WFCSS gets their name out there

Adelle Ellis, Times Reporter

Concern was vocalized during the July 4 Wheatland County regular council meeting about an assumed mandate change for the Wheatland Family and Community Support Services (WFCSS) regarding organizations receiving funding.
After reviewing last year’s unaudited financial statements for WFCSS, Councillor Alice Booth echoed a few questions and concerns that rate payers had asked her about regarding which organizations receive funding for their programs through WFCSS.
“Ever since I’ve been on the board we’ve always had indirect programs … a lot of the same outfits are getting funding but we haven’t changed our mandate – that’s part of the FCSS function,” said Reeve Koester, adding that FCSS has several indirect programs where funding is handed out, such as to some libraries, clubs and school liaisons.
One direct program delivered with great focus is providing services for seniors. Several home support services are offered such as vacuuming and minor house cleaning and snow shovelling. The county has over 30 clients enrolled to receive support services.
“Most of these programs, a good 80 per cent, are government funded with Alberta funds and there are strict guidelines on what you can fund or not fund,” said Koester.
Booth commented that she believes rate payers voiced their concern not because of an assumed program change but because a report was published in a local newspaper listing different programs offered by WFCSS that the public did not know about before.
Koester stated that WFCSS has been working hard to try to get more information out to the public about the organization and what they do.
15 Minutes of Fame Returns
Council approved a temporary closure of a portion of 1st Avenue in Rosebud for Rosebud’s 12th annual ’15 Minutes of Fame’ festival on Sept. 3-4.
The festival is an outdoor community event that provides a venue for local and known musicians to perform on an outdoor stage in front of a crowd and for artisans to display their work.
Council has also suspended the Wheatland County Noise Bylaw 2012-79 during the two days to accommodate the activities held at the popular festival, which is known to promote tourism in the hamlet and to build a sense of community.
WADEMSA is doing well
Upon viewing the Wheatland and Adjacent Districts Emergency Medical Services Association’s (WADEMSA) 2017 financial statements, Wheatland County councillors vocalized their approval for the organization and all that they do in a year.
Councillor Booth was in need of using an ambulance service recently and she was lucky enough to have a crew from Strathmore attending to her needs. During her hospital visit in Calgary she overheard some people talking about how quickly and efficiently rural ambulances get their patients in to emergency and then get back out onto the road.
“It made me proud to hear that the group was really dedicated … it’s about what they’re doing on the job and (with) the patients,” said Booth. “I was looked after really quickly and efficiently and I was impressed.”
Reeve Koester noted that there are six ambulances total, three of which are going all the time and three that are on standby for events such as rodeos or if more ambulances need to be called out.
“We’re very happy with WADEMSA … we’re doing very well,” said Koester.
A month ago, Alberta Health Services (AHS) took over all ambulance dispatching from the City of Calgary, where it was previously getting done. Koester expects some ‘growing pains’ to take place but that they should be dealt with quickly.
SWAT hopes for a stronger public attendance
Due to an increase in the number of deaths caused by an overdose of drugs in children and teens, the Strathmore and Wheatland Addictions Team (SWAT) hopes that more public members, parents and teens will attend SWAT’s regular meeting to listen and learn what the organization is doing and what they’re about.
SWAT uses their knowledge, resources and contacts to assist people who are seeking help with addictions and to educate people on the dangers of addictions.
Their inspirational signs can be seen on advertisement boards throughout Strathmore and they will continue to be displayed throughout Strathmore.