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COMEDIAN GROWS UP
Rebels take 3-0 series lead in Prince Albert B4
Aziz Ansari coming into his own C7
CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER
BREAKING NEWS ONLINE AT WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013
Cloud of smog hangs over city CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO PERSIST UNTIL LATER IN THE WEEK BY BRENDA KOSSOWAN ADVOCATE STAFF Unusual climate conditions have created a lowlying cloud of smog over Red Deer this week. On a scale of one to 10, air particle and ozone levels in Red Deer have reached as high as six on recent mornings. Levels of seven to 10 are considered to be a high risk, especially for people suffering allergies and respiratory ailments. With the current conditions reaching the high end of the moderate level, the province recommends that people who are sensitive to smog stay indoors and postpone outdoor activities. The air quality was expected to reach six again overnight on Tuesday and reach five today.
The heavy, brown haze was especially noticeable in areas of Red Deer on Monday morning, hanging in the air after the morning fog lifted. Louis Kohanyi, a meteorologist with Environment Canada in Vancouver, said the Red Deer area is experiencing inversion layers, which develop overnight when a layer of cold air becomes trapped under a layer of warm air. With no wind to carry them off, fumes and fine particles hang close to the ground, dissipating later in the day as the surface warms and the two layers begin to mix. Nikki Booth, a communications officer with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, said the current series of inversion layers, “likely a winter-time smog event,” have affected Edmonton as well. The conditions are expected to persist until later in the week.
The smog appears to be channeling along river valleys, said Booth. There’s been very little wind to help disperse the smog, with wind speeds falling below eight km/h from the northeast, she said. Kohanyi said winds should pick up and the inversion layer will disappear as a result on Friday, when a new weather front is expected to move through the area. Air quality conditions are posted on Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development’s web page, including a chart showing the levels at which people should take precautions. Visit online at environment.alberta.ca or call 1-877-247-7333 for an automated update on current conditions. bkossowan@reddeeradvocate.com
OPTIMIST CHIEFS IN PLAYOFF ACTION
MICHENER CENTRE
Opposition to closure gaining momentum DOZENS ATTEND MEETING TO VENT FOR RESIDENTS ABOUT TO BE MOVED TO GROUP HOMES BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF Opposition to the province’s plan to close Michener Centre is gaining momentum. About 100 relatives, employees and friends of Michener residents met Tuesday in Red Deer at the first of three meetings that will be held around the province this week organized by the Society of Parents and Friends of Michener Services. On March 11, the province announced that 75 of Michener Centre’s 125 residents will be moved to group homes, and 50 medically fragile residents will be moved to seniors care facilities. About 110 residents are already living in Michener Hill group homes. Donna Toma, of Leduc, said Albertans have to speak up for residents who are losing the only home they have ever known, residents like her sister who is now 50 and has lived at Michener since she was six. “Group homes are very good for people who can function in the community, who have the cognitive ability to do certain functions. Let’s be very clear. My sister doesn’t know what day it is,” Toma said after the meeting held at the Sheraton Hotel Tuesday night. “I know how she’s going to react. Residents like her, who don’t know what’s going on, will curl up in a ball. They will refuse to eat. They will become listless. And it’s not just for a month and they’ll get over it.” Art Gagne, of Red Deer, said his brother Denis, who is in his 50s and has been at Michener Centre since he was about four, needs the structure of care that he receives at Michener. “He needs someone to look after him,” said Gagne about his brother who is severely autistic. “I don’t think he’ll accept change. It won’t be good for him. I know that for a fact.” He said his brother, who is non-communicative, has done well at Michener where he is comfortable with the people around him. He doesn’t do well when there are strangers around. “I am just so upset with the government for just springing this on us. I can’t believe the government would do something as awful as this,” Gagne said. “There was no discussion about it. I know they agreed to leave it open for the people who are there and just out of the blue say — no we’re not going to do that anymore. “Unbelievable.”
Please see MICHENER on Page A2
PLEASE RECYCLE
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Red Deer Optimist Chief Jacob Schofield looks to get his stick on a rebound as SSAC Boston Athletics goaltender Jordan Papirny makes a first period save at the Arena in Red Deer on Tuesday during major midget playoff action. See page B5 for the game story.
Man fined $500 for role in cabbie’s death BY BRENDA KOSSOWAN ADVOCATE STAFF A Red Deer man paid a fine of $500 on Tuesday after pleading guilty in connection with a two-vehicle crash that killed a taxi driver last summer. Donald Roland Ogloff, 55, was pronounced dead at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre after a collision between his northbound cab and a southbound car at the intersection of 30th Avenue and 55th Street at about 12:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 23. Ogloff’s fare, a 22-year-old man, was treated for minor injuries at the scene. Crown prosecutor Robin Joudrey said in Red Deer provincial court on Tuesday that Romulo Bautista, 33, was attempting to make a left turn when his smaller car collided with Ogloff’s taxi. Bautista was not injured. Police investigations revealed that Ogloff may not have been wearing his seatbelt at the time, said defence counsel Patrick Penny.
WEATHER
INDEX
Sun and cloud. High 7. Low -9.
Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-B3 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6,A7 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-D4 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D6 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C7 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B4-B7
FORECAST ON A2
While the fine for an unsafe left turn is normally $115 under Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act, Penny and Joudrey worked out a plea deal resulting in their joint recommendation for a heftier fine. Police reports indicate that Bautista was travelling at a normal rate, but sped up to make the turn as the taxi was approaching the intersection, said Joudrey. Penny told Judge Bert Skinner that his client has been struggling with Ogloff’s death since the morning of the collision and originally planned to fight his ticket in court, but decided instead to plead guilty and move on. “Mr. Bautista deals with the pain of this every day,” said Penny. He pointed out that his client has no criminal record nor does he have a record of traffic offences. There were no victim impact statements submitted, nor was there anyone from Ogloff’s family present in the courtroom. bkossowan@reddeeradvocate.com
ALBERTA
BUSINESS
EMISSIONS COME WITH A PRICE: STUDY
INNISFAIL WANTS MORE HOME LOTS
A study says coal-fired power generation is likely to cause thousands of early deaths in Alberta and cost the province hundreds of millions of dollars before regulations force plants to reduce emissions. A3
The Town of Innisfail is taking steps to replenish its dwindling inventory of residential lots. B1