Lacombe

Two prominent "Freedom Convoy" organizers "crossed the line" into criminal activity when they led a massive demonstration to Ottawa in 2022 and refused to leave, the Crown said in its final submissions on their criminal trial Tuesday.

Tamara Lich and Chris Barber were among several organizers who brought a huge number of demonstrators and big-rig trucks to Ottawa two years ago to protest pandemic-era public health restrictions and vaccine mandates.

The town of Jasper says early numbers indicate last month’s wildfires destroyed $283 million worth of property.

The town also reports that while 358 structures were destroyed, mostly businesses and homes, the total number of housing units lost is about 800.

The figures were delivered to councillors by chief administrative officer Bill Given at a virtual meeting Tuesday.

Given said the numbers get even more daunting as the town moves forward with rebuilding because the lost structures equate to a $2.2-million loss in annual property tax revenue.

A Red Deer residence was among six properties involved in an eight-month-long investigation targeting illegal drug activity across Central Alberta.  

On Aug. 2, the Parkland RCMP Drug Unit, with assistance from members of Parkland RCMP, St. Albert RCMP, Leduc RCMP, Red Deer RCMP, and Air Services executed a total of six Search Warrants: two in Stony Plain, three in Edmonton and one in Red Deer.   

Lacombe City Council approved a Land Use Bylaw amendment, increasing density and diverse housing options.   

The amendment redesigned several lots on 49th Street from a residential single and semi-detached district to a residential multi-unit dwelling district.   

When Monkey Top Saloon tragically burned down in early January, the Bentley, AB landmark’s owners knew there was only one thing to do: rebuild.

“This is Bentley’s bar,” says co-owner Rosie Lunn. “It’s a place for everybody to meet up, which I think is very important.”

Emphasis on the “is.”

Monday evening around 9 p.m., a widespread power outage occurred impacting neighbourhoods in east and north Red Deer. Crews identified that copper wire theft was the cause.

“We cannot emphasize enough how dangerous stealing copper wire is as it often results in life threatening or life ending injuries for the thief,” said Vince Gibbons, Electrical Distribution Supervisor. “This also puts extra risk on our staff who work to restore power as quickly as possible, but with infrastructure that’s been tampered.”

With the upcoming school year quickly approaching, young students have the chance to learn about school bus safety during the annual First Rider program.   

School divisions including Chinook’s Edge, Red Deer Public, Red Deer Catholic, and Wild Rose School Division along with Prairie Bus Lines will have coordinators and staff members at each participating location to teach students about bus safety. 

The arrival terminals at airports in Toronto and Montreal were filled with cheers on Monday as fans and family gathered to give a hero’s welcome to Canadian Olympians returning home from the Paris Games with a record-breaking medal haul. 

The Summer Games saw Team Canada bring home an unprecedented number of medals — nine gold and 27 in total. Both were records for Canada at a non-boycotted Summer Olympics, surpassing previous highs set in Tokyo three years ago and 1992 in Barcelona.

The 5,000 residents of Jasper, Alta., chased out of their homes three weeks ago ahead of a devastating wildfire, can go home Friday.

Officials said essential services have been restored to the point where they can allow a blanket re-entry.

However, utility services could still be hit and miss. Some homes may look fine on the outside but will have sustained heavy smoke or water damage on the inside. Other homes may be fenced off as public safety hazards.

The Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET) is breaking down barriers for internationally trained engineering technology professionals in Central Alberta.   

There are 41 ASET members living in the Lacombe area, and 278 in the Red Deer area working in engineering technology professions including power, water, and municipal infrastructure construction.