MAY 16, 2008

NEWS

(COUGAR)

It's hardly something to panic over...but you might want to be a bit more aware of your surroundings as you plan your outdoor fun this weekend. There has been a cougar sighting at Police Point Park in Medicine Hat. The cat was first sighted on Wednesday...with paw prints that might have been left by a cougar found yesterday.Alberta Wildlife is investigating the sightings further, and an information kiosk has been set up at the park to provide the public with information on cougars, and what to do if you encounter one.There are no plans to close any part of the park at this time.

(SUPERBOARD)

One provincial health board will replace Alberta's nine regional health authorities . Yesterday newly appointed health minister Ron Liepert announced the health care shake up that will see will see current Palliser health region C-E-O Tom Seaman report to a provincial body instead of a local health board, a change that will take some getting use to, though he believes that things will stay mostly the way they are. The Palliser health board was dissolved yesterday along with the eight other provincial boards.

(Police KEAS)

The Kiwanis Emergency Alert System notifies 911 dispatch of issues with seniors or medical emergencies... now it will also monitor high risk domestic disturbances . One 900 dollar unit was donated to the police service from the kiwanis club...and sargent dellrae sharp says it will help them reach those affected by domestic violence. The woman who receives the first unit should be selected within the week

(SOIL)

AS SPRING SEEDING COMES INTO FULL SWING, FARMERS ARE DEFINATELY NOTICING A DIFFERENCE IN SOIL CONDITIONS FROM LAST YEAR. RECENT RAIN SHOWERS, AND A DUMP OF SNOW LATE IN THE SEASON HAS MADE THE GROUND FAIRLY WET. ALTHOUGH MOIST SOIL IS IDEAL FOR CROP GROWTH, IT IS ALSO PROVED TO BE A BIT OF A PROBLEM AT THIS TIME IN THE SEASON, SAYS AGRICULTURAL FIELDMAN JASON STORCH.

(BUST)

A Saskatoon Police Service canine team has taken part in a drug bust at the Drumheller Correctional Institute. A total of nine dogs were used in the search. They turned up hash oil, hashish, ecstasy tablets, marijuana, assorted drug paraphernalia and other unauthorized items.

(CHINA)

A strong aftershock today rocked the part of China decimated by last Monday's magnitude-7.9 earthquake. The 5.9 aftershock sparked landslides that buried vehicles and cut off roads leading to ravaged areas of Sichuan province. President Hu Jintao went to the disaster zone today to rally soldiers involved in the rescue effort.lthough the official death toll is 21-thousand, Chinese officials say it could reach 50-thousand.