NEWS of the Red Deer Region - September 15-30, 2007

 
News of the Red Deer Region
snippets and summaries of news reports from local media (primarily Red Deer Advocate and Red Deer Express).
September 2007 Part 2

September 28, 2007
Regional Towns Reach National Bloom Finals
The towns of Lacombe, Olds and Sundre earned five blooms in various categories of the national Communities in Bloom contest. Lacombe was a finalist in the population 10,001 to 13,000 category receiving special mention for its downtown historic murals project. Sundre was a finalist in the 1,001 to 3,000 population category. Olds was a finalist in the international challenge category, cited for its strategic planning for environmental sustainability.

September 27, 2007
Citizens Group Wants City to Rethink Planning
Rethink Red Deer, a new citizens advocacy group, is suggesting that the city needs to plan less for cars and more for people. Some newer commercial centres and intersections discourage pedestrian use in the quest to accommodate more vehicles claims group founder Lorne Daniel, a communications consultant. He also questions why the city has implemented only a portion of the award-winning Downtown Action Plan adopted several years ago. The group urges the city to focus more on sidewalks, pedestrian and cycling trails and green spaces.

September 26, 2007
Annual Red Hat Awards Announced
Tourism Red Deer announced its annual Red Hat Awards on Tuesday. Fusion Cafe was chosen business of the year, Westerner Park was chosen organization of the year and Jerry Tennant was selected volunteer of the year. They were among 13 businesses and individuals recognized for customer service and community involvement in the hospitality and tourism industry from the 1,600 nominations received.

September 25, 2007
Municipalities Get Millions From Province
Over the next 10 years, Red Deer will receive $235 million from the Alberta government's recently-announced Municipal Sustainability Initiative. The funding formula is based on a blend of population and school requisition. Red Deer County will receive $79 million over the same period. Lacombe County will get $56 million, Sylvan Lake $30 million, Lacombe $29 million, Olds and Rocky Mountain House $21 million, Innisfail $20 million, Ponoka $18 million, Blackfalds $12 million, Penhold $6 million.
Large Sylvan Lake Condo Project Gets Approval
The 160-acre Beacon Hill Outline Plan on the south edge of the town of Sylvan Lake as well as the rezoning of the land have been approved by town council. Of the 990 homes in the subdivision, 430 will be located in two Medican condo complexes.

September 22, 2007
City Hall Expansion Plans On Hold
A plan to build a $30 million expansion to Red Deer city hall has been placed on hold indefinitely until the feasibility of the project is determined. The expansion will be needed eventually but leasing space may be more cost effective for the next few years. It is yet to be decided whether constructing a second building would be more practical than adding to the existing building. One possibility would be to construct on the RCMP building site once it is vacated in 2010.

September 21, 2007
Downtown Art Gets Overhaul
Several pieces of art in Red Deer's downtown are undergoing an overhaul. Two of the bronze "ghost" statues that have wooden components are being refurbished. Another sculpture is being repaired and repainted. Two murals have been located, one from the former CIBC building to the library in city hall park and the other to the CIRS building.

September 20, 2007
New Downtown City Police Station Delayed
The high RCMP design standards have delayed the start of construction of the downtown Red Deer police station. The detailed design will not go to council until the new year and, as a result, construction won't begin until at least next summer. The building should be completed in 2010. The new location is close to the fire hall, several bars and the two main road arteries. Meanwhile the $8.5 million north hill police station is under construction as part of the 67th St. fire hall redevelopment.

September 19, 2007
Red Deer Chamber Gets National Recognition
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, at its annual general meeting in Markham, Ontario, adopted two policy positions submitted by the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce -- one encouraging the federal government to take action on the pine beetle infestation and the other to reform the Canadian Wheat Board to allow farmers to choose markets for their products. The Red Deer Chamber also became one of two Alberta chambers to receive accreditation with distinction.

September 18, 2007
Civic Elections Draw Few Candidates
The civic elections that occur every three years is scheduled for October 15 throughout the region. The race for Red Deer mayor attracted three candidates -- incumbent Morris Flewwelling, Jeffrey Dawson and Matt Chapin. The race for Red Deer Council has attracted 14 candidates including all incumbents except Mr. Dawson compared to 25 at the last election in 2004. In Red Deer County, there's a two way race for mayor for the first time -- former reeve Earl Kinsella and Debra Hanna. In previous years, the reeve was elected by council. As a result, the number of county divisions has been reduced to six from seven, one of which has a new councillor elected by acclamation. Several mayors have been elected by acclamation in several towns including Lacombe, Penhold, Bowden, Ponoka, Rocky Mountain House, Bentley, Eckville and Sundre. There will be an election for mayor in Innisfail, Sylvan Lake, Blackfalds, Stettler, Olds and Bashaw.

September 17, 2007
NATO Pilot Reunion at Red Deer Airport
Nine pilots from various countries, who had trained at CFB Penhold in 1956 as Flight 5516, arrived in Springbrook at the Red Deer Regional Airport Saturday as part of a 50th anniversary reunion. They were among twenty-nine pilots, mostly from Western Europe, of that particular group who trained on Harvards at the base from March to October 1956 as part of Canada's role in NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) during the 1950's and 60's. One of the highlights of the day was taking turns sitting in the cockpit of a Harvard trainer that was flown in from Wetaskiwin for the occasion.

September 15, 2007
Downtown Green Housing Project Set to Proceed
A $9 million 3-storey environmentally-friendly residential and commercial building called Swerve Living is set to start construction next spring. Located in downtown Red Deer at Gaetz Ave. and 52 St. at the former Independent Business Products outlet, the old building will soon be demolished to make way for the 31 suite building that will include 5 ground floor commercial spaces. The European-style loft suites will be a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom units. Solar power and geothermal energy from the earth will work with other features to allow zero net energy consumption, emitting no greenhouse gases. One third of the suites will be rented out at 90% of market value and aimed at the working poor. The project will include an eight-metre tall, three-dimensional and interactive sculpture.
Two Major Developments at Gull Lake
A pair of lakeside developments are transforming the face of Gull Lake's northeast shore in Ponoka County. Meridian Beach, which encompasses about 75 acres, consists of 182 residential lots. A man-made canal extends more than a kilometre and serves as an inland marina. Two pedestrian bridges cross over the canal -- one a timber frame covered bridge, the other a 1912 steel bridge that once crossed the Medicine River near Markerville. Raymond Shores is an 85 acre recreational vehicle resort with 216 lots. It boasts a 40,000 sq. ft. sandy beach, a large green area, a bathhouse, playground and boat launch. A community lodge with a swimming pool, hot tub and group use area is under construction. The resort will be open for year-round use.

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