By S/Sgt. Marko Shehovac

First Responder Food Bank blitz

On Dec. 13 our local BC Ambulance, Invermere Fire Rescue and Cram the Cruiser did a three-hour food drive blitz at our local grocery stores in Invermere. In that short period of time we collected a huge quantity of food as well as $760 cash. Our thanks to Sobey’s, No Frills, and AG Foods for providing us the space. Many thanks for making this three hour blitz such a success.

TVs stolen in break and enter

At noon on Dec. 12, Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment responded to a break and enter complaint in the 4000 block of Ridge Road in Radium Hot Springs. Two TVs were stolen; a 37” Toshiba and 42” Sharp. Anyone with information is requested to contact the detachment.

Drunk in public at 4 p.m.

At 4 p.m. on Dec. 12, as a result of a disturbance complaint police attended to the 200 block of 10th Ave. A 47-year-old female from Invermere was located in the area highly intoxicated. She was arrested and lodged in cells and released with a ticket for drunk in public.

Truck in ditch near Baltac; 24 hour suspension

At 12:31 a.m. on Dec. 13, detachment members responded to a complaint of a truck in the ditch in the area of Baltac Beach in Windermere. A 26-year-old male was determined to have driven the 2005 Dodge into the ditch. The driver was issued a 24 hours license suspension.

Black ice causes crash on Westside Road

At 2:11 p.m. on Dec. 13, police responded to a single vehicle rollover accident on Westside Road. A vehicle driven by a 75-year-old female from Invermere was southbound in a ‘90 Toyota pickup negotiating a sharp curve when she came upon black ice. BC Ambulance and Invermere Fire Rescue were on scene as the driver was trapped in the vehicle. Driver attended to Invermere and District Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Impaired driver

At 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 14, police checked a ‘98 GMC with a 37-year-old male operating the vehicle. The driver displayed signs of having consumed liquor. An ASD demand was read and the driver blew a fail. The male was charged with impaired driving and refuse to provide a breath sample and will appear in Invermere Provincial court Feb 16.

Christmas Eve Past

Christmas tradition is not complete for me unless I am able to watch Scrooge in Christmas Carol and Jimmy Stewart in It’s a Wonderful Life. So must I repeat my favorite Police Christmas Eve story.

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house not a creature was stirring, except for the domestic dispute going on next door. Police version of the poem.

This incident happened many years ago as a junior officer in Maple Ridge. My partner and I were called to a domestic disturbance and as the houses were all close together our attendance attracted a number of people looking on. We were hoping for a quiet Christmas Eve.

As we were ready to depart the scene an elderly male next door waived us over requesting we come into his house. From what I recall he actually demanded we come inside. As we entered the house he demands in an authoritative voice to have a seat at the kitchen table stating “you guys should not have to put up with this on Christmas Eve.”

He invites us to share a coffee with him. He pours us a coffee and then comes over with a bottle of brandy, ready to put a splash in with the coffee. I hold out my hand and tell the fellow that we can’t as we are on duty and before I can do anything to stop him, the splash of brandy is in our coffee. No, was not an answer he was prepared to take. Again he responds, “It’s Christmas Eve and you should not have to put up with this.”

We sit and chat and during our discussion learn that his wife had passed on some time ago. As we chat on he sees that our coffee is getting low, a quick dash to the coffee pot and an even quicker dash to the brandy. We learned real quick the fellow was not going to take no. All we can do is control the splash.

We carried on our chat over this delicious coffee. With some degree of force and discipline we declined his third cup advising him we should be back on the road.   We thank him for the special coffee, shake hands and wish him a Merry Christmas. He thanks us for spending some time with him.

My partner and I go outside and we do some checks, stand on one foot, touch the tip of our nose, stand straight, head back, we don’t keel over; we’re good to go.

Over my long career I have worked many Christmas eves but truly can recall this one particular Christmas Eve as if it happened yesterday. The old fellow got what he probably wanted, a little company and I got to learn milk is not the only thing that mixes with coffee.

On behalf of the Detachment members and staff we wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Be safe.

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