HighRiver

Military aircraft will become a regular sight in the Kananaskis region in the coming weeks.

Security preparations are underway ahead of the upcoming G7 Leaders' Summit, with Royal Canadian Air Force personnel set to familiarize themselves with the region.

Aircraft will be seen in the region, sometimes flying at lower altitudes and in formations.

CF-18 Hornet fighter jets are expected to be seen in the area in early May, with CH-147F Chinook helicopters and CH-146 Griffons later in the month.

Parking bans have been announced for Monday, May 12, for street sweeping.

While they're in effect, residents are asked to remove vehicles, bins, and any other obstructions from roadways to ensure crews can move through unimpeded.

The parking bans will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the following locations:

The federal government expects to spend about $7 million this fiscal year to store and maintain four custom-made, portable hospitals that cost taxpayers more than $200 million to buy — facilities meant to bolster overwhelmed hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic that were barely used.

Early on in the pandemic, as the federal government moved at breakneck speed to respond to a global health crisis, it issued rush orders for these Mobile Health Units.

Indigenous groups in Canada say they want to see Pope Leo XIV continue the reconciliation work started by his predecessor, the late Pope Francis.

Francis was recognized as an ally of Canada's Indigenous Peoples and was known for advancing reconciliation efforts and apologizing — both in the Vatican and in Canada — for the Catholic Church's role in widespread abuses at residential schools.

His visit to Canada in 2022 was described as a "penitential pilgrimage" as Francis insisted on meeting with Indigenous survivors of residential schools and hearing their stories.

Alberta Sugar Beet Growers and Rogers Sugar have reached a new 5-year agreement.

The new supply agreement was announced in a press release on Friday.

Roger's Taber location is the only sugar beet processing facility in Canada. Established almost 75 years ago, the Taber facility is supported by approximately 200 Southern Alberta farm families, which supply the refinery with sugar beets. 

According to the ASBG website, those farms harvest about 900,000 tonnes of sugar beets annually, which are turned into 125,000 tonnes of sugar or nearly 2 million cups!

Lack of progress means time is growing short to get a successfull crop into the ground in Southern Alberta.

Contract negotiations are dragging on for Alberta sugar beet producers.

It’s already early May, and Alberta Sugar Beet Growers and Rogers Sugar, the sole sugar-beet processing plant left in Canada, still haven’t hammered out a deal.

Jennifer Crowson, executive director with the Alberta Sugar Beet Growers, cautioned the Western Producer in an email that she was limited in what she can share, other than that they are still in active negotiations.

McHappy Day in Okotoks raised over $36,000 on May 8, in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).  

“It was really great, we had a lot of volunteers, and we raised a lot for the Ronald McDonald House,” said Kristina Cockerill, Market People Lead.  

Throughout the day, a portion of all sales was allocated to support families across the county with injured or sick children.  

A fire fully engulfed a home in Longview and damaged two others early Friday morning (May 9).

Crews from the Foothills County and Diamond Valley fire departments responded at about 5:40 a.m. and noticed flames already spouting from the roof upon arrival.

The home's occupants had already evacuated, and crews evacuated people from the two neighbouring homes, given the size of the fire and the heat it was giving off.

Firefighters worked to contain the blaze to the one structure, and the two nearby houses sustained only minor damage.

The Town of Nanton is moving to a Level 2 Water Restriction due to an increase in groundwater flowing into the town’s collection system.   

In March, excessive water began backing up the sewer system east of Highway 2.    

Temporary storage tanks, vacuum trucks, and a containment cell were used to relieve the system.   

The Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce gathered for its annual general meeting on Wednesday, May 9.

Members voted to approve the 2026-2026 Board of Directors, welcomed their new president, and reviewed financials from 2024.

Chelsea Besuijen of Eyes 360 has completed her third term as president and now serves as past president.

Sherry Lindenback of 94 Take the Cake has taken on the role of president. She was sworn in by Mayor Tanya Thorn at the meeting.