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Last updateMon, 04 Nov 2024 2pm

Kalon Sykes announces intention to run for Town Council

    Another Drumheller resident is announcing plans to run for election in October. Kalon Sykes will be seeking a spot as a Town Councillor next election.
    There are a few projects Sykes feels need to be done, including focusing on recreation, transportation, and industry.  
    “I would like to see the communities of the Valley joined by a single walking trail and a transit system of some kind, so people who cannot drive can still get around during the colder months,” said Sykes.
    “I would also like to see the town focus on upgrading and maintaining town systems such as the pool, arena, town parks, and town walkways.”
    However, the most pressing issue for Sykes is bringing more business to Drumheller.
    “I would really like to see the Town work at bringing a larger industrial and commercial base to the Valley, so there are more jobs throughout the year and the Town would get needed tax income,” said Sykes.
    Sykes also hopes to bring more attention to outlying neighbourhoods.
    “Many of the people in those areas do not have Town water, nearby recreation, proper sidewalks, and are being taxed, but not receiving the attention they deserve,” said Sykes.
    Sykes is the youngest potential candidate to step forward so far. He was born in 1992 and moved to Drumheller in 2001 with his family. He graduated from DVSS in 2011 and is currently enrolled in the University of Athabasca.
    Sykes feels his age is an advantage.
    “I think some may be happy to see a younger person who has a different point of view and full of ambition involved in the operation of the Town,” said Sykes.
    For more about his campaign, visit his Facebook page, Kalon Ryan Sykes.


New playground now open

Everyone is welcome to use the playground.

A new playground in Drumheller officially opened on Monday, September 9, on the grounds of the old Central School, much to the enjoyment of kids in Drumheller. The playground, which cost roughly $125,000, was made possible through a number of generous donations by Wanda McCann in memory of her husband, Dan, Boston Pizza, Kinsmen, Drumheller Co-op, and more. Over 40 volunteers helped assemble the playground and lay down sod.

Pastor Dan Dannhauer, Jill Martin, on behalf of her mom Wanda, Mayor Terry Yemen, and Nola Wallace, with Little Explorers cut the ribbon on the playground.

Drumheller trio survive boat sinking off west coast

    Three Drumheller men are safe at home after a harrowing adventure off the coast of Vancouver Island last week.
    Ralph Veenhuis, Jeff Finley, and Darren Walker were fishing near Tofino on Veenhuis’s craft, the Aquaholic, when suddenly they had to fight for their lives as an abnormal series of swells caused the boat to start sinking.

Darren Walker (left), Ralph Veenhuis, and Jeff Finley on the bow of the Coast Guard ship that rescued them after surviving 40 minutes stranded off the west coast after their boat sank last week. A series of unusually large swells flooded the stern of Veenhuis’s boat, the Aquaholic, and stalled the engine. They are safe and back home in Alberta.

    The three had been peacefully fishing for roughly three hours when the first large swell hit the stern of the Aquaholic and flooded the engine. Veenhuis believes the swells were caused by a large cruise ship passing through the area.
    “Basically we had four or five large consecutive swells hit the back of the boat shortly after a large cruise ship passed by on our stern. They (the cruise ship) have as much right to be out there as we do. It was just a freak situation,” said Veenhuis. “The first swell went over the back of the boat and flooded the engine room.”
    The engine stalled, preventing Veenhuis from turning the bow towards the subsequent swells. Several more swells flooded over the stern and the Aquaholic began to sink.
    The three men didn’t panic and sprung into action.
    “We started to sink, so we got on the radio and contacted the coast guard and gave them a location, so they could do search and rescue. We pumped up the inflatable (raft) as fast as we could,” said Veenhuis. “In three minutes we went from being in trouble to abandoning ship. We did everything we needed to do in minutes and that’s why we’re alive.”
    They were then left stranded in the ocean, held afloat only by their life jackets, a half-inflated raft, and a nearly empty cooler, meant for any fish they caught.
    “Even in the water we didn’t panic. If one person was getting too cold, we’d pull them up on the raft and get them warmed up,” said Veenhuis.
    “After 20 minutes, the search and rescue plane went by, but we weren’t sure if it saw us. We all went quiet for a few minutes, then Jeff looked over and said, ‘hey man, did anybody bring Wilson?’ When the big cruise ship turned around then the two guys started singing the Love Boat theme. That kept us going.”
    The search and rescue plane returned and circled over the three men. After 40 minutes in the water, a Sea King Helicopter and Coast Guard boat arrived. The men were taken aboard the Coast Guard ship and treated for hypothermia.

Darren Walker (back, first from left), Ralph Veenhuis, and Jeff Finley, with the Coast Guard crew that rescued them. The three Drumheller men survived 40 minutes in the Pacific Ocean after their boat was hit by a series of large swells and sank.

    However, their injuries could have been worse, considering the local wildlife.
    “We had hypothermia, so they got us inside and helped us. Apparently the area was heavily infested with blue sharks, but luckily none showed up,” said Veenhuis.
    Veenhuis has been boating for 30 years and had spent the prior 40 days boating off the west coast on the Aquaholic, which he purchased three years ago.
    “It’s an ex-Coast Guard boat from Washington, Coast Guard certified, and everything was working properly. It was just an unfortunate situation. We were out there fishing for three hours before the incident. There were swells, but nothing the ship couldn’t handle,” said Veenhuis.
    Now, the three are back home.
    “It still hasn’t completely sunk in yet,” said Veenhuis. ‘It’s surreal what transpired there.”


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