RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE FUNDRAISING ON TRACK - MARCH 9, 2010

Construction crews will begin building a Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer by the end of March. The house will hold a dozen or so families from across the region who have children at the Red Deer Regional Hospital. Executive Director Larry Matheson says over half of the $12-million needed for the project has been raised. They have $6.5-million dollars donated or pledged. The Red Deer Elks made a major donation to the project so they could have a magic room, which kids can visit at least once and pick out any toy they want.

MS SOCIETY TO REACH OUT TO RURAL CENTRAL ALBERTA - MARCH 9, 2010

The Central Alberta chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada will expand it's reach beyond Red Deer. Pat Snowie was recently hired as the new Community Outreach Coordinator. She says she will be visiting towns from Olds to Ponoka and Stettler to Rocky Mountain House. Snowie says she will gauge the public's response to her service to decide where to hold regular programming. Canadians have one of the highest rates of MS in the world, with 3 more people being diagnosed with the disease every day.

RCMP INVESTIGATING INDECENT ACT - MARCH 9, 2010

Red Deer Mounties are searching for a man who exposed himself to a pair of young women Monday afternoon. The alleged incident happened near the Fas Gas in Riverside Meadows at about 1:45. RCMP say the man opened up his truck door and exposed himself to the women and then took off. He's described as a caucasian man in his late 30's to mid 40's with balding light coloured hair. He has a slim build and is clean shaven and was driving a newer model maroon or burgundy Ford F-350 pick up truck. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers.

MAJOR DRUG BUST IN DIDSBURY - MARCH 9, 2010

A major drug bust in Didsbury netted several charges against a pair of Cremona residents. Mounties seized over 100 marijuana plants from a rental property in the town. Police charged the two 28 year olds with several pot related charges. They will make their first appearance in front of a judge in May.

CITY COUNCILLOR SAYS IDLE-FREE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN NOT GOOD ENOUGH - MARCH 8, 2010

An education campaign telling Red Deerians about the true costs of idling isn't good enough for one city councillor. Gail Parks (right) says Council should have taken the extra step to approve an idle-free bylaw last night. Parks says two years of education since she brought the idea forward in 2008 is more than enough. She says the huge success of idle-free policy for city vehicles hasn't caught on with the community. An idle-free bylaw may be back on the table next year if Red Deerians don't curb their idling habits.

ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER TO TEST LED STREET LIGHTS - MARCH 8, 2010

There will be a different glow over Anders this spring. LED lights will be installed on Addington Drive to test their energy and cost efficiency. Electric, Light, and Power Electrical Engineer Garfield Lee says they will be a different colour from what's already there. He says it's a white light and it will be a different from what is traditionally used. A survey will be posted on the City's website from April until June where residents can offer feedback on the new lights.

US APPEALS COURT TURNS DOWN CONVICTED MURDERER'S CHALLENGE - MARCH 8, 2010

A former Red Deer man who gunned down two hitchhikers in Montana 28 years ago is a step closer to being executed. A three member panel of the US appeals court has rejected a challenge by Ronald Smith. Smith sought to have his death sentence changed due to ineffective counsel. His attorney says he will ask for a re-hearing.  

STETTLER MOUNTIES SEIZE LOADED GUN - MARCH 8, 2010

A fight at a Stettler hotel over the weekend turned up a loaded gun. RCMP responded to the brawl at 6pm on Saturday at the Plains Motor Inn. Two teens were arrested and a loaded .25 calibre pistol was seized during the search of a 19 year old. The young man from Edmonton now faces criminal charges and will appear in Stettler court on Thursday. A 17 year old male from Edmonton was also arrested.

PUBLIC MEETING TONIGHT REGARDING MIDWAY SCHOOL CLOSURE - MARCH 8, 2010

The public can have their say tonight at a public meeting regarding the closure of Midway School near Didsbury. The Chinook's Edge School Division says the funding isn't there to support the school with an enrolment of only 27 students. A review committee made up of teachers, parents and the principal will make the decision next month. The public meeting will start at 7 p.m. in the Gymnasium of Midway School.

TRIAL SET FOR WASKASOO STABBING SUSPECT - MARCH 8, 2010

A local man will go to trial after a stabbing in Red Deer this January. RCMP responded to the Waskasoo neighbourhood after reports of an altercation and found a 33 year old man and 39 year old woman suffering from stab wounds. The injuries were non-life threatening. Jordan Rudolph, 22, has been charged with assault with a weapon and uttering threats. He has since been released on bail and will stand trial on October 12th.

LACOMBE ATHLETIC PARK NAMES SIGNATURE SPONSOR - MARCH 7, 2010

The Lacombe Athletic Park has named its signature sponsor. MEGlobal, which employs many residents in the town at its Prentiss site, will get to put its name on the park. Construction on the athletic park is expected to start later this month with a field house, and wrap up in November when field turf will be installed. The Association says the new park is attracting interest from all kinds of groups, including the CFL.

LOCAL GANG MEMBERS CHARGED - MARCH 5, 2010

Charges against two Red Deer gang members have been laid. RCMP searched a residence in the Highland Green neighbourhood on Thursday to find quantities of marijuana and drug trafficking paraphernalia. Five people were arrested but only two young men were charged. Mounties say the pair are associated with the "White Boy Posse" gang which supplies drugs to local residents. Both men will appear in Red Deer court next month.

WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE - MARCH 5, 2010

Red Deer's sanitary sewer and storm water systems will be greatly improved thanks to a $36 million cash injection. The Federal and Provincial Governments along with the City have each pitched in $12 million to make a more environmentally friendly wastewater system. Red Deer Mayor Morris Flewwelling says work will begin immediately. Flewwelling says this project will help create opportunity for continued growth and development in Red Deer.

FIRST OF FOUR MEN SENTENCED IN CHEQUE SCAM - MARCH 5, 2010

A Red Deer man will serve 18 months probation for his role in a bad cheque writing scam. Mardy Brand, 46, pleaded guilty to theft charges today and is ordered to pay back restitution. RCMP charged four men back in November after $45 thousand worth of bad cheques were used at pay-day loan companies and banks. Brand was given a lighter sentence because he has already made efforts to pay back the money. The other three men charged in

the case have yet to enter pleas.  

SETTLEMENT PENDING IN FRAUD CASE - MARCH 5, 2010

A resolution is in the works for an Ottawa man facing a long list of charges in Red Deer, including assault and fraud. Lawyers will likely make a deal for 38 year old Rodney Crabtree who is facing a dozen charges including uttering threats, forgery, fraud and assault. After a seven month investigation, Red Deer RCMP charged Crabtree after a local meat distribution businesses lost over $200 thousand. A sentencing will be set next month after more of Crabtree's charges are brought in from Ottawa.

RCMP ARREST TWO BOYS AFTER RASH OF BREAK-INS - MARCH 4, 2010

Two arrests were made and a stolen car recovered early Thursday morning in Red Deer. RCMP responded to the report of suspicious activity in the Vanier Woods neighbourhood when a resident heard his car alarm going off. Two males in a car were spotted next to the vehicle. They then took off, but Mounties caught up and arrested them. The vehicle they were driving was reported stolen last month. Mounties allege the pair were breaking into parked vehicles in the Vanier Woods, Lancaster and Inglewood communities. The teens will appear in Red Deer court on April 15.

JAIL TIME FOR RED DEER MAN WHO STOLE ELECTRONICS - MARCH 4, 2010

A jail sentence has been given to a Red Deer man following a massive stolen electronics bust in our city last week. RCMP raided a home in Inglewood on Feb. 22 to find thousands of DVD's and Blu Ray discs along with several TV's, computers and video games. Mounties say the electronics are worth over $100 000. Thirty-year old Ricardo Hudson pleaded guilty to several charges in court on Wednesday and was sentenced to two years in prison. A Lacombe woman,arrested at the same time, had her charges withdrawn.

LOCAL FAMILY BUYS CANYON SKI AREA - MARCH 3, 2010

Red Deer's Canyon Ski Hill is officially off the market, but as to who bought the property remains a mystery. Current owner Lorraine Martinek says a local family will take over in June, but will not give any more details. Martinek is pleased that the family will continue to operate the facility as a ski area. The purchase price has not been revealed, but when it was first put on the market, the owners were asking for 3.1 million dollars. The City of Red Deer and Red Deer County had made a conditional offer on the facility last April.  

SYLVAN'S RUSH READY TO TAKE A BREAK - MARCH 3, 2010  

Olympic Bobsleigh pilot Lyndon Rush is back home in Sylvan Lake with his bronze medal from the four man race. Rush says Vancouver put on an excellent event and defends what some critics called a dangerous and difficult sliding track. He says it was a fast track, but no harder than many of the tracks around the world and it helped establish the teams worthy of an olympic medal. Rush also credits the "Own the Podium" program as a success saying the funding helped with recruitment and pushed him on to tougher competitions leading up to the games. He says he doesn't have his sights set on the Sochi Olympics in Russia, but isn't completely ruling out a return to the sport after he takes a break.

CALGARY MAN GOING TO TRIAL AFTER DRUNK DRIVING INCIDENT IN RED DEER - MARCH 3, 2010

A Calgary man charged following a drunk driving incident in Red Deer will be having a trial. In December, police charged 38 year old Darren Wade Olson with several impaired driving related offences. It's alleged a truck was driving erratically on Gaetz Avenue and slammed into a lamp post at the intersection of Molly Bannister Drive. Witnesses then followed the truck to the parking lot at the Capri hotel. Olson's trial begins on November 2nd.

BANKRUPTCIES IN RED DEER ON THE RISE - MARCH 3, 2010

There's a big increase in the number of Red Deer residents filing for bankruptcy. According to a new report by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy - Red Deer witnessed 85.5 per cent more people going under last year than in 2008. That means nearly 700 people filed for bankruptcy. Red Deer is the hardest hit region in the province, with Calgary seeing a 75 per cent increase, while Edmonton only had 55 per cent.

CATHOLIC SCHOOL BOARD SAYS IT CAN'T SUPPORT JOINT STATEMENT ON PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT FOR CHILDREN - MARCH 3, 2010

Trustees with the Red Deer Catholic School Division say they can't support a joint statement on the physical punishment of children for now. They feel one person's interpretation of physical punishment may be common sense to another. Chair Christine Moore says the division condones the practice and already prohibits teachers from using it. She says trustees are totally against physical punishment for children. Recommendations in the statement could become law and the report's author is being invited to the board to address trustees' concerns.

RED DEER CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO GO HOME EARLY EVERY MONDAY - MARCH 2, 2010

Students in the Red Deer Catholic School Division will get to go home early every Monday next year. Teachers will have 3 fewer full days of professional development in favour of one hour every week. Superintendent Paulette Hanna (right) says there will be child care provided during the hour of PD. She says what that will look like will vary from school to school. Hanna says an hour of professional development every week will have a more positive effect on student achievement over a full day once per month.

PLANS COMING ALONG FOR CENOTAPH PLAZA - MARCH 2, 2010

Central Alberta war vets will be able to mark military milestones at the downtown cenotaph this fall. The City of Red Deer has put together a handful of designs for the park, which will be on the north side of Ross Street at the monument. Douglas McNeely with the Korea Veterans Association says he likes what he sees so far but says a little bit more work needs to be done, which includes creating more space for ceremonies. The estimated cost of the project right now is $1.3 million and work is expected to begin with crews working on Executive Place move out.

KINSELLA TO STEP DOWN AS MAYOR COME OCTOBER - MARCH 2, 2010

After 21 years leading Red Deer County, Mayor Earl Kinsella (right) is retiring from politics. The 73 year old made the announcement today, saying he wants to pursue other interests. He says there have been a lot of changes since he first started at Red Deer County, especially with forward-thinking planning.  Municipal elections will be held in October.

FATAL CRASH NEAR ALIX - MARCH 2, 2010

An Elnora man is dead following a single vehicle crash near Alix. RCMP say a pickup truck was travelling on Range Road 231 near Highway 50 when it hit an approach and rolled several times. Wade Glenn Bridge, 38, of Elnora died at the scene. Mounties say he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

AIRPORT NUMBERS ON THE UP - MARCH 2, 2010

There are some promising numbers coming out of the Red Deer Regional Airport. Passenger sales in January were double what they were last year and the airport is looking to expand to more destinations. Airport CEO Liam O'Connell says they are already seeing better results this year over last. The airport did encounter a temporary setback last month with heavy fog causing delays and diverted flights.

INNOVATION FUNDING HELPS LOCAL BUSINESSES - MARCH 2, 2010

Local innovations are a step closer to hitting the marketplace with some help from the Alberta Government. Seven small businesses in Central Alberta with innovative products have received a total of $310 thousand in funding as part of the Alberta Innovation Voucher Pilot Program. This included business with products like water treatment for drinking water for pigs, sensors for hydrocarbon reservoirs and lightweight portable massage chairs. In total, the government handed out almost $6 million to businesses across the province.