HighRiver

An organization that monitors the effect of information flows on human rights says the new federal border security bill appears to "roll out a welcome mat" for expanded data-sharing agreements with the United States and other countries.

Researchers with The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto say they want the federal government to reveal more about the information-sharing implications of the bill due to a possible risk to human rights.

Canada is hosting the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has two days of meetings scheduled with world leaders, with discussion topics likely to include trade, the war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East.

Here are some highlights from the first day of the summit. 

The countdown to a U.S.-Canada trade deal is on

Prime Minister Mark Carney's office says U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to have a deal on a new economic and security relationship between Canada and the U.S. by mid-July.

In a Saturday night heist, two individuals were caught on camera stealing the sleigh-driving skeleton on display outside of High River’s Mystic Manor.  

“Over the weekend, we had two individuals who thought nothing of it to take other people's property, but the jokes on them,” said Faye Steinberg owner and creator of Mystic Manor. “If their luck starts to run out, I won't be surprised. The house is very, very protective of people and its space.”  

A union representing 30,000 health-care workers in Alberta is calling on Premier Danielle Smith's government to reverse course and provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all front-line workers and any other Albertan who wants the shot.

The Health Sciences Association of Alberta says that is the best way to protect patients, reduce hospitalizations, and keep the health-care system strong.

Smith says the aim of the new policy, announced last week, is to prevent wastage, recover costs, and protect those who need it the most by giving them the COVID shot for free.

A longtime lottery player from High River has scored a six-figure win.

Wayne Hosmer bagged $100,000 in the January 28 LOTTO MAX EXTRA draw.

According to a June 16 news release from Lotto Spot, Hosmer always checks his tickets in-store.

“I think it’s more fun at the checker to just put it underneath the scanner and see,” said Hosmer.

Upon seeing he'd won, he snapped a picture of the screen and rushed home to show his wife.

The fourth annual Swinging for Change golf tournament charity fundraiser for Rowan House tees off Tuesday at the Highwood Golf Course.

The Western Financial Group, with its headquarters in High River, are proud to present it this year.

The non-profit emergency women's shelter has filled up its golf card with many local businesses and people signing up to show their support.

There's even one hole you can test your golf and hockey skills at the same time with the High River Flyers Happy Gilmore hockey stick hole.

The Town of High River will be busy this week, as crews turn it into the fictional town of Hudson.

Heartland crews will be in town on Wednesday, June 18, to film scenes for their upcoming season.

Crews will be filming along 3 Ave SW for several hours, so the Town is asking residents to plan ahead, because parking restrictions will be in effect while they are working.

There may also be some brief disruptions to traffic and pedestrian access in town.

Vulcan County is no longer under a Fire Ban, but not all fires will be permitted for the time being.

On May 29, Vulcan County implemented a Fire Ban, restricting fires to those that are contained in a cooking or heating appliance that is fueled by fluids or gases.

On June 16, though, Vulcan County downgraded the Fire Ban to a Fire Restriction.

While they have removed the ban, County officials will be monitoring moisture levels and the fire risk throughout the County, which could change the Restriction.

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).