Okotoks

The Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) has denied the Fort McMurray Giants' protest of two games against the Okotoks Dawgs in late July.

On July 28, the Dawgs were set to host the Giants for a doubleheader that had already been postponed from July 22.

Just before the first game was set to begin, the Giants walked off the field, declaring the conditions unsafe due to excessive rainfall in the days leading up to the game.

The Okotoks Dawgs are sitting in the top spot heading into the West Division Semi Finals this week.

They played their final double header of the regular season on Monday (Aug. 4), which saw them have mixed results.

The double header was against the Sylvan Lake Gulls, and the Dawgs were able to win the first game, but fell to the Gulls in the second.

During the first game, the Dawgs were able to get out early with a three-run first inning.

The Dawgs were able to keep that lead and win with a score of 5 to 3.

The Town of High River is advising residents of trail closures as part of the Bank Armouring project. 

Crews will be working at multiple locations around town until Nov. 7. 

Work will take place Monday to Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., and 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturdays. 

Temporary trail closures are expected along Riverside Drive NW to allow truck access. 

Spotters will be on site to manage vehicle and pedestrian traffic, and the trail will reopen once trucks have cleared the area. 

The WPCA Pro Tour continued over the weekend at the Strathmore Stampede.

It was High River's Jason Glass who ended up taking the title, defeating defending champion Chanse Vigen along with Evan Salmond and Luke Tournier, in the championship heat.

Daython Sutherland of De Winton was one of three drivers tied for 10th place, with Wade Salmond and Tuff Dreger all landing the same time.

The chucks are headed west to Dawson Creek, B.C. for the Battle of the North, which is set to start on Wednesday, August 6.

Championship Final Heat (By Time)

There were multiple bear encounters in Kananaskis this weekend, which resulted in bear spray being used.

Recently, a bear bluff charged hikers on Kovach Trail, near the Little Kidd Lookout trail, resulting in bear spray being used.

As a result, Alberta Parks has issued a Bear Warning on Aug. 1 for the Kovach Trail area for the time being.

On Saturday, Aug. 2, Alberta Parks issued a Bear Warning for Galatea Trail, due to another close encounter with a bear.

That encounter also resulted in bear spray being deployed.

Heritage Day celebrations were held all over southern Alberta this weekend.

At the Sheppard Family Parks by High River, they held their annual Heritage Day events.

There was BBQ, live music, games, blacksmiths in action, and more.

Down in Nanton, they held their Round-Up Days all weekend, giving people plenty to do on the long weekend.

The Town of Okotoks is putting out the call to local chili masters this week.

Its annual Chili Cookoff is coming up toward the end of the month, as part of the Summer Round Up on August 23.

Each year, chili chefs showcase their talents at the street festival in hopes of taking home either the Judges' Choice or People's Choice award.

The M.D of Taber and HALO Air Ambulance are honouring an air ambulance pilot who passed recently.

Grant Fletcher was not only one of HALO's original pilots, but he also helped shape the foundation of who HALO is, including its culture, values, and unwavering commitment to serving those in Southern Alberta.

According to his obituary, Fletcher passed away peacefully in Taber on Friday, July 25, at the age of 84.

Fletcher was born on February 5, 1941, and was raised on the family farm, which was southeast of Taber.

The Okotoks Pro Rodeo is set to return soon this month.

It's been taking place annually since 1991, and according to Ken Boniface, President of the Okotoks and Foothills Pro Rodeo Society, the event promises fun for everyone.

"It's August 22, 23, and 24 of this year. From mutton busting to bull riding, we've got a little bit for everybody," Boniface explains. "We are having our dance, our cabaret indoors this year, so we can kind of battle the chance of some thundershowers and stuff, which seems to happen that late August."

There will be some sanitary and water tie-in work happening in Okotoks soon, which will cause a road closure.

Starting on Aug. 18, crews will be doing sanitary sewer and water connection tie-ins for the new K to 9 school in Okotoks.

The work is expected to last until Aug. 22, with crews working from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

While the work is being completed, there will be a full road closure between D'Arcy Blvd and 50 m north of D'Arcy Blvd, but detours will be in place 24/7.

People will be redirected to D'Arcy Blvd and Northridge Drive.