Athabasca News

Wandering River resident Trevor Bobocel has been charged with second-degree murder and committing an indignity to the body of his common-law partner, Roxanne Bigelow.

Stephanie Krulicki, the Athabasca Rotary Club’s outbound exchange student in Japan, is safe and heading home following the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami that devastated the country last Friday.

Athabasca residents are getting an unexpected break on the water bills. Water rates for the Town of Athabasca were amended last Tuesday, resulting in a rate decrease of about 15 per cent.

The Village of Boyle council made adjustments to the village’s utility rates last Wednesday. Garbage disposal increased from $19.69 to $25 a year.

The Greater North Foundation (GNF) cut the ribbon for the new and relocated Pleasant Valley Lodge last Friday, with several local and provincial officials on hand, including Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach.

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach entered the Rotary Fieldhouse at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex to the hum of a bagpiper and thunderous applause last Friday evening.

March is ‘Occupant Restraint Month,’ and the Boyle RCMP, along with other local authorities, will promote the education and importance of buckling up with an increase of seatbelt check-stops throughout the region.

The new Highway 55/813 interchange still requires approval from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) before construction can legally begin, an official confirmed last week.

“We’re going to continue to invest heavily in infrastructure,” said Athabasca-Redwater MLA Jeff Johnson, reacting the last Thursday’s release of the province’s 2011 budget.

Over 100 snowmobiles were out on the trails on Sunday for the annual Athabasca River Runners Family Day Poker Run.