The Community
Press Telling your story
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Volume 112, Issue 32
Elderly woman’s car shot at, RCMP seeking info Leslie Cholowsky with files from Cpl. Trent Cleveland Killam RCMP
Killam RCMP Detachment members responded to 81 occurrences from Thursday, Jan. 23, to Wednesday, Feb. 5. Members attended three 911 calls, in Forestburg, Flagstaff County, and Hardisty. New regulations require RCMP to attend all 911 calls, even if they turn out to be false calls. RCMP were called regarding a dangerous dog, and are working on the file with vets, SPCA, and Alberta Health Services. No charges are presently being pursued. Assault charges were laid against a 40-year-old male for an alleged assault on a 35-year-old female. Other charges included fail to comply with conditions and assault causing bodily harm. A second assault complaint is presently under investigation. Blackfalds RCMP contacted Killam members to notify family of a person seriously injured in a motor vehicle collision. Killam members assisted Calgary Police Service by serving
subpoenas locally, and assisted County Peace Officers with a driver who had multiple warrants outstanding from Fort McMurray. The Killam Detachment assisted Tofield RCMP with serving court documents. Killam RCMP had a 1800’s-era firearm turned in by a resident whose firearms licence was expiring, and who didn’t wish to renew it. Cpl. Cleveland advises that the RCMP now have a division where these pieces can be sent versus having them destroyed. Police received a complaint of someone being in a dwelling unlawfully when a resident returned home to find that things in the home had been moved around. Nothing appeared to have been stolen; the residence had been left unlocked. RCMP were asked to attend a residence to help avoid having an individual retrieving personal belongings charged with breach of peace. Members are investigating three break and enters to local businesses. Near Hardisty, in the MD of Provost, copper wire was reported stolen; in Sedgewick, on
two separate occasions, theft of catalytic converters from vehicles left outside of a business was reported. More copper wire was reported stolen from a rural oilfield site. A complaint of a break and enter to a residence in Forestburg turned out to be unfounded, with mental health issues involved in the complaint. Killam RCMP members assisted with a call complaining of a possible impaired driver in the southwest portion of the region between 4 and 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22. A disoriented elderly female driver suspected of having dementia was travelling through the area, ending up near secondary highway 55, lost and disoriented. She was eventually located unharmed at a residence unknown to her on Range Road 180 near Township Road 395 by Stettler RCMP. When the woman was located, an investigation of the vehicle revealed that the car she was driving was shot once, through the front windshield. The bullet missed hitting her See RCMP P29
Blue Moon Marquee impresses Forestburg audience
LESLIE CHOLOWSKY PHOTO
Blue Moon Marquee performed in Forestburg on Saturday, Feb. 8, transforming the Community Hall to a New Orleans juke joint with their unique gypsy blues. See story P29.
$1 Including GST
Emergency meeting held in Hardisty to discuss options to avoid school closure Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Over 150 people attended an emergency public meeting regarding the potential closure of Allan Johnstone School by the Battle River School Division (BRSD) on Thursday, Feb. 6. The meeting was hosted by the Hardisty and District Development Group, who advised the crowd of parents and concerned residents that the group had already started to take some action towards keeping the school viable when the BRSD trustee motion to consider closure came through. Blake Moser, who chaired the meeting, said that the Development Group became aware of the urgency of the school’s drop in registered students back in November, when BRSD, in trying to balance the budget in the wake of declining funding and increased expenses, made it clear that the board would consider everything to be on the table. The Hardisty and District Development Group met with BRSD Board Chair Norm Erickson, Flagstaff East Trustee Lori Skori, and Assistant Superintendent Imogene Walsh in mid December, to, as Moser put it, “Gauge the seriousness of the situation.”
He says his group became concerned when they heard the message that the division’s focus has shifted from keeping rural schools open to keeping the division running. “That’s not what we wanted to hear.” The group then wrote to Premier Jason Kenney, Education Minister Adriana LaGrange, Energy Minister Sonya Savage; Minister of Municipal Affairs Kaycee Madu, and Camrose MLA Jackie Lovely. “Jackie was the only one who responded at all,” Moser says. On Jan. 22, MLA Lovely joined a meeting of the Development Group via telephone where she said she had brought the issues to the Minister, who advised that if the Division has budget issues, the ministry will not be stepping in. Moser said, “Then the day after our meeting, BRSD announced that the board would be considering closure due to a $4 Million deficit.” Moser said the Development Group sped up the timeline for public engagement to that evening, with less than a week before BRSD would meet with concerned parents and residents in Hardisty. He discussed the strict for See HARDISTY P10
