Rainfall warning issued for Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass, Waterton

Updated at 3:24 pm MDT, Wednesday May 22, 2013

• Environment Canada has issued a Rainfall Warning for Pincher Creek, Waterton Lakes National Park, and Crowsnest Pass, Okotoks, Kananaskis.
• Heavy rain developing today and ending Saturday.
• Up to 50 mm projected.

A vigorous low pressure system will move slowly eastward just south of the international border over the next few days. As the system moves cloud and heavy rain will continue to spread northward into Southwestern Alberta.

Rain from this system has already started at Pincher Creek and will spread northward into the Okotoks and Kananaskis regions this evening.

Rainfall amounts in the 80 to 100 mm range are expected by Saturday morning especially over higher terrain. Conditions will begin to improve from the south on Friday with rain tapering off in the Crowsnest Pass region. Conditions further north will improve on Saturday.

Forecast regions along the periphery of the warned areas will also see significant rainfall amounts with up to 50 mm possible by Saturday.

Sparwood A's narrowly defeat Junior Dust Devils

2013 Junior Dust Devils
T. Lucas photos

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Pincher Creek's Junior Dust Devils faced the Sparwood A's on Sproule Field May 21, 2013.  The age range for these athletes is from grade 7 to grade 9.  The Sparwood team is composed of athletes from Sparwood, Elkford and Crowsnest Pass.

Rescheduled Pincher Creek Dust Devils home games

• PC Minor Dust Devils play Claresholm Wednesday May 22  Rescheduled to June 12, 6:30 pm at Juan Teran Field Diamond #C
• PC Major Dust Devils play Claresholm Wednesday - Rescheduled to Wednesday, May 29, 6:30 pm at Lions Park

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Deadline to register for 2013 Southern Alberta Summer Games is June 5

Pincher Creek Summer Games/Activities Coordinator Caitlin Kerr
C. Davis photo

• 2013 Southern Alberta Summer Games to be held in Taber July 3-6
• Deadline to register is June 5
• 2014 Southern Alberta Summer Games to be held in Pincher Creek 

Pincher Creek Summer Games/Summer Activity Coordinator Caitlin Kerr is hoping to see participation from at least 100 Pincher Creek and area participants at the 2013 Southern Alberta Summer Games (SASG), which will be held in Taber from July 3-6.  "Our goal is 100 participants," she said.  "Last year we had 67."  New to the job, Kerr brings to it a very obvious enthusiasm, going to where the athletes are, rain or shine, to enlist participants for this year's games with an eye towards the 2014 SASG, which will be held right here in Pincher Creek.

Kerr is eager to answer any questions potential participants might have.  "Come on down to the Rec Office at the pool and find out what you need to know.  We can answer any questions you have.

Alzheimer Memory Walks to be held in Lethbrige, Blairmore, Cardston

Press release

The Investors Group Memory Walk held in Lethbridge on June 1, 2013 and the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories invite everyone to join in.

This year they are adding a walk kick-off and Caregiver Celebration on May 31 at Paradise Canyon Restaurant for caregivers of people with dementia.  Tickets are free but you must have a ticket to attend.  Tickets can be picked up at the Alzheimer Society office at #402, 740 – 4th Ave South, Lethbridge or by calling 329-3766.

Water advisory ended for Lundbreck

Water restrictions imposed on residents of Lundbreck last week due to an increase in turbidity have now been rescinded.  The issue has been resolved.

F.A.C.E.S. helps teens learn to face challenges

^ Students and leaders from session 1 of FACES in 2012 on the continental divide west of Castle Mountain. After gaining the summit of this ridge the students take time to reflect on where they have come from in their lives and where they choose to go in their future.   Submitted photos.

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Challenges.  You face them every day whether you are a child, adult, working, or schooling.  Learning how to face them with grace, integrity  and fortitude is a learned process.  Facilitating Awareness and Character Building Experiences for Students (F.A.C.E.S.) offer a 12 day extreme adventure camp centered out of Camp Impeesa out close to Beaver Mines Alberta.  The camp is for students in grade 9 going into grade 10 to help them learn that facing fears, facing challenges, and facing themselves is all part of facing life.

May Long Weekend statistics from Alberta's Integrated Traffic Units

C. Davis photo

The Integrated Alberta Traffic units across Alberta were deployed in strength across the province and conducted coordinated road safety activities on all major transportation corridors.

The reported collision data to date indicates Albertans experienced seven fatal collision events that resulted in the death of eight persons.

The RCMP report the following criminal activities interdicted on Alberta roadways:

3rd annual Community Road Hockey Festival to be held June 29

Scene from last years Road Hockey Fest
C. Davis photo

Pincher Creek's third Annual Community 4 on 4 Road Hockey Festival will be held on Saturday, June 29, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm.

Registration and waiver forms can be obtained  at Parent Link or Westwind Interiors.  There is a $5.00 per player registration fee.  Completed forms with registration fee can be dropped off to Parent Link 688 Main Street.  Registration cut off is June 27, 2013.

During the Road Hockey Festival there will also be a Free Hockey Equipment Swap were you can bring your old hockey equipment and have it be put to good use for someone else.

Close relations at local level necessary in promoting sound border policy between Canada and the United States: U of L researcher

University of Lethbridge press release

Close co-operation between municipalities and chambers of commerce on both sides of the border is important to ensure that decisions made in Washington, DC and Ottawa will serve the interests of most residents of the region, according to University of Lethbridge political scientist Geoffrey Hale.

10th annual Waterton Wildflower Festival to be held June 15-23

Every June, the meadows and forests of Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada, come alive with the dazzling colours of wildflowers by the millions. Superlatives apply: amazing, stunning, breathtaking, fascinating.  Of the hundreds of species, over 50 of Canada’s rarest flowers grow in Waterton, 30 of which are found only in this park.

 The Waterton Wildflower Festival is a celebration of this natural phenomena, held this year from June 15 to 23. Now in our tenth year, this festival has been ranked one of the top wildflower festivals in the world, amongst events in North America, the U.K., Australia and Italy. Waterton has even been named the “Wildflower Capital of Canada”.

Athlete of the day May 22, 2013 : Mitchell Zoratti

Mitchell Zoratti

Mitchell Zoratti is a grade 8 student at St. Michael's School.  He was pitching strong and hard while wearing #7 for the Junior Dust Devils during their game against Sparwood on May 21.  Mitchell also plays basketball and volleyball for the Dragons and has a long history of achievement with 4-H.

He was named the Most Valuable Jr. High Boys Player of St. Michael's Dragons Junior A Boys basketball team along with Michael Svab (who also plays for the Dust Devils) at St. Michael's 2012 Sword and Shield athletic awards.  He was also the Running Champ in his division in the 2012 Dust Devils skills competition.  A well-rounded athlete and a good sport too.

From a Teacher’s Desk: Twitterverse

Look past your thoughts, so you may drink the pure nectar of This Moment. ~ Rumi

Leonard Quilty

Leonard Quilty, Courtesy of Gazette Grande

Are you part of the twitterverse? Have you joined the conversation that clips along at 140 characters a tweet? If you have, maybe you agree that this microblogging tool called Twitter is one of the most fascinating things to come by in a long time.

Instrumental Band concerts to be held in Pincher Creek and Fort Macleod

Come out and enjoy music featuring the Junior Matthew Halton and F.P Walshe combined band and award winning Matthew Halton and F.P Walshe senior high band. Good family oriented entertainment for all ages.

• Pincher Creek Show: June 6th at 7:00 pm in the Matthew Halton High School Gym.
• Fort Macleod Show: June 13th at 7:00 pm in the F.P Walshe High School.

Much anticipated local history book to be released May 29

KBPV Curator Farley S. Wuth keeps a constant eye on Pincher Creek History
C. Davis file photo

• "From Prairie Grass to Mountain Pass" revised and much expanded

KBPV press release

Have you ever wondered how Pincher Creek was named? Which rancher was removed by the Hudson’s Bay Company from his picturesque foothills ranch? Who was the pioneer nearly blown off the steeple of St. Henry’s Church during the windstorm that embedded its hilltop construction into our collective folklore?

Canyon School holds DARE graduation

Constable Wright and Canyon School DARE students
T. Lucas photos

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Canyon School students gathered in the gym on the morning of Friday, May 25 for their DARE Graduation.

Paws for Romance raffle to benefit Humane Society

The South Country Trappers Association (SCTA) has chosen the Pincher Creek Humane Society to be the beneficiary of their first charity raffle. They are selling 1000 tickets at $5.00 each for a romantic getaway for two near Waterton; the prize package is worth $1000.00.

The proceeds will go towards the Pincher Creek Humane Society building fund.

The draw will be held on October 19, 2013 at the Kootenai Brown Museum during the SCTA annual banquet/fundraiser.

Contact the SCTA at southcountry@hotmail.ca or 403-558-0191 or the PCHS at 403-627-5191 for tickets.

Landslide closes Highway 744 on Judah Hill near Peace River

To protect the travelling public, a portion of Highway 744 from the corporate limits of the Town of Peace River to the top of Judah Hill has been closed due to a severe and active landslide.

Traffic entering and exiting the Town of Peace River via Highway 744 (Judah Hill) is detoured to Highway 2 and Highway 683. Due to the location and severity of the slide, the length of time the road closure will be in effect is unknown.

May birthdays at Crestview Lodge

Judith Dyck and Lillian Turnbull
T. Lucas photos

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Barry Kreick

Friday May 17, 2013 Crestview Lodge celebrated residents with May Birthdays.  Two ladies were on the list for May,  Lillian Turnbull and Judith Dyck.  Turnbull said she was getting older but she hoped she was getting wiser.  Dyck was happy that two of her sons and her daughter in law could attend.  "It's a good thing we have a nice home here.  I'm thankful for that," she said.

To help everyone get into the party mood, Barry Kreick from the band Checkmate came from Coaldale, Alberta to play some tunes and both of the birthday girls had fun blowing out the candles on the cake before it was served to everyone.

Margery Laatsch nominated for Seniors Service Award

Cathy Klein and Margery Laatsch at Crestview Lodge
T. Lucas photo

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice


89 individuals and organizations are nominated for this year’s Minister’s Seniors Service Awards.  In Pincher Creek Margery Laatsch was nominated for this annual award for people who make a difference in the lives of seniors.

"I'm honoured, but I know that there are so that do so much more than I do, and they may never get recognized," said Margery Laatsch, who was busy helping make the Crestview May Birthday Party a success.  "I appreciate this immensely.  Volunteering has given back to me as much as I given to it.  I've been widowed for eight years, and I'm alone and retired.  I could make a conscience choice to sit at home.  What I do is volunteer.  We need volunteers, and I'm free enough to do it.  I'm lucky enough to have my daughter here, and she's there for me.  Other people don't have family close by.  Especially with the Care Bears, driving's not such a problem."

Busy May long weekend for Alberta law enforcement and Emergency Services

RCMP helicopter on patrol near Lynx Creek
Daneen Potter photo

It was a busy weekend for law enforcement and Emergency Services in Alberta this May Victoria Day long weekend, but not as deadly as it has been in past years.

Integrated Traffic Units were busy, with lots of speed enforcement apparent on the highways and RCMP helicopters keeping an eye on campsites.  Here's a look at some of the incidents around the province.

Pincher Creek Emergency Services had a relatively quiet long weekend

On Friday, May 17, 2013 Pincher Creek Emergency Services responded to a  a single vehicle accident. The driver of a pickup truck pulling a camper lost control on Highway 22. The camper ended up lying on a guardrail beside the highway, with some damage to the truck.  There were no injuries. Both Lundbreck and Pincher Creek Departments responded to this accident.

Pincher Creek EMS had no other accidents of fires to report for the weekend.

Fatality east of Brocket

Tragedy struck close to home late Friday night, May 17 when a 26 year-old woman was struck and killed on Highway 3 about 3 km east of Brocket, possibly by a 2x4 or 2x6 falling from a vehicle .  Piikani Nation RCMP are asking for the public's help with their investigation.  Read the full story by clicking here.

Pincher Creek Co-op holds 90th AGM

Pincher Creek Co-op Board of Directors

(l-r) Linda Wollman, Barb Dunbar, Ed Janzen, Pat Moskaluk, Jim Cameron, Nicki Schoening, Allan Wocknitz

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

The Pincher Creek Co-op was established 1922 as the result of a Pincher Creek Chapter UFA resolution in January of that year. It was established as an agricultural marketing co-operative for local ranchers and farmers to sell their produce to local consumers in the tough economic and agricultural environment that followed the First World War.*

On the evening of Thursday April 25, 2013 Co-op management, staff, and members met at the old Field Store location for the Annual General Meeting.

Photographing Waterton: The Wildflower Festival ~ RJ Pisko

RJ Pisko photo

RJ Pisko, Columnist, Pincher Creek Voice

“There is only you and your camera.  The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.”  ~Ernst Haas 

Finally – it’s springtime in the Rockies, and shortly after our beloved May Long, it will again happen – that embarrassment of color that smothers the hillsides of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, and this year, what with abundant late snows in  southern Alberta, the wildflower carpet is sure to be nothing short of miraculous.   Nature lovers drool over the thought of Waterton’s Wildflower Festival, June 15-23, 2013.

Pincher Creek RCMP incident summary for the week of May 13-20, 2013

The following is an overview of the nature of the complaints that the RCMP Pincher Creek Detachment received from May 13 – May 20, 2013.  Note that the summary indicates what was reported to the police and may not have been substantiated.

Total calls for service - 40
Assaults - 1
Uttering Threats - 2
Mischief (vandalism) - 2
Disturbing the Peace - 4
Driving complaints (general) - 7
MV Collisions - 2
Liquor offences - 3
Suspicious occurrences (general) - 1
Assistance to other agencies - 2
False Alarms - 2
911 calls (invalid) - 3
Prisoners held - 11

Lundbreck Cornfest and Parade to be held August 24, 2013

Lundbreck will be holding their annual Cornfest with the addition of a Parade on Saturday, August 24, 2013 starting at 11:00 am.  Other events announced so far include a pancake breakfast, pig roast, baseball tournament, activities for children, and a wrap up party with live music at the Lundbreck bar.

To volunteer or to enter a float please contact Kimberly Hurst at hurstfamily05@me.com or visit the Lundbreck Cornfest Parade page on Facebook (click here).

Piikani Nation RCMP investigating death of pedestrian, seeks public's assistance

Updated May 20, 2013, 12:07 am:

• Deceased is Edna Four Horns
• Piikani Nation RCMP looking for public's assistance
• Board from vehicle suspected cause of death

Piikani Nation RCMP say they have no suspect vehicle right now in this incident.  "We thought we did," said Constable Tyrone Potts, "Now we're suspecting a piece of board came off a vehicle and struck our pedestrian in the face, killing her."  Constable Potts said it was likely a 2x4 or a 2x6 that struck her.