The Springbank Park For All Seasons is on the lookout for more curlers.
The park has openings for teams in the Monday night ladies, Wednesday night men’s and the Thursday night mixed leagues.
The park has made improvements, including reconditioned rocks that include an insert to help with consistency, and an ice dresser was added that should help make speed more consistent.
The facility, located beside the Springbank High school, houses six curling sheets and two indoor ice arenas. Winter sports account for 58 per cent of the park’s annual budget, with minor hockey and figure skating contributing the lion’s share at 49 per cent, according to a recent press release.
While rising fuel costs have impacted the facility, energy conservation efforts have allowed the park’s management to keep costs in line.
Organizers hope full, busy skating and curling sheets will help keep user fees at last year’s levels. However, membership fees will increase: seniors jumped from $20 to $30, a family membership is now $100 from $70, and a single costs $60 instead of $50.

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
A group of local business people has purchased Cochrane Towne Square, a shopping centre at the corner of Griffin Road and Fifth Avenue, for an undisclosed amount in a deal that is expected to be finalized Sept. 1.
Hank Biesbroek, a spokesperson for the local group, said the shopping centre is a solid investment for both the new owners and the town.
“I guess we’re pretty strong Cochranites and we believe in the community and to us, this is just a good, long-term investment,” Biesbroek said Aug. 30. “Real estate in general is a good investment.”
The property was purchased from Cochrane Properties Ltd. (CPL), the Vancouver-based developer that also owns the nearby former Domtar site.
CPL cleaned the creosote-contaminated land before building the shopping centre.
Biesbroek, who wouldn’t say how much was paid, nor reveal who else is in the group, said the agreement doesn’t include the Safeway stores. The group also owns the land where the Alberta Treasury Branch sits on Fifth Avenue.
Biesbroek, who owns Smitty’s Restaurant, said local consumers appear to be returning to Cochrane instead of making the trip to Calgary to for shopping.
“It appears some shopping habits have changed,” Biesbroek said. “We’d like to see more business come to town.”
He noted plans for commercial development on the former Carmacks site at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Railway Street should also increase consumer traffic.
“Offering choices allows people to make the decision to stay in town,” he said. “Competition breeds strength as well.”

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
Cochrane’s Catholic high school students will get a few extra days of summer after the Sept. 1 opening day was delayed to Sept. 7 because recent wet weather prevented the paving of an access road.
“Because of the wet weather, the road isn’t ready. Everybody’s been trying to get it done but it isn’t ready yet,” said Catholic District spokesperson Carmen Chrumka Aug. 31, regarding access from RancheHouse Road. “Because of the current status, we decided to open classes after Labour Day.”
St. Timothy Catholic Jr./Sr. High is anticipating about 200 students in Grades 7 to 11 for its first year of operation.
While the school north of town has a paved parking lot and driveway, the RancheHouse Road access has yet to be paved and remains a rutted, gravel road.
There is another access further north from Carlson Trail but it too is a gravel road.
Chrumka said with the weather warming up, she hopes the paving will begin early this week and have time to dry for next week’s opening.
“The road has to dry for so many hours before they can do anything,” she said.
She added the school will remain open for students to register prior to the Sept. 7 opening.
Meanwhile, the status of Highway 22 upgrades for accessing the school site appears to be in question.
Bruce Atwell, operations manager for Alberta Transportation, said the ministry had issued a permit for the upgrades as part of the school’s plans.
The permit calls for the construction of a deceleration lane on northbound Highway 22 to account for increased traffic going to the school.
“When we issued the permit, we expected it would be done by the opening,” Atwell said. “As it stands, traffic is still going in there but the traffic will stack.”
Atwell said his department wouldn’t push for the upgrades because it is not perceived as a safety issue.
“The deceleration lane allows traffic to keep flowing better. If it was a safety issue, then we’d be concerned but I don’t think this is,” he said.
Chrumka had few details on the status of the upgrades.
“The deceleration lane will be built as soon as possible and we’re continuing to work with (Rocky View),” she said.

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
Proponents of a recreational vehicle park, campground and gas bar to be built north of Cochrane on Highway 22 made their final pitch to area residents at an Aug. 26 open house, ahead of its scheduled appearance before the Municipal District of Rocky View council later this month.
Before a crowd of about 30 people at the Weedon Pioneer Community Hall, developer Denis Veraart said there have been a few changes made to plans for the Spring Hills RV Park, which is slated for the northeast corner of Highways 22 and 567.
“We’ve made a few changes, not very much, from the first concept plan,” Veraart said.
Residents will have a chance to voice their concerns to the M.D. at a public hearing Sept. 14 before council considers giving second and third reading to the plan to change the land use to Direct Control.
The plan calls for a Shell gas bar, a convenience store and liquor store to anchor the 90-lot RV campground (down from the original 125) and RV storage yard. Veraart said it is too early to determine if future plans for dry and cold storage and a car wash will also be added to the 30-acre parcel.
He noted apart from fewer RV stalls, the only other significant change from plans unveiled at a Feb. 21 open house was the addition of large setbacks from both highways and moving the access further east on Highway 567.
John Parsons, the project engineer from BSEI, Inc., said the new plan coincides with Alberta Transportation’s “ultimate design” for Highway 567.
But the expected increase in traffic at the busy intersection was the chief concern for most residents at the meeting.
Karen Falk, who lives on Weedon Trail, questioned what the impact of the larger RVs would mean for the intersection that has long been a concern for residents.
“You have larger vehicles and larger volumes trying to negotiate that corner,” she said. “There’s already a lot of close calls. Crossing over Highway 22 can be a real challenge.”
Parsons said the plans call for upgrades to Highway 567 that will include a dedicated right lane and a left turning lane on to Highway 22, as well as acceleration and deceleration lanes into the RV park.
According to Veraart, Alberta Transportation has plans to twin Highway 22 but has given no time line.
He acknowledged currently an average of 9,000 vehicles drive through the intersection every day, about one-third of that on Highway 567.
“Alberta Transportation won’t give us specific data on when (the upgrades are) going to happen,” Veraart said. “They’re talking about something very close.”
Questions also arose about the impact on the water table, the safe storage of gasoline on the site and future plans for an as yet undesignated portion of the site.
Residents heard the site would have its own water well that will have a pumping capacity of 10.7 gallons per minute, and state-of-the-art monitors will alert the station if gas leaks past underground concrete barriers.
As for future storage capacity on the remaining land, Veraart said that has yet to be determined.
Drew Hyndman, a Rocky View planner, said the developer is seeking a very specific zoning, Direct Control, that will keep strict limits on what is done with the site.
Veraart said if the project is approved, they will seek a development permit and hope to have the business up and running by the end of January with construction beginning in November.

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
A group of local triathletes took on the grueling 22nd Subaru Ironman Canada race in Penticton, B.C., Aug. 29, and had to cope with unusual conditions.
Angie Anderson, president of the Red Rock Runners and Tri Club, said many competitors, including seven Cochrane triathletes, had a tough time with the 3.86 km swim, recorded top times in the 180.2 km bike race and struggled with the 42.2 km marathon to close the race.
“All of us were fairly beat up in the swim course,” Anderson said Aug. 31. “On the bike it was just an incredible day and then people had bad marathons across the board.”
Anderson was joined by ironman veteran Jaimie Roth, Earl and Linda Van Dyke, Ross Stirling, Jim Fridfinnson and Pam Gossmann at the top Canadian event that is a qualifier for the famed Kona Ironman championship in Hawaii later this year.
Competing in her third Ironman Canada race, Anderson qualified for Kona with a time of 11 hours, 47 minutes and 37 seconds, ranking her 595th overall and 17th out of 134 in the women’s 35-39 category.
Anderson said although she was thrilled to qualify, she won’t go to Hawaii this year and hopes to repeat the feat in the future.
Roth, who has been at Kona before, finished 174th overall with a time of 10:41:36, ranking him 24th out of 303 in the men’s 40-44 division. He was one rank short of qualifying again, Anderson said.
Stirling came in 142nd overall and 12th out of 95 in the men’s 25-29 division, recording a time of 10:32:15.
Earl Van Dyke scored a time of 12:57:34, finishing 1,178th overall and 185th out of 303 in the men’s 40-44 division while wife Linda finished 1,714th overall with a time of 14:47:48, ranking her 74th out of 104 in the women’s 40-44 division.
Gossmann finished 1,511th overall, 58th out of 104 in the women’s 40-44 division, with a time of 13:52:13.
Fridfinnson came out 1,581st which placed him 290th out of 334 in the men’s 35-39 division with a time of 14:07:55.
For more information about how to get involved with the Red Rock Runners and Tri Club, visit its Web site at www.redrockrunners.com or call Anderson at 932-9068.

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By Mike Stott
Special to The Eagle
Cochrane Rangers 1 Men’s coach Dave Currie was all smiles after his team overpowered the Silverback SC Aug. 21.
Currie has patiently turned the fortunes of the team around and a win elevated the team to the provincial playoffs in Edmonton. With injuries and summer vacations affecting the roster, Currie laced up the boots himself in support of the team.
Early stages of the game saw Silverback play with some fast ball movement, interactions between the midfield and forwards controlling the play. The ever reliable Rangers defender Warren Mullenix ensured his defensive partners Mike Warwick, Dan Warman and John French stalled the opposition at the 18-yard box.
Midway though the first half the Rangers started to take control of midfield, helped by the efforts of forwards Mike Mullenix and Sam Withey and good support on the left wing from midfielder Ashley Boyd and defender John French. The Rangers’ efforts where answered with a well-placed shot from hard-working Mike Mullenix that gave the team a 1-0 lead at half time.
In the second half the Silverback tried to equalize but were unable to penetrate the Rangers midfield and it was Warman who scored to take the Rangers to a 2-0 lead.
Minutes later an error by the Silverback defence allowed Coach Currie to pick up a bad back pass, dribble the ball past the last defender and score for a well-earned win with a final score of 3-0.
The Lady Rangers 1 battled the Grasshopper SC in an exciting game Aug. 15 with two great goals in the first half by Monique Tambay and U-18 recruit Milissa Sedrovic.
However, the Grasshoppers were also in a scoring mode and they led 3-2 at the end of the first half.
The second half saw the Grasshoppers take their score to five but the Lady Rangers battled back into the game with some great passing through the midfield by Sue O’Reilly, as well as some good defensive work by another U-18 recruit Karla Binder and defence partners Tanis Hagerman, Emily Smith and Angela Blakely.
The Rangers added two more goals by Dee Dee Cook and Jo Daviduk to bring the score to within one but as the Rangers continued to mount attacks to tie the game it was the final whistle from the referee that stopped the gallant effort with a final score 5-4 to the Grasshoppers. (more…)

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
With some veteran talent leading a young Cochrane Lions bantam football squad this season, coach Pat Coyle expects the team has a good shot at winning the city title.
In four pre-season games, the always competitive Lions managed three wins and a tie, including a victory last week against the Cowboys, a perennial powerhouse in the Calgary Bantam Football Association (CBFA).
“Looking at it from the pre-season, we definitely could be there at the end for sure,” Coyle said. “With the three boys that went to the (Alberta) Summer Games, they’ll definitely come in leading this time.”
Quarterback Jared Clark and running back Nick Craig helped the Big Country Zone to a bronze medal along with Tom Knitter on the defensive side.
Craig, who was the top running back in the league last year, should continue to improve, Coyle said.
“Last season we had the best running back and we hope to build on that,” Coyle said.
Clark, the younger brother of Caleb Clark who starred for the Lions before leading the Bow Valley High school Bobcats to a pair of Tier IV provincial titles, will once again be the top signal caller on offence.
Coyle said Jared had many of the qualities that saw his brother dominate in the bantam league.
“They’re slightly different,” Coyle said. “Jared doesn’t have the roll out ability his brother had but his throwing arm and technique are very good.”
Knitter will lead the defence that includes four or five returnees and a solid defensive front.
Coyle said one of the most exciting parts of this year’s team is its youth, with 24 of the 40 players eligible to return for at least another year. Usually there are only 14 to 16 that can play again.
“We got quite a few strong kids from the pee wee program,” Coyle added.
Last year, the team fell short in both of its CBFA playoff games.
The Lions square off in their first league game at 11 a.m., Aug. 28 at Shouldice Field against the Hilltoppers.

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
Promoting public involvement and shoring up the town’s spending habits are key components of what council candidate Andy Marshall says he will bring to Cochrane if elected.
The veteran journalist, who will turn 62 before the Oct. 18 election, said a new council needs to tighten the public purse strings and open the doors to citizens who have felt left out.
“Council has to be very vigilant over spending,” Marshall said, launching his campaign Aug. 23. “Certainly taxes have gone up too much.”
He said this year’s four per cent tax hike promoted by council was closer to an average of 13 per cent based on rising property assessments.
While he acknowledged council put the brakes on some pricey projects, in some cases, such as councillors’ decision in May to raise their salaries, indicate a “cavalier attitude” for taxpayer dollars.
“I think in the last six months they’ve begun to realize things are going to get really tough (financially),” Marshall said. “The priority for me is to keep a very close watch over spending.”
In order to secure one of the six council seats, Marshall will face off against five incumbents — Doreen Sutherland, Jeff Genung, Ivan Brooker, Maureen Wills and Truper McBride — and at least one other candidate, Ken Hynes, who has officially declared his intention to run.
A handful of other candidates, including former mayor and councillor Lydia Graham, have said they may stand for election.
While Marshall wouldn’t say a clean slate is needed in the council chamber, he noted some “fresh ideas” may be necessary.
He said there is a perception the current council is not open to public feedback beyond the existing statutory requirements.
“A lot of people don’t feel they’ve been heard in town office,” Marshall said. “Perhaps we need fresh people to come in with fresh ideas and be more open.”
Marshall, who campaigned in an effort to defeat the town’s plan to secure the former Western Heritage Centre as a municipal home in 2002, said that process showed the division between council and the public.
Despite a successful push by the group Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility to hold a plebiscite on the plan, Marshall suggested many felt disenfranchised by the results. A 59 per cent majority was in favour of taking over the former interpretive centre.
He also vowed to push for an end to closed-door meetings that have become more prevalent despite public concerns about their legality raised by outgoing Mayor Judy Stewart.
“Doing business in public is . . . important. There are a lot of closed meetings and pre-council meetings held on a regular basis,” Marshall said. “Let the public know what council has to deal with and ultimately it will help everybody.”
A comprehensive plan to deal with the town’s growth, promoting environmental and social responsibility, encouraging affordable housing and maintaining recreational and cultural needs are also part of Marshall’s platform.
Despite rumblings that community associations may contest some council positions, Marshall, who is president of the Cochrane Settlement Community Association, said he will resign from the position if he wins and won’t lobby specifically for his neighbourhood.
The nomination deadline for the October election is Sept. 20.

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
Three mules drowned in the Bow River during the filming of a television series near Morley Aug. 16 despite warnings that rising water from heavy rainfall couldn’t be controlled.
The animals were swept away during the filming of a river crossing near the Chief Goodstoney Rodeo Centre for “Into the West”. The Turner Network Television (TNT) production crew had been warned three times by TransAlta that the Bow River would be rising.
TransAlta’s operations supervisor for hydro, Roger Drury, said Aug. 23 that he received three phone calls from the production crew on the morning of Aug. 16.
“They called the first thing Monday morning and the question was, ‘The river is higher this morning, what’s going on?,’” Drury said. “I warned them to expect flows to continue to go up during the day.”
He said TNT had asked TransAlta if it could lower the Bow River for two days of shooting.
Drury said TNT was told TransAlta could only control the release from its hydro plants up-river from the Seebe electric dam, which is fed from tributaries and hydro plants on the Kananaskis, Spray and Cascade Rivers.
The Seebe operation has no reservoir so “whatever comes in has to go through,” he said.
TransAlta agreed to delay the release of water from the Barrier hydro plant on the Kananaskis River that feeds into the Bow until noon, giving a window from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. when water levels would be lower than normal.
Drury said a filmed crossing Aug. 13 went off without a hitch but heavy rainfall Aug. 15 in the Canmore and Exshaw areas caused levels to rise.
Despite questions from TNT about the rising river, Drury said he told them TransAlta had no control over the increasing flow due to the heavy rains.
“I told them the flows would be higher and coming up through the day,” he said. “We made it clear there was no way we could specifically control that water coming down the Bow.”
He said the river at the Morley site rose about eight inches over the morning and may have surged swiftly, creating a fierce undercurrent.
“It could easily have come up six inches in 10 to 15 minutes,” Drury said. “It’s not what I would call a wall of water, (but) a six-inch flow depth can make quite a difference.”
John Scott, head wrangler for the production, was reluctant to discuss the incident, referring questions to TNT unit publicist Brandee Brooks, who could not be reached.
Scott noted two wagons had crossed the river “just a few minutes before” and despite the accident “no errors were made.”
He said he hadn’t heard about the calls to TransAlta and the forecast of continued rising waters but the safety of the animals was paramount.
“It’s never happened in my 20 years on a movie set,” he said.

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