FortSask

It appears that the Vinca Bridge replacement project has finally received its funding. 

Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association announced on Thursday (Mar. 2) that the Alberta government had allocated funding for the project in the most recent budget. 

"[The] Alberta Government Budget 2023 includes $8 billion for the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors’ three-year capital plan, a $718-million increase compared with Budget 2022," said the association in a release. 

Baseline Road has been reopened after a multi-vehicle crash on Wednesday (Mar. 1) night.

According to Strathcona County emergency services, the west and eastbound lanes were closed after a pickup truck collided with a tanker carrying jet fuel.

Emergency services worked to contain a large diesel spill from the tanker that was damaged in the crash.

Two people in the pickup truck were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The cause of the crash is under RCMP investigation.

PIC CEO Bill Gruel says they are now accepting Expressions of Interest for new projects.

He says there are four key areas of focus from genetics development to crop development, ingredients and products.

"We're really looking for projects in what we would call the ingredient and food space. So, ingredient manufacturers that are looking to develop new and novel technologies, or improve the efficiency of existing technologies and working with food companies or industrial feed companies or bioproducts as well."

A local athlete took home silver for Team Alberta at the 2023 Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island (P.E.I).

Katie Bajema is a 14-year-old wheelchair basketball player raised in Sturgeon County.

"I grew up northeast of Gibbons...on an acreage," said Bajema.

Bajema grew a love for wheelchair basketball just a year ago. 

"I started in the summer. My friend's sister asked me to come out to practice, and then we did some scrimmaging."

It's going to be a weekend full of basketball. 

In total, eight local teams will be competing in their respective city finals on Saturday (Mar. 4). 

This includes the Salisbury senior girls' team competing for the Division I championship against Jasper Place. 

The girls had a fantastic year, ending their regular season with an 8-2 record and knocking off the league-leading Strathcona team in a 66-49 win in the semi-finals. 

They will be looking to repeat as league champions. 

Strathcona County has officially opened up their new and improved HodgePodge Lodge facility. 

On Wednesday (Mar. 1) Mayor Rod Frank was joined by Erin Wildeboer, the county's waste diversion program liaison, for the grand opening.

"It feels great," said Frank. "People are really enthusiastic about the Hodgepodge Lodge, it fills a real need for reuse in our county."

"In the old days, everything got thrown out. That's no longer the answer." 

The RCMP is not investigating any allegations of foreign interference concerning the last general election, the federal deputy minister of public safety told a parliamentary committee Wednesday.

Shawn Tupper was appearing at the committee on procedure and House affairs, which is looking into accusations of Chinese meddling in the 2019 and 2021 elections.

The Liberal government has come under pressure in recent weeks to explain what Canada is doing about accusations of Chinese interference in the elections following leaks to the media from unnamed security sources.

A 59-year-old man from Wheatland County is facing a long list of charges.

In November of last year, reports came in regarding a man who was slaughtering sick and injured cattle, selling uninspected meat and then unlawfully disposing of the dead cattle.

Alberta Agriculture Inspections and Investigation Section (IIS), Wheatland County and the RCMP Livestock Investigation Unit (LIU) were involved in the arrest and shutting down of the operation.

A few intersections in Morinville could see some changes. 

Over the last few months, town council has been awaiting a report from an intersection planning project to address problems at two local intersections. The intersections in question were 100 Avenue/Grandin Drive and Cardiff Road/100 Street. 

Jordan Betteridge, the manager of infrastructure services with the town, says that residents were particularly concerned with these two locations. 

Gibbons should be paying close attention to Team Alberta's women's hockey team at the 2023 Canada Winter Games. 

Local player Paige Smith has been competing with the team in P.E.I. for the last week. 

Born and raised in the small community, Smith fostered a love for hockey early in her life. 

"I started [playing hockey] when I was super young," said Smith. "My brother and sister played hockey since they were young, and I am the youngest in the family." 

"With them playing I got skates and started playing with them."