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Crime Severity Index shows Coaldale among safest communities in Western Canada

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:13:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsDirector of Growth and Investment for the Town of Coaldale, Cameron Mills said collecting data around the Crime Severity Index (CSI) in Coaldale is one of the latest metrics or benchmarks used in the Town’s annual comparative analysis document.“(It) is the document that we use to try to give people that are interested in the Town, so our taxpayers, businesses, and stakeholders, a more clear understanding of how the Town is performing relative to other communities.”Mills said when the comparative analysis was first conceived, the document measured the Town’s standing mostly with respect to financial metrics but said it made sense to analyze crime in the report as well.“Crime was one thing that we sort of heard about often,” and said the CSI was a logical benchmark to include. The CSI uses objective data and ranks the severity of crime reported within a municipality. CSI rankings are not solely reflective of the pervasiveness of all crime, but rather a ...

Coaldale LUB amended for some LED billboards

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:13:00 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsLED Billboards are now allowed in Coaldale.A public hearing for Land Use Bylaw Amendment 873-P-05-23 was held during Coaldale town council’s regular June 26 meeting. The amendment aims to address the use of LED billboards in town. First reading of the bylaw was done during council’s May 8 meeting, in which it was further amended to allow for portable signs up to 8.9 square meters.The Town of Coaldale does not currently allow for LED Billboards in any zoning, and over the years, the Town had received requests to allow for the use of LED billboards on land along Highway 3.As the town’s existing regulations are quite strict compared to other jurisdictions, administration believes allowing for this signage in a limited capacity would align with the Town’s Strategic Plan by identifying strategies to support town business in achieving economic health, and focusing on creating a collaborative regulatory environment that attracts business to Coaldale. Additi...

Comparative analysis ranks Coaldale’s fiscal health against neighbouring communities

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:13:00 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsThe Town of Coaldale recently published its 2022 comparative analysis document, which provides a “bird’s eye view” of the Town’s rankings according to seven key benchmarks.The Town first published the document in 2019. The latest analysis, conducted in 2022, gathered information from various municipalities including Blackfalds, Drumheller, Edson, Innisfail, Lethbridge, Lethbridge County, Ponoka, and Taber. The document includes comparative data across the chosen municipalities and contextualizes Coaldale’s data among its peer ad nieghbouring communities. These communities were selected for the document as they reflect similarities to Coaldale in terms of population, proximity to larger urban centres, and/or are regional neighbours to the Town of Coaldale.The analysis focuses on seven benchmarks:1. Total revenues and operating expenditures2. Taxation and assessment3. Assessments growth4. Population growth5. Executive compensationAdditionally, in 2022, ...

Seven months jail for driving offences

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:13:00 GMT

By Delon ShurtzSouthern Alberta NewspapersTimothy James Clements knew he wasn’t supposed to be with Shannon Ferguson because of a judge’s no-contact order, so when police attempted to conduct a traffic stop in Taber on Nov. 20 of last year, he took off.Police were responding to a complaint about a suspicious vehicle at a commercial property on 80 Avenue, and concerns the occupants of the vehicle may have taken some items from the property, from which about $20,000 worth of wire had recently been stolen.Police spotted the vehicle on 64 Avenue, but when police activated their emergency lights, Clements sped off through a residential area reaching speeds between 80 km-h and 100 km-h. Police did not chase Clements for the safety of the public, but they observed Clements speed through a playground zone and blow through three stop signs before heading in the direction of Coaldale.Coaldale RCMP were waiting for him and saw the vehicle after it had been involved in a hit and run. Clements a...

Coalhurst man charged in child exploitation bust

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:13:00 GMT

Southern Alberta NewspapersA Coalhurst man has been charged as part of a ring of child exploitation suspects in Alberta.Chris Jenkins, 31, is facing charges of possession of child pornography, access child pornography, and make available child pornography.Operation ICE Storm 5 has led to the arrest of eight child sexual exploitation suspects. ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation team made the arrests over the past three months in Calgary and Coalhurst.Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) team launched Operation ICE Storm 5 in April 2023 and focused on high-level targets that were sharing and distributing vast collections of child sexual exploitation materials via peer-to-peer file sharing networks.Operation ICE Storm 5 prioritized suspects with the largest collections and some of the most graphic content. To date, nearly one million child sexual exploitation photos and videos have been identified. More than 35 computers and electronic devices were seized resulting in terabytes of data f...

Motorcycle accident claims life of Coaldale man

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:13:00 GMT

Southern Alberta NewspapersA 61-year-old man from Coaldale died in hospital in Washington following an accident on June 23 in Pend Oreille County, Wash.Wilfred J. White of Coaldale was headed west on State Route 20 at around 12 p.m. when he left the highway and was subsequently thrown from the motorcycle. According to Washington State Patrol reports, the incident took place near the town of Tiger, an unincorporated municipality in Pend Oreille County.White was transported to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Centre in Spokane, passing away that same day.At the time of publication, the cause of the crash remained under investigation. A celebration of life was held on July 2 at the Coaldale Community Centre.

Schaghticoke man accused of causing miscarriage

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:13:00 GMT

SCHAGHTICOKE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Schaghticoke man was arrested on Monday following a 15-month investigation. According to the Rensselaer County Sheriff's office, Dia Beshara, 39, gave a pregnant woman Mifepristone without her knowledge, causing a miscarriage. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Deputies say the investigation began when the victim reported that while she was pregnant, Beshara gave her the drug, without her knowledge, leading to a miscarriage. He was arraigned in Schaghticoke Town Court and was released on his own recognizance. According to the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office, an order of protection is in place. Troy K9 stabbed 12 times, officer breaks foot responding to burglary Charges:Second-degree assault

Watervliet looking for Hudson Shores Park restaurant operator

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:13:00 GMT

WATERVLIET, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The City of Watervliet has put out a request for proposals for a waterfront restaurant operator at Hudson Shores Park. This will be a development and ground lease opportunity. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Hudson Shores Park was once home to the Rusty Anchor, a floating restaurant and bar. It was damaged in January 2019 during inclement weather and permanently closed. Now, the city is looking to redevelop a site along the central waterfront for a new restaurant.The restaurant is expected to be about 3,300 square feet with a 960 square foot outdoor dining area overlooking the Hudson River. It's expected to be a full-service restaurant open at least six days a week for lunch and dinner. The place could also be open for breakfast. New Vietnamese restaurant opens in Rotterdam The city said it's supposed to be a seasonal operation from April to October, but those interested could include an accep...

Delayed 911 response explained after St. Louis woman's death

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:13:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Public safety leaders with the City of St. Louis explained the roles of their 911 systems, dispatch operations and emergency response times after severe storms over the weekend left one woman dead and thousands without power for days. Intense storms rolled through the St. Louis region on Saturday afternoon, packing lightning, heavy rain, hail and gusts as high as 70 mph in Missouri and Illinois. The storms left many St. Louis residents concerned about response times. One woman died as a tree fell onto her on Chouteau Avenue in the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood while waiting out the storms in her car. Frustration, grief over child’s death following delayed emergency response Mike Richardson, Battalion Fire Chief of the St. Louis Fire Department, says the department first learned about the situation from an EMS rollover call. These kind of calls happen If EMS doesn't pick up in a minute and half. Richardson said, in these cases, a 911 dispatcher is unable to answer...

Scattered severe storms expected east of St. Louis Wednesday

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 13:13:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- There is a level 2 (out of 5) risk for a few strong to severe storms today, especially in Illinois this afternoon. It will be another hot and humid day with highs well into the 90s. We will be watching satellite and radar trends closely starting around midday today as spotty to scattered thunderstorms will develop very near the Mississippi River. St. Louis radar: See a map of current weather here A gradual increase to scattered coverage will take place with afternoon and the focus for storms will drift more eastward into southern Illinois. While I cannot rule out a strong storm or two west of St. Louis, the lion's share of the data suggests storms will form very near the metro by early this afternoon and then shift east.This will put the focus for most, if not all, of the strong to severe concerns into Illinois after about 4pm. The severe weather threat for the St. Louis area should wrap up before sunset.The main concern will be isolated pockets of 50 to 60 mph winds...