Innisfail News

A Kamloops, B.C. man has been sentenced to five years in jail after pleading guilty to five robberies in Alberta and B.C. last year, including a May 14, 2010 robbery in Innisfail. Andrew Lloyd Smith, 54, was sentenced in Kamloops court Oct.

Council tabled approval of the 2012 FCSS cost share agreement, asking for further information on the requested amount - roughly $6,000 more from 2011. “I’m not understating where the $6,000 is coming from,” questioned Coun. Heather Klein.

Town of Bowden CAO Lori Conkin will be moving on to Three Hills to work as the town’s director of finance. Mayor Robb Stuart announced Conkin’s departure in the town’s December newsletter.

An autopsy to determine the exact cause and identification of a 23-year-old woman who died in an explosion in her apartment Friday morning began yesterday in Calgary, police said.

Organizers said the community’s response to the first annual “Coats for Kids” drive was overwhelming. Miranda Hale said residents provided quite a few donations during the drive, which was held Nov. 5 at the Innisfail Baptist Church.

Council agreed to support Parkland Community Planning Services, an inter-municipal services agency looking for a new director. “The director has stepped away. Do you want to continue?” asked CAO Rick Binnendyk to council Nov. 14.

An official at the Bowden Institution south of Innisfail said a suspicious package containing contraband items discovered outside the facility’s perimeter last week was likely an “attempted throw-over.

Despite a letter-writing campaign that started in August calling on Telus to improve spotty cellphone reception in Penhold, Mayor Dennis Cooper said council is still waiting to hear details on a resolution.

Local residents can now get their first glimpse at three possible redevelopment themes for Innisfail’s downtown core.

A former Canadian rodeo champion who is now an advocate for the disabled, and a student leader at École Innisfail Middle School have been named as the community choice medal bearers for the 25th Anniversary Rick Hansen Relay’s stop in Innisfail next