Brrrrrrr … frigid temperatures strike region RICHARD FROESE Independent reporter Baby it’s cold outside. The Stettler region, and most of eastcentral Alberta, received its coldest weather this winter Tuesday morning as the wind-chill caused temperatures to dip to minus-42 C. Blowing snow contributed to the deep freeze as many students stayed home from school. Buses didn’t run in parts of the Clearview School Division, though most schools remained open. “We decided to cancel the buses in the rural areas for the safety of the students,” Clearview superintendent John Bailey said Tuesday. “All schools are open, even when the buses don’t run. Parents have the ultimate decision whether to send their children to school.” While buses transported students within Stettler town limits, routes were
cancelled in Erskine, Big Valley, Botha, Donalda, Byemoor, Halkirk, Castor, Coronation and Brownfield, Clearview reported on its website. “We had some snowdrifts in many areas,” Bailey said. Under division policy, buses generally are sidelined when temperatures fall to minus-35 C, and roads put student safety at risk, Bailey said. “We do it in consultation with bus drivers.” Today is a school holiday — for another reason. After a division-wide professional development day for teachers today, students are scheduled to return to classes Thursday. Temperatures are projected to jump Thursday to lows of minus-18 and high of minus-8, while the mercury is slated to hit plus-1 on Friday. Several drifts in the rural areas of the County of Stettler kept maintenance crews busy Tuesday.
LES STULBERG/Independent reporter
Picnic tables were not only covered in snow, but also far from the winter reality for the Stettler region Tuesday as temperatures dipped to the minus-42 C range.
Serving the Heart of Central Alberta for 106 years
VOLUME ONE HUNDRED SEVEN
PM40011853 R08546
NUMBER FIVE
STETTLER, ALBERTA
January 30, 2013
PRICE – $1.09 Plus GST
Stettler braces for health-care changes Provincial official promises ‘better overall employment’ LES STULBERG Independent reporter
RICHARD FROESE/Independent reporter
Children enjoy games at the Heartland Youth Centre, which continues to operate its Stettler programs despite contending with a budget deficit of more than $50,000. The Town of Stettler is beefing up its support this year.
Town comes to rescue of money-losing centre Mayor says youth centre ‘provides essential service’ LES STULBERG Independent reporter Strapped with a projected $52,900 budget deficit this year, Heartland Youth Centre in Stettler has gained more financial support from the Town of Stettler. At its regular meeting last week, council committed $40,000 to the youth centre, which presented its budget for 2013. “This council is committed to funding the HYC,” said Stettler Mayor Dick Richards. “I believe your organization provides an essential service to the community.” Last year, the town contributed $35,500, after providing $7,500 in 2011.
“I’m a huge proponent of the HYC,” said Coun. Leona Thorogood, who lauded the organization for allocating reserve funding for such deficit situations. HYC executive members remain optimistic that the centre will run as scheduled, despite the financial hardships. “We are confident we can operate without shutting any programs down,” said past-treasurer Steve Davies, who addressed council with current treasurer Pauline Christian and director Dave Wood. With expenses of $268,400, HYC has calculated just $215,500 in revenue and funding and other fundraising initiatives, such as the major Awesome Auction. “We have some excellent fundraising,” Davies said. Early last year, town council assured HYC of more funding to help offset
the shortfall that resulted from losing about $25,000 from the Stettler and District Family and Community Services. For the previous few years, the town had contributed $7,500 each year. Even with that shortfall, HYC has budgeted $117,500 in fundraising, which includes donations, Bowl for Kids, Awesome Auction, special events, and a Community Spirit grant. HYC has also allocated further revenue from program fees for $20,000, United Way for $18,000, Boys and Girls Clubs grants of $9,000, a Student
Temporary Employment Program (STEP) grant of $8,900, and rentals for $2,100. HYC is also scheduled to add to its coffers from volunteer service at a casino this fall, with the revenue expected in late 2013. Expenses include personnel for $202,875, administration for $36,325 and $29,200 for programs. Heartland Youth Centre provides various programs for youths from Stettler and district. Last year, the centre recorded 6,532 individual visits, though that number was down from 6,890 in 2011 and 6,752 in 2010.
Two Stettler facilities are part of the provincial changes in health care planned for 2013, Alberta Health Services announced Friday. A new Stettler seniors’ home, Points West Living, is set to open in July, said Kerry Bales, the senior vicepresident for the AHS central zone. That 104-bed facility will house 88 assisted-living units. In the current picture, Alberta Health Services operates 89 long-term-care units at the Stettler Health Care Centre. Bales said that when the 88 new units open, there would be a surplus of vacant beds, so 39 spaces at the health-care centre would be decommissioned. The anticipated complement for Stettler would be 88 continuing-care units at Points West and 50 long-term spaces at the health-care centre. “For the Stettler community, that is a net gain of 49 continuing-care spaces,” Bales said. He said there would be transition from a staff perspective, and that Alberta Health has been working with the unions and local staff to ease the changes. “Points West will have to hire — there will be some changes in staffing — but overall, it will involve a net gain,” Bales said from his Red Deer office. “It will be a better overall employment situation for Stettler.” Of the 88 supportive-living units, two are specialized suites for bariatric residents, 38 units will supply enhanced levels of care for dementia patients, and the remaining 48 units are classified as designated supportive living spaces. Designated supportive living is a community-based living option that provides 24-hour care onsite professional and personal-care support services to individuals with high-care needs, AHS reported in its latest announcement. Onsite professional health services are provided by licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and health-care aides. They’re supported by other health-care professionals, including registered nurses (RNs), case managers and other consultative services through Alberta Health Services’ home-care program. The enhanced supportive-living spaces for people with moderate to severe dementia or cognitive impairment will receive the same services as in a supportive living setting, but benefit from “a structured, secure environment,” Bales said. People in that category “have a high risk of wandering or unpredictable behaviours that do not allow them to be safely accommodated in a general setting.” Bales said the registered nursing care can be accessed during the normal hours of the Alberta Health Services home-care program, or on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Points West Living is a 104-bed facility, which in addition to the 88 supportive-living units also offers independent living designed for couples or families. “We are pretty excited about the project,” Bales said. “It is a significant and helpful investment for the community.” Bales said Alberta Health Services is planning a process to meet with the residents and their families to access their needs. Placements will be based “on the best place where patient needs will be met.” People with significantly higher medical needs would be more suited to the long-term care facility, while those with lesser medical needs would be a match for the continuing-care facility, he said. “Couples with varying health care requirements won’t have to be separated from each other now. They can live in the same facility when it offers more than one level of care, as well as the independent-living option. “People quite enjoy the supportive-living model, because it is much like a home environment, as opposed to a hospital-based look. “It’s a positive change. I think people will be happy with it.”
Readers can also find the Stettler Independent at stettlerindependent.com