Okotoks

Some areas of the prairies have received some rain over the past few days, but the weeks of hot, dry weather have had an impact on crops, hay, and pastureland. 

With the dry conditions across so much of the Prairies, there's been an increased concern about grasshopper infestations.

Dr. Meghan Vankosky, a research scientist in field crop entomology with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, says grasshoppers could be shaping up to be an important story again this year.

To address housing insecurity in the Town of Claresholm, local organizations conducted a Housing and Service Needs Estimation to support local decision-making, advocacy, and program development.  

The report was completed in partnership with the Rural Development Network (RDN) and the Claresholm Family and Community Support Services (FCSS).  

The High River District Health Care Foundation is once again the lucky recipient of the Longview 4-H Club's donation steer, Donny.

Donny raised $61,110 for the foundation, with the club now surpassing half a million dollars raised for the foundation over the last 13 years.

With all the money raised over the years, the foundation surprised the club when they made their cheque presentation earlier this month.

A new family room is being created on Unit 300, which is named in the club's honour.

Farmers across the G7 are confronting unprecedented pressures as the world faces overlapping geopolitical, economic, and environmental challenges. Inflation, high interest rates, and continued fallout from recent financial shocks have destabilized farm economies. At the same time, trade disruptions, and fractured supply chains are compounding uncertainty in the agricultural sector. Meanwhile, the impacts of climate change—more frequent droughts, floods, and extreme weather—are threatening productivity and straining rural infrastructure.

Monday, June 16th, was opening day for most anglers wanting to hit up Alberta's rivers and streams.

While many dads were hoping that was the case on Father's Day, Monday is when most of the streams opened.

The price of a fishing licence hasn't changed in quite a few years now, so it's still $28 if you're between 16 and 64, but it's free for seniors 65 and over and teens 15 and under.

The Okotoks Dawgs took down the Energy City Cactus Rats on Saturday and Father's Day Sunday.

3-2 was the final score in Saturday's game, and 8-3 was the final on Father's Day.

The club couldn't get past the Medicine Hat Mavericks on Friday, though and lost 5-4.

However, the team is back in first place in the WCBL West, leading the Lethbridge Bulls and the Sylvan Lake Gulls by half a game.

Chanse Vigen, who now calls Calgary home, is this year's Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede's chuckwagon champ for the second straight year.

Vigen was matched against the wagons driven by Kurt Bensmiller and Rae Croteau Jr for the $10,000 final on Father's Day.

Vigen and Croteau Jr tied for first in the final heat, but Croteau Jr had 5 seconds of penalties, dropping him into third.

Locally, High River's Jason Glass entered the third event of the season leading in the World Standings.

The severe thunderstorm watches for the Foothills ended late last night around 10 p.m.

Father's Day Sunday, some rain, heavy at times, and even some pebble-sized hail hit us on Sunday afternoon.

It put a bit of a damper on Father's Day for some people.

However, many dads and their families flocked to Chain Lakes for a rain-free day of fishing.

A large rainbow cascaded across the sky afterwards.

Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald recently spent Friday and Saturday touring Saskatchewan.

During his visit, he had an opportunity to talk with producers and stakeholders about key agricultural issues and concerns and the potential opportunities that exist within the industry today and in the future.

As Prime Minister Mark Carney gets ready to host U.S. President Donald Trump and other leaders at the G7 summit in Alberta, analysts say Canada's most important goal will be to keep the G7 from falling apart — even if that means not issuing a joint statement.

"Keeping this informal international organization together will, I think, be a mark of success," said Sen. Peter Boehm, a former diplomat who played a central role in Canada’s participation in the G7 for decades.