Despite a blustery Sunday afternoon, it appears Drumheller weathered the storm.
    Winter storm warnings bombarded media starting Friday, anticipating heavy snow and wind. While many areas of the province saw highway closures and warnings, the storm was relatively uneventful, according to Drumheller RCMP.
    Constable Tom Bowden said there were few calls on Sunday. 
    “The road conditions weren’t favourable obviously. I went from Drumheller to Calgary and there were several cars in the ditch near Calgary, but in the Drumheller area it was relatively good,” said Bowden.
    “I think people in Drumheller understand how to drive in poor road conditions better than other places.”
    Other areas saw conditions that were more treacherous.  Highway 9 from Hanna to the Saskatchewan border was closed according to Oyen RCMP and a state of emergency was declared. Travel was not recommended on Highway 1 between Strathmore and Brooks.
    Al Kendrick, Director of Infrastructure Services for the Town of Drumheller, said they were able to keep up with local snow clearing.
    “A spring storm is typical Alberta thing, and it complicates a little when you have ice or slush underneath it,” said Kendrick. “We do the best we can with what we have.”
    Theresa Vyvey, manager of the Ramada in Drumheller, said, while they were busy, they had room for a number of guests who decided not to brave the highways. There were times they re-welcomed guests and were able to accommodate them.
    “We were pretty much full anyway, and we had some guests who left and then came back,” said Vyvey. “We scrambled around to find extra room. Thankfully, we did."

    Ambulance service in Drumheller has officially changed hands.
    As of March 1, the Badlands  Ambulance Society handed over the keys to emergency medical services to Alberta Health Services.
    “The transition went very smoothly, with Alberta Health Services and Badlands EMS working very closely,” said Councillor Doug Stanford, co-chair of the Badlands Ambulance board.
    Two ambulances have been confirmed for the Drumheller area. One will be an advanced life support vehicle and the other will provide basic life support. Alberta Health Services has stated both will operated around the clock throughout the year.
    The transition also brought some new equipment to Drumheller that Badlands Ambulance was not able to afford.
    “Alberta Health Services brought in two brand new ambulances and equipped them with M800 phones and two-way radios. They were also set up with mapping and other supplies,” said Stanford. “These were things we tried to get before, but couldn’t afford.”
    To bring them in line with Alberta Health Services, Drumheller ambulance staff were given an intensive five day orientation.
    With the transition, the fate of the Badlands Ambulance board was also decided. The board will continue to function until April to tie up any loose ends. Afterwards, the board will be dissolved.
    The decision to hand over control of ambulance service in Drumheller was first reported in the October 5 edition of inSide Drumheller after an emergency meeting of the Badlands Ambulance Society. It was stated budgetary restrictions was the main factor contributing to the decision.
    Throughout the whole process, Stanford feels the residents of the Drumheller area come first.
    “The residents of Drumheller and surrounding area are being well taken care of by Alberta Services,” said Stanford.