An indoor soccer field, or an outdoor baseball diamond and soccer pitch – that was the question facing town council Monday night.
Council put a plan drawn up with the Okotoks Dawgs to build a baseball diamond and soccer field near Seaman Stadium on hold until later this month to look at other options.
Under the proposal, the Town would lease a 10-acre site east of the Seaman Stadium owned by energy firm Nexen Inc for 25 years. Nexen would donate the use of the land in return for a tax receipt from …

The Macleod constituency’s MP is firmly behind his party’s position to eliminate the national long gun registry.
Debate over the future of the registry is heating up ahead of a Sept. 22 vote in the House of Commons for a bill to amend the Firearms Act to scrap the registry.
MP Ted Menzies said the Conservative Party promised Canadians it would get rid of the registry and he has also received strong support for the move in the riding.
“It’s one of the most repeated frustrations of my constituents, when are we going …

Only weeks after saying they were unsure when a second river crossing will open, Okotoks town officials are saying a fall opening of the 32nd Street bridge could happen.
Okotoks Mayor Bill McAlpine is feeling more confident the 32nd Street bridge will be able to open to traffic this fall.
“We’re cautiously optimistic that it can be open by late November,” he said. “We’re cautiously optimistic, don’t forget those words.”
Three weeks ago the Town said they could only commit to the bridge opening by next year.
In order to qualify for economic stimulus …

Crossing arms could come quicker following a collision at an Okotoks train crossing, but Transport Canada is still not committing to upgrades at the intersection.
The Lineham Avenue rail crossing was the site of a collision between a car and a train on Aug. 19.
The Town has planned upgrades to the rail crossing at Lineham Avenue, which would include installing arms and improved warning devices.
While it has applied for federal funding to offset the cost of the work, Transport Canada has not made any financial commitments to the project.
Municipal engineer Marley …

With nomination day fast approaching, the interest level for Christ the Redeemer Catholic School (CRCS) trustee positions is low.
Associate superintendent Hans Woehleke said most trustees are acclaimed into their positions.
Requirements for the position are that the person need only be over the age of 18 and a resident of Alberta for six months to run for election.
“So far we have had very little interest,” said Woehleke. “That’s, unfortunately, typical.”
Nominations for the election of candidates must be received at 46 Elma St. West in Okotoks between 10 a.m. and noon on …

MD of Foothills councillors approved a major donation to help keep STARS helicopters flying.
Council voted last week to donate $100,000 to the air ambulance service over the next four years with annual contributions of $25,000.
Reeve Roy McLean said STARS is a critical service for the MD given the size of the foothills area and the remoteness of some locations.
“STARS is very important to the MD,” he said. “There are lots of places that they take people from once ground ambulance gets them out and STARS takes them from there.”
McLean said …

Dog owners in the MD of Foothills are facing new rules for their pets.
The MD approved a new dog bylaw last week beefing up provisions targeting nuisance and vicious dogs.
Geoff Carpenter, MD protective services coordinator, said the changes will be a good tool to encourage responsible behaviour for dog owners.
“If you let people in an area know they have to be responsible dog owners, they generally respond to it,” he said.
The primary changes over the previous dog bylaw are regarding nuisance dogs.
The major change will be for dog owners in …

The University of Calgary and the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory will be studying the geology of the Priddis-Millarville area starting later this month.
Don Lawton, chair of exploratory geophysics at the University of Calgary, said students will be conducting seismic tests to get a better picture of the geological makeup of the area.
“It will provide a lot of useful information for our planned site work but it will also provide a lot of useful information about where the groundwater systems are flowing there,” said Lawton.
Studying the geology in the area will have …

Despite the unusual circumstances surrounding the funding of a new High River clinic, officials say it will benefit the community and area.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new clinic last week where officials from the MD of Foothills and Town of High River attended. While the MD is not usually involved in the financing of clinics, it was necessary in this case to replace a number of retiring local doctors according to reeve Roy McLean.
“It was evident that something should be done and we felt we could do some …

The Town of Turner Valley has terminated the contract of chief administrative officer (CAO) Rob Sabine and brought in an interim replacement.
Ray Reid takes over from Sabine who stepped in as CAO on April 12 after taking over from retired Stan Ogrodniczuk. Ogrodniczuk was CAO of Turner Valley for five years prior to retiring April 15.
Prior to being hired on in Turner Valley, Sabine was CAO for two years in Canal Flats, B.C., and CAO for the Port Alberni/Clayoquot Regional District (ARCD).
Sabine earned a geography degree from the University of …