Cpl. Jason Pasloske

A motorcyclist traveling near Morley was struck and seriously injured by falling debris July 23.

Cochrane RCMP believe a flatbed semi-truck transporting scrap metal was traveling eastbound on Highway 1A just east of Morley Road around 1 p.m. when a forklift arm was jarred loose and flew off into a group of motorcyclists on vacation from British Columbia.
The debris severed the leg from the knee down of one of the men traveling in the group. He was taken to Foothills Hospital in Calgary for emergency surgery.

Police had yet to locate the semi-truck, which is described as a white-coloured older model semi with a flat deck.
Const Francisco Ceron said it’s very possible the driver of the truck is unaware of the horrific incident.

Cochrane RCMP Cpl. Jason Pasloske photographs the scene of an accident on Highway 1A July 23. A piece of metal debris fell off of a flatbed truck, striking a motorcyclist, removing his leg below the knee. Photo by Jeremy Broadfield

“At this point they are not being charged with anything we are just trying to track down the truck,” Ceron added.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Cochrane RCMP at 403-851-8000.

At left, traffic lines up towards Morley on Highway 1A while RCMP investigate the collision. Photo by Jeremy Broadfield

RCMP

A Morley women has died after being found floating face down July 20 in Ghost Lake, 20 kilometres west of Cochrane.

Cochrane RCMP responded to a report of a woman, identified as Bernadette Gail Saddleback, being pulled from the water unconscious around 7 p.m.

They arrived to find Saddleback’s husband and others attempting to resuscitate her.

Saddleback was rushed to Foothills Hospital in Calgary and placed on life support.

She died roughly 12 hours later. The 42-year-old is believed to have stopped at the lake with her family during a trip from Cochrane to Morley.

Cochrane RCMP Sgt. Wim Nam said although foul play has been ruled out, investigators believe members of the group consumed alcohol before the incident.

“People always seem to want to mix alcohol and time at the lake, which is never a good idea,” he added.

The investigation by local authorities has concluded and the body was transferred to the medical examiner’s office in Calgary.

RCMP

Charges are pending after a toddler was found locked in a van in the parking lot of the Stoney Nakoda Casino July 24.

Cochrane RCMP responded to a request for assistance at approximately 2:40 p.m. Upon arriving, they discovered a toddler who was covered in sweat and looked to be dehydrated.

Temperatures in the area were over 20 C at the time.

Officers smashed the van’s passenger-side window to retrieve the child, who suffered no serious harm.

Charges are expected to be laid against the father, whose name has been witheld to protect the identity of the toddler.

Cochrane Provincial Court

A week’s delay was requested in Cochrane Provincial Court July 22 on the matter concerning Chris Ball, a local teenager charged with mischief after a video of him jumping from a bridge onto a moving train surfaced online.

Patrick Fagan, a Calgary-based criminal defence lawyer who has been retained to represent Ball, told the court he and his client needed more time to plan their course of action.

Fagan’s request was granted and the case was held over until July 29.

Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) officials allege that Ball leapt from the Highway 22 overpass onto a train May 17. At the time, he was apprehended by Cochrane RCMP and fined $300 for petty trespassing.

Then, on June 11, CPR officials with assistance from local authorites executed a warrant on Ball’s residence and seized a computer, camera and multiple electronic storage devices.

Breast cancer walk

Cochranites walked hard to battle women’s cancers July 24-25, raising thousands for research in the process.

The Weekend to End Women’s Cancers, now in its sixth year, raised $2.7 million to benefit the Tom Baker Cancer Centre with the help of more than 1,100 walkers.

Teams walk either 60 kilometres over two days or 30 kilometres in one day.

“You walk 60 kilometres so you’re pretty raw,” said Lorna Callaway, who walked both days with her daughter, Kirsten.

“It’s an emotional weekend, it’s a busy weekend, but it’s a bonding weekend. It’s an amazing thing to do together.”

Callaway, who survived kidney cancer, has participated in the walk for a number of years, motivated by her deep links with women’s cancers.

Her sister, sister-in-law and mother-in-law are all breast cancer survivors, and her nieces successfully beat cervical
cancer.

From left to right, Brenda McCall, Nancy Remus-Everitt, Mackenzie Remus-Everitt, Kirsten Callaway and Lorna Callaway from local team Boobs ‘R’ Us walked 30 kilometres July 24-25 to raise money for research on women’s cancers. Photo submitted

“Women’s cancers are so much more common,” Callaway said. “There’s just a sense of pride that you were involved in a weekend with that many women.”

Callaway raised $2,100 herself, but with a five-person team, contributed a total $11,500 this year, and was able to do the two-day walk with her daughter Kirsten.

The event is sponsored by Shoppers Drug Mart, and Cochrane store was very involved, raising $15,400, including contributions from the walkers.

One of the store’s employees, Brenda Epp, is battling ovarian cancer.

“Everybody got behind it,” said store manager Cathy St. Louis, who raised $1,250 herself. “We’re all walking in support of Brenda.”

Cochranites Heather Crowdis, left, and Cathy St. Louis stand in front of pictures of Brenda Epp, who inspired them to participate in a Calgary cancer walk July 24-25. Photo by Jeremy Broadfield

The store held fundraising events like a movie night at the Cochrane Ranche, draws and raffle events, bake sales, and more. Guy Woods, director of Bow Valley Habitat Development and author of Fishing These Parts, donated $10 from the sale of each book at Shoppers, totalling $780.

All funds from the event benefit care and research at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary.

“At the end, there’s such a sense of accomplishment,” Callaway said.

Phil Trenholm

When the storm clouds form overhead, local farmers like Douglas McBain are left with little to do but hope for the best.

McBain, who has operated a barley farm south of Cremona for about 40 years, said he has felt particularly uneasy in recent weeks as planes were spotted spraying dispersant into the clouds directly over his crop.

Because of this, the seasoned farmer is now considering purchasing some hail insurance.

“When you have a good crop and the hail potential is there it’s worth putting a little more money into it,” McBain said, noting that no hail has hit his crop to date and so far the precipitation levels have been perfect.

Now, farmers like McBain have a new option when it comes to hail coverage, as Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) has begun offering around-the-clock coverage online through its Straight Hail program.

Lorelei Hulston, provincial insurance manager with AFSC, said roughly 550 clients have registered for hail insurance online since the program began in mid-May, accounting for about 10 per cent of all sales.

“We have been doing our best to get the word out,” Hulston said. “It will probably take a little time for guys to get used to it since this is our first insurance offering online.

“It does give people living in rural areas an opportunity to use it at their own convenience.”

AFSC does not have a district office in Cochrane, leaving farmers previously travelling to Airdrie or Calgary.

Rob Blackwell, who farms just northwest of Cochrane, has already signed up for coverage with AFSC the conventional way but said the online offering is certainly an added convenience.

“I think it will help if (damage) occurs on the weekend and you can’t get a hold of anyone,” Blackwell said.

Like McBain, Blackwell said the hail has missed his crop so far.

“The moisture’s been great. It’s shaping up to be an ideal year actually . . . as long as the big, white combine — the hail storms — don’t come,” he chuckled.

Phil Trenholm, who runs the Saskaberry Ranch located 15 minutes north of Cremona, knows too well the potential horror that a hail storm can bring.

Phil Trenholm stands beside his berry bushes after the fruit was violently ripped off in a hail storm in 2009. The crop has not yet fully recovered. Eagle file photo

Last August, hail wiped out 12 acres of Trenholm’s crop only five days into the picking season. The farm is still feeling the effects of the storm this season, as the raspberry crop has been deemed a total write off while it slowly recovers.

Trenholm said he has not taken a direct hit from hail so far this year and anticipates opening the ranch to the public in the coming days.

“We have had a splatter of hail here and there, but so far we are escaping,” he said. “We got our share last year.”

Despite his past troubles, Trenholm has not purchased hail coverage, noting that his type of crop is classified as high risk and quite expensive to insure.

AFSC’s Hulston said there has been a decline in insurance purchases this year as the cool spring pushed harvesting back and the overall quality is not as strong as it has been in some years.

Having said that, she said uninsured farmers who are happy with the growing season so far should consider obtaining coverage, noting the majority of last year’s severe storms did not occur until August.

For more information on the Straight Hail program visit afsc.ca.

Zacahry Bueniting

This Heritage Day, a 30-year old Cochrane organization will be celebrating its 30th birthday.

The Stockmen’s Memorial Foundation has been preserving the history of western culture for the past three decades, and to mark the occasion its members are teaming up with the Town of Cochrane to host some special events at the Cochrane Ranche historic site’s on Aug. 2 from noon until 4 p.m.

Rocky Mountain Pipes and Drums will kick off the festival at noon, and then the band TC and Company will play a two-hour concert at the Ranche’s Centennial Stage at 2:30 p.m.

Local performers Sara Tkachuk, Katie Dal Pra and Elijah Lucian are also scheduled to peform.

Cochrane Mayor Truper McBride will be presented with a portrait of a famous Cochrane historical figure at 2 p.m.

Lyndie Sundby, right, paints the face of Zacahry Bueniting at the 2009 Heritage Festival. Eagle file photo

Other activities include interpretive activities, pony rides, old-fashioned kid’s games courtesy of Wineglass Ranch — which is located south of Cochrane and is celebrating its 125th year in operation, food vendors and the Fun on the Run van.

There will also be people dressed up in western wear, and the Cochrane Rodeo Royalty will visit the festival on horseback.

Stockmen’s Memorial president Don Hepburn explained that a scenic trail will lead visitors from the Ranche up to the Cochrane RancheHouse where the group’s library is housed.

“We’re having an open house with free brew and biscuits,” he said.

Hepburn added local entertainer Larry Wackershauser will be performing there as well.

Hepburn has been with the group for seven years and said during that time he’s seen a number of changes, specifically with regards to technology.

“The biggest change has been converting the libraries and archives to digital,” he said.

“We have 200 boxes of cancelled brand files and so far we’ve scanned one and a half.”

As well, a VHS collection of interviews of senior ranchers must also be preserved digitally.

“Technology has taken over,” Hepburn chuckled.

He added the group would also be hosting a private function for invited guests in the evening, and that he expected seven past presidents to attend.

Sean Washburn

A Cochrane man is currently biking across Canada along with a brother that he didn’t know he had until
recently.

Sean Washburn, who was adopted at birth, located his birth mom and her four other sons in 2003.

After meeting them in Ontario, he became particularly close with one brother, Jon Ross, and after spending vacations together they decided to ride their bikes across the country as a way to get to know one another better, and to also raise funds for an important cause.

One of the other brothers, Brandon Ross, was diagnosed with a brain tumour, and has battled it for much of his life.
In 1990, the Sunshine Foundation sent him and his family to Florida and Disney World, so Ross and Washburn have chosen that organization.

The ride will be spaced over five years, for about two weeks every July.

A little over two weeks ago the pair left Vancouver, and by July 26 passed through Cochrane where they dined with family and friends before heading on to the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, which is where they’ll continue next summer.

The duo says they’ve certainly become closer.

“It’s amazing how well we get along,” said Ross. “The only problem with that is it’s sometimes hard to make decisions.”

In total, they reckon they’ve raised about  $2,500 for the charity, and they’re hoping that as the trek gains momentum over the years that figure will increase.

“People even gave us cash donations along the way,” said Ross, adding they met some colourful characters en route, including a guy who tossed them a can of beer from his vehicle. They were also impressed by most drivers.

“Ninety nine per cent of them are so courteous and patient,” said Washburn, recounting a time when he and Ross were struggling up a steep hill with a long line of long-suffering drivers behind them.

“Not at all like Ontario,” added Ross who flies back there at the end of their trip on Aug. 2.

Though the stretch through the Rocky mountains is over, they taught him an important lesson.

“For next year I’m going to train more on hills,” he said. “I had no idea these dang mountains were so high.”

For more information visit rideforcharity.ca, or on Facebook visit Sean and Jon’s Ride Across Canada for Charity.

Dan Gossmann

To most, swimming in ice-cold water for nearly two kilometres, biking a 93-kilometre course littered with steep climbs and finishing off with a more than 21-kilometre run in the blazing heat is not the ideal way to spend a Sunday.

For Cochrane’s Wade Hardiman, this endurance test represented a change of lifestyle, and one he intends to
continue.

“I used to smoke a pack a day,” recalls the 44-year-old, who has resided in Cochrane the past 26 years.

“Then one day I decided I was going to quit. I started running . . . then one thing led to another. Eventually, they started the Ironman and I told my wife ‘Sign me up for that and I’m going to do it.’ ”

Wade Hardiman braves the cold water at Ghost Lake to fine tune his swimming stroke before the 2010 Ironman Calgary 70.3. Photo by Jeremy Broadfield

That was roughly one year ago, as Hardiman battled through nearly seven hours of pain and fatigue to complete the 2009 Viterra Ironman Calgary 70.3.

The gruelling race begins in Ghost Lake, 20 kilometres west of Cochrane, moves onto a long bike trail around much of the local area and concludes with a run in southern Calgary.

“I absolutely loved it,” Hardiman said. “It was great coming through Cochrane and seeing your friends. I even had family come up from back east. I really enjoyed it.”

This year, Hardiman’s back for more, as he has been busy working through a rigorous training regimen in preparation for the 2010 Viterra Ironman Calgary 70.3, which will be held Aug. 1.

Hardiman said his physical attributes aren’t the only important asset to bring to an endurance race, as he must also prepare mentally.

“You just push through the pain,” said Hardiman, who developed blisters on his feet during last year’s race after bringing the wrong shoes to the event.

“At the end of a race, if someone stopped me and said ‘I will give you $1 million if you don’t cross that finish line,’ I would tell them ‘You can keep the money.’

“When you cross that finish line, there is no amount of money that can compare, it’s amazing what it does to you.”

After the Calgary race, Hardiman has little thought of slowing down his rigourous training schedule, as he plans to compete in more endurance races this year, including the notoriously difficult Ironman Arizona.

Dan and Pamela Gossmann, seen here running, say training together is their biggest advantage as they prepare for the big race. Photo by Jeremy Broadfield

Fellow local resident Pamela Gossmann would likely be able to provide Hardiman with plenty of advice about competing away from home.

The 48-year-old has already competed  eight times at The Great White North Triathlon in Stony Plain, Alberta, twice at the Ironman Canada in Penticton, British Columbia, as well as a number of other endurance races.

As she prepares for this year’s local Ironman, Gossmann said her biggest advantage is being able to compete alongside husband Dan and other local athletes.

“We find it fun,” she said. “Honestly, living in Cochrane, we have the advantage of having a lot of people to train with.”

Dan added, “When you go out swimming in Ghost Lake, it’s nice to have someone freezing out there with you.”

Richelle Love will rely on her biking abilities after recently nabbing a medal at the 2010 Canadian Mountain Bike Championships. Photo submitted

Veteran Cochrane athlete Richelle Love is no stranger to the trails in and around town either.

For the 32-year-old, this year’s Ironman Calgary will represent her third race in as many weekends and comes on the heels of a silver-medal performance in her sport-ability race class at the 2010 Canadian Mountain Bike Championships in Canmore.

Love, who coaches triathlon through Cochrane’s Team Tri Life, said putting in consistent training time is the only way to truly prepare for Ironman 70.3.

She completed last year’s race and hopes to do much of the same this time around.

“I am not as run fit as I was last year, as I have put so much focus and hours into my mountain biking, but I don’t regret it,” Love said.

Joining Love, the Gossmanns and Hardiman at the start line of the Ironman will be fellow Cochrane athletes Donovan Bender, John Bosma, Stephanie O’Brien, Jim Rooney and  Paul Vaillancourt.

Jill and Robert Allen of Redwood Meadows, as well as Water Valley resident Donna See, are also scheduled to compete.

Emily Lamb

Saturday nights at the Cochrane Ranche continue to entertain local music lovers and foster the small, although mighty, musicians’ community in Cochrane.

So on the eve of July 31, the music series running all summer welcomes electronica, pop, R&B band The Pity Dates to the stage.

Even though this three-piece group jokes about the failures of their solo musical endeavours, which led to the eventual formation of The Pity Dates, there’s no need to take pity on these three dedicated musicians, as this particular bunch is having the time of their lives, with no pressure looming over their heads.

“The Pity Dates just seemed to suit us and the way we came together — just kind of goofy little underdogs,” explained bassist and vocalist Emily Lamb. “We tried for a while to think of serious alternative names, but really, that’s not who we are. We love to make people laugh (even at our own expense) and we found that dealing with the music scene is a lot easier, and a lot less stressful if you just have fun.”

Lamb, along with her co-pity dates Elijah Lucian and David Vanden Enden, know firsthand the rocky climate experienced by modern musicians. Point blank — it’s tough to make a living at it unless you buckle down and commit full time.

For these musical cats, it made more sense to form a musical collective of sorts — a mish-mash of genres, vocals, arrangements and effects that can be tailored to the crowd of the night.

Each member writes their own songs, Lucian plays guitar, Lamb plays bass and Enden adds percussive effects. All players sing, combining their different writing and singing styles (from folk to pop to funk, and pretty much everything in between) together for a show that is difficult to pigeonhole into one definitive sound.

“We have such a diverse sound from one song to the next that there’s really no way it can get boring, and there has to be at least one song that suits every individual audience member,” said Lamb of the band’s dynamic on stage.

“When I describe it, it makes us sound like a total gong show, but somehow, because we love it so much, and we have so much fun together, it ends up being this really cohesive, hilarious thing.”

Elijah Lucian, left, Emily Lamb and David Vanden of The Pity Dates. Lucian and Lamb, who recently moved to Cochrane, will be playing an acoustic set at the Cochrane Ranche on July 31.

Lucian also brings his extensive experience as a producer to the stage, incorporating effects into the band’s more electronic sets and leaving the reliance to sheer stage presence and musicality for the more acoustic performances.

Whatever the format of the night may be, The Pity Dates are committed to entertaining their crowd by incorporating humour into their music, and placing more importance on letting loose and having fun than on driving their band in a particular direction.

As long as they’re up there doing what they love, The Pity Dates will keep writing original music and playing for an enthusiastic audience.
“No matter the crowd, no matter the place, we will be having fun, playing music. That, or we will have all murdered each other onstage,” jokes Lamb.
Sometimes success may be best measured by being happy right where you are, in music and beyond.
Catch The Pity Dates at the Ranche site located on Highway 1A July 31 at 7 p.m. where Emily Lamb and Elijah Lucian will be performing as an acoustic duo.