Serving the communities of Rimbey, Bentley, Bluffton, Winfield, Alder Flats and Buck Lake
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Volume 15 Number 21
www.rimbeyreview.com
Man rescued from Gull Lake after sailboat capsizes By Laura Tester Red Deer Advocate Rescuers saved a Sylvan Lake man after his sailboat capsized and he spent 90 minutes in the chilly waters of Gull Lake May 21. The Bentley Fire Department received an emergency call at about 12:30 p.m. from a bystander who had seen the boat capsize on the southeast side of the lake, near the Summer Village of Gull Lake. The Bentley Fire Department called on the City of Lacombe Fire Department immediately, as well as conservation officers from the campground, so they could bring their boats. Eight volunteer firefighters from Bentley attended, said deputy fire chief Ian McLaren.
“By the time we received the call and got out there, it (the boat) was a good half mile out or more out on the water,” said Ian McLaren. Ed Van Delden, fire chief for the City of Lacombe, said they were called to help out since they have a Zodiac boat. “There was seven of us that went out, but only two of us went out in the boat.” Alberta Parks and the Lacombe fire department launched boats from Aspen Beach Provincial Park. The eyewitness was over at the composting site, so he used his boat as well. All three boats made a concerted effort to track the man down.
“We found the (sail) boat initially and then they did a search pattern from the boat and were able to locate the person in the water,” said McLaren. The bystander’s boat had a platform so it was easier to get the man onto that boat, he added. The 56-year-old man was wearing a life-jacket. He told rescuers he had been in the water for about 90 minutes. The man was rescued about 2 p.m. “After we got him in, we started warming him up,” said McLaren. “He was fairly hypothermic by the time we got to him.” The lake temperature was 15.5 degrees C, warmer than normal for this time of year, said McLaren. An ambulance Developer Al Ingles said he was going to vote transferred the man Bentley and Lacombe firefighters and Alberta No in the plebiscite, suggesting the library board to Red Deer Regional Parks staff work to pull aboard a sailor whose could obtain an easement and expand back to the Hospital Centre. boat capsized on Gull Lake. lane behind the building. Dave Karroll wanted to know why the library couldn’t move to the Co-op. “You need to take a serious look at the Co-op,” he said. “Your negotiations never made it to the board.” Betty Adam wanted to know why the library held such events as wine tasting and mother-daughter teas, noting the manor was better suited for such events. “Build a new building,” said resident Daryl Hunt. “In the long run it’s cheaper than renovating an old building. In the long run it will pay you dividends.” Moving into the Al Ingles building, using two locations; one for books and one for programs, and building a second storey onto the town office were other solutions brought up by the audience. Annette Boorman was the only resident in atFirefighters and EMS staff wrap the rescued sailor in a blanket and tendance who said she planned to vote Yes June 3. “I commend the library board for all the work prepare him for transfer. Photos by Kathi Issler/Bentley Fire Department and the research they have done,” she said.
No voters dominate meeting By Treena Mielke Rimbey library board members faced a deluge of verbal bullets as they sat before a crowd armed with what appeared to be more answers than questions about the controversial town office move and library expansion. The information meeting, held May 22 at the Rimbey Community Centre, was held to provide the public with the facts about the necessity of a library expansion and the consequential move of the town office to the provincial building. However, despite Coun. Paul Payson’s assurance taxes will not go up as a result of town offices moving to the Provincial Building and librarian Jean Keetch’s intention to see programs cut if the expansion does not take place, the hundred or so people who filled the community centre were mostly naysayers. “The library is fine, leave it alone,” said longtime resident Adrian Resta. “There is no reason to see the town office moved anywhere,” said Ray Durand, adding he wasn’t against the library expanding but believed there had to be a better solution than moving the town offices.
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