FortSask

Four local teams were in action last weekend for provincials. 

Unfortunately, the results were disappointing as some bad luck struck each team in their respective North Championships. 

Tier 1: Harry Ainley Titans 42, Salisbury Sabres 21

This was the third matchup against these two teams this season. The Titans remain Salisbury's most formidable opponent. It will surely drive an intense rivalry going into next season. 

Tier 1 (Regional based): Spruce Grove Panthers 36, Bev Facey Falcons 8

Although the new Highway 15 bridge finished construction back in early October, some speed limits haven't been changed.

For those going across the bridge and into Fort Saskatchewan, the speed limit reads 70 km/hr, while leaving the city it is 50 km/hr.

Kevin Lee, the ministerial assistant with Alberta's minister of transportation, says the slower speed limit is for traffic control.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's October Outlook suggests total field crop production is estimated to have increased significantly.

Based on the estimates total crop production for principal field crops for 2022-2023 would be around 97.5 thousand tonnes bumping total supply to about 110.1 thousand tonnes.

That would make it the second-highest production level on record and would help rebuild total supply and exports. 

Premier Danielle Smith is scheduled to deliver a televised address to Albertans this evening.

Smith, who became leader of the United Conservative Party in early October, is to return next week to the legislature after winning a byelection in the constituency of Brooks-Medicine Hat.

She has promised an ambitious agenda that includes help for Albertans dealing with sharp hikes in gasoline and energy costs.

Highway 45 will be closed at the rail crossing on Tuesday (Nov. 22).

According to the province, CN Rail crews will be conducting repairs. 

Signs and flag persons will be on site to direct traffic to the detour route — a speed reduction to 50 km/h will also be in place.

The closure will go from 9:30 a.m to 4 p.m.

Morinville RCMP has located a missing man. 

25-year-old Roy Burnstick had been missing since November 13 and was reported missing on Monday (Nov. 21) afternoon. 

Less than 24 hours later, police reported that Burnstick had been found safe. 

"We would like to thank the public and media for their assistance," said the RCMP in a statement. 

The Alberta government is awarding more than $32 million in funding support for Dow Canada's expansion of its Fort Saskatchewan facility.

The expansion project has already been completed, costing around $300 million and supporting over 2,000 construction jobs for the past two years.

This expansion allows for an additional 130,000 tons of ethylene production per year, which helps increase demand for natural gas.

A man was killed in Saturday (Nov. 19) afternoon's garage fire in Fort Saskatchewan.

Emergency crews were called to the Sherridon area just after 1:30 p.m. 

RCMP says that local firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze and discovered a dead body after entering the garage. 

The deceased has been transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner where an autopsy will be done to determine the identity of the person and the cause of death. 

Despite rather calm weather, conditions in the next week might make for some dangerous roads. 

Environment Canada says that temperatures will be warmer than average during the days, but below freezing during the nights, which will cause a treacherous 'freeze/thaw cycle'. 

"Even if we don't get any additional precipitation, the free/thaw cycles will melt snow and ice to create puddles of water on sidewalks and roads and then overnight that will freeze," said Sarah Hoffman, a meteorologist with Environment Canada. 

The Federal Government will open a new Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office.

The news was part of the wrap up comments following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leader's Meeting in Thailand. 

$31.8 million to establish Canada’s first agriculture office in the region to increase and diversify agriculture and agri-food exports to the Indo-Pacific, strengthening trade on both sides of the Pacific.