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Last updateFri, 10 Jan 2025 12pm

Mayor to receive Jubilee Medal

    Drumheller’s Mayor Terry Yemen will be a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
    Yemen learned last week that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has selected Mayor Yemen to receive the award.
    According to a letter from FCM Preisident Karen Leibovici, the award is in honour of the contributions he has made to the community and to all of Canada. The medal is being sent directly from the Governor General of Canada.
    “Your peers in local government across the country admire your accomplishments as a community leader and congratulate you on earning this prestigious award,” said Leibovici in her correspondence. “FCM chose you to receive this distinction for your exemplary efforts to make your community a great place to live. It recognizes the important role municipalities – and their elected leaders – play in ensuring our prosperity and high quality of life.”
    The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal honours significant contributions and achievements by Canadians. During the year of celebrations, 60,000 deserving Canadians will be recognized. The medal was created by the Government of Canada to mark Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years of service to this country.


Five coyotes relocated with town program

    So far, the coyote trapping program in Drumheller has relocated five animals, however complaints keep coming.
    The Drumheller Mail reported in its December 5, 2012 issue, the Town of Drumheller Community Enforcement Department was launching a trapping program to curb the number of coyotes in the town. Community Enforcement Supervisor Greg Peters told The Mail they have relocated five animals in approximately the last two months.
    “If anything, we hope it disrupts them a bit and keeps them from getting too comfortable and becoming more of a problem,” said Peters.
    He says it is hard to tell how significant that number is because they continue to receive complaints at the Community Enforcement office and the chorus of howling in the evening seems to be strong.
    It has been about three weeks since the last capture. He is hoping the warm weather will see more taking the bait.
    Residents are encouraged to continue to make their yards less appealing to critters by not leaving comfortable places for them to den, to keep garage and compost secured and to supervise their pets when outdoors. Also, if a person sees a trap to please leave it alone.
    To report a sighting or damage from a coyote, call Community Enforcement at 403-823-1363.

Officers field snowmobile complaints

    Cold weather and deep snow has made a season to remember for snowmobiling enthusiasts. It has also led to the Drumheller Detachment of the RCMP as well as Drumheller Community Enforcement receiving numerous complaints associated to the use of ATV’s and snowmobiles within town limits. 
    Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins said most of these complaints involve erratic use of these vehicles on our streets, back alley’s, walking trails, or being operated during early morning hours (3 - 4 am.)
    The Town of Drumheller “does not” allow for the operation of these vehicles within its municipal limits and currently has a bylaw that prohibits their use. 
    The Town of Drumheller however, does not have legal jurisdiction over the use of the river.  Elected officials, past and present, understand that many residents own this class of vehicle and that the owners like to operate them on the river.  The town has subsequently provided areas for the unloading of quads & snowmobiles that allows easy access to the river so that few people are disturbed.  
    Drumheller detachment peace officers have not been actively enforcing the bylaw, however due to the increase in recklessness and uncaring attitudes of a few, this may have to change for all if not corrected.
     If an ATV or snowmobile has been operated on any street, road, or highway, the operator must comply with not only the bylaw, but also the Off Highway vehicle regulations.  These vehicles must be licensed, insured, and operated by persons qualified to operate them.
     “The officers at this detachment have more important things to be doing than dealing with these offences, but increased enforcement may need to be taken to stop their illegal and uncaring use.  Keep in mind, it is not hard to follow the tracks back to the offenders vehicle,” said Hopkins.
     The registered owner is responsible for the fines associated to their vehicle. If the vehicle is not registered and insured it is subject to seizure.
    “If actions are not changed, I will instruct members to increase enforcement, and ask the town to remove the unloading locations and to close off access areas to the river,” said Hopkins.


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