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Former Calgary mayoral candidate faces trial in Drumheller

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A mayoral candidate from the October 2021 Calgary municipal election is facing trial in a Drumheller courtroom for criminal charges stemming from an April 2021 incident in Delburne.
Lawyer Ian McCuaig, of McCuaig Law in Ontario, appeared on behalf of Kevin J. Johnston via video conference on Friday, July 22 to request an adjournment.
Mr. McCuaig explained his client wants to set a trial date, but is unable to fly Mr. McCuaig to Alberta for trial. He added Mr. Johnston is in the process of trying to obtain a more local counsel representative.
The charges Johnston is facing in Drumheller court stem from an April 2021 incident in Delburne. Three Hills RCMP were informed of a protest in Delburne on April 7, 2021 against COVID-19 protocols. It was discovered Johnston was in attendance, but had left before officers arrived.
Charges, including mischief and causing a disturbance, were sworn in July 2021 from this incident.
These matters were adjourned to Friday, August 12 to allow Johnston time to make a decision on his counsel representation.
Although these are the only charges Johnston is facing in Drumheller courts, he has faced numerous other charges in multiple jurisdictions.
Johnston was sentenced to 40 days in jail, to be served on weekends, in September 2021 for breaching three judge’s orders to comply with COVID-19 restrictions. He was also sentenced to 18 months in jail in Ontario for contempt of a judge’s orders in a hate speech case against a Toronto-based restaurateur.
In January 2022, Johnston made headlines after failing to appear for the final four days of his sentence in Alberta and later arrested by U.S. authorities after illegally crossing near the Montana/North Dakota border. He was arrested on the same day he was to begin serving his 18 month sentence in Ontario.
Johnston is also set to stand trial on September 23 in Dawson Creek, B.C. for assault charges stemming from a March 2021 incident.


Lost Egg Classic enjoys 21 years of disc golf

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The success of the 21st annual Lost Egg Classic Disc Golf Tournament is a testament to the growth of the sport throughout the country and the valley itself.
The Lost Egg Classic is a disc golf tournament in Wayne that has grown and evolved over its two-decade history. This year Craig Burrows-Johnson of the Professional Disc Golf Association said the tournament sold out its 150 spots in under an hour when registration opened.
The amateurs took to the course at 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 30, before the pros took the course. Each played three rounds of the 19-hole course. Local players got into the action, including Megan McLaughlin-White, who captured first place in the women’s division.
“This is our 21st Lost Egg Tournament, and everyone is always excited to come back and play disc golf in the badlands,” said Burrows-Johnson.
The Wayne course is one of the most unique courses to play, with rugged terrain and challenging targets. It has been getting recognition all over.
“It has an international reputation now. I had calls from people in Finland who were in western Canada. They are disc golfers, and wanted information on the course,” said Burrows-Johnson. He adds there is a stream of traffic from Calgary coming out to play the course.
The Wayne course is not the only course in the valley. A full 18 holes are is set up in Midland Provincial Park and is well used. There is also a beginner-style course along 7th Street East near the former St. Anthony’s School.
“The Ag Society, a grant I wrote for them was successful so we are in the process of choosing and ordering the targets for that,” said Burrows-Johnson. “That will be a second championship course in Drumheller.”
He adds that Midland is considered a championship course, but they don’t have baskets in there yet.
“We are going to need to raise about $15,000 to put good quality baskets in there, and then when we get all three built, hopefully sometime in the next year, we’ll be able to make a bid for the Canadian National Championships in Drumheller.”
He said they are looking at applying for grants, and have spoken to the Town of Drumheller for support. Ideally, he would like to see a local organization take up the torch for fundraising.
“I have been in this sport for 30 years now, and in the last five years, the growth has gone off the charts. It seems like it reached a critical mass and then it just exploded. There are so many players in Calgary they don’t have enough courses now. So some of those people are saying it is only an hour and 20 minutes to Drumheller, we’ll go out there for a day and play in a spectacular natural setting.”

Warrant issued for man facing drug charges

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A warrant has been issued for a man accused as the result of a street-level investigation of drug trafficking.
Jeffery Morse and Sarah Alderson were scheduled for a preliminary hearing in provincial court in Drumheller on Friday, July 29. They were charged with a long slate of alleged offences including possession for the purposes of trafficking.
In the early hours of Jan. 7, 2021, as a result of a recent investigation into the street-level drug trafficking activities, Drumheller RCMP executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant in the 500 block of 3rd Avenue West.
On Friday, charges against Alderson stayed.
Morse did not appear and a warrant was issued. The federal prosecutor also amended three of the charges from possession for the purpose of trafficking to simple possession.


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