Alberta

Listen: Crime Beat Podcast – The Story of Kelly Cook, the backup babysitter (Part 2)

Published

2 weeks ago

May 4, 2019

Duane Rolheiser

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It was a different time. Technology hadn’t taken over individual lives yet. There were no cell phones, no video game players, and no internet for the average person. It was a slower time and the world seemed safer. Especially if you lived in a rural community.

That’s why, when a stranger started calling teenaged girls in a small town east of Calgary, no one really thought they should be overly concerned. Someone thought maybe they knew someone who knew the man. His name sounded familiar in the area. That was good enough in 1981 in Standard, Alberta. That was the way things were, and that opened up an opportunity for a man with a sinister plan.

A man calling himself Bill Christensen tracked down a teenaged babysitter, and picked her up. That was the last time her family saw her alive. Her body was discovered many weeks later. Her killer who breezed into her life in such an unsuspecting manner, disappeared just as easily. The case has never been solved. Police and society as a whole at that time, just weren’t ready for something like this. So 38 years later, the man who killed Kelly Cook is still out there.

So is his original, intended victim. Bill Christensen’s first choice for babysitter wasn’t available the night he was looking. She talked to him on the phone and suggested some other girls she knew were babysitters… including the girl who would lose her life.

In this episode of the Global News podcast Crime Beat, crime reporter Nancy Hixt shares details of this unsolved crime that have never been reported.

Police continue to investigate the case but are still waiting for the tip they need to solve it.

If you know anything that can help police as they investigate Kelly’s homicide, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

If you enjoy Crime Beat, please take a minute to rate it on Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts, tell us what you think and share the show with your friends.

Contact:

Twitter: @nancyhixt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyHixtCrimeBeat/

Email: nancy.hixt@globalnews.ca

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Duane Rolheiser

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Alberta

Everything you need to know to enjoy the long weekend in an Alberta park

Published

3 days ago

May 17, 2019

Duane Rolheiser

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From the Province of Alberta

Get ready to long weekend

It’s time to kick off the summer camping season and for Albertans to get out and explore provincial attractions or simply travel to visit family and friends.

Camping in Alberta Parks campgrounds is one of many options for Albertans this May long weekend.

“Whatever it is Albertans choose to do this long weekend, our province has a wealth of unique experiences that support our economy, including camping in our provincial parks. Wherever the destination, government hopes people will have a safe, relaxing and enjoyable May long weekend.”
Jason Nixon, Minister of Environment and Parks

Below are a few tips and information to support a safe and enjoyable long weekend.

Camping

We all share a responsibility to be courteous campers, which ensures campgrounds are enjoyable and safe for everybody.
General etiquette rules are:
- Avoid excessive noise so that everyone can enjoy the peace and tranquility of parks.
- Quiet hours are between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Still looking for a campsite or a picnic area? Check out AlbertaParks.ca.

Liquor in provincial parks

The previous liquor ban in select provincial parks is lifted; however, rules and regulations around campground quiet hours, excessive noise and appropriate behaviour continue to be in place and will be enforced.
Liquor consumption is restricted to registered campsites only.

Fire bans

At this time, a fire ban is in effect throughout most of northern Alberta, prohibiting campfires, unauthorized burning and restricting the use of off-highway vehicles on public lands.
Fire bans outside of Alberta provincial parks are posted on AlbertaFireBans.ca Download the Fire Bans app before you head out.
Provincial parks-related fire bans, restrictions and associated advisories are posted on AlbertaParks.ca Fire Bans.

Safety on the road

More collisions and fatalities take place on Alberta’s roads on long weekends than other weekends. To help travellers get home safely, traffic enforcement measures will be ramped up this May long weekend.
Alberta sheriffs will be working in integrated traffic units with RCMP to patrol provincial highways to target impaired drivers, aggressive and careless drivers, distracted drivers and speeders.
Drive for the conditions of the road (check 511 Alberta for latest highway conditions).

Fish and wildlife

Increased enforcement on our highways, waterways, public lands and in our parks will help responsible Albertans enjoy the long weekend safely.
In addition to protecting fish and wildlife and managing human/wildlife conflicts, fish and wildlife officers will be protecting the landscape and waterbodies, including monitoring random camping, boating and off-highway vehicle use.
Ensure you know the fishing regulations and the hunting regulations.

Bear safety

Albertans can do their part to avoid human-bear conflict. Be bear and cougar smart. Carry bear spray and know how to use it.
When travelling in bear country, keep dogs on a leash, travel in groups and make noise whenever possible.

Impaired driving

Arrive alive! Any form of impaired driving is unacceptable and dangerous, and puts everyone on Alberta roads at risk.
Impaired driving from alcohol, drugs, fatigue or distraction injures or kills thousands of Albertans every year.

Museum and historic sites

Alberta’s historic sites, museums and archives are open for the summer with new programs and experiences.
People can purchase an Experience Alberta’s History Annual Pass and get unlimited access to all provincial historic sites and museums for one year from date of purchase.

Recreation on public land

Conditions on the May long weekend are typically very wet due to spring rains, melting snow and frost, making the land more susceptible to significant damage from recreational activities.
Be aware of regulations around motorized recreation and non-motorized recreation on trails and in waterways. Wheeled and tracked vehicles are not permitted to be operated or parked on the bed, shore and/or in the water of Alberta’s streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands.
Damage or loss to public land (i.e., dumping of garbage, abandoned vehicles, sign removal, gate removal) needs to be reported to the Report A Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800.
Camping is limited to a 14-day stay on public land.
Respect the land and know the rules and regulations around random camping on public lands.

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Alberta

New Provincial Government says NO Liquor Bans in Provincial Parks

Published

4 days ago

May 16, 2019

Duane Rolheiser

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From the Province of Alberta

Liquor ban quashed and rules relaxed

Liquor constraints will be relaxed in Alberta starting this May long weekend.

Premier Jason Kenney and Environment and Parks Minister Jason Nixon are pushing back against the excesses of the nanny state and the ‘War on Fun.’ Beginning this May long weekend, the liquor ban imposed on eight remaining provincial parks will be lifted. Moving forward, this government is committed to remove unnecessary red tape for festival organizers hosting events in municipalities and provincial parks. Relaxed liquor regulations will also extend to select provincial park day use area picnic sites later this summer.

“It’s time to lift prohibition-era restrictions around liquor consumption in Alberta and give responsible adults the freedom to act responsibly. This is part of our plan to take bold, decisive steps to reduce regulatory burden on business and not-for-profit festival organizations. We will take Alberta from being the most over-regulated to the freest economy in Canada.”
Jason Kenney, Premier

Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis regulations have been clarified to allow event organizers the flexibility to serve drinks where they see fit on festival grounds. Albertans will be able to responsibly enjoy the environment festival organizers wish to create. The same strategy is being applied to festivals and events in provincial parks by making approvals for liquor licences less restrictive.

This May long weekend, the liquor ban will be lifted at Aspen Beach, Miquelon Lake, Garner Lake, Dillberry Lake, Pigeon Lake, Whitney Lakes, Jarvis Bay and Wabamun provincial parks. There is no ban in place in Alberta Parks’ other provincial campgrounds.

Historically, there has been a liquor ban only over the May long weekend and only in select provincial parks.

“The vast majority of Albertans who enjoy our provincial parks do so responsibly. We should not punish the majority of responsible campers through liquor bans because of the past behaviour of a few bad characters.”
Jason Nixon, Minister of Environment and Parks

Rules and regulations around quiet times, excessive noise and appropriate behaviour continue to be in place and will be enforced as they are in Alberta Parks’ other campgrounds. Enforcement staff will shift their focus from enforcing the previous liquor ban to addressing negative behaviour. Liquor consumption in provincial campgrounds is restricted to adults and in campsites only.

Relaxing liquor constraints in municipalities and provincial parks is a commitment under government’s Red Tape Reduction strategy and a change to make the lives of Albertans better.