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Your LOCAL Media since 1918! Volume 105 Issue 16
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Wednesday, December 14, 2022 s
Two trucks stolen within 12 hours Jana Semeniuk Staff Reporter
Ryley resident Stephanie Ovelson had two trucks stolen within 12 hours of each other, one from outside her mother-in-law’s home in Ryley Dec. 11 and the other from a tire shop in Tofield only hours later where it was previously dropped off for service. “I thought my husband was going to have a heart attack, he was so upset,” said Ovelson. “And then this morning, I get a message from the tire shop. And that's how I had to wake him up was your other truck has now been stolen in less than 24 hours.” The drama unfolded Dec. 11 when Ovelson, visiting her mother-in-law with her family, let her 99 F250 warm up in front of the house before heading to work with her two teenage daughters at 3:40 p.m. “And we were just getting our boots on, and somebody hopped in it, and drove it away and stole it,” she said. Ovelson said she immediately reported the theft to the Tofield RCMP detachment and said a neighbour’s security camera caught the theft showing a gold truck with three men inside. “I saw the truck drive by, it was a 2007 Gold GMC. It drove by on the video footage one way and then it came back. There were three people in the vehicle, one jumped out of the back door,” she said. “It was three men, you could tell.” Although the stolen truck has not been found, Ovelson said some of her personal effects were found strewn along backroads by Wetaskiwin RCMP. Meanwhile, the next morning, Ovelson received the devastating news that a second vehicle, a 2000 F350, had also been stolen. “We got a message from the
Ryley resident Stefanie Ovelson had two trucks stolen from her family within 12 hours of each other Dec. 11. Jana Semeniuk photo
owner of (the tire shop) asking if we picked our truck up because it was there last night, and they got to work this morning and it was gone,” she said. Ovelson said she immediately called police. Ovelson added that unlike the first truck, which has still not been found, the second one was found by a social media follower only a few hours later abandoned. “I'm going to say maybe two and a half hours. The groups on Facebook that were sharing it probably had 750 shares within the first 20 minutes,” she said. “It was found abandoned and running just on the west end of town. It had low tires
and was leaking antifreeze. There was a reason it was at the shop.” She said the social media follower stayed with the vehicle until police arrived as well as the tire shop owner to bring the truck back to the shop. Although Ovelson said she is beyond frustrated with the thefts, she feels especially protective of her 89year-old mother-in-law, Leala, who lives alone and worries about the level of crime. “She's 89-years-old and she feels unsafe in her own home. She has people coming into her yard knocking on her door late at night. And by the time she gets to the door, they're
gone,” she said. “She's feeling even more unsafe now. I have to shift my kids around so that somebody's there (with her) at all times, so that she feels safe.” Ovelson added that although she has respect for the RCMP, she feels the crime level is high. “I have the utmost respect for RCMP sheriffs. One of my best friends is a sheriff. But this is obscene. There's so much crime so many strange vehicles driving around Ryley,” she said. “I noticed it all day yesterday, vehicles driving around that don't belong there. It's a small community. You know who belongs there and who doesn't.”
Page 18 - The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, December 14, 2022
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5018 – 52 Ave. Tofield, AB
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Season s Greetings!
The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, December 14, 2022 - Page 19
Tofield Shop Local 2022 Tilly’s Restaurant offering
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Page 20 - The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Busy B provides free market so nobody goes without at Christmas Jana Semeniuk Staff Reporter
Busy B Bargains is in the second week of their annual Santa’s Workshop free Christmas market where people can shop the new and gently used goods for free. Volunteer Nola Herrick said the market helps make sure no one goes without at Christmas time. “It’s a nice opportunity for people who need a little extra,” she said. “The need is there.” The market is spread out in the Tofield Legion compiling of items such as brand-new toys still in their boxes, handmade crocheted dishcloths, crafting items, clothing, knickknacks, dishware and books. Although the tables seem quite full, Herrick said a lot of items went out the first week. “We used to have a lot more books, we’ve had a good number (of people
come through),” she said. Bonnie Ferguson, Secretary of the Busy B Society, said the free Christmas market only started being held at the legion four years ago. “We only took it over about four years ago from (the) Christmas hamper (committee),” she said. “We used to send it all lock stock and barrel over to them to distribute.” Ferguson said space for the Christmas Hamper committee may have played a part in Busy B starting the free Christmas Market. Meanwhile, Herrick said Busy B collects a lot of items throughout the year. “They do and a lot of it is brand new. And for it to be as gifts I think that's awesome,” she said. “Nobody needs to go without with this little market, so I think it's awesome.” The last day of the market is Friday, Dec. 16, with hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A bright red toy tractor sits among many new and gently used toys available at the Busy B Free Christmas Market held in the Tofield Legion until Dec. 16.
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