The St. Anthony’s Saints junior A girls volleyball team have wrapped up a strong season.
    The team competed in Championship night on November 5 and finished third in their league.
    This comes on the heels of a strong showing at a tournament in Three Hills. There were 16 teams at the tournament and while they were not able to place, a two set win over DVSS was a moral victory for the team.
    “That was a really big deal for the girls,” said coach Kayla Davies.
    The team also won the Sportsmanship Award at the Christ the Redeemer Divisional tournament.
    It was an exciting year for the young team, which only has one grade 9 player. The rest of the squad are in Grade 8, meaning the future of the program looks bright.
    “Next year they will all be Grade 9, which is great, so hopefully they all learned a lot and we can do even better next year,” said Davies.
    “They improved tremendously, I am super proud of all of them.”

The Saints won the Sportsmanship Award at the Christ the Redeemer Divisional tournament. Members of the team are (l-r) Hannah Reed, Payton Zacharuk, Kayla Finkbiner, Olivia Brisebois, Ocean Bossert, Rachel Graf, Anna McGillivray, Samantha Ptashnik and Carmanah Olbrich. Missing is Lizzy Bomford.

    Drumheller RCMP have apprehended two of the three persons responsible for the shocking gunpoint armed robbery at Mac’s Convenience Store on November 6.
    Cruise Donovan, 23 years of age, and brother Chase Donovan, 19 years of age, have been charged under sections 344(b) and 351(2) of the Criminal Code, using a firearm in an armed robbery and wearing a mask with intent to commit a indictable offence.
    The third suspect has been identified as Daylon Ker, 19 years of age. Kerr has been charged with the same offences and is being sought by RCMP.
    “We have arrested two people and charged them. We have a couple more people we are attempting to locate,” said Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins.

    The Donovan brothers will be appearing at Drumheller Provincial Court on Friday, November 22.
    Macs was also the target of a second armed robbery last week. RCMP have identified a possible suspect.
    “We believe we know who it is. It’s going to come down to a photograph lineup to know for sure,” said Hopkins.
    The Drumheller RCMP would like to thank the many persons who provided information leading to these arrests.
    “Virtually the armed robberies, as far as this office is concerned, have been solved,” said Hopkins.

    Anyone with information that could help locate Kerr or otherwise assist in the investigation are asked to call the RCMP at 403-823-7590.

    It was yet another wild weekend for winter weather. The Drumheller area was buried in a thick blanket of snow.
    Starting Friday afternoon, a snowstorm blew in and continued for most of the weekend. Town staff were busy throughout the weekend clearing as much snow as they could.
    “The crew was ready to go. They started as early as possible and worked through the weekend. They were still out until about 6 p.m.  (Sunday) to catch up,” said Allan Kendrick, Director of Infrastructure Services. “We’re still doing a bunch of walks and other areas. To get caught up, it depends on the wind and any more snow.”

Town of Drumheller crews have been out virtually nonstop clearing snow since the Valley was blanketed in snow over the weekend. A winter storm blasted the area starting on Friday, leaving a thick blanket of snow over Drumheller. RCMP responded to six accidents over the weekend, none of which were serious, however.

    The major roads in Drumheller have received plowing and crews are working hard to improve road conditions wherever possible.
    “They are sanding and salting. It doesn’t work too great in that -20 degree (Celsius) range, but if it warms up a little, it should help give more traction for folks,” said Kendrick. “Everywhere we have to be, we try to get there as quickly as possible.”
    The Town of Drumheller plows the major roads in Drumheller and airport as per the 2007 Snow Removal and Ice Control Strategy approved by the council of the day. Residents hoping for their residential road to be cleared will likely not see a plow on their front street.
    Kendrick anticipates a review of the strategy in the near future.
    “We have  service levels with priorities approved by council. Our service levels will be reviewed by council in the near future, so there could be changes there,” said Kendrick.
    Despite the severe weather, the Drumheller RCMP reported few instances of vehicles going off the road.
    “There were a few accidents, but nothing too severe. There was one that had minor injuries,” said Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins.
    Relief may be in sight for the area. Environment Canada is forecasting a sunny remainder of the week and even an dramatic increase in temperature by Sunday, which could see a high of 7 degrees Celsius.

    The sun shines bright around Drumheller, creating one of the best sources for solar power in the world.  
    Starland County is continuing to tap the solar potential of southern Alberta and has consequently become a provincial leader in renewable energy. One of its main initiatives is the construction of solar arrays on farms throughout the county.
    To keep the sun shining on Starland’s energy future, the County is hosting a series of open houses to encourage area farms to hook up to solar power.
    On November 27, 28, and 29, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the County will host open houses at the Munson, Rumsey, and Delia Halls, respectively.
    “These information sessions are to give people an opportunity to come visit with myself and other county representatives about our experience with the practical experience with photovoltaic solar installations. We hope by understanding the simplicity, costs, and benefits of solar people will be interested in becoming engaged in our project.” says Jordan Webber, Starland County Economic Development Officer. “We have funding that can benefit our residents by paying for a portion of a solar installation. We hope that everyone becomes involved at some level with this project.”
    One of the goals of Starland County is to support the installation of 100 kW of solar capacity. The County is well on its way to acheiving that goal.
    “Within this project, we have put in 30 kW, which is three projects. We also have a few more lined up,” said Webber. “Things have been working out great. The guys who have installed already are very happy with how it produces at their farms.”
    The program has farms install a solar array on their property. The energy it produces first helps power the property, then any excess is sold back to the grid. Eventually the array pays for itself and begins to generate a profit.
    “Right now, we’re looking at a 9,500 W system, which we call a 10 kw system, it costs around $40,000. The County pays $3,000 of that,” said Webber. “We’re predicting it would be paid back in about 12 years. Then, there’s probably 20 or more years after that, you’d be earning profits.”
    According to Webber, there is no better time to hook up.
    “It is the right time to get involved in this industry. The costs are as low as they will ever be and power rates continue to go up. We can really start off on a sustainable basis by getting people involved with this technology and generating our own power,” said Webber.
    The first open house will be held at the Munson Community Hall on November 27 at 7 p.m. The following evening, an open house will be held at the  Rumsey Community Hall. The final open house will be held at the Delia Community Hall on November 29.

    On November 18 until November 22 the Big Country Anti Violence Association (BCAVA) will be holding the Annual Red Silhouette Campaign at the Badlands Community Facility.   
On display at the Facility will be life size red silhouettes which are representative of individuals who have lost their lives or have been affected by domestic violence.
    The Red Silhouette Campaign is designed to  send a message to victims that they are not alone and is also referred to as the silent witness project  as they provide a voice to those who can no longer speak for themselves because they lost their lives   to domestic violence and also bear witness to those who are still in abusive relationships that they are  not being forgotten.
    The objectives of this initiative are to create an awareness of domestic violence by sharing information in our communities about the nature   and extent of relationship violence, to promote  action by letting people know there are resources in our communities with people willing to help and to remember people by honoring those who have lost their lives to domestic violence.
    Violence takes on many faces including verbal, physical, sexual, spiritual, emotional and financial abuse. Bullying is a form of abuse that has recently been in the forefront of the news. BCAVA wants to help give a voice to everyone who has been a victim of or is presently being affected by some form of violence.
    The red silhouettes will be on display for the week of November 18-22 and BCAVA would like to invite people to visit. This event brings Domestic Violence to the forefront as we work to empower everyone to help stop violence and support survivors.
    BCAVA looks forward to the spring of 2014 when the unveiling of the Angel’s Corner which will be a permanent location recognizing those who have been impacted by domestic violence. We can all work together to end the silence and stop the violence. If you require additional information please feel free to contact Cindy Stelmaschuk at 403-823-3095 or Cora Bolt at 403-823-1660 or go to www.bcava.com.

    Relief is in store for multipass holders of the Drumheller Aquaplex and Badlands Community Facility (BCF).  
    As of Wednesday, November 20, Aquaplex and multipass holders will have “at least  20 days added to active membership passes in recognition of the service interruptions,” read a press release from the Town of Drumheller.
    At the November 12 meeting of the Committee of the Whole, Town Council directed administration to research options to compensate those who purchased multipasses after numerous complaints.
    “I’ve spoken with a lot of people who were upset. First in relation to the Aquaplex users, because we didn’t give them a lot of notice before closing. Then, I started talking with people who have multipasses and they’re saying the same thing. They might not use the pool a lot, but they have paid for the use of the building and a locker,” said Councillor Tom Zariski.
    The Aquaplex shut its doors on November 4 for a much needed upgrade to its air handling unit. Typically, those who purchased an Aquaplex pass will have their passes extended for the same amount of time the pool is closed.  Aquaplex passes are also being accepted at the BCF.
    However, multipass holders were not given similar consideration. Council asked something to be done.
    “If we close the pool for a couple days to repair something, that’s not a problem and I think people understand that. If you close it for a couple months, when people in good faith have put out a fair amount of money, people need to be compensated,” said Zariski.
    Concerns were raised that failing to compensate multipass users during the closure would lead to those users either not purchasing a multipass or simply forgoing purchasing any pass altogether.
    The Town considered various options to compensate pass holders.Some ideas to compensate multipass holders included extending their passes, offering day passes to friends or family, or discounts upon renewal.
    However, the damage may have already been done. Some multipass holders have already decided to not renew their multipass.
    “When my pass comes up for renewal, I will not be getting a multi-pass again. I will just get a pool pass. It’s just not worth it. It’s not like I can increase my visits to the BCF to compensate for my lost swim times, because I would injure myself. They are different kinds of exercise. Swimming eight times a week is fine. But there is no way I could go to the gym to workout eight plus times a week,” said David Lloyd, a dedicated Aquaplex user. “I can workout at home. I can’t swim at home.”

    The Drumheller Dragons are regaining some momentum, breaking a three game losing streak on Tuesday against the Olds Grizzlys.
    Though the Dragons appeared to be in control of the game, the Grizzlys were with them goal for goal. The game had to be settled in overtime, where the Dragons came away with a 4-3 win.
    The Dragons took control of the game early, in no small part to an interference penalty by Grizzly Ty Mappin a mere 46 seconds in. Mitchell Cook, taking advantage of the powerplay, rushed to the Grizzlys end, through their defence, and rocketed the puck past goalie Ethan Jemieff.

Dallas Smith (left) and Rory Davidson were denied on a big two-on-one opportunity. The Dragons kept up the pressure against the Olds Grizzlys on Tuesday night, but had trouble getting the puck past Grizzlys goalie Ethan Jemieff. The Dragons eventually settled the game with a 4-3 win in overtime.

    Powerplays would end up being the key for the remainder of the night. Of the seven goals scored by both teams, five were during a powerplay.
    The Dragons remained in the driver’s seat for the rest of the game, but Jemieff proved to be a hard nut to crack. In total, the Dragons sent a flurry of 40 shots at him, but Jemieff was able to stop most and reign in any rebound opportunities.
    A closing hand on puck penalty levied against Troy Gedny cost the Dragons the lead and the game was tied at 1-1 before the first period was over.
    The second period remained locked at 1-1.
    In the opening minute of the third, Dakotra Zaharichuk put the Dragons up 2-1, but the Grizzlys responded with a goal of their own after Gedny was sent to the penalty box for kneeing.
    A tripping penalty by the Grizzlys a few minutes later gave the Dragons the edge they needed. Newcomer Tyler Haiste put the Dragons up 3-2.
    From there, the Dragons were poised to win the game. They managed to fight through some penalties, including a harrowing three-man penalty killing situation.
    However, the Grizzlys tied things up again at 17:15 in third. The puck was lobbed high into the air and landed in front of Dragons goalie Jonny Hogue. Hogue lost track of the puck and in the ensuing scramble, the Grizzlys snuck the puck past him.
    The game was finally settled in overtime with a goal from Ethan James, who was awarded the Dragons star of the game.
    The win puts the Dragons back in third place of the AJHL Southern Division and one point behind the Okotoks Oilers. However, things are tight at the moment in the Southern Division, with only five points separating second and seventh place.
    The Dragons are back on home ice on Saturday against the Sherwood Park Crusaders at 7 p.m.

    Like a well-oiled machine the Drumheller Titans rolled their way on to the field, over Holy Rosary and back into the provincial spotlight winning its third championship in as many years.
    Or, in simpler terms, 3-Peat!

The Drumheller Senior Titans brought home their third Tier IV provincial championship in as many years over the weekend. They defeated Holy Rosary of Lloydminster by a dominating 42-18. The championship is the perfect close to yet another powerhouse Titans season. The team will be celebrating the win and season on Sunday at their annual banquet.

    The Titans stood tough winning 42-18. Coach Ken Fournier is proud of the team.
    “The did really well. They were focused in the locker room before the game. They were talking about scenarios; what they had to do, what they had to say to each other, how to react,” said Fournier. “These kids are like a bunch of coaches. They know the game quite well, especially the guys that were there for the three-peat. The have been involved in a lot of football in three years and on the biggest stage, so a big congratulations to them for the things they were able to do on the field.”
    While the Titans were dominant, it wasn’t a cakewalk. In fact, Holy Rosary led in the first quarter for a short time until Jakub St. Jean broke through for the Titans’ first touchdown.
    In the first quarter we came out and took some penalties early and they went up by two,” said Fournier. “It took us a little bit to get going, but once we got a feel for them things started rolling for us.”
    After that, the Titans began their charge. Holy Rosary was able to take away the Titans’ passing game, but on the ground Spencer Fournier, St. Jean and Aiden Enns were able to make gains.
    On the defensive end, Holy Rosary came with a passing game, but the Titans made some adjustments.
    “We let a couple deep balls go which is to be expected. I mean, there is a reason the other team is there in the final, and they can move the ball really well in the air, so we expected to see a few big plays to happen, but we reacted to it,” said Fournier. “I think that is what is good about us playing in quite a few big games over the last few years. These guys learned how to respond in big games.”
    He said while there were some standouts, it was a team effort from offense to defense and special teams who captured the day
    “Everyone stepped in and contributed,” said Fournier.
    With three championships and domination of the playoffs, there have been talks about moving up a tier.
    Teams are typically grouped by school size to make the competition even, however, if they felt it was advantageous a team could move up to the next tier to face larger schools and possibly tougher competition.
    Fournier said this has been considered.
    “What we do now is look a the numbers at the school, look at the future and what is coming up in the program. Moving up a tier is something that has been talked about throughout all levels of our organization,” said Fournier. “Moving up is quite a big process, you have to look at the demographics and decide if that is the best step for the program. If we continue to have strong numbers and the support we have, hat is something we can look at. But if our school population starts to go down or our bantam and peewee teams are struggling, then that is factored in as well.”
    The Titans will be celebrating their season at their annual banquet on Sunday afternoon. 

    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.”

    As hard as players practice and coaches work to develop skills, there would be no basketball season of it weren’t for referees.  
    There will be a beginner referees clinic coming up this Saturday, November 30 at St. Anthony’s School. This is for people interested in officiating basketball for the first time.
    Gavin Makse, who is facilitating the clinic, says there is no cost for the   program and all participants need to bring is some clean, non-marking court shoes, something comfortable to wear on the  court to run in, and an interest in learning.
 He said there would be a classroom session looking at rules and protocols. There will also be an on-court session to learn the mechanics of officiating and signals. The final part of the session will   be on the court, actually officiating a game. Makse says he hopes to have some players there to scrimmage.
    The session runs from 9 a.m.  to 12:30 p.m. and is open to anyone who wants to drop in and try it out.
    To learn more or confirm a space, contact Makse at 403-823-385, ext. 104.

    One of Drumheller’s most famous homegrown musicians is coming back to play in front of a hometown crowd.
    On Friday, November 29, Jaydee Bixby will rock the Stampede Barn.
    “Absolutely I’m looking forward to it. I remember playing at the Barn when I had to have my entertainment licence to  get in and play, because they were serving liquor. It’s nice to come back to where you were born and raised to do a show,”  said Bixby.
    “When I was on Canadian Idol, I got so much support from Drumheller. I appreciate getting the opportunity to come back and play for my home town.”

Homegrown country star Jaydee Bixby will be returning to his old stomping grounds on Friday, when he performs at the Stampede Barn. Bixby will be playing material from his new album Work in Progress, as well as a few old favourites. Tickets are available at Sports Room, Gus’ Corner Restaurant, and Drumheller Chrysler.

    Bixby was born and raised in Drumheller. He learned to play guitar from his father and performed with his parents and a family friend in a band called the Bixbys. He later moved to Red Deer and became a national name when performing on the 2007 season of Canadian Idol.
    Since then, he’s released several albums. His latest, Work in Progress, was released in August.
    “I started writing it about four years ago in Nashville. A lot of the songs I’d start writing, then I’d step away from, because I’d done all I could do with them at the time. In between, I did another tour and released another CD. Then I came back to it,” said Bixby.
    “These are all tunes I started, stopped, went back, and finished. Some of them are four years in the making.”
    Much of his concert will include his latest material, with some old favourites peppered throughout.
    “I’ve got a lot of new songs I’ve written myself, so it’s kind of a whole new show. It’s one thing to play songs someone has written, but it feels great to play something that started out as an idea in your head,” said Bixby.
    Tickets are still available at Sports Room, Gus’ Corner Restaurant, and Drumheller Chrysler.
    “We have enough material to go into the wee hours of the morning,” said Bixby.

    The annual Passion Play Founders Banquet, held to honour Founders, and to thank donors who supported the Passion Play over the past year, faced a challenge on Saturday, November 16. 
    Saturday turned out to be the stormiest day of November, and Vance Neudorf, Passion Play General Manager, remained uncertain until the last minute whether to cancel the event.   However, when guests showed up from Edmonton Vance knew that there was no turning back.   
    Despite the stormy day, thirty six people enjoyed the afternoon presentations and great banquet.  

The Canadian Badlands Passion Play honoured some of those who donated land to the Passion Play during its annual founders dinner on Saturday, November 16. At the dinner were (l-r) Bob and Tilly Llewellyn, LaVerne Erickson, Passion Play general manager Vance Neudorf and Stan and  Dorothy Solberg.

    With the Passion Play moving into its 21st performance season, its Board of Directors has undertaken to look back annually and keep its founding story alive.   Each year some of those instrumental in founding the Play are honored with a gift and with four lifetime Passion Play passes so that they can see the Plays and bring friends to enjoy the fruits of their labors.
    This year’s honored guests who were designated ‘Founders’ were those who supplied the land for the Passion Play and Ski Hill site: Bob and Tilly Llewellyn, and Stan and Dorothy Solberg.   These were the only Founders to make it through the storm.  Other Founders recognized in absentia were the mill owners who donated the lumber for site development:  Barry Mjolsness, Spray Lake Sawmills of Cochrane, and Bob and Ken Vanderwell of Vanderwell Contractors of Slave Lake.
    Also recognized in absentia were John and Irene Kohut, Hi-Way 9 Express, who hauled the lumber free of charge.  
    A welcome addition to this year’s festivities was the presentation of the beautiful Alberta Pride Alto Award, that recognizes the Canadian Badlands Passion Play for its contribution to the Alberta Tourism Industry as a landmark Alberta attraction.   This award was won two weeks ago at the annual Alberta Tourism Industry conference in Banff.

    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.