HighRiver

The government on Thursday announced a sweeping promise to make groceries, children's clothing, Christmas trees, restaurant meals and more free from GST/HST between Dec. 14 and Feb. 15. 

Not long after the abrupt return of winter conditions comes the return of Light Up Okotoks tomorrow (Nov. 22).

While snow and colder temperatures are here to stay, it looks like this will be far from the coldest Light Up Okotokians have seen.

The temperature is expected to hang just below -10° all day and into the evening.

Snowfall is expected on Friday, though it's unclear if it will continue as the event gets going at 5:30 p.m.

Among the many traditions associated with Light Up Okotoks, the RCMP will be bringing back a four-year tradition of their own.

Their "Cram-a-Cruiser" event is back, where local officers collect food bank donations as part of the festivities.

They can be found at the corner of Elizabeth Street and McRae Street for the duration of the event.

Non-perishables can also be dropped off at donation bins that can be found at wristband stations in the event area.

For anyone with toy donations, the Christmas Charity Truck will also be nearby.

The Okotoks Oilers started their first full season in the BCHL on September 20 at Viking Rentals Centre against a familiar foe, the Brooks Bandits.

With only six players returning to the roster, turnover was expected. Not only have the Oilers brought in a bunch of new faces, but they have also faced off with eight teams they had never played before.

The Liberal government plans to temporarily lift the federal sales tax off a slew of items just in time for Christmas and send cheques to millions of Canadians this spring, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Thursday.

"Our government can't set prices at the checkout, but we can put more money in people's pockets," Trudeau said at a press conference in Toronto alongside Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. 

The Cayley Flying Ranch Airport is now taxiing cars instead of planes.

The Mercedes-Benz Downtown Calgary dealership has purchased the Cayley Flying Ranch Airport.

The auto dealership has been using the runway for the past year or so to test out their vehicles and shoot promotional videos.

Mazen Aboulhosn, co-general manager of the dealership says they decided to buy it outright and they're thrilled.

Winter has officially started to poke its head around the corner with snowfall hitting the Foothill area.

While it's never a blissful experience getting out in the cold and plowing snow off your property, it's important to stay on top of it as it is a safety hazard to not shovel, and it could cost you a pretty penny.

According to the High River Bylaw:

- Snow and ice shall be removed from a sidewalk down to a bare surface within 24 hours after the end of a snowfall event.

What should the Canadian lunar rover be named?

That's the question the Canadian Space Agency is asking all Canadians.

Starting today, November 20th, and going for one full month until December 20th, they're taking your requests.

This is the first-ever lunar rover built by the CSA and will help look for ice and water on the dark side of the moon.

The Okotoks Dawgs Academy has announced two players have college commitments in the U.S.A.

Preston Tocheniuk, brother of Quinn who plays for the Dawgs WCBL team has committed to Panola College of St. Carthage Texas.

Tocheniuk stands at 6'4 and spent time with the WCBL Dawgs this past summer in three games.

Along with Tocheniuk, right-handed pitcher Patrik Ludviks will also be heading south of the border for post-secondary.

He has committed to playing with Barton Community College in Great Bend, Kansas. Ludviks is also a towering figure at 6'6".

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce on Thursday a temporary GST break for certain essential items to help ease affordability pressures.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says in a statement that the announcement is in response to his party's demands to permanently lift the goods and services tax on a range of expenses.