Fitzhugh under new ownership

The Fitzhugh has a new owner.

Jasper Media Group, a partnership of several area residents who founded the newspaper in 2005, sold the weekly publication to Bob Doull, president of Aberdeen Publishing. 

The deal closed late last week.

Doull owns numerous other newspapers, mostly in British Columbia, including the Valley Sentinel in Valemount, the Columbia Valley Pioneer in Invermere, the Prince George Free Press, Kamloops This Week, and the Edmonton-based Vue Weekly.

Municipality receives clean audit

Council was presented with a clean audit report April 17, which it then unanimously accepted.

The report was completed by Alberta-based Hawkings Epp Dumont LLP.

Chris Guilbeault, a senior audit manager, attended last week’s council meeting to present the findings, saying, “It’s kind of like getting an A grade in school.”

Following the presentation, Mayor Richard Ireland took the opportunity to thank Alice Lettner, the municipality’s director of finance and administration. 

“If we get a clean audit it’s because you’re doing things properly in the first instance. That’s important to recognize,” he said.

Arena spectators causing a ruckus 

Abusive language from spectators at the arena has Jasper’s department of culture and recreation looking for ways of maintaining a positive environment during hockey tournaments.

When asked about the issues during the April 17 council meeting, department director Yvonne McNabb, explained that arena staff have dealt with spectators yelling at refs, kids and parents.

The problems usually arise during tournaments, she said, “where people will come in and get extremely passionate about the game.”

The current procedure for dealing with unruly spectators is to ask them to leave, but often, people won’t listen.

“We’ve had challenges with getting them to leave.”

McNabb told council she is now talking to Minor Sports in hopes of finding an appropriate way of dealing with verbal abuse in the arena.

One solution, she said, would be to stop the hockey game until the disruptive spectator leaves the facility.

“So if somebody refuses to leave, all they’re doing is punishing their team.”

Soap Box Derby in Hinton

The 2nd Hinton Scouts will host their second annual Soap Box Derby and community barbecue in Hinton on May 26, and registration for the races is now open.

Races will be held in five divisions: Youth 7-9, Youth 10-13, Youth 14-17, Adult and Corporate. The deadline for registering is May 12 and there is a $50 fee.

All drivers of the gravity-based cars must have their own pit crews, including an adult. The vehicles must also pass inspection prior to the races.

Drivers and their cars are also asked to attend the Hill Scout Hall on May 25 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for number assignment, judging and photographs.

For more information or to obtain a registration package, call Liana Thompson at 780-865-7771.