“Anything that prevents the spread is good,” said Kolby, a Medicine Hat native.
The province announced the initiative to provide businesses and non-profits with the rapid-testing kits on May 12 that would be distributed through Alberta local chamber of commerce organizations.
Sources tell the News that announcement came as a surprise to many Alberta chambers, a point which Kolby confirmed included the provincial organization as well.
But with the kits now being shipped, businesses should take up the program as it will help keep staff from spreading the virus and help promote a safe relaunch of companies small and large alike.
Cautious optimism in business community over reopening plan
Poll
Yes
No, not fast enough
Grit City Distillery owner Jen Schmunk holds up one of the restaurant s fishbowl cocktails she hopes she ll be able to serve up as soon as next week after the province announced its reopening plan on Wednesday. NEWS PHOTO ALEX MCCUAIG
News that provincial health restrictions could be nearly completely relaxed by July was being cautiously welcomed in the city following Alberta announcing its summer reopening plan Wednesday.
After being on the frontlines working in care facilities for the last year, Carol Nelson says she likely won’t be hanging up her mask until “our numbers are down to pretty much nothing.”
Catholic schools predict $355K deficit for next year
Poll
Yes
The Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education will start the 2021-2022 school year with an expected deficit of more than $300,000.
“Everyone wants to know, ‘What’s the meat?’ Well, the meat is that we have a deficit budget,” said secretary treasurer Greg MacPherson during a live-streamed budget meeting on Wednesday. “The good news is that this budget can be funded through reserves. Like what occurred last year – we have to seek permission from the minister to access our accumulated operating reserves.
“We will be applying to use $355,565 and we expect to hear permission from the minister before the middle of July.”
Snow probably helped most crops, and high precipitation was most welcome
Poll
Yes
Several inches of snow and rain fell over May long weekend in the Medicine Hat area, and while it may have left individuals scrambling to protect backyard flowers, local farmer Nicole Neubauer believes it is good for farmers in the area.
Neubauer Farms has a series of farms throughout the Cypress County, on which they grow a variety of crops including cereals and oil seeds.
“From a farming perspective, we empathize with folks who really look forward to the May long weekend, and getting out and camping and working in the yard and planting, and this weekend was anything but suitable for any of those activities,” said Neubauer. “But what is really positive for us in agriculture is that we’ve been in a prolonged drought situation where we haven’t received a lot of significant rainfall for years, and this weekend’s weather event actually has a huge impact on us in agriculture because of the