The Community
Press
COVID Activity 2nd Section INSIDE! Volume 112, Issue 42
Telling your story
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
$1 Including GST
Fire Dept. responds to bale blaze
KIM CANNADY PHOTO
Killam Fire Department members responded to a call northwest of the town on Saturday, April 18, where they dealt with a bale fire and hay trailer fire. Note that fire department members wore personal protection equipment as well as their regular firefighter gear. Once the fire was knocked down, the landowner was able to prevent any further spread of the fire.
Hardisty Emergency Department temporarily closed as COVID measure Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Alberta Health Services (AHS) announced the temporary closure of the Hardisty Health Centre Emergency Department effective Friday, April 17. AHS says, “Patients arriving at the emergency department will be redirected to other care options as appropriate.” That includes redirection to other nearby facilities, including Wainwright, Viking, Daysland, and Coronation. Heather Kipling, AHS Central Zone Communications Director says, “At this time, Killam may be an option for some patients, however referrals are being recommend to sites that don’t have large numbers of seniors in their patient populations to protect that high-risk group.
“Viking and Daysland don’t have long-term care beds on site while Killam does have a Campus of Care especially for seniors at the hospital.” AHS says that admission to acute care beds in Hardisty will also be temporarily paused. “The five existing acute care beds will temporarily be converted to support other services, including supporting patients waiting for continuing care placement, which do not require immediate access to a physician.” AHS says those people who do not require emergency care should continue to contact their physician’s clinic to book an appointment. “The Primary Care Clinic will continue to operate as usual at the site throughout the week.” The temporary closure will not impact the long-term care patients
in Hardisty, and other services in Hardisty, including diagnostic imaging and lab services will remain open. “No job losses will occur at the Hardisty Health Centre as a result of these changes.” AHS says the changes are part of its evolving response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Such changes are not made lightly, and are only done when absolutely necessary to protect vulnerable patients, staff and physicians.” Kipling added, “I can confirm that these closures are only a temporary measure as part of our COVID-19 pandemic response. “While we don’t yet have exact timelines as to when these services will resume given the evolving pandemic situation, we have plans See HARDISTY P22
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Greenhouses announced as essential services Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Greenhouse owners throughout Flagstaff breathed a huge sigh of relief at the province’s announcement that they will be considered an essential business and able to open their doors this spring. Letters went out to greenhouse operators on April 8 with the good news. Joleen Blaeser, owner of Country Girl Greenhouse in Killam, says she hopes that greenhouse operators through the province follow the rules so that everyone can stay open. Greenhouses typically place their orders for next year’s season in the summer and late fall, and had already put in considerable work and expense before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. There is a strong sense afoot that more people will be looking to gardening as not only a way to get out of See GREENHOUSES P22 Funded by the Government of Canada