Lacombe

A sudden and intense rainfall on Friday afternoon briefly flooded the intersection of 50 Street and 51 Avenue in downtown Ponoka. 

The heavy downpour overwhelmed the stormwater system, leaving the intersection temporarily under water.  

“There was some water accumulation at a downtown intersection, but it receded soon after the rain stopped,” said Sandra Smith, Communications Manager for the Town of Ponoka.  

The second person killed in a rockfall last week in Banff National Park  has been identified as a 33-year-old man from Surrey, B.C. 

RCMP did not provide a name and say no more information will be provided.

Two people were killed and three more injured when a slab of mountain gave way last Thursday, raining rock down on hikers at Bow Glacier Falls.

The three injured were later listed in stable condition.

The second deceased person has previously been identified as 70-year-old Jutta Hinrichs, a retired university professor from Calgary.

Parks Canada says the site remains closed where a rockfall killed two hikers and injured three more last week in Banff National Park.

Spokeswoman Amy Krause says safety is the agency's top priority and it is considering all options before reopening Bow Glacier Falls.

A slab of mountain broke loose last Thursday afternoon and rained rock down on a popular hiking trail near the falls, about 200 kilometres northwest of Calgary.

One of the two deceased has been identified as 70-year-old Jutta Hinrichs, a retired university professor from Calgary.

Provincewide standards coming for school library content following public feedback.

Following the discovery of multiple books containing sexually explicit content in some school libraries across Alberta, the provincial government conducted an online public engagement survey to gather input on creating consistent, provincewide standards to ensure age-appropriate materials are available to students.

From May 26 to June 6, Albertans were invited to share their views through an online survey.

A Public hearing set for today (June 23) is the final step in MCC review for the City of Red Deer.

Citizens are invited to attend a public hearing tonight to share their feedback as city council considers transitioning the city's electric utility to a municipally controlled corporation (MCC).

The public hearing marks the culmination of more than three years of focused work on the Utility Governance Modernization Project.

Town of Ponoka announces Stampede traffic control measures with the Stampede starting on Wednesday, June 25.

The Town of Ponoka, in cooperation with Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors, will once again implement its annual traffic control plan to help ensure pedestrian and vehicle safety during the 2025 Ponoka Stampede.

The following traffic control measures will be in effect 24 hours a day from Monday, June 23, to Wednesday, July 2:

For drivers in Lacombe County, more paving work will be done for the next few weeks.

The following roads will be affected:

• Sunbreaker Cove (Range Rd 22) from the Boat Launch to Rainy Creek Road for 2.1 km, starting July 10.

• Sandy Point Access Road starting July 8, from Range Rd 11 to the “T” Intersection for 1.5 km, from the “T” Intersection to the Beach Access for 0.147 km from the “T intersection to the South Parking Lot.

Bridge maintenance on QEII near Lacombe to cause traffic delays today (June 23)

Motorists traveling on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway near Lacombe can expect traffic delays today, due to scheduled bridge maintenance and testing near the Highway 12 interchange.

Alberta 511 has announced that maintenance crews will be conducting bridge testing from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with lane closures in effect throughout the day.

As a result, traffic will be reduced to a single lane in both directions in the affected area.

The Town of Olds Administration Office is relocating to a new address on Monday.

This move is part of a long-term plan to reduce administrative costs, improve efficiency in core operations, and to prioritize needs at other Town facilities.

The new Location (as of July 21) will be in the Olds Municipal Centre 3501 70 Avenue, north of the Rotary Athletic Park.

Key Dates:

• July 4 Last day open at the current Town Office (4512 46 Street)

• July 5–20 Town Office closed for the move

Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi is looking to finally win a seat in the legislature after a year of sitting on the sidelines.

He's running in one of three provincial byelections today as a candidate in Edmonton-Strathcona, where his predecessor Rachel Notley last won 80 per cent of the vote.

In Edmonton-Ellerslie, NDP candidate Gurtej Singh Brar could solidify the opposition party's hold on the city, but United Conservative Party candidate Naresh Bhardwaj is hoping to make an inroad.