Local News

Limiting the spread of new weeds from the horticulture industry to agricultural lands is one of the priorities the Red Deer Agriculture Service Board will be tackling in 2013, according to chairman Phillip Massier.

The Red Deer River Quality Control Committee has sent a letter to Premier Alison Redford requesting a face-to-face meeting to discuss its concerns about possible future flooding upstream of Sundre, says Myron Thompson, chairman of the committee.

Conditions were driest in decades Mountain View and Red Deer counties experienced their driest 180-day period in decades in the winter of 2012. From Nov. 1 to Feb. 14 the region on average receives between 60 and 65 millimetres of precipitation.

A local MLA says that the recently appointed property rights advocate won't help Albertans maintain their land rights.

A public hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 23 at the Mountain View County office regarding a proposed facility for the promotion of Aboriginal culture and heritage.

The Sundre Petroleum Operators Group (SPOG) has outlined some of its plans for the new year, including a spring mutual aid exercise and an education session about flaring at an environment committee Learn at Supper event in April, says executive dire

In an effort to get financial compensation for landowners impacted by oil and gas activities, Mountain View County councillors have passed a motion to have a provincewide resolution prepared on behalf of the municipality.

Mountain View County councillors have OK'd a one per cent cost of living increase for staff and council for 2013.During the Dec. 12 regular council meeting, councillors approved the increase, which will cost the county an additional $95,000.

Chinook's Edge School Division board members were given an update recently about the successes of the division's Equinox program.

Chinook's Edge School Division officials responded immediately to assist staff in handling any potential emotional fallout with students from the horrific Dec. 14 shooting tragedy at Connecticut's Sandy Hook Elementary School.