News of the Red Deer Region - September 1 to 15, 2006

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

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

Sept. 15, 2006
United Way Increases Target for 2006
The United Way of Central Alberta has increased its target to $1.6 million for this year compared to the $1.4 million it exceeded last year. The funds raised will go toward 43 community agencies that assist people that need help, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Canadian Mental Health Association, Canadian Red Cross, Golden Circle Seniors Centre, Central Alberta AIDS Network Society, John Howard Society and several more.
Composite High School Renewal Now Complete
The completion of the $30 million renovation and expansion at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School was celebrated yesterday with students, staff and local leaders in attendance. The facility is now more compact but boasts a new science park, fine arts rooms, gymnasium, cafeteria, administration and counselling offices and additional classrooms. The old classroom wing with many years of problems was demolished. More second floor space and fewer lengthy corridors have improved the layout. LTCHS has 1,800 students and 140 staff.

Sept. 14, 2006
Regional Farmers Ahead of Normal on Fall Harvest
Most farmers in Central Alberta are about 10 to 14 days ahead of schedule with their fall harvest thanks to the unusually hot weather during the growing season. Some canola crops suffered damage due to the heat but timely rain could clear up that problem. Crops in the Penhold to Markerville area suffered major hail damage in August but most crops in the area have exceeded expectations.

Sept. 12, 2006
Health Region Finalizes North Red Deer Centre
A new community health centre may start construction as early as this fall in north Red Deer. The 2-storey 30,000 sq. ft. $10.4 million building will simulate the appearance of Red Deer's old downtown rail station. About 100 David Thompson Health Region staff are expected to use the building when it opens next year. The centre will offer immunization and diabetes clinics and other health services.
Year to Date Home Construction in Red Deer Up Over Last Year
In spite of a minor slow down in housing starts in Red Deer during August, housing starts for the first eight months of the year are well ahead of last year. CMHC reported that there were 909 housing starts to the end of August compared to 763 for the same period in 2005. Of that number, 654 were for single family and 255 for multi-family homes. In August, work began on 108 homes.

Sept. 11, 2006
Sylvan Lake Regatta Wraps Up Season
The annual End of Summer Hummer sailing event, sponsored by the Sylvan Lake Sailing Club, took place over the weekend with 30 sail boats participating, up five from last year. The lake is considered the best sailing lake in the province because the water depths are relatively consistent. Participants came from all over Alberta.

Sept. 9, 2006
Renovations Begin on Historic Michener Building
The long awaited $11.3 million restoration and renovation of the historic Michener Centre administration building has begun. The building's roof caught fire after a lightening strike in 2003. Once complete, the building will be the new headquarters for the David Thompson Health Region with 170 staff. Currently, hazardous materials are being removed from the interior. The roof will be reconstructed next and then the interior will be gutted and rebuilt. A 14,000 sq. ft. addition will be built behind the 94 year old 25,600 sq. ft. building that will be restored to its historic appearance when it was Alberta's first ladies college. Construction is expected to be complete early in 2008.
Red Deer Peavey Mart Doubling Its Retail Space
Work is nearing completion on an addition to the Peavey Mart store in south Red Deer that will expand its retail space from 12,000 sq. ft. to 27,000 sq. ft. Storage space also increases from 1,500 sq. ft. to 7,000 sq. ft. Red Deer based Peavey Industries operates 26 Peavey Mart stores in Western Canada carrying agricultural and hardware supplies, clothing, automotive goods, housewares and lawn and garden supplies. The renovated store is expected to be open by the end of October.

Sept. 7, 2006
Water Pipeline to Alix Opens
A 16 km $9.9 million pipeline from Stettler to Alix is now bringing treated water from the Red Deer River to the residents of the village. A severe water shortage due to village wells running low has forced Alix to buy water from a local malt company until the new line was operational. The Alix line is the first of three phases of a regional water system that will see a 10 km $2.1 million pipeline to Mirror and an additional 11.5 km of pipeline to Clive and Bashaw.
Red Deer Chamber President Presents Bold Vision
The new president of the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce, Mitch Thomson of Parkland Funeral Home, presented his vision of the future of the Red Deer region at a luncheon recently. He stressed the importance of transportation links that include a high speed rail line between Calgary and Edmonton, expansion of the Red Deer Regional Airport and a new highway route through the Rockies at Howse Pass west of Rocky Mountain House. He also wants to see further diversification of the local economy, an increased emphasis on tourism, solutions for the worker shortage and environmental protection.
Red Deer County Approves Industrial Rezoning But Wants to Create Plan
An 88-acre parcel of land alongside Highway 2A, north of the city of Red Deer in the Central Park planning area and north of the existing Ipsco steel plant, has been given first reading to rezone from agricultural to industrial by Red Deer County Council to accommodate a new location for Precision Well Servicing. The area is within the Intermunicipal Development Plan between the city and the county but an area structure needs to be updated to plan for long-term future growth. However, the City says it has been too busy to get together with the County for an updated north plan, mostly due to resources being used to register objections with County development south of the city. The city also stated that it has no objection to the rezoning.

Sept. 6, 2006
Bowden Refinery to be Reactivated
Parkland Industries has struck a deal with Ineos Canada to upgrade oilfield drilling fluids from their plant at Joffre at the Bowden refinery that has been idle for five years. The feedstock, currently being shipped to the U.S. for processing, will be shipped to Calgary by train and trucked to the refinery. In the future, a rail spur may be constructed at the Bowden site.
Red Deer Regional Airport Launches Survey to See What People Want
The Red Deer Regional Airport authority has commissioned a $40,000 survey asking people about their travel patterns and their expectations from airport facilities. The results will be available to airlines interested in serving the Red Deer market, the aviation support industry and other interested parties. Merv Phillips, in his quarterly report to Red Deer County, indicated that the Red Deer Airport Authority is pursuing improvements to the infrastructure and lighting, a Central Alberta customs office, industrial development and an east-west passenger carrier. Infrastructure improvements and extending the runway are necessary to attract more regional carriers and improved road access to attract more industrial development.
Commercial Buildings Approved for Former County Office Site
Red Deer's municipal planning commission has approved a proposal to build two commercial buildings at the corner of 32 St. and 48 St., the location of the former Red Deer County administration building. Each building will be 10,500 sq. ft. and is targeted to have some health-related businesses.
Net Zero Energy Homes Goal of Two Red Deer Builders
Laebon Homes and Avalon Master Builders of Red Deer have been selected to receive funding through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to design a home that produces as much energy through solar and geothermal technology as they use. If successful in advancing to the next stage, a demonstration home would be built next year.

Sept. 5, 2006
Kerry Wood Nature Centre Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Close to the centre of Red Deer, the Kerry Wood Nature Centre on Sunday celebrated 20 years of teaching people about the natural environment around them. About 80,000 people a year enjoy the interpretive centre and the adjoining Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary. When first opened in 1986, it was designed to serve 15,000 people a year and has had to expand twice.
Bowden Sun Maze Enjoys Successful First Year
Eight acres of corn and sunflowers seven km west of Bowden have been visited by 2,000 people since the end of July when the Bowden Sun Maze first opened to the public. The maze contains 140,000 corn plants between 2.5 and 3 metres tall and 20,000 sunflowers. It usually takes 45 minutes to get through the site. A three-acre you-pick flower field with 10 varieties of flowers is located beside the maze.
Trauma Tour Attracts Bigger Crowd to Sylvan Lake
Tour officials estimate that about 17,500 people attended this year's Coors Light Trauma Tour at Sylvan Lake over the weekend, about 5,000 more than last year. The event consisted of water sports, motorcycle jumping, rock bands and bikini contests. Police reported few problems.

Sept. 2, 2006
Town of Bashaw Sees Mini Building Boom
A residential subdivision in the town of Bashaw that started in 1979 has seen 37 lots sold this year after several years of relative inactivity. The town, with a population of around 825, is about an hour's drive from Red Deer, Stettler, Ponoka, Lacombe and Camrose. In another development, the former Saputo plant in Bashaw is being developed into a temporary research and development facility.
Alexander Way Celebration Set to Go
The second annual Alexander Way celebration in downtown Red Deer will be held Saturday, September 16 to mark progress in transforming the street into a pedestrian friendly corridor. Entertainers, vendors, cultural groups and artists will be on hand. Sidewalk work and other enhancements are expected to be ready for the event.
Road Maintenance Company Constructing Several Buildings
With Alberta Highway Services getting the maintenance contract for most of the highways in the Red Deer area, they are busy constructing buildings in Red Deer County, Ponoka, Innisfail, Lacombe, Rimbey, Nordegg and Wetaskiwin to house snowplows, sand, salt, offices and shop space. About $5 million is being invested.

Sept. 1, 2006
Only One Central Alberta School Announced by Province
The provincial government has announced a $303 million school infrastructure package but only one school in Central Alberta is included. Olds will get a $4 million modular Catholic school for grades Kindergarten to Grade 4 or 6 that the Red Deer Catholic Regional School District hopes will be open in 2007 or 2008. The provincial funding package included 15 new schools, 6 upgrades and 130 modular classrooms. More schools are expected to be announced in the fall.
Shania Twain Contributes Towards Innisfail Police Dog Monument
International music star Shania Twain, originally from Timmins, Ontario, has contributed $5,000 toward a monument to be constructed at the RCMP Police Dog Training Centre near Innisfail. The national monument will honour police dogs that have died in the line of duty. Approximately half of the $30,000 needed has been raised.

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