Red Deer Advocate, January 06, 2016

FEELING BLUE ABOUT AVATAR

REBELS BEAT RAIDERS ON THE ROAD

Absence has only made the biggest domestic moneymaker easier to forget

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Red Deer Advocate WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6, 2016

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Your trusted local news authority

Driver who hit cyclist guilty JUDGE RESERVES SENTENCING DECISION UNTIL MID-FEBRUARY

BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF Not wanting to wait around for a decision on his sentence, a Red Deer man surrendered himself into custody for the tragic collision that injured a local teen.

Eric William Petty, 26, will be held in custody while judge John Holmes reviews sentencing submissions from both Crown Prosecutor Katie Clarey and defence counsel Chad Evans.

Petty pleaded guilty to one count of refusing a breath demand causing bodily harm. Dery Wang, 18, was severely injured while biking to the Greyhound bus station on July 4, 2015.

Wang was on his way to the Calgary Stampede when he was hit by a car. Petty was with friends that evening and had a few drinks. He was westbound on 32nd Street, driving in the right hand lane above the

speed limit, near Mitchell Avenue where the collision occurred.

Petty did wave down another driver to call 911 as he could not find his phone.

Wang suffered a severe injury to his brain and is recovering at the Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury in Lacombe.

Clarey said Wang has gone from enrolling in the University of Alberta engineering program to being on life support, to a coma, to now 100 per cent unintelligible.

DERY WANG A report on Wang’s progress submitted on Tuesday said Wang is suffering from numerous deficits including communication, a bal-

GAME ON!

ance impairment and post-traumatic amnesia.

Clarey is seeking a sentence of 12 to 15 months of jail followed by probation and a driving prohibition.

Evans is instead seeking a jail sentence of three to six months, but followed by probation and a driving prohibition.

The sentencing hearing was conducted on Tuesday in Red Deer provincial court.

Complicating proceedings was a dearth of case law around the charge. Clarey instead used several cases with convictions for impaired or dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

Clarey and Evans agreed that Petty is very remorseful for the incident and provided a statement to police right after.

Holmes reserved his decision until mid-February.

Petty, conceding he would face jail regardless, surrendered himself into custody and will start serving his sentence before the judge gives his decision. mcrawford@reddeeradvocate.com

‘Joe’s Last Inning’ slated for Friday

BY MARY-ANN BARR ADVOCATE STAFF

Photo by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate Staff

Scott Barclay of Bower Ponds Recreation sets up Settlers of Catan on Tuesday afternoon in what will be Bower Ponds’ new Games Room inside the pavillion. The Games Room will open to the public on Friday, Jan. 8 at 6 p.m. with over 100 board games available to play. Admission is $5 per player. For more information, visit bowerponds.ca.

Twenty-six Syrian refugees adjusting to life in Red Deer

BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF Six Syrian refugee families quietly arrived in Red Deer with little fanfare over the last few weeks.

Remza Mujezinovic, program supervisor for Catholic Social Services, Immigration and Settlement, said most families arrived last week.

She said staff worked day and night to meet the needs and immediate medication attention.

“We received six families, a total of 26 Syrian refugees,” said Mujezinovic. “And we are expecting more in the following days and months to come. Our four Arabic speaking settlement workers are very busy helping new Syrians to adjust to their new life in Canada.”

The next step for the agency is to find affordable housing and move them to permanent housing from temporary housing as soon as possible.

“Rents are very high and (Syrian refugee) shelter allowance is very limited,” she said. “In collabora-

WEATHER 30% flurries. High -11. Low -12.

FORECAST ON A2

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tion with (the City of Red Deer), we are looking for appropriate room, which can accept larger number of people, possibly 40 to 60.”

She said volunteers are doing great job accepting donations from the community and sorting it.

Another concern is finding a family doctor and dentist who are willing to accept new patients given the large number of Syrians and refugees from other parts of the world, said Mujezinovic.

“We will also welcome any medical practitioner that speaks the Arabic language,” she said.

The federal government is working on a plan to welcome 25,000 Syrian refugees.

“The city prepares to welcome those who will settle here and call Red Deer home,” according to the city website. “To assist with this transition, the following resources may be of service to those who are sponsoring Syrian refugees or are refugees themselves.”

To find out more visit www.reddeer.ca and search “refugee crisis.” crhyno@reddeeradvocate.com

The service for Joe Bower, a popular teacher who advocated for a better education system, will take place Friday at 2 p.m. at the Harvest Centre at Westerner Park in Red Deer.

Tamara Bower, his wife, said Tuesday they are calling the service “Joe’s Last Inning.” He loved and played baseball in the summer for the North Stars team. He played hockey in the winter.

Joe had a heart attack at home on Dec. 28, his 37th birthday, Tamara said. He passed away Sunday.

Tamara, 36, said that first and foremost Joe was a father and husband. “He was always there for us.”

The couple, married 15 years, have two children, Kayley, 8 and Sawyer, 3.

Joe had a large online following for a blog he wrote on education, and he was known as being very passionate about his philosophy toward teaching.

He was a teacher in the Red Deer Public School District, in the Alternative School Programs most recently.

Joe is a descendent of the pioneering Bower family, for which Bower Mall, Bower Ponds and the Bower subdivision take their names from.

The family is anticipating a large turnout at the service. Hundreds of online condolences to his family and tributes to him have been posted to social media.

After learning of Joe’s death, Alberta Education Minister David Eggan tweeted: “Am out of the country and just learned of the passing of my friend and education advocate (Joe Bower). Condolences to his family … Joe was so passionate about education and he made a real difference. He was taken from us far too soon and will be sorely missed.”

The reaction to Joe’s death has been “very touching,” Tamara said.

Joe was never one to be sick and there had been no indication that he had any heart issues, Tamara said. She is quite thankful for the medical help he received.

“The Red Deer EMS and Calgary Foothills were amazing. … If you could put that in I would appreciate that. … The doctors, the paramedics, the nurses, and the (cardio unit) in Calgary … the care was stellar. It made a really horrid experience better because they were so caring and kind.”

The family had been having a good holiday season together, she said. “It was a lovely Christmas and we have so many amazing memories because we had so much family time. It was really nice.”

“It’s very, very hard, especially with all the publicity. … Everyone knows the education side of him but he was a stellar man at home,” Tamara said.

“We’re going to miss him. It’s a big hole in our life.

It was very sudden.” barr@reddeeradvocate.com

Ottawa to count homeless veterans For what’s believed to be the first time, Ottawa has estimated how many of Canada’s homeless are former soldiers.

Story on PAGE A5

PLEASE RECYCLE

A2 RED DEER ADVOCATE Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016

ICY WEDDINGS

VEHICLE IDLING

Supervisor ‘hopeful’ city will take action to improve air quality

BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A newly wed couple walk past an ice sculpture during a mass wedding ceremony of the 32nd Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Zhaolin Park in Harbin city, China’s northern Heilongjiang province, on Tuesday. As many as 15 couples attend this mass wedding ceremony.

The festival officially opened on Monday and lasts until Feb. 5, 2016. It is expected to attract both foreign and local visitors to experience the ice and snow.

Man faces 13 charges after allegedly assaulting officers, ramming home

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS CALGARY — A 28-year-old Calgary man is facing 13 criminal charges after three police officers and an EMS worker were assaulted during an investigation of an alleged domestic violence incident.

Police say they were called Sunday night after a truck was driven through the door and rear wall of a detached garage at a Calgary home.

They say the driver then went on a rampage with a crowbar inside the house, smashing windows, wrecking appliances and putting holes in the wall.

Those inside the home managed to escape without injury.

A short time later, police found a suspect vehicle and tried to stop it, but the driver rammed the police vehicle and sped off.

A suspect was later located at a separate residence but during the arrest process, police say the four first responders were attacked.

Brian Joseph Russell is charged with two counts of assaulting a peace officer, one count of assaulting a peace officer with weapon, one count of assault, one count of possession of a weapon, two counts of break and enter, two counts of hit and run, one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, one count of mischief causing danger to life, one count of theft under $5,000 and one count of possession of break-in instruments.

Shooting, wild chase ends with arrests

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS SURREY, B.C. — Bullets flew as one vehicle pursued another across two Metro Vancouver municipalities, with the driver of a pickup truck following someone who’d fired at him from a car.

RCMP Staff Sgt. Paul Hayes said the dangerous chase began in Surrey at about 8 p.m. Monday, moments after the truck driver called police to report he’d confronted a suspicious vehicle parked in his neighbourhood.

Three occupants in a white car left the area as shots were fired at the truck driver, Hayes said.

LOCAL

BRIEFS

Operating budget talks begin Red Deer’s 2016 operating budget talks get underway today.

Administration is recommending a $341.9-million operating budget for 2016. Council will begin debating the line items after presentations.

The 1 p.m. meeting will begin with presentations

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The pickup driver chased the other vehicle for nearly half an hour as it sped into Delta along busy highways.

Hayes said the pickup driver refused to comply with repeated police demands to stop the chase.

The car lost control on icy streets in Delta, shearing off a power pole and leaving its three occupants with various, non-life threatening injuries.

One of the suspects, Cory Myers, was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for failing to comply with probation as well as a local warrant for break and enter.

Mounties said a gun was seized from the car, the trio is known to them and charges are expected. from City Manager Craig Curtis and Dean Krejci, the city’s chief financial officer. Following this Paul Goranson, the Corporate Services director, will discuss the corporate efficiencies and effectiveness in the proposed budget.

Council will also hear comments from the public on the proposed day-to-day spending.

Two reports — on resurfacing the City Hall wheelchair ramp and building a Canada Winter Games parade float — will be on the table.

The debate could get underway as early as today.

The meetings are scheduled for Thursday and Friday and if necessary until Jan. 13 in council chambers.

Motorists who leave their engines running for more than 30 minutes within Inuvik city limits could net a $100 fine.

In Edmonton, vehicle idlers could face a $250 fine for idling outside schools and hospitals.

On Monday, Red Deer opted against going the regulatory route to improve the city’s poor air quality.

The Red Deer region has failed to meet federal air quality standards for the last two years.

Council cited concerns with enforcement challenges if a new bylaw was introduced.

But Nancy Hackett, the city’s environmental initiatives supervisor, said a bylaw could be designed that is appropriate for Red Deer’s weather and with enforcement options.

The city looked at 69 municipalities in Canada and one U.S. city with anti-idling bylaws as part of council’s direction to explore options for expanding the idle-free program.

Hackett said most of the municipalities have had a bylaw in place for 10 years. The earliest bylaw was introduced in 1996.

The time limit for idling ranged from zero minutes to 30 minutes.

Some bylaws are regulated on a complaint basis or full-time by RCMP or bylaw officers or both. Many of Red Deer’s current bylaws are enforced on a complaint basis.

The anti-idling ranges cover entire municipalities or at specific locations such as hospitals and schools.

The infractions range from verbal warnings to tickets ranging from $10 to $500 for a first-time offence.

“Given the significance of the data we have on air quality in Red Deer, I am hopeful Red Deer will take more actions in the future as we learn more,” said Hackett. “I know council wants to wait on the provincial air quality and particulate matter report.

I am hoping there is direction out of that on what the community can do and that maybe after we have that report we can take more actions to protect our air quality.”

The city expects to learn more about the province’s plan to deal with the air quality later this month.

Hackett pointed out that vehicle idling is not just a winter problem.

“We are aware of people who idle year round,” she said. “Lots of people idle in the spring and fall when it is not a temperature-related issue. I believe a bylaw could address that as well.”

Hackett said there are still some ideas on the education front to reach more people in the coming year. She said progress has been made in the six years that the public awareness program has been running.

There are 260 signs in the community including all city facilities, 16 businesses, as well as, the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre and Sunnybrook United Church and schools.

Hackett said reducing idling is not only about improving air quality. It can help reduce theft and vehicle noise and money spent on gas.

“The city has grown in six years,” she said. “There are more vehicles on the road than we had six years ago. We have more people visiting Red Deer.”

Emissions from vehicles is one of the largest contributors to air pollution.

In a 2014 city survey, 80 per cent of the respondents would generally support anti-idling measures near hospitals and schools while 68.9 per cent would support an anti-idling bylaw to improve air quality. crhyno@reddeeradvocate.com

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Numbers are unofficial.

Weather LOCAL TODAY

TONIGHT

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

HIGH -11

LOW -12

HIGH -12

HIGH -15

HIGH -15

30% chance of flurries.

Periods of snow.

60% chance of flurries.

Sunny.

Sunny. Low -26.

REGIONAL OUTLOOK

TONIGHT’S HIGHS/LOWS (Stk # 31312)

Calgary: today, cloudy. High -12. Low -13.

Olds, Sundre: today, cloudy. High -11. Low -12.

Rocky, Nordegg: today, cloudy. High -12.

Low -14.

Banff: today, sun and cloud. High -6. Low -11.

Lethbridge: today, 30% flurries. High -10.

Low -12.

FORT MCMURRAY

Edmonton: today, 60% flurries. High -10.

Low -12.

Grande Prairie: today, 30% flurries.

High -15. Low -21.

Fort McMurray: today, 30% flurries.

High -13. Low -18.

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ALBERTA

A3

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6, 2016

Redford to attend portrait unveiling

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS EDMONTON — The image of former premier Alison Redford is expected to be immortalized on the walls of the Alberta legislature this spring — and Redford will be on hand for the unveiling.

“Former premier Redford has confirmed that she would like to attend the unveiling of her portrait, so the Speaker’s office is currently working with her to co-ordinate a date for that,” ALISON REDFORD Cheryl Oates, spokeswoman for the premier’s office, said Tuesday.

“Right now we’re looking at the

spring, although we haven’t set a date yet.”

Redford’s official portrait and the artwork of her successor and fellow Progressive Conservative Dave Hancock have been sitting in climate-controlled storage for more than six months at the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

Redford’s portrait is oil on canvas

by Calgary artist Liela Chan and cost $12,500.

Hancock’s is oil on linen by Edmonton artist Tom Menczel at a cost of $12,046.

The former premiers got to choose their own artists.

Hancock’s portrait unveiling ceremony will take place some time after Redford’s at an unspecified date, said Oates.

The premier’s office pays for and organizes the painting while the Speaker’s office, which is in charge of the legislature building, is responsible for the unveiling ceremony.

Redford, Alberta’s 14th premier, is now working with the Conference

Board of Canada on an initiative to harmonize energy development with environmental protection.

She could not be reached for comment.

The Calgary lawyer has avoided the public spotlight after she resigned as premier on March 19, 2014, one step ahead of a caucus revolt underpinned by a public scandal over exorbitant spending on herself and her inner circle.

Those bills to the taxpayer included preliminary construction on a highend condo-style retreat for Redford on top of the government’s Federal Building, about a block from the legislature.

Redford resigned as a member of the legislature soon after she quit as premier, but one of her controversies lives on.

Premier Rachel Notley’s government called in an independent investigator last year to assess whether Redford, as justice minister, followed the rules when she picked a law consortium with ties to her ex-husband to handle a multibillion-dollar tobacco

Bail application expected for man charged in death of daughter

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS CALGARY — The lawyer for a man arrested in Ontario and charged in the 2014 death of his four-year-old daughter in Alberta says he is likely to seek bail for his client.

Oluwatosin Oluwafemi was arrested last month and flown back to Calgary to face a charge of second-degree murder.

The 39-year-old from Keswick, Ont., appeared briefly via video in a Calgary courtroom Tuesday and his case was set over to Jan. 21.

Lawyer Alain Hepner said he has received the pathologist’s report and a description of the incident but is still

waiting for more information.

He expects he will be asking that his client be granted bail before the end of the month and doesn’t think Oluwafemi poses any risk if released.

“He didn’t leave the country, he was in Toronto for the whole time, they knew where to get him. He was arrested and brought back but it’s such a sensitive matter that I want to have all the information and all my cards in a row before I can establish a proper application for bail,” Hepner told reporters after the court appearance.

Oluwafemi’s wife and family friends were in the courtroom to provide moral support.

Officers called to a home in southeast Calgary on Dec. 19, 2014, found the

preschool girl in cardiac arrest and not breathing.

Olive Rebekah Oluwafemi was taken to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Investigators deemed the case a homicide.

They said the injuries leading to her death appeared to have been inflicted inside her home and were not the result of an accident.

Hepner said he hopes to discuss plans for a preliminary inquiry to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial at the next court appearance.

He doesn’t want the case to drag through the courts and hopes to have the hearing before summer.

Fatality inquiry begins into deaths of young boys

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS EDMONTON — A man who pleaded guilty to killing his own sons has taken the stand at a fatality inquiry into their deaths.

Jason Cardinal is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of first-degree murder after the strangled bodies of six-year-old Caleb and three-year-old Gabriel were found in his Edmonton home just before Christmas five years ago.

Inquiry lawyer Peter Duckett told Cardinal would not be asking how they died, but why they died.

But Cardinal, who told court he suffers from mental illness, didn’t answer most of the questions put to him, saying he couldn’t remember.

He admitted that when child welfare workers apprehended the boys in

2010, he began only sporadically taking his medication.

By Monday afternoon, Cardinal refused to answer any questions at all, demanding the court treat him as a “hostile witness.”

“I won’t answer any more questions,” he said. “This is about one person gaining from a tragedy.”

The children’s mother, Andrea Badger, has launched a lawsuit against the province and children’s services, contending the deaths could have been prevented had the visits with the father been supervised.

Badger had primary custody and Cardinal was only allowed to see the boys on the weekends. But when she went to get them on the weekend they were found dead, no one answered the door.

Police later found the bodies of the boys and Cardinal, who was suffering

from self-inflicted wounds.

Once Cardinal was removed from the court on Monday, his mother, Germaine Cardinal, took the stand.

She became emotional when asked about the last time she talked with her grandsons, saying they had talked about Santa Claus coming soon.

“That time for me as a grandmother is hard to remember and it is painful,” she said. “No matter what is decided, it’s not going to change the fact they’re gone.

“No amount of money is going to make up for their loss.”

lawsuit on behalf of the province.

A 2013 ethics investigation cleared Redford.

Redford has refused in retirement to discuss details of what happened on her watch as premier except for broad statements such as “mistakes were made.”

After Redford, Hancock was picked by the caucus to run the province until Jim Prentice won the party leadership to take over as premier on Sept. 15, 2014.

Prentice then called an early election for the spring of 2015 and lost to Notley and the NDP, bringing the curtain down on almost 44 consecutive years of PC government.

The premier portraits are hung chronologically around the third floor of the legislature framing the entrance to the premier’s office.

The last portrait that went up was Redford’s predecessor, Ed Stelmach, in December 2012 at a legislature ceremony presided over by Redford.

IN

BRIEF Court of Appeal rules lawsuit against radiologist is a go EDMONTON — The Alberta Court of Appeal has ruled that Alberta Health can sue a radiologist in Ontario whose alleged misdiagnosis led to costly health-care costs for a woman who moved west from Ontario.

Martina Gulevich, who launched the lawsuit alongside her husband and Alberta Health, was living in Brampton, Ont., in November 2007 when she sought medical care for headaches and vision changes.

According to the Court of Appeal decision, Gulevich underwent a CT scan requested by her family doctor, and the scan was reviewed by a Toronto-area radiologist who indicated in a report that the results appeared normal.

Gulevich moved to Alberta in 2008 and, when her headaches returned, she again sought medical treatment.

An MRI and CT Scan done in July 2011 revealed a frontal lobe mass and a day later Gulevich was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour and underwent surgery followed by intensive cancer treatment in Edmonton.

A radiologist and a radiation oncologist retained later by Gulevich and Alberta Health reviewed the 2007 CT scan and concluded it showed a readily identifiable abnormality on the frontal lobe.

The radiation oncologist’s opinion was that had the tumour had been diagnosed in 2007, Gulevich could have had surgery before it became malignant.

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COMMENT

A4

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6, 2016

Death — one of life’s game changers One of the certainties in life is days after Christmas in 1975. Shona death. We are either mourned or we was a wife and mother of two young mourn the departure of people in our sons who somehow managed to leave lives. The older we get, the bigger the her hospital room in the final stage of a terminal illness so she likelihood we will expericould spend one last Christence missing people from mas with her family. the inner circles of our perThese are the instancsonal world due to death. es described in obituaries We start with a full team of that are described as a batpeople that matter to us and tle because Shona fought to slowly lose them over the remain alive long enough years, primarily due to age so she did not ruin Christor illness. mas for her two little boys I have always felt sorry and could leave behind one for people who experience final positive memory for the loss of somebody close them. to them for the first time beShona was a registered cause there is no good way JIM nurse who was drawn to to prepare for the experiSUTHERLAND the surgical unit of hospience. The death will change OPINION tals, including our own Red them forever and the deDeer General during the parted will become a series early phase of her career. of anecdotes and memories that illustrate the impact they had on She was a bright woman who chose the people who mourn the loss of this nursing for all of the right reasons, likely influenced by two of her aunts person who was close to them.

My family first experienced the who were also nurses.

Shona was also a straight-to-thedeath of one of our own 40 years ago when my older sister Shona died a few point person who could sort people

out in a hurry, including a time I visited her in the summer of ’74 and tried to convince her my black eyes were the result of a lack of sleep and not a scrap. Shona was also very irritated when people pronounced her name as “Shawna” instead of “Show-na”.

1974 was the year Shona was diagnosed with cancer and she undoubtedly knew her time was short, given the nature of her illness, but I did not grasp the finality of her disease until I saw her at Thanksgiving in 1975. She had become frail and gaunt in a very short time frame. After that visit, her death on Dec. 28, 1975 came as no surprise, although I can recall my father was clinging to hope right to the last when Shona briefly rallied shortly before she passed away, a condition I later saw in other people in the midnight hour of their lives-possibly as a final goodbye moment.

The funeral was the first one where I was a pallbearer and it took place on a dreary, snowy day in Vancouver during the first week of 1976. The thing I noticed most that day was the devastating effect Shona’s death had on my

parents, particularly my father who wore sunglasses that day to disguise his grief. It was a harsh introduction to the reality of death for me and my family.

One of the things I received this Christmas was a copy of a letter Shona had written to her husband Ken in August 1975. The letter was Shona’s goodbye message for Ken, their sons, and the rest of us, along with a personal farewell to each of us.

It was written by a 32-year-old woman whose young age was evident in the message. She harboured no bitterness for her lot in life, beyond a sense of regret that her life was too short. Indeed it was, because now Shona has been gone much longer than she was alive, but she has never been forgotten by any of us.

I was just a kid when Shona passed away, but her death was a game-changer for me because it forced me to grow up and see the world in a much different way.

Jim Sutherland is a local freelance writer.

Advocate letters policy The Advocate welcomes letters on public issues from readers. Letters must be signed with the writer’s first and last name, plus address and phone number.

Pen names may not be used. Letters will be published with the writer’s name. Addresses and phone numbers won’t be published.

Letters should be brief and deal with a single topic; try to keep them under 300 words.

The Advocate will not interfere with the free expression of opinion on public issues submitted by readers, but reserves the right to refuse publication and to edit all letters for public interest, length, clarity, legality, personal abuse or good taste.

The Advocate will not publish statements that indicate unlawful discrimination or intent to discriminate against a person or class of persons, or are likely to expose people to hatred or contempt because of race, colour, religious beliefs, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, source of income, marital status, family status or sexual orientation.

Due to the volume of letters we receive, some submissions may not be published.

Mail submissions or drop them off to Letters to the Editor, Red Deer Advocate, 2950 Bremner Ave., T4R 1M9; or e-mail to editorial@reddeeradvocate.com.

Driver’s bad behaviour completely inappropriate

Alberta needs a credible, constructive opposition in the legislature

To the two drivers that honked at my wife and I while we were crossing 32nd Street at 43rd Avenue about 9 p.m. on Dec.27.

I would like to remind you that we were crossing at an unmarked crosswalk. The Alberta Highway Traffic Safety Act’s Use of Highway and Rules of the Road Regulation (Alberta Regulation 304/2002) states that “41(1) A person driving a vehicle shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk.” “(4) Nothing in subsection (3) relieves a person driving a vehicle from the duty of exercising due care for the safety of pedestrians.”

We did not step out from the curb until there was adequate time to cross the roadway safely. We crossed the roadway as quickly as possible.

Your behaviour in keeping your foot on the accelerator and sounding the horn was inappropriate.

Shame on you.

Bill Franz Red Deer

Ilse-Quick (letter to the editor, Red Deer Advocate, Jan. 5 2016) does not have to worry about the Wildrose Party ever forming a government in Alberta based on their current ideology. But, there is a real danger of Wildrose widening the increasing rural-urban split. Wildrose is further marginalizing itself as an American style Republican Tea Party.

Their support seems to include the likes of Sarah Palin (remember her speech in Calgary sponsored by the right-wing Fraser Institute) and the American billionaire Koch brothers who contribute to the Fraser Institute. The Koch brothers are pro-oil and anti-climate change apologists who control over 1,000,000 acres of oil leases in Alberta and are reported to have a hired lobby here.

Wildrose support has dropped from 34 per cent in 2012 to 24 per cent in 2015. The Progressive Conservatives actually received more votes in the 2015 election than Wildrose. This exposes the reliance of Wildrose on the rural vote at a time when urbanization, migration, and immigration are increasing in Alberta. The Progressive Conservatives have received a

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broader base of support and are better positioned to represent Albertans. It is no wonder that Wildrose is on a crusade to unite with the Progressive Conservatives. The Progressive Conservatives must avoid this and rebuild their party so Alberta has a medium for reasonable constructive criticism in the legislature.

A historical examination of immigration to Alberta may help to explain some of the attitudes of our rural community. Between 1901 and 1906, 53 per cent of new immigrants to Alberta were born in the U.S. and by 1911, 22 per cent of Alberta’s population was American. Over 50 per cent of southern Alberta’s ranchers and farmers were American. Remember, these are not the descendants of the United Empire Loyalists. Their values included rugged individualism, laissez-faire capitalism, dislike of centralized federalism, smaller government, lower taxes, conservative social policies, and religious evangelism.

Does this sound like Wildrose? By the way, both Ted Morton and Tom Flanagan were born in the U.S. And, who sits in the petroleum towers of Calgary?

A disclosure — my father was born in Wisconsin in 1908 and moved to a farm in Alberta in 1912.

Alberta needs a credible constructive opposition in the legislature and it is not Wildrose.

Ray Kowalski Sylvan Lake

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CANADA

A5 Ottawa to count homeless vets

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6, 2016

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — For what’s believed to be the first time, the federal government has estimated how many of Canada’s homeless are former soldiers — but the department that compiled the report warns the data is far from complete.

The March 2015 study by Employment and Social Development Canada estimates that 2,250 former soldiers use shelters on regular basis, about 2.7 per cent of the total homeless population that uses temporary lodging.

The information in the report, released to The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act, comes from a database that tracks 60 emergency shelters across the country and added veterans as an identifiable category in 2014. “It’s shocking in Canada that we would have any veteran who is homeless, but it is a sad reality,� Gen. Jonathan Vance, the country’s top military commander, said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

The report noted that the data still has some holes in it and does not capture the number of veterans who do not use shelters. The national findings contradict counts being done in individual cities, which analysts suggest means that “veterans are more likely to be found outside shelters.�

Researchers also found that veterans who end up homeless tend to be older than non-veterans in the same circumstances and that ex-soldiers are more prone to so-called episodic homelessness — meaning they are individuals with disabling conditions who’ve been on and off the street three or more times in one year. “Interestingly, there is a particularly high rate of episodic homelessness among female veterans,� said the report, which noted that 16 per cent of female ex-soldiers reported multiple stints without a roof over their heads, compared with just six per cent of non-veteran women.

The average age of homeless veterans is 52, compared with 37 in the general population. Many ex-soldiers cite alcoholism, drug addiction and mental health issues as reasons for their circumstances.

Vance, who has made care of sol-

IN

BRIEF Classified ad seeking to connect woman with father who doesn’t know she exists CALGARY — A classified ad is seeking to connect a daughter with a father who doesn’t know she exists. “Is your name Gary?� the ad begins. “Were you in Regina, SK on business in 1969?�

The ad is accompanied by a decades-old photo of a smiling, petite blond woman and an even blonder little girl with poker-straight hair.

Toni Rempel took out the ad on be-

Cities voiced opposition to homeless count

Photo by ADVOCATE news services

The March 2015 study by Employment and Social Development Canada estimates that 2,250 former soldiers use shelters on regular basis, about 2.7 per cent of the total homeless population that uses temporary lodging. diers one of his signature initiatives, says catching people early is a priority that requires National Defence and Veterans Affairs Canada to focus on the point in time when a veteran is transitioning from life in the uniform to becoming a civilian.

The key is “if we can catch and find methods to ensure that people are seen to, and treated� before they reach a crisis stage, he said. “I think there will be an effort to look at how to catch those people who fall through the cracks and get them

HOMELESSNESS BY THE NUMBERS OTTAWA — Employment and Social Development Canada has produced a report looking at homelessness among military veterans. It cautions that the March 2015 study is far from complete, but it’s a start. Here are some of the findings: � Veterans Affairs estimates there are 697,400 veterans in the country. � The study estimates that 2,250 veterans use shelters on regular basis. � The number represents about 2.7

half of her half-sister Bonnie. “My mom, in the summer of 1969, met a guy named Gary, but she’s not sure of his last name. She thinks maybe he was Polish or Ukrainian,� Rempel, 39, said from Kelowna, B.C. “It was the summer of ’69 and there was all of that free love. My mom ended up becoming pregnant with my sister and she never told Gary about her.�

Rempel said her 45-year-old sister, Bonnie Eklund, is working as a doctor in San Diego, Calif., and has been hoping to learn more about her father for the last 20 years. “She’s told me over the years that she feels there’s a part of her missing and she wishes she knew, but she doesn’t really have the courage herself to go searching. I asked her if it was OK if I did,� said Rempel. “We’re trying to figure out who he is and trying to establish a possible connection for Bonnie to meet her father.�

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per cent of the total population who use homeless shelters. â—? In the United States, a 2014 congressional report suggested that veterans make up 11.3 per cent of homeless adults in that country. â—? Britain estimates that veterans make up about six per cent of the homeless population, while in Australia, the number is thought to be about three per cent.

Ask The Dentist! by Dr. Michael Dolynchuk, DDS

2016 - Going to Get Me Some Teeth!

Dear Dr. D: I've had a full upper denture for 20 years, and have a love/hate relationship with it. On the lower jaw I have a few natural teeth and a partial which looks like it was made for George Washington. I'm literally selling the farm early next year, and have decided this is going to be the year for some new teeth. What do I do first, and how do I avoid getting sold something I don't need?

A: Firstly, you don't need teeth so you don't need anything!

Teeth are a lifestyle choice, and like many things you have options. Many of us had grandparents who kept their teeth in a glass of water a good percentage of the time. Some of them lived to ripe old ages, and I've seen patients who could gum a steak to death if they chose. Years ago 'false teeth' were your only option.

They often didn't look like natural teeth, and the eating function was difficult. Most of that is to do with lack of biting pressure.

Some of it was associated with the fit, or lack of it.

Partial bridges have been around a long time, and depending on just how many teeth you have on your lower jaw (and how healthy they are) this may still be an option for you. For your upper, you can replace your denture with a new one but it sounds like you may wish to upgrade that option. Your dentist is going to have to measure your bone to see what may be accommodated, and a dental implant option would be your premium option. With the appropriate number of dental implants, a permanent set of teeth can be fabricated and affixed to these implants providing a very natural appearing and functioning set of teeth. If I was selling my farm, I would likely prefer that option.

Often we meet patients who are fixated on saving natural teeth which ultimately may have 'seen their day'. Even if they still function, it may be easier for your dentist to plan an entire new mouth for you with a specific number of implants top and bottom.

The dental work affixed to these implants can be balanced properly, and you will literally have a new mouth that will never decay and last you for decades. We see many patients considering this option, and of course it is a financial concern.

The interesting thing is that by far the most common statement heard afterwards is 'I wish I had done this 10 years ago!' I suggest you find a dentist you trust, ask for a true 'report card' on your existing teeth, and then make your best decision. It sounds like you're making 2016 a great year!

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5

into a proper environment for a total wellness approach.â&#x20AC;?

Soldiers who are being released on medical grounds, particularly for post-traumatic stress disorder, are among the most vulnerable.

An independent report prepared last spring for Veterans Affairs found that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;little evidenceâ&#x20AC;? the department is adequately dealing with â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or reacting quickly to â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the increasing number of soldiers being let go for medical reasons.

OTTAWA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The federal government is moving ahead this month with a nationally co-ordinated count of homeless people across Canada, despite opposition from cities worried that the timing would lead to inaccurate results.

The newly launched national point-in-time count marks the first time the federal government has tried to co-ordinate what has largely been a municipally driven project in some parts of the country like Toronto and Vancouver.

Many cities have never done a point-in-time count those that do use different methodologies, making it difficult to compare results on a national scale.

The federal government had wanted to gather details on the size and makeup of the homeless population strictly in January, but faced stiff criticism when it disclosed the plan to representatives from 49 communities at a national meeting in May 2015.

January is when the U.S. government requires point-in-time counts for cities that receive federal funding to help with costs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There was universal support for a co-ordinated, national point-in-time count. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not like people didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to do it,â&#x20AC;? said Tim Richter, president of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The opposition was more about when and do we have enough time to organize it.â&#x20AC;?

Cities complained they wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have enough time to get all the resources in place to count every homeless person in a city, town or region during one 24-hour period. Some cities, like Toronto or Vancouver, spend more than a year planning a point-in-time count, much longer than the seven months the federal government was giving municipalities back in May.

Alpen Dental 4 - 5025 Parkwood Road, Blackfalds, AB 1-800-TOOTHACHE (1-800-866-8422) www.AlpenDental.com Services are provided by General Dentists

BUSINESS

A6

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6, 2016

Auto sales set record in 2015

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — Despite the sluggish economy, Canadians snapped up nearly 1.9 million new vehicles in 2015, making it a record year for auto sales, according to figures compiled by a leading automotive consultant.

And DesRosiers Automotive Consultants says manufacturers can thank a big increase in sales of light trucks — a category that includes SUVs, minivans and pickup trucks — for the improvement.

Canadians bought nearly 1.2 million trucks in 2015, up 8.8 per cent from 2014, enough to push overall sales up 2.5 per cent to 1.898 million vehicles even as car sales slipped 6.3 per cent to 715,719, DesRosiers says.

“Consumers, despite the economic headwinds, are looking at the value proposition available in the new car market and they’re responding with record levels of demand,” noted Michael Hatch, chief economist for the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association.

Experts cite a number of reasons for the strong sales, including new vehicle prices that have remained roughly the same for a number of years, while inflation and wages have risen.

That means new vehicles have become more affordable for Canadians, said Hatch.

Competition has also been heating up in the Canadian auto industry in recent years, which has compelled automakers to hold the line on prices, he

FILE Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The 2016 Chevrolet Spark is presented at the New York International Auto Show. Automakers reported December and full-year sales Tuesday. added.

“Whereas in the past a relatively small number of brands would have represented a very large chunk, the lion’s share of the market, that’s no longer the case,” he said. “There’s more brands available to consumers in Canada. The market is more fragmented.”

Meanwhile, consumers have become less loyal to brands, according to Hatch.

“My parents always drove the same

Economists predict rocky year for economy

Schulich advises COS shareholders to reject Suncor

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS CALGARY — A prominent Canadian businessman has taken out fullpage newspaper ads to declare his opposition to a hostile takeover of Canadian Oil Sands, but the CEO of Suncor Energy says he believes Seymour Schulich is in the minority. In the ads, addressed to fellow COS shareholders, Schulich accused Suncor of “trying to pull a fast one” with its “unacceptable” offer: a quarter of a Suncor share (TSX:SU) for each COS share (TSX:COS). That amounts to a total of $4.3 billion, based on Suncor’s share price.

“The fact is Suncor needs Canadian Oil Sands more than we need them,” wrote Schulich.

“I’m not selling at this price and you shouldn’t either.”

The ads appear in the Tuesday business sections of The Globe and Mail and the National Post newspapers as the two Calgary-based oilsands companies woo shareholders ahead of a Friday deadline set by Suncor. Suncor also took out ads addressing COS shareholders with the headline: “Hope is not a strategy.”

On a conference call on its bid, Suncor CEO Steve Williams said he has “tremendous respect” for Schulich and praised his “wonderful track record” as an investor.

Schulich told the Financial Post last month that shareholders who together own 28 per cent of COS stock would not tender to the bid.

Schulich himself owns five per cent of the company, according to the report.

IN

BRIEF Two new board members added to Downtown Business Association Two new faces will be joining the board of the Red Deer Downtown Business Association.

Ryan Curtis, of Famoso Pizzeria, and Danielle Harvey, of Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery will join the board for a three-year term. Departing is board member Rolland Forsland, owner of Dose Coffee Co., who has completed his three-year term.

The newcomers will join board members: Andrew Luft, Krystal Kromm, Julie Oliver, Kevin Traptow, Allie Grande, Tyler Hansen, Omar Lockhat, Brandon Bouchard and City of Red Deer council representative Lynne Mulder.

“We have representation from across the business community, including retail and second-floor businesses, which allows us to ensure we are providing services all industries can benefit from,” says business association executive director Amanda

S&P / TSX 12,920.14 -7.01

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TSX:V 524.26 -1.39

brand of vehicle,” said Hatch. “Every time they went back they bought the same brand from the same dealership and there was a great degree of brand loyalty… .

“But now consumers are less brand loyal, they’re more willing to shop around, and those competitive pressures are brought to bare on the product quality and on the prices that consumers pay.”

Dina Ignjatovic, the auto sector

economist at TD Economics, cited rock-bottom interest rates as the driving force behind the stellar sales figures.

“Interest rates are extremely low and loan terms have been lengthened, so affordability for consumers has improved a lot,” Ignjatovic said.

Auto industry consultant Dennis DesRosiers said lower gas prices have also enticed buyers by reducing the cost of owning a vehicle.

Improvements in the products on the market is another factor luring buyers, he said.

“There’s a dizzying array of new products and most are jam-packed with advanced technologies that consumers are embracing in a very big way,” said DesRosiers, citing lane-changing technology and entertainment technology as examples.

“I would put that at the top of the list as to why the market performed so well.”

Fiat Chrysler Canada claimed the top spot for 2015 with sales of 293,061 vehicles, up 1.1 per cent from the previous year.

That was slightly ahead of Ford Canada, whose annual sales were down 4.6 per cent at 278,437, while General Motors Canada saw its sales climb 5.4 per cent to 263,335.

Hatch said he expects another record-breaking year in 2016.

“But the rate of growth of new vehicle sales probably can’t continue to outpace economic growth forever,” he added.

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — Canada is headed for a rocky year as low oil prices continue to drag on economic performance, the chief economists of some of Canada’s biggest banks said Tuesday.

Bank of Montreal chief economist Douglas Porter told a morning gathering of leading economists that it’s going to be a “very close call” whether the fourth quarter of 2015 saw any economic growth.

Canada’s resource sector has been slammed as the price of crude has fallen from a high above US$105 in June 2014 to below US$40 over the past few months, just as other commodities are at or near multi-year lows.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Economic Club of Canada, Porter said it looks like last year was one of the worst years for economic growth in decades outside of a full-on recession, and Canada is looking at a 2016 growth rate not much higher than last 2015.

The loonie, which has plunged as the price of oil has declined, also has further to fall, he said.

The negative outlook for oil, the differing policy directions between the Canadian and American central banks, and the strengthening American economy mean the loonie will fall below 70 cents US before it begins to recover, Porter said.

“The last line of defence for the Canadian dollar would be some stability in oil prices and resource prices, and we just don’t see that stability over the next few months.”

Canada’s dollar has been trading near 11-year lows for weeks but has remained above 71 cents U.S. since 2003.

Craig Wright, Royal Bank of CanaGould, in a statement announcing the board changes.

This month, board members will select the executive for the year, and begin work on a new Strategic Plan which will guide the association from 2017 to 2019.

The association has been running for more than 30 years and serves about 500 downtown business owners.

Feds launch $50-million fund to boost small-business exports TORONTO — International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland has announced $50 million in new funding for small businesses looking to export their goods.

Under the CanExport program, the federal government will reimburse up to 50 per cent of any spending between $10,000 and $100,000 by companies seeking to expand their overseas trade.

Businesses with fewer than 250 employees and annual revenue between $200,000 and $50 million will be able to offset the costs of travel, trade fairs, market research and other expenses related to exports.

Trade accounts for around twothirds of the Canadian economy, and the Department of Global Affairs says

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FILE Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

An oil worker holds raw oilsands near Fort McMurray. The chief economists of some of Canada’s biggest banks say the country is headed for a rocky year as low oil prices continue to drag on economic performance. da’s chief economist, said the cheap loonie and the American economic recovery should provide a boost to Canadian exports in the near future, although such a rebound hasn’t materialized so far.

Wright said Canada will depend more than ever on its largest trading partner for export growth, because of the faltering performance of the rest of the world including the European

Union and China.

“The U.S is the bright shining star,” he said. “But it’s not a very bright sky.”

CIBC chief economist Avery Shenfeld said 2016 will be a disappointing year for the global economy at large, and Canada won’t be spared.

Yet by the end of the year, he said, investors may see better returns as the world looks ahead to a brighter 2017.

one in five Canadian jobs is linked directly to exports.

While the falling loonie has made Canadian goods cheaper and more competitive, exports have not shown the strength that some had predicted.

al community of Kitimat, would initially consist of two LNG processing units, each with the capacity to produce 6.5 million tonnes of LNG annually.

South Dakota regulators again approve portion of Keystone XL

Shell-led joint venture obtains key permit for LNG facility in Kitimat, B.C. VANCOUVER — A Shell-led joint venture company says it has obtained a key permit to build a liquefied natural gas export facility in northern British Columbia.

LNG Canada says it is the first in the province to receive the permit from the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission.

The LNG facility permit specifies the requirements the project must comply with when designing, constructing and operating the proposed facility in Kitimat, B.C. Susannah Pierce of LNG Canada says it’s the most crucial permit for the project following its environmental approval from federal and provincial authorities in June last year.

She says there are still several steps to be taken before a final investment decision, including obtaining one outstanding permit from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

The facility, to be built in the coast-

DOW JONES 17,158.66 +9.72

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NYMEX CRUDE $35.97US -0.79

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PIERRE, S.D. — Regulators in South Dakota have again approved the portion of the embattled Keystone XL oil pipeline that would go through the state. The Public Utilities Commission’s decision Tuesday still requires TransCanada Corp. to get a presidential permit for the project.

President Barack Obama blocked the pipeline in November, but an attorney for the company has said TransCanada remains committed to the project, which could be revived under the next president.

The state authorized the pipeline in 2010, but permits must be revisited if construction doesn’t start within four years.

The commission voted to accept the company’s guarantee that it can complete the project while meeting the conditions of the 2010 approval. The pipeline would transport oil from Alberta to Nebraska, where it would connect with existing pipelines headed to the Gulf Coast.

NYMEX NGAS $2.34US +0.01

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CANADIAN DOLLAR ¢71.48US -0.25

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RED DEER ADVOCATE Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016 A7

MARKETS COMPANIES OF LOCAL INTEREST Tuesday’s stock prices supplied by RBC Dominion Securities of Red Deer. For information call 341-8883.

Diversified and Industrials Agrium Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 123.46 ATCO Ltd.. . . . . . . . . . . . 35.46 BCE Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54.21 BlackBerry . . . . . . . . . . . 12.38 Bombardier . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.31 Brookfield . . . . . . . . . . . . 42.49 Cdn. National Railway . . 75.47 Cdn. Pacific Railway. . . 176.43 Cdn. Utilities . . . . . . . . . . 32.02 Capital Power Corp . . . . 17.80 Cervus Equipment Corp 13.00 Dow Chemical . . . . . . . . 49.55 Enbridge Inc. . . . . . . . . . 46.00 Finning Intl. Inc. . . . . . . . 18.16 Fortis Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.44 General Motors Co. . . . . 32.43 Parkland Fuel Corp. . . . . 23.10 Sirius XM . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.04 SNC Lavalin Group. . . . . 40.66 Stantec Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 33.13 Telus Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . 38.15 Transalta Corp.. . . . . . . . . 4.71 Transcanada. . . . . . . . . . 45.03 Consumer Canadian Tire . . . . . . . . 113.38 Gamehost . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.97 Leon’s Furniture . . . . . . . 14.09 Loblaw Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . 64.00 MARKETS CLOSE TORONTO — North American Stock markets finished relatively unchanged on Tuesday as investors paused after a dismal start to 2016 trading the previous session, which had led some to predict a year of volatility ahead.

The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index closed down 7.01 points at 12,920.14.

The weakness came on the heels of the index finishing Monday 82.80 points lower, as a sharp decline in China triggered a sell-off that spread worldwide.

Some of that intensity abated in the aftermath, with most major markets coming well off their lows of the day on Tuesday, after China injected cash into the country’s financial system.

Driving the TSX lower were consumer discretionary stocks, which fell 1.2 per cent overall, and the materials sector which dropped 0.7 per cent.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones average of 30 stocks rose 9.72 points to 17,158.66 after falling 276.09 points Monday in its biggest decline in two weeks. The broader S&P 500 index closed up 4.05 points at 2,016.71 while Nasdaq edged down 11.66 points to 4,891.43.

Kash Pashootan, senior vice-president and portfolio manager at First Avenue Advisory, a Raymond James company, said stock markets are dealing with the hangover from Monday dramatic pullback in China.

“It’s a game of time,” said Pashootan.

“If the market searches long enough for the next growth catalyst and doesn’t find it, that’s when you’ll see sentiment shift from being positive and optimistic to becoming more bearish,” he added.

Maple Leaf Foods. . . . . . 23.41 Rona Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.02 Wal-Mart . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62.92 WestJet Airlines . . . . . . . 20.30 Mining Barrick Gold . . . . . . . . . . 10.70 Cameco Corp. . . . . . . . . 16.56 First Quantum Minerals . . 5.26 Goldcorp Inc. . . . . . . . . . 16.20 Hudbay Minerals. . . . . . . . 5.57 Kinross Gold Corp. . . . . . . 2.59 Labrador. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.02 Potash Corp.. . . . . . . . . . 23.63 Sherritt Intl. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.730 Teck Resources . . . . . . . . 5.27 Energy Arc Resources . . . . . . . . 16.51 Badger Daylighting Ltd. . 23.73 Baker Hughes. . . . . . . . . 45.92 Bonavista . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.77 Bonterra Energy . . . . . . . 16.91 Cdn. Nat. Res. . . . . . . . . 30.69 Cdn. Oil Sands Ltd. . . . . . 8.05 Canyon Services Group. . 3.81 Cenovous Energy Inc. . . 17.34 CWC Well Services . . . 0.1200 Encana Corp. . . . . . . . . . . 7.39 Essential Energy. . . . . . . 0.560 Those cautious sentiments were echoed in a currency market outlook from TD Bank, which predicted further pressure on the loonie.

“Given low commodity prices and weak growth in Canada, it is likely that the Canadian dollar will remain at current low levels for some time,” Bruce Cooper, chief investment officer at TD Bank, said in the note.

“We continue to believe that a diversified portfolio of high quality assets is the best way to navigate this challenging environment.”

Worries over high stockpiles of crude oil pushed the price of the key commodity to its lowest level in nearly two weeks.

The most recent supply figures will be issued on Wednesday by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, giving traders a better idea of how inventories and production stack up against a potential supply disruption as tensions develop between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The February crude contract was down 79 cents at US$35.97 a barrel, while February natural gas gave back a penny to US$2.33 per mmBtu. TSX gold stocks fell 0.4 per cent as February gold rose $3.20 to US$1,078.40 an ounce.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Highlights at the close Tuesday at world financial market trading.

Stocks: S&P/TSX Composite Index — 12,920.14, down 7.01 points Dow — 17,158.66, up 9.72 points S&P 500 — 2,016.71, up 4.05 points Nasdaq — 4,891.43, down 11.66 points Currencies:

BUSINESS

BRIEFS

Cogeco sells Metromedia division to Bell Media for undisclosed price MONTREAL — Cogeco Inc. says its radio subsidiary has sold its Metromedia advertising division to Bell Media, owner of Astral Out of Home.

Cogeco Metromedia specializes in the public transit sector, with traditional and digital ad placements in Montreal Metro stations, on city buses, commercial parking lots and other locations.

Cogeco (TSX:CGO) declined to provide the sale price, but said it purchased the operations in 2011 for $41 million.

Richard Lachance, head of the radio group, said the advertising signage industry has undergone big changes in recent years with the arrival of major players. He pointed to Quebecor Media (TSX:QBR.B) and Bell (TSX:BCE), which grew with the acquisition of Astral.

Consolidation in the so-called outof-home advertising sector leaves little opportunity for future growth, he added in an interview.

While he said Cogeco Metromedia has been “positive and profitable,” the company plans to focus on strengthening its radio segment.

Garbage collection business Progressive Waste Solutions launches strategic review TORONTO — A major North American garbage collection business, Progressive Waste Solutions, has embarked on a review of its strategic options but is providing few details about the potential impact of the process.

D I L B E R T

Exxon Mobil . . . . . . . . . . 78.12 Halliburton Co. . . . . . . . . 34.40 High Arctic . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.43 Husky Energy . . . . . . . . . 14.70 Imperial Oil . . . . . . . . . . . 44.91 Pengrowth Energy . . . . . . 1.06 Penn West Energy . . . . . 1.200 Precision Drilling Corp . . . 5.43 Suncor Energy . . . . . . . . 35.40 Trican Ltd.. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.570 Trinidad Energy . . . . . . . . 2.00 Vermilion Energy . . . . . . 37.86 Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.1050 Financials Bank of Montreal . . . . . . 76.62 Bank of N.S. . . . . . . . . . . 56.13 CIBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91.88 Cdn. Western . . . . . . . . . 23.54 Great West Life. . . . . . . . 34.12 IGM Financial . . . . . . . . . 35.67 Intact Financial Corp. . . . 88.25 Manulife Corp. . . . . . . . . 20.20 National Bank . . . . . . . . . 40.09 Rifco Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.45 Royal Bank . . . . . . . . . . . 72.82 Sun Life Fin. Inc.. . . . . . . 42.31 TD Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53.51

Cdn — 71.48 cents US, down 0.25 of a cent Pound — C$2.0522, down 0.03 of a cent Euro — C$1.5040, down 0.57 of a cent Euro — US$1.0751, down 0.78 of a cent Oil futures: US$35.97 per barrel, down 79 cents (February contract) Gold futures: US$1,078.40 per oz., up $3.20 (February contract) Canadian Fine Silver Handy and Harman: $20.303 oz., up 21.5 cents $652.74 kg., up $6.91 DOLLAR MARKETS WINNIPEG — ICE Futures Canada closing prices: Canola: Jan. ‘16 $2.40 higher $476.20 March ‘16 $2.40 higher $484.30 May ‘16 $3.80 higher $491.00 July ‘16 $3.60 higher $493.50 Nov. ‘16 $2.80 higher $489.30 Jan. ‘17 $1.70 higher $491.50 March ‘17 $1.70 higher $491.50 May ‘17 $1.70 higher $491.50 July ‘17 $1.70 higher $491.50 Nov. ‘17 $1.70 higher $491.50 Jan. ‘18 $1.70 higher $491.50.

Barley (Western): March ‘16 $2.00 lower $182.00 May ‘16 $2.00 lower $188.00 July ‘16 $2.00 lower $190.00 Oct. ‘16 $2.00 lower $190.00 Dec. ‘16 $2.00 lower $190.00 March ‘17 $2.00 lower $190.00 May ‘17 $2.00 lower $190.00 July ‘17 $2.00 lower $190.00 Oct. ‘17 $2.00 lower $190.00 Dec. ‘17 $2.00 lower $190.00 March ‘18 $2.00 lower $190.00.

Tuesday’s estimated volume of trade: 369,760 tonnes of canola 0 tonnes of barley (Western Barley). Total: 369,760.

The company, headquartered near Toronto and active in six provinces and several regions of the United States, says it has hired J.P. Morgan Securities to advise its board in the review.

But Progressive Waste Solutions said there’s no certainty that the review will result in any change to its business strategy, or in any transaction, and cautioned investors against relying on news reports for their information.

“The company does not intend to make any further public comments regarding this matter prior to the completion of the review of strategic alternatives,” Progressive Waste Solutions said in a brief statement.

The announcement late Monday came hours after Bloomberg News cited unidentified sources as saying the company’s advisers had approached potential buyers in recent weeks but talks were preliminary.

Progressive Waste Solutions shares (TSX:BIN) closed Monday in Toronto at C$32.29, down 21 cents. In New York, the shares closed at US$23.21, down 34 cents. The company, based in Vaughan, Ont., deals with non-hazardous solid waste from residential and industrial customers. It operates fleets of collection trucks and operates landfill, recycling and other disposal sites.

Yum Brands says David Novak to retire as chairman Yum Brands Inc. Chairman David Novak will retire in May, ending a three-decade career with the restaurant giant. The Louisville, Kentucky, company said Tuesday it plans to name one of its board members to succeed Novak at its annual meeting in May. Novak, 63, began his tenure with the company in 1986 as the marketing chief for Pizza Hut when the chain was still owned by PepsiCo. When PepsiCo spun off KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell in 1997, Novak became vice chairman and president of the new company. He was named CEO of Yum Brands in 1999 and chairman in 2000.

FILE Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

An Air Canada passenger jet takes off from Halifax. Air Canada has asked the Supreme Court to intervene to overturn a court ruling that requires the carrier to keep maintenance operations in the country.

Air Canada asks top court to reject maintenance ruling in Quebec lawsuit

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS MONTREAL — Air Canada has asked the country’s top court to overturn a Quebec ruling that would require the airline to keep its maintenance operations in the country.

In its legal filing with the Supreme Court in Ottawa, Air Canada said that the appeal court’s ruling “jeopardizes” the main objective of privatizing the formerly government-owned airline — to create a “viable and competitive company.”

Quebec launched its lawsuit against the Montreal-based airline after Aveos Fleet Performance, which did much of Air Canada’s aircraft maintenance, closed in 2012 in a move that laid off 2,600 employees, including about 1,700 in Montreal.

The province argued that Air Canada (TSX:AC) breached its legal obligations under the 1988 Air Canada Public Participation Act, which required the airline to keep heavy maintenance operations in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba.

The province won the original court

decision in 2013 and the Quebec Court of Appeal decision in November.

The airline has argued that it respected the law by continuing to conduct aircraft maintenance at its three Canadian facilities in Montreal, Winnipeg and Mississauga, Ont. It also selected maintenance repair and overhaul providers Avionor and Premier Aviation in Quebec and others outside the country.

The airline has also said that the Quebec and Manitoba governments — Manitoba intervened to support Quebec’s lawsuit —have no jurisdiction because aviation is a federal matter.

The union that represented Aveos workers said the country’s highest court may grant the airline’s request to hear the appeal because it involves an important federal law that affects several provinces.

“But it’s still disappointing to see Air Canada fight this battle against the former Aveos workers and against the federal law,” David Chartrand, Quebec co-ordinator of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said in a news release.

Twitter appears ready to loosen its restriction on length of messages INTENDS TO GO FROM 140 CHARACTERS TO AS MANY AS 10,000

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SAN FRANCISCO — Twitter appears ready to loosen its decade-old restriction on the length of messages in a bid to make its service more appealing to a wider audience accustomed to the greater freedom offered

by Facebook and other forums.

CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey telegraphed Twitter’s intentions in a tweet posted Tuesday after the technology news site Re/Code reported the company is exploring increasing its limits on text from 140 characters to as many as 10,000.

Dorsey didn’t directly address the Re/Code report that cited unnamed people, but he made it clear that Twitter isn’t wedded to the 140-character limit. He illustrated his point by posting a screenshot of a text consisting of 1,325 characters.

If Twitter were to allow tweets to span 10,000 characters, it could produce 1,700-word dissertations, based on the size of Dorsey’s extended post.

San Francisco-based Twitter Inc. declined to comment on its plans.

In his message, Dorsey wrote that Twitter has already noticed that many of its roughly 300 million users already have been including screenshots of lengthy texts in their tweets. He indicated Twitter is examining ways to give people more room to express themselves without polluting the service with gasbags.

Imposing some restraint “inspires creativity and brevity. And a sense of speed. We will never lose that feeling,” Dorsey pledged.

At the same time, Dorsey said Twitter isn’t “going to be shy about building more utility and power into Twitter for people. As long as it’s consistent with what people want to do, we’re going to explore it.”

Analysts said Dorsey is probably trying to avoid a backlash among longtime Twitter users who consider the 140-character tweeting limit sacred.

At the same time, he needs to respond to company shareholders pining for a bigger audience that would generate more advertising revenue.

More revenue eventually could help Twitter turn a profit for the first time in its history.

Twitter can’t afford “to become stagnant, they need to get bigger if they want to build a more relevant advertising platform,” said Topeka Capital Markets analyst Blake Harper.

After a long streak of robust growth that turned it into one of the Internet’s hottest companies, Twitter’s growth has slowed dramatically during the

“TWITTER IS AN AFTERTHOUGHT IN SOCIAL MEDIA RIGHT NOW. THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO DRIVE MORE USAGE OF THE SERVICE. IF PEOPLE START USING THE SERVICE MORE FREQUENTLY, OTHER USERS WILL COME JOIN IN, TOO.” — WEDBUSH SECURITIES ANALYST MICHAEL PACHTER past year-and-half to leave it scrambling to catch up with social networking leader Facebook and its 1.5 billion users.

Twitter’s malaise resulted in the departure of Dick Costolo as the company’s CEO last July and ushered in the return of Dorsey, who had been ousted as the company’s leader in 2008.

The pressure has been building on Dorsey to take drastic measures to accelerate user growth as Twitter’s stock has sunk further below its November 2013 initial public offering price of $26.

The shares shed 64 cents Tuesday to close at $21.92, a decline of nearly 40 per cent from where they stood from when Dorsey became CEO last summer.

Dorsey helped invent Twitter in 2006 and imposed a 140-character limit on messages so the service would be easy to use on cellphones that had 160-character limits on texts at that time.

Those texting limits on phones faded away several years ago as the advent of smartphones enabled people to use other Internet messaging services, making Twitter’s restrictions look increasingly antiquated.

Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter believes an increased limit on tweets would be a “good, baby step” to attracting more users to Twitter and believes it could be done without alienating the service’s current audience.

One way to make an increased limit less obnoxious would be to only show a limited amount of text in users’ feeds and then leave it to each individual to click on a button to see more.

“Twitter is an afterthought in social media right now,” Pachter said.

“They need to do something to drive more usage of the service. If people start using the service more frequently, other users will come join in, too.”

A8 RED DEER ADVOCATE Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016 FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE

HI & LOIS

PEANUTS

BLONDIE

HAGAR

BETTY

PICKLES

GARFIELD

LUANN

TODAY IN HISTORY January 6 2009 — Team Canada wins the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships for the fifth time in a row in Ottawa, Ontario.

2004 — U.S. Dept. of Agriculture announces that DNA testing has determined that a cow in Washington state infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy was born in Alberta.

1992 — Québec Superior Court judge rules that a 25-year-old paralyzed patient,

TUNDRA

ARGYLE SWEATER

SUDOKU Complete the grid so that every row, every column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 through 9.

SHERMAN‛S LAGOON

‘Nancy B,’ suffering from a rare neurological disorder and on life support, has no hope of recovery and has the right to die. Doctors will remove her life support on February 13, after a 30 day appeal period lapses.

1966 — John Walter Grant MacEwan appointed lieutenant-governor of Alberta. Holds post until July 2, 1974.

1918 — Canadian Captain J. Hedley of the Royal Flying Corps sucked from his seat and out of the plane while diving to escape German fighters during World War I near France. The slipstream pulled him back to the plane when it levelled out.

RUBES

Solution

RED DEER ADVOCATE Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016 A9

Ottawa faces hard slog to legalize pot

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — The Liberal government will have to do substantial work on the international stage before it can follow through on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s promise to legalize marijuana, new documents suggest.

That work will have to include figuring out how Canada would comply with three international treaties to which the country is a party, all of which criminalize the possession and production of marijuana.

Trudeau’s plan to legalize, regulate and restrict access to marijuana is already proving a complicated and controversial undertaking on the domestic front, in part because it requires working with the provinces.

Internationally, says a briefing note prepared for the prime minister, Canada will also have to find a way to essentially tell the world how it plans to conform to its treaty obligations.

The note to Trudeau was obtained

by The Canadian Press through the Access to Information Act. Errol Mendes, a constitutional and international law expert at the University of Ottawa, says the government faces a long, hard slog in the global arena before it can legalize pot at home.

Legalization, he said, is a growing movement among some countries, particularly in Latin America, but it faces stiff opposition in the United States — including within some quarters of the Obama administration.

If the Republicans win the White House in November, the opposition will be even stronger in a country where some see legalizing pot “as the thin edge of the wedge,” said Mendes.

“It will be an ongoing dialogue which has to be dealt with at the highest levels, and it’s not going to be an easy one, and it’s not going to be a quick one either. It’s going to take many years.”

The Liberal policy means that Canada will have to amend its participation in three international conventions:

● The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol ● The Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 ● The United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988.

“All three require the criminalization of possession and production of cannabis,” says the briefing note.

“As part of examining legalization of cannabis possession and production, Canada will need to explore how to inform the international community and will have to take the steps needed to adjust its obligations under these conventions.”

Global Affairs Canada, the lead government department on international treaties, said it is examining a range of issues on pot legalization, including Canada’s international commitments, but said it was premature to comment on specifics.

The world’s drug problem will be the focus of a special session of the

United Nations General Assembly in April, the memo says.

“At the meeting, several South American countries as well as Mexico wish to discuss what they perceive as more effective policy approaches to respond to the current realities of the drug problem, which could include decriminalization/legalization of illicit drugs, harm reduction, and/or a call to renegotiate the international drug control conventions.”

Mendes said Canada could still find a way to adhere to the treaties, but will have to show that legalizing marijuana helps reduce illicit drug use.

“There’s no international treaty where you cannot make reservations,” he said.

“The problem is the government having to explain why it’s doing it, why it feels it has to do it, given the conviction (with which) Prime Minister Trudeau has said it’s a failure in terms of enforcement … in almost every respect and is driving up the crime rate in some parts of Canada.”

‘IT’S ALMOST LIKE LOSING A CHILD’

Defence singles out mother as girl’s killer

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — An evil, demon-obsessed religious fanatic was the likely killer of her horrifically abused and starved teenaged stepdaughter whose body was found stuffed in a burning suitcase two decades ago, a first-degree murder trial heard Tuesday.

In closing arguments, defence lawyer Jennifer Penman urged jurors to acquit the teen’s father of deliberately killing Melonie Biddersingh, 17, saying the evidence instead points to his wife as the culprit.

Everton Biddersingh, 60, has pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder of his daughter. His wife, Elaine Biddersingh, faces her own trial this spring.

Penman portrayed Elaine Biddersingh, who claimed to be the victim of spousal abuse, as an evil domestic tyrant and indifferent mother with a Bible and demon obsession who ruled the roost.

Court has heard that she hated her husband and stepdaughter, whom she believed was possessed by the devil and had brought a curse on the family.

“She has the most animus of anyone in the home toward Melonie,” Penman said. “Elaine took matters into her own hands and drowned Melonie.”

The trial previously heard the teen was confined for hours in a tiny closet in their Toronto apartment, had her head placed in a toilet that was flushed, was chained to the furniture, and denied food. Witnesses also testified her father kicked and punched her, and that her stepmother smashed her head against the wall in an effort to rid her of the devil.

Penman said it may never be known exactly how the teen died — apparently on Sept. 1. 1994 — but pointed to forensic evidence that she drowned, something she urged jurors to accept as fact. Her body also showed signs of severe malnourishment and 21 broken bones in various stages of healing.

“The tragedy of this young woman’s death may easily overwhelm our imaginations,” Penman said. “This case fundamentally is not about child abuse. It is about murder. This trial is about who drowned her.”

While her weakened state and injuries might have been a factor in her death, that is not the same thing as saying starvation was the cause, the lawyer told the jury.

The Crown alleges Biddersingh killed his daughter by starving or drowning her, crammed her into a suitcase, drove her to a remote area north of Toronto and set her on fire. The Biddersinghs were arrested in March 2012 after a tip that finally allowed them to identify the victim’s remains and lay charges.

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Firefighters walk past a barn that was destroyed by a fire at the Classy Lanes Stables in Puslinch, Ont., on Tuesday. The deaths of 43 racehorses in a massive barn fire is more than just a professional catastrophe -- it’s akin to losing members of a family, one trainer said Tuesday. ‘It’s almost like losing a child,’ said Dan Lagace.

‘These horses, they’re every part of your life. On Christmas morning, when other people are opening gifts with their kids and stuff like that, we’re out at the farm making sure they’re taken care of first. On Sunday mornings when other people are sleeping in, we’re there too.’

CANADA

BRIEFS

Federal Court opens door for former KGB employee to rejoin family in Canada VANCOUVER — A Russian man once employed as a KGB translator has new hope for reuniting with his family in Canada after he voluntarily left six years of church sanctuary in Vancouver.

A Federal Court judge ruled in late November that Mikhail Lennikov’s failed application for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds must be reexamined.

Judge Elizabeth Heneghan directed the application be reviewed by a different federal immigration officer in her decision that was publicly released late last month.

Lennikov’s lawyer, Hadayt Nazami, says a door has finally opened for his client and he’s hopeful the man will be allowed back into Canada now that the Liberals have replaced the Conservative party as government.

Lennikov claimed sanctuary in the First Lutheran Church in June 2009 but gave up his fight to stay last August and returned to Russia, leaving behind

his wife and adult son who are now Canadian citizens.

The Immigration and Refugee Board ordered him deported in 2006 based on accusations that he had worked as a KGB spy, but expert evidence stated he was coerced into work that was not espionage.

Imprudence, not malice, led to alleged military security breach: rear admiral HALIFAX — An alleged security breach at one of the Royal Canadian Navy’s most sensitive security operations was the result of imprudence, not malice, says the navy’s commander on the Atlantic coast.

Rear Admiral John Newton said Tuesday the so-called data spill involving more than 1,000 secret documents was the result of mishandling of files by a civilian employee, a mistake that

did not pose a threat to military intelligence.

“We do not fear that there was a threat to the material that was uploaded to a unclassified network,” Newton said after taking part in a dockside ceremony that saw the frigate HMCS Fredericton depart Halifax for a sixmonth, NATO-led mission in the Mediterranean.

“We’ve looked at … the work of the person involved and it’s an issue of imprudence in handling material, but it’s nothing more nefarious than that.”

Military police in Halifax allege that between 2004 and 2009 a web designer working at HMCS Trinity — the military’s principal East Coast intelligence centre — used Defence Department networks to improperly store secret files.

A search warrant filed in provincial court alleges the actions of a man identified only as “Mr. Zawidski” violated a section of the federal Security Information Act that deals with wrongful communication of information.

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LOCAL

B1

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6, 2016 SYLVAN LAKE

Mobile vendors should return in summer Photo contributed

Brinly Lynda Steeves was born at 5:50 a.m., 2016 in at Olds hospital to Cheryl Steeves, 39 , and Ross Aldred, 48.

New Years Baby survives scare

BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF

OLDS

The first baby of 2016 at Olds Hospital and Care Centre was delivered by emergency cesarean section when it was discovered the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck three times.

The baby’s mother Cheryl Steeves, 39, a nurse at Olds hospital, said it’s common for a cord to get wrapped around a baby’s neck, but not three times.

“It wasn’t good,” said Steeves who was thrilled her baby was ultimately born healthy by cesarean on Jan. 1.

“It was a bit of a harrowing night,

but well worth it. I’m utterly thrilled to be a mom.”

Brinly Lynda Steeves was born at 5:50 a.m., weighing eight pounds and 10 ounces (3.93 kilograms) and 53 centimetres long.

The baby was due Dec. 29.

Steeves partner and Brinly’s father is Ross Aldred, 48, a local trucker.

Steeves said her water broke at 1 a.m. and by the time they drove to the hospital from the Sundre area, the baby was in distress due to the contractions.

“As soon as we got there, we knew

things weren’t good.

“It was a very, very scary night but she came out of it well. She’s my first and I’m thrilled. I’m as happy as a clam to have her.”

As a nurse who has worked in labour and delivery at Olds hospital, Steeves said she was looking forward to delivering her baby with co-workers.

The hospital performs low-risk deliveries and averages almost one birth per day, she said.

“Our labour and delivery program has really picked up. We’re doing a lot more babies than we did before which is fantastic. We pull in everyone from just south of Red Deer to Airdrie.” szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

CLEARING THE ICE

LOCAL BRIEFS

G.H. Dawe Award nominations open Nominations have opened for the G.H. Dawe Memorial Award of Excellence.

The award, established in 1999, is presented by Red Deer College to someone in the community who best exemplifies the values of George Harold Dawe.

Dawe, who lived from 1910 to 1999, was a co-founder of RDC and its first administrative officer. A local school is named after him.

The characteristics of recipients of the award include community involvement, leadership, warmth, generosity, high integrity and ethical standards and a vision and appreciation of RDC. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 29. The recipient is the honoured at the RDC awards dinner on May 18.

The nomination package needs to include the nominee’s name, address and telephone number. A cover letter with the reason for the nomination and three letters of support, all need to be provided to the selection committee.

Nominations should be forwarded to: G.H. Dawe Selection Committee, Red Deer College, P.O. Box 5005, Red Deer, Alberta, T4N 5H5, Attn: Elaine Vandale, Director, Board and Executive Relations.

For more information call 403-3423259, fax 403-341-4899, or email elaine. vandale@rdc.ab.ca Nomination forms are available at rdc.ab.ca/ghdaweaward.

RCMP set up photo radar sites through Jan. 15 Red Deer RCMP have released the next two weeks of photo radar sites and enforcement locations.

Running from Jan. 1 to Jan. 15, drivers can expect photo radar enforcement at the following spots in Red Deer.

School zones: Nolan Street, Douglas Avenue, 55th Street, 49th Avenue and 48th Avenue.

Playground zones: Boyce Street, Glendale Boulevard, Oak Street, Oak Drive, 22nd Street, Ellenwood Drive and Duston Street.

Traffic corridors: 49th Street, 49th

Photo by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate Staff

City of Red Deer crews were giving the outdoor rinks a clean and scrape after a warmer weekend, including the rink in Deer Park.

Avenue, 50th Avenue, Taylor Drive, Barrett Drive, 30th Avenue and 39th Street.

The RCMP reserve the option to change site or location without notice.

Inquiry set in Hotel robbery A scheduled trial will now be a preliminary inquiry for a Penhold woman accused of a February robbery of the Eckville Hotel.

Krista Marie Rix, 32, had previously pleaded guilty to several charges including armed robbery, possession of stolen property and forcible confinement.

She was scheduled to stand trial in Red Deer provincial court starting on Feb. 3, but that changed on Tuesday.

Defence counsel Kevin Sproule, who is expected to represent Rix, indicated a change of election to trial

by Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench before a judge alone.

The election change means the trial instead becomes a preliminary inquiry, which is held to test the strength of the Crown’s case before heading to trial.

On Feb. 22, 2015, Sylvan Lake RCMP were called to an armed robbery of the Eckville Hotel at about 4:35 p.m. Police said several people in the bar were held at gunpoint while the suspects robbed the bar. No one was injured

and no shots were fired.

Mounties search for thief Sylvan Lake RCMP are looking for suspects in a rash of recent robberies.

Police responded to a robbery complaint at the Lakeway Liquor Store (117 Lakeway Blvd) around 5:49 p.m. on Monday.

Police say a man walked into the store and demanded cash from the till.

He placed the money in a bag and left the scene on foot. No weapon was displayed and no one was hurt.

The suspect is described as 1.83 metres (six feet) and in his 20s. He was wearing a black balaclava, black zip up hoodie, dark pants and work boots.

Police believe this same person is responsible for at least three other recent robberies in December.

A man matching this same description robbed the Plaza Liquor Store in Sylvan Lake on Dec. 23 and Dec.27. On Dec. 29, the CIBC branch was robbed by a man matching this same description.

Investigators are asking anyone who may have information on these crimes to contact the Sylvan Lake RCMP at 403-858-7200. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or at www.tipsubmit.com.

PROJECT AIMS TO INJECT LIFE INTO LAKESHORE DISTRICT

BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF Mobile vending should return to Sylvan Lake next summer, says a report from town staff.

Despite some opposition from existing lakeshore district businesses, council opted to open the door to limited mobile vending as a pilot project last year. Council asked for a review of the project once the season was finished.

A 14-page report going to council’s committee of the whole meeting on Wednesday recommends the project be continued with some tweaks to improve it.

Surveys of vendors, town businesses and residents were largely supportive of the initiative, says the report from town licensing and planning staff.

“The general consensus was in favour of mobile vending,” says the report.

Existing brick-and-mortar businesses were not affected by the additional competition, concludes the report. Only one complaint about a mobile vendor, which turned out be unfounded, was received by the town during the 17 weeks vendors were operating.

Based on survey feedback and information gathered through other economic development initiatives, staff recommended a number of changes should council decide to bring the project back next summer.

Vendors argued their permit fees were too high. Food vendors had to pay $1,000 per week and food carts $300.

Fees for other types of vendors ranged from $20 to $100.

There were also complaints that the limit of six vending permits was too low and too few locations were set aside for vending. Staff recommended council take a look at those issues and consider allowing vending on private property.

Another option suggested was to encourage Food Truck Thursdays, which could be dictated as the only time food trucks are allowed to set up shop. Similar gatherings have been popular in other locations, including Red Deer, which has Food Truck Fridays.

The risk of food trucks taking away business from lakeshore eateries during the pilot project did not materialize because no food trucks took out a permit. Two food carts did set up for a total of 11 weeks between them.

But food trucks are a popular draw in other communities and some presence might be desirable, suggests the report.

Vicki Kurz, Sylvan Lake’s economic development officer, said if the council committee wants to proceed it will direct staff to make specific recommendations for a regular meeting of council next month.

Other communities’ economic development experiences show that food vendors and buskers are seen as a way to inject life into downtowns.

In November, Sylvan Lake hosted an open house looking at “20 Ingredients to an Outstanding Downtown.” In a survey done at that event, 18 of 25 respondents were in favour of expanding mobile vending and busking beyond Centennial Park.

Kurz said there was no backlash from local merchants or the public to last summer’s mobile vending and it fits in with the economic development vision for the downtown. pcowley@reddeeradvocate.com

Busy year for ALERT in Central Alberta

BY ADVOCATE STAFF

POLICE

Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams just wrapped up a busy year that included recovering 16 stolen firearms in Red Deer and uncovering one of the province’s largest illegal marijuana grow-ops near Stettler.

Known as ALERT, the province’s response to organized and serious crime arrested 500 offenders and seized more than $36 million worth of drugs and proceeds of crime. The biggest drug trend last year was the emer-

gence of fentanyl. ALERT prioritized investigations and seized 21,000 fentanyl pills. Cocaine accounted for the highest dollar value of ALERT’s drug seizures with more than 151 kilograms seized, worth an estimated $15 million.

In October in the Stettler area, ALERT and Stettler RCMP uncovered a 3,284-plant grow-op with an estimated street value of nearly $4 million.

In another major drug bust in the Olds area, ALERT seized 2,137 mari-

Fax 403-341-6560 E-mail editorial@reddeeradvocate.com

juana plants.

In 2015, ALERT took 126 firearms out of the hands of criminals as part of organized crime and gang enforcement initiatives. Seizures included 21 handguns, 81 long rifles, and 24 shotguns.

Last January, ALERT Red Deer seized 16 stolen firearms with the assistance of RCMP Red Deer and K-Division Emergency Response Team.

Guns were believed to be stolen from homes throughout Red Deer and Central Alberta, and highlighted a growing Alberta trend of guns for being acquired through residential and com-

mercial break and enters.

ALERT was established and is funded by the provincial government.

Members of Alberta Sheriffs, Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service, Medicine Hat Police Service, and RCMP work in ALERT. In 2015, ALERT teams assisted 41 different agencies, including law enforcement, government, corrections, and universities, and conducted investigations in 124 different municipalities throughout Alberta and neighbouring provinces.

WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM

WORLD

B2

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6, 2016

Obama expands background checks â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;THIS IS NOT A PLOT TO TAKE AWAY EVERYBODYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUNS,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; SAYS U.S. PRESIDENT

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; President Barack Obama unveiled an array of measures on Tuesday tightening control and enforcement of firearms in the U.S., using his presidential powers in the absence of legal changes he implored Congress to pass.

Obama accused the gun lobby of taking Congress hostage, but said â&#x20AC;&#x153;they cannot hold America hostage.â&#x20AC;? He insisted it was possible to uphold the Second Amendment while doing something to tackle the frequency of mass shootings in the U.S. that he said had become â&#x20AC;&#x153;the new normal.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is not a plot to take away everybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guns,â&#x20AC;?

Obama said in a ceremony in the East Room. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You pass a BARACK OBAMA background check, you purchase a firearm. The problem is some gun sellers have been operating under a different set of rules.â&#x20AC;?

An emotional Obama wiped tears away from his eye as he recalled the 20 first-graders killed in 2012

at Sandy Hook Elementary School. He paid tribute to the parents, some of whom gathered for the ceremony, who he said had never imagined their childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life would be cut short by a bullet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad,â&#x20AC;? Obama said.

At the centerpiece of Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan is a more sweeping definition of gun dealers that the administration hopes will expand the number of sales subject to background checks. Under current law, only federally licensed gun dealers must conduct background checks on buyers. But at gun shows, websites and flea markets, sellers often skirt that requirement by declining to register as licensed dealers.

Aiming to narrow that loophole, the Justice Departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is issuing updated guidance that says the government should deem anyone â&#x20AC;&#x153;in the businessâ&#x20AC;? of selling guns to be a dealer, regardless of where he or she sells the guns. To that end, the government will consider other factors, including how many guns a person sells, how frequently, and whether those guns are sold for a profit.

The White House also put sellers on notice that the administration planned to strengthen enforcement â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including deploying 230 new examiners the FBI will hire to process background checks.

To lend a personal face to the issue, the White House assembled a cross-section of Americans

whose lives were altered by the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most searing recent gun tragedies, including former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and relatives of victims from Charleston, S.C., at Virginia Tech. Mark Barden, whose son was shot to death at Sandy Hook Elementary School, introduced the president with a declaration that â&#x20AC;&#x153;we are better than this.â&#x20AC;?

Invoking the words of Martin Luther King Jr., Obama said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to feel the fierce urgency of now.â&#x20AC;?

Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s package of executive actions aims to curb what heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s described as a scourge of gun violence in the U.S., punctuated by appalling mass shootings in Newtown, Connecticut Charleston, South Carolina and Tucson, Arizona, among many others. After Newtown, Obama sought far-reaching, bipartisan legislation that went beyond background checks.

When the effort collapsed in the Senate, the White House said it was thoroughly researching the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s powers to identify every legal step he could take on his own.

A more recent spate of gun-related atrocities, including in San Bernardino, California, shootings have spurred the administration to give the issue another look, as Obama seeks to make good on a policy issue that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elevated time and again but has failed until now to advance.

IN

BRIEF Afghan forces end standoff with gunmen holed up near the Indian Consulate

Leader says armed group will go home after federal land is transferred to locals

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BURNS, Ore. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A leader of the small armed group that has been occupying a remote national wildlife refuge in Oregon said Tuesday that they will go home when a plan to turn over management of federal lands to locals is implemented.

Ammon Bundy â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one of the sons of rancher Cliven Bundy, who was involved in a 2014 Nevada standoff with the government over grazing rights â&#x20AC;&#x201D; told reporters at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge that ranchers, loggers and farmers should have control of federal lands.

Bundy offered few specifics of the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan, but LaVoy Finicum, a rancher from Arizona, said the group would examine the underlying land ownership transactions to begin to â&#x20AC;&#x153;unwind it.â&#x20AC;?

Finicum said he was eager to leave Oregon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I need to get home,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got cows that are scattered and lost.â&#x20AC;?

As of Tuesday morning, authorities had not shut off power to the refuge, Finicum said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If they cut it off, that would be such a crying shame, all the pipes would freeze.â&#x20AC;?

As the occupation entered its third day, Ammon Bundy said the group felt it had the support of the local community.

However, the county sheriff has told the roughly 20 people to go home and a community meeting was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

While the anti-government group is critical of federal stewardship of lands, environmentalists and others say officials should run the lands for the broadest possible benefit of business, recreation and the environment.

So far, law enforcement has not taken action against the group of about two dozen activists op-

posing the imprisonment of father-and-son ranchers who set fire to federal land. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These guys are out in the middle of nowhere, and they havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t threatened anybody that I know of,â&#x20AC;? said Jim Glennon, a longtime police commander who now owns the Illinois-based law enforcement training organization Calibre Press. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no hurry.â&#x20AC;?

Some observers have complained, suggesting the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s response would have been swifter and more severe had the occupants been Muslim or other minorities.

The activists seized the refuge about 300 miles from Portland on Saturday night as part of a decades-long fight over public lands in the West.

They said they want an inquiry into whether the government is forcing ranchers off their land after Dwight Hammond and his son, Steven, reported back to prison Monday.

The Hammonds were convicted of arson three years ago for fires on federal land in 2001 and 2006, one of which was set to cover up deer poaching, according to prosecutors. The men served no more than a year until an appeals court judge ruled the terms fell short of minimum sentences that require them to serve about four more years.

Their sentences were a rallying cry for the group calling itself Citizens for constitutional Freedom, whose mostly male members said they want federal lands turned over to local authorities so people can use them free of U.S. oversight.

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Photo by ADVOCATE news services

Ammon Bundy, centre, at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters near Burns, Ore.

KABUL â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Afghan special forces have ended a standoff with gunmen holed up near the Indian Consulate in the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s north and have killed all the attackers after a 24-hour gunbattle, officials said Tuesday.

The standoff began on Sunday night in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, when three gunmen tried to storm the consulate, and then retreated into an adjacent, four-story building. Later, Afghan troops rappelled from helicopters onto the roof of the building to drive out the gunmen.

Sarwar Hussaini, a police spokesman in northern Balkh province, said the standoff ended late Monday night. There were three gunmen and all were killed while 10 people were wounded during the clashes, including five civilians who got caught in the crossfire, he said.

No one has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

SPORTS

B3 Helewka leads Rebels past Raiders

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6, 2016

BY ADVOCATE STAFF Rebels 4 Raiders 3 PRINCE ALBERT — Outside of a handful of defensive and short-handed hiccups, the Red Deer Rebels were breathing relatively easy Tuesday night.

The Rebels coughed up a pair of power-play goals and were too generous on one other occasion, but otherwise controlled the play while skating to a 4-3 Western Hockey League win over the Prince Albert Raiders before 2,219 fans at the Art Hauser Centre.

“I thought we played pretty well,” said Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter. “We made a couple of mental errors that we can’t make that put us down to a five-on-three and we turned the puck over on their (Raiders’) third goal. Other than that, we were pretty solid five-on-five.”

The Rebels led 1-0 after 20 minutes on defenceman Nelson Nogier’s third goal of the season, but the Raiders responded with back-to-back extra-man markers in the second period. With Red Deer short two men, Jesse Lees beat Rebels netminder Rylan Toth at 9:56, and Reid Gardiner potted his 24th of the season on a five-on-four advantage 66 seconds later.

Conner Bleackley pulled the Rebels even at 13:56 of the middle frame, beating Raiders goalie Rylan Parenteau to the short side while attempting to cut wide across the crease, and Grayson Pawlenchuk restored the visitors’ lead with his 16th of the season

two and a half minutes later.

Raiders forward Jordan Tkatch scored on a deflection 1:52 into the final frame, setting the stage for Adam Helewka’s 18th of the season — and the winner — at 12:25. It was Helewka’s fifth point — and second goal — in two games with Red Deer since be-

ing acquired from the Spokane Chiefs.

“When you have guys like the players we’ve added over the last little while, you’re never out of the game,” said Sutter, in reference to Helewka and linemate Jake DeBrusk. “If you’re down a goal you feel like you can win because you have the guys who can put the puck in the net.

“These guys also understand the game and the responsibility of playing defensively. And when they have the puck they make plays and make everyone around them better. The reality is we have other guys who have played their best hockey of the year for us over the last few games.”

Pawlenchuk, selected as the game’s first star, is one of those players.

“He got a big goal for us tonight and did a really good job of getting into good situations,” said Sutter.

“He was just solid. He played like we expect Pawly to play and the last three to four games he’s been one of our better players.

“He had a good start to the season, then his play dropped off. But the last three to four games he’s been one of our better players again.”

Toth turned aside 26 shots as the winning netminder, while Parenteau made 33 saves.

The Rebels conclude their two-game road trip tonight versus the Saskatoon Blades, then return home for Friday and Saturday engagements with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Vancouver Giants. gmeachem@reddeeradvocate.com

Red hot Flames neutralize Lightning

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS Flames 3 Lightning 1 CALGARY — The resurgence of Karri Ramo and the Calgary Flames continued Tuesday night.

Ramo made 30 saves and Mark Giordano led the offence with a pair of assists as Calgary beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1.

Perfect on 26 shots against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night, Ramo extended his shutout streak to a personal best 152 minutes 55 seconds before Steven Stamkos picked up a carom off the end boards and found the back of the net at 18:21 of the third.

“As a team, we’re playing a lot better than the start of the year,” said Ramo. “That’s why we’re having success. Everybody’s chipping in, doing their things. It’s not perfect for us, but we are doing way more good things than bad things.”

Ramo, who got the Flames’ opening night start, had a rough October. He was briefly assigned to the American Hockey League after going unclaimed on waivers and finished the first month of the season with a .868 save percentage.

He’s improved since then, starting 25 of Calgary’s last 28 — including the last 10 in a row — and getting his save percentage up to .913.

“He went down, he was not happy, he came back and right from there he started to work,” said Flames coach Hartley. “He took advantage of (Jonas Hiller’s) injury and carried the ball and right now, he’s playing awesome. He’s probably been one of the best goalies in the league.”

Matt Stajan, David Jones and Lance Bouma, with his first of the season into an empty net, scored as Calgary (19-18-2) moved past the Anaheim Ducks and into third place in the Pacific Division.

Ben Bishop made 21 saves for Tampa Bay (19-17-4).

Ramo got within 12 minutes of the Flames record for longest shutout streak of 164:40 set by Mike Vernon in Dec. 1992.

“He’s dialed in right now, he’s playing really well and he gives us a lot of confidence when he’s playing like that,” said Bouma.

Calgary opened the scoring 3:56 into the first period on a nicely executed 3-on-2 that culminated with Giordano setting up Stajan at the side of the net.

At 15:30 of the second, Giordano intercepted the puck along the sideboards, shook off a check from Ryan Callahan and sent the puck in front for Jones to deflect into the top corner.

“Definitely something’s got to change,” said Lightning defenceman Anton Stralman. “Right now we have the talent, we have the energy. We’re just not

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Tampa Bay Lightning Steven Stamkos, right, dives for the puck as Calgary Flames’ Dougie Hamilton passes him during first period NHL action in Calgary, Tuesday. going out and executing and working hard enough.

It’s got to be a mindset.”

The Lightning, Stanley Cup finalists a year ago, are outside of a playoff spot, two points back of a wild card in the Eastern Conference.

“It’s frustrating but no one’s feeling sorry for us right now. We can’t sit here and pout,” said Stamkos.

“We’ve got to do something about it. We can’t just keep saying the right things, we’ve got to do it. It starts with me. I’ve got to be better.”

Callahan left the game with a lower-body injury and did not return after his hit on Giordano.

Notes: Linesman Mike Cvik, 53, worked his 1,868th and final NHL game. The Calgarian’s first game was Oct. 8, 1987… Tampa Bay D Matthew Carle was a healthy scratch… Not in Calgary’s line-up was RW Jiri Hudler (lower body), who is undergoing medical tests. The severity of his injury not known…. Flames leading scorer Johnny Gaudreau has no points in his last four games.

Finland downs Russia to win world junior gold

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS HELSINKI — It’s every hockey player’s childhood fantasy. Major championship on the line. Overtime. Home ice. Childhood heroes arriving to congratulate you.

Kasperi Kapanen scored a wraparound goal in overtime as Finland rallied past Russia 4-3 on Tuesday to win the world junior hockey championship in a fairy tale ending for the host country.

Kapanen deked around two defenders, skated around the back of Russia’s goal and threw the puck into a wideopen net as Russian goaltender Alexander Georgiev failed to dive back into position. The largely Finnish crowd at Hartwall Arena exploded with chants of “Suomi!” — Finland’s name in its native tongue — and later “Kiitos!” — the Finnish word for thanks.

“That’s one of those goals that you always dream of,” said the 19-year-old Kapanen, who had the white and blue Finnish flag draped over his shoulders with a sideways baseball cap commemorating the victory on his head. “I guess dreams do come true.”

Patrik Laine, Sebastian Aho and captain Mikko Rantanen all scored in the third period as Finland staged a late comeback. Kaapo Kahkonen made 22 saves for the win.

“There’s not a lot of words (for) how to describe the feeling,” said Rantanen. “Very happy. Happy for the team, for the whole of Finland. We had an absolutely unbelievable crowd there and everyone was watching at

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Finland captain Mikko Rantanen skates towards his team with the trophy as they celebrate their gold medal win at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Helsinki, Finland on Tuesday. Finland defeated Russia 4-3 in overtime. home on TV.” It was Finland’s fourth world junior title and second in the past three years. Finland beat rival Sweden for the championship in 2014. Before that, it was 1998 when Helsinki and Ha-

Greg Meachem, Sports Editor, 403-314-4363 E-mail gmeachem@reddeeradvocate.com

meenlinna, Finland hosted.

“Everything’s so blurry,” said Kapanen when asked to describe the goal.

“So excited and in shock at the same time.”

After the game former NHLers Saku

>>>>

Koivu and Teemu Selanne — who had his No. 8 retired from international competition by Finland earlier in the tournament — came down to the Finnish locker-room, giving out hugs and fist bumps to the excited teenagers.

Finland set a European attendance record for the world junior championships with 215,225 fans coming to the games and an average of 7,174.

Kapanen is a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect who is currently with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies. Earlier Tuesday, Mark Hunter, the Maple Leafs director of player personnel, spoke about how well Kapanen played at the world juniors and said he was integral to Finland’s success.

Andrei Svetlakov scored twice for Russia and Vladislav Kamenev had the other goal. Georgiev stopped 25 shots.

Georgiev’s start in net was a surprise after Ilya Samsonov’s solid 26-save performance in Russia’s 2-1 semifinal win over the United States.

Earlier in the day, Anders Bjork, Matthew Tkachuk and Ryan Donato each scored two goals as the Americans won bronze with an 8-3 win over Sweden.

Kamenev gave Russia a 1-0 lead nearly five minutes into the game. The Russians played conservatively after Kamenev’s goal, forcing Finland to work for any scoring opportunities in the first two periods.

Laine tied the game just 24 seconds into the third period. He took a drop pass from Aho before snapping a wrist shot past Georgiev to put Finland on the board.

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B4 RED DEER ADVOCATE Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016

Canadians hoping to clinch at home MEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM THE FRONT-RUNNER HEADING INTO OLYMPIC QUALIFIER

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS The road to Rio is wide open for the Canadian men’s volleyball team.

Canada is favoured to win an Olympic qualification tournament in Edmonton starting Friday and compete in men’s volleyball at an Olympic Games for the first time since 1992.

“It would mean a lot to be the first team in a long time to qualify,” Canadian captain Fred Winters told The Canadian Press on Tuesday. “It would be a bigtime validation for our program and our coaching staff.”

Canada, ranked 10th in the world, must win the round-robin tournament against No. 15 Cuba, No. 22 Puerto Rico and No. 24 Mexico to secure one of 12 berths in the Olympic men’s volleyball tournament in August.

The Canadian men fell a win short of going to London in 2012 when they were beaten by the U.S. in the final of this tournament.

The fifth-ranked Americans have already qualified for the 2016 Games by winning September’s World Cup, which removes a significant barrier to Rio for Canada.

Canada opens Friday against Puerto Rico followed by games against Mexico on Saturday and Cuba on Sunday at the Saville Community Sports Centre.

Should Canada not prevail in Edmonton, there is one more last-chance tournament this spring. The field will be tougher, however, and Canada wouldn’t have home-court advantage.

This is the fourth try at the Olympics in Winters’ 13 years on the national team.

“We’ve never hosted an Olympic qualifier,” said the 33-year-old from Victoria. “I’ve had one in the U.S. and two in Puerto Rico, but in all of them the U.S. has been there and in this one, they’ve obviously qualified at the World Cup. “It’s a big help for us that we don’t have to beat them to go. This is probably my last chance and really the best chance we’ve had.”

However, Canada will be without star Gavin Schmitt of Saskatoon, a six-foot-eight outside hitter who smashes and serves the ball with the power of Thor.

The former Red Deer College King Schmitt, 29, requires surgery on stress fractures in his right leg as soon as possible in order to maximize recovery time

this spring, according to head coach Glenn Hoag.

“It changes our game serving wise, attacking wise, but we’ll try to make other adjustments and use different tactics,” Hoag said. “It takes us a little bit out of our comfort zone, but we have no choice.”

The Canadians also didn’t have Schmitt in the lineup when they beat Cuba, Puerto Rico and host Mexico in October’s NORCECA Continental Championship in Cordoba.

“We don’t need him to qualify for the Olympics,” Winters said. “It sucks for him and a big loss. We have guys who have played in his position all summer.”

The men’s squad is getting an important player back from injury with left-side hitter Dallas Soonias of Red Deer, returning from knee surgery in 2014.

The key for Canada in Edmonton is not letting their emotions trip them up on the court, the captain said.

“When there’s so much riding on it, it can be more difficult,” Winter said. “Guys do weird things, guys

get nervous. We could have trouble with any of the teams.”

“When we simplify the game and slow it down, we play much better so we’ll try to do that.”

The men want to join Canada’s men’s field hockey team as well as the women’s basketball and rugby sevens squads that have already qualified for Rio. Canada was once under-represented in traditional team sports at the Summer Games. Sport Canada told Own The Podium in 2010 to set aside $6 million annually specifically for teams, so they would have base funding regardless of their medal potential.

Hoag overhauled the men’s program in 2012 to establish a national training centre in Gatineau, Que. That facility gave university and college graduates a place to train with their peers and allowed Hoag to drill a national team strategy into them.

When the players leave the centre to play professionally in Europe and Asia — and many players on the national team play pro — they know how to play for Canada when they return for big tournaments.

Women look beyond Olympic qualifier in path to Rio games

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS Canadian women’s volleyball coach Arnd Ludwig finds himself in an unusual position going into this week’s NORCECA Olympic qualification tournament in Lincoln, Neb. With the world No. 1 Americans in the four-team field and Canada the lowest-ranked entry, winning the event — which carries with it Olympic qualification — seems improbable. But both the second-place and third-place teams get another crack at an Olympic berth at subsequent tournaments.

And that’s where it gets interesting.

“Actually it’s an advantage to finish third, because you get easier opponents (at a) tournament that you will host,” Ludwig explained Tuesday early into a 10-hour bus trip from Winnipeg to Lincoln.

“It’s weird,” added the German native. “You want to finish third instead of second and I don’t think that’s the right thing. It should be if you finish second, you get an advantage and not getting punished for being second.”

The second-place finisher goes to an eight-country tournament with more Olympic berths (four) on the line but with a tougher field than the event where the third-place team will end up (four countries, one Olympic berth).

Canada, ranked 17th in the world, opens Thursday against the powerful Americans at the Pinnacle Bank Arena before taking on the seventh-ranked Dominican Republic on Friday and No. 16 Puerto Rico on Saturday.

The tournament winner will join Olympic host Brazil (No. 3 in the world), World Cup winner China (No. 2) and World Cup runner-up Serbia (No. 6) in the 12-country field in Rio de Janeiro this summer.

The winners of similar continental qualifying tournaments in Europe, Africa and South America will also book their ticket to the Summer Games.

The NORCECA runner-up will move on to a World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Japan that doubles as the Asian Continental Qualification event.

The competition will also feature four teams from Asia, the second- and third-place finisher at the European qualifying tournament and the runner-up

from the South American qualifier.

The top three teams plus the highest-placed Asian team will qualify for Rio. The third-place finisher at the NORCECA qualifier moves on to a four-team tournament that will feature the third-place team from South America and the second- and third-place finishers from Africa.

Only the tournament winner will advance to Rio. Both of the events are scheduled for the end of May. “For us, it’s important to get into the next round,” Ludwig said. “It will be very hard for us to beat the U.S. who are one of the best if not the best team in the world right now. We want to keep in the race for Rio so we want to finish second or third.”

The Americans went 41-6 in 2015, just missing out on Olympic qualification when they finished third at the World Cup. The 14-woman Canadian team is captained by eight-year veteran Brittney Page of Vernon, B.C. Eight of the women play professionally in Europe.

Ludwig says his team is a mix of youth and experience that is still growing as a squad.

IIHF wants lower ticket Nichols skips potential free agency to re-sign with Blue Bombers prices for 2017 world juniors

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS HELSINKI — International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel thinks ticket prices should be lower for the 2017 world junior hockey championships in Montreal.

Fasel addressed media on Tuesday, the final day of the 2016 world juniors in Helsinki, Finland, and suggested that Hockey Canada should consider lowering its prices among other solutions to disappointing ticket sales.

“It’s a big city,” said Fasel. “I disagree that maybe Montreal people are only there for les Canadiens. They love the game. I think the pricing of the tickets was an issue in Montreal. I think that they have to have a look on the prices and people will come. Not all of Montreal is in Florida.”

Fasel, from Switzerland, was speaking on a panel with Finnish hockey federation president Kalervo Kummola and Spain’s Frank Gonzalez, who served as the organizing committee’s chair for the 2016 event. Ticket sales were disappointing in Montreal for the 2015 world juniors that the city co-hosted with Toronto.

That year Montreal hosted preliminary round games while Toronto handled preliminary and playoff rounds.

The two cities will co-host the 2017 event again, with Montreal hosting the medal round and both cities taking on

the preliminary round.

“Hockey Canada released its 2017 World Junior Championship ticket packages in early December. While we believe that the 2015 WJC was, in large part, a success, there is always room for improvement,” said Hockey Canada chief operating officer Scott Smith. “To better understand those opportunities, we commissioned consumer research and spoke with different stakeholders including the Montreal Canadiens.

“One of the areas we did revise for 2017 is the ticket pricing in Montreal, where on a per-game cost, you can see the world’s best in men’s under-20 hockey for as little as $35, with platinum seats going for $100 per game.

This represents on average a 30 per cent decrease in pricing.”

As Gonzalez spoke about how he believes that snowbirds — Canadians heading to the southern United States in the winter months — shouldn’t effect ticket sales in Montreal. He also suggested that perceptions of attendance at the 2015 event may have been skewed by the size of Montreal’s Bell Centre.

“The problem is also that if you have such a big arena, we still had 1516,000 people, but in a 22,000-seat arena it looks not full,” said Fasel. “It’s still big, bigger than Hartwell Arena (where the medal round of the 2016 event was held.).

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WINNIPEG — Matt Nichols believes the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are close to being a CFL contender.

That’s primarily why the veteran quarterback re-signed with Winnipeg on Tuesday rather than become a free agent next month.

“I think the makeup is there for this team to be very good and I want to be a part of it,” Nichols said during a conference call. “We were very close to winning some close games against good teams and easily could have had three, four more wins down the stretch and got ourselves into the playoffs.

“I can see the talent level is there, the passion is there, guys never gave up and that’s a team I want to be a part of.”

Winnipeg acquired Nichols from Edmonton in September and he started seven games for the Bombers. Nich-

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ols completed 149 of 248 passes for 1,757 yards with 10 touchdowns after throwing for 1,488 yards and eight TDs with the Eskimos.

Winnipeg (5-13) finished fourth in the West Division, four points behind the B.C. Lions (7-11) for the final playoff spot in the division. But the Bombers were 3-3 before starter Drew Willy suffered a season-ending knee injury in a 38-8 loss to Hamilton on Aug. 9.

After Willy’s injury, Robert Marve and Brian Brohm both started before Nichols’ arrival. The six-foot-two 215-pound Nichols wasted little time making his presence felt with the Bombers, completing 21 of 30 passes for 283 yards and a TD in a 22-7 win over Saskatchewan on Sept. 12 in his debut with the club.

But Nichols played sparingly in Winnipeg’s regular-season finale, a 2211 road loss to Toronto on Nov. 6 as newcomer Dominique Davis made his first CFL start.

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SCOREBOARD Hockey

Local Sports GA 122 125 130 144 157 126

Pt 52 50 45 40 33 29

CENTRAL DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF Lethbridge 39 27 12 0 0 166 Red Deer 40 27 13 0 0 153 Calgary 42 25 15 1 1 140 Edmonton 40 16 20 4 0 112 Medicine Hat 39 14 21 3 1 127 Kootenay 41 7 31 3 0 82

GA 120 118 129 132 152 172

Pt 54 54 52 36 32 17

WESTERN CONFERENCE B.C. DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF Kelowna 40 28 10 2 0 145 Victoria 40 23 14 1 2 133 Prince George 39 23 14 1 1 133 Kamloops 37 18 14 4 1 129 Vancouver 40 15 20 3 2 118

GA 113 101 115 114 139

Pt 58 49 48 41 35

U.S. DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF 36 22 12 0 2 100 37 20 14 3 0 118 39 19 15 3 2 129 38 20 17 1 0 134 38 16 20 2 0 120

GA 79 111 132 124 143

Pt 46 43 43 41 34

Everett Seattle Spokane Portland Tri-City

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6, 2016

Shots on goal Red Deer 15 15 7 — 37 Prince Albert 6 9 14 — 29 Goal — Red Deer: Toth (W, 21-10-0) Prince Albert: Parenteau (L, 12-9-3).

Power plays (goal-chances) — Red Deer: 0-1 Prince Albert: 2-3.

WHL Scoring Leaders Tyson Baillie, Kel Adam Brooks, Reg Ivan Nikolishin, RD Brayden Burke, Let Dryden Hunt, MJ Parker Bowles, TC Reid Gardiner, P.A. Devante Stephens, Spo Giorgio Estephan, Let Alex Forsberg, Vic Egor Babenko, Let Cameron Hebig, Sas Nolan Patrick, Bra Collin Shirley, Kam

Tuesday’s summary Rebels 4, Raiders 3 First Period 1. Red Deer, Nogier 3 (Nikolishin, Fleury) 4:23.

Penalties — Kelly P.A. (roughing) 13:14, Rattie RD (tripping) 15:59.

Second Period 2. Prince Albert, Lees 15 (Gardiner, Guhle) 9:56 (pp).

3. Prince Albert, Gardiner 24 (Warner, Lees) 11:02 (pp).

4. Red Deer, Bleackley 12 (Pawlenchuk, Hagel) 13:56.

5. Red Deer, Pawlenchuk 16 (Doetzel, Bobyk) 16:22.

Penalties — Fleury RD (cross-checking) 7:57, RD Bench (served by Nikolishin, too many men) 9:21, Purtill RD (roughing) 14:49, Babych P.A. (roughing) 14:49.

Third Period 6. Prince Albert, Tkatch 11 (Kelly) 1:52.

7. Red Deer, Helewka 18 (Nikolishin, Strand) 12:25.

Penalties — Rattie RD (roughing) 4:31, Budik P.A. (roughing) 4:31, Tkatch P.A. (roughing) 20:00, Nogier RD (unsportsmanlike cnd.) 20:00, Tkatch P.A. (unsportsmanlike cnd.) 20:00.

Pts 63 59 56 56 54 54 54 53 48 48 47 46 46 45

GA 113 99 103 92 106 111 115

Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Los Angeles 39 25 12 2 52 105 87 Arizona 39 19 16 4 42 110 124 Calgary 39 19 18 2 40 104 122 Anaheim 38 16 15 7 39 73 90 Vancouver 40 15 16 9 39 97 113 San Jose 37 18 17 2 38 101 106 Edmonton 41 17 21 3 37 102 122 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

Thursday’s Games Washington at N.Y. Islanders, 5 p.m.

Florida at Ottawa, 5:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Minnesota, 6 p.m.

Winnipeg at Dallas, 6:30 p.m.

Arizona at Calgary, 7 p.m.

Toronto at Los Angeles, 8:30 p.m.

Detroit at San Jose, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday’s results Quarter-finals Finland 6 Canada 5 Russia 4 Denmark 3 (OT) Sweden 6 Slovakia 0 United States 7 Czech Republic 0 Relegation (Best-of-3) Switzerland 5 Belarus 1 IIHF world junior championship scoring leaders Player, Team G A Pt Jesse Puljujarvi, Fin 5 12 17 Sebeatien Aho. Fin 5 9 14 Patrik Laine, Fin 7 6 13 Auston Matthews, U.S. 7 4 11 Matthew Tkachuk, US 7 7 11 Alexander Nylander, Swe 4 5 9 Zach Werenski, US 2 7 9 Denis Malgin, Sui 1 8 9 Olli Juolevi, Fin 0 9 9 Christian Dvorak, US 3 5 8 Adrian Kempe, Swe 3 5 8 Yegor Korshkov, Rus 2 6 8 Nick Schmaltz, US 2 6 8 Sonny Milano, US 1 7 8 Ivan Provorov, Rus 0 8 8 National Hockey League EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts Florida 40 24 12 4 52 Detroit 40 20 13 7 47 Montreal 41 22 16 3 47 Boston 38 20 14 4 44 Ottawa 40 19 15 6 44 Tampa Bay 40 19 17 4 42 Toronto 37 15 15 7 37 Buffalo 40 15 21 4 34

GF 111 101 119 118 114 101 99 92

GA 86 106 103 105 120 98 103 110

Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts 39 29 7 3 61 40 22 13 5 49 40 22 14 4 48 40 20 15 5 45 39 19 15 5 43 38 16 15 7 39 40 16 17 7 39 41 15 23 3 33

GF 124 113 118 93 93 83 92 105

GA 85 99 105 95 96 105 111 131

Saturday

Tuesday’s summary Flames 3, Lightning 1 First Period 1. Calgary, Stajan 4 (Giordano, Brodie) 3:56.

Penalties — None.

Second Period 2. Calgary, Jones 8 (Giordano) 15:30.

Penalties — None.

Third Period 3. Tampa Bay, Stamkos 17 (Stralman, Filppula) 18:21.

4. Calgary, Bouma 1 (Wideman, Russell) 19:02 (en).

Penalties — Paquette TB (tripping) 1:14.

Shots on goal Tampa Bay 8 14 9 — 31 Calgary 13 7 4 — 24 Goal — Tampa Bay: Bishop (L, 15-13-3) Calgary: Ramo (W, 15-12-1).

Power plays (goal-chances) — Tampa Bay: 0-0 Calgary: 0-1.

NHL Scoring Leaders G 23 24 23 9 23 16 10 17 20 17 18 13 5 13 19 14 14 12

Patrick Kane, Chi Jamie Benn, Dal Tyler Seguin, Dal Erik Karlsson, Ott Vladimir Tarasenko, StL Taylor Hall, Edm Blake Wheeler, Wpg Johnny Gaudreau, Cgy Joe Pavelski, SJ Daniel Sedin, Vcr Evgeni Malkin, Pgh Alex Steen, StL John Klingberg, Dal Bobby Ryan, Ott Mike Hoffman, Ott Michael Cammalleri, NJ Patrice Bergeron, Bos Evgeny Kuznetsov, Wash

A 34 28 27 33 18 25 30 22 18 21 19 24 32 23 16 21 21 23

Pts 57 52 50 42 41 41 40 39 38 38 37 37 37 36 35 35 35 35

Basketball Red Deer Women’s League Rampage 54 Triple Threat 37 Rampage — Kelsey Wilson, 20 points; POG: Rebecca Schaal. TT — Tamara McKenzie, 12; POG: Jessi Charchuk.

Hoosier Daddy 75 Xpress 35 HD — Mallory Jones, 20; POG: Kristy Landry.

Xpress — Robyn Bonnar, 14; POG: Maria Makkinga.

Shooting Stars 63 Age Gap 31 SS — Becky Clutton, 21; POG: Kayla Leopold. AG — Crystal Gustaw, 13; POG: Jessica Oscar.

Storm 51 Ball Hawks 32 Storm — Shanna Soehn, 10; POG: Soehn. BH — Amber Smith, 16; POG: Cassie Boychuk.

Big Ballers 37 Dynamo 18 BB — Katrina Boulter, 11; POG: Aimee Sandham.

Dynamo — Kaitlyn Ball, 11; POG: Ball.

National Basketball Association EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Toronto 21 15 .583 — Boston 19 15 .559 1 New York 17 19 .472 4 Brooklyn 10 24 .294 10 Philadelphia 4 33 .108 17 1/2 Southeast Division W L Pct GB

Miami Atlanta Orlando Charlotte Washington Cleveland Chicago Indiana Detroit Milwaukee

21 13 .618 21 15 .583 19 16 .543 17 17 .500 15 17 .469 Central Division W L Pct 23 9 .719 21 12 .636 19 15 .559 19 16 .543 14 23 .378

WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct San Antonio 30 6 .833 Dallas 20 15 .571 Memphis 19 17 .528 Houston 17 19 .472 New Orleans 11 22 .333 Northwest Division W L Pct Oklahoma City 24 11 Utah 15 18 .455 Portland 15 22 .405 Denver 12 23 .343 Minnesota 12 23 .343 Pacific Division W L Pct Golden State 32 2 .941

— 1 2 1/2 4 5 GB — 2 1/2 5 5 1/2 11 1/2

GB — 9 1/2 11 13 17 1/2 GB .686 — 8 10 12 12

L.A. Clippers Sacramento Phoenix L.A. Lakers

22 14 12 8

13 21 25 27

.629 .400 .324 .229

10 1/2 18 1/2 21 1/2 24 1/2

Tuesday’s Games Chicago 117, Milwaukee 106 New York 107, Atlanta 101 Dallas 117, Sacramento 116,2OT Golden State at L.A. Lakers, late Wednesday’s Games New York at Miami, 5 p.m.

Indiana at Orlando, 5 p.m.

Cleveland at Washington, 5 p.m.

Toronto at Brooklyn, 5:30 p.m.

Detroit at Boston, 5:30 p.m.

Denver at Minnesota, 6 p.m.

Dallas at New Orleans, 6 p.m.

Utah at San Antonio, 6:30 p.m.

Charlotte at Phoenix, 7 p.m.

Memphis at Oklahoma City, 7:30 p.m.

L.A. Clippers at Portland, 8 p.m.

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and other tainted stars of the Steroids Era appear likely to get a boost in Hall of Fame balloting, but not enough to enter Cooperstown this year.

Ken Griffey Jr. seems assured of election on the first try Wednesday, possibly with a record vote of close to 100 per cent. Mike Piazza, Jeff Bagwell and Tim Raines also were strong candidates to gain the 75 per cent needed for baseball’s highest honour.

Following the elimination of about 100 retired baseball writers from the electorate, Bonds and Clemens were

Football National Football League AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct y-New England 12 4 0 .750 N.Y. Jets 10 6 0 .625 Buffalo 8 8 0 .500 Miami 6 10 0 .375 South W L T Pct y-Houston 9 7 0 .563 Indianapolis 8 8 0 .500 Jacksonville 5 11 0 .313 Tennessee 3 13 0 .188 North W L T Pct y-Cincinnati 12 4 0 .750 x-Pittsburgh 10 6 0 .625 Baltimore 5 11 0 .313 Cleveland 3 13 0 .188 West W L T Pct y-Denver 12 4 0 .750 x-Kansas City 11 5 0 .688 Oakland 7 9 0 .438 San\ Diego 4 12 0 .250 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct y-Washington 9 7 0 .563 Philadelphia 7 9 0 .438 N.Y. Giants 6 10 0 .375 Dallas 4 12 0 .250 South W L T Pct y-Carolina 15 1 0 .938 Atlanta 8 8 0 .500 New Orleans 7 9 0 .438 Tampa Bay 6 10 0 .375 North W L T Pct y-Minnesota 11 5 0 .688 x-Green Bay 10 6 0 .625 Detroit 7 9 0 .438

Chicago PF 465 387 379 310

PA 315 314 359 389

PF 339 333 376 299

PA 313 408 448 423

PF 419 423 328 278

PA 279 319 401 432

PF 355 405 359 320

PA 296 287 399 398

PF 388 377 420 275

PA 379 430 442 374

PF 500 339 408 342

PA 308 345 476 417

PF 365 368 358

PA 302 323 400

6 10 West W L y-Arizona 13 3 x-Seattle 10 6 St. Louis 7 9 San Francisco 5 11 x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division

0

.375

335

397

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .813 .625 .438 .313

PF 489 423 280 238

PA 313 277 330 387

NFL Playoff s Wild-card Playoffs Saturday, Jan. 9 Kansas City (11-5) at Houston (9-7), 2:35 p.m.

Pittsburgh (10-6) at Cincinnati (12-4), 6:15 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 10 Seattle (10-6) at Minnesota (11-6), 11 a.m.

Green Bay (10-6) at Washington (9-7), 2 p.m.

Divisional Playoffs Saturday, Jan. 16 & Sunday, Jan. 17 Pittsburgh, Kansas City or Houston at Denver (124), TBA Cincinnati, Houston or Kansas City at New England (12-4), TBA Seattle, Green Bay or Washington at Carolina (151), TBA Minnesota, Washington or Green Bay at Arizona (13-3), TBA Conference Championships Sunday, Jan. 24 NFC, TBA AFC, TBA Pro Bowl Sunday, Jan. 31 At Honolulu Team Rice vs. Team Irvin, 6 p.m.

Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 7 At Santa Clara, Calif.

TBD, 4:30 p.m.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

GB —

to reserved/future contracts.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — Signed Cs Josh Allen and Ben Gottschalk, WR Andre Davis, G Antoine Everett, S Gerod Holliman, DE Martin Ifedi, DT Derrick Lott and CBs C.J. Roberts and Joel Ross to reserve/ future contracts.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS — Signed CB Cary Williams. Activated C Kory Lichtensteiger from the injured reserve-return list. Placed DB Kyshoen Jarrett on injured reserve. Waived C Brian de la Puente. Signed CB Al Louis-Jean to the practice squad. Released LB Derrick Mathews from the practice squad.

Canadian Football League WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS — Re-signed QB Matt Nichols.

HOCKEY National Hockey League COLORADO AVALANCHE — Claimed D Andrew Bodnarchuk off waivers from Columbus.

DETROIT RED WINGS — Assigned C Tomas Nosek to Grand Rapids (AHL).

NASHVILLE PREDATORS — Signed F Fredrick Gaudreau to a two-year, entry-level contract.

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS — Assigned F Brandon Alderson from Lehigh Valley (AHL) to Reading (ECHL).

American Hockey League AHL — Suspended Toronto LW Richard Clune one game for his actions at the conclusion of a Jan. 2 game against Syracuse. Suspended Bridgeport D Matt Carkner one game for a boarding incident in a Jan. 3 game against Hershey.

CHICAGO WOLVES — Recalled D Jeremie Blain from Brampton (ECHL).

ECHL READING ROYALS — Loaned F Cam Reid to Hershey (AHL).

SOCCER Major League Soccer FC DALLAS — Signed D Aaron Guillen.

SPORTING KANSAS CITY — Named Brian Bliss director of player personnel.

on track for a 5-10 percentage point increase. After drawing about 37 per cent of the ballots last year, they were in the 48 per cent range this year according to www.bbhoftracker.com , which tabulated public votes adding to more than one-third of the total.

Last July, the Hall’s board of directors cut eligible voters from approximately 575 to roughly 475 by purging writers who had not been covering the game for more than a decade.

Marc Maturo, a reporter covering New York baseball for Gannett in the 1970s and ’80s, was among those who lost voting rights. He said he would have voted for Bonds, Clemens, Griffey and Raines.

Sunday • Juvenile curling: Servus Credit Union Bonspiel, Pidherney Centre.

• Minor midget AAA hockey: Southeast at Red Deer North Star, 11:30 a.m., Arena; Rockyview at Red Deer Strata Energy, 2:15 p.m., Arena.

• Major midget girls hockey: Edmonton at Red Deer, 2:30 p.m., Kinsmen A. • Heritage junior B hockey: Coaldale at Ponoka, 2:30 p.m.

• Peewee AA hockey: Bow Valley at West Central, 2:45 p.m., Sylvan Lake.

• Midget AA hockey: Central Alberta at West Central, 3:15 p.m., Rocky Mountain House; Foothills at Red Deer Elks, 5 p.m., Arena; Wheatland at Olds, 5:30 p.m.

• Men’s basketball: Grandview vs.

Carstar, Chillibongs vs. Monstars, Alken Basin vs. Rusty Chuckers, 4:15 p.m.; Washed Up Warriors vs. NWS, Henry’s Eavestroughing vs. Lacombe All Sports Cresting, Triple A Batteries vs. The D Leaguers, 5:30 p.m.; all games at Lindsay Thurber.

• Bantam AA hockey: Okotoks at Central Alberta, 4:30 p.m., Big Valley.

• Chinook senior AAA hockey: Innisfail at Bentley, 4:45 p.m., Rimbey.

The Lindsay Thurber Raiders, with Kelsey Lalor pouring in 23 points, rolled over the host Ponoka Broncs 59-18 in senior high girls basketball action Tuesday.

Hayley Lalor added 11 points for the Raiders, who got an additional 10 from Sierra Laye. Tawni Kjenner led the Broncs with eight points.

Thursday’s Games Atlanta at Philadelphia, 5 p.m.

Boston at Chicago, 6 p.m.

Utah at Houston, 6 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Sacramento, 8:30 p.m.

Bonds, Clemens, tainted stars of Steroids Era might get boost in Hall voting, but not enough

• Juvenile curling: Servus Credit Union Bonspiel, Pidherney Centre.

• Minor midget AAA hockey: Calgary Canucks at Red Deer Strata Energy, 11:30 a.m., Arena.

• Midget AA hockey: West Central at Red Deer Indy Graphics, 2 p.m., Arena; Red

Deer Elks at Olds, 7:30 p.m.

• Peewee AA hockey: Wheatland at Olds, 2:15 p.m.; Central Alberta at West Central, 5:30 p.m., Rocky Mountain House.

• Midget AAA hockey: Calgary Royals at Red Deer, 4:45 p.m., Arena.

• Bantam AA hockey: Lethbridge at Olds, 4:45 p.m.

• WHL: Vancouver at Red Deer, 7 p.m.

Centrium.

• Heritage junior B hockey: Coaldale at Red Deer, 8 p.m., Arena; Three Hills at Ponoka, 8 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

Transactions Tuesday’s Sports Transactions BASEBALL American League CLEVELAND INDIANS — Agreed to terms with 1B Mike Napoli on a one-year contract.

HOUSTON ASTROS — Named Dave Borkowski pitching coach at Corpus Christi TL), Ramon Vazquez manager, Lancaster (Cal), Omar Lopez manager and Chris Holt pitching coach, Quad Cities (MW), Josh Bonifay manager, Greeneville (SALLY), Wladimir Sutil coach/Latin infield instructor (Gulf) and Russ Steinhorn manager, (DSL). Named Drew French pitching coach and Dillon Lawson hitting coach at Tri-City (NYP), Bill Murphy pitching coach at Greeneville, Aaron DelGiudice development coach at Fresno (PCL) and Lancaster (Cal), and Tommy Kawamura development coach at Corpus Christi (TL) and Quad Cities (MW).

OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Traded RHP Arnold Leon to Toronto for cash or a player to be named.

TEXAS RANGERS — Signed LHP Cesar Ramos to a minor league contract.

National League PITTSBURGH PIRATES — Promoted strength and conditioning coach Brendon Huttmann to sports science co-ordinator. Named Kevin Fitzgerald physical therapist and Ricky White strength coach.

FOOTBALL National Football League ARIZONA CARDINALS — Signed Cs Taylor Boggs and Valerian Ume-Ezeoke, LB Mike Reilly and S Tyrequek Zimmerman to reserve/future contracts.

CINCINNATI BENGALS — Signed LB Jayson DiManche to the practice squad and PK Zach Hocker, LB Dezmond Johnson and S Floyd Raven Sr. to reserve/ future contracts.

CLEVELAND BROWNS — Signed DBs Sean Baker and Tim Scott, OL Dan France and Garth Gerhart, TE Connor Hamlett and DL Dylan Wynn to reserve/ future contracts. Named Paul DePodesta chief strategy officer.

GREEN BAY PACKERS — Signed DT William Campbell to the practice squad.

Placed DE B.J. McBryde on the practice squad injured list. Signed QB Ryan Williams to reserve/future contracts.

HOUSTON TEXANS — Signed OT Andrew McDonald from the San Diego practice squad. Placed OT Duane Brown on injured reserve.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — Fired defensive co-ordinator Bob Babich.

NEW YORK JETS - Signed G Jarvis Harrison, DT Deon Simon, WR Joe Anderson, LB Deion Barnes, TE Brandon Bostick, LB Julian Howsare, TE Wes Saxton, CB Kevin Short and LB Julian Stanford to reserve/future contracts.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS — Signed QB Garrett Gilbert and K Giorgio Tavecchio

Thursday • College women’s hockey: NAIT at RDC, 7 p.m., Arena.

• Men’s basketball: Vikings vs. Btown, Bulldog Scrap Metal vs. Silver Spurs, 7:15 and 8:30 p.m., Lindsay Thurber.

Friday

Wednesday’s Games New Jersey at Montreal, 5 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Chicago, 6 p.m.

St. Louis at Colorado, 8 p.m.

Carolina at Vancouver, 8 p.m.

Toronto at Anaheim, 8 p.m.

Sunday’s result Relegation (Best-of-3) Switzerland 6 Belarus 2 (Switzerland wins series 2-0 Belarus relegated for 2017)

• JV basketball: Sylvan Lake at Notre Dame, Wetaskiwin at Lindsay Thurber, Stettler at Hunting Hills, Lacombe at Rocky Mountain House, Ponoka at Camrose; girls at 6 p.m., boys to follow.

• WHL: Red Deer at Saskatoon, 6 p.m.

(The Drive).

• Bantam AA hockey: Bow Valley at Central Alberta, 6 p.m., Big Valley; Airdrie at West Central, 8 p.m., Sylvan Lake.

• Juvenile curling: Servus Credit Union Bonspiel, Pidherney Centre.

• WHL: Lethbridge at Red Deer, 7 p.m., Centrium.

• Midget AA hockey: Okotoks Black at Olds, 7:30 p.m.

• Midget AAA hockey: Foothills at Red Deer, 8 p.m., Arena.

• Heritage junior B hockey: Mountainview at Three Hills, 8 p.m.

• Chinook senior AAA hockey: Fort Saskatchewan at Bentley, 8:30 p.m., Rimbey.

Tuesday’s Games Washington 3, Boston 2 Florida 5, Buffalo 1 N.Y. Rangers 6, Dallas 2 Chicago 3, Pittsburgh 2, OT Minnesota 4, Columbus 2 Philadelphia 4, Montreal 3 Winnipeg 4, Nashville 1 Calgary 3, Tampa Bay 1

Monday’s results Semifinals Finland 2 Sweden 1 Russia 2 United States 1

Washington N.Y. Islanders N.Y. Rangers New Jersey Pittsburgh Philadelphia Carolina Columbus

GF 146 114 103 105 104 113 108

Monday’s Games Detroit 1, New Jersey 0 Ottawa 3, St. Louis 2, OT Colorado 4, Los Angeles 1 Edmonton 1, Carolina 0, OT Arizona 3, Vancouver 2

PLAYOFFS Tuesday’s results Gold Medal Finland 4 Russia 3 (OT) Bronze Medal U.S. 8 Sweden 3

Wednesday’s games Red Deer at Saskatoon, 6:05 p.m.

Vancouver at Edmonton, 7 p.m.

Swift Current at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.

Prince George at Kamloops, 8 p.m.

Tri-City at Victoria, 8:05 p.m.

Saturday, January 9 Medicine Hat at Prince Albert, 6 p.m.

Saskatoon at Moose Jaw, 6 p.m.

Swift Current at Brandon, 6:30 p.m.

Vancouver at Red Deer, 7 p.m.

Calgary at Edmonton, 7 p.m.

Kootenay at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.

Kamloops at Portland, 8 p.m.

Victoria at Prince George, 8 p.m.

Regina at Spokane, 8:05 p.m.

Tri-City at Kelowna, 8:05 p.m.

Everett at Seattle, 8:05 p.m.

A 39 38 34 45 29 30 30 37 28 34 28 27 32 21

2016 IIHF World Junior Championship At Helsinki, Finland

Tuesday’s results Red Deer 4 Prince Albert 3 Moose Jaw 4 Medicine Hat 2 Tri-City at Victoria, late

Friday’s games Medicine Hat at Saskatoon, 6:05 p.m.

Prince Albert at Brandon, 6:30 p.m.

Vancouver at Calgary, 7 p.m.

Regina at Kootenay, 7 p.m.

Lethbridge at Red Deer, 7 p.m.

Tri-City at Kamloops, 8 p.m.

Victoria at Prince George, 8 p.m.

Everett at Kelowna, 8:05 p.m.

Portland at Seattle, 8:35 p.m.

G 24 21 22 11 25 24 24 16 20 14 19 19 14 24

Today

WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts Dallas 42 28 10 4 60 Chicago 41 24 13 4 52 St. Louis 42 23 14 5 51 Minnesota 39 21 11 7 49 Nashville 40 19 14 7 45 Colorado 40 19 18 3 41 Winnipeg 40 19 19 2 40

Jose Vizcarra scored 10 points as the Subaru Kingsmen defeated Sheraton Red Deer 59-45 in a Central Alberta Senior Men’s Basketball Association game Tuesday.

Paul Mendonca added eight points for the Kingsmen. Brock Philips netted 12 for Sheraton, while Matt Thompson contributed eight.

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WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF Brandon 40 24 12 2 2 150 Prince Albert 40 23 13 3 1 133 Moose Jaw 40 20 15 4 1 139 Regina 40 17 17 3 3 125 Saskatoon 38 15 20 3 0 121 Swift Current 39 12 22 4 1 91

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Obituaries

BOWER Joseph 1978 - 2016 Joseph James ‘Joe’ Bower passed away peacefully in the arms of his loving wife, on Sunday, January 3, 2016 at the young age of 37 years.

Joe was born in Red Deer December 28, 1978 to Pat and Jim Bower. He has two siblings Jennifer (Norman, Westin, Wynona) and Jeff.

Born into a fifth generation farm family, Joe spent his childhood on the farm influenced by his parents and grandparents (Don and Barb McKinnon and Art Bower and Betty Glover) to grow his love of the rural and family life. Jim and Pat will forever have a sore pitching arm from endless ball practice. Joe spending countless hours with his brother playing baseball and GI Joe. Together Joe and Jeff formed entire fantasy baseball leagues and armies to rule the world (Jek and Boh), and scheming and fighting with their sister Jen. Two strong minds, Joe and Jen enjoyed challenging each other thinking which lead into a strong bond later on.

Joe was an excellent big brother, in fact, the best! In 2000, he married Tamara McLean and had two beautiful children, Kayley Morgan (8) and Sawyer James (3). Joe was an energetic and loving father who supported Kayley and Sawyer in their many activities - swimming, gymnastics, inventing games, and running the base paths after Joe’s ball games. Together Joe and Tamara encouraged the kids to seek their own passions while maintaining strong ties to the family core. They shared the love of farm life enjoying many farm animals and pets. They delighted in traveling, especially to Santa Barbara, California, to visit Jen and Norm. Joe enjoyed the support and comradery from his mother-in-law Geri, sister-in-law Melissa Lapierre (Phil, Leia), and Brothers-in-law Jason (Janet, Blake, Cam, Noah, Chloe) and Aaron (Krista, Janelle). Joe’s passion for education led to the creation of his popular blog For the Love of Learning; it was through his professional work and use of social media that he was able to connect and inspire so many. He was an International speaker recently presenting in Barcelona Spain, stimulating/exciting others with his progressive philosophy on education. “Joe’s Last Inning” will be held at the Harvest Centre, Westerner Park, Red Deer, Alberta on Friday, January 8, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. If desired, Memorial Donations in Joe’s honor may be made directly to the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation, c/o Unit 39 (Child/Adolescent Mental Health Unit) or the Cardiac Unit at 3942 - 50A Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta T4N 4E7 or www.rdrhfoundation.com/donate-now. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements in care of PARKLAND FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM, 6287 - 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040.

HENDRICKSON Milton James Milton Hendrickson was born September 29, 1938 in Lake Alma, SK and passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Monday, December 28, 2015 at the age of 77 years. He is lovingly remembered by his wife of 53 years, Ruth Hendrickson; daughter, Natalie (Ed Shackel) Hendrickson; son, Darcy (Maryanne, Jayden) Hendrickson; grandchildren, Kyle Chenard and Faith Chenard. A Celebration of Milton’s Life will be held at the Elks Club, 6315 Horn Street, Red Deer, AB on Sunday, January 10, 2016 at 1:00 pm. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.myalternatives.ca

B6

LONG Margaret ‘Ann’ 1937 - 2016 Margaret ‘Ann’ Long (nee Moen) of Red Deer, Alberta passed away at the Foothills Hospital, Calgary, Alberta on Sunday, January 3, 2016 at the age of 78 years. Ann was born on July 12, 1937 at Wetaskiwin, Alberta and raised at Millet, Alberta. Ann will be lovingly remembered by her son, Kevin (Cecile) Bolseng of Calgary, Alberta; her daughters, Tracey Bolseng (Brian) of Monarch, Alberta and Lori (Brett) Edginton of Springbrook, Alberta; and three grandchildren. She will also be sadly missed by a brother, Chris Moen and three sisters, Eileen Sweetnam, Betty McAuley and Shirley Sieben. Ann was predeceased by her parents, Martin and Trula, and two sisters, Doreen and Linda. If desired, Memorial Donations in Ann’s honor may be made directly to the Canadian Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.ca/ or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com Arrangements in care of PARKLAND FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM, 6287 - 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer.

403.340.4040.

In Memoriam

WHAT’S HAPPENING

CLASSIFICATIONS 50-70

52

Coming Events

All Visits are Free.

No Obligation.

Compliments of Local Businesses.

PHAGOO Karl 1981 - 2016 Karl Joseph Phagoo of Red Deer passed away at home on Saturday, January 2, 2016 at the age of 34 years.

A dedicated friend to all, Karl will be dearly missed by all who knew him. Karl is lovingly remembered by his parents, Gea and Victor Phagoo; siblings, Annita (Brendan), Pamela (Russ), and Curtis (Andrea); girlfriend, Leah and the children in his life, Silas, Noa, Lucius, Greta, Ariella, Levi, Ezra, Ava and Mila. Relatives and friends are invited to come and pay their respects at the Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, 6287 - 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer, Alberta on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 between the hours of 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. A Celebration of Karl’s Life will be held at the Living Stones Church, 2020 - 40 Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta on Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. with a Public Visitation one hour prior. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com Arrangements in care of PARKLAND FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM 6287 - 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer.

403.340.4040.

GRANT Elwood Hewins Apr. 28, 1932 - Jan. 6, 2010 Gone from us - 6 years past, But you left us to remember Your smiling face Which no one on Earth Can take your place.

A happy home We once enjoyed Will never be the same.

No farewell words were spoken, No time to say good-bye.

You were gone before We knew it, And only God knows why. ~ We Miss You. Love Mary And your loving family ~

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 403-347-8650 COCAINE ANONYMOUS 403-396-8298 OVEREATERS Anonymous Contact Phyl @ 347-4188

Caregivers/ Aides

ANNE STEWART Aug. 2, 1953 - Jan. 6, 2012

Always in our Hearts Your Family

Just had a baby girl?

Tell Everyone with a Classified Announcement

309-3300

Announcements the informative choice!

Classified Memorials: helping to remember

60

Personals

700-920

Forever loved Betty and family

Pat, Shawna (Dennis), Darwin (Mary) & families

FOUND bike in Sunnybrook. Call 403-347-6883 to identify.

CLASSIFICATIONS

Two years have passed our hearts still sore.

As time rolls on, we miss you more.

With silent thought and deep regret, Loving memories we will never forget.

I just wiped a teardrop from the corner of my eye, Followed by another as I began to cry...

I just found a memory in the corner of my heart Of happy times gone past When you were by my side.

56

Found

jobs

WM. (Bill) WHITTEMORE June 28, 1926 - Jan. 6, 2014

BOB SCHATZ January 6, 2011 Five years ago today you were called home.

Call or visit us online!

1-844-299-2466 welcomewagon.ca

wegot

Beautiful memories, Are wonderful things, They last till the longest day, They never wear out, They never get lost, And can never be given away.

To some you may be forgotten To others a part of the past, Your memory will always last.

In Memoriam

Are you new to the neighbourhood?

Expecting a Baby?

Planning a Wedding?

Classifieds 309-3300

710

LOOKING for a temporary full-time In-Home caregiver for a 1 year old. 12/hr.

Duties include child care and light housekeeping.

High School education, CPR/First Aid training, driver’s license required.

Please send resumes to Roselle.Miguel@ahs.ca

Clerical

720

P/T BOOKKEEPER req’d to work in office near Bentley 1 - 2 days per wk. flexible hours, exp. with Simply Accounting (Sage 50) is required. Please send resume to kingdom farmsinc@gmail.com or fax; 403-748-4613 phone 403-505-2647

Professionals

810

NOW HIRING - LAB ANALYST 2 (1 yr. contract) Joffre, AB. Duties: Analyze water & organic samples using ICP, GC, HPLC, & NMR; maintain proper calibration & quality control records; prepare samples for analysis using extraction methods; troubleshoot & understand analytical equipment. Required: post secondary education in chemistry or related field; organized, detail-oriented; good communication skills (verbal & written); must be able to work shifts.

Apply online at: maxxam.ca/careers.

Sales & Distributors

830

SENIOR SALES REP Oil and Gas required immediately, preferably with background in the Service Sector. All sales will be International. Must have recent senior sales experience. Remuneration, very generous fee from all clients you identify, as well as a portion of the fee on an on-going basis that said clients pay us. All expenses paid. For more information, visit our webpage at www.wilsontrade.com.

Submit resume to brucewilson@incentre.net

TO ORDER HOME DELIVERY OF THE ADVOCATE CALL OUR CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 403-314-4300 ADULT or YOUTH CARRIERS NEEDED For delivery of Flyers, Wednesday and Friday ONLY 2 DAYS A WEEK CLEARVIEW RIDGE CLEARVIEW TIMBERSTONE LANCASTER VANIER WOODLEA/ WASKASOO DEER PARK GRANDVIEW EASTVIEW MICHENER MOUNTVIEW ROSEDALE GARDEN HEIGHTS MORRISROE Call Prodie at 403-314-4301

ADULT or YOUTH CARRIERS NEEDED For delivery of Flyers, Wednesday and Friday ONLY 2 DAYS A WEEK ANDERS BOWER HIGHLAND GREEN INGLEWOOD JOHNSTONE KENTWOOD RIVERSIDE MEADOWS PINES SUNNYBROOK SOUTHBROOKE WEST LAKE WEST PARK Call Rhonda at 403-314-4306

ADULT CARRIERS NEEDED For early morning delivery by 6:30 am Mon. - Sat. KENTWOOD SPRINGBROOK Call Joanne at 403- 314-4308

CARRIERS NEEDED For CENTRAL ALBERTA LIFE 1 day a week INNISFAIL PENHOLD LACOMBE SYLVAN LAKE OLDS BLACKFALDS PONOKA STETTLER Call Terri at 403- 314-4303

7119052tfn

TO PLACE AN AD

Earn Extra Money

¯ ROUTES AVAILABLE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Red Deer Ponoka

Sylvan Lake Lacombe

call: 403-314-4394 or email:

carriers@reddeeradvocate.com

7119078TFN

For that new computer, a dream vacation or a new car

RED DEER ADVOCATE Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016 B7

850

Trades

Firewood

GOODMEN ROOFING LTD.

1660

AFFORDABLE

B.C. Birch, Aspen, Spruce/Pine. Delivery avail.

PH. Lyle 403-783-2275

Valid Driver’s Licence FIREWOOD. Pine, Spruce, preferred. Fax or email Can deliver info@goodmenroofing.ca 1-4 cords. 403-844-0227 or (403)341-6722 NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE!

Household Appliances

880

ACADEMIC Express ADULT EDUCATION AND TRAINING

JANUARY START

100 VHS movies, $75.

For All 403-885-5020

Would you like to take the GED in your community?

$180. 403-358-5568

Household Furnishings

30 pc. wall mounted storage bins $35, new elec. rotisserie and BBQ oven $35 - SOLD, Stringer wet/dry vacuum cleaner $20 - SOLD, Skil 3/8 variable speed drill $12 SOLD, B & D jig saw $12, 6” multi-purpose vice, $25.

403-358-5568

1720

WANTED

Antiques, furniture and estates. 342-2514 You can sell your guitar for a song... or put it in CLASSIFIEDS and we’ll sell it for you!

Misc. for Sale

1760

VHS OPRAH tapes, 60 VHS movie tapes and figure skating tapes to give away 403-347-9357 WATER cooler $50.

403-885-5020

Office Supplies

1800

GENERAL 12.5 cubic ft. chest deep freeze, $200.

SOLD

40 “ + TOSHIBA color tv; and older tv to give away 587-273-3377

1730

PROPANE heater for inside travel home, works good $150 obo 403-314-0804

880

Call Classifieds 403-309-3300 classifieds@reddeeradvocate.com

Contractors

1010

INDIVIDUAL & BUSINESS Accounting, 30 yrs. of exp. with oilfield service companies, other small businesses and individuals RW Smith, 346-9351

1100

BRIDGER CONST. LTD. We do it all! 403-302-8550

Salary and Benefits based on skill set and experience

DALE’S Home Reno’s Free estimates for all your reno needs. 403-506-4301

1630

1160

Entertainment

TRAILERS for sale or rent Job site, office, well site or storage. Skidded or wheeled. Call 347-7721.

Drop off or mail resume + driver’s abstract to MancusoCleaning #8-7428-49 Ave Red Deer, T4P 1M2 www.mancusocleaning.com

1640

SKILL SAW, Craftsman 7.25, $50. 403-314-0804

ed Get your vehicle list

DANCE DJ SERVICES 587-679-8606

Flooring

1180

NEED FLOORING DONE? Don’t pay the shops more.

Over 20 yrs. exp.

Call Jon 403-848-0393

Handyman Services

1200

BOOK NOW! For help on your home projects such as bathroom, main floor, and bsmt. renovations. Also painting and flooring.

Call James 403-341-0617

1280

FANTASY SPA

Elite Retreat, Finest in VIP Treatment.

10 - 2am Private back entry

403-341-4445

Misc.

Services

1290

5* JUNK REMOVAL

GARAGE Doors Serviced 50% off. 403-358-1614

Painters/ Decorators

1310

LAUREL TRUDGEON Residential Painting and Colour Consultations.

403-342-7801.

MULTI-SKILLED HANDYMAN For Hire Call Derek 403-848-3266

Massage Therapy

1290

Misc.

Services

Property clean up 505-4777

Tired of Standing?

Find something to sit on in Classifieds

Seniors’ Services

1372

HELPING HANDS Home Supports for Seniors.

Cooking, cleaning, companionship. At home or facility. 403-346-7777

1430

Yard Care

TREE / JUNK / SNOW removal. Contracts welcome. 403-358-1614

on the

ADVERTISE YOUR VEHICLE IN THE CLASSIFIEDS AND GET IT

d

d

Sol

Sol 1996 26’ PHOENIX

147,000 kms, sleeps 6, new tires, good working order $9100.

2003 NISSAN Maxima SE Titanium 143,000 km V6, 6 spd. manual, loaded 403 358 1713

2001 INTREPID SE $2000 firm 403-357-9459

403-704-3094

DO YOU HAVE A BOAT TO SELL? ADVERTISE IT IN THE FAST TRACK, Call 309-3300.

d

Sol

EXCELLENT 2nd vehicle, 2007 Ford Five Hundred, loaded, w/sunroof, leather, all options, $5,300 obo.

2011 COLORADO, Z71 4x4, loaded for comfort, 45,000 kms., 1 owner, $27,500.

2007 Ford Ranger Level II 6 cyl auto 4x4 loaded. Clean.

Priced to Buy Call 340-318 3040

DO YOU HAVE A HOLIDAY TRAILER TO SELL? ADVERTISE IT IN THE FAST TRACK, Call 309-3300.

d

Sol DO YOU HAVE A TENT TRAILER TO SELL? ADVERTISE IT IN THE FAST TRACK, Call 309-3300.

2002 DURANGO, RT, AWD, Hi + low range 4x4. 7 pass.

124,000 kms.. $5000. obo 780-916-0221

DO YOU HAVE A TRUCK CAMPER TO SELL? ADVERTISE IT IN THE FAST TRACK, Call 309-3300.

DO YOU HAVE A SEADOO TO SELL? ADVERTISE IT IN THE FAST TRACK, Call 309-3300.

2003 FORD Sport truck, exc. cond

6 DAYS IN THE RED DEER ADVOCATE 1 FRIDAY FORWARD 2 CENTRAL ALBERTA LIFE

2 FREE SALE SIGNS AND TIP SHEET

IF YOUR VEHICLE DOESN’T SELL THE FIRST WEEK, THE 2ND WEEK IS HALF PRICE!

2004 FREESTAR Limited Edition

2006 JEEP Commander full load, 4.7.

Best Offer ASAP 403-342-7798

DO YOU HAVE A MOTORHOME TO SELL? ADVERTISE IT IN THE FAST TRACK, Call 309-3300.

$5600.

587-377-3547

DO YOU HAVE A DIRT BIKE TO SELL? ADVERTISE IT IN THE FAST TRACK, Call 309-3300.

Sol

2006 BUICK CXL Lucerne 117,000 kms, n/s, all options, winter & summer tires on wheels, $6800 obo

FREE PHOTO AD WEDNESDAYS IN FAST TRACK FOTOS

AD ON THE INTERNET

AD APPEARS EVERY DAY YOUR AD IS PUBLISHED IN THE ADVOCATE

WE Will Take Payments!!

2012 Dodge Gr. Caravan White, 93,000 Kms. Full Inspection $13,450.

Harvey @ Reward Lease 403-358-1698

d

d Sol

d Sol SELLING CHEAP! $1900 for 2001 Ford Escape 4x4, 5 spd, std, 293, 453 kms, dependable 403-887-0373

2003 OLDS ALERO, good cond., 240,000 kms. $1000.

2007 DODGE Nitro 4x4, SLT V6, auto., loaded w/sunroof, low kms., CLEAN. Priced to buy Call 403-318 3040

2010 FORD FUSION SEL, 2.5L, IV engine, 6 spd., loaded.

81,000 kms. $11,800. 403-350-1608

RARE 1997 LINCOLN Mark VIII, exc. cond. throughout, $6000. obo.

SELL YOUR VEHICLE FAST WITH A FAST TRACK CLASSIFIED VEHICLE AD

403 309-3300

CALL AND ONE OF OUR SALES SPECIALISTS CAN PUT YOU ON THE FAST TRACK TO SELL YOUR VEHICLE.

635421

Tools

To Advertise Your Business or Service Here

Learn under the personal direction of one of North America’s experts in restorative cleaning!

1500-1990

EquipmentHeavy

CALL NOW

CLASSIFICATIONS 1000-1430

Accounting

CLASSIFICATIONS

SYLVAN Lake, 3 fully furn. rentals, garage, inclds. all utils., $1100-$1600.

403-880-0210

services

Become a sought-after professional in the art and science of carpet & upholstery and all-surface cleaning! Work Monday to Friday during the day, with some evenings and Saturdays.

We’re looking for someone with: • A commitment to excellence • Good communication skills • Good physical fitness • Mechanical aptitude • Good hand/eye coordination

stuff

Red Deer ADVOCATE CLASSIFIEDS 403-309-3300

STETTLER older 3 bdrm.

2 storey, 4912-53 St. large fenced yard, single car garage, 1 blk. from school, 3 blks. from main street, $1000/mo. + utils. $500 DD avail. Feb. 1. Call Corrinne to see 403-742-1344, call Don 403-742-9615 to rent.

wegot

TWO kittens and cats to give away, good mousers.

Need good homes.

403-782-3031

CARPET CLEANING TECHNICIAN

wegot

CLASSIFICATIONS

FOR RENT • 3000-3200 WANTED • 3250-3390

Classifieds Your place to SELL Your place to BUY

GROW WITH US Excellent Salary with Benefits

Gov’t of Alberta Funding may be available.

403-340-1930 www.academicexpress.ca

wegot

Looking for a place to live?

Take a tour through the CLASSIFIEDS

3020

Houses/ Duplexes

rentals

TRAVEL ALBERTA Alberta offers SOMETHING for everyone.

Make your travel plans now.

1830

Stereos TV's, VCRs

Red Deer Rocky Mtn. House Rimbey Caroline Sylvan Lake Innisfail Stettler Ponoka Lacombe

1900

Travel Packages

2 DRAWER metal filing POLAR bar fridge $50, 2 cabinet $10 403-885-5020 Canadian Club (Texas Mickey) 133 1/3 oz. whiskey bottles w/pumps, $50 Cats ea. 403-358-5568

DISHWASHER, G.E. in very good cond. $40. obo.

403-342-4949 or 780-717-6206

Misc.

Help

GED Preparation

1710

1760

Misc. for Sale

HAIER (apartment size)

Spruce, Pine, Aspen - Split.

Avail. 7 days/wk. 403-304-6472

SLOPED ROOFERS LABOURERS & FLAT ROOFERS

• • • • • • • • •

1710

Homestead Firewood deep freeze, 5.1. cubic ft,,

Requires

Misc.

Help

Household Appliances

B8 RED DEER ADVOCATE Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016

El Nino storms begin drenching California

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SAN FRANCISCO — Forced by drought to become miserly with water, Californians were warned against reverting to old habits Tuesday as the first of several storms spawned by a record-tying El Nino began drenching the state.

A series of storms lining up over the Pacific Ocean was welcome news in parched California, despite their potential for causing flash floods and mudslides.

But authorities cautioned that even the wettest of winters can’t replenish depleted reservoirs and aquifers unless everyone keeps pitching in.

California’s water deficit is so deep after four years of drought that a “steady parade of storms” like these will be needed for years to come, said Mike Anderson, climatologist for the state’s Department of Water Resources.

“We’re at least on a good trajectory,” he said.

“We’ve got to keep it going.”

The current El Nino — a natural warming of the central Pacific Ocean that interacts with the atmosphere and changes weather worldwide — has tied 1997-1998 as the strongest on record, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center said, citing statistics that go back to 1950.

El Ninos usually bring heavy rains to California, although it remains to be seen whether people should expect anything like a repeat of 1997 and 1998, when storms killed 17 people, wiped out crops, washed out highways and pushed houses down hillsides.

“DarthNino may finally have California in its sights,” said Jeff Masters, meteorology director of the private Weather Underground.

“A parade of strong Pacific storms characteristic of a strong El Nino event will batter the state this week and will likely bring damaging flooding by the time the second storm in the series rolls through on Wednesday,” Masters said.

However, Masters and meteorologist Ryan Maue of the private WeatherBell Analytics don’t believe this first storm is as powerful as some other Pacific storm systems, and caution that the storms now following it may land elsewhere.

The current forecast calls for a “kind of a nice level of bombardment” over the next two weeks probably not enough to cause the tremendous flooding of 1998, but then again, that year’s floods didn’t peak until February, Masters said.

As much as 15 inches of rain could fall in the next 16 days in Northern California, with about 2 feet of snow expected in the highest points of the Sierra Nevada, said Johnny Powell, a forecaster with the National Weather Service.

In Southern California, between 2 and 3.5 inches of rain is predicted to fall across the coastal and valley areas, and up to 5 inches falling in the moun-

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Octavio Angulo jumps as Mike Patel, left, looks on as the two abandon their vehicle after a flooded road stalled their vehicles engine in San Diego, Calif. El Nino storms lined up in the Pacific, promising to drench parts of the West for more than two weeks and increasing fears of mudslides and flash floods in regions stripped bare by wildfires.

Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti urged people to clear gutters and anything in their yards that might clog storm drains, and to stockpile sandbags if their home is susceptible to flooding.

Garcetti also said that the city’s homeless encampments have been mapped for the first time, and promised shuttles to bring people to shelters with 6,000 beds.

Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said swift-water rescue teams are ready, but he’d rather not deploy them. Authorities hope to avoid a repeat of last September’s rescue of a homeless man who scrambled up a tree with his dog when the Los Angeles River quickly grew to a torrent.

The storms are whipped up large ocean swells that could generate hazardous breaking waves at west-facing harbours. Ventura’s Harbor Boulevard was closed Tuesday by flooding about a foot deep, police there said.

Altogether, the storms hold the potential for massive amounts of precipitation for a very parched state, but water managers won’t be able to fully estimate this year’s snowmelt until April 1, when the snowpack is typically at its deepest.

tains.

The first in the line of storms also drenched the desert Southwest on Tuesday and was aiming for the Gulf Coast, but should weaken to no more than a couple inches of rainfall by the time it reaches the Southeast, Masters added.

Flash flooding and flows of mud and debris were a concern, especially in places left barren by last year’s wildfires. Residents of the Silverado Canyon burn area in Orange County and the Solimar burn area in Ventura County were urged to consider evacuating.

“The best time to prepare is before a weather event happens, but there is still time to prepare at least a basic emergency kit for your home, your car or your place of work,” said Brad Alexander, spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

Rocks fell on the roadway through Malibu Canyon, damaging four vehicles and clogging a heavily travelled commuter route through the steep Santa Monica Mountains, and Los Angeles police were rousting the homeless from normally dry riverbeds.

As steady and sometimes heavy rains fell, Los

With Saudi and Iranian tensions rising, North Korea says Iraq’s prime minister must walk a fine line it has conducted

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BAGHDAD — While many Iraqi Shiites took to the streets in outrage over Saudi Arabia’s execution of a prominent Shiite cleric, the country’s prime minister has had to walk a more cautious line, trying to contain Iraq’s own explosive sectarian tensions.

The execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr has inflamed the sectarian divide across the region. Shiite-led Iran has been the most vocal in its condemnation, and protesters stormed Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran over the weekend. That prompted Sunni-led Saudi Arabia to cut diplomatic relations with Iran, and the kingdom’s allies have lined up behind it, either cutting or reducing their ties with Tehran.

The government of Iraq, however, is straining to keep the peace amid the regional tumult. Iran is a key ally of the Shiite-led government in Baghdad, has helped it in the fight against the Islamic State group, and supports powerful Shiite militias in the country.

At the same time, as the fight against IS extremists enters its second year, Iraq is grappling with the worst political and security crises since the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2011. Only last week, Saudi Arabia sent an ambassador to Baghdad for the first time in 25 years to try to improve its relationship with Iraq.

In Washington, Brett McGurk, special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spent most of Monday on the phone trying to ease tensions in the region.

“We are encouraging a de-escalation, because any time you have regional polarization, regional escalation, it obviously can cause difficulties and it opens up seams for extremists on all sides to take advantage of the situation,” McGurk told reporters.

In a sign of the Iraqi government’s caution, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi issued a statement expressing regret over al-Nimr’s execution and warning that such actions would “bring more destruction and devastation.”

His office followed that Tuesday with a call for unity among Iraqis. Regional tensions should be faced “wisely, responsibly and rationally in order to preserve the security and stability of Iraq,” accord-

Condos/ Townhouses

3030

New Blackfalds Condo. 2 Bdrm/2 Bath. Main Áoor & 2nd Áoor options avail. 2 powered parking stalls.

Rent $1,400. Pets negotiable. Ask about rent incentives. 403-396-1688.

SEIBEL PROPERTY

6 locations in Red Deer, well-maintained townhouses, lrg, 3 bdrm, 11/2 bath, 4 + 5 appls.

Westpark, Kentwood, Highland Green, Riverside Meadows. Rent starting at $1100. For more info, phone 403-304-7576 or 403-347-7545

4 Plexes/ 6 Plexes

3050

1 BDRM., no pets, $850 mo. 403-343-6609 3 BDRM. 4 plex, Innisfail, heat included, $795 w/laundry connection.

403-357-7817 3 BDRM., no pets, $1000 mo. 403-343-6609 ACROSS from park, 2 bdrm. 4-plex, 1 1/2 bath, 4 appls. Rent $925/mo. d.d. $650. Avail. now or Feb. 1. 403-304-5337

CLEARVIEW

Suites

3060

Suites

3060

2 BDRM. bsmt. suite, $850 + $500. d.d. Close to Red Deer College, n/s, no pets, utils. incld.

403-341-0156, 885-2287 NOW RENTING ADULT 2 BDRM. spacious 1 & 2 BDRM. APT’S. suites 3 appls., heat/water 2936 50th AVE. Red Deer incld., ADULT ONLY Newer bldg. secure entry BLDG, no pets, Oriole w/onsite manager, Park. 403-986-6889 3 appls., incl. heat & hot water, washer/dryer AVAIL. IMMED. large 2 bdrm. in clean quiet adult hookup, inÁoor heating, a/c., building, near downtown car plug ins & balconies.

Call 403-343-7955 Co-Op, no pets, 403-348-7445 SPACIOUS luxurious 1360 CITY VIEW APTS. sq.ft. lower suite in JohnClean, quiet, newly reno’d stone, separate entrance, adult building. Rent $925 underÁoor heating, new S.D. $800. Avail. immed. Áooring, freshly painted, 5 and Jan. 1. Near hospital. appls, ensuite laundry, storage area, fully fenced No pets.403-318-3679 w/parking pad at back, DELUXE Innisfail 2 bdrm. Small pets, n/s. Avail. Feb. n/pets, balcony, inclds. water 1. Call Linda for info & $860 + utils. 403-348-6594 appt. 403-356-1170 LARGE, 1 & 2 BDRM. SUITES. 25+, adults only n/s, no pets 403-346-7111

Rooms For Rent

3090

ROOM $500./mo. DD $250 403-352-7417 ROOM and BOARD, all inclusive, incld’s meals. $750. Rent + $300 d.d.

Must like dogs.

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BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of — North Korea said Wednesday it had conducted a hydrogen bomb test, a defiant and surprising move that, if confirmed, would put Pyongyang a big step closer toward improving its still-limited nuclear arsenal.

A television anchor read a typically propaganda-heavy statement on state TV that said North Korea had tested a “miniaturized” hydrogen bomb, elevating the country’s “nuclear might to the next level” and providing it with a weapon to defend against the United States and its other enemies.

The statement said the test was a “perfect success.”

The test, if confirmed by outside experts, will lead to a strong push for new, tougher sanctions at the United Nations and further worsen already abysmal relations between Pyongyang and its neighbours.

North Korean nuclear tests worry Washington and others because each new blast is seen as pushing North Korea’s scientists and engineers closer to their goal of an arsenal of nuclear-tipped missiles that can reach the United States.

While a hydrogen bomb is much more powerful than an atomic bomb, it is also much harder to make.

In a hydrogen bomb, radiation from a nuclear fission explosion sets off a fusion reaction responsible for a powerful blast and radioactivity.

North Korea is thought to have a handful of rudimentary nuclear bombs and has spent decades trying to perfect a multistage, long-range missile to eventually carry smaller versions of those bombs.

After several failures, it put its first satellite into space with a long-range rocket launched in December 2012.

Experts say that ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology.

The U.N. called the 2012 launch a banned test of ballistic missile technology.

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ing to a statement from al-Abadi’s office.

A day earlier, thousands of Shiites gathered a few hundred meters (yards) from his office and called for the government to sever diplomatic ties with Riyadh.

The protesters, supporters of prominent Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, chanted that al-Nimr’s blood had not been spilled in vain and that the Mahdi Army, Sadr’s disbanded Shiite militia, would avenge his death if needed.

That points to the government’s bigger fear: That the regional dispute over al-Nimr’s execution will turn into new violence between Iraq’s Shiites and Sunnis. Sectarian violence has quickly spiraled out of control in Iraq in the recent past, and a renewed form could disrupt Baghdad’s campaign against the Islamic State group, the Sunni extremists who control large parts of the north and west of the country.

Iranian-backed Shiite militias, whose might rivals that of the military and security forces, have been a major factor in the fight, and the government has already had to cede them considerable authority.

At the same time, al-Abadi has sought to encourage reconciliation with the Sunni minority, among whom hatred of the militias is strong, and include Sunnis in the fight against IS. “This is the last thing (al-Abadi) needs after the high point in Ramadi,” said Kirk Sowell, publisher of the Inside Iraqi Politics newsletter, referring to the recent government victory pushing IS fighters out of the western Iraqi city.

While al-Nimr’s execution is unlikely to change Iraq-Saudi policy in any meaningful way, it does have the potential to set off violence in Iraq, Sowell said.

Two Sunni mosques were attacked in the southern town of Hilla in apparent retaliation for the execution, but al-Abadi was quick to blame IS and order a buildup of security in the province.

A group of powerful Shiite militias with strong ties to Iran, including Asaib al-Haq and the Badr Brigade, demanded the government cut diplomatic ties with the kingdom, expel the ambassador and execute all Saudis held in Iraqi prisons on charges of terrorism.

Acceding to their demands risks disillusioning Sunnis, who already accuse the government of being too beholden to the militias and who often see neighbouring Sunni powerhouses like Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia as allies.

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LIFESTYLES

B9

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6, 2016

Woman irked by ‘total exposure’ nursing Dear Annie: Am I out of the loop or assure you. We covered this topic a just a prude? It bothers me few years ago, and we heard to see a mother cradling her plenty. Let us stipulate — infant child, one latching we are in favor of nursing. off and on to mom’s exposed We have no objection to breast? This was the recent women who nurse in public scene in the crowded men’s places. Our concern is the department of a popular need some women have to store. expose their entire upper I am certainly in favor of bodies while doing so. Why? nursing an infant, due to the There is no added benenormous benefits to both efit to the child if Mom is the child and the mother. I naked from the waist up, nursed all three of my chilso we can only assume the dren. mother is making a stateKATHY MITCHELL But this total exposure ment about public nudity, AND MARCY SUGAR seems extreme. When in likes to flaunt her body or ANNIE’S MAILBOX public, a scarf or a small thinks modesty is old-fashlightweight blanket would ioned. be perfectly fine to covThat is her choice, but er the infant. I find the mother disre- there are lovely nursing tops and covspectful of others and going too far in er-ups that allow Mom to nurse commaking her statement. fortably anywhere and we recommend I’d love to hear other comments on they be used. this subject. — Wondering Mom Dear Annie: Our daughters, now in Dear Mom: And you’ll get them, we their 50s, have always given us a wish

list for Christmas. In years past, I have made it known that this doesn’t constitute the true meaning of Christmas. A year ago, we gave each daughter cash, hoping it would send a message. I also sent cash to my granddaughter, with no acknowledgement.

Well, at the end of November, we received an e-list containing a description of each article and a link for purchase. Some of the items are e-books.

I also received a similar list from my 27-year-old granddaughter for herself and her significant other. In addition, she sent a note apologizing that she would be unable to join us this year.

How do I address her lack of acknowledgement or thanks?

Also, how does one prepare the Internet gift to be given on Christmas Day, when, for example, the e-book goes directly to the receiver’s email?

I feel as if I have missed something.

Thanks for your advice. — Out of the Loop Dear Out: First of all, wish lists of

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any kind should not be considered demands. They are suggestions. You don’t have to get anything on those lists unless you want to.

In some instances, the links will provide you with a product that you can purchase in a brick-and-mortar store. As for e-books, and any other gifts that are sent via the Internet, most allow you to request that they be sent as gifts so that the recipient will get the item along with a note from you.

If you find it necessary to hand them something tangible, it is perfectly OK to give them a card saying you have sent them a gift that they will receive in the mail or their inbox.

Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailbox@ creators.com, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.

IN

BRIEF Rare galaxy with 2 black holes discovered

Photo by Rick Tallas/freelance

These two Ewes and one Lamb were casually working in middle of highway just east of Abraham Lake.

HOROSCOPES zone expect mix-ups, missed appointments Wednesday, Jan. 6 CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DATE: and/or computer chaos at work. Its not a good time to apply for jobs — Eddie Redmayne, 33; Rowan Atwait until after January 25. kinson, 60; Nigella Lawson, 55 GEMINI (May 21-June 20): THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Talkative Geminis love to gosMercury’s now retrograde so it’s sip but beware the tendency to time to revise, re-schedule, respill secrets over the next three boot and review. weeks.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Focus If someone tells you somefirmly on personal relationships thing in confidence, make sure in 2016. As birthday great Kahlil you zip your lip and keep absoGibran reminds us, “Life without lutely quiet! love is like a tree without blosCANCER (June 21-July 22): som and fruit.”

There may be a tussle between ARIES (March 21-April 19): head and heart/intellect and intuMercury is in retrograde mode, JOANNE MADELINE ition today Crabs, as you strugso it will be easy to misinterpret MOORE gle to make a decision about what people are saying over the something thats been worrying next three weeks. If you take the SUN SIGNS you. In the end, let your inner time to listen to others, it will help voice be your guide. you avoid misunderstandings.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Be TAURUS (April 20-May 20): With Mercury reversing through your career extra diplomatic with family and friends over

the next three weeks as Mercury reverses through your relationship zone, until January 25.

If you are too self-absorbed, loved ones won’t be impressed!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your ruling planet Mercury is reversing through your work zone Virgo — until Jan. 25. So prepare for mixed messages, missed appointments and plenty of computer chaos. So strive to be extra patient!

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Over the next three weeks you need to be extra tactful with a frazzled child, teenager or friend. Otherwise there’ll be communication chaos, as you misread each other’s words, actions and intentions.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The Sun/ Pluto hook-up highlights your deep and powerful energies, so tread carefully Scorpio.

Avoid getting drawn into arguments, and strive to keep your possessive streak under control.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Be extra careful when sending emails, texts or tweets over the next three weeks, as it will be very easy to send something to the wrong

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — An astrophysicist has discovered something even rarer than a double-black hole galaxy: a skinny black hole.

The University of Colorado at Boulder’s Julie Comerford reported her findings Tuesday at the American Astronomical Society’s annual meeting in Kissimmee, Florida.

To date, only 12 galaxies are known to exist with two black holes in their midst, Comerford said. Normally galaxies have a single supermassive black hole at the centre, equivalent to 1 million to 1 billion times the mass of our sun.

But in this newly identified galaxy about 1 billion light-years away, one of the two black holes is significantly smaller than the other and apparently starved of stars. Black holes typically are surrounded by stars this one appears “naked.”

Comerford speculates the slim black hole lost mass in the collision of two galaxies that merged into this one —” a crash diet.” Or it’s a rare example of an intermediate-sized black hole that likely will morph over time into a supermassive monster.

Astronomers have yet to confirm an intermediate-size black hole, which makes Comerford’s streamlined target extra tantalizing. Intermediate black holes are 100 to 1 million times the mass of our sun. Comerford used the Hubble Space Telescope and NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory in her study. She discovered this latest twoblack hole galaxy — her fourth — last year. Finding a potential intermediate-size black hole inside was “an extra bonus,” she told reporters. person — or your meaning could be completely misinterpreted.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The next three weeks will be tricky for money matters Capricorn, as retrograde Mercury stirs up mischief in your finance zone.

So resist the urge to make big ticket purchases — even if they are on sale.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Mercury is reversing through your sign Aquarius, so take extra care when travelling, texting, tweeting and talking with others. Otherwise mega misunderstandings, mix-ups or delays are likely.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Don’t believe everything you hear — or let someone take you up the primrose path to Piscean trouble. Avoid making important decisions, and instead concentrate on creative or spiritual pursuits.

Joanne Madeline Moore is an internationally syndicated astrologer and columnist. Her column appears daily in the Advocate.

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B10 Feeling blue about Avatar

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6, 2016

ABSENCE HAS ONLY MADE THE BIGGEST DOMESTIC MONEYMAKER EASIER TO FORGET

BY STEPHANIE MERRY ADVOCATE NEWS SERVICES

● The reviews were good and word of mouth was strong Avatar didn’t have a huge opening weekend domestically. In fairness, it debuted at the same time a snowstorm was sweeping through the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. But it opened below projections, which no doubt freaked

IN

BRIEF Impresario who managed the Bee Gees and produced Grease, dies at 81 LONDON — Robert Stigwood, the impresario who managed the Bee Gees and produced 1970s blockbusters Grease and Saturday Night Fever, has died. He was 81.

Stigwood’s office said he died Monday. The cause of death was not announced.

Born in Adelaide, Australia, in 1934, Stigwood moved to Britain in the 1950s and soon became an astute player in Britain’s embryonic rock music industry.

In the 1960s he managed rock super group Cream and its guitarist Eric Clapton before signing brothers Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb, collectively known as the Bee Gees, whose melodic folk-rock achieved late-’60s success before a career slump.

Rousey to host Saturday Night Live LOS ANGELES — UFC star Ronda Rousey will host Saturday Night Live on Jan. 23.

The show announced the plan Tuesday, with Selena Gomez as the musical guest.

Rousey (12-1) was the first female fighter signed by the UFC. She defended her 135-pound title six times before her shocking loss to Holly Holm in Australia two months ago.

Guns N’ Roses to headline Coachella music festival INDIO, Calif. — L.A.

Photo by ADVOCATE news services

‘Avatar’ is the biggest domestic moneymaker if you’re not accounting for inflation.

COMMENT out Fox, a studio that wasn’t entirely keen to make Cameron’s movie in the first place.

No matter. In its second weekend, Avatar had less than a 2 per cent drop in revenue, which is basically unheard of. (For comparison’s sake The Force Awakens made about 40 per cent less during its second weekend than its opening one.) In its second weekend, Avatar beat out Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes, not to mention Fox’s safety net for the movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.

Movie-goers continued showing up in droves thanks to enthusiastic reviews — 83 percent positive, according to Rotten Tomatoes — plus glowing praise from other audience members, many of whom went to see the movie multiple times. ● Everyone was talking about it The obvious reason people were hyping Avatar was because it was visually spectacular thanks to technical achievements. Cameron made a movie that blended two worlds — one that was entirely live action and one that used computer-generated images and motion-capture technology against real backdrops to create Pandora and its inhabitants, the blue Na’vi.

The images turned out to be stunning. Cameron wanted the two worlds to become almost indistinguishable, and the use of motion-capture for alien characters really brought the fantastical to life. (How Andy Serkis didn’t end up with a supporting role is a mystery.)

These aspects won Avatar three Oscars in 2010 for cinematography, visual effects and art direction.

But the other reason people were talking about the movie was its social and political themes. You might compare the effect to American Sniper, which inspired scores of think pieces and heated debates, which in turn led to more ticket sales. In order for people to weigh in on the various Avatar controversies, they had to see the movie. That way they could speak authoritatively on what Avatar said about race; if the whole white saviour storyline was problematic; and whether the movie, with its heavy-handed eco-friendly messages, didn’t smell vaguely of patchouli. ● Avatar was meant to be viewed on the biggest screen possible Fans who recommended Avatar to friends always had the same directive: Go see it right away. The movie was best appreciated in a theater, preferably in immersive IMAX 3-D. This was not the kind of movie that would inspire people to say, “I’ll just wait till it’s on Netflix.”

That was a boon for Avatar in the short term. It created urgency at the time, which in turn led to huge ticket sales. ● It has a derivative story, ham-fisted script and subpar acting What did Avatar remind people of?

Take your pick: Dances With Wolves, FernGully, the John Carter series, Pocahontas, Dune, the obscure novella Call Me Joe and the Timespirits comic, just to name a few.

rockers Guns N’ Roses will headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, along with Calvin Harris and LCD Soundsystem.

Passes for the two-weekend festival in Indio, California, on April 15-17 and April 22-24 go on sale Wednesday.

The lineup doesn’t indicate which members of Guns N’ Roses will perform. Representatives for the festival and the band didn’t immediately return messages Tuesday seeking clarification.

Bring your appetite. Leave your passport.

STUART, Fla. — Avant-garde jazz pianist Paul Bley has died at his Florida home. He was 83.

The publicist for Bley’s record label, ECM Records, said Tuesday that Bley died of natural causes Sunday at his Stuart home.

Born Nov. 10, 1932, in Montreal, Bley began studying music at age 5 and formed his first band at age 13. While still a teenager, Bley replaced Oscar Peterson at the Alberta Lounge and he co-founded the Montreal Jazz Workshop, where he invited Charlie Parker to play.

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● The Avatar sequels (which) are taking forever to arrive The three movies have been pushed back multiple times. Now it seems as if the first will get a Christmas 2017 release, which is still a long way off.

While Cameron has been working on getting those scripts together, other franchises have sprung up and dimmed our memories of Pandora and the Na’vi. We’ve had the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy; we’ve gotten four installments with Katniss Everdeen and the Hunger Games; three new Star Wars movies will have materialized between the last Avatar and the next one.

With our short attention spans, studios tend to want to get movies out in quick succession, lest the public forget how much they love Iron Man’s quips or the charming cinematic destination that is Middle Earth.

People love to say that absence makes the heart grow fonder — and sometimes it does. Seeing Han Solo onscreen last month was certainly a thrilling sight. But that’s not always the case. With Avatar, absence has only made the movie easier to forget.

From the cobblestone streets of the French Riviera and the rolling hills of Italy’s Piedmont region to Portugal’s lively Lisbon and Spain’s Catalonia to the spicy streets of India all the way down under to the wine soaked regions of Australia, Chef Emmenuel David take your taste buds on a culinary adventure around the world.

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“My inspiration is every single science fiction book I read as a kid,” Cameron told Entertainment Weekly at the time. And that’s exactly how the movie felt — though not necessarily in a good way. It was as if the writer-director cherry-picked items from other stories and threw them into one semi-coherent whole.

INDIA – NOSH ON NAWABI – JAN. 24, 2016 ITALY – PIEDMONT PERFECTION – FEB. 28, 2016 AUSTRALIA – DISCOVER DOWNUNDER – MAR. 27, 2016 FRANCE – A TASTE OF PROVENCE – APR. 24, 2016 PORTUGAL – LIVE IT UP IN LISBON – MAY 22, 2016 SPAIN – CATALAN CUISINE – JUN. 26,2016

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You may have read that Star Wars: The Force Awakens is poised to obliterate the domestic record of reigning box-office champ Avatar.

James Cameron’s 3-D spectacle — released six years to the day before “Force” — made more than $760 million (plus about $2 billion worldwide) total following its December release in 2009. The seventh installment of the Star Wars franchise has pulled in just north of $740 million (and about the same overseas) a little more than two weeks after its release.

This news sets in motion two divergent trains of thought. The first goes something like this: Whoa. Star Wars is bringing in a ton of money. Maybe LucasFilm was worth $4 billion after all. Also, J.J. Abrams should feel free to exhale now.

And the second train: Really? Avatar is currently the most popular movie in our nation’s history? How can that be true?

In fact, it’s not. (So now we can all exhale.) The reality is a little more complex.

Avatar is the biggest domestic moneymaker if you’re not accounting for inflation. Luckily, Box Office Mojo has an adjusted list of all-time winners.

The site divides each movie’s revenue by the average ticket price of the day then multiplies the number of tickets by our current average ticket price.

Avatar holds its own, no question.

It’s No. 14 on the list, which means The Force Awakens will need to bring in another $100 million to overtake the movie on inflation-adjusted grounds.

(Meanwhile, it will have to bring in another billion dollars to get to the top spot, which is currently occupied by Gone With the Wind.)

It’s also worth noting that Avatar got an extra bump because so many people saw it in 3-D and IMAX 3-D, and those tickets are significantly pricier than your average entry fee.

Still, it makes you wonder how a movie that generated so much cash has basically fallen off the cultural map just six years on. What made Avatar so popular? And, then, what made it so forgettable?

Here are some thoughts on how it might have happened.

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