Lacombe

A Treaty 6 flag was raised over the Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre facility, symbolizing a commitment to reconciliation.  

The flag was raised in front of the facility, marking the first time a Treaty 6 flag has permanently flown alongside the provincial and Canadian flags at an Alberta Health Services (AHS) facility.   

One-third of all structures in the townsite of Jasper are gone, burned to the ground in this week’s wildfire, officials confirmed Friday.

Premier Danielle Smith said there are 1,113 structures in the picturesque Rocky Mountain resort community.

She said Wednesday night’s wildfire destroyed 358 of them and damaged seven more.

The structures were homes and businesses. Much of the damage was contained to the west side of town.

Smith said critical infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and water treatment services, remain intact.

Red Deer RCMP are requesting public assistance in locating missing person 23-year-old David Campbell. David who also goes by Merl was last seen on July 10, 2024 in Drayton Valley. There is a concern for his well-being.

David Campbell is described as:

The River Bend Golf and Recreation Society announces that due to unforeseen circumstances, Discovery Canyon’s water park is closed until further notice. This precautionary measure is due to concerns about water quality, influenced by the prolonged hot, dry weather conditions.

Although Alberta Health Services (AHS) has not mandated a closure, River Bend together with The City of Red Deer have determined that ensuring the safety and well-being of our guests is most important.

Street performers from across the world are visiting Red Deer this weekend for the city’s CentreFest Street Performer Festival.  

This year’s event will not only feature street performers, but a market, food trucks, and more.  

The festival will be taking place in Downtown Red Deer on Ross Street and Little Gaetz Avenue between noon and 6 p.m. 

Cool and wet weather is making a difference in Jasper National Park.

The park posted a statement on X late Thursday night saying cooler temperatures and up to 15 millimetres of rain since midnight had led to minimal fire activity.

The park says due to the rainfall, fire behaviour is likely to calm over the next 72 hours.

While more rain is expected Friday, temperatures are supposed to return to the mid 20s by Saturday, which the park says will lead to an increase in fire activity.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says up to half of the buildings in Jasper may have been burned after wildfires swept through the evacuated community.

Here are the latest developments on the wildfire situation in Alberta (all times are MT):

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10:13 p.m.

Cool and wet weather is making a difference in Jasper National Park.

A statement from the park Thursday night says up to 15 millimetres of rain has fallen in the area since midnight, leading to minimal fire spread.

The Town and County of Stettler have jointly approved a new financial incentive structure to recruit and retain physicians in the area.  

Both organizations have been collaborating with the provincial government, Drumheller-Stettler MLA Nate Horner, and Alberta Health Services (AHS) to address the urgency of healthcare shortage in the region.  

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Wednesday night was an anxious night for most Central Albertans. 

Earlier in the day a tornado watch was issued for our area calling for the potential of severe weather and possible tornados. That watch then turned into a warning just after 7 p.m. as Environment Canada meteorologists were tracking two severe storms. One of the storms located north of Bentley and the other north of Eckville.

Both storms were heading eastward with many communities in its path. By 7:30 the affected areas went from Sylvan Lake in the south to Ponoka County in the north.