Lacombe

Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald recently spent Friday and Saturday touring Saskatchewan.

During his visit, he had an opportunity to talk with producers and stakeholders about key agricultural issues and concerns and the potential opportunities that exist within the industry today and in the future.

As Prime Minister Mark Carney gets ready to host U.S. President Donald Trump and other leaders at the G7 summit in Alberta, analysts say Canada's most important goal will be to keep the G7 from falling apart — even if that means not issuing a joint statement.

"Keeping this informal international organization together will, I think, be a mark of success," said Sen. Peter Boehm, a former diplomat who played a central role in Canada’s participation in the G7 for decades.

The historic ties and long-standing working relationship between the United Kingdom and Canada are not just reflections of the past, but are very much needed "in the here and now," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday. 

Starmer said the two Commonwealth members think and work alike, having collaborated for years on issues of security, defence, trade and the economy.

Starmer met with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa on Sunday before the two leaders headed for the G7 leaders' summit in Alberta.

Lacombe County is advising residents of upcoming road construction on Range Road 3-4 (west of Sections 28 and 33-40-3 W5, from Hwy 12 to Township Road 41-0), beginning Monday, June 16.

The project is expected to take approximately five weeks to complete, weather permitting.

Minor traffic delays may occur during construction.

Motorists are asked to drive with caution near construction crews and obey all posted signage.

**With information from Lacombe County

Blackfalds RCMP are informing the public that Highway 2 South of Highway 11 has been reopened for travel.

Earlier a collision was reported that closed all Southbound lanes as emergency crews responded. 

Preliminary information suggests that there was a collision between three vehicles, resulting in heavy vehicle damage.

No fatalities have been reported.

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of central Alberta, warning that thunderstorms are developing through the afternoon and into the evening.

Some of these storms may become severe, producing large hail, flash flooding, and locally heavy rainfall.

Local travelers may experience delays, as heavy rains can make for difficult driving conditions.

Residents are urged to go indoors at the first sound of thunder, as lightning kills and injures Canadians every year.

High school football doesn’t officially begin until fall, but the Iron Ridge Secondary Bisons are already laying the foundation for their inaugural season.

More than 30 players took part in spring camp from May 23 to 25 — the Blackfalds school’s first since announcing it would join league play this September. While spring sports commitments led to a slight dip from full registration, athletic director and head coach Joe McQuay said the camp achieved what it set out to do.

Almost a decade after 24 Sussex Drive was abandoned as the official residence of the Canadian prime minister, taxpayers are still shelling out tens of thousands of dollars a year to maintain the vacant property, and the new prime minister has signalled he's in no rush to deal with the crumbling building.

Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters in May that it's up to the National Capital Commission to decide what to do with 24 Sussex.

Curtain rises on theatre program’s first year at new Blackfalds high school.

Iron Ridge Secondary Campus (IRSC) is taking to the stage for the first time with the student production "10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse".

The one-act play, written by Don Zolidis, marks the debut of the theatre program at the new high school in Blackfalds.

Drama instructor and director Quinto Gawdun said the play serves as an accessible and fun introduction to theatre for both the students and himself, a first-time drama teacher.

With summer around the corner and road traffic expected to increase, Alberta RCMP are reminding both commercial and passenger-vehicle drivers to take extra care when sharing the province’s highways.

Driving around semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, buses and other large commercial vehicles requires added caution. To help reduce the risk of collisions, Alberta RCMP have issued the following safety tips:

For commercial drivers:

• Conduct regular trip inspections and carry the required certificates.