Cochrane

Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie continues to express no confidence in the third-party investigation led by retired Manitoba judge Raymond Wyant, whom Premier Danielle Smith’s administration appointed to look into allegations of corruption in health care contracts.

Guthrie says the information being shared with Wyant is controlled by the Smith administration and believes the ongoing investigations by the RCMP and Alberta’s Auditor General will be more revealing.

When the Alberta government shut down the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board (CMRB), one of the biggest disappointments for Cochrane Mayor Jeff Genung was the lost opportunity to pursue regional economic development.

That void may soon be filled if Cochrane town council agrees to join a three-year pilot project called Invest Greater Calgary (IGC).

The Town of Cochrane wants to hear from locals as they look to refresh a neighbourhood park and improve community green spaces.

Public engagement is now open for Samuel Spicer Park, with residents invited to share their ideas and feedback through the Town’s online engagement platform, LetsTalkCochrane.ca. The goal is to gather input on how the park is used today and what changes or upgrades locals would like to see in the future.

Mounties in Alberta are looking for help from the public after the body of a teen girl was found in an abandoned car close to the U.S. border.

Police say Jordyn (Rylie) Dines was found in the abandoned Toyota Camry on July 4 near Glenwood, 50 kilometres from the border.

The 16-year-old was last seen the day before at the Chinook Centre shopping mall in Calgary.

Police say Dines died under suspicious circumstances, but didn’t elaborate.

Canada’s labour market topped expectations in June amid a surprise surge in hiring.

Statistics Canada said Friday that the unemployment rate dropped a tenth of a percentage point to 6.9 per cent in June as the economy added some 83,000 jobs.

The vast majority of those jobs were part-time, the agency said, with 47,000 positions added in the private sector.

A Reuters poll of economists heading into Friday’s release had expected the jobless rate would rise to 7.1 per cent in June as employment levels held flat.

The Calgary Stampede had Albertans rooting for five of the 10 Saddle Bronc riders as Pool C kicked off Thursday.

The Hay brothers from Wildwood, AB, are always top contenders, having both won the Calgary Stampede before.

Dawson Hay took the top score of 91.50 as brother Logan finished in 3rd with a score of 88.00.

Ben Anderson (Rocky Mountain House, AB) scored an 84.00 on a re-ride as Quinten Taylor (Nanton, AB) scored an 83.50 and Millarville's Layton Green came in 10th with a score of 80.50.

Thursday night was a good one for High River's Jason Glass.

The defending Rangeland Derby champion at the Calgary Stampede had a penalty-free heat and finished with the top time of the night.

Glass' checkered wagon was the only one to crack the 1:13 mark with a time of 1:12.15.

The first-place finish moves him into the coveted 3rd place in the aggregate.

Only the top 3 in the aggregate after Saturday night's races will go to the final heat on Championship Sunday.

There are no semi-final heats this year.

An inspiring journey with a powerful purpose made its way through Cochrane this week as Ukrainian activist and fundraiser Oleksandr Kyyanytsya continues his "Gift of Walking" trek from Calgary to Banff.

Kyyanytsya is raising funds and awareness for the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, and says this walk is deeply personal. “I’m raising money for Ukraine,” he shared. “This is my first time in the mountains, and it’s very, very wonderful to be here. It was always my dream to walk here.”

If you’re looking to cool off and unwind from all the Stampede action, a free swim might be just what you need.

Cochrane Home Treasures is sponsoring a free Community Swim at the SLS Centre on Saturday, July 12.

The event runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and includes access to the leisure pool, water slides and more.

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Cochrane’s Tyler Clazie is bound for the national football stage with Team Alberta.

The Cobra receiver is part of Team Alberta’s U18 lineup heading to Antigonish to chase gold in the Football Canada Cup.

Alberta kicks off the tournament on July 14 against Manitoba.

Fellow Cobra Evan Samoleski made the squad as a defensive back but will miss the action due to injury.

Team Alberta took home bronze last year, with three Cobras in the mix.