Lacombe

Fortis Aberta is reporting an unplanned power outage south of Eckville.

Crews are working on restoring power to the area near Highway 766. The cause of the outage is unknown at this time and Fortis says they are not sure when power will be restored.

The loss of power is affecting over 150 customers in the area.

For the latest updates click here.

The month of June is full of culture with the recognition of Italian, Filipino and Portuguese heritage.

Italian Heritage Month is a time to recognize the community’s contributions, as people of Italian descent have been in Canada since the 1880s.

Canada’s first Italian community numbered around 2,000 people at the end of the 19th century.

Today, with more than 1.5 million people of Italian heritage, Canada is home to one of the largest Italian migrations in the world.

On Sunday, June 1 at approximately 5:23 a.m., Maskwacis RCMP received a report of a shooting at a residence in Samson Cree Nation.

Emergency responders arrived to find a dead 20-year-old male. He was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, where his death was determined to be a homicide.

The deceased has been identified as Travis Jason Crier, who also went by the name Raven Crier.

“This is another tragic and senseless loss of a Four Nations community member,” said Inspector Richard McKay, detachment commander of Maskwacis RCMP.

Fertilizing your forage stand is a significant investment; protect that investment by ensuring you are utilizing the appropriate source, rate, timing and placement of fertilizer. This is known as the 4R’s of forage fertility.

The following considerations should be incorporated into your fertility plan:

Ideally, soil sample in the spring, at the beginning of the growing season, to assess initial soil fertility. Then use the results to create a fertilizer blend that also takes into consideration the targeted yield.

Proposed federal legislation would give authorities new powers to search mail, make it easier for officials to pause or cancel immigration applications and expand the Canadian Coast Guard’s role to include security activities.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree introduced the Strong Borders Act in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

The government says the wide-ranging, 127-page bill aims to keep borders secure, combat transnational organized crime, stop the flow of deadly fentanyl and crack down on money laundering.

Canada's tourism industry might be in for a boost as Canadians boycott the United States and spend their travel dollars closer to home this year.

In a report released May 29, the Conference Board of Canada estimates the net economic benefit for the domestic tourism sector could be as high as $8.8 billion.

The think tank said its April travel intentions survey suggests roughly 27 per cent of Canadian respondents are considering a trip to the U.S. in the next few years - down from more than 50 per cent in the same survey last November.

Farmers are winding down their seeding operations in Manitoba

Cereal Specialist Anne Kirk put together this week's crop report and says provincially 95 per cent of the crop is now in the ground.

Red Deer students showcase artwork at public exhibition.

Graduates from Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School and Hunting Hills High School are having their artwork presented in Red Deer.

The Red Deer Arts Council and Red Deer Public Library present "Hang Ups and Insights", a showcase now in its 17th year.

It features artwork from students in the Baccalaureate Art Programs and Advanced Placement courses from the graduating class of 2025.

The exhibition runs until June 23 in the Kiwanis Gallery at the Red Deer Public Library.

The Local School Bus Road-eo took place in late May, with drivers from two school divisions qualifying for the provincial competition on Saturday in Nisku.

The annual event brings together divisions and transportation providers from across central Alberta—including Wolf Creek Public Schools (WCPS), Chinook’s Edge School Division, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools and Prairie Bus Lines—to collaborate on a fun and competitive challenge course designed to highlight the precision, professionalism and safety focus of school bus drivers.

Environment Canada has issued a Special air quality statement for some parts of Central Alberta including:
   Co. of Wetaskiwin near Pigeon Lake,
   Ponoka Co. near Rimbey Bluffton and Hoadley
   Ponoka Co. near Crestomere
   Co. of Wetaskiwin near Wetaskiwin Millet and Hwy 2, Alta. (076620)
  
Smoke is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility.

Conditions are expected to improve tonight.