Drumheller Emergency Services responded to a fire alarm at Sandstone Manor at 10th Avenue and3rd Street SE early Tuesday morning. One of the residents had a small fire pit going and smoke was drawn into the ventilation system, triggering the building's alarm, according to Fire Chief Bruce Wade. After a physical check of the building, residents were allowed back into their units around 12:20am. There were no injuries. Some 30 residents live in the three story building.

    Community Future Big Country has begun a series of seminars to encourage entrepreneurship and to showcase the services the agency provides.
    So far, Community Futures has hosted two events; Ideas to Opportunities, and last week hosted a seminar on business planning.
    “Most people think about business planning to the same degree they think about going to the dentist,” chuckles Chris Curtis, board chair of Community Futures. “However, business planning can be very interesting and very helpful to people. But it can also be something that seems so arduous that people don’t want to do.
    As with business, best-laid plans are fleeting.
    “The problem with the idea of a blueprint is you expect the construction people to follow it. One of the things we know about a business plan is that the minute you do, it is obsolete. Circumstances change all the time.”
    The focus of the seminar was on the purpose of a business plan and the value of them.
    The seminar fulfills its mandate to provide advisory services to the community.
    “Hopefully at the end of the day we will get more people starting businesses, which is our ultimate goal, whether it is through financing or through workshops, we would love people to start their businesses,” said Curtis.
    Community Futures has two more seminars coming up. On April 8, they are hosting a Creative Resourcefulness seminar, focusing on getting what you need to start a business without investing a lot of resources.
    “This seminar looks at what you really need. Are there things you can get that you don’t have to pay full price for?  There are many things you can get by trading services, bartering etc.  And maybe we don’t need things right away,” he says.   
    On May 13, they are hosting a seminar on dealing with people.
    “Dealing with people is really the core of what entrepreneurship is about,” said Curtis.
    For more information or to learn how to register for the upcoming seminars, go to http://bigcountry.albertacf.com/