Lacombe

Residents of Red Deer who purchase and install a smart thermostat can take advantage of a rebate offered through The City’s Smart Thermostat Rebate Program. This initiative is designed to help reduce energy consumption and enhance energy efficiency in local homes, offering a $50 rebate for those who replace their current thermostat with a smart one.

Due to a clinical personnel shortage and inability to secure temporary coverage, the Rocky Mountain House Hospital and Care Centre emergency department (ED) will be closed from Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. to Feb. 25 at 7 a.m.

During this time, nursing staff will remain on-site in the emergency department assisting in redirecting/referring patients to alternate emergency departments in neighbouring communities, or other appropriate levels of service, as needed.

Canadians have noticed an unexpected detail in Google Maps, where several provincial parks are labelled as "state parks," prompting questions and concern.

The issue came to light over the weekend as Canadians began sharing screenshots in Facebook groups dedicated to supporting Canadian businesses amid tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. The screenshots showed several provincial parks across Canada being mislabelled as "state parks" in Google Maps.

Due to the warm weather, the Town of Sylvan Lake has closed all outdoor rinks.

The lake rinks, lake rink parking lot, and lake access gates on Lakeshore Drive are also closed.

Rinks will stay closed until it's cold enough to re-open. 

Warm temperatures can mean unsafe ice. 

Ice safety is only monitored in the lake rink area. Beyond that, users are responsible for their own ice safety.

On Feb. 17, the Red Deer RCMP General Investigation Section (GIS) arrested a male following a drug trafficking investigation.

Officers executed a search warrant at a residence in the Parkvale community of Red Deer.

As a result of the investigation, police seized over $13,000 in Canadian currency, 112 grams of cocaine, 118 grams of crack cocaine, 38 oxycodone tablets, along with other items and materials used in the trafficking of controlled substances.

Lacombe and District Volunteer Link is looking to extend its volunteer roster.

The non-profit organization was founded in 2004 by several local churches. It's currently run out of the basement of St. Cyprian's Anglican Church in Lacombe.

"We found that there was a need in Lacombe and area for people who are seniors or on low incomes or don't drive, who need to get to doctors, medical appointments and find it very difficult to do so at times," said Office Coordinator Jean Cheek.

Rocky Mountain House RCMP are urging businesses to be vigilant after recent reports of prop money being circulated in the community. 

Police have received several reports of fake Canadian $100 bills, which have been used to purchase goods and services.  

Many of the bills have identifiable markings indicating they are fake:

The Lacombe Generals are one win away from the Senior AA North Central Hockey League finals after beating Stony Plain twice last weekend in their best-of-five second-round playoff series. Lacombe scored a 3-1 win in Stony Plain Saturday before beating the Eagles 5-3 in Lacombe on Sunday.

Game 3 goes Friday night in Lacombe at the Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex with an 8:15 p.m. puck drop. Game 4 will go at the Glenn Hall Centennial arena in Stony Plain Saturday night if required.

The other semi-final between Innisfail and Wetaskiwin is tied at a game apiece. 

On Friday, Alberta’s government awarded $5.5 million in grant funding to 19 organizations working to stop human trafficking and empower survivors.

Saturday was National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and according to the provincial government, they are reaffirming its commitment to combatting this unthinkable crime.

Albertans saw Canada's annual inflation rate move in the wrong direction in January to 1.9 per cent.

According to Statistics Canada, increased energy prices, notably for gasoline and natural gas, contributed the most to the acceleration.

"These price increases were partly offset by continued downward pressure on prices for products affected by the goods and services tax (GST)/harmonized sales tax (HST) break introduced in December."