The Community
Press Volume 113, Issue 32
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
$1 Including GST
Late Night cow check reveals spectacular northern lights over Flagstaff
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S ‘PRESS Extreme cold forces bus cancellations and warnings from Environment Canada - Page 6 Killam RCMP report multiple warrants pursued - Page 3 The Future is Flagstaff - new initiative coming to community - Page 10 Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a blind date with a book - Page 14 Good news for selfemployed individuals told they had to repay CERB relief payments Page 7
SHILA BISHOP PHOTO With the extreme cold temperatures in the region over the weekend, producers are checking their herds often this calving season. It was one such check made by Shila Bishop of Killam late in the evening on Saturday, Feb. 6, where she came upon a vivid display of the northern lights over the Killam skyline. Aurora Watch, a service of the University of Alberta, issued a red alert from 11 p.m. Saturday until dawn Sunday. A red alert is issued when high geomagnetic activity is recorded, a good measure of a high probability of seeing northern lights.
Flagstaff County approves 2021 Budget - Page 8
AND MUCH MORE!
Province flips on out-of-school sports - too late for most Flagstaff arenas and hockey programs Leslie Cholowsky Editor
The Province made a last-minute amendment to its Step 1 restriction easements on Saturday, Feb. 6, just two days before coming into play, allowing indoor and outdoor minor sports activities outside of the school in addition to schoolbased activities. For participants 18-years-old or younger, children and youth are allowed to participate in limited group activities, including lessons, practices, and physical conditioning activities for indoor or outdoor sports activities, as well as school athletics. All games continue to
be prohibited. Saturday’s announcement says limited indoor and outdoor activities for school and minor sports are now allowed, with a 10-individual maximum including participants, coaches, and trainers. Physical distancing must be maintained at all times; three metres indoors, and two metres outdoors. Participants must be masked except during the training activity, coaches and trainers must be masked at all times. The Alberta Health Order also specifically includes dance as a physical activity. The rules posted on Alberta.ca appear somewhat contradictory, as it shows that
fitness and recreation centres, including pools, indoor rinks, and arenas, must remain closed. Alberta Health Assistant Director of Communications Tom McMillan clarifies that while rinks remain closed to the general public they can be used for the minor youth sports and physical activities online, as long as users follow restrictions put in place. In light of Saturday’s announcement, Hockey Alberta, who last Tuesday called for the end of the season, called Saturday’s announcement good news. In the Flagstaff Region, where Forestburg joined Hardisty, Sedgewick, and Killam in shutting down their ice plant, the news was met with mixed reactions.
Daysland Arena has decided to keep the ice in, and is now taking bookings for activities meeting the restrictions. While most were sad that the announcement came too late to save hockey for this season, facilities were hopeful that the arena surfaces could be soon used to support indoor sports. Many parents were relieved to be able to resume dance classes under the new order, and looked ahead to spring training camps for baseball and other activities. Adult group physical activities remain limited to outdoor facilities with groups of 10 people or fewer. Two-metre See RESTRICTIONS P9