One of the Drumheller area’s true cowboys is inviting readers to take a journey into the life of a prairie cowboy.
    Local rancher and farmer Don Howard just finished his autobiography, Under the Cow Patty, and is inviting everyone to take a read.
    The book details his life, adventures, and some of the interesting people he has met over the years.

Don Howard proudly holds his recently finished autobiography, Under the Cow Patty. Howard tells of his life living on the prairies, his involvement in music, the interesting people he’s met, and peppers the book with humorous events. Howard will be at The Drumheller Mail on Friday, November 29, 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., to sign copies of his book.

    “It goes through a little history about our family and I’ve tried to keep some humour in there. Some is our family life as we went along. Other parts are about the people we met. There some not-so-happy times, but mostly happy times. There’s also a chapter in there that’s pure nonsense,” said Howard.
    Music has always been a large part of Howard’s life and much of the book is dedicated to his years of involvement in Drumheller’s musical landscape.
    “Music has been a big part of my life and there’s a long chapter on some of the musicians that have been in the area. I’ve been playing since I was eight years-old. Sometimes it gets intense and other times it slows down and is a bit more sporadic,” said Howard.
    Howard, who is now 74, came up with the idea during the long days in the combine.
    “I’ve always enjoyed autobiographies. I started two years ago, thinking about it on the combine. I thought I had a bit to tell and I've met some interesting people in my life. I started jotting things down, but I left it for awhile. Then I came back to finish it,” said Howard.
    He also chose to write in memory of his daughter-in-law.
    “One of the main reasons I wrote was in memory of Tanya, our daughter-in-law. She was a nurse and instrumental in starting the Relay for Life. In the midst of it, she had a tumour and died, so I wanted to do something for her,” said Howard.
    Howard has been living near Munson since 1944. Throughout the years and many adventures, he’s kept his family farm and ranch going strong.
    “We’re still running some cows and farm a little grain. We’re active with horses and cattle,” said Howard.
    Howard will be at The Drumheller Mail on Friday, November 29, 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., to sign copies of his book and encourages people to stop by, pick up a copy, and chat.
    “I think there are some things that will interest a lot of people. There’s a lot of local people in there, too, especially when it comes to the music,” said Howard. “I’m excited. It’s a good feeling.”

   In an event not like any other in the valley, residents will be coming together for their neighbours during the annual Salvation Army food drive.
    The food drive is set to go today. During this one night blitz, volunteers will be going door-to-door collecting donations for the Salvation Army Food Bank leading up to Christmas.
    The blitz is the Salvation Army’s major food drive and the donations that come in help supply the food bank for a good portion of the coming year.
    Heather Colberg is once again organizing the event and is looking for volunteers.
    “We are asking for anyone who would like to help out in canvassing the area in which they live (or help where needed) to come to any one of the meeting locations,” she said. “This is going to be a one night food blitz again so the more volunteers we get the better we’ll be able to cover the town and help those who are less fortunate.  This is a great way to get your family involved and encourage them to volunteer.”
    In last week’s inSide Drumheller, readers found a red grocery bag. These are for residents to pack and leave on their doorstep. This way volunteers are able to easily identify donations for the food drive, making collection that much easier.
    The blitz starts at 6 p.m. and volunteers will be combing Drumheller neighbourhoods, from Nacmine to Rosedale. There will also be volunteers canvassing Morrin, Munson and Carbon.
    Colberg is grateful for the support of volunteers. It is not uncommon to see clubs, teams and organizations in the mix as they go door-to-door. Volunteers are also needed to help sort and pack the donations. Once again, the Drumheller Co-op has allowed volunteers to use the former Liquidation World in Greentree Mall as a drop-off and sorting area.
    Colberg said they are still in great need of more volunteers on the evening of the food drive. Crews will muster at various locales throughout the valley before they head out. She adds that if students were interested in using the food drive to count towards volunteer hours, she would be glad to sign the papers to do this.
    To learn more or to sign up as a volunteer, contact Heather Colberg at 403-823-0811.

    In May of 1945 Berlin fell to the allies. From the east Russia entered the city, from the west, the Western allies pressed on to force a surrender.
    In history books, that is when the war ended.  The world rejoiced and there was dancing in the streets.
    It would be years however until some normalcy was restored to Europe and the world. For a 15-year-old boy in Poland, it was the beginning of his journey to freedom and ultimately Canada.

Henry Barborka was only 17 when his third attempt to escape from Poland to the west following World War II, was successful.

    Henry Barborka was just 9 years old when World War II broke out. It was a tough life with little food. He does remember the family was forced from its home for six months only to return to nothing.
    Life carried on, however now everything was German.   He was taught to speak German in school and there was punishment even if he and friends spoke Polish on the playground.
    “The war ended in 1945 when the Russians came and gave us freedom… freedom? Bologna! We were more worse off than during war time,” said Henry.
    When the war ended, he was 15. He had also lost his father to the Russians and he had a brother in England who was in the Polish Army.
    “I thought, I’m going to escape to England to my brother, and I am going to come back and free Poland and be a hero,” chuckles Barborka.” “You know kids…”
    He befriended a school chum who also had designs on leaving Poland, and they planned their first escape attempt.
    First by sea, the two teenagers travelled to the port city of Gdynia. The naive couple found a port with fortified security and dozens of armed guards. Through some quick thinking and sneaking, they found their way on to a small craft with an English flag. They asked one of the mariners if they could board and he hid them under a tarp. A few minutes later they were discovered by Polish police. They got a good licking and were sent home.
    His second attempt was about a year later. Now 16, he hatched a plan with another friend to head first to East Germany and then to the west.  They took a train to the border but didn’t have documents to cross. They were walking along at the station and were being followed by a soldier. Henry stopped to tie his shoe. While he was tying his shoe he saw his friend being confronted by the soldier. Henry bolted.
    Separated from his friend, disheartened, he went home.
     Six months later he learned the fate of his friend, who finally returned home. However,  he had made it to the west. The soldier who confronted him, simply wanted a light for his cigarette.
    After another six months, his friend tells Henry he is planning to return to the west and Henry joined him for this third attempt.
       This time the plan to enter East Germany was to cross a river at midnight.
    They made the crossing and then travelled six days to reach the western border. Across the border he had an aunt to stay with.
    The night they arrived near the border they went to a train station, to get warm and rest.  They were awoken with by a Russian soldier and German policeman asking for papers.  Using their German, they pretended they were from a town just down the road, but it was unsuccessful. They were locked up and in his clothing the soldiers found Henry’s documentation.
    He was locked up and slated to be shipped back to Poland to be punished. Two days before he was to be shipped, he was with a work crew heading out to hard labour when he slipped away. Deflated he decided to head back to Poland. He approached the river crossing to go back and was rearrested, and was eventually shipped back to the camp. He was sentenced to one year forced labour in East Germany in an uranium mine.
     He was at his new posting for less than a month when the 17-year-old made his break again. Again while walking with his work detail he slipped away. From there he made it to a safe house with a family he had befriended earlier.
    He was lying low, but one night he and the daughter of the family went out to a movie. They came out of the show and ran into a drunk on the sidewalk speaking Polish. They volunteered to walk the man home, but along the way decided his watch and a high quality leather jacket were too enticing. The two teenagers took these items and left the man.
    The next day they learned this man was a Russian detective. The heat was on and Henry was on the run.
       He boarded a train and headed toward the border. He met a westerner on the train who befriended him. He made it to the border without papers by dodging the conductor. At the last crossing they left the train and ran into the bushes. He saw a woman in a nearby field and he asked her where they were. She told them they were already in the west. He looked behind himself and saw a guard tower. He bolted across the field praying that he would not get shot.
    The travellers reached safety and Henry traded the leather jacket for enough money to reach his aunt.
    He was free.
    From then on he was able to determine his future. After attempting to join the French Legion, and then working as a police officer in a refugee camp and as a miner in Belgium, he set his sights for Canada.
    He never reunited with his brother in England and instead headed overseas to Canada.
    Even in Canada his Journey continued, from Toronto, to the Yukon to Drumheller where he and his wife raised five children. He made it home to Poland in 1977 to visit his mother and even then, after almost 30 years in Canada it was still a risk.
 Today he is 83 and tells his story freely. While many take this luxury  for granted, Henry has seen both sides and cherishes his freedom.

    This is the time when we, as Canadians, take time to remember the countless sacrifices made by forebearerss in the service of Canada and freedom.
    From a young age, every Canadian learns about the importance of November 11. The Mail spoke with Drumheller’s Schools to learn what students are taught throughout their education.
    At the elementary level, the curriculum may not officially address Remembrance Day, but teachers make sure to take the time and do something special.

Students in Shauna Johnson’s art class, (clockwise from left) Cair Boyko, Molly McNeil, Samantha Kendell, Mackenzie Halase, Brandon Holden, and Cameron Trodd, work on some Remembrance Day artwork. Throughout their eduction, students learn the importance of Remembrance Day and the sacrifices made for freedom.

    “For this age, there’s not a lot in the curriculum, but each teacher does something, like an art project, poem, or information from the Legion or Veteran Affairs, and we use that to teach the children about Remembrance Day. We draw on different things, and depending the age, that’s how we teach it to them. As we get into the older grades we do a bit more,” said Greentree School principal Chris Connell.
    Many Canadians have a personal connection to Remembrance Day, and Connell uses his to help teach.
    “I go around to the classrooms and talk about World War 1, because my great grandfather was in it. I talk about what he and the soldiers went through, how it started, and Canada’s role,” said Connell.
    “They’re really fascinated, because for a lot of the kids, these events were so long ago it’s really brand new. They get quite interested.”
    The curriculum in Alberta most directly addresses the themes of Remembrance Day at the high school level, where students learn about the major events and ideologies of the modern era.
    “Given the subject matter throughout Social Studies, senior high students learn about globalization in Grade 10, nationalism in Grade 11, and ideology in Grade 12. They learn about the causes of war, what happened in the back rooms, how people felt, and the ideologies that take root,” said Peter Bjel, Social Studies teacher with Drumheller Valley Secondary School.
    “Indirectly, we think about Canada’s role in wars and addressing other ideologies that were threatening in the past, which meshes into Remembrance Day.”
    Overall the themes of Canada’s role and sacrifices are mentioned throughout the high school Social Studies curriculum.
    “The Social Studies 10 curriculum is very much tied to contemporary war. It focuses on peacekeeping and the efforts to prevent wars by the United Nations. It also talks about the sacrifices made by Canadians during the peacekeeping efforts,” said Kurt Phillips, a humanities teacher with St. Anthony’s School “We talk about the first World War and the second, what led to them, and the legacy of these events.”
    In addition the curriculum also addresses Canada’s peacekeeping efforts and some of Canada’s dark chapters during these times.
    “One thing Alberta Social Studies really pays attention to  is peacekeeping and the roles of groups that were marginalized in the past, like Aboriginal and Francophone Canadians. They’re remembered and commemorated in the process, too,” said Bjel.
    However, the most powerful tool to engage students is to make Remembrance Day personal.
    “A lot of students tell their own stories as well. It makes the history more alive and more touching. Whenever we teach about history, even if some students are particularly interested, Remembrance Day is always something that interests them,” said Phillips.
    On Monday, November 11, the nation commemorates Remembrance Day. However, Drumheller’s schools will be holding their Remembrance Day ceremonies starting tomorrow. On Thursday, November 7, Drumheller Valley Secondary School and Greentree School are holding their ceremonies, while St. Anthony’s School hold theirs on Friday.

    Now that the weather has flipped the switch to winter, getting out of bed in the morning just got a little harder.
    There is the daily trek through the cold to the car in the morning and scraping ice off car windows. Though it may be tempting to skip that final step, residents are being asked to make sure ice is thoroughly scraped away.
    The Drumheller RCMP will be setting their sights on obscured windows now that the weather has turned frosty.
    “It’s one of the things I’ve always put a high priority on. I will be stressing it the members of the Drumheller detachment to pay close attention to vehicles driving with obscured vision, especially in the morning when it’s dark,” said Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins.
    Hopkins explained the fine isn’t very large, but the consequences could be dire if residents choose to drive with obscured windows.
    “For driving with an obscured windshield the penalty is a fine of about $67. It’s not an exorbitant amount,” said Hopkins. “Our main concern is the safety of everyone using the road, like pedestrians or other vehicles.”
    Drumheller detachment RCMP officers will be enforcing obscured windows over the winter.
    “It only takes a couple seconds to scrape your windshield. Yes, it’s cold outside, but take the extra time to clean your windshield and the life you save could be your own or someone near to you,” said Hopkins. “It’s very easily fixed, so take a minute to clean your window before putting your vehicle in motion.”

The Drumheller RCMP will be increasing enforcement in regards to obscured car windows now that winter is in full swing. The fine for frosty windows isn’t severe, but the RCMP are concerned with the safety of pedestrians and other drivers.

    Normally when fall rolls around, field work at the Royal Tyrrell Museum slows down considerably, but a new find is keeping crews busy even as snow blankets the province.
    Palaeontologists from the Tyrrell Museum believe the skeleton is from Hypacrosaurus, a large hadrosaur (duck-billed dinosaur) that lived about 68 million years ago. Hadrosaurs roamed throughout western North America and measured up to twelve metres long.

Dr. Don Brinkman, Becky Sanchez, Jim McCabe, Joe Sanchez, and Darren Tanke of the Royal Tyrrell Museum with a 68 million year old hardosaur (duck-billed dinosaur) skeleton unearthed in Leduc. On October 23, the museum was called by a construction crew who found the beast while digging for a new housing development.

    This is the second hadrosaur collected in Alberta in the space of a month. A discovery on October 1 at Spirit River, near Grande Prairie, made international news.
    “It’s been an incredible year for dinosaur finds,” said Andrew Neuman, executive director of the Royal Tyrrell Museum. “This surge in fossil finds has supplemented our own work this field season due in part to increased awareness and diligence among industry and keen-eyed amateurs.”
    Museum staff received a call from the Degner Construction Group on October 23 to investigate a fossil find. While digging a trench for a new housing development by Qualico Communities, Degner employees found a series of fossils about six metres below the surface.
    Together with Museum staff, the Degner crew used its large excavator to remove the soil, rock and other material above the fossil, allowing it to be secured and safely transported back to the museum on November 5.  So far, a tail and hips are visible in the exposed portion of the fossil, and some skull elements have been identified.
    The Leduc fossil will be stored in the museum’s collections until it is prepared for further study.

Drumheller RCMP are seeking a suspect in a second robbery at Mac’s in the span of a week.

On November 10, at approximately 1:34 am, a lone male entered the Mac's Store located at 175 Railway Ave South, Drumheller, Alberta.

The male brandished a knife and demanded money from the cashier. The male fled the store on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The suspect is described as a white male, late 30's to early 40's, 5'5" to 5'10", wearing glasses, a green jacket, grey hoody, grey gloves and blue jeans. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Drumheller RCMP at 403-823-7590 or Crime Stoppers.

    Cora Bolt’s dedication to raising awareness to the scourge of violence has been awarded provincially with an Inspiration Award.
    Bolt received the award for her work with the Big Country Anti Violence Association (BCAVA). She was nominated by Cindy Stelmaschuk, president of BCAVA, as well as members of the committee Marian Ewing and Kristi Donison.

 Members of Big Country Anti Violence Association (l-r) Judy Beebe, Marian Ewing, Cora Bolt and Cindy Stelmaschuk at the Inspiration awards in Calgary on November 1. Bolt and Beebe were recipients  of the prestigious award.

    “Our community is a better place for the work and dedication that Cora exhibits on a daily basis. Her gentle nature and strong commitment makes her a strong leader in the prevention of family violence,” said Stelmaschuk in her nomination letter. “She is continuously learning and expanding her knowledge through workshop and conference attendance as well as presently seeking admission to a Masters program. Cora would be an excellent recipient of an Inspiration Award of Leadership in Family Violence Prevention.”
    Bolt was among 10 provincially recognized recipients at a ceremony in Calgary on November 1. Judy Beebe, who is also a member of the local committee, but works out of Stettler, was also a recipient. The Honourable Sandra Jansen, Associate Minister of Family and Community Safety, presented  her the award.
    “Family violence is a societal issue which demands a societal response. This year’s award recipients demonstrate the power of individuals and communities to make a difference in their communities. Their efforts are helping build a safer and healthier Alberta,” said Jansen.
    Currently, Bolt is an addictions counsellor for Alberta Health Services and secretary on the BCAVA board, where she keeps the committee on track with her organization. She also works hard to keep up on initiatives and brings workable ideas to the table. She has played a role in many of BCAVA's initiatives, which includes the annual Red Rose Campaign in November, Take Back the Night Walks, and the entertaining but informative Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event.
    Bolt is also a key player on the Family Fun Committee, which holds monthly activities, designed to bring families together.
    The most recent project of the BCAVA is the Angel’s Corner, which is a project to create a space for awareness of family violence and a place of quiet reflection.
    “She works selflessly to help bring an end to domestic violence and is a strong supporter of having the needs met of victims. Cora often has the vision needed to be proactive and not just reactive,” said Stelmaschuk.
    Stelmaschuk and Ewing accompanied Bolt and Beebe to receive the award. Inspiration Awards are presented during Family Violence Prevention Month to recognize residents who demonstrate a commitment to ending family violence, according to a release.

    There were some big changes announced by Encana last week, which may trickle down to Drumheller's economy.  
    On November 5, Encana announced it was beginning to make “significant and bold” changes to put the company back on track.  
    The company will be closing its Plano, Texas office to cut 20 per cent of its workforce and more cuts are expected.
    “In order to align our organization with our strategy, we have had to make a number of exceptionally difficult decisions,” reported Doug Suttles, Encana President and CEO in a release. “The restructuring that is underway reflects our shift from funding about 30 different plays to focusing our resources on five key areas. We will work as hard as we can to make these staffing decisions quickly and thoughtfully and we will treat everyone affected with respect as we work through this very difficult part of our transition.”
    Luigi Vescarelli, community relations advisor for Encana, said they have not seen any immediate changes in Drumheller.
    “One thing about out here  is we are still operating. The pump jacks are still going up and down, the gas compressors are running and the mechanics are still fixing things,” he said.
    However, Encana will announce changes for the Clearwater Business Unit next year, which Drumheller operates in.
    According to Encana’s press release, the company intends to spin off Clearwater as a separate company through an IPO by mid 2014. This is to allow the company to unlock value from its portfolio as it holds the oil and gas rights, therefore it can collect royalties. It intends to retain a significant stake in the new company.
    “We are doing what it takes to get Encana back to winning and we have already begun executing on our strategy with some of that impact being seen in our strong third quarter results,” said Suttles. “We have a focused long term plan in place, the resource base to support that plan, and a talented team of people with the energy and drive to succeed.”

    Carbon-born curler Rebecca Pattison is a name to watch for in national curling circles.
    Last week, Pattison, 23, and her curling team were in Kitchener, Ontario, to compete in the 2013 Capital One Road to the Roar. The tournament is part of a road leading to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
    The top two men’s and women’s teams from the tournament, which was broadcasted nationally, win a spot at the 2013 Tim Horton’s Roar of the Rings. From there, the winners will represent Canada at the Olympics.
    “It was really exciting to be there, rather than always watching on TV. To have played is an amazing feeling,” said Pattison.
    Pattison was competing on Team Crocker, led by 22 year-old skip Laura Crocker, with 25 year-old third Erin Carmody, and 23 year-old lead Jen Gates. The team was the youngest at the competition. They qualified after a successful first year together in 2012.
    “The really good thing is the other curlers were almost double our age, so it’s really encouraging that way. Hopefully we can get even better over the next few years,” said Pattison.

The members of Team Crocker include skip Laura Crocker (left),  third Erin Carmody, second and Carbon native Rebecca Pattison, and lead Jen Gates. The team was in Kitchener, Ontario, last week to compete in the 2013 Capital One Road to the Roar Olympic pre-trials. Team Crocker were seeded second and won their first game of the tournament, but lost some very close games and were eliminated. They were the youngest team at the national event, meaning their curling future is still ahead of them.

    Team Crocker was one of the highest qualifying teams in the tournament and were seeded second. In their first game, they defeated the team led by Tracy Horgan. They were then defeated in their remaining games.
    “We had a few really close games. We’re happy to have gotten to that point at such a young age. We could have performed better, but that’s the way curling goes. We had fun and a lot of years ahead of us,” said Pattison. “Some teams had two games under their belts before we even practiced, because we had the bye.”
    The team will be heading to Spruce Grove and Lloydminster to compete for a spot in the provincial playdowns.
    Pattison has been curling since she was 10 years-old with her sister Hayley. Over the years, she has racked up a number of championship titles, including the Alberta Junior Curling Championships in 2011. Her passion for curling endures.
    “As you get older, you get more experience and it makes you want to keep curling even more,” said Pattison.
    She continues to train with her team at the Saville Sports Centre in Edmonton on weekends, while also working as a petroleum geologist for Black Swan Energy in Calgary.
    “My boss is very understanding. At the interview, I gave them my best case curling scenario and they were okay with it. It seemed to go pretty smooth,” said Pattison.
    Hayley won gold at the Winter Universaide Games in Torino, Italy in 2007.
    “They both have done so well, and to think they came out of little Carbon,” said mom Shelley Pattison. Shelley and father Peter travelled to Kitchener to watch Rebecca in action.

  There is a duality in mining and with miners. Mining is a dirty, ugly, dangerous profession full of darkness and tragedy. However ask many old timers and they will tell without batting an eye, they loved the job.

The Atlas is exploring some of the tragic history of mining in relation to some of the machinery used. There will be two new additions to its machinery exhibit, including a bucket similar to the one pictured above, and Big Bertha, a mine locomotive.

    The Atlas is exploring this juxtaposing relationship with mining and the machinery they used. Again, miners will wax lyrically about their truck or cutters, or locomotives. These are the same tools they saw claim brothers and friends in tragic accidents.
    “We have a better understanding than we did a couple years ago about how these machines that miners loved so much had a dark side and were implicated in a number of miner fatalities and lots of accidents that weren’t fatal,” said Linda Digby, executive director for the Atlas Coal Mine. “Through our research we learned that we have some machines that are really linked to some of those stories.
    Digby explains the seed for this display came last year when the museum received a small quarter-ton bucket used to hoist men, coal and tools in and out of the mine. It was donated by Ed Cheney. They were questioning whether this was the same bucket that played a role in a well-known mining fatality, and explored what other equipment may have had a darker history.
    She said much of this equipment stands on its own as artifacts, however the stories add another element. One she is excited about is Big Bertha.
    “She is a mine locomotive who has been in the mine boneyard ever since the mine closed in 1956. She is much beloved by many coal miners.  Many miners we have spoken to, love her and cannot say enough about what a great machine it was, but she was implicated in one fatality at the Atlas Coal Mine. So that is one linkage to that story,” said Digby.
    This idea became the central theme to the revamped machinery exhibit. The Atlas has been selected to receive $3,000 from the World Largest Dinosaur legacy to put together the new exhibit. This includes adding new equipment to its displays, interpretive panels, and conservation efforts to protect the artifacts.
    Digby hopes the revamped displays will be ready for next July.

    The Morrin Junior High Girls Volleyball team have served up an exciting season this year. To cap it all off, they stepped off the court as two-time champions.
    Over the weekend, the team was in Olds to compete in the South Central Zone J championships. The team came out with gold medals.
    “It was great to see and we were really excited. I don’t think Morrin has won a volleyball banner in quite some time,” said coach Melanie Nelson.

The Morrin Junior High Girls Volleyball team had a banner season, winning both the South Central Zone J championship and their league championship. The team includes (Back, l-r) Cera Cawiezel, Mesha Olsen, Charlese Gridley, Lexi Cullum, Shebi Couturier, Kyra Gridley, Serena Michie, coach Melanie Nelson, (Front, l-r) Quinn Nelson, Taylore Davidson, and Kayla Adams. Assistant coach Jessica Wolf was missing from the photo.

    The Morrin girls were up against seven other teams and breezed through the round robin, winning all of their games. They then went on to defeat Trochu in the semi finals.
    They were then matched against the home team, Olds, for the championship.
    In the first game of the best of three series, the Morrin girls came away with a 25-18 win. However, Olds bounced back for the second game.
     “We thought we had won the set with a score of 25-23 but the Morrin girls were on the net. The score was then 24-24 and Olds scored another point making it 24-25 in their favour. Finally, we scored 3 points in a row to bring home gold 27-25,” said Nelson.
    The team was also crowned league champions, defeating Hanna on their own turf in the final game.
    Overall, the season was well played.
    “It’s been a good season and it’s done now. We started our season a little slow. We did very well in our league, but in the tournaments we placed third in Trochu and Delia. We won our own tournament,” said Nelson.
    Next year, the team will look different. Roughly half the players will graduate to the high school level. However, they will always be champions.

    Residents of Drumheller are showing support for the thousands in the Philippines affected by Typhoon Haiyan.
    The storm hit the island nation last Friday devastating communities and killing scores of people.
    Drumheller’s Filipino community has mobilized and has begun collecting some of the necessities to be used in the aid effort.
    Heidi Galleon says she knows of a couple of families in the Drumheller community who have relatives in the affected area, so this hits close to home. Many have friends who are also affected by the typhoon, as thousands are displaced.
    The Drumheller Filipino community, which is about 300 strong, has begun collecting items to help in the aid effort.
    Gilbert Galleon owns the JC Convenience Store and Asian Food on Centre Street. His business uses a shipping company that has allowed them space to ship aid items.
     So far, donations have been coming in strong from within the Filipino community as well as the wider Drumheller community.
    Some members are finding unique ways to raise money including auctioning items online. Heidi says they are looking at other efforts including putting collection jars in stores.
    They are grateful for all the support they are receiving.
  Heidi said some of the items needed include blankets, towels, bedsheets and non perishable food, toiletries, socks and shoes. Items can be dropped off at JC Convenience Store.
    One of the most important things needed is money, because it is immediate and can be used on the ground for virtually anything. They have been receiving a number of cash donations.
    They are hoping to have the items packed by this Saturday, November 16 to be shipped.
    For more information on how to help, contact Heidi Galleon at 403-820-5956.

 

    This week on top of armed robberies, a number of local businesses have been broken into.
    Early Monday morning the Dinosaur RV Park was broken into and a safe was taken. On early Tuesday morning, the Vietnamese Noodle House and the Drumheller Aquaplex were also broken into.
    Derek Dekeyser, who owns Dinosaur RV Park, said the culprit smashed a window to gain entry into the office. The culprit spent a considerable amount of time at the scene. They were able to collect video surveillance.
    A small safe was taken from the office and put on a portable fire pit used by the park. The person wheeled it into North Drumheller before dumping the safe. It has since been recovered.    
    At the Aquaplex on early Wednesday morning, inSide Drumheller learned culprits gained access by smashing the front door. Once inside they over-turned the computers and made a mess in the lobby. Nothing of substance was taken.
    That same night, culprits gained access to the Vietnamese Noodle House through the back door and made away with a till.

*Update* Drumheller RCMP have confirmed a fourth break-in occurred Thursday evening at The Chop Shop, located on Highway 9 South.

   "A member has attended (to the scene). Sometime overnight it was broken into and was discovered this morning," said Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins.

   The person or persons responsible gained entry through a door panel of Angies Window Graphics. Once inside, entry was gained to The Chop Shop through a common door. A small amount of cash in the form of loonies and twoonies, a Harley Davidson flag, some small model motorcycles, Sony digital camera (Silver), and several flash drives were stolen.

    Police continue to investigate the incidents. If anyone has information on these or any other crimes, they can call the Drumheller RCMP Detachment at 403-823-7590, or if they wish to remain anonymous and possibly qualify for a cash reward, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

    To help visualize what the new East Coulee water fill station will look like, the Town of Drumheller has released concept drawings of the final product.
    At the entrance to East Coulee the concept drawings show a new loop road, with the fill station in the center. Surrounding the road, the concept drawings propose the planting of new trees and bushes.
    Since construction on the line began in October, several East Coulee residents have raised concerns, through Letters to the Editor in The Drumheller Mail and inSide Drumheller, over the scale and placement of the new fill station.
    Mayor Terry Yemen feels the project will help those in East Coulee who don’t have access to high quality water. Most of the funding for the East Coulee Transmission Line, 90 per cent, was provided by the provincial government.
    “I’ve heard from quite a few people who fully support the program,” said Yemen. “The project is from the Water for Life grant, and it’ll be there for future generations. Some people need it right now, because they have terrible water, while others don’t have that problem.”
    One of the main concerns raised by East Coulee residents is that semi trucks driving on Highway 10 will use the station to fill up with water, thereby creating noise and traffic problems in the small community.
    “There is one in Rosedale. When I lived on the Wayne road, I hauled water during the big oil patch boom and never had to wait in line at the fill station, so I don’t see that happening in East Coulee,” said Yemen.
    Construction of the new water line and the fill station will be completed over the winter.
    “With the trees and bushes, I think it will look pretty good when it’s done,” said Yemen.

The concept plan of the new East Coulee water fill station. A loop road will be constructed at the entrance to East Coulee, with the fill station at the centre and surrounded by freshly planted trees. East Coulee residents have raised concerns over the scale and location of the fill station, citing noise and traffic problems that could result from large trucks using the station.

    Despite a wintery Sunday, the Atlas Coal Mine is ecstatic with the turnout at this year’s Haunted Coal Mine.
    Over the past two weekends, over 1,200 visitors braved the Big and Little Boos.
    “It’s up from last year and one of our better years. I expect we raised over $10,000, which goes back to the restoration of the tipple,” said Jay Russell, with the Atlas Coal Mine.
    The first weekend was quite strong. Just under 400 people attended the Big Boo on the evening of October 19 and a further 300 the following afternoon. The numbers swelled even more on October 26 for the second, and final, Big Boo, with over 600 visitors. The weather for them could not have been better.

The Haunted Coal Mine was as scary as ever, delighting over 1,200 visitors this year, despite some early snow on Sunday, October 27. Organizers are already thinking of new ways to frighten people next year for the tenth anniversary of the Haunted Coal Mine.

    “The last one was perfect. We had people coming right up to 9 o’clock,” said Russell. “I’ve already put an order in for excellent weather next year.”
    However, things turned snowy the next day for the final Little Boo and 71 people turned up.
    “It was quite good, but we were disappointed in the weather on Sunday. Our numbers that day were lower than we would’ve liked, but higher than what we expected!” said Russell. “The plus side was that it gave us a lot more time to spend with each person and have some fun.”
    Not only did the numbers attest to the success of the Haunted Coal Mine, the comments showed the scares were as good, if not better, than last year.
    “When the kids go by and say ‘that was scary!’, I know we did a good job. There were other comments, saying they had a great time and it was scarier than before,” said Russell.
    The Haunted Coal Mine is the Atlas’ largest fundraising event. The money raised goes towards maintaining and restoring the site.
    “This is our single biggest fundraising activity we do each year and it couldn’t be done without the volunteers. We had around 70 volunteers and what a great, dedicated group of people to take time out of their lives and scare people,” said Russell.
    Even though the Haunted Coal Mine is over, organizers are already thinking ahead to next year. They are cooking up something big in light of the Haunted Mine’s tenth anniversary.
    “Next year will be our tenth year. We’ve been very lucky this has been so successful,” said Russell. “We have some evil cunning going to happen next year.”

    Students at Drumheller Valley Secondary School (DVSS) are aiming to ensure their school remains the place to be.
    Since the opening of school this year, the Friends of Rachel Club FOR, has been working hard to ensure students at the school feel included and stamp out bullying.

Students at Drumheller Valley Secondary School are doing their part to end bullying and help everyone feel welcome at school. The Friends of Rachel Club, which is entering its third year, has held a number of events at the school, including a speed meeting, where students had a chance to meet each other in rapid succession.

    “I think they’ve made a huge impact in terms of student morale, participation, and acceptance. There’s a great deal of compassion from the members of the FOR Club and some outstanding leadership,” said principal Curtis LaPierre.
    Students are also noticing a change in the atmosphere of the school.
    “There are so many problems in the world with bullying, especially on Facebook. We let students know we’re here to help. I think our school is pretty good. For example, if a junior high student is bullied,we’ll have senior high members intervene. It helps to have that older role model,” said Madison Colberg, co-president of the FOR Club.
    The FOR Club has held a number of events, including a welcoming for international students  with a tour around the valley and a speed meeting event, where students quickly cycled through and introduced themselves to one another.
    “It was awesome. It was great to see everyone interacting and have a lot of smiles. People met a lot of new friends, which was really nice to see,” said Chelsey Botros, co-president of the FOR Club.
    They also have a number of events planned throughout the year, including outreach to other schools.
    “We have a whole bunch of cool things planned to bring up the spirit, energy, and excitement at the school. I’m really excited to go out and speak about why bullying is wrong and why people should help when someone is being bullied,” said Lauren Main, vice president of the club.
    In addition to events, FOR Club members intervene when there is bullying and will try to help students feel included. For example, if a student is alone at lunch, members will join them.
    “People go through bad times, but you don’t want school to be one of them. You want to know your peers support you,” said Main. “That’s what FOR Club is all about; accepting everyone.”

    The Raptors were back in action last weekend. Some big wins ensured the various teams remained at or near the top of their respective divisions.
    This weekend was a tough one for the Bertram Drilling/Sports Room Midget Raptors, with their first two losses of the season. At the moment, the team is sitting in fourth of the Midget Tier 3 Division with 10 points.
    The losses were dealt by two Tier 1 teams.

Landon Brown, right, leads the charge during the Midget Raptors game against Olds on Sunday. The Raptors started off strong with a 3-1 lead until late in the second when Olds turned up the heat. The Midget Raptors are currently in fourth place with 10 points and only several points from first.

    On Saturday, they travelled to High River and lost to Foothills 10-3. The Raptors got out of the gate early with two goals by Reagan Burrows 25 seconds in and a second five minutes later. However, Foothills came back to dominate the remainder of the game.
    The following day, the Midget Raptors were at home, where they lost 6-3 to the Tier 1 team out of Olds. The Raptors held on to a 3-1 lead until late in the second, then Olds took off with the rest of the game.
    The Boston Pizza/Western Chev Bantam Raptors also had some crossover games with other tiers. On Saturday, they faced a Tier 2 team out of Rocky Mountain House, but were defeated 7-1.
    The next day, the Bantams were in Cochrane, where they lost 5-3. The two were tied 1-1 after the first, but Cochrane managed to rack up four goals by 11:46 into the second. Dillan Witt and Ewan MacFadden gave the Raptors two more goals, but the Raptors couldn’t catch up.
    The losses are their first of the season. The Bantam Raptors were moved up to the Bantam Tier 2 Division after spending the first part of the season playing in Tier 3.
    The NGC PeeWee Raptors, which have been playing in Tier 3, are continuing to dominate their division. Over the weekend, they edged out Brooks 4-3 and Medicine Hat 5-4 to keep top spot in their division. In Medicine Hat, Noah Salvatore ensured a Raptors win by scoring a hat-trick.
    The NGC Tier 6 PeeWee Raptors had a good weekend when they crushed Okotoks 9-1. The game was tied 1-1 after the first period, but the Raptors turned up the heat in the second and third. Ryan Fleming earned a hat-trick during the game and two assists.
    The Yavis Tier 4 Atom Raptors earned their first win of the season with a 5-4 effort over Strathmore. The Raptors got off to a 2-0 lead early in the game, but Strathmore came back to tie things up by the end of the period.
    Strathmore racked up two more goals early in the second and held a 4-2 lead into the third.
    The Raptors bounced back and scored two quick goals early in the third to tie the game again. They then got a lucky break when Strathmore was called for a body checking penalty. Kyle Gridley then scored on the powerplay to give the Raptors the win.
    The Encana Tier 6 Atom Raptors suffered a tough loss over the weekend against Kneehill, but remain tied for first place in their division.
    The Canalta Tier 3 Novice Raptors racked up their second win on Sunday. They dominated Strathmore 9-3. Colin Black faced a flurry of 28 shots on net by Strathmore, but held firm in the Raptors net. Grayden Ewing racked up three goals and assists in the game, while Emanuel Clark contributed four of the Raptors goals.
    The McDonalds Tier 6 Novice Raptors remain firmly on top of their division with a 10-2 win over Carstairs on Saturday. Kerric Chambers earned five points in the game, with two goals and three assists, while Connor Prieston-Johnston led in goals with five.

    The St. Anthony’s Saints Junior B-Team were young and strong as they cruised to the end of their season.
    The only other league team that had a junior B squad this season was Hanna, and they met on a couple of occasions. However, they were able to participate in a number of tournaments to learn the game and hone their skills.

The St. Anthony’s Junior B Saints had a busy season of tournament play. They are (back; l-r) Cassidy LeBlanc, coach Darci Paarup,  and Destiny Morse, with (front; l-r) Emily Wright, Kaitlyn Paarup, Jackie Ranger, Cayden Zacharuk and Charlotte Jones.

    “They improved much more than I could have foreseen,” said Darci Paarup who coached the young squad. “They showed up for everything and they all had an excellent attitude, which is something you don’t always see on a team.”
    The top moment for the team was a third place finish at a tournament in Duchess.
    “This was a highlight for them, because everywhere we went we were the only full rookie team,” said Paarup.
    They also saw tournament action in Three Hills and in Okotoks. Last week they finished up their season playing in Hanna.
    The team is made up of Grade 6 and 7 players, meaning they will have a strong squad returning next season.

    The Titans are one step closer on the road to the provincial championship after putting Canmore away in convincing fashion.
    It has been almost exactly a year since the Titans and Canmore have faced each other on the field. And while the two teams are familiar with how each other plays, Coach Ken Fournier said Canmore had a few surprises.

The Titans’ swarming defense kept Canmore to just two touchdowns as they cruised to a 49-14 win. The Titans advance to the Southern Alberta final to take on Willow Creek School in Claresholm this Saturday.

    “They were a bit different than last year. They ran some good plays, but we took the game away after the first quarter,” said Fournier.
    In fact, Canmore came out strong and in the first quarter, the two teams were tied. By halftime however, the Titans were up 27-7. They went on to win 49-14.
    Fournier said offensively Gage Berdahl and Steven Robertson had great game and connected for nearly 200 yards in passing.
    “All of our offensive scoring came from different players,” said Fournier, he also pointed great games by Justin Schinnour and Joey Samoleski on defense.
    The post season for the Titans is becoming familiar territory, but nothing they take lightly. This Saturday they are heading to Claresholm to take on Willow Creek School.  A win will clinch a spot in the Provincial final.
    Again, they are a familiar team and coach Fournier has been scouting. He doesn’t foresee many surprises.
    “They definitely have some guys who can make an impact on their offense… we are looking to control that,” said Fournier. “The next game will be a good one. If we can pass them, it will be a good game to prepare us for the final.”
    This same weekend, Holy Rosary of Lloydminster and Cold Lake will be in competition for the Northern Alberta spot in the final.