Carstairs

Smoke from wildfires is causing very poor air quality and reduced visibility for Rocky View County near Airdrie and Crossfield, prompting health officials to issue a warning.

Environment and health agencies say conditions can change quickly, with air quality fluctuating over short distances and varying from hour to hour.

A vehicle fire caused major traffic delays on the QEII highway northbound around Highway 581 near Carstairs on Sunday evening.

Emergency crews, including Red Deer Fire, responded around 6:13 p.m. after reports of a vehicle on fire and drivers driving recklessly to avoid the area.

The fire was extinguished and the area cleared, but not before significant backups slowed weekend travellers.

No injuries were reported.

Alberta 511 says an overturned semi that had blocked the right southbound lane of the QEII, three kilometres north of Highway 581 east of Carstairs, has been cleared.

Earlier in the day, Alberta 511 reported the truck had overturned, causing congestion, lane closures and traffic delays. Drivers were advised to keep left and use caution.

Chinook's Edge School Division is welcoming 51 new school teachers for the upcoming school year.

"The group includes teachers who are new to the profession, teachers who are new to Chinook’s Edge, and teachers who joined Chinook’s Edge partway through the 2024-25 school year," shared the school division.

That’s up from 48 new teachers hired for the 2024–25 school year, and 38 who joined at the start of 2023–24.

Superintendent Ryan Sawula says the increase came because of teacher retirements at the end of the 2024-25 school year.

Rocky View Schools (RVS) and Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) are hosting events to help first-time school bus riders become more familiar with the experience.

RVS, which serves communities like Airdrie, Crossfield, and Cochrane, are hosting their event from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 27 and 28 at the RVS Education Centre.

The Mountain View County (MVC) General Election is ramping up with a number of residents putting their names forward for the councillor positions.

Urban municipalities within Mountain View County include the towns of Carstairs, Didsbury, Olds, and Sundre, as well as the Village of Cremona. Each municipality is responsible for electing its own councillors.

The current candidates include:

Pioneer Acres is gearing up to host its 55th annual show, and this year’s celebration promises to be bigger and better than ever.

“Oh yes, we have our 55th annual show coming up,” said Diana Rowe, marketing coordinator for Pioneer Acres. “We’re very excited about it this year. We are going to have some big equipment on site for this year's show.”

Held over three days from August 8 to 10, the event is a full-scale heritage experience, showcasing vintage machinery, traditional farming techniques, and family-friendly fun.

A Calgary man is dead following a single-vehicle crash early Saturday, July 26, near the intersection of Highway 2 and Highway 581 at Carstairs.

Didsbury and Airdrie RCMP responded to the crash at 6 a.m., along with fire and EMS.

RCMP said the lone occupant of the vehicle, a 53-year-old Calgary man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

An RCMP collision reconstructionist assisted at the scene. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

RCMP said they extend condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

Rocky View County has surpassed $1 million in cumulative donations to STARS Air Ambulance, marking a major milestone in a partnership that spans more than three decades.

Since 1991, the municipality has made annual contributions to STARS, and in 2017, they adopted a per capita funding model of $2 per resident. In 2019, it became the first municipality in central and southern Alberta to earn its logo on a STARS helicopter.

A tornado watch issued earlier Wednesday evening for Rocky View County, including Airdrie and Crossfield, was lifted just before 8 p.m., according to Environment Canada.

The watch had been issued at 5:25 p.m., when the agency warned that “conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms which may produce tornadoes.” Forecasters also noted the potential for strong winds, large hail and heavy rainfall.