Red Deer Advocate, May 07, 2013

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Red Deer 1913 — 2013 Create Celebrate Commemorate

NHL PLAYOFFS

Special golf section inside today

B1-B2

CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER

BREAKING NEWS ONLINE AT WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Fire hazard turns extreme

COOL IDEA ON A HOT DAY

DRY CONDITIONS ALLOW WILDFIRES TO GAIN MOMENTUM BY LANA MICHELIN AND SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF Wildfire season gained momentum in Central Alberta with the extremely dry conditions. Ric Henderson, Red Deer County assistant manager, said the county has seen over 20 fires in the last 10 days. On Monday afternoon, the county responded to an accidental brush fire west of Penhold near Hwy 595 and Range Road 262. “Someone was out welding in their yard and a spark got into some dry grass and took off and got into the bush,” Henderson said on Monday. He said a possible brush fire was

also put out in the Spruce View area on Monday. “We need precipitation. The ground cover, the grass, brush is extremely dry so it doesn’t take much.” Henderson warned people should call 911 right away if they even suspect a fire. In the Rimbey area, a large fire northeast of Rimbey was brought under control and several small fires were put out on Monday. Rimbey fire chief John Weisgerber said it was the worst day so far this fire season. Three human-caused wildfires were fought this weekend in the Rocky Mountain House Wildfire Management Area.

Please see FIRES on Page A2

City’s robust growth expected to slow BY HARLEY RICHARDS ADVOCATE BUSINESS EDITOR

Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff

Not quite ready to fully commit to jumping through the sprinkler, Michaela Schapansky, 3, of Red Deer stays under her umbrella as the shower from a garden sprinkler rains down on the lawn Monday. By mid-afternoon Monday the temperature in Red Deer had climbed to 27C giving Central Alberta a taste of summer.

Red Deer has enjoyed robust economic growth since emerging from the 2009 recession, but the Conference Board of Canada is expecting that trend to slow this year and next. In a report entitled Mid-Sized Cities Outlook, which was released to the media on Monday, the independent research organization described how federal stimulus spending and renewed activity in the energy sector helped propel the city to a 3.4 per cent increase in real gross domestic product in 2010, after a decline of 4.1 per cent in 2009. In 2011, Red Deer enjoyed a 5.4 per cent jump in real GDP. Last year, however, a reduction in government spending slowed the growth rate to 3.6 per cent, and set the

stage modest forecasted increases of 3.2 per cent and 3.3 per cent in 2013 and 2014 respectively. The Conference Board compiled economic data for 46 mid-sized Canadian cities in its report. It added economic analyses and forecasts in the case of eight, including Red Deer, which reflected the fact that these cities contributed to the cost of the report. Thirty-nine of the 46 cities experienced positive growth in the three years prior to the 2008 economic downturn, with Red Deer posting annual real GDP growth rates of 6.9, 7.9 and 2.7 per cent during this period. In 2008 and 2009, however, 29 of the cities slipped into negative numbers. Only six had a negative real GDP in 2010, but by 2011 the number had bounced back to 13.

Please see CITY on Page A2

Race for Red Deer mayor will be three-way affair BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF Another political hopeful has thrown his hat in the mayoral ring in Red Deer, creating a three-way race. Taxi driver William Horn joins Coun. Cindy Jefferies and Chad Mason in the running for mayor. Mayor Morris Flewwelling is not seeking re-election. Horn is a taxi driver who holds a masters of business administration from the University of Alberta. Horn said his strong business know

PLEASE

how and his project management, production scheduling and planning history make him the right choice for mayor. He said a good city council should be made up of people with various degrees. The 56-year-old said he doesn’t see anyone else with higher qualifications running for mayor. Horn said a new person could run for William Horn council and learn the ins and outs, or he or she could run for mayor and not be corrupted by the politics so that might make him a bet-

WEATHER

INDEX

Cloudiness. High 16, low 3.

Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A3, A7 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C3,C4 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-D3 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D4 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D5 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-B8

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ter choice. “One thing that I don’t agree with is the present municipal system,” said Horn. “You don’t have loads of talent showing up. What I think should happen, you should vote for the eight councillors and have a runoff for mayor.” Horn said people should cast a vote for him because of his business experience, his degree and his belief that spreadsheet modelling for decision analysis has to be used more often in making public policy decisions. Horn said there’s a lot of opportunity in Red Deer for change. He would like to see changes to the city’s tendering and bid process and more emphasis on environmental issues in the city. Horn would also like to see coun-

cillors work on a full-time basis for simple due diligence. “I think it is time the citizens of Red Deer realize that being on council is no longer a part-time position,” said Horn. “It’s a full-time position.” Horn has driven a cab for about seven years and previously he worked in oilfield production and telecommunications in Red Deer and Calgary. In the running for council are David Helm, Serge Gingras, Tanya Handley, Troy Wavrecan, Darren Young, Lawrence Lee, Calvin Goulet-Jones and Matt Chapin. At least four current councillors, including Paul Harris, Dianne Wyntjes, Lynne Mulder and Buck Buchanan, will seek re-election. crhyno@reddeeradvocate.com

CANADA

BUSINESS

GREENHOUSE GASES ACIDIFYING ARCTIC OCEAN

TARGET ARRIVES

An international study suggests greenhouse gases are acidifying the Arctic Ocean at a faster rate than any of the world’s southern seas. A5

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EARLYBIRD CUTOFF JUNE 9, 2013

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FINAL CUTOFF JUNE 23, 2013


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