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Red Deer Advocate TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014
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GPS monitoring program back PROVINCIALLY-FUNDED PILOT PROJECT TO RESUME AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK BY JOSH ALDRICH ADVOCATE STAFF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
A program that protected victims of domestic abuse in Red Deer will be reinstated as early as next week. The provincially-funded pilot program placed GPS ankle bracelets on people who had been convicted of abuse and were considered at high risk to re-offend. The devices allowed the police to track their movements and alerted police when they breached areas that were off limits. The program ended on March 31 as funding ran out. Data from the pilot has been sent to the University of Calgary to be examined and a report will be released in June. In the meantime, however, those who wore the bracelets have since had them taken off, leaving them unmoni-
tored. In some cases, their victims are afraid for their lives. But on Monday afternoon, a deal was reached to bring the program back for at least six months to help protect those women while the pilot project data is examined. Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter Society executive director Ian Wheeliker said the biggest reason the program is back is that women most affected had the courage to speak out. “They needed this program to continue and it was having a very positive impact on their safety and their life,” he said.
Please see GPS on Page A2
Measles strain likely came from Philippines BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF The measles virus trickling into Central Alberta is likely the same strain that hammered the Philippines. Three cases in Alberta Health Services Central Zone were confirmed in February. One in March still needs to be confirmed by the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg. “Our estimate of what happened back in February is we had an imported case, possibly from the Philippines because that’s the strain isolated in those three cases,” said Dr. Digby Horne, Central Zone medical officer of health, on Monday. “Now we have that same strain again (in March). The person had gone to the Philippines.” Measles is extremely contagious and
spread through the air. People are considered contagious one day prior to any viral symptoms (which is usually about four to seven days before the rash appears) until four days after the appearance of the rash. Horne did anticipate more cases. “We’ve got opportunity for importation from B.C. and then we’ve got outbreaks occurring internationally. Really, it’s just a plane ride away so we’re going to have continued introductions.” British Columbia’s Fraser Valley had 288 cases as of March 24, along with other smaller outbreaks in Saskatchewan and Ontario. Horne said for now measles is a sporadic issue in Central Alberta.
Please see MEASLES on Page A2
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
From the left, Kerrington Truitt, Rilyn Boorman, Kayla McCall and Hannah Wright put their rubber boots to good use in the playground during their lunch break. The Grade 4 Joseph Welsh students joined their classmates in the wet school yard Monday afternoon. The school principal joked that he may have to cancel outdoor recess due to the nice weather, while another teacher commented they may have to hand out water wings or teach a boating lesson in the yard if the water keeps building up.
Friends launch campaign to find missing woman BY RENÉE FRANCOEUR AND MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF Seven new billboards went up in the Nordegg area over the weekend imploring the public for help in finding a missing Edmonton scientist. Anina Hundsdoerfer, 32, was last seen on March 22. Her last known location was near the intersection of 99th Avenue and 108th Street in Edmonton. Her blue Toyota Echo hatchback was found locked and abandoned three days later in a remote area along the
WEATHER Mainly sunny. High 16. Low 1.
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Forestry Trunk Road (Hwy 734) near Nordegg. Rocky Mountain House RCMP members have been searching the area where the car was found on foot and by helicopter but had to delay their search last week due to bad weather and extensive snow cover. They resumed the search on Monday with five members and police dogs scouring the woods, said Sgt. Mike Numan, and plan to continue looking where they can. “The problem is we don’t have an indication of direction or timeline or even if she’s there. That’s another
INDEX Two sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . A8,A9 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 Classified . . . . . . . . . . .B8-B10 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B4 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . .A12 Sports. . . . . . . . . .B5-B7,B10
thing we’re struggling with — did she get a ride away from her car? We don’t know. We’re just trying to cover all our bases right now.” Numan noted the snow is chest-high in some areas, making it extremely difficult for members to conduct a search. The Edmonton Police Service continues to investigate as well but no new evidence has surfaced, Numan said. About 15 of Hundsdoerfer’s close friends got together last week to talk about how they could help and began creating billboards. Hundsdoerfer’s roommate, Caroline Hendley, is the driving force behind
the Help Us Find Anina campaign. Hendley, who has known Hundsdoerfer for six years and lived with her for two, reported her missing. “We’re hoping that if someone sees the car’s picture and Anina’s face and the actual spot on the road her car was found it might trigger something they saw at the time that they didn’t realize could be important,” Hendley said of the billboards. “Even if it was just something unusual they remember, we want them to call that in . . . . No matter how small.”
Please see CAMPAIGN on Page A2
Liberals surge to majority win in Quebec The victory came 18 months after voters turfed the Liberals out in favour of a minority PQ government.
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