A wintery blast by mother nature was a good reminder for residents to take care on the highways and to be prepared.
    Warnings of a winter storm began on Friday afternoon, and by Saturday evening, heavy, wet snow made many area highways impassable, with motorists, semis, and even snowplows stranded.
    The RCMP Detachment said on Saturday they received about 18 calls, and for some calls, it was too treacherous to respond.
    Corporal Gerald Sherk of the Drumheller RCMP said most of the calls were minor.
    For the most part the calls we  received were drivers being stuck or vehicles being stranded,” he said. “The weather was so bad it was difficult for us to attend to help people who rely on emergency services, but if their vehicles were getting stuck we’re going to get struck too. “
    In Wheatland County, Emergency Reception Centres were set up at the Lutheran Church in Strathmore and at the Gleichen Community Hall.
    Highway 21 between Highway 9 and Highway 575 was closed in both northbound and southbound directions and Highway 56 from Highway 10 to Highway 564 was closed during the storm.
    Despite the number of calls, there were not many collisions of note. Fire Chief Bruce Wade said despite the weather, the department did not receive any calls.
    “People were smart and stayed home,” said Wade.
    Corporal Sherk agrees many took heed of the warnings.
    “There was a lot of direction for people to stay off the roads unless it was absolutely urgent to be out there and  I do really think that saved a  lot of safety concerns. There would have been some serious accidents and a lot more people stuck.”
    This type of situation highlights the importance of being prepared before heading out onto the highway. Conditions can change quickly. While many area highways became treacherous, in Drumheller conditions were mild. This highlights the importance of checking conditions before you head out.
    It is also important to make sure your vehicle has ample fuel in case the vehicle is stranded or you have to detour. A couple of the calls received by RCMP last weekend were for drivers who had run out of fuel.
    According to the Government of Canada Get Prepared website, an emergency car kit is an important tool to have in place. This includes items such as non-perishable food and water. It is also important to have extra clothing or blankets for warmth. A first aid kit is an important component with a tool that is able to cut a seatbelt. Other important tools include a shovel, a flashlight, and a candle in a deep can.
    May 5-11 is Emergency Preparedness Week. For more information go to www.getprepared.gc.ca

Last week Drumheller had a taste of the magic of Hollywood as the community became the backdrop of a journey across the United States for the Diane Lane, Kevin Costner feature Let Him Go.

The two stars were in the valley working on the film. Crews shot at the Historic Graham Ranch and then right in Drumheller where buildings and streetscapes were dotted with vintage-look signs and antique cars to replicate 1960’s USA.

Director of Let Him Go, Thomas Bezucha says the landscape and scenery play a big role in the movie.

“That is why we are here,” said Bezucha of the scenery in the badlands. “Today, this is the star.”

This was his first time working in Alberta.

“We knew, looking at places, what we are trying to do is show a road trip from Montana to North Dakota, so we needed mountainous terrain, through the plains to the badlands. Alberta has all of that, and that is why we are here, it has been a fantastic experience.”

Not only is the landscape attractive but so is Drumheller's downtown. Last Thursday and Friday, they were shooting at the Badlands Motel and at Riverside Value Drug Mart. The latter stood out for Bezucha.

“The Value Drug Mart reminds me so much of the grocery store my grandmother used to shop at, just the scale of it is perfect,” he said.

Ray Ainscough of Riverside Value Drugs was thrilled that his store became the Red Owl Food store for a day or two. While he didn’t manage to meet the stars, he did catch a glimpse of Diane Lane while they shot some interior scenes.

“I can't wait for it to come out, I have to see it. My only fear that they cut the scene from the store,” he chuckles.

Paula Mazur is one of the producers on Let Him Go and Drumheller has a lot to offer.

“We came to Drumheller for a reason, and that is because it has incredible, extraordinary scenery. So we are actually going to be here for two or three days, but when we were driving along the river  I said “we have to stay here longer,” she said.

‘It really shows the marriage between the green area…from the foothills to here, the badlands. It is the metaphor for where they land in their lives.”

Mazur said that they were initially concerned about having experienced crews that would be able to handle such a production.

“But we brought in very few people. Our crew is predominantly local,” she said. “It is very Alberta.”

“It has really been a privilege to be here.”