On  Sunday, October 30 at approximately 1 a.m., Strathmore RCMP responded to a complaint of a break and enter to a dwelling in the community of Standard.
    The investigation revealed that two males were involved in an altercation at the Standard bar earlier in the night with both eventually going their separate ways. One male returned to his home and fell asleep on his couch.
    The other individual from the earlier altercation attended this residence, entered it without permission and attacked the occupant once again as he slept.
    The victim was taken to Strathmore Hospital for treatment of serious but non life-threatening injuries. The accused in this matter is also alleged to have assaulted another male in front of the Standard bar earlier the same evening.  The accused and the victims are known to each other.
    As a result of the investigation, Charles Martin Gerard, 31, from Standard, has been charged with break and enter into a dwelling house and committing an assault causing bodily harm.  He is charged with a second count of assault causing bodily harm and uttering threats. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
    If you see or know the location of this individual or if anyone has any other information regarding this matter, please contact the Strathmore RCMP detachment at (403) 934-3968 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

    Joe Vickers’s solo release Valley Home is not only a lot of the valley but also a lot of himself.
    The Drumheller born singer-songwriter produced a CD for the celebration of the centennial of coal mining in the valley. He crafted a well researched, inspired work centred on the history of Drumheller.
    What makes it unique is that rather than looking in at his subject, he is a product of it. His namesake traces its way back to the first hardware store in the valley. His maternal grandfather was among the first generation of miners to make the valley their home.
    “I was privileged growing up in the same community as my grandparents. As a kid, I spent lots of weekends, evenings and after school at my grandparents'. Their stories about the past shaped who I am, they have had a great influence on me and their stories naturally became my own,” said Vickers. “For me to have the opportunity to share them is almost a a way of giving back or at least paying respect to the lives they lived, and honouring them.”
    Vickers will be performing the CD in its entirety at Kaleidoscope Theatre on November 4. This will be the official launch of the CD in the valley, although the CD has been available for some time. He performed at this year’s May Day celebrations.
    To say it has been a busy year for Vickers is an understatement. He graduated from university, and spent the summer touring with his band Audio/Rocketry.
    In the meantime, he also researched, wrote, performed and recorded Valley Home, in celebration of the centennial of coal mining. The CD is more than a tribute to miners, it is a celebration of the history and the lifeblood of the valley.
    “I spent much more time researching than I imagined. If you want to have something historically correct in a piece of work, you've got to put the time into it,” Vickers said. “It is very humbling to hear the response.”
    He brought his CD along with him on tour, and played a few of the songs along the way. He did get a chance of a lifetime to showcase the work in Glace Bay at the Miners Museum, on the same stage that the famous Men of the Deeps perform. It created a buzz and was advertised on TV and radio. He was well received, and was a highlight of the tour.
    “There was an emotional response. It made me realize that even though I am writing songs that are from a location thousands of kilometres away, many of the themes are relevant to people who lived through the same things,” he said.
    “With stories that are close to home, you are bound to bring forth a lot of emotion from yourself, and put that into song. As a songwriter you hope the emotion you are feeling can be transcended in sound.”        
    The November 4 performance is special.
    “This is the show I have been waiting to do all summer,” he said.
    “I wanted to ensure I had enough time to bring the best show forth. We could have done it earlier but it seemed like it was too rushed. It’s for my hometown, so I wanted to make it special."
     Vickers will be on stage with a couple band mates to accompany his historical journey through the valley. The show will also incorporate a few choice stories.
    The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the Atlas Coal Mine and at Shredz Skate Shop.