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CFWE Radio News - August 20 - 2015

Article Origin

Author

By Hazel Martial, CFWE News

Volume

22

Issue

9

Year

2015

Today and tomorrow the Alberta RCMP Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Unit will be conducting an aerial sweep of the North Saskatchewan River east of Edmonton.

The purpose of the search is to possibly recover remains of one or more missing people who are believed to have entered the river.

The two day search will start with the RCMP helicopter being deployed along the North Saskatchewan River from the eastern limit of the City of Edmonton to the Saskatchewan border. An RCMP jet boat will also be launched at Fort Saskatchewan to comb the river banks up the river to Edmonton City limits and back down. If the water levels of the river allow, the boat crew will then continue to go down the river to the Vinca Bridge at Highway 831 just south of Waskatenau.

The operation is taking place today because the water levels of the North Saskatchewan River are at their lowest and clearest at this time of year.
 
Today at city hall youth who had participated in YOUCAN Youth Services’ Verto Project gathered for their graduation ceremony.

Verto is Latin for “turn around” or “change” it is a fitting name for the unique program which is a 12 week group based pre-employability skills program that includes four weeks of work experience. Youth who participate in the program gain employment and personal development, technology training, and conflict resolution as well as health and wellness training, volunteerism, life transitioning and leadership development.

In the past year, 84 youth have participated in the program.
 


Due to elevated levels of fecal coliforms currently present in the water of Pigeon Lake at Mission Beach, Alberta Health Services is advising the public not to swim or wade from Mission Beach, effective immediately.

The public is also advised not to drink this contaminated lake water, as water-borne organisms, including fecal coliforms, can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Elevated levels of fecal coliforms were detected via testing of the lake water. At current levels, skin, ear and eye infections can result from any contact with the water at Mission Beach.

AHS Environmental Public Health officers will continue to monitor the water at Mission Beach.

This advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

A blue-green algae bloom advisory also remains in effect for Pigeon Lake, as does an additional contaminated water advisory for Grandview Beach on Pigeon Lake.
 


Edmonton Institution was locked down on Wednesday due to an undisclosed amount of inmates at the prison being treated for overdose.

It is not revealed how many were taken to hospital, but none have died.

Right now, testing is underway to determine if fentanyl is the cause. It’s a powerful synthetic opioid that’s been turning up in other drugs like heroin. It’s very potent, and has killed 145 Albertans so far this year. It’s prompted both RCMP and Alberta Health Services to issue warnings about the drug.

As of Thursday afternoon, the Edmonton Max was still being searched for contraband