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Last updateSat, 21 Sep 2024 12pm

Fraudster pleads guilty to more charges

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A man who has a previous record of fraud was sentenced to six months in custody.

Zach Decaire appeared in provincial court in Drumheller on August 25, and pleaded guilty to a long string of charges.

The court heard that in September of 2016 in Strathmore, he asked a friend to cash two cheques that were dishonoured, taking about $1,290. He pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud. In a separate incident, he stole another $200 from the same victim.

The court also heard that in June of 2017, he attended to the Canadian Tire store in Brooks and stole a circular saw. He returned it without the receipt and received a $261 gift card. He also took a home entertainment speaker box valued at $199.

On July 21, he was charged with two counts of obstructing a peace officer and operating a motor vehicle while not authorized. When the Drumheller RCMP were investigating, he gave them a false name, however, the officer recognized him. When the police attempted to apprehend Decaire, he threw a soda can at one of the officers.

Police also located an impact gun and a drill kit and he was charged with possession of stolen property.

He also pleaded guilty to failing to attend court and a breach by failing to pay restitution.

Crown Prosecutor Ron Pedersen said that Decaire has a history of taking advantage of friends and good-hearted strangers.

In February of this year, he was sentenced to 18 months probation for a string of fraud charges.

On August 25, he was sentenced to six months in custody. He was given 54 days credit for pre-trial custody, leaving 126 days to serve.


Fall Expo approaching

All kinds of activities will be on display at the annual Fall Sports, Recreation and Arts Expo on Wednesday, September 13. filephoto

Looking for a one-stop shop to learn about programming for youth, adults, and families?

Look no further than the Fall Sports, Recreation and Arts Expo coming up on September 13.

The event brings together all kinds of programs under one roof for residents and families to see what is offered. Everything from sports teams to service clubs will be on display.

There are also many opportunities to see the offerings from the art community; from music to dance and everything in between.

The Town of Drumheller will have displays outlining the programming it is offering for the coming season.

This is an opportune time to learn more about what is offered and to register. Demonstrations of some activities will be available at the Expo.

TheExpo is on Wednesday, September 13 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Badlands Community Facility,

Goudy’s model train back on track at Historical centre

Jim Goudy with his train set. Recently his family donated it to the  Badlands Historical Centre. submitted

 

The Badlands Historical Museum, more than any other institution in the valley, celebrates characters that have coloured the history of the valley. This year they acquired a great addition to its display in remembrance of Jim Goudy.

It took over 600 man hours but the museum was able to get Goudy’s HO model train set rolling down the track.

Jim Goudy passed away in 2014. He was well known in the community after settling in the valley with his family in the 1970’s. He has a long career as a civil engineer and later opened Sun Valley Farms in the valley.

Upon retirement, he found a creative and constructive outlet in building model trains. The family decided to donate the train set after he passed away.

“He worked on it for six years,” his daughter Tracy Lee Shannon told “the Mail”. “I worked on it with my dad for years off and on. I’m an artist so I did some of the background and painting.”

The display is impressive with handcrafted buildings and landscapes. Having lived the majority of his life in Alberta, the display reflects much of his experience. It is based on a 1950’s village. The coal history and the prairie life are reflected.

Jim Goudy’s model railroad is now on track at the Badlands  Historical Centre. mailphoto by Patrick Kolafa

Over 90 per cent of the buildings were built by hand.

Shannon worked closely with Christine Jakubowsky, a volunteer at the museum to connect some of the history reflected in the display.

One big component is the family home in Olds, where Goudy raised his family prior to coming to the valley. The big yellow house was built in 1904 and the family lived in the home during the 1960’s and 70’s. Today it is called the Auberge Brown

House and operates as a bed and breakfast “There is lots of history there,” said Shannon.

To get the display out of Goudy’s basement and into the museum was a concerted effort. It came out in three pieces and was reassembled, fitting into a series of display cases at the Museum. Pat Thompson took on the task and had a crash course in model railwaying.

“It had to be broken down to fit in the cabinets. Once he got it in, he had to rebuild the tracks and get the engines operating,” said chair of the Badlands Historical Centre Sheresse Thompson. “He rebuilt the structures and did the detail work on the scenery.”

He logged over 600 hours putting the set together.

The railway is now on display and the museum is working on planning a grand unveiling in the near future.


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