The Community
Press
Firefighter Salute Inside! 2nd Section
Volume 114, Issue 17
Your LOCAL Paper
Wednesday, October October 21, 27,2020 2021 Wednesday,
String of break-ins to local businesses this month Leslie Cholowsky Editor, with files from Cst. Nicholas Daigle, Acting Corporal, Killam RCMP
October so far, from the first to the 22nd, has seen the Killam RCMP Detachment responding to 178 calls for service. That’s 30 calls more than this time last year, and nearly eight calls per day. Of those, seven incidents have been cleared by charges, 95 solved or determined to be non-criminal, and 35 incidents had insufficient evidence to proceed. Seasonal traffic collisions with wildlife have been responsible for 19 of the region’s 27 traffic injury and non-injury vehicle collisions so far in October. A string of break and enters, seven total, affected businesses in Lougheed, Sedgewick, Killam, Daysland, and within Flagstaff County, with another nine break ins to well sites and energy sites within the rural area. RCMP also had nine complaints of theft under $5,000. Killam RCMP have had four motor vehicle thefts reported, three trucks and one minivan. Alberta RCMP recently reminded motorists not to leave their vehicles idling unattended as the weather grows colder, and recommends that keys be taken out of the vehicle and the doors locked to prevent or deter theft. RCMP relayed one story of an incident in late summer where a Killam resident reported the theft of a golf cart from their yard just minutes earlier. RCMP tracked down the culprit, who had already also stolen fuel, and was about to enter Highway 36 with the stolen unit. “It was the individual’s intent to drive to Forestburg,” says Cst. Nick Daigle. RCMP had taken the individual into custody prior evening on another matter, and a justice of the peace released the person. After the second incident, the individual was remanded. On Oct. 19, the Central Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit joined Killam members and located two stolen vehicles in Forestburg. Two suspects attempted to flee during the search, and were stopped and apprehended, with 23 charges laid against the two individ-
uals, neither of whom was from Forestburg. The two vehicles were recovered along with a stolen firearm and drugs. Members responded to one complaint of fraud when two youth were found to be going door to door collecting funds for an inactive fundraiser. Police say no charges were laid in this incident. The general public reported 32 suspicious persons or vehicles during this period, something that RCMP continue to encourage. Killam RCMP have experienced an increased amount of recovered stolen property in the Amisk region and an increased number of calls in the area. Daigle says, “RCMP are responding to the current situation with a number of planned initiatives.” RCMP had two animal calls. In one instance where some cattle were out of their field and on the highway, Cst. Nate Hurlburt herded the cattle back into the field and performed a temporary repair to the fence. RCMP received a second animal call from an individual who had travelled from North Battleford to Donalda with a load of cattle, and who discovered on arrival in Donalda that the cattle trailer gate was not locked, and five calves were missing. RCMP responded to a single assault complaint, and Daigle says, “There continues to be very little people crime in our region.” Police dealt with three false alarms, and one 911 hangup, where members heard screaming in the background before the caller hung up. Members followed up and determined the incident to be a prank call. RCMP had three harassment complaints, and in one incident charged an individual for sending harassing messages over social media. Police recorded four mischief complaints, all related to property damage. Daigle says with hunting season coming up, he strongly recommends hunters and landowners make use of a permission form like that available through Flagstaff Rural Crime Watch. “You can enter anyone’s property, especially when it’s fenced, or if a crop is grown on it. It’s trespassing if you don’t have permission, and criminal trespass if it’s nighttime.”
$1 Including GST
Unique bursary program
A new bursary has been launched by the Village of Forestburg, called the Jack and Lily Kirschman Bursary that could see Forestburg School graduates receiving up to $12,000 for each year of schooling completed in Forestburg, paid to a post secondary institution of their choice. See full story Page 9. Above: Global News interviews CAO Dwight Dibben, Mayor Blaise Young, and Principal Gordon Thompson.
Results are in from referendum vote
Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Public Service Alberta released the results of the Senate Election and Referendum votes that took place alongside municipal elections on Oct. 22 this past Tuesday. A two-thirds majority of Albertans, 61.7 per cent to 38.3 per cent, voted Yes on the question “Should section 36(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982 - Parliament and the government of Canada’s commitment to the principle of making equalization payments – be removed from the constitution?” The question of adopting year-round Daylight Savings Time was far closer, with a very small majority of voters, 50.1 per cent compared to 49.9 per cent, saying “No” to the question: “Do you want Alberta to adopt year-round Daylight Saving Time, which is summer hours, eliminating the need to change our clocks twice a year?” In Flagstaff County, all but three municipalities voted “Yes,” with two, Flagstaff County (2 person margin) and Sedgewick (clear majority), voting “No” and Heisler results coming out as a tie. In the Senate candidate selection, the following three candidates received the
highest overall number of votes: Pam Davidson, Conservative Party of Canada, Erika Barootes, Conservative Party of Canada, and Mykhailo Martyniouk, Conservative Party of Canada. Premier Jason Kenney held a press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 26, where he said, “A clear majority of Albertans have rejected the fundamentally unfair equalization program.” Kenney indicated that later Tuesday he would table a motion to ratify the results of the equalization referendum and initiate the amendment process. Kenney said the Province will respect the decision of Alberta voters with regards to adopting permanent Daylight Savings time and not pursue it any further. He explained that the context of the question was that some neighbouring provinces and jurisdictions are making this move. Kenney congratulated the three senate nominees, noting that October’s vote was the fourth of its kind since the 1980s. Kenney indicated that there are presently two vacant Alberta seats in the Senate, and that he will be tabling a motion Tuesday to ask the Prime Minister “to respect democracy,” in filling the vacant seats from the three democratically elected candidates.
Page 12 - The Community Press, Wednesday, October 27, 2021
October 2021 M Meetings
Council Meetings Flagstaff County Co ounciil M Meetings eetings aare re conducted the 2nd aand 4th Wednesday of each mon nth commencing at 9 a.m. u unless otherwise planned. p Council and Committ ommittee meeting agendas aare re aavvailable att the County’’ss websit ebsiite te at: flagstaf g ff fff...ab.ca/c .ca/council/meeeetings-and.ca/council/me etings-andg minu utes tes
7800-384-4100 1-877-387-4100 Email: s Stay Connected with Uss:
Monday to Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Closed Noon N - 1 p.m.)
Address:
12435 TToownship RRoadd 4442 PP..O. Box 35 358 Sedgew wi wic icck, AB T0B 4C00
flagstaff.ab.ca
The Community Press, Wednesday, October 27, 2021 - Page 13
Forestburg firefighters and family work together on legacy project Leslie Cholowsky Editor
The Forestburg Fire Hall has a new feature, installed recently by members of the fire department. Chief Kevin Lunty says, “Throughout the summer, members have been working on some outdoor improvements, paint, flagpole, and signage, to our building and grounds, as well as the installation of ‘Ricks Table.’ “Rick Scheler was a Forestburg firefighter who passed away suddenly in 2019. “Rick was community minded, donating his time not only to the fire department but also to 4-H and the ski hill.” Lunty says the idea for a new feature to honor Scheler was a group project. “Working with Rick’s family, we wanted to create a space for the community to be able to gather, sit, and reflect - hence ‘Rick’s Table.’ “The table itself is a weatherproof steel table, on a wheel chair accessible concrete pad.”
Firefighters dug the forms for the concrete before installing the table. Lunty says, “Thank you to Captain Chad Kuefler for organizing and coordinating this project, Rick’s family for the donation and insight, and fire department members for their hard work. “We also wanted to highlight the following for their donations to help make this project possible, and that includes Key West Ventures for being there from start to finish; helping with dirt work, forms, and the cement work, Forestburg Transit Mix for the cement, Home Hardware for the use of their skid steer, and Battle River Ironworks for the use of their equipment.” Now that the table is permanently installed, it can be used by anyone. Lunty says, “As Rick’s wife Candace has said - ‘Please, please, please, sit, have your lunch or coffee here, gather, use as a meet-up place, a place to leave extra veggies to share etc. “We are so excited to have ‘Rick’s Table’ be a part of and used by his community.”
Family members of Forestburg firefighter Rick Scheler are the first to try out the new table recently installed at the Fire Hall in his memory. Forestburg firefighters worked with Rick Schelerʼs family to come up with a perfect memorial - “Rickʼs Table,” placed at the Fire Hall for the enjoyment and use by everyone passing by. See a close-up of the inscription in Section B.
Franchise Fee Increase Notice
Franchise Fee Increase Notice
HAMLET OF GALAHAD
HAMLET OF STROME
Please be advised that Flagstaff County, (Hamlet of Galahad only), is proposing to increase the local franchise fee effective January 1, 2022. This fee is charged to ATCO Electric for the use of municipal lands for its power lines and is recovered from its customers that receive electric service in the Hamlet of Galahad. The local access fee will be increased from 8% to 9% on the delivery charges of ATCO Electric, excluding energy related riders. The effect of a 1% increase will be $1.14 per month to the average residential customer. Residents of the Hamlet of Galahad have until 4 pm on November 3, 2021 to make their concerns known, in writing, to: Flagstaff County Office, Attn: D.Szott, Public Works Superintendent Box 358, Sedgewick, AB T0B 4C0 Ph: (780) 384-4100
Please be advised that the Flagstaff County, (Hamlet of Strome only), is proposing to increase the local franchise fee effective January 1, 2022. This fee is charged to FortisAlberta Inc. for the use of municipal lands for its power lines and is recovered from its customers that receive electric service in the Hamlet of Strome. The local access fee will be increased from 8% to 9% on the delivery charges of FortisAlberta Inc., excluding energy related riders. The effect of a 1% increase will be $0.98 per month to the average residential customer. This calculation is based on 640 kWh consumption in 30 days. Residents of the Hamlet of Strome have until 4 pm on November 3, 2021 to make their concerns known, in writing, to: Flagstaff County Office, Attn: D.Szott, Public Works Superintendent Box 358, Sedgewick, AB T0B 4C0 Ph: (780) 384-4100
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Page 24 - The Community Press, Wednesday, October 27, 2021
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•Replace batteries in all your smoke alarms & test them. •Do the same to your carbon monoxide detector. •Remove leaves, dead branches and debris from around your house to create a fire break. •Make a plan to trim overgrown tree branches away from your house. •Make a plan with your family on how to get out, if necessary, & where to meet. •Talk to your insurance broker to make sure your limits of coverage are adequate, both for your home & contents and for fire department charges coverage.
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Salute to our Local
FIRE & RESCUE b sECTION October is Fire Prevention Month Not every hero wears a cape, plan and practice your fire escape
Wild Rose With thanks to our local volunteer Fire Departments