CHASE ROSLAND/Independent reporter
CRUISE CONTROL — Jodie Tebbe of Stettler breezes through West Stettler Park as she participates in the 10-kilometre race that was part of the David Thompson Health Trust’s Run Around the Zone last Saturday. The new event attracted 70 runners and walkers, along with 25 volunteers, and raised $3,500 for health-care enhancement at the Stettler hospital. The series continues in Daysland this Saturday at 10 a.m. with a run and walk. See more photos from the Stettler race on pages A11 and B4.
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County faces Elections Alberta inquiry Reeve dismisses Wildrose complaint as ‘a silly little thing’ RICHARD FROESE Independent reporter More than 16 months after the provincial election, the County of Stettler is being probed because one of its administrative employees is accused of violating electionfinancing laws to promote the local Progressive Conservative candidate, former county councillor and provincial cabinet minister Jack Hayden. Drumheller-Stettler MLA Rick Strankman confirmed that the Wildrose Caucus Research Team obtained approval from Information and Protection of Privacy that alleges that an employee in the county office might have used county time, along with a county email address and computer, to create a Facebook page to promote former Hayden, whom Strankman defeated in the April 2012 election. County Reeve Wayne Nixon admitted this week that director of communications Shawna Benson sent an email on county
time, which he said took “just a fraction” of a second. “It’s such a silly little thing and so frivolous,” Nixon said of the Wildrose party investigation. He said that if the Opposition wants to be effective, he suggested the Wildrose focus on “bigger and more serious issues” than the county correspondence. The evidence was forwarded to Elections Alberta, which is expected to determine whether a greater investigation or penalties are needed. The reeve said municipalities have to work with the government, regardless of the party in power. “Our council is very non-partisan,” Nixon claimed. He said the door is open for the Wildrose party to receive more information from the county, but he was frustrated with the lack of response from Strankman and the ongoing FOIP requests. “I want them to stop their frivolous FOIPing and get on with more-serious issues,
instead of the MLA going on a witch-hunt with his constituency,” Nixon said. While the reeve said he has sent letters and emails to Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith, and phoned her, she hasn’t responded, he said. Nixon also questioned Strankman’s actions. “He’s losing his credibility with me and he should be acting more like an MLA, and not the chairman of the witch-hunt committee.” Strankman, however, said he wasn’t directly involved with the probe. “I had no personal direction in the FOIPing process,” Strankman said. “I have no personal vendetta.” He said there’s no need for personal meetings or visits to the county office to discuss a matter that’s now in the hands of Elections Alberta. The FOIP request for information about the month of the provincial election campaign found that the county’s director of communications sent out an email to promote Hayden.
“That’s what ensued the request,” Strankman said. “Are they abusing taxpayers’ money?” With several other names in the email blackened out, Strankman questioned whether other county staff or council members used county resources to promote Hayden. Municipal governments are prohibited from financially contributing to a provincial party. Violators would be required to pay back the financial contribution or face a fine of up to $10,000, decided by a provincial court judge, said Drew Westwater, director of communications for Elections Alberta. He said that privacy legislation prevents election staff from stating if an investigation will be launched. Generally, the results are posted online only if a violation occurs. News of the county investigation comes a month prior to the Oct. 21 municipal election. The reeve and all seven current councillors plan to run again. Nomination day is this coming Monday, Sept. 23.
Heat wave causes ‘typical harvest field fire’ RICHARD FROESE Independent reporter Near-record warm temperatures and dry conditions aided a grass fire in a farmer’s field just south of Stettler last Thursday afternoon. The blaze carried smoke into the town. “It was a typical harvest field fire,” said Stettler Fire Chief Mark Dennis. “We think it’s attributed to the harvest, as equipment probably hit a rock that caused a spark.” About two quarters of field was scorched west of Highway 56 and just north of Township Road 38-4 in the fire, which was called in at 1:46 p.m. Fire was under control within an hour, as several farmers and Future Ag and
Agro Stettler dealerships arrived with cultivators to create a firebreak. “That helped a lot,” Dennis said. This was the second grass fire in two days for Stettler Fire and Rescue, which extinguished a blaze the day before along Highway 56 near Ross Lake Road. While temperatures hit near-record 30 degrees last week, conditions remain dry. “We’re not putting a fire ban on yet, but it’s on the radar,” Dennis said. Much of that will depend on the weather, he said and Stettler county would place a ban if neighbouring counties in Paintearth or Camrose take the first step. However, he said such weather is typical in September and October. Eastern parts of Stettler county are typically drier than in the west. The fire chief advises people to be cautious when burning outdoors.
RICHARD FROESE/Independent reporter
Firefighters extinguish flames in a grass fire that swept across a farmer’s field just south of Stettler last Thursday.
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