You won't believe what happened at the dome
Morning from Central Alberta — five communities, one correspondent, and all the stories the big papers forgot.
Well now, I'll tell you what, there are days when the wind really shows you who's boss out here. And yesterday, it decided to flex its muscles right over Red Deer. Imagine this: you're inside, maybe playing a little soccer or just hitting some golf balls, and the next thing you know, the whole roof starts to… well, it starts to look like it's taking a deep breath and then letting out a big sigh. That's pretty much what happened at the massive sports dome out by the Queen Elizabeth II highway. Strong winds, gusting over 90 kilometers an hour according to Environment Canada, just plain damaged the whole structure, forcing an evacuation.
### Wind's Wild Ride
You know, we get our share of wind in Central Alberta, especially rolling off the foothills and funneling up the Red Deer River valley. But seeing an entire indoor sports facility get crumpled like an old feed bag? That's a sight you don't forget. It's not just a big tent, either; it's a hub for so many folks, from the kids' leagues to the folks trying to stay active when the snow flies. It's built to withstand a fair bit, so for it to get damaged like that, you know the winds were really something fierce.
Here’s what we know so far:
* The indoor sports facility was evacuated Thursday afternoon.
* Winds were officially reported at over 90 km/h in the area.
* Damage to the structure was significant enough to close the facility.
* No injuries were reported, thankfully.
It just goes to show you, sometimes the biggest news isn't a government decision or a big business deal, it's just Mother Nature reminding us that she's still running the show. For a city like Red Deer that prides itself on its facilities for all seasons, losing a major indoor space, even temporarily, is a real inconvenience for a lot of families and athletes who count on it. We'll be keeping an eye on how quickly they can get that dome back up and running.
Frank and the crew are likely chewing on this story right now — catch their take live at mornings.live.