If traffic seems slow this weekend on Highway 12 in front of Wal-Mart, it's not because of a dreadful accident — it's for a good cause.
Members of Stettler's emergency services — RCMP officers, firefighters and EMTS — will be joined by volunteers from Heartland Victim Services (HVS) and Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) for the annual Charity Check-stop on Saturday, Dec. 5 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
For roughly 15 years, this check-stop has helped raise money for HVS, SADD, the Stettler and District Hamper Society and other charities that help serve the community, HVS director Pat Hamilton said.
Drivers will have the option of pulling over to drop off change into a bucket, knowing the money will go to help people in the community itself.
There is no obligation to stop, though Hamilton asked drivers to be careful on Saturday knowing that the check-stop will be taking place.
Lock up to warm upStettler RCMP detachment commander Sgt. Phil Penny wants to remind people to lock up their cars if they're starting up in the cold and heading back inside to stay warm while the vehicle warms up.
Unattended vehicles that are running with keys in the ignition are often too good to pass up for the opportunistic thief, he noted.
Happy holiday ticketsIf you're pulled over in Paintearth County this holiday season, it may not be because you were speeding.
Coronation RCMP are handing out Christmas greeting cards over the holidays to drivers who demonstrate safe-driving habits. During their regular patrols, RCMP members will stop people wearing seatbelts, driving spafe speeds and obeying stop signs just to give them a letter to thank them for their efforts.
Police will continue to patrol looking for unsafe driving habits and impaired driving, Coronation RCMP detachment commander Sgt. Darcy McGunigal noted.