Okotoks

The Town of Diamond Valley is beginning their gravel road maintenance today (Wednesday, June 18).

Crews will be out milling and grading sections of gravel roads to help improve the driving conditions in town and restore the road's surface quality.

While they are out completing the work, residents can expect dust and noise, and the work may affect driveway access, temporarily, while crews are actively working in an area.

Southern Alberta is due for some heavy rain this weekend, including in Foothills County.

"What we're expecting this weekend is a cool and soggy one across much of Southern Alberta, including the Okotoks area," said Christy Climenhaga, a scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. "Rain [will] begin through the day on Friday and really not let up through almost the entirety of the weekend. By Sunday evening, things should start to ease up, and you'll start to see some relief."

Canada's Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison today announced $3.4 million over four years to support the development of two new facilities at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) which includes the Omics Resource Centre at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) and Beef Reprotech facilities at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE).

A Statistics Canada reports says Canadians are spending less time with friends than ever, with the decline sharpest among the working-age demographic.

The data released Tuesday show that in 2022, only 19.3 per cent of Canadians saw friends on an average day, down from 47.9 per cent in 1986.

The questions to those in the survey asks if they were with a friend or family member in person, separate from communicating using technology such as phone, email, or social media.

Prime Minister Mark Carney pulled off a successful performance hosting the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., say some world leaders and foreign policy experts commenting on his perceived pragmatism and savviness.

Fen Osler Hampson, international affairs professor at Carleton University, said Carney guided the G7 "through the diplomatic Rockies," navigating "shifting weather" on the global front and avoiding "avalanches and treacherous cliffs."

Foothills County played host to the FireFit Championships on June 14 and 15, with the BC, Yukon, and Nunavut regional qualifiers being held at Spruce Meadows.

Several Alberta fire departments took part, including members of the Okotoks and Foothills fire departments.

Four Okotoks firefighters competed at the Alberta qualifier event in Medicine Hat on May 30 and 31, with four more joining them at Spruce Meadows.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch that was issued on Tuesday morning (June 17) has been expanded to cover all of Foothills County.

The initial advisory was sent out just after 11:30 a.m., and included all of Vulcan County, as well as Footihlls County near Blackie.

At around 3:15 p.m., Environment Canada issued another watch, this time including other areas of the county:

The 118th Priddis & Millarville Fair is coming up this August, bringing a weekend of competition, creativity and community to the Foothills. 

The long-running event returns August 16 and 17 at the Millarville Racing and Agricultural Society grounds, with festivities also kicking off early on August 15 with Gymkhana events.

Yvonne Sterrenburg, chairperson of the fair's volunteer organizing committee, said preparations are already well underway, with registrations having opened on June 1 for those who want to get in early.

The proposed Rimrock Renewables biodigester project is moving forward in Foothills County.  

The project was approved by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA) in December 2023 for the construction, operation, and reclamation of the Foothills County waste management facility for the collection and processing of waste to produce fuel.  

The Town of Okotoks is warning the public about some aggressive animals in town.

They took to social media twice this week to let residents know about aggressive animals in town.

On Monday (June 16), the Town reported there is an aggressive deer in Banister Park, and on Tuesday, they warned residents of an aggressive coyote in Sheep River Cove.

Signs will be posted to let people know to use caution in the area and to always give deer their space, keep dogs on leash, and never walk between a doe and her fawns.