Man loses licence for giving chase

A Red Deer motorist who chased and bumped a teenager fleeing in a vehicle was fined in provincial court on Wednesday.

Courtney Sailer, 26, was fined a total of $1,725, including a surcharge, and had his driver’s licence suspended for a year after he was convicted following a trial earlier this year.

Judge Bert Skinner convicted the accused of dangerous driving in the Aug. 8, 2008, incident.

Sailer, court heard, was upset with a vehicle being driven by a young driver who was allegedly stunting outside the home of the accused.

Sailer gave chase in his own vehicle and at one point bumped into the rear of the young driver’s vehicle.

Skinner said it’s fortunate the event didn’t end up in more serious consequences since the young driver only had his driver’s licence for about a week.

Racist graffiti alarms area man

A Penhold man out taking wildlife photos with his son stumbled across shack covered with racist slogans.

In the woods near the former Kevisville dump sat a partially collapsed makeshift shack. But it was what was inside that shook him last week as he enjoyed the day with his 20-year-old son. Racist slogans were scrawled in spray paint on the plywood walls.

“I could not believe what I was reading,” said the man, who asked not to be named. “It’s kind of gut wrenching. It’s disgusting.”

Messages read, “Kill Ze Jews,” “No Niggs Allowed” and “KKK.”

The man is familiar with the area and had never seen the shack before. It’s a short distance off a trail that leads into the woods and isn’t visible from the open area where the dump was located. He believes it was likely built this year. Inside, a couch and a small stove had been set up and discarded lawn chairs, plastic corrugated panels, old beer cans and other debris lay around.

It looked like it hadn’t been used in some time.

The dump site is a frequent gathering place for local youths, said the man.

Red Deer County senior patrol officer Bob Dixon said he was not aware of the shack’s existence and the county has had no complaints. Dixon said he also hasn’t had any complaints about partying or other nuisance behaviour at the former dump.

If someone had complained about the cabin and the racist messages, it would be passed on to the RCMP.

Innisfail RCMP said they were not aware of any complaints regarding the shack.

Hearing set on theft charges

A woman charged with stealing almost $100,000 from a company will have a preliminary hearing in about a year.

Kimberly Michelle McGhee, 38, who now lives in British Columbia, will have the hearing Sept. 1 and 2 in Red Deer provincial court.

She pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to six counts each of theft and fraud.

Charges were laid following an investigation by police of alleged thefts between Nov. 1, 2004, and June 30, 2005.

The money is reported to have been owed to Badger Daylighting Inc., which has a Red Deer branch.

The accused is alleged to have worked for the company collecting payments from various firms for work performed by Badger.

The largest payment is alleged to be about $42,000.