Community - Okotoks to play
ball
Okotoks town council reaches agreement with Dawgs to build $3
million baseball stadium
By John Barlow
Editor
Okotoks has agreed to play ball with the Calgary Dawgs.
On Tuesday Okotoks Mayor Bill McAlpine and Dawgs general manager John
Ircandia announced the two partners had reached an agreement to build
a $3 million baseball stadium in Okotoks.
The state-of-the-art facility will be built on the north side of North
Railway Street across from Riverside Park on land donated to the town
by Nexen Inc. Construction on the new facility is expected to begin within
45 days and be completed in time for opening day in the spring of 2007.
McAlpine was ecstatic an agreement was reached and the now Okotoks Dawgs
will be calling this community home.
“I am just really excited,” said McAlpine. “This is
a wonderful opportunity for the youth of this community and a wonderful
opportunity for tourism.”
The facility will be called Seaman Stadium and Field House in honour of
Don Seaman who donated $3 million to the project.
Seaman Stadium will include 2,000 permanent seats, a wrap around berm
for family viewing, an indoor training centre and multi-use field house.
Ircandia said the Dawgs organization is “pumped” to have Okotoks
welcome the collegiate summer baseball program to the foothills. He said
the efforts of the Town of Okotoks and Nexen as well as other contributors
made the agreement possible.
“This is an exceptional partnership that made this happen,”
said Ircandia. “Okotoks came up with a fantastic site and Nexen
came to bat for the sake of the community.”
“It is wonderful to find a community that shares our passion and
enthusiasm for baseball,” he continued. “The support from
Okotoks has been phenomenal from Day 1. The people appreciate this opportunity
to be able to build this legacy.”
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In this issue...
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Dynasty -
Falcons win fourth straight girls rugby title
• See Sports
Fresh outlook -
Leighton Centre
celebrates new beginning
• See Special |
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Parade round-up
The clown Bronco Buddy entertains the crowd
at the annual Diamond Valley Parade on Saturday morning in Black Diamond.
It was a refreshing day for the parade and the neighbouring Discovery
Days in Turner Valley as the weather cooperated this year. Last year the
events were canceled due to the rains and eventual flooding. photo
by Rae Holtsbaum
Crime - Youth murdered in Eden Valley
By Pamela Roth
Staff reporter
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with second degree murder after a
16-year-old boy was stabbed to death during a party at a residence on
the Eden Valley Reserve last Friday.
According to Turner Valley RCMP, the accused, who cannot be named due
to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, had been drinking at the party with
the victim and about 20 friends when the pair began arguing over rap music.
Belva Daniels, 29, is a resident of the home where the murder occurred
and was watching a movie with her daughter when she heard the two boys
arguing outside the home.
“They started fighting outside of the house,” said Daniels,
who has been friends with the victim for a number of years. “I stood
inside and looked out the window. I was shocked.”
The 16-year-old was pronounced dead outside of the home. An autopsy conducted
on the victim confirmed he died as a result of his injuries from the stabbing.
Friday’s killing marks the second murder to occur on the tiny reserve
west of Longview in less than a year.
Last August, the battered body of 37-year-old Raymond Dixon was discovered
by Turner Valley RCMP along the Highwood River near the reserve.
Thirty-eight-year-old Ross Everett Pooreagle is charged with first/second
degree murder and a date for trial will be set June 14 in Court of Queen’s
Bench.
In the most recent murder case Turner Valley RCMP Sgt. Tyler Bray confirmed
both the victim and the accused knew one another and called the incident
a “tragic loss of life.”
“Unfortunately these things happen,” said Bray. “We
can’t protect everybody 24-seven. There are some concerns that have
to be addressed and steps are being taken both by the band and the outside
agencies with the RCMP.”
A total of six to eight members from the Turner Valley RCMP detachment
were involved in the investigation of the homicide last Friday along with
the assistance of the RCMP Major Crimes Unit, General Investigation Section
and Forensic Identification Unit of Calgary.
The youth is scheduled to make his first appearance in Okotoks Provincial
Court June 7.
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