Let There Be Lights

The first house (not shown) in Provost’s newest subdivision straight east of the golf course and south of the CPR tracks is now going up as construction of the general area continues. Owner of the house, that will be 1,980 square feet, Kim Larson says because his lot was not yet subdivided he could not pay for it so far. He says that tradesmen found his site by using a satellite GPS (global positioning system). The town office says they are awaiting a registered plan from the Alberta Government. After power installation is complete street lights (above) will be erected. The price of lots in the new area range from $45,000 to $85,000. ©Provost News Photos.

More Mosquitoes With West Nile Virus Showing Up in Local Traps
Two traps set up in the Provost area are showing a higher than normal incidence of the type of the mosquito species – Culex tarsalis, that is carrying the West Nile virus.

One of the traps is beside the Provost airport while the other is at the rural home of Jenny Ganser and husband Shane Kostiuk who live on the south side of Highway 13, just inside the Alberta border, east of Provost.

Ganser told The Provost News that she was recently told that they have a high number of the Culex tarsalis mosquitoes compared with the rest of Alberta and feels “not so good” about it. She says it would be different if it were just them on the farm, but points out they have horses to look after. She vaccinates her horses and gives them yearly boosters. Some of the horses are draped in sheets and although not 100 percent effective “I find it useful in keeping the bites off of them.”

A horse vaccine against West Nile virus has been licensed for use in Canada but so far no vaccine for West Nile virus has been approved for use in humans.

She and her husband spray themselves with insect repellent though not every time when they go outside “but we try to.” She urges others to be careful with mosquito bites.

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