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Mine rescue competition Blairmore girl’s remains found celebrates 100 years By Katie Smith Free Press Staff
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A win and a loss in first games - Page 17 COMMUNITY
he Crowsnest Pass RCMP have found what they believe to be the body of the two-year-old toddler who went missing on Sept. 14 in Blairmore, AB. Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette was reported missing on Monday and an Amber Alert went out, asking for the public’s help to locate her. The body was located in the afternoon of Sept. 15 during a police search based on information they received. Hailey’s family has been notified. “The RCMP extends its deepest condolences to Hailey’s family. This is a sad day for the citizens of Blairmore and all Canadians who have held this little girl in their thoughts and prayers since Monday,” said RCMP Superintendent Tony Hamori, Assistant District Officer in Southern Alberta in a press release. The male suspect who was arrested in Blairmore earlier yesterday remains in police custody for questioning in relation to the investigation in the homicide of Hailey’s father, 27-year-old Terry Blanchette, who was found dead in his Blairmore residence on Sept. 14, and her disappearance. Charges are pending and once charges are laid, police will release the name of the suspect. Police are no longer asking for the public’s assistance in locating the white van that was seen near the Blanchette home in the early hours of Monday morning. The Amber Alert issued in relation to Hailey’s disappearance is no longer in effect. Anyone with information that might assist police in these investigations is asked to call Crowsnest Pass RCMP at 403562-2866. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers with information at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
35th Annual Terry Fox Run - Page 18
Team members work together to extinguish a fire as part of the fire task segment during the surface portion of the National Western Mine Rescue Competition. For more on the story, turn to page 13. Photo by L. Scheitel
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Bear encounters increase in Elk Valley By Leah Scheitel Free Press Staff
Museum hosting event - Page 15
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RFC Bulls wrap up season - Page 17
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onservation officers want to remind the public to be extra cautious of bears in the area after two weekend encounters in both Sparwood and Fernie. At about 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, a hunter encountered a grizzly bear in the Grave Prairie area, northeast of Sparwood. The grizzly bear, which was with her cub, attacked the man, who received nonlife threatening injuries from the encounter.
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“After he was attacked, the hunter was able to walk out to the road where he received a ride from a passerby who gave him a ride to his camp and from his camp, he was transported immediately to the hospital in Sparwood,” said conservation officer sergeant Cam Schley. Conservation officers were sent back to the area of the attack in the afternoon to determine what had happened. “The outcome of the investigation was that he happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong
time and surprised a sow and cub grizzly bear that were feeding on a freshly killed cow elk carcass,” said Schley. Because conservation officers determined that it was a defensive attack, it was decided to not trap the grizzly bear or her cub. “The actions of the bears didn’t warrant them trying to be trapped. They were doing something that is a natural defensive thing,” Schley said. The area has been closed to hunters and recreational use and will remain closed until further notice from the conservation officer service.
Saturday Sept 19th
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This is the fourth bear attack in the province in two weeks, and the third in the East Kootenays. Earlier this month, a man was attacked just east of Cranbrook, and another was attacked near Canal Flats. The fourth attack occurred in Fort Nelson over Labour Day weekend. Schley said that people need to be aware of the extreme bear danger this year, mostly caused by a lack of food supply for the bears. “We’re getting a number of bear complaints from the entire Elk Valley – Elkford, Sparwood, Fernie. It’s a very
busy fall for bear complaints for the conservations officers this year. We are attributing that to a very poor berry crop because of the hot dry summer,” he said, adding that the food shortage is causing bears to venture into areas where they normally wouldn’t be comfortable. The increased sightings of bears have been common throughout the Elk Valley. Kathy Murray of Wildsafe BC reported that 12 bears have been euthanized in Fernie in a 10-day span, from Sept. 4 to Sept. 14. Continued on page 2
Sunday Sept 20th
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featuring a locally grown feast prepared by Chef Barrie Elliot @ Community EcoGarden
biggest veggie contests miniature ponies cake walk & pie auction demonstrations harvest farmers market potato sack races
Tickets at Wildsight Office & wildsight.ca
10am-4pm @ Prentice Park