Other Manitoba and Saskatchewan Developments

[JayM]

Smoothing the way

Photo by Donna Wilson

Lane widening and repaving continues between Paint Lake and Thompson. The three-year construction project is part of major upgrades expected to cost around $25 million. The work includes eliminating or reducing vertical curves by knocking down hills and filling in valleys and widening and travelling lanes and paving the shoulders. The new travelling lanes will each be 3.7 metres wide) with a 2.5-metre paved shoulder for each lane. The old lanes had a 3.4-metre width.

[Winnipegger@Heart]

Originally Posted by JayM

What kind of Thompson do you want in 20 years?

- AECOM's Don Hester poses with a few of the maps that point to what Thompson could look like in the future. - Photo by Ian Graham
Photo by Ian Graham

May 19,2010

By Ian Graham
[email protected]

Twenty years from now, Thompson's population may have grown enough that the people who live here today wouldn't recognize the city, says Shaun Klassen, a planner with AECOM, the company providing technical and management support to the City of Thompson's sustainable community and master parks plans.

But that doesn't mean current residents can't have a say in how it looks.

"You need a plan to go forward," Klassen said while hosting on open house on the plans at the Thompson recreation centre May 12. "Ideas have to be formalized to make it happen. It's incredibly important to have that."

Based on 20-year growth projections, Thompson could need as many as 1,800 more housing units in 2030, a fact that may seem to be evidence that the city's boundaries would have to expand. Klassen says it isn't necessarily so. In fact, 80 per cent of that housing could fit within the existing boundaries, he says, if people are willing to accept higher density.

"We don't have to grow in areas that are less sustainable in the short term," Klassen says.

To accommodate such growth, rezoning of certain areas may be needed. For example, the commercial area that stretches from behind City Centre Mall up to the intersection of Princeton Drive and Station Road could be redeveloped as a mix of commercial and residential development, making room for another 600 people.

Out-of-town housing is up for discussion, too, he said, as is the servicing of potential large lot estate housing to the north of Thompson, which may have to be borne by residents if such a project comes to pass, rather than see all taxpayers bear the cost of extending city water and waste for the sake of 60 to 100 people.

The sustainable community plan is by no means a done deal, but AECOM and the city would like people to be aware of such possibilities - and to hear back what they think.

"Is there potential for infill housing along River Road?" Klassen asked. "Are people willing to consider that? We're looking for the public to respond. We're definitely looking for feedback."

AECOM has also been contracted by the city to map out its recreation needs, both metaphorically and literally, says Joy Viberg, a landscape architect with AECOM who's worked on the city's master parks plan, which started with an inventory of parks and recreation facilities.

"Thompson's really well covered for recreation," said Viberg, referring specifically to sports facilities. "There are a lot of softball fields. The recreation part’s covered pretty good."

What could be added, she said, includes community gardens in higher density neighbourhoods and city parks for people who just want to be outside.

"They want pretty places to kind of hang out in," Viberg said, recalling some of the things brought up in previous public consultations. "People have asked for a powwow arbour."

Other potential upgrades include new tot lots and new facilities for some old ones as well as things such as outdoor skating rinks in areas that don't currently have any., mostly on the west side of the city.

What's really important, say Viberg and Klassen, who co-hosted the open house with AECOM project manager Don Hester, who's both a landscape architect and a planner, is hearing from everybody about what they want - or don't.

Certain segments of the population are harder to connect with than others.

"We've heard what youth need from adults," said Klassen, but they'd rather find out directly from youth. Other hard-to-reach demographics include Paint Lake residents, who may feel they don't have much of a stake in the designs and plans of the city, and seniors.

The population pyramid for Thompson, said Klassen, has very few old people.

"That demographic should be looked at, too," he said.

For both plans, however, Thompson starts from a good base, endowed as it is with plenty of green space and pedestrian connections.

"You have all these green connectivity spaces," said Klassen.

Copyright 2010 Glacier Media Inc.

Forget the public input, as many of those who would respond do not grasp higher density, and how responsible it is. Sometimes, the public needs to be treated like children, while government plays the role of parents...just because the public does not like it, it is better for them in the long run.

[Winnipegger]

Originally Posted by Winnipegger@Heart

Forget the public input, as many of those who would respond do not grasp higher density, and how responsible it is. Sometimes, the public needs to be treated like children, while government plays the role of parents...just because the public does not like it, it is better for them in the long run.

You might get a lot of flak for saying those kinds of things, esspecially around the liberal community that takes part here, but in all honesty, I couldn't agree more. Sometimes people are just not capable of thinking of anyone other than themselves.

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by JayM

Smoothing the way

Photo by Donna Wilson

Lane widening and repaving continues between Paint Lake and Thompson. The three-year construction project is part of major upgrades expected to cost around $25 million. The work includes eliminating or reducing vertical curves by knocking down hills and filling in valleys and widening and travelling lanes and paving the shoulders. The new travelling lanes will each be 3.7 metres wide) with a 2.5-metre paved shoulder for each lane. The old lanes had a 3.4-metre width.

i realy need to get up to my cabin

[JayM]

Google Streetview of PTH 6 Paint Lake Entrance
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_...RwBNl6pOLhwRMbMkow&cbp=12,42.02,,0,17.95

[hexrae]

More UCN expansion news.


University of the North campus to expand

By: Staff Writer

7/06/2010 11:29 AM

A $15-million expansion of the University of the North campus in The Pas was announced this morning by the Manitoba government.

Advanced Education and Literary Minister Diane McGifford said the expansion will include construction of a 24-unit, on-campus housing development for students and their families; a 13,500-square-foot library expansion; a 6,500-square-foot child-care facility to accommodate up to 75 children; a 4,500-square-foot redeveloped student centre; an aboriginal centre; a student lounge and centralized administrative offices.

Construction work is to scheduled to begin this fall and should be completed by September, 2012.

"The University College of the North is unique within Manitoba and its dual campuses in The Pas and Thompson have been specifically designed to meet the education and training needs of aboriginal and northern students," McGifford said.

She also said the library expansion will be named in honor of the late Oscar Lathlin, a former northern affairs minister and long-time MLA for The Pas who died in November, 2008.

"Creating UCN to better serve the education and training needs of northern and Aboriginal Manitobans was a life-long dream of Oscar’s and we are very pleased to build on his legacy with the expansion of UCN’s campus in The Pas."

[JayM]

Paletta family to break ground for hotel in Thompson

By: Martin Cash

15/06/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

* Print
* E–mail
* Share This
* Report Error

WINNIPEG'S Paletta family is becoming known as the hotel developers willing to do projects where no one else dares to go.

This time, it's Thompson.

Angelo Paletta, his brother Anthony and some partners are breaking ground next week on an $8-million, 70-room Suburban Extended Stay Hotel in Thompson.

In the past, the family sunk about $17 million into the conversion of the old MTS offices on Portage Avenue into a Clarion Hotel, which critics said would never work. More recently, it spent $15 million on the renovation and expansion of what is now called the Hecla Oasis Resort, Spa and Golf Course, a property that the province owned for many years and couldn't turn a profit on.

While the new Thompson property may be off the beaten track, Angelo Paletta said he believes the business case is solid. "We really think the extended-stay concept will work well in Thompson," Paletta said. "There are a lot of corporate or business travellers who are going up to Thompson and staying for awhile."

It will be the first Canadian property for the Suburban Extended Stay brand, one of 11 brands marketed by the Choice Hotels International hotel company.

The Thompson ground-breaking will be just days ahead of the second Canadian Suburban project to start in Estevan, Sask.

"We're quite excited about the potential for extended stay properties in Canada," said Chris Kornmayer, director of strategy and marketing for Choice Hotels extended stay properties.

He said extended stay properties make up only seven per cent of the total hotels in the United States and is much lower than that in Canada.

He said Thompson is ideal for this project because of its resource industry, health care facilities and because it services a large region.

The property is targeted at people staying five days or more, with rates declining for longer bookings. The chain is marketed in the upper-economy price range with each room featuring a kitchen, free high-speed Internet, free premium movie channels, guest laundry and weekly housekeeping.

The Thompson location will include a restaurant on an adjacent site.

Mark Matiasek, general manager of Thompson Unlimited, said the northern city has been under-serviced by the accommodations industry for a long time and demand for hotel rooms is projected to be strong in years to come.

"I have been told that there are no hotel rooms available in town for the July long weekend," he said. "And ironically, because of things like the cold weather testing that goes on up here, occupancy rates do not go down in the winter in Thompson like they might for hotels elsewhere in the province."

New hotel development is seen as a risky proposition these days with occupancy rates in Manitoba struggling to get to the 70 per cent level and financing for new projects tough to come by.

"The hotel market may not be great right now, but if you wait for the upswing you miss it by a year," said Jim Baker, executive director of the Manitoba Hotel Association.

Paletta agreed that financing can be tough, but because of his family's track record and a solid group of investors, he was able to put the deal together.

"If this was my first project with no experience in the business it would have been very difficult," he said.

The Palettas also own the Days Inn on McPhillips Street. The Clarion has been a success but the Hecla property continues to be challenged.

"We're hoping some nice weather will make a difference this summer," Paletta said.

[email protected]

Need a room?

The Thompson hotel market:

15,000 -- the city's population

400 -- total number of rooms in the market

70 -- additional rooms to be added on completion of the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, which is scheduled for February 2011

8 -- proposed room expansion to the Thompson Days Inn & Suites

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 15, 2010 B5

[JayM]

Manitoba's north sees road renewals
Last Updated: Thursday, June 10, 2010 | 1:40 PM CST Comments11Recommend6
CBC News

The province is planning major upgrades to highways in Manitoba's north as part of a $4 billion bridge and road renewal plan announced in 2006.

The NDP government said on Thursday that a major reconstruction to Highway 6 near Thompson will be completed this summer.

As well, 30 kilometres of Highway 10 from The Pas the Provincial Road 282 will undergo a major repaving effort.

In addition to the PTH 10 project, PR 283 west of The Pas will also be paved from west of PTH 10 to PR 282.

Other projects slated for the summer construction season include a major reconstruction of PR 373 from Sea Falls to north of PR 374 in the Norway House-Cross Lake area.

In all, the government said it planned to spend more than $500 million in 2010 on road and bridge renewal and maintenance.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/...paving-north-highways.html#ixzz0rTndENkY

[JayM]

Apartment vacancy rates increase in most Saskatchewan centres

Two-bedroom average rents in Saskatchewan’s CAs increased from April 2009 to April 2010, despite the higher vacancy rates in most centres. Prince Albert recorded the highest increase in two-bedroom average rent among CAs, rising from $610 per month in April 2009 to $737 this year.

[RTD]

Looks like Manitoba is #1

Winnipeg Free Press
June 25, 2010

MANITOBA has been ranked as the best place for oil and gas investment in Canada for the second year in a row and made the Top 10 list worldwide, says the Global Petroleum Survey, issued Thursday by Canadian think-tank the Fraser Institute.

The annual survey saw Manitoba move up the global ladder to eighth from last year's rank of 21st.

Manitoba draws investment due to low royalties and a clear, simple regulatory framework, said Gerry Angevine, a senior economist at the Fraser Institute and co-author of the survey, in a release.

Clarity and stability in rules and regulations, particularly relating to royalties, land-claim disputes and environmental regulations, were rated as very important by petroleum executives surveyed, Angevine said.

Saskatchewan was rated the second-best jurisdiction in Canada, and 17th globally.

Trailing behind are Ontario in third, followed by the Yukon, Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Quebec.

All Canadian jurisdictions moved up in the global ranking this year except Quebec.

Angevine attributed Alberta's poor showing in 2008 and 2009 to the provincial government's waffling over royalties, which he described as "an unpleasant and costly roller-coaster ride."

He suggested this year's results show a preliminary level of satisfaction with the new royalty concessions made earlier this spring.

The top-ranked jurisdictions for investment worldwide for 2010 are South Dakota, Texas, Illinois, Wyoming, Austria, Mississippi, Utah, Manitoba, Oklahoma, and Alabama.

[RTD]

delete post: moved.

[JayM]

Ground broken at Suburban Extended Stay Hotel site

Mayor Tim Johnston, right, and Alan Lagimodiere of Accommodations North, dig the first shovel-full of dirt from the future site of the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel on Moak Crescent June 22, while representatives of Accommodations North and Thompson Unlimited look on.

June 30,2010

By Ian Graham
[email protected]

Mayor Tim Johnston and Mark Matiasek of Thompson Unlimited joined representatives of Accommodations North at the official groundbreaking of the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel on Moak Crescent June 22.

Council approved two resolutions connected with the project at their meeting that night: to approve the development agreement for Accommodations North General Partner Ltd. and to approve the transfer for Lot 7, Block 1, Plan 43392 to Accommodations North General Partner Ltd.

The 70-room hotel, owned by Accommodations North and operating as a Choice Hotel franchise, will be one of the first two Suburban Extended Stay Hotel properties in Canada, along with an 89-room facility planned for Estevan, Saskatchewan.

The Thompson hotel is expected to open in February 2011 and the Estevan property is expected to be ready around the same time.

"The services and amenities of the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel brand are directed specifically to our target consumers, including relocating employees, construction companies, and the trade and service industries in Manitoba," said Angelo Paletta of Accommodations North in a news release announcing the groundbreaking.

The hotel is designed to accommodate the needs of longer-staying travellers, especially those working in the city or area as contractors. Suburban Extended Stay Hotels include full kitchens, cable TV and high-speed Internet access, with discounts for weekly and monthly stays.

"With the beginnings of Choice Hotels extended stay growth in Canada, we are pleased to celebrate this significant milestone in our international development," said Kevin Lewis, president of upscale and extended stay brands for Choice Hotels, in the news release. "Suburban Extended Stay Hotel is a perfect fit for the two extremely fast growing cities in Canada. We are fortunate for the opportunity to expand our brands domestically and internationally."

Choice Hotels International, based in Silver Spring, Maryland, franchises more than 6,000 hotels in the United States and 35 other countries and territories. As of March 31, 2010, it also had more than 600 hotels under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States and 100 being built or converted or approved for development in 20 other countries and territories. The company's brands include Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn.

Copyright 2010 Glacier Media Inc.

[JayM]

So basically instead of trying to build affordable housing they build hotels that offer weekly/monthly rates. I would assume by the article that they are most definitely catering to workers. The only problem I see with this is the only working people that are working already have homes. Places such as fast food(McDonalds and A&W) and retail(Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire) environments in Thompson have a low retention rate that really makes the whole "extended stay" hotel idea a brief and cheap way to improve housing.

A Quick Cash Grab.

[JayM]

Can't find the new link for it but Rogers Wireless will be streaming into Thompson soon. I seen/heard they are getting out of the movie rental business, which will result in many of there current video rental places more then likely reducing the size of the store to make way for only wireless devices & internet.

[1ajs]

The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
Lanesborough sells `Woodlily Court' apartment in Moose Jaw, Sask., for $6.6M

By: The Canadian Press 8/07/2010 11:50 AM
WINNIPEG - Lanesborough Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX:LRT.UN) announced Thursday its is selling an apartment in Moose Jaw, Sask., for $6.6 million.
Lanesborough says the deal with the unnamed buyer for the 102-suite apartment property known as Woodlily Court is expected to close by Sept. 1.
The property was acquired by Lanesborough in June 2006 for $3.7 million.
The sale is expected to result in net cash to the company of approximately $3.2 million, after expenses, closing adjustments and the repayment of some $3.3 million of first mortgage debt. Net proceeds from the sale will be used to repay debt.
Lanesborough units were unchanged at 38 cents Thursday morning on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

[1ajs]

Local

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Methadone program to open in Thompson

By: Jen Skerritt

17/07/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0


A methadone treatment program will open in Thompson as early as this fall to deal with the growing number of opiate addicts in northern Manitoba who have nowhere to get help.

John Donovan, director of the Addiction Foundation of Manitoba's northern region, confirmed that addiction officials have met with Burntwood Regional Health Authority officials to discuss a plan to bring methadone treatment to the North within the next three months.

He said OxyContin abuse has increased in Thompson and some neighbouring First Nation communities, and the only way people can now get help is to get on a wait list for treatment programs in Winnipeg and Brandon. Donovan said there is no medical detox in Thompson, so patients suffering severe opiate withdrawal symptoms have to be medivaced to Winnipeg.

Complicating matters, opiate addicts who live in First Nations communities can't access methadone on a reserve due to a federal policy that prohibits nursing stations from stocking the drug. Donovan said there was recent push to get the federal government to reconsider its policy, but the answer was a "flat no."

One northern physician is in the process of getting a license to prescribe methadone, and Donovan said a nurse and support staff will soon be able to offer methadone treatment to about a dozen patients. The actual need could be much higher, he said, but officials won't have a clear idea how big the demand is until the program launches.

The Addictions Foundation is also hoping to start a methadone program in Flin Flon by January, Donovan said.

"Now, (opiate addiction) is becoming more of an issue," Donovan said. "It means leaving their communities and never returning because they can't be stabilized."

Patients addicted to opiates have two options -- detox and abstain from the drug, or get on the waiting list for methadone treatment. Methadone is a tightly controlled synthetic opiate that suppresses symptoms of withdrawal.

There are close to 700 Manitobans on methadone and people on the waiting list can't get in for treatment until someone drops out or has stabilized enough to get the drug from a community pharmacy -- a wait between six and 12 months.

Some patients have died waiting for a basic assessment. Others drop out of touch while on the waiting list, or resort to crime to feed their addiction. Others are prescribed doses of opiates to tide them over until they can get into the methadone program.

Laurie Magee, program director of AFM's methadone-intervention program, said the program's expansion in Thompson will be a big help, but won't relieve the pressure on existing wait lists. She said officials have tried to stop accepting patients from the North into the methadone program since they have to travel to Winnipeg. Magee said it takes longer to stabilize them since there are no support programs in their home communities, aside from the pharmacy where they pick-up their daily dose of methadone.

She said the new program won't alleviate the barrier on First Nations, and addicts who want to get into the methadone program will still be forced to uproot to Thompson to get treatment.

"There's been people who have been wanting help for a long time," Magee said.

[email protected]

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 17, 2010 A12

[JayM]

Airport funding hits stumbling block
TRAA vows to press on

- A plane sits on the runway at Thompson Airport - Citizen file photo
Citizen file photo

August 4,2010

By Ryan Flanagan

A recent change to Transport Canada's Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) is forcing a shift in priorities at the Thompson Airport.

The ACAP, which between 2005 and 2010 allocated an average of $38 million per year to Canadian airports, was renewed in March 2010 by the federal government. However, this renewal quietly included the caveat that what ACAP termed “fourth priority” projects would no longer be funded.

Fourth priority projects included “asset protection and refurbishing, and operating cost reduction related to air terminal building or groundside access” – in short, anything related to the physical air terminals. This is in contrast to first priority projects, which ACAP says includes “safety-related airside projects, such as rehabilitation of runways, taxiways, aprons, lighting and other utilities, visual aids and sand storage sheds … related site preparation and environmental costs, aircraft firefighting vehicles and ancillary equipment and equipment shelters that are necessary to maintain the level of protection required by regulation.” Second priority projects include “heavy safety-related airside mobile equipment, such as runway snowblowers, runway snowplows, runway sweepers, spreaders and decelerometers (winter friction testing devices), and heavy airside mobile equipment access.” Third priority projects include “safety-related heavy air terminal building and groundside projects, such as sprinkler systems, asbestos removal and barrier-free access.”

While the elimination of the fourth priority class does allow for all money spent by ACAP to focus on safety-related projects, airports which were hoping for funding for projects under the fourth priority designation – such as the new terminal the Thompson Regional Airport Authority (TRAA) wants to build at the Thompson Airport – are left out in the cold.

“The ACAP program won't provide any new funding for any new [airport terminal building] that we propose as it isn't safety related,” said Curtis Ross, chief executive officer of the TRAA. “However, the Thompson Regional Airport Authority has made applications under the ACAP fund for some other significant airport infrastructure improvements, and hopes to make some announcements in the near future with respect to these applications.”

Ross also noted that the new terminal is “still part of our long-term strategic plan,” and that project could be underway by 2012. The new terminal is expected to be built on the opposite end of the existing runway from the existing terminal, and allows for about five times the floor space of the current 11,000 feet. The cost has been estimated at $15 million. The project has been pushed back from an earlier schedule which had a target completion date of Dec. 21, 2012 .

To be eligible for funding under the ACAP, airports must meet Transport Canada requirements for certification, must receive year-round passenger service on a regular basis, and must not be owned by the federal government. Twenty-one different airports received funding in the 2009-10 year, none of which were in Manitoba.

The Thompson Airport was first developed in 1961, by what was then known as Inco. It was transferred to Transport Canada in 1963, and has been operated by the TRAA since 2000.

[JayM]

Feds announce $8.7 million for runway improvements at Thompson Airport
August 18,2010

By Ryan Flanagan
[email protected]

The Thompson Regional Airport Authority (TRAA) has landed $8.7 million for safety and infrastructure improvements at the Thompson Airport, most notably the rehabilitation of the runway. The announcement was made on Aug. 11 by Vic Toews, minister of public safety, on behalf of newly-appointed Transport Minister Chuck Strahl, at the airport.

More

[JayM]

PM announces $13.4 million in upgrade funding for Churchill Airport
August 27,2010

By Ryan Flanagan

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was in Churchill Aug. 23, where he kicked off his Northern tour with the announcement of $13.4 million for safety projects at the Churchill Airport.

The money is available through the Airports Capital Assistance Program, which is run by Transport Canada, who also own and operate the Churchill Airport. The funding will go towards pavement improvements for airside surfaces including the taxiway and apron area, rehabilitation and upgrades to the runways, and reconstruction of the airport terminal building entrance road.

“Our government is undertaking a major upgrade of the Churchill Airport,” Harper said. “As a key regional transportation hub, it is critical that people and goods move in and out of Churchill Airport as safely and efficiently as possible. The upgrades to the taxiways, ramps, and runways … will improve the safety and efficiency of the airport, and will create local jobs to help counter the global recession.”

read more

[JayM]

Thompson
First-degree murder charge laid after Eastwood death
September 8, 2010


By Ian Graham
[email protected]

An Oxford House man is charged with first-degree murder following an investigation into the death of a 22-year-old woman whose body was found in a Brandon Crescent home in the Eastwood area, RCMP say.

Police responded to a call about an unresponsive woman around 3 a.m. on Sept. 2 and discovered the body of a Thompson woman inside a home at 50 Brandon Cres.

Dustin Wyatt Chubb, 20, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He was scheduled to appear in Thompson provincial court Sept. 7.

"At the request of her family [the victim's] name will not be released," RCMP spokesperson Cst. Miles Hiebert said in a news release.

The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma during an autopsy performed in Winnipeg Sept. 3.

The victim and the accused did not know each other previously, said the release.

The area has been the site of several other violent incidents over the past three years.

A woman was taken into police custody there in April following the stabbing of a 36-year-old man.

It is a stone's throw from the townhouse where 17-year-old Stanley Mackechnie of The Pas was found dead on April 10, 2009, in what was Thompson's first murder of 2009. Trevor Mercredi and Howard Pagee of Thompson and Wilfred Cook of The Pas were charged with second-degree murder in connection with Mackechnie's death.

That murder took place just steps away from the spot where 25-year-old Charles Brightnose of Thompson was found unconscious Nov. 29, 2008 after being assaulted. Brightnose died two days later from his injuries. Kenneth Munroe of Thompson, Cassidy Elston (KC) Eagle and Owen Phillip (O-Dog) McDonald were charged with second-degree murder in Brightnose's slaying.

The area of Princeton Drive and Purdue Avenue is also where Sean Heickert was seriously wounded in a drive-by shooting Aug. 20, 2008. Heickert was arrested in December 2007 after Bekim Zeneli, the 33-year-old former leader of the LHS (Loyalty, Honour, Silence) street gang, was shot to death inside a home at 208 Brandon Cres., not far from the intersection of Princeton and Purdue. Heickert was charged with first-degree murder in connection with Zeneli's death in October 2008.