News | DrumhellerMail

All Star lineup on both sides of puck

There will be hockey action like never before tonight at the Drumhller Memorial Arena.

On one end of the ice will be some of Drumheller's biggest hockey fans, and on the other will be a collection of all star Calgary Flames Alumni, including legendary scorer Theoren Fleury.
    The last time most saw Fleury on a set of skates was this fall as he took one final shot at playing with the Calgary Flames.
    On Friday afternoon, it was confirmed that Fleury would join the squad for the game in benefit of the Badlands Community Facility.
    “This is huge,” said Dave Powell, who has been busy organizing the event. “There couldn’t be anyone more influential in the Flames’ organization.”
    Fleury has been in the media spotlight recently. He’s had a public battle with a number of issues, and in 2003 was suspended from the NHL for violating its substance abuse program. This year he petitioned the league to be reinstated and tried out for the Calgary Flames. He played four exhibition games and earned four points before he was cut.
    On October 16 of this year he released his autobiography Playing with Fire.
    Also on the confirmed list are Jim Peplinski, Jamie Macoun, Lanny McDonald, Tony Stiles, Terry Johnson, Paul Kruse, Dana Murzyn, Ron Stern, Eric Charron, Sheldon Kennedy, Mark Astley, Rob Tudor, Warren Skorodenski and Bill Murchison.
    Another celebrity fans will have a chance to see is the one and only Harvey the Hound. One Drumheller fan definitely looking forward to the experience is Dudley the Dragon. He has no trouble welcoming his out of town guest.
    Dudley says without Harvey there would be no team mascots.
    “He was the first mascot,” said Dudley, adding the original Harvey, in fact built Dudley and brought him to life.
    Dudley says it is exciting for fans to have Harvey come to the game. For some youngsters, many of the Alumni Flames may not be known to them, however Harvey is iconic.
    He looks forward to having Harvey in the Dragons Den, and says they both may be able to learn a little. There is something Harvey should be aware of coming into the Drumheller Memorial Arena. After all this is Dudley’s barn.
    “He has to know Drumheller fans get behind their teams and out-cheer the visiting teams,” said Dudley. “He might be in for a challenge.”
    Just who will Dudley be cheering for? The Drumheller All Star roster includes Taylor Colberg, Trent Colberg, Casey Grayson, Jamie Worman, Rod Knelsen, Eric Hodgeson, Lenny Koch, Blair Christianson, Darren Toffan, James Stefanishion, Gary Chambers, Den Olsen, Shane Straub, Sheldon Straub, Tony Pliva, Ryan Colberg, Brian Olsen, Paul Richard, Wes Chung and Joe Castonguay.
    Tickets for the game are $20 and are available at the Sports Room Source for Sports, The Chinook Credit Union and ATB Financial. After the game fans can attend the meet and greet which is sponsored by O’Sheas and Canalta Hotels. The meet and greet will take place at O’Sheas Eatery. Tickets for this event are $50 and are available at the Sports Room Source for Sports.
    Fans who bring a non perishable food item to the Calgary Flames Alumni Hockey Game on November 11th or to the meet and greet after the game, will be eligible to win a Calgary Flames Alumni autographed jersey.
    All proceeds from the hockey game and the meet and greet will also go towards the Badlands Community Facility.
    The opening ceremonies are at 5:45 p.m.

Federal renovation tax credit keeps contractors working

    Drumheller contractors have enjoyed a strong year, and many say it is in part because of the federal government’s Home Renovation Tax Credit.
    The Home Renovation Tax Credit, while still not approved by Parliament, many see as just the right amount of motivation to get to many residential fix-ups homeowners might have put off. The program applies to eligible home renovation expenses of more than $1,000, but less than $10,000, and can reward home owners with a tax credit of up to $1,350, if maximized.
    According to local contractor Tom Bolin of TNT Bolinbilt, many of his clients are taking advantage of the program.
    “I have seen people get on more projects, and people want more information about the program,” says Bolin.         “People probably aren’t waiting, and are trying to take advantage of the program now.”
    The program has a large list of eligible projects. In general, if it is a fixture of the home, and is not regular maintenance, it is eligible. Ineligible items may include the cost of routine repairs and maintenance; expenditures that are not integral to the dwelling, and other indirect expenditures that retain a value independent of the renovation; expenditures for appliances, audio-visual electronics and financing costs.
    Generally labour by contractors is eligible.
    James Martin of TM Martin Construction Ltd. says he has also seen the effects of the program.
    “We are quite busy right now,” said Martin. “It is a definite advantage for everybody. I know when we are getting into renovations, everyone is talking about the program.”
    “You do definitely see people doing it because of the program.”
    Martin says many of the clients are launching into larger renovations, and are cognizant of the potential savings.
    “That little bonus sure helps,” he said. “It has prompted people to jump forward with their project rather than waiting another year.”
    The program takes into account purchases made between January 27 of 2009 and February 1 2010.
    Bolin says one sure sign that people are interested in participating is they are more conscious about getting all the paperwork in order. While before some customers weren’t too worried about filing bills and receipts, more are making sure all the details are taken into account.
    Bolin adds consumers must recognize the program is not a grant. “People have to realize it is a tax deferral, not a rebate, but I am busy all the time because of it, said Bolin.

Starland County raising awareness of watercourses and road allowances

It’s fall and Starland County Council is concerned about the number of complaints being received about unauthorized activities occurring in water bodies, and within municipally controlled road allowances.
    Starland CAO Ross Rawlusyk says the county has been getting reports of activities having to do with water and with road allowances that often need approval from Alberta Environment or the county. He said Council decided to send out information to clarify some of these issues.
    "It is primarily educational,” said Ralusyk. “There is a lot of stuff that people may not be aware of, so we thought we would start trying to do a little bit of education on it because we have been receiving calls.”
    Natural surface water bodies including rivers, lakes, wetlands and sloughs perform an important role in the environment. These include functions such as replenishing groundwater to maintain water tables for water wells, providing a supply of water for household and livestock use, conserving species and promoting fish and wildlife habitat, acting as a carbon sink by storing carbon from the atmosphere, and controlling the spread of salts into cropped areas.
    He says residents need to bear in mind the provincial government is the owner of all water bodies, and Alberta Environment is responsible for the management of these resources.
    Alberta’s Water Act requires that an approval and/or a licence must be obtained before undertaking a construction activity in a water body or before diverting and using water from a water body.
    Approvals are required for activities like: partially or completely filling in a water body; any activity that has the potential to impact the aquatic environment including: field ditching, erosion protection, removal or destruction of vegetation or trees within the confines of the bed, shores or bank of a water body; any draining or re-alignment of a water body; and alterations to drainage channels that divert water onto yours or someone else’s property.
    An approval is required under the Water Act prior to undertaking any activity affecting a water body. Any unauthorized activity could lead to enforcement actions under the Water Act or other Acts related to environmental protection. If you wish to report a potential illegal activity that affects a water body, you can call the Alberta Environment 24 hour emergency hot line at 1-800-222-6514. Your anonymity is guaranteed.
    There are also concerns about road allowances.
    “Road allowances are municipal properties. We’ll see an area that used to be all treed, and all the sudden it will be cultivated,” said Rawlusyk. “We are trying to crackdown on the use of our road allowances so we know what is going on.”
    Section 18(1) of the Municipal Government Act notes that the municipality has the direction, control and management of all roads within the municipality. This includes the unused or undeveloped road allowances and trail systems that exist in many areas.
    Council would like to remind all farmers that the 66-foot road allowance is owned by the county, and any farming activity within the road allowance without permission is considered to be unauthorized.
    Council would like to remind all farmers that road allowances are public thorough fares, and access can’t be denied by adjacent landowners. It is also illegal to place rocks or other debris within any road allowance, and vehicles and equipment also can’t be parked within municipal road allowances.
    Starland County Bylaw No. 1091 also prohibits the operation of vehicles on municipal road right-of-way when roads are susceptible to damage because of weather conditions.
    Starland County would like to encourage respect for municipal road allowances, so these public access roads can be used by all residents.
    The Administrative Guide for Approvals to Protect Surface Water Bodies under the Water Act is available through a link at www.starlandcounty.com. Additional information on Bylaw 1091 and activities that are regulated within road allowances is also available on the web site, or by contacting the Administration Office at (403) 772-3793.

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