It’s tough not to tempt fate, but it looks like Environment Canada’s prediction for an extended cool winter may not exactly come to fruition.
    Residents have been enjoying a pretty mild winter in the valley. While last year sub zero temperatures and heavy snowfall kept the valley blanketed in white, so far this season sunny days and Chinooks have kept old man winter at bay.
    One place this is noticeable for the town is on its snow clearing budget.
    Director of Infrastructure Services Al Kendrick says they typically only notice their snow budget when it is running out. While in the early months of 2011, there was some heavy snowfall, the mild end to the year helped to keep the budget in line.
    “January and February of last year still counts. Last year we had to hire subcontractors to haul and such, so that put us really close, but luckily we made it through the last couple of months and we were okay.”
     He says so far in 2012 they are in line to possibly realize a savings.
    The mild weather, however, has taken a toll on the roads, especially potholes. Kendrick said they have not been too busy filling yet, but Ledcor, which looks after highways in and around town, has been working on pothole repair since fall keeping the highways up.
    While most residents can appreciate not having to shovel while the car warms in the morning, for some that try to make out a living clearing snow, it can make it a long winter.
    Bob Lee has been clearing snow in Drumheller for the past seven seasons, and he says so far this might be the toughest.
    He doesn’t bother to listen to predictions anymore.
    “You look out the window and it is what it is,” he said.
    Lee’s bread and butter is residential clearing, and he has equipment including quads and snow blowers that are sitting idle waiting for the white stuff. While most relish the moderate weather, for him to be an optimist is to look to the sky for snow.
    Farmers might be hoping to see some moisture before winter is through. Dry soil conditions coupled with below average snow packs are threatening a late start to spring grazing and increase in winterkill to hay and pasture stands.
    “Producers should plan for delayed growth on their hay and pasture lands this spring and be prepared to keep their herds on winter feed supplies for at least a week longer than usual this spring – possibly longer, depending on when we get some moisture,” says Grant Lastiwka, a forage and grazing specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD). “The dry conditions really snuck up on us after such a wet start to the growing season last year. It’s surprising how quickly things turned around.”
    According to a release from AFSC, soil moisture and snow packs are well below normal across large pockets of central, eastern and northern Alberta, with soil moisture ranging from an estimated 1-in-6 to 1-in-50-year lows in these areas. In Starland County, soil moisture generally ranges from 1-in-6 to 1-in-12-year lows, according to provincial soil moisture maps at www.agric.gov.ab.ca/acis.
    Kendrick says it is impossible to predict the weather, and notes talking to a colleague who recalled last time the area enjoyed an extended mild winter, it was slammed by an Easter snowstorm.
    Lee predicts it will be sooner.
     “We’re going to get ‘er in March, the last part of February and the beginning of March, I bet,” he said.

    The Government of Alberta is working with municipalities and industry to provide access to high-speed Internet in unserviced areas of rural Alberta.
    “All Albertans should have access to high-speed Internet. For our rural communities, it’s essential to future economic competitiveness and vitality,” said Premier Alison Redford. “SuperNet was a good start delivering access to more than 420 communities. We are building on that and keeping our commitment to ensure Albertans - regardless of where they live - are just one click away from a world of opportunity.”
    The Final Mile Rural Connectivity Initiative will help close existing service gaps and ensure reliable, high-speed Internet is available to at least 98 per cent of Albertans. About six per cent or 72,000 households in rural Alberta are currently without access to high-speed Internet service.
    Included in the Initiative is the $5-million Final Mile Rural Community Program, inviting local governments who plan to provide high-speed Internet in their communities to apply for provincial funding to support or expedite their plans.
    “This is about kids who want to research homework, families that want to stay connected and farmers and ranchers who want to market their products,” said Evan Berger, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Municipalities are key to the solutions. They know the challenges, they have ideas. Working together we will see more households with access to a critical service.”
    High-speed Internet infrastructure costs such as towers, equipment and technology, fibre optic cable, wireless equipment, installation costs and radio license fees are eligible to receive Final Mile Rural Community Program funding. Up to 75 per cent of eligible project costs may be covered by the Program. Applicants are required to submit a program application form on or before March 31, 2012. To apply or for specific program information, visit www.rural.alberta.ca or phone 780-427-2409.