Lacombe

Update:

Wetaskiwin RCMP are now investigating this serious crash as a fatal hit and run incident.

RCMP, Thursday evening were on scene at a serious motor vehicle collision on Highway 13 at Range Road 244.

At the time, traffic could not proceed through the scene.

The highway had been closed for many hours but was reopened early Friday morning.

Charlie Mayer, a prominent figure in Canadian agriculture and politics, has passed away at the age of 89. Born in Saskatoon in 1936, Mayer attended the University of Saskatchewan before purchasing a farm in Manitoba in 1965. He grew grain, potatoes, and raised Simmental cattle, becoming active in the Manitoba Beef Growers Association. Mayer played a key role in opposing the introduction of supply management to the beef industry.

Highway 11A has reopened. Traffic has returned to normal.

Earlier this afternoon at around 4:00 pm, emergency crews were on scene at a MVC on HWY-11A at Range Road 284 east of Sylvan Lake.

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On April 28, 2025, Sylvan Lake Council approved the 2025 Budget with a zero per cent core municipal tax rate increase. This was made possible by assessment values that were much greater than the estimate in the draft budget. 

Here are some common questions answered by council and administration.

What is a core municipal tax rate?

The Canadian cattle industry is experiencing unprecedented profitability, with cattle prices reaching all-time highs. Despite this positive outlook, there are significant concerns about the ongoing trade war with the United States and its impact on the industry's stability.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says he’s a true Canadian but wouldn’t stop a public vote on separating from the country if it came forward.

Moe says residents are allowed to trigger provincial legislation for a plebiscite on the issue.

He says he does not judge people for having different opinions, but says he supports a united Canada.

Saskatchewan law allows the public to bring forward a petition for a plebiscite as long as 15 per cent of eligible voters sign on.

Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck says Moe should rule out a vote on separation.

Over the years, certain areas in Canada have seen an increase in wild pig populations. Wayne Lees from Squeal on Pigs Manitoba highlights the difficulty in tracking these animals, especially on foot. "In our experience, finding the pigs is the single hardest thing that we have to do. Our situation in Canada is very, very much different than the US under cold climate conditions. We don't have the large numbers of wild pigs that they experience in warmer climates.

At the April 29 Council meeting, Red Deer County Council approved the municipal tax rate bylaw for 2025. Tax rates vary on individual properties and taxation is based on their market value assessment. Changes to mill rates and levies are listed below:

With the dry weather conditions, there are multiple fire restrictions across Central Alberta.

The counties with fire restrictions include:

• Lacombe County
• Ponoka County 
• Red Deer County 

Clearwater County has a fire advisory, and Samson Cree Nation has implemented a fire ban.

Residents are encouraged to avoid non-essential burning and be aware that fires that fall under the restrictions must be extinguished immediately. 

Restrictions can be upgraded to fire bans.

WINNIPEG — Wheat growers in North Dakota have altered how they use fungicides to control fusarium head blight.

Many farmers now apply fungicides later, after flowers first appear on wheat heads, to cut the risk of fusarium damaged kernels (FDK) and reduce levels of deoxynivalenol (DON) in cereals.

Western Canadian farmers should make a similar switch, says a plant pathologist with Agriculture Canada in Alberta.

Right now, some agronomists and grower groups say the ideal fungicide timing starts when 75 per cent of wheat heads are fully emerged.