Tourism Red Deer promoting hotel tax

Businesses are invited to hear how Edmonton’s Destination Marketing Fund works.

Tourism Red Deer will also host Ken Fiske, vice-president for economic and tourism development with Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, on Thursday, Feb. 25, at 5 p.m. at Westerner Park’s Chalet.

He will speak on Edmonton’s use of the Destination Marketing Fund, which allows the accommodations industry to charge a fee on every hotel room.

The money is then used to further promote the area as a tourist destination.

This levy is on top of the province’s four per cent tax on hotel rooms.

Tourism Red Deer is acting as a catalyst to bring a similar hotel tax here.

People are urged to RSVP Tourism Red Deer at 403-346-0180 by Monday, Feb. 22.

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Sexual assault suspect surrenders to police

A man accused of sexually assaulting a child on Sunchild First Nations Reserve was remanded in custody on Monday after earlier turning himself into RCMP.

Dexter Strawberry, 54, returns to Rocky Mountain House provincial court on Feb. 17 after he surrendered himself about 10:30 a.m. Monday, said Cpl. John Harrison of Rocky RCMP.

Strawberry is charged with sexual assault, sexual exploitation and sexual interference with respect to a child under the age of six years and breach of recognizance.

Last week, police issued an arrest warrant after RCMP was called to a home on the Sunchild First Nations Reserve, around 40 km northwest of Rocky Mountain House on Feb. 3 at 12:45 a.m.

Police believe a young child may have been sexually assaulted by an adult male.

Police did not give an age, but said the child was transported to a Calgary-area hospital for medical assessment.

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Motor vehicle accidents down during the past week, police say

Motor vehicle crashes dropped 27 per cent in Red Deer for the week ending Saturday, RCMP statistics indicate. There were 62 collisions last week compared with 85 the previous week.

Hit-and-run crash investigations remained steady at 23 while seatbelt tickets jumped 34 to 48 last week.

RCMP also responded to 21 drunk driving complaints compared with 20 the previous week.

Other statistics included:

• One 24-hour suspension;

• One liquor ticket;

• Thirty-six non-moving violations including suspended drivers and equipment violations;

• Sixteen speeding tickets;

• Thirteen no-insurance tickets;

• Eleven red light and stop sign tickets;

• Nineteen bylaw and Environmental Protection Act tickets.

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If you haven’t gotten your tax notice, it’s time to contact the City of Red Deer

Property owners who haven’t received their 2010 property assessment notice yet should contact the City of Red Deer.

Brian Lutz, city assessor, said information on the notice is used to calculate 2010 property taxes.

Tax bills can’t be disputed so it’s important to carefully review your notice before March 15, which is the appeal deadline.

Property owners who didn’t receive a notice should call 403-342-8126 or come to the assessment and taxation office at City Hall.

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Suspected drug dealer makes court appearance

A suspected drug dealer has been remanded in custody following a brief court appearance on Monday.

Jason Anderson, 27, of Red Deer returns to Red Deer provincial court on Thursday to enter a plea on two counts of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, three counts of breaching previous court orders and a single count of possession of less than $5,000, which is alleged to be the proceeds of crime.

Const. Sabrina Grunow of city RCMP said on Monday that police from the city, Sylvan Lake and Red Deer rural RCMP executed a search warrant on Saturday at 8 a.m. on a house in the Normandeau area of Red Deer as part of an ongoing investigation.

The lone male in the house was arrested without incident.

Grunow said police seized more than 500 tablets of ecstasy, quantities of marijuana, cash and drug trafficking paraphernalia.

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City of Red Deer seeking proposals to help the homeless

The City of Red Deer is calling for proposals to develop housing options and supports to help homeless people in the community.

Money for the projects will come from the federal government’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy Fund and the province’s Outreach and Support Services Grant.

The amount of money available will be announced by the province in the spring.

Proposals must support the goals outlined in the city’s five-year plan towards ending homelessness in Red Deer.

The deadline for letters of intent is Feb. 25. For more information contact city program co-ordinator Roxana Nielsen Stewart at 403-309-8592.

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Several residents object to Town of Stettler annexation bid

A Town of Stettler bid to annex land from the surrounding county will go to a Municipal Government Board hearing after a number of residents objected.

The town and County of Stettler have both approved the annexation of six quarter sections, but owners of seven of 43 affected properties filed objections triggering a hearing in March.

County director of communications Shawna Benson said Friday the hearing will give area residents an opportunity to present their views to the board before it makes a decision on the annexation bid.

Those who want to make a written or oral submission must let the board know by Feb. 12. Written submissions must be filed by that date so they can be made available to the public before the hearing.

Benson said the hearing is not expected to delay the annexation process.

“There’s a general consensus we’re moving forward. The town and the county both agree.

“This is just to resolve some of the issues with the landowners.

“I think it’s just a continuation of the process to keep the public informed.”

The annexation will add land to the south and western boundaries of the town and is expected to meet growth needs for the next 40 years and provide more residential, commercial and industrial land.

The hearing takes place in Stettler at the Ramada Inn beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 3.