The Last Chance Saloon was booming with enthusiasm  and music on the night of  Thursday, June 9.
The unique saloon was surprised with the presence of well known Canadian band, The Road Hammers.
The band was found out in the valley filming a documentary.
“It was a documentary of the area, they went across the eleven bridges to Wayne and highlighted the past and present of the town. We even talked about a few ghost stories,” says Paula Sutherland of The Last Chance Saloon.
“We got about a days notice before the band showed up. We didn’t tell anyone that it was happening.”
After filming, The Road Hammers stuck around to play an impromptu show for regulars of The Last Chance Saloon and the response was great.
“Everyone loved having them here, it was amazing. Nobody believed it. Everyone was calling their friends to come out. We didn’t advertise that they were playing because we wanted to keep it as   intimate a show as possible. It was a great experiance,” says Sutherland.
Lead singer of The Road Hammers, Jason McCoy  appreciates the beauty of he in the valley.
“We shot our video for East Bound and Down in the badlands a few years back, but this was my first time visiting The Last Chance Saloon. As a motorbike guy, I’ve always known this was beautiful country to ride, and the saloon is the perfect cap to a great day of soaking in the beauty. The barrenness of the badlands has a stoic beauty that’s subtle but deep,”  he said.
“The history is rich, it’s a ruggedness that can only be developed by time. Although I was born in Ontario, I lived in the Camrose area age 2 -7. My first memories are of the prairies. The smell of the prairie always brings me back in time....that sage is something you don’t forget. Simply beautiful.”

Nine local high schoolers along with a Drumheller RCMP member will ride their bicycles from Drumheller to Banff later this summer as part of Two Wheel View, a development and leadership program for teens.

Eight boys and girls from both St. Anthony’s and DVSS and one student from Morrin volunteered to bike over 250 kilometres in 11 days starting August 3, as part of the development program which aims to develop leadership and self-esteem skills through volunteering in host communities, team-building with one another, and just through the experience of the excursion itself.

“I wanted to improve my friendship skills, self-confidence, and to just get more experiences and learn more about myself,” said Andrew Germaine, who is riding for his second year.

They’ll be riding up to 40 kilometres a day, taking a meandering route off the main highways which will take them through Rosebud and other scenic road marks, all the while camping along the way.

“You’re exhausted by the end, but by the end you have a family,” he said.

Matthew Doyle said he decided to join in for the fun of the ride and all the activities, but also to help prepare meals for the group.

“Personally, I wanted to improve my culinary skills and get into cooking. I’m not good in the kitchen so I’ve got to learn these things before I’m on my own and it’s too late,” Doyle said.

“I was shocked when he came forward to do this,” said Matthews father Pat Doyle. “Like most kids his age he’s into video games, so for him to do this I thought would be an awesome experience.”

Constable Craig Nelson of the Drumheller RCMP detachment has assumed a leadership position with the group and this will be his second year riding alongside the students. 

The students will be hosting a number of fundraisiers for the trip throughout the summer to help pay for food and supplies. A barbecue is scheduled June 18, 11-4 at Freson Bros., they’ll be volunteering during the Grand Fondo event on June 25, and cooking pulled pork sandwiches at the Farmers Market at the Drumheller Arena on Canada Day. They ran a bottle drive on the weekend.

The students have been holding volunteer meetings every Wednesday to plan the event. 

The Kinsmen Club has donated $500. Co-op donated $100 towards food for the trip/

Two Wheel View provides them with good quality long-distance bicycles.