Central Alberta Film Festival to proceed in Red Deer in partnership with CMHA

Screenings and Awards Show to take place in-person at Festival Hall in Red Deer with help from Canadian Mental Health Association

The 2020 Central Alberta Film Festival (CAFF) will take place onsite at Festival Hall in Red Deer October 14, 15, 16, and 17. Canadian Mental Health Association will run the box office and earn a portion of the ticket sales.

“The partnership between CMHA and CAFF is a perfect fit,” says Ranjit Mullakady, President of CAFF. “CMHA has volunteers in place, and CAFF has a way to contribute to CMHA fundraising.”

Organizers are preparing to offer an in-person festival experience in a safe environment, allowing for social distancing.

Tickets will be sold for blocks of time instead of individual films. Screenings will run 6:00-9:00 p.m. on October 14 15, and 16. Screenings will run 12:00-2:00 and 3:00-5:00 p.m. on October 17, followed by an awards show at 6:30-9:00 p.m.

A variety of short and full-length films will be shown during the blocks without intermission.

“People can take breaks throughout the screenings if they need to, with social distancing protocols in mind,” says Mullakady.

Seating will be at tables this year, so groups of attendees will remain socially distant from other groups.

“We’ve always known the Festival would go on, even with worries about COVID-19,” says Mullakady. “We have a backup plan if things change. The festival will go on.”

CAFF is prepared to go forward as a drive-in event if government regulations about indoor gatherings change.

About Central Alberta Film Festival (CAFF)

Central Alberta Film Festival is a not-for-profit cultural organization with a mission to educate, support and promote cinematography and film making in Alberta and Canada. CAFF is a bridge between the audience, critics and the contemporary filmmakers who want to showcase and discuss their work. This festival is a platform to incubate Albertan, Canadian, and international talent. The fourth annual Central Alberta Film Festival will take place October 14-17, 2020.

From Ponoka RCMP

Ponoka RCMP lay charges after social media meeting results in kidnapping – Female Wanted

The Ponoka RCMP have laid charges and made arrests against two males and a female following a 911 complaint of a kidnapping, beating and robbery which occurred on Sept. 7.

At 4:23 a.m. on Sept. 7, Ponoka RCMP were alerted to the above incident which was reported to have occurred, hours earlier, in Ponoka.  Investigation reveals that a 22-year-old male victim from Slave Lake met a female online, and after almost a year of online communication, agreed to meet her.  The male got into a vehicle, determined to be previously stolen, with the female in Ponoka.

Allegations are that the while in the vehicle, the male was assaulted by two unknown males, one of whom had a gun.  Over a lengthy period, the male was driven to several banks where he was forced to provide his banking information in order for withdrawals to be made from his accounts. The victim’s truck and cell phone was stolen, and he was eventually dropped off in Blackfalds.

Ponoka RCMP General Investigation Section members collaborated with Red Deer and Blackfalds RCMP to coordinate intelligence on this incident. The suspects were identified as Amber Loretta Knickle (21), Jared Michael Mcleod (26) and Chasetin Jon Arthur Morin (25).  Charges were sworn against all three subjects. An arrest warrant was issued for Knickle on Sept. 9 and for Mcleod and Morin on Sept. 15.

Knickle is charged with robbery, while Mcleod and Morin are charged with robbery with a firearm (x2), kidnapping and assault.

On Sept. 16 at 11:58 a.m., the Central Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit located a stolen vehicle in Gasoline Alley, and with assistance from Blackfalds RCMP, arrested Jared Mcleod and Chasetin Morin, who were both in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle incidental to arrest led the RCMP to recover an imitation firearm, a loaded shotgun, ammunition, methamphetamine, and at least 61 pieces of miscellaneous stolen identity documents.  Charges are pending.

At the time of his arrest, Morin was wanted on an arrest warrant out of Red Deer for an earlier incident where he fled from police while driving the victim’s stolen truck.

The RCMP have been unable to locate Amber Loretta Knickle and are seeking public assistance.  Amber is described as:

–          Caucasian female

–          5’3” tall / 119 lbs.

–          Blonde / brown hair and green eyes

–          Unknown tattoo on one of her fingers

If you have information about the whereabouts of Amber Knickle, please contact the Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4472 or call your local police. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com ( http://www.p3tips.com) or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.