Petition demands intersection changes
By Cindy Ballance
Editor
A petition with 295 signatures was presented to the Foothills MD council on Dec. 7 requesting upgrades to the intersection of Highway 2 and 370 Ave.
The petition, initiated by Joanne Eslinger of High River, asked the municipality to increase the safety measures at the junction of 370 Ave., also known as Sulphur Road, and the highway by placing rumble strips on 370 Ave. and erecting a larger stop sign.
Sulphur Road runs east/west from Okotoks past Okotoks Wilderness Campground and Okotoks On Deck to Highway 2. Eslinger told council in a letter that her reasons for starting the petition were a result of recent tragic accidents on the roadway.
|
In this issue... Opinion Editorial Paul's Place News Sports Movies New!! Entertainment Classified Ads Real Estate  Christmas Gift Guide See this week's printed edition for our special Christmas gift guide  Holiday spirit revived in traditional movies See Entertainment  Eagles help Selects sweep U.S. tour See Sports |
'My solution to this grave problem is simple, rumble strips,' said Eslinger. 'If rumble strips were on this road all drivers would know they were approaching a stop sign without having to see the stop sign.'
The petition presented to the MD council stated that the size of the stop sign at the intersection is too small and difficult to see and gives driver’s little warning of the major intersection. In addition, the warning sign indicating stop sign ahead is faded and needs to be replaced.
'I strongly believe that driving is a matter of safety and precautions on both the driver and the signage on the roads,' said Eslinger. 'Better signage and indicators may have prevented these tragic accidents from occurring.'
The Foothills MD council discussed the petition during its Dec. 14 meeting and decided to forward the issue to its public works department.
There was some consensus among council that the intersection as it stands currently is unacceptable.
'Something does need to be done,' said Councillor Flores Groeneveld.
Councillor Michele Veldhoen added, 'We need to look at this issue simply because of the number of signatures (on the petition).'
Council asked that public works discuss the issue with Alberta Environment and look at improving the signage at the intersection and the possibility of constructing rumble strips on 370 Ave.
As a second part of the petition, Eslinger asked that council discuss erecting a warning sign on 370 Ave. on the west side of the campground alerting drivers of the bend in the road at the base of the hill.
A glowing Christmas tradition
Beautifully lit figurines adorn this display at the annual Christmas Putz which was held at the Okotoks United Church on Dec. 17. The Putz drew many to hear the story of Jesus Christ’s birth.
photo by Gillian Beckett
OJHS Staff and students to ring in New Year with a new school
By Gillian Beckett
Staff Reporter
It won’t be long before staff and students at Okotoks Junior High School (OJHS) will be able to fully enjoy their new surroundings.
Phase 4, the final phase, of the OJHS modernization project is well under way and is expected to be completed by spring of 2001.
'Hopefully we’ll have this done in three months,' said Foothills School Division secretary-treasurer Murray Lloyd. 'It (the project) is well under way.'
Lloyd explained that this phase will oversee the construction and clean up of the school’s two gymnasiums as well as some exterior work on the school building.
'This is about a $1 million phase,' said Lloyd. 'We’re looking at having a canopy-type design for the front of the school, brickwork will have to be done, floor coverings and cleaning up the whole area joining the gyms. . . there’s a lot of little loose ends that we need to tie up.'
Principal Denise Rose said that staff and students are eagerly awaiting the project’s completion date and look forward to working in their new surroundings.
'We are definitely looking forward to this,' said Rose. 'For us it has been like moving into a new house four times. Every new phase has been a new excitement for us.'
Rose added that the transition for the staff and students has been relatively easy thanks to a wholly positive attitude.
'Overall morale has been upbeat,' she said. 'Before, the school was quite run down but the school doesn’t look the same now — the students have developed a positive attitude towards their school.'
The almost $8 million modernization project began in October of 1999 when Graham Construction and Engineering Ltd. were contracted by the Foothills School Division to oversee the construction of the school.
In order to make the transition from the old building to the new easier for staff and students, the project was divided into five phases.
Phase 1, which began in October of 1999, involved renovations to the courtyard area, east wing and former administration area and was completed by March of this year.
Phase 1 was then followed by Phase 1a which saw the modernization of the library and was completed in May of this year.
By late July, Phase 2 was well under way with the renovation of the school’s upper and lower levels in the west wing.
The bulk of the school’s renovations occurred during Phase 3 which included the upper and lower levels of OJHS within the central core of the school as well as the band room
Although the project was hit with some time delays due to scheduling and coordination, Lloyd explained that the modernization project is in its final leg and will no doubt be completed by the spring deadline.
'The project is back on stream and (construction) is well on the time line,' said Lloyd. 'The contractors have done a pretty commendable job.'
