Lacombe

On Dec. 30, 2024, RCMP received a report of a third vehicle breaking through the ice on Sylvan Lake. 

As with the previous two incidents, there were no injuries reported. 

When it comes to outdoor winter activities, ice safety is essential, especially when the weather fluctuates between extreme cold and warmer periods. Ice conditions can change rapidly, and these changes can be dangerous.

The Sylvan Lake RCMP is offering important tips to help ensure safety when venturing out onto ice covered ponds or lakes:

Earlier this month, Clearwater County Council approved the 2025 operating and capital budgets.

These approvals were made following three days of in-depth deliberations from December 11-13, during which the Strategic Planning Committee reviewed and refined project timelines, scopes and funding allocations.

Mother Nature could provide its own fireworks for New Year's Eve tonight as the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has forecasted a strong possibility for aurora borealis over much of the country.

The Dec. 31 geomagnetic activity forecast is considered a five on the OVIATION mode’s scale, which runs from one to nine.

Alberta’s skies came alive in 2024, with dazzling aurora borealis displays captivating night owls and stargazers alike.

The Red Deer Rebels were held off the scoreboard for most of the game Monday night, as team dropped its fourth straight losing 2-1 to Lethbridge at Peavey Mart Centrium.

Brayden Edwards opened the scoring for the Hurricanes at 4:55 of the second period with his 16th goal of the season.

Noah Chadwick would put Lethbridge up 2-0 early in the third with a blast from the left circle.

A look at national news events in November 2024:

1 - A New Brunswick woman who lost two military sons to PTSD says she's honoured to be named this year's National Silver Cross Mother. Seventy-eight-year-old Maureen Anderson says she hopes to use her time in the role, on behalf of mothers who have lost a child to active military duty, to keep speaking about post-traumatic stress disorder and to encourage veterans to get all the help they can. 

Update #2

The Wetaskiwin RCMP received a report of an assault at a rural home on Township Road 441 in Wetaskiwin County.

After attempts to contact the suspect were unsuccessful, RCMP contained the residence and the Alberta RCMP Emergency Response Team was deployed to assist.

A warrant was obtained to enter the home and arrest the suspect. 

When entering the home, officers were shot at by the suspect.

Police continued efforts to de-escalate the situation. 

The head of the North American Aerospace Defence Command says Chinese and Russian air co-operation in the Arctic has Norad's "full attention."

Those two countries for the first time staged a joint patrol in the Arctic near the coast of Alaska last July.

U.S. Gen. Gregory Guillot told The Canadian Press in a year interview that it potentially takes decades for two nations’ militaries to reach "full integration" at a level like the U.S. and Canada.

Update:

On Dec. 30 at 4:40 p.m., the Calgary Police Service cancelled the dangerous person alert that was issued earlier today.

The suspect, Benedict Kaminski, 38, was located deceased.

His vehicle was also found.

There is no further risk to the public.

The Alberta RCMP, in partnership with community and industry partners has been participating in an initiative to help address concerns around copper wire theft in the province since October.

Temperatures in Central Alberta are expected to take a dip as we make our way into the New Year.  

The week begins with temperatures sitting around –8 in the region, but will decrease to around –10, and by the end of the week, we could see temperatures around –20.