Bag 9, Okotoks, Alberta T01 1T0
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Pull, pull, pull
Students at C. Ian McLaren School in Black
Diamond participate in a tug-of-war which was part of the school's track and field
day last Wednesday. The event included obstacle courses, sack races and water fights.
photo by John Barlow
Vicious assault case closed after two years
By Gillian Beckett
Staff Reporter
A victim of a vicious 1997 assault in Okotoks can finally wake up from his two-year long nightmare.
After a lengthy joint investigation, which involved the Okotoks, Airdrie, Olds and Calgary RCMP and the Calgary Police Service, four suspects have been charged with the serious aggravated assault of former Okotoks resident Kevin Roberts.
Lukas Richard Ferber, 27, of Airdrie, Lance Edward Enns-Horvath, 21, of Linden and Michael George Carter, 36, of Olds were arrested by Calgary police on Monday, June 21.
Then, on Wednesday, June 23, police also charged John Leonard Caruso, 51, of Okotoks with aggravated assault.
The savage beating happened on Nov. 4, 1997 while Roberts was employed at D&R Companies in Okotoks.
The father of three narrowly escaped death after the assailants' attack, which left Roberts without a kidney, spleen and a broken jaw.
'It was a very brutal attack,' said Cst. Tom Materi of the Okotoks RCMP detachment. 'Roberts was lucky to get out of it alive.'
However, the list of crimes that these suspects are linked with doesn't end with the attack on Roberts.
Ferber, Enns-Horvath and Carter have also been arrested and charged with kidnapping and theft over $5,000 following the 1996 hijacking of a Future Shop cargo truck.
Materi added that two additional suspects have been charged in relation to this crime.
David Charles Lavarotto, 43, of Calgary was charged with obstructing justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice, and Richard Ferber, 60, of Creston, B.C. was charged with possession of stolen property, obstructing justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
According to RCMP, there is currently a Canada-wide warrant for Richard Ferber's arrest for allegedly murdering his wife in 1985.
Richard Ferber is the father of Lukas Richard Ferber.
'The investigations (leading to the arrests and charges of the suspects) turned out really good,' said Materi. 'The Okotoks investigation of the attack on Roberts initiated the investigation (on the other crimes).'
Lukas Ferber, Enns-Horvath and Carter appeared in Calgary provincial court on Wednesday, June 23 and are in police custody.
Caruso and Lavarotto are expected to make a court appearance.
The Calgary RCMP are continuing with their investigation into the details surrounding the crimes.
Council reopens public hearing on area structure
plan
By Cindy Ballance
Editor
Members of the public made an open display of relief and thanks during Monday night's council meeting after Okotoks Town Council agreed to reopen the public hearing with regards to the north area structure plan.
Councillor Laurie Hodson requested that council reopen the public hearing after additional information was received.
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The public hearing is set to allow all views to be brought forward. It is the only time during a hearing that the public can be heard. Councillors then must base their decision on the information brought forward at the public hearing only, explained infrastructure services manager Richard Quail.
However, a number of councillors did receive public information regarding the public hearing and although arguably it may or may not have swayed their decision, Hodson requested that the public hearing be reopened.
Hodson explained that with advanced technology it is simply impossible to shut oneself off from any or all information.
Hodson also questioned the length of time council had at the previous public hearing to adequately review the documentation received.
Council voted to reopen the public hearing on July 12.
Residents express concern
Residents have expressed concern over a number of issues regarding the proposed north area structure plans, commonly known as the Crystalridge subdivision.
In a letter to council and administration, submitted following the first public hearing, concerned residents of Crystalridge stated that, 'We believe we represent reasonable and just perspectives and that some critical exceptions have to be considered under the special circumstances and history of the area. From original concept to seriously crammed quarters is a big shock.'
The document, which also included a list of concerns, was signed by about 17 residents.
Although the document has not yet been considered or discussed by council, as it was received after the first public hearing, the document will be reviewed at the July 12 hearing.
Council considers north area structure plan
In an attempt to update the north area structure plan, Okotoks council is considering
four bylaws.
Due to the size of the area to be considered and to make the logistics of decision
making simpler, council has broken the north area structure plan into four bylaws.
The four bylaws will then make up the area structure plan.
For consideration is:
Bylaw 26-99
Bylaw 26-99 is ultimately a bylaw to update the area structure plan to conform to
the new Municipal Development Plan and other planning documents which have been implemented
since the 10-year-old north area structure plan was first drafted.
Bylaw 26-99
simply updates the wording of the area structure plan.
Bylaw 27-99
Bylaw 27-99 deals with the quarter section of land which encompasses the Crystalridge
subdivision and the proposed 'lake' subdivision.
A section of land exists along the east side of the present Crystalridge subdivision,
west of 32nd Street which had previously been proposed as a fairway for an 18-hole
golf course.
However, developers have now proposed to turn that area into residential lots with
a wide range of housing types, storm water ponds and public park lands.
With the new proposal the developer must be in compliance with the Municipal Development
Plan and Alberta Environments' new guidelines for storm water management to protect
the water quality of the river.
In the 'lake ' area, it has been proposed that residential lots be developed, the
golf course be reduced to nine holes and the lake size reduced to ensure the town
has the ability to deliver good potable water to all residents.
Some concerns expressed with Bylaw 27-99 during a public hearing held on Monday,
June 21 concerned water quality in the storm water pond, the amount and type of housing
and other matters.
Bylaw 25-99
Bylaw 25-99 was introduced to council at the public hearing. The new bylaw would
allow the proposed subdivision lands to be amended under the Land Use Bylaw to create
the appropriate land uses. This bylaw will be dependent on the outcome of Bylaw 27-99.
Bylaw 28-99
Bylaw 28-99 deals with the four quarter sections of land to the east of 32nd street,
commonly called the Air Park lands.
The bylaw proposes to acquire lands from a landowner to extend the development of
what will most likely be called the Okotoks Air Park. Acquiring the lands from the
adjacent landowner, however, has been unsuccessful.
Due to the diversity of housing, water quality components and public park spaces,
municipal manager Will Pearce said the north area structure plan, with moderations,
is a good one.
'Functionally, this is a good neighborhood plan,' he said
The public will have another chance to voice their opinions at the July 12 public
hearing to be held in Council Chambers.
