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Producers looking to the sky for snow after hard summer

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

By Anna SmithSunny South NewsLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterWhile he’s fortunate to irrigate his potato crops, Forty Mile Councillor Allen Kuizenga admits that without a hard winter with heavier precipitation, even irrigation will be in trouble come next year.“This is a bad one. This is where we had two and a half inches of rain all year from April 1,” said Kuizenga. There were other parts of the county that received even less, approximately one inch of precipitation, throughout the entirety of the growing season.While they were ultimately found to not meet all of the requirements for a state of agricultural disaster, the County still saw it as a necessary measure, said Kuizenga, to help raise awareness of just how bad the situation had become for dryland farmers in the area.And now, should things not change, the drought is likely to impact irrigation growers net year as well.“The supplies or the water reservoirs are all empty, and if we don’t get a significant amount of snow t...

Potato Growers of Alberta celebrate significant growth indicators

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsEarlier this year, the Potato Growers of Alberta (PGA) published an in depth analysis on the economic impact of the potato industry in Alberta.The report, “The Alberta Potato Industry – Growing Success in 2022” summarizes how the province’s potato industry has grown over the past few years and quantifies the economic impact of this growth on Alberta’s overall economy.The quantitative data gleaned from the study was validation for key industry players who were keenly aware growth had been ramping up, but did not have a comprehensive study of the industry’s current economic impact.In a news release issued by the PGA on July 4, James Bareman, Chair of the PGA said, “We knew our industry has seen accelerated growth in recent years, but we had no way of measuring its overall impact on our economy.”Bareman added, “We are pleased that we now have an accurate assessment of our industry’s contribution and delighted with the result. The industry could not have ...

New greenhouse showcasing the benefits of vermi-composting

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsA Lethbridge County-based business is leading the way in sustainable practices for their locally-grown produce.The Venue of New Hope, a coffee shop, greenhouse, and event venue space located just minutes from Park Lake, is doubling down on environmentally-sustainable practices as they grow their business.The venue is working toward growing its own produce for the cafe/coffee shop at their on-site greenhouse, which, in addition to producing locally-grown produce, uses the power of red wriggler worms to divert compostable waste from landfills, while producing high-value, nutrient-packed soil “castings”, covered by the worker worms in on-site composting bins.This process, known as vermi-composting, is essentially utilizing earthworm digestion and aerobic decomposition to produce rich organic matter containing a wide range of plant nutrients and beneficial microorganisms for growing plants and new produce.“These worms are different than your everyday gard...

Local craft garlic growers hoping to double yield for 2024 harvest

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsA locally-owned and operated garlic farm is hoping to double the number of seeds planted this fall.Located in Lethbridge County, DeGraaf Garlic grows garlic without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, or antibiotics. With the exception of tilling the land, the family-run operation does all planting, weeding, and harvesting by hand in an effort to reduce the chance of damaging the product.Owner Nico de Graaf said, “I started about I think it was seven or eight years ago with just a few plants,” he explained. Slowly adding plants over the years, De Graaf began producing enough to sell in 2022.This year, de Graaf said he grew “roughly 13,000 plants, which was right around one acre.”Garlic is seeded in the fall, before the ground freezes for the winter, where it remains dormant until longer days in the spring defrost the ground and allow the plants to germinate and grow.“We plant in the fall. Usually we try to watch the weather a little bit, and ...

Copperheads go 1-1 in HJHL preseason play

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

By Garrett SimmonsSunny South NewsThe regular season is upon us for the Coaldale Copperheads.Heritage Junior Hockey League action gets going to real this Saturday, as the Snake Pit Arena will be rocking as the Copperheads host High River in a 7 p.m. battle.Sunday’s home game in Coaldale will feature a 5 p.m. against Medicine Hat, as part of a two-game opening weekend.But before the regular season kicks off, the Copperheads had some preseason business to take care of, as Coaldale had a pair of exhibition games.On Saturday, the Copperheads fell 4-2 to the Medicine Hat Cubs, in the preseason opener in Coaldale. It was a low-event game, as Coaldale outshot the Cubs 21-17. The home side fell behind 2-0 after 20 minutes but rebounded with a strong second period. However, despite outshooting the Hat 10-3 in the middle frame, the score remained 2-0 heading into the third.The teams traded goals in final 20 minutes, as Medicine Hat left town with a two-goal victory.Sunday, back in Medicine Ha...

Coaldale Pickleball Club triumphant at national championships

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsA number of Coaldale Pickleball Club members achieved medal-winning performances at the 2023 National Pickleball Championships in this summer.Club members across various age and skill ratings took home four gold, two silver, and one bronze medal in total, and nine members of the Coaldale Pickleball Club attended and competed in the National Pickleball Championship from August 23-27.This year’s event, held in Regina, Saskatchewan, saw an impressive turnout of participants ranging in age from 16-75 years. Among the 630 competitors, the event, hosted by the Regina Pickleball Club, saw nearly 200 volunteers and 100 officials take part in the tournament.The large-scale event utilized two of the Regina’s indoor recreation facilities with a total of 32 pickleball courts in play over the five day event.Medal winners from the Coaldale Pickleball Club include a gold medal in Mixed doubles (3.5) in the 60 to 64 year category by members Blaine Takeda and Cathy Wo...

West Industrial ASP amended

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsCoaldale’s West Industrial ASP has been updated.During their regular Sept. 11 meeting, Coaldale town council discussed a draft bylaw for the West Industrial Area Structure Plan.Bylaw 875-P-06-23 – or the West Industrial Area Structure Plan Bylaw – would amend the existing ASP for the area including land located at Lot 4, Block 1, Plan 181 1388 into the ASP area, as originally intended. The land had not been included following landowner feedback when the ASP had been passed in 2022. As there has since been a change in ownership for the land in question, town administration has received a request to include it in the ASP.“The West Industrial ASP has been developed to provide a framework for future developments on the land generally located between 14 Avenue and Range Road 201A on the north, and between Highway 845 and Range Road 201A on the east, as shown in the figure for the ASP,” said Hailey Winder, senior planner for the town. “The Area Structure P...

Coaldale resident raises $28,000 for children’s cancer organization

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsCoaldale resident, Adam Parker, has raised an astounding $28,000 for the Kids Cancer Care Foundation (KCCF) as part of the 2023 Ride for a Lifetime fundraiser.First held in 2002, the KCCF Ride for a Lifetime fundraiser has raised over $3 million for cancer research, and programs and supports for children impacted by cancer. The annual event involves a group of 40 or so participants vigorously fundraising for the KCCF. Each year, the effort culminates in an inter-provincial group motorcycle ride from Calgary to Kelowna. After a positive experience taking part in the 2022 Ride For a Lifetime, Parker set his sights on a lofty pledge goal for the following year.“We had a great time, and came back and decided, we should do a little bit more, we should try a little bit harder,” said Parker.The 2023 ride took place earlier this summer from June 23 to 25. The riders spent the first of two nights in Creston before heading out to Kelowna for the second night at...

EV chargers now available in Picture Butte

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsTwo electric vehicle (EV) chargers are now available for use at the Cor Van Raay and Community Aquatic Centre’s parking lot in Picture Butte.The Town received funding through the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC) which covered the installation of the chargers. The $110,000 in funding allowed the Town to install one Level 2 and one Level 3 charger.The grant subsidized the installation of EV chargers in various municipalities across the province. From January to August 2022, the MCCAC’s Electric Vehicle Charging Program offered 100 per cent rebates to municipalities installing new public EV charging stations.The MCCAC is a collective partnership between Alberta Municipalities, the Government of Alberta and Government of Canada. In addition to the EV Charging Program, the MCCAC has also supported the Climate Resilience Capacity Building Program, Alberta Municipal Solar Program, and Recreation Energy Conservation Program, among other funding ...

Albany announces expansion of social service programs

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:42 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Officials announced $1.8 million in combined funding to expand mental health support and other social services. In a joint press conference County Executive Dan McCoy and Mayor Kathy Sheehan announced the funds but houseless individuals are skeptical the new funds will get them into stable housing.Jasmine Tice created a home with her friends in Washington Park after falling on hard times. “We have our own little family and it’s really important to me and I’m not afraid to fight for what’s right.” Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! She said they can’t find affordable, permanent housing. And their issues are compounded every time they have to start over again, which they were afraid would happen Wednesday morning after they woke up to news that their camp would be bulldozed, with the last of what they own tossed if they did not leave the park. “I’ve just been sitting here waiting and I’m sick of being af...