Westlock News

A declining high school completion rate and a decrease in the dropout rate among students aged 14 to 18 were among the highlights of Pembina Hills’ Annual Education Results Report (AERR) for 2013-2014.

Former Pembina Hills Supt. Richard Harvey’s fraud case has been waived to Newfoundland and he’s expected to enter a guilty plea, although no date has been set.

Crews were busy on 107th Street Friday afternoon removing much of the snow that fell overnight. According to an Environment Canada weather summary issued Nov. 28, 17 centimetres of snow on Westlock, compared to 30-40 centimetres in Edmonton. Throughout the weekend crews continued clearing Westlock's streets.

The Pembina Hills school division finished the 2014 financial year with a $1.31 million operating surplus, while the Alberta Distance Learning Centre (ADLC) was just slightly in the black with a $130,000 operating surplus.

The Sparrow’s Hope Women’s Shelter will close its doors and disburse about $16,000 in assets to Westlock- and Barrhead-area violence prevention organizations. After much deliberation, the Sparrow’s Hope advisory committee decided at a Nov.

Westlock County reeve Bud Massey says they’re ruled out using the old ski chalet at Tawatinaw this season, but continue to explore other options. “At this point in time, it’s still our belief we’ll have a ski season,” he said.

Nine-month-old Taylor McNallie looks a bit bewildered to be posing with the one and only Santa Claus at the North Country Market on Friday night. Santa was kept very busy that night posing for pictures with young children and getting their Christmas wishes. Santa's visit was one of the attractions at the Christmas Light-up that evening.

After more than a decade of serving some of the Westlock area’s most vulnerable people as president of the food bank, Sister Eileen is taking a step back.

The Westlock hospital celebrated a milestone on Nov. 17 commemorating 10 years of its orthopedic surgery program. To celebrate, the health centre had an appreciation evening featuring Dr. Jan Lategan, an orthopedic surgeon in Westlock.

The former Pembina Hills school division Supt. accused of defrauding the division in 2010 will have his case waived to Newfoundland. Richard Harvey’s trial dates in St. Albert, first set for Oct. 14-17 before being postponed to Nov.