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Last updateThu, 12 Dec 2024 5pm

RCMP frosty on not clearing windshields

    The RCMP are frosty to the idea of drivers not making sure they’ve cleared their windows before heading out onto Drumheller streets.
    Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins wants to spread the message that not clearing your windows at best could lead to a fine, at the worst, it could pose a hazard that could lead to an accident.
    Hopkins tells inSide Drumheller the recent chilly mornings have led to heavy frost on cars, and in his short commute to work, he has noticed many drivers who do not take the time to simply scrape their windshields.
    “People got lazy because we had the warm weather, but now we have the frost; people simply have to scrape their windows,” said Hopkins. “With this weather, we have some icy patches on the road, and with this frost, the roads are a little slippery.”
    Drivers could be ticketed for driving with obscured vision. The ticket carries a penalty of  $57.
    “There is no reason for it. It takes just a few seconds. I could understand if it was a matter of life and death and you cleared off what had to see to go to some place; then we may have to make exceptions to it, but I haven’t heard anything of life and death situations. I was amazed this morning - I saw a guy with half to two-thirds of his window scraped, and the passenger side wasn’t. He was able to look out at what was in front of him, but other than that, the rest wasn’t scraped.”
    Hopkins said the RCMP will be on the lookout for drivers whose vision is obscured.


Grave mystery continues

    The mystery of the misplaced gravemarker has yet to be solved, as Gleichen RCMP are still looking for the final resting place of Father Frank Crummy.
    The Drumheller Mail reported in its January 11 edition that Gleichen RCMP were requesting the public’s assistance in locating information on a grave marker found at a rural residence in Wheatland County. After about a month, they have still not located where the stone originated.
    “We haven’t made any progress because the grave stone is still here, and we still haven’t found the right location of it,” said Constable Adam Dell of the Gleichen RCMP.
The story garnered much interest and the detachment has received a number of tips on its origin, but none have provided any answers.
    inSide Drumheller made enquiries with the church community on the hunch that the title “Father” on the marker may have indicated a man of the cloth. However, the paper learned there were no priests in the Catholic or Anglican churches in Alberta that went by this name.
    Constable Dell said they had a lead that pointed to Grande Prairie, from a relative of a Frank Crummy, with the same name and dates, however the tombstone in Grande Prairie is intact.
    If anyone has more information on the gravemarker, or where the gravestone belongs, contact the Gleichen RCMP at 403-734-3056.

Local photographer gets nod in international contest

    Drumheller photographer Darryl Reid is gaining international exposure after having two of his photographs receive honourable mentions at one of the world’s largest photography contests.
    Two years ago Reid entered the Sony World Photography Awards and received an honourable mention for his photo called 'Carved in Sand'. This year two of his entries received the nod.
    “It is pretty encouraging I must admit, and a little overwhelming,” he said.
    This mention means his photos were in the top 40 of each category they were entered in. This is out of 52,000 entries in each category, according to Reid.
    He entered a photo called 'Inhabited Places'. It is an image of the hoodoos, and was entered in the low light category.
    “('Inhabited Places') is a dark night shot that has the hoodoo, the international space station, the far off stars and the Milky Way, and if you look you can see a far off galaxy,” said Reid.
    His photo called 'Moon Ridge' was entered in the category of wildlife and nature. It was taken through a telescope of the moon rising over Duncan Lake in B.C.
    “I was on one side of the lake and had my telescope set up ready to go and track the moon as it started rising. I just got three or four shots off as it did, that was just the most balanced one,” said Reid.
    Reid grew up looking to the sky and building telescopes. This is what introduced him to lenses and lighting. It wasn’t until a few years ago he began to really work on the craft of photography. Since then he has had work displayed locally and provincially. He maintains a website, and has also built a home based gallery and studio. 
    The photos will be published in a book made for the event. An awards ceremony is being held this year in England. One day he hopes to attend the awards gala.
    “It is my ultimate goal to win this thing. There are a lot of contests out there, but this is one I focus on because it is the biggest. If I can ring the bell, then I have accomplished my mission,” said Reid.


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