Drumheller Valley Secondary School students are gearing up to host the Alberta Student Leadership Conference.
    They’re so excited, they’ve begun planning for the three day conference even though it is just under a year away on May 11 to 13.
    “I think it’s really awesome to get to show people Drumheller. It’s a really cool experience for the school and the rest of town,” said Megan Rowbottom, a member of the DVSS student council.
    Roughly 600 students, teachers, and advisors are expected to make the trek to Drumheller.
    Students feel it is an opportunity to show students from across the province what makes Drumheller special.
    “Instead of experience it, we’re going to be the ones leading everyone else at the conference. It’ll bring a lot of people here and show them what Drumheller is like," said student council member Justin Molzan.
    DVSS was chosen to host the conference after applying two years ago.
    “Last year, they didn’t have a host school. The three students I had with me said it would be really cool to host, so we put in an application and everything was approved,” said Cindy Karpa, a DVSS teacher and advisor to the student council. “It’s less than a year away and we’re already excited.”

The DVSS student council is excited to show off Drumheller to 600 students, teachers, and advisors when they host the 2014 Alberta Student Leadership Conference.. The council returned from Edmonton last week after attending the 2013 conference, where they were encouraged to take the initiative at home.

    This year, 41 students from DVSS attended the conference in Edmonton from May 26 to 28. Students are already taking what they learned and applying it at home.
    “They said it’d be a fun weekend, but they said for us not to stop once we got back home. They wanted us to take the things we learned and apply them in our school,” said Allie Ruckman. “There was a lot of artwork at their school and we started talking about how our walls looked a little bare. We want to get more student artwork put up.”
    For some, the conference had a profound impact.
    “It boosted my confidence a lot and to be myself around people. Now that I’m not afraid to do that, I’m happy and not worrying anymore. I hope some people come here and feel the same thing I did. They learn what I did and build up their confidence or learn new things they haven’t experienced before,” said Madison Lang, one of the students who went to Edmonton.
    The DVSS student council is looking for volunteers to help plan and run the conference. Those interested are encouraged to contact Karpa at 403-823-5171.

    Three Hills RCMP have made an arrest related to multiple break and enters to oil and gas sites where large amounts of wire had been stolen.
    Oilfield theft has become a real concern for companies and  law enforcement in the area. Equipment, tools and raw materials, like copper, have become a target for thieves wishing to make a quick buck.
    Seven months of investigation led to the arrest of a man on June 12 of this year.
    The alleged break and enters happened between December 2012 and February 2013.
    The investigation involved RCMP members from a number of detachments as well as the Red Deer Forensic Identification section.
    Stephen Barnes, 39, of Red Deer has been charged with eight counts of break and enter. He appeared before a Justice of the Peace for judicial release but remains in custody awaiting bail.  He is scheduled to appear July 3 in provincial court in Drumheller. 
    The Mail reported in March of 2011 how the RCMP have begun to work more closely with industry partners to step up patrols of oil and gas sites.