Okotoks

With it being the Heritage Day long weekend in Alberta, there will be facility closures in Okotoks on Monday.

Due to the holiday, the Municipal Centre and Operations Centre, Fire Station No. 1 and the RCMP/Municipal Enforcement offices, the Okotoks Eco Centre, the Okotoks Art Gallery, the Okotoks Museum & Archives, the Okotoks Public Library, and the Okotoks Family Resource Centre will all be closed on Monday, Aug. 4.

Meanwhile, the Okotoks Rec Centre and Natural High will be open, but only from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Nanton Round-Up Days is returning this weekend.

According to the Nanton Mayor, Jennifer Handley, there is plenty happening all weekend long.

"Every day has numerous events that are happening, all planned by local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce and the volunteers here in town," Mayor Handley explains. "We've got a rodeo that's happening Friday to Monday. We've got our parade that happens on Monday morning."

They also have fireworks on the Sunday evening, as well as the Chili Cook-Off.

Unionized workers at Canada Post are entering their final day to vote on the Crown corporation's latest contract offer.

Voting is set to wrap up today at 5 p.m., with results expected to be shared shortly after.

The offer includes wage hikes of about 13 per cent over four years but also adds part-time workers that Canada Post has said are necessary to keep the postal service afloat.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has urged the roughly 55,000 postal service workers it represents to reject the proposal.

Canada was hit with 35 per cent tariffs on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump followed through on his threat to increase the duties if Ottawa didn't make a trade deal.

The White House has said the tariffs would not affect goods compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade, commonly known as CUSMA.

Prime Minister Mark Carney had tempered expectations of an agreement by Friday, saying Ottawa will only agree to a deal "if there's one on the table that is in the best interests of Canadians."

Faced with overwhelming demand and no more space, Pound Rescue has temporarily stopped taking in animals.

The Okotoks-based rescue announced the decision in a July 27 Facebook post, citing overcapacity and a shortage of foster homes.

"Unfortunately, we are now at over capacity. We will not be doing any intakes for at least a month," reads the post.

Update:

The Gleichen RCMP have advised that the missing youth was located safe.

Original story:

The Gleichen RCMP requested the public’s assistance in locating a missing 15-year-old.  

Diamond Valley residents could experience temporary water service interruptions as the crews begin Water line maintenance.  

The work will begin today (July 31) around 10:30 a.m. in the 1 Ave NE area of the Black Diamond community.   

The town reassures residents that interruptions to water service or silt in the water is a normal part of the maintenance process and not a cause for concern.  

Okotoks' newest outdoor recreational space is officially open.

On Wednesday, July 30, the Town of Okotoks held a grand opening ceremony for iitopatopa Park.

The day-use area, which was acquired by the Town in 2019, lies just east of Bill Robertson Park at 370068 40 Street East.

Another grizzly and its cub have caused a bear warning in Kananaskis.

On July 30, Alberta Parks issued a bear warning for the Highway 40 Day Use areas from Canoe Meadows to Barrier Boat Launch.

The warning includes Canoe Meadows Days Use and campground, Widowmaker Day Use, Widowmaker trail, Kananaskis Visitor Info Center Day Use, Barrier Dam Day Use, and the Barrier Boat Launch Day Use areas.

The grizzly bear and cub had been frequenting the area, eating the natural vegetation.

The Okotoks Dawgs 18U Black team has wrapped up a historic season.  

The season ended with a 60-5-1 record against non-JUCO teams and six elite tournament championships.  

The group featured 24 college commits, including 9 NCAA Division I signees.