The Village of Delia are already anticipating the arrival of their centennial in 2014. To help make the centennial celebrations as memorable as possible, planning has already begun.
    The next Delia centennial planning meeting will be held on November 28 at 7 p.m. in the Delia Community Hall.
    The first two meetings were held earlier this year.
    “We’ve started to get the group together. We had a meeting in the Spring and everybody went away with a few things. At this meeting we’ll hopefully set the program in place and finalize what we’ll be doing,” said Caroline Siverson, treasurer of the Delia Centennial Committee.
    There are a few events on the table so far, but with so much time left to plan for the centennial, not much else is concrete.
    “So far we’re thinking a community supper, pancake breakfast, and parade. I’m sure with the research and discussions we’ll have, we’ll come up with more,” said Siverson.
    Community members, past and present, are encouraged to get involved in the centennial.
    Part of the centennial is the History Project. Residents are encouraged to send in photographs of original or early buildings, street scenes, businesses, houses, schools, stockyard, and other historic photographs. In particular, organizers are looking for any photos of a train stopped at the station and the train collision that occurred in the 1950’s.
    The Village Office will help residents scan their photos if they don’t want to part with the originals.
    “Any photos, family history, or ideas, we’ll take them,” said Siverson. “It’s a big project, you need a lot of dedicated people. This community is close knit, it’ll be a great time.”
    The centennial in 2014 is still over a year away, but by starting early, organizers are hoping to secure grant funding and make the celebrations the best they can be.
    “We have to apply for our grants next year, so to do that, we have to have our budgets in place. To book things like caterers and entertainment, and get people on board, it takes time,” said Siverson. “It’s a lot of time and effort, but when things all go well, it’s great.”
    To learn more about the centennial or to get involved, attend the meeting on November 28 at 7 p.m. at the Delia Community Hall, visit www.delia.ab.ca, or visit the Village of Delia 2014  Centennial on Facebook.

    Residents of Wheatland County are being asked to share their thoughts on the direction the county should take.
    On Tuesday, November 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Wheatland County Office, residents are invited to an open house to discuss the county’s municipal development plan.
    “It’s a good opportunity for ratepayers to let us know what they think,” said Glenn Koester, Reeve of Wheatland County. “Anything that’s near and dear to their heart. What they want to see done and what they don’t want.”
    The municipal development plan is a long range document that outlines the county’s land use strategies into a single framework based on the goals of the county residents and business needs.
    The meeting will address topics such as protecting agricultural land, rural economic development, transportation, water and wastewater, financial sustainability, recreation, and community enhancement.
    The current development plan for the county dates back to 2006. Since then, the county has been preparing new area structure plans and a growth management strategy, and the current plan no longer reflects the current Council’s vision and philosophy.
    As a result, Wheatland County has contracted Dillon Consulting to help develop a new plan.
    “Since then [2006], there have been more pressures for development. It’s time. The province recommends we do it about every five years. It’s something that helps keep us current and makes sure we’re doing what the ratepayers want us to,” said Koester. “We’ve been doing area structures plans of some of our hamlets and our growth management study. Now we have to get it incorporated into one document.”
    The open house is only the first step of the process. More involvement from residents will be needed before the municipal development plan is made into a bylaw. It is hoped the bylaw will be ready by June 2013.
    “Everyone is welcome to come down. We want to hear what people think is the direction the county should be taking,” said Koester.