Dog handler injured
An early morning scuffle in a parking lot off of Gaetz Avenue on Sunday led to a Red Deer City RCMP dog handler landing in hospital with a head injury hours later.
Police responded to a reported assault at 2:46 a.m. While subduing one suspect, another ran off in handcuffs.
Twenty minutes later, after a call came in that the escaped man was in the Sunnybrook area, an RCMP police dog service member responded to assist, travelling northbound on 40th Avenue. En route, the officer’s Suburban was rear-ended by a pickup truck, forcing the SUV into a third vehicle.
Both pickup driver and RCMP officer were transported to Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre with serious but non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the third vehicle, and the dog in the back of the Suburban at the time, were uninjured.
The RCMP’s general investigation section and traffic collision analyst are investigating the crash. Alcohol is not believed to have been a factor, say the RCMP.
The officer has been released from hospital.
The escaped suspect turned himself in several hours later.
A 17-year-old male has been charged with resisting arrest and escaping lawful custody. A 19-year-old male has been charged with assault.
Fundraiser generates $35K
The Red Deer Royals’ most recent fundraiser didn’t end on as high a note as hoped.
The Royal Night of Music and Entertainment on Thursday at Red Deer College raised about $35,000 for the award-winning marching band, far short of the $100,000 goal.
Despite the disappointing tally, fundraising chairman Ray McBeth found much to be positive about.
“We’re actually quite pleased about that, to tell you the truth.”
McBeth said the fundraiser ran into a schedule crowded with fundraisers over the last few months and there are only so many dollars to go around.
The event featured a performance by CBC comedian Rick Mercer and cocktails, dinner and auction with Danny Hooper. About 400 tickets were sold, about 150 short of a sellout, and the auction also didn’t raise as much as expected.
The money will go towards the Royals’ campaign to find suitable rehearsal space. The band is looking to raise $1 million towards the project and is seeking partners to share building costs.
Besides the money raised at Thursday’s event, Royals band members also presented $50,000 raised through bingos.
McBeth has already begun organizing the Royals’ annual golf tournament and Innisfail Golf Club. Last year’s event raised $50,000.
Overall, the capital campaign has been going well, he said.
Smart Grid input wanted
People who want input into the development of a Smart Grid for electrical power in Alberta have until 3 p.m. on Friday to state their intentions.
The Alberta government has asked the Alberta Utilities Commission to investigate the development of a smart grid, which is involves using massive amounts of information gathered at from throughout the system to manage it more efficiently, thereby reducing waste, said Jim Law, a communications officer for the AUC.
The first question participants will be asked is how they define a smart grid, Law said on Monday.
The provincial government has stated that a number of key companies, including AltaLink Management, ATCO Electric, ENMAX Power Corp., EPCOR Distribution and Transmission and FortisAlberta will be required to take part in the process, he said.
Other parties who have an interest in generation, distribution, retail sales and any other aspects of the electrical system are also being asked to make submissions, said Law.
AUC will gather input from all participants and will organize focus groups and public meetings later on in the year, he said.
