Johnson leads Rebels to win
BLUE JAYS DAZZLE IN THE FALL
Wyatt Johnson scored a hat trick as Red Deer hammered Saskatoon 7-1 Wednesday night.
OUTDOORS — PAGE D5
SPORTS — PAGE B1
Red Deer Advocate THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 2015
www.reddeeradvocate.com
Your trusted local news authority
Shortfall delays balanced budget
‘Best girls in the world’
RED INK NOW TO BE GONE BY 2020 BY THE CANADIAN PRESS EDMONTON — Alberta’s finance minister is rolling back by one year the date for balancing the province’s books. The government will not balance the budget until the 2019-2020 fiscal year, Finance Minister Joe Ceci said Wednesday. “It’s going to take a little longer to reach balance than outlined earlier,” he said. If the government did not move the deadline, it would have to delay critical infrastructure projects or make deep service cuts that would result in even more overcrowding in classrooms and care centres, Ceci said. “Our economy cannot withstand any of these actions now.” Ceci blamed the budget delay on a slump in oil prices that has siphoned billions of dollars out of the province’s petro-heavy economy. “It (the shortfall) is also due to the failure of previous governments to save, to diversify our economy, and to diversify government revenue streams.” Other promises made in the campaign will be honoured and not delayed, Ceci said. The budget is to be delivered on Tuesday, a day after the fall sitting of the legislature gets underway. Ceci said the deficit could be just under $6.5 billion. The timing of the budget is unusual given that it is for the 2015-16 fiscal year, which is already six months old.
Please see BUDGET on Page A2
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Roger and Bonita Bott speak to the media outside the Withrow Gospel Mission in the hamlet of Withrow, about 60 km west of Red Deer, on Wednesday afternoon. The Botts lost their three young daughters in a farm accident on Tuesday, Oct. 13. BY MARY-ANN BARR ADVOCATE STAFF While they continue to work their way through their terrible loss, Bonita and Roger Bott paused for a few moments on Wednesday to thank everyone who has offered them support, and to talk a little about their daughters, “the best girls in the world”. Speaking with strong voices, outside Withrow Gospel Mission just down the road from their farm — the couple stood close together, taking turns reading a prepared statement. “To say that we are overwhelmed with how this is unfolding would be a huge understatement. We ourselves
are still in shock with the situation.” In the early evening of Oct. 13, their daughters — twins Jana and Dara, 11, and Catie, 13 — were in the back of a truck with canola seed when they became covered by the seed and and smothered. Jana and Catie died at the farm. Dara was transferred by STARS to an Edmonton hospital but she passed away there hours later. Since then, the farm community has reached out to help the Botts in various ways, such as helping with their harvest. A fundraising campaign has drawn donations locally, nationally and internationally. The Bott farm is in the hamlet of Withrow, which is about 60 kms west of Red Deer. The couple, dressed casually in
jeans, were calm and friendly, and mostly composed, as they read the statement before media, even thanking them for what they called sensitive reporting. “We’ve enjoyed reading the supportive comments on Facebook and the GoFundMe.com page. It’s overwhelming to keep up with, but I’d say we’ve read a lot of it, and are warmed when we see how far this is reaching, and the various connections to our family,” the Botts said. “We are so humbled with it all. Thank you.” They have one other child, their nine-year-old son, Caleb.
Please see BOTT on Page A2
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Chamber honours outstanding businesses BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF
Photo by PAUL COWLEY/Advocate staff
Red Deer and District Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award winners for 2015. (From left) Doreen Parcels and Bruce McEwen, of Blue Grass Sod Farms and Nursery; Lois and Harv Schimke, of Key Agventures; and Terry and Danette Loewen, of Platinum Homes and Developments.
WEATHER Mainly cloudy. High 12. Low -3.
FORECAST ON A2
INDEX Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business . . . . . . . .C4-C5 Canada . . . . . . . . A6, C2 Classified . . . . . . D1-D2 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . D4 Entertainment . . . . . . C3 Sports . . . . . . . . . B1-B3
It came up roses for Blue Grass Sod Farms and Nursery at the Red Deer and District Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Awards on Wednesday night. The 45-year-old Red Deer County-based firm was awarded Business of the Year for companies with more
than 21 employees at the 34th annual awards gala at the Red Deer College Arts Centre. Key Agventures was Business of the Year in the 11- to 20-employee category and Platinum Homes and Developments in the one- to 10-employee category. It has been a growth year for Blue Grass, owned by brothers Bruce and Bill McEwen.
Please see AWARDS on Page A2
Cirillo remembered at hilltop ceremony Scores of people turned out for a ceremony on Wednesday in honour of a soldier gunned down a year ago. Story on PAGE A6
S ! EN ROW P O OR M TO
OCTOBER 23 25
FRI 10 9 SAT 10 6 SUN 10 5 WESTERNER PARK, RED DEER
RED DEER
SHOP CANADIAN HANDMADE FROM 200 ARTISANS!
PLEASE RECYCLE www.ourbesttoyou.ca Our Best To You Art & Craft Sale @signaturesca @signatures.ca #OurBestToYou #HandmadeLive Adults $7, Senior/Youth (13 17) $5, Children FREE