Athabasca News

Sharon Harding (back) tries to get a better look while Ralph Gilmore stokes the flames in order to get a medal red hot during the blacksmith demonstration that was held Saturday morning on the riverfront as part of the Athabasca Heritage Art Days Sept. 18-19.

Almost all the current Athabasca County councillors will have to turn back challengers if they hope to retain their seats. Following Monday’s close of nominations for the Oct.

In the town of Athabasca, voters will choose their mayor Oct. 18, as current councillor Roger Morrill challenges incumbent Colleen Powell. Powell has completed one term as mayor after serving as a councillor for nine years.

Two new faces will attempt to earn seats on Boyle Village council in the Oct. 18 municipal election. The two new candidates, David Peter Bencharsky and Roger Hall, make it seven hopefuls running for the five open councillor spots.

Cathy Heron became the first woman to enter the race for city council when she announced her candidacy last week. Heron, 42, chairs council's community services advisory board and is a member of others like the RCMP advisory board.

Although he confirmed a few months ago that a bid for re-election to St. Albert city council was in the cards, Coun. Gareth Jones made it official this week. Jones, 70, has been a pleasant surprise during his first term on council.

It was just after 1 a.m. on Aug. 10 when Jacquie Bibaud, a resident of the Paradis Valley Subdivision near Hope Lake, recalled being awoken by a fast-approaching thunderstorm.

For the past 20 years, librarian Kathy Bulmer has overseen the Boyle Public Library’s summer reading program, which encourages kids to read on a regular basis when they’re out of school over the summer.

If all goes according to plan, the Chad 420 Smoke Shop, the first of its kind in Athabasca, will open this Friday and owner Chad Wentworth couldn’t be happier.

Going out for a weekend camping trip can be one of the most enjoyable summer activities that Alberta can offer a couple, a family or group of friends, but it only takes one group of rowdy partygoers to ruin a good weekend.