HighRiver

Those driving through Nanton will have to slow down, starting next week.

School zone signs will be installed on Highway 2 southbound on Monday, Aug. 25.

The signs will be installed in the Bomber Command Museum area, from approximately 16 St. to 18 St., and the United Church area, approximately from 20 St. to 22 St.

Once the signs are in place, those areas will become a 30 km/hr school zone.

This speed limit change is part of the school decanting process and is intended to keep students safe.

Both sunshine and fun are taking over the Foothills this weekend.

Let's see what's happening in the Foothills this weekend:

Friday, August 22:

At this week's Nature Fridays event at the Environmental Education Centre in Okotoks, youth will learn about Tee-Rific Upcycle from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. At this event, they are helping to give old t-shirts a new life.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Thursday her government's sudden shift in COVID-19 vaccination policy was prompted by union demands. 

Earlier this week, her health ministry said COVID-19 vaccine coverage would be extended to all health-care workers this fall under the first phase of the province’s rollout.

That came two months after the government said most Albertans, including health workers, would have to pay for a COVID-19 shot — potentially a cost of $110.

When it comes to restoring our canola trade with China, the Canadian canola industry wants to see action and engagement from all levels of government with everyone working together to protect our market share.

Premier Scott Moe along with his Agriculture Minister Darryl Harrison and Trade and Export Minister Warren Kaeding met with federal/provincial canola groups, as well as exporters, canola crush and value-added companies.

The Crown will not appeal the acquittals of five former world junior hockey players after their high-profile sexual assault trial, one of the defence lawyers in the case said Thursday.

Daniel Brown, who represented Alex Formenton, said he has been informed of the prosecutors' decision. The Ministry of the Attorney General did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Formenton, Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote were all acquitted of sexual assault, and McLeod of a separate charge of being a party to the offence of sexual assault.

Air Canada says it expects to be operating close to its full network schedule by Friday. 

The airline says it is continuing to ramp up its operations in a press release Thursday. 

This comes after the airline reached a tentative deal with the union representing its flight attendants on Tuesday to end a strike that began on Saturday. 

The strike disrupted the airline's operations, resulting in the cancellation of flights. 

Mark Nasr, Air Canada's chief operations officer, said in the release that the airline is restoring operations ahead of its plan. 

High school football returns to Okotoks today (Aug. 22).

The Holy Trinity Academy Knights and Foothills Falcons are both set to host their home openers.

HTA welcomes the Jasper Place Rebels at 6 p.m., while the Falcons host Lethbridge Collegiate Institute at 7 p.m.

The two local varsity teams will meet in six weeks, with the Battle of Okotoks set for Oct. 10 on the Falcons' turf.

A part of D'Arcy Boulevard will be closed, thanks to some stormwater connection work.

Crews will be doing the stormwater connection work at D'Arcy Boulevard from Birch Glen to Sandstone Drive, starting next week.

The work and closure are scheduled to happen from Aug. 25 to 26, with the work happening form 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

While the crews are completing the work, there will be a full road closure between Birch Glen and Sandstone Drive, but detours will be in place 24/7.

Progress is continuing to be made on the aquatic expansion project at the Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex (BSRC).  

High River Town Council reviewed the recent milestones achieved during the Aug. 11 regular meeting.  

Recently, the leisure pool and hot tub slab base have been poured, and the stairs to the waterslide platform have been poured.  

An Alberta taxpayers advocate is applauding the provincial government's latest expense disclosure policy.

Premier Danielle Smith's government says it's reverting to its previous rules after critics from across the political spectrum accused it of dodging responsibility.

It's also promising to re-post eight years' worth of expense receipts that were deleted from its website.