Red Deer Advocate from Red Deer, Alberta, Canada • 11

cellular regular our and pore save an B4 B5 B6-B10 HOME FRONT Train length raises safety fears CP Rail promises to move trains through Innisfail By JIM LOZERON Advocate staff INNISFAiL CP Rail has offered assurances that longer freight trains won't block access routes for emergency vehicles in Innisfail. The town wrote a letter to the rail- Young Christians seek funds By CAMERON KENNEDY Advocate staff Christians heading to the Vatican next year have faith fund-raising will pick up, despite scrapping an important Christian rock concert over the weekend. The group, which plans to send over 50 Central Albertans to World Youth Day at the Vatican next August, cancelled their key fund-raiser after sluggish ticket sales. "It was very surprising and a bit of a heartbreak for us," said Dwight Acheson, a member of the organizing committee. "I'm not sure what was missing.

Maybe it was the time of year or the lack of radio advertising." The trip will cost about $3,000 per person, but organizers had hoped church dinners, garage sales and the concert would make it cheaper. Natalie Tuchsherer, 24, said they might reschedule the concert for February when "life is getting kind of dry and everybody needs a nice However, Acheson said they must regroup, assess their losses and then decide whether they want to take that kind of risk again. "When we started planning this trip a year ago we thought we had a realistic goal of raising $2.000 per person." said Acheson. "But now I'm not sure we're going to reach that target because of the concert setback and some of the other things we wanted to do that just didn't get done. "We're really looking for something way after learning of a CP Rail plan to have its new, more powerful locomotives pull more cars.

Mayor Ken Fulton said the town reminded the CP Rail of a federal regulation preventing a train from sitting on a level crossing longer than five minutes if vehicles or pedestrians are trying to get through. "The concern of council is that longer trains could block all four crossings in town (at the same time)," said Fulton. "If that should happen and we had an accident or a tragedy of some sort where emergency vehicles had to get to the scene it would be difficult and lives Natalie Tuchsherer and others hope that will generate a little more income for the group, but we also want our fund-raising to help build the community." The Vatican expects between two and four million youths from around the world to converge on Rome Aug. 15-20, 2000, for World Youth Day. Instituted in 1985 by Pope John Paul II, the five-day celebration features faith development sessions and demonstrations of how Christians from other cultures worship.

Participants also visit important religious sites around Rome, including the catacombs where Christians hid from Roman legionnaires and the site where Saint Peter was stoned to death. "There is such a magnificent history in Rome," said Tuchsherer. "It was around when Christ was alive, so it will be quite cool." The event concludes with a nightlong prayer vigil, followed by Sunday Bridge work restricts Hwy 2 By BRENDA KOSSOWAN the asphalt overlay, said Carrier. Adrocate staff Road salt had worked into the bridge deck through joints that were not waterproofed and A bridge you may not have noticed could eaten into the concrete below. have a big impact on your travel plans during Crews will waterproof the deck and pour a the next few weeks.

newer type of concrete that is more resistant to Alberta Infrastructure has announced that salt. some lanes will be closed on Hwy 2 while bridge Rehabilitation on the Hwy 11 overpass, crews work on an overpass between Hwy 11A meanwhile, is on schedule with relatively few and the Blindman River. snags, said Carrier. Work is scheduled to start Aug. 23 and last Traffic is now flowing over the centre of the until Sept.

16 on the railway overpass where structure while crews work on the outside Hwy 2 crosses over Canadian National's east lanes. west line Three or four truck drivers have misjudged Crews will close one lane in each direction the restricted lane width and had to back out afduring the course of the work, slowing traffic to tor finding the opening too narrow for their rigs. 80 through the site, said Paul Carrier. re- In addition, an impaired driver failed to negotonal bridge technologist for Alberta Infra hate the through lane and crashed into the constructure crete barriers put up for the construction period. The work 19 necessary to repair the bridge The truck was smashed up, but the driver deck on the overpass, built in 1962 escaped with minor injuries and no other vehiThe only repair done since then has been to cles were damaged, said Carrier.

Severtson heads youth review The plight of older adolescents in the child Sovertson said he is prepared to look at wellare system will be examined by Innistail which programs are available and whether Sylvan Lake ML.A Gary Severtson there is co ordinated delivery. or whether "we As chai of the Youth Secretariat. Severtson need to fill in the gaps. said he will review existIng programs for He expects the review to begin this year. but teenagers to see whether the system adequate doesn't expect it to wrap up until sometime 111 Iv responds to older children's needs 2000 Severt son was assigned to this provincial re The Children's Advocate annual report was VIeW alter the Children's Advocate report.

10 based on consultation with 12.000 Albertans. 11 leased last week br Children's Services Minis singled out several other problem areas, includ 101 Iris Evans. was cutical about a lack of pro ing the lack of skilled foster parents for chil grams for 16 and 17 sear olds dren with mental health problems. the SLay SUMMER BLIND SALE Off Save $100 Off Hunter Douglas Hunter Douglas Hunter Douglas CELLULAR SHADES SILHOUETTE CUSTOM BLINDS hoose from entire SHADINGS AND Choose from 'Decor selection of Applause LUMINETTE SHEERS aluminum venetian blinds or shades Place any new order over $100000 Everwood blinds and off the additional receive $100 00 discount save off our regular price Your Hunter Douglas Store Your Hunter Douglas Store Your Hunter Douglas Store could be put at risk," he said. But CP Rail spokesman Lyle Berge said the town has nothing to fear since the railway intends to abide by the maximum five-minute rail crossing rule.

"It 1S a major objective of ours to make sure crossings are clear," he said. "We want to make sure emergency vehicles always have access. It is a major obligation of Canadian Pacific Railway." CP Rail runs between 15 and 20 trains a day through Innisfail and most of them go straight through without stopping, Berge said. Photo by JEFF staff fund-raising will help pay for trip mass. The local group will also tour Pompeii, Assissi, Sienna and Florence before returning home.

"It's really a unique experience for young people," said Acheson. "They're at that age where they can understand where other cultures are coming from and apply it to their own life While anybody is welcome to join the group, Tuchsherer emphasized the journey isn't a vacation. "It's more like a pilgrimage where you're forced to reflect on your life and look deep into your soul," said Tuchsherer, a music teacher at St. Elizabeth Seton. "It's unfathomable to think about two to three million people singing one song for Jesus.

It will be a minor glimpse of what it will be like in heaven. For more information about attending World Youth Day, contact Dwight Acheson at 342-2838. "The town won't really notice any change at all with the longer trains." he said. In a memo sent to Innisfail and other municipalities. Berge said longer trains are in the works for all CP Rail main lines.

He said about half the trains on any given day will be slightly longer, with some growing by as much as a third. Trains will now stretch up to 2,750 610 metres further than some of the trains operated previously, said Berge. "By carrying more cars on trains, CP Rail will reduce the number of trains it operates overall." he said. Sarah Williams: Grade 4 Student of week Sarah Williams is an easy going, likable student who was in Grade 4 at Ecole Oriole Park this year. She is a good student and enjoys many classes, especially spelling, at which she excels.

Sarah won a school award for physical education, a subject she also enjoys. In her spare time, Sarah likes to read, and cites Anastasia as one of her favourite books. She also likes doing crafts. Her friendly nature makes Sarah a delight to have in the classroom. She would like to become a doctor.

Pioneer farm days A petting zoo, hay rides, games, butter making, ice cream making and cooking on a wood stove are planned for pioneer days at Sunnybrook Farm. Activities run Saturday from 8:30 a.m to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m to 4 p.m. Both days begin with pancake breakfasts and musical entertainment. On Saturday, watch an antique tractor pull.

Sunday's events will include a parade of old machines. Entertainment includes Scottish dancers, old time fiddlers and other musicians. Admission is $2 for children 6 to 12 and $5 for anyone 13 years and up. For more information, call Dianne Gauvreau or Anna Robertson at Sunnybrook Farm. 340- 3511.

Singles survival Survival will be the main topic at singles night at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre on Aug. 27 from 7-10 p.m. Kurt Kroschel will provide tips on surviving in the bush and preparation of a survival kit. The evening will end with wine and conversation. Preregistration is required by Sunday The cost is $15 per person for members of the nature centre and $16.50 for members For more information contact Melissa Richholt at 346-2010.

A-Channel Broadcast signal close; cable shuffle A-Channel expects taking a new spot on the dial will get a good reception from watchers. The Edmonton-based TV station has had persistent interference problems on Channel 8 for the last few months. "There had been some complaints about the channel being impaired," said Jim Haskins, the station's general manager. "We asked Shaw to help us out." Beginning Aug. 25, A-Channel will be seen in Red Deer on Channel 13.

It will switch places with KREM, CBS Spokane. Haskins said the move should solve the interference problems. ITV is also on the move from Channel 4. The Edmonton-based TV station is moving to Channel 12, trading places with KHQ NBC Spokane, which will take Channel 4. Meanwhile, television viewers who rely on their home antennas to pick up the A-Channel should be able to tune in by September, Haskins said.

A 140-metre-high transmission tower has already been erected south of the city to boost the Edmonton signal to Red Deer and area homes. Once the transmission facilities are operating, non-cable subscribers in Red Deer will be able to pick up the A- Channel with rabbit ears-style TV antennas. Elsewhere in Central Alberta, viewers will likely need antennas mounted on or near their homes. ounbsow Mania It's war out there. The enemy is out for blood.

Mosquitoes have invaded Red Deer this summer in numbers unseen since the city initiated its biological control program in the 1980s. Everybody has a story of trying to cope with the pesky little bloodsuckers. We want to hear yours whether you outsmarted them or fought the good fight and lost. Keep in mind that in a war, the first casualty is the truth. We will publish the best of the lot, and will reward the winners with an Advocate T-shirt sporting the logo "I Survived the Mosquito War of 1999," plus products to aim you in the next bug battle.

Write us Mosquito War at Bag 5200. Red Deer. TAN 5G3. fax us at 341-6560 or e-mail us at: Please keep your submissions under 300 words. The dead line for entries is 5 p.m.

on Wednesday. We want to hear from you CALL TODAY FOR YOUR COMPLIMENTARY IN HOME CONSULTATION 340-2231 ANADAS STORI Sale Ends Sept 11.1999.