It appears there is strong interest in a new senior living complex in the valley.

In July of this year, the Town of Drumheller posted a survey to gauge the interest in a new complex, a development by a company called Statesman, focusing on The Montrose by Manor Villages. It would be a state of the art complex with approximately 130 rooms with onsite healthcare that can also accommodate Supportive Living Level 4 seniors care.

Art James who has been working on the proposal said there is good interest.

“It is exceptional. We had 154 responses, of which 70 per cent were positive, which gives us 109,” said James. “The intention of the developer is 130 units, so we are in really good shape.

He said they are planning a question and answer forum with a digital prevention for these interested in the development in the near future. He said it would be structured as a P3 development with a partnership with the province.

“My sense of it, if there is a good response from the question and answer, I think this is going to move ahead, they don’t drag their feet,” said James.

He says it is a good match for Drumheller. The development would provide employment in construction as well as the operations.

“This is a pilot project and if successful, it will go all over the province. It is major in terms of Drumheller. It is probably somewhere between $25-30 million to get this thing done,” he said. “When you look at it from an economic impact point, it is 125-130 jobs for a 12-15 month construction phase, and then 70 full time well-paying jobs once it is operational, it is a bonus for the town.”

And Drumheller is a good fit for those wishing to retire. It has great medical options, pharmacies, retail and recreational opportunities.

“Quite frankly Drumheller is a great community, and not many people realize this,” said James.

Munson man Dylan Howard plead guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the slaying of 36-year-old Fazal Rehman.
Howard appeared in Court of Queen’s Bench represented by lawyer Hugh Sommerville to make his plea. Howard appeared dressed in a black suit, the court was filled with the families of both the accused and the victim.
Warning: The following contains graphic and disturbing content, readers are advised to use their discretion.
Crown Prosecutor Ron Petersen read out the facts of the case that were agreed upon by the accused and the prosecutor.
It noted that Howard, and Rehman, of Calgary, both came from working families, however both “…fell into the dark world of the use, abuse and distribution of methamphetamine.”
Howard, who was 20 at the time, and Rehman became to know each other through a mutual female acquaintance in October of 2017. Howard had a handgun he wished to sell. The female set up a meeting for Rehman to purchase the gun in a rural location near Morrin, Alberta. Rehman picked up the female, gave her meth and they drove to the agreed location for the purchase. After the purchase, Rehman left, and the female acquaintance confided to Howard she had been sexually assaulted, This upset Howard.
Two weeks later Howard and Rehman met again in Beiseker where Howard exchanged several rifles for half of a pound of methamphetamine.
Howard continued to be upset about the alleged assault and a plan was developed to kill Rehman.
Another meeting was arranged for Howard to buy meth at a rural location. Howard, armed with a 7 mm rifle, knife and a can of gas went to the location.
As Rehman approached in his vehicle, Howard opened the door of his truck, leaned the rifle between the door and the truck frame and fired a shot at Rehman while he was driving. The bullet entered the underside of his chin. The vehicle came to a stop and Rehman exited his vehicle. Howard shot again and this bullet entered Rehman’s back and exited his right chest.
Rehman fell to the ground and Howard stabbed at Rehman’s upper chest and neck region. According to the agreed statement of facts, “Rehman died as a result of the gunshot wounds and the stabbing.” Howard poured gas on the car and Rehman’s dead body and set them afire.
Howard was arrested approximately a week later in Airdrie.
The facts note that Howard was affected by his consumption of methamphetamine and underlying mental issues. However, at the time of the killing, he was not suffering from a mental disorder that would render him incapable of appreciating the nature of the crime.
Justice J.T. McCarthy found Howard guilty.
Victim impact statements were by Mr. Pedersen from the family of Rehman. His wife said that in losing her husband she was “like a flower without scent, a fish without water.”
Howard spoke briefly to the court, apologizing to his family and the family of Rehman and expressed he felt it was his duty to protect a woman, but he “took matters way too far.”
Howard was sentenced to life in prison without eligibility of parole for 25 years.
A female co-accused, who cannot be named under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has a trial date set for March 30, 2020, in Drumheller.