OOPS! . . . HE DID IT AGAIN
RANGERS, WILD, KINGS, TRIUMPHANT IN GAME 7
New video emerges of Toronto mayor allegedly smoking crack
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Red Deer Advocate THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014
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Co-op merger pays off REVENUES UP 10% BY HARLEY RICHARDS ADVOCATE BUSINESS EDITOR
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Zookeeper Holli Duffy visits with Robin, a new addition to the Discovery Wildlife Park in Innisfail. Robin, a male cheetah, comes to the park from a zoo in Ontario along with a female cheetah named Annie (below).
Cheetahs a rare sight DISCOVERY WILDLIFE PARK TEMPORARY HOME TO FELINES CAUGHT IN LIMBO BY MYLES FISH ADVOCATE STAFF The world’s fastest animal is in Central Alberta. Visitors to Innisfail’s Discovery Wildlife Park this year will be able to get a look at Robin and Annie, two cheetahs that serve as the first representatives of their species in Alberta in many years. Wild Rose Country denizens may remember longtime Edmonton-area zoologist Al Oeming visiting their schools or local malls with his pet cheetah Tawana in the 1970s, but since then the fast cats have not had
a significant presence in the province. And their stay in Alberta this time may not last long. The felines’ owners are attempting to move from Ontario to B.C., but the latter province’s strict regulations around non-native species have left the cheetahs, and their owners, waiting in limbo. The owners reached out to Discovery Wildlife Park last winter, and owner Doug Bos agreed to house the animals. Their arrival presents an exciting opportunity for the viewing public to the zoo, which opens today.
Members of the former Red Deer Co-op and Central Alberta Co-op who were critical of last year’s merger of the two retail organizations will soon have a compelling reason to change their minds — a cheque in their mailbox. The new Central Alberta Co-op, which came into existence on Feb. 1, 2013, generated $243.1 million in sales during its first full year over operations. That’s a nearly 10 per cent increase over the $221.2 million in revenues that the merger partners realized during the previous 12-month period. “Sales-wise it was excellent,” said Larry Parks, Central Alberta Co-op’s general manager. Co-op’s earnings during the past year were $12.5 million, with $7 million of this to be returned to members in the form of patronage allocations — including about $4.4 million in cash. Last year, the merger partners’ combined profits were $10.9 million, which translated into $6.2 million in patronage allocations, of which $2.9 million was paid out in cash. Members’ patronage allocations are based on the volume of purchases that they make during the year. Money not paid out is retained in members’ equity accounts. Co-op shared its 2013-14 numbers with members at its annual general meeting in Red Deer on Wednesday evening. Parks said business was good across Co-op’s operations, with gas sales particularly strong.
Please see CHEETAHS on Page A2 Please see CO-OP on Page A2
Caution, common sense key tools to preventing grass fires A freak fire north of Red Deer isn’t indicative of the conditions throughout Red Deer County — but officials say unless moisture comes soon, the ground may be dry enough to result in a rush of grass fires in the region. Tom Metzger, Red Deer County fire chief, said there is still some moisture left from the spring runoff, but that doesn’t mean grass fires couldn’t happen. “We haven’t seen anything yet except for the fire Tuesday,” said Metzger. The fire occurred north of Red Deer
WEATHER Sun and cloud. High 19. Low 4.
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on the C&E Trail at Range Road 392. A controlled grass fire got away and spread to a barn and an RV. “That wasn’t really a grass fire, that was a mistake. “Yes it is dry and with the humidity being low and our temperatures going up, it can be a cause for concern for us. Things get drier faster.” In the Rocky Mountain House Wildfire Management area, there have been six wildfires so far this spring. In total, they have burned 3.12 hectares. Two of those six fires were active on Wednesday, but had been held to 0.01 hectares and were under control.
Please see FIRE on Page A2
INDEX Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . C3,C4 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5-A7 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-D4 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D5 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . B8 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-B4
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Two men work at the scene of a large bale fire Tuesday afternoon. A plume of smoke could be seen from Red Deer to Innisfail as the fire raged on a farm just south of Penhold.
Two dead in Nanaimo sawmill shooting Western Forest Products has confirmed the suspect was a former worker, but declined to reveal when the man left the company. Story on PAGE A5
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