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Vol. 19, No. 14, Wednesday, February 28, 2024 www.LamontLeader.com
Local food bank volunteers mourn the loss of Fort Food Bank executive director BY JANA SEMENIUK Volunteers for the County of Lamont Food Bank are mourning the loss of neighbouring Fort Saskatchewan Food Bank’s executive director Kassandra Gartner, 45, after she was killed in a hit and run Feb. 24. Jody Zachoda, Board Chair for CLFB, issued a statement on behalf of the CLFB, saying Gartner was a dedicated member of the Fort Saskatchewan Food Bank organization and will be dearly missed. “On behalf of the CLFB we extend our heartfelt sympathies to Kassandra's family and circle of friends. Kassandra's dedication to her role at the Fort Saskatchewan nourishment centre/food bank is truly commendable. She was not only excellent at her job, but also played a pivotal role
in fostering collaboration between the CLFB and the nourishment centre. Through her work, she brought people together, exchanged ideas, and facilitated discussions on how best to serve the community,” said Zachoda. “Kassandra's impact extended beyond her professional responsibilities. She was known for her kindness, a compassionate nature and her willingness to serve others made her a force to be reckoned with. She had a genuine heart for the community and worked tirelessly to make a positive difference. The loss of Kassandra is a devastating blow to her family, friends, and the food bank community.” Late in the evening on Feb. 24, Gartner’s vehicle ran over an RCMP spike belt that was deployed on 50th street in Edmonton to capture a suspect
who fled police in a U-Haul. After Gartner’s tires were punctured, she got out to inspect the damage when she was hit by the fleeing U-Haul. The driver did not stop, driving further into Edmonton where it crashed into another vehicle and left an adult male with serious non-life-threatening injuries. According to reports, the U-Haul then stopped near a convenience store off 22nd avenue and 50th street where the suspect then stole a Honda Civic that was parked outside the store with a child inside. The child was eventually found unharmed at 66th street and 25th avenue and the stolen car was recovered Feb. 26 by police near Wainwright, Alta. Police are still searching for the suspect, described as five feet 11 inches and last seen wearing a black hoodie
with white letters on the front. He was also wearing brown shorts and black shoes. Anyone with information about the suspect’s identity and/or their whereabouts is asked to contact the EPS immediately at 780-4234567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477 or online at www. p3tips.com /250. Kassandra Gartner
Mundare Fire Department is County’s busiest, says fire chief BY JOHN MATHER Lamont County Emergency Services Fire Chief Bo Moore, and Deputy Regional Chief Scott Calder attended Mundare Council Feb. 20, and during the course of their update told council the Mundare Emergency Service Department was the busiest in Lamont in 2023 in terms of callouts. Lamont County has fire departments in Bruderheim, Lamont, Chipman, Andrew and Mundare. Moore reported the total call volume for the County in 2023 was 324 calls down from 329 in 2022. Mundare calls totalled 153, accounting for 48 per cent of the total calls in the County,” he said. “They were either first in district or assisted in that percentage of calls,” he said. “Twenty four of those calls were in the town for 16 per cent of their
calls.” Eight of those calls were medical, six were fire, five were alarm calls, three were motor vehicle collisions, one was a gas leak and one was a public service call, he added. He said average personnel attending events was 7.1 members. “That is a very good response and
shows there are lots of people dedicated to this district and we appreciate that,” he said. He told council the Lamont Emergency Services operating budget was in excess of $1.3 million. “Those funds will be spent on a new command truck,” he said. “Two new water tenders at $365,000 each expect-
Mystery still surrounds body found in Mundare fire BY JOHN MATHER An air of mystery still surrounds the fire at a house in Mundare on Family Day in which a body was found. While an autopsy was performed on Feb. 21 the results aren’t being released because the investigation into the fire is still underway. In addition, the identity was still undetermined as RCMP are awaiting results from dental records,
said Constable Kelsey Davidge, the public information officer for the RCMP Media Group. Police believe the deceased was a resident of the house, but it hasn't yet been positively determined because the identity is still being determined. She added the cause of the fire is also still under investigation.
ed to be delivered in 2025, and one new front line engine expected to be delivered in fall of 2025 at a cost of $627,529.” Moore said the cost of this unit alone represented a 58 per cent increase over the cost of the identical vehicle that had been purchased in 2020. Councillor Glen Rozumniak seemed shocked by the price increase. “Fifty-eight per cent?” he queried. Moore agreed it was a steep hike. Moore then ran through some other funding items the department planned for the coming year from courses to smaller pieces of equipment. The operating budget approved was in excess of $1.8 million. He updated the council on training courses emergency personnel had taken and were scheduled to take.