Okotoks

An Okotoks town councillor has announced she won't be seeking re-election this fall.

On Monday, July 21, Councillor Rachel Swendseid shared a post on social media announcing she will not be running in the upcoming municipal election for personal reasons.

"This was a difficult decision as I love this town dearly and serving this community has been an immense honor. However, I know that this decision is the next right thing for my young family and I," the post reads.

The Okotoks Dawgs double header has been postponed today (July 22) due to the weather.  

The game against the Fort McMurray Giants was originally set for Monday but had to be postponed because of the rain.  

The game has been rescheduled to July 28. 

The Friends of Foothills Schools Foundation (FFSF) has been awarded a substantial grant for a new literacy initiative. 

Grant funding of $70,000 was awarded from the Calgary Foundation to help support students going into Grade 3, who are not reading at grade level.  

The Nanton Pro Rodeo is returning for its second year this August.

According to Shawna Bird, who is the Chair of the Pro Rodeo, the first one was such a success, they just had to bring it back.

"We decided to have one Pro Rodeo, because we have so many contestants from Nanton, and it was successful. So, we're going to try to have another one," explains Bird.

Their first pro rodeo was so successful that they won the 2024 Small Rodeo of the Year, which was voted on by the cowboys and the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association.

Crews are at work on High Country Drive and High View Gate for a month-long project.

A new golf cart ramp is being installed, and work is underway to remove concrete and asphalt in the area.

Work started on July 21 and is expected to continue until August 21.

The Town of High River clarified that the project is unrelated to the High Country Drive Corridor Study.

The Lethbridge Police are asking for help locating a man wanted on an outstanding warrant.

32-year-old Jonathan Janes is wanted on an outstanding warrant for breaching a conditional sentence order.

Conditional sentence orders are criminal penalties that require the convicted offender to serve their sentence outside jail, as long as they meet specific conditions during their sentence.

Because of that, he is wanted by the Lethbridge Police.

Not only that, but Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2,000 for information that leads to Janes' arrest.

Company works with Farming Smarter Association as it searches for options other than the century-old Russet Burbank variety.

Russet Burbank has been the go to potato variety for Canadian farmers and consumers.

This year, McCain Foods in Chin, Alta., has entered a corporate partnership with the Farming Smarter Association to explore the viability of other varieties in its food processing plant for farmers to consider.

Farming Smarter is using one of its commercial plots to do a research trial growing four varieties using six treatments.

The Nooks & Crannies Festival returned to Okotoks over the weekend.

More than a dozen art installations are now on display in downtown Okotoks, each created by a different artist using recycled materials.

At the end of the month-long festival, a panel of judges will select their top three favourites, with cash prizes awarded to the artists.

The Town has released a scavenger hunt map showing the approximate location of each art piece.

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan has written to the federal government asking for emergency use of strychnine to control gophers
 

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan wants strychnine reinstated under emergency use provisions.

The organization has asked the federal agriculture and health ministers to “urgently” consider the request.

APAS said there is a significant uncontrolled increase in the population of Richardson’s ground squirrels costing about $9 million a year.

Firm behind plan to build Saskatchewan fertilizer plant had to recently deal with former CEO’s financial problems

 It is full steam ahead at Genesis Fertilizers despite a tumultuous June, say proponents of the proposed Saskatchewan mega-project.

“It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when we get this project off the ground,” said Terry Drabiuk, vice-president of business development with Genesis.

The project is a proposed $2.89 billion, farmer-owned nitrogen fertilizer plant to be built in Belle Plaine, Sask.