The Community
Press Telling Your Story
Volume 115, Issue 5
EXTREME
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
$1 Including GST
WEATHER
BRANDY HANSEN PHOTO
An EF0 tornado was confirmed to have touched down near Coronation on Sunday, July 31.
ANDREA LENNON PHOTO
Forestburg area hit by hail, rain, and strong winds during severe storm-filled long weekend throughout province Tornado watches and warnings mixed with severe thunderstorm warnings Leslie Cholowsky Editor
Severe storms rocked central Alberta over the weekend, from the rockies to the Saskatchewan border. Forestburg and surrounding area dealt with some severe weather over the long weekend, with warnings and watches from Environment Canada, and damaging hail and winds causing damage to vehicles, homes, and crops. Big Valley Jamboree organizers cancelled Friday evening’s concert due to a thunderstorm that rolled through the Camrose area. Environment Canada confirmed that Friday’s storm produced wind gusts up to 81 km/hr, causing damage to tents and trailers camped at the site. Andrea Lennon caught photos of ominous clouds from her home, located about 10 minutes north of Forestburg the evening of Saturday, July 29, definitely a harbinger of things to come for the rest of the weekend. Lennon says the storm came out of nowhere, with strong winds and black clouds. On Sunday, July 31, just before 4 p.m. Environment Canada issued a tornado warning, adding to the severe thunderstorm warnings, for areas near Forest-
burg and Galahad. Just minutes later, the warning shifted east to the County of Paintearth, and social media photos of a tornado on the ground near Coronation appeared. Environment Canada has confirmed that a tornado touched down there at around 5:15 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, with a preliminary rating of EF0, with wind speeds ranging from 90 to 130 km/hr. Hail stones from pea-sized to grapefruit size were reported throughout the central region of the province. Drivers on the QEII experienced large hail that smashed windshields and damaged vehicles near Innisfail, while closer to home, Brandy Hansen shared photos of loonie-sized hailstones from her home around 10 minutes southwest of Forestburg. Flagstaff County Councillor Mat Ponto, who resides west of Forestburg, reported that he also experienced large hail from Sunday’s storm, damaging three skylights on his house, his roof, and the paint on two sides of the house. He says that besides his own vehicles, family visitors had their vehicles and travel trailers damaged in the storm. He says his 15 acres of hay got pummelled, and that neighbouring farmers’
crop also got badly hit. The are reports of 100 per cent crop damage west of Forestburg, devastating when crops were looking so good just days earlier. The severe weather warnings continued into Monday, Aug. 1, with severe thunderstorm watches and warnings, along with more tornado watches for the Forestburg and Galahad area. Environment Canada issues warnings when severe weather events are either occurring or will occur. Watches are issued for weather conditions where there is potential for a significant storm or severe weather to occur. Watches are upgraded to warnings as meteorologists become more certain about the path or strength of a storm system. Environment Canada offers the following advice for persons caught outdoors or camping during storms, lightning, strong winds, hail, or a tornado: If you are in a tent or camper, take cover in a building such as a comfort station, washroom, or community hall, or get into a hardtop vehicle -If there is no building close by, crouch down in a ditch or other lowlying area and cover your head with your arms
-In the event of a tornado, leave your car immediately as the violent wind could easily flip it over -If there is no sturdy building nearby to protect you, lie flat in a ditch, ravine or other depressed area, and protect your head with your arms -Beware of flying debris -If you are in the water or on a boat, return to shore at the first sign of bad weather and take cover -Wait for 30 minutes after the storm has passed before returning to an open area or to the water. Weather alerts are issued for anyone who has the Environment Canada weather app on their smart phones, if notifications are allowed. There is also an Alberta Emergency Alert application available for phones that will alert to an emergency not only where you live, but if activated, will alert to your location if you happen to be travelling elsewhere in the province. Canada’s Alert Ready system also works automatically on most smartphones, but many require the most upto-date operating system to receive the alerts properly. As of Tuesday, Aug. 2, the Alert Ready system reports that in 2022, 106 tornado alerts have been issued in the province of Alberta.
Page 2 - The Community Press, Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Donation from Gibson and employees
Kent Drager of Gibson Energy in Hardisty recently presented an entire 4-H beef from Irma to Sue Freadrich, Flagstaff Food Bank Vice Chair, and Lynne Jenkinson, Board Secretary. Gibson Energy purchased the beef at a 4-H sale and then donated it to Flagstaff Food Bank after having it cut and wrapped. Drager also presented the food bank with $680 from a cash donation that the Gibson employees in the Hardisty control room raised by a staff challenge.
Edmonton
SASKATCHEWAN Hardisty
Saskatoon
Kerrobert
MANITOBA
1
ALBERTA 2
Regina Winnipeg Cromer
3
Line 3 Pipeline Line 3 Decommissioning (2022) Enbridge Facility
4
CANADA
Completed in 2021
Gretna
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Seasonal Pipeline Work From late July/early August through October, small Enbridge work crews will begin decommissioning of the Line 3 pipeline in southern Saskatchewan. With the new, replacement pipeline providing commercial service since late 2019, this essential field work will take the old Line 3 pipeline out of service safely and permanently.
Line 3 decommissioning will involve cleaning, disconnecting, segmenting, filling the pipeline at strategic points and ongoing monitoring, even after decommissioning is complete. To learn more about how we plan to safely decommission the old Line 3, please visit enbridge.com/l3d.
The Community Press, Wednesday, August 3, 2022 - Page 3
Incumbent MLA Lovely and Smook urge UCP members to come vote Staff Reporter
This weekend as incumbent MLA Jackie Lovely and Kevin Smook pursue Camrose constituents’ affirmation to run on the UCP ticket, both candidates reiterated one last time the various platforms they were operating from and urged UCP members to come out and vote. Lovely said that as she continues to support and represent Camrose constituents in her many efforts, it has been her honour to serve and see some of the ideas come to fruition. Lovely – the eldest of six children grew up on her family farm – left home at the age of 18 to pursue post-secondary education and a career, which led her to living in Alberta since 1989. “It has been my honour to see my motion passed with unanimous consent, which led to the increase in the number of student seats at the University of Calgary veterinary program to address the shortage that we are experiencing in large animal veterinarians,” she said. “The recent appointment to the Treasury Board will allow me to ensure that our precious tax dollars are used wisely. I would like to see us whittle down our $94 billion debt, have more money invested into our Alberta heritage trust fund, and see our road conditions improved! “Last week I received approval from Minister Copping to take the lead in working with the nurse practitioners to help address our healthcare needs in rural Alberta. “My hope is that the members have been happy with the work that I have done to ensure our constituency has our needs met.” Smook has been campaigning and door
knocking alongside Lovely and in a statement released on Tuesday, Aug. 2, he announced his commitment to advocate for matters concerning areas in the riding, emphasizing issues facing the City of Camrose, after announcing his rural plan last week. “When our UCP government announced roughly $85 million in new spending to create new seats in post-secondary programs, it’s not clear Augustana is receiving any of those seats. “We have a shortage of rural health-care practitioners and the cut programs were exactly that,” Smook said. “Augustana is one of the crown jewels of our riding and it needs to be
preserved.” After previous cuts were made to the University of Alberta - Augustana campus, Kevin Smook wants to push the government to ensure those programs – both in healthcare – see a return. He also stated that he will advocate for Camrose to have a dedicated seat on the University of Alberta board to ensure fair representation. Another issue Smook has said he will champion is ensuring the City of Camrose has a sustainable water source for generations to come. Currently, the City pulls from Dried Meat Lake, though its longevity is uncertain. He wants to ensure the City receives help in funding a new
freshwater system – that could cost more than $100 million – so it can continue to attract new residents and businesses alike. “As the MLA, I will advocate to have in-person meetings with the Minister, and City elected officials so the Provincial government knows first hand the challenges the Continued on Page 5
of the
clans Highland Festival Saturday, August 20 Sedgewick, AB GENERAL SCHEDULE 10am - Gates Open 11am - Opening Ceremonies 11:30am - Scheduled Entertainment Begins (including heavy events) 3:30pm - Closing Ceremonies & Mass Band 5pm p - Pigg Roast Supper pp 7:30pm p - Ceillidh (dance) ( )
ALL DAY PACKAGE TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED BEFORE AUGUST 10. Pig Roast Supper exclusively available in the All Day Package
www.flagstaffscottishclub.com/gotchf
Digital Sale
FRI AUGUST 5TH 2PM-6PM
Check out the Guardian app Abreva Cold Sore Treatment 2g, selected t ypes
Materna, Centrum, One-a-Day, Flinstones Vitamins & Minerals
BALL FAMILY DENTAL
4913 50 ST, KILLAM AB, T0B 2L0 SNACKS, PRIZES, TOURS, KIDS ACTIVITIES!
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Flyer Prices in effect Friday, Aug 5 to Thursday, August 11 This week’s SUMMER Great Buy: STOCK Atoma 500mg Fashions, Acetaminophen Toys, Tabs or caplets
Giftware
$699 25%OFF Peace Tea 695 ml
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FOR
Moush John
gathering
$3
780-385-3598
. Killam, Alberta
KILLAM PENTECOSTAL TABERNACLE TURNS 100! Come & celebrate with us
Saturday and Sunday August 20 & 21 Celebration Schedule: Saturday from 1 - 4 p.m. Open house at Killam Pentecostal Tabernacle and The Living Room. We invite you to come and share stories and testimonies of God’s Faithfulness, Mercy and Grace. Sunday: 10 a.m. At the Killam Community Hall on Main Street Celebration Service with Great Worship and Special Guest Alberta District Superintendant Gary Taitinger
Sunday (continued): 12:00 Delicious Lunch (You must be registered to get in on this. Tickets are available for $25 each and must be reserved by August 12.) 2 p.m. - Celebration Presentations Featuring Dignitaries and also previous and present Pastors. This is an event you will not want to miss!!!!
Serving Town & Country since 1962 Open Hours: 9-6 Mon thru Fri, 9-4 Saturday & Closed Sunday.
Contact Pastor Ben @ 780-385-3587 or 780-307-3251 or email killampentecostal@gmail.com for more information and for Tickets for the Sunday Lunch.
Page 14 - The Community Press, Wednesday, August 3, 2022
August 2022 Meetings
Council Meetings Flagstaff County Co ouncil M Meetings eetings aare re conducted the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month commencing at 9 a.m. unless u otherwise planned. Council and Committ ommittee meeting agendas aare re aavvailable at the County’’ss websit ebsiite te at: flagstafff fff...ab.ca/c .ca/council/mee .ca/ council/meeeetings-andminuutes tes
780-384-4100 1-877-387-4100 Email: Stay Connected with Us: s
Monday to Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Closed Noon - 1 p.m.)
Address: e
12435 To Township w Road 4442 PP..O. Box 35 358 Seedgew wi wic icck, AB T0B 4C00
The Community Press, Wednesday, August 3, 2022 - Page 15
Public Works Updates Please refer to our website at www.flagstaff.ab.ca for up-to-date road work throughout the County.
Road Recovery Crews will be working on the following shoulder pulling project this week: • West of Forestburg on Range Road 154 from Secondary Highway 53 to Township Road 414 for 2.0 miles. Once this project has been completed, crews will be moving to the following shoulder pulling project: • Southwest of Strome on Township Road 442 from Secondary Highway 855 to Range Road 152 for 6.0 miles.
Public Works Services Please visit the Flagstaff County website at flagstaff.ab.ca for information regarding Gravel Sales, Residential Laneway Maintenance, Road Maintenance, Hamlet Services, and more. Please keep in mind that our seasonal crews will be out working on our roadways and to use extreme caution while travelling on these roads while they are being maintained in any way. We thank you in advance for your cooperation during this season.
Have Your Say ... and a burger ... at our Public Input BBQ on Thursday, August 18!
We are seeking public input into future programs and services for all departments in preparation for the 2023 Business Plan and Budget. Stop by our administration building between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Councillors will also be on hand to answer your questions.