Wednesday, January 12, 2022 Vol. 45, No. 2
Your LOCAL Paper
$1 includes GST
Omicron Food Bank stays stocked thanks to generosity ‘everywhere’ says health officer Patricia Harcourt Editor
The chief provincial officer of health has warned that the highly infectious Omicron variant is “everywhere” and people need to take precautions to prevent getting infected. This appears to be playing out locally as cases of COVID-19 have risen to 15 from just five last week in the eastern part of Beaver County - Viking (Beaver County East - and 36 (up from 26) in the western end - Tofield (Beaver County West). Omicron is now being blamed for rapid spread of the disease in the province as 40 per cent of people are testing positive. But the numbers only tell a part of the story, as health officials believe many others are infected who haven’t been tested. Since not everyone can be counted as in previous waves of the pandemic, said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health, announced changes to testing eligibility on Monday. It will no longer be standard for people feeling symptoms of infection to get a PCR test. People are being urged to stay home if they feel unwell but a test is no longer indicated to confirm their medical status. With positivity rates at 40 per cent for those who have been tested, Hinshaw said testing eligibility will now focus on high risk individuals and settings. This includes people with clinical risk factors for severe outcomes and those who live and work in high-risk settings. “Like other provinces, Alberta’s testing resources have increasingly become stretched, and with the rising number of COVID cases due to Omicron, we now need to focus this testing capacity strategically to those most at risk of serious illness from COVID,” said Hinshaw. She reported six new deaths that have occurred since January 6, noting the increases in Omicron See COVID UPDATE P7
Pictured above: The Viking and Holden Area Food Bank have packed their meat freezer thanks to many generous donations from around the county. The Food Bank thanks all of those who keep them in mind year round, as your donations help in big ways. Pictured right: Two volunteers at the Viking and Holden Area Food Bank stand behind a donation from a generous member of the community to help stock the shelves for the holiday season. The Food Bank is always grateful for donations, big or small, of food or money to help those in need.
Page 8 - The Weekly Review, Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Skully’s U9 Gas Kings update Submitted This is a quick recap of what the team has been up to for the remainder of 2021. The team took on a few games starting on November 27, which was a home game against Irma. Then on December 4, the team played an away game against Irma followed by another
away game on December 5 against Camrose. On December 11, they played a home game against Mannville, and the next weekend on December 18 the team played a home game against Camrose. That same weekend, on December 19, the team travelled to Wainwright for another away game.
U9 Gas Kings player Taylen Place (#20) with his first goal puck.
During this time, some exciting things happened. On November 27, at a home game against Irma, Taylen Place - the team’s ‘go to’ goalie - decided to take his chances by playing out of the net. This ended up in his favour as he was able to land himself his first goal, receiving his first goal puck! Way to go, Taylen! More excitement for the team came on December 15 during “Bring your friend to hockey.” All the players were able to bring a friend of their choosing and this scored the team another player. Joining the team was Hailey Gabrielle who was brought along by her friend Emily Amundson. Welcome to the team Hailey!
Highway 14 Regional Water Services Commission Box 540, 5029-51 Ave. Ryley, Alberta T0B 4A0 (780) 663-2019 or 1-866-333-3791 Fax: (780) 663-2050 E-mail: info@hwy14water.ca
NOTICE THE HIGHWAY 14 REGIONAL WATER SERVICES COMMISSION will be implementing a water increase to the Commodity Charge (Distribution and Bulk) effective March 1st, 2022. The Commission’s water rates will reflect this increase on the March month end utility bills.
Changes to rates are as follows: • Distribution Commodity Rate has been increased from $4.515/m3 to $4.966/m3. • Bulk Commodity Rate has been increased from $3.815/m3 to $4.196/m3. Highway 14 Regional Water Services Commission can be contacted at 1-866-333-3791 during regular office hours from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
BABIES Hailey Gabrielle (#19) is the latest player to join the U9 Gas Kings team.
of
2021 Presented by:
O T E E FR ! R E T EN
THE WEEKLY REVIEW will celebrate the babies born
U9 Gas Kings player Avery Erickson (#6) with his hockey stick in hand ready to play.
LAST YEAR in our February 2 issue. Your baby’s photo will appear in our special BABIES OF 2021 page and be entered to win a $50 gift certificate from a local business and a 2-year gift subscription to The Weekly Review.
THIS YEAR WILL BE FREE TO ENTER! IT’S EASY TO TAKE PART.... Just stop in or send us a clear photo of your baby with the child’s full name, date of birth, and parents’ names. Photos and information can be emailed to vikingreview@gmail.com or dropped off at our office in Viking (Mon-Wed-Thu), or mailed to Box 240, Viking, AB, T0B 4N0. If mailed in and you wish for the pictures to be returned, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope, or pick up the photos at our office anytime after publication. Breece Erickson (#15) smiles knowing he is having fun as a U9 Gas Kings player.
FINAL DEADLINE: Monday, Jan. 31
Serving all the farms, ranches, acreages and towns in Beaver County
BEAVER COUNTY SEED CLEANING CO-OP
OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Chronicle
Bruce, Holden, Kinsella Ryley, Tofield, Viking
Phone 780-688-3917 • Holden, AB
The Beaver County
Hubert & Margaret Graham Parts, Sales & Service Bus: 780-663-3759 Res: 780-662-2384 Fax: 780-663-3799
ryalta@digitalweb.net 5108 - 50th St. Ryley, AB., T0B 4J0
A Free Weekly Publication Serving All of Beaver County Wednesday, January 12, 2022, Volume 15, Issue 2
County agrees to partner again with Viking for phase 2 of study Patricia Harcourt Beaver County Council agreed January 5 to partner with the Town of Viking for phase two funding of an infrastructure study. Then Interim CAO Margaret Jones told council that there was no financial commitment required from the county regarding this Alberta Community Partnership (ASP) grant application. If granted, Jones stated this funding “will concentrate on the town’s infrastructure (roads, recreational facilities, etc.). The study will further consider solutions for mitigating downstream water management (surge ponds, storage areas) and may identify the impact of drainage from the county into the Town of Viking’s drainage system.”
She added: “No financial commitment is required from the county to participate in this program. The Town of Viking will be the managing partner.” The Town of Viking has been seeking to mitigate issues of flood management and control following at least one instance where a flash rainstorm developed and streets in the town were severely flooded as drainage systems couldn’t manage the overload. As well, the town suspected that drainage of county water into town also contributed to the situation. The county has done a wetland study in the Thomas Lake watershed. Jones said there are three drained wetlands that could be eligible for wetland replacement funding through the Provincial Wetland Replacement Program.
“The goal of this initiative is to encourage landowners to hold water upstream of the town,” she said. “The county has only recently begun to communicate/educate affected landowners about this program.” A joint application in 2020 for phase two funding from ACP was rejected. However, ACP did fund an earlier phase one study which released a report in June of last year. The study “indicated that the Town of Viking’s drainage system represents a very small portion of the catchment area for Thomas Lake and any increase in the lake levels is not likely attributable to the town’s drainage system.” That same study recommended that the county “undertake a
regional assessment to develop strategies to identify corridors to interconnect and drain some low lying areas around the lake.” Although phase one did not require any county funds, Deputy Reeve Gene Hrabec (Division 3) expressed some hesitation about the second phase for that reason. “Will there be funding later required by the county,” he asked. Jones said council would have to wait for the results of the phase two report and its recommendations. “I have no problem with this,” replied Division 5 Councillor Dale Pederson, where Lake Thomas is situated at the eastern end of the county. “It’s an issue that’s been bothering us.” His motion to agree to partner with Viking as per the recommendation was passed by council.
County hires consultant as new interim CAO Patricia Harcourt The consultant who tabled a corporate review of Beaver County last fall has been hired as its new Interim Chief Administrative Officer (CAO.) Rick McDonald will take over for Margaret Jones, the county’s assistant CAO, who has been filling in since former CAO Bob Beck was terminated at the end of September. The motion to hire McDonald was made by Deputy Reeve Gene Hrabec (Division 3) and was
passed unanimously. Hrabec thanked Jones for her seven months performing extra service as Interim CAO. Jones had also covered in the CAO position over the summer as Beck took medical leave. Reeve Kevin Smook (Division 1) read out an official announcement of the hiring following the vote. Smook said both internal and external sources were invited to apply for the position. However, McDonald was hired out of the “high quality of applications
received.” McDonald has over 35 years of public and private sector experience, and is a graduate of the Executive Management Program at the University of Alberta. He has a certificate in local government administration, with extensive experience working as a CAO for the counties of Westlock, Rocky View, Saddle Hills, and Yellowhead; and the urban centres of Lloydminster, Olds, Grande Cache, and Cold Lake. “Mr. McDonald recently complet-
ed a corporate governance review for Beaver County,” stated Smook, making him “well positioned to quickly implement the recommendations contained in the review.” Jones has confirmed she will be staying on in her long-time role of Assistant CAO. McDonald will continue in his role of Interim CAO “until council has recruited a permanent CAO within the next few months.” It was not stated whether or not his name would be in the running for that position.
Why would you outsource your printing out of county? Once that money is gone, it’s NEVER coming back. Order from your LOCAL paper instead! adsmercury@gmail.com or vikingreview@gmail.com