Lights brings imagination at Red Deer show
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STAMPS HEADED TO GREY CUP PAGE B1
Red Deer Advocate MONDAY, NOV. 24, 2014
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RED DEER YOUTH JUSTICE COMMITTEE
20 years of second chances BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF
Photo by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate staff
The blue glow of the lights in City Hall park illuminate the faces of Elizabeth and Penelope Williams at Festival Lights the Night. Many of Red Deer’s youngest residents were in awe of the lights and families of all sizes made effort to take pictures with the various displays. See more photos from the event on page A2.
For 20 years, Red Deer Youth Justice Committee has been steering young people going down the wrong path in a better direction. Committee chairperson Gwen Philip, who has sat on the committee for 15 years, said it’s been years since members dealt mostly with youth charged with shoplifting. “Now we are getting cases that are more difficult like break and enters, theft, assaults, mischief, possession of narcotics — a wide variety now,” said Philip, of Red Deer. Despite the seriousness of the charges, the courts rightly see in the majority of these youth that they can turn their lives around, she said. “Going through our system, it’s like getting a second chance. A second chance to figure out what’s going on in their life and how to improve it.” Red Deer Youth Justice Committee is a group of volunteers heading an alternative measures program for youth age 12 to 17 who accept responsibility for the actions for which they have been charged. Young offenders are usually given 90 days to complete their punishment called “consequences” which could consist of apology letters, community service, counselling or attending programs, essays or posters, a donation to charity, and financial restitution to the victim.
Please see JUSTICE on Page A2
Wolf cull stabilizes caribou herd, but just buys time: study
Final year of fanciful, festive decorations at von Hollen house
BY THE CANADIAN PRESS
MORE THAN 120,000 LIGHTS TO BE ON DISPLAY
EDMONTON — New research shows that killing hundreds of wolves has barely managed to stabilize the numbers of a threatened Alberta caribou herd in a region increasingly impacted by industry. The study, conducted by some of the province’s top caribou scientists and published online late last week, suggests that Albertans face a stark choice as their government prepares legally required plans to restore the herds. “One hopes that it’s not just some window dressing that’s going on,” said Stan Boutin, a University of Alberta biologist and one of the co-authors. “If ... the plan is one that tries to satisfy all the players in the game, it becomes a thing where each of the players at the table are in there primarily to ensure they don’t lose too much, as opposed to the overall objective. Which is, what do we have to bloody well do to keep caribou around?” The study examines the effect of a seven-year wolf cull in the northwestern Alberta range of the Little Smoky caribou herd — roughly 70 animals scratching out a living on land 95 per cent disturbed by forestry and energy development. Seismic lines and cutblocks from that development allow wolves deep into the undisturbed portions of the forest, adding further pressure. In an attempt to keep caribou from disappearing, Alberta began an annual cull of about 45 per cent of the wolves on that range in 2005. By 2012, 841 wolves had been poisoned or shot from helicopters. The study compares caribou numbers before and after the cull. It also compares them with a nearby range subject to similar development pressures on which no cull took place. “Removing” wolves has stopped the Little Smoky herd’s decline, it concludes. Cow and calf numbers are up, just enough. “It is fair to say the Little Smoky is stable,” said Dave Hervieux, co-author and provincial caribou biologist. Without the cull, the Little Smoky herd would be long gone, said Hervieux.
Please see CULL on Page A2
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FORECAST ON A2
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BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE — This town’s muchloved Christmas house will dazzle for one more season beginning on Saturday. Alfred and Cheryl von Hollen have turned their home and yard into a Central Alberta Yuletide beacon for years. Alfred said a desire to do more travelling and the work involved in stringing tens of thousands of lights and inflating dozens of figures convinced him to pack up his electric ornaments when the plug is officially pulled on this year’s show on Dec. 28. It all started with 1,000 lights in 1992. This year, his home will be bathed in the glow of 120,000 lights — the most ever. About 100 inflatable figures and scenes will be in place — again, a record. Nearly two dozen sponsors have helped make it all possible this year. The retired teacher had originally intended to take this year off to do some travelling and return for one final year in 2015. It was to be a welcome break for the 64-year-old, who wound up with badly frostbitten fingers trying to set up during last winter’s early cold snap, and an aching back from shovelling mountains of snow. The light-free year was also going to give him a chance to stain his home’s wood siding. He had even posted on his property a sign letting the community know the lights would be dark this year. However, when up a ladder preparing to pull down thousands of feet of lights ahead of his staining project, a mental light bulb went off. “It just didn’t make sense to take it all down and put it back up,” he said. So a quick change in plans followed. The trip was put on hold and the big finale was rescheduled. Von Hollen said he’s at peace with his decision. “It’s been fun.” The switch will be thrown on the von Hollens’ final merry masterpiece at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 29. It will be lit daily until 9:30 p.m., except on Christ-
Photo by Paul Cowley/Advocate staff
Alfred von Hollen began setting up his Rocky Mountain House Christmas house in August and it will be lit up for visitors beginning Nov. 29. This is the final year for what has become a local Christmas tradition and more than 120,000 lights and 100 inflatables will decorate his home and yard. mas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, when the lights are kept on until the last visitor leaves. Every family that stops by will get a free photo of the house. Those dropping by are encouraged to contribute to the local food bank or bring cat food for the Rocky Organization for Animal Rescue (ROAR). To get to the von Hollens from Red Deer, take Hwy 11 to Rocky, turn west on 52nd Avenue, turn right on 60th Street and turn right on 57th Avenue. The address is 5725 57th St. Close. pcowley@reddeeradvocate.com
More arrested in pipeline protest At least a dozen Trans Mountain protesters including an 11-year-old girl were taken into custody Sunday in B.C. Story on PAGE A8
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