Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen says he hopes any costs that come with proposed changes to the Local Authorities Election Act and the Municipal Government Act don’t fall on Lethbridge residents.  

The proposed legislation from the province would eliminate electronic vote counting for municipal elections, allow the province to remove mayors and councillors from office and give power to the province to change municipal bylaws. 

“We are diving deep into this – it is a surprise to many of us,” Hyggen says, adding he was up late into the night trying to understand the many changes. “Lots of questions out there, lots of frustration. We do want to hear more. It is first reading...that gets it one the table however when second reading comes, we are hoping that there’s a lot of conversation prior to passing of a second or third reading.” 

The legislation also proposes allowing political parties on a municipal level. Hyggen says he and other mayors knew changes were coming, but he was surprised at how many are proposed. 

He says the changes could pose challenges for the city, which runs on a four-year budget cycle. “We haven’t budgeted for this so what this cost is going to be in 2025, when the municipal elections are in – we don’t know what that cost is going to be.” 

He adds he hopes the province would take on the cost associated with hand-counting votes. City clerk Bonnie Hilford says the city has used electronic tabulators for decades in elections.  

“The last time votes were hand counted here was in 1989. The proposed change back to this method would possibly require the production of an Electors’ Register, which may require another new municipal census, as well additional paid staff in the lead-up to and on Election Day,” Hilford says. “The potential costs and extra staff that may be associated with these proposed changes is something that will need to be explored and better understood,” says Hilford. “Our aim is to understand how these changes by the province could have a direct impact to the local taxpayer.” 

Hyggen says he wants the province to stay in its lane when it comes to bylaws and leave decision making to people who are on the community. 

“A land use bylaw should be municipal jurisdiction,” he says. “That is something that our community, the input for the community – the people that live here should have that input into a land use bylaw. Tougher to have it from a provincial level is those folks are not part of the community, so I think as we are all aware municipalities – we are closest to the people.” 

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Catholic Central High School students will have a ball this spring through a collaboration with other Lethbridge high schools and students who share a love of soccer. The teams are also coming together to support the Interfaith Food Bank.  

Chinook High School, Winston Churchill High School, Immanuel Christian School and École la Vérendrye School have teamed up for an intra-school community soccer tournament to be held next month.

"CCH students take great pride in ensuring the community is supported in any way possible - whether it is through volunteering or giving back," says Mallory Kristjanson, CCH staff coach. “This is a massive opportunity for our soccer community in Lethbridge. I don’t know if we’ve ever had so many high schools coming together for the love of soccer.” 

Lethbridge youth, Kristjanson adds, are the future and the next generation. “We have so many incredible youth coming out. We want our community to come out and support our youth by coming and cheering them on. Come cheer on your favourite high school.” 

According to Kristjanson, the tournament will feature every different level of player. “We just want them to feel supported.” 

“CCH is very excited to spearhead this opportunity. We hope we can start a league because soccer is such an incredibly inclusive sport,” says Kristjanson. 

Kristjanson notes some of the high schools taking part in the collaboration have never had a soccer team. “This is our first year bringing them together.” 

Participants, families and spectators at the tournament are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Interfaith Food Bank. The tournament runs May 31 to June 1 at CCH West.

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Alberta Education has released an updated draft K-6 social studies curriculum to help school authorities and teachers prepare for optional classroom piloting, beginning in September. But, the Alberta Teachers’ Association is calling on the government to pause the pilot program to better integrate feedback from teachers. 

Since August 2023, Alberta’s government has been engaging with parents, teachers, education partners and curriculum specialists to develop a new draft K-6 social studies curriculum that will focus on building critical thinking skills and empowering students to be engaged citizens. 

“I am incredibly proud of the work that’s gone into developing this new K-6 social studies curriculum and I am excited to see how it transfers into the classroom through piloting this fall. I look forward to further collaboration with school leaders and teachers, as we continue our work to build a comprehensive curriculum that builds students’ critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills and empowers them to be active citizens,” says Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides. 

Draft curriculum content was adjusted to engage students in learning that promotes understanding of diversity across Canada and throughout the world and reflect the growth of learners through learning progressions that expand from individual experiences to communities and beyond. 

ATA President Jason Schilling says the ATA welcomed the opportunity to provide feedback on the social studies curriculum. “Unfortunately, teachers’ recommendations are not reflected in this most recent draft. Rather than proceeding to pilot a curriculum we know is flawed, let’s take the time needed to get it right and ready for the classroom.” 

According to the ATA, among teachers’ concerns are the unrealistic number of concepts to be covered, some of which are developmentally inappropriate and conceptually inaccurate, as well as failing to engage higher-order thinking skills.  

“What’s the rush? Over the past three years, Alberta elementary schools have piloted and implemented new curriculum across four subject areas in seven grade levels. The problems currently being faced by teachers having to implement a flawed math curriculum demonstrate the risk of proceeding prematurely to implement new curriculum content and design,” adds Schilling. 

At a time when schools are overcrowded and understaffed, Schilling says, the launch of more new curriculum is overloading the system. “Alberta students deserve the best and so we must make the effort and take the time to get this right. Government can do this by involving teachers directly in continuing curriculum revision, by listening meaningfully to their advice and by incorporating those suggestions into a curriculum set for success and Albertans can be proud of.” 

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This Sunday, southern Albertans will recognize the National Day of Mourning to commemorate workers who have been killed, injured or suffered illness while at work. 

“It serves as an annual reminder we have a collective, societal responsibility to keep each other safe in the workplace,” says Friends of Medicare. 

According to Friends of Medicare, in 2023, Alberta lost 165 people to workplace injury or illness, and tens of thousands more were injured on the job. “These numbers are a stark reminder of the human cost of inaction. Every worker deserves to come home safe and healthy.” 

There remains much work to do in Alberta to ensure safer and healthier workplaces, says Friends of Medicare. “Our lack of robust Occupational Health and Safety and Workers Compensation systems ultimately falls onto our public health care: workplace injuries cost tens of billions of dollars to Canada’s health care systems each year. Preventing workplace injuries is crucial for the long-term health of our economy, communities and public health care system.” 

With so many health care workers experiencing rising rates of violence in their own workplaces, addressing violence within health care is also increasingly urgent. “Health care workers deserve to be safe when they show up to care for us. We need a violence-prevention plan in place that includes addressing rampant short-staffing throughout our health care system.” 

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The City of Lethbridge will host the annual Jane’s Walk festival this weekend and next. It is a global movement of neighbour-led walking tours inspired by urbanist Jane Jacobs. 

“The purpose of the walk is to encourage people to get out on the streets of their neighbourhoods to discover unseen, under-celebrated and unique stories about their city. Through the simple act of walking together and discussing what makes a neighborhood, Jane’s Walk helps knit people together into stronger and more resourceful communities,” reads a news release from the city. 

The free event will feature walks and bike rides through the city, focused on various topics including birding, water, cycling, trees and history. 

This Saturday will kick off the event with a bike ride showcasing bike infrastructure downtown.  

A full list of events can be found on the Get involved Lethbridge website. 

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The Coalhurst Volunteer Fire Department, with the help of crews from the Picture Butte Emergency Services and Nobleford and District Emergency Services put out several grass fires on Wednesday.

According to officials crews from the Coalhurst department were called out to multiple grassfires by the Kipp Railyard around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24th. The high wind gusts are reported to only spred the flames, prompting the call for extra resources.

The extra manpower and water supply reportedly helped quickly knock down the fire. Firefighters remained on scene overnight putting out hot spots.

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Changes proposed by the provincial government could change the future of politics on a municipal level.

On Thursday, April 26th Minister of Municipal Affairs Rick McIver announced the United Conservatives are proposing changes to the Local Authorities Election Act through the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act. The changes include the province having the authority to remove a local politician from public office if it's in the "public interest" and allowing cabinet ministers to order changes to municipal bylaws.

In his announcement, McIver says that the changes are part of the provincial government's commitment to strengthen not only the democratic process but the local government.

"The changes we are making increase transparency for Alberta voters and provide surety their votes will be counted accurately. We know how important local democracy is to Albertans, and we will work with local authorities to protect and enhance the integrity of local elections," McIver said in a statement.

The Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act also includes the elimination of electronic tabulators and automated voting machines. This will result in all ballots needing to be counted by hand and reportedly "streamlining processes for scrutineers will provide voters greater assurance in the integrity of the results."

In Calgary and Edmonton, the province will be putting a pilot project in place, where the opportunity will be created for a local candidate to join a political party if they want to, but it will not be required.

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Stevie Sanders, a Catholic Central High School student, was awarded first place in the Analog Prize, which celebrates excellence in short story writing. Sanders won $500 for the composition, “Of Hardened Flesh.” 

Three finalists were awarded $100 gift certificates. Maxwell Edwards from Chinook High School for “The Gallows,” Eleah Klassen for “Unfinished Business” from Winston Churchill High School and “The Best of Intentions” by Sawyer Jones, a homeschooled student from Pincher Creek. 

“We were really pleased with the response for the first year with nearly 40 entries from 17 different schools across southern Alberta and a number of homeschooled students. The work showcased the impressive talents and creativity of our young writers throughout the community. We sincerely hope all the students who entered are inspired to consider writing as a serious career path in the future,” says Scott Warris, co-owner of Analog Books.  

Launched for the 2023/2024 school year, the Analog Prize is a short story writing competition presented by Analog Books and open to Grade 9-12 students throughout southern Alberta. The Analog Prize intends to inspire and motivate young writers to consider pursuing a future as Canadian literary artists. 

The first prize of $500 is sponsored by University of Lethbridge Chancellor Terry Whitehead. “I am excited to be a part of the first Analog Prize and many more to come. Motivating young southern Alberta writers to express themselves creatively is so important,” notes Whitehead. 

From bedtime stories to fairytales to essays, short stories have been an integral part of our lives, adds Penny Warris, co-owner of Analog Books. “We look forward to inspiring a new generation of storytellers through the Analog Prize.” 

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The Fort Macleod Health Centre emergency room will close overnight because of a lack of physician coverage.

Alberta Health Services says it will close at 8 p.m. on April 25 and will open again at 8 a.m. on April 26.

"During the temporary closure, nursing staff will remain on-site to provide care for long-term care residents," reads a news release from AHS. "AHS is working hard to ensure local residents continue to have access to the care they need during this time."

During the closure, emergency calls will be rerouted to Lethbridge.

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First-time local author Colby Gaudette chose to write “I Wish You Could See” after the sudden and unexpected passing of her husband. “My husband Greg was a firefighter and paramedic for the City of Lethbridge and he passed away unexpectedly in an accident last summer.” 

“Our son was 13 months old when my husband passed away. I was struggling and trying to navigate my own grief, while also attempting to support my son and teach him about his dad being in heaven and everything that had happened,” says Gaudette. 

Prior to writing the book, Gaudette says she had ordered a bunch of different books on grief and read them all. “None of them really resonated with that message I was hoping my son would remember and understand.” 

“From that, I chose to make a few notes and put together what turned into ‘I Wish You Could See.’” The self-published book was completed in January, released in February and is available online through Amazon.  

The initial hope with the book, adds Gaudette, was any young child who had been touched by grief would feel a special connection to their loved ones by reading it. 

“I wanted to make it inclusive for any child and for any relationship to their loved one who had passed. It’s not specific to it being a grandparent or a parent or a sibling. It has a customizable section of the book you can write down your loved one’s relationship, so whoever you’re reading it to or whoever is reading it gets that special connection.” 

Gaudette says the book was something she was very passionate about and it was a cathartic experience for working through personal grief. “It allowed me to focus on a much bigger picture and try to help as many little hearts heal from loss as I possibly could. It gave me a purpose out of tragedy.” 

Locally, support for the book has been absolutely incredible, adds Gaudette. “My husband was a big part of the community. I think people felt the need to try and support me and my family, as we worked through our loss.” 

“However, there has been such tremendous support all over North America, as far as interest in the book. I think because there wasn’t a lot of resources available for young kids surrounding grief. It’s a definitely much more widely talked about topic now, so I like to be able to offer that support. Overall, it’s been an incredible experience and being able to hear the stories about the kids it’s helped has been 100 per cent worth it,” says Gaudette. 

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A pair of University of Lethbridge awards will help educate the next generation of healthcare professionals in southern Alberta. 

A Pincher Creek family, along with physicians from a local clinic have established the awards. 

Drs. Beverly and Tracy Burton, both physicians practising in Pincher Creek, together with their mother Christine who is a retired science teacher, have created the Burton Family Bursary for Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics). 

“It’s important we give women the opportunity,” says Christine. “Not everybody has the funding, and we don’t want that to be the barrier for someone to be able to go into the sciences, to find their passion and make a difference in the world and themselves.” 

Tracy and Beverly, along with fellow physicians at the Associate Clinic, have also established the Pincher Creek and Piikani Health and Medical Scholarship for a continuing ULethbridge undergraduate student from Pincher Creek or the Piikani Nation in any degree program who is intending to pursue a career in a health or medical field. 

“We hope that people from this area will decide to go into a medical field, whether that’s as a physician, a nurse or an allied health professional, and then say they want to come back to the community that supported them,” says Tracy. 

Both awards have been matched by the ULethbridge Board of Governors, doubling the impact of their investments. 

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UPDATE: Shaine Smith is reportedly in RCMP custody. According to a release from Piikani RCMP, officials are thanking the individuals who assisted in locating him.

The public is being asked for their help locating a man wanted for fleeing police and dangerously driving a vehicle.

According to Piikani RCMP around 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24th officers allegedly attempted to stop the suspect during a traffic stop. Officials say that Shaine Smith allegedly fled from police at "excessive speeds." According to reports the second time that officers located Smith he "intentionally drove at the RCMP cruiser," allegedly avoiding colliding with the officer at the last second by swerving away from the vehicle.

A release from police states "His disregard for other users of the road is a large concern for RCMP."

[caption id="attachment_40032" align="alignright" width="300"] Shaine Smith wanted in connection to April 24th incident (Photo from Piikani RCMP)[/caption]

The 33-year-old is reported as being roughly 5'10", weighing around 170 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Police believe he is driving a 2004 gold-coloured Chevrolet Malibu, bearing Alberta licence plate BWV 8504.

Smith is also reportedly prohibited from driving across Canada. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

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A bicycle show and shine is one of many activities scheduled for May 4, when BikeLane celebrates its first birthday with tacos, a community market, a beer garden and a mobile blacksmith. The event will be co-hosted by SoNormal Print. 

Mat Hellawell is the owner of the full-service bike shop, “We specialize in e-bikes and we sell bikes.” 

“We’re more focused on folks using bikes as transportation, rather than just for leisure.” 

The shop is set up to service anything on an e-bike, including motors, batteries and wiring. “We’ve got people sometimes driving down from Calgary. I had someone come from as far as Grande Prairie to bring me a bike to work on because they couldn’t find anybody else,” notes Hellawell. 

And because many customers use their bikes as modes of transportation, there’s even a mobile aspect to the shop.  

“Imagine if this is your only vehicle and you're on your way to work or something and you have failure. We can come and meet people at work or on their way. Or for folks that don’t have a means to transport their bike. E-bikes are quite heavy, so we find a lot of seniors that have them, they maybe just don’t have the means to transport them around,” says Hellawell. 

Anyone in the Lethbridge area with a cool bike can bring their rides out to the show and shine. 

“We’re going to have some racks and security for that. There will be a participant and attendee voting system. You, as an attendee, can come around and look at the bikes and vote for which one you think should win the prizes.” Prizes have been generously donated by local businesses. 

Things have just been amazing, says Hellawell, when reflecting on the past year. “It’s been a ton of fun.” 

According to Hellawell, BikeLane also hosts community rides, which are posted on the shop’s social media platforms. “When it’s nice weather, about a weekly community ride, where we do a leisurely loop around the south side. The idea is to help connect folks and try to promote exercise and getting people out there.” 

Residents can also stop by to say hi to Scout, the shop dog too. “She’s there all the time. She loves meeting all the customers and everybody loves her,” says Hellawell. 

The birthday bash runs from 12 to 4 p.m. at the shop’s south Lethbridge location. 

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Two indigenous public art installations are being unveiled over the weekend at the Lethbridge Public Library.

The two new pieces at the library's main branch are called Awaaniiyaawa meaning They Are Speaking by Faye HeavyShield and Niitoyis itsinika’si meaning Lodge Stories and History by Api’soomaahka/William Singer III. According to the city the pieces use art to share cultural stories and create an opportunity to reflect on the different narratives in the community.

Library CEO Terra Plato says the organization aims to be a place where everyone in the community is welcome and feels reflected.

“We are pleased to be part of this partnership with Lethbridge Public Art that not only highlights the voices of local artists but also shares the history and perspective of the traditional occupants of this land”.

On Saturday the library is hosting an art unveiling at the main branch, with two artists in attendance to talk about their respective pieces. The event is set to start at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 27th.

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A new study focusing on several different quality-of-life metrics reports that Alberta is the fourth happiest province in Canada.

According to the study done by the online gambling website Lucky Days, Alberta also was the fourth safest province with its violent crime rate score being 6.38. This score comes from 1,532 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents reported in 2022. Alberta scored a 10 in the ‘median annual family income,’ with an average of $106,960 reported.

Lucky Days reported using several sources for the study including the National Statistical Office, Statistics Canada, and the Government of Canada. The eight key metrics that were looked at included the life satisfaction survey, median annual family income, unemployment risk, average life expectancy, air quality, health, mental health and crime rate.

Quebec reported being the happiest of the Canadian provinces and territories, with British Columbia and Ontario following, while Prince Edward Island came in fifth. According to the study, Saskatchewan was reported to be the unhappiest province in the country.

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Students from across southwestern Alberta descend on Alberta this weekend for Sci-Fusion.

The two-day events include the Lethbridge Regional Science Fair and Science Olympics, with the event being open to students from kindergarten to grade 12. The Science Olympics involves several activities where students are presented with a challenge that needs to be solved in teams.

On the science fair side, the top projects from students in grades 7 to 12 will be invited to take part in the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Ottawa from May 25th to June 1st. Each project will be evaluated by a panel of judges following a presentation by the student, through either a poster or a logbook. Also, students taking part in the science fair automatically are entered for the Science Olympics, which takes place on Saturday.

Sci-Fusion is happening from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 26th and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 27th in the Science Commons Building at the University of Lethbridge.

More information on the event can be found here.

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Olivia and Noah continue to reign as top baby names in Alberta for 2023. Olivia maintains a record setting streak as the most popular girls name in Alberta for the 11th year in a row, while Noah remains top pick for boys’ names for a fifth consecutive year.   

In choosing names for their new arrivals, parents appear to have found inspiration in a variety of places. Some parents may have been inspired by plants like Ivy, Rose, Juniper, Poppy, Azalea or in nature like Wren, River, Meadow and Flora.

Others may have taken a literary approach with names like Bennett, Sawyer, Juliet and Atticus. As always, popular culture may have had an influence through famous musicians like Aretha, Lennon, Presley and Hendrix or athletes like Beckham, Crosby and Evander or even fairytale princesses such as Tiana, Jasmine, Aurora, Ariel and Belle. 

According to the Government of Alberta, a total of 47,263 births were registered in the province in 2023. 

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Welling resident DonnaJean Wilde is the Guinness Book of World Records holder for the longest time in an abdominal plank position by a female. The 59-year-old grandmother’s final time was clocked in at four hours, 30 minutes and 11 seconds. 

“My whole life has revolved around the little town of Magrath,” says the retired vice-principal and teacher, who still substitutes from time to time. “I’ve taught in Magrath for years and my kids all went to school in Magrath.” 

In March, Wilde made the official record attempt in Magrath in the high school's theatre, after applying to Guinness in January.

According to Guinness, the previous record was set by fellow Canadian Dana Glowacka in 2019. Wilde went just over 10 minutes longer than the previous record held. 

Historically, Wilde notes she broke her wrist 10 years ago and couldn’t work out or run, but realized she could plank with a cast on. “I found I could read, do school work or prepare things for a few minutes and it just got longer.” 

Wilde says family members kept encouraging her, as they knew she loved to plank and wanted to see how long she could go. “It was during the pandemic, so they said, ‘let’s have another little family planking competition.’ That was the first time I went for a couple of hours without any breaks.” 

About a year ago, Wilde decided to try and break the record. “So, I intentionally increased my time and tried to get better.” 

“From January to March, I tried to up my game,” adds Wilde. 

Attempting the world record and breaking it has been a wonderful experience for Wilde. “Working with Guinness, arranging everything and being able to do it in the theatre at school. The students came into the theatre and we had carpets down and they planked with me.” 

Because the southern Alberta athlete planked for so many years prior to attempting the world record, Wilde realized she could one day break a world record. “I didn’t ever feel like I wasn’t going to be able to do it. I felt the support of everybody. My family, my kids were all there and my grandkids. It was a great experience.” 

Since breaking the world record, Wilde says she just continues to plank. “Just because I love it. It’s such a healthy thing. I would encourage everybody else to plank while they read or anything that makes you feel good.” 

Wilde has also been a bit of a local celebrity, as well as provincially, nationally and internationally. “I’ve had quite a few interviews and it has been so much fun.” 

Recently, while substitute teaching, students have even planked alongside Wilde, which she says has been rewarding. “They are trying to plank and improve their timing and improve their fitness. That’s been such a wonderful thing."

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Based on a family of four and the City of Lethbridge’s April residential water rate of $1.327 per cubic metre, the following are ways residents can save money and conserve water outdoors. 

According to the City, a standard oscillating lawn sprinkler can use up to 1,800 litres of water every hour. If a family of four waters three times per week, that's about 21,600 litres a month. Over a full summer, that number jumps to almost 70,000 litres. That removes more than $90 from the family of four’s summertime budget. The best way to save money and to conserve water in this situation is simply put – water less. 

“Most lawns are overwatered,” says Kathleen Sheppard, executive director of Environment Lethbridge. “If you must water your lawn, use a timer to limit the amount of water you’re using.” 

Overwatering the lawn can rot the roots, killing the grass. A wet, muddy lawn can also suffocate. If you aren’t sure whether your lawn is hydrated, walk across it. If the grass rebounds when you step on it, it’s likely well-hydrated and doesn’t need water. 

Watering at the right time is also key. A family of four should avoid watering in the heat of the day. The ideal times to water are before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. This can save up to 50 per cent of the water that might otherwise be lost to evaporation. And, of course, watch out for southern Alberta wind. It can carry away most of the water meant for your lawn and garden. Finally, take advantage of free water. Keep the sprinklers off when Mother Nature provides rain. 

Use mulch to keep water in the soil and prevent evaporation. Spread mulch around the base of trees, shrubs, perennials and even in vegetable gardens. A good layer of mulch can reduce watering needs by up to 55 per cent. 

“Mulching is one of the best ways to keep water in the soil,” adds Sheppard. “For your lawn, grasscycling or leaving grass cutting on your lawn after you mow, provides the same benefits and adds nutrients to your soil.” 

Mulch comes in many forms. Some organic options include wood chips, straw and leaves. Inorganic mulches include rock and gravel. Plan to use between three to six inches of mulch to maximize its effectiveness. 

The City of Lethbridge offers free mulch to residents. It can be picked up at Peenaquim Park, while supplies are available. 

A freshly mowed lawn may look and smell great, but it’s not ideal for water consumption. A longer lawn shades the soil, helping retain moisture. Mowing less can also allow the roots to dive deeper into the soil for water and nutrients. The ideal height for most southern Alberta grass is between 7.5 and 10 centimetres. 

Choosing a drought-resistant grass is also important in southern Alberta’s climate. Look for grass seeds that include Tall Fescue, Fine Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass. Drought-tolerant grasses not only survive dry spells – they can even retain their green colour. Planting the grass in early fall or spring will help speed up seed germination, ensuring a healthier lawn. 

There is an easy opportunity for a family of four to conserve water and save money outdoors. The combination of a longer, drought-resistant lawn and the use of mulch could reduce their watering to one day per week. That would conserve around 46,000 litres of water and save the family upwards of $60 over the course of a summer. 

Other water-smart methods to conserve water in the yard include: collecting rainwater for use in the garden; watering the base of plants, rather than pouring the water on top; Hydrozoning the garden - grouping plants with similar water requirements together, with plants requiring less water placed further away from the water source; and sweeping outdoor areas instead of hosing them down. 

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Drivers are being advised of possible delays on Highway 3 due to construction.

According to the City of Lethbridge, work is being done heading westbound between 30th Street South and 28th Street South at the railroad tracks. The work reportedly has traffic down to one lane. The lane closure is expected to be in place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Friday, April 26th.

Drivers are being encouraged to plan for extra time or to take an alternate route.

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A trio is facing charges in connection to weapons and drugs RCMP seized from a Pincher Creek home.

According to Pincher Creek RCMP, on Monday, April 22nd officers responded to a complaint of about an incident outside of the home. Police say there were reports of a gun were involved and one person was allegedly almost run over by a vehicle. Police are reported to have made several arrests at the scene and the subsequent investigation resulted in the seizure of weapons, meth and coke.

Brandon Ouellette and Garret Ouellette are both facing several weapons-related charges, along with one charge for possession of a controlled substance. Both have since been released from custody with their next court dates scheduled.

Police have also charged a 67-year-old woman with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. She is set to appear in court on May 23rd.

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Lethbridge Police are investigating an incident where a male was assaulted following a dispute over property at an encampment site.

On Apr. 23, just after 12:30 a.m., police responded to a report three males confronted a 39-year-old man they believed had stolen property from them while they were setting up an encampment west of the 900 block of 2 A Avenue South.

A physical altercation ensued and the man was struck with a weapon. The three males fled the scene prior to police arrival. The victim was located by police and transported to hospital for treatment of a serious, but non-life-threatening head injury.

This was a targeted incident involving parties who are known to one another. The investigation is ongoing.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed this incident or has information that could assist the investigation to call 403-328-4444 and reference file 24007305. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers.

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A new comprehensive strategic plan has been developed and the University of Lethbridge wants input from the community-at-large. To connect with the community, ULethbridge will be part of the City of Lethbridge’s Community Conversation this Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Enmax Centre. 

“The new Comprehensive Strategic Plan will address the changing landscape of post-secondary education provincially, nationally and globally and respond to the evolving opportunities and challenges for the University of Lethbridge,” says ULethbridge President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Digvir Jayas. “Our goal is to create a shared vision for the University and it’s essential for community members to add their voices to the conversation.” 

Jayas adds ULethbridge representatives are excited to participate in the Community Conversations event and are looking forward to the opportunity to connect with community members to hear experiences, feedback and ideas. 

“ULethbridge was founded by citizens,” notes Jayas. “Community members have helped shape what the University is today and have an important perspective to share to help shape our future.” 

Admission and parking for the Community Conversation event are free.  

The post U of L asks for community input with new strategic plan appeared first on My Lethbridge Now.

These clever little animals can spend 12 hours a day napping, and in the wild, their napping schedule is a survival mechanism. Gerbils always live in groups, and a few are always on guard to alert the clan if any danger is near or predators are approaching. They do so by stomping their feet to sound the alarm.

There are around 100 different species of gerbils and about 40 different color variations. Mongolian gerbils are naturally golden brown.

Scientists have found gerbils to have a high amount of emotional and social intelligence, which they demonstrate through their complex social skills, spatial awareness, and excellent memories.

These gentle, popular pets are very inquisitive and motivated when they're trained with treats, and they thrive with companionship.

Their teeth should be yellow or orange, and if they're not, it would indicate a mineral deficiency.

They're grateful for bedding that allows them to tunnel, something they'd do naturally, and it must be dust-free for their sensitive respiratory system.

Classified as metaturnal, gerbils are active both during the day and at night.

They communicate using ultrasonic sound. Though we can hear some squeaks they make, we can't hear the majority of their conversations.

We can only hear sounds up to 20 kilohertz, and gerbils use ultrasonic sounds and hear frequencies up to 60 kilohertz.

The post Petwise Minute: Gerbil Wisdom! Exploring the World of These Clever Creatures 🐀🧡🎶 appeared first on My Lethbridge Now.