Lacombe

The Lacombe and District Garden Club is celebrating 75 years in the community this year. Over the past year, the club has gone through a bit of a revival since the COVID-19 pandemic. After the pandemic, the club held a meeting to determine its next organizational steps.  

Motorists who are travelling in the Central Alberta area, on the QEII on Sunday are asked to exercise caution and drive to winter conditions.

While roads are in fairly good condition north of Carstairs towards Didsbury and Olds, there are reports that further North, towards Red Deer there is poor visibility due to fog and blowing snow, as well as shoulder ice and snow buildup.

Starting Monday at 7 a.m., a 24-hour parking ban will be in place on all Green Routes in Red Deer for residential snow clearing.

Green Routes are the higher-use residential roads, such as collector roads, transit routes, and school zones. Under the new pilot Snow & Ice Control Program, residential clearing operations will be 24/7, as crews work around-the-clock to restore mobility and improve accessibility within seven days.

The parking ban will remain in effect until after a Green Route is plowed, snow is removed and the ‘no parking’ signs are collected.

A new seniors lodge review panel is underway to help seniors age in their communities. 

The panel will review the efficiency and sustainability of the Seniors Lodge Program’s by looking into how to make the most out of existing spaces, ensuring seniors can age in their communities.  

The theatre students of Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School will be taking audiences ‘under the sea’ with The Little Mermaid next month.  

The British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) has announced that five Alberta teams will be joining their league in the 2024-2025 season including the Alberta Junior Hockey League's (AJHL) Blackfalds Bulldogs. 

The other AJHL teams that have agreed to terms include:

• Brooks Bandits
• Okotoks Oilers
• Sherwood Park Crusaders 
• Spruce Grove Saints

The BCHL says further information will be announced in the coming weeks but no further comment will be provided until more information is available. 

Update: 

Maskwacis RCMP has reported that Mary Bull has been found safe. 

Original post:

Maskwacis RCMP requests the public’s assistance in locating 14-year-old Mary Bull. RCMP is concerned for her wellbeing and would like to speak with her. Mary was last seen leaving school in Maskwacis on Jan. 18, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. 

Mary Bull is described as:

UPDATE 12:34 PM:

Red Deer RCMP would like to advise the public that the situation is now resolved. The heavy police presence and shelter in place have been lifted. Alberta RCMP would like to thank the public for their cooperation.

An additional release is anticipated once more information is available.

Original post 8:51AM:

Canada's financial intelligence agency warns that illicit cash is being laundered through online gambling sites that provide a variety of ways to disguise shady funds.

In a newly published bulletin, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada highlights the criminal exploitation of legitimate and unlicensed digital wagering operations.

The centre, known as Fintrac, notes the popularity of online gambling grew during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been fuelled by the 2021 legalization of single-event sports betting in Canada.

The non-profit organization, Dress for Success Alberta is launching a new workshop series designed to assist local women.  

The program is a three-part series that will focus on financial literacy and will be provided free of charge to local women.