January
• Funeral services for the late Rick Butler, Rocky View County’s former deputy reeve, who died during a ski accident at Nakiska Mountain Resort while spending Boxing Day with family, were held Jan. 4. Hundreds attended the event.
• After cheating death when he escaped a plane crash in 2011, Crossfield Mayor Nathan Anderson avoided disaster again in January 2012. He set sail with friends on a journey from Puerto Vallarta to Hawaii on Jan. 5, but complications from the beginning slowed the journey and Anderson decided to abort the trip 10 days in. During a Feb. 7 council meeting Anderson received a call from his friends to send a mayday because the ship’s mast had broken off. No one was seriously injured in the ordeal.
• Crossfield’s W.G. Murdoch High School announced plans to expand its educational breadth to include a hockey program for students in grades 6 to 12.
• Members of the Irricana, Beiseker, Langdon, Crossfield and Balzac fire departments responded to a large grass fire west of Highway 9, Jan. 11. No one was injured in the fire.
• The Province agreed to loan the cash-strapped Aqua 7 Water Commission $1.8 million to help the organization reorganize its $13-million debt. Aqua 7’s Manager Kevin Miner said it would help lower the cost of water to residents in Beiseker, Irricana, Acme, Carbon, Linden and Rocky View and Kneehill counties.
• Rocky View County announced plans for a Bearspaw Emergency Services facility, Jan. 10. The County’s proposed the $4.5-million, two-bay firehall be built south of Lochend Drive and east of Highway 766.
• Target announced plans for a distribution centre in Balzac. The company said the facility would be approximately 1.3 million square feet and will distribute goods to about 30 stores in Western Canada.
• Extreme cold shut down most schools in the Rocky View Schools division, Jan. 18. Temperatures dipped as low as -36°C, with a windchill factor of -45°C.
• Crossfield’s ATB Financial bank was robbed during daylight hours, Jan. 18. A man entered the bank and demanded money from the teller, informing her he had a gun, which was never produced.
• The Boys and Girls Club of Airdrie announced plans to expand into Beiseker and Crossfield. Programming catered to children between the ages of 10 and 18 in the outlying communities.
• Hundreds of worried Rocky View County and Calgary residents turned out to an open house to voice their displeasure for a proposed clearcut west of Bragg Creek, Jan. 26. Representatives from Alberta and Sustainable Resource and Development were on hand to talk about how the logging may protect homes from fire.
• Rocky View County council sets date of by-election to replace former councillor Rick Butler, who died in a ski accident on Boxing Day, 2011, for March 1.
• The Bragg Creek Husky Station was destroyed by fire, Jan. 28. The blaze was ignited by fumes from a gas tank that was removed from a vehicle. The owner of the station sustained minor injuries when the flash fire ignited his clothing.
February
• Balzac Billy saw his shadow Feb. 2, indicating six more weeks of winter for the region.
• Rocky View County approved $800,000 for Bragg Creek wastewater treatment plant. The money came from the General Tax Stabilization Reserve.
• Statistics Canada revealed statistics about the strong growth in Rocky View County since 2006. The County added 3,288 people for a total population of 36,461, an increase of about 10 per cent. The county also showed $274 million in 2011 new construction projects.
• Residents have mixed reaction to a proposed Bearspaw firehall at an open house at the Bearspaw Lifestyle Centre, Feb. 8. Although most residents were in favour of a firehall in Bearspaw, some were concerned about the proposed location, citing a decrease in property values, quality of life, blocking views and scaring away local wildlife as reasons for their opposition.
• It was announced that Rocky View County will receive $11.2 million in capital funding and $844,006 in operating funds from the Government of Alberta’s Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI), Feb. 16. Kent Robinson, director of business services for the County, said the money would be used for roads and firehalls in Elbow Valley and Balzac.
• Irricana resident Ted Coffey, 57, was announced as a contestant on Discovery Channel’s reality show Canada’s Greatest Know-It-All. He competed with 10 other smarties in skills such as general knowledge, problem solving, leadership, co-operation and strategy through a series of challenges. Coffey went on the win the show in March.
• Rocky View County athletes contributed 19 medals to Zone 2s second place finish at the 2012 Alberta Winter Games in Spruce Grove, Feb. 9-12.
• A Cessna 206 Amphibian airplane caught fire in flight but made a safe landing at Springbank Airport with three male passengers escaping unharmed, Feb. 17.
• Landowners said the Alberta government is “not listening” after the Province released its response to the property rights task force recommendations, Feb. 21. The government introduced Bill 6: The Property Rights Advocate Act to establish a property rights advocate office but local residents said citizens wanted the government to repeal the Land Stewardship Act, The Electrical Transmission Act and The Land Expropriation Act.
• On Feb. 28, Rocky View County council gave final approval to the Rocky View County/Calgary Intermunicipal Development Plan, a document that will provide policy direction for future land use along the border of the two municipalities.
• Twenty-one Rocky View employees were laid off on Feb. 29 as part of a restructuring process. Rocky View County firefighters expressed concern about public safety after seven full-time firefighters and one chief fire marshall was let go. Fire Chief Ken McMullen said the lay offs did not endanger the public safety and all departments of the County experienced personnel losses.
March
• Rocky View Schools board of trustees voted to increase annual school resource and material fees, March 1.
• On March 2, Irricana Playschool announced it was in danger of closing after an oversight caused the organization to lose a key source of funding. In an attempt to rectify the situation, the school hosted a spring tea and craft sale on March 31.
• On March 6, Rocky View County council voted to restructure and reduce staff from 296 to 247 to save the municipality more than $2 million in 2012 and $3 million in 2013. The move was made to help reach council’s goal of financial sustainability – one of the key priorities identified in the 2011 Corporate Strategy.
• Rocky View Schools approved its 2013-16 Capital Plan on March 15. Trustees listed a new Cochrane K-8 school as the top priority. Priority two was a K-4 in west Airdrie and priority three was a new K-5 on the east side of Airdrie.
• Bearspaw resident Kristen Collins, 18, was crowned Miss Teen Calgary World on March 18. The budding singer/songwriter said she stands for helping children who are abused. She moved on to the Miss Teen Canada-World competition in Toronto in July. She lost the honour to Megha Sandhu from Montreal.
• The Town of Crossfield announced it will be moving its administration office to the Crossfield United Church, March 19. The move, completed by April 15, allowed the Town to consolidate departments into one building.
• Police ruled out homicide as the cause of death of a 35-year-old man whose body was found near Balzac’s CrossIron Mills mall, March 20. The name of the dead man was not released.
• The Government of Alberta approved Airdrie’s annexation of more than 12,000 acres of Rocky View County land, March 22. Rocky View County Reeve Rolly Ashdown said the approval is a testament to what can happen when municipalities work together.
• Longtime Bragg Creek resident Liz Breakey won the Rocky View County division 1 municipal by-election March 26. Breakey replaces former councillor Ricky Butler who died in a Nakiska ski accident in December 2011.
• The Rocky View County draft budget predicts a three per cent tax increase, which would equate to 62 per year or $5.20 per month for a tax payer who owns a home worth the county average of $871,000. The draft budget included $126.3 million in expenses and a net revenue of $83.1 million. The draft budget was approved on March 27.
• Airdrie RCMP arrested a man from Innisfail for abducting a woman and assaulting a police officer in CrossIron Mills mall in Balzac, March 28. The victim passed a note to a mall patron in the washroom asking the shopper to call 911 because she was abducted. The person took the note to mall security office and the RCMP were called. The man was approached by plain-clothed officers and assaulted the victim and then resisted arrest.
• Ground was broken on the Chestermere Health Centre March 29. The 22,000-square-foot public health centre will act as a home for local physicians and help attract more family doctors to the area.
April
• On April 2, a multi-use shop was burned to the ground south of Irricana. Six explosions occurred due to materials stored in the shop and the fire sparked the surrounding grass and spread burning about 2.6 kilomteres of land, on April 3. No one was injured in the blaze.
• Irricana and area residents expressed their concern with emergency response to an April 2 structure fire on Township Road 264 and Range Road 262, April 5. Residents stated they felt they were told to stand back and watch as firefighters mishandled the blaze that was raging out of control. Irricana Fire Chief Kelly Saunders said a number of factors came into play including the fact that the station uses volunteers, the building contained large propane tanks and sparks ignited a large grass fire.
•Premier Alison Redford announced her PC Party’s plans for rural Albertans in Beiseker, April 9. The eight-part plan entitled Protecting Our Way of Life: A Plan For Rural Alberta, included drawing doctors to rural areas, pilot projects for health care, improved access to post-secondary education and preserving agriculture.
• About 100 residents spoke out against the clear-cut logging of 1,700 acres in West Bragg Creek, April 18. The Sustain Kananaskis town hall meeting included four speakers and a question-and-answer period and was designed to increase awareness about the proposed project. Representatives from Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Spray Lake Sawmills were invited to attend the event but declined.
• Bill Rendall, a volunteer firefighter at the Madden station voiced concerns about a downgrade in medical training and equipment on County fire trucks. He said he is concerned about the fact that Rocky View firemen are no longer able to check blood, provide oxygen, or package people to immobilize their spines. He said the changes come due to the Province’s take over of ambulance service, which was phased in over the past several years. Rocky View Fire Chief Ken McMullen said the changes were necessary because of the fire department’s tight budget.
• On April 23, Wildrose candidate Bruce McAllister defeated longtime Progressive Conservative MLA Ted Morton in the new Chestermere-Rocky View riding. Wildrose gained 16 seats to form the Official Opposition at the Legislature, while the PCs receive a majority with 61 seats. Former Canmore mayor Ron Casey won the MLA spot for the Banff-Cochrane riding. Wildrose won out in the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills constituency where former Beiseker mayor Bruce Rowe won the election.
• Longtime Beiseker councillor Ray Courtman took over the spot as mayor on April 23. The position was vacated when former mayor Bruce Rowe resigned after being elected MLA of the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills constituency.
• CrossIron Mills security guard Khalis Shahid received recognition for his part in the March 28 abduction of a woman by her ex-boyfriend, April 30. Shahid received a Commander’s Certificate of Appreciation for his role in rescuing a woman who was assaulted and abducted by an ex-boyfriend in the mall. The victim passed a note to a mall patron in the washroom asking the shopper to call 911 because she was abducted. The person took the note to mall security office and the RCMP were called.
• Rocky View County launched the Volunteer Community Wildland Firefighter Pilot Program on April 30, less than a month after Irricana residents gave feedback on how grassfires should be handled in the area. An April 2 structure fire that spread into a grassfire and came close to surrounding homes sparked an April 5 meeting where residents expressed their frustrations to Irricana firefighters. The pilot program would require 12 community members sign up. The project was cancelled in June due because no one signed up for the program.
May
• Rocky View County council set the residential and non-residential tax rates on May 1. The residential mill rate increased three per cent over 2011. The County expected to collect about $184 million in operational and capital funds. The money was used to provide services such as utilities and school fees.
• On May 2, a Chestermere boy died in a car crash at a notoriously dangerous intersection of Highway 1 and Paradise Road. A girl and another boy were taken to hospital. The second boy later died. Construction on an interim solution to the problem (not allowing cars to turn left onto the highway) began in October. Future plans include closing the intersection after the Province constructs an interchange on Rainbow Road and the TransCanada Highway though no date has been set up for this project.
• The Oilympics Hockey Marathon in Chestermere broke a Guinness World Record for longest hockey game ever played at 250 hours. Forty hockey players spent 10 days in the arena starting on May 6. The event raised $1.5 million for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.
• On May 6, dozens of friends and family gathered at late Rocky View County councillor Rick Butler’s acreage, near Cochrane. Butler died in a Nakiska ski accident on Dec. 26. People planted hundreds of trees in his honour.
• Irricana councillors delayed passing the 2012 Mill Rate Bylaw on May 7 because they were concerned that the rate was higher than was agreed upon when they approved the operating budget in February. Several factors have affected the final budget including $7,000 council approved for the library. Councillors failed to agree on a mill rate bylaw during a May 28 special meeting. After cutting about $90,000 from the budget, council finalized the mill rate at an eight per cent increase for businesses and a residential mill rate increase from 7.66 to 7.77 in June.
• In May, it came to light that despite collecting from taxpayers for two years, the Town of Irricana did not have enough funds to repay the approximately $93,000 it has been withholding from Aqua 7 Water Commission. On May 7, Irricana councillors voted to repay the funds to avoid incurring more interest. However, on May 22, Frank Dusome, Irricana councillor and the Town’s Aqua 7 representative, noticed the missing payment on the cheque registry and questioned CAO Alvin Melton. Melton advised council that the money went into general revenues and was spent.
• Rocky View County council voted to move forward with the construction of an infrastructure and operations building at the Balzac municipal campus, May 8. About $9 million from the County’s Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funding will be allocated to the construction of a fleet maintenance shop; sand, salt and chemical storage; and new County headquarters, located bout four kilometres east of Balzac.
• In May, the members of the Calgary Regional Partnership and representatives from rural municipalities agreed that they have irreconcilable differences, despite amendments to the Calgary Metropolitan Plan designed to clarify the document.
• RockPointe Church created a preliminary agreement with Rocky View County to donate land for Bearspaw firehall. The facility was first proposed to be located south of Lochend Drive but local residents opposed the plan, citing environmental and increased traffic volumes as concerns.
• The Alberta Institute of Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) came forward with a statement saying a financial crisis could force it to shut its doors in June. The centre, near Madden, has been performing rehabilitation of wild animals since 1993. The centre was in need of between $60,000 to $80,000 to continue to provide food, medicine and medical care to the animals. By June 26, the centre had announced that it had received more than $75,000 in donations in one month, allowing it to stay in operation.
June
• In June, a number of Irricana Town staff lost their jobs due to budget cuts. Council directed administration to cut $90,000 from the 2012 budget. CAO Alvin Melton said the Town would not be releasing the names or positions that were cut.
• In June, local youth took home a number of awards from 4-H on Parade at the Calgary Stampede Grounds. Paige Stern, Martina Pagenkopf, Bridgette Shaw, Regan Kinley, and Jared and Justin Couch are just a few of the talented young 4-H members who were rewarded for their hard work.
• RCMP charged Calgarian Lloyd Louis Gerard with dangerous driving causing death and failing to remain on the scene of a collision in connection with a fatal hit-and-run on Highway 9 near Irricana, June 21. The collision killed 51-year-old Beiseker resident Raelene Schmaltz.
• Airdrie resident Savannah Allain and Crossfield resident Bryanna Anderson were crowned Rodeo Queen and Princess at Pete Knight Days in Crossfield on June 15.
• In late June, it was announced that the Irricana splash park would be shut down in the summer and there would be no ice in the outdoor rink in the winter due to budget cuts. Council directed administration to cut $90,000 from the 2012 budget, resulting in job losses, closing the Town office on Fridays and cuts to recreation programs.
• The 2012 version of Pete Knight Days was the most successful yet. The event was held from June 15 to 16 and celebrated the rodeo’s 35th anniversary and the 75th anniversary of Pete Knight’s death. The event drew 3,000 spectators and 343 rodeo entries.
• After years of being denied access, some Rocky View County residents will have access to Aqua 7 Water Commission water. On June 4, Drumheller Town council voted to expand the boundary to allow water to be sent into the county east of Highway 2 and north of Highway 1.
• RCMP responded to a bomb threat at CrossIron Mills mall June 27. The H&M clothing store was evacuated for 40 minutes before the situation was deemed a false alarm.
• Airdrie resident Mackenzie Henn was crowned the Sundre Rodeo Princess, June 22.
• Michelle Glavine, president of Rocky View Local Alberta Teachers Association (ATA), filed a complaint against Rocky View Schools (RVS) on June 11. The ATA claimed the school board breached a bargaining in good faith policy when the jurisdiction posted both sides’ opening-bargaining proposals on its website. The Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB) ruled against the ATA Sept. 17.
July
• The Province phased in tougher drinking and driving legislation starting on July 1. Starting in the summer, people who drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than 0.08 will be charged under the Criminal Code and receive an immediate licence suspension to remain in place until criminal charges are resolved. Beginning Sept. 1, drivers with a BAC of between 0.05 and 0.08 will lose their car and license for three days on the first offence. Drivers with a graduated drivers’ licence will face stronger penalties if they consume any alcohol and drive.
• Springbank resident Eric Longeway celebrated 75 years of attending the Calgary Stampede in July. The 86-year-old farmer has been showing animals in the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth since he was 10 years old.
• Rocky View County council approved stage one of a controversial Springbank development called Harmony, July 3. Council voted to subdivide 350 acres of land on the north and west sides of the Springbank Airport for the development of a 537 houses on 1,529 acres. Residents cited the impact on the existing community, the increase in population and the proximity to the airport as concerns.
• Cochrane bullriders Steven and Jody Turner came out of the Canada Day long weekend with first-place finishes. Jody finished first at the Ponoka Stampede with a score of 84.5 and came out on top in bull riding in Trail, B.C. Steven placed first at Williams Lake.
• A Madden-area family was awarded with the 2012 Farm Family Award by the Calgary Stampede, July 9. Dennis and Dave Rowney grew up in the half-section purchased by their father in 1945. The 20 recipients of the award were chosen by the Alberta Agricultural Service Board based on the impact they have had to the farming community and their outstanding contributions to the agricultural sector.
• Irricana Councillor Frank Dusome was issued a stop order by the Town on July 10. Dusome was accused of having an unsightly and untidy property, having altered surface elevations and clear cutting trees and bushes, accumulating debris and constructing a fence and retaining wall without authorization. Dusome was ordered to pay the Town more than $1,100.
• RCMP responded to what they are calling a “brazen” jewelry theft at CrossIron Mills mall, July 10. Suspects slashed the tires and broke the window of a car with a “significant amount” of jewelry in it in the parking lot of the mall. Police believed three people were involved in the crime that was caught on the mall’s security cameras.
• An Irricana resident threatened legal action against the Town’s CAO, July 16. Valerie Squires accused Alvin Melton of intimidation after he allegedly called her employer about emails she was sending Town administration from work. Deputy Mayor Andrew Carr accused Melton of bullying residents and said he was disgusted and appalled. Melton said he was not worried about legal action relating to the matter.
• On July 17, Rocky View County council approved a new roadside memorial policy that will place a one-year time limit on roadside memorials and restrict where they can be placed. The policy was created to ensure the memorials are not distracting for drivers and that they do not block road maintenance equipment such as lawn movers and sanders or plows.
• After more than two years of effort, a historic train station was moved 156 kilometres from Bassano to Beiseker, July 19. The station, which was built in 1911, had fallen into disrepair but will now be restored and used as a museum. The station will join 18 pieces of railway equipment on the land where it will be located.
• A 21-year-old man drowned in Ghost Lake on July 22. Christopher Smallwood went missing after swimming in the lake with four friends. Witnesses performed CPR but Smallwood was pronounced dead on the scene.
• Warren Wise was elected as councillor in the village of Beiseker in a by-election, July 23. Wise received 80 votes, beating Ken Nicholas by only four votes. The by-election was called after former councillor Ray Coutman moved to the mayor spot, vacated by Bruce Rowe when he was elected MLA of Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills in the spring.
• Rocky View County rejected a 68-house and business park development in Bearspaw July 24. The County received 15 letters of opposition and eight letters of support. Opposition letters cited concerns with industrial development in a residential community, increased traffic and impacts on watersheds.
• Zone 2 athletes brought home 117 medals from the 2012 Alberta Summer Games, which took place in Lethbridge from July 25 to 29. Three hundred athletes attended the games, with 51 hailing from Airdrie. The team brought home 50 gold, 38 silver and 29 bronze medals from the games.
• A longtime Springbank family was awarded the Rocky View County 2012 Master Farm Family Award July 26. The Langeways have farmed in Springbank for 100 years.
• A multi-million dollar motorsports facility was proposed for 500 acres northeast of Airdrie, in July. A group called the Motorsports, Arts, Racing, Culture and Sports (MARCS) Committee, including Calgary Alderman Shane Keating, Transportation Minister Ric McIver and local businessmen are investigating land near Airdrie for a new facility, coupled with a private airport.
August
• Roughly 150 area residents voiced their opposition to the Province’s plans to harvest more than 1,700 acres of forest in West Bragg Creek during an information session at Bragg Creek Centre, Aug. 2. Concerns ranged from environmental to fiscal.
• Springbank residents angered over Rocky View County’s decision to go ahead with the Harmony development, located next to the Springbank Airport, started a petition in August. Organizers said they weren’t properly consulted about the project, which could house as many as 10,000 people.
• Springbank rugby players helped Team Alberta to a first-place finish at Rugby Canada’s national tournament, held from Aug. 8 to 12 in Sherbrook, Que.
• A British soldier was transported to hospital by STARS Air Ambulance after a skydiving accident at Alberta Skydiver’s Ltd., located near Beiseker, Aug. 11. The 25-year-old man sustained life-threatening injuries while in training at the facility.
• A High River man was killed after the motorcycle he was driving collided with a truck and trailer on Highway 21 near Beiseker at around 6:30 p.m., Aug. 20. Craig Lyall, 58, was travelling southbound on Highway 21 when he lost control of his motorcycle and struck the passenger side of a truck and trailer. Lyall was thrown from the bike and pronounced dead on the scene.
• Langdon celebrated the grand opening of its new school, Aug. 23. Sarah Thompson School has capacity for 450 students kindergarten to Grade 4 students and was part of a wave of 15 schools that will be opened across the province within 12 months.
• A large fire destroyed a 4,000-square-foot home east of the Airdrie airport, Aug. 26. The fire broke out around 10:30 p.m. and was well involved before firefighters arrived on scene. The owners, a couple, were not injured in the blaze, but damage was estimated at $500,000.
• Robb Moss, a Bragg Creek musician, released his first CD Sometimes We Win after 40 years in the business.
September
• Thousands of area residents attended the 99th annual Calgary Highland Games, Sept. 1 at Springbank Park for All Seasons, taking in traditional Scottish heavy event competitions, food and entertainment.
• Lexie Courtney and Dalyce Gagnon were crowned as the Cochrane Lions Club’s new queen and princess, respectively on Sept. 3 at the 45th Annual Lions Rodeo.
• Active Springbank resident and former councillor Gloria Wilkinson received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from MP Ted Menzies, Sept. 4. Wilkinson was honoured for her many years of community service.
• Crossfield’s Community Services Manager Russ Nash was given a 10-year service recognition award at the Crossfield Town council meeting, Sept. 4.
• Rocky View County broke ground on its municipal campus, Sept. 7. The campus will include a 32,000-square-foot fleet maintenance building, sand and salt storage building and chemical storage building. The facility is located in Balzac.
• Rocky View County council approved the controversial Bingham Crossing project on Sept. 11 after a marathon public hearing that lasted more than 12 hours and included input from dozens of area landowners.
• A Cochrane singer/songwriter placed second in a Calgary radio station’s contest, earning $30,000 for her efforts. Alanna Clark was announced as the runner-up following competition finals, Sept. 8 at Mount Royal University.
• Canadian Finance Minister and Macleod MP Ted Menzies announced the Federal and Provincial government would each contribute $1 million to the construction of a potable water distribution system in Bragg Creek, Sept. 14. Rocky View County announced it will contribute the remaining $3.2 million in costs to construct the pipeline.
• Rocky View County council released the results of its County Plan survey on Sept. 18 and announced it will be holding a series of community workshops to discuss the findings. The results of the County-wide survey showed residents’ priorities varied throughout Rocky View.
• Hundreds of area residents and local and provincial politicians were on hand to celebrate the grand opening of the Elbow Valley Fire Station, Sept. 22. The 11,620-square-foot station is located at the junction of Range Road 31 and Lott Creek Drive just off Highway 8 is staffed by 10 emergency personnel and operates around the clock, serving residents in west Rocky View.
• In a split vote, Rocky View County council voted to apply for $32 million in provincial funding for the construction of a new office building at the County’s municipal campus in Balzac, Sept. 25. If approved, the funding will be used to move the County’s administrative offices from northeast Calgary to Balzac.
• A 2,000-square-foot portable structure that was used for storage at Langdon School was burned down, Sept. 29. The fire broke out at about 4:30 a.m. and was considered suspicious by RCMP. The value of the building was about $200,000.
October
• On Oct. 1, Irricana Councillor Frank Dusome walked out of a council meeting just before presenting colleagues with a resignation letter. Dusome, who has been involved in Irricana politics for the pasty 10 years, cited “council lying to the public” as a reason for resigning.
• Cochrane RCMP responded to a call at a rural property outside the town where human remains were found, Oct. 13. A medical examiner’s report said the deceased is believed to be a Caucasian male between the ages of 18-30 years. Cause of death remains unknown, but it is believed that the partial remains are less than a year old. The report has indicated that the deceased had at one time suffered a broken nose that had healed, which indicates that the remains found included at least part of a head.
• The Alberta government introduced legislation that will return control of approving transmission-line projects to the Alberta Utilities Commission, Oct. 23. If approved, Bill 8, The Electrical Utilities Amendment Act, 2012, will reverse the controversial Bill 50, which gave the government the right to approve “critical” transmission projects without a public assessment process.
• The Springbank Phoenix High School Football Club claimed the Rocky View Sports Association Tier II football title, Oct. 26 with a 27-0 win over the George McDougall Mustangs.
• Rocky View County council tabled requests for two new developments after learning Langdon’s wastewater treatment plant cannot support the continued growth and development in the area, Oct. 30. Council learned the plant exceeded its 4,300-cubic-metre capacity during the heaviest rainfall in May.
• After an extensive, long-term investigation, Calgary RCMP arrested a number of people with an ongoing criminal organization investigation with ties to Rocky View County, Oct. 18. Weapons were seized, along with 2.7 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of $270,000 and one kilogram of marijuana worth $10,000.
• In October, two Rocky View residents filed an application for a judicial review of council proceedings during the 12-hour Sept. 12 public hearing for the Bingham Crossing Development. The document states two councillors failed to disclose a pecuniary interest and failed to recuse themselves from the vote. The residents also claim council took into account irrelevant considerations while dismissing relevant considerations. The two sought an injunction to halt the Oct. 30 public hearing but were unsuccessful.
• In October, Alberta Institute of Wildlife Conservation founder Dianne Wittner was included in a group of 100 Albertans who received the prestigious Calgary Stampede Western Legacy Award for their promotion and preservation of western values and heritage.
• MP Blake Richards’ Preventing Persons from Concealing Their Identities during Riots and Unlawful Assemblies Act received three readings Oct. 31.
November
• Rocky View County council approved a land redesignation request for the controversial Springbank-area Bingham Crossing project, Nov. 1. The public hearing spanned two days and close to 20 hours. Dozens of people spoke in favour and against the development that includes a village centre with a multi-level seniors housing complex, office, retail and commercial spaces.
• Environmental and Sustainable Resource Development approved a logging plan for Bragg Creek on Nov. 1. The controversial decision made after months of public debate raised concerns from residents who say it will destroy the area’s recreational value. The plan includes logging 1,730 acres of trees in the West Bragg Creek Recreation Area and is presented as a way to protect the community from forest fires.
• On Nov. 2, the Chestermere Cowboys lost the Rocky View Sports Association bronze medal to the Bert Church Chargers in a 12-8 loss. The Cowboys beat the Chargers for the bronze last year.
• On Nov. 5, Andrew Carr was the second Irricana Town councillor to step down in less than two months. Carr cited personal issues and political stifling as the reasons for his resignation. Carr said he decided to resign after he realized he would not be able to make the impact in residents’ lives that he had hoped. The by-election to fill Carr’s spot will take place Jan. 31, 2013.
• Students from the Cochrane High School Sustainable Development Committee presented the Rocky View School board of trustees with information on a five-kilowatt wind turbine the group would like to build on school grounds. The project has been eliciting resistance from local residents who are concerned about the potential health risks and appearance of the turbine. Trustees heard the arguments against the turbine from the No Turbine in Town Coalition on Dec. 6. The board will vote on whether they support the project in the new year.
• Cochrane cowboy Tanner Milan won the 2012 steer wrestling championship at the Canadian Finals Rodeo, Nov. 11.
• On Nov. 16, construction began on a new K-9 school in Chestermere. The school was one of four announced for Rocky View County in May 2012. The others are located in Airdrie. All of the schools are expected to be complete by September 2014.
• Irricana Town council set a $2.2-million operational budget that will see $20,000 more than last year put into reserves. The budget is 5.9 per cent higher than last year’s and will include maintenance and operation for the skating rink and splash park that were closed earlier this year to save money.
• Cochrane’s Coda Gordon was drafted by the Calgary Flames over the summer and is currently playing with the Swift Current Broncos.
• The Cochrane Cobras won the 2012 Alberta Bowl with a 31-20 win over the St. Albert Skyhawks in Edmonton, Nov. 24. The win capped off the perfect season for Cochrane and avenged the team’s 2011 provincial final loss.
• On Nov. 25, Calgarian Christopher Cole Thomsen was arrested and charged with numerous offenses in relation to a break and enter in Cochrane on Oct. 18. Suspects stole a number of items from the home including a laptop with photos of the homeowners’ deceased son. A second suspect, Douglas Glen Weaver, of Calgary, was arrested on Dec. 5 after he turned himself in.
December
• The United Horsemen of Alberta (UHA) announced it had secured funding for a proposed racing entertainment centre on Dec. 3. Century Casinos Europe agreed to loan UHA $13 million to develop the proposed project, which will include a 1.13-kilometre race track, gaming floor with 625 gaming machines, lounge, bar, restaurant facilities, off-track-betting area and stage.
• On Dec. 3, Irricana resident Peter Dunn was elected to fill the vacant seat left by former councillor Frank Dusome. Dusome left council on Oct. 1 by walking our of a council meeting. Dunn has lived in the community for seven years and has served as a member of the advisory board for the community hall.
• The Beiseker Fire Department and Village council are working together to create a team of trained volunteers to provide EMS services to residents and improve medical care in the community. Despite resistance from Irricana and Rocky View County councils, The fire department and Village held an open house for interested volunteers on Dec. 7. An Alberta Health Services representative said the organization would be willing to work with Beiseker to establish a medical first response program.
• Rocky View County council approved a draft budget that includes no more than a three per cent tax increase for residents. The budget includes $33 million for capital expenses and a $132-million operating budget.
• Rocky View County councillors approved two subdivisions after hearing a Langdon Wastewater Treatment Plant report. The report said infiltration and inflow are the suspected causes for increased capacity at the plant. According to the report, the cause of the problems is most likely leaks in the system. It set out a plan to locate a repair those leaks. Council tabled two subdivisions in October with concerns the current wastewater plant wasn’t large enough to handle continued development in the area.
• The Alberta Utilities Commission gave final approval to the Western Alberta Transmission Lines, which will run across the province from Edmonton to Langdon in early December.
• Irricana council approved its 2013 operational budget, Dec. 10, with a five per cent tax increase. The $2.2-million operating budget is 5.9 per cent higher than last year’s.
• A Dec. 12 incident involving a student who was strangled by a school lanyard in Bearspaw School prompted a province-wide ban on the cords around children’s necks. School boards will review the lanyard policy.
