Bag 9, Okotoks, Alberta T01 1T0
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Christmas is a comin'
It seems as though the Christmas season
is fast approaching and people are already searching for that perfect gift and for
those already checking off their shopping list, this year's Millarville Art Market
was the place to be.
The market, held at the Millarville Race Track, was a confusion of people, art, crafts
and goodies on Saturday and Sunday.
Next up is the Millarville Christmas Market which is sure to be another hit and possibly
another check off that list.
photo by Cindy Ballance
Four Strathcona-Tweedsmuir students survive overnight
stay in Kananaskis woods
By Gillian Beckett
Staff Reporter
Four students have proven that friendship is the key to withstand all elements after spending an unexpected overnight trip in the heart of Kananaskis country over the weekend.
Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (STS) Grade 9 students Jenna Meth, Erin Smith,
Mallory Eeson and Andrea Kormylo are thankful to be home after they were separated from
their outdoor education class camping trip on Saturday (Oct. 16) morning.
The teens were found almost 24 hours later by Foothills Search and Rescue personnel
Sunday near the Wildhorse campground. 'We're very happy to be back,' said Kormylo.
'It's great to be home.'
The camping trip the four girls won't soon forget began on Thursday, Oct. 14 when
their class of 26 students and two teachers went to Three-Point campground located
west of Millarville for an outdoor education back-packing trip.
The class spent Thursday and Friday learning about outdoor skills first-hand, spent
Friday night at the campground then headed north from the campground Saturday morning.
The four girls volunteered to stay behind to help one of the outdoor education teachers
clean the campsite.
'We were taught that what you pack in (to the campsite) you pack out,' said Smith.
'We spent some time helping cleaning up.'
After a short amount of time passed, the girls were then told by their teacher to
catch up with the rest of the class before they ended up too far ahead.
However, out of two trails leading out of the campsite, the girls took the wrong
one. 'We were supposed to take the left trail but we took the right one,' explained
Eeson. 'We thought we were on the (correct) trail but after we walked for three hours,
we realized we weren't.'
It was at that moment that the four knew they were in trouble, but thanks to their
knowledge of outdoor safety skills and each other, they managed to keep their wits
about them in an otherwise frightening situation. 'It wasn't scary,' said Meth. 'We
knew where we were, we knew all the trails.'
'We were mostly worried about our parents and teachers worrying,' added Smith. 'We
knew we were fine, but they didn't.'
Armed with compasses, tents, food and a stove and a good dose of common sense, the
four decided to head to the Wildhorse campground area where they remained overnight.
'We each had a different set of emotions because we were basically all by ourselves
in the middle of the forest,' said Eeson. 'But we all really clicked. We all agreed
on the same things.'
'We had a common goal to get through this and get home,' added Meth. 'We knew we
had to fend for ourselves and rely on each other.'
Although there were general fears of being out in the forest at night, such as the
possibility of bears and other wildlife, the four friends spent the night talking
and reassuring each other that everything was going to be okay.
'While we were in the tent, we forgot we were by ourselves,' said Kormylo. 'We were
having fun.'
The next morning, the girls were faced with what they were going to do next.
They contemplated hiking 17 kilometres to the Elbow Falls Ranger Station, however,
they decided to remain where they were near the campground and make as much noise
as possible with their whistles.
In the meantime, a massive search for the girls was being conducted by Foothills
Search and Rescue, forest rangers, RCMP and parents and staff of the STS community.
The decision to stay where they were and to make noise proved to be a wise one as
Foothills Search and Rescue came upon the girls around 11:30 am. 'We were so happy
to see other people and to show them that we were okay,' said Smith. 'We were yelling
and sprinted across the field to (the search team).'
Tom Kenny, Foothills Search and Rescue team leader, said it was a combination of
luck and outdoor skills on the girls' part that led the team to eventually find the
missing four.
'We were doing a night training exercise in that area,' explained Kenny. 'It just
so happened we had a team on the trail (near where the girls were).'
'In my mind there was no doubt that we would find them. . . but it was a relief when
we did,' he added. 'They were well-equipped and they are a smart group of teenagers
-- they did exactly all the right things in an outdoor situation.'
It was undoubtedly an emotional scene when the girls were returned to their parents
and the teachers and classmates at STS and were extremely thankful for the efforts
of those who took part in the search to find them.
'We definitely have to thank all who helped to find us,' said the girls in unison.
'The Foothills Search and Rescue team, the rangers, the RCMP, our parents and teachers.
. . the whole STS community.'
Council forwards $400,000 for close up
By Cindy Ballance
Editor
After much deliberation Okotoks Town Council voted unanimously to advance $400,000 to close up the Foothills Community Centre.
The results of a recent plebiscite revealed that Okotoks residents would not support a tax increase to complete the centre, therefore, the Foothills Community Centre Foundation (FCCF) had to take steps to close up the partially constructed centre.
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Therefore, a request was put forth to council to advance the foundation the funds needed to properly close up the facility until funds could be raised to continue construction.
Council discussed the issues extensively, listening to various groups such as individual residents, seniors, youth and members of the foundation before making its decision.
Council also retained an independent engineer's study to provide advice on how to protect a $1.5 million asset over the next six months, explained municipal manager Will Pearce.
The $400,000, to be advanced from accumulated surplus, is essentially a loan to the foundation to cover such expenses as exterior work, roofing, windows, insulation, installation of a temporary security system, natural gas installation, fire protection and operating costs.
The money needed to complete the work in progress, without losing any funds through lost contracts, is $341,000. Funds needed to close up the facility are estimated at $289,000 for a total of $630,000.
Currently, the foundation has $284,000 available to year-end with insurance, leaving a balance needed of $345,000.
However, funds are also needed for a $1,600 temporary security system; operating costs for six months estimated at $18,000; and installation of natural gas services estimated at $10,000.
Therefore, the total required from the town is $375,000.
The town will require that any funds acquired by the foundation through its fund-raising efforts must be forwarded back to the repayment of the advance before any further construction can be done.
'It is our intent to protect the asset on the ground now,' said Pearce. 'We respect the result of the plebiscite and ensure that the dollars advanced are returned to the public coffers before any further work is done on the centre.'
'We don't get to drive another nail until we pay you (the town) back,' said Bob Berrien of the FCCF.
However, some residents were not happy with the results.
Resident Russ Wheatley raised a question of process in the proceedings with the centre.
'How did we get from an idea to build a centre for the community to asking what is the best thing to do with a partly finished building?' he asked.
Wheatley added that although the $400,000 will be advanced from accumulated surplus it is still taxpayers' money.
Municipal treasurer Grant Roeland explained that accumulated surplus is money that has been accumulated over a number of years from various sources and although there is no way to track exactly where the funds in the surplus came from, it could have been from taxes.
'These are the funds of the municipality and council is elected to act responsibly to the use of those funds,' said Roeland.
Resident Don Chase also raised skepticism regarding the funds. 'There is no adversarial conflict with regards to building a community centre, but the method of payment is what they (the residents) are concerned about,' he said.
'To expect the taxpayers to carry the load is both unfair and unwarranted,' he added.
If the money was not forwarded John Attrel of Attrel Associates Ltd. explained that over the winter months, without heating, frost damage could potentially shift and crack the foundation. 'There is potential for enough structural movement to cause a partial collapse,' he said.
'My report (states that it is) good engineering practice to preserve what has been built,' he added.
In order to assist council in making an informed decision, Pearce explained that council has, in the past, assisted various other groups with ventures to enhance the community such as Suntree Park, the Lions and others. 'Council has a fairly substantial track record of assisting with projects,' he said.
Council was also given assurance that no other costs, expect operating, would be incurred by the town if the facility was still closed up after six months.
After much discussion and questions raised by council, Councillor Cheryl Pedscalny moved to accept the advancement.
'I don't believe it would be reasonable (to put the centre) in jeopardy. . . there may be a greater loss in my mind if we don't secure the facility,' she said.
'We can't go back,' Pedscalny added. 'We are dealing with a decision here today and making a good decision for the future.'
Councillor Bill Robertson agreed, saying that the decision to forward the money has not been an easy one. 'I believe we are between a rock and a hard place,' he said. 'It is unfortunate that we got to this point, but the (facility) is a town asset.'
Robertson also said it is imperative that the town council have a close relationship with the foundation to provide an assurance to the residents.
Council agreed to have the foundation report to council on a regular basis on the fund-raising efforts of the foundation.
Other councillors hoped for the best outcome with the community centre.
Councillor Wayne Meikle said that all local residents need to get behind the centre and support it in one way or another. 'My hope is that our community comes together to see the project come together,' he said.
Councillor Linda Boychuk agreed. 'This has been the toughest decision I have made at council. Our options are to work together as a community and show where our civic pride is,' she said. 'If we can work together we can move a mountain.'
Although Councillor Laurie Hodson was skeptical, he too voted to forward the funds. 'I cannot in all consciousness cast my vote that would see the destruction of (this facility),' he said.
'Nobody ever said it would be easy,' added Pedscalny. 'But it is worth it.'
