Lacombe

While the recent federal election turned into a tight race between the Liberals and Conservatives that left other parties trailing far behind, a new poll suggests most Canadians don't want the country end up with a two-party system.

The poll of over 1,600 Canadians, conducted by Leger Marketing for the Association for Canadian Studies between May 1 and 3, suggests only 21 per cent of Canadians think the country would be better off with a system where two parties dominate the political landscape.

According to 511 Alberta, the QEII has reopened north of the 32nd Street overpass.

Earlier this afternoon a crash had caused all lanes to be closed as emergency crews were on site.

Traffic was also very slow on Taylor Drive as there was a crash in the intersection near the hospital and 43rd Street.

For the latest traffic information click here. 

Environment Canada had issued a special air quality statement for the Wetaskiwin area yesterday evening due to wildfire smoke.

The statement has been withdrawn and there are no worries about outdoor air pollution.

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Lacombe Days is set to return from July 11 to 13, and organizers are calling on volunteers to help make the popular community festival a success. 

According to festival coordinator Jess Zylstra, the number of volunteers needed for the event can range from 30 to 100 people, each having different roles. 

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) and Bethany Care Society have renewed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), reinforcing their long-term partnership that brings continued social and economic benefits through collaborative teaching, learning and applied research.  

Whether it’s leading high-energy gym classes or helping students discover their passion for physical activity, physical education specialist Scott Luck has always focused on getting kids moving - and now, he’s being recognized for his efforts on a national level. 

Crime can be a major concern in rural areas, where police response times are often longer than in urban centres. Becky Wylie Jardine, a board member with Red Deer Rural Crime Watch, says knowing your neighbours can make a big difference.

“Yeah, absolutely. You know response times for RCMP are a lot longer in rural areas compared to the city. If a neighbour sees a strange vehicle on a driveway, they can call the police right away,” she said.

Residents at Deer Park Village in Red Deer were treated to a special tea on Friday.

As part of a Mother’s Day celebration, invitations were sent to residents as well as family members for a “Mount-Tea.”

Jamie Riggins, the Community Relations Coordinator at Deer Park Village, says, “We always have a Mother's Day tea, and we decided to make it a bit more of a community event and so we invited the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, to serve tea to our residents.”

Innisfail RCMP is warning the public about asphalt paving company scams in the area.  

Out-of-town companies, claiming to be pavers, are offering their services at an inexpensive rate. Residents are paying for the service up front and then receiving substandard work or being asked to pay more than the original quote.  

The Sunnybrook Farm Museum in Red Deer has a brand-new addition to its collection.

It’s a historical Eaton’s home constructed by Red Deer Polytechnic’s (RDP) second-year carpentry class and was custom-built just for the chickens.

Ian Warwick, the executive director of Sunnybrook Farm Museum, says they were looking to replace their current coop.

“The old chicken coop was from the turn of the century and it's a historic artifact. It was just sitting on blocks, and it was on dirt, and it was always hard to clean and maintain and dust the inside.”