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Morgan Jayne Project remembers Dallas Martens

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    The story of Dallas Martens is the story of love, altruism, hope and dedication.
    It all came to a tragic halt as the man from Martensville, Saskatchewan, who committed to the Morgan Jayne Project and Familias Saluables, was killed tragically in a robbery, shocking the small island of Roatan, the international community, and here in Drumheller.
    “The world will be an emptier place without him,” said Fred Makowecki.
    Dallas and his wife Krissy happened on the Morgan Jayne Project after travelling to Roatan and seeing the clinic and project working on the front line of AIDS prevention with children. The couple, not married a full year began working on behalf of the project and soon staged a fundraiser in their home community.
    In July, they took a giant leap and moved to Roatan to stay a year, and to work in the clinic. They were planning to adopt Baby Will, a baby brought back  from the brink of death. The couple fell in love with the boy during their visit at Christmas in 2008.
    The tragic news of the passing of Dallas came to Makowecki via e-mail from Valerie Nelson, the Canadian woman who perates Familias Saludables, the Morgan Jayne Infant Care Centre and administers the Morgan Jayne Project in Roatan.
    On Friday evening, the couple was out to celebrate their first anniversary.  They went to look at a property to buy and possibly stay on the island, when they were approached by masked men. Dallas was shot and killed instantly.
    Dallas was one of the sweetest, kindest men I knew,” said Nelson in a letter to supporters and friends.
    News of the tragedy has hit hard in Drumheller. In May when Nelson visited the valley, Dallas and Krissy were here and met many local supporters of the Morgan Jayne Project.
    Makowecki said many in town followed the Martens’ family story as they moved down, helped to open the Infant Care Centre and then they planned to adopt Baby Will. Makowecki has heard from many involved with the project who are saddened and moved, and want to know what they can do to help.  He praises the community’s generosity, and willingness to get involved.
    “It really pains me, he was a dad and a husband of just a year, and he was senselessly murdered, It’s all so sad," said Makowecki. “They are perhaps the most giving caring people I have ever met.”
    Through this tragedy the project marches on. Mackweki says Dallas committed to the same cause as many others in the community who have given to the Morgan Jayne Project.
    "We want to make sure Dallas is remembered as we continue on the same efforts to save babies."

Passion Play to host Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast

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The Drumheller Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, 2009 and features a gourmet breakfast by Double D Catering, wonderful music, and guest speaker Rev. Lloyd Huber.
    This year’s Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast is sponsored by the Canadian Badlands Passion Play Society. It is modeled after similar events in Edmonton and Ottawa.
    “The Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast serves as a quit way to re-affirm our faith in God and an opportunity to participate in fellowship,” says Wilfred Golbeck, President of the Canadian Badlands Passion Play Society. He adds that the Prayer Breakfast is especially designed for business and community leaders.
    “It allows us an opportunity to reflect, and to connect with others,” says Golbeck.
    Mayor Bryce Nimmo is pleased to lend his support to this initiative.
    “Our country is formed on Christian principles,” says Nimmo. “The Prayer Breakfast gives us an opportunity to reinforce our feeling and share them with others.”
    The breakfast will start at 7:30 am in the Fellowship Hall at the Drumheller Church of the Nazarene. Tickets are $25 per person, or $240 for a reserved table of eight, and can be obtained at the offices of the Canadian Badlands Passion Play, at Town Hall, and at the Brick.
    Further information can be found at www.canadianpassionplay.com

Cyclists should be prepared when hitting trails

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A woman who responded to a youngster in a bicycle accident says being prepared with proper equipment in case of an emergency is paramount for young people mountain bike riding.
    Late in the afternoon, on Tuesday, September 15, Angeline Seeley was alerted at her home by a young man crying for help. It was the friend of another boy who had a bike accident. He was unconscious and bleeding from the face. She ran to the scene as she dialed 911. Badlands EMS was on the scene promptly to treat the boy. He was properly wearing a bike helmet at the time of the accident.
    Seeley spent a portion of her life mountain biking with a professional team in Australia before settling in Drumheller, and understands that accidents do happen, and from what she saw in this case it was no fault of the rider. She praised Badlands EMS for their quick response, and the young boy who loudly called for help.
    “I’d like to praise the little boy’s courage for calling out loudly for help… because time is of essence in the event of a head injury,” she said.
    She says all bikers should prepare for the unknown, and have the right tools and equipment at their disposal. One item she feels could have made a difference in this case a full-faced helmet.
    “I figure if he was wearing a full face helmet, he would have had his injuries, but they wouldn’t have been as serious,” she said.
    Seeley praised the young man for properly wearing his helmet, as she has seen numerous riders often leave their helmet unbuckled.
    She has sourced out a number  of local businesses that carry full-faced helmets at a reasonable price, including Canadian Tire, The Sports Room Source for Sports and Badlands Choppers.
    “I used to ride with professional riders in Australia, and when they were doing downhill riding they wore full-faced mountain bike helmet or motocross helmets.”
    “You can get these for less than $100, and to protect these kids faces, it is so worth it,” she said.
    She says two other tools that are important, especially for mountain biking, are a first aid kit and a cell phone. She adds that precision of describing your location if there is an emergency is important to facilitate responders.
    “We had people on scene in about three minutes,” she said.
Seeley has since contacted Riverside Value Drug Mart and they have agreed to put up a Safety and First Aid Display.


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