FortSask

The 2023 Alberta Schools' Athletic Association (ASAA) high school basketball provincials started earlier this week. 

Five local teams are competing in various tournaments around Alberta, trying to prove their standing among the best the province has to offer. 

Here is a look at how each local team has fared so far: 

Boys: 

3A: 

On the boy's side, Morinville and Strathcona Christian have been playing in the 3A tournament in Wetaskiwin. 

The Fort Saskatchewan RCMP is warning residents about a new type of scam. 

Constable Lauren Mowbray says the local detachment has been receiving more calls about something called a 'nanny scam'. 

"We’ve seen an influx of calls recently with a new scam going around, but using the same old tactics," said Mowbray. 

RCMP has lifted a shelter-in-place.

The order came Friday (Mar. 17) morning after police received a report of a man with a weapon near H. A Kostash School in Smoky Lake.

Police say that the incident has been determined to not be criminal, and there was never any threat to the public.

The school is no longer in lockdown, and no more updates will be released.

A Smoky Lake school was put on lockdown after reports of a man with a weapon. 

RCMP say that they received a report on Friday (Mar. 17) morning about a man with a weapon near H. A. Kostash School in Smoky Lake. 

The school was put in lockdown and police asked residents in the area to stay in their homes. 

An investigation found that there was no criminal activity and no actual threat to public safety. 

A few new french immersion courses will be coming to Sturgeon Composite High School. 

Sturgeon Public Schools (SPS) made the announcement last week. It will become the first high school in the division to offer french courses. 

"Up to now we have had two of our schools with the french immersion option," said Lauren Walter, the marketing and communications manager with the division. 

Canada's inflation rate likely took another dip last month, but with many Canadians still struggling with the cost of living, the federal government is facing pressure to deliver more help in the upcoming budget.

Statistics Canada is set to release its February consumer price index report on Tuesday, giving its most up-to-date reading on inflation ahead of the federal government's budget on March 28. 

Desjardins and RBC are both forecasting the inflation rate fell to 5.4 per cent last month, down from 5.9 per cent in January.

Students at Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) got a surprise visit from a very special guest earlier this week. 

Emerance Maschmeyer, an Olympic gold medalist and goaltender for the Canada women's national ice hockey team, took some time on Wednesday (Mar. 15) morning to read a story to 47 grade one and two classrooms through a video call.

The Bruderheim goalie said this wasn't her first time reading for the kids.

"Last year when I did the same thing, I heard later on that I read to my younger cousin's classroom," said Maschmeyer.

Strathcona County is considering ways to regulate panhandlers in the community.

On Tuesday (Mar. 14), Ward 2 councillor Dave Anderson brought forth a motion that would create a report on panhandling in the community, along with proposed solutions.

These solutions include bylaws, fines, and even community support services.

With inflation going through the roof the last couple of years, saving money is more important than ever.

Luckily, saving money doesn't mean you have to cut back on fun.

My wife and I love heading down south and enjoying the crisp air and incredible scenery of the Rockies. And our favourite activity is biking through the miles and miles of trails. 

With the FortSaskOnline Auction, you can do the same AND do it for less!

First off let's get you set up with a place to stay.

The Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino is a true gem.

The issue of food prices or food inflation is on everyone's mind as they wander through the grocery store trying to feed their family while trying to stay within their budget.

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a professor and director at the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University.

He's known as the food professor and took part in a fireside chat during the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities Annual Convention this week.

The Agri-Food Analytics Lab says Canadians could see a five to seven per cent spike in food prices in 2023.