Long weekend traffic enforcement officers hit the highways on Thursday.

Long weekend travellers are warned that Alberta Integrated Traffic Units will be hitting the highway this long weekend, looking for awful and unlawful drivers, in an effort to keep Alberta highways safe the Victoria Day long weekend.

QEII Integrated Traffic Units officers from Airdrie, Innisfail, Ponoka and Leduc were out in force yesterday, cracking down on speeders, distracted drivers and even catching on impaired driver.  As many as 40 officers were monitoring the long weekend traffic on Highway 2 from Calgary to Edmonton.

As a result of their efforts, 273 drivers were given speeding tickets, including four drivers who were clocked traveling at 150 Km/hr on Highway 2 in heavy traffic.  Officers handed out 24 seatbelt charges, 35 distracted driver tickets and 91 other traffic safety act infraction tickets.  Police pulled over one impaired driver who is now facing a criminal charge.

Cpl. Darrin Turnbull of the RCMP says “these driving infractions are the most frequent contributing causal factors to fatality and serious injury collisions throughout the province”.

“Enforcement during Holiday long weekends is a priority for the Integrated Traffic Units. Tragically, fatal and serious injury collisions tend to occur more frequently during holiday long weekends. Our officers will be paying particular attention to intercepting aggressive speeding drivers, distracted drivers, drivers not wearing seatbelts, consuming alcohol, or failing to obey traffic control devices at rural intersections” says Staff Sgt. Brian Quist.

Quist adds “We will be working hard all weekend, trying to ensure that everyone reaches their intended destination safely.”

Three people are now facing first degree murder charges in the death of Winston Crier.

Hobbema RCMP have arrested two more people in connection with the murder of 51-year old Winston Crier of the Samson Cree Nation.

Last week, police charged 26-year old Clifford Soosay of Hobbema with first degree murder.  Hobbema RCMP report the victim and the accused were acquaintances.

On Wednesday and Thursday, police arrested the other two suspects.  Nikki Saddleback, 25 and 27-year old Troy Crier, both of Hobbema have also been charged with first degree murder.

“These suspects are in custody because of the citizens of the Hobbema community,” said Inspector Charles Wood, Officer-in-Charge of Hobbema RCMP, “Without their involvement, support and information, we wouldn’t have been able to make these arrests so quickly. The community of Hobbema won’t stand for this kind of criminal violence and their cooperation with the RCMP reflects that.”

Insp. Wood adds over 30 RCMP officers worked on the investigation into the death of Winston Crier.  Members from the Wetaskiwin/Hobbema GIS and Hobbema Community Response Unit assisted in the investigation as well as Forensic ID Section, Police Dog Services and Special Tactical Operations Team.

Clifford Soosay will appear in Wetaskiwin court on May 28 while Saddleback and Crier will appear in Wetaskwin court on May 21.

Insp. Wood says the murder of Winston Crier is not thought to be gang related.

Vilna collision under investigation by RCMP

An 82-year old man is dead and two people have been hospitalized after a two-vehicle collision near the village of Vilna on Thursday evening.

The Vilna collision occurred just before 9 p.m., southeast of the village on Range Road 132.

Cst. Brad Mouland of the Smoky Lake RCMP says police believe a truck traveling southbound on Range Road 132 struck an eastbound van traveling on Township Rd 582.

The victim was traveling in the van along with a 68-year old woman and the driver.  Bystanders tried to revive the man by performing CPR on him, but he succumbed to his injuries and died in hospital.  The 68-year old woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to hospital.  The driver of the van was uninjured in the collision.

The driver of the truck was a 16-year old girl.  She suffered minor injuries and was transported to hospital.

Charges are pending against the 16-year old driver of the truck.

The name of the deceased male is not being released at this time, pending notification of next of kin.

Vilna is located approximately 160 Km northeast of Edmonton.

RCMP continue to investigate after human remains found near Breton.  Remains of Everett Goodrunning has been identified.

The Medical Examiner’s Office has positively identified the human remains found near Breton in early May as Everett John Goodrunning, a 38-year old Rocky Mountain House man.

A passerby came across the remains of Everett Goodrunning on May 7, close to the North Saskatchewan River, near Township Rd 503A and Range Road 40.

Breton RCMP were called in and police officers then performed an extensive search of the area, looking for evidence.

The Medical Examiner’s Office was called in and were able to identify the remains as Goodrunning.

The Rocky Mountain House man was reported missing to RCMP in June of 2008.

The manner of Mr. Goodrunning’s death is under investigation by police.

Anyone with information on the disappearance or death of Everett Goodrunning is asked to contact the RCMP or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222 8477.

Breton is located approximately 120 Km southwest of Edmonton.

Samantha Johnstone and Colby McInnes suspects in Blackfalds carjacking.

RCMP are looking for two suspects in connection with the Blackfalds carjacking that occurred on May 15. Colby McInnes and Samantha Johnstone are wanted in connection with the alleged carjacking.

Initially, police were called concerning a rollover collision near Blackfalds, on Aspelund Rd, west of Highway 2 at about 8 p.m. on Wednesday.   When police arrived at the scene, they discovered that two of the vehicle’s occupants, a man and a woman had left the scene of the collision.  The two were given a ride by a passerby.

Cpl. P A Penny of the Blackfalds RCMP says the two then forced the driver who picked them up from her vehicle and left her abandoned on the side of the road.

RCMP searched the area for the two, but could not find the suspects.

The vehicle was later found in the Highland Green neighbourhood of Red Deer.  After the discovery of the vehicle, police patrolled the area extensively to locate the suspects, but to no avail.

Police believe they know the identities of the two suspects.  22-year old Colby McInnes is facing a number of charges including robbery, two counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm and several others.  The second suspect in the alleged carjacking is 23-year old Samantha Johnstone.  She is facing property related charges.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of either suspect is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1 8000 222 8477.

Charges against McInnes and Johnstone have not been proven in a court of law.

Hanna collision kills one person, injures a second.

One person is dead and another is in hospital after a two-vehicle collision on Highway 9 east of Hanna on Wednesday morning.

The Hanna collision involving an eastbound car and a westbound SUV occurred at about 10:30 a.m..

The crash occurred on Highway 9, approximately 40 Km east of Hanna.  According to Sgt. Guy Landreville of the Hanna RCMP, one of the vehicles crossed the centre line and collided head on with the other vehicle.

The driver of the car was pronounced deceased at the scene.  The name of the deceased driver is not being released, pending notification of next of kin.

A woman driving the SUV was transported by ground ambulance to Foothills Hospital in Calgary with undetermined injuries.

Following the collision, small vehicle traffic was re-routed around the crash scene while semi trucks and all heavy load vehicles had to detour on nearby highways to avoid the collision.

More charges may be laid against other suspects in Red Deer standoff.

Red Deer RCMP have laid a number of charges against 27-year old David James Kertesz in connection with the Red Deer standoff early on Tuesday morning.

David Kertesz, of No fixed address has been charged with:

• Kidnapping while using a firearm
• Three counts of robbery with a firearm
• Three counts of extortion using a firearm
• Three counts of forcible confinement
• Two counts of uttering threats
• Two counts of using firearms while committing an offence
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Three counts of pointing a firearm

The incident began at about 2 a.m., on Tuesday morning.  Police responded to an apartment building on Parke Ave after receiving a call about an armed robbery outside the building.  Cpl. Sarah Knelsen of the Red Deer City RCMP says police determined that the suspects had fled to a home on Halman Cr in the Highland Green area of Red Deer.

Cpl. Knelsen says “Red Deer RCMP attempted to contact the suspects in the residence however, they refused come out of the residence”.   Police then surrounded the home, cordoned off the area and the South Emergency Response Team was called in to manage the situation.  Nearby neighbours were evacuated from their homes as a precautionary measure.

By mid morning on Tuesday, the standoff had ended and police had taken a number of people into custody.  Along with Kertesz, charges are pending against others who may have been involved in the Red Deer standoff.

No one was injured in the incident.

David Kertesz has been remanded into custody and will make his next court appearance on Friday May 17th, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. in Alberta Provincial Court.

Charges against David Kertesz have not been proven in a court of law.

Suggested route for large vehicles to detour around Highway 9 collision.

Hanna RCMP are investigating a serious collision east of Hanna that has closed the busy highway this morning and police expect to keep the roadway closed until mid-afternoon.

Sgt. Patricia Neely of the RCMP says the Highway 9 collision site is approximately 40 Km east of Hanna.  Traffic on the road is being re-routed around the collision scene, but due to heavy rain in the area and other factors, semi trucks cannot travel the detour route.

Semi trucks and other heavy equipment traveling between Hanna and Youngstown are asked to detour from Hanna south on Highway 36 and then take Highway 570 east.  At the junction of Highways 570 and 884, drivers can return to Highway 9.

Cars and light traffic can take the detour set up by police near the collision, or the local detour around the scene, as directed by RCMP officers.

Sgt. Neely says Highway 9 is expected to be closed for the next three to four hours.

Suggested route for large vehicles to detour around Highway 9 collision.

Hanna RCMP are investigating a serious collision east of Hanna that has closed the busy highway this morning and police expect to keep the roadway closed until mid-afternoon.

Sgt. Patricia Neely of the RCMP says the Highway 9 collision site is approximately 40 Km east of Hanna.  Traffic on the road is being re-routed around the collision scene, but due to heavy rain in the area and other factors, semi trucks cannot travel the detour route.

Semi trucks and other heavy equipment traveling between Hanna and Youngstown are asked to detour from Hanna south on Highway 36 and then take Highway 570 east.  At the junction of Highways 570 and 844, drivers can return to Highway 9.

Cars and light traffic can take the detour set up by police near the collision, or the local detour around the scene, as directed by RCMP officers.

Sgt. Neely says Highway 9 is expected to be closed for the next three to four hours.

Red Deer wants citizens to register their backyard chickens as part of a pilot project to gather feedback and assess practice of keeping egg-laying hens in the city.

The City of Red Deer is asking citizens to register their backyard chickens as part of the Urban Chicken Pilot Project.

“It’s important for chicken owners to come forward so The City has a better understanding of how many chickens are out there,” said Joyce Boon, permits and licensing supervisor.

“We want to hear from everyone involved so we can assess the level of support for urban chickens and identify any concerns within the pilot.”

On February 19, 2013, City Council approved a formal pilot project allowing Red Deer citizens to have up to six chickens in their backyard coop.

Over the next 10 months, administration will work with urban chicken owners and the public to gather feedback and assess the practice of keeping egg-laying hens in the city.

The pilot ends March 31, 2014.

Urban chicken owners are asked to submit a registration form to The City’s Inspections & Licensing department before June 21, 2013 and register with the Government of Alberta Premises Identification (PID) Program.

After June 21, 2013, no one else will be allowed to own chickens unless registered with the city.

Any “fowl play,” including failure to register and noise complaints, will result in enforcement of the Community Standards Bylaw.

“To make the right decision for our community we need urban chicken owners to participate,” said Boon.

“After they register, The City will arrange an on-site visit to oversee the operation.”

Residents can provide feedback on urban chickens by contacting Inspections & Licensing at 403-342-8190 or inspections@reddeer.ca.

The results of the Urban Chicken Pilot Project will be presented to Council for consideration before February 28, 2014.