Local News

One-day check stop nabs 153 impaired drivers

RCMP released numbers from their Dec. 4 province-wide check-stop blitz Thursday. Police say results indicate drivers are still getting behind the wheel when they are in no shape to drive. RCMP conducted check-stop operations in 259 locations within local RCMP jurisdictions and on Alberta highways Dec. 4, stopping more than 20,500 vehicles. […]

Local News

Town changes department name to include economic component

A new name for the Planning & Development department has been released to better reflect the essence and continued work the department is undertaking. Effective immediately, the department is renaming to the Planning and Economic Development Department as a means to highlight the departments’ continued commitment to economic development and to keep aligned with the Town’s Municipal Sustainability Plan and 2015-17 Strategic Plan. […]

Columns

National Column: Refugee resettlement pays big political dividends

Canada’s Syrian refugee resettlement operation is more than a laudable contribution to a global humanitarian crisis. It is also a well-executed political play.

Because it was one of the Liberals’ most time-sensitive undertakings, the campaign commitment to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees before the end of the year was always a strong candidate for early failure. […]

Local News

Police and school staff recognized by GSACRD

Monday’s Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools Board of Trustees regular meeting included recognition of staff who received their Master in Religious Education. The degree is designed for the preparation of teachers in the area of Religious Education or as an Administrator in Catholic Schools.
[…]

Columns

National Column: Clouds gathering behind Grits’ sunny ways

Smiling refugees and hopeful First Nations. A historic climate deal and international adulation. And those stratospheric poll numbers.

As 2015 draws to a close, the capital is Bedford Falls, Old Man Potter has been banished and we’re all living in the final scene of It’s a Wonderful Life.
[…]

Morinville News

Motor vehicle collision involves two pedestrians

On December 12th, 2015 at approximately 5:18 p.m., Morinville RCMP and emergency services responded to a motor vehicle collision involving two pedestrians and a single motor vehicle on highway 37 near the hamlet of Calahoo. […]

Editorial & Opinion

Letter: Recreation Facility Citizen Group still has many concerns

The Morinville/Sturgeon Regional Recreation Facility Citizens Group presented our concerns to the Town Council of Morinville on September 8 and to the Sturgeon County Council on October 27. Our members have attended Council meetings and open houses over that past 2 years hoping to see a Multi-use Regional Recreation Facility become a reality in the near future. […]

Columns

National Column: Duffy a fading rocker on a farewell tour

The ol’ Duff doesn’t draw the crowds he used to.

The big top has come down, the circus has left town and Mike Duffy is stuck in the witness box in Courtroom 33, showing us pictures of his new foundation and parking pad at his Prince Edward Island home, detailing his medical woes and his bank balance, praising his wife Heather’s gardening skills and explaining the sewage system in Cavendish. […]

Local Sports

Sting give big over weekend

The Sturgeon Sting Midget AA gave big over the weekend both on and off the ice. The club took on the Leduc Roughnecks Friday night at home and earned a 4-2 win. Saturday saw the Sting drop a 3-1 decision to the KC Colts in Legal. […]

Local News

Rec Steering Committee adds two from County, long-term borrowing to be debated

In a unanimous vote Dec. 8, Council has moved to appoint Sturgeon County Councillors Jerry Kaup and Patrick Tighe, who will work with Morinville Councillors Boutestein, Putnam, and Ladouceur on the committee, along with 12 members of the public who had applied to serve on the committee before the Town’s deadline. The committee will continue to review information available about the progress on the facility and provide recommendations to Council on how to move forward. […]

Local News

Distracted drivers will see increased penalties in new year

Updating your Facebook status behind the wheel could net you three demerits in addition to the current $287 fine after Jan. 1.

The province announced the increase in penalty Dec. 10, citing research they say suggests driver distractions contribute to 20 to 30 per cent of all collisions. Further, distracted drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a collision than attentive drivers. […]

Editorial & Opinion

Letter: It means more than you may imagine

Last year, my family and I were donation recipients of the Adopt a Family program that Morinville Marvelous Moms organizes. The donations last year changed Christmas for us – it has always been a time of very high stress. My husband works as a roofer, so usually doesn’t have much income in winter. I am a student doing online university at home, so I bring in a bit of income from student loans. We have three daughters aged 9, 6, and 4 to provide for. Adding Christmas on top of all the regular expenses is beyond challenging. […]

Local News

Council slashes and burns before passing budget 2016

Council has unanimously passed second and third reading of Budget 2016 after making hundreds of thousands worth of cuts and a few additions to the budget. The budget as passed would represent approximately a 3 per cent tax increase for Morinville property owners, but 2016 tax rates will not be set until spring. […]