FortSask

Calling all cat lovers!

Strathcona County is inviting a non-profit animal rescue organization to set up and operate the county's first shelter for cats. They will be accepting applications from potential organizations over the next few weeks.

The idea of ​​bringing a cat shelter to Strathcona County has been in the wider public debate since the late 1980s, according to Strathcona County's director of RCMP and enforcement, Tom Sutton. Unlike dogs, there is no bylaw specific to roaming cats and you do not need to obtain a license.

A movie was filmed in downtown Fort Saskatchewan last weekend.

100 Avenue, between The Brant Hotel and Fort Gasland, was closed off Sunday (Mar. 27) for the making of a feature film, Sherlock.

The street was filled with cast, crew, and a group of excited spectators. The historical downtown street was almost unrecognizable with a yellow taxi, an old-fashioned telephone box, and a redesigned corner store.

The film will reportedly be a coming-of-age drama film about a youth's upbringing in 1990s New Jersey. 

The weather is a bit all over the place for spring break this year.

Many area kids started the break on Friday, a bit chillier than normal for the area, with the highs just above 0 C. The average temperature for this time of year is a high of 7 C.

The region has also been hit with a bit of snow.

By Wednesday (Mar. 30), the forecast is calling for a high of 9 C. From there on, the temperature should be closer to normal for the rest of the week.

A senior has been sent to the hospital after a collision in Sherwood Park.

On Thursday (Mar. 24) at 3:50 p.m., Strathcona County RCMP was called to a crash between a vehicle and a pedestrian.

The vehicle was turning left onto Emerald Drive from Ellersmere Lane when it struck a 68-year-old woman in the crosswalk. She was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Canadian soccer fans rejoiced upon seeing Canada's men's soccer team clinch a berth in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after a 4-0 win over Jamaica on Sunday at BMO Field.

This is just the second time Canada's men's soccer team has reached the World Cup in its history and the first time since 1986.

The World Cup is considered to be the most prestigious international soccer event in the world, taking place every four years.

The 2022 World Cup will take place from Nov. 21 to Dec. 18.

Police are warning residents about an ongoing scam in the area.

In early March, the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) received four reports of a grandparent scam within two days — the total estimated financial loss was over $25,000.

In all incidents, the scammer contacted the senior either in person or over the phone and told them their grandchild had been arrested or  was in an accident and needed bail money. The scammer posed as a police officer, a lawyer or their grandchild.

High power bills have been a big issue for many Albertans over the last year.

Associate minister of natural gas and electricity Dale Nally said his office has been getting a lot of questions related to the increasing power charges and wanted to take the time to answer some of the ones he sees the most.

One of the biggest questions being asked is why the bills are going up. Nally explained there are two parts to an electricity bill; the energy portion makes up about 40 per cent of it.

An Amber Alert for two kidnapped children and their mother is now over.

Mounties say that a suspect is in custody and two young kids and their mother who were at the centre of the alert are safe.

The alert was first issued earlier on Saturday (Mar. 26) by RCMP in British Columbia. Mounties there allege that a 36-year-old man kidnapped a woman and her two young children. The woman and kids hadn't been seen since March 24.

The B.C. RCMP has cancelled the Amber Alert issued on Saturday afternoon (Mar. 26). 

Police say two children were allegedly abducted and believed to be travelling with their mother and father.

Mounties were searching for a 10-month-old, four-year-old, 23-year-old Dawn Bellamy and 36-year-old Jason Dalrymple.

Police believed the children and their mother were taken against their will from their home in Fort St. John and were in danger while in Dalrymple's presence. 

Morinville residents can expect to see a slightly higher tax bill this year. 

Town council approved its 2022 Operating Budget on Tuesday (Mar. 22), which includes a five per cent tax increase. This means homeowners will see an average increase of $10.58 per month on their property tax bills. 

Non-residential properties will see an increase of $27.78 per month, while industrial accounts will increase by $49.33 per month.