Information and Privacy Commissioner to investigate emails sent to teachers

Information and Privacy Commissioner Jill Clayton has initiated an investigation of the emails sent on February 6, 2013 by the Minister of Alberta Education to teachers.

Out and About: Cowley Lions

Marion and Earl Johnson - Cowley Lions
C. Davis photo

Cowley Lions Marion and Earl Johnson were in attendance at the recent 'Way To Grow Baby' 6th Annual Pre-Natal and Infant Health Fair, held at the Foothills United Church.  Stay tuned for a full story on that event.   Tip of the hat for so many years of community service, Cowley Lions.

Upcoming 4-H Communications Events

District Demonstrations/Illustrated talks
March 7, 2013 @ 6 pm
@ Foothills Community Church
Pincher Creek, host Timber Trails Beef

District Public Speaking
March 8, 2013 @ 6:00 pm
@ Foothills Community Church
Pincher Creek, host Foothills Beef

Regional Communications
March 25, 2013 @ 1:00 pm
 @ Lethbridge College

Country music recording artist Krista Scoggins to play Ranchland Mall

(advertorial)

Krysta Scoggins at the Ranchland Mall

March 1, 6:00 - 7:00 pm.  

Krysta Scoggins

Krista Scoggins is looking towards the release of her new CD "Shine" on March 20 in Edmonton, and one of the stops on her circuitous route to that event is Pincher Creek's Ranchland Mall.  Pincher Creek Co-op is kicking off their upcoming  "Great Rewards" promotion with a free Scoggins show.

Athlete of the day February 27, 2013: Michael Svab

Michael Svab

Mchael Svab plays for the St. Michael's Junior A basketball team.  He's a tenacious and assertive athlete, and a definite asset to his team.  He's 14 years old, in Grade 8, and he's been playing basketball since Grade 5.  He also participates in baseball and volleyball (where his serve is feared by the opposition).  He's also been noted for his Track and Field excellence, taking home medals in Long Jump, High Jump, Triple Jump, and Discus at the 2012 South Zone ASAA Championship Track Meet.

At the 2011/2012 St. Michael's Sword and Shield Awards Michael was the recipient of the Grade 7 Math, Social Studies, and High Academic awards.  The year before that he took home top honours in Grade 6 Math, Science, Social Studies, English Language Arts, and Highest Academic awards.

Together with Rubert Palao he was named Most Improved in Track and Field at the 2012 Sword and Shield athletic awards.  He also won Most Valuable Player for badminton.

Snapshots: Alexandra Morgan

Alexandra Morgan

Did you catch Alexandra Morgan singing 'O Canada' at the Hurricanes/Atom Chinooks event or at the Midget Huskies Provincial match against the Vulcan Hawks?  Fantastic.

Hawks hold 4th annual basketball tournament

Your co-hosts: Halton Hawks 2013 Sr. Boys basketball team
T. Lucas and C. Davis photos and video

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice with Toni Lucas and Randy Whitehead

The 4th annual Halton Hawks Classic 2013 Basketball Tournament was held last weekend at Matthew Halton and St. Michael's schools.  A total of 16 Senior Girls and Boys teams from southern Alberta traveled to Pincher Creek to participate in a total  of 24 games.

Out and about: Ninja Hawks

Ferlin Crow Shoe and Liam Nazarek were undercover at the Hawks 2013 Classic basketball tournament on Friday, February 22.  T. Lucas photo

Midget Huskies out of Provincials, on to round two of Spud League playoffs

C. Davis photos/videos

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Victory and defeat played out for the Midget Huskies hockey team and their hometown crowd last weekend, when they were narrowly squeezed out of Provincials in one game and moved on to the second round of the Spud League playoffs in the next.

Mayor Olsen receives Diamond Jubilee Award

Councillor Wayne Oliver (l) and Mayor Ernie Olsen (right)
C. Davis photos

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

The first order of business for the Town of Pincher Creek Council at their regular meeting on the evening of Monday, February 25 was to present Mayor Ernie Olsen with a Diamond Jubilee Award.

Athletes of the day February 26, 2013: Titans Sr. Boys Basketball Team

Coaldale Christian Titans
T. Lucas photo

The Coaldale Christian Titans took first place in the 4th annual Hawks Classic 2013 Basketball tournament, held at Matthew Halton and St. Michael's schools last weekend.  Full story soon.

Novice Chinooks triumph over Warner. advance to next round of playoffs

Updated: Pincher Creek's Novice Chinooks moved on to the second round of Spud League Playoffs after a barnburner of a first round against Warner.

Atom 2 Chinooks defeat Warner in first round of playoffs

The Atom 2 Chinooks won their first playoff round series after defeating Warner's Sabres last weekend.  Word is the Chinooks will face Bow Island in the next round.

RCMP Pincher Creek Detachment complaint overview, February 19-25, 2013

The following is an overview of the nature of the complaints that the RCMP Pincher Creek Detachment received for the noted period.  Note that the summary indicates what was reported to the police and may not have been substantiated.

Season ends for Atom 1 Chinooks with playoff losses to Taber

Atom 1 Chinooks vs Taber Oil Kings
C. Davis photos and video

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Pincher Creek's Atom 1 Chinooks hockey team finished a best of three playoff series against the Oil Kings on SUnday afternoon, ultimately losing out to the Taber team, ending the Chinooks' 2012/13 season.

Athlete of the day, February 25, 2013: Trevis Bird

Trevis Bird

Trevis Bird is a gifted basketball player.  He plays for the Kainai Jr. A Warriors and is a regular top scorer for the team, as well as being chosen Player of the Game by opposing teams, as we saw at the recent SWJHAA finals (click here for that story).   He makes a lot of three-pointers.

Trevis is 14 years old, in Grade 9, and has been playing basketball since he was about 9 years old.  He also enjoys playing video games.

Senior Huskies skunked in RHL playoffs

Sr. Huskies vs Nanton Palominos
C. Davis and J. Davis photos and video

Chris Davis

A disappointing inaugural season ended Saturday evening, February 23 with a fourth straight loss to Nanton's Palominos in the first round of the Ranchland Hockey League playoffs.

Swan Hills Synfuels carbon capture funding agreement cancelled

The Alberta government and Swan Hills Synfuels have agreed to discontinue their $285 million carbon capture and storage (CCS) funding agreement.

Health Hazard Alert - Certain tea products may contain Salmonella bacteria

Issued February 24, 2013

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the tea products described below because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Water and its life giving music

Rob Bernshaw at Cameron Lake, Waterton National Park

Rob Bernshaw, Columnist

How many of us during our hectic daily lives have taken the time to actually see what is around us and hear the music that is being played for us everyday to enjoy.

Athlete of the day February 24, 2013: Mitchell Zoratti

Mitchell Zoratti

Mitchell Zoratti is a top scoring member of the St. Michael's Dragons Junior A Boys basketball team.  He's 13 years old an in Grade 8.  He also enjoys playing baseball (he's a very good pitcher) and volleyball.  He also has a long history with 4-H.

He was the Run Champion at the Dust Devil's 2012 Pitch, Hit and Run Skills Competition. He was named Most Valuable Jr. High Boys Player along with Michael Svab at the 2012 Sword and Shield athletic awards.

Environment Canada to provide more details about severe weather risks

source: www.theweathernetwork.com

Effective March 13, 2013 Environment Canada will make some changes to the public alerting program in an effort to provide more detailed information about the potential threat of a severe thunderstorm or tornado.

As the spring season inches closer, so does the start of severe thunderstorm and tornado season.

Officials say it’s important to be prepared and changes to the public alerting program will help.

According to Environment Canada, the warning content within all severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings will contain a forecast valid time for each alert bulletin.

The Church of the ’86 Ford Crew Cab 350 One Ton

Phil Burpee, Letter to the Editor

I am greatly heartened by Prime Minister Harper’s decision to create an Office of Religious Freedoms within the federal bureaucracy. It will now be the business of the Government of Canada to ensure that apocryphal quackery, millenialist soothsaying, gay-vilifying evangelical pulpit-pounding, papist intrigue, woman-loathing misogyny, heathen-castigating bible-thumping, our God is the Top God-pronouncing preachery, and various other forms of self-aggrandizing delirium, are given due focus and appropriate protections. Clearly, this is a much loftier aspiration than, say, an Office of Scientific or Political or Civil Freedoms, because clutches of predominantly male humans who claim to have the exclusive ear of the Lord of the Universe, to the exclusion of all other errant- or non-believers, clearly require a robust coddling. The Prime Minister himself attends a house of worship whose liturgy rather inclines towards End of Times scriptural interpretation, so I imagine he thoughtfully includes himself and his co-congregationists within the expansive purview of the above-mentioned Office.

Health Hazard Alert: Tega Brand Tea

Certain Tega brand Organic Lemon Hibiscus Green Rooibos Herbal Tea may contain Salmonella bacteria

Issued February 23, 2013 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume certain Tega brand Organic Lemon Hibiscus Green Rooibos Herbal Tea described below because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Tega brand Organic Lemon Hibiscus Green Rooibos Herbal Tea, sold in packages of 24 tea bags (48 g / 1.69 oz), UPC 6 64322 10406 0, with best before dates of 2014FE01, 2014MR27, and 2014MR28 is affected by this alert.

This product has been distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria may cause salmonellosis, a foodborne illness. In young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, salmonellosis may cause serious and sometimes deadly infections. In otherwise healthy people, salmonellosis may cause short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

Nu-Tea Company Ltd., Abbotsford, BC, is voluntarily recalling the affected product(s) from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:

Nu-Tea Company Ltd., Liz Bandelin, 866-801-7600;

CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

A viable option for Grizzly bears

Dr. Brian L. Horejsi - I like the idea a southwest Alberta rancher recently put forward even though it's decades old – that we need to move to another option to solve the grizzly bear conservation issue in SW Alberta. When I wrote my report on the status and recovery of the grizzly bears in that part of the province in 2004 it was religiously ignored by government and even enviros because it provided long term solutions to grizzly bear conservation that meant change in the status quo.

Athlete of the day February 23, 2013: Kelli Potts

Kelli Potts

If you want to see Kelli Potts play for the Senior Girls Dragons you'd better hustle down to the Hawks Senior High Classic Basketball Tournament that finishes up today at Matthew Halton and St. Michael's schools, because Kelli graduates this year, ending an era of Dragons basketball.

It's been a remarkable run for Kelli, who was notable throughout her High School career and really flowered this season.  This was the season when it all came together for her, her third as a Senior Dragon.  She made the long shots she's know for with increased regularity, and displays a cool confidence that will serve her well going forward. 

Kelli is 18 years old, in Grade 12, and she also likes to be involved with hockey, volleyball, baseball, track and field, and horse riding.

She left these words for the Dragons she leaves behind: "I hope you have a good year next year, and all my luck to you."

"I'll miss the team a lot."

Kelli hopes to pursue College basketball after graduating, and she's applying at SAIT in Calgary for her further education.

RCMP Pincher Creek investigating Mischief to local insurance business

Pincher Creek RCMP needs the public’s help with an act of Mischief that occurred to the front window of Ames Insurance at 726 Main Street, Pincher Creek on February 3rd, 2013 at approximately 11:00 pm.

It was reported to the Pincher Creek RCMP that the window was observed broken at 11:30 pm by a passer by but no suspects were observed near the scene. It appears as though a glass mug was thrown into the front window of the building causing approximately $750 damage.

If anyone has any information about who may have committed this mischief, please contact the Pincher Creek RCMP (403-627-6010).

Alberta Government to conduct simulated disaster response

As the province holds disaster response training on February 26, all Albertans are reminded they should have and practice their own emergency plans.

“It’s vital that all of us, whether we are talking about the province, a city of a million people or our own families, have emergency plans in place,” said Doug Griffiths, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “The Alberta government reviews its emergency plans regularly, and this is something that we should all do as individuals, families and communities.”
The province puts its emergency plans and procedures under the microscope four times a year, but the upcoming training is the largest and most complex exercise since 2008.

Hawks Classic 2013 Sr. Basketball Tournament schedule

The annual Hawks Classic Senior Basketball Tournament will be held this coming weekend, with games at both Matthew Halton and St. Michael's schools.

MH = Matthew Halton School, SM = St. Michael's School

Friday, February 22, 2013

Stakeholder consultations first step to grow-op free Alberta

Press release

The province will ask an expert panel for input on how to address the health and safety concerns and criminal activity associated with marijuana grow-ops in Alberta communities. At the same time, Albertans can also make their voice heard by completing the Grow-op Free Alberta survey.

“We are taking a stand against this illegal activity as we move toward creating a grow-op free Alberta,” said Jonathan Denis, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General. “Marijuana grow-ops pose a serious risk to the safety and health of Albertans, lead to increased organized criminal activity, and are becoming a chronic presence throughout the province.”

Albertans encouraged to recognize mental health leaders and innovators

The Lieutenant Governor’s Circle on Mental Health and Addiction is welcoming nominations for the 2013 True Awards. The awards celebrate individual Albertans and organizations who are leading the way in work to deliver mental health programs and services, reduce stigma and encourage recovery.

RCMP seeking information about Castle Ford thefts and vandalism

During the night of February 17th 2013, the Castle Ford dealership in Pincher Creek fell victim to a series of thefts and acts of vandalism. A number of wheels were removed from new pick-up trucks as well as an air cooling system. These items were taken away in an unknown vehicle. Several dealership vehicles were damaged in the process. The Pincher Creek RCMP is seeking information in regards to any person or vehicle activity on or around the Ford dealership during that night.

Any information should be directed to the Pincher Creek RCMP office at 403-627-6010.

Athlete of the Day February 22, 2013: Austin Sinclair

Austin Sinclair

Austin Sinclair currently plays for the Halton Hawks Senior Boys basketball team.  They're holding their tournament at Matthew Halton and St. Michael's schools.  Austin is 16 years old and in Grade 11.

Austin is relatively new to basketball, but he embraced it with the same enthusiasm he brings to football and soccer.  A notable athlete at all these sports, this basketball season saw him turn from rookie into one of his team's top scorers.

He's looking forward to the upcoming soccer season.  "We're going to have a really great U18 season," he said.

Austin was named Halton's Junior High Male Athlete of the Year in 2011. He took third in Javelin at the 2012 Senior High West District Track and Field competition.

Austin has been invited to try out for Team Alberta Football on April 13.  Athletes that make the first cut will try-out again in May.  The athletes that make that cut will go to Moncton, New Brunswick in July to play football against the best of the rest of Canada.

CWF Conservation Awards Call For Nominations

Canadian Wildlife Federation press release

It’s time to celebrate conservation in Canada and honour those that are paving the way for the future of wildlife and habitat in this great nation. CWF is asking all Canadians to tell us about a deserving citizen or group that has made a difference for wildlife, habitat or conservation.

By submitting a nomination, not only will you will be giving someone recognition for their hard work but also an opportunity for them to visit Victoria, BC this June with the executive CWF board and receive a feature write-up in CWF’s Canadian Wildlife and Biosphère magazines.

We truly hope that you will take a few moments to nominate someone deserving of this honour. The deadline for the Conservation Achievement Awards nominations is March 31, 2013 at 11:59pm ET. If you visit awards.canadianwildlifefederation.ca you can find printable nomination forms which can be mailed in to our head office in Kanata, ON or you can submit a nomination quickly and easily online. Please feel free to contact us at awards@cwf-fcf.org if you have any questions about the nomination process.

(Courtesy of the Gateway Gazette)

Family Day fun at Waterton Lakes National Park

Snowshoe fun at Waterton's WinterFest

Christy Gustavison, Waterton Lakes National Park


Over 300 people came to Waterton Lakes National Park for Family Day weekend to snowshoe or cross country ski, enjoy the hot chocolate, make a drawing, do some crafts or enjoy our ‘Fun Fur families” multimedia show.

Art Workshop

Puppet Show

King of the Castle

Snowball Throw

Atom Chinooks host 3 Hurricanes for a rousing evening of Enmax Pond Hockey

Ceremonial puck drop by Nickalas Crook
Front: Rylan Bruns,Nickalas Crook, Caleb Evans
Rear: Christopher Tai, Thomas Lenchyshyn, Christopher Tai, Harrison Harper
C. Davis photos, T. Lucas video

Chris Davis and Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Yesterday evening, February 20, three members of the Lethbridge Hurricanes paid the Memorial Community Centre Arena a visit to play some pond hockey with the combined members of Pincher Creek's Atom 1 and Atom 2 teams.

Alexandra Morgan

Representing the Hurricanes were Thomas Lenchyshyn, Christopher Tai, and Harrison Harper.

The event began with the singing of 'O Canada' by local singer Alexandra Morgan, followed by a ceremonial puck drop with Rylan Bruns of the Atom 1 Chinooks and Caleb Evans of the Atom 2 Chinooks facing off against each other.  Dropping the puck was Nickalas Crook, who played for the Atom 2 team earlier in the season but was unfortunately forced out for the rest of the year after breaking his foot.

Fatal motor vehicle collision near Coaldale

On Wednesday, February 20 at approximately 8:20 pm. RCMP Lethbridge and Fire and EMS were dispatched to the scene of a Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision at the intersection of Highway 512 and Highway 845 approximately 2 miles south of Coaldale, AB. An empty Cattle liner was heading northbound on Highway 845 when a small Toyota automobile heading westbound on Highway 512 failed to stop for a stop sign and ran into the side of the Cattle Liner. The vehicle was dragged for 100 metres before the Cattle Liner was able to stop and the car was fully engulfed in flames.

One occupant was found deceased in the small Toyota. Investigation is continuing into the cause of the collision. Pending autopsy and positive identification of the deceased, no names will be released on the matter, for proper Notification of Kin to be made. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in this collision. No charges are being considered at this time.

Further updates will be released as information is available.

Library hosts hummingbird talk

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Andrew Hurly
T. Lucas photo

The Pincher Creek and Municipal District Library hosted Professor Andrew Hurly of the University of Lethbridge Biological Sciences Department on the evening of February 20 for a talk entitled 'Hummingbirds: Small Brains and Big Memories'.

According to Hurly, he has been working with hummingbirds for 22 years.  "There are two hummingbirds you'll see commonly around here, the rufous and the calliope.  Occasionally, you'll see others that are on the edge of their range.  Rufous is the dominate one, calliope seems to waiting to be chased away by rufous.  When we put out feeders, it attracts both.  The experiments are entirely behavioral, we will capture a bird for five minutes to put some ink on it's breast feathers, to identify it as an individual."

Athletes of the day February 21, 2013: Harper, Lenchyshyn, and Tai

Thomas Lenchyshyn, Christopher Tai, Harrison Harper
C. Davis photo

Thomas Lenchyshyn, Christopher Tai, and Harrison Harper of the Lethbridge Hurricanes came out to play some Enmax Pond Hockey with our Atom 1 and Atom 2 teams yesterday evening.

Here in Pincher Creek we know you Hurricanes went out of your way to make a difference for our young athletes, and we thank you.

Wind Turbine Noise and Health Study revised research design released

C. Davis photo

Health Canada press release

The reliance on wind as a source of energy is increasing in Canada and around the world.  Some residents in communities that host large-scale turbine electricity generators have reported adverse health effects which they attribute to the sound emitted by operating wind turbines. 

Health Canada provides advice on the potential health impacts of environmental noise, including that from wind turbines, which is protective of health. This advice is based on reviews of the scientific literature, World Health Organization guidelines, international standards, and knowledge gained from environmental assessments.

On February 10th, the Honourable Canada Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq announced Health Canada published a revised research design for the wind turbine noise and health study, which is being carried out in collaboration with Statistics Canada.

Upcoming local hockey games

(subject to possible additions)

Thursday, February 21
5:00 pm - 7:15 pm Atom 1 vs Taber
7:30 pm - 10:00 pm Midgets vs Vulcan

Friday, February 22 
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm Midgets vs Bow Island

Saturday, February 23
9:15 pm - 11:00 pm Novice
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Atom 2 vs Warner
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm  Sr. Huskies vs Nanton

Sunday, February 24
11:15 pm - 1:15 pm Novice not needed
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Atom 1 vs Taber

Monday, February 25
Atom 2 possible game TBA not needed

The Hurricanes are coming tonight

Atom Chinooks and Lethbridge Hurricanes at 2012 event
C. Davis file photo

The Lethbridge Hurricanes will be headlining a Pond Hockey event at Pincher Creek's Memorial Community Centre Arena on Wednesday, February 20 starting at 6:00 pm.

The grassroots Pond Hockey program matches atom level players aged 9 to 10 with their local heroes from the Western Hockey League. The kids have the opportunity to participate in a fun and educational evening of skills, drills and shinny with players from the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Canes players will lend their expertise and help lead drills and games with the hockey facilitators. ~ WHL website

This event is always a great time for the young athletes and is a great fundraiser for minor hockey in Pincher Creek too.

Athlete of the day February 20, 2013: Aiden Smith

Aiden Smith

Aiden Smith plays for the St. Michael's Junior A Boys Basketball team, where he's turning into a top scorer and a rock solid teammate.  He scored 10 points during last week's game against Kainai. He's 15 years old, in Grade 9, and this is his first year playing basketball.  He also enjoys playing soccer.