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Vol. 16, No. 27, Wednesday, June 2, 2021 www.LamontLeader.com
Bus tragedy monument greenlighted by Lamont BY JANA SEMENIUK A request received by the Lamont Town Council to erect a monument in memory of the victims of the Chipman Lamont Bus Accident has been unanimously approved. The Chipman and Lamont Bus/Train Memorial Committee put forth the request by letter in March to place a monument close to the site of the collision which took 17 young lives in 1960. “It’s been a long time coming,” said committee chairman Tom Hrehorets. “I’m very pleased and excited. It’s really good to hear that we will finally be able to go ahead.” The nine-member committee, led by Hrehorets, began plans for the memorial earlier this year hoping the monument will be built and ready for installation by August.
“A possible timeline would be installation by Aug. 2021 with a blessing event to be held before harvest subject to the COVID restrictions that would be in place at that time,” stated their letter to Lamont council. Plans included fundraising efforts which have skyrocketed in recent days. With the help of the Lamont Leader, as well as large private donations, the group has amassed over $14,000 towards their $35 000 goal. “The fundraising is going better than we ever thought it would,” said Hrehorets happily. He described plans for the memorial during an earlier interview. “The permanent monument will be made with a mixture of granite and marble standing five feet tall and eight feet wide. It will carry the pictures and names of all 17 victims as well as the
names of the 25 survivors of the accident, including the bus driver Frank Budney,” said Hrehorets. Budney, who survived the accident, passed away last June at the age of 90. A school bus, carrying 42 students, crossed the railway tracks into Lamont on the morning of Nov. 29, 1960 passing directly in front of an oncoming freight train killing 17 of the students aged 14 – 18. Two boys and 15 girls passed away in the tragedy.
Chipman Lamont Bus Accident Committee Chairman Tom Hrehorets stands next to the Queen’s monument in Lamont which neighbours the future site of a permanent memorial for the victims of the 1960 bus accident which took 17 lives. The memorial site was recently approved by Lamont town council. Photo: Jana Semeniuk
Multiple charges facing man after rural Lamont theft BY JOHN MATHER An Edmonton man is facing multiple charges after Fort Saskatchewan RCMP were alerted to a man stealing fuel from a Lamont County property. After multiple tips, police were able to track a suspect vehicle and stop it while it was still in the area. Jason Ewasiuk, 44, of Edmonton was arrested without incident. He is facing numerous charges from several
jurisdictions including: four counts of driving a vehicle while prohibited; two counts of flight from a peace officer; two counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle; multiple charges of theft and possession of stolen property both over and under $5,000; possession of a controlled substance; and, multiple traffic safety act offences. The vehicle he was driving when apprehended had been reported stolen
from Lloydminster and the licence plate was also stolen. Ewasiuk will make his first court appearance on June 3 (tomorrow) in Fort A passerby snapped this picture of a fuel thief in Lamont Saskatchewan. County May 28 making a get away with diesel leaking from his stolen truck. Jason Ewasiuk was later arrested and faces numerous charges.
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