Author: Shelly W

Categories
Alberta

Fatal Crash on Highway 63 Claims Two Lives

highway 63, fatal crash
highway 63, fatal crash

The RCMP are still investigating a fatal crash on highway 63 that has claimed two lives so far. A third person in the accident has been listed as being in critical condition. The fatal accident occurred on Tuesday evening, on a section of highway 63 that is not divided. According to Boyle RCMP the collision involved two vehicles, one with two passengers and a passenger bus with 8 people that were headed to a work camp in the area. The accident happened at around 8:15 Tuesday evening, close to Mariana Lake. This section of highway 63 was closed from the time of the fatal crash until 4 am Wednesday morning. From what RCMP have uncovered so far the small vehicle with two male passengers were going south on the highway when they collided with the passenger bus which was northbound.

Both male occupants of the smaller vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene after emergency personnel arrived. Some of the passengers on the bus had minor injuries, and one had to be transported to the hospital where the passenger is listed in critical condition and has life threatening injuries from the fatal crash. Those with minor problems were treated by emergency personnel on the scene and then released. The RCMP are still investigating the accident on highway 63, and they have asked that anyone who witnessed the collision contact law enforcement so that they can give a report of what they witnessed. No cause for the crash has been determined yet. As winter moves in the risks of a fatal crash on highway 63 may go up, and it is important for people to drive safely.

Categories
Ft Mac

Wood Buffalo RCMP Investigates Domestic Disturbance, Seize Drugs and Cash

Wood Buffalo RCMP, drug seizures
Wood Buffalo RCMP, drug seizures

Wood Buffalo RCMP recently investigated a domestic disturbance case that resulted in drug seizures, the seizure of thousands of dollars in cash, and the arrest of a 32 year old man from Fort MacMurray. On October 23, 2014 the Wood Buffalo RCMP dispatched officers to investigate a domestic disturbance complaint at the Louti Road and Confederate Way intersection. According to Wood Buffalo RCMP Cpl. George Cameron “They were dispatched to one of the intersections, where it appeared that a male driver and his female passenger were involved in some kind of domestic dispute in the vehicle.” Richard Robert Stamp was arrested at the scene for assult,, and that led to him being searched. Officers found what they suspected were illegal pills, so the drug detection dog was called to search the car, and police reported finding cocaine in the vehicle.

The drug seizures from the vehicle led Wood Buffalo RCMP to get a search warrant for the residence where Stamp resided. Cameron explained “Sometimes if we execute a search warrant, we’re going to be in every room, opening cupboards. But this dog knows exactly where to go, due to his abilities.” A safe at the residence contained $4,820 in combined Canadian and American currency which was seized, along with more pills that police suspect are illegal. 400Unidentified pills and more than 417 grams of packaged cocaine were found. Stamp was charged with possession of property obtained by a crime, three counts of trafficking of a controlled substance, assault, possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of failing to comply with probation.

Categories
Ft Mac

Fort MacMurray Crime Results in Breaking and Entering and Voyeurism Charges

Fort MacMurray crime, breaking and entering
Fort MacMurray crime, breaking and entering

Fort MacMurray crime is a problem as the area grows and more people arrive to work in the region. A Fort MacMurray man was arrested for an incident which occurred last Friday in Thickwood, and he has been charged with breaking and entering as well as voyeurism charges. 23 year old Tibor Malik has been charged, and was released with certain conditions. The next court appearance for the case is set November 5, 2014. The incident started with a phone call to the RCMP, and a woman complained that a male subject tried to get into her bedroom and was watching her through the window of the ground floor apartment as she was changing clothes. The woman went on to tell police that she called out to her boyfriend, who was in another area of the apartment.

The boyfriend of the woman who was complaining about a male breaking and entering the apartment went out to confront the man after looking out another window in the apartment. The male fled as he was approached, but the boyfriend managed to get the license plate number of the car as the suspect drove away. RCMP Cst. George Cameron reported that he hopes this encourages others to call when a Fort MacMurray crime like this occurs, stating “Sometimes, when stuff like this happens, people may be a little hesitant to call us, whether they’re scared to or embarrassed or whatever. This is sort of an encouragement to get the message out there and let people know they can call us, like this lady did here.”

Categories
Economic Ft Mac

Downtown Arena Project in Wood Buffalo Has Reached the Public Stage

Wood Buffalo, downtown arena
Wood Buffalo, downtown arena

The downtown arena project in Wood Buffalo has finally reached the public stage, and this is a big step forward for the project. Now the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo will start the public consultation process in order to finalize approval for this project. A letter of intent with Clearwater Consortium was approved Tuesday night by the RMWB Council, and this covers building and operating a Sports and Entertainment Centre downtown arena with seats for around 7,000 people. Melissa Blake, the current Fort MacMurray Mayor, said “We have to give final analysis at some point, but I’m really excited that council made the agreement to proceed to the letter of intent and that finally, the public is going to get a chance to see it and make some feedback.”

The Clearwater Consortium proposal for the downtown arena in Wood Buffalo includes various responsibilities and benefits for each party, and many believe that the proposal is fair for both sides. Coun. Guy Boutilier, who has expressed his displeasure with how things have bee handled since tender offers were received, said “I think it’s an important engagement process with our citizens, I think that this is going to be a huge expenditure, and as a huge expenditure, we want to hear from our public. Have I been pleased? No, I haven’t, and that’s why the sooner we get this out to the public and get their input before any final decision is made.” Now the public gets a chance to ask questions and get the answers that they are looking for.

Categories
Ft Mac

Fort Chipewyan Man Sentenced for Trafficking Drugs in Fort MacMurray

drug trafficking, Fort MacMurray
drug trafficking, Fort MacMurray

Fort MacMurray Provincial Court recently sentenced a Fort Chipewyan man of drug trafficking, handing down a sentence of probation and house arrest for his attempt to ship a large quantity of marijuana to Fort Chipewyan from Fort MacMurray. 33 year old Robert Dolbec from Fort Chipewyan was arrested after an anonymous tip was called in to the RCMP. This tip involved a suspect who was trying to ship over 5 kilos of marijuana at McMurray Aviation, and wanted to send the drugs to Fort Chipewyan. Dolbec was arrested on November 1 of 2013 and charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. When law enforcement arrested Dolbec for drug trafficking they also seized. 5.2 kilograms of marijuana at the scene.

The drug trafficking charge that Robert Dolbec received for the charges in Fort McMurray resulted in a sentence that included 9 months of house arrest and 9 months of curfew, for a total of 18 months of probation for the 33 year old. Dolbec entered a guilty plea for the charge and his sentencing was set for October 28, 2014, when he received the probation sentence and was made aware of the restrictions and responsibilities that he faced while he serves out the sentence. In addition Dolbec can also be banned from owning a firearm for the rest of his life. Drug trafficking in Fort MacMurray continues to be a problem for RCMP and other law enforcement officials, and it seems like one trafficking avenue is shut down when another is started.

Categories
Canada Ft Mac Sports U.S.

Brad Mills, Former Forward for Oil Barons, Receives AHL Suspension

Brad Mills, AHL, Oil Barons
Brad Mills, AHL, Oil Barons

Brad Mills, the hockey player who previously played in the position of forward for the Fort MacMurray Oil Barons has received a 20 game suspension suspension from the AHL due to violating certain terms of the AHL/PHPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. Brad Mills is a favorite with hockey fans around Canada and the USA, and he has played on other teams as well as being a forward for the Fort MacMurray Oil Barons in the past. Mills started out showing incredible promise, initially playing with the NHL Ottawa Senators farm team the Binghamton Senators. During the 2002-03 season with the Alberta Junior Hockey League Brad Mills scored 67 points and made 20 goals, showing that he has the skills needed to be a professional hockey player in any league.

The AHL suspension for former Fort MacMurray Oil Barons player Brad Mills has already started. After Mills played with the Senators he made his debut in the NHL in 2010-2011, playing for the New Jersey Devils. This was after Brad Mills spent four seasons as a player with the Yale Bulldogs. In his career so far of 34 NHL games the former Fort MacMurray Oil Barons forward has only scored two points and made one goal, but he has accumulated 37 penalty minutes during the same period. Both the AHL and the NHL agreed on details in August for a drug testing and education program that was to be implemented beginning in the 2014-2015 season. Brad Mills will be eligible to play again in the match on December 12, which is when the Senators face off against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.