Athabasca News

A grassfire set off by a malfunctioning hay baler burned through up to 70 hectares of farmland after first setting alight a row of trees near Flat Lake on last Monday. The Boyle Fire Department attended to the blaze that started at 3:30 p.m. on Oct.

Athabasca County council’s most beleaguered members successfully retained their seats in Monday night’s election.

Village of Boyle voters opted for significant change Monday night, as long-time mayor Bob Clark and deputy mayor Jim Giancola were both defeated.

Dr. Roger Morrill has unofficially won the mayor’s race in Athabasca, defeating incumbent Colleen Powell, 544 votes to 333.

In Division 3 (Boyle), incumbent Doris Splane is back for another term after gaining 174 votes. Challenger Wes Kowalchuk finished second with 168 votes, while Wayne Plamondon had 11.

Incumbent Athabasca County Division 2 (Colinton-New Pine Creek) councillor has lost his seat on council, defeated by challenger Denis Willcott, 166-118.

Lac La Biche RCMP have released few details about the deaths of two men — one from Buffalo Lake, one from Boyle — who bodies were found in Touchwood Lake earlier this month after a fishing trip went wrong.

Town of Athabasca election candidates came face to face with the public last Wednesday in a forum put on by the Athabasca District Chamber of Commerce, which saw incumbents and challengers alike vying to convince locals that they are the ones to vote

Former Athabasca youth worker Jason Andrew Keough went to trial in Edmonton’s Court of Queen’s Bench last week on charges related to child pornography, voyeurism and sexual touching.

Jason Andrew Keough invited a Nova Scotia couple to move to Athabasca to live with him, then pressured them to film themselves having sex, according to testimony presented in Edmonton’s Court of Queen’s Bench Wednesday.