Grande Prairie Looking for Funding for Roads
Council in the County of Grande Prairie has voted to reapply for funding from the resource road program from Alberta infrastructure. The county is asking for about $10 million dollars for 5 or six projects. C.A.O for the county Bill Rogan says the county provides Alberta infrastructure with a list of projects and they decide which ones will receive funding.
Rogan adds he doesn't expect to get money for all the projects but is hopeful they will get at least one if not two.
Officials Meet With Northern Lake College Board
The town of High Prairie teamed up with the M.D. of Big Lakes and the first nation and Métis settlements to make a presentation to the Northern Lakes College board of governors last week. Mayor for the town of High Prairie Rick Dumont says they had seven points they wanted to reinforce with the board. Dumont says they wanted to expand the college's service offerings for the High Prairie Region adding that when people leave the area for training and education they often don't come back. The presentation was also important to let the college know the town of High Prairie along with the M.D. have purchased land adjacent to the new hospital. The land could become property for the College when they are ready to build in the High Prairie Region.
(Alta-Population)
Alberta posted the countrys strongest population growth among the provinces during the first three months of 2008, thanks to an influx of immigrants and temporary workers.
Statistics Canada says the provinces population grew by four-tenths of a per cent between January and March this year, pushing the total population above the 3.5 (m) million threshold.
During the first quarter, 14-thousand-487 people moved to the province, 53-hundred of whom were immigrants.
Non-permanent residents, which are essentially temporary workers, posted a net increase of four-thousand people. (Edm Sun)
Alta-Liberal-Leader
Alberta Liberal Leader Kevin Taft says he'll step down as party leader within seven months.
Taft, 52, has headed the Opposition Liberals since 2004, but says he recognizes that the party must move forward.The Liberals were reduced to nine from 16 seats in the March election, while the Progressive Conservatives increased their majority with 72 of the province's 83 seats.Taft is hoping the Liberals chose a new leader before he steps down, but says he'll resign by the end of January at the latest.
He plans to remain in the legislature as the elected member for Edmonton Riverview.
Several Liberal caucus members, including Calgary's Dave Taylor and Edmonton veteran Laurie Blakeman, have already said they would seek the leadership once Taft decided to step aside.
(Alta-Minister-Quebec)
Alberta Treasury Board President Lloyd Snelgrove had some harsh words for Quebec.
On a Calgary talk show, Snelgrove said Quebec is ``living off the rest of Canada like it's their God-given right.''
Snelgrove was expressing frustration over advice from various financial analysts who are strongly suggesting that Alberta use windfall energy royalties to increase the province's savings account.
The Alberta minister questioned what advice these same analysts were giving Quebec, given that the province pays high interest charges on its hefty provincial debt. (CHQR)
(Oilsands-Dirty-Energy)
The Alberta government is warning U-S politicians if they cut off oilsands imports, the face a consumer backlash from resulting higher energy prices.
Several American politicians think the province's massive oilsands projects create ``dirty'' energy products that should be avoided to protect the environment.
Energy Minister Mel Knight says without Canadian oil, the cost of food and fuel will rise.
Canada is now the largest supplier of oil to the U-S and Alberta is campaigning to improve the image of the oilsands, which is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. (The Canadian Press)
SPORTS
Wheatbelt Baseball League
Things just got real interesting in the wheatbelt baseball league after a huge win last night for the Rycroft Rage over the Peace River Stampeders.
The rage only needed five innings to spank the Stamps 10-0 and give themselves their seventh win in a row.
With the win the Rage are only 2 games back of Peace River for first place with 2 games in hand. Both the Rage and the Stamps have only lost twice this year.
Meanwhile the game between Grimshaw and Wanham has been postponed until further notice.
CFL
The C-F-L regular season opens tonight in Steeltown for the first time since 1977. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are at home to the Montreal Alouettes. Later, the Calgary Stampeders will host the B-C Lions. Toronto is at Winnipeg tomorrow and Saskatchewan entertains Edmonton on Saturday.
TENNIS
Former champion Maria Sharapova has been ousted in the second round at Wimbledon by 154th-ranked Alla Kudryavtseva. Sharapova, the 2004 champion, lost 6-2, 6-4 on Thursday. It was the third-seeded Russian's earliest exit from a Grand Slam event since her first full season on the circuit in 2003. Since her breakthrough at Wimbledon in 2004, Sharapova has won the 2006 U.S. Open and the 2008 Australian Open. Kudryavtseva is a 20-year-old Russian who has never won a WTA Tour title. After a marathon first set lasting longer than many of her matches, defending champion Venus Williams overcame another erratic performance and pulled away to beat Anne Keothavong 7-5, 6-2 and reach the third round. The first set alone lasted one hour nine minutes as Williams struggled to take command against a determined 92nd-ranked player who came into the tournament with only one win at Wimbledon in seven attempts.
(The Associated Press)
Venus Williams defeated Anne Keothavong (kee-AWTH'-uh-vawng) 7-5, 6-2 in a second-round match at Wimbledon today. The seventh-seeded American is the defending women's champion. Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak (WOHZ'-nee-ack) lost in straight sets. On the men's side, second seed Rafael Nadal (nah-DAHL') advanced.
EURO 2008
Russia and Spain will clash this afternoon at the European soccer championship with a berth in the final on the line. The Spaniards are unbeaten in 20 matches and have won their last 10. Germany will play the winner in Sunday's championship game.
NBA
The N-B-A draft goes tonight in New York. The Chicago Bulls hold the first overall pick and will likely choose between two prospects -- Memphis guard Derrick Rose and Kansas State forward Michael Beasley. Toronto has the 17th pick but reports indicate they have agreed to trade it to Indiana as part of a package for Jermaine O'Neal.
WEATHER
Peace River
Fox Creek/Whitecourt
High Level
NEWS HEADLINES
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