Archived Springbrook and Area News
August 2006 (special page for Aug. 10 hail and wind storm)

Aug. 30, 2006
Police College Awarded to Fort Macleod
The provincial government has announced that the preferred location for the $50-100 million police college is Fort Macleod in southern Alberta. Officials cited its historical significance was one of the primary factors for locating there. Red Deer County had been in the top four communities in the province in the running for the facility that will train 400 police recruits and 1,000 peace officers annually. Other factors cited by the province was its proximity to the city of Lethbridge and aboriginal policing as well as being located on a major highway. The County's location in Springbrook was considered a front runner due to its central location and its proximity to major highways, a major regional airport, the city of Red Deer, Red Deer College, the remand centre, Bowden correctional facility and Innisfail police dog training centre.

Aug. 22, 2006
Horn Hill Solid Waste Transfer Site Open Extra Day
Red Deer County's newest transfer facility, the Horn Hill Solid Waste Transfer Site, is now open three days a week from two. Located one mile east of the Hwy. 2 & Hwy. 42 interchange and a half mile south of Hwy. 42 on RR 273, it is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8 am to 6 pm but only accepts bagged household waste until later in the year when it becomes fully functional. Other household waste can go to waste transfer sites at Innisfail, Lousana or Kevisville. Construction and demolition materials should be taken to landfills at Prentiss, Three Hills or Rocky Mountain House. The Red Deer landfill is now closed to County residents. The collection site for fallen trees, limbs, leaves and other yard waste but no household or construction debris will remain open next to the Springbrook ball diamonds until at least the end of the month.

Aug. 19, 2006
Red Deer County Starts Work on South Hills Water Plan
Work has started on a $2 million water pipeline from Springbrook to Gasoline Alley to move excess capacity in Springbrook to the South Hills Reservoir in Gasoline Alley next to Costco. Meanwhile, the reservoir is undergoing a $1 million expansion that will double its storage capacity to 3,400 cubic metres. Eventually, this new pipeline will tie into a regional water system. The upgrade and transfer of water is considered necessary by Red Deer County to accommodate the ongoing expansion of Gasoline Alley and industrial development south of Red Deer.
Gasoline Alley Parcel Purchased by Credit Union
A high profile 11-acre site on the west side of Highway 2 (QE2) just outside Red Deer city limits north of Gasoline Alley has been purchased by Community Savings for $3.75 million. One option being considered for the site is for its corporate headquarters although there are no plans to vacate its six-storey downtown Red Deer office building. Currently located on the site is Repairs-Unlimited, an automotive recycling and repair business that has been in operation for decades. The business is in the process of liquidating and plans to relocate to another site in the future.

August 15, 2006
Gasoline Alley Urban Design Plan Presented to Council
The latest design proposal for the industrial, commercial, residential, institutional and green space vision for the Gasoline Alley west area was presented to Red Deer County Council today. It represents the culmination of several months of workshops and a couple of drafts putting together a vision that business owners, school officials, Alberta Transportation and other interested parties could agree on and support. The plan includes specific character areas including 'The Strip' (existing highway commercial), 'The Cruise' (auto related retail), 'The High Street' (mix of commercial and residential), the Hamlet (residential core) and the Working Core (light industrial and commercial). The concept is unique in that a community is being planned around existing business rather than the usual sequence of residential first with commercial and industrial developing later.
Water Supply Line and Reservoir Expansion to Proceed
An expansion of the South Hills water reservoir near Costco in Gasoline Alley will proceed with the awarding of a contract to Timcon Construction by Red Deer County Council. The project is necessary to provide sufficient water for the various light industrial proposals in the area. In a related move, Council also decided to proceed with the construction of the Springbrook to South Hills Regional Water Supply Line that would bring additional water to Gasoline Alley from Well #2 in Springbrook.

August 10, 2006
Intense Hail Storm Hits Springbrook
Around 5 pm on Thursday August 10, an intense hail storm with winds gusting around 100 km/hr and golf-ball size hail stones hit the community of Springbrook causing severe damage to siding, roofs and windows of many homes, damage to some vehicles and trailers, downed tree branches and most vegetation flattened or stripped of its leaves. There were no serious injuries but Red Deer County emergency personnel did a door to door check of every residence in the hamlet to make sure no one was hurt and to determine if there was damage to homes that could be considered dangerous. Funnel clouds had been spotted in the area but there is no evidence of an actual tornado touching down although many residents experienced an event unlike they had ever experienced before. Returning from work after the storm, most people couldn't believe what they were seeing. Four hours after the storm  passed, hail still covered many lawns, steps and gardens. Debris, including shingles, shattered siding and branches, littered the entire residential area. The hail had been so intense that most buildings had puncture holes from the hail stones. Some had windows on their homes and cars shattered. For a few hours, emergency personnel weren't allowing anyone except residents into the hamlet and even then with some reservation. There was some fear that downed power lines or gas lines could be a hazard but after considerable investigation, it was determined that damage to utilities was minimal.  (more pictures)



More News and Pictures of the August 10 Wind and Hail Storm

August 9, 2006
Cadets Present Ceremony in Spite of Rain Threat
The Cadets of the Penhold Air Cadet Summer Training Centre at Springbrook presented an abbreviated Flag Ceremony and drill demonstration to invited guests and the public on Wednesday evening August 9. The presentation included several musical selections by the marching and pipe bands. The event was a combination of five ceremonies -- the Tattoo, the Highland Salute, the Beating of the Retreat, the Ceremony of the Flags and Sunset. It also marked the 40th anniversary of the summer air cadet and music training programs.

August 1, 2006
New Gasoline Alley Access Road Now Open
Red Deer County and Alberta Infrastructure officially opened the new Lantern Street extension and bridge over Waskasoo Creek west of Gasoline Alley today. The new access will allow a safer and easier alternative for businesses, residents and shoppers, especially from the north and the city, to enter and exit the west Gasoline Alley area, including the large box stores, Costco and Staples, as well as the new auto dealerships, restaurants, and other businesses developing in the area. The road will eventually become the main arterial for a proposed residential, business and open space redevelopment.


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