A boot stompin' Cowboy Ceilidh
Frontman David Wilkie, centre, with band
members Denise Withnell, left, and Matt Woodward, right, of Cowboy Celtic perform
to a sold out audience at the Flare 'n' Derrick in Turner Valley on May 15.
photo by Gillian Beckett
Local man arrested after three-hour standoff
By Cindy Nickerson
Editor
An Okotoks man has been charged after a domestic dispute caused a three-hour
standoff with local RCMP members at 48 Wentworth Crescent on Saturday.
 On Saturday, May 15, Okotoks RCMP were notified of a domestic
dispute at the residence.
According to RCMP Staff Sgt. Ralph Wilson, there was a restraining order against
the estranged husband.
Wilson explained that the wife of the accused and four children were in the house
at the time.
The wife managed to escape and ran to a neighbor's house where the accused chased
her down and brought her back to the house, explained Wilson.
Three girls managed to escape and were no longer involved in the incident.
Upon arrival, police and one neighbor were confronted by the suspect who refused
to let them in the house, uttering threats and wielding a knife.
The man then barricaded himself in the house.
One 11 or 12-year-old boy was still in the house at the time of the incident, however,
police managed to get the boy out of the house through the basement window.
'This was not a hostage situation at all,' said Wilson.
A standoff then ensued. After three hours of negotiations, RCMP were able to take
the suspect into custody.
Alcohol was a factor in the incident, said Wilson.
The matter is still under investigation.
John Richard Campbell, 48, of Okotoks, has been charged with break-and-enter with
intent to commit an offense, assault with a weapon, uttering threats, forcible confinement
and possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offense.
Campbell appeared in Okotoks Provincial Court Tuesday, May 18 for a 'show cause'
hearing.
The outcome of the hearing was not known by press time.
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Health-needs study initiated for Okotoks
By Cindy Nickerson
Editor
In order to provide more efficient health services in Okotoks, Headwaters
Health Authority has received approval to conduct a study of health needs in the
area.
The planning study will help to establish a strategic plan for the provision and
accommodation of health services in the Okotoks area.
Headwaters has been seeking government support for this initiative since 1997 and
it was announced Monday that approval was granted by the Minister of Public Works
on May 11.
'We are delighted to finally get approval for the study,' said Headwaters CEO Dwight
Nelson in a press release. 'Okotoks is one of the fastest growing communities in
our region and in the province. We need to ensure that our future health services
meet the expanding needs of the people in the area. This study is the first major
step towards that end.'
Nelson also explained in the release that approval to proceed with the study would
not have been possible without the efforts of MLA Don Tannas and Mayor of Okotoks
Bill McAlpine.
McAlpine was pleased that the study is going ahead, saying that it is much needed
in town. 'We have been trying to get this for a couple of years,' he said.
McAlpine explained that Okotoks has a population of 10,000 people with another 6,000
in the outlying area.
'That's 16,000 without some type of extended care facility for seniors and some kind
of 24 hour walk-in clinic. I think that is terrible,' he said.
'We are hoping the study will bring positive results,' added McAlpine.
Tendering the planning work to various interested parties will commence at the end
of the month.
Government financial support is available to a maximum of $25,000 to complete the
study.
Oilfields resident pleads guilty to embezzling money
from parent group
An Oilfields resident has been sentenced to two years probation and ordered to
repay the $6,077 she embezzled from the First Oilfields Parent Group.
Heather Wickstrom pled guilty to theft over $5,000 at provincial court in Calgary
on April 16.
The parent group, which raises funds for community organizations such as Boy Scouts
in the Oilfields, is pleased with the outcome.
For the parent group, the key was Wickstrom being forced to pay restitution and replace
the funds she stole from the organization.
Wickstrom was the chairman of the First Oilfields Parents' Group in 1996.
According to Turner Valley RCMP, Wickstrom was reluctant to submit the group's financial
records for a regular audit. The chairman claimed some of the records were destroyed
in a fire.
When an auditor finally obtained the books, the review raised some red flags and
the Turner Valley RCMP was contacted.
'The financial records did not jibe,' said a Turner Valley RCMP officer who wished
not to be named. 'As a result we obtained a search warrant for Wickstrom's personal
bank account.'
Wickstrom's personal bank account was compared to the parent group's account book
and a number of cheques from the charity were made out to Wickstrom and deposited
in her personal account.
The RCMP officer said the entire community was the victim of Wickstrom's embezzlement
scheme.
'There are a lot of good people out there trying to better the community, then you
have someone like this steal from the volunteers,' said the officer. '(Wickstrom)
violated (the community's) trust.'
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