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Last updateTue, 29 Oct 2024 3pm

New Country 910 moves to FM dial

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After 66 years as an AM station, New Country 910 will be switching to an FM frequency.
The Valley and surrounding areas have been served by the AM radio station since 1958, first as CJDV operated by Dinosaur Broadcasting, until 1981 when it became CKDQ, operated by CHUM.
It continued operation with various ownership and in 1985 it was able to get permission to boost its signal from 10,000 watts to 50,000 watts. It operated from 2000 to 2018 as a Newcap station known as Q91, and most recently was New Country 910 under Stingray Group.
It will continue as New Country 910 but now it will be found on the FM dial at 92.5.
“CKDQ on AM has served the Drumheller Valley since 1958 but it’s time to modernize our infrastructure. AM is notoriously difficult to maintain and is certainly limited in its ability to provide superior sound quality. We want to be sure we are airing the very best on-air quality to our listeners and FM more than accomplishes that goal, said Steve Parsons, Vice President of Programming, at Stingray Radio.
Reach will be considerably tightened and towers that used to be east of Strathmore will now be on top of the south Hill shared with Boom FM 99.5.
“New Country 92.5 listeners will notice a significant improvement in the quality of the signal broadcasting in full stereo and with crystal clarity. The one drawback is that our signal will be restricted to the area we are licensed to serve, The Drumheller Valley and surrounding communities,” said Parsons. “In its prime CKDQ AM could be heard into Central Saskatchewan, down to Montana and west to the mountains. Listeners in those broad areas will still be able to enjoy New Country 92.5 online.”


2024 Carlie Bell Memorial Scholarship presented

Carlie Bell Scholarship 2024

The 13th annual Carlie Bell Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Brady Mappin of the Rumsey Rowley 4-H Beef Club.
The Carlie Bell Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a member that showcases leadership and participates in activities at the club, district, and regional levels.
Brady has been a member of the Rumsey Rowley 4-H Beef Club for 10 years, including his first year as a Cleaver. Brady has been active in the District as a Club Representative, District Vice President, and District President, as well as taking part in many 4-H activities.
4-H has helped grow both his leadership, cooperation, and communication skills. Brady has learnt that participating and trying your best creates the BEST outcomes whether you win or lose. This year Brady will receive his Platinum Award of Excellence.
Brady Mappin is a well-deserved recipient of the 2024 Carlie Bell Memorial Scholarship.

Ribbon cut for Fox Coulee Solar Farm

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After years in the making, the Fox Coulee Solar project officially flipped the switch officially marking the completion of the project.
The 93 MWp solar project north of Drumheller near the airport, has the potential to generate nearly 100 GWh of green electricity per year, equivalent to the consumption of more than 20,000 homes. While it has been producing since December of last year, it has been progressively increasing its output and commissioning is scheduled in the coming weeks.
“The Fox Coulee solar farm represents a major milestone in our efforts to expand renewable energy in Canada,” said Ryan Dick, Neoen's Province Leader in Alberta of the approximately $130 million project. “This first asset exemplifies our commitment to conduct best-in-class project development work that prioritizes stakeholder engagement and environmental protection and to provide high-quality, sustainable energy solutions that will significantly contribute to both the province's and the country's carbon neutrality. We have high ambitions in Alberta and are currently developing many other solar, wind and battery projects to accelerate the energy transition.”
Reeve of Starland County, Steve Wannstrom, along with Neoen CEO Xavier Barbaro were on hand to cut the ribbon for the opening. The solar farm is 100% owned by Neoen, and when fully operational will avoid around 70,000 tons of CO2 per year.
“Pride is important at Neoen and we are proud of what we do, what we have developed, proud of the relationships we have built because those relationships will be the key to future success,” said Barbaro. “I thank you for your trust, I know it is not always easy to trust a newcomer in the region. We were a newcomer in Canada but I think what we have done with you is evidence that it is a good choice to trust Neoen.”
Neoen was founded in 2008 and is built on being an independent producer of exclusively renewable energy. This was its first major Canadian project and it is developing more. It intends to sell a significant part of the electricity generated, together with the environmental benefits, via power purchase agreements. The remainder will be sold on Alberta's deregulated electricity market. The farm will contribute to the target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035 set by the Province of Alberta and the federal government.
The site even has a little bit of local flavour. In accordance with its Sustainability Framework, local artist Frank Hatfield of Dinosaur Valley Studios created a model of an Albertosaurus, at the entrance of the photovoltaic plant.
Neoen was founded in 2008 and is built on being an independent producer of exclusively renewable energy. This was its first major Canadian project and it is developing more. It intends to sell a significant part of the electricity generated, together with the environmental benefits, via power purchase agreements. The remainder will be sold on Alberta’s deregulated electricity market. The farm will contribute to the target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035 set by the Province of Alberta and the federal government.
The site even has a little bit of local flavour. In accordance with its Sustainability Framework, local artist Frank Hatfield of Dinosaur Valley Studios created a model of an Albertosaurus at the entrance of the photovoltaic plant.


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