Last Friday parts of High Eagle RV Resort were under the flow of the Rosebud River. The flow in area rivers and streams has slowed since last week, and Alberta Emergency Alert has now downgraded a Flood Watch for the area to a High Stream Flow Advisory.

While a number of emergency alerts are in effect for areas surrounding Drumheller, it  appears that run off is subsiding.
    Since Friday, April 4, much of Central Alberta has been the subject of Alberta Emergency Alert warnings. There was a High Water Level Advisory for Kneehill County, which was put in place on April 7. On April 9, Wheatland County began issuing a High Water Level Warning for its area streams.
    A Flood Watch for parts of Central Alberta, including Drumheller, was issued on Wednesday, April 9 and as of  Monday night it has been downgraded to a High Stream Flow advisory.
    Glenn Koester, Reeve of Wheatland County, said it appears that the rivers and streams in the area are slowing down. Last week's warm temperatures took a bit of a drop over the weekend, which may have helped slow down the dramatic melt of  the relatively large snowpack on the plains.
    “On Sunday, the Service Berry Creek sure looked lower, and we were in Rosebud this morning (Monday), and the Rosebud River was down quite a bit,” said Koester.
    Last week however, campsites at the High Eagle RV Park were submerged as the river broke it banks.
    Koester is appreciative of  the efforts  of county crews did to keep roads passable in the area. While some needed grader touch-up other needed more work.
    “They worked hard,” he said. 
    Kneehill County’s website shows a number of road closures and washouts due to the spring run off, however Reeve Bob Long says it appears the worst is over.
    “We’re pretty much holding our own now, the peak happened,” said Kneehill Reeve Bob Long .
    He says most of the closures were precautionary, however there were a few culverts washed out.
“At this time of year it isn’t necessarily because the water is so high, but when the ice come out it jams up in the culverts,” said Long.
    Watchers of the Red Deer River saw another dramatic ice flow late Sunday. This followed a ice bottleneck last week.
    This time it appears the Little Red Deer River was jammed up with ice. Over the weekend, there were reports of flooding in a Bowden subdivision. On Sunday, Drumheller residents saw the ice from this jam flow through the valley.

A clean shave every spring has become a ritual for Eric Neuman. This is the fourth consecutive year he has been staging a Beard Brothers event, and every year it has been for a great cause.

Sometimes when the right combination is found, the result is breathtaking; chocolate and peanut butter, Simon and Garfunkel, surf and turf.
    What about Beards and Bands?
     A clean shave every spring has become a ritual for Eric Neuman. This is the fourth consecutive year he has been staging a Beard Brothers event, and every year it has been for a great cause.
    This year he has put together a team of four who have all been working hard to grow a beard, only to have it shorn to raise money for Lyme Light. Along the way he also found some stellar musicians who are all contributing their skills to make the event a success.
    Neuman said his family has been involved with Relay for Life for a number of years in honour of his aunt who passed away with cancer.
     When he got a little older he became involved and was inspired by an uncle who shaved his head to raise money for cancer. Having an uncanny skill for growing facial hair, the idea was born.
    The first year he offered up his hair and beard to the highest bidder to style and sculpt to the bidder’s liking. It was a hit, and he raised funds for Relay for Life.
    The next year Beard Brothers was born when he convinced a handful of friends to join in.
    “Every year got a little bigger. Year one, it was just me. In year two there was half a dozen of us but no event outside of the auction and shave, and it was done at the BCF in the lobby,” said Neuman. “Last year I added the concert side of it and we did so well that this year we are doing the concert again along with the auction.”
He has convinced Marcel Augey, Andrew Berdahl, Bob Brown and Rob Colberg to join him. The rules are simple, the highest bidder gets to shave the facial hair donor.
    They have also added some great music to support the event. Local singer songwriter Joe Vickers is contributing his talents and will be joined by Pat Parsons, Kendall Coveney and Marcel Augey on stage. The Charlie Jacobson Band from Red Deer will also be performing.
    The event is in support of Lyme Light, a local group that raises awareness as well as helps Albertans seek proper Lyme and Lyme related disease treatment and testing
    Kaleidoscope Theatre presents Beards and Bands Saturday, April 26 at Kaleidoscope Theatre. Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7 p.m. for more information or to RSVP, contact Neuman at 403-436-0213.