CFL PREVIEW Showdown between unbeaten Eskimos, Blue Bombers
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KISSEL TOP CCMA NOMINEE WITH EIGHT PAGE C7
Red Deer Advocate THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014
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AND THEY’RE
OFF!
Photo by PAUL COWLEY/Advocate staff
The Celebrity Racing Pigs were a big hit at the Westerner Fair and Exposition on Wednesday that featured appearances by Hog Ford and Hogzilla. LEFT: Boss Hog, a.k.a. Ken Lasalle
BY Y P PAUL A COWLEY ADV ADVOCATE STAFF Suppose Supposedly S fresh out of rehab, d was a crowd pleaser. Hog Ford Not to be too cruel, but the fleet-foo fleet-footed porker did bear a passing resemblance to Toronto’s col colourful mayor Rob Ford as wa was pointed out good natured turedly by Celebrity Racing Pigs master of ceremonies B Boss Hog, a.k.a Ken Lassalle. Hog Ford and Hogzillla were just a couple of th the celebrity pigs to trot sm smartly out of the starting gat gates in the four-way races tha that drew laughter from the crowds on a sweltering Wedn Wednesday afternoon at Westerner Park Fai Fair and Exposition. Lasalle says the pigs raised on his Oshawa, Ont., farm lov love to race. “They know wha what they’re doing. When (the crowd) see the them going it’s like watching Jeff Gordon in a car race,” he says, referring to the NASCA NASCAR racing star. “As the summer gets on, they really get ’er done.” It wasn’t all a about the pigs though.
WESTERNER DAYS MICHENER SUPPORTERS MARCH A2 THOUSANDS LINE DOWNTOWN FOR PARADE C1 RECYCLING AMBASSADORS FOCUS ON OIL C3 Goats and ducks also got a chance to show off their competitive chops. Lacey Bullee, 10, was a big fan of the goats “because they’re cute. “I liked all of the races,” said the Red Deer youngster. Other youngsters too shyly gave the show their votes of confidence, one marvelling that she got to feed one of the goats milk. Lasalle has been crisscrossing Canada with his wife, Jen, a.k.a. Mother Hen Jen, and their menagerie of animals for 40 years as part of a travelling petting zoo. They added the pig racing about a dozen years ago. After Red Deer, it’s off to the Big Valley Jamboree, then Saskatoon and North Battleford before heading back to Ontario for more pig racing shows. Lasalle, whose brother is also here with a petting zoo, clearly loves his life on the road with his oinking retinue. His half-hour show is filled with pig-related jokes that drew groans and laughs in equal amounts. The crowd was encouraged to get in on the fun by backing one of the pigs based on its coloured collar.
Please see RACING on Page A2
Air quality wanes SMOKE FROM WILDFIRES IN B.C., NORTHWEST TERRITORIES BLAMED BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF A thick, fog-like, smoky haze moved into Red Deer with force on Wednesday, worsening air quality and reducing visibility. Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement late Wednesday afternoon for the Red Deer, Ponoka, Innisfail and Stettler areas, saying people should be on the lookout for adverse weather conditions and take necessary safety precautions. The smoke, from wildfires in B.C. and the Northwest Territories, has had an impact on the air quality in Central Alberta for more than a week, but Wednesday was particularly bad with the Air Quality Health Index reaching moderate to high levels.
WEATHER Sun and cloud. High 23. Low 12.
FORECAST ON A2
INDEX Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3,A5 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . C3,C4 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6,A7 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-D3 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D5 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . C7 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-B4
‘EVERYONE SHOULD MONITOR THEIR SYMPTOMS AND ADJUST THEIR ACTIVITIES IF THEY’RE NOTICING SYMPTOMS.’ — DR. DIGBY HORNE ALBERTA HEALTH SERVICES
Visibility in Red Deer was reduced to 10 km as the smoke thickened in the area. The index ranges from one to 10, with one being the lowest risk and above 10 very high risk. On Wednesday, it reached seven in Red Deer and most other parts of Alberta. Only the Grande Prairie, Clairmont, Fort Chipewyan and Beaverlodge areas of Alberta have a higher
air quality forecast for today. The index for today was forecast to reach a maximum of four in Red Deer. Dr. Digby Horne, Alberta Health Service Central Zone medical officer of health, said it is important for people with or without conditions that could be affected by the smoke to monitor their symptoms and take necessary precautions, such as staying indoors and not performing strenuous activities. “Everyone should monitor their symptoms and adjust their activities if they’re noticing symptoms,” said Horne. “Whatever they can do to minimize problems with the air, such as avoid running vehicles unnecessarily or avoid unnecessary burning. It all adds up.”
Please see AIR on Page A2
Extreme blaze empties B.C. town More than 1,000 residents of Hudson Hope were ordered to flee from a blaze too extreme for firefighters to battle. Story on PAGE A6
PLEASE
RECYCLE