By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
Cochrane will provide a temporary financial boost to the Spray Lake Family Sports Centre with a $310,000 injection to help until its donations come in, council decided Sept. 27.
Rick Erven, past-president of the Spray Lake Sawmills Recreation Park Society, told council the $5.8 million project, an addition to the Totem Arena that includes an indoor soccer facility and gymnasium, needs the additional funds to meet the terms of its development permit.
The town had previously donated $3 million to Phase 2 of the project that was built and administered by a non-profit society.
Erven said about $450,000 left of work remains to be completed including landscaping and paving the parking lot.
With some large corporate donors agreeing to pay off their commitments over the course of time, he said the bridge funding is needed.
“About $320,000 of corporate donations are scheduled to be paid out over the next three to nine years,” Erven said. “This means without (the town’s) assistance, we will run out of time allowed in the development permit.”
He noted the project has gone over budget by 1.5 per cent or $80,000, a number he called “acceptable” given the scope of the project.
The bulk of the bridge funding, approximately $270,000, would be paid back over the next four years, Erven said, and the society will commit to paying back $10,000 per year for another five years.
Erven added commitments from the major corporate donors are in place and with fundraising continuing, the society will work to pay off the bridge funding as soon as possible.
Council heard it had provided bridge funding for the first phase of the project to the tune of $180,000 over a 10-year period and annual repayments have continued on schedule.
“We continue to be self-reliant for operating costs and bear no burden to the taxpayers,” Erven said.
Councillors praised the project and the society before signing off on the funding.
Coun. Jeff Genung said he had no hesitation about providing the funding.
“It’s a solid repayment schedule and it shows a solid commitment from solid players in the community,” Genung said. “We have worked this model before and it’s worked successfully in the past.”

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By Verne Friesen
Special to The Eagle
The battle for Cochrane football bragging rights is slated to start at noon Oct. 2 when the cross-town rivals, the Cobras and the Bobcats, meet in league action at Bow Valley High. Both teams are undefeated in league play this season.
The Cobras remained undefeated when they travelled to Airdrie Sept. 25 to face the Bert Church Chargers in their second league game of the season and walked away with a 49-0 win.
The Chargers fumbled on their first play from scrimmage that led to the first of four touchdowns by Adam Marit, when he caught a 29-yard pass from quarterback Brett Binder. Marit scored his second touchdown on a five-yard pass from Binder before returning a Charger punt for 50 yards and his third touchdown of the game. He also added a 20-yard rushing TD in the third quarter.
Binder threw his third touchdown pass of the game when he hit Matt Clemence for a 50-yard score.
Ryan McDermit added a 20-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Place-kicker Aaron McLean converted five of the Cobra touchdowns, and added two field goals, one from the 43-yard line.
Marit scored a two-point convert on a pass from McLean in the third quarter.
The Cobra defense played outstanding, shutting out their opponents for the second straight game. The Cobras forced the Chargers to fumble twice, recovering the ball both times. Hard-hitting Cobra Scott Lutley got a sack in the second quarter when he penetrated the Charger line to throw the quarterback for an eight-yard loss.
With the victory, the Cobras lead the league with a 2-0 record, tied with the Bobcats and the Foothills Falcons from Okotoks. The Cobras are first by virtue of points for and against.
The Saturday showdown will be the first time the Cobras and Bobcats have met since last October when the Cobras won 35-16. This should be the game of the year so come out and support your Cochrane teams.
Verne Friesen is the business manager at Cochrane High.

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By Sarah Junkin
The Eagle
Friends of a local man who died last summer held a volleyball tournament in his honour Sept. 25 and 26 at the Spray Lake Family Sports Centre.
When Chris Montague suffered a fatal heart attack in his Cochrane office, the community lost an active volunteer, one of his positions being treasurer of Cochrane’s adult mixed volleyball league.
“We hope to hold the Chris Montague tournament every year,” said Sherri Zielke, who took over the treasurer’s position.
“We didn’t make a whole lot of money this year because we only had eight teams, but in future we’d like it to become a fundraiser.”
Two of the eight teams came from Calgary and took the top two prizes. The Squatters and Shakers from Cochrane placed third.
Zielke said a plaque bearing Montague’s name along with the winners’ names will be on display permanently at the recreation centre.

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By Sarah Junkin
The Eagle
Cochrane’s bird population increased by six Sept. 23 when the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society released some Swainson’s hawks at Cochrane Ranche.
The birds had been either orphaned or injured and brought to the centre which works closely with the Calgary Zoo.
“This was an excellent spot for release,” said wildlife manager Nicola Murphy, adding the Ranche was chosen on the suggestion of Cochrane resident George Halmazna, a zoo volunteer who does most of the banding for the wildlife centre.
“The managers of the Ranche are excellent stewards of the area, and it’s not the first time we’ve released birds there,” Murphy said.
She explained Swainson’s hawks, named for a biologist who discovered them, are very common on the Prairies but they won’t be in the area for long. Swainson’s hawks travel to Argentina every winter, making them one of the longest travellers in the bird kingdom.
“If they’d come to us any later in the year we couldn’t have released them until spring because the migratory season is almost over,” said Murphy. “But in general, we always try to release them as soon as possible in the best health they can be in.”

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
The Municipal District of Bighorn has agreed to pay its way for the use of Cochrane’s services to the tune of almost $25,000 beginning in 2005, council heard Sept. 27.
The agreement, reached after a year of discussions between the town and the M.D. west of Cochrane, will see contributions for ambulance, recreation services and the use of the town’s Family and Child Support Services.
“There are a number of services the town provides and the M.D. has offered to recognize this in terms of compensation and monies paid to the town,” said Chief Administrative Officer Julian deCocq. “This, I think, is a reasonable contribution from Bighorn and it certainly indicates they recognize our services.”
DeCocq said the deal is mostly aimed at 2005, but “some dollars would flow in 2004, particularly on the ambulance side.”
Council heard the M.D. will contribute up to 35 per cent of the M.D.’s annual FCSS funding to provide the services to residents in the Benchlands, South Ranchlands and West Jumping Pound areas.
The FCSS contribution for 2005 will be $10,523.
Bighorn will also contribute $20 per resident in the three areas to cover the use of recreation facilities and services. For 2005, the contribution will be $4,240.
M.D. residents will continue to pay the same amount for recreational programs and services as town residents.
The M.D. has agreed to contribute $10,000 for the use of the town’s ambulance services, a contribution of $33 per capita. With ambulance services across the province set to be folded into health regions next year, council heard the agreement will likely change when the new system is established. (more…)

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By Sarah Junkin
The Eagle
In anticipation of National Fire Safety Week (Oct. 2–9), Cochrane’s fire safety codes officer Brian Winter has been carrying out his annual inspection of local schools to make sure they meet safety guidelines.
Together with Rocky View School Division maintenance coordinator Ron Mesiatowsky, Winter has checked fire alarms, furnace and mechanical rooms, cooking and science laboratories, and made sure all exit doors opened properly.
“We prepare a report that goes to the school division for them to follow up that anything has been fixed,” said Winter. “But our schools are pretty good and usually take care of anything immediately.”
Local students from Kindergarten to Grade 3 will also be given a fire safety book filled with activities and puzzles all relating to fire safety.
“It’s in conjunction with McDonald’s,” said Winter. “At the end of a two-week period we’ll have a draw and the winner gets to be fire chief for a day. We’ll pick the whole family up in a fire truck and McDonald’s will even throw in lunch.
“The truth is in Alberta there’s been no deaths from fires in schools because they have four mandatory fire drills every year,” he said. “Fire fatalities usually occur in the home when people are sleeping.”

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By Pam Asheton
Special to The Eagle
The Cochrane Ag Society’s car park groaned with trucks and trailers Sept. 26 as members of the Cochrane Roping Club gathered for their annual prize giving ceremonies for their best aggregate scorers, and a sudden death instant results for their final year competition.
The arena grounds flew with dust from fast galloping horses, with two riders simultaneously bursting from the box to “head” and “heel” their respective cow in this round-robin event where riders constantly change partners. Times are judged by a mounted steward armed with a red flag who determines when the header has roped the cow’s head and his teammate the heeler, who has to be particularly adept at judging the low moving heels, ropes the fast moving heels or hocks.
“A high cast right up to the hips is known as ‘pantyhosing’ and as good as it gets,” grinned Cremona rancher Jackie Cunningham, whose husband Wayne has team roped for decades.
A single is a successful header (the cow’s head being roped) without the heeler succeeding, and points there would be five plus the stopwatched time. A double counts for 10 when both head and heels are roped by the two riders.
For the club’s sudden death competition, Jody Laye, husband of hard working secretary Sheri, neatly collared the header first prize while Grand Valley rancher Vern McLeod achieved a very neat cast for the heeling award. Both won handsome leather handstalls.
“I don’t wait for a good shot,” explained McLeod beforehand. “I just go for it.”
The aggregate score awards, which accumulate from May to October, divide into header and heeler. The brother and sister team of Jason and Linda Coleman handsomely won first prize and belt buckles with second placings and breastcollars going to Kim Welter and the upcoming 17-year-old Pat Griffin.
Hardworking secretary Sheri Laye headed for third place (and handsomely tooled leather daytimers) alongside Greg Twoyoungman, while Bob Coleman (header) and Gord Polis (heeler) ran into fourth placings and handsome spurs and straps.
Rookie of the Year was Stan Cena, who hails from Calgary’s outskirts at Rocky Ridge although he used to live in Cochrane. Part of the Calgary Stampede’s Outriders (which last year gained a first in the Stampede parade, with second this year), this is Cena’s first year of roping.
“I’ve one horse off the racetrack, and one who’s a mustang,” he said. “What I look for is what’s between the ears. I’ve wanted to rope forever — it’s been a lifelong ambition.”
The Executive Award went to Pat Griffin for just being plain helpful with anything that needed doing on competition nights. This youngster’s on a roll right now, last week winning the club’s western saddle raffle, as well as the heeler’s first prize for the club’s annual interclub team roping competition at Briscow, B.C., where rancher Lindsay Eklund also won the heading buckle.

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By Shawn Logan
The Eagle
A tireless advocate for the environment in Cochrane has been recognized with a pair of major awards, council heard Sept. 27.
Tim Giese, chair of the Cochrane Environmental Action Committee and the brownfield committee, has worked on local initiatives for 15 years.
Council heard Giese was one of 10 runners-up from across Canada for the Earth Day Hometown Heroes award for 2004.
He was also nominated for and will win this year’s Recycling Council of Alberta’s individual volunteer of the year.

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By Sarah Junkin
The Eagle
A professional illusionist who has become vice-president of institutional advancement at the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary in Cochrane has been busy.
Already Lou Leventhal, a pastor who started doing magic tricks as a child, has performed three shows at the Bow Valley Baptist Church Sept. 24 and 25.
“I got my first magic kit when I was nine,” he said. “By the time I was 13, I was doing birthday parties.”
For 26 years Leventhal has successfully managed to combine his two passions: performing in front of an audience and working in the Baptist ministry.
“There are lots of misconceptions about what church and religion are and there’s a lot of media stereotyping,” he said. “What we do in our show is have a great time with the audience and a small part of the program is where I talk about my relationship with God. I think people leave feeling comfortable and maybe understanding a little better. But I don’t preach on stage.”
Along with wife Martha, and often their three children, the Leventhals perform dozens of shows all over North America every year.
He said audience participation is an important part of the show.
“The tricks are really secondary,” he said. “Anyone can learn to do one, it’s just all practice. But the main thing about illusions is that they’re a vehicle for us to have a good time with the audience.”
Leventhal said many audience members never go to church.
“We’re booked secularly and that gives me an opportunity to share my relationship with God with a variety of people,” he said, adding he knows what it’s like not to know God since he himself didn’t see the inside of a church until he was 18.
“I didn’t grow up in a church home, I had no desire to go to church. But then I met a friend who had his life together and I was curious, although leery at first.”
Originally from Maryland, Leventhal moved to Canada in 1993 and most recently worked as a senior associate pastor at a church in Saskatoon. His new position will involve overseeing the future development of the seminary.
There were not many empty seats at Leventhal’s two evening performances and a matinee show last week. Church members served baked goods and refreshments after the show.

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