The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award ceremony was held at the Badlands Community Facility Tuesday night, April 15.    
    The event was emceed by Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins of the Drumheller detachment’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
    The teenagers were recognized for their achievements through the program, receiving their bronze pins and certificates.
    Recognized for the achievements: Moriah Ohlhauser of Carbon, Amy Adams, Kyra Koustrup and Erica Nelson of Starland County
    From Drumheller, Sarah Armstrong, Madison Colberg, Ryan Hingst, Liam McDougald and Avril Wilson. Megan Rowbottom was absent.
    The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is for youth 14 to 24 years of age that challenges them to challenge themselves in the areas of service, skills, adventurous journey, and physical fitness.
    Fifteen year-old Liam McDougald said in working toward the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, he’s had some great experiences, and said there’s great people you can meet.
    McDougald recommends kids go on the bike tour held in the summer by the local RCMP - he didn’t think it would be as much fun or as easy as it was.
    Participants working toward a level keep a record of their events, such as the bike tour, for at least a  six-month period, and it surprised the youth.
    “I had to put in a lot of volunteer hours. I didn’t realize how many I had until I had to write them down.”
    McDougald volunteered with 4-H, Communities in Bloom, Drumheller’s PeeWee football team the Terrapins, and in the kitchen at church camp last summer.
    McDougald said he plans on next working toward the silver award.
    Staff Sergeant Hopkins noted in his opening remarks that the youth receiving their bronze awards put in volunteering work over double the requirements of the program.
    Hopkins thanked all the sponsors of the achievement program, saying it would not be possible without their support.
    Chelseay Dawes, Program Manager for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for Alberta and the Northwest Territories has high praise for ASSET Development Committee as the local project mentoring group.
    “The entire community is behind the program - it’s absolutely amazing to see.”
    She said Drumheller’s mentoring program is self-sustaining, whereby if they lose a member ASSET is able to support the change and have another member take over.
    Dawes said previously the program was targeted mainly toward urban youth.
    Three years ago, the RCMP selected Drumheller and Ft. McLeod as the pilot sites for the community youth challenge in rural communities.
    Tuesday night’s awards were the second Bronze Award presentations held in Drumheller since its start here in 2011.

    One of Drumheller’s close neighbours is marking a milestone this year, celebrating 70 years.
    Kneehill County was formed on January 1, 1944.  This was not the first local government in that area. The MD of Carbon was formed in 1912, as was the MD of Ghost Pine (originally the MD of Roach) with its office in Trochu. The MD of Norquay was organized in 1918 and held its office in Acme, and the MD of Stauffer was formed in 1918 and originally held is offices in Sunnyslope.
    These four municipalities were dissolved in 1944 to make way for the new municipality. This wasn’t a popular move and was met with opposition, but the province persisted and for the first two months the new Municipal District of Kneehill No. 278 was managed by a government appointed administrator, with secretary treasurers from each of the former separate areas.
    Before the formation, each municipality in the area had six councillors. This was replaced  by one council with seven councillors to serve the entire area. The first election was held on February 22, 1944 and its first council meeting was March 7.
    John Olson was elected for Division 1 and John Ohlhauser was elected for Division 2, Matthew Schmaultz was elected for Division 3 and Fred Peterson was elected for Division 5. George Walker was elected for Division 6, but only served for about a year, to be replaced by Stan Schmelke, and Clayton Campbell was elected to Division 7.
    Hugh Parry of Division 4 was the first Reeve and he served until 1955.
    The first order of business for the new council at its inaugural meeting was to find a location for its office. They selected the former MD of Stauffer’s offices which were located in Three Hills since 1939. They used this office until 1961, when the county moved into its new office on Main Street in Three Hills
    About a year after the first council meeting, the District was renamed to the Municipal District of Kneehill No. 48, named after a group of hills about 12 miles west of Three Hills. It kept this moniker until 1998 when it officially became known as Kneehill County.

    The area has seen great prosperity as well as challenges over the years.  It was also served with consistent leadership.  Ralph Brown served as Reeve from 1961 until 1980. Gordon King served as administrator for 23 years; from 1955 to 1978, and was followed by John Jeffery who was administrator from 1979 to 2000.
    As of the 2011 census Kneehill County had a population of just over 4,900 and covers 3,380 square kilometres.
    Reeve Bob Long says the county is planning to mark the 70th anniversary.  Already they have completed a vehicle wrap of one of their vehicles and Long says this will be featured in parades this season.