The residents of Drumheller can expect some new lots for sale in the coming months.
    The Hillsview 10th Ave development plan is just a little bit further to its completion.  
    On Tuesday, May 19's Council Meeting, council members passed a motion to award North Star Contracting Inc. the tender for the construction of underground utilities, base, concrete works and pavement for the Hillsview development.
    The project requires some borrowing however.
    Mayor Terry Yemen said Council has to pass a bylaw to authorize the borrowing of funds to complete the project. Once that bylaw has been passed, most likely at the next regular council meeting, Yemen said the project will move forward.
    “The development will be in partnership with Stevenson Homes. Stevenson’s has already invested a substantial amount of money in surveying. Once the borrowing is done and we

get the utilities in, we will open up half of the lots for public purchase,” he said. There are approximately 30 lots available for both detached and attached homes. The aim is to build inventory of new homes in the $275,000 - $300,000 range.
    In terms of deadlines, Yemen said, there are so many variables. “You can’t really narrow it down, but in a perfect world we would hope to see some construction there in the fall.”
    The property, Yemen said, will be recognized by many long-time Drumheller residents as being behind the residents that was built for the penitentiary staff on Hunts Drive approximately two blocks Northwest of Tim Hortons.

A whirlwind spring season culminated last Saturday night for Drumheller teen Madison Colberg as she placed in the Top 20 of the Miss Universe Canada Pageant. 

The Mail and all of Drumheller have been closely following Colberg’s journey into the world of pageants, going for one of the most prestigious crowns in the country. Of the more than 60 in the competition, she made it to the top one-third of the competitors. 

“I am still on a high, it was absolutely incredible,” said Colberg Monday morning, now back home. “The whole journey has been absolutely incredible. It is not just the week that happened, but also the months of preparation and the growth from the experience. I had the opportunity to share my story and inspire others. Through what I have overcome, is what I have gained the most out of this.”

It has been a journey of learning and growth.

“It sounds cliché, but I have gained confidence in myself, just embracing my cleft, and how it is a defining characteristic of who I am,” she said. "I never thought a year ago I would have been doing this, and to do so well and feeling so proud is incredible.”

This journey started in March when she was interviewed for the pageant, and her campaign took off. She worked tirelessly for the named charity of the pageant, Operation Smile, raising over $12,000. She also worked her way to the top of the People’s Choice Award.  She says she owes a debt of gratitude to the community that got behind her bid.

“I definitely can’t imagine a better community to live in because of the support that got me to where I am,” she said. “I want to thank Drumheller, with how the community came together, and all the people who donated to Operation Smile.”

After such an overwhelming experience, Colberg says she is taking some time to decompress before she takes on her next challenge. 

“I am going to let my mind settle and see what comes next,” she said. 

“Words cannot describe the last week. It feels like it has been three months because we did so much, but at the same time it feels like one day because it went so fast,” she said.