News Headlines

 
Archived Springbrook and Area News
September 2008

Sept. 29, 2008
Work Under Way for Airport Lighting
Construction is well under way at the Red Deer Regional Airport for new runway lighting and signage. The airport received more than $2.1 million through the federal Airports Capital Assistance Program earlier this year to replace edge lighting and landing aids for pilots.

Sept. 20, 2008
Penhold Multiplex Project Temporarily Stalled
The estimated $9 million Penhold multiplex is temporarily stalled due a dispute over fair market value for the 70-75 acre parcel of land west of Waskasoo Creek needed to be purchased for the project. The land south of Highway 42 was included in the recent annexation of land from Red Deer County. The town has started expropriation but discussions with the landowner continue with hope a resolution can be achieved soon. The project needs to proceed soon in order for the town to retain the $6 million provided by the federal and provincial governments for the facility. The estimated population of the town is currently around 2,100.


Sept. 18, 2008
Cattlemen and County Working to Preserve Waskasoo Creek
Bob and Warren Blair, in partnership with Red Deer County's Riparian Fencing Initiative, has fenced off the Waskasoo Creek that runs through their land a couple of kilometres east of Springbrook in order to maintain the quality of the creek water. The 70 or so cattle that use the nearby pasture once churned the creek bed into a muddy mess, breaking down and filling in the waterway. After only four weeks of the fence being installed, the Blairs have noticed an improvement in the vegetation along the creek. The project is one of 19 that the county has tackled over the past 3 years.

Sept. 13, 2008
Visionary Open Spaces and Trails Plan Revealed at County Fair
At the Red Deer County Information Fair held today, the latest version of the Open Spaces Master Plan was revealed indicating a vision for trail development over the next 25 years that would see trails within Springbrook as well as from Springbrook south to Innisfail, west to the river and Sylvan Lake and north to Gasoline Alley and Red Deer. One section of trail between Springbrook and Penhold is set to be constructed next spring with the Springbrook Community Association agreeing to provide basic maintenance once built. Trail sections within the hamlet as set to proceed over the next couple of years with some being provided by developers in the new residential areas.
A trail to Red Deer is a little more into the future but is being discussed as part of a city study to extend Waskasoo Park into the county. Other trail sections being explored include linking communities from Glennifer Lake north along the Medicine River to Sylvan Lake, around Sylvan Lake and a trail linking Sylvan Lake with Red Deer along the abandoned former Alberta Central Railway. Additional trail linkages around Pine Lake and Glennifer Lake with connections to Penhold, Innisfail, the Red Deer River at several locations and Highway 21 are part of the long-term vision.

Sept. 11, 2008
Crash Analysis Course Conducted at Airport
A group of RCMP officers and Canadian Forces members gathered for an on-scene collision investigation level two training course on the tarmac near Hangar 6 yesterday. The training allows officers to better investigate a collision and determine how fast a vehicle was going based on tire wear, road conditions and the tell-tale black marks on the road surface. Among a variety of demonstrations, participants witnessed visible skids when a car travelling at 60 to 70 km/h slams on its brakes or takes a corner too fast.

Sept. 3, 2008
County Orders Bus For Springbrook-Red Deer Service
Red Deer County council approved yesterday the purchase of a $432,400 transit bus and a $67,200 action bus expected to be delivered by next July. Funding will mostly come from a grant from the provincial Municipal Sustainability Initiative. The county expects an annual operating cost of $60,000 to subsidize the service and Red Deer Transit will operate it. The transit bus will run between Bower Shopping Centre in Red Deer, Gasoline Alley and Springbrook/Airport on an hourly basis six days a week. The action bus is expected to be used throughout the County for those who need medical access to facilities or have other special needs.
Airport Continues to Woo Jazz
Officials at the Red Deer Regional Airport believe that Air Canada Jazz is very interested in starting up passenger service and hope that the service can start by April 1, 2009, according to Liam O'Connell in his quarterly report to Red Deer County council yesterday. Preliminary discussions were held earlier this year and further discussions are scheduled for later this month. East-west service is most likely between Saskatoon, Red Deer, Vancouver with potential future service to Kelowna. Jazz is a perfect fit for the airport in that the runways can handle Dash-8 aircraft. The service could also attract other carriers and the economic impact on the region could be huge.
Another Hotel Approved for Gasoline Alley
A new four-storey 111-unit Hampton Inn and Suites hotel was approved yesterday by Red Deer County council for Leva Ave. in Gasoline Alley West. Leva Ave. was identified as "the Strip" in the Gasoline Alley West Urban Design Plan. It is expected that construction will be completed in the fall of 2009.

Current News    Summary of Headlines