Dawn Smith/Rocky View Publishing

A clothing store in CrossIron Mills mall received a telephone threat of a bomb, June 27. The store was evacuated for about 40 minutes while a search was conducted. The threat was deemed a false alarm.

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RCMP respond to CrossIron bomb threat

RCMP and about five security officers responded to a bomb threat at CrossIron Mills mall at about 12:30 p.m., June 27.

The H&M clothing store was evacuated for about 40 minutes before the situation was deemed a false alarm by the RCMP explosive disposal unit at around 2:15 p.m. An RCMP police service dog trained in detecting explosives aided in the search, which was fruitless.

“One of our stores received a call saying that there was a package in the store,” said Ken Gallaher, CrossIron’s property manager. “A crisis management plan was implemented. Everything seems fine.”

It is the first such threat Gallaher has had to deal with.

“It gets your heart going a little in the afternoon,” he said. “RCMP arrived very quickly and took control of the situation.”

“The RCMP takes all threats very seriously and reminds the public that it is an offence to call in any such threat,” stated an RCMP press release.

An investigation is continuing into the bomb threat.

Fatal accident

More details have been released on the fatal workplace accident that took place at the Town of Cochrane’s operations shop in the late afternoon, June 21.

Tim Bannister, 52, died while working underneath a large trailer after the trailer ramp fell on him.

The longtime resident of Cochrane had worked for the Town for more than six years when he died at the scene of the accident.

“The accident has had a huge impact on the town,” said Emily Cargan, communications manager with the Town of Cochrane.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.”

The Town shop and Eco Centre was closed June 22 as a result of the accident, which is under investigation by Alberta Occupational Health and Safety.

“We are a close-knit family at the Town of Cochrane and are obviously devastated by the loss of an employee, especially in such tragic circumstances,” said Mayor Truper McBride. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Tim’s family at this time.”

According to a Town statement, Bannister was a highly regarded and much-loved team member, colleague and friend, and was always on hand to help, encourage and motivate others.

“Town staff are struggling to come to terms with his loss,” read the statement.

If you have information on any unsolved crime, call your local RCMP detachment or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).