Rear end collision near Pincher Creek sends woman to hospital

Toni Lucas - Pincher Creek RCMP and Pincher Creek Emergency Services attended an incident on Highway 3 one kilometre east of the Highway 6 Junction today August 11 at approximately 9:00 am. A Jeep was stopped by highway work crews and was waiting to proceed when it was rear-ended by a minivan. One woman transported to hospital with undetermined injuries and two people were released on scene. Both vehicles were towed from the area. Constable Sherri Flundra said that the incident is currently under investigation.

Marvel at the Perseids meteor shower in Waterton Lakes National Park

Parks Canada/Government of Canada - Come experience this annual astronomical phenomenon in one of Canada’s most treasured places. What could be more magical than watching meteors shoot across the sky in one of Canada’s most treasured places? You are invited to join Parks Canada staff and volunteer astronomers in Waterton Lakes National Park for a spectacle like no other, the Perseids meteor shower.

Crestview highlights for July 2016

Excavation begins for the new Crestview Lodge (file photos)

Greetings from Crestview Lodge - July was a great month with many great people who came to visit us here at Crestview Lodge. Canada Day was a beautiful soul-lifting day for us here. Ann Nicols came in and shared a program with us. The music was a pure joy and so is Ann. Thanks so much for spending your time and energy with us.

Alberta RCMP observes National Peacekeepers’ Day

Inspector Gibson Glavin, RCMP, (Bosnia) 1997-1998 

A/Detective Nathalie Perreault, Edmonton Police Service, (Haiti) 2014-2015 

Chief Warrant Officer Stephane GROULX, Corps of Commissionaires (Haiti) 1997 and (Central Africa Republic) 1999 

Sgt. David Smith, Corps of Commissionaires, (Golan Heights) 1996-97, 1999-2000 

Cpl. Tony Peddle, Corps of Commissionaires, (Cyprus) 1977 

Commissionaire Ron Gallant, Corps of Commissionaires, (Cyprus) 1990, (Former Yugoslavia) 1993

Alberta RCMP, Edmonton Police Service and Corps of Commissionaires - Today, at 11:00 a.m., the United Nations' flag was raised at the Alberta RCMP’s K Division Headquarters in Edmonton to mark August 9th as National Peacekeepers’ Day. On hand for raising the flag were representatives from the Edmonton Police Service, the Corps of Commissionaires (working at RCMP K Division HQ) and the RCMP. National Peacekeepers’ Day is an opportunity to recognize the service and sacrifices of thousands of Canadian police who have served on missions overseas in challenging circumstances.

Watersports safety

Courtnay Epp

Courtnay Epp, Alberta Health Services Health Promotion Facilitator - Nothing beats getting out in a boat on a hot summer day to enjoy water-sport activities. There is no doubt that tubing, wake-boarding, jet and water skiing are all fun summer activities.

Bee hives destroyed in Lethbridge county, suspect(s) sought

Alberta RCMP - Coaldale RCMP received a complaint of damages to bee hives in Lethbridge County. Between the morning of June 25, 2016 and the evening of June 28, 2016, unknown person(s) drove a small vehicle or a large off road vehicle onto private property south of the Oldman River near Range Road 215. While on private property, the unknown person(s) struck and destroyed several pallets containing beehives, resulting in the destruction of the beehives and the bees inside. Coaldale RCMP are seeking any information that may lead to the identity of those responsible.

Prepaid card scams reported in Cochrane

RCMP Alberta – Over the past few days, Cochrane RCMP have investigated a number of frauds involving prepaid cards.

Victims are being called by unknown individuals claiming to be from different agencies such as ATCO, ENMAX and EPCORE and stating that if the victim does not pay their bill within a short timeframe their utilities will be shut off. The caller then states the victim must buy a set dollar amount of prepaid cards and call them back with the digit code on the back of the prepaid card. The cards being asked to buy are gift cards like iTunes card or gas cards.

Pincher Creek RCMP summary for August 1-7, 2016

Pincher Creek RCMP - The following is an overview of the nature of the complaints that the Pincher Creek Detachment received for the week of August 1 – August 7, 2016. Note that the summary indicates what was reported to the police and may not have been substantiated.

Total calls for service – 70

Assaults – 2

Break and Enter (residential) – 1

Fraud / Forgery - 1

Mischief (vandalism) - 4

Theft of motor vehicle - 2

Theft over $5000 - 1

Theft under $5000 - 2

Drugs - 1

Disturbing the Peace - 4

Driving complaints (general) – 10

MV Collisions - 9

Liquor offences - 5

Suspicious occurrences (general) - 2

911 calls (invalid) - 6

Animal calls - 1

Municipal Bylaws (barking dogs / noise / OHV) - 3

Prisoners held – 7

Perspiration and passion - Annora Brown cameo 10

Annora Brown's cratch art drawings from Old Man's Garden book

Joyce Sasse - How many miles did Annora Brown travel while pursuing her passion for art and her need to make a living?

How many times did she load and unload her car with painting gear, necessaries for spending time outdoors and equipment to keep her old vehicle going?

Second annual Ride to Horizon Raises $10,500

MP Barlow with Ride to Horizon participants and campers at Easter Seals Camp Horizon

Office of John Barlow, MP for Foothills - On July 29-30 MP John Barlow and his team rode 200km from Crowsnest Pass to the Bar U Ranch and finally to Camp Horizon raising $10,500 for Camp Horizon’s $10 million rejuvenation initiative to replace aging infrastructure and dormitories at the camp.

About worms and such

Joyce Sasse - Garden-work makes me remember back a few years when I invited neighbour boys to help me build a worm-farm. The farm was contained in a wooden box, with moist bedding and protection from the sun and yard critters.

Heritage Acres holds 29th Annual Show featuring Ford New Holland machinery and much more

Heritage Acres 29th Annual Show

T. Lucas photos

Toni Lucas - Heritage Acres Farm Museum, located northeast of Pincher Creek near the Oldman River Dam, held their 29th Annual Show on the August Long weekend 2016.  This year the extravaganza held more than ever before.  Heritage Acres President Ken Lewis was delighted with the program and the turnout.  "We are honouring the Ford New Holland line of equipment this year.  We have a lot going on," he said.  In addition to perennial favorites like the Parade of Power, saw mill demonstrations, and tractor pulls, there was a working blacksmith shop demonstration, nail pounding, rope making, and a pedal tractor farm for the kids.  There was food in abundance including a pancake breakfast, a steak supper and dance, and concession areas on the grounds.  This was all in addition to the many historical displays and buildings open to the public on the site.

Telus reports strong results for second quarter of 2016

TELUS Corporation via Marketwired  - TELUS Corporation's consolidated operating revenue grew 1.5 per cent to $3.1 billion in the second quarter of 2016 from a year earlier, driven by continued higher data revenue and subscriber additions in both wireless and wireline operations. Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) increased by 10 per cent to $1.2 billion. When excluding gains from the exchange of wireless spectrum licences and net gains and equity income related to real estate joint venture developments in the second quarter of 2016, as well as restructuring and other costs from both reporting periods, adjusted EBITDA was up 4.3 per cent to $1.2 billion. This growth reflects higher wireless and wireline revenue, as well as execution on operational efficiency and effectiveness initiatives.

Town of Pincher Creek fluoridation poll results released

(Graphics from Town of  Pincher Creek fluoridation survey report)

Christian Davis - At their August 3, 2016 meeting the Town of Pincher Creek's Committee of the Whole (COW) received the results of the Town's recently conducted fluoridation poll. Council heard from Town of Pincher Creek Director of Operations Al Roth, Water Treatment Plant Operator Blaise Bruder, and the Town's engineer Albert Tagoe of Talbera Engineering Ltd. Roth, Bruder, and Tagoe also spoke to the committee about upcoming repairs to the water treatment plant and water supply issues, which will be the subject of a separate upcoming article. All members of council and CAO Laurie Wilgosh were present for the meeting.  After much discussion, council decided to accept the Administration and Operations Committee report as information, effectively shelving the issue, with councillor Lorne Jackson casting the one dissenting vote.

Skid steer stolen from Pincher Creek Farm Centre

RCMP Pincher Creek - Pincher Creek RCMP is requesting the public assistance in solving a skid steer theft the occurred over the weekend of July 29th and July 31st. Person(s) unknown entered the Pincher Creek Farm Centre and stole a New Holland L220 skid steer from the equipment yard. The skid steer was brand new with a snow bucket attached to the front.

Above is a photo of a similar machine with the same colour scheme.

Anyone with information is asked to the Pincher Creek RCMP at 403-627-6010 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-(TIPS)8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.

Former Town of Pincher Creek councillor Tammy Rubbelke thanked for her service

Town of Pincher Creek Mayor Don Anderberg and former councillor Tammy Rubbelke

Chris Davis - Former Town of Pincher Creek councillor Tammy  Rubbelke was thanked for her service to the town and was presented with a gift watch at yesterday's Committee of the Whole meeting, in a brief ceremony presided over by Mayor Don Anderberg.  "On behalf of council and the citizens of Pincher Creek I want to thank you for your services to this community," said Mayor Anderberg.

EPCOR announces quarterly results

EPCOR via Marketwired -  EPCOR Utilities Inc. (EPCOR) today filed its quarterly results for the three months and year-to-date period ended June 30, 2016.  "Our second quarter financial performance continued to build on our solid first quarter results. All EPCOR operations ran well in the quarter including those that provide water and wastewater services to various work camps north of Fort McMurray. I would like to acknowledge the incredible effort of all our staff who supported these essential operations safely during the wildfire" said Stuart Lee, EPCOR President and CEO.

Your EMS - Pincher Creek Emergency Service's Kate Feist

"#YourEMS is proud to partner with contracted EMS providers like Kate Feist with Pincher Creek Emergency Services @town_of_pc"

Aged Grizzly euthanized after killing Twin Butte area sheep

Ron Schmidt and T. Lucas photos

Warning: some of the images used in this article (below the "read more" line) may be disturbing to some people.  Reader discretion is advised.

• Any bear or wildlife concerns can be reported to the 24-hour Report A Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800.

Toni Lucas - Two separate Grizzly bear attacks claimed the lives of six sheep from one Twin Butte area property between the dates of July 22 - August 1. Landowner Ron Schmidt called Fish and Wildlife officers after he found one sheep dead on his property on July 22 and again when he found five sheep dead  the morning of Sunday, July 31. His property is located ten minutes northeast of Waterton Park, a two minute drive east of Twin Butte in Bear Management Area support zone (BMA 6).  The bear was ultimately trapped and euthanized by Alberta Fish and Wildlife officers.

Inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls gets Alberta's support

Government of Alberta - The Minister of Indigenous Relations, Richard Feehan, issued the following statement in response to today’s federal announcement of a five-member commission to lead the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, along with terms of reference to guide their work.

Seatbelt safety - don’t gamble with your life

Randy Youngman, Regional Traffic Safety Consultant - Lotteries - Spend a couple bucks and have a chance at winning millions! Lotteries are something we gamble with, even though the odds are so slim of winning. Gambling a dollar….no big deal. Gambling with your life… a different story! So why wouldn’t we chose to do a simple, quick act that almost guarantees our odds of survival in the event of a crash?

Alberta government announces new payday loan protections and lower rates

• Alberta now has the lowest payday lending rate in Canada

Government of Alberta - As of August 1, the province has the lowest maximum borrowing rate in the country, reduced from $23 for every $100 borrowed to $15 per $100. All fees related to a payday loan must be included in this cost, and this move puts an end to hidden fees and charges.

Minor Cypress County collision involving police vehicle

RCMP Alberta - This morning at 8:30 am, an RCMP police vehicle was involved in a collision on Highway 3 in Cypress County. The police vehicle was driving eastbound, passing Township 120. A truck turning on to Highway 3 from Township 120 drove in front of the police vehicle, resulting in a collision.  The lone occupant of the truck was not injured.

RCMP shares back to school safety tips

(Public service announcement)

RCMP Alberta - As the upcoming school year is about to begin the RCMP are reminding motorists to be mindful of school zones and school bus safety. After a summer of driving without school bus drop-offs/pick-ups or lots of kids walking to and from school, drivers can often forget the challenges of driving in school zones. Now is the time to adjust your driving habits to ensure you are not involved in a collision or receiving a costly ticket.

Ground breaking ceremony held for new Crestview Lodge

MD of Pincher Creek Reeve Brian Hammond, Foothills MP John Barlow, Livingstone-Macleod MLA Pat Stier, Calgary-McKay-Nose Hill MLA Karen McPherson, Crestview Lodge Manager Millie Loeffler, Pincher Creek Foundation Chair Sahra Nodge, Town of Pincher Creek Mayor Don Anderberg

Christian Davis - A ground breaking ceremony was held for the new Crestview Lodge construction project in Pincher Creek on Wednesday July 27. Dignitaries in attendance included Pincher Creek Foundation (PCF) Board Members, Foothills MP John Barlow, Livingstone-Macleod MLA Pat Stier, Calgary-McKay-Nose Hill MLA Karen McPherson representing Alberta Minister of Seniors Lori Sigurdson, Town of Pincher Creek Mayor Don Anderberg, Municipal District of Pincher Creek Reeve Brian Hammond, Town and MD councillors. architect George Berry, former foundation Chair Neil Stewart, and representatives from Golden Triangle Construction Management Inc.