Strathmore

Manitoba's latest potato report shows planting in the province is now estimated to be 95 per cent complete. 

Planting has been going very smoothly, with most farms now finished.

Potato and Horticulture Crops Pathologist Vikram Bisht says with planting nearly over, it's now time to take care of cull piles in and around fields and farmyards, as cull piles can be a source of disease inoculum and may harbour Colorado potato beetles and aphids.

Scott Jespersen has been named the acting chair for Alberta Grains. 

Chair Tara Sawyer is taking a leave of absence effective immediately following her appointment by Premier Danielle Smith as the United Conservative Party (UCP) candidate for the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills by-election. 

Sawyer, a wheat and barley farmer from Acme, Alberta, was elected as Alberta Grains’ inaugural chair in 2023 after the amalgamation of the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions.

The training agreement will establish an environment, social and governance program that will be offered to students in Uzbekistan.

Countries across the globe are seeking out Canadian post-secondary institutions for partnerships focused on learning and exchanging knowledge.

Olds College in Olds, Alta., is one of the latest, signing an international training agreement with Uzbekistan April 29 following a memorandum of understanding signed last November.

Alberta RCMP are looking for a Brooks woman wanted for various crimes in the area.

As a part of the RCMP's Wanted Wednesday program, police shared an image of Saphryn Hailey Blattnig, who is known to frequent Brooks, Redcliff, and Newell County.

Police say that Blattnig was last seen in the Brooks area.

If you know the whereabouts of Blattnig, police ask that you do not approach and instead contact your local police detachment.

RCMP have previously told StrathmoreNow that crimes in the Wanted Wednesday posts are typically not made available to the public.

Drake Meats has announced a significant expansion with the construction of a new federally inspected plant in Saskatoon. This marks the first major expansion for the company, which has been operating out of its original plant in Drake, Saskatchewan.

Strathmore RCMP are reminding residents about the importance of reporting all suspicious and criminal activity, no matter how minor it may seem.

"Timely and accurate reporting helps police better understand what’s happening in the community and supports both short-term investigations and long-term crime prevention strategies," wrote Strathmore RCMP.   

Police gave several reasons why every report matters, such as:

The head of one of Canada's largest federal unions says the federal government needs to focus on repairing the relationship between public servants and management.

Nathan Prier, president of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees, said this is a "delicate moment" and that new Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali has his work cut out for him.

Prier said the Trudeau government made several questionable decisions that eroded trust among workers. They included a messy return-to-office rollout that was conducted without consulting employees, he said.

Signs that underlying inflation was picking up in April put the Bank of Canada in a tricky position ahead of its June interest rate decision, with some economists arguing a second straight pause is now more likely.

"It is going to make it a much more challenging backdrop for the Bank of Canada to continue cutting rates, at least in the near term," said Benjamin Reitzes, managing director of Canadian rates and macro strategist at BMO Capital Markets.

A car was stolen out of Strathmore in the early hours of Monday, May 19.

The owner, April Dawn, took to Facebook looking for help locating it, saying that her 2013 Chevrolet Equinox was stolen after their garage was broken into between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.

Dawn said there were several items in the car, including golf clubs and a grey toolbox that was given to her son by his grandfather.

The owner claims to have made a police report. Anyone with information on the vehicle or its items is asked to contact Strathmore RCMP at 403-934-3968.

Play Five Second Rule with Langdon Firehouse Bar and Grill tomorrow, May 21, on 104.5 More Country.

Keesyn Glawson will drop a category, and you've got to name three things in five seconds.

You could win a $50 gift card and tickets to Brigade and the Heart tribute band.

Listen for the cue to text at 8 a.m.