Cochrane

Yesterday the top 3 in the Pool B aggregate qualified for Championship Sunday including some Albertans and fellow Canadians.

Big Valley's Zeke Thurston is in great shape heading into Championship Sunday as he looks for another championship buckle after placing first in the aggregate in Pool B.

Kendal Pierson from Wardlaw, Alberta also just made the Breakaway Roping finals as she finished third in the aggregate.

Pool C also has some key local competitors to keep your eyes on over the next three days.

Bragg Creek is gearing up to celebrate one of its most cherished annual traditions, Bragg Creek Days, set for Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20.

The weekend kicks off bright and early Saturday morning with a pancake breakfast, followed by the much-loved parade, which organizer Ramonde Maxfield describes as "grassroots and full of charm."

“It’s not your big city parade,” Maxfield said. “It’s small-town, heritage-style with local businesses, community groups, horses, and classic cars. And yes, there’s candy!”

The Cochrane Lions Club helped fuel the Stampede spirit in a big way, flipping thousands of pancakes at community breakfasts across town.

From CochraneNow’s breakfast with Cochrane GM and CIR Realty to the massive event in Sunset Ridge, the community showed up hungry and ready to celebrate.

“This town just has incredible spirit,” says Cochrane Lions Club president Chris Connon. “Breakfast set records this year, so it was really cool to see people out.”

The chuckwagon races at the Calgary Stampede are heating up as the temperature cools down.

Chanse Vigen continues to dominate this year and has never won the Championship at the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.

Vigen took the top time of the night on a somewhat slower track due to some rainfall last night. He also had a one-second penalty, but it didn't hurt his overall time.

High River's Jason Glass is the defending champion, and although he came in second place last night, he's still sitting in 7th place in the aggregate.

Ottawa says it will work to align its flight security regulations with those in the U.S. after Washington dropped a rule that required passengers to remove their shoes during security screenings.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Tuesday that passengers at American airports no longer need to remove their shoes because officials have found other ways to keep travellers safe.

Canada does not require passengers flying domestically or to non-U.S. destinations to take off their shoes for screening, unless a security officer decides it's necessary.

Six Republican lawmakers have sent a letter to Canada's ambassador calling for action on the wildfires sending smoke billowing across the international border into their states.

In a Tuesday letter to Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman, representatives Tom Tiffany, Brad Finstad, Tom Emmer, Michelle Fischbach, Glenn Grothman and Pete Stauber of Wisconsin and Minnesota said their constituents are coping with suffocating smoke from Canadian wildfires.

Environment and Climate Change Canada had issued a tornado watch for Cochrane and surrounding areas as conditions were favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that could produce isolated tornadoes on Wednesday evening.

The watch was lifted by approximately 8 p.m.

The alert warned of a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation. Along with the risk of tornadoes, storms may bring strong winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall. 

Cochrane’s population has grown by 35,000 since its current operations centre was established, yet the facility continues to function on the same three-acre site.

Despite multiple reconfigurations over the years, the facility is now bursting at the seams. Town officials say it's no longer possible to meet the needs of a rapidly growing community without major changes.

Town council recently received an update on the second phase of an operational needs assessment. The goal is to develop a strategy to support a population of 68,000 in the short term, and 90,000 by 2050.

Red Deer Minor Hockey says it is conducting an internal investigation after a video surfaced showing one of its coaches, former NHL player Nick Tarnasky, involved in a fight at a golf course.

The incident took place recently at Alberta Springs Golf Resort, just outside Red Deer.

The sweet sounds of Scottish piping and drumming echoed across the front lawn of the Cochrane Public Library as siblings Kellan and Berkeley Harris-Still launched the Sounds of Summer concert series on Tuesday evening.

More than 50 people gathered under the early evening sun to enjoy two sets, get a behind-the-scenes look at the traditional instruments, and learn more about the Cochrane Pipe Band.