Lacombe

Throughout the year, the Red Deer Food Bank experienced an increase in demand for services.   

In 2024, over 30,000 people received emergency food hampers, and between 45,000 to 50,000 people received supplemental food. 

The Atlantic Liberal caucus is calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign as party leader in a letter expressing "deep concern" about the future of government. 

The letter dated Dec. 23 was shared publicly Sunday by New Brunswick MP Wayne Long, who has been saying since the fall that Trudeau should step down.

Long wrote in a Facebook post that he shared the letter for "openness and transparency."

Wolf Creek Public Schools (WCPS) Board Chair Luci Henry is celebrating the accomplishments the division has made in 2024.  

“This year has been full of milestones that highlight the dedication and hard work of our students, staff, and entire school community,” Henry said in a news release.  

A major highlight of the year was the opening of the Iron Ridge Secondary Campus in Blackfalds.   

If you have a real tree for Christmas, the question is always, "What do I do with my old Christmas tree?"

It's important that you dispose of the tree following local guidelines, as most communities have their own services for pick up or disposal.

Here is a list of tree disposal for some communities in Central Alberta:

The Town of Blackfalds is giving residents a reason to get out with the family on New Year's Eve with a free family skate.

The event will run Tuesday, December 31st from 4 pm to 6 pm in Arena 2 at The Eagle Builders Centre.

• Hemets are strongly recommended
• No sticks are allowed
• There will be free prize draws, and complementary snacks and beverages.

As 2025 approaches, key benefit payment dates and amounts have been released, allowing Central Alberta families to start planning their finances.

Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

The Canada Child Benefit is a monthly, tax-free payment designed to assist families with children under 18. From July 2024 to June 2025, the maximum annual amounts are:

A look at national news events in September 2024

1 - Israel recovers the bodies of six hostages in Gaza, including an Israeli-American hostage. The family of Hersh Goldberg-Polin says they have confirmed his death, ending a relentless campaign to rescue him that included meetings with world leaders. The 23-year-old Goldberg-Polin was seized by militants at a music festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7, and was last seen with his left hand missing and speaking under duress. The army says the hostages were killed shortly before they could be rescued. 

Jimmy Carter, the self-effacing peanut farmer, humanitarian and former navy lieutenant who helped Canada avert a nuclear catastrophe before ascending to the highest political office in the United States, died Sunday at his home in Georgia.

He was 100, making him the longest-lived U.S. president in American history.

Concern for Carter's health had become a recurring theme in recent years. He was successfully treated for brain cancer in 2015, then suffered a number of falls, including one in 2019 that resulted in a broken hip.

Update:

The Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit has laid charges in connection to a homicide at the corner of 49 Avenue and 53 Street in Red Deer.

The deceased victim has been identified as a 43-year-old resident of Red Deer.

18-year-old Red Deer resident River Roan has been arrested and charged with second-degree-murder.

River has been taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded into custody with his next court date set for Jan. 2, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Red Deer.

A look at national news events in August 2024

1 - The Israeli military confirms the death of Hamas' military leader, Mohammed Deif. Deif was killed in an airstrike in Gaza in July, knocking another leader of the militant terror group off Israel's hit list. Israel says it targeted Deif in a July 13 strike on the outskirts of Khan Younis, but hasn't been able to confirm the kill for weeks. The Israeli confirmation came a day after an apparent Israeli airstrike in Tehran killed Hamas' top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh.