Economically, Jasper appears to be in good shape this winter. Record snowfalls attracted tourists by the thousands earlier in the year, and an unusually warm February ensured visitors kept coming. So many tourist communities roll up the streets come Thanksgiving (if they’re lucky), and wait out the winter.

But of course Jasper has the advantage of winter destination, and that should allow many more businesses to flourish.

Crime is dropping in Jasper.

Late night vandalism is down substantially, assault numbers are plummeting, drunk driving incidents have been cut and drug crime is at a three year low.

Youth crime is also dropping, and virtually non-existent amongst teenage girls.

According to Jasper RCMP, work done to curb many of the criminal issues on Patricia St. appears to be working, and there is an identifiable trend to less criminal activity.

If the debate over the location of a new school in Jasper sounds familiar, that’s because it is.

We’ve been through this already.

After a year of negotiation, both sides seem to be no farther ahead. The school board is entrenched in its call for the bowling green land for a new school, and the town, unhappy with that proposal, is pushing for other options to be explored.