FortSask

A two-year investigation into the death of a Westlock man has resulted in charges. 

On June 9, 2020, Westlock RCMP were called to an apartment building at 10530 103 Street after reports about a deceased male in the lobby of the building. The man’s death was ruled a homicide, and the RCMP’s Major Crime Unit was called to assist with the investigation. 

The victim was identified as Barry Wheadon. 

Nearly two years to the date, RCMP arrested 20-year-old Eddy Trindle on Tuesday (Jun. 7) and charged him with second-degree murder. 

A fundraiser for STARS air ambulance in Fort Saskatchewan was proven to be a success. 

On May 25, local peace officer Chelsea Eshpeter held a walk to raise money for STARS to honour her late father.

“It went really well. All of the emergency response services came from Fort Saskatchewan as well as outside agencies which was amazing,” said Eshpeter.

The paramedic nurse who was in the STARS helicopter with her dad shortly before he passed came out to the event as well. 

It’s the inflation you’re not supposed to see.

From toilet paper to yogurt and coffee to corn chips, manufacturers are quietly shrinking package sizes without lowering prices. It’s dubbed “shrinkflation,” and it’s accelerating worldwide.

In the U.S., a small box of Kleenex now has 60 tissues; a few months ago, it had 65. Chobani Flips yogurts have shrunk from 5.3 ounces to 4.5 ounces. In the U.K., Nestle slimmed down its Nescafe Azera Americano coffee tins from 100 grams to 90 grams. In India, a bar of Vim dish soap has shrunk from 155 grams to 135 grams.

Workers at the Sunridge Ski Area hope to see their deck rebuilt in time for wedding season after the structure was targeted by arson.

Early in the morning on Monday (Jun. 6), security footage at the ski hill caught a person lighting a fire on the outdoor deck and running away.

Edmonton Fire attended the scene at around 1 a.m. after a 911 call came in from a group of cyclists.

Last but certainly not least.

Our final Classroom of the Month winners for the 2021/2022 school year was... Mrs. Frey's Grade 3/4 class at Fort Elementary!

These kids are ready to soar into the summer, but first it was time to chow down on some delicious pizza courtesy of Sky Hy Pizza & Donair!

Two men were arrested after providing an ill-conceived alibi to police. 

Around 8:30 a.m. on May 5, Redwater RCMP received a call about two men on bikes breaking into an abandoned home in town. They arrived to find the pair in the middle of breaking in, window in hand.  

The men told police they had been hired to renovate another home in Redwater. 

A security guard is now on-site at city hall.

The guard was added on May 24 and is on duty every day from the time city Hall opens until the library closes.

This pilot project is in response to a number of incidents at city hall, as well as the Fort Saskatchewan Public Library.

“[Staff are] unsure of how to support, intervene or what to do, [this] would be more reflective of some of the issues that we’ve seen,” said Heather Cowie, the general manager of community and protective services. 

A reminder for producers the Livestock Price Insurance deadline for calves is coming up June 9.

LPI is available in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and provides protection against an unexpected drop in prices. 

The program provides coverage for feeder and fed cattle year round, while calf insurance is only available for purchase from February to June.

LPI-Calf is designed for calves born in the spring and sold in the fall or early in the new year. 

A senior official in the department of public safety says the minister has been "misunderstood" in saying police asked the federal government to use the Emergencies Act in February.

Deputy minister Rob Stewart appeared before the special joint committee that’s examining the Liberals' decision to invoke the act on Tuesday evening. 

In April, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino told the same committee that after weeks of blockades in downtown Ottawa and at several border crossings, the government was in regular consultation with law enforcement including the RCMP. 

The Grand North American Fiddle Championship will be held in Fort Saskatchewan this summer.

The 38th annual championship will run from July 14 - 17 at the Dow Centennial Centre.

The event is open to fiddlers of all levels and ages. In the past, competitors have ranged in age from 6 years to 101 years old. 

Many musicians from this event have gone on to become finalists or winners at the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Contest.

Thursday evening: