HighRiver

The Carstar Okotoks Bisons opened and closed their HJHL pre-season this past weekend with a 5-4 loss to the Agra Risk Wheatland Kings.

The Kings opened the scoring early in the first period and the Bisons responded with two goals to take the lead, with one in the first period and a second on the powerplay during the second frame.

The Wheatland Kings took the lead back after answering with two goals of their own with just over a minute left in the period.

With the BCHL pre-season well underway, teams in the league are figuring out their opening rosters for the 2024-2025 season.

The Okotoks Oilers played two pre-season games over the weekend, falling to the Bandits in Brooks 7-1, and then hosting the Cranbrook Bucks for the first time in their franchise history.

The Green and Gold had a back-and-forth game against the Bucks, but Cranbrook got the last laugh in a 7-5 loss for the Oilers.

A significant milestone is coming up for a local animal rescue charity.

Pound Rescue will be celebrating 30 years in operation in the Foothills.

The animal rescue was established in 1994 by Dr. Gabriele Barrie, known by those close to her as Gabi.

Barrie passed away in late 2023, and following the announcement on Pound Rescues' Facebook page came a flood of memories and thank yous for her decades of dedication to animal wellbeing.

Pound Rescue's President, Rosa Kurtz, recalls that Barrie was one of the first people she met after moving to the Foothills.

High River is going to have a couple of lane and road closures over the next week due to construction.

From September 17 and September 24, construction crews will be working from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. between 4 Street and 5 Street SE. One lane will be closed for utility work with flaggers on sight to direct traffic. No detour will be needed during the construction.

The reason for the lane closure is to access and monitor groundwater wells in the area.

The Town of High River asks that you remain cautious and follow directions from flaggers.

A new resource for farmers and researchers has been launched with the Root Rot Network covering advances in combatting diseases for crops in the prairies.

That includes both resources and research papers featured on rootrot.ca.

Sherrilyn Phelps, Director of Research and Development for the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, talks about the partnership behind the website.

The Government of Alberta's partnership with CASA Mental Health will include the addition of a CASA classroom in High River.

Earlier this month, the Province announced their plan to open 60 more mental health classrooms across Alberta, with $70 million in funding to do so over three years.

The plan includes the establishment of nine new classrooms in seven communities this month, one of which will be in High River.

Construction work will see lane closures along a major Okotoks intersection this week.

Geotechnical work is being done along 338th Avenue and 32nd Street, just north of HTA and Meadow Ridge School.

Lane closures are expected, with single-lane alternating traffic between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

It's expected to last from September 16-25.

Drivers are asked to watch for construction crews and signage in the area.

Schools across the Foothills School Division and all school divisions in Alberta implemented a no-cellphone-in-class policy this year.

While some schools are navigating their way through the new change this school year the staff and students in High River at École Secondaire Highwood High School are already in their second year.

We reached out to the school division and Principal Dave Roberts and Vice Principal Carolyn Lenstra asking them how the last school year went for both staff and students.

The annual High River LDS food drive has almost arrived on your doorstep.

Starting Wednesday, you'll start to see grocery bags placed on the front doors of homes along with a request for food donations.

Organizer Cathy Anderson says the people of High River have been coming through for the last 18 years.

"Our community just loves the community, and it might be our church that leads up the event, but it couldn't be successful without the whole town of High River."

The Simpora Foundation's second annual Rubber Duck Race & Family Carnival was held on Saturday (Sept. 15).

Families lined the banks of the Sheep River to watch 1,500 rubber ducks race from the Sheep River Bridge to the Laurie Boyd Bridge.

The Family Carnival was held at the nearby Arts & Learning Campus and included carnival games and activities, food trucks, and a dunk tank featuring local celebrities.