Lacombe

Lacombe City Council has approved an updated plan to redevelop 49C Avenue into a Pedestrian Plaza in Lacombe’s downtown core.  

The plan will be completed in one phase and include street lighting, paving stones, accessible seating, and modifications to the Highway 2A parking lot to permit access from 49B Avenue.  

A weather statement released from Environment Canada Tuesday afternoon, is warning residents of Central Alberta; from Lacombe County to Red Deer County to brace for the coming weather this week. 

Beginning Wednesday night until Friday, expect a mix of weather that will bring winter traveling conditions with it.  

Rocky Mountain House Town Council reviewed resident feedback regarding the location of a new disc golf course at the March 20 regular meeting.   

In January, an open house was held, that included a presentation from the Central Alberta Disc Golf Association (CADGA), the Town Recreation Director, and a question-and-answer period.     

Alberta Parks is adding 330 individual campsites and two group camping areas across 15 provincial parks for the upcoming camping season.

Reservations for these new sites open April 8 at 9 a.m. on the provincial booking website (shop.albertaparks.ca).

Individual campsite reservations are available up to 90 days in advance, while group camping areas can be booked up to 180 days ahead. Individual campers can reserve stays up to 10 consecutive nights, with a maximum total stay of 16 nights. Group campers can reserve a maximum of five consecutive nights.

As part of the yearly Meltdown festivities, Centennial Park in Sylvan Lake was awash in colourful chalk the afternoon of Saturday, March 22, as part of the traditions of the Hindu festival of Holi. 

Typically celebrated on the last full moon day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar, the date can vary, so the official Holi celebration was the previous week, but that didn’t stop the community from coming out to celebrate again! 

The Rotary Club of Red Deer has allocated $32,000 in grant funding to seven local not-for-profit organizations.  

“Every great community thrives when people come together to support one another,” said Vangi Willington, Chair of Community Service Committee, Rotary Club of Red Deer. “We believe Red Deer is a great community, and as Rotarians, we are proud to empower these local organizations to make a difference.”  

Get ready to unleash your inner artist at Paint the Ice Night today (March 25) at the Ponoka Arena Complex.   

The family-friendly event invites everyone to transform the ice rink into a colourful masterpiece from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.  

After Paint the Ice Night, the ice will be removed for the season in preparation for spring and summer programming to begin in May.   

This past weekend, Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Athlete Brynley Peters (Queens Dance) earned diamond, first place and a scholarship for pre-professional dance training. 

In addition, the RDP Dance team received several special honours in Fort Saskatchewan.

The Broom Tree Foundation's 2023/2024 Attainable Housing Pilot Project was a big success.

Cofounder Tamara Noordhof says the project, which wrapped up last September, was able to serve 21 women and their children in two suites located in Lacombe. All of those women were eventually transitioned into long-term affordable housing.

The project was completely funded by local donors and a grant provided by the Echo Lacombe Association. Local churches have also been instrumental to the success of the organization.

Three Central Alberta hockey teams won provincial gold over the weekend.

The Red Deer Rebels U15 AAA boys hosted the provincial tournament beating the Calgary Northstars 4-1 in the final. Madden Daneault had nine points in five games including three in the championship final.

Elsewhere, the Lacombe Rockets U13B boys squad won gold as the host team beating Hinton 5-1 in the final.