Okotoks

The Crown will not appeal the acquittals of five former world junior hockey players after their high-profile sexual assault trial, one of the defence lawyers in the case said Thursday.

Daniel Brown, who represented Alex Formenton, said he has been informed of the prosecutors' decision. The Ministry of the Attorney General did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Formenton, Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote were all acquitted of sexual assault, and McLeod of a separate charge of being a party to the offence of sexual assault.

Air Canada says it expects to be operating close to its full network schedule by Friday. 

The airline says it is continuing to ramp up its operations in a press release Thursday. 

This comes after the airline reached a tentative deal with the union representing its flight attendants on Tuesday to end a strike that began on Saturday. 

The strike disrupted the airline's operations, resulting in the cancellation of flights. 

Mark Nasr, Air Canada's chief operations officer, said in the release that the airline is restoring operations ahead of its plan. 

High school football returns to Okotoks today (Aug. 22).

The Holy Trinity Academy Knights and Foothills Falcons are both set to host their home openers.

HTA welcomes the Jasper Place Rebels at 6 p.m., while the Falcons host Lethbridge Collegiate Institute at 7 p.m.

The two local varsity teams will meet in six weeks, with the Battle of Okotoks set for Oct. 10 on the Falcons' turf.

A part of D'Arcy Boulevard will be closed, thanks to some stormwater connection work.

Crews will be doing the stormwater connection work at D'Arcy Boulevard from Birch Glen to Sandstone Drive, starting next week.

The work and closure are scheduled to happen from Aug. 25 to 26, with the work happening form 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

While the crews are completing the work, there will be a full road closure between Birch Glen and Sandstone Drive, but detours will be in place 24/7.

Progress is continuing to be made on the aquatic expansion project at the Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex (BSRC).  

High River Town Council reviewed the recent milestones achieved during the Aug. 11 regular meeting.  

Recently, the leisure pool and hot tub slab base have been poured, and the stairs to the waterslide platform have been poured.  

An Alberta taxpayers advocate is applauding the provincial government's latest expense disclosure policy.

Premier Danielle Smith's government says it's reverting to its previous rules after critics from across the political spectrum accused it of dodging responsibility.

It's also promising to re-post eight years' worth of expense receipts that were deleted from its website.

Some construction work will cause a pathway closure near a stormpond in Wedderburn this week.

Crews will be installing swales, culverts, and paving work, which is needed for the park connection.

While the work is happening, the Wedderburn pathway northeast of the stormpond will be closed.

Four new areas at the High River General Hospital have been brightened up with new 'smilezones'.

Live music will be filling up Seaman Stadium this Saturday night.

Fleetwood Magic, 'the authentic tribute to Fleetwood Mac', are the headline act and they'll hit the stage at 9 p.m.

Leading up will be Calgary band Girl Crush at 7:30, but two local favourites will hit the stage first.

Okotoks' Brettyn Rose and High River's Chase Morgan will crank out their songs starting at 6:30.

Rose also opened up at last year's debut concert for the Eagles tribute band, Eagle Eyes.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is meeting in Saskatoon today with Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald and Cody Blois, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, along with representatives from the canola sector. The focus: responding to China’s steep tariffs on Canadian canola products.

Last week, China announced a 75.8% tariff on Canadian canola seed, adding to the 100% tariffs placed in March on canola meal and oil.