FortSask

Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has had a busy agenda this week. 

Following her visit to the Phillipines she took part in the G20 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting where they discussed what is at stake for the future of agriculture.

Drivers will be allowed to go a little bit faster on Highway 15 just north of 119 Street. 

The city recently changed the speed limit on the road from 70 km/h to 80 km/h. 

Grant Schaffer, director of fleet services and engineering, says the change is part of a city-wide speed limit change. 

“This one took a little longer because there was some programming that had to change with the light sequences and that took a little bit to get the contractors organized.” 

Residents in Gibbons may notice an increased military presence for the next week.

The Canadian Armed Forces are conducting a series of defense exercises and maintenance training throughout the town between Sept. 29 and Oct. 5.

Residents can expect to see soldiers in gas masks and hazmat suits around the trails south of Echo Glen Park. The military won't be conducting exercises inside the town, but instead in a development area southwest of Gibbons.

Sturgeon County is reminding drivers to be aware of wildlife on the roads as we enter the fall season. 

The number of collisions between drivers and animals increases in the period of September to November as the amount of sunlight starts to dwindle. 

The county has already reported two collisions with wildlife this fall. Last year, the total number was 19. 

Pat Mahoney, manager of protective services and fire chief for Sturgeon County, says the responsibility to avoid a potential collision lies on the driver. 

Fort Saskatchewan RCMP have found a 17-year-old boy. 

Police say Rowin McIntyre was last seen Monday (Sept. 26) in Fort Saskatchewan. There was a general concern for McIntyre's wellbeing. 

Mounties issued an update on Thursday morning saying that he has been found safe and sound.

This was the second time McIntyre had gone missing this month. 

With the rise of cryptocurrency comes the rise of fraud and scams. 

Between fall of 2019 and the end of 2021, the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) Cybercrimes Unit received over one hundred fraud reports related to crypto, with the total cost reported to be $5.6-million dollars. 

The average victim lost $50,000 to the scam, while one individual lost a total of $1-million.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is demanding an end to the vaccine mandate for military members, but his health critic suggested the situation might need a more nuanced approach.

Last week, Poilievre called for an end to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for members of the Canadian Armed Forces, saying it was "obviously unscientific and contradictory" to keep that rule in place while ending the requirement for those crossing the border into Canada.

The Fort Saskatchewan Transfer and Eco Station has been going through quite an upgrade this month.

Two distinct areas, a transfer station for garbage, and an eco station for recycling and hazardous materials, are being added over the course of two phases. Phase one, the garbage transfer station changes, are already been completed.

Sadie Miller, the waste program supervisor with the City of Fort Saskatchewan, says that these upgrades have been needed for a while.

Some interesting work is being done on the control of richardson ground squirrels or gophers.

Many areas have seen heavy pressure with the dry conditions over the last couple of years

Insect and Vertebrate Pest Management Specialist James Tansey says a key tool for control "strychnine" has been deregistered, noting that after March 4, 2023 it will be illegal to use.

The City of Fort Saskatchewan will set aside some time on Friday night (Sept. 30) to honour Indigenous peoples in the community. 

As part of the city’s plans for National Truth and Reconciliation Day, there will be a commemorative film screening at the Shell Theatre. The event will start with a meal at about 6 p.m. before going into a screening of The Forgotten People.