Lacombe

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.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended Canada's defence spending Monday as Polish counterpart Donald Tusk urged the rest of the West to confront the very real dangers Russia poses at a critical juncture in its war with Ukraine. 

There is still more to do, but Canada is doing it, Trudeau said during a joint news conference alongside Tusk, who now finds himself back in his old post as Poland's prime minister. 

Lacombe County is reminding residents that fire permit season starts on March 1.  

In an effort to ensure community safety and environmental protection, the county enforces the requirement for fire permits for controlled burns.  

Unauthorized burning could lead to significant fines and charges.   

The Donald Family has given a record-breaking $20 million gift to Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP), in support of healthcare and healthtech programming and applied research.   

On Thursday, February 22nd, Lacombe County held their regular council meeting. 

Here are some of the highlights from that meeting.

AGRICULTURE SERVICE BOARD MEETING NOTES

Council reviewed the meeting notes of the January 17, 2024, Lacombe County Agriculture Service Board (ASB) meeting and approved recommendations as follows:

• That the Drought Support Programming Report be received for information.

• That the 2023 Insect Surveillance Report be received for information.

The Lacombe AA Generals started their second round of the Vanberg Cup Playoffs with a 5-2 road win over the Red Deer Rustlers.

Just over 300 fans at the Penhold Multiplex watched the home team fall behind early with a Generals power play goal from Craig Gans. The Rustlers would answer back, but Lacombe would then score again to put them ahead 2-1 after the first period.

After a tying goal in the second from Red Deer, Bryce Wilson would score another power play goal for the Generals to end the period 3-2.

Central Alberta will get hit with some big changes in weather over the next couple of days.

Environment Canada is forecasting possible freezing rain Sunday with a high of plus 1, then temperatures falling all the way down to minus 19 by Monday afternoon. 

Watch for slippery conditions and blowing snow this afternoon and on your Monday morning commute.

Here is the three-day forecast from Environment Canada.

Sunday

The provincial government has allocated $302,500 in funding to support the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame Museum.  

The funding will be used to support the operations of the facility and the organization’s management and delivery of the annual Alberta Sport Recognition Awards.  

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau surveyed the wreckage of one of the first battles in the brutal war that has gripped Ukraine for the last two years, as Ukrainians used Saturday's anniversary of the fighting to take stock of a still uncertain future.

The prime minister joined other world leaders in a surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv to sign a new security agreement with the embattled country, including a pledge for $320 million in new military spending by the end of the year.

The 2024 United Way Central Alberta (UWCA) “Sockey Day” broke the collection record last week, with 4,813 pairs of socks being tossed onto the ice during the Red Deer Rebels Family Day game.   

“We are blown away by this year’s response. Seeing so many businesses, people, and families coming together and donating socks to folks in need demonstrates the growing commitment Central Albertans have in addressing local basic needs,” Chelsea O’Donoghue, UWCA CEO said.