Lacombe

Lacombe County Council discussed the regional recreation facility grant application, the construction of two soccer fields in Bentley, and the environmental action plan during the Jan. 30 regular meeting.   

Here are the meeting highlights:  

Advocacy for Amendments to Provincial Offences Procedure Act  

The province’s first eating disorders residential recovery centre for young Albertans is now operational in Calgary.

The Government of Alberta provided an update Thursday during Eating Disorders Awareness Week (Feb. 1-7).

The EHN Sandstone Recovery Centre is a partnership between the Government of Alberta, Recovery Alberta, Silver Linings Foundation and Edgewood Health Network (EHN Canada).

The Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit arrested 27-year-old Derrick Phazar Whitford of O'Chiese First Nation on Feb. 7.

Whitford was wanted for the second-degree murder of an 18-year-old O'Chiese First Nation resident in November 2024.

He was also wanted on several unrelated offences, including Breach of Probation, Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Flight from Peace Officer, Robbery, and several firearm related offences.

Whitford will be taken before a Justice of the Peace concerning his detention and future court date.

Three Sylvan Lake organizations are looking to transform the current curling rink in the NexSource Centre into regulation hockey ice.   

The Sylvan Lake Minor Hockey Association, Sylvan Lake Rec. Hockey Association and Sylvan Lake Lacrosse Association brought the idea to council during the Jan. 27 regular meeting.  

Nominations are now open for the Sylvan Lake Citizen of the Year Awards.

The Citizen of the Year awards are given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the community and demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of those around them.

All nominees must live, or have lived, in Sylvan Lake to be eligible.

The nomination window is open until March 11, 2025, at noon.

Some of the award categories include:

STARS Air Ambulance responded to the scene of a single-vehicle rollover on Highway 2A north of Ponoka Thursday morning at around 10:55 a.m.

The driver and passenger were ultimately taken to hospital via ground ambulance.

Both occupants were not wearing seatbelts and both were ejected from the vehicle.

The driver suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital in stable condition. The passenger suffered less serious injuries.

Road conditions were described as icy. Highway 2A was closed to traffic for a short period of time following the incident.

The Sylvan Lake Fire Department responded to a detached garage fire in Bowman Circle on Thursday at around 12:40 p.m.

RCMP say the fire was put out quickly with minimal damage occurring to the structure.

The cause of the fire is believed to be related to a garage heater.

There were no injuries.

New security protocols are being implemented at Wetaskiwin City Hall.  

Starting Feb. 10, City Hall visitors will be given key cards to access the third-floor meeting rooms and the council chambers.   

The Blackfalds Bulldogs have announced that 2007-born forward, Jake McDonald, has committed to the team for the 2025-2026 BCHL season.

The Anaheim, California product grew up in the St. Louis Blues AAA program. 

So far this season with the St. Louis Blues 18U AAA team, he scored 29 goals and 49 points in 41 games. 

McDonald stands at 5-foot-ten and weighs 165 pounds. His father is former NHLer Andy McDonald, who played in twelve seasons between the Anaheim Ducks and St. Louis Blues.

What started out as a one-year project for local photographer Sherry Penner, eventually turned into a four-year endeavor showcasing local women over the age of 40.

Penner's goal was to highlight 40 women over 40 in a glamorous-style photoshoot. She says the project evolved over those four years into something much bigger, with a total of 123 women taking part. One hundred unique art portraits were created.

"We did an interview with each of the ladies and told their stories," explained Penner.