Okotoks

On Monday (July 7), the Gleichen RCMP received a weapons complaint, leading to the arrest of one individual.  

It was reported that the suspect was waving a knife at people on Main Street in Gleichen.   

The police arrived, they located and arrested a male, who was in possession of a large kitchen knife.    

World wheat stocks could climb to 271 million tonnes by the end of 2025-26, up from 264 million tonnes at the end of 2024-25

There will be plenty of wheat in the world in 2025-26, say analysts.

“As we enter mid-year Northern Hemisphere harvest, a larger-than-expected crop is expected to limit the upside in global wheat prices,” Dennis Voznesenski, agricultural economist with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, said in his recent Agri Commodity Weekly Alert.

Pool B at the Calgary Stampede kicked off on Monday with some impressive performances from some Albertans.

Three Albertans are in Ladies Barrel Racing, two Albertans are in Bull Riding, and two outstanding performances were had by Albertans in Saddle Bronc.

In Saddle Bronc, former Champion Zeke Thurston had an impressive ride, as did fellow Albertan Kolby Wanchuck.

Here are the Albertan and Canadian highlights from Day One in Pool B.

Saddle Bronc:

Calgary's Chanse Vigen continues to dominate at the Calgary Stampede chuckwagon races.

Jamie Laboucane is right on his heels, sitting in second in the aggregate.

Neither has won the coveted Rangeland Derby.

On a night with better track conditions than Sunday, some fast times were posted, and penalties were kept to a minimum.

Defending champ, Jason Glass from High River, came in 8th on the night and is now sitting in 12th in the aggregate.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is headed off to Japan and Malaysia as the Carney government shapes its diplomatic and trade approach to the Indo-Pacific region.

Anand will meet with her Japanese counterpart in Tokyo this week as the two finalize an agreement on sharing defence information and boosting trade.

On Thursday and Friday, Anand will take part in a meeting with the Association of South East Asian Nations, or ASEAN, in Malaysia.

The head of emergency medicine for Alberta's doctors association is challenging Premier Danielle Smith to join him on shift to see the frustration of patients jammed for hours in hallways and the moral injury of doctors looking into the eyes of the those who wait.

“It's this kind of vicarious trauma, this inability to help when we're helpers, that is causing us to leave,” Dr. Warren Thirsk said in an interview.

“Unless you experience it, you don't really get it.

Ryan Ness of the Canadian Climate Institute says he's been following the "terrible tragedy" of deadly flash flooding unfolding in Texas, where more than 100 people have died.

But he's also worried Canada isn't doing enough to prevent such disasters here, saying the country needs to invest in flood mapping, infrastructure and early warning systems.

"Luckily, there are many ways that we can protect ourselves, but we have to make the effort," said Ness, who is the research director for adaptation at the policy research organization.

Season two of My Life With the Walter Boys was recently given a premiere date and trailer.

Production of the show came to Okotoks and High River several times in 2024, with Holy Trinity Academy and George Lane Park among the local filming locations.

Though the show's second season was expected to release sometime this year, an exact date was not provided until last weekend, when Netflix posted a picture of some of the show's stars at the Calgary Stampede, along with a premiere date of August 28.

The 2026 Census of Agriculture questionnaire has now been published on the Statistics Canada website.

The census is conducted every five years with the last Agriculture Census being done in 2021.

For the 2026 Census of Agriculture, new categories have been added under the commodity questions to identify emerging agricultural products. 

Questions on agricultural practices have been expanded to include environmental practices and environmental sustainability.

The Calgary Stampede is officially underway, along with the rodeo, midway and live entertainment... the event also showcases agriculture and Alberta's ranching history

It's a chance to step back in time and experience life on the farm and ranch, with the Vintage Tractor Pull and Blacksmith showcase;  to the Heavy Horse, Cutting Horse, and Team Cattle Penning competitions; Chuckwagon races, to the Junior Steer Classic, the International Youth Livestock Supreme Championship and Scholarships, the World Stock Dog Championships, and International Livestock Auctioneer Championships.