Parents, teachers, RCMP, and many others are asking motorists to slow down and pay attention to the traffic lights in front of the new St. Anthony’s School.
    As the new location of St. Anthony’s School races towards completion, concern has been raised about motorists passing by on North Dinosaur Trail.
    For months now residents and tourists alike have passed under the new traffic lights set up at the intersection by the new school and the Fun Land Amusement Park. The traffic lights were put in place a year ago in anticipation of the school’s earlier completion estimates.
    Problems with the original contractors forced Christ the Redeemer School Division to find a new contractor early in 2011.
    The new completion date has been announced. Teachers will have February 27 and 28 to move their classrooms, and the first day of class in the new school will be February 29.
    Parents have raised a safety concern regarding the traffic lights.
    “It was brought forward at our parent council meeting. A couple of our parents activated the lights, walked across, and then noticed that drivers were driving through the red light,” said St. Anthony’s School Principal, Tim Gregorash.    
    Indeed, the presence of a constant green light at the intersection has conditioned many drivers to ignore it altogether.
    “Because it’s green and never been activated, people aren’t looking at it,” said Gregorash. “People are not used to paying attention to it.”
    Other questions that have been raised are whether the speed limit will be reduced near the new school and if there will be any early warning system to alert drivers if there is an incoming red light.
    “The speed limit is not going to be reduced, it’s staying at 70 km/h,” said Gordon Wilton, from Alberta Transportation. Wilton also explained that there are currently no plans to install early warnings sign.
    “It was not the system I recommended. I wanted a different system, but that’s what they put in,” said Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins of the RCMP.
    The Town of Drumheller had recommended early warning lights be placed leading up to the new traffic lights.
    For the time being, education and enforcement will have to make those lights safe for the children at St. Anthony’s School. Staff Sergeant Hopkins stated there would be an increased RCMP presence near the school when it is open.
    “We’ll be educating our parents and children about crosswalk safety, like don’t cross until vehicles are completely stopped. It’s basic education of everybody, because that is a new light,” said Gregorash. “We’ll make sure that the kids are safe, that’s our number one priority.”

    Kaleidoscope Theatre thinks it’s about time to laugh again.
    The community theatre group is holding auditions on Saturday and Sunday, January 21 and 22, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for its spring production. After a series of drama productions, they are looking at focusing on the lighter side.
    “We haven’t had any comedies for the last little while,” chuckles Deanne Zariski, secretary for Kaleidoscope Theatre. “After Hello Dolly we did The Vagina Monologues and then Cabaret, Bees to Honey and The Sound of Music.”
    No firm dates have been set for the spring performance, and they are planning to present three-one act plays for the show. Becky Neuman will be directing two of the one-act plays, while Warren Nichols is directing one. Zariski said the shows are oriented towards an adult audience.
    In preparation for the show, Kaleidoscope Theatre is looking for male and female adults to audition for the performance.
    “Great comedic timing is very important,” said Zariski. “We are also looking for people to help with the backstage stuff as well, so if anyone is interested in helping out, but not onstage, they can definitely contact us.”
    This spring’s performance follows on a successful return to Kaleidoscope Theatre.
    Zariski said  The Sound of Music was 93 per cent sold out and received strong reviews. This was the first performance at the theatre since DVSS reopened.
    The theatre is looking better than ever. The first stage of its renovation, which included a freshening up and new seats, is complete. Zariski said there are more improvements coming.
    “We did receive some grant money to look at fixing up the pit for the orchestras, getting sound and video equipment put in there,” said Zariski. “We are looking at getting new curtains as well, and maybe adding a few to better flesh out the backstage areas.”
    She said the improvements to the pit would improve communication with the actors onstage and backstage.
    “It was a bit hard for seeing and hearing things like cues in musicals,” said Zariski. “We are looking at getting equipment so the musicians have not just audio but video connection to backstage and what is going on onstage.”
    Auditions for the spring performance are on Saturday January 21 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, January 22, from 5-8 p.m.  Those coming out to audition need not prepare anything, as this will be a “cold read” from selected scripts.
    Zariski encourages anyone with experience or not to come out if they are interested.
    “A lot of people don’t realize how funny they are, so we encourage everyone to come and try out, it should be really fun,” she said.
    For more information, contact Zariski at deanne.zariski @yahoo.com.