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Vol. 11, No. 48, Tuesday, September 27, 2016 www.LamontLeader.com
Support for full time physician growing for Town of Bruderheim Michelle Pinon Editor
MICHELLE PINON PHOTO
There were a few heart-stopping moments during the Big Hitch late Sunday morning when it was halted for a short period of time after trying to negotiate a tight turn. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the horses took a break by the welcome sign just off Highway 15.
Tom Miller trial verdict dates set December 19 and 20 have been set aside for the judge’s decision in the criminal fraud case against Tom Miller. Those dates were confirmed with Court of Queens Bench in Edmonton where the trail took place in January. The former Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Lamont was charged on May 28, 2013 with several charges of forgery and fraud following an RCMP criminal investigation.
The charges stem from an incident reported by Quebec based developer Gilles Filatreault who alleged Miller had attempted to negotiate kickbacks on a housing deal. Since final written submissions were made by the crown and defense early this spring there have been several postponements in setting of the sentencing dates. Court is scheduled to be in session starting at 10 a.m. on Monday, December 19.
Support for a full-time physician in the Town of Bruderheim continues to grow, and Mayor Karl Hauch expressed his gratitude during last Wednesday’s council meeting. Hauch was directly referring to a letter of support that was received from Lamont County council recently. “I am writing on behalf of Lamont County council to express our full support for Bruderheim obtaining a full-time doctor,” stated Reeve Wayne Woldanski. The reasons for county council’s support were also outlined in the letter. Woldanski stated that: “Many county residents living near the Town of Bruderheim would be well served by a nearby physician.” As well, “A physician located in Bruderheim would provide another medical practitioner to support our local hospital in the Town of Lamont, and I am aware that the Lamont hospital administration is a supporter of a physician locating in Bruderheim.” Woldanski went on to say, “A Bruderheim medical doctor would
offer the potential of a local walk in clinic which would reduce pressure on the Lamont hospital emergency room, and I understand that the physician considering a Bruderheim location wishes to focus services on occupational health and safety, a service we see as very important within Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Region.” Patty Podoborozny, Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Bruderheim, said, “A community has to work closely with AIHS and our regional partners to ensure viability and sustainability of medical professionals in the community. The support from both has been tremendous, and we are hoping that we will have something more permanent in place by the end of 2017.” For several months now the Town of Bruderheim has been providing space in its office rent free to the community’s medical professional, and said, “there is always a full waiting room” of patients at the clinic which is open once a week. “As we move forward, we will continue to look
Bruderheim Mayor Karl Hauch for innovative ways to attract medical professionals to our community which provides support for not only our residents, but the Alberta Industrial Heartland,” added Podoborozny. Back in 2014, council identified attraction of medical professionals as the second priority for the community, behind upgrading infrastructure. Podoborozny went on to explain, “We have been working with local area physicians, Primary Care Network, and regional health providers to provide us with opportunities to attract medical professionals to our area…We are currently looking at options for a location in our community that would attract medical professionals on a more permanent basis.”