Santa’s sleigh will be making a stop at Roatan, Honduras this year thanks to two local couples.
    Cindy and Bob Thomas, with Christine and Gary Storrs are off on their third trip to Roatan and are looking forward to watching the joy on children’s faces when they see Santa come walking down the beach.
    Cindy Thomas explained that when they go into the west end of Roatan, they are heading off the beaten path into little towns. This is out of the tourist area and is where the children are. These are places you just wouldn’t go or be welcomed but with Santa at Christmas you can go anywhere.
    Chris Storrs said, “A block away this little girl turned and saw Santa. She just ran and threw herself into his arms.”
    “Santa carries his little bag with gifts and goodies everywhere he goes so when we see local kids on the street, kids on the beach, kids in the airport, Santa can give them a gift.” Cindy said. “These are kids who have never seen Santa”.
    Gary Storrs, or better known in Roatan as Santa, explained, “During our last trip we went to the tiny island of Cayos Cachinos. It has over 100 people living on this 0.8 square mile island. They have no power, no running water no facilities. It was the kid’s first time seeing Santa. They had never had Christmas gifts before and we could bring them that. This was their Christmas.”
    Cindy said. “People ask us why we would go all the way over there to help kids when there are struggling families right here in Canada. We see lots of local programs to help families  here but who helps those kids? They are so grateful. These are kids who have never seen Santa or never got anything for Christmas before. Then they get just this simple knitted toy, well this is their Christmas. This one toy is literally their Christmas.”
    Due to the present economy and the skyrocketing expenses, this year’s trip just about didn’t become a reality. Cindy explained she was approached by a lady from Pioneer Trail Centre asking about the trip.
    “They had just assumed we were going but we just didn’t think it was doable this year.  When the lady from the Lodge said they had been knitting dolls and balls to send all year I figured we had to make it happen.” Cindy said.
    Because of the cost to carry all the donations onto the plane, the Thomas’ and Storrs’ are looking to send packages ahead of time.  
    “So far we have been given donations of knitted dolls and balls, school supplies and hygiene supplies. It’s tough because we want to take it all but after figuring out that each box will cost close to $100 it’s going to be too expensive.” Cindy said.
    As Cindy has laid out on the Drumheller Discussion board on Facebook, each box will cost $72.39 to ship from Drumheller to where it needs to go in Florida. Once in Florida, the boxes will be sent by boat to Roatan. This will cost an additional $27 US dollars.  
    “Our goal is to send 100 boxes ahead of time so when Santa arrives he can keep refilling his bag and give out gifts to every child we see. We usually buy candy canes from the local store there to help support a Roatan family but we do need to get the toys and other donations there.” Cindy explained.
    The Thomas’ and Storrs’ would like to share their vision of blessing children who have never experienced the giving Christmas spirit. They are in need of funds for postage for the items they have had donated and are looking to the local community.  
    Cindy said, “We are being very open and will be each step of the way. The community will know exactly how much money will be given and the cost of each expense. We are not asking for funds to send us but only the boxes we need to get there. 10 boxes at around $100 is $1,000 and we just can’t do it on our own.”
    If you would like to help with the cost of shipping, please contact Cindy Thomas through Western GM dealership in Drumheller.

    The race for leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta is heating up as more names are thrown into the hat, including a familiar face to Drumheller-Stettler residents.
 Richard Starke, currently MLA for Vermilion-Lloydminster has announced he will be running for the leadership of the party.
    “I’ve been across our great province and have heard loud and clear, people are unhappy with how our province is being run, and they want change,” says Richard Starke, PC Leadership candidate. “Those conversations motivated me to run for the leadership. Like so many Albertans, I want to see Alberta become a place of hope, prosperity and opportunity once again.”
    Starke was first elected in 2012, and during his tenure served as Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation and is currently the Progressive Conservative Caucus House Leader.
    Starke was familiar to residents of Drumheller-Stettler, as Tourism Minister. He also served as a "Buddy MLA" while the Conservatives were in power, giving residents an ear to the government.
    "Drumheller-Stettler was kind of a natural fit for me to work with, certainly agricultural, and when I became Tourism Minister, that is a huge part of what goes on in that part of the world," he said. "I felt very good about the advocacy I was involved with on behalf of the Town of Drumheller  following the 2013 flooding. I was there days after the flood to see the work that had  been done."
    Prior to entering provincial politics, he was a Lloydminster City Councillor and was a member of the Lloydminster Regional Health Foundation.
    With his entry into the race, there are now five running for the leadership, the most high profile candidate being former MP Jason Kenney, who is running on the message gaining leadership and then merging with the Wildrose Party. Also running are Calgary-Varsity MLA Donna Kennedy-Glans, Byron Nelson, and Town of Devon Councillor Michael Laveck. Calgary-North West MLA Sandra Jansen is expected to join the race.
    Starke says he is a believer in the PC Party.
    "I see that our party has a future," he said. "Once we have a leader selected in March 2017, I do not think it helps Alberta for us to spend the next two years leading up to an election, having votes, destroying parties, forming parties, writing policies and trying to select another new leader. That is all time and energy that should be spent holding this government to account."
 The party will choose a new leader on March 18.