Okotoks

Highwood MLA Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, RJ Sigurdson, is warning of serious consequences for Alberta’s agriculture industry after China announced new tariffs on Canadian canola imports.

The 75.8 per cent preliminary tariff, announced Tuesday (Aug. 12), comes on top of existing 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil, canola oil cake, and peas.

In a statement earlier this week, Sigurdson took aim at the federal government's 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum.

The Okotoks Stingrays Summer Swim Club capped its season with a standout performance at the Alberta Summer Swim Association provincials in Edmonton earlier this month.

Eighteen swimmers qualified for provincials, four more than last year, and Club president Rachel Thompson said the team’s success was evident both provincially and at the regional level.

The Town of High River is giving drivers a heads up about a weeklong lane closure on Highwood Drive.

Ledcor crews are carrying out hydrovac and directional drilling work as part of the ongoing Fibre Connect project.

The northbound lane will be closed at the intersection of High Country Drive and 7 Street NW until Aug. 20.

It will be closed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with flaggers directing traffic during that time.

Crews will reopen the lane to traffic each evening.

High River’s Royal Canadian Legion is one step closer to replacing the cenotaph at the Highwood Centre.  

The project is in partnership between the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 71 and the Highwood Memorial Centre Society.  

Tim Whitford, Legion member and Chair of the Highwood Memorial Centre Society, presented a review of the project scope to High River Town Council during the Aug. 11 regular meeting.  

The entirety of Kananaskis Country and Bow Valley are under a Bear Warning.

Alberta Parks issued a Bear Warning for all provincial parks and protected areas within K-Country and Bow Valley, thanks to increased bear activity in the area.

That warning includes Bow Valley Provincial Park, Elbow River PRA, Little Elbow PRA, Sheep River Provincial Park, Bow Valley WPP, Evan-Thomas PRA, McLean Creek PRA, Spray Valley Provincial Park, Elbow Falls PRA, K-Country, and the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.

The Calgary Police Service (CPS) has charged a man with aggravated assault after a stabbing over the weekend in the city’s southwest.  

Officers received a report of a stabbing on Aug. 9 at approximately 3:20 a.m., that occurred inside a residence on Bridlecrest Manor S.W.   

Inside the residence, one man was found suffering from injuries.  

The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) has a new chair, elected into the position earlier this year. Scott Hepworth, who farms near Assiniboia with his farmer, moved into the role after the previous chair stepped away from the position.

Having previously been the vice chair at the GGC and currently a director with Sask Wheat, Hepworth is confident they'll be able to meet some of the goals he wants to solve.

The Lethbridge Police are warning the public of an ongoing phone scam involving the Lethbridge Police Association (LPA).

According to the Lethbridge Police, several people in the area reported receiving phone calls from people claiming to be from the LPA.

At that point, the caller then solicits donations in support of veterans and injured officers.

The Lethbridge Police say the phone numbers being used are "spoofed" and are not affiliated with the Lethbridge Police in any way, nor are they affiliated with the Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services or the Legion.

The High River Legion will be celebrating a new Veteran's crosswalk this Friday, August 15.

President of local Branch #71, Linda Reed, is looking forward to being one of the first Alberta Royal Canadian Legions to receive the official Legion Command-designed crosswalk.

“We are honoured to be one of the first locations in Alberta to lay this official Legion Command design," said President Linda Reed. "This crosswalk will stand as a daily reminder of the brave men and women who have served our country.”

Vulcan County, Siksika Nation, and areas of the Foothills are under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch. 

Environment Canada issued the Watch today (Aug. 13) at 11 a.m. 

The Watch is in effect for the following areas: