Latest news with #Swampy
Global News
10-05-2025
- Global News
Maskwacis crash victims being remembered by family members
A week ago, Priscella Swampy was picking out material with her granddaughter Jerzeigh Swampy to make a jingle dress. Jerzeigh was drawn to hot pink and rainbow ribbons. Priscella put the materials on the table, with plans to sew the piece together, but that never happened. Instead, the kokum used the material to make a tea dress for her 14-year-old granddaughter's wake. 'I felt honoured to do it,' Swampy said. On Saturday, May 3rd at 11 p.m., Jerzeigh was with her friend, Cowin Twins. His brother-in-law, 26-year-old Gabe Johnson, was driving them to get slurpees. The three were on Highway 2A just north of Ponoka near Township Road 434, when a GMC Acadia was passing other vehicles and struck an oncoming their Volkswagen Tiguan. RCMP said they are still investigating if alcohol was a factor. They did confirm the 41-year-old driver of the GMC was seen driving erratically before the crash. Story continues below advertisement All four died in the crash, and they were all from Maskwacis. 'The accident site was like five minutes from here,' Swampy said. 'We immediately went to the site, and they allowed my daughter to see her. Stars Ambulance was amazing with her.' 1:56 Parents of girl killed in central Alberta crash lean on faith to get through grief The crash site is marked with a memorial of flowers. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Swampy said Jerzeigh was shy but showed a big personality on the ice when she was playing hockey. Jerzeigh was interested in learning more about her Cree culture. 'She loved her culture and being a Cree woman.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "She loved her culture and being a Cree woman." Jerzeigh recently got her learner's driver's licence, and was thinking about what she wanted to do with her life. Story continues below advertisement 'Last week, I picked her up… and she said, 'I know what I want to be, kokum. I want to be a hairdresser,' and she had little gold tinsel in her hair,' Swampy said. Jerzeigh was laid to rest on Thursday. Gabe and Cowin will be laid to rest this weekend. Cowin's sister Cherrita Saddleback was taking care of the 14-year-old, and Gabe was her spouse. She was with them the night of the crash. Saddleback said they were having a fire. 'It was a beautiful moment that I'll always remember, considering how it wasn't even an hour after that…' Cowin is remembered as hilarious and that he liked to prank call his sisters. He also enjoyed making pastries and would even try to sell them to make some cash. 'There's not enough words to explain how special and beautiful and genuine and caring and loving Cowin was to everyone,' his sister Cherrisa Twins said. 'He had a lot of goals and ambitions, even as a 14-year-old little boy.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "He had a lot of goals and ambitions, even as a 14-year-old little boy." Cowin had dreams of becoming a dermatologist and bugged his sisters about their skin care routine. 'It's funny, because when I turned 25, he was like, 'Oh, you're 25, you're pushing 30 now, you're going to have to use retinol,'' Twins said. Story continues below advertisement Saddleback said Gabe was a good partner and a good father to his eight-year-old daughter. 'He always had a smile on his face, he was always smiling — it didn't matter the circumstances — and he had a smile you could see across the room,' she said. Saddleback said Gabe was also a hard worker, and selfless. 'Anytime he got the opportunity… he would give (someone) whatever article of clothing, if he was eating something and they looked like they needed it more, he'd give it to them.' Saddleback is thankful that Cowin and Gabe weren't alone when they passed away. 'I feel really fortunate that Gabe was able to be there with our little brother because we know he would have been scared and he always needed somebody to feel that comfort,' she said. 'It brings me absolute peace knowing that my two favorite people were able to and are able to walk that journey together, as hard as it is for me… I'll be able to honour them how I can and make sure that nobody ever forgets how amazing they all were.' Both families said the only light in all of this grief is the support they are getting from the community and also each other. Story continues below advertisement 'I have to focus on those positives, although I'm numb and I don't know how we are going to get through this, but we have to honour her spirit,' Swampy said.
Telegraph
07-05-2025
- Telegraph
Former British Army soldier killed in Ukraine
A former British soldier who travelled to Ukraine to help clear landmines has been killed in an 'incident' in the east of the country. Chris Garrett, 40, died near the town of Izyum, which is strewn with unexploded bombs and mines left over from the Russian retreat in 2022. 'On [Tuesday] Prevail received the devastating news that our co-founder and chairman alongside other team members were severely injured in an incident near Izyum,' said a spokesman for Prevail, a humanitarian agency founded by Garrett. 'We are still gathering information and working alongside military and police officials to uncover the details. 'We kindly request respect and privacy for the affected families and will provide timely updates when possible.' Garrett, also known as Swampy, went to Ukraine to help soldiers clear mines and unexploded ordnance after Russia invaded Crimea in 2014. He was recently sentenced in absentia to 14-and-a-half years in jail on terrorism charges by a kangaroo court in Donetsk, which is under Russian control. Speaking in March, Garrett described the verdict as a 'pathetic attempt to smear me by those who have murdered, raped and tortured thousands of civilians in Ukraine'. Ukrainian authorities have launched an investigation into his death. Garrett was one of two volunteers who died as they operated around Izyum, some 25 miles from the front line, where unexploded ordnance and mines pose a continuing hazard to civilian population. A former tree surgeon from the Isle of Man, Mr Garrett spent much of the war detonating artillery shells and landmines placed by Russian troops retreating from their positions. He told The Sun in 2022: 'I'm much more comfortable being on the front or close to it where I can switch off and just get on with the task. 'With a landmine or explosive it's either stable or it blows up – there's no in between. I seem to be better at blowing things up than I do keeping relationships.' The newspaper reported Garrett was among the first to the visit the towns of Bucha and Irpin, which were the scenes of Russian massacres in 2022, and that he was among three people seriously wounded trying to clear minefields. A second man died, it said. He had also briefly served in the British Army as a teenager before being taught how to clear mines in Myanmar. Following his training, Garrett travelled to Ukraine and fought Russian-backed separatists alongside the Azov Brigade, which was then a volunteer militia. Describing his work, he told Radio Liberty in 2022: 'You just know that with every single munition that you're removing – every bit of unexploded ordnance, you are removing a hazard for someone else. And the bulk of the time it's civilians that are getting hurt long after the war is finished.' The Telegraph has contacted the Foreign Office for comment.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Illinois Deer Classic showcases exotic animals, gear in Peoria
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Those who are outdoor-inclined can drop in on the Peoria Civic Center to see the latest in hunting gear as well as learn about exotic animals that 'you can't see everyday.' Illinois Deer Classic. beginning Friday, March 21 and ending March 23 at the Peoria Civic Center. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids, and those under $9 are free. The Wildlife Adventure Center will bring Chewee the Sloth and a 3-year-old Swampy, an American Alligator, to the show as well as several other animals, said Jim DeBerry. People can come see their shows which are on throughout the day. 'Here's a chance for people to see animals that you just can't see every day,' he said. John Bungee, the show producer for the event, said there are nearly 200 exhibitors and 'everything for a hunter.' 'If you are a hunter or want to be a hunter, it's great for the families too,' he said, pointing to Chewee who was perched on a faux tree and taking in the sights and sounds of a TV studio. In addition to the vendors and the animals, there are also seminars for hunters who want to hone their craft. 'It's the whole package.' DeBerry said in addition to the sloth and the alligator, there are snakes, large tortoises and wild cats at their exhibit. The idea is to promote wildlife education. Hours are 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. DeBerry echoed that the classic has something for everyone, including a two-toed sloth named Chewee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
