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Sheepers!
This young cowboy holds on tight while rodeo clown Dennis Halstead guides the sheep out of the pen during the popular mutton bustin’ event at the Okotoks Indoor Pro Rodeo held Sunday.
- photo by Cindy Ballance
Still no leads into double homicide as fifth anniversary of murders passes
By Cindy BallanceEditor
As yet another year passes by, RCMP still have no leads into a tragic double homicide that rocked the Turner Valley community five years ago.
The family of eight-year-old Cathryn Johnson and her 36-year-old mother, Jane, are still trying to deal with their tragic deaths while attempting to live with the knowledge that their killer is still at large.
Although numerous tips from the public have been received by Turner Valley RCMP and the Calgary Major Crimes Unit, none have provided enough evidence to lead to an arrest.
'There have been many man hours spent on this investigation,' said Cst. Butch Dupont of the Turner Valley RCMP who has been the head of the investigation since it started.
Recently, a few tips have come forward, however, Dupont said he couldn’t reveal any more than that as the investigation is continuing.
'There has been some new information come to light,' said Dupont. 'We are presently working on it.'
Dupont, much like the family, said he is frustrated at the length of time that has passed and the case remains unsolved.
One of the biggest frustrations for Dupont is the fact that there are limited resources available to spend the time necessary in solving the case.
'Turner Valley is one of the busier detachments in Alberta,' he said. 'It all comes down to manpower or lack of it.'
Currently, the Turner Valley detachment is working one man short and is awaiting response on a request to K-Division for three more officers at the detachment.
Despite the lack of manpower, Dupont said the investigation into the Johnson murders will never close.
'Murder cases are never closed so we will continue to work on it,' he explained.
RCMP originally ruled that Jane and Cathryn died of smoke inhalation after they were discovered in their partially burned home in Turner Valley on Royalite Way. However, autopsy results determined foul play and RCMP later ruled the crime as a double homicide.
Campers and staff evacuate Kananaskis
By Cindy BallanceEditor
While many set out for the woods to enjoy the last long weekend of the summer, they were sorely disappointed their camping excursions came to end before they even started.
Due to the dry tinder conditions and fear of forest fires in much of southern Alberta, government agencies were forced to close 93 campgrounds in Kananaskis Country south to Waterton Lakes National Park Thursday. The closure affects over 750,000 hectares.
Campers and campground staff were forced to evacuate the Elbow Valley Campground area just prior to the long weekend to protect them from the danger of a potential wildfire.
A ministerial order for the forest closure, the largest in Alberta history, was signed last week.
Kevin Wirtanen, forest information officer with Alberta Sustainable Resource Department, said that there are three levels of a fire ban in effect from Highway 1 south to the Waterton Lakes boarder.
The three levels are depicted on the map shown here.
The three fire ban levels include those areas where campfires are allowed in designated areas, areas where no outdoor fires are allowed and areas where there is forest closure and access is not permitted.
Those with a residence in the closed areas will only be given access with a proper permit.
'The forest closure zone encompasses Kananaskis Country to Waterton Lakes. It is closed to public access,' said Wirtanen. 'The reasoning behind the forest closure is to limit the chance of humanly-triggered fires.'
Campers were notified of the closure prior to a ministerial order being signed in order for them to make other plans for the long weekend and to avoid evacuating large numbers of campers during a possible wildfire.
'Human caused ignitions are a big factor on the long weekend,'said said Wirtanen.
'This is somewhat unprecedented,' he added. 'It has been 30 years since there has been a forest closure to this effect.'
With the forecasted winds prior to the long weekend, the potential for severe complications if a fire ignited also caused officials to take these preventative measures.
'The fire hazard is extreme. We are focusing our resources to ensure the safety of Albertans and are taking the necessary steps before a fire potentially breaks out,' said Mike Cardinal, Minister of Sustainable Resource Development.
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In this issue... |
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Opinion  Producers scramble for gravel sources See News |
 Cook-off serves up some heat See this week's printed issue  Okotokian wins national tetrathlon See Sports |
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