PJ day events in Jasper finalized
Event times have been finalized for PJ Day in Jasper, a town-wide initiative on March 1 to raise awareness about autoimmune diseases.
Breakfast Television begins filming at 5:30 a.m. at the new fire hall on Geikie Street, in front of the hospital. A pancake breakfast will raise funds for the MS Society. The flapjacks will energize all the PJ-clad Jasperites that come to dance, do pyjama yoga and be in the background throughout the show.
Those wishing to participate in the PJs and Pooches Pack Walk past the cameras will meet at the Info Centre at 8:30 am.
River Stone Yoga offers PJ yoga from 10 to 11 a.m., but if the need for speed seems more enticing, the PJ ski fun race begins at 11 a.m. at Marmot Basin. People are also meeting at the totem pole at 12 p.m. for a run.
Following an afternoon break, a PJ fashion, dance and song show happens at 7:30 p.m. at the Activity Centre. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Businesses are also having PJ fun, including De’d Dog, which is offering happy hour prices all night to people wearing PJs.
For more information on PJ Day and its reach beyond Jasper, visit .
Richter sentenced to 27 months
On Wednesday, Feb. 20, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Frits Verhoeven handed down a 27-month sentence to Michael Allan Richter, 33, for aggravated assault on William Floris Groenveld, 56, of McBride. The judge gave Richter 15 months credit for time served in custody since the incident, which occurred in December 2011.
On Dec. 11, 2011 at around 4 a.m., a resident responded to her dogs barking and heard cries for help.She found Groeneveld in a snow bank on First Avenue. Two hours earlier Richter was giving Groeneveld a ride home when his SUV got stuck in the snow. Groeneveld thought Richter had made an advance toward him and when he responded Richter punched him in the face. Groeneveld, who is legally blind, suffered 34 facial fractures, a compressed skull fracture that had to be pulled away from his brain and two cracks to his left cheekbone.
Following surgery and hospital time, Groeneveld has a metal right eye orbit, hard pallet and currently has no feeling on the right side of his face. Because his jaw does not mesh well he finds chewing painful and is susceptible to choking. He continues to have nightmares and flashbacks from the incident and also suffers from balance and memory issues.
Prior to sentencing, Richter apologized to Groeneveld, who was in attendance.
Richter was also sentenced to three months for flight from a peace officer and resisting arrest, fined $1,000 and is prohibited from driving for one year.
