Community - Stadium may have
new home
Council signs memorandum with Calgary Dawgs
By Laurel Nadon
Staff Reporter
After being thrown out at the plate in Aldersyde and weeks of discussions
with the Town of Okotoks, the Calgary Dawgs may have found themselves
a home.
Town council unanimously decided to sign a memorandum of understanding
with the baseball club at its meeting on Tuesday, May 23.
The Dawgs will construct a 2,000-seat stadium and training facility east
of the intersection of 32nd Street and North Railway Street across from
Riverside Park.
“It provides the opportunity for our community to have a first class
baseball facility,” said Okotoks municipal manager Rick Quail. “We
believe this is quite a remarkable opportunity for our community.”
Mayor Bill McAlpine said he was thrilled with the decision.
“It’s something that I think is a real boon to this community,”
McAlpine said. “It’s an incredible opportunity for the youth
and it will help our tourism. I think it’s going to be received
wholeheartedly by the community. It’s a public-private partnership
and a great opportunity.”
He added that there are many possibilities for community uses of the stadium,
from lawn bowling and children’s indoor soccer to volleyball and
badminton. The Dawgs have also offered to provide training to the minor
ball coaches in Okotoks.
The Dawgs are a summer collegiate club comprised of college athletes which
has operated for the past three seasons out of Foothills Stadium in Calgary.
The club had previously hoped to construct a facility east of Aldersyde.
An agreement was needed between the towns of Okotoks and High River and
the MD of Foothills to proceed, but the MD balked at the proposal.
The Dawgs will be the primary user of the $3 million stadium from June
1 to Aug. 15 each year, playing approximately 22 to 25 home games each
season. Existing amateur and youth baseball programs in Okotoks and district
will be allocated significant playing time at the stadium and training
centre — no less than 50 per cent of all available time.
The stadium will be located on 10 acres on the easterly portion of the
lower terrace of the former gas plant site which Nexen Inc. recently donated
to the town. It had been intended to become an industrial park.
“I think that the economic spinoffs will offset any loss in taxes
on that 10 acres,” McAlpine said. “I can’t think of
anything negative about this opportunity.”
He added over 30 acres will still be available at that site for industrial
use and that another industrial area is also being developed on the east
side of 32nd Street south of the Sheep River.
The facility will be owned by the Town of Okotoks and managed under a
leasing arrangement with the Dawgs. The Dawgs, through corporate sponsorship
from Don Seaman, will be responsible for the construction of the facility.
The town, which is hoping to have financial support from the province
and neighbouring municipalities, will be responsible for extending utility
servicing to the site and constructing the access road and parking lot.
The preliminary estimate to complete this work is approximately $1 million.
The town will also be responsible for covering $75,000 per year of the
net operating subsidy for the facility.
Councillor Bill Robertson said he sees the facility as having endless
possibilities and providing a positive outlet for youth in the community.
“This is a win-win situation for a community to gain a facility
of this magnitude for what has to be a very minimal cost,” Robertson
said.
However, council questioned whether or not the MD is willing to share
costs for the operating of the stadium.
Quail responded that the MD has invited the town to an intermunicipal
meeting where this may be discussed.
Councillor Jamie Tiessen asked how much time council has to come up with
the $1 million to provide utilities and the parking lot.
Quail said that utilities and the parking lot must be roughed in by the
spring of 2007. The $1 million will come from the future recreation facility
reserve and the $75,000 required each year will be part of the town’s
yearly operating budget.
The Dawgs plan to have the facility open for the 2007/2008 season and
will become the Okotoks Dawgs. The next step is to identify a precise
location and orientation on the land, confirm soil information from the
geotechnical survey Nexen provided, verify a specific time table for any
additional approvals and access government funding.
The Dawgs hope to begin construction in late summer or early fall and
be ready for use in 2007.
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Playin’ in the mud
Jordan Camille of Turner Valley hangs on
to the bronc Tee Bow during the saddle bronc event at the Millarville
Rodeo on a wet Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, Camille was unable to
stay on Tee Bow and did not receive a score. photo by John Barlow
Crime - Diner staff shaken after armed robbery
Two Okotoks men charged in incident
By Pamela Roth
Staff reporter
Staff working the night shift at the High River Truck Wash and Diner
had the scare of a lifetime May 23 after a masked male entered the business
with a large knife and demanded cash.
“They were scared. He came in with a big butcher knife and asked
for cash, so they gave it to him,” said diner owner Frank Macza.
“The girl asked if they (the robber) were kidding; she couldn’t
believe it.”
High River RCMP responded to the 911 call around 11:30 p.m. and learned
one male had allegedly stayed in a red Ford Focus while his accomplice
conducted the robbery.
Okotoks RCMP were alerted of the suspect’s location after a motorist
reported the red car speeding north bound on Highway 2. The driver who
made the call also reported the vehicle’s licence plate number.
As a result, the RCMP were able to locate the vehicle at a residential
address in Okotoks, where the two males were arrested and charged.
Scott Russell Cable, 26, is charged with armed robbery, being disguised
during the commission of an offence, possession of an offensive weapon
and breach of probation.
Brad Alexander Edmiston, 20, is also charged with armed robbery and possession
of an offensive weapon.
The pair made their first appearance in Okotoks Provincial Court last
Thursday, however, the matter was put over until June 1 to allow both
accused to retain counsel.
Macza and his staff are still trying to come to grips with the shocking
robbery and he is searching for ways to make his night-shift staff feel
safe at work.
“It’s a big deal,” he said. “We are open to midnight,
so some of them are pretty scared. It shouldn’t happen out here.”
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In this issue...
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Discover Fun -
Diamond Valley hosts weekend celebration
• See Special
Grassland Gathering -
Cross Area launches
conservation program
• See News |
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