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The Mail counts down top 10 stories of 2013

   It’s that time of year again where The Drumheller Mail/ inSide Drumheller takes a minute to reflect on the last 12 months to see where the community has been and where it is headed. Annually, The Mail lists its top 10 stories of the year. It was a busy year for news in the valley. There has been political, economic and natural change that all made an impact on the lives of area residents. The list is not a ranking but rather a compilation of stories that were newsworthy, readers reacted to, and made an impact on their lives.

1. How high's the water?
   While flood mitigation works on a theoretical 1 in 100 year flood level, for the second time in eight years Drumheller was pushed to the brink by the Red Deer River. On Thursday, June 20, a High Streamflow Advisory for the river was upgraded to a Flood Warning. This was the beginning of a series of events that saw local emergency services scramble to protect the valley. Town crews and contractors mustered under the direction of the Emergency Operations Centre to map out a mitigation plan. On Saturday morning, June 22, Drumheller declares a local state of emergency, with plans to evacuate more than 3,000 people. Acute Care patients were relocated from the Drumheller Health Centre. Banks of the river were fortified in identified areas. Water spilled the banks in a few areas throughout the valley, with most damage localized to Lehigh. At 3 p.m. on Sunday, the river flow peaks at 1,322 cubic metes per second and begins its decline. In the days and weeks following the flood, Drumheller was lauded for how residents pitched in to help each other during this time of duress. It was also praised for the mitigation effort it undertook after the flood of 2005, which were credited with minimizing local damages.
2. Drumheller turns 100
     Wasn’t that a party? Drumheller celebrated 100 years since its incorporation. The celebration started with a bang as the community counted down to the new year at the Badlands Community Facility. Focusing in on the day the community was incorporated, another party was held with a barbecue luncheon, a classic car show and shine, and entertainment. The party was spearheaded by a volunteer committee, who undertook a number of initiatives including a centennial calendar and celebrating with the theme of last year’s Canada Day Parade.
3. Badlands Motorsports Park revs up
     While it has been out of the news for quite some time, the Badlands Motorsports Resort is charting its course into the future. Developers have purchased the parcel, which falls primarily Kneehill County, but just a few kilometres away from the Hamlet of Rosebud. The development would see a world-class road course as a centerpiece, with residential and commercial development. Some surrounding landowners and residents in Rosebud have come out in strong opposition of the project, which lead to some spirited debates at public meetings. Kneehill County has passed the Area Structure Plan for the property and have began readings on its land use bylaw, changing its zoning from Agricultural to Direct Use. The final reading of this bylaw is expected in the new year.
4. Four-way stops introduced
This year Alberta Transportation took action on two area intersections that have been the scene of a number of serious accidents, often fatal. The intersection of Highway 9 and 21 east of Drumheller and the intersection of Highway 9, 27 and 56, often called Morrin Corner were changed to four way stops. This followed outcry from residents for something to change. Alberta Transportation undertook a survey for both locations and the feedback indicated that many drivers felt this would help curb accidents. This fall both intersections were converted with upgraded signage and rumble strips.
5. Town hall moves downtown
   With the new year, came some new space for the Town of Drumheller. This year Town Hall moved from 2nd Avenue to its new location at the Civic Centre. The building underwent extensive renovations to make way for all of the town’s offices as well as new council chambers. The new site is centrally located and handicapped accessible. The Town received about 1.5 million toward the approximately $2 million project through a provincial grant.
6. Property crime
   One story that caught the attention of area residents this year were the number of brazen property crimes. In March, Drumheller RCMP arrested a young offender after the community of Nacmine was hit with a rash of break and enter, and thefts. In one case, a young woman was in her house when a suspect entered her home. On November 6, the valley was again shocked to hear of three masked men robbing the Mac’s Convenience Store at gunpoint. Only a couple days later there was a second report of an armed robbery, this time with a single knife-wielding culprit. In both instances Drumheller RCMP were able to arrest and charge the suspects. During the same time frame there were also break and enters to the Drumheller Aquaplex, the Noodle House, and Dinosaur Trail RV Park. There has not yet been an arrest in these recent break-ins.
7. MP appointed to cabinet
   Kevin Sorenson has been a keen and responsive Member of Parliament for the Crowfoot Constituency, and along the way taken on a number of responsibilities including serving on the House of Commons Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development and was chair of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security. In July, Prime Minster Stephen Harper appointed Sorenson as Minister of State (Finance). The junior cabinet minister has already represented Canada overseas at important international meetings while continuing to be an accommodating representative for the constituency.
8. Three-peat
   The dominance of the Drumheller Titans football was again on display as the 2013 squad made it a three-peat. The Titans began the season in Hawaii and then were in action in the Rangeland League. While this was the team’s first season in the bigger, stronger league, they held their own against Tier 3 teams and won their league championship over Medicine Hat High. This set them up for the post season. Some of the faces were familiar, but some were new. With Ardrossan going up to Tier 3, this year they faced Holy Rosary of Lloydminster in the final. They again showed their dominance with a 42-18 win.
9. World tunes in to Drumheller
   It was a banner year for the valley in terms of national and international exposure. Drumheller saw a number of productions throughout the valley including The Amazing Race Canada and The Marilyn Denis Show. Both did an incredible job of showcasing some of the attractions of the valley including the Hoodoos, Atlas Coal Mine, the Royal Tyrrell Museum and Last Chance Saloon. In addition, the Tour of Alberta received national coverage as world renown cyclists toured through the valley. All of these combined led to an increase in visitors last summer and many anticipate another banner year this coming season.
10. Encana restructures
     Encana has been an incredible partner of Drumheller for a number of years. However soft gas prices and declining stock value forced the company to reorganize. This included reducing staff by about 20 per cent, which had immediate affects in Drumheller as layoffs took place in late November and early December. It appears that some of the changes have helped the company recover. Long term plans for the Clearwater Business Unit include spinning off a new company through an IPO to help unlock some of the company’s value from its royalty assets.

STARS bringing new chopper to valley

   Residents may be able to catch a glimpse of the new STARS air ambulance in a couple weeks.
   In October, STARS announced the arrival of its new helicopter at the Calgary base. The chopper expands the service’s speed, range and capacity. Because STARS works closely with first responders throughout the province, it is working on familiarizing these departments with the new equipment.
   “This is sort of the first time we have changed platforms by way of a new aircraft, so just to make sure we connect to our community partners, such as a hospital staff, EMS, Fire and RCMP, we are inviting them all for a show and tell type demonstration,” said Paul Lapointe, manager of continuing education for STARS.
   The chopper will be in Drumheller on January 24 at 8:30 a.m. They have not finalized where they will be landing for the demonstration. While it is not billed as a public event, he imagines that there will be a few who will want to see the new helicopter.
   This is the second new helicopter that STARS has commissioned. The AW139 replaces the former BK117. They are manufactured in Philadelphia by AgustaWestland and cost about $16 million fully outfitted for STARS service. The new helicopters have greater range and speed. While it will have the same ability to carry two patients, there is a little more breathing room.
   “We currently have the capacity to carry two patients with our current helicopter… but it is pretty tight,” said Lapointe. “With this new helicopter there is definitely more room for the crew to work on two patients.”
STARS anticipates putting the craft in full service early in the new year after an intensive training program for crews and emergency service providers.
   "The nice thing is we have been anticipating these for a number of years, we have actually got out in the community quite a bit and have done a lot of training with our rural partners, that has been going on for quite a while now.” said Lapointe. “We are in a position where we are ready to go into operation.”

Rockyford focuses on development

   The Village of Rockyford is looking forward to a busy 2014 and has their minds on growth.
   This year village council welcomed two new councillors to their fold. Dahlia Cheshire and Jayne Koester are in their first term. Darcy Burke is continuing as Mayor for the next year, as it is an elected position decided at each organizational meeting
   “We have had a couple meetings with our new councillors and they have some good ideas, some fresh ideas and they are eager individuals to become involved and to learn politics and the business of the Village of Rockyford. I am very excited about what these two individuals will provide for the betterment of our village,” said Burke.
   Mayor Burke says the village is busy with a number of initiatives; one of importance being the completion of its sewage lagoon expansion.
   “Once we get that completed it gives us the ability to move forward on the expansion of our new subdivision,” said Burke.
   He explains that Alberta Environment would not let them expand until it had sufficient capacity in its sewage lagoon to service the new development. This has held up the process for about three years.
   “We are excited to have that in the completion phase and next year we will start to revisit that subdivision,” said Burke.
   The subdivision has space for about 25 residential parcels, on the northwest corner of the village. He said however, they are looking at creative ways to market the development.
   “Council is looking at whether it wants to move this forward as residential lots or maybe we want to try something new in the way of country residential lots,” said Burke.
   This means larger parcels, possibly up to one-third acre lots.
   “We felt is could be an attraction,” he said.
   The council will also be looking at the completion of the water and sewer infrastructure on the last two blocks of Main Street and then paving it.
   “It all shows progress. Any of these projects in this day and age cost a lot of money and takes a lot of thought and planning. So you make sure you don’t make a mistake,” he said.
   He says Main Street is an attraction and source of pride for Rockyford.
   “I cannot personally tell you how many compliments we get for our Main Street. In rural Alberta it is pretty tough for some of these villages to survive financially. We are no different but at the same time you have to provide the people who visit your community the feeling of ‘wow’ when they enter your village.”
   He said businesses have bought into the Main Street and that is part of what makes it successful.
“We are very proud of it. It is a revitalization project that worked 100 per cent.”

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