Lacombe

Just before noon on Thursday, July 24th, Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch for all of Central Alberta.

Thunderstorms are expected develop this afternoon and evening over western and central Alberta. These thunderstorms may become severe, producing large hail, strong wind gusts and local downpours.

Any severe thunderstorms that do develop will move to the east or southeast through the evening and overnight hours.

Remember that severe thunderstorms can also produce tornadoes.

Families will be flooding into Lacombe this weekend as the 13U AA baseball provincials take over Michener Park.

Four teams from across Central Alberta will compete for the provincial title, with the Lacombe Dodgers 13U AA White squad looking to win it all on home turf.

Lacombe is no stranger to hosting baseball events, with a strong track record of welcoming provincial competition.

“We have some of the best baseball diamonds in Central Alberta,” said Shannon Bruns, president of Lacombe Minor Baseball and head coach of the AA team.

Downtown Red Deer will once again transform into a vibrant hub of entertainment and creativity as the Centrefest Street Performer Festival returns for another year.

Running this weekend (July 26-27) from noon to 6 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, the family-friendly event takes place rain or shine on Ross Street and Little Gaetz Avenue.

From acrobats and magicians to sword swallowers and living statues, Centrefest brings a world of talent to the heart of the city and it's all free to attend.

The Town of Penhold is asking residents to please not move the stakes.

Wooden stakes with orange flags have been placed in various locations throughout the town, including around the storm pond by the gazebo in Penhold Commons, near the ball diamonds, at Critter's Corner, along Waskasoo Avenue, and at the future site of the dog park.

These stakes are there with purpose to mark where trees and shrubs will be planted in the coming weeks.

The City of Red Deer is calling on Canadian artists or artist teams to create public artwork to be installed as part of the Canadian Pacific Rail (CPR) Pedestrian Bridge Rehabilitation Project.

Originally built in 1908, the CPR Pedestrian Bridge is a treasured historic landmark now undergoing full rehabilitation.

The project includes the creation of a new public plaza with two dedicated sites for permanent public art on the north side of the Red Deer River, connecting Riverside Meadows to the city’s trail system and downtown core.

The Town of Ponoka is offering new summer sampler fitness classes in the multi-purpose room at the Ponoka Aquaplex.

The new fitness classes are being offered in response to feedback from the 2024 Community Program Survey.

Insights from the survey have helped the Town of Ponoka create a community program roadmap outlining new events, activities, and programs.

These summer sampler classes are designed for all fitness levels, and include cardio, strength, and full-body workouts.

 AgraCity - a generic crop input supplier - sending out an important notice yesterday to its clients thanking them for their patience while they work through their operational restructuring after experiencing cash flow problems.

AgraCity owes product to a number of farmers and is attempting to reimburse growers for crop inputs they bought but did not receive.

The company announced they have restarted their packaging and product fulfillment operations and will be making products available to customers soon.

 Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn says Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation will provide support measures through its AgriInsurance program, improving cash flow for livestock producers needing to secure additional feed.

MASC will be applying a quality adjustment factor to reduce yield appraisals by 40 per cent for drought-stricken cereal crops that are converted to livestock feed. 

A new agreement will open up more opportunities for moving products from Manitoba and Saskatchewan to the world.

This week, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and the Arctic Gateway Group (AGG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will create a northern trade corridor through the Port of Churchill.

Moe says Saskatchewan remains committed to strengthening trade across Canada by supporting and developing new transportation corridors

A lawyer for one of two leaders of the Freedom Convoy facing sentencing told an Ottawa court Wednesday her client should not be left with a criminal record.

Crown prosecutor Siobhain Wetscher said Wednesday she is seeking stiff sentences for convoy leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber because of the broad community harm caused by the three-week 2022 protest in Ottawa's downtown core.