Okotoks

Albertans could get another look at the Aurora Borealis early this week.

Several nights this week could see northern light shows thanks to geomagnetic storms.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced geomagnetic storm watches for July 30 through August 1 after a series of coronal mass ejections.

The Foothills Philharmonic Society is gearing up for another season this September.

Their vision is to bring beautiful music to the Foothills, explains the Director of the Foothills Philharmonic Junior Singers, Jeff Hibberd.

"We have a really rich group of musicians here in the Foothills area, whether it’s Okotoks, Nanton, High River, Diamond Valley, there are a tonne of wonderful and talented musicians in this area and we are of the belief that music is for everyone and there is an ensemble in this society for you."

Alberta Parks officials have issued a closure for an area in Kananaskis County in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park as a result of a hiker having to deploy bear spray after a grizzly bear with cubs bluff charged with the individual.

The closure was listed on the Alberta Parks website on Sunday and is in effect until further notice, encompassing King Creek Day Use Area and King Creek Ridge Trail.

Chanse Vigen, who now calls Calgary home, won the Battle of the Foothills chuckwagon championship.

Vigen lead the aggregate from day one, and whoever is atop the aggregate after four days is crowned the champion.

Vigen also won the day money for the second time on Sunday along with the Championship title.  He last won it in 2021.

High River's Jason Glass was close too, finishing in third overall.

All 36 wagons will now hitch up and head out to Strathmore for the next WCPA event starting on Friday.

Day Four results:

The Okotoks Dawgs took on the Saskatoon Berries this weekend and split the two-game season series, winning 5-2 on Saturday night and falling short by the same score on Sunday, in the Berries' favour.

Last night's game saw Greg Ross start on the mound, pitch for a full six innings, and get six strikeouts in the process. Cade Herrmann, Aaron Hammer, and Ashton Luera came in as relievers. Luera stood tall as he has all season long closing the game out with three strikeouts in the final inning. Herrmann also put up three strikeouts in one inning when he came in relief of Ross.

Vulcan RCMP and High River Traffic Services responded to a serious collision on Sunday.

It happened in Vulcan County, north of the Town of Vulcan at the intersection of Highway 23 and 24.

According to the RCMP, it's believed that a pickup truck headed south collided with an eastbound crossover SUV.

The SUV was attempting to cross Highway 24, with the collision having taken place in the intersection.

All three people in the SUV were taken to hospital, with one of them being transported via STARS Air Ambulance.

High River's own Jason Glass is in great shape looking for the win at the Battle of the Foothills on Sunday afternoon.

Glass had a strong race Saturday night ending up in 14th on the night and now he's in 3rd overall in the aggregate.

The winner of the aggregate after today's chuckwagon races will be declared the Battle of the Foothills Champion.

Glass just won the Calgary Stampede and will be looking to string back-to-back wins together today.

Richard Ireland's eyes well up with tears as he gazes in silence towards his home and sees memories of a lifetime burnt to ashes.

The mayor of Jasper then leans over what remains of the small, cosy home he grew up in — a piece of a concrete wall — and says all he can think about is a framed photograph that was taken after his family moved in when he was two years old, lost somewhere in the rubble.

High River's hometown favourite Jason Glass had the fastest time of the night at the Battle of the Foothills on Friday.

Glass' Birchcliff Energy Ltd.'s checkered wagon ripped through the finish line in a time of 1:15.47, the first one to break the 1:16 mark.

Running with four wagons in each of the nine heats Glass was on barrel 1 Friday as opposed to barrel 4 on Thursday night.

Glass has now moved into second in the aggregate, just behind Chanse Vigen.  Vigen had the fastest time on Thursday.