Community mourns family's tragic loss
By John Barlow
Staff Reporter and Sports Editor
On a dreary overcast day, more than 2,500 people attended a memorial service in
High River for five local residents who died in a tragic car accident on May 7 near
Brooks.
Three generations of the Nichols and Moulson family were killed instantly when the
vehicle they were travelling in rammed head-on into a semi-trailer truck on Highway
36 150 kilometers south of Okotoks.
High River residents Ken Nichols Jr. and his wife Geralyn lost their two children,
their parents and a grandparent in the accident.
Tyler Nichols, 12, Silka Nichols, 10, Ken Nichols Sr. 58, Anne Nichols 56 and Mary
Moulson, 85 were killed in Sunday's accident.
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RCMP added that it is likely the accident was a result of the slick highway as it was raining throughout the morning.
The driver of the truck was taken to Brooks Hospital with minor injuries.
The family was traveling to a gospel jamboree in Okotoks where Ken Jr. and Geralyn were waiting for them.
News of the fatal crash sent shockwaves through the High River community and resulted in an outpouring of emotional support for the Nichols family who lived just west of the town on Highway 2A.
It was anticipated there would be a large crowd for the memorial service which was moved to the TransAlta warehouse on the corner of 12th Ave. and Highway 2A in High River as it was the only building large enough in the area to accommodate the crowd.
Many of those who attended the service were forced to stand outside in the cold rain, but refused to waver in a show of support for the family and friends of the Nichols family.
Cayley School, where Tyler and Silka attended classes, was closed on Thursday so students and staff could attend the service. Members of the Nichols family said they did not wish to comment on the accident or on the funeral service.
Hoop-la
Grade 6 students from Percy Pegler School
do the Village People's YMCA during the musical hoops game which was part of Sneaker
Day at the Okotoks Recreation Centre on Friday.
photo by John Barlow
MD elects new reeve, prepares for election
By John Barlow
Staff Reporter and Sports Editor
After declining nominations for the position several times in the past, Councillor
Roy McLean was elected reeve of the MD of Foothills last Thursday.
The Division 1 councillor has been on council for more than 10 years but has preferred
to the proverbial bridesmaid as he has been Deputy Reeve for more than three terms.
However, last week McLean finally accepted the nomination of Councillor Flores Groeneveld
and was appointed reeve.
'I appreciate council's confidence and I hope I remain worthy of it,' said the soft-spoken
McLean after being sworn into office.
Groeneveld, a reeve for two terms previously, was also nominated for the vacant reeve's
position, but declined due to personal reasons.
'I am not so sure I could adequately represent the MD at this time,' said Groeneveld.
The Division 7 councillor did, however, accept the nomination for deputy reeve and
was sworn in as such.
Hence, the long-time sheriff and deputy have switched seats.
The need to elect a new reeve became necessary when Wayne Berglund resigned his seat
at the reeve's chair and as the Division 6 representative on May 4.
Although a new reeve has been elected, the Division 6 chair remains open.
Council voted in favor of holding a by-election in Division 6 which will be on June
29.
With the next general election not until October, 2001 council elected to hold an
election rather than leave the seat vacant for 18 months.
The advanced poll will be held on June 23.
For nomination packages contact the MD of Foothills at 652-2341.
