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Last updateThu, 19 Sep 2024 5pm

Jack Frost continuing to cause power woes

Jack Frost Dalum

Dalum, Hanna and surrounding area are continuing to have power struggles.
    The power has been off and on and off again for customers in the surrounding communities.      
    December 18, 2015 Dalum resident Julie Eskeland said “I was up at 2:30 AM today and the power was on, however by 6:00 AM the power was off.  So this morning I let the kids sleep in a bit. On Tuesday, the power was out for 13 hours.”
    Eskeland explained that they have well water and without electricity there is no power going to the pumps.  Her husband Jim hooked up their generator with a long extension cord and were able to hook up their furnace for heat.  
    She further explained that the frost on the lines is unusually thick and the sun’s warmth hasn’t been able to melt it.  
    Dalum resident Robbin Cooke said, “We have a wood stove, which we use all the time and I even did a little a cooking on it.”
She explained power has been flickering off and on since 4:00 AM this morning (December 18) and went off for good at 11:00.
    “It only came on for 1/2 hour this morning, giving her time to make coffee and flush the toilets, she chuckles.
    Eskeland said her family in Dalum has cell phone service, but the residents in Hanna didn’t even have that as the cell tower was also ”down” with frost.   
    Town of Hanna’s Chief Administration Officer Kim Neill said, “We are good right now. (2:00 PM December 18). They were out intermittently earlier and out completely from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM.”
    Neill further explained that localized lines were down, not the whole town, the town office has 3 phase power, meaning some offices had lights and some offices only had computer access.  He further explained that the Town of Hanna had no power on Tuesday for 12 hours. Some rural people have had power outages longer.  
    Neill said that Atco explained to him that they had 3 major transmission lines down and the biggest concern was the frost on the lines. Atco further explained that the lines are whipping now with the wind and to expect more outages.
    Neill said, “A surprising number of people have generators.  Emergency services, the lodge, fire halls and hospitals all have generators. “
    ATCO 24 Emergency phone line, is a message saying to call back in 1.5 hours and that power is out due to ice on the power lines and that  restoration is unknown.   
  

Dino Half registration opens in time for Christmas

Maration

    Those wanting to get a jump on their 2016 goals, or want to inspire others to get in on the road to fitness can register for the Dinosaur Valley Half Marathon.
    The Dinosaur Half is slated to go Sunday, September 11. Leading up to the event, organizers have opened registration in time for Christmas. In previous events, registration typically opened in April.
    In fact they have even included a link for “gift registrations.”
    This year there will be a full slate of events including the 5k family walk and run, the 10k race and the half marathon. This season organizers have opted to not stage the full marathon. This was introduced at the fifth anniversary of the event and carried into the sixth annual Dinosaur Half.  
    One of the organizers Jens Madsen says because it is a strain on the volunteer base, it makes sense not to run the event. This doesn’t mean it is gone forever.
    “I’m not saying we are never going to do the marathon again but right now we are in a building year, and want to get back to where we started,” said Madsen.
    Over the first six years of the event, the Dino Half has raised $100,000 and has donated that to support the Badlands Community Facility.
    Madsen says they are looking at other important causes in the community to support.
    “In addition to the BCF, we are going to do some type of mental health or emotional health initiatives,” he said. “As a board we would like to try some initiative that raises the mental health or emotional health question. There is such a stigma, and suicide rates are up in Alberta. It is just something that we as a board thought maybe there needs to be some education around this.
 Registration opened December 11. To register, or cross that loved one off your Christmas list and gift a registration, go to www.dinosaurhalf.com and follow the links.

Carbon School grateful for actions of Fire Departments

carbon school

Staff and students at Carbon School are grateful for the quick actions by emergency responders which saved their school from fire. 

On Sunday afternoon, November 22 smoke was observed emanating from the school and Carbon Fire Department was called. 
 Staff from the school told The Mail, that within minutes three fire departments were dispatched. Acme and Linden departments were in scene to provide support. 
The fire was contained to a small area and only one day of classes had to be cancelled to make repairs. 
Students and faculty are grateful for the efforts by responders, and posted a message of gratitude on the sign at the school. 

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