Lacombe

The Town and County of Stettler have jointly approved a new financial incentive structure to recruit and retain physicians in the area.  

Both organizations have been collaborating with the provincial government, Drumheller-Stettler MLA Nate Horner, and Alberta Health Services (AHS) to address the urgency of healthcare shortage in the region.  

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Wednesday night was an anxious night for most Central Albertans. 

Earlier in the day a tornado watch was issued for our area calling for the potential of severe weather and possible tornados. That watch then turned into a warning just after 7 p.m. as Environment Canada meteorologists were tracking two severe storms. One of the storms located north of Bentley and the other north of Eckville.

Both storms were heading eastward with many communities in its path. By 7:30 the affected areas went from Sylvan Lake in the south to Ponoka County in the north.

The Lacombe Curling Club is preparing to host the 2024 Pan Continental Curling Championships this fall.   

The world curling international event is a qualifier event for the World Championships for men's and women’s teams from the North American and Pacific-Asia competition zones.    

There are currently 37 teams coming from 21 countries to compete.  

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on social media that Ottawa has approved Alberta’s request for federal assistance after a fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday.

The park's social media account says the fire has caused significant loss within the townsite, but the specific locations or neighbourhoods affected are not being reported.

On the social media platform X, the account for Fairmont's Jasper Park Lodge says the flames have reached the hotel's grounds, but the extent of damage, if any, is not yet known.

The Grain Growers of Canada executive director Kyle Larkin has been on the road this week driving from Winnipeg to Calgary as part of the GGC's Summer Tour.

The tour kicked off on Monday, when he visited Doug Martin's farm at East Selkirk, Manitoba with MP Kevin Lamoureux.

"We discussed a number of issues, including the Capital Gains Tax increase, the carbon tax, potential rail strike. You know, there's a lot of issues out there right now impacting grain farmers and we're just here to raise awareness of them over the summer."

One of two raging, wind-whipped wildfires bearing down on the historic Jasper townsite reached its southern outskirts early Wednesday night as a last-ditch attempt to reroute it failed.

Around the same time, all first responders were ordered out of Jasper National Park for their safety and to give fire crews more room to operate.

Firefighters remained in the town to douse spot fires and maintain sprinkler lines. Everyone else was reminded to get out.

UPDATE 8:17

At 8:17 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time Wednesday, Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for South Central Alberta. Extra care and attention should be exercised in and around the following localities: Clive, Alix, Eckville and Lacombe. Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a very dangerous thunderstorm capable of producing damaging wind gusts, baseball size or greater hail and heavy rain.

Area: Lacombe Co. near Lacombe Blackfalds and Bentley , Lacombe Co. near Clive Alix and Mirror

UPDATE 8:05

At 2:27 p.m., on Wednesday (July 24), Environment Canada issued a tornado watch for Central Alberta.  

The watch is in effect for:  

• Lacombe County  

• Red Deer County  

• Mountain View County  

Didsbury couple, Murray and Darlene Timmins, just won $5 million on the June 26 LOTTO 6/49 draw.  

The couple has a routine when it comes to lottery purchases.   

“We’ve been playing the same numbers since the 80s,” Darlene said. “They were the same numbers my late father played, as well.”