News | DrumhellerMail

Resident Red Planet-bound*

   A man living in Drumheller is one step closer to going where no man has gone before.
   Graham Christensen, 29, is spending his summer working at the Dinosaur Trail RV Resort. He is a finalist in the Mars One project. This is a project to colonize Mars and he underwent an international selection process to pick a group of dedicated individuals to take a one-way ticket to Mars to set up a colony. Mars One announced its list of finalists, and out of more than 200,000 entries, Christensen was one of 705 selected.
   For Christensen, he has always been fascinated by exploration and space.
   “I don’t remember this, but my mom tells this story that when I was four years old she was reading nursery rhymes, I told her ‘I don’t want to hear nursery rhymes, I want you to read to me about planets,’” he chuckles.
   Christensen grew up in Vegreville, but his passion for exploration was fostered by the Drumheller Valley.
   “When I was five I came with my parents and found my first dinosaur bone bed, and we have basically been here every year since,” he said.
Christensen does have some electrical engineering training but he feels his natural interest in science and his ability to learn independently are some of his strengths. He said the Mars One project isn’t about finding the most educated, but the best fit to make a colony.
   “They opened this up to everyone, all nationalities and education levels. They knew there was many people who didn’t have the money or opportunity to get an education but they could be really intelligent people,” said Christensen. “So they are looking for people who have an aptitude for science and exploration, who may not have an education."
   He also says an important component is the ability to understand and communicate during this project.
   “I have strong science literacy as well as the ability to explain things to people,” he said.
   “Most of the funding for Mars One is coming from the sale of broadcasting rights because they figure millions of people are going to want to watch people go to mars and settle it… they need to have people who are able to relate to the public and explain what we are discovering.”
   Already he has been actively communicating about the project. Last week he did a presentation in Banff on his selection and also was a featured speaker at Nerd Nite in Calgary on May 8.
   Christensen is committed to the project. Mars One has the goal, according to its website, to begin colonizing Mars in 2024.   He is realistic in his expectation of being selected as a crew member.
   He also understands that if selected it will take years of training and a large sacrifice. He has discussed the endeavour with his girlfriend and she is supportive.
   “She is absolutely thrilled about it and knows she has me for about 10 years until the first launch. We have talked about it and it's going to be tough,” he said.
   To get to this point he passed the first cut down to about 1,000 last December. Since then he had to submitt a medical statement of health and was also required to open his online profile to the public. He is one of the 705 finalists who are now selected to have a personal interview.
   From there, the fields will be narrowed down to international teams of two women and two men. These teams will be going into full time training.

Heavy snowpack not only factor in flooding*

   With record snowpack in some areas, residents are still on alert about swelling riverbanks this spring.
   Last year's flooding has made many residents of Drumheller, and indeed Alberta, more cognizant of the risks of living near a river. Recent snowpack data coming from the mountains in areas that contribute to the Red Deer River Basin have some residents concerned. The snow data reported at Limestone Ridge shows the snowpack well over 360mm (snow water equivalent), where the normal range is from about 100mm to 230mm. Snow Data taken at Skoki Lodge is on the high end of the normal range, and higher than last season.
   Jamie Hanlon of Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development tells the Mail that snowpack is just one small piece of the puzzle when looking at river flow.
   “Snowpack is a little bit above average this year," said Hanlon, adding there are reports of some areas having the second highest amount in the 30 years of keeping records.
   “Snowpack itself is not a primary cause of flooding. To be worried about flooding we have to look at the key driver and that is rainfall. In order to exacerbate any challenges with the snopack itself, it would have to be a significant rainfall, where the volume and intensity really creates a problem when the snow cannot absorb it and it runs off into the streams itself.”
   Similarly, snowpack is not an indicator of potential flooding conditions.
   “We’ve had seasons where the snowpack is below average, yet with significant rainfall over a period of time, even after the runoff is gone, can cause problems," he said.
   The department continues to monitor all factors that play a role.
   “We just have to keep looking at the forecasts and that is where we come in terms of identifying where that risk comes in. If we see a risk and our regional partners in rural municipalities see it, we’ll be letting people know in short order there is something to be concerned about.”
   Flooding has not fallen off the radar for MLA Rick Strankman and he says the area still needs some clarity coming out of last year’s flooding events. In particular, getting answers about flood mitigation projects that affect the valley.
   Until they select a new leader they are not focused on this stuff,” said Strankman.
   "Some of this flood mitigation could have been done a long time ago."
   Another question for residents is what the new reality is living near a river.
   “How are these people going to live their life? There are people who want to re-mortgage their homes. We have talked to real estate people, we’ve talked to the banks and insurance people. Insurance rates are still high based on the potential of flooding. It is easy for them (the government) to say on paper they (residetns) are not in the flood area, but if the business side doesn’t recognize that, the government has to do something to quell those fears.”

Hanna RCMP investigate suspicious fire

The Hanna RCMP is seeking assistance in gathering information on what appears to be a suspicious fire at a local business.
On Saturday, May 10, around 4:30 am, the Hanna Fire Department and Hanna RCMP responded to a fire located at a local business on 1st Avenue and Centre Street.
Evidence indicates that this fire was intentionally started and RCMP are now investigating the matter. It is estimated that the loss is approximately $50,000 and $75,000.
Members are requesting any one with information about this fire to please contact Cst. Jennifer Brewer, or any member at the Hanna RCMP Detachment at 403-854-3393 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

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