Okotoks

A representative for the Canadian Red Cross says the situation on the ground in Myanmar is "still very dire and tragic" days after a massive earthquake that has killed more than 1,700 people.

Canadian Red Cross operations lead Chiran Livera said teams of staff and volunteers made up of both international and local Red Cross workers were in Myanmar when the quake hit on Friday, and they have been able to distribute help, including water and shelter kits, from warehouses stationed around the country.

Many butterflies, bees and moths are fluttering into oblivion. A new report co-authored by a Canadian researcher warns that more than one-fifth of pollinator species it studied in North America are at risk of extinction.

Affordability measures dominated the promises on the federal election trail on Saturday, with the NDP focused on capping the price of some food items and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre offering more tax writeoffs to some trades workers.

The first week of the federal election drew to a close with both Liberal Leader Mark Carney and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh paying a visit to the national capital.

Can you imagine the weight of 18 tonnes of truck and 20 tonnes of excavator? 

To put this immense amount into perspective, the combined weight of the machinery is equivalent to about 22 cars. Picturing this number, however, was likely far from Sean Rickards' mind as he found himself crushed between the two pieces of equipment. 

“I was broken within a millimetre of my life,” he said afterwards.  

Liberal Leader Mark Carney will be campaigning in Nepean today, the Ottawa riding where he is seeking election.

Carney, who has not yet served as an MP, is expected to meet with volunteers in the riding at 10 a.m.

Carney has faced questions about his decision to run in Nepean, which became vacant only after the Liberal party ousted MP Chandra Arya as its candidate three days before the election was called.

The RCMP are investigating an incident involving a dirt bike driven inside an Okotoks high school on Friday (March 28) morning.

Kerry Welsh, principal of École Secondaire Foothills Composite High School (FCHS), briefed parents on the incident in an email.

A person reportedly entered the school through the door near the drama space, with help from two others, and left through the modular doors.

North Railway Street in Okotoks will be closed for several weeks due to construction.

Crews will be working on the Foothills Okotoks Regional Waterline, which will cause North Railway Street to be closed from 32 Street E to 40 Street E.

The closure will begin at 5 a.m. on March 31 and is expected to remain until April 22.

While the road is closed, the traffic will be detoured to go north on 48 Street E to Milligan Drive.

Foothills County apologizes for the inconvenience and thanks everyone for their patience.

A High River woman was reunited with her dog after a river rescue from the High River Fire Department earlier this week.

By chance, local photographer Mike Sturk was out for a stroll in the area on Wednesday, March 26, and was able to capture images of the local rescue personnel at work.

"I usually walk almost every day at the Mercer property, and I thought, 'Well, it's about that time of year I should check out the osprey nest to see if the birds were back,'" says Sturk. "As I was walking over there, I heard a dog, which sounded like it was in distress."

Even though the weather may not seem like it, Spring is in full swing, and there is fun to be had in Okotoks this weekend.

Here is what's happening around town this weekend:

Friday, March 28:

This week's Town of Okotoks Nature Friday's event is spring-themed, and the little ones will learn why flowers bloom, how plants grow, and what changes happen in nature at this time of year from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The annual contest in Okotoks will once again have people guessing when a massive snow pile will melt.

Okotoks Mayor Tanya Thorn has been hosting a snow pile melt contest for several years, with locals encouraged to pick the exact day they think the town's snow pile will melt.

The pile is located just south of Meadowridge School on 32 Street, and the person who picks the correct day the pile will be fully melted will win a prize.

According to Mayor Thorn, the snow pile was completely melted by April 26 last year.