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VOLUME ONE-HUNDRED SEVEN
PM40011853 R08546
NUMBER FORTY-NINE
STETTLER, ALBERTA
December 4, 2013
PRICE — $1.09 Plus GST
Scrooge steals Christmas toys, gifts FCSS hamper lifted from Stettler Wal-Mart LISA JOY Independent reporter
JOHN MacNEIL/Independent editor
LIGHTING UP THE TOWN — A Stettler staple, the Christmas tree on main street, was lit Friday night during the Moonlight Madness activities downtown and the 16th annual Festival of Lights Stettler hospital fundraiser. For more photos and a story from the Christmas-themed festival, see pages A6 and A7.
The Grinch won’t steal Christmas for needy children, if Stettler and District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) has its way. Last week, culprits stole a donation box full of toys, which was inside Stettler Wal-Mart. Sgt. Duncan Babchuk of the Stettler RCMP said the incident was reported last Thursday and is believed to have occurred last week between Tuesday and Friday. RCMP are waiting on video surveillance at Wal-Mart to help identify the person(s) responsible. “We’re hoping something comes out of that,” Sgt. Babchuk said. Theft of food or gifts from hampers is a regular occurrence in many communities, he said. “It’s unfortunate. It’s a charitable organization and it is an important time of year for the hamper society.” “It is disheartening,” said Janelle Robinson, president of Stettler Christmas Hamper Society, which has operated in town for 33 years and has never had any thefts. “We got Scrooged.” But, Robinson said, FCSS doesn’t want the theft to deter people from donating. The hamper society has spoken with the managers of the stores where all the other hampers are located and security has been increased at all locations. “They are keeping a better eye on them,” Robinson said. Donations of items can be made until Dec. 19 at Canadian Tire, Peavey Mart, Dairy Queen, FCSS office, Party Maxx, Wal-Mart and Savage Value Drug Mart. Monetary donations, to enable the FCSS hamper society to purchase specific items, can be made at the FCSS office and Gitzel Krejci Dand Peterson. The FCSS lacks items for teenagers, such as hoodies, clothes and personal hygiene products. The group is also in need of toys and cold-weather clothing for all ages. “We make sure they have gifts and that they have clothes to do them for the year, and enough food so they can have a wonderful holiday,” Robinson said. Continued on Page A10
Wild winter weather takes Stettler by storm ROBIN TARNOWETZKI Independent reporter
Stettler and the rest of Alberta were hit with another premature snowstorm Monday and Tuesday. The Weather Network warned that 20-plus centimetres of snow was reported in the Stettler area and that blizzard conditions persisted Tuesday. Calgary and Edmonton received 10 to 15 centimetres, while Red Deer got at least 20 in an early winter blast. Sgt. Duncan Babchuk of the Stettler RCMP said Tuesday that road conditions are treacherous and that most school buses weren’t running. William E. Hay Composite High School principal Norbert Baharally said the buses don’t run in temperatures of -40 degrees, with the windchill. If that’s the case overnight, buses might not run for the next few days. Vice-principal Kate Syson estimated that 100 students managed to make it to the high school, out of 530. Sgt. Babchuk also reported that there have been minor fender-benders, and the RCMP responded to a car that
hit a power pole on Range Road 17-5. The driver didn’t stay with his vehicle, but he was later located and found to be OK, Sgt. Babchuk said. “People aren’t getting out here. We haven’t had as much traffic reported as we normally do.” Police advise residents to make sure their vehicles are in good condition and to carry an emergency kit. “A T-shirt and light jacket are not adequate for these weather conditions,” said Sgt. Babchuk, who added that if anyone gets stuck in snow, they might be there for awhile, so dress warmly. The Town of Stettler said on its Facebook page Tuesday that it hoped to have “Priority 1 streets” cleared that day. That area includes 46, 57, and 71 streets, among others, as well as 44, 47, and 50 avenues. The downtown area was scheduled to be cleared as early as this morning. The town’s bulletin also said that it can take up to about two weeks to clear the streets of snow. The snowfall is expected to diminish the rest of the week, though temperatures are slated to remain between -25 and -31, with the windchill.
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ROBIN TARNOWETZKI/Independent reporter
Remnants of the Stettler region’s latest snowfall are evident on main street. More than 20 centimetres of snow fell Monday and Tuesday in the latest major storm.
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