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- photo by Darlene Casten
Gun-wielding man is arrested by RCMP
By
Staff reporter
Part of an Okotoks street had to be cordoned off early Thursday morning following a report to Okotoks RCMP of a distraught man wielding a firearm in a Sheep River area home.
Staff Sgt. Greg Haner said RCMP received a brief call from a family member who simply said 'He's got a loaded gun' and soon after hung up.
'We were concerned that the man may use the firearm on himself or the other occupants,' Haner explained.
When RCMP tried to call the residence they received no answer and subsequently two RCMP officers and two Protective Services officers were dispatched to the home.
The protective services officers blocked traffic from passing in front of the home for approximately half an hour while RCMP members spoke with the two female occupants of the residence.
During that time a member of the High River RCMP and two Turner Valley RCMP officers joined the investigation.
Haner said RCMP were able to gather evidence from the women and subsequently decided to enter the home and detain the 44-year-old man inside. Inside a .22 calibre rifle was found but the suspect had left the home. He was discovered soon after in a trailer in the backyard. The suspect is in police custody with bail set at $4,000 cash.
'It is the hope of the family that (the accused) will receive counseling for addictions and undergo some psychiatric assessment,' Haner said.
The man has been charged with possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, unsafe storage of a firearm and breaching conditions of his release on previous charges of drinking and driving in Calgary.
RCMP are not releasing the man's name.
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 Students' win awards for baking See Entertainment  Driller wins gold in his final home dual meet See Sports |
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Dec 24, 2002
Please see this week's printed edition; webmaster is on vacation.
Be safe this holiday, everyone.
sincerely,
Cameron Knowlton
movies updated Dec 24
classifieds updated Dec 24
events updated Dec 24
Town commits to reinvest in rec centre
By
Editor
While battling with rapidly increasing growth challenges, the Town of Okotoks is anticipating no tax rate increase this year, but has approved a re-investment in expansion of the rec centre.
Council approved its 2003 operating budget during a meeting held on Dec. 9 and overall, a typical family dwelling assessed at $179,000 will pay an additional $168 on their tax bill in 2003 due to increased levies.
While council approved the budget with no tax rate increase, there have been a number of pressures.
This year alone, the town has been faced with unprecedented growth and anticipates the total value of construction of both residential and commercial development to total about $53 million.
With this growth council has been faced with infrastructure challenges to meet the needs of the growing population.
The value of new residential development seen in Okotoks this year compares favorably with Medicine Hat, a town roughly four times the size of Okotoks, and Lethbridge, a town roughly six times Okotoks' size.
While the town has made a consistent effort to take care of the basics such as water and waste systems, streets and protective services, there has been no serious investment made in recreation facilities in some time.
The recreational facility is aging and simply overwhelmed with use, stated a report to council.
Therefore, the finance and budget committee recommended to council a reinvestment and expansion of the existing recreation centre.
To do so, the town has proposed a recreation capital reserve be initiated in 2003. The reserve will appear as a separate line item on residential tax notices and will be about three per cent of the overall municipal property tax rate.
It is expected this will generate $160,000 per year. The monies, targeted specifically to expansion, will be directed to a reserve. Initial projects will include a third ice surface and expansion to the pool.
For a typical family dwelling assessed at $179,000 the increase on their tax bill will be about $34.66 for the recreation capital levy.
'We anticipate this to be an ongoing line item as the recreation needs in the community continue to grow,' said Councillor Ed Sands, chair of the finance and budget committee.
Another highlight of the 2003 operating budget is an increase to utility rates. The budget proposes an increase of 6.9 per cent. The purpose for the increase is due to recent and ongoing capital expansion and upgrades required by Alberta Environment such as the Zone 2 reservoir and upgrades to the water treatment plant.
Council is also working towards a comprehensive review of utility rates in 2003.
Other highlights of the 2003 operating budget include:
- Increases of 16.3 per cent ($84,013) to open spaces and cemetery funding to improve service levels.
- Protective services (fire EMS, bylaw, police) combined increase of $94,212.
- Council budgets have also been amended to reflect the change in council meeting schedules to 1:30 pm alternately, the tri-annual general household survey, commitment to centennial celebration and emergent matters, increasing time commitment of council and the next progressive step towards a full-time mayor's position.
- Provision is also made for council direction on the compensation policy.
- Increases have been made to manage and control Northridge and Southridge Drives (formerly Highway 2A).
- Increases were also approved to increase client service hours of operation at the rec centre and evening hours of operation at The Station.
- Payments to the recapitalization reserve will increase by $100,000. The reserve is used to repair or replace aging infrastructure.
- Recreation rates will see modest adjustments. Program services will move towards full cost recovery through user fees.
Council will consider the bylaw to approve the tax rate sometime this spring.
The overall increase on the tax bill also includes an increase to the library tax levy, market increases and proposed electrical distribution franchise fee.
