Pincher Creek Rotary donates dictionaries to local schools

Photos supplied by Rotary of Pincher Creek

Karin Buhrmann - The Rotary Club of Pincher Creek has just finished handing out Canadian dictionaries to all the grade 3 students in the Crowsnest Pass, Lundbreck, Pincher Creek and Brocket, about 160 in total.  The Rotary Club has sponsored this dictionary project for the last eight years.

Brocket teacher arrested for Child Pornography offences

Mark Anderson Piitaawotaan (Pincher Creek Voice file photo)

ALERT - An elementary school teacher in Brocket, Alberta, has been charged with child sexual exploitation offences following an investigation by ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation unit.

Mark Anderson was arrested on January 11, 2018 with the assistance of Pincher Creek RCMP, Piikani Nation RCMP and Lethbridge Police. The 44-year-old man teaches at Brocket Elementary School and is also involved in various youth-oriented community programs on the Piikani Nation Reserve, such as minor sports and Scouts Canada.

Anderson is charged with possessing, accessing, and distributing child pornography.

While the investigation and charges are related to online offences, ICE is encouraging anyone with information about this case to come forward and contact police. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact local police or cybertip.ca.

Napi's Playground School Library revitalized

Fu Hui Educational Foundation President Jusdy San with Napi's Playground students

T. Lucas/C. Davis - Napi's Playground School at Piikani Nation hosted a reopening ceremony for their extensively renovated library on November 15. Guests in attendance included representatives of the Fu Hui Educational Foundation (FHEF) and the Martin Family Initiative (MFI). Both organizations provided financial support to the school to refit the library. The guests were toured through Napi Playground (Piikani Nation's elementary school) and visited with students in their classrooms before the presentation.

Piikani Youth Rodeo roundup

Toni Lucas - The Piikani Youth Rodeo wrapped up its last run of the summer on Wednesday, August 30.  This incarnation of the Brocket Youth Rodeo started in 2013. as a way of getting kids together to learn new skills and develop self esteem. The event is sponsored by Aakom-Kiyii Health Services, which provides a number of vital outreach programs for Piikani Nation youth. Every Wednesday evening through the summer kids from all over the region have gathered at Brocket's Crowlodge Rodeo Arena where they can have an opportunity to learn and practice their skills in various events, including basic horsemanship, barrel racing, pole bending, calf riding, mutton busting, bull riding and more.

Power outage affects southwestern Alberta communities

Toni Lucas - A power outage that began at 9:55 am today, July 7, 2017, and continues in some communities, was started when a bird got into one of the Pincher Creek area substations, according to AltaLink Vice President of Communications Scott Schreiner. "It caused some damage to the transmission equipment in that substation."  5000 customers were affected from Crowsnest Pass through Fort McLeod, including Cowley, Pincher Creek, Brocket, Twin Butte, Hillspring, Fort Macleod, Standoff and outlying areas. AltaLink and Fortis Alberta have been working together to get power back to the affected areas. By 1:30 pm, power was restored to two thirds of affected customers, leaving 1,600 customers still without power. "We appreciate everyone's patience as we try and get the power restored as quickly and safely as possible," said Schreiner. "We know the people need their electricity, so we're working as hard as we can."

Piikani RCMP seek public's assistance in rash of thefts from vehicles

RCMP Alberta - Piikani RCMP are looking for tips from the public to help identify the person or persons responsible for a string of thefts from motor vehicles.

Between 9:00 pm on Sunday, April 23 and 7:00 am on Monday, April 24th, eight different vehicles were entered in the town of Brocket and items stolen from inside. Three of the vehicles had been left unlocked. For the other five vehicles, entry was gained by breaking a window.

Anyone with information on this or any other crimes is asked to contact the Piikani RCMP detachment at 403-965-2000. If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477(TIPS) , by internet at www.tipsubmit.com or by SMS (check your local Crime Stoppers www.crimestoppers.ab.ca for instructions). You do not have to reveal you identity to Crime Stoppers, and if you provide information to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest(s), the recovery of stolen property, and/or the seizure of illicit drugs, you may be eligible for a cash reward.

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Slippery driving conditions on Highway 3 , accident near Brocket

Highway 3at brocket hill is slippery and the East bound lane is blocked by an accident use caution pic.twitter.com/HN8E7gLe3R

— Emergency Services (@DeputyChiefPCES) April 3, 2017

Traffic is moving on the east bound lane but slippery and partially blocked at brocket on highway 3

— Emergency Services (@DeputyChiefPCES) April 3, 2017

Piikani First Nation drug seizure results in charges for two

RCMP Alberta - RCMP from Piikani First Nation have charged two residents with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking after seizing a significant amount of cocaine.

On February 25, Piikani RCMP officers pulled a vehicle over a vehicle leaving a residence after seeing that the passenger was in breach of his curfew conditions. After arresting both the passenger and driver, officers discovered 96 grams of cocaine in the vehicle as well as proceeds of crime.

Brocket gas station destroyed by fire (updated)

C. Davis photos

Toni Lucas - The gas station on Highway 3 at Brocket burned down early Saturday morning February 11. According to RCMP Piikani Nation Detachment Commander Ray Starzynski the fire was reported at approximately 2:00 am. Piikani Nation Fire Department and Piikani Nation RCMP responded. There were no injuries, but the structure was almost completely destroyed.

The gas station, a wooden building, was not open for business to the public for a number of years. Although the building was vacant it contained items appropriate to a service station including oil and other flammables.

According to Starzynski, the fire started inside of the building and the investigation into the cause of it is still ongoing. "Because it was a gas station, basically there were accelerants everywhere. There were oil containers, all sorts of stuff throughout the entire building."

If anyone has any information on this incident or any other please contact the Piikani RCMP at 403-965-2001 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or through the internet at www.tipsubmit.com.  Crimestoppers does not subscribe to call display and the identity of the caller will remain anonymous.

Fatal MVC on Hwy 3 between Pincher Creek and Brocket

Updated

RCMP Alberta - On December 24, 2016, at 11:30 am, Pincher Creek RCMP and RCMP Collision Analyst responded to a serious motor vehicle collision on Highway 3, approximately 5 km east of the Highway 6 turnoff.

House move planned from Brocket to Fort Macleod area on Oct. 14

According to 511.alberta.ca, on Friday, October 14, 2016 a portable house will be moved from east of Brocket to north of Fort Macleod between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm, on a route that includes Highway 3 and Highway 2.

No major injuries after two vehicle collision east of Pincher Creek

The rear passenger side wheel came off of the dodge and got jammed under the GMC

photos courtesy Pincher Creek RCMP

Toni Lucas - Pincher Creek Emergency Services (PCES) and local RCMP responded to a collision between two pickup trucks at the intersection of highways 507 and 786 on Tuesday, June 28 at 4:27 pm.  One vehicle was headed south from Brocket area and the other was traveling west toward Pincher Creek.

Constable Wallace of the Pincher Creek RCMP said one of the vehicles stopped at the intersection then proceeded in an unsafe manner and was hit on the passenger side near the rear tire.   Both vehicles had fluids leaking and required proper clean up procedures.  Both drivers were the sole occupants of the vehicles. They were assessed for injuries and released on the scene.  PCES were on scene for close to an hour.