ATTENTION: Williams Moving Lethbridge is NOT affected by the recent bankruptcy of Williams Moving & Storage (BC) Ltd. We are fully operating for your moving SPECIAL 12-PAGE SECTION and storage needs Careers IN TODAY’S HERALD — Local. Long Distance. International. Call us at 403-327-3911 & education SEE PAGES C1-12 ONLINE: myLH.ca SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015 PRICE $1.43 PLUS GST ‘No good deed ever goes unpunished’ Cardston farmer loses piece of land to squatter’s rights Melissa Villeneuve LETHBRIDGE HERALD [email protected] verbal agreement is only as good as the proof to back it up. It’s a hard lesson Herald photo by Tijana Martin learned for Bob Woodward, a Cardston- area farmer who lost ownership of a 10- acreA piece of land to his neighbour in December, LRPS, ALERT MAKE HOUSE CALL due to an archaic law. It’s called adverse possession, commonly known The Lethbridge Regional Police Tactical Team takes a woman into custody after LRPS and Alberta ALERT members executed a search as squatter’s rights, and it’s based on British warrant for a home along 13 Street South in regards to a drug investigation on Friday afternoon. Five people were taken into custody. common law. Essentially, if a person has exclusive The matter is still under investigation and no further information was made available by police. control of a piece of land for a period of 10 years, and it’s open and visible to the public, the court can rule that the property is his, regardless of whose name is on the title. “It hearkens back to Wildrose to pick new Warm weather is heading the old homestead days when people would come and squat on a It’s a chilling mes- leader on June 6 toward record territory piece of land and improve it and work it as sage to farmers in their own, and the law southern’’ Alberta that we’re more than any one would deem it as their THE CANADIAN PRESS — CALGARY particular individual,” he said. Melissa Villeneuve land,” said Woodward’s and elsewhere. “In the event that there is a spring LETHBRIDGE HERALD lawyer Doug Carle. [email protected] – Doug Carle – Alberta’s Opposition Wildrose election, we have contingency Woodward bought the land right across from lawyer party announced Friday it plans plans in place for that.” his property in 1999 and to pick its new leader June 6. The party will have a full slate Lethbridge residents are basking in a stretch of has paid property taxes on it every year. For a The race won’t include of constituency candidates if unseasonably warm temperatures, and Monday’s period of 12 years, he allowed his neighbour to controversial Calgary MP Rob there is a spring vote, Callaway forecasted high of 19 C could set a record. have access and utilize the land because it was Anders, who has mused to added. And any candidates for The last time we had a day that warm in January was in convenient for the neighbour. reporters about taking a run at the leadership would be expected to run in the election. 1931, with a record daily high of 17.8 C on Jan. 31, “At the end of over 10 years, the neighbour the top job in the right-of-centre according to The Weather Network. Applications will be handed brought forward an application to take Mr. party after failing twice to be Meteorologist Dayna Vettese said we could set not only out starting Monday. The final Woodward’s land,” said Carle. “He was nominated as a Conservative a daily record, but also an all-time January record for cutoff for entry is one month flabbergasted. His statement was ‘No good deed candidate in the next federal warmth. before the vote. ever goes unpunished.’” election. Average temperatures for our city at this time of year An appeal has been filed with the Alberta Court Wildrose rules stipulate all The leadership contest became are in the -1.8 C to -13.7 C range. The last time Lethbridge necessary after former leader of Appeals, and Carle said they are prepared to candidates must have been party had an entire day below freezing was Jan. 12, said Vettese. take it to the Supreme Court, if that’s what it takes. members for at least six months Danielle Smith led eight A decent flow of mild air coming in from the Pacific Opposition members across the Carle said he was “absolutely astonished” that before the vote. Anders doesn’t Coast is causing the jetstream of air to move farther this “outdated” law could precede the Torrens land meet that requirement, said floor to the governing Tories in north. December in an effort to unite title registry system. party president Jeff Callaway. “The colder air is sitting north of the jetstream and “This concept of adverse possession is a kick in “We’re not going to start the right. warmer air is sitting south of jetstream,” said Vettese. “So The move left the Wildrose the teeth to our land title system. It’s an exception breaking rules to suit particular we are sitting in a milder air mass and that air mass is to our system which shouldn’t be allowed to exist, with five seats compared with 72 people’s agendas. He made his coming in from the Pacific with that warm, moist area period.” for the Tories. Two other Wildrose choices when he let his coming from British Columbia.” The government has amended some adverse legislature members had already membership lapse.” The flow across the Rocky Mountains is also causing possession legislation, exempting municipalities The party does waive the crossed and another had chosen chinooks to form, which in turn cause the temperature and irrigation districts. However, for individual requirement for people such as to sit as an Independent. to rise, sometimes up to 10 degrees, Vettese explained. property owners, the law is still in force. journalists who are unable to Candidates will have to pay a In Lethbridge winds reached up to 65 km/h, while Cardston-Taber-Warner MLA Gary Bikman was hold party memberships due to $20,000 non-refundable entry Claresholm had gusts of up to 110 km/h on Friday. unaware of Woodward’s situation, but was their occupations. fee. Residents can enjoy the barbeque and T-shirt weather “shocked to hear the disturbing news.” Interim leader Heather Forsyth The vote will be conducted throughout the weekend and the majority of next week. Bikman recalled a one-on-one meeting with will carry the flag through the with mail-in ballots or in person “Once we start getting to the beginning of February, Premier Jim Prentice before Christmas, in which campaign if an election is called at the leadership conference in we’ll start to see the colder temperatures move back in. they spoke about property rights and property before the June date, Callaway Calgary. Callaway said the party Right now it doesn’t look like it will be overly frigid, but rights issues as they relate to rural Albertans. back to reality, I guess.” said. decided not to experiment with ◆ “We’re actually quite proud online voting. 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Bonus: 47 NEWS FROM ODDS Extra: 6192903 Pick 3: 491 WM $1M prizes ACROSS 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 36 20, 23, 26, 32, 33, 34, 45 SOUTHERN UNLUCKY TICKETS 8, 11, 13, 14, 25, 34, 43 ALBERTA Photo Radar can be found at the following 11, 23, 24, 29, 31, 32, 42 NOTE: ALL LOTTERY NUMBERS locations today: Coaldale 4, 19, 20, 22, 30, 43, 46 & ENDS ARE UNOFFICIAL UNTIL VERIFIED 8, 19, 23, 30, 34, 40, 45 ISSUED BY THE LETHBRIDGE REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE 7, 14, 24, 27, 31, 33, 34 SEE NEWS HAPPENING? Call our news hotline 403-328-4418 or email [email protected] LETHBRIDGE HERALD – SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015 – PAGE A2 Not guilty pleas entered in Via Rail terror plot case TORONTO Not guilty pleas have been entered in an Ontario court for two men accused of plotting a terrorist attack on a passenger train travelling between Canada and the U.S. Raed Jaser and Chiheb Esseghaier are both charged in the alleged Via Rail plot and are set to go on trial in Toronto on Feb. 2. Jaser, a permanent resident of Palestinian descent, faces four charges, including commission of an offence for a terrorist group. Esseghaier, a Tunisian national who was doing doctoral research on nanosensors in Quebec, is facing five charges, including participating in a terrorist group. Jury selection in the case is underway. Herald photo by Ian Martens BOUNCING FOR BURBEES University of Lethbridge Students’ Union president Sean Glydon pops up from the ground while taking part in the Burbees for Mental Health fundraiser Thursday in the atrium at the U of L.