings by Somali pirates have significantly reduced in the last couple of years because many ships now carry armed guards and there is an international naval armada that carries out onshore raids.

In 2010, pirates seized 47 vessels, so far this year theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve taken five, a decrease that could signify that the scourge is ending, though experts say it is too early to declare victory.

The overwhelming majority of hostages have been sailors on merchant ships, though European families have also been kidnapped from their yachts while travelling in the dangerous Indian Ocean coastal waters.

Four Americans were killed in February 2011 when the pirates who boarded their ship apparently became trigger-happy because of nearby United States warships.

For the pirates, the risks of being arrested, killed or lost at sea are overshadowed by the potential for huge payouts.

Ransoms for large ships in recent years have averaged close to $5 million.

want to do something to reach out,â&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; said Bobbi Veach, who was helping Saturday at Edmond Town Hall, where all of Newtownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children were invited to choose a toy.

At religious services Sunday morning in Newtown, church leaders received standing ovations from parishioners they have been helping to cope with the tragedy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This has been the worst week of my life,â&#x20AC;? said Monsignor Robert Weiss of the St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, which lost eight children and two adults in the

massacre. He thanked the community for giving him strength to get through the week filled with funerals.

In a church bulletin, he urged people to go ahead and celebrate Christmas with prayers for hope, healing and peace. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We know that some hearts in this town will be broken again on Christmas morning when that one special person is not there to open their gifts,â&#x20AC;? he wrote.

The Rev. Kathleen AdamsShepherd also received an ovation and kisses from a long

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ity poles in memory of Emilie, who was buried at Evergreen Memorial Park next to her maternal grandfather, who died 2 ½ months earlier.

Dozens of emergency responders paid their respects at the start of the service for Josephine at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Newtown, walking through the church and up to the altar.

A horse-drawn carriage brought the miniature coffin of Ana to The First Cathedral church in Bloomfield, where 1,000 mourners gathered to bid goodbye.

line of parishioners at Trinity Episcopal Church. She offered a prayer for the 26 victims at the school as well as the gunman and his slain mother, Nancy Lanza.

After the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre Dec. 14, victims were still being buried Saturday. A service was held in Ogden, Utah, for 6-year-old Emilie Parker. Others were held in Connecticut for 7-year-old Josephine Gay and 6-year-old Ana MarquezGreene.

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Christmas Store Hours: Mon. & Wed. 8:00 am - 6:00 pm Tues. Closed Thur. - Sat. 9:30 am - 9:00 pm Sunday 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleepwear and robes in our sleepwear and robes departments exclude Calvin Klein, New Spring Arrivals and items with 99¢ price endings. Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleepwear and robes exclude Calvin Klein, Diesel and Armani sleepwear and items with 99¢ price endings. Kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sleepwear and robes exclude items with 99¢ price endings.

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outerwear excludes New Spring Arrivals and items with 99¢ price endings. Kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and babiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; outerwear excludes Ralph Lauren Childrenswear, Juicy Couture, Guess, Diesel and Armani Junior.

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BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A8 RED DEER ADVOCATE Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

Hurting Spaniards celebrate big Christmas lottery wins

Judge OKs $7.8B Gulf oil spill settlement

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MADRID, Spain â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Winners of Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cherished Christmas lottery â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s richest â&#x20AC;&#x201D; celebrated Saturday in more than a dozen locations where lucky tickets were sold, a moment of uplift for a country enduring another brutal year of economic hardship.

Initial reports said there were winners of the maximum prize of (euro)400,000 ($530,000) in 15 towns or cities.

In Madrid, two lottery outlet workers who sold a top-prize tickets celebrated with sparkling wine as curious neighbours gathered.

The fortunate winner had yet to make an appearance.

The lottery sprinkled a treasure chest of (euro)2.5 billion ($3.3 billion) in prize money around the country.

Unlike lotteries that generate a few big winners, Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s version â&#x20AC;&#x201D; now celebrating its 200th anniversary â&#x20AC;&#x201D; has always shared the wealth more evenly instead of concentrating on vast jackpots, so thousands of tickets yield some kind of return.

Almost all of Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 46 million inhabitants traditionally watch at least some part of the live TV coverage showing school children singing out winning numbers for the lottery known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;El Gordoâ&#x20AC;? (â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Fat One.)â&#x20AC;?

It is so popular that frequently three (euro)20 ($26) tickets are sold for every Spaniard and many

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Carmen, right celebrates with family and friends after winning one of the main Christmas lottery prize â&#x20AC;&#x153;El Gordoâ&#x20AC;? (The Fat One), just outside of Madrid, Saturday. Lucky winners the lottery, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s richest, celebrated Saturday in more than a dozen locations across the country.

8.3 per cent on last year, according to the National Lottery, in the days preceding the draw hundreds of people line up to buy tickets outside outlets that have sold winning tickets before.

Madridâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dona Manolita lottery store in Madrid is renowned for being particularly lucky and queues there sometimes go round the block.

48 years of unwedded oblivion: California couple learns marriage license never issued

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REDLANDS, Calif. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; After spending nearly a half-century as husband and wife, Bob and Norma Clark are finally married.

The couple from Redlands, an inland California city halfway between Los Angeles and Palm Springs, celebrated their 48th anniversary in August, and in November they were getting their end-of-life documents in order and sought a copy of their marriage license for Social Security purposes.

The Clarks, who met in college, took their vows at a church south of San Francisco in August 1964, shortly after Bob had served in the Army during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

But when clerks at the Hall of Records in San Mateo County tried to pull the license last month, they came up empty.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;They went back to the year 1956, but no record of our marriage could be found,â&#x20AC;? Bob Clark told the Redlands Daily Facts.

The church where they had married still had a record of the ceremony so they knew they hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t imagined it, and several of the coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family members and friends who had been wedding guests were about to come to town for the Thanksgiving holiday.

On Nov. 21 they made their marriage legitimate, filing their paperwork and obtaining their license at the San Bernardino County Hall of Records, with the maid of honour and a junior usher from the original wedding serving as witnesses.

Bob Clark brought flowers for Norma, and at the urging of family and friends kissed the bride to seal the deal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I got her a nice bouquet, and it was just a hoot,â&#x20AC;? he said.

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consider lottery day as the unofficial kickoff of the holiday season.

Before Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property-led economic boom collapsed in 2008 ticket buyers often yearned to win so they could buy a small apartment by the beach or a new car.

Now people said they needed money just to get by, or to avoid being evicted from their homes.

Though ticket sales were down

NEW ORLEANS â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A federal judge has given final approval to BPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s settlement with a bulk of businesses and individuals who lost money because of the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

BP PLC has estimated it will pay $7.8 billion to resolve economic and medical claims from more than 100,000 businesses and individuals hurt by the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worst offshore oil spill. The settlement has no cap; the company could end up paying more or less.

U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier, who gave his preliminary approval in May, made it final in a 125-page ruling released Friday evening. â&#x20AC;&#x153;None of the objections, whether filed on the objections docket or elsewhere, have shown the settlement to be anything other than fair, reasonable, and adequate,â&#x20AC;? he wrote.

After Barbierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preliminary approval in May, thousands of people opted out of the settlement to pursue their cases individually. More than 1,700 changed their minds and asked to be added back in by a Dec. 15 deadline, Barbier said.

BP and attorneys for the plaintiffs who were part of the settlement said they were pleased. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We believe the settlement, which avoids years of lengthy litigation, is good for the people, businesses and communities of the Gulf and is in the best interests of BPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stakeholders,â&#x20AC;? company spokesman Scott Dean said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision by the Court is another important step forward for BP in meeting its commitment to economic and environmental restoration efforts in the Gulf and in eliminating legal risk facing the company.â&#x20AC;?

A statement from plaintiffsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; attorneys Steve Herman and Jim Roy praised the settlement programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administrator, Pat Juneau. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This settlement has â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and will continue to â&#x20AC;&#x201D; bring the people and businesses of the Gulf the relief they deserve,â&#x20AC;? the attorneys wrote.

The April 2010 blowout of BPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Macondo well triggered an explosion that killed 11 rig workers and spewed out more than 200 million gallons (757 million litres) of oil, closing much of the Gulf for months to commercial and recreational fishing and shrimping.

There is still a lot of litigation left, including a trial to identify the causes of BPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blowout and assign percentages of fault to the companies involved, Barbier wrote. That trial is scheduled next year.

The agreement covers people and businesses in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and some coastal counties in eastern Texas and western Florida, and in adjacent Gulf waters and bays. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a positive development, but my focus remains on holding BP and the other defendants accountable for the extraordinary economic and environmental damage inflicted on Alabama,â&#x20AC;? said Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange in a statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I look forward to going to trial in February.â&#x20AC;?

Barbier said the settlement averts worries that litigation could continue for 15 to 20 years, as it did after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska and the 1978 Amoco Cadiz oil spill off France, creating a secondary disaster for those affected.

TIME

OUT

B1

SPORTS

» SEE MORE ONLINE AT WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM SCOREBOARD ◆ B3 LOCAL SPORTS ◆ B4 Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

Greg Meachem, Sports Editor, 403-314-4363 Sports line 403-343-2244 Fax 403-341-6560 sports@reddeeradvocate.com

Seahawks flex their muscle GET DOMINATING WIN OVER 49ERS TO CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

RYAN FREEL

EX-MLB PLAYER FREEL FOUND DEAD Former Major League Baseball player Ryan Freel has been found dead in his Florida home, and authorities are investigating his death as a possible suicide from a selfinflicted gunshot wound. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office spokesman Shannon Hartley said Sunday that the 36-year-old Freel’s body was found at his Jacksonville home Saturday afternoon. The medical examiner will make the final determination of the cause of death. The career of the speedy Freel was cut short after eight seasons by head injuries. He spent six of his eight big-league seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and finished his career in 2009 with a .268 average and 143 steals. The Florida native once estimated he’d sustained up to 10 concussions.

Wednesday

● Midget AAA hockey: Calgary Mac’s Tournament — Red Deer vs. Moose Jaw, 10 a.m., Father David Bauer Arena.

Thursday

● Midget AAA hockey: Calgary Mac’s Tournament — Red Deer vs. Calgary Royals, 11:45 a.m., Father David Bauer Arena. ● WHL: Red Deer at Edmonton, 7 p.m. (The Drive).

Friday

● WHL: Edmonton at Red Deer, 7:30 p.m., Centrium.

Saturday

● Midget AAA hockey: Calgary Mac’s Tournament — Red Deer vs. Lloydminster, 8 p.m., Father David Bauer Arena.

Sunday

● Midget AAA hockey: Calgary Mac’s Tournament — Red Deer vs. Pirati Chomutov, Czech Republic, 5:15 p.m., Max Bell Centre. ● WHL: Brandon at Red Deer, 6 p.m., Centrium.

Seahawks 42 49ers 13 SEATTLE — Fueled by its deafening home crowd, the Seattle Seahawks locked up their spot in the post-season Sunday night.

They also reinforced the notion no one in the NFC wants to see them when the playoffs begin, even if they are a wild card.

Russell Wilson threw a career high four touchdown passes to move into second place for most TD passes by a rookie. Marshawn Lynch scored two first-quarter TDs, and the Seahawks blew out the San Francisco 49ers 42-13.

Richard Sherman returned a blocked field goal 90 yards for another touchdown as the Seahawks (10-5) jumped to a 21-0 lead. That only added to an already hyped crowd on a typically cold and rainy December night, with noise echoing off the walls and overhanging roof of CenturyLink Field that might have been heard all the way across Puget Sound.

No one cared about the cold rain. Not with the performance they were seeing on the field. And not with a ticket to the postseason guaranteed thanks to Seattle’s first 10-win season since 2007.

Most likely Seattle will be the No. 5 seed in the NFC. There remains a slight chance of winning the NFC West if the Seahawks beat St. Louis in the season finale and Arizona can upset the 49ers in San Francisco.

The Seahawks, 7-0 at home, delayed San Francisco (10-4-1) from celebrating a division title on Seattle’s turf. They turned Jim Harbaugh’s 49th birthday into a miserable, wet evening.

Whether home or road, the Seahawks are a scary post-season opponent with the way they are playing.

Seattle was the first team since 1950 to score at least 50 points in consecutive weeks thanks to its 58-0 win over Arizona and 50-17 victory against Buffalo. It seemed inconceivable the scoring binge could continue against San Francisco, the best scoring defence in the NFL. But it did.

Seattle has outscored its last three opponents 150-30.

The 42 points were the most allowed since Harbaugh took over the 49ers, and the most San Francisco yielded since 45 to Atlanta in 2009. It was the perfect way for Pete Carroll to snap a three-game losing streak against his rival.

Lynch finished with 111 yards on 26 carries, his third straight game against the 49ers topping 100 yards. Wilson wasn’t asked to do much — other than throw touchdown passes.

He hit Lynch on a 9-yard TD in the first quarter, Anthony McCoy for a 6-yarder late in the first half, and Doug Baldwin on 4 and

6 yard TDs in the second half.

Wilson now has 25 TD passes, one behind Peyton Manning’s NFL rookie record of 26. He finished 15 of 21 for 171 yards. His only incompletion in the first half was a deflected pass that Patrick Willis intercepted.

Wilson led Seattle on scoring drives of 9, 12, 13 and 15 plays. He was never threatened by Aldon Smith, who remained stuck on 19 1-2 sacks for the season thanks to the play of Seattle left tackle Russell Okung.

Please see NFL on Page B2

Spott hoping to lead Canada to gold

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS When hot water hits Steve Spott in the face, the hockey side of his brain kicks into high gear.

“I do my best thinking in the shower,” says the coach of the Canadian men’s junior hockey team.

“My wife says I waste more hot water than anybody. I shower before practice.”

All the soap in the world can’t scrub away a frustrating memory for Spott.

He was an assistant coach to Willie Desjardins when Canada lost the gold medal 6-5 in overtime to the U.S. in 2010.

Jordan Eberle scored two late goals in regulation to tie the game in Saskatoon. The host country anticipated a record sixth straight gold in the tournament, until John Carlson ended it for the Americans at 4:21.

“I see the John Carlson goal still to this day, daily,” Spott says. “To have an opportunity to erase that memory is something I’m really looking forward to.”

Spott was informed on his 44th birthday (May 18th) that he would coach Canada at the 2013 world junior hockey championship.

“That was a real special present,” Spott recalls. “It was something I always aspired to be a part of.”

Growing up in Toronto, he’d

WORLD JUNIORS

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canada’s head coach Steve Spott, from Waterloo, Ont, goes over plays during practice for the World Juniors team in Calgary on Dec. 15. watched his childhood friend Adam Graves play in the tournament in 1988. His nephew, Florida Panthers forward Stephen Weiss, played in it in 2002.

The former college and minor pro player was promoted from assistant to head coach of the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers in 2008 when Pete DeBoer left for the NHL. The slow and steady trajectory of Spott’s coaching career

indicates he’s a patient man in a profession where everyone is in a rush to get to the NHL. He spent 12 seasons as DeBoer’s assistant with both Kitchener and the Plymouth Whalers.

“I’m a believer in loyalty,” Spott explains. “I wouldn’t be in this situation if it wasn’t for Peter DeBoer.

“He gave me an opportunity to work full time at this job. He was a guy who never treated me

like an assistant.”

The Rangers won a Memorial Cup in 2003 and reached the final in 2008 with DeBoer and Spott.

Spott took on greater coaching responsibility in Kitchener when DeBoer was away as an assistant coach of Canada’s junior team in 1998 and 2005.

DeBoer, now head coach of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, says he felt lucky that Spott stuck with him.

“He had a lot of opportunities to leave and go be a head guy,” DeBoer says. “A lot of people knocked on the door during those 12 years to take him away and rightfully so.

“I think (there was) loyalty, we worked well together, there was a real comfort level and I’d like to think the two of us pushed each other.”

The two men are still in regular contact.

“He’s usually the first guy I call to bounce things off of and I think it’s reciprocal,” DeBoer says.

Spott says he has NHL aspirations like any coach, player or trainer involved in the game.

But he’s taken time to sample as many coaching experiences as he can before taking the next step.

He bided his time in Kitchener because Spott knew the NHL would hire DeBoer eventually.

Please see COACH on Page B2

Spurs spoil Nowitzki’s return in rout of Mavericks

GIVE US A CALL The Advocate invites its readers to help cover the sporting news in Central Alberta. We would like to hear from you if you see something worthy of coverage. And we would appreciate hearing from you if you see something inaccurate in our pages.

We strive for complete, accurate coverage of Central Alberta and are happy to correct any errors we may commit.

Call 403-343-2244 with information and results, or email to sports@ reddeeradvocate.com.

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Seattle Seahawks’ Kam Chancellor hits San Francisco 49ers’ Vernon Davis on a reception attempt in the first half of an NFL game, Sunday, in Seattle.

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan shoots between Dallas Mavericks’ O.J. Mayo and Chris Kaman during an NBA game, Sunday, in San Antonio.

Spurs 129 Mavericks 91 SAN ANTONIO — Dirk Nowitzki wasn’t expecting to play much during his season debut Sunday night against the San Antonio Spurs.

Still, after missing the Dallas Mavericks’ first 27 regular-season games, he didn’t expect to take a seat on the bench after 20 minutes with the game completely out of hand.

“In the middle of the third we were down by 80, so I didn’t really have to go back in,” Nowitzki said, exaggerating the Mavs’ largest deficit just a bit.

Danny Green scored a career-high 25 points and the Spurs spoiled Nowitzki’s season debut with a 129-91 rout of the Mavericks.

San Antonio’s largest lead was actually 46, but the deficit seemed larger to Dallas.

“We got a (butt-kicking), that’s it,” Shawn Marion said. “No need to explain it

... it was an old-fashioned (butt-kicking).”

The Spurs set a franchise record with 20 3-pointers, besting the record of 19 they set Dec. 8 in Charlotte. San Antonio also set a season high for largest margin of victory. Tony Parker had 18 points, Kawhi Leonard added 17, Tim Duncan 15 and Stephen Jackson 14 for the Spurs (21-8).

Darren Collison scored 15 points to lead Dallas (12-16), which lost its third straight.

Vince Carter added 13 points and Chris Kaman had 10.

San Antonio also had 33 assists, a season-high 17 steals and forced 20 turnovers.

“We don’t create that many turnovers normally,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “So that’s a heck of a night for us as far as steals are concerned. That’s not going to happen very often. We were fortunate it was one of those nights when your opponent has a bad night and you have a great night and it ends up like tonight.”

Please see NBA on Page B2

B2 RED DEER ADVOCATE Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

Luck breaks rookie record in win ALSO CLINCHES PLAYOFF BERTH FOR COLTS AS SEASON GETS BETTER FOR YOUNG STAR

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Colts 20 Chiefs 13 KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The expectations placed upon Andrew Luck almost seemed unfair.

Being the heir to Peyton Manning in Indianapolis is heady stuff for a rookie taking the reins of a franchise that won two games last season.

Now, after guiding the Colts back to the playoffs — and breaking Cam Newton’s single-season passing record for a first-year player — it’s safe to say Luck exceeded just about all of them.

Luck threw for 205 yards Sunday, and his 7-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne on third-and-goal late in the fourth quarter gave the Colts a 20-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. That put them into the playoffs without worrying about anybody else.

“Would we have done it without him?” Colts interim coach Bruce Arians asked. “No.” Luck broke Newton’s record of 4,051 yards passing in the second quarter. But it was extending his own rookie record for fourth-quarter comebacks to seven was more important.

The Chiefs had rallied behind Jamaal Charles’ 226 yards rushing to tie the game 13-13 heading into the fourth quarter. The Colts’ defence stuffed quarterback Brady Quinn on fourth-and-inches to give Luck a chance.

That’s all he needed.

After a miserable stretch in which he connected on 1 of 13 passes, the fabulous freshman calmly led Indianapolis (10-5) downfield. He completed a key pass to T.Y. Hilton on third down and made two nice throws to Wayne before hitting the veteran in the back of the end zone.

“We had so many opportunities all game, espe-

cially on third down, that we squandered,” Wayne said. “We wanted to get that done. That was the opportune time to do it.”

Darius Butler returned an interception 32 yards for the Colts’ other touchdown, helping them join the 2008 Miami Dolphins as the only teams to win at least 10 games after losing 14 or more the previous season.

Most of those wins have come under Arians, who has filled in admirably while Chuck Pagano underwent treatment for leukemia. Pagano is expected to rejoin the Colts this week.

“Mission accomplished. That’s all I can say,” Arians said. “Without getting emotional again, knowing that (Pagano) is going to be back Monday, the work week shouldn’t be as stressful.”

Charles’ big day included an 86-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second half. It was his second 200-yard game of the season, and came one week after he managed 10 yards on nine carries against Oakland.

“It was fun today, competing out there and doing it while we were trying to come back,” Charles said.

“It was fun going out there and putting out a performance like that.”

Charles joined the Titans’ Chris Johnson and former Lions great Barry Sanders as the only players with three runs of 80 or more yards in a season. His third career 200-yard game also set a franchise record, which he had shared with Larry Johnson.

Peyton Hillis added 101 yards on the ground for the Chiefs (2-13), who had 352 yards rushing in a losing effort — the first time that’s happened in NFL history.

A big reason why was Quinn, who was just 10 of 22 for 162 yards with two interceptions.

“This game was without a doubt, 100 per cent on my shoulders,” he said. “You can’t play the way I

played today and win a football game.”

His trouble began with the Chiefs’ fifth offensive play, when he threw woefully behind Dexter McCluster — who wasn’t even looking for the ball. Butler picked off the pass in stride, taking it untouched to the end zone for a 7-0 lead.

Kansas City managed a field goal by Ryan Succop, but he missed his next try and the Colts went the other direction to set up the first of Adam Vinatieri’s two field goals.

Charles fumbled in the red zone later in the second quarter, and the Colts moved into Vinatieri’s range for a 36-yard field goal and a 13-3 halftime lead.

Charles electrified a sparse crowd on the first play of the second half. He angled to the left and then found room down the sideline, cutting back toward the middle of the field and winning a foot-race with the Indianapolis defence for an 86-yard touchdown run.

The Chiefs were in position to take the lead later in the third quarter, but Quinn was picked off by Vontae Davis in the end zone. The defence forced a three-and-out and Kansas City was driving again before settling for Succop’s tying 47-yard field goal.

The Chiefs got the ball back again late in the fourth quarter, but Quinn was stuffed on a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-inches from the Indianapolis 27.

That turned the ball over to Luck, who completed an 11-yard pass to T.Y. Hilton to convert a third down before he and Wayne won it.

“At times it looked a little bleak,” Arians said.

“Guys hung in there, made plays when they had to make them. Offensively we struggled, and then put together a drive, like we have all year.”

Swisher gets big pay increase with Indians CLEVELAND — The Indians’ pitch to bring Nick Swisher “home” worked.

Two people familiar with the negotiations said Swisher has agreed to a $56 million, four-year contract with the Indians, who used the free agent outfielder’s deep Ohio connections to convince him to join the club. The people spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because Swisher must take a physical before the deal can be finalized.

The Indians are expected to announce Swisher’s signing after Christmas, one of the people said.

The Indians will not comment until Swisher completes his physical.

“Wow! What a crazy few weeks,” Swisher said on Twitter. “Hey Cleveland! Are you ready? Because I’m coming home!”

Swisher’s deal includes a $14 mil-

STORIES FROM B1

NFL: Young quarterbacks The Seahawks were 11 of 13 on third-down conversions.

And Wilson was the clear winner in the matchup of young quarterbacks.

San Francisco’s Colin Kaepernick had already proven himself capable of winning on the road with victories in New Orleans and last week in New England.

But Seattle is a different beast, widely regarded by players as the loudest venue in the NFL. His inexperience playing in such an environment showed.

He was flustered and disorganized at the line of scrimmage, letting the noise from Seattle’s fans affect him.

Kaepernick’s forgettable night was capped when Sherman stepped in front of his pass for Randy Moss at the back of the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter for his seventh interception of the season.

Kaepernick was 19 of 36 for 244 yards with an 18-yard TD pass to Delanie Walker with 1:40 left.

Frank Gore had just 28 yards on six carries after rushing for a season-high 131 when the teams met in Week 7.

San Francisco played without defensive tackle Justin Smith due to an elbow injury that ended a streak of 185 straight starts.

The 49ers lost tight end Vernon Davis in the first quarter with a concussion suffered when he was knocked off his feet on a huge hit along the sideline from Seattle safety Kam Chancellor that looked legal but drew a penalty for hitting a defenceless receiver.

The injuries kept coming when starting cornerback Tarell Brown was on the ground clutching his right knee early in the second quarter and had to be helped off the field.

Brown returned in the second half.

And wide receiver Mario Manningham went down with a left leg injury early in the third quarter when he was tackled low by Leroy Hill and fumbled.

COACH: Most important There was also his wife Lisa, son Tyler and daughter Emma to consider.

“My kids were getting to that point where they were involved in programs in the community and

lion option for 2017 that could become guaranteed based on plate appearances the previous year.

Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis was excited about the club’s newest addition.

“Welcome to the Tribe (at)nickswisher, pumped to get ya,” Kipnis tweeted.

The 32-year-old Swisher spent the last four seasons with the New York Yankees, taking advantage of the short right-field porch at Yankee Stadium. A switch-hitter, Swisher hit .272 this season with 24 homers and 93 RBIs. Swisher will fill an outfield hole for the Indians, who traded Shin-Soo Choo to Cincinnati. Swisher will play right, with recently acquired Drew Stubbs likely taking over in centre with Michael Brantley shifting from centre to left field.

Swisher, who was born in Columbus and played at Ohio State, visited the

school and had friendships,” Spott explains.

“I realized that KitchenerWaterloo is a wonderful place to work, raise a family and I was hoping if Pete moved on one day I’d have the opportunity to stay there.

“No disrespect to anyone else, but I won’t move somewhere and leave my family at home. It’s not worth it to me. Family is the most important.”

Spott’s appointment to head coach of the junior team was a natural progression.

In addition to his stint as an assistant in 2010, Spott has also been a head coach and twice an assistant coach of Canada’s under-18 team.

He’s coached Ontario at both the world under-17 challenge and at the Canada Games.

“This guy has paid his dues,” DeBoer says. “He’s done this the right way at all the different levels and taken all the right steps on the way up.

“There’s nothing he’s going to see here that he hasn’t seen before. When you have that type of experience, you’re composed, you’re prepared and you make the right decisions.”

The Rangers posted winning seasons in three of the four since Spott became head coach, including a pair of years of 40-plus victories. Spott’s playoff record with the Rangers is 22-12.

“He’s not one to come in and pat you on the back in front of everyone,” says Rangers defenceman Ryan Murphy, who made the Canadian junior team on his third try.

“He’ll let you know how you’re playing by the amount of ice you get or the amount of power play you get.

“You’ll know when he’s displeased, but he’s pretty good. He knows the times to call you out and the times when he should be easy on you.”

The NHL lockout provided Canada with the best 19-year-old talent in the country, including Edmonton Oiler centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

That sounds great, but Spott still needs to get the players pulling on the same rope.

“You’ve got 23 different personalities,” he said. “Really checking your ego at the door, we do it as coaches, they have to do it as players and give up a little ice time for the common good of winning a gold medal.”

In addition to being a showerthinker, another trait in Spott’s personality is his utter lack of adventure when it comes to food.

“He’s not the best dinner date because if it’s not meat and mashed potatoes, he’s not interested,” DeBoer says.

Spott refuses to give Indian, Chinese or Thai a try.

“No disrespect to any culture,

Indians earlier in the week. The club used Swisher’s ties with the Buckeyes to convince him to join a team that won just 68 games last season following an historic collapse in August.

During his tour of Progressive Field, Swisher watched a video presentation on the stadium’s giant scoreboard that featured messages from current Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer and basketball coach Thad Matta, who urged him to sign with the Indians.

Later, Swisher and his wife, actress JoAnna Garcia, had lunch with former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, who was at the school when Swisher played there.

Swisher’s signing is a significant win for the Indians, who have been in the market for an outfielder throughout the off-season. During the winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn., they offered Shane Victorino a $44 million, fouryear contract before he agreed to a $39

but it’s not going to happen,” he says with a shake of his head.

“Soup or salad, meat and potatoes for main course and some sort of sweet for dessert . . . in that order.”

NBA: Felt good out there It came on the night Nowitzki returned following surgery on his right knee Oct. 19 after battling soreness the previous season.

He entered with 6:28 left in the first quarter to a hearty mix of cheers and boos. The former MVP quickly picked up a rebound for Dallas and finished with eight points — going 3 for 4 from the field — and six rebounds in 20 minutes.

Nowitzki decided to play less than an hour before tipoff after testing the knee during practice last week.

“Before the game I felt decent, so I said I’m going to give it a go,” Nowitzki said. “I felt actually good out there. I thought the wind was OK, but my legs were a little heavy there after a couple of trips up and down but I thought I fought through it OK.” Nowitzki’s presence did little to stifle San Antonio’s outside shooting. The Spurs were 20 from 30 from 3-point range and shot 56 per cent from the field overall.

“Luckily it felt good tonight,” Green said. “Some nights you have it and some nights you don’t. Good thing we had it tonight. Not just myself, but everybody else on the team.

Manu Ginobili and Boris Diaw hit consecutive 3s to push San Antonio’s lead to 55-45 with 3:42 left in the first half.

Green’s seventh 3-pointer gave the Spurs a 77-57 lead with 7 minutes left in the third quarter.

The Spurs led by as many as 46, while the Mavs’ lone lead came at 4-3 on Kaman’s jumper with 10:30 left in the first quarter.

Tiago Splitter’s dunk gave San Antonio a 100-66 lead at the close of the third.

Splitter ran to the sideline after the dunk with a huge a smile, where he was immediately greeted with a low five by an equally happy Duncan.

Dallas was outscored 36-14 in the third quarter. San Antonio closed the quarter on a 31-9 run.

“We need to keep on working,” Nowitzki said.

“We’ve got a lot of areas to improve. We might not be as talented as some teams on the top, but if we’re not, you have to make it up with how you play and compete and it’s just not there.”

million, three-year deal with Boston.

Seattle, Texas and Boston were believed to be interested in Swisher, an All-Star in 2010 who was regarded as the second-best free agent hitter this off-season behind Josh Hamilton.

The Indians have been desperate to add power and Swisher, who has hit at least 22 homers in each of the past seven seasons, will bolster the middle of new manager Terry Francona’s lineup.

Swisher’s value may have been damaged by several poor postseasons with the Yankees. He batted .162 in the post-season for New York with seven RBIs and 38 strikeouts in 130 at-bats.

Swisher spent four seasons with Oakland and one with the Chicago White Sox before joining the Yankees.

The Indians will lose their secondround pick in next year’s amateur draft as compensation for signing Swisher, and the Yankees will get an extra selection following the first round.

NBA

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Marcus Thornton scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half to help the slumping Sacramento Kings snap Portland’s fivegame winning streak with a 108-96 victory over the Trail Blazers on Sunday night.

The Kings played without starting centre DeMarcus Cousins, who was suspended indefinitely Saturday for unprofessional behaviour and conduct detrimental to the team. Already ahead by nine points, the Kings opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run, including a 3-pointer by Thornton, to build their lead to 87-71. The Blazers trailed by at least 13 the rest of the way. John Salmons had 13 of his 15 points in the second half for Sacramento, which had lost six of its previous seven games.

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BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SCOREBOARD

B3

» SEE MORE ONLINE AT WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM

Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

Hockey

Basketball

GF GA 124 86 112 93 103 103 123 115 117 127 80 125

WESTERN CONFERENCE B.C. Division GP W LOTLSOL GF GA Kamloops 38 25 9 2 2 133 98 Kelowna 35 23 10 1 1 143 87 Victoria 33 17 14 0 2 97 109 Prince George 34 12 18 1 3 87 116 Vancouver 34 9 25 0 0 86 134

Pt 51 50 45 39 32 21

Pt 54 48 36 28 18

U.S. Division GP W LOTLSOL GF GA Pt Portland 35 29 5 1 0 159 76 59 Spokane 34 23 10 1 0 140 101 47 Tri-City 35 20 12 1 2 105 96 43 Seattle 35 16 17 1 1 116 136 34 Everett 37 13 22 0 2 92 134 28 Note: Two points for a team winning in overtime or shootout; the team losing in overtime or shootout receives one which is registered in the OTL or SOL columns.

December 19-26 Holiday Break No Games Scheduled.

Friday’s games Moose Jaw at Brandon, 6:30 p.m.

Lethbridge at Calgary, 7 p.m.

Spokane at Kootenay, 7 p.m.

Saskatoon at Prince Albert, 7 p.m.

Edmonton at Red Deer, 7:30 p.m.

Everett at Seattle, 8:35 p.m.

Medicine Hat at Swift Current, 7 p.m.

Portland at Tri-City, 8:05 p.m.

Kelowna at Vancouver, 8:30 p.m.

Prince George at Victoria, 8:05 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 29 Seattle at Everett, 8:05 p.m.

Vancouver at Kamloops, 8 p.m.

Calgary at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.

Swift Current at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m.

Regina at Moose Jaw, 7 p.m.

Tri-City at Portland, 8 p.m.

Prince Albert at Saskatoon, 7:05 p.m.

Kootenay at Spokane, 8:05 p.m.

Prince George at Victoria, 8:05 p.m.

42 41 40 40 40 40

SO 2 1 2 2 4 0 3 0 2 0

AHL EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W LOTLSOL GF Portland 29 16 11 1 1 88 Providence 27 15 10 0 2 68 Worcester 27 14 10 1 2 77 Manchester 29 13 12 2 2 82 St. John’s 31 14 16 0 1 72

GA 90 75 82 78 85

Pt 34 32 31 30 29

Northeast Division GP W LOTLSOL Springfield 27 16 6 2 3 Bridgeport 28 13 12 1 2 Adirondack 28 13 14 1 0 Connecticut 28 12 14 2 0 Albany 26 9 10 1 6

GF 90 85 71 80 60

GA 61 93 82 93 69

Pt 37 29 27 26 25

East Division W LOTLSOL 17 7 1 3 16 6 1 2 14 11 1 1 14 13 1 1 13 13 1 0

GF 100 84 75 77 73

GA 77 63 74 76 80

Pt 38 35 30 30 27

WESTERN CONFERENCE North Division GP W LOTLSOL GF Toronto 28 17 9 1 1 96 Abbotsford 29 15 8 3 3 69 Lake Erie 30 15 13 1 1 95 Rochester 27 13 11 2 1 91 Hamilton 27 10 14 1 2 61

GA 75 61 96 90 87

Pt 36 36 32 29 23

Midwest Division GP W LOTLSOL Grand Rapids 27 16 9 1 1 Rockford 30 15 13 1 1 Chicago 26 13 9 3 1 Peoria 29 13 12 2 2 Milwaukee 28 13 12 2 1

GA 74 91 73 92 83

Pt 34 32 30 30 29

GP 28 25 27 29 27

GF 85 95 67 73 76

South Division GP W LOTLSOL GF GA Pt Charlotte 30 18 9 0 3 96 80 39 Texas 28 15 9 2 2 69 71 34 Oklahoma City 28 14 10 1 3 92 83 32 Houston 28 14 10 1 3 87 82 32 San Antonio 31 11 17 0 3 77 95 25 Note: A team winning in overtime or shootout is credited with two points and a victory in the W column; the team losing in overtime or shootout receives one which is registered in the OTL or SOL columns.

Sunday, Dec. 30 Prince George at Vancouver, 5 p.m.

Everett at Kelowna, 6:05 p.m.

Brandon at Red Deer, 6 p.m.

Saskatoon at Regina, 6 p.m.

WHL LEADERS Through Holiday Break SCORING G A Col.Smith, Kam 25 37 Petan, Por 24 36 Lipon, Kam 22 35 Leipsic, Por 22 34 Bell, Kel 20 28 Rattie, Por 19 28 Bozon, Kam 19 28 Lowry, SC 23 23 Valk, MH 21 24 Nicholls, Sktn 26 18 Shinkaruk, MH 19 25 St. Croix, Edm 19 25 Wruck, Edm 11 33 Stransky, Sktn 21 22

19 22 16 22 25 31

GOALTENDERS (minimum 750 minutes played) W L O GAA Carruth, Por 16 2 0 1.80 Driedger, Cal 18 7 3 2.28 Bartosak, RD 17 9 0 2.35 Cheveldave, Kam 19 7 1 2.42 Siemens, PA 21 9 3 2.53 Laurikainen, SC 13 17 2 2.55 Cooke, Kel 16 9 1 2.56 Brossoit, Edm 14 6 3 2.58 Comrie, TC 17 13 2 2.59 Paulic, MJ 9 11 2 2.71

Syracuse Binghamton W-B/Scranton Hershey Norfolk

Thursday’s games Red Deer at Edmonton, 7 p.m.

Kamloops at Kelowna, 8:05 p.m.

Moose Jaw at Regina, 7 p.m.

23 19 24 18 15 9

Friday’s results St. John’s 2 Hamilton 1 Toronto 4 San Antonio 1 Grand Rapids 5 Abbotsford 1 Adirondack 4 Syracuse 3 (SO) Charlotte 2 Peoria 1 Connecticut 5 Manchester 2 Milwaukee 2 Rockford 1 Norfolk 2 Albany 1 Rochester 6 Binghamton 5 (SO) Texas 3 Oklahoma City 0 Worcester 5 Providence 4

P 62 60 57 56 48 47 47 46 45 44 44 44 44 43

Manchester 5 Portland 3 Norfolk 2 Albany 1 (OT) Oklahoma City 6 Texas 2 Providence 3 Connecticut 1 Rockford 3 Abbotsford 2 Springfield 1 Hershey 0 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 3 Syracuse 2 Sunday-Tuesday Holiday Break No Games Scheduled.

Wednesday’s games Hamilton at Toronto, 11 a.m.

Connecticut at Bridgeport, 5 p.m.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Hershey, 5 p.m.

Worcester at Manchester, 5 p.m.

Syracuse at Binghamton, 5:05 p.m.

Lake Erie at Rochester, 5:05 p.m.

Texas at Houston, 6:05 p.m.

Thursday’s games Bridgeport at Connecticut, 5 p.m.

Providence at Portland, 5 p.m.

Albany at Springfield, 5 p.m.

Hershey at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 5:05 p.m.

Peoria at Milwaukee, 6 p.m.

Chicago at Rockford, 6:05 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Texas, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 28 Providence at Adirondack, 5 p.m.

Binghamton at Albany, 5 p.m.

Toronto at Grand Rapids, 5 p.m.

Lake Erie at Rochester, 5:05 p.m.

St. John’s at Hamilton, 5:30 p.m.

Norfolk at Syracuse, 5:30 p.m.

Manchester at Worcester, 5:30 p.m.

Peoria at Milwaukee, 6 p.m.

San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 6 p.m.

Charlotte at Houston, 6:05 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 29 Manchester at Bridgeport, 5 p.m.

Albany at Hershey, 5 p.m.

Adirondack vs. Portland (at Lewiston, Maine), 5 p.m.

Connecticut at Springfield, 5 p.m.

Providence at Worcester, 5 p.m.

Binghamton at Rochester, 5:05 p.m.

Norfolk at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 5:05 p.m.

Hamilton at Lake Erie, 5:30 p.m.

St. John’s at Syracuse, 5:30 p.m.

Abbotsford at Chicago, 6 p.m.

Houston at San Antonio, 6 p.m.

Charlotte at Texas, 6 p.m.

Milwaukee at Rockford, 6:05 p.m.

Alberta Junior Hockey League North Division GP W LOTL GF GA Pts Spruce Grove 39 24 9 6 123 101 54 Grand Prairie 37 24 11 2 123 97 50 Bonnyville 40 20 12 8 113 115 48 Whitecourt 38 19 11 8 147 137 46 Drayton Valley 39 21 14 4 117 99 46 Fort McMurray 39 20 15 4 109 119 44 Sherwood Park 37 17 16 4 106 120 38 Lloydminster 40 11 23 6 101 156 28 South Division GP W LOTL GF GA Pts Brooks 36 35 1 0 189 66 70 Camrose 39 23 13 3 116 100 49 Okotoks 37 20 15 2 107 104 42 Drumheller 37 19 15 3 115 104 41 Olds 41 15 23 3 122 148 33 Cal. Mustangs 40 14 21 5 120 143 33 Canmore 36 12 19 5 91 131 29 Cal. Canucks 39 13 24 2 96 151 28 Note: Two points for a win, one for an overtime loss.

Friday’s results Grande Prairie 5 Okotoks 2 Brooks 5 Lloydminster 2 Whitecourt 5 Sherwood Park 3 Drayton Valley 3 Bonnyville 1 Camrose 5 Fort McMurray 4 (OT) Saturday’s results Fort McMurray 2 Spruce Grove 1 (OT) Lloydminster 4 Calgary Canucks 3 (OT) Camrose 4 Olds 1 Grande Prairie 5 Calgary Mustangs 2 Drayton Valley 4 Bonnyville 3 (OT)

Saturday’s results Toronto 4 St. John’s 2 San Antonio 5 Hamilton 2 Adirondack 3 Bridgeport 2 Binghamton 5 Rochester 1 Grand Rapids 2 Chicago 1 (OT) Lake Erie 5 Houston 2

PA 331 289 347 426

W 12 10 5 2

South L T 3 0 5 0 10 0 13 0

y-Baltimore x-Cincinnati Pittsburgh Cleveland

W 10 9 7 5

North L T 5 0 6 0 8 0 10 0

Pct .667 .600 .467 .333

PF 381 368 312 292

PA 321 303 304 344

y-Denver San Diego Oakland Kansas City

W 12 6 4 2

West L 3 9 11 13

Pct .800 .400 .267 .133

PF 443 326 269 208

PA 286 329 419 387

NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF

PA

y-Houston x-Indianapolis Tennessee Jacksonville

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .800 .667 .333 .133

PF 400 329 292 235

PA 303 371 451 406

MINOR HOCKEY Minor AAA Midget The Red Deer Northstar Chiefs edged the Calgary Blackhawks 4-3 Saturday.

Brenden Baker, Shae Reynolds, Chase Olsen and Layne Bensmiller scored for the Chiefs with Branden Bilodeau making 45 saves. ● Meanwhile, the Red Deer IROC Chiefs dropped a 4-2 decision to the Calgary Bruins.

Ryley Smith and Keenan Scott scored for the Chiefs with Dylan Haire making 19

Washington Dallas N.Y. Giants Philadelphia

9 8 8 4

6 7 7 11

0 0 0 0

.600 .533 .533 .267

408 358 387 273

370 372 337 402

Pct .867 .467 .400 .400

PF 402 423 367 313

PA 277 410 377 325

Pct .733 .600 .600 .267

PF 399 342 349 348

PA 299 314 253 411

Pct .700 .667 .500 .333

PF 370 392 286 237

PA 260 232 328 330

y-Atlanta New Orleans Tampa Bay Carolina

W 13 7 6 6

South L T 2 0 8 0 9 0 9 0

y-Green Bay Minnesota Chicago Detroit

W 11 9 9 4

North L T 4 0 6 0 6 0 11 0

saves in goal.

Major Bantam The Red Deer Rebels Black split a pair of weekend games, losing 5-2 to Leduc and edging Airdrie 4-3.

Matthew Froehlick, TJ Brown, Ryan Vandervlis and Parker Smyth scored against Airdrie with Graydon Larson making 30 saves in goal.

Tyrees Goodrunning and Brown connected against Leduc with Geordin Andrew making 21 saves. ● The Red Deer Rebels White dropped a 5-3 decision to Spruce Grove.

Tyler Graber had two goals

and Tyler Steenbergen one for the Chiefs with Dawson Weatherill making 45 saves.

Midget AA The Red Deer Elks outscored the Sylvan Lake Lakers 6-1 in the third period to take an 8-3 victory Friday.

James Gaume had a pair of goals and AJ Curry, Tyler Chevez-Leech, Brett Marsollier, Matthew Krusky, Jaye Sutherland and Justin Van Tetering one each for the Elks. Travis Mayan had two goals and Draven Jerry one for Sylvan.

Brady Jewan had 31 saves for the Elks, who had 39 shots on goal.

AFC playoffs set, spots up for grabs in NFC NFL PLAYOFFS

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS One year after putting together the NFL’s worst record, the Indianapolis Colts are headed to the playoffs.

Joining them on Sunday were the Cincinnati Bengals, finishing out the field in the AFC. The Colts (10-5) equaled the 2008 Miami Dolphins as the only teams to win at least 10 games after losing 14 or more the previous season. Top overall draft pick Andrew Luck completed a 7-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne late in the fourth quarter for a 20-13 victory at Kansas City. Cincinnati qualified for a second straight post-season berth for only the second time in franchise history, edging archrival Pittsburgh 13-10. The Bengals have never gone to the playoffs in successive years that did not involve a strike-shortened season.

Minnesota’s 23-6 win at Houston prevented the Texans from earning home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. AFC South champion Houston (12-3) still can get that by winning

Central Division W L Pct 15 11 .577 16 12 .571 14 12 .538 9 21 .300 6 23 .207

GB — 2 7 12 15

1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2

GB — — 1 8 10 1/2

WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct GB San Antonio 21 8 .724 — Memphis 18 7 .720 1 Houston 14 12 .538 5 1/2 Dallas 12 16 .429 8 1/2 New Orleans 5 22 .185 15 Northwest Division W L Pct Oklahoma City 21 5 .808 Denver 15 13 .536 Minnesota 13 12 .520

GB — 7 7 1/2

L.A. Clippers Golden State L.A. Lakers Phoenix Sacramento

14 13

.517 .500

7 1/2 8

Pacific Division W L Pct 21 6 .778 18 10 .643 13 14 .481 11 17 .393 9 18 .333

GB — 3 1/2 8 10 1/2 12

Saturday’s Games Atlanta 92, Chicago 75 Detroit 96, Washington 87 Miami 105, Utah 89 Houston 121, Memphis 96 Indiana 81, New Orleans 75 Cleveland 94, Milwaukee 82 Denver 110, Charlotte 88 Portland 96, Phoenix 93 L.A. Lakers 118, Golden State 115, OT Sunday’s Games Brooklyn 95, Philadelphia 92 New York 94, Minnesota 91 Utah 97, Orlando 93 San Antonio 129, Dallas 91 L.A. Clippers 103, Phoenix 77 Sacramento 108, Portland 96 Monday’s Games No games scheduled Tuesday’s Games Boston at Brooklyn, 10 a.m.

New York at L.A. Lakers, 1 p.m.

Oklahoma City at Miami, 3:30 p.m.

Houston at Chicago, 6 p.m.

Denver at L.A. Clippers, 8:30 p.m.

Transactions Saturday’s Sports Transactions BASEBALL American League BOSTON RED SOX—Assigned RHP Pedro Beato outright to Pawtucket (IL).

HOUSTON ASTROS—Assigned 3B Brandon Laird and OF Che-Hsuan Lin outright to Oklahoma City (PCL).

National League ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS—Agreed to terms with OF Cody Ross on a three-year contract.

BASKETBALL National Basketball Association HOUSTON ROCKETS—Recalled G Scott Machado from Rio Grande Valley (NBADL).

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES—Recalled G Josh Selby from Reno (NBADL).

SACRAMENTO KINGS—Suspended C DeMarcus Cousins indefinitely for unprofessional behaviour and conduct detrimental to the team.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS—Waived C Earl Barron and G Shaun Livingston.

FOOTBALL National Football League HOUSTON TEXANS—Signed S Eddie Pleasant from the practice squad.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS—Placed S Dwight Lowery on injured reserve. Activated LB Daryl Smith from injured reserve.

MIAMI DOLPHINS—Placed PK Dan Carpenter on injured reserve. Signed PK Nate Kaeding.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS—Waived TE Allen Reisner and G Mark Asper. Activated CB Chris Cook from injured reserve. Signed DE George Johnson from the practice squad.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS—Signed WR Kamar Aiken from the practice squad.

ST. LOUIS RAMS—Signed CB Quinton Pointer from the practice squad.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS—Signed LB Cam Johnson from the practice squad to a two-year contract.

HOCKEY American Hockey League WORCESTER SHARKS—Returned D Denny Urban to Reading (ECHL).

ECHL ECHL—Suspended Lake Erie C Mitchell Heard two games.

Sunday’s Sports Transactions BASEBALL National League MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Agreed to terms with RHP Jim Hoey on a minor league contract.

BASKETBALL National Basketball Association DALLAS MAVERICKS — Waived G Derek Fisher.

Signed G/F Chris Douglas-Roberts from Texas (NBADL).

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS—Assigned G/F Kent Bazemore and F/C Jeremy Tyler to Santa Cruz (NBADL).

FOOTBALL National Football League BALTIMORE RAVENS — Placed LB Jameel McClain on injured reserve. Signed LB Adrian Hamilton from the practice squad.

DALLAS COWBOYS — Waived WR Anthony Armstrong. Signed T Ronald Leary from the practice squad.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — Placed DE Aaron Morgan on injured reserve. Signed LB Markus White from the practice squad.

SOCCER Major League Soccer COLORADO RAPIDS — Traded F Omar Cummings to Houston for M Nathan Sturgis and allocation money.

BY ADVOCATE STAFF

Week 16 Saturday’s Game Atlanta 31, Detroit 18 Sunday’s Games Green Bay 55, Tennessee 7

T 1 0 1 0

Chicago Indiana Milwaukee Detroit Cleveland

Southeast Division W L Pct 18 6 .750 16 9 .640 12 15 .444 7 20 .259 3 22 .120

1/2 1/2 1/2 1/2

15 13

JUNIOR B HOCKEY

Indianapolis 20, Kansas City 13 New Orleans 34, Dallas 31, OT Minnesota 23, Houston 6 Carolina 17, Oakland 6 Miami 24, Buffalo 10 Cincinnati 13, Pittsburgh 10 New England 23, Jacksonville 16 Washington 27, Philadelphia 20 St. Louis 28, Tampa Bay 13 San Diego 27, N.Y. Jets 17 Denver 34, Cleveland 12 Chicago 28, Arizona 13 Baltimore 33, N.Y. Giants 14 Seattle 42, San Francisco 13 Week 17 Sunday, Dec. 30 Jacksonville at Tennessee, 11 a.m.

Carolina at New Orleans, 11 a.m.

N.Y. Jets at Buffalo, 11 a.m.

Baltimore at Cincinnati, 11 a.m.

Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 11 a.m.

Houston at Indianapolis, 11 a.m.

Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants, 11 a.m.

Chicago at Detroit, 11 a.m.

Tampa Bay at Atlanta, 11 a.m.

Oakland at San Diego, 2:25 p.m.

Arizona at San Francisco, 2:25 p.m.

St. Louis at Seattle, 2:25 p.m.

Kansas City at Denver, 2:25 p.m.

Green Bay at Minnesota, 2:25 p.m.

Miami at New England, 2:25 p.m.

Dallas at Washington, 6:20 p.m.

West W L x-San Francisco 10 4 x-Seattle 10 5 St. Louis 7 7 Arizona 5 10 x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division

Miami Atlanta Orlando Charlotte Washington

Utah Portland

Vipers come away with win over division leading Wranglers

Sunday’s game Lloydminster 5 at Olds 4

Football National Football League AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF y-New England 11 4 0 .733 529 Miami 7 8 0 .467 288 N.Y. Jets 6 9 0 .400 272 Buffalo 5 10 0 .333 316

National Basketball Association EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB New York 20 7 .741 — Brooklyn 14 12 .538 5 Boston 13 13 .500 6 Philadelphia 13 15 .464 7 Toronto 9 19 .321 11

The Red Deer Vipers are making a run at first place in the Heritage Junior B Hockey League’s Northern Division.

The Vipers, who have a game in hand, moved to within one point of the division-leading Blackfalds Wranglers with a 4-2 win over the Wranglers at the Arena Saturday.

Jeffrey Kohut, Cole deGraaf, Ryan Thomson and Chris Robertson, who scored into an empty net with 10 seconds remaining, connected for the Vipers.

Chance Abbott and Jared Williams replied for the Wranglers, who outshot the Vipers 51-27.

Brenden Mandrusiak was outstanding in goal for the Vipers while Layne Swier was in net for Blackfalds.

The win completed a successful weekend for the Vipers, who edged the homestanding Stettler Lightning 4-3 in overtime Friday.

Braden Corbett notched the winning goal 58 seconds into the extra session.

Corbett also scored in the first period while Justin Corbett and Tanner Howe connected in the middle stanza.

Gavin Brandl scored for the Lightning in the second period with Adam Ternes and Jake Schwarzenberger connecting at 4:23 and 4:40 of the third period.

Mandrusiak finished with 29 saves while his teammates had 38 shots on Simon Thieleman.

The Lightning also dropped a 3-2 decision to the Mountainview Colts on Saturday.

Wyat Haustein and Landon Porter scored for the Lightning.

Thieleman finished with 52 saves while Brendan McCambly made 22 for the Colts.

Meanwhile, the Three Hills Thrashers managed a 4-4 tie with the Medicine Hat Colts after losing 3-1 to the Coaldale Copperheads.

Connor Ablett had two goals and Tyrel Severtson and Kelby Stevens one each against the Cubs.

Devon Bell made 43 saves for Three Hills, who had 37 shots on Cole Schafer.

Cameron Braun scored the lone goal for the Thrashers against Red Deer Rebels Coaldale. vs Brady Hoover finished with 29 saves for Three Hills and Daniel Edmonton Wenham made 37 stops for the CoopOil Kings erheads.

at Indianapolis in the season finale.

New England has won the AFC East, Denver the West. Baltimore clinched the North by beating the New York Giants 3314, sending the defending Super Bowl champions to the brink of elimination.

Washington’s 27-20 win at Philadelphia, combined with New Orleans beating Dallas 3431 in overtime means the Redskins will win the NFC East by Truck Decks, Welding Skids, Headache beating the Cowboys next week.

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Central Division GP W LOTLSOL Edmonton 35 23 7 2 3 Calgary 35 23 8 1 3 Red Deer 37 21 13 2 1 Lethbridge 38 17 16 1 4 Medicine Hat 35 15 18 2 0 Kootenay 34 10 23 1 0

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B4 RED DEER ADVOCATE Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

Redskins on verge of playoffs NFL ROUNDUP

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REDSKINS 27 EAGLES 20 PHILADELPHIA — Counted out by their own coach six weeks ago, the Washington Redskins and Robert Griffin III are on the brink of their first division title in 13 years.

Griffin threw a pair of touchdown passes in his first game back from a knee injury, Kai Forbath set the NFL record for consecutive field goals to begin a career, and the Redskins held on to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 2720 on Sunday for their sixth straight win.

Nick Foles drove the Eagles to the Washington 5 before his intentional grounding penalty ended the game.

The Redskins (9-6) can clinch the NFC East with a victory over Dallas at home next Sunday. They haven’t won it since 1999 and last reached the playoffs in 2007. A loss and they still have a chance at a wild-card playoff spot.

Trying to play spoiler, the Eagles (411) fell short in what could’ve been Andy Reid’s last game coaching the team at home. Reid is unlikely to return to Philadelphia for his 15th season next year.

SAINTS 34, COWBOYS 31, OT ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Garrett Hartley kicked a 20-yard field goal in overtime, and New Orleans damaged Dallas’ playoff hopes.

Drew Brees threw for 446 yards and three touchdowns and led a drive to the winning kick. The Saints lucked out before the winning kick when a fumble by Marques Colston rolled forward about 20 yards to the Dallas 2.

Jimmy Graham recovered.

The Cowboys lost despite rallying for two touchdowns in the final 3:35 of regulation. Tony Romo, who threw for 416 yards and four scores, hit Miles Austin for the tying touchdown with 15 seconds left in regulation.

The playoff hopes for the Saints (78) ended with Minnesota’s win against Houston.

The Cowboys (8-7) play the Redskins next Sunday for the NFC East title, but only Washington has a chance for a wild-card spot if it loses.

BENGALS 13, STEELERS 10 PITTSBURGH (AP) — Josh Brown kicked a 43-yard field goal with 4 seconds remaining to put Cincinnati in the playoffs and eliminate Pittsburgh from post-season contention.

Brown missed a 56-yarder earlier in the quarter, but earned a second chance when Reggie Nelson picked off Ben Roethlisberger and returned it to the Pittsburgh 46 with 14 seconds remaining.

Andy Dalton hit A.J. Green for 21 yards on the next play, setting up Brown’s game-winner to put the Bengals in the playoffs for consecutive years for the first times since 1981-82.

Dalton completed 24 of 41 for 278 yards and two interceptions for the Bengals (9-6), who snapped a five-game losing streak to Pittsburgh (7-8).

VIKINGS 23, TEXANS 6 HOUSTON (AP) — Adrian Peterson rushed for 86 yards, falling far short of the 2,000-yard mark, yet helping Minnesota keep its playoff hopes alive.

Christian Ponder threw a touchdown pass, Toby Gerhart added a score and Blair Walsh kicked three field goals.

The loss kept the Texans (12-3) from clinching home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

Peterson had his lowest rushing total since getting 79 yards on Oct. 14 in a loss at Washington. He has 1,898 this season and needs 208 yards to break the NFL single-season rushing record held by Eric Dickerson.

The Texans failed to score a touch-

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Arizona Cardinals tight end Rob Housler tries to pull in a pass as Chicago Bears free safety Chris Conte defends during the an NFL football game, Sunday, in Glendale, Ariz. The Bears won the game 28-13 to keep their playoff hopes alive. down for the first time since 2006.

RAVENS 33, GIANTS 14 BALTIMORE (AP) — Joe Flacco threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns as Baltimore won the AFC North.

The Ravens (10-5) led 24-7 at halftime and cruised to the finish behind a short-handed defence that harassed quarterback Eli Manning and limited New York (8-7) to 186 yards.

Baltimore scored touchdowns on its first two possessions and amassed a season-high 533 yards — including 289 in the first half alone. The victory ended a three-game skid for the Ravens and assured them of a home playoff game in the first weekend of January.

The defending Super Bowl champion Giants (8-7) can’t win the NFC East, but still have a chance to make the playoffs as a wild card.

losing streak and won for just the second time in seven tries. The Cardinals (5-10) lost for the 10th time in 11 games.

Rivers had touchdown tosses of 37 yards to Danario Alexander and 34 yards to Antonio Gates.

PACKERS 55, TITANS 7 GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, Ryan Grant scored twice and Randall Cobb set a singleseason franchise record for net yardage.

The victory ensured the Packers (114) will at least be the NFC’s No. 3 seed.

They still have a shot at the No. 2 — and the first-round bye that goes with it — if Seattle beats San Francisco on Sunday night.

It was the first time the Packers have scored more than 50 points since 2005.

Jake Locker was sacked seven times and picked off twice, and Tennessee (5-10) scored with 1:39 left to avoid the shutout.

PANTHERS 17, RAIDERS 6 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Cam Newton threw for 171 yards and a touchdown and ran for 60 yards and another score as Carolina won for the fourth time in its last five games.

The Panthers (6-9) held the Raiders to 189 total yards and 12 first downs in a game featuring several shoving matches, plenty of heated exchanges and six unnecessary roughness penalties — including one that sidelined Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer for the day.

Even Newton drew a flag after bumping an official with his chest for what he perceived as the latest in a series of late hits by Raiders defenders.

He was not ejected.

The Panthers built a 14-3 lead at halftime. Newton accounted for 231 of the 271 yards.

BRONCOS 34, BROWNS 12 DENVER (AP) — Denver won its 10th straight game as Peyton Manning threw three touchdown passes for the 72nd time of his career.

Denver (12-3) pulled into a tie for first place in the AFC with Houston, which fell 23-6 to the Vikings.

Manning finished with 339 yards on 30-for-43 passing. Von Miller was in on two sacks for the Broncos, the second of which knocked Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden out of the game with a right shoulder injury.

If Denver defeats Kansas City at home next week and Houston loses at Indianapolis, the Broncos would be the AFC’s top seed.

PATRIOTS 23, JAGUARS 16 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Tom Brady overcame a rough start by throwing two touchdown passes for playoff-bound New England.

Brady threw two interceptions in the first quarter, the second helping the Jaguars (2-13) build a 10-0 lead.

But the Jaguars faded in the third quarter for the fourth consecutive week, lost for the 11th time in the last 12 games and set a franchise record for losses in a season.

Brady hooked up with Wes Welker for a 2-yard score on the second play of the fourth quarter, putting the Patriots (11-4) ahead 23-13.

BEARS 28, CARDINALS 13 GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Chicago’s defence scored two touchdowns to keep the Bears’ playoff hopes alive.

Charles Tillman returned an interception 10 yards for a score, the third pick he’s brought back for a touchdown this season and the eighth overall by Chicago, one shy of the NFL record.

Zack Bowman returned a fumble 1 yard for another Bears score.

Brandon Marshall caught six passes for 68 yards and a TD, breaking the Bears franchise record for yards receiving in a season in the process.

Chicago (9-6) snapped a three-game

CHARGERS 27, JETS 17 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — San Diego sacked Greg McElroy 11 times, ruining the quarterback’s first NFL start, and Philip Rivers threw two touchdown passes for the Chargers.

McElroy, the third-stringer who was starting for the benched Mark Sanchez, moved the offence for the Jets (6-9) early but faced pressure all game.

With a chance to get New York back into it with less than 5 minutes remaining, McElroy was sacked by Shaun Phillips and lost the ball. Phillips recovered and San Diego (6-9) sealed the win.

RAMS 28, BUCCANEERS 13 TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Sam Bradford tossed a pair of touchdown passes and rookie cornerback Janoris Jenkins scored his fourth TD of the season.

Bradford connected with Lance Kendricks on an 80-yard scoring play on the first play of the third quarter.

The Rams (7-7-1) intercepted Josh Freeman four times, turning three of the turnovers into TDs, including Jenkins’ pick and 41-yard return early in the second quarter.

Steven Jackson rushed for 81 yards and one TD, moving within 10 yards of reaching 1,000 for the eighth consecutive season for the Rams. Tampa Bay fell to 6-9 after its fifth straight loss.

DOLPHINS 24, BILLS 10 MIAMI (AP) — Reggie Bush caught two touchdown passes and scored on a short run for Miami.

Six minutes after they won, the Dolphins (7-8) were eliminated from playoff contention when Cincinnati beat Pittsburgh.

The Bills (5-10) came into the game assured of missing the playoffs for the 13th consecutive year.

Bush’s first TD catches of the season covered 17 and 12 yards.

Eagles’ coach Reid on hot seat after home loss to Redskins LIKELY LAST HOME GAME COACHING EAGLES AFTER 14 SEASONS

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid speaks during a news conference after an NFL game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, in Philadelphia.

Washington won 27-20.

PHILADELPHIA — Andy Reid stuck around for handshakes, then trudged into the Philadelphia Eagles’ tunnel that leads to the locker room.

He may never run out to coach another home game at the Linc.

With another dreary defeat on his resume, Reid wrapped up the home slate of his 14th season coaching the Eagles with serious questions about his future. Reid heard a few appreciative fans clapping for him on his way out, but the harsh reality is this: Reid’s time in Philly is all but over.

Owner Jeffrey Lurie told Reid in the preseason it was win or else.

The victories didn’t come with any regularity — only speculation about how and when Reid will leave the organization he turned into a perennial Super Bowl contender before falling into the NFC East basement.

The Washington Redskins spoiled Reid’s likely home finale with a 27-20 win Sunday. With a chance to at least force overtime, the Eagles’ final series was especially painful in a season that mercifully ends next week at the New York Giants.

The Eagles held on defence, forced a punt and started their last drive at their 15. They were at the Washington 17 when Nick Foles bounced a pass to Jeremy Maclin, who was open in the right corner of the end zone on third down. Foles then hit LeSean McCoy for a 12-yard gain on fourth-and-2 to the 5 with 11 seconds left. After an incomplete pass, Foles was called for grounding, and the last second was automatically run off the clock.

That was it.

There were no signs blaming management, no “Fire Andy!” chants that had become popular at Lincoln Financial Field the latter half of this season. The pregame tailgate parties and “E-A-G-L-E-S! chants had been muted by a fan base fed up with the 4-11 record and Reid still in control.

The 11 losses are the same total Reid had in his rookie season of 1999 (5-11).

Reid refused to concede that Sunday was his final home game.

“I don’t know that,” he said. “I have nothing to tell you on that. I’m the coach right now, and I’m just coaching. That’s what I’m doing, the best that I possibly can.”

Lurie’s preseason edict that the Eagles needed “substantial improvement” over last season’s 8-8 record has dangled over the team and turned the final weeks into a guessing game of how Reid exits Philly.

Will he get fired with about $6 million and one year left on his contract? Will he share a podium with Lurie as they announce an amicable parting?

McCoy, back in the lineup after missing the last four games with a concussion, hoped it was the long shot option behind door No. 3: Bring back Reid for Year 15.

“I don’t see any other coaches that’s as good as coach Reid,” McCoy said. “He’s been here for so long that respect is demanded. When you think of the Philadelphia Eagles, you think of coach Reid.”

Reid inherited a 3-13 team in 1999, drafted Donovan McNabb with the No. 2 overall pick in that year’s draft, and quickly turned the franchise from laughingstock into a championship contender.

Reid has won more games (130) than any coach in franchise history. He’s led the Eagles to nine playoff appearances, six division titles, five trips to the NFC championship game and a Super Bowl loss.

“You’ve got to give him all the credit for making this a football town,” defensive end Trent Cole said.

“He made this a winning football team.”

Reid instead had to watch the Redskins move closer toward a division title. The Redskins (9-6) can clinch the NFC East with a victory over Dallas at home next Sunday. They haven’t won it since 1999 and last reached the playoffs in 2007.

The late comeback wasn’t enough to keep the Eagles from finishing 2-6 at home.

RED DEER ADVOCATE Monday, Dec. 24, 2012 B5

Falcons fly away with top seed in NFC WIN OVER LIONS EARNS HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE THROUGHOUT NFC PLAYOFFS

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Falcons 31 Lions 18 DETROIT — Matt Ryan got what he wanted, helping the Atlanta Falcons win a game they needed to earn homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

Calvin Johnson had to settle for having a record-breaking night in yet another Detroit loss.

Ryan matched a career high with four touchdown passes, two to Roddy White, and Atlanta led from start to finish in a 31-18 victory over the Lions on Saturday night.

Johnson broke Jerry Rice’s NFL single-season yards receiving mark of 1,848. Johnson also became the only player with 100 yards receiving in eight straight games and the first with 10 receptions in four games in a row in league history. He had 11 receptions for 225 yards, giving him 1,892 this season.

“When Matt (Stafford) and I are on the field together, some special things can happen,” Johnson said. “We said before the game that we wanted to try to get it tonight.”

The Falcons (13-2) pulled away with Ryan’s fourth TD pass to wide-open tight end Michael Palmer in the fourth quarter and Matt Bryant’s 20-yard field goal with 3:05 left that gave them a 15-point lead.

Ryan was 25 of 32 for 279 yards without a turnover.

Detroit (4-11) dropped its seventh straight game.

The Falcons hope playing at home, potentially throughout the conference playoffs, helps them more than it did after the 2010 and 1980 seasons. The Falcons failed to win a game in either post-season, getting routed by Green Bay two years ago and blowing a double-digit, fourth-quarter lead to Dallas three decades ago.

Atlanta advanced to its only Super bowl with a win at Minnesota after winning a franchise-record 14 games during the 1998 season.

The Falcons won’t have much incentive to match that mark next week at home against Tampa Bay, when they’ll have nothing to gain and something to lose if a key player or more gets hurt.

The Lions, meanwhile, have been relegated to playing for pride this month and that hasn’t been going very well.

Detroit, which has the longest active losing streak in the league, hasn’t had this long of a skid since it had one lasting an entire season when the laughingstock of a franchise became the league’s first to go 0-16 in 2008.

The Falcons led 21-3 at halftime before letting the Lions pull within five points early in the fourth quarter.

Ryan dashed Detroit’s comeback hopes.

Facing intense pressure, he converted a third down in Atlanta territory with a pass to White, picked on rookie cornerback Jonte Green by throwing to Jones to pick up more first downs and found Tony Gonzalez open to convert another third down to set up his fourth TD pass.

“We didn’t play well in the third quarter,” Atlanta coach Mike Smith said. “Matt made some big throws on that drive.”

Stafford was clearly trying to get the ball to Johnson on the next drive and cornerback Asante Samuel figured that out, stepping in front of the receiver for an interception to set up Bryant’s field goal.

Atlanta running back Michael Turner was tackled in the end zone, after Detroit turned the ball over on downs, to give the Lions two meaningless points.

Johnson began the night 182 yards receiving away from breaking Rice’s NFL single-season mark of 1,848 yards receiving set in 1995 with San Francisco.

Johnson was 4 yards away from Rice’s record when Detroit kicked a field goal early in the fourth quarter to cut its deficit to five points.

Ryan went deep to White for the first score, connecting with him on a 44-yard TD strike with 5:50 left in the first quarter.

Ryan threw a short pass to him early in the second quarter and the standout receiver did the rest on a 39-yard sprint down the sideline.

Ryan put his third TD pass where only Julio Jones could catch it a corner of the end zone, and he did on a 16-yard reception that put Atlanta up 21-3.

Detroit didn’t give up, a game after being accused of doing just that in a 38-10 loss at Arizona.

Jason Hanson kicked a second field goal late in the first half to make it 216.

After Atlanta opened the second half with a three-and-out drive, Mikel Leshoure scored on a 1-yard run midway through the third quarter to pull the Lions with eight points.

Stafford connected with Johnson on 26- and 21-yard passes during the drive that ended with Hanson’s third field goal that made it 21-16.

Stafford finished 37 of 56 for 443 yards without a TD and with one interception.

Detroit dug a big hole because the

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Atlanta Falcons tight end Michael Palmer, center right, celebrates his touchdown with tight end Tony Gonzalez during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Saturday.

Falcons scored two TDs off turnovers in the first half.

Defensive end Kroy Biermann forced running Leshoure to fumble, giving the Falcons the ball at their 31 and they took advantage. Ryan’s perfectly lofted pass to White’s fingertips converted a third-and-1 in a big way, putting the Falcons ahead.

The Lions responded with another drive into Atlanta territory, but stalled and had to settle for Hanson’s 34-yard field goal in the final minute of the opening quarter to pull within four points.

Atlanta earned a double-digit lead on the ensuing drive.

Ryan threw a screen pass to his left

to White, who got a great block from tight end Gonzalez, and the receiver raced untouched for a score that put the Falcons ahead 14-3.

White finished with eight receptions for 153 yards and two TDs. Jones had seven receptions for 71 yards and a score.

Ryan completed his first 12 attempts and, after his first incomplete pass, he converted a third-and-10 with an 11-yard toss to Jacquizz Rodgers. Two plays later, Ryan matched a season high with a third TD pass on the connection with Jones. Prior to the game, Ryan hadn’t started a game with more than 10 consecutive completions, according to STATS LLC.

Johnson has record breaking night against Falcons

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Johnson, who has tied another league single-season mark with 100 yards receiving in 11 games, can add to his record total of 1,892 yards receiving in Detroit’s finale Dec. 30 at home against Chicago and could reach the 2,000-yard mark.

Johnson’s 10th catch Sunday night was for a 26-yard gain with 2:57 left in the game. After breaking the record with that catch, he jogged over to the sideline to give the football to his father, Calvin Johnson Sr., and told him not to let it go.

Not even if someone from the Pro Football Hall of Fame wants it?

“Oh no,” he said.

“That’s my ball.”

Stafford has done a good job of getting the ball to Johnson despite every team trying to stunt their connections and not having to worry about other playmakers because of Detroit’s injury-depleted receiving corps.

Stafford threw for 443

yards against the Falcons, setting an NFL record for the most yards passing in a game without a touchdown. With 4,695 yards passing and a game to go against the Bears, he and New Orleans’ Drew Brees could become the first two NFL players to throw for 5,000-plus yards in consecutive seasons.

“I’d love to be able to be able to do it again,” Stafford said. “But I’d love for it to come with a win.”

Stafford, who thrown the ball 685 times this season, is seven attempts away from breaking the NFL single-season record for attempts set by Drew Bledsoe with New England in 1994.

Johnson and Stafford have not been able to overcome the team’s minus-12 turnover ratio this season that ranks among the NFL’s worst in perhaps the statistical category that is tied most to winning and losing.

Against Atlanta, the Lions turned the ball

over three times and their defence didn’t recover a fumble or make an interception.

“We lose by 13 and 17 points come off turnovers,” Schwartz said.

“We need to do a better job of taking care of the football. And also on defence, we need to come up with some.”

Detroit’s comeback hopes were definitely dashed after getting a safety with 1:21 left to pull within 13 points only to have Stefan Logan take a knee at his 4 on a free kick.

“That’s probably the first time I’ve seen somebody concede a punt in the field of play,” Schwartz said. “It was a poor decision. Part of a returner’s job is to know where he is on the field.

Saying, ’I didn’t know where I was. I thought I was in the end zone,’ is not a valid excuse.

“When that error was made,” Schwartz added, “it made it very, very difficult for the team to come back.”

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson and his father, Calvin Sr., walk off the field after the Lions’ NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons at Ford Field in Detroit, Saturday. Johnson broke Jerry Rice’s single-season record for receiving yards.

BROKE NFL SINGLE SEASON RECIEVING YARDS RECORD, BEEN LIONS ONLY BRIGHT SPOT IN LOWLY SEASON

ALLEN PARK, Mich.

— The Detroit Lions have gotten quite a return on the $132 million, eightyear investment they made in Calvin Johnson nine months ago.

“He’s not trying to live up to a contract,” Detroit coach Jim Schwartz said Sunday. “Personal records are great, and we certainly celebrate the season Calvin that has had, but it hasn’t translated to enough wins.

“We need more help around him.”

That’s a fact.

The Lions (4-11) have lost seven straight, the league’s longest active skid, after reaching .500 at the midway mark of a disappointing season.

During the losing streak, Johnson has been perhaps Detroit’s only bright spot.

He broke Jerry Rice’s single-season yards receiving record of 1,848 in Saturday night’s 31-18 loss to Atlanta.

“It’s an accomplishment that took a lot of work,” Johnson said.

“You can’t take that thing away.”

Schwartz said Johnson hasn’t racked up yards in blowouts because Detroit hasn’t had many of them in a season filled with closely contested losses. He does acknowledge that the team’s record doesn’t let Johnson’s accomplishment ring as true as anyone would like.

“It’s hollow in the fact that we only have four

wins,” he said. “You’d like for that production to translate to wins and you’d like to be able to celebrate that production with wins.”

In the win, the Falcons tried to take Johnson away as an option for Matthew Stafford in the passing game and couldn’t do it.

With 11 receptions for 225 yards against Atlanta, he also became the only player in NFL history with 100 yards receiving in eight straight games and with 10-plus receptions in four games in a row. He had seven receptions of 20-plus yards for the second time in his career, a feat no other player in the league has done since at least 1991, according to STATS LLC.

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B6 RED DEER ADVOCATE Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

RED DEER ADVOCATE Monday, Dec. 24, 2012 B7

Man U ties, lead reduced to four points EUROPEAN SOCCER ROUNDUP

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LONDON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Premier League leader Manchester United dropped points in the title race with a 1-1 tie at Swansea on Sunday, and third-place Chelsea routed Aston Villa 8-0 with an attacking master class.

Patrice Evra put visiting United ahead in the 16th minute when he headed Robin Van Persieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s corner kick past goalkeeper Michel Vorm.

Michu tied the score in the 29th when Evra was caught out by Jonathan De Guzmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s run and goalkeeper David De Gea could only parry De Guzmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s angled shot, leaving Michu in front to tap the ball in.

Van Persie hit the crossbar in the second half for United (14-3-1), which had won five straight league games. Defending champion Manchester City (11-16) is four points back, in second place after beating Reading 1-0 Saturday on Gareth Barryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s injury-time goal.

Chelsea (9-3-5), reviving since Rafa Benitez took over as manager last month, moved up to third as seven players scored against American goalkeeper Brad Guzan. The Blues matched their largest league win, 8-0 over Wigan on May 9, 2010.

After Fernando Torresâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s header in the third minute, David Luiz, Branislav Ivanovic, Frank Lampard, Ramires (twice), Oscar and Eden Hazard also scored. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are enjoying playing again and we needed that attitude to get us out of the sticky patch we were in,â&#x20AC;? Lampard said.

Lampard made his 500th Chelsea appearance and scored made his record 130th first-tier goal for the

club, surpassing the mark Bobby Tambling set from 1959-70. It was the largest margin of defeat for Villa (4-8-6) in a league match. Guzan made several good saves and stopped Lucas Piazonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s penalty kick in the 89th minute.

At Swansea, tempers flared late when Swans captain Ashley Williams cleared the ball straight into Van Persieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head from close range while the United forward was on the ground.

Van Persie reacted angrily and squared up to Williams with referee Michael Oliver giving yellow cards to both players.

United manager Alex Ferguson called it a â&#x20AC;&#x153;disgraceful actâ&#x20AC;? by Williams. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Van Persie situation you can clearly see that he could have been killed,â&#x20AC;? Ferguson said.

He should be banned for a long time because that was the most dangerous thing Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen on a football field for many years. It was absolutely deliberate. he whistle has gone, the game has stopped and he has done that right in front of the referee. He could have killed the lad.â&#x20AC;&#x153; Williams downplayed the incident. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I tried to clear the ball; it hit him on the head,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was trying to clear the ball. He was obviously a bit angry about that. It was a much ado about nothing.â&#x20AC;?

French League

giving PSG the edge over Lyon and third-place Marseille after 19 matches.

Marseille has won its past three league games, while Saint-Etienne has failed to win and score a goal in its past six.

At the end of a scrappy first half, right back Rod Fanni burst forward and whipped in a superb cross toward the penalty spot, and Ayew climbed above his marker to send a powerful glancing header past goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier.

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PARIS (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Andre Ayew scored on a header in first-half stoppage time and Marseille beat Saint-Etienne 1-0 at home to head into the winter break tied with leader Paris Saint-Germain and second-place Lyon.

The French title race is the closest among the top five leagues in Europe, with only goal difference

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KELSEY SERWA WINS GOLD, GEORGIA SIMMERLING TAKES SILVER AT RACE IN ITALY

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in 2011. She has been trying to build her confidence from race to race after returning from a knee injury that ended her season last January. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was fun day and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m happy to be back on top,â&#x20AC;? said Serwa. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It feels like itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a really long time. The pieces are starting to fall together.â&#x20AC;?

Serwa dominated her quarterfinal and semifinal, but it was the first time she had to battle from fourth to first in a final. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It almost feels like I worked for it more this way than just getting in front and staying in front,â&#x20AC;? said Serwa. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had to be smart and had to be tactical, rather than just skiing.â&#x20AC;?

The silver was a welcome surprise for Simmerling, who had yet to even reach a World Cup quarter-final this season. She advanced from the semis after contact between Norwayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Marte Hoeie Gjefsen and Franceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Marielle Berger Sabbatel. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m obviously very excited and little surprised,â&#x20AC;? said Simmerling. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I tried to ski smart and did my best and I think luck was on my side, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the sport.â&#x20AC;?

WIDE ZOOM

THE CANADIAN PRESS SAN CANDIDO, Italy â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Canadians Kelsey Serwa and Georgia Simmerling reaped the benefits of some carnage in the final of Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ski cross.

Serwa, the reigning world champion from Kelowna, B.C., came from fourth to win gold in the final of the World Cup event after Switzerlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Katrin Mueller and French veteran Ophelie David tangled behind her.

Simmerling, whose best finish since switching from alpine to ski cross was ninth at San Candido last year, just avoided the collision and wound up second. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I saw Katrinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skis go up in the air and she took a tumble and almost decapitated me with her ski,â&#x20AC;? said Simmerling, who hails from West Vancouver, B.C. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And I had to ski around her along the net.

The conditions were pretty tough, but I think the race was safe.â&#x20AC;?

Simmerling finished third but was bumped up when David was disqualified after a review. Mueller took bronze.

For Serwa, it was her first victory since winning both races here

Serwa is third in the ski cross standings with 195 points behind Fanny Smith of Switzerland (336) and Gjefsen (207).

Smith had opened the season with a run of three straight victories, but she was defeated by Mueller in Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s semifinal.

On the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side, Calgaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brady Leman failed to reach the podium for a third straight time and finished fifth. He has two silvers so far this season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a tough race today,â&#x20AC;? said Leman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I made a lot of good passes and was racing really hard to be in the finals again. In the semis I was in second place when another racer made a very aggressive inside pass over a negative turn. He clipped my tips and it spun me out, causing me to crash and miss out on the finals.â&#x20AC;?

Switzerlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Alex Fiva got his first victory this season, finishing ahead of Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Daniel Bohnacker and Swedenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Victor Oehling Norberg.

Louis-Pierre Helie of Berthierville, Que., finished eighth.

In ski cross, four skiers race each other down a course of jumps and bumps.

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Baltimore, he became the first player in major league history to homer twice in a post-season game he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t start. He pinch-hit for Alex Rodriguez in the ninth inning and hit a tying home run, then hit a winning shot in the 12th.

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NEW YORK â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Raul Ibanez and the Seattle Mariners have agreed to a $2.75 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Saturday night.

The deal allows Ibanez to earn an additional $1.25 million in performance bonuses, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced.

Ibanez returns to the team he began his big league career with from 1996-00, then rejoined from 2004-08.

Now 40, Ibanez spent the past season with the New York Yankees and became popular with fans for his lategame home runs. He had hoped to remain with New York, but the Yankees have moved slowly during the off-season.

Ibanez hit .240 with 19 homers and 62 RBIs in 384 at-bats, his pull swing making him a natural for the short rightfield porch at Yankee Stadium. He batted just .197 with five RBIs in 61 at-bats against left-handers.

Including the playoffs, Ibanez hit five home runs that tied the score for the Yankees and eight that put New York ahead, according to STATS. He homered twice after entering as a pinch hitter on Sept. 22 in a 10-9, 14-inning win over Oakland. And with New York fighting for the AL East title, he delivered a tying, pinch-hit homer against Boston in the ninth on Oct. 2 and then singled in the winning run in the 12th.

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B8 RED DEER ADVOCATE Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

HOME FRONT

C1

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LOCAL

BUSINESS ◆ C3,C4

ENTERTAIN ◆ C5 LIFESTYLE ◆ C6 Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

Carolyn Martindale, City Editor, 403-314-4326 Fax 403-341-6560 E-mail editorial@reddeeradvocate.com

Blackfalds planning veterans’ memorial

CHRISTMAS LEFTOVERS Give the gift of leftovers to those who may not enjoy a Christmas dinner. A group of communityminded individuals are collecting dinner leftovers to distribute to the homeless community on Boxing Day. If you would like to donate, the secret Santas ask that you portion and package individual-sized servings of turkey, tofu or whatever you eat on Christmas and all the fixings. If you are able to donate more than one serving, please individually package each meal. That goes for desserts, gravy and buns, too. Any leftover meals will be distributed amongst the city’s shelters and other places where the homeless community frequent. For more information, call 403596-3536.

LIVING BEYOND SUICIDE GROUP STARTS JAN 10.

Suicide information and education services offers the Living Beyond Suicide Loss support group, which starts on Thursday, Jan. 10, at 6 p.m. at the suicide information and education services office at the women’s outreach centre, at 4101 54th Ave. in Red Deer. This group is intended only for anyone grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide. There is no charge but people are asked to register ahead of time by calling 403-3424966.

FIRST THURSDAYS AT THE LIBRARY START JAN 3.

The Red Deer Public Library presents First Thursdays in the Snell with Lucie Jones on flute, Melody McKnight on oboe and Dale Wheeler on piano. The concert is in the Snell Auditorium on Jan. 3 from 12:15 to 1 p.m. at the downtown branch.

Coffee and tea will be provided by Café Noir.

There is no admission charge, although donations are accepted at the door.

WAITING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF FIELD HOUSE

BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF

Photo by RANDY FIEDLER/Advocate staff

Cristy Rusaw joins husband and Atco Gas employee Kevin Flaman join other Atco Gas workers in delivering Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family Christmas hampers Friday.

Christmas charity campaigns going well

BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF Charities throughout Central Alberta have been hard at work, doing their best to make sure as many people as possible have a Merry Christmas.

The United Way’s fundraising campaign hasn’t wrapped up just yet, but Forrest said they have made significant progress on their goal of $1.99 million.

“Things are going very well,” said Jennifer Forrest, Central Alberta United Way resource development director.

“We’re very pleased with how many people have stepped forward and made their contributions. We’ve seen a lot of increases from people this year.”

What was significant for the United Way this year was the leadership matching challenge.

The challenge was sponsored by MNP, Canadian Tire North and Warren Sinclair LLP, which provided matching funds for new or increased leadership gifts of $1,000 or more to the United Way’s Community Impact Fund, to a maximum of $22,000.

For the Salvation Army’s adopt-a-family program, Major Larry Bridger said the number of families were down this year.

“We were surprised we were down,” said Bridger. “We registered 156 families, which is down 31 from last year. It wasn’t for a lack of trying, people knew registrations were taking place.”

LOCAL

BRIEFS Sentencing delayed in beating case

GIVE US A CALL The Advocate invites its readers to help cover news in Central Alberta.

We would like to hear from you if you see something worthy of coverage. And we would appreciate hearing from you if you see something inaccurate in our pages.

We strive for complete, accurate coverage of Central Alberta and are happy to correct any errors we may commit.

Call 403-314-4333.

Sentencing has been delayed for the last of four people charged with the brutal beating of a Red Deer man earlier this year.

Cameron Coles, 26, Joshua Severin, 19, Victor Bricker, 20, and Morgan Riley, 18, were arrested by police investigating an incident in which a man was attacked while walking with his girlfriend in the downtown area late in the evening of April 9.

The man was hospitalized with serious injuries, including machete wounds to his face and head.

Bricker and Severin were each sentenced earlier this year to two years in prison on charges of aggravated assault.

Riley, who watched but did not participate in the beating, pleaded guilty to common assault and was sentenced to the time he had served in the Red Deer Remand Centre.

Coles also pleaded guilty

‘WE’RE VERY PLEASED WITH HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE STEPPED FORWARD AND MADE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS. WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF INCREASES FROM PEOPLE THIS YEAR.’ — JENNIFER FORREST, CENTRAL ALBERTA UNITED WAY

However, Bridger said it could be a good sign too as fewer families may be in need of assistance this holiday season, or at least that is the hope.

“We would like to think so.”

On the flipside of that is there were more sponsors for the adopt-a-family this year than the year prior with 129, up from 111.

As well the kettle campaign totals were at about $100,000.

Now the Salvation Army is gearing up for the Christmas dinner on Christmas Day where Bridger said they should have enough food to feed about 300 people.

Similar to the Salvation Army the Red Deer Christmas Bureau is down a little bit from last year.

“It’s been a really good year,” said Teresa Kutynec, Christmas Bureau president.

“We’ve had lots of volunteers, so that’s been easier for us, they’ve been really great.”

During the Christmas season was also when the Christmas Bureau was relocating to a new office, across the street from their previous location in the same building as the Red Deer Food Bank.

“We always hope there aren’t as many people in need,” said Kutynec. “If we do get more people, hopefully

there will be more people donating to offset the difference in numbers.”

Kutynec said the people who have donated have been very generous during this Christmas season.

In total the Christmas Bureau had 1,001 applications for hampers, down about 50 from last year. They are helping 968 kids this year, compared to 1,065 last year.

The Innisfail Charity Checkstop raised $9,472.80 this year, said Charlene Carvers, one of the checkstop organizers.

“I’m still looking, but I believe this is our best year ever,” said Carvers.

As well they took in 700 pounds of food and several truckloads of toys.

“It’s hard to estimate because the truck keeps coming and going, but there were several truckloads of toys,” said Carvers.

The event, which sets up on main street in Innisfail, allows people to voluntarily come in and donate food, clothing, money and toys.

The money is given to local charities, including the food bank, Christmas Bureau, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and the Central Alberta Women’s Shelter. mcrawford@reddeeradvocate. com

to his part in the attack. He was to have been sentenced in October, but his hearing was delayed when he asked for a different lawyer.

His new lawyer, Paul Morigeau, told court on Friday that he had just been appointed two days earlier and had not yet received the disclosure package that was given to his client’s previous lawyer.

Morigeau and Coles, who remains in custody, return to court on Jan. 9.

Riding changes result in confusion Some confused Sylvan Lake residents might like to know that their community is in the new federal riding of Red DeerWolf Creek.

Colin Cannon, constituency assistant for Red Deer MP Earl Dreeshen, confirmed that Sylvan Lake, along with the summer villages of Jarvis Bay and Norglenwold, will be in the same riding in the next federal election as North Red Deer, Blackfalds, Lacombe and Ponoka.

Most of the rest of Red Deer County will be in the Red DeerMountain View riding, along with South Red Deer and Innis-

Blackfalds will soon have it’s own tribute to it’s war veterans, even though it may take a while.

Though the Backfalds war memorial project is ready to go, Judy Carleton, Blackfalds Historical Society president, said they are at the mercy of the construction of ‘I THINK the Blackfalds Field IT’S VERY H o u s e , IMPORTANT, because the memoTHAT’S THE rial will be ULTIMATE built in the same area.

SACRIFICE.’ “I think it’s very — JUDY CARLETON important, that’s the ultimate sacrifice,” said Carleton.

“There has to be recognition of people, and it doesn’t have to be people from way back in the First World War, there are people today coming home from Afghanistan.”

The monument will consist of the names of service people who contributed in any war.

There will be room left on the monument for future names to be added.

“The other component of our war memorial is there is going to cement work so it can’t really be done in cold weather,” said Carleton.

“We’re shooting for having it done through the summer of next year, depending on how things go with the field house.”

The hope is to have a grand opening of the memorial late in fall, 2013.

All the fundraising goals for the project have been met and they have hired an artist, Voyager Art and Tile.

“They’re award winning artists and they’re local,” said Carleton.

“They’ve already designed it and we, as a board, have accepted it and go the funding.”

Carleton said the community response has been middling, with a few people responding to notices and advertisements.

“I’m trying to also have a corresponding book in the archive with more information,” she said. “You can’t put someone’s life history on the monument of 60 people.”

Meaning the monument will contain names and art work from Voyager Art and Tile, while the book will tell more about the people on the monument. Some of those details include what regiment they served in, what war and photos of them.

“We’re also going to try and have a QR Code on the monument and have the information on the website,” said Carleton.

This will allow people who visit when the Blackfalds library is closed or Carleton is busy to read up on the history. mcrawford@reddeeradvocate.com

fail, Olds and Sundre.

The confusion stems from a front page story in Sylvan Lake’s local newspaper that claimed the town was put in both federal electoral districts.

Cannon said this resulted from a misinterpretation of the provided written description of the new ridings.

But he admitted the information could have been more clearly worded.

Sylvan Lake Mayor Susan Samson said she’s pleased to be in the riding of Red DeerWolf Creek, since many of the lake-related issues Sylvan Lake faces are shared with Lacombe County, which is also in the new riding.

Samson’s only regret is that Dreeshen will likely run for the Red Deer-Mountain View seat, since that is where his home is located. “We always had a good working relationship with Earl.

He understood our issues,” she added.

Stettler County wants tax hike The County of Stettler is budgeting for a three per cent tax increase in 2013.

How the final numbers shake out won’t be known until the

spring, when property assessments are available, said Tim Fox, county chief administrative officer.

“In a perfect world, our assessment will increase by three per cent and there won’t be any tax increase,” said Fox. The other unknown is the province’s school tax requisition, which also isn’t known until the spring, and forms a portion of the total tax bill.

The county recently passed an operating budget of $25.1 million. The capital budget is just under $6.2 million.

Among capital budget items is $1 million set aside for a proposed Bio Gas project.

Regina-based Prairie BioGas Ltd. is behind the project that involves pyrolysis technology, which uses heat in an oxygenfree environment to convert municipal waste into products that can be used to generate electricity.

About 15 to 20 tonnes a day will be processed once the plant is up and running.

Fox said the company is still working on lining up more financing.

“We’re just kind of waiting on that. We’re told it’s still in the works and still coming through,” he said.

C2 RED DEER ADVOCATE Monday, Dec. 24, 2012 FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE

HI & LOIS

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LUANN Dec. 24 1781 — Friedrich, Baron von Riedesel, erects Canada’s first Christmas tree for the garrison in Fort Sorel, Que. 1906 — Quebec physicist Reginald Aubrey Fessenden makes the world’s first public radio broadcast and the first broadcast of music from his station near Boston.

1989 — The House of Commons approves North American Free Trade Agreement after

a bitter two-week debate and closure.

1948 — Canada formally recognizes the state of Israel.

1942 — National Defence says there are now 681,615 volunteers and conscripts in the Canadian forces.

1879 — Temperature in Winnipeg drops to record -44.3C (-47.8F).

1866 — British North America delegates adopt the London Resolutions; choose name Dominion of Canada for new country; agreements made on the Intercolonial Railway, Imperial aid and religious school rights.

ARGYLE SWEATER

RUBES

TODAY IN HISTORY

TUNDRA

SUDOKU Complete the grid so that every row, every column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 through 9.

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Pharmacy tied meningitis files for bankruptcy BOSTON — A pharmacy connected to a deadly nationwide meningitis outbreak filed for bankruptcy protection and said it was seeking to set up a fund to pay victims.

Contaminated steroid injections from the New England Compounding Center have been blamed for 39 deaths and 620 illnesses since the outbreak began over the summer. The Chapter 11 filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on Friday shields the company from the threat of creditor lawsuits while it establishes the fund.

The company said in its filing that 130 lawsuits have been filed against it and 270 other people have claimed injury from the tainted drugs.

“The number or lawsuits and demands is rising on a daily basis,” the filing read.

“The sheer volume and geographic distribution of cases — bringing the prospect of chaotic, conflicting and valuedestroying pretrial orders and remedies — has necessitated commencing this case at this time.”

C3

BUSINESS

Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

Harley Richards, Business Editor, 403-314-4337 E-mail editorial@reddeeradvocate.com

From cheer to fear TRADERS FACE UNCERTAINTY OVER FISCAL CLIFF IN HOLIDAY TRADING WEEK

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS Holiday cheer will be swapped with a dose of fear after traders return from a holiday break this week as developments over the “fiscal cliff” negotiations keep the attention of investors, and will likely lead to erratic movements in stock markets.

The shortened trading week, and traditionally low volume levels around the Christmas holiday, will likely accentuate any market shifts related to developments in the stalled U.S. federal budget talks.

Congress will reconvene on Thursday.

But before then, trading will likely remain calm in the shortened session leading up to Christmas Eve. The Toronto Stock Exchange closes early on Monday at 1:30 p.m. ET, while New York markets end the session at 1 p.m. ET. North American markets will remain closed for the Christmas Day holiday, and the TSX will also be closed on Wednesday for Boxing Day.

On Thursday, traders will return their attention to the ticking clock leading up to the year-end deadline.

Last Friday, stocks fell sharply after House Republicans called off a vote on tax rates and left federal budget talks in disarray 10 days before sweeping tax increases and government spending cuts are scheduled to take effect.

President Barack Obama said later Friday that he is “ready and willing” to get a big package done to deal with the fiscal cliff, adding there’s no reason not to protect middle-class Americans from tax increases.

Obama says he spoke Friday with House Speaker John Boehner and met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He says Congress should pass a plan to extend tax breaks for the middle class and extend unemployment benefits.

Obama says no one can get 100 per cent of what they want and there are “real consequences” to how they deal with the across-the-board tax increases and steep

spending cuts scheduled to kick in Jan. 1.

Economists fear the combination could deliver a blow to the U.S. economy.

A deal must be reached to avoid going over the so-called fiscal cliff,’ which would involve the automatic imposition of hundreds of billions of dollars in spending cuts and tax increases that could plunge the world’s largest economy back into recession and depress economies around the world.

“Legislators are under increasing pressure to act quickly to prevent the sort of acute market volatility seen before (the) agreement on TARP and a debt ceiling deal 16 months ago,” said CIBC World Markets senior economist Peter Buchanan.

Investors will also be squaring away their tax books for the year. Tday marks the last day for tax-loss selling for Canadian taxpayers selling equities through domestic accounts.

The deadline for U.S. securities tax loss sales is Wednesday.

SLOW SALES

BOMBARDIER

CSeries jet gets boost THE CANADIAN PRESS

Egypt’s bank governor quits CAIRO, Egypt — State television says Egypt’s central bank governor has resigned. Farouq el-Oqdah’s resignation is the second such high profile move on Saturday. Earlier on the day, VicePresident Mahmoud Mekki resigned, saying he realized that politics did not suit his professional background as a judge.

The brief TV report did not say why el-Oqdah quit, but it ends days of media speculations about his intentions.

Islamist President Mohammed Morsi and his Prime Minister Hesham Kandil met with el-Oqdah earlier this week in what media reports said was an attempt to dissuade him from leaving.

His departure comes at a time when Egypt’s pound has been losing value against the U.S. dollar and the postponement of a deal with the IMF for a much needed loan of $4.8 billion.

MF Global pact could free up payments Settlements between parties with completing claims in the liquidation of MF Global could speed up payment to customers of the collapsed brokerage, with one agreement potentially freeing up as much as $600 million for U.S. customers. Two separate agreements were announced on Saturday One is between James Giddens, the bankruptcy trustee overseeing the liquidation of MF Global’s main brokerage unit, and Richard Heis, who is overseeing the liquidation of the company’s United Kingdom operations.

Giddens and Heis agreed to resolve all claims between the two corporate entities.

— The Associated Press

eral things in this story, not in the way most people expect. For one thing, the coal involved doesn’t go to power plants. For another, the Elk River is getting famous as a bull trout fishery. ● Most of the mines belong to Teck Resources, the world’s second-largest exporter of metallurgic coal.

About 90 per cent of Teck’s production goes to Asia, Europe and South America, according to the company’s website. There it’s used for making steel, not for running power plants.

Five major coal mines line the Elk River, and three more sites are under exploration for new projects.

The British Columbia government is reviewing five expansion proposals, ranging from a doubling of capacity at the Line Creek mine to pit expansions at several other sites.

MONTREAL — Bombardier says the planned expansion of London City Airport will allow its CSeries aircraft to service lucrative banking routes in Europe and offer non-stop luxury business travel to North America.

The small airport in east London is preparing to apply early next year for an expansion that would allow larger aircraft, such as the 110- to 125-seat CS100 CSeries, to use the facility without extending the runway.

The airport described as an aircraft carrier has a short runway that requires aircraft to make steep descents and takeoffs, which limit the size of planes that can be used.

The Montreal-based manufacturer says its smaller of two CSeries models fits the bill and meets the strict noise limitations placed on aircraft.

“When our CS100 is able to access London City it would effectively become the aircraft that can provide the best combination of seating capacity and range of any of the commercial aircraft that are going in and out of there today,” said Philippe Poutissou, vice-president of marketing at Bombardier commercial aircraft.

Airplanes using the closest airport to London’s downtown core have grown in size since its opened 25 years ago.

It can now accommodate Bombardier’s large Global business jet along with 70 to 80 seaters such as the Q400.

That’s up from the 30 to 50-seat planes that initially flew into the airport.

British Airways offers daily flights to New York using an Airbus 318.

However, the flights configured with 32 businessclass seats must stop in Shannon, Ireland.

Please see COAL on Page C4

Please see JETS on Page C4

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Shoppers stroll through downtown Duisburg, Germany, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. Analysts and shopkeepers say sales have been slow so far this season. But many are hoping for a late push the final weekend before Christmas. “Every year it comes later,” said Joachim Stoll, who co-owns Leder-Stoll OHG, a leather and luggage retailer just off the glittering Zeil pedestrian shopping quarter in Frankfurt, Germany. “People wait longer and longer, even after Christmas.” As in the U.S., Christmas sales are vital to shopkeepers: British non-food retailers can make up to 50 percent of their profits in the end-of-year push. In Germany, Christmas business can mean 30 percent of annual sales for holiday-heavy sectors like toys.

Canadian coal companies’ expansion plans worry U.S.

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WHITEFISH, Mon. — Expansion plans at some Canadian coal mines have alarmed American officials over the amount of heavy metals pollution that could be flowing across the international border into Montana.

“We’re seeing increased selenium runoff from existing mining activity, that’s why we’re concerned,” said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional director Jim Martin.

“We’ve had a number of formal and informal conversations with the (British Columbia) provincial government.”

The mines lie in the Elk River drainage, roughly 100 miles north of Whitefish. That river flows into Lake Koocanusa on the Montana side of the border. In addition to selenium and other heavy metals, the mines contribute high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus

compounds that interfere with the river system’s aquatic life.

Selenium is an essential nutrient in small doses, but quickly becomes toxic at higher levels.

British Columbia has a selenium guideline of 2 micrograms per litre, although that’s not an enforceable limit.

U.S. water quality measurements have found selenium levels well over that amount for more than a decade, according to Erin Sexton, a transboundary watershed ecosystem scientist at the Flathead Lake Biological Station.

Some test sites have reported levels as high as 40 micrograms per litre.

“Our selenium standard when crossing the international border is 5 micrograms per litre,” Sexton said. “The water quality measurements just north of border have been reading 4.86, just a fraction below the Montana state and EPA standards.”

That’s a problem, but like sev-

Ho Ho Holy Discount: Vatican tax-free store open late

BY NICOLE WINFIELD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS VATICAN CITY — Anyone left on your Christmas list just aching for a 65-inch Samsung 3D flat-screen television? Just your luck. The Vatican’s duty-free department store has one on sale for (euro)2,899 ($3,840) — a nifty savings over the (euro)3,799 ($5,032) it costs at Italy’s main electronics chain Euronics.

Or how about some new luggage for the holidays? The Vatican shop stocks a variety of Samsonite Cordoba Duo carry-ons for (euro)123, a nice markdown from the

(euro)135 on the Samsonite website. But if a last-minute shopping splurge is in order, the Vatican can also oblige: Take this leather-bound travelling trunk from Florence’s “The Bridge” leatherworks, with its five drawers, plaid interior, six wooden hangars and shiny brass buckles.

At (euro)5,900, it comes with a matching leather golf club bag, just what every monsignor needs under his Christmas tree.

There’s a little-known open secret in the Vatican gardens, a few paces behind St. Peter’s Basilica and tucked inside the Vatican’s old train station: a sprawling, three-story tax-free department store that rivals any airport duty free or military PX,

stocking everything from Church’s custom grade shoes ((euro)483 a pair) to Baume et Mercier watches (ladies (euro)1,585, men’s Capeland (euro)5,000).

There’s a hitch, however. It’s not open to the public, only to Vatican citizens, employees and their dependents, diplomats accredited to the Holy See and (unofficially) their lucky friends who, after stocking up on holiday must-haves, proceed to the checkout with their Vatican connection and the ID card that entitles them to shop there.

To be sure, Rome is no stranger to taxfree shopping.

Please see VATICAN on Page C4

C4 RED DEER ADVOCATE Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

STORIES FROM PAGE C3

RANSOMWARE THREAT

JETS: Top destinations The CSeries could make the trip direct to the U.S. banking capital with a reduced payload.

At least one customer, Odyssey Airlines, is reportedly planning to offer this service, although Bombardier said the plane will mostly be used to connect London to European cities.

Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss International Air Lines, for example, plans to replace its existing Avro regional jets with CSeries for flights to Zurich, Geneva and Basel from London City Airport.

It is taking the first of the 30 firm orders for CSeries ordered by the Lufthansa Group.

Malmo Aviation plans to use the five CS100s ordered by Braathens Leasing to fly out of the city airport in Stockholm, Sweden.

Geneva-based PrivatAir is also a CSeries customer but hasn’t said where it would fly.

The top five destinations from London City are Zurich, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Geneva and Frankfurt, with New York’s JFK ranked 24th. The airport has the highest proportion of business travellers of any major U.K. airport, with a promise of quick connection from airport to the City of London just 11 kilometres away.

The airport handled 70,000 scheduled aircraft takeoffs and landings last year and three million passengers. By 2021, this is expected to increase to over 100,000 aircraft movements and six million passengers. That’s still short of its maximum capacity of 125,000 movements.

The constrained footprint of the London airport currently forces planes to double back onto the runway before they can proceed to gates. The expansion to be completed by 2015 will expand these nonrunway areas that limit the number of takeoffs and landings.

Poutissou said Bombardier has consulted with the airport’s operators about the space needed by the CSeries, whose deliveries are expected to begin by mid-2014. He said the aircraft was specifically designed to have the flexibility for short runways, challenging conditions and longer-range missions.

“London City being one of those benchmark-type airports, it was very important to us that the CS100 would be capable of being able to fly out of London City.”

David Tyerman of Canaccord Genuity said the upgrades to London City Airport is a very small piece of a very big puzzle Bombardier faces to make the CSeries a commercial success.

“It may add demand for a few more planes, but at the end of the day Bombardier needs to sell hundreds of airplanes on the CSeries and London City Centre is not going to be the source of hundreds of airplanes,” he said in an interview.

The features that make the CSeries attractive for London City Airport also make it a good fit for other constrained airports in the world, but Tyerman doesn’t believe it’s going to drive many aircraft orders.

“The CSeries is going to have to make its way in a vast number of markets all over the world and places like China are going to matter a lot (more),” he said.

Parts of China have challenging operating conditions due to high altitudes, short runways, steep takeoffs and landings, and harsh climate.

Poutissou agreed that London City Airport won’t drive the success of the CSeries, but he said some of the features that make it attractive for London also apply to so-called hot/high conditions in China, Central Africa and around the Andes in South America.

Following an order from airBaltic and a letter of interest from an undisclosed airline in the Americas, Bombardier has 148 firm orders for the CSeries and commitments and options for up to an additional 234 aircraft.

VATICAN: Its own sovereign state Embassies, nearby military bases and the U.N. food agencies all have commissaries for their employees, where imports of everything from American ice cream to French wine can be had minus the 21 per cent sales tax included in list prices in Italy.

The Vatican has that and more, given that it’s its own sovereign state — the world’s smallest — operating in central Rome.

At 44 hectares (110 acres), the Vatican city state is the physical home of the Holy See: the pope and governing structure and administration of the Catholic Church.

The Vatican Museum, with its main draw the Sistine Chapel, is the main profit-making enterprise of the Vatican city state, bringing in (euro)91.3 million in revenue last year alone.

But other smaller entrepreneurial endeavours boost the Vatican’s coffers as well, including the department store, the tax-free gas station, the stamp and coin collecting office, the Vatican pharmacy and its supermarket.

And in these days of austerity, their profits and bottom line are ever more important to the Vatican.

The Vatican is entitled to run such tax-free enterprises inside its walls based on the Lateran Treaty, the 1929 pact that regularized and regulates the Vatican’s relations with Italy.

But those regulations also limit the Vatican’s customer base, lest all of Rome descend on the supermarket to stock up on Gordon’s Gin ((euro)8.50 a litre compared to the (euro)15 it can run in liquor stores) or Montecristo No. 3 Cuban cigars (box of 25 (euro)84 ($110.95) compared to $164.95 on www.bestcigarprices.com).

About 4,700 people are employed by the Holy See and the Vatican city state; the Vatican’s diplomatic corps — the Holy See has relations with 175 countries — adds another chunk to the customer base.

Few people outside Rome know the department store exists — there’s no evidence of it on any Vatican website, no photos of its wares, no advertising outside the Vatican walls.

Those who do know it exists seem to want to pretend it doesn’t since the high-end luxury items on sale aren’t necessarily in tune with either the sobriety or the salaries of the Vatican rank-and-file.

In fact, on a recent Thursday morning, nary a collar nor religious habit was in sight as ordinary lay folk milled around the spacious store during December’s “extraordinary opening hours” — extended to accommodate bargain-hunting Christmas shoppers who were rewarded with a wine tasting in the central atrium and piles of Brooks Brothers non-iron shirts and Burbury backpacks to choose from.

D I L B E R T

File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

A photo illustration made December 14, 2012 in Montreal shows a computer in chains. Security experts warn about “ransomware,” where computers or mobile phones are locked down by cyber thieves and money is demanded online and also cyber espionage are digital security threats in 2013.

“More than the prices, it’s the material,” said Luciano, a bulky Roman who refused to give his last name as he shopped for an overcoat with his wife and an obliging Vatican friend waiting at checkout.

“This one I don’t like — I look like a priest,” he muttered as he put the navy blue trench coat back on a hangar.

Cardinal Edmund Szoka, the American who sought to bring some order into the Vatican’s finances as head of the Vatican city state, is credited with having made the department store what it is today, moving it into the Vatican’s underused train station, a miniature version of Washington’s Union station with a sweeping double staircase and glass-front window that frames the dome of St. Peter’s a few meters (yards) away.

Szoka said he moved it from the basement of the Vatican government building to the train station for more space, since the station wasn’t used anymore for passengers and provided the perfect, airy open space that a shop of its kind would require.

“Our principal motivation in changing the train station building into a department store was mainly for the convenience of our employees, as well as for those who could come into the Vatican and shop there,” he said in an email from his home in Michigan. “Naturally, we expected a profit, but that was not the primary motivation.”

Szoka retired in 2006, well before the global economic crisis hit. The current leadership of the “Governorato” as the city state administration is called, recently asked all department heads to come up with cost-saving or profit-making initiatives to help the Vatican get through the tough times.

“Any good administrator wants to save what can be saved,” said Monsignor Giuseppe Sciacca, the governorato’s No. 2. “It seems obvious, necessary.”

The Philatelic and Numismatic Office, for example, recently started selling a special limited-edition stamp to help pay for the (euro)14 million restoration of the Bernini colonnade in St. Peter’s Square after corporate sponsorship dried up amid the recession.

Vatican Radio announced in July it would be saving “hundreds of thousands of euros” in energy costs by stopping short -and -medium-wave broadcasts to Europe and the Americas, using other technologies instead.

Perhaps even more than the department store, the Vatican supermarket is a much-sought after perk for Vatican employees, and a boost to the Vatican’s bottom line.

And at Christmastime, it is as jammed as the department store, with lines snaking through the store and cars taking up valuable parking spaces inside Vatican City as shoppers pile their carts high with panettone, the traditional Italian Christmas cake which is the di riguer gift for Italian holiday parties.

Panettone can run (euro)25 a pop at Roman bakeries; in the Vatican supermarket, a high-end brand runs almost half that.

“The Nutella is just better here,” said Maria Grazia Mancini, a Rome municipal worker who was doing a major pre-Christmas shop with her father, a Vatican employee. “The products here are for export — the same brands but for export, so it’s better quality.”

While Sciacca is only too pleased to see the Vatican saving money where it can be saved and making it where it can be made, he was adamant that there are no plans to expand the customer base of the Vatican’s little-known discount stores. Accords with Italy don’t allow it.

“We shouldn’t. And we can’t,” he said.

He spoke on the sidelines of the presentation of the Vatican’s 2012 nativity scene, being unveiled Monday night and donated for the first time. The Vatican happily accepted the donated creche from the Italian region of Basilicata after its (euro)550 million Christmas setup in 2009 was exposed earlier this year during the scandal over leaked Vatican documents.

Follow Nicole Winfield at www.twitter.com/nwinfield

COAL: Pollution results The area ships about 35,000 tons of coal a day, generating 600,000 tons of waste rock at the same time. Most of the pollution comes from rain and snow runoff filtering through that waste rock.

A new proposal called the Bingay Main Coal Project would produce 2.2 million tons of coal a year.

It would be located 13 miles north of Elkford, B.C., roughly 75 miles north of the U.S. border. Owner Centermount Coal Ltd. is still in preliminary review stages with the Canadian government.

A statement on Tuesday from the British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas said all the mines would go through an extensive regulatory review process and “plans for controlling and improving water quality will be put in place at all of the mine operations.”

Teck spokesman Chris Stannell said the company had brought together a panel of scientists to make recommendations about controlling selenium from its mines.

“We have implemented selenium management plans at all of our steel-making coal operations and have investments under way of approximately $211 million over the next three years in water treatment projects and research to improve selenium reduction,” Stannell said in an email.

“To date we’ve completed water diversions at two operations and construction has commenced on our first water treatment plant for selenium removal. We are committed to continuing to work openly and cooperatively with all stakeholders to implement solutions to this challenge.”

Also on Tuesday, the International Energy Agency released a report on the worldwide coal industry. It noted coal use could surpass oil as the world’s dominant fuel source by 2017, growing 2.6 per cent a year.

“In fact, the world will burn around 1.2 billion more tonnes of coal per year by 2017 compared to today — equivalent to the current coal consumption of Russia and the United States combined,” IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven said in a news release.

“Coal’s share of the global energy mix continues to grow each year, and if no changes are made to current policies, coal will catch oil within a decade.” ● Most of the Canadian mining takes place by open pit or mountaintop removal methods. Runoff from the explosives used in that mining has added lots of nitrogen and phosphorus to the water system.

Sexton said the levels are roughly 1,000 times greater than what’s found in the Flathead River drainage to the east, which has no mining activity.

“What we’re seeing in the Elk is an overabundance of algae as a result of the mines,” Sexton said.

“It’s like a feed lot highly productive but unnatural.

You’re growing fish in the river, but the tissue analysis of a fish from the Flathead looks very different than a fish from the Elk. One has a high selenium level in its flesh.”

That’s because selenium bio-accumulates, concentrating in higher and higher levels as it passes up the food chain from algae to insects to fish. While the North Fork of the Flathead River along Glacier National Park has stoneflies, caddis flies and mayflies feeding fish, the Elk is limited to pollution-resistant mayflies. Where the Flathead has 72 species of algae growing, the Elk has 12.

“And you’re river downstream, so these impacts are shared impacts,” said John Bergenske, executive director of British Columbia-based Wildsight, a conservation group that’s been monitoring environmental conditions for several decades. “As far as the buildup, most of it will be on your (Montana) side of the border.”

Bergenske said progress has slowed on the new mining permits as both the industry and Canadian officials look for ways to control the pollution. Wildsight has been a part of those discussions, and recognizes Teck’s role in world metal production.

“But the reality is unless they’re willing to make major commitments and demonstrate these solutions are effective, it doesn’t make much sense to have mine expansions that produce more selenium,” Bergenske said. “They have owned up to looking at all heavy metal pollutions in the Elk.” Information from: Missoulian, http://www.missoulian.com

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ENTERTAINMENT

C5

Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

Fax 403-341-6560 editorial@reddeeradvocate.com

Crystal and Midler wax nostalgic crossed paths many times, they’ve never performed together. Midler says she’s glad to finally get the chance.

“I’ve been a big fan for many, many years and whenever I watch him I’m always amazed at how he gets to do what it is that he does. I mean, just out of thin air just wonderful stuff comes through,” says the Beaches star.

“And when I read the script I was so delighted because stuff crosses your desk that’s not worthy, that gets greenlit all the time, and then here was this little piece that was so funny and they were actually going to make it.”

Neither performer has been seen much on the big screen in recent years, although each has been busy on the stage — Crystal with his Tony-award winning, one-man show 700 Sundays, and Midler with a three-year stint at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas that wrapped in 2010.

Midler says maintaining a film career hasn’t become any easier despite decades in show business, noting that getting a project off the ground is often an exercise in frustration.

“Time goes by so quickly that what you’re able to get done you’re usually so grateful that you got it done because it’s hard.

“This is a really tough business,” she says.

“It’s an odd business because you have to pass so many hurdles in order to get what it is that you want to have to make and many of them come at the very end.

“They say, ‘You can’t do this, you can’t wear that, I don’t like your hair, I don’t like your suit, I don’t like your clothes, I don’t like your face.’ I mean it’s endless, endless.”

Crystal jokes that he’s disappointed to be passed over for the lead role in Steven Spielberg’s sober period epic Lincoln, which went to critical darling Daniel Day-Lewis.

“I just thought, ‘If anyone should be Lincoln, I should have been Lincoln,” he jokes.

Parental Guidance opens Tuesday.

IN FAMILY FILM PARENTAL GUIDANCE’

BY CASSANDRA SZKLARSKI THE CANADIAN PRESS Strange things happen when you put veteran stage-and-screen entertainers Billy Crystal and Bette Midler together on a movie set.

They wax nostalgic over old-time pop hits. They break out into song. The song ends up in the movie.

Crystal and Midler say that’s pretty much what happened while shooting their upcoming family film, “Parental Guidance.”

The seasoned comics play grandparents bumbling though a babysitting gig for three rambunctious grandchildren.

Between takes, Crystal says they entertained their young co-stars with a rundown of beloved golden oldies.

“We were shooting in a train station and it was a really good place that had good echo,” Crystal says in a recent phone interview, with Midler alongside him.

“And we just started singing these old time rock ’n’ roll songs — Charlie Brown, Poison Ivy, Yakety Yak. So we hit on Book of Love and we decided, ‘Let’s put it in the movie.’ And it works really well.”

The spontaneous crooning takes place as Crystal’s easy-going grandpa Artie and Midler’s fun-loving grandma Diane take over their daughter’s technology-laden household for a week.

Marisa Tomei and Tom Everett Scott play the couple’s daughter and sonin-law, a high-strung working couple whose parting instructions include “no sugar” and “never saying ‘No”’ to their three children.

Upon realizing they actually know little about the kids’ interests, Artie and Diane decide to try to bridge the generational gap by introducing some old-fashioned passions like the radio and a game of kick-the-can.

File photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Billy Crystal, left, and Bette Midler, cast members in the film “Parental Guidance,” pose together in Los Angeles. Longtime friends Crystal and Midler finally share the screen in ‘Parental Guidance,’ in theaters Christmas Day. The 64-year-old Crystal says he wanted to make a sweet film the whole family could enjoy.

“Parents can take their parents and grandparents can take their little ones and they can all sit there and not cringe that something bad is going to come up on screen,” says the When Harry Met Sally... star.

“That’s a fun thing that you can make a family movie with a lot of integrity and a lot of honesty and a lot of heart, too.”

He says he came up with the premise after babysitting his own grand-

daughters when they were little.

“They’re nine and six now but this was about five years ago so we had them alone for a week and I was totally exhausted — not only from their amazing energy but by trying to follow the rules that we had to follow,” Crystal says.

“I came in on the seventh day and said, ‘Here’s an idea for a movie.’

We started developing it from there.

So for me it’s been almost six years on this one piece and trying to get it made.”

Though the longtime stars have

Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood marries theatre producer fiancee

Clayton Bellamy to help ring in New Year at Billy Bob’s

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His last solo album Everyone’s a Dreamer was released in March.

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Juno Award-winning country rock singer Clayton Bellamy will entertain at a New Year’s Eve party at Billy Bob’s in Red Deer’s Sheraton Hotel.

The Bonnyville native is best known for being part of The Road Hammers, a country trio that won a 2006 Juno for its self-titled album.

Bellamy, who has also won four Canadian Country Music Awards and SOCAN Songwriter of the Year Award, has performed at the Grand Ole Opry.

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Bonnyville native and Juno Award-winning country rock singer Clayton Bellamy will entertain at a New Year’s Eve party at Billy Bob’s in Red Deer’s Sheraton Hotel.

LONDON — Two British newspapers say Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood has married his fiancee Sally Humphreys at a ceremony at London’s Dorchester Hotel.

The Sun and the Daily Mirror carried photographs of the 65-year-old rocker with a pale boutonniere and a dark blue suit, and his 34-year-old bride in a traditional white gown and a clutch of matching white flowers.

The Sun quoted Wood as saying “I’m feeling great” as he and his bride kissed and posed for pictures

outside the exclusive hotel in London’s upscale Mayfair district.

The newspapers said the guests included singer Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster as well as ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and his wife Nancy Shevell.

A call and an email to Wood’s U.S.-based agent weren’t immediately returned Saturday.

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C6 RED DEER ADVOCATE Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

ANNIE ANNIE

HOROSCOPES Monday, Dec. 24 CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DATE: Ryan Seacrest, 38; Stephenie Meyer, 39; Amaury Nolasco, 42 THOUGHT OF THE DAY: The Moon’s passage through the patient and comforting Taurus will align beautifully with Mars today. There will be mutual receptivity between our desires and our needs. Independence, confidence and reassurance will be the main ingredients in helping us achieve effectively any ongoing undertakings.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: If today is your birthday, you will have a very constructive year ahead where you will be able to put into action any creative endeavour while giving you ASTRO the ability to easily express your DOYNA desires. The focus will be mainly on your safety and security needs while assessing your material requirements. You will feel empowered with the right amount of independence and self-reliance which, in turn, will enable you to enjoy this coming year with much delight. A new romance can blossom during this time while making you feel alive and renewed.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You seek comfort and relief within your home environment or simply, amongst familiar surroundings, which give you a sense of accomplishment. You see clearly the road ahead and you move forward fiercely.

Your gut instincts are razor-sharp.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You are completely open to new experiences and adventures. You seek a certain liberation within you that wants deliberately to break free from anything and everyone. Independence and freedom of choice highly appeal to you now. Explore new spheres of knowledge and cultivate wisdom.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Whatever you decide to do today, you can accomplish it with quite confidently. However, you chose to rid yourself from psychological excesses and you want to liberate yourself in a way. Tap into your psyche.

Go exercise.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Your partner will contribute greatly into helping you get closer to your hopes and dreams.

Interaction with your key relationships will turn out to be more sizzling. It’s a wonderful feeling knowing that you both have compromising goals.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): This will prove to be a highly efficient day at work. Lots of errands can be run today, but not without some last-minute disruptions. You are feeling a pushpull effect, where certain make demand on you and others are simply pressuring you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A possible attraction to someone may lead you to forget about everything else today. You are feeling light-hearted and good-spirited, preferring to focus on the general picture rather than on small petty details. Today you seek exhilaration.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You find enormous support and help from your family members. They are there to offer you a shoulder to lean on. Conversation with others will help you get some insight on ongoing issues. Your brother or sister will be prominent today.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Today you see yourself through your partner’s actions and reactions. They represent your current state of being. Communications with them should prove resourceful and quite active offering you both a great sense of dynamic energy.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You will experience a strong urge to purchase something on the spur of the moment. Use your gut instinct when it comes to spending today keeping in mind that practicality is always a safer option.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You are ready to affirm yourself and expose your talents. You are out and about and it seems that nothing can get in your way. Romance shines brightly and entertaining activities are definitely in the picture today.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Any suppressed tensions that you might have today can be managed by doing some workout or simply, by nurturing your well-being needs. You are slowly, yet bravely coming out of a stressful phase and soon you will glow like rising star.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): If you decide to get involved within certain groups, you will likely gain much gratification from these experiences. Interactions and exchanges of news and ideas flourish abundantly today. Show off your leadership and organizational skills amongst your friends.

Tuesday, Dec. 25 CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DATE: Helena Christensen, 44; Annie Lennox, 58; Sissy Spacek, 63 THOUGHT OF THE DAY: The big news is that Mars is moving into Aquarius. This indicates a tendency for us to opt for novelty and adopt new ways in dealing with matters at hand. Greater efficiency can be achieved by being more humanitarian and group oriented.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: If today is your birthday, anticipate a year filled with miscellaneous activities which you will carry out vigorously. A sense of initiation and a pioneering attitude will support you in dealing with your physical condition, your eating habits and generally, your routine life. You will not wait around for things to happen, preferring to take good care of

SUN SIGNS

December 3 - 31, 2012

%*

25

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See store associate for more details.

HEAR WITH CONFIDENCE

Beltone True™

International award winning “Family” of wireless, Bluetooth compatible hearing instruments

The Hearing Centre 4928 - 53 Avenue, Red Deer

Call 403-347-4703 for your personal appointment.

Out of town 1.800.661.4703

Where people go when they want to hear better

SALE STARTS WED. DEC. 26

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FASHION FABRICS

FLANNELETTE & BROADCLOTH

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price

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50% OFF Dulux Club Membership See instore for details

1st in Fabric Selection Quality & Value

STORE HOURS

2119 Gaetz Ave – RED DEER

Mon-Fri: 10AM - 9PM Sat: 9:30AM - 5:30PM Sun: 12PM - 5PM Fabricland Sewing Club Members Value Hotline 1.866.R.Fabric 1.866.732.2742 www.fabriclandwest.com

Next to Visions 53659L27

Ph: 403.346.5555 2319 Taylor Drive, Red Deer

come conscious of who is the real boss of the house.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): This week, you will put your energies into anything exciting and stimulating. You have a very active mind and your thoughts are on fire. You will become a very resourceful individual for others at this time.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You are entering into a phase where you will undergo through a number of payments.

Money flows easily out of your pockets and it seems impossible to stop the volume of your expenses. Luckily, you have the know-how when it comes to discipline.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You are self-reliant and charismatic. You present yourself with much confidence and others might find you a bit intimidating. The truth is that you are not trying to challenge anyone; you are simply more buoyant in your actions as you are more persuasive than others.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You will be more motivated to work in seclusion, out of the limelight. You might find yourself with a very active subconscious mind. Learning to cultivate self-discipline and enduring restrictions might prove to be a challenge. For now, reflect on your past actions and your future goals.

Astro Doyna is an internationally syndicated astrologer and columnist.

OFF

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Mon.-Fri. 7 am - 5:30 pm, Sat. 8:30 am - 5 pm, Sun. 11 am - 4 pm

while you probably speak for many men, we also wonder whether you are subconsciously attracted to women who come with trouble attached. It is often easier to blame the other party than examine your own issues.

Dear Annie: This is for all the young people looking to go overseas and the parents who would prefer they didn’t.

Our daughter was obsessed with everything Japanese: the people, culture, land, language, food. We knew she would find her way there, with or without our help, so we chose to indulge her obsession. We paid for three trips to Japan, Japanese language classes and a master’s degree that allowed her to get a job there. She now lives and works in Japan, but we have never seen her happier. Her being so far away gives a whole new meaning to “empty nest syndrome” for us, but it is worth it. — Bittersweet in S.C. Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailbox@ comcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.

reg. price

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your newly improved lifestyle.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Utilize this fresh energy towards achieving what you had truly hoped for. You possess the right amount of bravery and zest. Your motivation inspires you to reach new heights which bring you closer to your dreams than you might realize.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Your diligence and courage will be observed. You are working great amount of hours towards building a stronger reputation and towards creating a name. Others take notice of your leadership skills and your self-starter attitude.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You might be working towards a matter involving travel overseas or some endeavour related to import-export. Additionally, you may find yourself determined in following some academic pursuit or dealing with a legal affair.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Exercise some self-discipline when it comes to finances. Reduce to the maximum any types of loans and stay away from your credit card. Right now, you are not inclined towards being too self-controlled in relation to money.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You are motivated to bring your relationship a step further and possibly, make a big move at this time. This fresh energy will spice you up and make you look forward to new endeavors with your significant other.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept.

22): There will be lots of movement at your workplace. You will run around like a chicken with no head.

Still, you will prove of your efficiency and productivity. You will not wait around for things to happen, but act as a gogetter and a great initiator.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You will be in the mood to attend fun, entertaining gatherings. You are filled with a zest of life willing to socialize and basically, enjoy yourself. You will be inclined to express your individuality in innovative ways that can prove inspiring to others.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You may want to settle a property issue and bring some domestic projects to fruition. You are pumped up and motivated to carry out any ongoing domestic endeavor. You will act as a pioneer in your home life and your family members will be-

50%

SAVE!

Thanks. — Frustrated Viewer in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada Dear Canada: We cannot tell you how many readers (even those without hearing problems) have complained that they can’t hear dialogue over the background music, and that actors and news anchors don’t articulate sufficiently to be understood. If programmers and advertisers realize that viewers change the channel when listening becomes difficult, perhaps they will pay more attention.

Dear Annie: “Looking for a Relationship, Too” wants to know where the men are. I’ll tell you where we are. We are in hiding. We left the dating pool because there are too many sharks. We are tired of sorting out the gold diggers, scheming manipulators, entitlement princesses, Toxic Thelmas and serial divorcees from the good women who are fewer and farther between. It is a dangerous occupation to be a husband and father, so we no longer want long-term intimate relationships with women. — A Good Man Gone Celibate Dear Celibate: You sound like someone who’s had a bitter experience, and it soured you on all relationships. And

39766F11-L31

Dear Annie: On behalf of the approximately 40 million deaf and hearing impaired in the United States and Canada, especially those who wear hearing aids, would you pass this message to the TV stations?

I love watching TV: sitcoms, news, dramas, reality shows, all of it. Being MITCHELL hearing im& SUGAR paired, I rely on closed captioning so I don’t miss the story and commercials. But if the station doesn’t provide closed captioning, I will change channels to find a program

that does.

In the newsroom, if the producers insist on playing music while the news anchor or onsite reporter is speaking, I can’t hear the story and will change channels. (Speaking of news anchors, enunciation would be appreciated. Actually, that goes for everyone on TV.) And you advertisers? I recommend you view your commercials on mute and see how they come across. I’m still laughing at the credit card commercial that somehow ties dogs and chocolate bars together. It looks suspiciously like dog droppings. I have no idea what you’re selling.

Hearing aids are wonderful, but they pick up every piece of noise, and background music becomes as loud as the dialogue. It’s impossible to hear what is going on. As our population ages, there will be more hearing impaired persons. And young people aren’t far behind in experiencing hearing loss.

So, TV stations and advertisers, if you want your message to get across to another 40 million customers and fans, please ensure that your audio programming can be clearly heard.

403-343-1277

price

30254L24

Red Deer reader wants to hear TV

TO PLACE AN AD

CLASSIFIEDS

403-309-3300 classifieds@reddeeradvocate.com Office/Phone Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Mon - Fri

wegotads.ca

Fax: 403-341-4772

wegotjobs

wegotservices

wegotstuff

CLASSIFICATIONS 700-920

CLASSIFICATIONS 1000-1430

CLASSIFICATIONS 1500-1940

wegotrentals

wegothomes

wegotwheels

CLASSIFICATIONS 3000-3390

CLASSIFICATIONS 4000-4310

CLASSIFICATIONS 5000-5240

2950 Bremner Ave. Red Deer, AB T4R 1M9 Circulation 403-314-4300 DEADLINE IS 5 P.M. FOR NEXT DAY’S PAPER

announcements Obituaries

In Memoriam

60

Personals

Looking for Ron Stone who lived in Innisfail in the 1980’s. Please call or text 403-472-5652.

Medical

790

Oilfield

800

Fluid Experts of Red Deer is seeking experienced

MEDICAL Office Assistant with Health Unit Coordinator Instructor required.

Bingos Must have 3 years industry RED DEER BINGO Centre experience as either a LPN 4946-53 Ave. (West of or Unit Clerk and related diploma. This is a part Superstore). Precall 12:00 time position for 3 hours & 6:00. Check TV Today!!!! per day Monday to Friday.

Submit resumes to resumes@ academyoflearning.ab.ca

to haul clean fluids for the Oil & Gas Industry. Home every night, company benefits with exceptional pay structure. Must be able to work on their own with minimal supervision.

Compensation based on experience. Fax resume w/all tickets and current drivers abstract to: 403-346-3112 or email to: roger@fluidexperts.com

wegot

jobs

Oilfield

Class 1 Operators

800

CLASSIFICATIONS 700-920 ABIJERO Victoria Lucas Oct. 10, 1921 - Dec. 20, 2012 Victoria Lucas Abijero of Red Deer, Alberta passed away at the Red Deer Regional Hospital on December 20, 2012 at the age of 91 years.

Victoria is lovingly remembered by her sons, Benjamin (Joy), Rey (Agnes), Manny (Estrella), Paul (Neria), Ben (Sherry) and Samuel; daughters, Elizabeth (Reuben), Grace (Dale) and Helen (Leo); and by her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband, Loreto; son, Samuel; and daughter, Ophelia. Those wishing to pay their respects may do so on Thursday, December 27, 2012 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m at Red Deer Funeral Home, 6150 - 67 Street, Red Deer. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 6 McMillan Avenue, Red Deer on Friday, December 28, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. with the Reverend Les Drewicki presiding.

Condolences may be forwarded to the family by visiting www.reddeerfuneralhome.com Arrangements entrusted to RED DEER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORIUM 6150 - 67 Street, Red Deer.

Phone (403) 347-3319.

Coming Events

CLASSIFICATIONS 50-70

Class Registrations

51

FIRST-AID,CPR.HCP Courses. Certified Instructor, Flexible Timings SAUD. 403 307 7444. saudm01@hotmail.com

FINNIGAN - Esther Dec. 23, 2010 Cherished wife, mother, grandmother and friend. ~Forever loved, and never forgotten.

David and family MARJORIE K. HEWSON Nov. 30, 1920 - Dec. 25, 2006 The day is remembered And quietly kept.

No words are needed, We shall never forget.

Lovingly remembered by the Hewson, Teichroeb & Emerson families

710

GROUP home in Lacombe needs full & part time workers, starting Jan. 1. 2 yr. diploma in rehab/ nursing care.

403-782-7156 357-7465 P/T F. caregiver wanted for F quad. Must have own vehicle. 403-348-5456 or 505-7846

Clerical

720

P/T CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE The Red Deer Advocate is accepting applications for a P/T Customer Service Representative.

Mom, we remember you at this special time of year.

Your laughter, your dancing around the living room singing along with Perry Como; your infamous puns that we’d roll our eyes at - but loved all the same. We miss you, love you.

Your children, grandchildren and families.

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EAST 40TH PUB SPECIALS

Tuesday & Saturday’s Rib Night Wednesday Wing Night Thursdays Shrimp Night

EAST 40th PUB presents an afternoon with BRAD ABEL & RED MAN ROUGE Mon. Dec. 24th 1-4 p.m.

FREE FLU SHOTS

Highland Green Value Drug Mart 6315 Horn St.

CLASSIFIEDS’ CHRISTMAS Hours & Deadlines

Caregivers/ Aides

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Lost

LOST men’s wallet Dec. 14 in Pines area. If found call Jody at 403-343-7663 or work 403-314-4383 LOST: Silver Pierced earring with 3 rows of stones.

REWARD! 403-347-0878

56

Found

60

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 403-347-8650

EXPERIENCED PIPELINE LABORERS EXPERIENCED BOOM HANDS Safety tickets required.

PIPELINE EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. BENEFITS OFFERED. An application form can be found on our website.

Website: www.wpidhirney.net or Fax your application or resume to 403-729-3606 or send by email to hr@wpidhirney.net 403-729-3007

Janitorial

770

CCCSI is hiring sanitation workers for the afternoon and evening shifts. Get paid weekly, $14.22/hr.

Call 403-348-8440 or fax 403-348-8463

800

GREYWOLF ENERGY SERVICES LTD. is now hiring experienced Well Testing Operators, Night Supervisors, and Day Supervisors.

We are one of the largest testing companies in North America.

We pay top wages, have an excellent benefits package, and an RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) program.

Candidates must have H2S, First Aid training, and the ability to pass a pre-employment drug screening. A valid class five driver’s licence with a clean driver’s abstract is an asset.

Southern Alberta residents, submit resumes to: Email: jliesemer@ greywolfsystems.ca Fax: 1-866-211-0338 Northern Alberta residents, submit resumes to: Email: mstoddard@ greywolfsystems.ca Fax: 780-539-0946

HIRING!

Expanding Integrated North American Service Company is currently accepting resumes for the following positions: Experienced Horizontal Completion Systems Field Te c h n i c i a n s , S h o p Technicians, Operations Manager(s). We offer Comprehensive Benefits, Competitive Salary’s and Field (day) Bonuses.

All applicants are welcome, but only those considered will be contacted. Please forward resume to: completions.jobs@ gmail.com

Oilfield

Landcore Technologies Inc. located in Ponoka is currently seeking energetic, motivated team players for the following positions:

Drillers and Driller Assistants with a Class 1 driver’s license.

Apprentice or Journeyman Mechanics Pile Drive Operators Pile Drive Assistants Field Supervisor All candidates must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test.

Safety tickets are an asset but we are willing to train the right candidate.

We offer exceptional pay, excellent benefit package and a positive work environment.

Please email resumes to info@landcore.ca or fax 403-783-2011.

The right candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Please no phone calls.

LOCAL SERVICE CO. REQ’S EXP. VACUUM TRUCK OPERATOR Must have Class 3 licence w/air & all oilfield tickets.

Fax resume w/drivers abstract to 403-886-4475 RATTRAY Reclamation is currently looking for exp’d Class 1 drivers, laborers and backhoe operators with a valid Class 1 license for the Lacombe and Central Alberta areas.

Preferences will be given to those who hold current safety tickets such as H2S Alive, First Aid and Ground Disturbance Level II certification as well as a clean drivers abstract. Drug and Alcohol policy in affect. We offer competitive wages, benefits and a safety bonus program. Work consists of oilfield reclamation and lease construction as well as many other tasks. Please fax resume to 403-934-5235 or email to drattray@rattrayrec.com No phone calls please.

TEAM Snubbing now hiring operators and helpers. Email: janderson@ teamsnubbing.com

Oilfield

800

PRODUCTION TESTING PERSONNEL REQ’D RETIREMENT & SAVINGS PLAN BENEFITS

Join Our Fast Growing Team!!

QUALIFIED DAY AND NIGHT SUPERVISORS

(Must be able to Provide own work truck)

FIELD OPERATORS Valid 1st Aid, H2S, Drivers License required!!

Please contact Murray McGeachy or Jamie Rempel by Fax: (403) 340-0886 or email mmcgeachy@ cathedralenergyservices.com jrempel@ cathedralenergyservices.com website: www. cathedralenergyservices. com Your application will be kept strictly confidential.

TANKMASTER RENTALS requires CLASS 1 BED TRUCK Operators for Central Alberta. Competitive wages and benefits. m.morton@tankmaster.ca or fax 403-340-8818 Buying or Selling your home?

Check out Homes for Sale in Classifieds

You can sell your guitar for a song... or put it in CLASSIFIEDS and we’ll sell it for you!

800

WE are looking for Rig Managers, Drillers, Derrick and Floor hands for the Red Deer area.

Please contact Steve Tiffin at stiffin@galleonrigs.com or (403) 358-3350 fax (403) 358-3326 Looking for a place to live?

Take a tour through the CLASSIFIEDS

Restaurant/ Hotel

Safety tickets required PIPELINE EXPERIENCE NECESSARY Benefits offered.

An application form can be found on our website.

Website: www.wpidhirney.net Fax your application or resume to 403-729-3606 or send by email to hr@wpidhirney.net 403-729-3007

820

The Tap House Pub & Grill req’s full and part time cooks. Apply with resume at 1927 Gaetz Avenue between 2-5 pm.

TOO MUCH STUFF? Let Classifieds help you sell it.

64

Classifieds Your place to SELL Your place to BUY 278517L21-A3

Bingos

EXPERIENCED PIPELINE HOE OPERATORS

This is an entry level position reporting to the Customer Service Superv i s o r. T h i s p o s i t i o n i s responsible for assisting circulation customers by phone or in person with customer service issues and compiling reports and other office duties.

Candidate should possess a good telephone manner, “People are our most excellent communication important asset - their skills and have basic safety is our greatest computer knowledge. responsibility.

Attention to detail and the No job is so urgent that it ability to function in a fast cannot be done safely.” paced environment with a p o s i t i v e a t t i t u d e a r e OILFIELD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY required for this position.

Preference will be given to We are currently accepting resumes for candidates with customer A QUALITY ASSURANCE service experience. /QUALITY CONTROL Knowledge of the newsASSISTANT paper or distribution business is s definite Responsibilities include: asset. * Reviewing project Approx. 15-20 hrs. per packages, ensuring week including weekend procedures and records are followed and completed shifts.

P l e a s e s u b m i t y o u r * Must have ability to read r e s u m e b y J a n u a r y 2 , engineered drawings * Understand QA/QC 2013 to: manuals and procedures * Monitor work in progress HUMAN RESOURCES to ensure compliance Red Deer Advocate * Have knowledge in 2950 Bremner Ave. Facility and Pipeline Red Deer, T4R 1M9 construction projects Fax: 403-341-4772 * Participate in external Email: careers@ audits reddeeradvocate.com Compensation for this with CSR in subject line position will be discussed with successful applicant.

FOUND in Costco parking lot, set of two keys with heart shaped “ornament” Attached. Please call 403-342-1980 to identify

Personals

“People are our most important asset - their safety is our greatest responsibility.

No job is so urgent that it cannot be done safely.”

OILFIELD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY We are currently accepting resumes for the following fulltime positions.

Oilfield

Fluid Experts Ltd.

F/T / P/T Pharmacy Technicians. Apply w/ resume to: Highland Green Value Drug Mart, Red Deer

64

WHAT’S HAPPENING

D1

Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

RED DEER ADVOCATE Office & Phone Lines Closed NO PAPER PUBLISHED

Oilfield

800

TUES. DEC. 25 & TUES. JAN. 1

PUBLICATION DATES & DEADLINES RED DEER ADVOCATE

SAT. DEC. 22,& MON. DEC. 24 Deadline is FRIDAY, DEC. 21 @ 5 P.M.

RED DEER LIFE SUNDAY SUN. DEC. 23 Deadline is Friday Dec. 21 @ 2 p.m.

SUN. DEC. 30 Deadline is Friday Dec. 28 @ 2 p.m.

RED DEER ADVOCATE WED. DEC. 26 Deadline is MON. DEC. 24 @ 11 A.M. WED. JAN. 2 Deadline is Mon. Dec. 31 @ 5 p.m.

CENTRAL AB LIFE - December 24 Deadline is Thur. Dec. 20 @ 10 a.m.

THURS. JAN. 3 Deadline is Fri. Dec. 28 @ 2 p.m.

For Rimbey, Ponoka, Eckville, Sylvan, Stettler, Bashaw, Castor & Weekender See individual publications HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES! Red Deer Advocate Classifieds 403-309-3300

BINGO GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

LAS VEGAS STYLE

KENO

Check Us Out Progressive Pots @ www.reddeerbingocentre.ca OUR SPONSORS FOR THE WEEK: CLOSED DEC. 24 & DEC. 25 - Merry Christmas!

Wed. Dec. 26 Aft: Red Deer Central Lions Eve: Canadian Paraplegic Association Thurs. Dec. 27 Aft: Circle of Red Deer Seniors Society Eve: Canadian Institute for the Blind Fri. Dec. 28 Aft: Red Deer Elks Lodge Eve: Sy Sylvan lvan Lake Figure Skating Club Sat. Dec. 29 Aft: Country Pride Dance Club Eve: Red Deer Marlin Swim Club Sun. Dec. 30 Aft: Sylvan Lake Swim Club & CA Slo-Pitch Assoc.

Eve: Canadian Paraplegic Association Mon. Dec. 31 Aft: R.D.R.H. Voluntary Association Eve: R.D.R.H. Voluntary Association WE ARE OPEN OPEN NEW YEAR’S DAY - Happy New Year!

Year!

RED DEER BINGO CENTRE 4946-53 Ave. 347-4504 (Just West of Superstore) Check Us Out @ www.reddeerbingocentre.ca

Afternoon & Evening Bingo 7 Days a Week

NOW HIRING Weir SPM is a market leader in well service pumps and high pressure Àow control equipment. Weir SPM’s line of reciprocating plungers pumps are used in various applications including cementing, acidizing, and fracturing. The expanding Àow control product line features products used to safely transport Àuids at high pressure into the wellbore during various well service applications. Weir SPM also utilizes a global network of service facilities to provide superior post-sale services to our customers.

WELLHEAD REFURB TECHNICIAN This position is responsible for the assembly, service, maintenance, evaluation and repairs of wellheads and associated equipment.

Preferred candidate will have a background in value and/or wellhead repairs and service. The successful candidate will supervise a team of professionals to satisfy our client needs.

Weir SPM offers a comprehensive compensation package and bene¿ts program including vision care and RRSP plan. We are an equal opportunity employer with a committed focus on the safety of our employees.

Please apply at:

Email: rfontaine@weirspm.com Fax:

403-341-3072

278528L29

Office & Phone Lines Closed WED. DEC. 26 - Boxing Day

D2 RED DEER ADVOCATE Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

850

Trades

Misc.

Help

880

880

Misc.

Help

880

Misc.

Help

Penhold, AB

Truckers/ Drivers

860

BUSY CENTRAL AB Start making a difference today, and become part of company req’s exp’d. Class 1 drivers to pull decks. our team!

Assigned truck, exc. wages and benefits pkg. Paid TECHNICAL Sales Expert extras. Family orientated. required at Digitex Resume and abstract fax Canada Red Deer, AB. to 403-784-2330 or call Twelve month assignment.

1-877-787-2501 Working hours of 40 hours Mon,. - Fri,. 8 a m to 6 pm per week or more.

CLASS 3 WATER HAULER Required competencies: needed. Only those with Must have several years Drilling Rig Water Hauling experience in technical experience need apply. sales of Canon digital Need H2S & First Aid business equipment and tickets.TOP WAGES PAID software in a business to business sales environment. Fax clean drivers abstract and resume between the Must be an expert at hours of 9 am to 6 pm to: understanding customer 403-746-3523 or call needs, experienced in 403-304-7179 drafting and completing contracts for selling Canon RV HAULING equipment, previous Saskatoon Hotshot supervisory experience of Transporter technical sales staff, be is now hiring proficient at large account selling strategies.

Power Units Must have completed w/wo stepdecks Canon corporate account 3/4 tons, and 1 ton for R.V. training, product & solution and freight hauling selling and be an expert in throughout Canada and corporate sales training the U.S. Year round work, and solution selling. lots of miles and home time, Person must be expert in fuel subsidies, benefits, technical training of clients excellent earnings. to use Canon products.

306-653-8675 Hourly wage CAD $26.44 saskatoonhotshot.com plus commission.

Duties would include: Promote sales to existing Misc. clients, identify and solicit Help potential clients, assess clients’ needs and resources to recommend the appropriate products.

Provide input into product ADULT CARRIERS design where goods or NEEDED services must be tailored for early morning to suit clients’ needs; develop reports and delivery of proposals as part of sales Red Deer Advocate presentation to illustrate 6 days per week in benefits from use of good or service and estimate costs of installing and EASTVIEW maintaining equipment or 100 ADVOCATE service. Candidate must $525/MO. prepare and administer $6300/YR sales contracts, consult with clients after sale to 2 HRS./DAY resolve problems and to provide ongoing support.

GRANDVIEW Must be able to troubleshoot technical problems 75 Advocate related to Canon photo$393/month copier equipment, printers, $4725/yr. scanners, etc. and train 1-1/2 hrs. per day customers’ staff in the operation and maintenance of Canon photocopier Call Karen equipment. for more info Be able to supervise the 403-314-4317 activities of other technical sales specialists as Tired of Standing? needed. Send resumes to: Find something to sit on mvandale@digitex.ca or in Classifieds fax to 403-309-3384

880

850

Trades

CONCRETE FINISHER REQUIRED Must have drivers license.

Fax resume 403-782-2439 COOPER ROOFING & EXTERIORS requires a SIDER/SLOPED ROOFER Valid Driver’s License REQUIRED. Fax (403)346-7556 or email resume to general@ cooperroofing.ca NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE! Something for Everyone Everyday in Classifieds

QUALIFIED ELECTRICIANS NEEDED

ADULT or YOUTH CARRIERS NEEDED

ADULT & YOUTH CARRIERS NEEDED for delivery of Flyers Red Deer Express & Red Deer Life Sunday in

For delivery of Flyers, Express and Sunday Life in DEER PARK Dempsey St. area $45.00/mo.

ALSO Dempsey St. Dumas Crsc. & Duffy Close area $88.00/mo.

ALSO Duston St. Donnelly Crsc., area Densmore Crs. Dale Close $270.00/mo.

ALSO Doran Crsc.

Dunn Close $50.00 /mo.

ALSO Doran Crsc., Doan Ave. area $53.00/mo.

MOUNTVIEW WEST LAKE WEST PARK

ADULT CARRIERS NEEDED For delivery of Red Deer Advocate by 6:30 a.m.

Mon. through Fri. & 8:00. .am. on Saturday in LANCASTER AREA 77 papers $412/mo.

ROSEDALE AREA 72 papers $386/mo.

DEER PARK Dempsey St. area 79 papers $423/mo.

ALSO Davison Dr. area 101 papers $541/mo.

Call Jamie 403-314-4306 for more info

Baile Cl. /Boyce St. Beatty Crs./Barrett Dr. Brown Cl./Baird St Barrett Dr./Baird St

Lancaster Drive Lindsay Ave. Lagrange Crsc

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only selected candidates will be contacted.

SUNNYBROOK AREA

DISPATCHER req’d.

Knowledge of Red Deer and area is essential.

Good communication, skills both verbal and written. Must have effective time management skills and able to multi task in a fast paced environment.

Experience preferred, but will train suitable applicant.

Send resume by fax to 403-346-0295

Isbister Close Issard Close

Scott St./Somerset Close.

Sunnyside Crsc.

Call Prodie @ 403- 314-4301 for more info ********************** TO ORDER HOME DELIVERY OF THE ADVOCATE CALL OUR CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 314-4300 Classifieds Your place to SELL Your place to BUY

CARRIERS REQUIRED to deliver the Central AB. Life in the towns of Blackfalds Lacombe Ponoka Stettler

CELEBRATIONS HAPPEN EVERY DAY IN CLASSIFIEDS

ADULT & Youth Carrier Needed For Delivery of Flyers, Express & Sunday Life in

You can sell your guitar for a song... or put it in CLASSIFIEDS and we’ll sell it for you!

Call Rick at 403-314-4303

RIVERSIDE MEADOWS 57, 58 & 58A ST & 58 AVE. Please call Joanne at 403-314-4308

Looker Office Furniture is looking for an OFFICE FURNITURE INSTALLER If you have a clean drivers licence, are hard working, flexible and have a positive attitude this job could be for you.

Team work and a great work ethic is a must! This full-time position is for install and delivery of commercial furniture.

Please email resume to ac@lookeroffice.ca or drop off a resume to # 3- 7429 50th Ave Red Deer

Classifieds...costs so little Saves you so much!

Looking for a new pet?

Check out Classifieds to find the purrfect pet.

Celebrate your life with a Classified ANNOUNCEMENT

As part of our customer service team, you will be dispatched in response to service concerns to delivery newspapers and flyers to customers or carriers. A delivery vehicle is provided.

Hours of shifts are Monday through Friday 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. or longer, and/or afternoon shifts Monday to Friday 2 p.m. - 6 p.m..

Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m.-11 a.m. or longer

LANCASTER AREA

INGLEWOOD AREA

Viscount Dr./ Voisin Crsc

Start your career!

See Help Wanted

Do You: - Want extra income - Possess a clean, valid drivers license - Have a friendly attitude - Enjoy customer service - Want part-time work (12 to 22 hours per week)

Submit resume, indicating “Service Runner Position”, along with your drivers abstract immediately to: careers@ reddeeradvocate.com or mail to: Human Resources 2950 Bremner Avenue Red Deer, AB. T4N 5G3 or fax to: 403-341-4772

VANIER AREA

ALSO Clearview Ridge Timberlands area 59 papers $376/mo.

Call Jamie 403-314-4306 for more info

ONLY 4 DAYS A WEEK

ANDERS AREA

BOWER AREA

Central Alberta’s Largest Car Lot in Classifieds

MICHENER West of 40th Ave. North of Ross St. area $245.00/mo.

Good for adult w/a small car ALSO East of 40th North of Ross St. Michener Green Cresc. area. $268/mo.

Good for adult with small car.

FOR FLYERS, RED DEER SUNDAY LIFE AND EXPRESS ROUTES IN:

Adams Close/ Adair Ave.

Call Karen for more info 403-314-4317

LANCASTER Lenon Close, Lacey Close, Landry Bend area $76/mo.

ALSO Logan Close Lee St. & Lawrence Crsc. area $158/mo.

CARRIERS NEEDED

Service Runner (Part Time)

NEWSPAPER CARRIERS REQUIRED for Afternoon delivery in Bowden & Innisfail Please contact QUITCY

at 403-314-4316 or email qmacaulay@ reddeeradvocate.com

Employment Training

NEWSPAPER CARRIERS REQUIRED for In Town of Trochu Morning Delivery 1 hour per day 6 days per week No collection No Sundays

1 day per wk.

No collecting!!

Please contact QUITCY

at 403-314-4316 or email qmacaulay@ reddeeradvocate.com Start your career!

See Help Wanted

900

EXPERIENCED PARTS PERSON for our office in Rocky Mountain House.

Please e-mail resumes to:

hr@pidherneys.com

278682L2231

Pidherney’s offers competitive wages and benefits.

CONSIDERING A CAREER CHANGE? Daily, the Red Deer Advocate publishes advertisements from companies, corporations and associations across Canada seeking personnel for long term placements.

1000-1430

To Advertise Your Business or Service Here CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER

Call Classifieds 403-309-3300 classifieds@reddeeradvocate.com

1200

Massage Therapy

1280

INDIVIDUAL & BUSINESS Accounting, 30 yrs. of exp. with oilfield service companies, other small businesses and individuals RW Smith, 346-9351

BUSY B’S HANDYMAN SERVICES LTD. Res/Comm.Reno’s, repair and more. Give us a buzz @ 403-598-3857 Free quotes. WCB, insured.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MASSAGE, new girls, 4606 48 Ave. Open 7 a.m.- 9 p.m. 7 days a wk.

Phone 403-986-1691

1100

F & J Renovations. We do it all. Good rates and references available so call John at 403-307-3001 jbringleson@shaw.ca

Feeling overwhelmed?

Hard work day? Come in and let us pamper you.

Pampering at its best. #7 7464 Gaetz Ave.(rear entrance if necessary) www.viimassage.biz In/Out Calls to Hotels 403-986-6686

Contractors

BRIAN’S DRYWALL Framing, drywall, taping, textured & t-bar ceilings, 36 yrs exp. Ref’s. 392-1980 DALE’S Home Reno’s Free estimates for all your reno needs. 403-506-4301

Escorts

1165

EDEN 587-877-7399 10am-midnight EROTICAS PLAYMATES Girls of all ages 598-3049 www.eroticasplaymates.net LEXUS 392-0891 *BUSTY* INDEPENDENT w/own car

FREE

for all Albertans

wegot

stuff CLASSIFICATIONS 1500-1990

Auctions

TIRED of waiting? Call Renovation Rick, Jack of all trades. Handier than 9 men. 587-876-4396 or 587-272-1999

Massage Therapy

1280

Gentle Touch Massage 4919 50 St. New rear entry, lots of parking 403-341-4445

VII MASSAGE

Misc.

Services

1290

5* JUNK REMOVAL

Property clean up 340-8666

CENTRAL PEST CONTROL LTD. LINDA’S CHINESE MAS- Comm/res. Locally owned.

SAGE Grand Opening #3 403-373-6182 cpest@shaw.ca 4820-47 Ave. 403-986-1550 FREE removal of all kinds of unwanted scrap metal.

MASSAGE ABOVE ALL No household appliances WALK-INS WELCOME 403-396-8629 4709 Gaetz Ave. 346-1161

1530

Bud Haynes & Co. Auctioneers

Certified Appraisers 1966 Estates, Antiques, Firearms.

Bay 5, 7429-49 Ave. 347-5855

EquipmentHeavy

1630

TRAILERS for sale or rent Job site, office, well site or storage. Skidded or wheeled. Call 347-7721.

Farmers' Market

1650

Misc.

Services

1290

Misc.

Help

Misc. for Sale

1660

1760

CHRISTMAS Starbucks mug $7; Tim Hortons tea pot & matching mug $12; six assorted Tim Hortons mugs at $7 each; Starbucks coffee carafe , new $45; Leather wine carrier, new $45; 20 cotton knit dishcloths $1.25 each.

Scottie mug $5; Set of black Scottie mugs $8.

Pics available on request.

Call 403- 342-1980 JUST in time for Christmas entertaining , blue Willow dinnerware set, 12 place setting, w/5 pieces for each setting, versatile, freezer, dishwasher, microwave safe, have not been used, ( pictured in Sears wish book) $199.99.

Phone 403-746-2456

1830

Cats

BEAUTIFUL affectionate young F. cat, needs loving home. To give away 403-782-3130 FREE F cat to good home, spayed, indoor, likes to go for walks outside 403-304-0879 HOUSE cat to give away, declawed front paws, call 403-728-3151

1840

Dogs

BORDER COLLIE, P.B. registerable, 7 wks. old.

Ready to go for Christmas. $200. 403-429-0519 HUSKY WOLF PUPS!!

1st shots, yr. gaurantee.

403-506-3395, 749-2924

Travel Packages

1900

TRAVEL ALBERTA Alberta offers SOMETHING for everyone.

Make your travel plans now.

BROWN EGGS AND LAMB now has free range pork : gourmet hams and sausage. Great selection of warm woolies.

Phone 403-782-4095

AGRICULTURAL

CLASSIFICATIONS 2000-2290

Horses

2140

AFFORDABLE

Homestead Firewood

Spruce, Pine, Birch Spilt, Dry. 7 days/wk. 403-304-6472 BIRCH or Pine 347-7211 bluegrassnursery.com

FIREWOOD. Pine, Spruce, Poplar. Can deliver 1-4 cords. 403-844-0227 Now Offering Hotter, Cleaner BC Birch. All Types. P.U. / del. Lyle 403-783-2275 -

Household Appliances

1710

APPLS. reconditioned lrg. selection, $150 + up, 6 mo. warr. Riverside Appliances 403-342-1042

We are a growing construction company that requires an

CLASSIFICATIONS

1010

Build A Resume That Works!

APPLY ONLINE www.lokken.com/rdw.html Call: 403-348-8561 Email inford@lokken.com Career Programs are

1720

2- 20” TV’S $15 EACH, Toshiba 27” $25; Royal blue arm chair, $25; single bed, oak frame and mattress, as new $75; 403-346-2859 dble. bed and mattress 1 yr old only $25; loveseat floral pattern $65; kenmore 14.7 L, humidifier $45 replacement $170; 403-346-2859

wegotservices

Accounting

RED DEER WORKS

Household Furnishings

DRIVEN TO EXCEL FROM START TO FINISH

Handyman Services

920

Career Planning

FRIDGE, brand new 18 cu. ft. Frigidaire, white, 1 mos. old. Full warr. Paid $700.

Asking $350. 403-307-4223 Central Alberta’s Largest Car Lot in Classifieds

True Power Electric Requires Residential exp. only Competitive wages & benefits.

Fax resume to: 403-314-5599

WHOLESALE FIREPLACE Installer req’d for fireplace installations. Call John 780-993-2040

Firewood The Town of Olds No collecting!

Packages come ready for delivery!

Also for the afternoon in Town of Penhold!

Also afternoon delivery in Town of Springbrook

880

Misc.

Help

880

Misc.

Help

FREE range naturally raised turkey, gov’t. inspected, skinless, boneless turkey breast $5.99/lb, turkey breast steaks $5.99/lb, ground turkey $5.99/lb, drumsticks avail. $10/pkg.

Germane Market Gardens, Gail 403-843-6864

275260L7-31

To l e a r n m o r e a b o u t dynamic employment opportunities log on to www.cpsagu.com/Careers

880

CIRCULATION

First Choice Collision

Seeking Journeyman or 2nd /3rd year apprentices.

Positions for body, prep and refinishing technicians needed for our car and Come Join our light truck division. Top Team wages, bonus programs Crop Production Services and benefit package. Fax Canada is a division of resumes to Agrium (403) 343-2160; e-mail (www.Agrium.com), choice2@telusplanet.net and one of the largest farm or drop off in person @ #5, market retailers in North 7493, 49th Avenue America. Our mission is Crescent, Red Deer. to be the trusted and recMECH TECH HEAVY ognized leader in the agricultural industry, the EQUIPMENT REPAIR LTD. mechtech.her@hotmail.com first choice for every Journeyman Heavy customer and producer.

Equipment Field Make the move to join our more than 7000 employ- Technician needed. Class e e s a c r o s s N o r t h a n d 5 licence. onroad/offroad South America and begin equipment exp. an asset.

Position in Ft.McMurray. growing your career now.

Call Justin 780-713-9049 D u e t o o u r c o n t i n u o u s NEEDED immed. Journeygrowth we are currently man electrician for the AG recruiting for: industry. Competitive wages and benefits.

Crop Production Please forward resume to Advisor info@prolineinc.ca

Misc.

Help

BED ALL NEW,

Queen Orthopedic, dble. pillow top, set, 15 yr. warr.

Cost $1300. Sacrifice $325.

302-0582 Free Delivery BED: #1 King. extra thick orthopedic pillowtop, brand new, never used. 15 yr. warr. Cost $1995, sacrifice @ $545. 403-302-0582.

DBLE. bed and mattress 1 yr old only $25; loveseat floral pattern $65; Kenmore 14.7 L, humidifier $45 replacement $170; 403-346-2859

WANTED

Antiques, furniture and estates. 342-2514

Misc. for Sale

1760

10-12 HOUSE plants $10-$40 403-342-4572 2 NATIVE SHIELDS Blackfoot & Cree, 18” diameter, $40 each, Calgary Stampede posters, brand new still in tube, 36x23” one 1998 5 left 1999 , 4 tuibes, yr 2000, $25 each, 403-347-7405

Cutter/Sleigh - 2 Seater with shaves Absolutely pristine condition! $2250.00 Contact warren at 403-350-8050 WANTED: all types of horses. Processing locally in Lacombe weekly.

403-651-5912

wegot

rentals CLASSIFICATIONS FOR RENT • 3000-3200 WANTED • 3250-3390

Condos/ Townhouses

3030

32 HOLMES ST.

1 1/2 blocks west of mall, 3 bdrm. bi-level, blinds, lg. balcony, 4 appls, no pets, n/s, rent $1195 SD $1000 Avail. Feb. 1 403-304-7576 or 347-7545 AVAIL. Jan. 1, 3 bdrm. townhouse, 4 appl., hardwood, 2 parking stalls, close to shopping & schools. $1075 + util. + d.d RENTED!

HALMAN Heights

3 level 3 bdrm. townhouse 5 appls, 1 1/2 bath, blinds, no pets, n/s, rent $1395 SD $1000 avail. Jan 2 403-304-7576 or 347-7545

KITSON CLOSE

newer exec. 3 bdrm. bi-level townhouse 1447 sq. ft. 5 appls, 1 1/2 bath, blinds, lg. balcony, fenced in rear, front/rear parking, no dogs, rent $1395 SD $1000. n/s Avail. immed. & 2 for Jan. 2 403-304-7576 / 347-7545

Kyte/Kelloway Cres.

Lovely 3 level exec.

3 bdrm. townhouse 5 appls, 1 1/2 bath, concrete patio, blinds, front/rear parking, no dogs, n/s, rent $1395 SD $1000 Avail. Jan. 2 403-304-7576 or 347-7545 SOUTHWOOD PARK 3110-47TH Avenue, 2 & 3 bdrm. townhouses, generously sized, 1 1/2 baths, fenced yards, full bsmts. 403-347-7473, Sorry no pets. www.greatapartments.ca

880

IRONMAN Scrap Metal Recovery is picking up scrap again! Farm machinery, vehicles and industrial.

Serving central Alberta.

403-318-4346

Seniors’ Services

1372

is expanding its facility to double production.

ATT’N: SENIORS Are you looking for help on small reno’s or jobs, such as, new bathroom sink, toilets or safety bars in bath tubs. Call James 403- 341-0617

We are currently seeking the following to join our team in Blackfalds for all shifts:

HELPING HANDS For Seniors. Cleaning, cooking, companionship in home or in facility.

Call 403-346-7777 Better For Cheaper with a Low Price Guarantee. helpinghandshomesupport.com

Top Wages paid based on experience. Full Benefits and Uniform Package included.

- Concrete Finishers - Carpenters/Woodworkers Visit our website for more detailed job descriptions at www. eaglebuilders.ca. Applicants are able to apply online or fax resumes to Human Resources 403-885-5516 or e-mail: k.kooiker@eaglebuilders.ca.

272825K19-L30

830

Sales & Distributors

RED DEER ADVOCATE Monday, Dec. 24, 2012 D3

3030

Riverfront Estates

Deluxe 3 bdrm. 1 1/2 bath, bi-level townhouse, 5 appls, blinds, large balcony, no pets, n/s, $1195 or $1220 along the river.

SD $1000. avail.

Jan. 2 403-304-7576 347-7545

Manufactured Homes

3040

Newly Reno’d Mobile FREE Shaw Cable + more $899/month Sharon 403-550-8777

4 Plexes/ 6 Plexes

3050

3 BDRM. 4 appls. no pets. $900/mo. + d.d.

403-343-6609

3060

Suites

GLENDALE 2 bdrm. $825, D.D. $825, 1 BDRM., $740, N/S, no pets, no partiers, avail immed..

1-403-200-8175

Mobile Lot

3190

MOBILE HOME PAD, in Red Deer Close to Gaetz, 2 car park, Shaw cable incl.

Sharon 403-550-8777

Lots For Sale

4160

wegot

Houses For Sale

wegot

Trucks

CLASSIFICATIONS

Looking for a place to live?

Take a tour through the CLASSIFIEDS

4050

5050

5030

Cars

2011 GMC SIERRA 1500 SLT 4X4, sunroof, htd. lthr., 61,557 kms $33,888 348-8788 Sport & Import

2011 CADILLAC CTS 4 AWDCoupe nav full load, 1 owner 53,000 km $39,888 Sport & Import 348-8788 2010 GMC 3500 HD 4x4 Duramax Dually, leather nav dvd 54,000 km $49,888 Sport & Import 348-8788

LARGE, 1, 2 & 3 BDRM. SUITES. 25+, adults only n/s, no pets 403-346-7111 ONE bdrm. apt. across from hospital, West Park, $750/ mo., avail. Jan.1 403-877-3323.

2008 TOYOTA YARIS FWD, 62709 kms, $10888 ONE bdrm. apt. West P a r k , c l o s e t o c o l l e g e 7 ACRES, all utilities, road, 348-8788 Sport & Import quonset, greenhouse, antique $725/mo., avail Jan.1 home $353,000. 20 min.

403-877-3323. to Red Deer, great for horses, 403-227-5132 OPPOSITE HOSPITAL Large 2 bdrm. apt., balcony No pets. $775. avail. Jan. 1.

Farms/ 403-346-5885

Rooms For Rent

3090

ROOM $600. Blackfalds.

All incld’d, furn. 588-2564

Mobile Lot

3190

LACOMBE new park, animal friendly. Your mobile or ours. 2 or 3 bdrm.

Excellent 1st time home buyers. 403-588-8820

Manufactured Homes

4070

Land

Red Deer Land For Sale

below appraisal!!! check it out on kijiji ID# 440913568 ID# 440917484 or phone 403 345 5250

Manufactured Homes

4090 2004 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GLS diesel, $9888 348-8788 Sport & Import

VIEW ALL OUR PRODUCTS

with Laminate Flooring, new carpet, newly painted

A MUST SEE!

At

www.garymoe.com

20,000with Intro

has relocated to

400/month lot Rent incl. Cable

$

Sharon (403) 340-0225 274500L1-31

Renter’s Special

216751

FREE Cable

SUV's

5040

2 & 3 bedroom

modular/mobile homes in pet friendly park

2007 JEEP Grand Cherokee AWD $15888 348-8788 Sport & Import

Starting at

849

Sharon (403) 340-0225 www.lansdowne.ca

Vehicles Wanted To Buy

5200

WANTED FREE REMOVAL of unwanted cars and trucks, also wanted to buy lead batteries, call 403-396-8629

PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices

6010

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF FIRST MEETING IN THE MATTER OF THE BANKRUPTCY OF Cindy Lee Qually # 24-1698560 Notice is hereby given that Cindy Lee Qually filed an assignment on the December 19, 2012 and that the First Meeting of Creditors will be held on January 9, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the office of Bromwich & Smith Inc., Trustees in Bankruptcy, Unit G, 2085 - 50 Avenue, Red Deer, AB T4R 1Z4.

Dated at Calgary this December 20, 2012

BROMWICH & SMITH INC. Trustees in Bankruptcy 201, 1000 9th Avenue S.W., Calgary AB T2P 2Y6 309 3300.

/month 274499L1-31

$

5070

REMOVAL of unwanted cars, may pay cash for complete cars. 304-7585

MUST SELL

By Owner $7,000.

Sharon 403-550-8777

www.lansdowne.ca

Vans Buses

2005 CHRYSLER Crossfire LTD, 6 speed, htd. 2003 AEROSTAR Ford, lthr., $10,888 348-8788 $1500. obo. 403-343-8594 Sport & Import

3040

$

2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2.0T FWD, 4 cyl. turbo, $10,888 348-8788 Sport & Import 2001 DODGE Ram 1500.

Q/cab. loaded 403-352-6995

Newly Renovated Mobile Home Only

2010 DODGE RAM 2500 SLT Power Wagon 4X4, hemi, winch, $25,888 3488788 Sport & Import

278807L24

SUITES FOR RENT THREE HILLS Affordable housing for low income, single adults of any age, F/S, water/sewer included. $400/mo, $400 DD.Further information & applications available at www.studiosalberta.com or by calling 1-888-963-5698

2006 FORD EXPLORER Eddie Bauer htd. lthr., sunroof, DVD, $16,888 348-8788 Sport & Import Classifieds...costs so little Saves you so much!

NRA opposed to new gun restrictions lawmakers say struggle ahead for fresh rules on u.s. gun control

by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

5000-5300

4020

FREE Weekly list of properties for sale w/details, prices, address, owner’s phone #, etc. 342-7355 Help-U-Sell of Red Deer www.homesreddeer.com

Acreages

2000 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER 196,000 kms., $9300. obo 403-597-5972

wheels

4000-4190

5040

FULLY SERVICED res & duplex lots in Lacombe.

Builders terms or owner will J.V. with investors or subtrades who wish to become home builders. Great returns. Call 403-588-8820

homes CLASSIFICATIONS

SUV's

Central Alberta LIFE The newspaper far mers look to for best values in: *Farm Machinery, *Feed & Grain, *Livestock, *Trailers, *Supplies & *More.

CHECK US OUT CALL 309-3300

WASHINGTON — The largest U.S. gun-rights lobbying organization declared its unwavering opposition to any new gun regulations Sunday in the aftermath of the massacre at a Connecticut elementary school, accusing the White House of trying to undermine the constitutional right to bear arms.

Wayne LaPierre, CEO of the influential National Rifle Association, said not a single gun regulation would make children safer. He criticized “a media machine” for blaming the gun industry for each new attack like the one at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

“Look, a gun is a tool. The problem is the criminal,” LaPierre said, in a nationally broadcast television interview.

LaPierre hardly backed down from his comments Friday, when the NRA broke its weeklong silence on the Dec. 14 shooting rampage at Sandy Hook that killed 20 students and six adults.

The gunman, 20-year-old Adam Lanza, also killed his mother at their home and shot himself as police closed in at the school.

LaPierre’s assertion that guns and police officers in all schools are what will stop the next killer drew widespread scorn.

Democratic Rep. Chris Murphy, whose district includes Newtown, called it “the most revolting, tone deaf statement I’ve ever seen.” A headline from the conservative New York Post summarized LaPierre’s initial presentation before reporters with the headline: “Gun Nut! NRA loon in bizarre rant over Newtown.”

LaPierre told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that only those armed guards and police would make kids safe.

“If it’s crazy to call for putting police and armed security in our schools to protect our children, then call me crazy,” LaPierre said. “I think the American people think it’s crazy not to do it. It’s the one thing that would keep people safe.”

He asked Congress for money to put a police officer in every school. He also said the NRA would co-ordinate a national effort to put former military and police officers in schools as volunteer guards.

The NRA leader dismissed efforts to revive an assault weapons ban as a “phoney piece of legislation” that’s built on lies. He made clear it was highly unlikely that the NRA could support any new gun regulations.

“You want one more law on top of 20,000 laws, when most of the federal gun laws we don’t even enforce?” he said.

LaPierre said another focus in preventing shootings is to lock up violent criminals and get the mentally ill the treatment they need.

“The average guy in the country values his freedom, doesn’t believe the fact he can own a gun is part of the problem, and doesn’t like the media and all these high-profile politicians blaming him,” he said.

Some lawmakers were incredulous, yet acknowledged that the political and fundraising might of the NRA would make President Barack Obama’s push for gun restrictions a struggle — particularly in getting new regulations approved in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives where many lawmakers have close ties to the gunrights group.

“I have found the statements by the NRA over the last couple of days to be really disheartening, because the statements seem to not reflect any understanding about the slaughter of children” in Newtown, said Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Connecticut independent.

He said the NRA is right in some of the points it makes about the causes of gun violence in America.

“But it’s obviously also true that the easy availability of guns, including military style assault weapons, is a contributing factor, and you can’t keep that off the table. I had hoped they’d come to the table and say, everything is on the table,” Lieberman said.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said LaPierre was “so extreme and so tone deaf” that he was making it easier to pass gun legislation.

“Look, he blames everything but guns: movies, the media, President Obama, gun-free school zones, you name it. And the video games, he blames them,” Schumer said.

But Lieberman was less hopeful that lawmakers would approve new gun regulations next year.

“It’s going to be a battle. But the president, I think, and vice-president, are really ready to lead the fight,” he said.

Obama has said he wants proposals on reducing gun violence that he can take to Congress in January, and after the Connecticut shootings, he called on the NRA to join the effort. The president has asked Congress to reinstate the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 and pass legislation that would end a provision that allows people to purchase firearms from private parties without a background check. Obama also has indicated that he wants Congress to pursue the possibility of limiting high-capacity magazines.

If Obama’s review is “just going to be made up of a bunch of people that, for the last 20 years, have been trying to destroy the Second Amendment, I’m not interested in sitting on that panel,” LaPierre said. The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms.

The NRA has tasked former Rep. Asa Hutchinson, an Arkansas Republican, to lead a program designed to use volunteers from the group’s 4.3 million members to help guard children.

Hutchinson said the NRA’s position was a “very reasonable approach” that he compared to the federal air marshal program that places armed guards on flights.

“Are our children less important to protect than our air transportation? I don’t think so,” said Hutchinson, who served as an undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security when it was formed.

Hutchinson said schools should not be required to use armed security.

LaPierre also argued that local law enforcement should have final say on how the security is put into place, such as where officers would be stationed.

LaPierre cited Israel as a model for the type of school security system the NRA envisions.

“Israel had a whole lot of school shootings until they did one thing: They said ’we’re going to stop it,’ and they put armed security in every school and they have not had a problem since then,” he said.

Democratic lawmakers in Congress have become more adamant about the need for stricter gun laws since the shooting. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California is promising to push for a renewal of expired legislation that banned certain weapons and limited the number of bullets a gun magazine could hold to 10. NRA officials made clear the legislation is a non-starter for them.

“It hasn’t worked,” LaPierre said.

“Dianne Feinstein had her ban and Columbine occurred.”

An armed sheriff’s deputy was assigned to Columbine High School in Colorado the day of the massacre there in 1999, but was unable to stop the violence. Twelve students and a teacher were killed before the two student gunmen shot themselves.

There also has been little indication from Republican leaders that they’ll go along with any efforts to curb what kind of guns can be purchased or how much ammunition gun magazines can hold.

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Monday, Dec. 24, 2012

IN A GENDER-SPECIFIC INDUSTRY, PARENTS SOMETIMES SEARCH IN VAIN FOR TOYS THAT DON’T BOX IN KIDS partment store Harrods redesigned its toy department to organize it by theme rather than by gender. Swedish toy firm Top-Toy published a genderneutral catalogue in which boys were shown playing with a kitchen set and hair dryer and a girl was shown shooting a toy gun.

Hasbro this week announced it has spent the past 18 months developing an Easy-Bake Oven in the genderneutral colours of black and silver. It made the announcement after meeting with McKenna Pope, the Garfield, N.J., 13-year-old whose online petition asking the company to make one attractive to all kids gathered tens of thousands of signatures. Hasbro says it knows both boys and girls have fun playing with the Easy-Bake.

Even parents who are sensitive to gender issues say they sometimes have to challenge their own notions. Brett said her older son was interested in toys aimed at both genders as a little boy. But when son number two came along five years later, she was surprised to see he had a stronger preference to play with guns and Army men.

“I really needed to let go of controlling what I thought he should play with as an enlightened boy,” she said.

“They may choose to do what is stereotypical, and they should have the right to choose that as well.”

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

o y,

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A 13-year-old girl’s campaign to get Hasbro to make an Easy-Bake Oven that isn’t purple or pink so it would appeal to her little brother is a fresh sign of movement in an old debate. Parents who hope to expose their children to different kinds of play — science sets for girls and dolls for boys, for example — can find themselves stymied by a toy industry that can seem stuck in the past when it comes to gender roles.

Hasbro wasn’t the only target of critPhoto by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS icism this year.

One of the year’s hottest toys, the Hasbro’s newest version of their famous Easy Bake Oven. An eighth-grade girl “LEGO Friends Butterfly Beauty from Garfield, N.J., has started an online petition asking Pawtucket, R.I.-based Shop,” specifically aimed Legos at Hasbro to make the toy ovens in gender-neutral colours and feature boys on the girls, but turned to tired gender stereopackage after she went to buy one for her little brother and discovered that it types with its focus on a beauty shop and inclusion of characters with curves comes only in pink and purple, only girls on the box and in the commercials. and eyelashes. Barbie turned builder with a new construction set. But while 1950s,” she said. “The girls section was cession to commercial realities, the some praised it, others criticized it for pink. It was teaching a girl how to be toy’s colour scheme includes a liberal being too pink. a housewife, and a princess and pop dose of pink.

Toy experts say the industry reflects star.”

“There’s a lot of parents out there, cultural norms, and toy companies are Meanwhile, she described the boys they’re conditioned by this. They won’t giving people what sells. Plenty of par- section as dynamic, with kits to make even pick up something if it doesn’t ents find nothing wrong with buying interesting things like roller coasters cue that it’s a girl,” she said. “I don’t pink frou-frou toys for their girls and and “smarter more complex, engineer- want girls to miss out on GoldieBlox avoiding stereotypically “girl” toys for ing math and science toys.” because it wasn’t overtly messaged for their boys in favour of guns and trucks.

The toy’s main character is Goldie, a them, at least in the early stages.”

But other parents are sent into knots female engineer, and it is scheduled to Some things are changing in the by an unapologetically gender-specific be on store shelves in April. In a con- industry. This year, the London detoy industry.

“There’s a lot of presH sure to conform to those ur gender stereotypes r from the time you’re pregnant,” said Teresa Graham Brett, a highereducation consultant from Tucson, Ariz., and mother to two boys, ages 6 and 11.

D Children naturally ec begin to identify them.3 selves as boys and girls 1. around the ages of 3 and 4, said Dr. Susan Linn, a psychologist at Harvard Medical School, who cofounded the advocacy group Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood.

“When a child’s environment is filled with rigid messages about, ’This is what boys do, this is what girls do,’ it limits their ability to reach their full capacity,” Linn said. “It’s not like girls are born with the predilection to pink, but they’re trained to it, so it becomes what they want and need. There are neurological differences between boys and girls at birth. But our goal should be to provide them with a range of experiences so they can develop all of their tendencies.”

Large toy stores and most large online retailers often divide toys up by gender. On Amazon, or on the websites for toy makers Mattel or Hasbro, for example, toys are sorted by age, category and gender. A person who wants to buy a baby doll on the Toys R Us website will find hundreds of choices categorized for girls and five for boys. Three of those are dressed in pink.

In recent years, Toys R Us was criticized for an ad selling three microscopes, silver, red and pink. The pink one was the least powerful.

“Toy companies are businesses, so they are responding to and making their products based on consumer demands.

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SALE no term Chris Byrne, content director for timetoplayOn a 3 year term with a $50 mag.com, said the marmonthly spend before tax. ket ultimately decides what makes it onto store shelves and into people’s homes.

“The toy industry is always going to reflect the culture at large, and it’s going to reflect the market,” he said.

That’s even true for a soon-to-be-released toy that has gotten a lot of attention for seeking to subvert gender stereotypes. GoldieBlox, a construction toy, was invented by Debbie Sterling, who holds a degree from Stanford in product For more details, visit your TELUS store, authorized dealer or retailer, or call 1-866-264-2966. design engineering and who aimed to make a toy to spark an interest in TELUS STORES & AUTHORIZED DEALERS girls in science and engiRed Deer neering. She was turned 5125 76A St 6838 50 Ave Parkland Mall off by what she saw in a 5301 43 St 7434 50 Ave Bower Place visit to a toy store. *Offer available until December 31, 2012. Regular 3 year pricing: Samsung Galaxy S III 16 GB, $159. Prices are subject to change without notice. Pricing and availability may vary. TELUS, the TELUS logo and telusmobility.com are trademarks of TELUS Corporation, used under licence.

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