Okotoks

Canada Post customers may face delays as tens of thousands of workers swear off overtime shifts, though a much bigger disruption was averted after the union backed down from a strike threat.

Nonetheless, the possibility of escalating job action could continue to scare off customers who pulled their shipments over the past couple of weeks, draining more business from the cash-strapped organization.

“I’m scared for the future,” said Edmonton mail carrier Dustin Ellis, who recently went on leave to study for a new career in social work.

Top officials at the Canada Revenue Agency say mounting job cuts will impact how the agency is able to deliver services.

Commissioner Bob Hamilton and deputy commissioner Jean-François Fortin said in a message to staff Thursday that up to 280 employees will lose their jobs at the agency.

The agency has been examining its operating budget for more than two years to meet a demand from the government to find savings. 

Gleichen RCMP have confirmed that an 11-year-old girl has been found safe.

The youth was last seen in Siksika Nation on May 11, with a request for the public's assistance having been sent out the next day.

Police extended thanks to the public for their assistance.

The Town of High River's second Highwood River watch of the year was released on Friday, May 23.

Snowpack remains below average, and is lower than the week before, at 198 mm of snow water equivalent.

"The Highwood River below the canal is flowing below normal levels, and a water shortage advisory remains in effect along the river," reads the update.

The 4-H Foothills District Show and Sale is this weekend at the High River Ag grounds.

It runs from Friday, May 23, to Sunday, May 25, and will feature 4-H clubs from all around the Foothills region.

"Everyone is welcome, the more people, the better," said member and club reporter with the Foothills 4-H Sheep & Multi-Club, Olivia Nemecek.

It starts with the Beef & Sheep Female Show on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Several shows will run on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Crop would be eligible for biofuel tax credit under recent budget proposals in Congress

U.S. President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” could contain some beautiful news for Canada’s canola growers.

The U.S. House of Representatives’ ways and means committee has released its draft proposals for the U.S. budget reconciliation bill.

The proposals include provisions to amend the controversial 45Z clean fuel production tax credit so that canola oil-based biodiesel and renewable diesel would be eligible for the credit.

Students from École Percy Pegler released rainbow trout they raised into Emerson Lake in High River on Friday morning.   

For the last five months, Grade 3 and 4 students from the Explore: Nature Based Learning program raised rainbow trout from eggs, caring for them until they were ready to be released into the ecosystem.   

Construction is underway at the University of Saskatchewan that will see critical facility improvements within the College of Agriculture and Bioresources.

Two new facilities are being built - the Harrington Plant Growth Facility and the Soil Science Field Facility - while a portion of the Crop Science Field Lab is being renovated to provide additional workspace for the Crop Development Centre. 

Traffic saw major delays on 32 St. E on Friday (May 23) afternoon while Okotoks Fire & Rescue responded to a grass fire.

It broke out just before 2 p.m. on a pathway at the south end of the bridge near Cimarron Estates.

The southbound lanes were closed while crews responded, causing major delays.

Firefighters soon extinguished the fire, and traffic flow has now resumed.

The Okotoks RCMP are warning the public about scams involving paving and contractor services.

Several recent incidents have involved “illegitimate, out-of-town companies” purportedly offering cheap asphalt paving in small towns.

According to the Okotoks RCMP, contractors will offer these discounted services under the guise of having excess materials from previous jobs.

In some cases, the companies have used business names that suggest affiliation with government maintenance departments and often provide customers with false contact information or addresses.