Humboldt

Conservative MP Damien Kurek is set to step aside to allow Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to run in a byelection in the Battle River—Crowfoot riding in Alberta.

Kurek says he is "temporarily" stepping aside as MP for the riding, which he has held since 2019.

The Conservative party confirms that Poilievre will run in the Battle River—Crowfoot byelection once it's called.

Alberta

The St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID) is notifying irrigators that they are now accepting water orders.

For the 2025 irrigation season, water allocation will remain at 12 inches at the farm gate based on the recent Irrigation Water Supply Forecast from Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation.

Crews have started flushing lines and are charging the system for water startup, expected to be available across the entire district by May 5th to 9th.

Crime rates in rural communities are consistently higher than in urban centres, suggests new data presented in a Statistics Canada report -- a long-term trend one criminologist says is unsurprising.

The report, published Tuesday, found the rate of police-reported crime in rural Canadian communities was 34 per cent higher than the urban rate. That disparity was especially pronounced across the Prairies and in rural British Columbia.

Mother's Day is just over a week away!

Show some love to your mom, grandma, aunty or that special person that makes you feel loved by creating a handmade card to celebrate Mother's Day. This is a free activity and everyone is welcome.

The activity takes place at the Humboldt and District Museum on Saturday, May 3  from 10 am to noon and 1 to 5 pm.

In the last issue we discussed warm and cold clouds, and we learned that most of our local precipitation is produced in cold clouds, which means that most of it starts off as snow, even in the summer.

This week we are going to look at the different types of precipitation we experience and examine how each type forms.

Next on our list of precipitation types is sleet or ice pellets.

This form of precipitation is created when raindrops freeze in the air before they reach the ground.

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations says recent separatist rhetoric being spread amongst the western province’s is harmful, divisive, and breaches treaty rights.

The FSIN is referring to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s recent proposal to lower thresholds for citizen-initiated referendums, which could lead to a vote on separation.

Intersections are where cars, trucks, buses, taxis, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians all meet, creating a dynamic mix of traffic.  

A release from SGI says these crossings are some of the busiest places a driver can encounter on their travels. That’s why it’s important to Be Alert, avoid distractions and ensure your full attention is on the road ahead, so you make it to your destination safe and sound.   

Communities around Humboldt have adopted a program to honour Canadian veterans of global conflicts with banners depicting those individuals affixed to light poles. Communities participating include Muenster, Watson, Kelvington, among others.  

Now the Humboldt Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is hoping to work with the City of Humboldt to provide the same type of recognition in the city.  

As people get set to plan for summer activities, there’s one more to put on the list, and it’s a fuel charged, rip-roaring great event. The Manitou Beach Chainsaw Carving Festival returns to the salty shores running from Thursday, August 7 to Sunday, August 10. 

Charlie Mayer, a prominent figure in Canadian agriculture and politics, has passed away at the age of 89. Born in Saskatoon in 1936, Mayer attended the University of Saskatchewan before purchasing a farm in Manitoba in 1965. He grew grain, potatoes, and raised Simmental cattle, becoming active in the Manitoba Beef Growers Association. Mayer played a key role in opposing the introduction of supply management to the beef industry.