Okotoks

Environment Canada has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch across much of Central Southern Alberta, including an area of Foothills County.

Among the areas included in the watch are:

The RCMP Southern Alberta Crime Reduction Unit (SAD CRU) have charged two individuals for stolen property.  

On July 25, the RCMP received information that power tools were stolen earlier in the week from a work site in Ardrossan and were entering the region.  

RCMP were able to identify an occupied vehicle containing the stolen equipment.   

Hwy 40 is still closed to all traffic, just north of the Mist Mountain Hot Springs trailhead, thanks to that mudslide this weekend.

Due to that, the Mount Lipsett trail, Mist Mountain Trail, Mist Mountain Ridge trail, and Mist Hot Springs trail are all closed while crews continue to clear the highway of the mudslide. 

The highway is shut down far enough away from the mudslide that the extent of the damage caused by the mudslide cannot be seen from the highway closure.

A handful of Okotoks firefighters will soon compete on the national stage.

FireFit is an annual championship where Canadian firefighters face a series of gruelling physical challenges, including a stair climb, dragging a 175-pound dummy, and pulling a 45-pound fire hose up a tower, hand over hand, all while dressed in full firefighting gear.

The Town of High River is advising residents of expected traffic disruptions.  

Today (Aug. 6) and Aug. 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., crews will be conducting routine groundwater well monitoring along 4 Street SE and 5 Street SE, between 3 Avenue SE and 4 Avenue SE.  

Traffic flow will be limited, as traffic will be reduced to one lane in both directions.  

The Town of Claresholm’s annual Fair Days and Old West Jamboree is right around the corner.  

From Aug. 7 until Aug. 10, the town will be filled with a variety of events and activities for all members of the family to enjoy, such as western and carnival games, live music, Candy Parade, rodeo, Show N Shine, BBQs, pancake breakfasts, and a chili cook-off.  

The federal government is setting up a safety net of loans, product-development grants and market diversification plans for Canada’s softwood lumber industry in an effort to shield it from the worst of American duties and fees.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the plan Tuesday, promising $700 million in loan guarantees to address what he called "immediate pressures" and $500 million for long-term supports to help companies diversify export markets and develop their products. 

Carney also promised that future projects will "prioritize" Canadian lumber. 

The Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) has denied the Fort McMurray Giants' protest of two games against the Okotoks Dawgs in late July.

On July 28, the Dawgs were set to host the Giants for a doubleheader that had already been postponed from July 22.

Just before the first game was set to begin, the Giants walked off the field, declaring the conditions unsafe due to excessive rainfall in the days leading up to the game.

The Okotoks Dawgs are sitting in the top spot heading into the West Division Semi Finals this week.

They played their final double header of the regular season on Monday (Aug. 4), which saw them have mixed results.

The double header was against the Sylvan Lake Gulls, and the Dawgs were able to win the first game, but fell to the Gulls in the second.

During the first game, the Dawgs were able to get out early with a three-run first inning.

The Dawgs were able to keep that lead and win with a score of 5 to 3.

The Town of High River is advising residents of trail closures as part of the Bank Armouring project. 

Crews will be working at multiple locations around town until Nov. 7. 

Work will take place Monday to Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., and 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturdays. 

Temporary trail closures are expected along Riverside Drive NW to allow truck access. 

Spotters will be on site to manage vehicle and pedestrian traffic, and the trail will reopen once trucks have cleared the area.