RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES
CANADIENS GOALTENDER TAKES HOME FOUR NHL AWARDS
Columnist Myrna Pearman spends a few hours with a remarkable little family
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Red Deer Advocate THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2015
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RIDE THE WILD BULL WILD
RED DEER RIVER
Flow outlook below average BY MARY-ANN BARR RED DEER ADVOCATE It could be a slower than normal tube float down the Red Deer River this summer, but that’s to make sure tap water flows as usual next winter. The bare minimum amount of water is flowing into the Red Deer River now downstream of Dickson Dam, as operators work to fill Gleniffer Reservoir by fall. Alberta Environment’s water supply outlook forecast for the Red Deer River basin is much below average for the June to September period. A much below average to below average snowpack, and the dry spring have had an impact on the Red Deer River. Rick Friedl, with Alberta Environment and Parks, said Gleniffer Reservoir is being filled and the flow out of the dam into the Red Deer River is being held at 16 cubic metres per second, the lowest permitted. At the same time, the flow into the reservoir is 37 cubic metres per second. The difference between the two volumes is filling up the reservoir. The reservoir is drawn down during the winter months to maintain adequate river flow downstream to assure the water supply to Red Deer, Medicine Hat and other communities. The dam is also used to lessen seasonal flooding when there is too much water. “We’re trying to capture a little bit more water and fill a little bit quicker because we’re seeing the rivers a little bit lower,” Friedl said. The water supply outlook for the Red Deer River Basin as of June 1, based on natural flow, shows a volume forecast of 69 per cent of average between June 1 and Sept. 30, at Dickson Dam, and 61 per cent at Red Deer. Forecasts are just that, and can change depending on precipitation and temperatures. Last year, the actual recorded March to September volume was 137 per cent of the average. The average is calculated with volumes from March 1 to Sept. 30 between 1981 to 2009.
Please see WATER on Page A2
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
$40,000 was up for grabs Wednesday in Ponoka as the Ponoka Stampede kicked off with the Professional Bull Riders Jace Harty Memorial PBR Bull Riding event. Here Jordan Hanson of Okotoks is tossed by Village Idiot but not before he held on for the eight seconds to count as a full ride. For his effort he scored an 87 point ride and got the chance to ride again Wednesday in the short go-round. The top 10 riders after 30 cowboys competed for a share of the prize money. The Ponoka Stampede begins in earnest today and runs through to Wednesday, July 1. For a full listing of events and times visit www.ponokastampede.com.
Judge reserves decision in abuse case BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF A decision in the case of alleged sexual, physical and emotional abuse at the hands of a former Bentley-area resident may come down to whether her children’s testimony is corroborative or conspiratorial. All four of her children testified to physical abuse that exceeded physical punishment as discipline, including swinging a pitchfork like a baseball bat at the children and knocking the oldest son, 40, unconscious from several hits to his head, dragging him into the next room, sitting on his chest and repeatedly hitting him across his face. Court was told this week that the latter incident left the oldest son with two
black eyes, a split lip and multiple lacerations and bruises. The name of the accused, now 63, and her four victims are protected by a court ordered publication ban. The mother faces several charges, including sexual assault, sexual interference, aggravated assault, assault causing bodily harm and assault for the alleged incidents in the 1980s and 1990s. The third day of the trial in Red Deer provincial court wrapped up on Wednesday with closing arguments from prosecutor Ed Ring and defence counsel Dave Inglis. Judge James Glass reserved his decision after hearing the arguments. Inglis opened by conceding that the incident that resulted in the two black eyes had occurred, as the mother admitted to it on the stand Tuesday. He
left it in the hands of the court which charge could apply to the incident. Ring said he believes the court could convict the mother for assault causing bodily harm for the incident. Inglis characterized the children’s testimony as the four of them teaming up against their mother, calling it a vendetta and saying it was clear the children wanted blood on the floor. Ring pointed out that all four children were carefully told not to discuss their memories of abuse, police statements or preliminary inquiry testimony with each other. All four testified to not discussing these incidents with each other, as they were instructed by police.
Please see ABUSE on Page A2
Lancaster homeowner survives garage explosion, fire BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF A Lancaster resident emerged unscathed after his garage exploded and his house caught fire on Wednesday. Four Red Deer Emergency Services stations responded to the scene. About noon, Vasile Clement was watching Internet news when he smelled smoke in his house at the corner of Lindsay Avenue and Lyons Close. “I smelled smoke,” said Clement. “I came out of the room I was in and smelled smoke inside the house. I ran to the bedroom to check it out, I ran downstairs to check it out and coming out I see smoke coming from the garage door.” Running outside as quickly as he could, he called 911 and watched shirtless, wearing only his sandals and track pants as firefighters put out the fire that had spread from the garage
WEATHER 30% showers. High 27. Low 13.
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into his attic. He was the only person home at the time and was uninjured in the incident. “When I opened the door to the garage, it blew out the overhead door,” said Clement. The two-car garage door was blown clear off the frame and lying sideways on the driveway. Red Deer Emergency Services assistant platoon chief Sheldon Christensen, said three pumper trucks responded and found the garage fully engulfed. “They generally don’t just fall off like that,” said Christensen said of the door. “Something had to propel it out there.” Clement bought the house new in 2005. He couldn’t figure out what caused the explosion. “It was scary,” he said.
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Photo by MURRAY CRAWFORD/Advocate staff
Red Deer Emergency Services were called to a reported explosion and house fire to a home in Lancaster Wednesday afternoon.
Vancouver to Ottawa: ‘Wake up’ The City of Vancouver has become the first in Canada to regulate illegal marijuana dispensaries. Story on PAGE A5
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