Author: Shelly W

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Brian Makey is Named New Fire Chief for Red Deer Fire Department

Red Deer, Brian Makey, Fire Chief
Red Deer, Brian Makey, Fire Chief

 

The chief operating officer of Wood Buffalo, Brian Makey, was recently offered the position of Fire Chief for Red Deer and the offer was accepted. The former Wood Buffalo COO will start the new position in October, with October 6 being his first day on the job. Brian Makey has a long history in Red Deer and the Wood Buffalo region, he has worked for almost 30 years with the municipality. During much of this time Makey was a firefighter. In 1986 when Brian Makey arrived in Fort MacMurray and the Wood Buffalo area he started low on the ladder. Through the years since Brian has advanced swiftly, with positions as a fire lieutenant, fire deputy chief, and then regional fire chief. For 12 years Makey also served as the Fort McMurray Firefighters’ IAFF Local 2494 Union President.

When Brian Makey took the position as COO in 2012 there was no doubt he was qualified, but as the recent change shows his heart has always been in fighting fires. As the new Red Deer Fire Chief Makey is doing what he loves and what he is good at. According to Makey “I have been proud to call Fort McMurray my home for the last thirty years. My wife and I have been very involved in the community, and we have seen tremendous growth and change during our time here. My career with the municipality has been rewarding, meaningful, and something I am proud of. I have always been passionate about public safety and emergency services. This is an opportunity which I am looking forward to.”

 

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Dr. Frankenstein Probe Leads to Illegal Weapons in Fort MacMurray

Fort MacMurray, illegal weapons
Fort MacMurray, illegal weapons

 

Fort MacMurray police recently seized a number of illegal weapons that are linked to the so called Dr. Frankenstein, a weapons trafficker believed to be based in Langley, British Columbia. Canadian law enforcement have been working with the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, and Explosives in order to prevent illegal weapon trafficking in the USA and Canada. According to the investigators Dr. Frankenstein is suspected of selling gun parts and equipment online that allows the conversion of Glock pistols, so that the weapons are turned into fully automatic pistols with silencer equipment. Fort MacMurray police searched the home of Travis Saunders and a number of illegal weapons were seized during the search.

When Fort MacMurray police served the search warrant for illegal weapons a number of items were seized. These items included a fully automatic Glock pistol that had been modified, along with more than 3000 rounds of ammunition that included pistol rounds, shotgun shells, and rifle rounds. Fort MacMurray police also seized two shotguns, a Tikka T3 rifle, two handguns, a Bushmaster Carbon 15 rifle, a Savage Arms assault rifle, and five rifles. According to Alberta Serious Incident Response Team Inspector Gary Peck “I really don’t know why someone would have a gun like that and that’s why it’s concerning. The ability to control that type of weapon would be extremely difficult. It’s comparable to an Uzi. Obviously there’s a number of different types of weapons there and many can be used in hunting situations … but then there’s those other types of weapons.”

 

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Will Wood Buffalo Taxi Drivers Strike?

Wood Buffalo, taxi drivers
Wood Buffalo, taxi drivers

 

Local taxi drivers in Wood Buffalo recently started negotiating with the Taxicab Advisory Committee and the municipal council members, but it is still possible that the drivers could end up going on strike on September 6 if their demands are not met. One of the biggest issues that Wood Buffalo taxi drivers have is the $3 surcharge every time the driver goes to the new airport but this is not the only issue involved. When the old airport was in place Wood Buffalo drivers paid an $250 per year fee to take fares to and from the airport but this ended when a new contract was negotiated for the new airport. Other issues that have drivers upset is the annual cost of the license, and another is the lack of benefits that drivers have on the job.

What happens if Wood Buffalo taxi drivers decide to strike in early September? There may not be an available taxi when residents or visitors need one. According to both sides the other side is wrong, and many Wood Buffalo taxi drivers feel that the new $3 per airport fare is steep, and that this should not be charged to the customer either. Abdihanan Hussein, the Taxi Driver Committee representative, “We’re the ones saying you cannot charge this to the customer. Sun Taxi wanted to charge this to the customer. I don’t want to see the customer paying $3 or the driver. But I could shut my mouth and say nothing and charge the customer. So that $1 million is between us and the customer.”

 

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Fort MacMurray Gets Visit From Two Well Known Celebrities

celebrities, Fort MacMurray
celebrities, Fort MacMurray

 

Recently Fort MacMurray welcomed two well known celebrities for a visit. Both Darren Aronofsky and Leonardo DiCaprio spent a recent weekend in Fort MacMurray when they checked out the oilsands. Both celebrities have been nominated for an Oscar award and they wanted a closer look at the Athabasca oilsands that are situated in the area. Once social media was tipped off about the visit people went wild. The celebrity duo hit Fort MacMurray because they are considering a documentary and they wanted to scope things out in person. DiCaprio and Aronofsky were in a group that also included Sierra Club members. It is well known that Leonardo has been very vocal in his criticism of the oil industry so it is highly doubtful that any documentary he produces on this industry will be favorable.

According to Leonardo DiCaprio in a statement that he made in a recent documentary “The fossil-fuel industry continues to pull that carbon out of the ground. They drill, they frack, they mine earning astronomical profits. We must fight to keep this carbon in the ground. And it is possible.” Both celebrities took a plane to visit Fort Chipewyan but first they toured some of the oilsands sites. According to sources no environmental group was involved in initiating the trip, DiCaprio wanted to come to the area so he did. While the celebrities were in the Fort MacMurray region they met with members of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. The spokesman for these members, Eriel Deranger,, said “It was a big boon for the community. People reacted the way you would expect people in a small community to react when someone like Leonardo DiCaprio visits. It’s only natural he would come here. We really hope his research into his project includes our community.”

 

 

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Tim Horton’s Will be Bought by Burger King. What This Means for Fort MacMurray Residents.

Tim Horton's, Burger King, Fort MacMurray
Tim Horton’s, Burger King, Fort MacMurray

 

Tim Horton’s is a coffee shop that is Canadian, but the chain will soon be bought out by Burger King. What does this mean for fort MacMurray residents though? Will the residents of the area still be able to get their favorite cup of joe at their beloved coffee shop or will all of the Tim Horton’s locations be converted to Burger King instead? The deal involves both cash and the transfer of stock, and it will create the third largest group related to fast food restaurants. Once both companies announced that they were in negotiations the stock of Tim Horton’s and Burger King rose. Those who hold shares in Tim Horton’s will receive cash for their shares plus they will receive a portion of shares from the merger as well.

Fort MacMurray is a community that enjoys coffee, and the acquisition of Tim Horton’s by Burger King may upset some who really enjoy the coffee menus that the coffee and doughnut chain offer. The move is expected to save money for the Burger King group as well, because acquiring Tim Horton’s will allow Burger King to move to Canada and avoid being taxed double on any profits that are earned outside of the USA. Whether Fort MacMurray residents will approve of the change and be happy with the merger or not remains to be seen. Since there is currently a Tim Horton’s in the area this change will have an impact but it is too soon to tell whether this impact will be positive or negative.

 

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24 Hour Residential Service Line Launched by Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, 24 hour residential service line
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, 24 hour residential service line

The residents of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo now have a new option for non emergency questions and needs, a 24 hour residential service line that was recently launched in order to help residents and improve the service that they get. This hotline is not for emergency calls, instead it provides residents with one more option to get the latest news and information about the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and the municipal operations that impact residents in the area. The hotline is called Pulse: Wood buffalo Call Line, and it will help keep residents informed and provide vital information that may be needed. According to those who know the line will be staffed with live people who can answer questions, provide non emergency assistance, and perform other duties as needed as well.

The 24 hour residential service line that was recently launched by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is not intended to replace the emergency 911 system, and residents who have an emergency are still advised to call 911 instead of the Pulse line. The hotline can help residents find out about anything that is going on in Wood Buffalo, from important snow removal information to when potholes are expected to be fixed. Residents can also call the 24 hour residential service line for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo to report a stray dog or even ask for assistance in locating lost keys. Hopefully this will provide residents with additional resources that will prove to be very helpful.