Lacombe

Registration for spring arts and recreation programs is opening next week, (March 5) at noon.  

There is a wide range of programs for residents of all ages, such as swim lessons and preschool programs, fitness and wellness, and arts and culture.  

Spring programs can be found on the City of Red Deer’s My Activity Guide.  

Statistics Canada released data on cattle, hog, and sheep inventory numbers as of  January 1, 2024 as compared to January 1, 2023.

Stats show the Canadian cattle herd has fallen to its lowest level in over 30 years to 11.1 million cattle and calves on farms, down 2.1 percent from the previous year. 

Key factors for the drop relate to the drought and tight feed supplies which put downward pressure on the cattle sector, while stronger prices saw more producers that may have been struggling with feed supplies sending some of their breeding animals to market.

On Feb. 25, 2024, at 8:14 a.m., Stettler RCMP received a report from EMS of an unconscious man in an apartment.

RCMP attended and located the male deceased. RCMP believe the circumstances around the death are suspicious and have activated the Alberta Major Crimes Unit to investigate.

The deceased has been transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Calgary where an autopsy is anticipated to take place Tuesday, February 27th.

The Liberal government is planning to create a "digital safety commission of Canada" to regulate social media companies to take steps to reduce the risk of online harms to their users.

Justice Minister Arif Virani tabled the Online Harms Act today, and creating a new regulator is just one of the new measures being proposed.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has long promised to better protect against online harms, but his ministers have repeatedly said developing such legislation was complicated.

India is extending the timeline for duty-free imports of yellow peas.

Initially, India implemented a 50 per cent duty on yellow peas in November of 2017.

In December 2023, it announced a temporary duty-free import period ending in March 2024.

Last week, India announced that they would extend that duty-free period to the end of April.

Jeff English, the vice president of marketing and communications for Pulse Canada, says it's good to see the extension in place.

The latest "Grain Marketing Insights Report"  with LeftField Commodity Research is available through Manitoba Crop Alliance.

The report takes a general overview of what's happening in the wheat, barley, corn, flax, and sunflower markets.

According to the report, non-durum wheat supplies are tight with December non-durum exports moving at a record pace for the 2023-2024 crop year at 1.84 million tonnes.
CWRS basis levels have been firm for old crop, while new crop levels have appreciated from very low levels.

The Rimoka Housing Foundation in Ponoka is among seven organizations to receive an investment from the provincial government.  

An investment of $1.2 million will be allocated for improvements in 245 rental units in affordable senior housing facilities, in Edmonton, Calgary, Grande Cache, High Prairie and Ponoka.  

Take extra caution on  Central Alberta roads today.  

511 Alberta is reporting area highways are partially covered in snow and ice, with reduced visibility.  

Roads from Morningside to Wetaskiwin are covered in snow and ice and have reduced visibility, along with roads in the Rocky Mountain House area.  

Following a joint investigation by Ponoka RCMP and ALERT, a repeat offender has been arrested.

Police seized a variety of drugs and a stolen firearm.

On Feb.  22, Ponoka RCMP, Blackfalds RCMP, and ALERT Red Deer’s organized crime team executed a search warrant at a residence in Ponoka.

As result of the search, police seized:

• 63 grams of methamphetamine
• 15 tablets of oxycodone
• 5 grams of suspected fentanyl
• a stolen firearm.

Lauren Curtis, 44, from Ponoka has been charged with:

After a 5-2 win on Saturday night, the Lacombe Generals fell hard with a 3-0 shutout loss late Sunday afternoon to the Red Deer Rustlers.

Lacombe goalie Mackenzie Engel stopped 27 of 30 shots but that wasn't enough as the home fans at the Penhold Multiplex got to see their team come back to tie the best-of-seven series at one game apiece.

Rustler goals from Keagan Kingwell, Tyler Berkholtz, and Zachary Evans-Renaud all went unanswered by the visiting Generals.