The Highwood and Foothills-Rocky View ridings could be carved up in a proposed shuffle of Alberta’s election boundaries.
Local municipal and provincial politicians want the Province to go back to the drawing board on the changes, which would see the Town of High River included in a new riding that would stretch from the town’s north boundary to Waterton National Park.
Highwood MLA George Groeneveld said High River should remain in his riding.
“To me, it’s just ridiculous,” he said. “It just appears population is the only thing they looked at.”
The proposals are …

Three years ago when a local woman mustered the nerve to sing a karaoke song at a bar, her legs shook with anxiety.

In the spotlight on Feb. 11, on the stage at Ducky’s Pub in Calgary, Kelsey Knibbs was again vibrating, but this time it was with adrenaline. Knibbs finished her song triumphant following two costume changes, knocking over equipment and losing her mic in the melee. Judges chose her as the best performer of the whole three-month Ducky’s Idol competition.
The experience was exhilarating, nerve-wracking and fun, Knibbs said. And …

Residents of Turner Valley and Black Diamond often approach Muhammad Zia-ul Haque, manager of the Sheep River Library, on the street asking if they can book the library’s meeting room.
Residents of the two towns have a sense of ownership when it comes to the library, said Zia-ul Haque.
“The difference is large town libraries, you don’t know many of your patrons so they have a different set of rules,” he said.
A questionnaire has been sent out asking how the Sheep River Library can help meet the needs and goals of various …

The Sheep River Health Trust announced a new chair of the board during a recent meeting.
Dr. Robert Haslem stepped down from his position as chair of the health trust and Frances Jackson-Dover, a longtime member of the board was elected to the position on Jan. 28.
In the coming years, Jackson-Dover expects economic restraints to pose a challenge to the board’s fundraising efforts.
Currently, the board is in the midst of improving infrastructure such as new bylaws.
“If there is a way to support the rural needs that often differ from the urban …

Okotoks has caught a case of ring fever – the kind that is associated with the Olympics.
Staff and students from local schools held mini-Olympic events indoors and out to get into the spirit. Local pubs have seen an increase in business as Canada’s medal total climbed.
Tony Nicastro, owner of The George Traditional House in Okotoks, said he has noticed a five to 10 per cent increase in business since the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games’ Feb. 12 start date.
“The opening ceremonies was obviously big and when Canada plays in men’s hockey,” …

Following the advice of an independent consultant, Turner Valley council decided to cut its committee obligations in half.
On Feb. 16, council agreed to scale back the number of committees they collectively sit on to 17 from 34. They also agreed to reinstate Coun. George Wallace to some committees.
A corporate review conducted by independent consultant Glenn Pitman in 2009 advised council their time was being spread too thin because they were attending too many committees.
Turner Valley chief administrative officer Stan Ogrodniczuk said council members are required by law to attend certain …

The Cowboy Trail Tourism Association is entering its second decade with a focus on renewing the organization and continuing to promote travel through Alberta’s foothills.
As association president Neil Maclaine prepares to mark the group’s 10th anniversary, he is looking to a good future after a decade full of ups and down.
“I think the organization now has a clear sense of its role and how it can continue to serve its members and the traveling public,” he said.
The organization was founded in 2000 when communities along Highway 22 between Cardston and …

Alberta ranchers are taking advantage of tools available to them to ensure the land they love is protected well into the future.

Ron rowland completed a conservation easement on a 160-acre property west of Longview that his family has been ranching for generations. photo by Tamara Neely

One tool being accessed by Alberta ranchers is the conservation easement.
Landowners can place conservation easements on their property to ensure natural landscapes remain unharmed and available for agricultural use.
Every conservation easement is unique, driven by each landowner’s particular vision for a property and by the …

Foothills MD councillors were asked to put off a decision on new rules for solar and wind power generators in the municipality at a public hearing last week.
MD council held the hearing to hear from residents about proposed changes to the municipality’s land use bylaw
A number of proposed changes to the bylaw would establish standards for installing wind and solar energy systems.  The changes would address things such as the height of wind turbines, set backs from residences and neighbouring properties as well as setting a standard for installations requiring …

Pedestrians, trains, and automobiles – there’s a lot going on at a busy downtown intersection and the Town is looking at changes to make it safer.
The Town is looking at a series of improvements to the intersection of Centre Avenue and Riverside Drive to address concerns identified in a study of the intersection.
“A lot of it is to reduce collision potential and improve pedestrian safety,” said municipal engineer Marley Oness.
A range of problems were identified in the study, such as limited visibility of pedestrians, motorists who fail to yield to …