FortSask

Frustration is building in the agriculture sector as more than 3000 CP rail conductors, engineers, train and yard workers are on the picket line.

CP says members of the Teamsters Canada Railway Conference walked off the job Sunday, while the union says they were locked out after the two sides failed to reach a deal prior to the strike / lockout deadline.

For weeks now, the agriculture sector has been raising concerns about the potential impact the strike could have.

Not everyone is happy with how some recent snow clearing went in Fort Saskatchewan.

The city came around to clear the roads in the Westpark neighbourhood on Thursday (Mar.17). According to resident Erick Bennet, he went outside after the snowplows had passed and noticed his neighbours trying to move huge pieces of ice from in front of their driveways.

"I looked at the end of my driveway and there was a drop off from where the ice was to where the bottom of the street is now. My neighbour and I measured it, it was eight inches."

Industry groups that rely on Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. for the shipment of goods are pleading with the federal government to take action as the work stoppage at the Calgary-based railway continues into its second day.

Leaders of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association and the National Cattle Feeders' Association were in Ottawa Monday, urging the government to immediately bring an end to the work stoppage they say could devastate their industry.

Fort Saskatchewan is mourning the loss of Robert Maltby.

Maltby joined the Fort Saskatchewan Fire Department on Oct. 24, 1989. He was with the department for over 30 years and also served as a correctional officer for 31 years before retiring in 2020.

"He was a staple and a face that was around here for a long time. [He'd] always give you shirt off his back, that's the kind of guy he was," said assistant Fort Saskatchewan fire chief Doug Stein. "Just a smiling, happy person."

Ottawa is investing in the development of biosecurity technology to help producers mitigate the risk of disease outbreaks.

Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced over $113 thousand dollars on Friday to determine and promote an innovative technology system that will help protect the livestock industry in the event of a disease outbreak.

She says the investment in Be Seen Be Safe Ltd. supports the development of a data analysis tool that will help contain potential outbreaks to stop the spread of disease.

The U18 AAA Straightline Dodge Rangers are down 2-0 to the Calgary Buffaloes in the Alberta Elite Hockey League finals.

And game two on Sunday (Mar. 20) had its share of controversy, to say the least. 

It was in the third overtime period, game tied 2-2, that Buffaloes forward Kaiden Wiltsie took a shot that hit the post and bounced back out. However, the referee called it a goal and Calgary won the game.

Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) has cancelled the Lamont and Andrew area buses for Monday morning (Mar. 21).

The division said they were told by Lamont County that the snow-covered roads won’t be cleared in time for the morning run.

EIPS will make a decision regarding afternoon routes by noon. 

Families impacted were contacted directly. Schools will remain open, and classes will continue as scheduled. 
 

Highway 16 at Range Road 220 has reopened. 

A downed power line closed a portion of the highway for a short amount of time on Sunday afternoon (Mar. 20). 

The Strathcona County RCMP say drivers should still expect some delays in the area.

Fresh snow and wind gusts have created commuting issues on many of the area's highways. 

New snow mixed with gusting winds has created a problem on area highways. 

Some towing companies such as Titan Towing in Fort Saskatchewan have halted their highway winching due to near-zero visibility. 

"You can call us to get your vehicle in the system and once conditions improve we will call you with an ETA," Titan Towing said in a Facebook post. 

Many highways in the heartland are partly covered to completely covered in snow. 

According to 511 Alberta, travel is not recommended from Nisku to Ponoka on the QEII Highway. 

Police are looking for help identifying a man they say stole a woman's wallet. 

On Friday (Mar. 18) at 12:30 p.m., the Morinville RCMP received a complaint from a customer at McDonald's saying she had left her wallet behind and returned shortly thereafter to find it gone.

"Surveillance footage captured the suspect stealing the wallet and walking out with it," police said in a release. 

RCMP say the man has a medium to darker complexion with short black hair and an average height and build -- he was wearing a blue hoodie and blue pants.