Red Deer 1913 — 2013 Create Celebrate Commemorate
BIRDS FLOCK TO A FEEDER ON A FROSTY FRIDAY
AS BLOATED AS HIS EGO Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues review
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Red Deer Advocate THURSDAY, DEC. 19, 2013
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Addict who duped seniors jailed TWO-AND-A-HALFYEAR SENTENCE
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Ted Hayden, president and volunteer of the Red Deer Clothing Bank peers in on a snowy Santa decoration at the Clothing Bank Wednesday. The Clothing Bank will be open today and closed over the holidays, reopening Jan. 7.
BY BRENDA KOSSOWAN ADVOCATE STAFF A Red Deer woman who swindled seniors and others of thousands of dollars to feed her drug addiction has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison and three years of probation. Theresa Sutherland, 51, pleaded guilty in Red Deer provincial court on Wednesday to multiple counts of fraud, theft and forgery for crimes that Judge Bill Andreasson termed a “spree.” Sutherland deceived a number of people into giving her money on a variety of pretexts, used stolen cheques to repay her debts and forged her and her common-law husband’s names onto cheques that had been given to her to pay their bills, special prosecutor Tony Bell said in his submissions to the court on Wednesday. Her victims include an 84-year-old businessman, Bryan Swainson, whose losses totalled $510,000, said Bell. Along with the deceit she used to squeeze Swainson’s bank account, Sutherland pleaded guilty to using a variety of tactics on other victims.
Please see FRAUD on Page A2
Charity faces funding cut MONEY EXPECTED TO RUN OUT BY MAY BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF Red Deer Community Clothing Service is still on the hunt for funding to keep its doors open past spring. The clothing service, formerly known as Red Deer Clothing Bank, will see its funding from the United Way of Central Alberta come to an end this month. That funding has covered rental costs for its downtown location. In the future, the service will have to rely on savings. “Right at the moment, if we don’t get any more donations, it looks like about May we will run out of what money we
have,” said president Ted Hayden on Wednesday. The longtime charity gives away clothing and household items for free, allowing customers to come in once a month. It serves about 1,100 people a month. Hayden said the service recently applied for money from the Alberta Lottery Fund through Alberta Culture but won’t find out if they are successful until March or April. In October, the service started charging clients a $5 fee, but the fee was quickly discontinued when the number of clients dropped by about half. Hayden said the Coats for Kids campaign was underway at the time and he didn’t want children to go without
coats because their family couldn’t afford to visit. Some cash donations have come in but mostly its donations of clothes, he said. “We are so blessed in this community with the support that we do get as far as donations of clothing. We’re overwhelmed, really.” He said at this time of year, some people go through their closets to make room for new clothes. Some get rid of summer clothes they don’t want to pack away. “Most times we don’t know what’s in the bags. We don’t have X-ray vision so we can’t tell what’s there. But we’re grateful for whatever we get.”
Please see CLOTHING on Page A2
Ample food supply drawing wildlife to city BY LANA MICHELIN ADVOCATE STAFF
ADVOCATE file photo
A moose family was captured on film going for a stroll through Woodlea around 44th Avenue and 53rd Street earlier this year.
WEATHER
INDEX
Sunny. High -16. Low -20.
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Moose were spotted in the Clearview Meadows neighbourhood this month, and deer sighted in Rosedale. By all indications, larger species than Red Deer’s urban rabbits are making their rounds of the city this winter. Biologist Myrna Pearman believes a heavy late autumn snowfall is forcing some wildlife to wander further in search of food. Deer like to graze on the fallen leaves, shrubs and grasses that are now covered by deep snow. Pearman believes the ungulates are making do by nibbling on more branches, but these are not as nutritious, so they have to browse further afield.
In some cases, their paths are leading into Red Deer, where deer feel safe from predators and where tasty garden plants can be found. Last week in the early evening, a mother moose and calf were seen in the Michael O’Brien walking trail in Clearview Meadows. Two deer were also spotted headed towards a park on Rowntree Crescent in Rosedale, while more deer and moose were reported in Kin Kanyon and Barrett Park. While many city residents are charmed by the sight of wildlife in their midst, “There are downsides,” said Pearman, who manages the Ellis Bird Farm and lives near Sylvan Lake. She recently discovered deer on her deck, eating sunflower seeds from a bird feeder.
Please see WILDLIFE on Page A2
Rob Ford apology Take 2 Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has issued another apology and retracted comments he made about a reporter.
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