HighRiver

Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Vulcan County, Siksika Nation, and areas of Foothills County.  

A thunderstorm is expected to develop this afternoon and continue through the evening.   

The watch was issued today (May 26) at 12:12 p.m. for the following locations:  

The Vulcan RCMP is inviting residents to join the conversation around community policing during an upcoming town hall meeting.   

Vulcan County residents will have an opportunity to chat with members of the RCMP about their concerns within the detachment area while officers share ongoing crime prevention and reduction initiatives.   

The meeting is set for June 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Lodge Hall (231 Centre Street) in Vulcan.

Diamond Valley Fire Rescue and EMS leaped into action late Sunday afternoon to help a motorcyclist.

At approximately 5:45 p.m. DVFR responded along with EMS to a single motorcycle collision West of Sandy McNabb near Gorge Creek in Kananaskis Country.

Upon arrival the emergency teams found a motorcyclist and his bike down a 60-foot embankment.

Firefighters conducted a rope rescue, and the patient was then transported to hospital in serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

The Kananaskis RCMP were informed of a missing hiker last Friday (May 23).

They were looking for a 42-year-old in the Mt. Baldy area of Kananaskis, but later in the day, the RCMP were advised that the hiker was found deceased.

The person was located by Kananaskis Mountain Rescue members, and was transported to the Calgary Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Currently, the cause of death does not appear to be suspicious.

The RCMP extend their condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

Seniors' Week is going to be one busy week in High River.

Thanks to the Venue in town for sharing some grant money, along with the High River Performing Arts Foundation, there's a week of events lined up from June 2 to the 7.

It kicks off on Monday, June 2, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. with an embroidery workshop with local artist Joyce Brown.

Then on Wednesday, June 4 get ready for some live music with the band Crooked Path at George Lane Park under the bandstand. They play a lot of Bluegrass, Country, Folk, Swing along with a few instrumentals.

The municipal election is coming up this October, and now is the time to start the process of filling out the proper forms.

Nominations for the municipal election are currently open, but there are some steps that need to be completed prior to the resident being able to collect campaign contributions and be added to the ballot.

As part of the nomination process, there is paperwork that needs to be completed, the person running needs to collect signatures from residents, and a deposit must be paid.

Are Southern Alberta farmers and ranchers worried about the low snowpack?

Some might be but the provincial government isn't too worried as it's still early in the spring run-off and snow melt.

RJ Sigurdson, Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, released a statement addressing some concerns.

"It’s still early in the year, and while our colleagues at Environment and Protected Areas are actively monitoring the snowpack, it would be premature to talk about the type of irrigation season we might have ahead. 

Quebec Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia was elected Speaker of the House of Commons on Monday — after an unusually dramatic race that saw the only Conservative contenders drop out of the running at the last minute.

Conservative MPs Chris d'Entremont and John Nater both put their names forward but withdrew on the House floor before the election began Monday morning.

The Liberals currently have 169 seats in the minority Parliament, leaving them three seats shy of the 172 required for a majority.

Government House leader Steven MacKinnon says the NDP will not be granted official party status because the law says a party needs at least 12 seats to be recognized.

The NDP was reduced to just seven seats in last month's election.

Interim NDP Leader Don Davies has told The Canadian Press he spoke with the Prime Minister's Office about obtaining official party status for the NDP in the House of Commons.

Davies pointed to several past instances of provincial legislatures granting party status to an opposition party.

A portion of North Railway Street is closed due to construction, beginning today (May 26).

This work is part of the Foothills Okotoks Regional Water Project, and will cause North Railway Street to be closed from 40 St E and 48 St E.

The closure is expected to be in place from today (May 26) until July 20.

There will be detours in place at all times while the work is being completed, with eastbound traffic being redirected north onto 48 Street East to Milligan Drive.