On Thursday, January 16, the Drumheller RCMP assisted Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in seizing what appeared to be more than 100 cattle from a property east of Drumheller, commonly known to be owned by the Graham family.
     According to Roland Lines, communications manager for the ASPCA, there were concerns about animal welfare and a notice was posted at the property for 24 hours previous, informing the owner they would be attending.
    “Our officers did attend a property in Drumheller, the RCMP accompanied us,” said Lines. “It does relate to cattle… there were welfare concerns and we gave them 24 hours to address them.”
    ASPCA officers, as well as a veterinarian and Drumheller RCMP attended to the property Thursday morning. They used all-terrain vehicles and horses to round up the cattle into a holding area. There were also unconfirmed reports of some deceased animals.
    “Our officer makes the decision in the field, and always considers what is in the best interest of the animals’ welfare,” said Lines.
    Byron Graham, who said the court has ordered him to take care of the animals, which belonged to his late parents, arrived on site at about 2 p.m. with a truckload of hay. At this point, he declined to comment on the situation.
    Late Thursday afternoon, the animals were loaded on to waiting cattle liners.
     In the spring of 2011, about 136 horses and 200 cattle were seized from the same property, and charges were laid. These matters are still before the court.
   

    This spring, residents of Drumheller and those living along the rail line from Hanna to Lyalta will see crews tearing out the tracks.
    In 2008, rail service on this track ended.  Since then, the fate of the track sat in limbo. In 2010, rails were taken out from Hanna, east to Alsask. This spring more will be coming out.
    “Beginning in April, weather permitting, CN crews will begin the process of removing the rail infrastructure, this process is expected to take between 5-6 months,” said a statement from Warren Chandler, senior manager for CN public and government affairs.
    “For the time being CN intends to keep ownership of the right-of-way for this corridor.”
    A conglomerate of regional municipalities worked on a bid to purchase the track with ambitions of hauling grain and expanding tourism possibilities. Palliser Regional Services took up its campaign but it never came to fruition.  Palliser sent notice in February of last year that the municipal group withdrew its intention to purchase the Drumheller subdivision.
    CN did not respond to the notice until December 27. In correspondence from John Brayley, manager of network strategies, the delay was for CN to have certainty with respect to the future of the line. While the track will be coming out, new track may eventually be coming in.
    “CN entered into discussion with a third party on new business opportunities that would require the use of the railway line,” states the letter from Brayley. “Given the uncertainty of an expected start-up date for the project, the parties concluded that the installation of new tracks would be more economical than upgrading existing track infrastructure.”
    CN has officially sent notice to the Canadian Transportation Agency that its operation has been discontinued.