Strathmore

On Jan. 29, the 41st induction ceremony for the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame took place at the Reynolds Museum in Wetaskiwin.

In addition to the induction, a permanent exhibit at the museum was opened, which will showcase both new and former inductees, as well as the rich history of agriculture in Alberta.

It was a rough return to the ice for the Agra Risk Wheatland Kings.

The Strathmore-based Junior B hockey team began the second round of playoffs with a game against the Medicine Hat Cubs on Saturday, Feb. 22, losing 5-2.

Bow River MP Martin Shields will soon retire and hang up his political hat.

Shields announced a few weeks ago that he won't be running for re-election in the riding.

Chestermere Mayor Shannon Dean said he knew Shields before he went into politics.

"I was driving to Saskatchewan to go on a family vacation, this was during the last election, and out on the highway just outside of Brooks I noticed someone was setting up Martin Shields election signs."

It wasn't until Dean got closer that he noticed it was Shields setting up the signs himself.

The Prime Minister's Office says Justin Trudeau spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump about the war in Ukraine on Saturday ahead of a virtual G7 meeting slated for Monday.

Earlier this week, Trudeau told reporters that Ukraine must have a seat at the table in any talks on ending hostilities ignited by Russia's full-scale invasion three years ago.

Russian and U.S. representatives met in Saudi Arabia this week, without Kyiv's participation, and agreed to work toward a resolution of the war.

Strathmore saw temperatures go from a risk of frostbite to above-freezing in the last week, but what are the record lows and highs in town for this time of year?

According to Andy Yun, meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the lowest recorded temperature in the area was reported over 100 years ago.

"With Calgary being as cold as it is, the record low we had for the area has gone down as low as -45°C at the absolute coldest, and that was way back in 1893."

The Agra Risk Wheatland Kings are preparing for a playoff matchup versus the Medicine Hat Cubs.

The Kings will play against the Cubs in a best-of-five series and if they win, they will move on to the next round.

At the same time the Cannex Cochrane Generals and the Carstar Okotoks Bisons are going to be playing against each other.

General Manager of the Kings Cody Holdaway predicts that the Bisons will come out on top against the Generals.

"I don't normally like to call this kind of stuff, but if I have to call it, I think the Bisons take that series."

It's hard to live in Strathmore without knowing the name George Freeman, but who was he?

Freeman, who has a school and road in Strathmore named after him, lived in town for decades working alongside groups such as Ducks Unlimited and the Royal Canadian Legion in Strathmore.

According to Jenny Schumann, treasurer with the local Legion, Freeman was a veteran, who stormed the beaches of Normandy during World War II.

"The mural at the Legion, George can remember being in that boat landing on the beaches of D-Day, just as clear as that mural was."

The Mayor of Strathmore is challenging the Mayor of Medicine Hat ahead of the playoff series between the Agra Risk Wheatland Kings and the Medicine Hat Cubs.

The series, which begins in Strathmore at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, is the closest the Kings have ever gotten to winning the championship.

Strathmore Mayor Pat Fule called out Mayor Linnsie Clark in a Facebook post.

As the temperature warms up there will be plenty of fun events for families to enjoy this weekend.

Mad Hatters Cornhole Club Regional Tournament: Get your cornhole bags ready because the Mad Hatters Cornhole Club will host a regional tournament at the Strathmore Civic Centre from Feb. 21-22. The festivities kick off on Friday at 5:30 p.m. with Saturday's event starting at 9 a.m.

Country music artist Drew Gregory has unveiled his new EP called 'One For The Road'.

The six-song EP dropped early Friday morning.

Gregory told StrathmoreNow that the song itself holds a special meaning for him.

"It just kind of talks about the road between my hometown of Standard out here between it and the farm. I could just about drive that road blindfolded."

Gregory also cited memories he has of the road growing up.

"The whole EP has that coming home kind of feeling to it."