Lacombe

Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay has named David Hunt to the position of Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC). 

Hunt has over 25 years of leadership experience in Canada's agriculture sector

He joined the Department of Agriculture in Manitoba in 2007, where he held several positions,including leadership roles with Veterinary Diagnostic Services and the Livestock Industry Branch, before accepting the position of Assistant Deputy Minister for the Corporate Services and Innovation Division. 

This week is National Soil Conservation Week.

Over the last few months, the Senate Committee on Agriculture has been working on developing a new study on Soil Health in Canada.

Senator Robert Black says the committee toured the country to get a first-hand look at the situation, meeting with various scientists, producers, organizations and researchers to get an understanding of what's been happening.

The committee heard from 153 witnesses over the course of approximately 18 months and received 72 briefs from interested parties and individuals.

On April 4, 2024, the RCMP’s Provincial Financial Crime Team charged a Calgary resident for fraud-related offences after embezzling millions of dollars from his clients while serving as a senior financial advisor.

Following a thorough investigation, the accused is alleged to have fraudulently withdrawn funds from client accounts and deposited them into bank accounts he personally controlled. A total of sixteen victims were identified in the Red Deer area and suffered a combined loss of nearly $5 million.

As part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Mary Ng is leading a Team Canada Trade Mission to South Korea.

The Indo-Pacific region is Canada’s second-largest regional export market, and in 2023 represented two-way merchandise trade valued at $257 billion.

Ng says South Korea, is one of the area's fastest-growing markets and a strategic partner for Canada.

As of 2023, South Korea is Canada’s 7th-largest merchandise trading partner, 8th-largest export and 6th-largest import partner.

Ponoka Town Council approved the 2024 Budget during the April 23 regular meeting.   

The total budget amount is $26,150,422, including an Operating Budget of $22,914,360 and a Capital Budget of $3,236,062.  

 On April 22, 2024, members of the RCMP Southern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit (SAD CRU) recovered a stolen truck, trailer, and skid steer and arrested one male after leaving a rural property in Mountain View County.

As a result of the above arrest, the property was held and officers of SAD CRU, in partnership with Didsbury RCMP, Airdrie RCMP, and RCMP Auto Theft Unit, executed a search warrant on April 23, 2024.

As a result of the search warrant, the following was seized:

Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman weren't expecting a "pivotal moment" in their sons' lives when they visited Scotland's Loch Ness earlier this month, but that's exactly what happened.

"Our youngest is turning three next week," said Wiseman from the family's home in London, England. "And he tells everyone there have been two pivotal moments in his life: Seeing the world's largest dinosaur, which he did at the Natural History Museum in January, and seeing Nessie.

"He tells everyone he encounters. He tells the postman, he tells the guys in the shops and the cafés."

Grade 8 Indigenous students from Chinook’s Edge enjoyed attending a conference called ‘Inspiring Student Success” prior to spring break. The conference was planned by - and welcomed students from - Chinook’s Edge, Red Deer Public Schools, Red Deer Catholic Schools, Wolf Creek School Division and Star Catholic Schools.

The purpose of the third annual event was to bring Indigenous students together, to meet new friends and learn about Indigenous culture.

According to The Town of Bentley, a transformer fuse has blown which is affecting the town's pump house. It has been confirmed that the transformer needs to be replaced. Linemen are being dispatched to the site with a replacement. It is anticipated that the repair will be completed this evening or early morning.

Bentley public works is remaining on the scene to ensure the operation of the back up pump.

The Town said Wednesday evening that a backup fire pump has been started and pressure should be restored.

Wednesday afternoon crews were finishing the cleanup of a load spilled by a turned over semi-trailer truck.

The incident happened in the northbound lanes of the QEII between the Highway 12 and Highway 2A overpasses. Please be careful when passing the scene.

Also on the QEII this afternoon, NB QEII between jct Hwy604 and Hwy53, near Ponoka, bridge washing and highway clean-up, today and tomorrow, daily from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Expect lane closures with a speed reduction to 80km/h in the area.