Nayt John Kerry Jones was born Jan. 1 in Red Deer as central Alberta’s New Year’s baby. His parents are Tanya and Kale Jones, who works in Stettler as a journeyman mechanic at Romar Power Sports.
The provincial Wildrose party unveiled a new Alberta brand in Drumheller-Stettler at a fundraiser in Hanna in February. Leader Danielle Smith attended.
Stettler RCMP officers investigated a fire at Big Valley School. Arson was suspected. It appeared gas was poured on the metal doors, a fire was set and the doors were scorched.
Seth James Faber was born Jan. 4 as the New Year’s baby for the Stettler hospital. His parents are Ashlyn and Jason Faber, a teacher at Gus Wetter School in Castor.
Dry weather and mild temperatures near 10 C led the County of Stettler to issue a fire advisory and burning ban Jan. 9.
Brian Downey, the Stettler MLA who stepped down in 1989 to enable then-premier Don Getty regain a seat in the Alberta legislature, died in Red Deer. He was 61. A farmer from Castor, Downey served as the MLA for the Progressive Conservative party from 1986 to 1989 in a riding that stretched from Bashaw to Castor.
Alberta chuckwagon legend Orville Strandquist of Stettler died a month before his 92nd birthday.
Stettler’s Christ-King Catholic School received another boost for its new playground as Farm Credit Canada contributed $9,000. With a $60,000 fundraising campaign goal, the school reached $54,673.66 early in 2012.
The Knights of Columbus donated $15,000 to the playground project.