FortSask

A Strathcona County cat shelter pilot project has released some statistics on its first seven months in operation. 

Sheltered Paws, which is run by the Greater Edmonton Animal Rescue Society (GEARS) opened up in the county on October 1 as part of a one-year cat shelter pilot project. 

In a report to the council, the shelter said that as of May 14, 87 cats were brought to the shelter (50 male and 37 female) of which just 11 were spayed or neutered upon intake. 

36 of those cats were kittens under a year old. 

With some communities deciding to lift fire bans while others are reinstating fire bans, what is happening where can become confusing. 

As of Wednesday (June 14), there are not a lot of regions that are still under a fire ban with recent wet weather prompting the implementation of a fire restriction in its place. 

A Sherwood Park family was displaced after a fire broke out in their home last week. 

Firefighters received word of a structure fire on Alder Avenue last Wednesday (June 7).

According to Devin Capcara with Strathcona County Emergency Services, the fire was in a single-family residence.

"Crews were able to bring that one quickly under control," said Capcara. "Some pretty extensive smoke damage to the interior of the house, but fire damage was contained to the kitchen."

Elk Island National Park (EINP) is celebrating the Year of the Bison. 

On Monday (June 12) the park was invited to take part in the kick-off event for Alberta Open Farm Days (AOFD) at Metis Crossing. 

"Alberta Open Farm Days is essentially shining a spotlight on one of Alberta's keystone species being Bison," said Dale Kirkland, park superintendent for EINP.

"It's pretty exciting to see Alberta Open Farm Days be the Year of the Bison, obviously something that is very near and dear to our hearts here and the history of Elk Island National Park." 

A Fort Saskatchewan fastball team captured a silver medal in St. Albert over the weekend. 

The all-girls U13 Sliders made it all the way to the championship game during the 24th Annual Fastball St. Albert Invitational Tournament before losing 6-1 to the Airdrie Angels. 

"We played a total of six games over the weekend," said coach Dave Duncan. "The young ladies did a fantastic job, it was a lot of ball for them." 

"We made it all the way to the final, unfortunately, fell a little short." 

As wildfires from coast to coast scorch large swaths of forest, sometimes changing it irreversibly, experts have zeroed in on an often overlooked casualty of the blazes: wildlife.

Spring fires, such as the ones now burning across the country, are unusual and will possibly affect several species, said Karen Hodges, a biology professor at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus.

There's some concern about the loss of competition in the grain sector with the proposed merger of two mega rivals in the grain industry.

The announcement of a merger between U.S. based Bunge and Viterra would create a global agribusiness worth about U.S. $34 billion.

Bunge's purchase offer of U.S. $8.2 billion dollars will see Viterra shareholders receive 65.6 million shares of Bunge stock (valued at U.S. $6.2 billion) and U.S. $2 billion in cash.

A former taekwondo instructor from Sherwood Park has been sentenced to just over two years in prison.

Michael Chung pleaded guilty to child luring and making sexually explicit material to a child -- the victim was the underage sister of Chung's wife.

Over the course of five months, over 1,300 messages were sent between Chung and the victim. The messages were explicit, and once included a video call where Chung exposed his penis and masturbated in front of the victim.

Chung claims to have been drinking alcohol and using cocaine when he would send these messages.

A missing 12-year-old girl from Fort Saskatchewan has been found.

Kasheri Anaskan was last seen on May 5 and was believed to be in the Edmonton area.

The RCMP reported Anaskan has been located safely.

Police would like to thank the public for their assistance.

There's a new pay-by-weight system at Fort Saskatchewan's Transfer and Eco Station.

As of earlier this month, site users are now being charged for their garbage materials based on weight rather than volume.

A fee of 16 cents per kilogram will apply to all garbage brought to the station. The fee also applies to yard waste for non-residents and contractors.

Fort Saskatchewan residents who provide I.D. with proof of address can drop off yard waste at no charge.

Other materials that are free to drop off include: