Local News

As communities in the southwest struggle to fill open EMS positions, a committee of local municipalities is making their pitch.

The Southwest Regional Ambulance Committee is comprised of the Towns of Shaunavon and Eastend, along with RMs White Valley No. 49, Grassy Creek No. 78, Arlington No. 79, and Bone Creek No. 108.

They're launching an incentive program to recruit and retain Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals in the region with up to $20,000 in recruitment funding for licensed Primary and Advanced Care Paramedics.

The Fort Macleod RCMP are needing help locating a missing woman.

38-year-old Teri-Anne Marie Francis Wood was last seen on July 24 in Fort Macleod, and there is concern for her wellbeing.

Teri-Anne Marie Francis Wood is described as:

• Fair complexion
• Blond Hair
• 95 pounds
• 4 feet 11 inches tall

The RCMP is asking anyone with information on Terri-Anne and her whereabouts to contact either the Fort Macleod RCMP at 403-553-4406.

The Town of Nanton was filled with fun this long weekend.

There were activities all weekend, including a pancake breakfast, a parade, and a rubber duck race.

The Bomber Command Museum was open for visitors as well.

Check out the photo gallery from the event.

According to the Highway Hotline, a motor vehicle collision has shut down all Eastbound lanes near Gull Lake.

Emeregency services are on the scene. No word of injuries or the cause of the incident has been shared with Swift Current Online.

Motorists are advised to plan alternative routes with the Highway Hotline. 

Swift Current Online will provide more details once they are available.

A emergency alert has gone out for those in the RM of Miry Creek.

The communities of Sceptre, Lemsford, Portreeve, Abbey, Lancer, and Shackleton are under advisory of possible tornado formations.

Evironment and Climate Change Canada said in an official release that meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm that may produce a tornado.

If anyone sees a funnel cloud, they are advised to seek shelter.

While the Bank of Canada opted to hold its key policy interest rate steady this week, new data suggests young Canadians are feeling anything but stable.

According to figures released Tuesday by the Credit Counselling Society (CCS), Canadians aged 18 to 34 are shouldering growing debt loads and increasingly turning to high-cost lenders just to cover essential expenses, despite interest rates remaining unchanged.

Environment Canada issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for parts of Foothills County today (Aug. 4) at 2:27 p.m.  

Meteorologists are tracking a cluster of severe thunderstorms capable of producing nickel to ping pong ball-sized hail and heavy rain.  

The Warning has been issued for the following areas: 

Environment Canada has lifted a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Rocky View County, including the areas near Airdrie and Crossfield.

The warning was issued at 2:26 p.m. Monday and remained in effect until just after 4 p.m. 

At 12:45 p.m., meteorologists had been tracking a storm near Priddis and just east of Cochrane, moving southeast at 25 kilometres per hour. The storm was capable of producing up to nickel-sized hail and heavy rain.

A collision southbound QEII near Balzac has been cleared, but traffic remained slow Monday afternoon due to earlier backups.

Just after 2 p.m., Google Maps showed possible collisions at three points along the route between Airdrie and Calgary, near Highway 566 and CrossIron Drive. The number dropped to two shortly after, and 511 Alberta later reported one confirmed collision in the area.

There was no official word on injuries. Drivers were advised to consider alternate routes.

A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Cochrane and surrounding areas, according to Environment Canada.

As of 12:45 p.m., meteorologists were tracking a storm capable of producing nickel-sized hail and heavy rainfall.

The storm was located about 30 kilometres east of Exshaw and was moving east at 25 kilometres per hour.

Officials warn that the storm could bring flash flooding and poor visibility due to heavy rain.

There is also a risk of property damage or injury from large hail.