A recent case of measles popping in Edmonton has AHS on the offensive, reminding Albertans to make sure their immunization records are up to date. North Zone Medical Officer of Health Dr. Albert de Villiers says just because a certain disease is no longer prominent in North America doesn’t mean you should forgo vaccination.

“We haven’t had measles for a while, and now all of a sudden measles is coming back. Luckily we haven’t had any polio up here, but there’s still some polio in certain countries, and if you go there and come back, or there’s an immigrant coming back, or you go visit your friends and relatives back there and you come back, you might bring it.”

He says measles vaccinations have proven to be the best possible preventive measure.

“If you look at the outbreak we had in the south, I think it was 99% of the people who actually got sick were not vaccinated. It was in a community that didn’t vaccinate specifically , and that’s why they got sick. People that got vaccinated that mixed with them didn’t get sick so it proves two things, that if you don’t get the vaccine you’re going to get the disease, if you get the vaccine it actually works.”

de Villiers says people often bank on herd immunity, but that will not protect everyone. He says only about 60% of Grande Prairie children have received both the shots necessary to be fully immunized against measles.

Improving water quality, and reducing heating and chemical treatment costs, earned Ken Santarossa some high praise this week from his co-workers. Santarossa, a Trades Supervisor with the city, came up with the idea of filling smaller pools at the Eastlink Centre with water from the 50 metre pool. The money saving and environmentally friendly idea was recognized by the city as the best workplace innovation of the year among their staff. Other ideas singled out were using driveway paint to remove graffiti from the Muskoseepi Park trails, and the development of a wireless system to lock internal and external doors at the Eastlink Centre in the event of a facility lock down. The innovation recognition event was an item in council’s strategic business plan.

One of country’s most recognized performing teams is coming to our city this summer. The Crystal Centre has announced that the RCMP Musical Ride will perform at the facility on August 16th and 17th. Grande Prairie RCMP Superintendent Ray Noble is excited to have the troop of 32 horses and riders come back to our city.

“This is an area that has huge support for the RCMP and the Musical Ride, and they appreciate the traditions associated with the ride.”

Ticket details will be announced next week. Plans are also in the works to hold a regimental ball in association with the Musical Ride’s appearance in our city.

The unemployment rate in northwest Alberta rose last month, but is still down from a year ago.

The Athabasca – Grande Prairie rate sat a 3.9 per cent in March, which was up 0.2 per cent from February, but is down 0.2 per cent from March 2013.

The increase was worse province-wide, as the rate jumped to 4.9 per cent from 4.3 the month before, but sits the same as this time last year.

Alberta Health Services is launching an eight week program next Tuesday for those who want a better grasp on problem gambling and the steps to recovery. The drop in program is entirely free, and will be offered every Tuesday until May 27 at the Northern Addiction Centre. Gambling counselor Maureen Leslie says the eight courses will cover things like understanding problem gambling, preventing relapse, making healthy decisions .

“So through all these modules we’re going to be covering some pretty basic information and just be working as a group. I’ve got lots and lots of information and different workshops that I do at the Northern Addictions Centre that I’ll be doing as well.”

Leslie says this is the first time the Evening Gambling Recovery Intensive Program has been offered in Grande Prairie, and she hopes to see it turn into a more regular course.

The province has committed $32.5 million to new programs at post-secondary institutions across Alberta for the coming year. One such program that will be benefiting is the Grande Prairie Regional College’s brand new Aboriginal Administration Diploma. Kazem Mashkournia, Dean of Arts, Science, and Upgrading, says for the first year of the program, the college is getting $37.5 thousand.

“There was a window opened by the government that we could apply for any new program, and we applied, and we didn’t think that we would get it. But fortunately, I think they realized that this is a very important initiative and it’s going to serve our community.”

Mashkournia says that funding, which will be used to pay for instruction staff, is expected to increase to $120 thousand in the two years following.

City residents might notice a bit of a musty smell to their water over the coming weeks. Aquatera CEO Bernd Manz says it is a result of snow melting in the mountains and travelling down into the Wapiti River, which is the source for their water supply.

“Once spring break up occurs, and this year is a little later than normal, we get a lot of organics coming into the river.  And so we will get that bit of musty smell in the water.  We will also add a little extra chlorine, so that might be more noticeable now than other times of the year.”

Manz says the water is still completely safe to drink. But he suggests leaving the tap run for a little extra or let your water sit for a little while if you want to remove the extra chlorine from it.

A program that develops positive mental health and wellness among students in Peace River will continue for the next three years. The province has confirmed grant funding for Project PEACE, which sees school-based Success Coaches work with community partners to provide programs and supports that promote positive student mental health. Four schools from Peace River School Division take part in the program – Peace River High, Ecole Springfield, T.A. Norris middle school, and Peace Regional Outreach Campus. It also encompasses Glenmary and Good Shepherd schools from the Holy Family Catholic school district.

The public will have their chance tonight to give their input on the province’s Municipal Government Act, and what kind of revisions they would like to see to the document. An open house is set for tonight from 6-8pm at the Muskoseepi Park Pavillion. It is one of seven sessions being held in Grande Prairie this week by the provincial government, as they get a sense of what is working and what is not within the MGA. Technical sessions involving planning and development, assessment and taxation, and governance and administration, were all held yesterday. Business and industry had their chance to provide input this morning, with municipal administrators getting a similar chance this afternoon. The meetings wrap up tomorrow with an all day session for elected municipal officials.

Hunting, camping, fishing, and outdoor enthusiasts can get a look at the newest toys on the market this weekend at the 17th Annual Grande Prairie Sports Expo. You can take it all it Friday through Sunday at the Entrec Centre at Evergreen Park. Event Organizer Katharine Poole says the show will be just as busy as years past.

“We’ve got fishing charters and hunting charters, lots of new guys coming to town from northern Saskatchewan and northern BC, the Northwest Territories. We’ve got a monster truck coming down to the show this year which is very exciting for us. We’ve also got a guy who has got a quad tub that converts into a boat!”

Poole says once again visitors will have a chance to win a house boating trip for 15 people at the show. Admission is $10 dollars, or $8 with a food bank donation. Kids 12 and under get in for free.

Photo Coutesy gpsportsexpo.com

To the delight of stressed out Grande Prairie Rregional College students, some puppies from the SPCA will be making a visit to campus next week. Next Wednesday, between 11 and 1, shelter dogs will be taking over a classroom at the college where students can drop in to play with the furry critters. Student Wellness Coordinator Joel Thibault says puppy day works wonders on students feeling bogged down by exam pressure.

“For days like this during the exams, where everything just kind of comes crashing down at once, students are able to see these dogs, and just take a few minutes out of their day in order to kind of let that be forgotten about for just a brief moment.”

Thibault says puppy day is equally beneficial for the SPCA dogs, who have an opportunity socialization, which helps in the adoption process.

Photo Courtesy GPRC Student Wellness

Highway 40 south of Grande Prairie has reopened after it was reduced to one lane traffic last night.

A loaded tanker truck was approximately 25 kilometres south of the city when the tanker detached from the tractor unit and rolled several times.

Fluid and debris was leaking into ditches on both sides of the road, which had to be cleaned up.

The driver was picked up and taken to hospital for treatment.

His condition and the cause of the rollover is unknown.

As temperatures fluctuate between above and below zero over the next few weeks, the number of potholes on city streets is sure to increase. Alberta Motor Association Technical Services Manager Randy Loyk says drivers need to follow a few simple tips in order to avoid what could be some costly repair bills.

“Going into April and May, it is probably the worst time of the year because of the melt and freeze cycles that damage the roadways.  So it is important for drivers to be aware of their surroundings, slowdown, and just be aware of what you are driving into.”

Grande Prairie, along with several other Alberta communities, have online resources available that allow residents to report potholes. In Grande Prairie, you can do so by visiting www.seeclickfix.com, and typing in the city’s name.