NEWS of the Red Deer Region - August 1-15, 2006

 
News of the Red Deer Region
snippets and summaries of news reports from local media (primarily Red Deer Advocate and Red Deer Express).
August 2006 Part 1


Aug. 14, 2006
CentreFest Experiences Growth in Spite of Weather
The annual CentreFest street festival in downtown Red Deer on the weekend attracted more vendors, performers, artists and spectators than last year in spite of a slow start on Saturday due to rain and strong winds. The weather was much better on Sunday attracting throngs of people for about six hours. Street performers and artists were high calibre and came from as far away as Australia and New Zealand. The event, designed to promote cultural activities in Red Deer as well as the downtown, is becoming well established as a part of the regional cultural scene.

Aug. 11, 2006
Major Hail Storm Hits Springbrook, Markerville
Around 5 pm on Thursday August 10, an intense hail storm with winds gusting up to 150 km/hr and golf-ball size hail stones hit the communities of Springbrook and Markerville causing severe damage to siding, roofs and windows of many homes, damage to some vehicles and trailers, downed tree branches and most vegetation flattened or stripped of its leaves. There were no serious injuries but three summer cadets training at Springbrook suffered minor injuries from broken glass and slipping on stairs. Red Deer County emergency personnel and Search and Rescue did a door to door check to residences in the hamlets to make sure no one was hurt and to determine if there was damage to homes that could be considered dangerous. Funnel clouds had been spotted in the area but there is no evidence of an actual tornado touching down although many residents experienced an event unlike they had ever experienced before. Environment Canada called it a "straight line wind event" which covers a wider area than a tornado and can cause more damage. Returning from work after the storm, most people couldn't believe what they were seeing. Four hours after the storm passed, hail still covered many lawns, steps and gardens. Debris, including shingles, shattered siding and branches, littered the entire residential area. The hail had been so intense that most buildings had puncture holes from the hail stones. Some had windows on their homes and cars shattered. Crops between the two hamlets were virtually destroyed and other damage reported included downed trees. Heavy rain and smaller hail also hit Spruce View, Penhold and Gasoline Alley and flooded the Centrium at Westerner Park. Preliminary estimates put damage in the millions of dollars.
For more information and pictures of the Springbrook Hail Storm, go to www.SpringbrookWaskasoo.com/news0608storm.htm

Aug. 10, 2006
Blackfalds Rezones Land for Schlumberger
Blackfalds town council passed second and third reading of a bylaw to rezone 90 acres of land on the south side of town from agricultural to industrial to accommodate Schlumberger's plans to build an administration facility that would include four buildings including a 150,000 sq. ft. office building. Amendments to the town's municipal development plan and area structure plan were also passed. The actions will facilitate the oilfield servicing company's purchase of the land. Other economic benefits will likely occur as a spinoff of the project. Site work is expected to start this year with the facility in operation by 2008.
Condo Project Approved for East Red Deer
A 63-unit, 4-storey apartment-style condominium project called Iron Creek Lofts has been approved by the municipal planning commission in the Inglewood area of Red Deer. Construction is expected to begin this fall.
Red Deer Housing Starts Continue to Escalate
Housing starts in Red Deer during July were up 40% over the same month last year according to CMHC, higher than the provincial city average of 33%. Nationally, housing starts were down. Work began on 109 single detached homes this July compared to 84 last year and 37 multi-family units this year compared to 20 last July. Year to date, housing starts in Red Deer are up 27% over the same period last year.

Aug. 9, 2006
Two Subdivisions in South Sylvan Lake Set to Go
Three quarter sections of land of seven quarters being annexed from Red Deer County immediately south of the existing town limits of Sylvan Lake could start preparation work this fall by two developers once the land is transferred and area structure plans approved. Melcor Developments and Western Crown Developments are developing 433 acres over the next 10 to 12 years and hope to get started with installation of services next spring on the first phase of the residential subdivision. Meanwhile, two other quarter sections are being developed by Medican Developments on both sides of Secondary Highway 781 and expect to have lots available for construction by next summer.
Red Deer's Sunnybrook Farm to Celebrate Pioneer Days
A pancake breakfast, cowboy church service, threshing and homestead demos, parade of power (heritage working tractors), children's pioneer games, bundle toss competition, rolling pin competition and a mechanical horse are some of the features of this year's Pioneer Days at Sunnybrook Farm Museum in Red Deer Aug. 19 & 20. The second annual Golden Furrow Award (presented each year to a family whose ancestors homesteaded and built up the Red Deer area) will go to the Hermary family who settled in the Red Deer area one hundred years ago.

Aug. 8, 2006
Rock'n Red Deer Nostalgia Car Show Successful
One of Western Canada's largest car shows, featuring 850 hot rods, customized cars and antique autos, was held over the weekend at the Westerner grounds. The nostalgia event, held every three years, attracts hobbyists from western Canada and the U.S. that have an interest in 50's, 60's and 70's cars and music.

Aug. 5, 2006
Olds Learning Centre Gets Underway
The first stage of the $53 million multi-stage Community Learning Campus at Olds College is underway. Site preparation for the eLearning Core, a technological centre for online learning and communication, began Friday. The complex will include a Grade 9 to 12 high school, a fine arts and multimedia centre, a bus maintenance facility and a health and wellness facility (in the same building as the high school). The project is primarily a collaboration between the College and Chinook's Edge School Division, with the town and county also being part of the project. It is expected to be complete by the fall of 2008.
Stettler Leisure Centre Now Open for Swimmers
After a series of delays, the swimming pool portion of the Stettler Leisure Centre is now open. The fitness centre is expected to open in September. The old pool has been closed and the building given to the school. The grand opening of the new facility is set for noon on Sept. 6.
Nordegg Residential Lots Available Soon
Sale of 24 residential lots, which vary from 1.9 to 2.45 acres, will go on sale August 25 at the Clearwater County office in Rocky Mountain House. All lots, to be sold on a first-come first-served basis, have underground electrical and telephone service. Industrial lots are also available from the county.
Police Dog Memorial to be Installed Near Innisfail
The RCMP Police Dog Training Centre on Hwy. 2 near Innisfail is planning to install a bronze statue of a life-size German Shepherd as a tribute to the 30 police dogs that have died in the line of duty across Canada. The facility is the only police dog training centre in Canada and has been in operation since 1965. About 30 dogs complete advanced training each year. A public training demonstration is held each Wednesday afternoon.

Aug. 4, 2006
Starbucks First Business to Open in Red Deer's Taylor Plaza
Over the next few months, Taylor Plaza, at the northwest corner of Taylor Drive and 67 St. in north Red Deer, will be home to several businesses, the first of which is already open. Starbucks is the first business to open but it will soon be joined by Red Deer Co-op Liquor Store, Subway, Astha (ethnic restaurant), A & W, a chiropractic and massage clinic and Rooster Tail hair salon over the next few weeks. Expected to open in the next few months are OPA! Souvlaki of Greece, a quick lube outlet, a tanning salon, Co-op gas bar, Co-op convenience store, Co-op car wash and Community Savings.

Aug. 3, 2006
New Condo Project Proposed for Sylvan Lake
A four-storey, 49-unit, $20 million adult condominium project called the Savanna is being proposed for Sylvan Lake. The municipal planning commission has already given approval and third reading of a zoning bylaw amendment is expected around the end of August with construction possibly starting next spring. The project would include an underground parkade and a large lobby with reading area, social area, kitchen, media area and exercise room.

Aug. 2, 2006
Lacombe Residents Like Horse Track Proposal
A $12-15 million horse racing centre proposed for a quarter section of land east of Highway 2 and south of Highway 12 received a good response by the 100 residents attending an open house yesterday. The planned centre would include an inner track of seven furlongs, an outer track of one mile, stabling for 400 horses attached to an indoor arena, outdoor paddocks, a campground with a stocked trout pond and an enclosed grandstand with a year-round restaurant and lounge. The proposal now goes to Lacombe Town Council for rezoning and if all goes well, could be in operation by late 2007. The developers had originally looked at locations near Red Deer but without success.
New Road Link to Gasoline Alley Now Open
The Lantern Street extension from Highway 2A to Gasoline Alley was officially opened yesterday by dignitaries from Red Deer County and Alberta Transportation. The new link will provide businesses, residents and shoppers an alternative safe access to the area.
Shortage of Land Reduces Building Permit Values in Red Deer
The value of building permits for July have decreased 40% from the same month last year and permits for this year to date are down from $152.6 million last year to $143.6. However, the number of permits has gone up over the same period. Most of the value decline is in industrial and commercial development, at least partly due to the lack of suitable land in the city. Red Deer County, on the other hand, saw a significant increase in the value of industrial building permits. Residential building in the city remains strong with an increase in value over the first seven months of the year.
Innisfail and Red Deer County Seek Public Input on Agreement
A development plan for 40 quarter sections of land to the north and west of the Town of Innisfail has been successfully drafted between the town and Red Deer County. An open house and presentation to get public input on the agreement will be held in Innisfail Aug. 23 before going to each Council for approval.

Aug. 1, 2006
New Rural Community Planned for Red Deer County
A proposed new community of 2,500 people called Timber Rock is being proposed for a 1,440 acre parcel of land eight km. east of Red Deer near Delburne Road. Diamond Key Homes held an open house recently at Westerner Park in Red Deer to show the public the proposed area structure plan and how the community will be architecturally controlled offering a village lifestyle and avoid the unsustainable trend toward acreages which reduce agricultural land. The community is expected to be fully developed in ten years and have 75% green space. The proposal goes to County Council Aug. 15.
Housing Project on Red Deer's Convent Hill Approved
After considerable discussion with neighbouring residents and a number of modifications to the original plans, a 55-unit condominium project on the north escarpment received approval from Red Deer City Council Monday. A four-storey building with underground parking will be built on the former site of St. Joseph's Convent. The primary concern with area residents was traffic congestion and routing in the vicinity of Village Mall and other developments nearby.

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