Lacombe

While we have seen rather warm weather to finish off 2024, it will be rather cold to start the new year heading into the weekend.

Christy Climenhaga a scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) talked about what we will see in the next few days.

"We've got this pattern where some cold arctic air is going to push into not only Alberta but across much of Saskatchewan too. We can expect it through the weekend for sure."

According to ECCC, today's high is -17, tomorrow is also -17 while the weekend high is in the -15 degree range.

The Blackfalds Bulldogs lost their second straight to Okotoks Wednesday night falling 5-2 on the road to the Oilers. The Bulldogs also dropped a heartbreaker to the Oilers on New Year's Eve 3-2 in overtime.

Wednesday's game saw the Oilers scored three unanswered goals in the third period en route to the victory.

Blackfalds opened the scoring at 5:24 of the first when Thomas Neu netted his first goal of the season.

The Oilers responded at the 12:48 mark when Spencer Rheaume found the back of the net.

Hydroponic food is growing at the Red Deer Food Bank after a donation from a community partner.    

Through a $75,000 grant from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a hydroponic sea-can was purchased to grow fresh produce to support the food bank’s hamper program.  

Happy Birthday, Celsius!

Environment Canada's use of Celsius turns 50 years old in 2025. 

It was the catalyst of a lengthy national metric conversion that abruptly ended a decade after it began.

The result is seen and felt every day. Canadians wear clothes measured in inches and buy gas by the litre. They drink from millilitre beer cans and step on bathroom scales in pounds. They eat cereal by the gram and sub sandwiches by the foot. 

Give someone an inch, and they'll take a kilometre.

Red Deer Rebels Owner, President and General Manager Brent Sutter today announced that the club has completed a trade with the Prince Albert Raiders.

The Rebels have acquired 18-year-old defenceman Doogan Pederson, 15-year-old forward Miller Robson, and a third-round pick in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft – originally belonging to Swift Current – in exchange for 19-year-old defenceman Matteo Fabrizi.

A look at national news events in December 2024:

1 - Belgium grants sex workers full labour rights, including health insurance, paid leave and pensions. The law establishing key rights including refusing clients and stopping acts at any time comes after the decriminalization of sex work in 2022. Employers must meet strict licensing and safety standards, while unregulated hiring may be penalized. Advocates hail the law as groundbreaking while critics worry undocumented workers remain vulnerable. 

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.