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New take on classic Nutcracker

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    There are few works ever created that capture the essence and spirit of Christmas more than The Nutcracker.

The excitement is building for Kaleidoscope Theatre’s opening this Friday of the Nutcracker All Jazzed up. The Perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit.

    Tchaikovsky’s score, the magic of Christmas Eve, and adventure all combine to hoist the ballet to the status of timeless classic.
    Kaleidoscope Theatre is bringing the extravaganza to its very own stage, although it is a little “Jazzed Up.”
    Carol Todor is the artistic director of the production, and she is being assisted by choreographers Tricia Hatch and Nicole Hutchings to bring the production to life. This is the third time Todor has put The Nutcracker on stage, but this is no doubt the biggest.
    The Nutcracker All Jazzed Up has an incredible cast of 52, and of these, only seven are adults. 
    There are four boys in the show and two sets of twins. There are nine sets of two sisters and one set of three sisters, a brother and sister team and two mother and daughter combinations.
    There are also 200 costumes for the show, more than any other Kaleidoscope production.
    “While it follows the classic story of the great party, the mysterious uncle, the epic battle with the Mouse King and then a fantastical night for a young girl filled with a prince, sugar plum fairies, the dancing takes a departure from the classic”.    
    The “All Jazzed up” part of the title also means get ready for  fun. This allows the production to be more than just the traditional ballet. This brings in more contemporary music, tap dancers and more variety. It also makes it more accessible for wider audiences.
    While Christmas is a busy time of shopping, travelling and visiting, the Nutcracker reminds viewers of the magic, joy and innocence of the season.
 The Nutcracker All Jazzed Up runs November 29, 30, and December 5, 6 at 7 p.m. and December 1 at 2 p.m.  
    For tickets call 403-823-PLAY (7529).


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Arrest made in November 10 Mac's robbery

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An arrest has been made in an armed robbery at Mac’s.

          On November 10, at approximately 1:34 am, a lone male entered the Mac's Store located at 175 Railway Ave South and brandished a knife, demanding money from the cashier. The male fled the store on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Drumheller RCMP’s investigation identified a person of interest in the alleged robbery, and this has led to an arrest. 

Cassidy Green, 40, of Drumheller has been arrested and charged with robbery. He has been released and is slated to appear in provincial court in Drumheller on December 13.

 


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Music festival committee announces dates

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    The Drumheller and District Music Festival committee has selected a date for the 74th annual musical extravaganza.
    The Drumheller and District Music Festival is Drumheller’s longest standing continuous cultural event and literally thousands of students of the fine arts have participated, generations from the same families have taken the stage in front of professional adjudicators to hone their craft.
    This year, the Music Festival goes from March 18-28, with the final concert being held on Saturday night, March 28.
    The annual Music Festival is also one of the largest events within the area with 400 entries each year, spanning all the disciplines.
    There are entries in dozens of categories, from spoken word to school band, from musical theatre to instrumental recitals.
    Local music teachers are aware of the Provincial Syllabus, and it is available throughout December at the Drumheller Public Library and online with entry forms. Those wishing to participate do not have to be formal students. Anyone can sign up to compete.
    Drumheller students have done well over the years. Last year, 12 local students were recommended to go on and compete at provincial music festivals. Annually, the festival gives out in the area of $6,000 in scholarships
    The entry deadline for this year’s Music Festival is January 14. The festival would like to see more entries in the area of speech. This includes poetry, story telling and Bible recitation.
    This year’s entry secretary is Tracy Kakuk and she can be reached at 403-823-5544, or 403-820-2493.
     For more information on the Drumheller and District Music Festival, contact president Lynn Edwards at 403-74-83 or email at lynnedwa@gmail.com.

Performing arts students can begin registering for this year’s Drumheller and District Music Festival. The 74th annual festival is slated for March 18-28, with the final concert on Saturday, March 28.


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Community Garden on the move

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    The Community Garden in Drumheller is on the move and hopes to put down firm roots this coming spring.  
    Previously, the Badlands Community Garden has operated a community garden on Newcastle Drive. DARTS generously allowed the society to set up a garden where residents could rent out a box to plant vegetables for the season.
    Patrice Wolf of the Society explains DARTS has designs on using the land they allowed the society to use, which means the Garden will have to be uprooted. The society has made arrangements to use a vacant parcel beside Big Country Dental Clinic near the Drumheller Post Office.
    “Dr. Lister and Dr. Fuh are going to lease us the yard next to their clinic,” said Wolf. “It is huge… it can handle at least as many boxes as we have now. Because it is such a public place we will have picnic tables, places for people to sit and maybe a shelter for people to get out of the sun.”
    The site has water and everything needed to make it a success. Wolf expects DARTS will still be heavily involved with the site, and they are looking at adding partners to the equation.
     “It is really positive moving forward,” said Wolf.
    She said they will be working throughout the winter to plan the next season, which includes advertising for the plots. They are looking at using the site not just as a place for a family to grow vegetables, but also to learn and teach. There are a number of local horticulture resources they are looking at to teach different subjects from bulbs to compositing.

The Badlands Community Garden Association is getting ready to plant new roots  on a parcel of land in downtown Drumheller near Big Country Dental Clinic.

    The main component for success is community involvement and Wolf wants to encourage anyone who is interested in gardening or learning about gardening to check out the Badlands Community Garden Facebook to learn more.


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Morrin girls bring home gold

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    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.


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Drumheller Filipino community rallies for typhoon aid

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    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.

 


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Police investigate break-ins

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    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).


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Town releases East Coulee fill station concept plans

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    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.


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Haunted Coal Mine receives spooktacular attendance

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    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.”


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DVSS Students take lead in bullying battle

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    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.”


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Raptors rack up big wins over weekend

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    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.


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Saints Junior B’s excel in rookie season

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    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.


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Titans victory advances team to southern final

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    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.


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Junior A Saints end season on high

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    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.


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Armed robbery suspects nabbed

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    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.

 


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Weekend winter storm buries Drumheller

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    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.


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Starland County hosts solar open houses

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    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.


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Big Country Anti Violence Association marks Prevention of Domestic Violence Month with Red Silhouette Campaign

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    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.


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Town announces multipass compensation

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    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.”


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Dragons break three game losing streak

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    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.


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