Lacombe

Ashley Perepelkin says she was born and raised a city girl, never thinking she'd sell fresh beef from cattle she raised on her own Alberta farm with the help of artificial intelligence.

"I met a boy, and this boy happened to be a farmer," she says.

Perepelkin, who spent most of her life in Red Deer, Alta., says she and her now-husband Andrew met in 2010, got married and began farming grain together.

When she decided to get cattle, it was a steep learning curve. 

"A lot of things were learned, unfortunately, through trial and error," she says.

Nominations are now open for the 2024 Sylvan Lake Citizen of the Year Awards.

Residents can nominate fellow citizens in up to seven categories, including: 

• Citizenship 

• Music, Art, Culture, and Heritage 

• Environmental Stewardship 

• Sports Excellence 

• Youth Award of Excellence 

• Long Time Service Volunteer 

• Mayor’s Distinguished Award 

To nominate someone:

A look at news events in January 2023:

4 – Canada marked the first National Ribbon Skirt Day, after a bill to recognize the event every Jan. 4 passed in Parliament late last year. It was inspired by a 10-year-old girl who wore a ribbon skirt to her rural Saskatchewan school in December 2020. Isabella Kulak wore the colourful garment as part of a formal day, but her family said at the time that a staff member told her the outfit wasn't formal enough. The school division later apologized. 

 Instead of filling their backseats with suspects this week, Red Deer RCMP made some room for groceries and song lyrics.

On Dec. 20, 2023, a group of carolers could be seen – and heard – making their way through some of Red Deer’s senior and community centers. Red Deer RCMP members and Chaplain, along with Red Deer Victim Services, sang holiday songs hoping to bring warm wishes to the community.

UPDATE: December 27

RCMP report that Jason Blewer has been located safe. We would like to thank the media and public for their assistance.

BACKGROUND STORY:

Red Deer RCMP request the public assistance in locating 49-year-old Jason Blewer. Jason was last seen in Red Deer in November 2023. Red Deer RCMP are concerned for Jason’s well-being and would like to speak to him. 

Jason is described as:

There is only one more sleep until Christmas Day!  

Many kids will be patiently awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus. Santa Claus has to travel 510,000,000 KM today which is no small task.  

You can track Santa by using the Norad tracker which is available here.  

On Dec. 20, 2023, at approximately 10:30 a.m., RCMP responded to a complaint of a house fire in a vacant residence on Samson Cree Nation. The local fire department extinguished the fire and discovered human remains inside the residence.  An autopsy was conducted on Dec. 22, 2023 and the death has been ruled a homicide.

RCMP Major Crimes has been called in to investigate. 

The Town of Ponoka will be hosting a Holly Jolly Public Skate at the Ponoka Arena Complex on Christmas Eve (December 24, 2023). 

People of all ages are invited to the Ponoka Arena Complex from 11AM to 2PM. Admission is $1.50-$2.00. Those with recreation passes or Ponoka Arena Complex Passes will not need to pay for admission. Food bank donations will also be accepted at the event. 

Five not-for-profit organizations in Red Deer have been granted a total of $96,450 in multi-year funding from The City of Red Deer’s Community Culture Development Fund (CCDF) – Culture Development Category. 

A federal inquiry into foreign interference has asked to delay its first report by about two months in order to allow sufficient time for a public process and hearings on the issues.

Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue said in a press release Friday the requested postponement until May 3 is aimed at giving "meaning and purpose" to preliminary hearings, and to allow more time to maximize transparency.

Ensuring classified information is put into a form that can be released to the public is a long and complicated process, she added.