Kevin Laliberte
Editor, Smoky River Express

The Alberta Sheriff Highway Patrol cracked down on unsafe drivers over the August long weekend by issuing more than 2,000 tickets to motorists. Between Friday, Aug. 1 and Monday, Aug. 4 sheriffs laid a total of 2,047 charges across the province, including:
. 1,558 speeding violations;
. 36 seatbelt infractions;
. 10 child restraint infractions;
. Four motorcycle helmet infractions;
. 13 suspected impaired drivers removed from the road;
. 30 Gaming and Liquor Act violations;
. 16 failing to stop at a stop sign infractions;
. 127 other hazardous violations (e.g. careless driving, stunting);
. 268 non-hazardous violations (e.g. no insurance, suspended drivers); and
. Eight people arrested for outstanding arrest warrants. Currently in the province there are 99 traffic sheriffs patrolling the roads, a number which will be increased by the end of the summer to 105. The sheriff’s unit was created in September 2006 to help make Alberta’s roadways safer. Since its inception, sheriffs have:
. issued 144,041 violations;
. attended 421 collision scenes; and
. helped remove 571 suspected impaired drivers from the road. During the month of August, sheriffs and their road safety partners are focusing their safety message on impaired driving. On average, approximately 7,700 people are convicted of impaired driving in Alberta each year, a number which safe driving advocates agree is completely unacceptable. Warmer weather months (July to September) experience the highest number of casualty collisions involving alcohol. Albertans are encouraged to let the Alberta Sheriff Highway Patrol know about traffic enforcement concerns such as speeders or aggressive drivers on our highways. Concerns can be shared online at www.sheriffs.alberta.ca (click on the traffic service request form) or by calling toll-free 1-866-922-3389. More cash calendar winners announced
The McLennan Curling Club has announced the winners of its cash calendar draw fundraiser for the month of July. Winners of cash prizes are as follows:
July 2 – Teasa Gauchier of High Prairie ($50)
July 4 – Brian Dewar of High Prairie ($100)
July 7 – Collette Whelen of McLennan ($50)
July 9 – Debbie Fuller of Falher ($50)
July 11 – Richard Deslauriers of McLennan ($200)
July 14 – Carol Fischer of Donnelly ($100)
July 16 – Claudette Meardi of McLennan ($100)
July 18 – Cindy Stout of McLennan ($300)
July 21 – Roger Nadeau of McLennan ($100)
July 23 – Linda Pitre of Clairmont ($100)
July 25 – Irene Brassard of McLennan ($500)
July 28 – Pete Clemens of McLennan ($50)
July 30 – Denise Lussier of McLennan ($50) Cash calendar draws includes $7,600 in cash payouts and are being held until the end of August. Winners are eligible for all draws. Their names will be published in the Express at the end of each month. A total of 300 calendars were sold for the fundraiser for $50 each. All proceeds from the event are earmarked towards construction of a new curling rink complex in McLennan, estimated at $3 million.

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