Lacombe

Lacombe city council is contributing $15,000 to help revitalize a local playground.

The JS McCormick playground is used not only by students but also by community members outside school hours and plays an important role in the broader community’s recreational infrastructure. 

Pam Dedora, chairperson of the Lacombe Public Schools Enhancement Society (LPSE), along with vice-chair Renee Spelt and Team Jigger representative Jason Lunn, presented a funding request to council at its April 28 meeting.

A judge has denied an application to quash a review of a proposed Alberta referendum question on separation.

Court of King's Bench Justice Colin Feasby says it will benefit democracy to have a full hearing on the constitutionality of the question.

Alberta's chief electoral officer, Gordon McClure, referred the question to court last month so a judge could determine whether it violates the Constitution, including treaty rights.

The group that submitted the question applied to have the referral quashed.

RCMP are looking for a stolen horse named Hank and the woman accused of taking him.

On June 21, Rimbey RCMP began investigating the theft of a horse. As a result, Katrina Doiron, 28, of Ponoka County, has been charged with theft of cattle over $5,000. There is a warrant for her arrest.

Police say Doiron is refusing to return the horse and will not tell them where he is. She has also said she is in the process of selling him.

RCMP are seeking help in locating Hank so he can be returned to his rightful owner.

There's a growing push for Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberal government to step up and help support Western Canadian producers that are being impacted by the increased tariffs on canola.

On Tuesday (August 12) at approximately 4:21 p.m., Red Deer RCMP responded to a serious motor vehicle collision near 40 Avenue and 22 Street in Red Deer involving a stolen vehicle.

Police say the driver of the stolen vehicle fled the scene by stealing another vehicle from someone who had stopped to assist.

After being involved in a second collision, the suspect fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by RCMP.

As a result of the initial collision, Red Deer resident Shelley Thornton, 46, was fatally injured.

A U.S based company is hoping to see more flax grown in the prairies.

Grain Millers, a Minnesota based company, is expanding its operations in Western Canada. 

The company operates an oat processing facility at Yorkton, Saskatchewan, and has been leasing a small flax processing facility in Saskatoon.

President and CEO Todd Stohlmeyer says with the lease wrapping up and the interest they've seen in flax they decided to build their own facility at Delisle, Saskatchewan
about 43 kilometres southwest of Saskatoon.

The Lacombe Legion has closed its basement after a plumbing problem that caused significant flooding was discovered early Tuesday.

Water about a foot deep covered the kitchen, poppy room and office and is believed to have been there for at least a day.

Legion president Kathy Hobbs said the cleanup wouldn’t have been possible without dedicated volunteers, who were there since 10 a.m.

Officials say the largest wildfire burning in Newfoundland and Labrador may have destroyed up to 100 homes and structures.

However, Premier John Hogan says it is still too dangerous for crews to get into the area to complete an accurate tally.

The fire burning along the northwestern shore of Conception Bay began on Aug. 3 near Kingston, N.L.,  and Hogan says it now measures more than eight square kilometres.

Downtown Ponoka will come alive this Friday (August 15) as the Alberta Friesian Horse Association hosts the 6th annual Ringsteken event, a free family-friendly celebration featuring traditional Dutch games, food, and entertainment.

The evening kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with street food vendors serving up Dutch favourites such as frikandellen (a deep-fried sausage snack), bitterballen (a meat-based snack mixture breaded and fried into balls) and fries.

The main event begins at 6:30 p.m., bringing the centuries-old sport of Ringsteken to the streets of Ponoka.

A judge is expected to decide today whether a special court review of a proposed Alberta referendum question on separation should go ahead.

Alberta's chief electoral officer, Gordon McClure, referred the question to court last month for a judge to determine whether it violates the Constitution, including treaty rights.

The group that submitted the question applied to have the referral quashed, and Court of King's Bench Justice Colin Feasby heard arguments last week.