By Mickey Dumont Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Claresholm’s top cop RCMP Sergeant Perry Pelletier, had little to reveal in his third-quarter report to town council, adding up to good news for the community.Pelletier’s 2024 third quarter report covers RCMP activity from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31.“This report serves to provide a quarterly snapshot of human resources, financial data, and crime … Read more…
By Rob Vogt Students at West Meadow Elementary School learned more last week about Canada’s national game and the oldest sport in North America.Jake Gillis of Elev8 Lacrosse was at the school throughout the week introducing students to lacrosse.For many, it is their first exposure to the game.“They always enjoy it,” said Gillis, adding there is another reason to get … Read more…
By Mickey Dumont Local Journalism Initiative Reporter ATCO is proposing the Town of Claresholm again enter into a 20-year natural gas franchise agreement.Last signed in 2005, Dan Magnan Senior Manager, Lethbridge Region appeared as a delegation at council’s Feb. 24 meeting to remind them the 20-year lease is coming due.The Town of Claresholm has an agreement with ATCO Gas and … Read more…
By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Paving the only access route to a trio of remote Alberta Indigenous communities found a home in the province’s first deficit budget since 2021. Capital spending in the budget tabled Thursday includes work on Highway 58, serving John D’Or Prairie, Fox Lake and Garden River. “The paved highway will improve mobility for more than … Read more…
By Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A new bill aimed at cutting red tape will relax the requirement that Alberta’s Office of the Child and Youth Advocate investigate deaths of all youth who received government intervention services. On Feb. 26, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally tabled Bill 38, the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, in the … Read more…
By Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Alberta’s 2025 Budget is planning for the impacts of U.S. tariffs to be far-reaching and to slow overall economic growth. But the economic outlook incorporated in the budget assumes tariffs on goods will be 15 per cent in the year ahead rather than the 25 per cent tariff threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump. … Read more…
By Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Alberta’s unemployment rate is expected to rise and stay high over the next two years. With Alberta adding nearly 63,000 new jobs in the closing months of 2024, the province’s unemployment rate fell to 6.7 per cent in January. But the economic forecast contained in Alberta’s 2025 Budget anticipates unemployment will peak at 7.4 … Read more…