Okotoks

Alberta RCMP are still looking for the suspect in connection to a shooting in Rocky View County in August.

On August 6th, a Rocky View County employee and a Fortis Alberta employee were shot, leaving the Rocky View County employee deceased and the Fortis employee with injuries.

One of the two people suspected to be connected to the shooting was arrested and charged by Alberta RCMP on August 11th, and they've been working to locate the second suspect, 28-year-old Elijah Blake Strawberry, since then.

Even though summer is coming to a close, there is still plenty to do this weekend in Foothills County.

Luckily, the forecast is calling for a clear, sunny sky and highs in the low 30s all weekend.

Friday

The annual Threshing Day Celebration is coming up Saturday at Sheppard Family Park.

It should also be hot with a high of 32° Celsius as volunteers take part in the old-time threshing and harvesting of a crop of hay.

Volunteer Dave King says they have a great crop this year too.

Public health agencies are encouraging people who received a first dose of mpox vaccine over the last two years to make sure they get a second dose. 

Many people at risk for mpox exposure got vaccinated in Canada beginning in spring 2022, when a global outbreak of the virus was declared, Canada's chief public health officer said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press.

But a lot of them never got a second dose, which is recommended at least 28 days after the first shot.

Premier Danielle Smith will be making an appearance in Foothills County later this month.

An "Okotoks Town Hall" is being held in the Highwood Riding on September 19 and will see MLA RJ Sigurdson appearing along with the Premier.

The UCP members-only event is being held at the Saskatoon Berry Farm, with no admittance fee.

It's one of several such events being held in ridings across Southern Alberta, with other upcoming locations including Camrose, Picture Butte, and Rocky Mountain House.

An artist from Okotoks will have a second piece of her artwork on display for diplomats around the world.

Laura Payne says the Global Affairs Canada Visual Art Collection was the organization that purchased her work, which is responsible for collecting fine art for embassies and consulates in Canada and in over 100 cities around the world.

Classical music will fill the air in George Lane Memorial Park this Sunday afternoon.

Starting at 2:30 p.m. it's the kickoff of the new season for High River's Gift of Music.

The family-friendly concert is absolutely free, just bring your own lawn chair or blanket.

The Honens Open Air High River event welcomes Windsync which is made up of musicians playing the flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and horn. 

The Provincial government is helping women in Alberta to be better represented in more industries in the province.

They're offering several scholarships to women in school for those industries.

Two of those scholarships are being continued this school year from previous years, those being the Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Scholarship and the Persons Case Scholarship.

The third scholarship announced was the Women in Technical and Applied Arts Scholarship, which will help women enter the film, television, or music industries.

The Okotoks Oilers' first official full season in the BCHL is ready to roll.

Their first exhibition game goes on Saturday night as they host the Sherwood Park Crusaders.

Tickets are still available for the late 8 p.m. start time at the newly named Vikings Rentals Centre.

Some new Oilers will be making their debut, and the team still has to trim its roster before the regular season starts on September 20.

The Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) is all set for another season.

The High River Flyers start the season by hopping on a bus and heading up to Didsbury to tangle with the Mountainview Colts for a Friday night melee.

The Flyers had an amazing playoff run last year and will look to replicate that to start the season.

Flyers President Tim Bradbury says the team's excited to get going.