The fallout of crime on a nearby First Nation reserve has made victims of many families, and threatens to undermine the social fabric of the community, according to the chief and band council of the Swan River reserve. Readers may be familiar with the story, which first appeared in last week's Leader. On Nov. 15, Faust, High Prairie and lakeshore RCMP detachments raided a house on the small reserve near Kinuso, Alberta. Police were confident they would find drugs, but were surprised to find 20 people in and around the home. As a result of the bust, seven people were charged with a variety of offenses, including possession of a controlled substance and breaching court orders. Several of the detainees were minors. [continues 730 words]
George and Helen Kupilik have lived just outside of Smith for 35 years. They came from the Calgary area to enjoy the freedom and tranquility of country living to raise a family. George's children are now grown and he and Helen enjoy quiet retirement. Quiet except for the nights when unidentified men come into their home. They didn't speak or say what they wanted but twice they have searched George's home. George himself likens it to something out of a George Orwell novel. [continues 585 words]
Crack cocaine is apparently plentiful in Slave Lake. Plentiful, and cheaper than it once was, thanks to the downward pressure caused by the even cheaper methamphetamine, better known as 'crystal meth' or simply 'meth.' The latter is highly addictive, the experts say, and as it doesn't have to be smuggled into the country (it's made here), it costs a lot less. It must be tempting for someone willing to make a living outside the law. Apparently there is no shortage of these types. [continues 424 words]
Community Constable Rebecca Oxton is trying to educate Slave Lake youth as to the dangers of bullying and drug use. She has arranged for the youth activism group Robcan to come to town and spread its message to the children enrolled in the Summer Splash at Northern Lakes College. "Bullying in Slave Lake is an ongoing issue," says Oxton. "I've attempted to take a proactive approach to bullying and drug use in the community. I've arranged for the Robcan group to come up and put on a week-long camp for the kids." [continues 349 words]
The drug problem, like other deeply-rooted ills of society isn't going to go away. No amount of positive affirmation is going to change that. But thank goodness things can be done to improve the situation. Things can especially be done, in the case of drugs, booze, cigarettes and other addictive substances, to remove all ignorance about what they are. Those efforts are worthwhile and are going on in a variety of ways. One way is to have someone who's been through the mill talk to our kids, in plain language, about how bad drugs and booze can be. It may seem harsh to force elementary school students to listen to such tales. Many parents tend to want to protect their kids from unpleasant realities. But on the other hand, many fine parents learn too late that their children didn't really get the message. [continues 437 words]
Not much can be said about the RCMP officers killed near Mayerthorpe on Mar. 3 that hasn't already been said, or written. But the tragic deaths of four fine young peace officers have implications that warrant a few more words. One thing became clear in the days following the shootings: it was not cut and dried evidence that the home-grown drug industry is getting out of control. Such comments were aired in the immediate aftermath, and they turned out to be dead wrong. [continues 476 words]
Where the buffalo roam on Lesser Slave Lake "I'm not saying that crystal methamphetamine isn't a serious drug -- it's a nasty drug. But I just don't want parents and adults to lose sight of the fact that the majority of young people we're seeing have problems with alcohol or cannabis, not crystal meth." That comment last week from the AADAC (Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission) supervisor for the Slave Lake area. Mona Johnson says some parents are "so concerned that their teens might be experimenting with crystal meth that they seem to be forgetting or downplaying the role that alcohol and cannabis could be playing in their kids' lives. [continues 269 words]
What Ever They Were Smoking, We'll Take A Truckload. The House of Sober Second thought has raised its collective head again, this time to say every red-blooded Canadian over the age of 16 should have the right to walk into the closest convenience store and buy a joint - of marijuana - that is. And not just for medicinal purposes. Nope, they should be able to light up when ever and where ever they please. Just because they want to. Forget the fact that these 16-year-olds aren't old enough to go into a bar or even buy a bottle of beer. And forget the fact that these teens are barely old enough to drive a vehicle on Canadian highways. Let them buy marijuana, say the senators. It should be a right. [continues 497 words]
Slave Lake might have lost its onerous distinction as the busiest RCMP detachment in the province and dropped to 26th spot in recent years. But that doesn1t mean there1s any less crime in this community, the detachment1s top cop told Town councillors last week. "We haven1t slowed down. Our per member caseload has gone up, but in some other places, crime is out of control," Staff Sergeant Dave Shardlow told councillors as he laid out his plans for attacking Slave Lake1s crime rate for the next three years. He added, however, his plans are at the mercy of council1s direction, and can be changed at any time. [continues 442 words]
