Liberal candidate a no-show
Despite reports from the Alberta Liberal party that Zack Siezmagraff would be running in the West Yellowhead riding, there is no liberal candidate on the ballot for the May 5 provincial election.
Siezmagraff did not submit his nomination papers before the April 17 deadline, nor has he returned phone calls or messages since the Liberal party confirmed his candidacy last week.
That leaves three candidates: PC incumbent Robin Campbell, Wildrose Stuart Taylor and NDP Eric Rosendahl. All three candidates will appear in Jasper April 27 for the all-candidates forum at the Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre.
The forum is being presented by the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce, with the support of the Fitzhugh and Jasper Habitat for the Arts.
The forum begins at 7 p.m. If you can’t be there in person, it can also be streamed online at www.fitzhugh.ca/live-stream.
Drug dealer sentenced to two years in prison
A Jasper drug dealer was sentenced to two years, plus a day, in prison after pleading guilty to trafficking cocaine in Edson provincial court on Tuesday.
Dressed in a black hoodie and jeans, Theodore Vena stood silently in the prisoner’s box, as Judge K. Tjosvold accepted the crown’s recommended sentence.
In addition to the trafficking charge, Vena also pleaded guilty to one count of breach of condition and one count of failure to comply with a condition. He was sentenced to 30 days and 60 days for each offense, respectively. That time will be served concurrently with his two-year sentence.
Vena’s other charges were withdrawn.
As part of his sentence he is also prohibited from possessing a firearm for life.
During his sentencing, the crown recommended Vena face two years behind bars because of his past criminal behaviour, including a conviction for mischief in 2005, five convictions for breach of probation in 2006 and a conviction for impaired driving in 2007.
Originally arrested in December, Vena was one of six suspects arrested in a joint police raid targeting street level drug trafficking in Jasper and Hinton.
He first appeared before a judge on Jan. 22 and was granted more time to hire a lawyer to review his case. He was supposed to return for election and plea Feb. 26, but failed to show up. The judge subsequently issued a warrant for his arrest, at the request of the federal prosecutor. He was again arrested April 2 in British Columbia, after the RCMP extended its warrant beyond Alberta’s borders.
Hinton fundraiser
The Hinton Mountain Bike Association (HMBA) is auctioning off a jersey with signatures from some of Canada’s Gnarly Maniac Mountain Bikers in hopes of raising funds for a Hintonite in need of a mobility van.
The van is for Owen Langford who has terminal Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
The HMBA jersey has 13 signatures, ranging from Geoff Gulevich to Brendan Howey. It will be up for auction during the Night Out For Owen event at Sweet Lou’s, April 24.
The evening includes live music from the Mary-Lee Bird Band, a silent auction, raffles, games and more.
To bid on the jersey or to support Owen, head to Sweet Lou’s for 7 p.m.
