FortSask

On Monday, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced an investment of up to $3.6 million to ensure the beef industry has the necessary resources to seize new export opportunities to remain competitive and continue to be a sustainable driver of economic growth.

"Canadian cattle producers deliver high-quality, internationally recognized products. Building on this reputation, our government's investment will help the industry capture opportunities for growth and ensure that Canada's beef sector remains a driver of our economy," said Bibeau.

The Morinville RCMP is hoping the public can help solve a recent theft. 

Early Sunday morning (Apr. 24), a truck, trailer, and excavator were stolen from a property in Cardiff in Sturgeon County.  

The trailer and excavator have since been recovered; however, police say the truck, a 2006 Ford F-150, has not been found. The truck is white with license plate CFK-1843.

The number of poultry operations impacted by Avian Influenza (AI) has increased on the Prairies.

In Alberta, there are now 17 operations impacted by AI with new cases being reported in a small flock in Sturgeon Country, and in poultry flocks in Kneehill, Wetaskiwin, Rocky View, and Camrose Counties.

The CFIA has confirmed three new operations in Saskatchewan have been impacted including the RM of Loreburn, the RM of Morse, and the RM of Carmichael, which brings the provincial total to five.

Police have laid charges in relation to a stabbing at Pigeon Lake Regional School.

On Monday (Apr. 25) at 10:55 a.m., RCMP received a complaint of a stabbing at the school. 

Upon arrival, RCMP reportedly found a 16-year-old victim with injuries — the victim was taken by ambulance to hospital and remains in stable condition.

RCMP have charged a 16-year-old male youth with attempted murder and aggravated assault.

The teenager has been released from custody on conditions with his next court appearance set for June 1.

A woman has been given prison time after stealing from a Sherwood Park pharmacy.

In August 2019, police arrested Stephanie Howe of Edmonton after she took Percocet pills from the pharmacy she worked at and sold them for a profit. She was arrested along with Jacob Hope, also of Edmonton.

Later, two search warrants were executed, where police found more stolen pills and a shotgun.

In the trial, Howe pled guilty to possession for the purpose of trafficking, theft over $5,000 and a breach of recognisance.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in a small flock in Sturgeon County. The CFIA confirmed the case on Thursday (Apr.21). 

Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a contagious viral infection that can affect several species of food-producing birds, pet birds and wild birds. On rare occasions, bird flu viruses can cause disease in humans. 

Women between the ages of 50 and 74 will have access to a mobile mammography service arriving in Fort Saskatchewan this May.

A mammogram is one of the most effective ways to detect breast cancer. Early detection helps increase chances of survival and allows for greater treatment options.

Mammograms are not readily available in many communities in Alberta; the mobile trailer will make cancer screening more accessible for hundreds of Albertan women.

When the COVID-19 situation hit Canada in early 2020, the federal government set up the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), a safety net for millions who suddenly found themselves out of work. 

Eligibility rules were set to require recipients to have earned at least $5,000 in the 12 months prior to applying. Workers also couldn’t have quit their job voluntarily and had to have stopped working because of reasons related to COVID-19.

The Bon Accord and Sturgeon County Fire Departments had an interesting call from a local non-profit.

Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS) takes in homeless pets and looks after them until they can place them in loving homes. 

On Sunday (Apr. 24), the group took in a feral mother cat and five kittens, who were only 12 days old. They gave them to a foster mother who set them up in a room. However, the mother cat was able to escape from the room and got into the furnace vents.

Federal ministers defended the government's use of the Emergencies Act Monday as they announced an independent public inquiry to investigate the use of the act to end blockades at Canadian border crossings and in Ottawa earlier this year.

The Liberal government declared an emergency under the act for the first time in history on Feb. 14, granting extraordinary temporary powers to police to clear people out and to banks to freeze the accounts of some of those involved.