Lacombe

The Town of Sylvan Lake is updating its 2016 Community Social Master Plan and is inviting residents to take part.

The new plan will help meet the needs and wants of the community for events and programming opportunities, while also supporting applications for provincial and federal grants.

To participate, residents can join a focus group or take surveys before June 30 on the Sylvan Lake website.

The Red Deer Rebels made two selections at today’s 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft.

With the sixth overall pick in round one, the Rebels selected forward Eli Bimmerle from Bartonville, Texas.

Bimmerle played the 2024-25 season with Dallas Stars Elite 14U AAA and collected 94 points (50 goals, 44 assists) in 59 games. In four games at the U.S. 14U Nationals he had three goals and three assists. At the 15U World Selects Invitational he led Blue Army with eight points (five goals, three assists) in six games.

A new pope has been elected following the death of Pope Francis. White smoke began billowing from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signalling the decision by the College of Cardinals.

A large crowd in the thousands erupted into cheers as the words “Habemus Papam” ("We have a pope") rang out in St. Peter's Square, about an hour after the smoke first poured out. The new pope then came out onto the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and greeted the crowd.

Red Deer RCMP have located a missing 11-year-old youth and would like to thank the public for their help.

The youth was reported missing, with concern for her well-being. She has now been located and is safe.

To protect her identity, her name and photo have been removed as she is a minor.

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Lacombe County has upgraded the current fire restriction to a fire ban due to extremely dry and windy conditions.  

Effective immediately, Lacombe County will issue no new fire permits or fireworks permits, and existing permits have already been canceled.  

Thursday, May 8 is McHappy Day, and McDonald’s restaurants across Central Alberta will donate a portion of proceeds from all food and beverage sales to Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) and other local children’s charities.

Sunny 94 has been a proud partner of McHappy Day for more than 15 years. Drive-home announcer Adam Hamilton, a longtime supporter of the event, said it’s a cause close to his heart.

Red Deer Public Schools is excited to host its 14th annual Grow Kids event. Taking place next Thursday (May 15) at both the G.H. Dawe Community Centre and the Collicutt Centre, the event will welcome all Grade 5 students across the division for a full day of learning, movement and connection.

Formerly known as Grow Boys and Go Girl, the event is now united under the name Grow Kids, reflecting a shared commitment to active, healthy physical, social and emotional development for all students.

The Town of Innisfail has added a new little library to its collection.

A dog stick library is now available at the off-leash dog park in the northeast portion of Centennial Park.

At the end of April, the dog stick library was installed so that dog owners can place sticks and toys to be shared with other dogs that come to the park.

Ken Kowalchuk, Manager of Communications and Marketing at the Town of Innisfail, says it was an idea brought forward by a staff member who saw a similar idea online, and the town decided it would be fun to create.

The Red Deer Rebels have selected defenceman Nolan Wolitski with the 7th overall pick in round one of the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft.

Wolinski played for Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep (CSSHL) in 2024-25 and had 48 points (eight goals, 40 assists) and 74 penalty minutes in 29 league games. He added seven points in five playoff games. Wolinski also played four games this season for NAX’s U18 Prep team.

This year at the John Reid Memorial Tournament in St. Albert, Wolinski racked up 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in six games.

The Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre (CACAC) brought together over 275 young women from across Central Alberta at Crossroads Church in Red Deer on May 7, for the inspiring 2025 Climb Girls Resiliency Conference.  

The conference is a yearly event organized by the CACAC and its Climbing Tree Mentorship Program.