A severe thunderstorm alert is in effect today, with the warning stretching from late morning into this evening.
    Environment Canada expects severe thunderstorms to develop early this afternoon in the Drumheller, Red Deer and Airdrie regions and then spread eastward into the Hanna, Brooks and Medicine Hat regions.        
    The weather agency notes the potential that with these severe thunderstorms comes an increased risk for damaging wind gusts, damaging hail, heavy rain, and possibly tornados.
    The warning covers the Town of Drumheller, as well as Kneehill County: areas near Carbon, Acme, Linden, Three Hills, Torrington, Wimborne, Trochu  and Huxley.
    In Wheatland County: near Rockyford and Rosebud, and Highways 569 and 848.
    In Starland County: areas near Michichi, Delia, Morrin, Munson, Rumsey and Rowley.
    Special Areas 2 near Finnegan and Little Fish Lake Provincial Park, and areas near Hanna and Richdale.
    Environment Canada says conditions are caused by a warm and humid air mass over Southern Alberta.
    Find a complete list of Environment Canada’s Alberta Weather Alerts at http://weather.gc.ca/warnings/index_e.html?prov=ab

A crew from the Town of Drumheller and Drumheller Kinsmen Club are hard at work in the heat July 16 installing the new playground at Greentree Park. On site are the Town’s staff along with Ashley Wright at the back, and at the front (l-r) Tyler Thompson, Keith Hodgson, Wes Chung, and Playworks installer Sheldon Tarry.  The Drumheller Kinsmen Club initiated the playground project - furnishing funds, being awarded a government grant, and receiving community and business donations.  Wright estimates the total project cost at $90,000. Hodgson said the tough part will be keeping the kids off the play equipment until the cement cures.