Convicted killer Walter (Wally) Raymond Anderson was granted an appeal hearing to be held in Calgary on Oct. 7. One of the grounds cited is believed to be evidence allowed by an RCMP sting operation that supposedly took advantage of Anderson and/or that police hadn’t given Anderson the chance to consult a lawyer.
Forty-two year old Wally Anderson, who was unemployed at the time of the crime and recently relocated to Bentley from Newfoundland, was convicted of the second-degree murder of 69-year-old Kenny Gibson of Bentley, the local hotel janitor. The stabbing/beating death took place inside the Bentley Hotel on September 17, 2004. At that time Anderson also robbed about $4,200 from the hotel safe.
Anderson has been in custody since he was arrested May 15, 2005 and was convicted March 7, 2007 after a lengthy trial by a jury, with supposedly no chance for parole for at least 15 years. He was originally charged with first-degree murder.
Bentley Jr./Sr. High School 2007-08 last award winners
The Bentley Junior / Senior High School held their annual awards assembly on Sept. 19 where accomplishments and achievements earned last year were acknowledged.
Recognized for Scholastic Achievement with the highest marks in Grade 7 was Mark Hawkings; for Grade 8 was Jessie Cadman; Grade 9 winner was Alyssa Wilson, for Grade 10 it was Morgan Anderson and for Grade 11 Jessica Abt was named.
The Outstanding Female Jr. High Athlete, as presented by Mrs. Jane Moore, was a tie between Amy Hawkings and Lindsey Heagy, both from Grade 9.
The Outstanding Female Sr. High Athlete, as announced by Mr. Jason Hazlett, with presenter Mrs. Helen Butcher representing the local Royal Purple, was Jessica Abt.
The Outstanding Male Jr. High Athlete, as presented by Mr. Gord Graves, was Michael Plamondon from Grade 9.
The Outstanding Male Sr. High Athlete was announced at the grad in May and was Riley Poffenroth.
Mrs. Brenda Von Kuster presented penmanship awards. They went to Seven Schmidt for Grade 7; Jessie Cadman for Grade 8; Alyssa Wilson from Grade 9; Callista Anderson from Grade 10; and Megan Fraser for Grade 11.
Many earned A.T.A. Honor Pins and school council medallions. They were announced and presented by Mrs. Connie Swarbrick and Parent Council representative Mrs. Pat Schmidt. They included Mark Hawkings, Hayley Lush, Cole Miller, Peter Mueller, Seven Schmidt, Nicole Scott, Erin Seater, Michaella Trites, and Falon Vert from Grade 7: Emily Anderson, Jessie Cadman, Shelby Duncan, Stephanie Lenz, Colby Reid, and Andrea Taylor for Grade 8; and for Grade 9 Jacinta DeLeeuw, Amy Hawkings, Michael Plamondon, and Alyssa Wilson.
Also earning A.T.A. Honor Pins and school council medallions were 16 students from Grade 10 and 18 from Grade 11 (too many to list here).
Grade 12 student Josh Deschambault was declared the schools Student’s Union president and Duncan Henry, who is in Grade 11, won an election to become the vice-president. Teacher adviser is again Ms. Christine Wu, who took on the position last year, her first year at the Bentley school.
A power-point presentation of photos taken on the recent Grade 10/11 backpacking trip was shown and a game giving each student a chance to win a crisp $100 bill yielded no winner.