Serving the Heart of Central Alberta for 106 years
VOLUME ONE-HUNDRED SEVEN
PM40011853 R08546
NUMBER FORTY-FIVE
STETTLER, ALBERTA
November 6, 2013
PRICE — $1.09 Plus GST
Photos by RICHARD FROESE/Independent reporter
A heavy snowfall struck the Stettler region Saturday and Sunday. Jon Campbell (left) of Stettler sweeps snow off his car, while town crews were busy Sunday morning clearing snow from the streets. More than 25 centimetres of snow was recorded in the Stettler region on the weekend, and even more fell in the Red Deer area.
This time, it’s the real deal Season’s first major snowfall blankets Stettler region R ICHARD F ROESE Independent reporter Winter walloped the Stettler region last weekend, with the season’s first major snowfall keeping many people without electricity and off the roadways last Saturday night and Sunday. As predicted, just under 25 centimetres of snow fell in Stettler and throughout central Alberta, just one week after the first official snowfall in the region. According to weather statistics, heavy, wet snow and wind knocked out power and made roadways slick for drivers, some of whom reported two-and-a-half drives from Red Deer on Saturday night for what’s normally a one-hour commute. “The weekend winter snowstorm caused widespread power outages in rural areas around Stettler last Sunday afternoon,” said Bryon Schwartz, the customer service supervisor for ATCO in the Stettler district. Electricity went out for about 1,200 customers north
and east of Stettler in Botha, Gadsby, Red Willow, Donalda and Spruce Coulee at about 3 p.m. and was restored to most areas within two hours, he said. Castor had minimal electricity problems, with just nine rural customers reported to be without power for about two hours. Castor, however, was the hardest-hit region for students, as icy roads and blowing snow prevented school buses from regular runs Monday. “We had 18 bus routes cancelled in Castor, Coronation, Halkirk and Brownfield, and just six bus routes affected for Stettler, mostly in the Donalda area,” said Maryann Wingie, transportation supervisor for Clearview School Division. Roadways in the Stettler area were relatively quiet, with slick and snowy surfaces keeping people home. The downtown seemed like a business day, only because storeowners were busy cleaning their properties. “We were very fortunate here that we didn’t get a lot of (accident) calls,” said Stettler RCMP detachment
Sgt. Duncan Babchuk. A couple of vehicles were reported in the ditch, along with two fender-benders Sunday and three on Monday, he said. “We also had a couple of reports of motorists driving carelessly in town on Sunday,” Babchuk said. “We had less snow than in Red Deer and central areas.” No significant snowfall or storms are projected for the next two weeks, but cold temperatures that dipped to minus-17 C kept the heavy snowfall intact. The Weather Network calls for 70 per cent chance of scattered flurries this Friday, 40 per cent chance of a few flurries next Thursday and 90 per cent possibility of light snow next Friday. With colder weather, ATCO Electric reminds customers to always be prepared for power outages. “People should always have a safety kit, with blankets and water and a flashlight,” Schwartz said. “Crews will be out working quickly and safely to restore power to the affected customers.”
Town sets ‘forum for healthy debate,’ says mayor R ICHARD F ROESE Independent reporter With three new councillors on board, the Town of Stettler council staged an organizational meeting last Friday to become the 39th council in the town’s history. The historic town was incorporated in 1905. At last Friday’s ceremony, Stettler Mayor Dick Richards welcomed youthful newcomers Karen Sernecky, Sean Nolls and Will Brown, along with returning councillors Darcy Bachman, Al Campbell and Malcolm Fischer. “We do public service for the love of the community,” said Richards, who has served as mayor for four years and on council for 13 years. With a new four-year term scheduled, the mayor said he’s eager to move the community forward. “We have a strong team to lead the town for the next four years and we want to create a forum for healthy debate,” Richards said. “We have built strong ties with the county, villages and school board, and it’s imperative that we foster those relationships.” For the position of deputy mayor, councillors were appointed to eight-month terms in order
of standings in the election, starting with Fischer, followed by Campbell, Brown, Sernecky, Nolls and Bachman. Appointments Council members and others were appointed to committees and boards: Heartland Beautification committee — Brown and Sernecky, members at large Rob Spencer, Sue Anne Hennessey, Grace Fix, Marilyn Crowshuman, John Leard, Graham Scott and Jacqui Newton, parks director Lee Penner and CAO Rob Stoutenberg. Canadian Badlands — Campbell and board of trade executive director Aubrey Brown. Central Alberta Economic Partnership — Nolls (alternate Campbell) and Aubrey Brown. Citizens Recognition committee —Brown and member at large John Grant and one vacancy. Community Police advisory committee — Sernecky and members at large Andrea Hatch, Chuck Orlick and Fred Abbott. County of Stettler Housing Authority — Nolls (Brown), member at large Carol Nixon. Stettler and District Family and Community Support Services —Brown and Bachman, member at large Gelaisa Long. Inter-municipal development plan — Richards, CAO and planning and development officer Leann Graham. Municipal Emergency
RICHARD FROESE/Independent reporter
The Town of Stettler council for 2013-17 was sworn in last week. In the front row (from left) are Coun. Al Campbell, assistant chief administrative officer Greg Switenky, Mayor Dick Richards, chief administrative officer Rob Stoutenberg and Coun. Karen Sernecky. In the back row are Coun. Darcy Bachman, Coun. Malcolm Fischer, Coun. Will Brown and Coun. Sean Nolls. Management Agency — all council, CAO and regional disaster services director John Bishop. Parkland Regional Library — Bachman (Campbell). Performing Arts Centre — Brown (Bachman). Physician recruitment — Brown (Bachman). Red Deer River municipal users group — Campbell (Fischer). The Red Deer Watershed Alliance — Campbell
(Fischer). Regional collaboration grant steering committee for stormwater project with County of Stettler —Bachman and Campbell. Stettler Regional Fire Authority —Nolls and Fischer (Sernecky) and CAO. Stettler District Ambulance Association —Sernecky and Brown. Stettler Development Authority —Brown, Campbell, Nolls, Bachman and Fischer.
Stettler Health Services Foundation —Sernecky. Stettler Municipal Library board — Bachman (Campbell), librarian Mary Zazewlenchuk, members at large Gail Peterson, Kathy Faltin, Tanille Timmins and Vicki Leuck. Stettler Regional Board of Trade and Community Development — Richards and Nolls (Sernecky) and CAO. Stettler Subdivision Authority — all council.
Stettler Subdivision and Development Appeal Board —members at large John Grant, Doug Delker, Dave Dennis, Norm Dennis (Sally Hurley). Stettler Town and Country Museum — Nolls (Campbell) and member at large Jim Ainsworth. Stettler Waste Management Authority — Nolls and Fischer and CAO. Union negotiations — Brown, Campbell and Bachman and CAO.
Readers can also find the Stettler Independent at stettlerindependent.com