Okotoks

The head of Alberta Health Services says the agency is halting a proposed food-reduction policy after public outcry over patients potentially being cut off from snacks and drinks.

The agency's interim president and CEO, Andre Tremblay, said the policy was set to go into effect Tuesday to change how food is stored and delivered in an effort to reduce waste -- not to deprive patients of food.

Crews finished up the last of the tree pruning activity in Okotoks last week, giving way to the annual elm pruning ban.

The ban is in place from April 1 to Sept. 30 of each year to prevent the spread of Dutch Elm Disease.

Tree pruning is done in the 'dormant season' to target certain harmful species and diseases, as bark beetles rest during the winter months, and cuts aren't likely to attract them.

The beetles spread the disease by carrying the Ophiostoma ulmi fungus from tree to tree.

Medical emergencies can develop in an instant for anyone.  

Even if someone collapses or has a serious accident a block away from the hospital, the fear, uncertainty, and pressure of the moment can be earth-shattering.  

What happens, then, when the same thing happens kilometres away from a hospital, in the remote and sometimes harsh expanse of nature or farmland?  

For Paula Johnson, who was bucked off her horse on a birthday expedition that had already taken her across water, through an elk herd, and past grazing cattle, there was no going back. Only up.  

Old Man Winter does not want to give up on Foothills County this year.

Environment Canada has issued a Snowfall Warning for Foothills County on Tuesday (April 1), thanks to some heavy snowfall that is expected tonight.

The precipitation will begin as a mix of rain and snow this afternoon but will change to heavy snow this evening.

While the area is expected to receive between 5 and 10 cm of snow, some areas could receive up to 15 cm of snow, as snowfall amounts will vary throughout the region.

A sure sign of spring in High River, besides the Hitchin' Post opening, is the town's street sweeper doing its spring cleaning.

Street sweeping starts in earnest next Monday, April 7, in the Hamptons and Sunshine Lake.

The town is asking you to watch for parking ban signs, which will be out 24 hours in advance.

They're also asking you to sweep any gravel on your driveway down to the curb so it's easy for the street sweeper.

You're also asked not to put any gravel in your garbage or recycling bins.

High River RCMP are reminding both pedestrians and motorists to watch out for one another at crosswalks.

With spring underway, it's bringing out a lot more pedestrians, and that always means motorists need to be extra alert.

Pedestrians have the right of way, so motorists need to stop, but you should always look both ways, even if you have the right of way.

It's also important to make eye contact with the driver to ensure they see you and you know it's safe to cross.

Cyclists also need to dismount and walk their bikes across the road.

The Okotoks Oilers of the BCHL are all now set for round one of the playoffs against the Penticton Vees.

The Oil just squeaked into the BCHL playoffs as the 8th place team in the BCHL Interior Conference.

The Vees finished number one overall in the BCHL with a 41-8-5 record for 87 points, while the Oilers finished with a 21-30-3 record for 45 points.

The Oilers did manage to beat the Vees once during the regular season back on December 29 when the Green and Gold topped the Vees 4-3 in overtime.

Albertans can provide an extra set of eyes on the health of lakes in the province.

The annual National Lake Blitz program is in its fifth year, and through this program, Albertans of all backgrounds are invited to participate in the nationwide effort to monitor lake health.

From May to September, the volunteers part of the program will collect diverse information about the lakes in Alberta.

Part of the program will focus on the wildlife on or in the lake and along the shorelines, including both native and invasive species.

Two people have been charged after a trailer was stolen in High River.

The RCMP Southern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit was notified of the theft of a utility trailer from a High River business on March 21.

An investigation was launched, and they soon located the trailer and arrested two suspects.

Officers also located a 2018 Dodge Ram 3500 that was stolen from a Crossfield business.

The truck is valued at $60,000, with the trailer valued at $32,000.

Gage Alexander, a hockey goalie from Okotoks and part of the Detroit Red Wings organization, has been assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Alexander grew up playing hockey in Okotoks and was recently reassigned from the Reading Royals of the ECHL to the Griffins.

The Red Wings sent him to Reading on January 17th, and he was reassigned to Grand Rapids on March 11.

The 22-year-old is a 6'6", 205-pound, left-catching netminder who has 46 pro games between the AHL and ECHL, where he's registered a 15-20-4 record, 3.57 GAA and .888 SV%.