60 years since our greatest tragedy. We honour their memory next week DIANNE ANTONIUK (17) SHIRLEY DASKALUK (15) BERNADETTE HAYDUK (16) GERALDINE KOSHKA (14) JOANNIE KOZDROWSKI (18) GENEVIEVE LUDWIG (18)
KATHLEEN MALKEWICH (18) JENNIE OZDOBA 16) MARIE PAVICH (16) BARBARA PEWARCHUK (15) ROSALIN PYLYPCHUK (15) DARLEEN REINHARDT (16)
SYLVIA SAWATSKI (18) VIVIAN SHARUN (17) MARGARET WINNICK (15) TERRY WUETHERICK (17) WAYNE ZAPOTICHNEY (16) Details on Page 3
Your news this week: Honouring their memory, 60 years - 3 On Covid watch list with new cases - 6 Remembrance in Mundare - 11 OPINION: Covid confusion - 4
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Vol. 15, No. 51, Wednesday, November 18, 2020 www.LamontLeader.com
Care Bears win again Overwhelming support for mom to erect another roadside memorial for son BY JANA SEMENIUK A grieving Edmonton mom, whose roadside memorial for her son near Elk Island Park was removed by a disgruntled neighbour in September, will finally be able to replace the cross that marked where her son lost his life. Marianne Armstrong’s 20-year old son, Braeden Bumphrey, was killed five years ago when the vehicle he was driving, along with three of his friends, skidded out of control while travelling east on Township Road 550 on their way to Elk Island Park. Bumphrey was the only fatality. “It just ripped our hearts out. Braeden was so fun loving and spirited and such a unique individual. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy,” said Armstrong. After building a cross with her husband, complete with Bumphrey’s name etched into the wood, Armstrong had the cross erected at the spot where Bumphrey’s car landed in the ditch at the intersection of Highway 831 and Township Road 550. “I also wrote on the back of it that if there were any problems with it to please contact me and I included my phone number,” said Armstrong. “No one ever contacted me.” In early October, Armstrong received a call from her daughter telling her the cross was missing. Armstrong’s thoughts went immediately to an anonymous handwritten note that was left on the memorial in September. “The note said the person was annoyed and the cross had been there long enough,” she said. Shortly after news of the missing cross went public by Armstrong’s post on social media, a woman who claimed to have taken the cross reached out to her on messenger. “She indicated that she was completely against the cross being near her property and she was tired of looking at it,” said Armstrong. “She said she removed it and disposed of it.”
there, this In an interrestores hope in view with The the good of Lamont Leader, some people the woman who especially in this asked to remain horrible time of anonymous, COVID. This gave her reasons (taking the for wanting the cross) was so cross removed unnecessary which included and heartless.” constant litterGrieving mom Marianne Armstrong stands Borchuk had a ing near the site, next to her son's new steel memorial cross. friend on in addition to a constant reminder of her own hard- Facebook who knew someone that ships in terms of deceased and missing might be able to help with construction. Although he has never done a family members. project before, Nick “I don’t want to be reminded of this memorial by seeing the cross every day. It makes Palsenbarg, owner operator at me feel the way seeing a swastika Dutchman Services metal fabrication, would make you feel if someone put it said that when asked if he would be at the end of your driveway,” she said willing to take on the project, he didn’t by text. She also cited Alberta hesitate. “It was a sad story that someone took Transportation regulations which indicated, in their roadside memorial down the original cross. I’m just glad guidelines online, that they should be we could help out to get the memorial back up and hopefully it won’t get removed after two months. Since then, Armstrong updated her taken down again. It’s made of steel post on social media with news of the and I put a spike on it so they can cross’s demise as well as messages of pound it into the ground. It will be hard regret that a compromise with the to pull out,” he said. Palsenbarg added that he was also neighbour could not be reached. But the Facebook public would have none able to provide a discount. “We did all the custom design work of it. Laura Borchuk, an avid watcher on the Lamont and area Facebook page, and welding in house. It would usually reached out to Armstrong in hopes of cost about $750 but we took off 40 per starting a gofundme page to raise cent to help out the family,” he said. “It took about three days to complete.” money to replace the cross. The remaining money left over from “I saw her post on Facebook about her missing cross and felt heartbroken the cross fund was put into an account for her. I just wanted to do something to for Braeden’s son, Nash, who was born help her out and thought we could five months after he passed away. “Braeden’s girlfriend was four and a raise some money for another cross that half months pregnant when he died,” no one could steal,” said Borchuk. “I think she was surprised to hear from said Armstrong. “When Nash was born, it was waves of joy mixed with me but she was grateful and happy.” Borchuk added she was surprised at intense pain that Braeden wasn’t here the public’s response to the fundraiser. to be his daddy.” The outpouring of support and “We shut down the gofundme page after the first day because we raised replacement of Braeden’s cross were $775 in 12 hours,” she said. “I think that not the end of the good news for while there are horrible people out Armstrong.
Mike Damberger, the Regional Director of Alberta Transportation, reached out to Armstrong after hearing her story. “The gentleman was so nice. He said in his 20 years of being at Alberta Transportation no one has ever had an issue with a roadside memorial. He said he spoke with someone from Lamont county and I have permission to put the cross back up, although he suggested I put it up the road a bit so it won’t bother her (the neighbour). He also told me there are no laws governing roadside memorials per say, simply guidelines. He also said they are not in the habit of taking them out unless they are a safety concern,” she said. Lamont County Councillor Wayne Woldanski echoed the sentiments of Alberta Transportation. “I have been on county council for 16 years and roadside memorials have never been an issue,” he said. “We also are not in the practice of removing them nor do we have a county policy. If they were to become an issue, we would probably look at what Alberta Transportation is doing as well as other municipalities and then decide if we needed to create a policy and how to go about it.” Meanwhile, the only concern Armstrong now has is how to erect Braeden’s new cross in the frozen ground. “I want to get Braeden’s cross up as soon as possible but I have no idea how to do it in the frozen ground. I really don’t want to wait until spring,” she said. Armstrong indicated she is hoping to have a small memorial for Braeden once the cross can be put in the ground. “I am feeling so positive from the support everyone gave. I’m so happy that Braeden will know we have not forgotten him and so many people fought to have him remembered,” she said. “I feel like the Care Bears won!”