SIMPLE SEDER Passover table a palette for innovation
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WHY BEING A FAIR-WEATHER FAN IS THE HEALTHY CHOICE PAGE A4
Red Deer Advocate TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014
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Measles feared at school PROBABLE CASE FORCES 45 STUDENTS, TEACHERS TO STAY HOME UNTIL MAY BY MYLES FISH ADVOCATE STAFF About 40 students and five teachers face the prospect of being out of class until May due to a probable measles case at a local elementary school. Alberta Health Services last week identified a probable case of the contagious disease among someone who had
been at Mattie McCullough Elementary School on April 4, 8, and 9. On April 10, the health authority notified about 100 people at the school that they could be at risk of contracting the illness. Students and teachers who have either not received or cannot provide documentation showing they have received two doses of the measles vaccine; have never been infected with the disease; or for whom a blood test does not indicate immunity from mea-
Tool maker fined $90K for selling parts to Iran
sles, have been mandated to stay home from school since Friday. Under AHS disease management guidelines, those deemed susceptible to contracting the contagion will be excluded from the school for 21 days since the last exposure date (April 9). AHS Central Zone medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said a further update on the case will likely come today. Without formal lab confirmation, the case has only been deemed
“probable” up to this point. “If this turns out not to be a case of measles, then we certainly would send everyone back right away. The likelihood of that happening is very small,” said Hinshaw. “We don’t take this action lightly. We would not have done this if we didn’t think it was a case of measles.”
Please see MEASLES on Page A2
DODDS LAKE CLEANUP UNDERWAY
BY BRENDA KOSSOWAN ADVOCATE STAFF A Red Deer tool maker has been fined $90,000 for selling illegal goods to a buyer in Iran. Lee Specialties pleaded guilty in Calgary provincial court on Monday afternoon to a charge of contravening an order under Canada’s Special Economics Measures Act, which prohibits the sale of certain products to countries including Iran. The company, which operates across Canada and the United States, had been under investigation by Canada Border Services Agency and RCMP over the past three years in connection with a shipment of Viton O-rings, commonly used in oilfield drilling and testing equipment. Viton is a synthetic material developed by DuPont. O-rings and gaskets made of the substance are resistant to high temperatures and therefore may be used in nuclear technology, the CBSA and RCMP said in a joint statement released on Monday. Shipping Viton O-rings to Iran is specifically prohibited in Schedule 2 of the Special Economic Measures Act, say investigators in their joint statement. Lee Specialities was charged with making a false statement under the Customs Act and contravening or failing to comply with an order under both the Special Economic Measures and the United Nations Acts. The Customs and United Nations charges were withdrawn after the guilty plea was entered. Court heard the total value of the 50 rings shipped was only $15. A lawyer for the company told court that the rings were supposed to go to Dubai, but there was an address mixup on the packaging. Lee Specialities is the first company in Canada to be charged under the Special Economic Measures Act and only the third company to be charged under the United Nations Act. The investigation opened and RCMP were called to assist in the spring of 2011, when CBSA officers at the Calgary International Airport intercepted and seized a shipment of O-rings destined for Iran. “This seizure prevented these items, which can be used in nuclear applications, from landing in the wrong hands,” said Lauren Delgaty, regional director general for the CBSA Prairie Region. Tim Creedon, executive director of the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce, said his agency has offered exporters help since 1923 in providing proof of origin documents for overseas shipments.
Please see FINE on Page A2
WEATHER Showers/flurries. High 4. Low -6.
FORECAST ON A2
Photo by MURRAY CRAWFORD/Advocate staff
Kalie Jacobson and Brad Wilson work Monday to clean up a hydrocarbon spill that affected Dodds Lake in Innisfail. The still frozen-over lake became the scene of a cleanup operation after a black slick stretching about 15 metres was discovered coming from a drainage culvert and running towards the lake on Friday. See related story on page B2.
City scrapping bike lanes on part of 39th Street BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF
CITY COUNCIL
Bike lanes on 39th Street, east of 40th Avenue will be scrapped. Red Deer’s controversial yet awardwinning commuter $800,000 bike pilot has come to a full stop. On Monday, city council agreed to remove the lanes on 39th Street between 30th Avenue and 40th Avenue in its final move on the contentious pilot. The street will revert to two lanes in each direction, and a three-metre wide asphalt trail between Metcalf and Mitchell Avenue will be installed. The lanes on 39th Street were often the most talked about as residents complained about traffic and safety issues, particularly around schools on the well-travelled road. In September 2013, council directed administration to come back with cycling infrastructure options for 30th Street. Councillors did not have much to say in the meeting as they had discussed the issue at length in workshops leading up to the meeting. They weighed options for retaining
and removing the bike lanes and adding a multi-use trail from the motorist, transit user, pedestrian and cyclist perspectives. Coun. Lynne Mulder said a lot of thought went into the decision as a result of the workshops and input from the residents. “It is a good result,” said Mulder. “I think having it on a path away from the sidewalk makes it better for everybody.” City administration said this is the best option to maintain connectivity throughout this area. Coun. Paul Harris, however, did not hold back in his disappointment with the roll out and conclusion of the pilot. Harris said he was not happy with the lanes that were not safe and separated from the traffic. “We never had an opportunity to test all the kinds of bike lanes that other communities are doing,” said Harris. “This was our last opportunity on 39th Street to actually test something that was both safe and separated for
INDEX Two sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . .A8, A9 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A5, A6 Classified . . . . . . . . . . .B8-B10 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B4 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . .A12 Sports. . .B5-B7, B10, B11
commuters. Instead we have gone to a multi-use trail which is great because lots of people use multi-use trails but it wasn’t the original intent of commuting.” Harris said a huge opportunity has been lost. Mayor Tara Veer said the pilot has been a significant learning exercise for city council. Veer said at the end of the day council has learned that any new ideas or change with significant impact must be driven by the community. Veer said she is pleased council has actively decisively and closed off the pilot. The estimated $100,000 for the installation of the trail will come out of the existing sidewalk budget. All other bike lanes will remain in place on an interim basis until the standards and policies for bicycling infrastructure are considered as part of the Transportation and Trail Master plans, expected sometime this year. Work is expected to begin sometime in May or June depending on the weather.
Please see COUNCIL on Page A2
Snow melt reveals signs of mice damage at park Mice did extensive damage to the lawns and flower beds at City Hall Park over the winter, says the head gardener. Story on PAGE B1
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