Lacombe

On Feb. 28, the Red Deer RCMP Crime Reduction Team (CRT) arrested a male and recovered a stolen vehicle.

While making patrols, RCMP CRT located a black Ford F-350 driving in a dangerous manner in the north end of Red Deer. Police determined that the truck had been stolen from Rimbey, a few days prior. 

A short time later the vehicle was found abandoned and the driver fled on foot before being arrested by police.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Matthew Pennington, a 23-year-old resident of Red Deer.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has pledged that the government will meet its fiscal targets in the upcoming federal budget, but economists say achieving that goal will be challenging as the deficit tracks higher. 

Amid mounting pressure to rein in spending, the Liberals unveiled new fiscal guardrails in the fall that aim to limit deficits. Among the government's promises was that this year's deficit will not exceed $40.1 billion.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pushed back Wednesday on growing demands from premiers to dump the planned April 1 hike to the consumer carbon levy, saying leaders must tackle both affordability and climate change.

"My job is not to be popular,” Trudeau said, briefly pausing and adding with a wry smile, "Although it helps."

"My job is to do the right things for Canada now and do the right things for Canadians a generation from now."

The topics of the March 12 Chinook’s Edge School Board meeting included the three-year capital plan, parent attendance at future Alberta School Councils’ Association conferences, and an updated code of conduct.  

Here are the meeting highlights: 

Board approves 3-year Capital Plan  

The Lacombe Museums latest feature exhibition “Stories: An Artist Showcase” is highlighting the talent in the community.   

Artists of various levels from the Lacombe area created numerous pieces for the exhibition, including paintings and one sculpture which showcase how the artists interpreted the theme.  

Stats Can released its Principal Field Crop estimates for 2024 this week.

Canadian farmers are expected to plant more wheat, corn for grain, oats, lentils and dry peas in 2024, while the area seeded to canola, soybeans and barley is anticipated to drop compared with 2023 levels.

Nationally, wheat acres are expected to hit 27 million acres up slightly from last year, with 19.2 million acres of spring wheat, 1.5 million acres of winter wheat and 6.3 million acres of durum wheat.

Saskatchewan's acreage is anticipated to hit 14.2 million acres. 

This week, the USDA published the final Product of USA labeling rule for the voluntary labeling of  U.S. meat, poultry, and egg products.

The rule stipulates that to qualify for the label meat must be derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the U.S.

The new policy, which is being referred to as voluntary country of original labelling (V-COOL),  is set to come into effect by January 1, 2026.

A Red Deer man has been charged following a fatal collision that happened just after 5:00 am Tuesday.

Red Deer RCMP received a report of a head on collision on Highway 2a between Township Road 391 and 272. Upon arrival, the driver and sole occupant of one of the vehicles, a Ford Focus, was deceased. The deceased has been identified as a 74-year-old Lacombe resident.

The Town of Blackfalds announced the resignation of Councillor Rebecca Stendie, during the March 12 Regular Council Meeting.  

Stendie’s resignation was effective on March 4. She was on council since October 2017.  

The town thanks her for her years of service to the community and wishes her all the best in her future endeavors.  

More local patients with chronic kidney disease can access dialysis at the Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre, as the satellite hemodialysis unit is now open seven days a week to offer additional appointment times.

The unit is open 7 a.m. to 11:15 p.m. Previously, the unit was open six days a week. The extra service hours will provide space for 12 additional patients from the Wetaskiwin area to receive the care they need closer to home, accommodating all patients that were on the wait list as of Feb. 1.