Heavy snowfall impacts livestock, wildlife
The new year opened with huge snowfall levels affecting livestock and wildlife across the region. “With the large amount of snow like this year, we would expect a higher mortality than usual, just because the animal can't move,” said Chiara Feder, wildlife biologist. There were numerous barn collapses in the region caused by heavy snow, with one outside Didsbury killing a dozen cows.
Illegal dumping in Red Deer County
Red Deer County peace officers were probing illegal dumping cases in the municipality, a problem that had angered and frustrated citizens for years. “It is an ongoing problem, absolutely. “I've been here almost six years and it is something we have seen all along,” said Travis Allred, a county emergency management officer.
Power line project
In March construction crews used a specialized helicopter to install power line infrastructure in the Carstairs-Didsbury-Olds area, all part of the massive Western Alberta Transmission line project. The work was part of a two-year project – approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission in December 2012 – that will see a 350-kilometre 500 kV line built from the Genesee area west of Edmonton to the Langdon area east of Calgary.
Grain backlog hits home
West Central Alberta farmers are starting to feel the pressure of a grain backlog caused by lack of rail transport. During Mountain View County's monthly meeting in March, Alberta Agriculture's Grant Lastiwka said railway and port delays were causing the local agriculture community difficulty because product remains here instead of being shipped to market.
“It isn't easy trying to negotiate rental agreements and trying to put another crop in the ground and having to borrow money against grain that isn't moving,” said Lastiwka.
Assessment values jump
Assessment values in Mountain View County increased in four of five property classes over the previous 12 months. According to the 2013 market summary report overall assessments have increased by 4.92 per cent in overall growth, with 2.69 per cent attributed to real growth. That compares with 2.49 per cent overall growth and 3.73 per cent attributed to real growth in 2012. Total assessment values increased from $4,178,137,280 to $4,383,659,340, an overall increase of $205,522,060.
Rankin performs
Jimmy Rankin performed for a sold-out audience at the Sundre Arts Centre on April 11. The two-hour show featured songs from the Cape Breton singer's six solo albums as well as numbers from his former band The Rankin Family. “It's my first time playing in Sundre. It's something I dreamed about since I was a boy,” Rankin joked with the audience.
Flooding woes
Overland flooding across Mountain View and Red Deer counties forced the closure of numerous roads. In MVC flooding included roads southeast of Sundre, one directly east of Didsbury, one directly east of Carstairs, in the Eagle Hill area and elsewhere. In Red Deer County, flooding near the Little Red Deer River also closed several roads. There were no reports of injuries in either county.
Taxes up one per cent
Mountain View County councillors have approved the 2014 tax rate, with all assessment classes showing a one per cent overall tax increase. The 2014 residential tax rate was set at 2.68, farmland will be 7.70, commercial/industrial will be 9.68, machinery and equipment will be 9.68, and linear will be 9.68.
School safety urged
A new multi-stakeholder group launched a series of initiatives to address safety-related priorities identified by students, parents and school staff of Chinook's Edge School Division (CESD). Members of the group, comprised of school administrators, family school wellness staff, teachers and central office staff, said they would strive to push these priorities further.
Victim services pleased
In May the renewal of the memorandum of understanding between the RCMP and the Alberta government to provide victim service units was welcomed in the region, local RCMP said. The new memorandum will ensure the units continue to assist victims of crimes and tragedies such as motor vehicle accidents through 2017.
Disease prevention urged
Mountain View County officials were helping to educate the public about late blight disease in Alberta in an attempt to contain the potential damage it could cause to tomato and potato crops. “What we're trying to do is help with raising the awareness,” said Jane Fulton, agricultural services manager.
Teacher honoured
Shari Klumpenhower, a Grade 1 teacher at Penhold's Jessie Duncan School, was nominated by the Chinook's Edge School Division for the 2014 Alberta School Boards Association's Edwin Parr Award, a distinction that honours the most outstanding novice teacher in each school zone in the province.
Budget defers spending
In June the Chinook's Edge School Division deferred spending on capital equipment, transportation and maintenance in approving its $124-million 2014-15 budget. “It's a deficit budget where we are spending close to a million more than we are bringing in,” superintendent Kurt Sacher said. “We are hoping to see some improvement because the path we are on is not sustainable.”
Elk causing trouble
A marked rise in elk population levels in parts of Mountain View County, and particularly in areas just east of the Red Deer River, needed to be addressed, area farmers said during an open house held at the Sundre West Country Centre. They said elk were causing extensive damage to crops and to fields.
Rodeo really brings them in
About 2,000 people of all ages attended the 61st annual Water Valley Stampede Rodeo on June 7 and 8, with guests treated to some great competition under warm weather conditions. Started in 1953, this year's Foothills Cowboy Association- sanctioned rodeo included a number of competitors from Mountain View County, including event winners Jody Laye and Dean Erickson of Cremona and Terry Cummings of Sundre.
Music rings in Water Valley
About 800 music lovers attended the 16th annual Water Valley Celtic Festival on June 21, taking in performances from more than 340 artists and enjoying fine early summer weather. Festival founder and musician Dave Settles called the 2014 festival a hit. “Wow, what a day,” said Settles. “The festival was a great success from all that I heard and experienced.”
Tornado spotted in county
There were no reports of injuries or property damage after a tornado was spotted south of Cremona shortly before 5 p.m. June 27. The twister was spotted during a severe rain and lightning storm.
Clubroot fight continues
Mountain View County's agricultural service board instructed administration to step up efforts to ensure that the soil-borne plant disease clubroot doesn't find a home in the county. At its regularly scheduled July meeting, board members passed a motion calling for the public and industry to be informed of the need to ensure that agriculture and other industry vehicles entering the county are thoroughly cleaned of mud and other debris that could carry the disease.
Cougar encounter
A recent human-cougar encounter along the Fallen Timber Creek south of Bergen highlighted the importance of being equipped to react in a quick and safe manner when meeting up with wildlife. A couple fishing on the creek near their campsite spotted cougar tracks in the sand and gravel. A short time later a large cougar appeared nearby and advanced towards them.
The couple discharged a bear banger – a hand-fired device that lobs a small explosive charge towards the animal – and the resulting loud bang scared the animal off.
ATV safety urged
In October 40 area youngsters knew a lot more about safe all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use after attending a one-day course at the Sundre rodeo grounds. Sponsored by the Sundre and District Agricultural Society, the Sept. 20 Youth ATV Safety Awareness Day was conducted by Mudd Safety Awareness Inc. It saw kids age six to 16 receive lectures on general ATV safety, including the use of helmets and how to keep control of the machine on rough ground.
Beattie reappointed reeve
Bruce Beattie was reappointed reeve of Mountain View County, with councillors voting unanimously to return Beattie to the position for a fourth time. As reeve, Beattie is the official spokesperson for the municipality, as well as the chair of council meetings and a member of all council committees. “I guess the council is OK with me serving in that capacity and I'm certainly proud to lead a group such as this,” he said. Coun. Patricia McKean was reappointed as deputy reeve.
Moratorium approved
A three-month Mountain View County moratorium on some new development in the McDougal Flats area along the Red Deer River west of Sundre was approved – with a modified and smaller moratorium area than the one originally proposed in October. The split-decision motion approving the moratorium came following the second public hearing for the amending bylaw on Nov. 12. The moratorium was put forward following the release of the Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Golder Associates McDougal Flats Flood Hazard Study draft report.
Councillor elected association president
Mountain View County Division 7 councillor Al Kemmere was elected president of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties (AAMDC). The 69-community member association advocates for rural community interests with the provincial government. Kemmere said he planned to continue to advocate for the needs of rural Alberta communities.
County approves cost of living increase
On Nov. 26 Mountain View County council OK'd a 2.5 per cent cost of living increase for staff and councillors for 2015. The increase translated into an increased cost of $237,500 for the county, says Greg Wiens, director of corporate services. Reeve Bruce Beattie says the increase was needed to keep the county competitive in the job market.
Whooping cough outbreak
Alberta Health Services declared a whooping cough outbreak in the province's central zone following a spike in cases. A bacterial infection, whooping cough or pertussis can lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage or death. In response to the outbreak, AHS is offering increased immunization appointment opportunities in the region effective immediately, said Dr. Digby Horne.
Counties approve budgets
In December Mountain View County council passed its 2015 capital budget, which called for total spending of $18,775,400, down by about $1.4 million from 2014. At the same time Red Deer County council passed its capital and operating budgets, which called for total spending of $67,710,865, down from $73,599,086 in 2014.
MLAs change sides
Eight Wildrose MLAs, including Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Bruce Rowe, defect to the rule Progressive Conservatives. Rowe says his floor crossing is to help the Jim Prentice government unite Alberta conservatives.
