Westlock News

It’s been a year of transition and laying the groundwork for the future, says Westlock mayor Ralph Leriger.

A recent Supreme Court of Canada decision to eliminate mandatory victim surcharges from criminal sentences could put funding of victim services units across the province in jeopardy, says Westlock Victim Services Unit program manager Matthew White.

A late-night robbery attempt Dec. 21 was foiled thanks to a security company that recently began patrolling the Westlock area. GW Security owner and operator Ken Krupa said he was patrolling the area in his Jeep around 4 a.m.

Town of Westlock Volunteer Fire Department Lieut. Brian Hegedus surveys the town during the third annual Firefighter in the Sky event Dec. 16 at Sobeys. That day the department collected 1,007.4 pounds of food and $1,636.80, plus a bag a clothing.

Ratepayers in Westlock County will see a 3.98 per cent increase in their taxes next year after council approved the 2019-2021 operating and 2019-2023 capital budgets at its last meeting.

Town ratepayers will see their taxes rise 2.8 per cent in the coming year, which comes out to an additional $62.04 per year, or $5.17 per month, for the average household.

There was no wrecking ball to swing and no button to push as the 49-year-old, 30-metre high Eastglen Water Tower was de-constructed slowly over three days last week in a piece-by-piece operation.

There will be a new face at the table when Village of Clyde council meets in the new year. Art Purdy was declared the winner of a byelection in the village Dec.

Westlock will welcome four new paramedics in the coming weeks which will help provide the region with 24-hour coverage. The new paramedics were part of a Dec.

Effective Dec. 18, changes to Canada’s Criminal Code will allow police to immediately demand a roadside breath test from anyone they pull over during a traffic stop, or even at a checkstop.