FortSask

Police and municipal enforcement are conducting a back-to-school drive. 

The Fort Saskatchewan RCMP and Municipal Enforcement Services building will have a donation bin available for people wanting to donate school supplies from now until Aug. 15.

After that, there will be a main donation drive outside Staples' Fort Saskatchewan location (9410 86 Avenue) on Aug. 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with RCMP members collecting school supplies.

Canola generates about one-quarter of all farm crop receipts in Canada, so any problem is a serious threat for producers.

That includes blackleg, a fungus that's spread widely over Western Canada, and can cause serious damage to crops.

Recently, researchers completed the first large-scale resequencing of the blackleg pathogen in the world. This resequencing helps them get a good understanding of Canadian populations of blackleg.

The Royal Canadian Legion Gibbons Branch recently celebrated its 75th anniversary.

On Saturday (Aug. 6), the Legion held a celebration in honour of the milestone. The night started with cocktails and dinner before a grand ceremony.

This was the first anniversary celebration the Legion had held for a while, according to Louise Bauder, vice president of the Legion.

"[The] official date was May 5. We haven't done a lot up to this point; today's just a celebration with a little get-together."

The Robin Hood Association has received the Half Grand Helping Hand prize from MIX 107.9 and South Fort Chevrolet.

Formed in 1963, The Robin Hood Association helps individuals with developmental disabilities. They are a non-profit, charitable organization that serves Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, and surrounding areas. 

“We serve families that have children and adults that have disabilities here in Fort Saskatchewan,” said Ann Marie Lepan, the CEO of the Robin Hood Association. 

An NDP critic wants the provincial government to do more following the closure of a local hospital unit. 

Due to a lack of staffing, Alberta Health Services suspended labour and delivery services at the Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital. The suspension took effect on Aug. 6 and is expected to last until the 21st.

In a statement, Janis Irwin, the NDP critic for the status of women, said that the closure is “unacceptable” in a city of nearly 30,000 people.

A group of researchers is looking at how best to make a dent in a resistant weed population that's a concern for prairie farmers.

Kochia is a weed that has exploded with herbicide resistance, often times not being affected by glyphosate and group 2 herbicides such as dicamba.

That's why researchers are looking at what the best method is to get rid of that weed before they become a serious adversary for farmers.

Shannon Chant, a Crops Extension Specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture, details the three practices they studied during their research.

The federal government has announced they'll be investing in the welfare of animals, and the tracking of said welfare.

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced nearly $3 million to three national organizations which will enhance animal welfare and tracking in the country.

The District of Redwater Fire Department is now accepting applications for new paid on-call firefighters.

Applicants must be 18 or older, all personal safety equipment will be provided, and no previous experience is necessary.

You must be available 2-3 hours weekly for training/practice nights and at least one Saturday per month during formal training sessions.

One person has died, and another is critically wounded following an incident northeast of Redwater on Monday (Aug. 8).

Just before 7:30 a.m. Monday morning, St. Paul RCMP responded to a call of a possible attempted abduction in Saddle Lake Cree Nation. Upon police arrival, an “interaction” occurred, and the two suspects, a male and female, took off in a red pickup truck.

RCMP say the two had been suspects in several ongoing police investigations.

Canadian Blood Services is calling on donors to book and keep appointments as it faces a decrease in collections.

The organization said Monday it currently has only four days worth of O+ blood type supply and five days worth of O- and B- blood types, along with six days worth of A- blood type and seven days worth of A+ and B+ blood types.

Spokeswoman Delphine Denis said collections have been steadily decreasing since July 1.

Denis said the blood-collecting agency closely monitors the days of the available blood supply.