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VOLUME ONE-HUNDRED SEVEN
PM40011853 R08546
NUMBER FIFTY
STETTLER, ALBERTA
December 11, 2013
PRICE — $1.09 Plus GST
Tragedies grip Castor, Stettler Man freezes to death, Stettler police report LISA JOY Independent reporter
LISA JOY/Independent reporter
Police cordon off the scene of a farm fire outside Castor on Tuesday as their investigation into Sunday’s blaze continues. The owners of the farm and their visiting adult daughter were unaccounted for Tuesday.
Three family members missing after farm fire outside Castor LISA JOY Independent reporter
CASTOR — The tight-knit community of Castor is reeling after a house fire Sunday left three people unaccounted for at a farm owned by Sandi and Gordon Klaus. Residents expressed horror, disbelief and regret about the fire that broke out Sunday — and the potentially devastating aftermath. “It was a shock,” said Belinda Yates, who has worked with Sandi at the hospital. “She worked in housekeeping and I talked to her the odd time in passing. She was a very nice lady.”
Likewise, Kylie Burnett said, “It was really tragic to hear.” Residents described the family as close, always together, and nice people. “They were friendly,” said Erma Marquart. The entrance to the long driveway leading to the residence was cordoned off by RCMP and Calgary Major Crimes and the provincial fire investigator converged on the farmyard, on Range Road 132, late Tuesday morning. Sgt. Josee Valiquette of RCMP K Division said Tuesday afternoon that because of the condition of the structure and the debris, it was still unsafe for their investigators to access the burning structure.
Sgt. Valiquette confirmed three people connected to the residence were unaccounted for, but said police won’t release their identity. The farm is owned by Sandi and Gordon Klaus, and their middle-aged daughter Monica was visiting for the weekend. Jason Klaus, the couple’s son, told the Red Deer Advocate that his family was “very close” and that his parents would do anything for anyone. “I lost everybody,” he said Monday. “I lost everything.” Police say that between 7:30 and 8 a.m. Sunday, Coronation RCMP were called to assist Castor and Coronation fire departments to a home fully engulfed in flames.
Bitter cold that engulfed Central Alberta claimed a life in Stettler, police reported Monday. Stettler RCMP were called to a garage where the body of a man who froze to death was discovered late last week, said Sgt. Duncan Babchuk. The 58-year-old man, who lived at Heart Haven Lodge, was found on the concrete floor of an unheated, unattached garage of a home in the 4800 block of 51st Avenue, said Sgt. Babchuk. “He may have been trying to warm up, because there was an attempt to start a fire, there were some wood products inside the garage and some were burnt, but there was not a very large fire. “For some reason he ended up inside that garage. It’s an older building, not heated and he was wearing very light clothing.” An elderly woman owns the property and her son found the deceased man Friday morning, police said. “I think he was in there longer,” Sgt. Babchuk said. “It could have been one to two days, I think it was longer than overnight.” According to Environment Canada, last Wednesday night, the mercury dipped down to -28 C in Stettler, -37 C with the wind chill, and Thursday morning the temperature dropped to -30 C, and -40 C with the wind chill. Last Thursday night, it was-30 C and -40 C with the wind chill, and Friday morning it went to -33 C and -43 C with the wind chill. The extreme cold weather also prompted the RCMP to cancel the charity Christmas checkstop last weekend, said Sgt. Babchuk. The man, whose name hasn’t been released by police, was away from the Heart Haven Lodge for about a week, said Sgt. Babchuk. “He had been away from there for awhile, but they are not held there as prisoners, they don’t keep doors locked, and people come and go from there. We didn’t receive a call that he was missing.” Betty Tschritter, CAO of the County of Stettler Housing Authority, which manages Heart Haven Lodge, said she couldn’t comment on how long the man was gone, or not gone, and added that staff is “saddened by the loss.” Tschritter said that although she can’t comment on the specific incident, if any residents miss a meal or a counting, staff follows protocol and contacts family members of the individual. Sgt. Babchuk said it’s important people are cognizant of the dangerous cold temperatures. “Everyone needs to be aware of how cold it is,” he said. “Anybody that is out and about, especially at this time of year, needs to be aware of where they are going and what type of weather it is and take warm clothing. “And if they are elderly persons you are taking care of, you have to ensure where they are going, as well.”
ROBIN TARNOWETZKI/Independent reporter
Fire ravaged a 63 Street residence in Stettler last Saturday, causing about $500,000 worth of damages.
Stettler family loses home in weekend fire ROBIN TARNOWETZKI Independent reporter
LISA JOY/Independent reporter
RCMP officers from Calgary Major Crimes, along with the provincial fire investigator, inspect the smouldering fire Tuesday at about noon on a farm east of Castor. The fire has been burning since Sunday morning.
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A fire gutted a house on 63 Street in Stettler on Saturday night, with an estimated $500,000 in property damage. The Stettler Regional Fire Department was called to the home of Peter Neale, the new associate superintendent
of the Clearview School Division, at about 9:30 p.m. The Neales had just moved into the house at the end of the summer. The cause of the fire is under investigation, said Fire Chief Mark Dennis. Three fire trucks were at the scene, and firefighters remained at the home until near 2 a.m. Sunday. Continued on Page A3
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