A bacterial disease is posing a threat to bison herds across northern Alberta.

Brucellosis has been detected  in Wood Bison west of  Wood Buffalo National Park.

Dave Ealey with Sustainable Resource Development says they are doing their best to impede the spread of  the virus to neighboring herds and nearby livestock.

"It can be serious for the animals. It has an impact on their breeding in that  quite often its the uterus that receives the impact of the disease," says Ealey.

As part of a provincial disease management program, any bison found near farming operations will be euthanized immediately.

The risk of transfer to people is low, but hunters are advised to fully cook and watch for signs of disease before consuming bison meat.

Wood Buffalo RCMP are asking the public for assistance in catching an attempted armed robbery suspect.

Police say a man approached a teller at the Thickwood Scotiabank on Signal Road around 11:30 this morning, indicating he had a weapon, and demanding money.

He left empty-handed and no one was hurt.

Police say the weapon, the amount of cash, and how it was requested by the suspect will not released as this is pertinent to the investigation.

The suspect is described as a black male, five-six to five-seven, with a husky build approximately 30 years old, clean shaven with short hair. He was wearing a long-sleeved striped grey shirt and a New York Yankees cap at the time of the crime.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 788-4000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

The once blooming Wildrose Party appears to be withering.

According to a new poll conducted by Environics, the Alberta Conservative's have the backing of 54-per cent of respondents.

Compared to just 16 per cent, who favour the Wildrose.

Polls conducted last winter showed the Tories and Wildrose in a dead-heat, each holding 33 per cent support of Alberta voters.

The NDP and Liberals received the backing of 13.5 per cent of respondents, while the Alberta Party sits a two per cent.

(Shell's Atmospheric Fines Drying seen here is one of many new

tailings technologies being shared by the Oil Sands Tailings Consortium. 

This process can see fine tailings deposits release water and become

trafficable within weeks rather than decades.)

 An industrial alliance is collaborating to reduce the number of oil sands tailings ponds, and rapidly accelerate land reclamation.

The Oil Sands Tailings Consortium, formed in December 2010, is made up of seven of Canada's largest oil sands mining companies: Suncor, Syncrude, Canadian Natural Resources Limited, Imperial Oil, Shell Total E&P Canada and Teck Resources.

(Alan Fair, OSTC Executive Director explains the tailings process to

media at Suncor on Tuesday.)

Executive Director Alan Fair says coming together to share tailings and technology will put decades of research and investment all out in the open, "Instead of seven companies trying to do the same thing in seven different places we now, by pooling our resources and working together, have the ability to do seven different things."

For Total E&P Canada, the consortium is proving beneficial as the global energy giant plans it's first oil sands project, the Joslyn North Mine, recently approved by regulators.

"What's tremendous about the strategic alliance between Total and Suncor is that you have the benefit of an international organization working with the leading oil sands producer," says Elizabeth Cordeau-Chatelain, Communications Manager. "The luxury of being in a consortium like this, having a partnership with Suncor is any evolution to any tailings plan is bound to be better."

Tailings ponds cover more than 170 square kilometres, to date only Suncor's 220 hectare Pond 1 has been successfully reclaimed.

Media were provided a first-hand look at some of the technology being shared this week, including Suncor's award-winning TRO technology, Shell's Atmospheric Fines Drying, Syncrude's Water capped technology and CNRL's use of C02.

Suncor profits are up four per cent.

The oil sands giant posted second quarter net earnings of $562 million, compared to $540 million for the same time period last year.

Planned maintenance saw production volumes slip to an average of 243,000 barrels per day, compared with over 295,000 bp/d in Q2 last year.

Suncor says its Firebag 3 in situ site saw first oil production in early June.

Cold Lake council took offense to MLA Guy Boutilier's suggestion the city amalgamate rather than seek ownership of unpopulated properties near the Air Force Base.

While, Boutlier says local politicians are unified in their opposition of the move.

"There is so much to be done in our community, where trying to catch up.  So how dare any community try to, by the help of the province steal money from Wood Buffalo and give to another," says Boutlier

Wood Buffalo Mayor and Council have written a letter to Finance Minister, Ed Snelgrove opposing the move.

A Fort McMurray man, allegedly at the centre of an armed stand-off, made his first courtroom appearance today.

31-year old Timothy Galliah is facing charges of Possession of a Weapon for a Purpose Dangerous to the Public Peace, and Careless Use of a Firearm.

The suspect's fresh face and slight build concealed his 31 years, as he nodded nervously before the Judge during a brief court appearance today. 

Residents were evacuated, and streets blocked off after police received a report of a gunman barricaded inside his Eagle Ridge home on July 16th.

The tense situation lasted over 15 hours before the suspect surrendered to police.

Galliah, who has no criminal history, will return to court, August 31st.

Wood Buffalo RCMP continue to crack down on organized crime in our city.

After a Friday drug bust net police five suspects, investigators are releasing the details of yet another search and seizure blitz which occurred Monday.

A firearm, undisclosed amount of cash and substances believed to be oxycodone and cocaine were seized from a downtown residence and several motor vehicles.

52 year old Phylllis McFadden of Fort McMurray faces firearm charges while three other local residents face charges for possesion.

In all, six people were charged for drug-related crimes on Monday.

Wood Buffalo's MLA is in some hot water with Cold Lake.

Guy Boutilier is facing some harsh criticism from Mayor, Craig Copeland after comments  he made regarding the possible re-designation of Wood Buffalo's boundaries.

Copeland says his community is seeking the unpopulated land around the Air Force base out of dire financial necessity.

"Boutilier questioning whether the City Cold Lake council lacked leadership and questioned why we didn't look at the our municipality beisde us, Bonnyville and try and form a regional government. He just threw out alot of coaching tips and we took great offense," says Copeland.

Cold Lake has requested the province hand over the deeds to the unpopulated properties amidst widespread budget shortfalls, which threaten to derail the municipality.

Wood Buffalo Mayor and Council have written a letter to Finance Minister, Ed Snelgrove opposing the move.

Boutilier was unavailable for comment.

The man allegedly at the centre of a 15 and a half hour armed standoff will appear in court for the first time this morning.

Residents were evacuated, and streets blocked off after police received a report of a man barricaded in his Eagle Ridge home, armed with a gun, on July 16th.

The tense situation ended peacefully with the gunman surrendering to police.

31-year old Timothy Galliah, of Fort McMurray has been charged with Possession of a Weapon for a Purpose Dangerous to the Public Peace and Careless Use of a Firearm.

Galliah, who has no previous criminal history, was admitted to hospital for a 30 day psychological evaluation.

A traffic solution to drive-through congestion across the city is still brewing.

The Municipality said, in April, it was working to clear roadway entrances at Fort McMurray's two Tim Hortons locations.

Director of Engineering, Darcy Elder says a plan has yet to be finalized.

"It's always a challenge between the wills and the wants of the businesses and satisfying the motoring public that doesn't have anything to do with that type of establishment...The queues going out onto the road, yes they are a safety hazard absolutely," says Elder.

A municipal solution to the traffic congestion issue was expected in May.

Swimmers should get their last laps in before the Syncrude Aquatic Centre is drained.

MacDonald Island Park announcing today that the pool will undergo preventative maintenance and upgrades from August 29th to September 19th.

The maintenance is necessary due to government safety regulations as well as the necessity to keep the Centre operating at peak efficiency.

Fall programming, including swim lessons will begin in mid-October.

Syncrude profits are soaring amidst increasing crude prices.

The companys largest stakeholder, the Canadian Oil Sands Corporation, say strong oil prices are fueling strong second quarter earnings.

Revenues were $ 994 million dollars, increasing from $ 796 million during the same time period last year.

Although production volumes were constrained due to maintenance on Syncrude's upgrader,  the operator expects to meet its 2011 production target of 301, 400 barrels per day.

The project north of Fort McMurray is largest of its kind in the world.

Five people are facing charges after a drug bust in Fort McMurray.

The ALberta Law Enforcement Response Team in conjunction with Wood buffalo RCMP executed numerous search warrants on two residences and three vehicles in the Draper Road and Thickwood regions on Friday.

Police sized 1,000 tablets of prescription medication, two grams of crack cocaine and more than $1000.

Three Fort McMurray residents  are facing trafficking and possession charges.

While two other men, one from Newfoundland, the other from Calgary, were also apprehended at the time.

Exactly a month after the shocking double murder of two teenaged boys in Fort McMurray, police remain tightlipped.

Wood Buffalo RCMP have previously said they have multiple leads in the case, but Constable Dustin Greig says that information is confidential, "We're not divulging that, and like I said we're investigating it and doing what we need to do on it," Greig told Mix News.

17 year-old twins, James and William Beck were stabbed to death during an altercation at Borealis Park on the night of June 26th.

Police are still asking anyone with information to come forward.

Hundreds of family and friends gathered to remember the Beck brothers at memorial in June.

Cenovus Energy is crediting increased refining margins and higher crude prices for a spike in profits.

The Calgary-based company reporting second quarter net earnings of $655 million, a significant increase over the $183 million generated in the same time period in 2010.

Planned turnaround at it's two SAGD oil sands projects saw production drop slightly to just over 58,000 barrels per day.

During Q2 Cenovus also received regulatory approval for additional phases at both Christina Lake and Foster Creek.

One Fort McMurray scientist is hoping to clear the air.

Dr. Kevin Percy has been appointed Executive Director of the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association.

Lead scientist with the air monitoring group since 2009, Percy has some clear goals for the organization.

"Bring my knowledge, that I've gained over the years,  to the fore for the WBEA. And take this organization forward and strengthen it into the future. Make it very clear to everybody that the WBEA has been on a very strong scientific footing,"says Percy.

Percy says the group looks forward to working with federal and provincial forces as they look to implement an environmental oil sands monitoring policy, announced last week.

Visit WBEA.org  for hourly updates on air quality in our region.

An oil sands giant is looking to reduce its environmental impact.

According to it's 2011 Sustainability Report, Suncor aims to reduce water consumption by 12 percent, improve energy efficiency by 10 per cent and reduce air emissions by 10 per cent by 2015.

This year alone, Suncor plans to spent $1.2 billion implementing its new TRO tailings management company, which will speed up land reclamation.

The company also says it donated over $15.5 million to charitable, non-charitable and community groups in 2010.

(Local cyclist Kevin Robins celebrates in St. John's, Newfoundland

after riding across Canada to raise money for the Red Cross.

Photo courtesy of Facebook.)

A party is planned for this weekend after a Fort McMurray man set a new world record.

Kevin Robins cycled roughly 7,200 kilometres from Vancouver, BC to St. John's, Newfoundland, finishing the fast-paced fundraiser on Saturday.

"The record was 24 days, we did it in 22.65 days, so about a day and a half off," Robins told Mix News.

To date, Robins has raised nearly $7,000 dollars to help the victim's of Alberta wildfires.

"It feels really good knowing I can help out these people," said Robins.

A fundraising party is planned for Saturday night, at the legion.

To donate, or learn more, visit http://www.worldrecordrideforalbertafires.com/.

Headaches caused by downtown road work may become less common next week.

The municipality says work on several streets should be completed by Monday August 1st.

Including the intersection of  Franklin Avenue and Main Street, on Franklin from Richard Street to Sutherland and Morrison to Richard Street.

All current construction on Manning Avenue is also expected to be done by this week.

Meanwhile, you can get answers to all your road work questions tonight at an open house from 5:30 to 7:30 inside the Jubilee Centre.

One Fort McMurray cyclist is ready for rest.

Kevin Robins travelled more than 6,000 kilometres across Canada to fund raise for Albertans affected by wildfires and while doing so he also broke a world record by travelling across the country in 22 days 6 hours and 30 minutes.

Robins says he's feeling fatigued after breaking the world record for the fastest trip east to west.

"Yeah your body does get a pretty good work out, but I'd have to say I'm in tip top shape now, I could use a little bit of rest but I will get that when the trip is over," says Robins

Donations are still being accepted and if you wish to contribute visit, world record ride for alberta fires dot com

A manifesto posted online is showing the suspect of two deadly attacks in Oslo Norway as an extremist.

Only hours before the attacks, Anders Behring Breivik supposedly posted, a 15-hundred page manifesto that railed against European liberalism and multiculturalism.

Written under the alias of Andrew Berwick the manifesto calls for a violent revolution across Europe.

The lengthy text also displays an obsession with Muslims and mentions Canada as a country that uses hate speech laws "to silence infidels" who criticize Islam.

The 32-year-old farmer has allegedly admitted to carrying out both attacks and will appear in court on Monday.

A Fort McMurray student is in the heart of a sleepy Norwegian town devastated by two brutal attacks.

Bombings targeting government buildings caused widespread damage in Oslo's downtown core, while a shooting spree on a small island had youth running and swimming for their lives.

University of Alberta Student, Kristi-Anna Steiestol says she thought she would be studying in one of the safest places on earth.

"I don't know if it changes my perception of the country but it does change my perception on the way I view my own safety. I think before I used to kind of take it for granted and used to think that it was something that was constant, that was guaranteed. Now i've realized, nothing is constant, things can change so quickly," says Steiestol.

A 32-year old suspect was apprehended after at least 91 people died in Friday's twin attacks.

Canada's economic growth will be sluggish for the rest of the year.

A lack of consumer confidence and declining public sector spending is slowing the strong four percent pace of the first quarter to 2.5 percent for the year as a whole.

While The Conference Board of Canada  reports businesses, nationwide, will maintain forward momentum and stability in the coming fiscal period.

The municipality is evaluating the impact of the Single-Use Shopping Bag bylaw.

The bylaw was passed in September last year, and now the RMWB is inviting feedback from all sectors that have been most impacted.

A survey will be mailed to business owners and retailers impacted by the bylaw, near the end of the month.

Meanwhile Nix News asked for your feedback Twitter and listener, Richard Wilson says,

"Is there any actual data to support the idea that reusable bags are beneficial to the environment?"

While listener, April Stacey added.

"I LOVE it! I've sent my extras (bags) down to family in Newfoundland and now they use them too! Hope to never go back!"

To follow Mix News on Twitter, search Mix1037fmnews.

One environmental group says an oil sands monitoring plan falls short.

The Pembina Institute is reacting the announcement of a national environmental policy aimed at assessing industrys effect on air, land and water.

Pembina Oil Sands Policy Analyst , Mark Huot says research is not enough.

"Thats what really need right now, is not just a commitment to monitoring, but we need both levels of government to actually step up and start managing the impacts we have on the ground right now, like growing green house gas emissions or rapidly declining caribou populations," says Huot.

The project will cost an estimated $ 50,000,000 per year, with a large portion of that expected to be provided by industry polluters.

Children from across Wood Buffalo will be ready for the first day of school thanks to a local initiative .

The 'Tools for School's project, by the United Way, aims to ensure all students have the supplies they need for the classroom.

Community Relations Director Lauren Cutler-McEachern says, supplies are provided to students who are most in need.

"Well, how it works, it that the supplies are collected and packed through United Way, and then we give them to the school board, and the school board gives them to the school's, and at the school's its their guidence councellors who determine the students who are most in need and they give them to the students," says Cutler-McEachern. 

Donations are accepted at the downtown Boston Pizza, the Redpoll Centre and Staples.

Fort McMurray residents now have a simple way of keeping in touch with Alberta Health Services.

AHS has launched three new Twitter profiles for residents in the North, South, and Central parts of Alberta.

Manager of Social Media Michelle Hagen says many Albertans are turning to social media to keep informed.

"It's not just a one way street. We're trying to engage with Albertans to hear from them about their health care interests and needs. This allows to have that two way conversation ," says Hagen.

To follow AHS in our region, search @AHS_Northzone on Twitter.com

Local kids taking part in the Edmonton Oilers Hockey camp were greeted by a special guest yesterday.

Oilers defensemen,Theo Peckham made a brief appearence at the camp.

Peckham tells Mix News its important for kids to know they can pursue a career in sports.

"I was teaching at this school maybe four years ago.And now I am where I am. So just give these guys and girls (the message ) there is places to go with hockey.Just follow it and love and game and you never know where it can take you," says Peckham.

Peckham says he came to Fort McMurray bacause of the strong Oilers fan base in the region.

Many residents took to Borealis park to leave their mark.

Tagapalooza, hosted by Wood Buffalo Parks Patrol,  will have the skate park covered in new graffiti.

Attendees included youth from the Boys and Girls Club and Girls Inc, including local tattoo artists.

Parks Patrols Kevin Mellon says, the completion of the new art work will unveiled on Sunday, where there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony and free barbecue.

All are welcome to paint and participate.

First Nation leaders are speaking out against a proposed Enbridge pipeline.

35 Dene Chiefs say the environmental risk of the Northern Gateway Project is too high.

The leaders from across the North and Alberta say the pollution caused by industry development will threaten their culture, land and traditional ways of life.

While Enbridge says the 5.5 billion dollar pipeline, which would run through Alberta to the British colombia coast, would  employ thousands and spur economic growth.

Ottawa is hoping to calm criticism of the oil sands.

Environment Minister Peter Kent says a national environmental monitoring plan, announced today, will provide scientific data on industry effect on air water and wildlife.

"To defend the product which some abroad are threatening to boycott. There is already as great deal of disinformation and mis information both within Canada and abroad.And were seeing it being used..to discriminate against the product of a great Canadian natural resource," says Kent.

Kent says the plan will increase scientific research and monitoring stations within all industry sectors.

The plan will cost an estimated 50 million dollars per year.

Keep the pedal off the medal.

The municipality is reminding drivers, speed censors have been installed at various intersections across the city.

Motorists speeding through green lights will receive a warning ticket in the mail pending a two-month warning period.

 The 'Go Slow on Green' campaign warning period begins August 1st and ends September 1st..

As Fort McMurray firefighters are dispatched to Ontario, nine blazes continue to burn in our district.

The massive fire in the Richardson back country stretches over 700,00 hectares of Boreal forest, an area larger in size than Prince Edward Island.

Sustainable Resource Development is reducing the wildfire risk to moderate as high humidity and heavy rainfall works to stifle the spread of flames.

Four members of Fort McMurray Fire Department were dispatched to Ontario this week.

Rampant wildfires there have caused the evacuation of more than 3,000 residents.

Albertans are cut ahead of other Canadians when to comes to their finances.

According a report by the Royal Bank of Canada, only 37 percent of provincial residents reported their budgets were strained by rising food and gas prices.

While the national average stands at 45 per cent.

Nearly half of Albertans reported they expect their financial situation to improve in the coming months.

Analysts says oil sands development is the catalyst for the province's comparative wealth.

One environmental group says the oil sands are not the answer to Canada's energy needs.

The Pembina Institute is reacting to the outcome of the Energy and Mines Ministers meeting in Kananaskiss.

Executive Director, Ed Whittingham says the leaders decision to call the oil sands a sustainable source of energy will stifle their plans to reduce green house gas emissions.

Provincial and federal leaders will be working together in the months to come to form a collaborative, streamlined policy for industry across the country.

The Northern Lights Health Foundation is celebrating.

More than $850,000 in donations were raised this year, far exceeding campaign goals.

Executive Director, Susanne Chaffey says a community reception last night was for the benefit of hardworking volunteers.

"Over three hundred volunteers with over three thousand hours volunteered with the organization, that's a huge saving for the foundation even at $10 and hour, you know its people like our volunteers and our donor's that really drive us," says Susanne

The Foundation also revealed its new brand last night, two linked rings, representing  unity and community.

An oil sands company on the verge of collapse has new backing from a chinese offshore oil corporation.

Amid plummeting stocks and failing investor confidence, Opti-Canada will be bought out by China National Offshore Oil Corp.

ts been a week since the Calgary based producer filed for bankruptcy protection.

A handful of customers remain in the dark in Gregoire.

ATCO  Electric officials say the outage which affected hundreds this morning..will be completely repaired within two hours.

 the outage is likely related to a break in the underground wiring network.

Repair crews are on site and the 25 customers still in the dark should have their lights back on by lunchtime.

As wildfires run rampant in Ontario, firefighters from Fort McMurray are suiting up to lend a hand.

Kent Jennings is one of the four crew members being dispatched to the region and says it feels great to help.

"We have an agreement all across Canada with all the provinces, the couple provinces which have a really high hazard we help each other out all the time," says Jennings.

The crew met with media before flying from the Fort McMurray Airport yesterday.

This as the Richarson Fire, the largest blaze Alberta has seen in over half a century, burns over 700,000 hectares of Boreal Forest.

In recent weeks, high humdity and increased rainfall has worked to stifled the spread of wildifres in our region.

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is benefitting from the comminutes generosity.

Miskinaw Golf Club along with their men's and ladies  group members raised $ 5300 at the golf club through 50/50 and raffle ticket sales.

The donations being collected are in support of this years Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure, taking place at MacDonald Island Park October 2nd.

As Wood Buffalo's population expands, health care providers are feeling the financial pressure.

Northern Lights Regional Health Foundation, Board Chair Dan Fouts was on had for community reception last night celebrating $850,000 in donations during this fiscal year.

Fouts tells Mix News the health care system is increasingly reliant on fundraising campaigns.

"Satellite communites in the camps, even though they don't live here, this centre still provides medical services to them. And so the combination of the growth here in Fort McMurray coupled with the growth in the outlying communities has put a tremendous strain on this health centre.

The Foundation also revealed its new brand, two linked circles , representing community and unity.

Hundreds of customers are without power in Gregoire.

ATCO  electric officials say the cause is being investigated but is likely related to underground wiring issues.

 Crews are on site and repairs should be complete within the hour.

Keyano College's Board of Directors is welcoming a new face to the table.

Suncor's Executive Vice President, Mark Little will serve on the board for three years.

Little says the college is uniquely positioned to benefit the region and capture the talent necessary to serve oil sands development.

Prior to accepting his current role, Little led Suncor operations on Canada's East Coast, the North Sea, Latin America and North Africa.

TELUS Fort McMurray is giving back to the community.

The Northern Lights Health Foundation was presented with a cheque for  $175,00 at the facility.

Vice President of the Northern Lights Region Health Centre Allen Bradley says, the donation will allow for the purchase of new equipment.

"These funds are dedicated to video gastroscopes and transnasal gastroscopes, its totally dedicated to that," says Allen.

The funds were gathered through the Optik TV campaign, in which a portion of every purchase was set aside for charity .

A pilot project from Connacher Oil and Gas is expected to boost bitumen production.

The company announced  yesterday, it has initiated the injection of solvent with steam on well to two of seven horizontal steam assisted gravity drainage well pairs at its site near Fort McMurray.

CEO Dick Gusella tells Mix News, if successful , the pilot will be instituted in other company facilities across Alberta.

It will take 30 to 90 days to determine the effectiveness of the project.

The local Boys and Girls Club is getting a big funding boost.

Telus providing a  $5,000 donation  to the YMCA program, as announced at the Riedel Street facility, yesterday.

Program Director, Nicole Dion tells Mix News the  money will be put to good use, purchasing supplies for the daycare facilites.

The non- profit club has a thirty year life in our community.

A Fort McMurray Mother is relying on God to help her grieve.

The mother of the Beck brothers , murdered at Borealis Park, says she is still in disbelief that her twins are gone.

Although police are releasing few investigative details, Lori Astley says she's confident the murders will be solved.

James and William Beck died of multiple stab wounds, June 26th.

The comments were made in an interview with the Telegram.

A Fort McMurray, is one of few, if not the first aboriginal woman to pass the bar in Alberta.

After more than seven years of University, the Associate lawyer with Campbell and Cooper, Corrie Flett was inducted into the Alberta Law Society on Friday.

Flett will be working with her firm to provide legal services to remote aboriginal communities across Wood Buffalo.

" (We will be) focusing on Fort Chip, Fort McKay Janvier and Conklin,  and providing free legal services. So I look forward to that, being able to give back, especially to my aboriginal community," says Flett.

Flett says being an aboriginal woman didn't challenge but empowered her success so far.

Flett received her degree in law from the University of Alberta.

A man is facing charges after a 16 hour stand-off in Eagle Ridge.

31-year-old Timothy Galliah, of Fort McMurray, has been charged with Possession of a Weapon for a Purpose Dangerous to the Public Peace and Careless Use of a Firearm.

Galliah  has been released on conditions and will appear in a Fort McMurray court room on July 27th.

The accused has also been admitted to hospital for a thirty-day psychological evaluation.

Local police remain tightlipped about the suspect behind a 15 hour standoff in Eagle Ridge.

The Saturday incident ended peacefully at 830 pm when Wood Buffalo RCMP say a man, armed with a long-barreled gun, was arrested without incident.

There were no people inside the home at the time of the arrest, and police say no shots were fires during the ordeal.

The tense situation that saw roughly 30 people evacuated and several streets shutdown for hours.

Have your say with the Municipality tonight.

A  Road Construction Open House is taking at the Regional offices at 5pm.

Concerned business operators and residents are welcome to provide feedback on downtown roadwork, parking and muncipal planning.

The weekly event was introduced after complaints over parking congestion from Franklin Avenue entrepreneurs temporarily halted construction on the busy street.

One Federal Minister says he won't be swayed by oil sands sponsorship.

Minister of Natural Resources, Joe Oliver responded to criticism of the Annual Energy Mines MInisters Conference during his visit to Fort McMurray, yesterday.

Oliver says conference sponsorship by Cenovus, Nexen and Enbridge won't corrupt the energy talks.

"This was something that was determined by the province of Alberta and we had no involvement in that, but I'm not going to be influenced by who payed for the canapes. This is a serious issue," says Oliver.

While critics, including Sierra Club Canada, say the presence of industry sponsors points to a corrupting influence in Canadian politics.

A Delegation of federal and provincial Ministers toured Syncrude and CNRL before attending a community reception at the Oil Sands Discovery Centre in Fort McMurray, yesterday.

North American Energy Partners Incorporated is signing on the dotted line.

The company announcing yesterday that they have been awarded with three new contracts including a five year civil construction and mining deal with Suncor.

The value of the contract is approximately $500 million dollars.

NAEP has also secured two new pipeline deals with a combined initial value of $92.5 million dollars.

The Municipality is providing a time line to residents for road construction in our city.

The intersection of Franklin Avenue at Main Street remains closed to traffic starting  as construction advances through the intersection.

This phase of construction is expected to last until July 26.

Meanwhile Marshall Street will be closed to traffic at the intersection from Prairie Loop Boulevard to Franklin Avenue until August 20th as a new phase of construction will begin tomorrow.

A scary situation for a Fort McMurray neighbour ended peacefully Saturday night.

An armed standoff between police and an armed male came to a conclusion at around 8:30 when RCMP and the K Division Emergency Response Team arrested the man without incident outside of a home in Eagle Ridge.

Police had responded to a call of a man possible armed around 5 am and quickly began evacuating residents and blocking off roads.

"At this time the male’s name is not being released, pending further investigation. Evacuated residents are being advised they may return to their homes at 10:00pm, at which time the roads will be unblocked," RCMP said in a press release.

The around 30 evacuees were provided basic needs through a centre established at St. Martha's school in Timberlea while the situation was resolved.

Wood Buffalo RCMP and the K Division Emergency Response Team continue to investigate a firearm at residence in Timberlea.

Constable Kyle Rose updated Mix News on the ongoing situation  

" We're still in the process of getting things under control, I believe at this point we do not have any other people inside the house except for the one individual himself, from what I have been advised there have been attempts to communicate with the man but anything further I am unaware of,"  Rose told Mix News.

Rose also says residents who were evacuated from their homes are now being told to proceed to Saint Martha's school if they choose to do so.

For public safety the Wood Buffalo RCMP have blocked access to Loutit Road and Eagle Ridge Gate.

Police have been on the scene since receiving a  complaint call at 5 am

Further details will be provided once they become available.

One Fort McMurray woman's entrance into the courtroom is being hailed as major accomplishment.

Municipal Councillors including Mike Allen and Don Scott were among the many community leaders to congratulate Corey Flett on her induction into the Alberta Law Society.

Flett is the first aboriginal, female lawyer to pass the bar in Alberta.

Wood Buffalo RCMP are currently involved in an investigation after receiving a complaint call at approximately 5:00am, involving a possible firearm at residence in Timberlea. 

Wood Buffalo RCMP and the K Division Emergency Response Team are currently on scene, and are investigating the incident.
 
For public safety the Wood Buffalo RCMP have blocked access to Loutit Road and Eagle Ridge Gate and have temporarily evacuated neighbors until the situation is resolved.
 
Further details will be released when available.

City staff are being encouraged to leave their vehicles parked at home.

Council has passed a motion giving all municipal employees free bus passes.

Mayor Melissa Blake says the move will ease traffic and parking congestion while reducing their green house gas emissions,"If we have more people on buses then the footprint per person is reduced, I think it is a positive win, win, win, win, win. As you reduce your fuel consumption that's a cost savign right off the bottom line."

This as administration looks to improve the transit system by possibly adding upgrades like heated shelters and real time bus information.

Youth in Wood Buffalo are being given access to unique learning opportunities.

Syncrude's donation of $500,000 to a pair of University of Alberta outreach programs, will help students from K to 12 through hands on learning.

The Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science and Technology program offers a six-week summer program that places Alberta youth in research labs that are non-traditional for their gender.

While the Discover E program, led by the Faculty of Engineering, helps students experience the excitement of engineering, science and technology.

The water levels are on the rise in Wood Buffalo.

The Regional Municipality is advising residents to be cautious near the rising Athabasca and Clearwater Rivers.

"Due to large amounts of rainfall in southern portions of the Province over the past few weeks, there has been a significant increase in the water levels of both the Athabasca and Clearwater rivers. As a result, it is unsafe for residents or workers to be near the shorelines or on the rivers at this time," the city said in a statement.

Emergency Management personnel and Alberta Environment officials are monitoring the situation closely.

Our MLA is accusing the Provincial Government of theft.

Guy Boutilier is responding to the potential of Wood Buffalo's borders being reduced to provide land to Alberta communities facing financial hardship.

"Well its my understanding , the PC's under Ed Stelmach and Lloyd Snelgrove are planning to take some of the major assessment base in the Conklin-Janvier area, for instance areas such as Cenovus, that's tax dollars that will help keep our taxes down," says Boutilier.

Mayor, Melissa Blake and council have sent a letter to Finance Minister Lloyd Snelgrove opposing the re-mapping.

The changes to the border stem from Cold Lake seeking boundary changes to  increase their tax revenue from the air force base.

Scientists will be putting the water you drink under the microscope.

A New Groundwater Working Group by the Cumulative Environmental Management Association will use test-wells to assess the quantity and quality of our region's watershed.

Executive Director, Glen Semenchuck says the oil sands pose a potential threat.

"A lot of people in the Regional Municipality rely on groundwater for a drinking source and also with the potential of it interacting with the surface water it can affect not only drinking water sources, but things like fisheries, fish habitat and the general well being of the Municipality ," says Semenchuck.

The working group receives funding from industry and government stakeholders.

An environmentally friendly initiative is being applied to the municipality's fleet of vehicles.

A Green Fleet Action Plan, approved by council this week, looks to reduce green house gas emissions by cutting fuel consumption among Wood Buffalo's nearly 600 vehicles.

The municipality will monitor the carbon footprint created by their vehicle fleet, and aim to reduce their GHG emissions by five per cent over three years.

A day after filing for creditor protection, a junior oil sands player is reporting improved output.

Opti-Canada, owner of a 35 per cent stake in Long Lake, says the in-situ project averaged nearly 28,000 barrels per day in the second quarter, compared to 25,500 bpd in Q1.

But, Opti says it does not expect to reach the 38,000 to 45,000 barrels per day average it had targeted for 2011.

The Calgary-based company has managed to restructure its debt to secure $375 million from investors.

Wood Buffalo's borders may be shrinking.

Municipal Council has been informed that theprovincial government is considering diminishing the region's boundaries, releasing unpopulated parcels of land along the southern border.

Mayor Melissa Blake says profit is the catalyst behind the potential changes.

Blake says council has written a letter to Treasury Board President and Finance Minister Lloyd Snelgrove expressing opposition to tthe idea and seeking to maintain the region's borders.

In the midst of widespread financial worries, Cold Lake is one community seeking to acquire additional land.

An online hacking group is targeting the oil sands.

"Anonymous" has launched a campaign against companies including Exxon Mobil, Conoco Phillips, Canadian Oil Sands and Imperial Oil.

Saying in a statement that they are joining the struggle against "Big Oil" and will actively seek leaks to expose corruption.

The group also supports environmental activists who are protesting this week against Imperial Oil transporting mega-sized loads along a scenic Montana highway to the Kearl project north of Fort McMurray.

"We will, over the course of the next few days, use the powers we posses to spread news about this scenario and the corporations involved," the online statement explains.

More frequent and in depth updates on the air you breath will now be available.

Thanks to the adoption of a modified Federal Air Quality Index, announced today.

The new system will provide hourly updates which include benchmarks for hydrogen sulphide and reduced sulphur.

The federal government worked with the province to provide better information for residents neighboring the oil and gas industry .

Fort McMurray and Fort McKay are among five communities to access the new system first.

A house in Newfoundland will require repairs after a car driven by an allegedly intoxicated Fort McMurray man crashed into it.

RCMP arrested the 22-year old yesterday after his car collided with a home and two vehicles in Norris Point yesterday, causing extensive damage.

No one was hurt and the man has been charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle.

Wood Buffalo Council has approved the construction of bus-only lanes on Confederation Way and Thickwood Boulevard.

Work to add a third eastbound lanes will begin immediately.

Council passed the project as they look to encourage oil sands workers to ride industry buses, leading to less highway congestion. 

Construction will be completed overnight and during low traffic hours to accommodate commuters.

The $13 million project is expected to be complete this fall.

A Fort McMurray man will return to court today charged in a fatal hit and run.

22-year old Mohammed Mourad, is charged with criminal negligence causing death and failing to remain at the scene after allegedly killing a 59-year-old man.

The victim, identified by family as Emile Powder, was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Morrison Street and Manning Avenue, March 24th.

Mourad fled, but turned himself into police half an hour later.

Meanwhile, a local man may pay a high price for an alleged drunken joy ride.

28-year old Christopher Harris faces six charges including impaired operation of a motor vehicle and mischief causing danger to life.

After police say he drove over curbs, through bus stops and fences and even narrowly missed pedisterians in a stolen truck in Timberlea, in April.

In an effort to alleviate congestion and speed up the commute to the oil sands.

Council will consider constructing a third eastbound lane on Confederation Way from Eagle Ridge to Highway 63 and Thickwood Boulevard from Ross Haven Drive to 63, solely for buses.

Administration recommends the motion to help ease the strain of traffic during peak times, therefore encouraging workers to ride the bus, rather than take their personal vehicles.

More then $2 million of the total $13 million in funding would come from the municipality's Capital Infrastructure Reserve, with the remaining $10.8 million being provided through Provincial Grants.

Meanwhile, the RMWB is thinking green.

A motion going before council tonight, could see the approval of a three-year Green Fleet Action Plan, which would analyze the greenhouse gas emissions from the city's nearly 600 vehicles.

The intent is to reduce the municipal carbon footprint within the entire region, and demonstrate the RMWB's commitment to sustainability.

Effective today, short-term traffic disruptions will occur in both directions, north of Confederation Way, for ongoing interchange construction.

Work on the $77.4-million second phase of the Confed and Thickwood Boulevard interchanges will be completed by fall 2012.

Home builders are busy in Fort McMurray.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation released it's June numbers yesterday, saying work began on 146 units last month, compared to 64 in June 2010.

The increase was also seen month-over-month, as foundations were poured on just 34 units in May.

Motorists are being advised to expect delays along Highway 63, north of the city.

Construction will cause traffic disruptions on both north bound and south bound lanes, north of the Confederation Way intersection.

Starting July 12, traffic will be detoured using temporary access lanes, until further notice.

Six Fort McMurray men are facing drug charges after three search warrants were executed this weekend.

On Saturday July 9, the Wood Buffalo RCMP ALERT Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit led the raids on a MacDonald Drive townhouse and two Hardin Street businesses.

A search of the townhouse resulted in the seizure of 284 grams of Khat, $1,420 cash, and evidence of drug trafficking. Eleven occupants were found within the residence. A search of the businesses resulted in the seizure of 352 grams of khat and further evidence of drug trafficking. Eleven males were found within the businesses.

Wood Buffalo Municipal Enforcement, Wood Buffalo Fire Department, and Alberta Health Services are conducting subsequent investigations at locations where the search warrants were executed.

Hawa HAJI-HEISI, 51, has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000. HAJI-HEISI has been released to appear in Fort McMurray court on July 12, 2011.

Abdiwali EGEL, 36; Said Abdulkadir ALI, 44; Mohamed ADEN, 47; Warsame Abdalle AWAD, 45; and Mohamed Hassan BAKAR, 40; have been charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Each person is scheduled to appear in Fort McMurray court on Sept 13, 2011.

While pleased with the recent announcement of a continuing care facility for Fort McMurray, our MLA still isn't convinced.

Guy Boutilier says he'll believe it when he sees it.

"We'll be watching closely, I'm still waiting for a shovel to go into the ground and to break the ground. Of course that still hasn't happened and here we are now in 2011." Boutilier told Mix News.

The province says shovels are expected to hit the ground this fall, with the 100-bed facility set to open in the fall of 2013.

Boutilier also denies that he was invited to the announcement, despite the office of Alberta's Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Jonathan Dennis, telling Mix News he was.

A new report suggests that an endangered migrating bird is being threatened by the oil sands.

Global Forest Watch Canada says the only remaining self-sustaining wild population of whooping cranes breeds in Wood Buffalo National Park.

And that oil sands development, including tailings ponds threaten the survival and recovery of the 270 birds.

The report says there is little evidence that the Governments of Alberta and Canada have adequately considered whooping cranes in the approval of industrial developments in the oil sands region.

Alberta's energy minister believes he can push the federal government in to actively promoting the Keystone XL Pipeline.

In an interview with CBC radio Ron Liepert says, he expects to meet with Natural Resource minister Joe Oliver before the energy ministers conference at the end of July.

Liepert is looking to gain support for Oliver and his peers to convince the Americans to approve the pipeline.

A decision from the U.S. State Department expected by the end of the year.

Telus communications is warning customers of recent computer security and phone scams.

The phone company recently noted an increase in the number of fraudulent phone calls to Canadians.

In many cases the "fraudsters" put themselves off as being from a well known software company or as a Telus representative trying to extract important information.

Telus is warning the public to be aware of this scam, and to not turn over personal information online or over the phone to anyone at anytime.

The Alberta Cancer Foundation will be one step closer to finding a cure for cancer.

Thanks to $85,000 contributed by Treaty 8 Chiefs of Alberta at the third annual Cut Rock Walk in Fort Chipewyan.

Organizer, Dar Cardinal looks forward to future events.

"Its a commitment I've made to my community, its an annual thing and it will not stop in five years, its a life time committment and I long to pursue it as long as I'm alive and as long as I'm well, I will do what I can to continue with this fund raiser for the Alberta Cancer Foundation," said Cardinal.

Thirty people participated in the first annual walk, this year organizers welcomed One Hundred plus participants.

Events Wood Buffalo is on the hunt for a new director after the resignation of one its major players.

Executive Director, Claude Giroux announced his resignation this week and will leave Fort McMurray in September.

Giroux says taking over as Director at Vancouver's Kay Meek Centre, is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"Its kind of for me about going back to what my training has all been about, as well as an opportunity to be closer to family back home to where I grew up in British Columbia," said Giroux.

Giroux will  however remain as Keyano Theatre's Artistic Director for one more year.

A Fort McMurray teenager says she is still in awe after a private conversation with the Royal Couple.

Randi Reid used to stay at the Stepping Stones Youth Home, one of several Alberta shelter's that received funding through Premier Ed Stelmach's wedding gift to Prince William and Kate.

"How I came to being in the shelter, what I'm doing now, what my future plans are. She commented on my outfit and wished me a happy birthday," said Reid, who celebrated her 18th birthday last week, of what was talked about during the five minute meeting.

Reid describes the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as "down to earth and very casual".

Adding that it is inspiring to see the Royal Couple so concerned about Canada's youth.

Reid has since moved back home and is now working towards university in the fall of 2012.

Residents of the Willow Square Duplexes are expressing mixed emotions when its comes to relocation.

All 42 of the downtown unite will be torn down in order to make way for a continuing care centre for seniors.

Resident Abbass Majed says there is an up and down side,"It's a good thing as long as we get better place to live in. It's a good thing I guess for old citiziens who get to live in a new place. It's also a bad thing as a bunch of people living in the houses have no where to go."

Zeinab Ali Hamed told Mix News it will be hard to leave the place she has called home for 13 years, "We did check out the houses and they're ok. It just kind of feels weird that we are moving to a new house. It feels weird that we're finding out that they are going to demolish the houses just because we have so many memories in them."

The homes are owned by the Wood Buffalo Housing and Development Corporation, who says everyone will be moved out by September 30.

The 100-bed facility is set to open in fall 2013.

Alberta added 22,000 jobs in June, but at the same time the unemployment rate edged up to 5.6 per cent.

Statistics Canada says that's because more of the province is looking for work.

Alberta's working population has grown more than twice the national pace since June of 2010, up 3.5 per cent compared to 1.4 per cent.

Nationally 28,000 jobs were created last night, while the unemployment rate was unchanged at 7.4 per cent.

Quest Oil Sands stocks are plummeting after the operator failed to find a financial partner.

The Calgary based company is reporting they may not survive beyond January 2012  as failing investor confidence undercuts company growth and operational funding.

Quest officials say their business future hinges on their ability to find a one billion dollar financial partner for projects in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The feasibility of their Wallace Creek and Axe Lake projects have been called into question by company backers and potential investors.

Quest holds deeds to more than 27,000 hectares of Alberta properties.

Fort McMurray residents will have the chance to look into the eyes of Canada's fallen soldiers.

The 'Portraits of Honour' mural, a tribute to Canada's 157 service members who lost their lives while serving in Afghanistan will be on display in our city September 2nd.

Portrait Committee Chair, Roger Hebblethwaite says the exhibit is a touching reminder of their sacrifice.

"The artist put about eighty hours into each portrait and when you look into the eyes you can just feel the person and understand who they were. And every person who sees it is completely moved. It's just an amazing piece of work," say Hebblethwaite.

Veterans or loved ones with a connection to these fallen military members are asked to call Hebblethwaite at call, 780-972-2988 or email, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Prince William and Kate will view the portrait during their visit to Calgary.

Fort McMurray votes are considered essential in one politicians race to replace the Premier.

Progressive Conservative leadership candidate, Gary Mar is in the midst of a two day campaign tour in Fort McMurray.

Mar tells Mix News, despite a low voter turn-out in our riding, our region still plays an integral role in provincial politics.

"This is a very important area because of the economic wealth that is created in this region that benefits not just this region, but the entire province, and would argue the entire country," says Mar.

Alberta's former official representative in Washington, will meet with business and community leaders as well as the general public during his visit to our city.

 (Public Works and Government Services Minister Rona

Ambrose was one of a handful of minsters to tour the oil sands.)

Ottawa agrees that the oil sands are driving Canada's economy.

A group of Federal Ministers toured Syncrude and Suncor today before meeting with stakeholders, community leaders, First Nations and environmental groups.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says, "Oil sands developments constitue the future engine of the Canadian economy."

"If we want to pay for our future health care and pensions and social programs, that revenue has to come from somewhere, increasingly it will be coming from the Athabasca Region," Kenney added.

Kenney says the government is committed to explaining to Canadians across the country, that the benefits aren't just being felt in northern Alberta.

Environment Minister Peter Kent, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Foreign Affairs Minister Diane Ablonczy were hosted by local MP Brian Jean.

Downtown residents will be moving out to make way for Fort McMurray seniors.

The construction of a 100-bed continuing care centre will mean the relocation of residents in 42 units in the Willow Square Duplexes.

Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Jonathan Denis says residents of the Hospital Street buildings are accepting the demolition of their homes.

" We haven't heard of any opposition, as of yet. But we try to work directly with the individual and his or her family and find newer options for them throughout the city. Its never good news when you have to move but at the same time we do have available housing and we actually are constructing new housing in the area with the Parson Creek Development," says Denis. 

Denis says all residents will be out by September 30th to allow for demolition of the buildings.

The new facility is expected to be move-in ready by late 2013.

Several Federal Ministers are in Fort McMurray today.

Mix News has learned that Rona Ambrose, Public Works and Government Services Minister, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Environment Minister Peter Kent, Diane Ablonczy, Minister of Foreign Affairs along with Fort McMurray-Athabasca MP Brian Jean are in our city.

No details of their visit have been released.

A fire that ripped through the town of Slave Lake is being called the second costliest disaster in Canadian history.

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, insured damages have so far reached $700 million.

Only an ice storm that hit Quebec and Ontario in 1998 caused more damage, $1.8 billion worth.

Meanwhile, among the recovery and rebuilding, a touch of royalty.

Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge will visit the town today to meet with residents and emergency workers.

Downtown Fort McMurray will be the site of a 100-bed continuing care facility.

The long-awaited announcement coming today that the Willow Square apartments, across from the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre will be torn down in order to house 30 long term care and 70 affordable designated supportive living spaces.

Alberta Seniors Minister Mary Ann Jablonski, says they encourage seniors to be as independent as possible.

"So we distinguish between our levels of care, allowing a senior to live a high quality of life in a more home like setting and thats the idea of our new continuing care facility," says Jablonski.

Alberta infrastructure has begun the process of selecting a contractor to design and build the facility, expected to open it's doors in the fall of 2013.

Its unknown what the facility will cost, but the Alberta Government will pay the entire amount.

An independent panel tasked with providing the province recommendations on how to improve environmental monitoring in the oil sands has submitted its report.

Those recommendations include the creation of an arm’s-length monitoring commission, which would act as a science-driven, independent organization with internationally-recognized experts to design and maintain the system, beginning in the Lower Athabasca Region.

The panel also placed emphasis on the importance of Alberta’s leadership role when working with federal counterparts to ensure there is no duplication of effort as it relates to monitoring activities.

Other recommendations include the creation of a publicly-accessible system for monitoring data and reporting, and increased Aboriginal input into the monitoring system design.

The full report is available online at http://environment.alberta.ca/03289.html

Wood Buffalo RCMP are looking for a man who hit a young girl, then left her at hospital.

Police say the girl was struck by a truck in the area of Hillside Gardens off Signal Road on the afternoon of June 26th.

It is unclear what the girl was doing at the time of the collision, but the driver stopped, put her in his truck and drove her to the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre where she was treated for a broken arm, bruises, cuts and scrapes.

The driver is described as:
- darker skin
- approximately 6' tall
- heavy set
- wearing dark shirt
- dark pants

The truck is described as:

- newer dark Dodge Dakota
- 4 doors

Downtown construction may create barriers for business.

The Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce is expressing concern that plans to remove parking along parts of Franklin Avenue will have adverse effects on street-front stores.

Chamber President Jon Tupper says businesses on Franklin have every right to be concerned that the city's plans could impact their flow of customers.

The Chamber says the project should be stopped until parking alternatives can be found.

A meeting between the two sides was due to take place last night.

A long-awaited update on the status of a continuing-care facility in Fort McMurray will come this afternoon.

A delegation of provincial ministers, including Gene Zwosdesky and Seniors Minister Mary Ann Jablonski are scheduled to make an

announcement regarding the 100-bed facility at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre at 4:00 pm.

In 2008 the government promised to build a $35 million dollar, 48-bed facility but has since delayed construction, suggesting Fort McMurray's population was too young.

Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLa Guy Boutilier became vocal over those delays, which eventually saw him fired from the PC Caucus by Premier Ed Stelmach.

Members of the Fort McMurray health care community are looking forward to some good news.

The province is expected to announce the location of a new 100-bed continuing care facility in Fort McMurray.

Minister of Infrastructure, Ray Danyluk and Minister of Health and Wellness, Gene Zwozdesky will be among the political leaders in attendance.

The announcement is expected tomorrow afternoon at the Northern Lights Health Centre.

A new four phase oil sands project is being pegged at 23 billion dollars.

In an update on the Frontier and Equinox mines, Calgary-based Silver Birch Energy says the mine is expected to eventually produce 277,000 barrels of bitumen per day.

The project is jointly owned by Silver Birch and Teck Resources Limited and a regulatory application has not yet been filed.

Located north of Fort McMurray, oil production at the mine is targeted for 2020-2021.

The Fort McMurray Fire Department is still investigating a rooftop fire.

Emergency crews responded to the Tower Apartments around 3 o'clock Thursday afternoon, where the roof of an attached convenience store was in flames.

Residents had to be evacuated as a precaution but fire did not reach the apartments.

No one was injured or displaced from their homes.

Amidst pressure from environmental groups, the province is unveiling a strategy to save woodland caribou.

The Government of Alberta has allocated more than 2 million dollars and identified more than four million hectares of new conservation habitat.

This as environmental groups seek a federal court injunction which would force immediate action to save dwindling herds in northeastern Alberta.

Environment Minister, Mel Knight says  the provincial strategy will work with industry leaders and First Nation communities to save the species at-risk for 25 years.

Rural postal workers may strike by years end.

The rural arm of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers will see their contract with Canada Post end on December 31st.

Rural workers are not allowed to strike under their current contract but are permitted to strike once it has expired by years end.

More than 7 thousand doctors in Alberta are still looking for a wage increase.

The Alberta Medical Association and the province were unable to finalize a new contract as the current agreement ended Thursday night.

Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky says the province and they AMA will continue to negotiate  for a new deal but the  two sides still cannot agree on wages.

Payments and benefits for doctors will  be extended for another year while negotiations are ongoing.

Alberta's youth are Speaking Out.

As part of the Alberta Student Engagement Initiative, 24 students have been selected to participate on the Minister of Educations Student Advisory Council for the upcoming school year.

Council members will act as ambassadors for Speak Out while receiving training in public speaking, leadership and facilitation training.

The Speak Out the Alberta Student Engagement Initiative was launched in November 2008 as a way to communicate with students about their education.

MacDonald island Park is closed to traffic as Canada Celebrations kick-off.

Free public transit, shuttles and park and ride services are only available today from 5pm to 1am and tomorrow from 5pm to 2am.

Park and ride locations include the downtown RBC, the Franklin Avenue Safeway, the Keyano College back lot , the provincial building and the Timberlea School.

Musical performances, a strong man competition and children's activities will take throughout the afternoon.

Wood Buffalo RCMP are now confirming that two teenage Fort McMurray twins were stabbed to death during an altercation at Borealis Park.

17-year olds James and William Beck were pronounced dead in hospital late Sunday night as a result of multiple stab wounds caused by an undisclosed weapon.

Police say they have multiple leads that investigators are following up on, but that releasing any further details could compromise the integrity of the investigation.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or has information about what happened Sunday night is asked to called police or Crime Stoppers.

The return of warmer weather has pushed up the risk of wildfires.

Alberta Sustainable Resources now says the chance of new blazes starting is high, compared to moderate.

There are eight active fires in the Waterways District, all are classified as either under control or being held.

Lightning is to blame for five of them, while one was sparked after six CN Rail cars jumped the tracks south of Anzac last week.

A "Stop Use Order" has been lifted at the Horizon oil sands site.

Canadian Natural Resources says it has worked closely with Occupational Health and Safety to improve safety and operational procedures following a January explosion.

With the order lifted, CNRL is one step closer to returning the project to full production, that's expected in late August.

Five workers were injured in the blast.

(Photo courtesy of Facebook.)

Family and friends will gather to say goodbye to twin brothers today.

17-year olds James and William Beck have been identified as the two teens killed at Borealis Park Sunday night, in what police will only describe, as a suspicious incident.

Friends claim the teens were stabbed in an altercation, RCMP haven't confirmed if the deaths were in fact homicides.

"William liked rap music and mechanics. James liked sports. Both of them liked hanging out with their friends and having a good time," Donna Reed, the twins aunt told Mix News.

The teens were set to graduate from Father Patrick Mercredi High School next year.

Autopsies were conducted yesterday, and results are expected soon.

A memorial will take place this afternoon at St. Paul Catholic Church.

As of Thursday morning nearly 1,800 people had joined a Facebook page in memory of the Beck brothers.

Two teenagers found dead at a downtown park are being remembered as kind and generous boys with unwaivering dedication to their mother.

While police remain tight lipped, family of 17-year-olds James and William Beck say the boys were killed Sunday night at Borealis Park.

Their aunt Donna Reed says the boys were active teenagers.

"They had extremely big hearts, extremely loyal and dedicated to their mom and their family. They were always willing to help out, and always lend a hand. If someone needed them they were there," says Reed.

Reed says William enjoyed rap music and mechanics, while James liked sports. Both enjoyed spending time together, and having fun, with mutual friends.

Reed says the community support for the family has been overwhelming.

A vigil has been set up at the park, while a memorial will take place tomorrow afternoon at St. Paul Catholic Church.

Wood Buffalo RCMP say autopsies will be conducted today.

What should be a celebration of graduation and school end, has turned to tragedy for many at Father Patrick Mercredi High School.

Students are mourning the loss of James and William Beck, twin brothers slated to graduate next year.

Principal, Gil Espejo says grief counsellors are on had to help both students and staff deal with their deaths.

"Its shocking, it shouldn't happen at anytime, especially in our community. I feel that our community is a very caring and safe community and for this to happen here or anywhere else for that matter is an absolute shock, I hope it never happens again," says Espejo.

Wood Buffalo beat out four other communities to host the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games.

Minister of Tourism , Parks and Recreation, Cindy Ady made the suprise announcement at MacDonald Island Park today.

Ady says Wood Buffalo has what it takes to host more than 22-hundred athletes and officials at the world class event.

"Does the community have the heart and the spirit to really lift and make the Games exciting and fun for all of Western Canada? And this area definitely has that capacity," says Ady.

Ady also announced the province will provide more than 1.5 million dollars to help the municipality prepare for the event.

(Photo courtesy of Facebook page in memory of Beck twins.)

Autopsies are scheduled to take place today on teenage twin brothers killed at Borealis Park late Sunday night.

Wood Buffalo RCMP have not released any details surrounding their deaths, saying only that they responded to a report of an assault.

But friends, who have identified the teens as James and William Beck, say they were stabbed during a fight.

If confirmed, their death's would be Fort McMurray's first homicides of the year.

Flowers and other items have been laid at the scene.

A memorial for the Beck brother's is planned for tomorrow afternoon at St. Paul Catholic Church.

The province is taking interest in Wood Buffalo's bid to host the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games.

Alberta's Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Cindy Ady will meet with the local Bid Committee at MacDonald Island Park at noon.

If successful in it's bid, Wood Buffalo would welcome more than 2,500 young athletes to our region in August 2015.

Imperial Oil is closer to getting it's stalled shipment of massive modules to the Kearl oil sands project.

On Monday, a retired judge recommended that the company be issued permits to move the oversized loads from the Port of Lewiston to the Montana border on U.S. Highway 12.

Opponents argued before the state Transportation Department in April, citing environmental concerns and the potential that the loads may block emergency vehicles.

Duff McKee concluded that none of the complaints or issues raised by the protesting parties were sustained.

The deaths of two local teenagers is being described as shocking.

Kim Jenkins is the superintendent of the Fort McMurray Catholic School Board, and says grief counsellors are being provided to help the friends of James and William Beck, cope with the teen's deaths.

"The school made contact with the closer friends of the boys and said if they needed help to come into the school, there is counsellors here for them. We went from shock to trying to help as much as they could," Jenkins told Mix News.

With Merc's Class of 2011 set to graduate tomorrow, Jenkins says the deaths of the grade 11 students will certainly be felt during what would normally be a celebration.

The Beck brothers were pronounced dead at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre late Sunday night.

Wood Buffalo RCMP have released few details, saying only that they are treating the incident as suspicious, and were called to the downtown park after a complaint of an assault.

A memorial is planned for Thursday at 2:00 pm St. Paul Catholic Church.

Wood Buffalo RCMP remain tight lipped about the death of two males at Borealis Park.

Police were called to the area after a report of an assault around 11:15 Sunday night.

They found two males, who were transported to hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

RCMP have released few details, saying only that the incident was suspicious.

However, friends have identified the victims as 17-year old twin brothers, William and James Beck.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 788-4000 or CrimeStoppers.

The Municipality is facing a roadblock in its plans to streamline downtown traffic.

The city is attempting to acquire a small area of land owned by River Pointe Shopping Centre Investments, as it impedes the west extension of Prairie Loop Boulevard.

But to date, both parties remain far apart in terms of financial compensation.

At tonight's meeting, council will vote on a recommendation to initiate expropriation in order to secure the site at 36 Riedel Street.

The RMWB says expropriation is a last result, and that a deal may still be reached.

Meanwhile, council will also vote on an amendment to raise the roof on Abrams Land.

A land-use bylaw, if approved, will allow for the construction of buildings 39 metres high, which would accommodate architectural features such as a steeple on a church.

The current maximum height permitted, is 12.2 metres.

The site has been approved to support the development of faith centres, a continuing care facility and a municipal recreation facility.

Postal service will resume Tuesday after back-to-work legislation was passed by the Senate on Sunday.

The bill imposes a four-year contract for the workers, with wage increases that the Canadian Union of Postal Workers says were less than those offered by Canada Post during negotiations.

But, President of the Local Union, Dana Gabriel says wages mean little to 87 local members returning to work tomorrow.

"This battle wasn't about wage increases. Once we saw the employers demands, we focused on other issues. This last round hasn't really been about money at all. We would have taken zero and kept our benefits," says Gabriel.

Canada Post says it will take some time to stabilize operations and  return to normal delivery standards.

87 local union members held a final downtown rally today.

Rain has yet to smother nine active wildfires in our region.

Albert Sustainable Resource Development has reduced the wildfire risk in our region from extreme to moderate.

However, those same rain clouds that have dampened the undergrowth and fuel for the fires have brought lightning strikes, which are responsible for sparking at least four blazes in our district .

The massive Richardson Fire remains stable in size, covering more than 613,000 hectares of Boreal Forest.

While the fire closest to our city, stands at 100 hectares.

The banks of the Athbasca River are shrinking, as water levels rise well above the monthly average.

The high water mark below Fort McMurray is more than five metres, an increase of more than half a metre in the last week.

Alberta Environment spokesperson, Carrie Sancartier says the province has seen days of heavy rain.

"There have been advisories and flood watches and warnings to the west of the province, but the levels in Fort McMurray area at this point at not at a level requiring any kind of advisory," says Sancartier.

Sancartier says there is no risk to nearby homes or infrastructure.

Sherwood Park's Danny Sahl overcame all the elements to win the inaugural Syncrude Boreal Open.

Sahl beat the heat, the rain and the wind to finish -16 at the Fort McMurray Golf Club, the first time professional golf was played in our city since the late 1980's.

"On the weekend I didn't look at the leaderboard so that was kind of my game plan. I had no idea I had a six shot lead," said an emotional Dahl on the 18th green after the trophy presentation.

The Canadian Tour veteran took home a cheque for $24,000 dollars for his first professional win.

Meanwhile, Fort McMurray's Stuart Anderson shot a six over 78 Sunday to finish two over in a tie for 41st.

"I think I was a little fatigued at the end of the week, especially yesterday and today. I'm an athlete I can't blame it on that, you know, I had a really good week, the tournament, the community really supported it.

The Canadian Tour makes its next stop in Calgary.

Opposition to the Keystone Pipeline is heating up.

Environmentalists are planning a series of August protests, in Washington, aimed at keeping Alberta oil away from the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Residents are being advised of upcoming speed limit reductions.

Starting July 1st the speed limit on Highway 63 will be changed from 80 to 60km/h north of Fort McMuray to south of Fort McKay.

Reductions are being made due to highway realignment and bridge construction, which is expected to last until October 31'st.

A CN Rail train derailment is the cause behind a new wild fire 10 kilometres south of Gregoire Lake.

Alberta Sustainable Resource says the fire is classified as being held at 26 hectares.

Airtanker groups were deployed to the area on Thursday and were able to establish a strong perimeter to contain the fire from spreading.

Six cars jumped the tracks south of Anzac on Thursday, resulting in a sulfur leak.

Keyano College is suspending both the Music and Music Instrument Repair programs for the 2011-2012 school year.

Announcing last night that it will look at options for re-designing the Music class, which could include enhancing the program's collaboration and coordination with the public and private school systems.

Keyano says existing students will be able to complete their studies in both programs, but that new students will not be accepted.

Enrollment in the Instrument Repair course has been weak, with Keyano saying only two students from Wood Buffalo have graduated in the past five years.

Adding that substantive changes in design and or approach are needed.

President and CEO Kevin Nagel  says the impacts to faculty will be minimal.

The massive wild fire in the Richardson back country is causing the closure of 2 bridges.

Effective immediately the Richardson and Firebag bridges on the Fort Chipewyan winter road have been closed to all traffic, according to Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

An inspection of the Richardson bridge, bylaw officers revealed severe damage to the bridge deck, rendering the bridge impassable.

Woodland Caribou herds are dwindling in northeastern Alberta.

Ecojustice, on behalf of the Pembina Institute and Alberta Wilderness Association, is seeking a federal court inunction to protect essential habitat north of our city.

Conservation Specialist with Alberta Wilderness Association, Nigel Douglas says caribou have been considered a species at risk for 24 years.

"But yet there's  been virtually nothing done in over all of  that time to address that issue. We now know that there's around 16 caribou herds left in Alberta , of the 13 of that have accurate data for them, we know that 10 of those are definitely declining," says Douglas.

The federal government has committed to proposing a national caribou recovery strategy by summers end, something many environmentalists aren't willing to wait for.

Wood Buffalo RCMP are investigating after a downtown hit and run incident.

Police say a youth was struck by dark coloured van while riding his bike on Hospital Street at approximately 11 o'clock Wednesday.

After striking the child, the driver then got out of his vehicle, pulled the bike out from underneath the van , picked up the boy from the ground and told him to go home.

The vehicle is described as dark colored Ford Freestar, with tinted windows.

While the driver is described as heavy set male of arabic descent with a disfigured lip.

The young man was taken to hospital for treatment but sustained only scrapes and bruises in the accident.

More than just hockey fans are cheering on Hockey Night in Canada's Play On.

With Fort McMurray set to host the 4-on-4 street hockey tournament at MacDonald Island Park this weekend, the Alberta Policy Coalition for Cancer Prevention has released a statement saying it appualds the city for shutting down road space.

Co-Director Dr. Kim Raine says when community's allow temporary street closures for events such as Play On, it showcased their commitment to support the health of residents by promoting physical activity.

A train is derailed south of Anzac.

CN Rail is confirming six cars came off the tracks at approximately 12:30 this afternoon.

Highway 881 is closed to traffic in both directions and rail service has been halted in the region.

A sulfur spill was caused by the crash.

Company officials Wood Buffalo RCMP, Environment Canada and are on the scene.

The cause of the accident  is unclear, an investigation is ongoing.

Postal workers say a Harper government solution to a nationwide lock-out is less than fair.

A pending back-to-work bill legislates wage increases that fall, in total $35 million below the latest four-year offer from Canada Post.

President of the local Union of Canadian Postal Workers, Dana Gabriel says the conservative government is setting a dangerous precedent.

"Typically they're (the Harper Government) for big business. They don't care about the small or medium sized business. They think that they're doing good for the economy by creating two classes of people, the 'haves' and the 'have-nots', "says Gabriel.

As the bill sparks heated debate in the House of Commons , the Union is reporting negotiations with Canada Post have come to an utter standstill.

Fort McMurray's aboriginal youth are a provincial priority.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Wood Buffalo  is receiving more than 238-thousand dollars from the province  to operate its Full Circle Mentoring Program.

Executive Director, Danielle Murgatroyd says the funds will help keep traditions alive for future generations.

"I think were one of kind. As right now were the only program that serves aboriginal youth in trying to bring them back into their culture," says Murgatroyd.

Program participants are immersed in workshops about traditional dance, folklore and handicrafts while learning from First Nation elders and community leaders.

Murgatroyd says funding will sustain the program for three years.

To coincide with the growing number of nationalities that make up Fort McMurray's diverse population, Suncor is investing in books and programs that support multiculturalism.

Executive Vice President of Oil Sands Mark Little annoucning a $10,000 donation to the Fort McMurray Public Library at last night's Community Reception, "As we go on our journey of growth and all the growth in the community it's really to try and help the library get books about multiple cultures. To celebrate the cultures who are already here and to help people who are coming integrate into the community, also for us to understand their cultures."

Little also outlined the Wood Buffalo Community Building Project. Partnering with University of Waterloo, the initiative is aimed at growing the non-profit and social capacity in Fort McMurray.

Firefighters are one step closer to taming wildfires in north eastern Alberta.

Alberta Sustainable Resource Development is reducing the wildfire risk in our region from high to moderate, as wet weather dampens forest undergrowth which fuels fire growth.

While the Richardson Fire remains stable in size.

The biggest blaze Alberta has seen in over half a century covers more than 613,000 hectares of Boreal forest.

The fire closest to our city, adjacent to Super Test Hill is under control at 100 hectares.

More than 600 firefighters from across Canada are working in our region.

A Fort McMurray man is facing a life sentence for the murder of a local man.

Gerald Robert Ryan plead guilty to murder in 2nd degree and was sentenced to life, with thirteen years parole ineligibility.

The forty-year old victim, Barry Patrick Head was found dead in an abandoned pick-up truck south of Anzac in 2006.

The truck belonged to Ryan and was a key link in the police investigation.

Ryan's DNA will be registered in a provincial database.

The province is looking to keep your eyes on the road.

Distracted driving legislation, in effect September 1st, prohibits the use of handheld devices, reading, writing and personal grooming while behind the wheel.

This as Greyhound Canada investigates viral video footage, showing a driver texting and taking photos while navigating Highway 63.

In a statement released to Mix News, Greyhound said the actions are a definite breach of their policy and that they have identified the driver to determine appropriate disciplinary actions.

The local branch of Greyhound declined to comment.

Foul play is not suspected in the case of young man, discovered dead in a Timberlea pond.

Wood Buffalo RCMP are treating the incident as a non suspicious, sudden death.

Investigators are still awaiting the completion of a toxicology report.

The body is being identified  as that of a young male in his late teens but will not release his name at the request of the family.

The deceased was discovered near Plamandon Drive in the Prospect Point area, last Thursday.

Alberta is leading the way when it comes to population growth.

Statistics Canada reporting today that as of April 1st, our province's population had reached 3,758, 200 increase of just under half a percentage point from the start of 2011.

Nationally, 34,349, 200 people now call Canada home, up over 70,000 people since January 1st.

An autopsy on the body of a young man discovered in a Timberlea pond is complete.

The Edmonton Medical Examiners Office is confirming to Mix News that the results have been finalized and handed over to local police.

Wood Buffalo RCMP are identifying the body only as that of a young male in his late teens, but will not release his name at the request of the family.

A cause of death has not been released.

Greyhound is investigating after a Fort McMurray man posted an online video of a bus driver allegedly using his smart phone while behind the wheel.

David Sabine notes on You Tube that the driver read a text and snapped about a dozen pictures of the sunrise out the window, gently swerving over the lines the entire time.

He says he originally attempted to contact the driver directly but that Greyhound repeatedly hung up on him.

In a statement released to CTV News, Greyhound said the actions are a definite breach of their policy and that they have identified the driver to determine appropriate disciplinary actions.

You can view the video here.

Pending back-to-work legislation is beginning to dampen the spirits of local postal workers.

The federal government could mandate an end to the two week labour dispute as early as this Thursday.

President of the local Union of Canadian Postal Workers, Dana Gabriel says the federal legislation ignores the labour movement and serves Canada Post.

Gabriel says 87 local members are feeling financially strained.

"Payday is coming up and I think some of them are getting zero or negative paychecks. They're actually owing money, so the pressure is starting to hit home a bit, but other than that the mood is pretty good on the picket lines, there's s a lot of public support so it bolsters our mood," says Gabriel.

48,000 unionized postal members are facing a nationwide lock-out by the crown corporation.

The Fort McMurray Catholic School Board is taking a gamble.

A 2011-2012 operating budget, approved last night , includes a projected deficit of 2.9 million dollars.

Superintendent Kim Jenkins says they're hopeful political forces will sway the province to improve funding in the coming year.

"Were gambling that we will be able to carry a larger deficit this year, so that we can reduce as much as possible any impact in the classroom, in the hope that it wont be as bad as we think next year, now if its then we'll have to deal with and we'll have to make some tough decisions," says Jenkins.

Non-essential building maintenance, travel and administrative costs are being slashed as the board dips into its financial reserves.

After more than a month, firefighters have finally gained the upper hand on the biggest blaze Alberta has seen in over half a century.

The Richardson Fire, detected May 14th, is no longer listed as out of control, instead, the 613,000 hectare fire is classified as being held.

Alberta Sustainable Resource Development says with current weather conditions and resources, the fire is not expected to grow significantly in size.

However, crews will continue back burning operations and smoke will still be present in northeastern Alberta.

Local police are on the hunt for two young men.

RCMP say the suspects are wanted for a stabbing that occurred at the Tavern on Main June 10th.

Two males and a female were standing outside the Tavern around 11:30 pm when a car pulled up, two males go out and attacked one of them. His friend stepped in to help, the attackers took off, and the victims were treated in hospital for multiple non-life threatening injuries.

The suspects are described as caucasian, around five-foot-nine with average builds, wearing baseball caps, t-shirts and jeans. Their vehicle is described as a dark compact or mid-size car.

Anyone with information is asked to call RCMP at 788-4000 or Crime Stoppers.

Don't fall back on your bill payments.

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is reminding residents that during the continuing Canada Post strike,  you may not receive proper paperwork to pay your bills.

Residents are encouraged to use other sources such as online banking, telephone banking, or direct withdrawl.

The municipality would also like to remind residents that property tax is due on June 30th.

Rain and cooler temperatures are lending a hand in extinguishing wild fires in our region.

The fire burning in the Richardson back country has shown no significant growth and is now burning at 609,150 hectares.

The 10,944 hectare fire burning north of Fort Mckay is also being included in Richardson blaze.


There now  7 fires burning in our region.

If your worried about not receiving your government cheques, worry no more.

The Canadian Union of Postal workers announced that volunteer workers will deliver federal and provincial government cheques on Monday.

Before the postal strike, a national agreement had been made to process and dispatch cheques for northern Alberta, north eastern BC and the North West Territories.

With the Alberta Progressive Conservative leadership race officially on.

We now know when Premier Ed Stelmach's replacement will be chosen.

The primary election will be staged September 17, with a second ballot, if required, coming on October 1st.

Meanwhile, Fort McMurray will stage one of eight Tory leadership debates this summer, on August 11th.

Pockets of people all around the word will be protesting the oil sands today.

International "No Oil Sands Day" will have demonstrators from across North America, Europe and Australia are taking a stand against Alberta industry.

The campaign decries mining in our region, saying it demolishes natural habitats, contaminates waterways while emitting enormous amounts of C02 into the atmosphere.

Protests are planned in Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal and Ottawa as well.

As the emotional roller coaster continues for many Slave Lake residents a generous contribution from the province may ease their sorrows.

6.3 million dollars is being provided by the government to help build 70 rental units, for low to moderate income residents.

Although no time line for completion has been provided, families can expect to move in early in 2012.

RCMP have identified the body of a male believed to be in his late teens found floating in a Timberlea pond.

Police retrieved the body shortly after 11 o'clock yesterday morning, after a resident called in the disturbing discovery.

Police say next of kin has been notified, but are not releasing the deceased's name.

An autopsy by the Edmonton Medical Examiner's Office will be conducted to determine cause of death.

The body was found in a pond at in the Prospect Pointe neighbourhood.

The next premier of Alberta will be in Fort McMurray this summer.

But, while we know when, we don't know who.

One of eight Tory leadership forum's will be staged in our city Thursday August 11th.

The race to replace Ed Stelmach officially starts tonight at 5:00 pm with the opening of nominations for  Conservative leadership.

The primary election is scheduled for September 17th with second and third ballots, if necessary, planned for the 27th and October 1st.

The names put forward for Conservative control so far are:  Doug Griffiths, Doug Horner, Gary Mar, Ted Morton, Rick Orman, and Alison Redford.

A Fort McMurray teen will be among seven students to receive high provincial recognition today.

Stephen Reimer, of Composite High School will be presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Citizenship Medal in Edmonton this afternoon .

The medal recognizes outstanding community service and volunteerism.

The risk of new wildfires is lower thanks to a good day of rain.

ASRD decreased the fire hazard from extreme to low yesterday.

But the wet weather hasn't done much to dampen the damage done by the massive Richardson Fire.

Alberta's biggest blaze is over half a century is listed as out of control at nearly 610,000 hectares.

Yesterday, airtankers, including the DC-10, a converted jetliner, were used to establish retardant lines to limit the spread of flames to the west as crews cotninue to secure the south side, closest to industry.

Hundreds of firefighters continue to  battle seven active wildfires in our region.

Alberta Sustainable Resource Development is reducing the risk in our region from extreme to high.

Wildfire Information Officer, Whitney Exton says the much-needed rain falling over the region today will help in the fight against Alberta's  largest blaze.

"It will dampen the vegetation and the fuel on the ground . And with the humidity and the cooler temperatures it affects how intense the fire itself is and that can help reduce the spread of the fire," says Exton

But despite the wet weather the Richardson fire is still growing and is now listed at 609,000 hectares.

Postal workers are planning on breaking the pickets lines.

President of the local Union of Canadian postal Workers, Dana Gabriel says they will deliver government social assistance checks upon arrival, Monday.

Gabriel says they want to to make sure Wood Buffalo residents and Canadians as whole are well cared for.

"Our fight is with Canada Post , our fight isn't with the customer and we don't want to inconvenience our seniors and people that depend on this money," says Gabriel.

The Government of Alberta is implementing an emergency mail plan, where provincial offices will serve as postal centres.

As the Federal government pledges to legislated an end to the two-week labour dispute.

Wood Buffalo RCMP are investigating after a body was found in Timberlea pond.

The body of an unidentified male believed to be in his late teens was discovered in the small body of water around noon today.  

Police tape has been put up around the pond in Prospect Pointe area, adjacent to the Prospect View Apartments located at 101 Plamondon Drive.

RCMP also said they could not rule anything in, or out, in regards to a cause of death.

More details as they become available.

(Canucks fan sets light to police car during downtown riot. Photo courtesy of Facebook.)

Vancouver's poor performance on the ice was made worse by the shameful scene on the streets by it's fans.

Riots erupted following Boston's 4-0 victory over the Canucks last night in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Violence broke out in parts of downtown where cars, including police vehicles, were flipped over and torched, windows were smashed and stores looted.

Police fired tear gas, pepper spray and flash bombs last night in an attempt to disperse the crowd.

Meanwhile, a Facebook page has been set up calling on residents to post their photos, in hopes that rioters may be identified, which could lead to charges.

The scene was similar to that of 1994, when the Canucks also fell is game 7 of the Cup Final, that time to the New York Rangers.

Unionized urban postal workers may soon be back on the job, whether they like it or not.

The federal government served has served notice that it intends to introduce back-to-work legislation to end a labour dispute between Canada Post and it's 48,000 locked-out employees, that action could be implemented by Friday.

Meanwhile, until then, the Alberta Government is activating an emergency plan to ensure the flow of mail is maintained.

Those who need to send mail to a government department can deliver it to their nearest provincial office, no stamps will be required.

An early morning drug deal isn't paying off for four Edmonton residents.

Wood Buffalo RCMP reporting that they pulled over a car around 4 o'clock, suspecting it had been involved in a narcotics transaction.

They were right, inside police found a loaded handgun, a stun gun and an undisclosed amount of crack cocaine.

The suspects, all in their early 20's now face numerous drug and firearm charges, one was released on bail while the remaining three have been remanded.

Fort McMurray ranks second to Vancouver, BC as Canada's most expensive housing market.

According to Coldwell Banker's Home Listing Report, the average four-bedroom, two-bathroom home sold for $652,382 dollars between September 2010 and March of this year.

The west coast continues to be the priciest place to live, with a similar home averaging north of $1.5 million.

Diversified Transportation will make another stop in Fort McMurray court today.

The bus company was charged in March for allegedly failing to store hazardous waste and recyclables properly.

Two company employees are also on the hook for failing to provide information requested by an investigator, interfering with an investigation and instructing an employee to not provide documents.

The charges were laid by Alberta Environment.

Firefighters are taking the good with the bad.

Fort McMurray finally received rain yesterday, albeit a light amount, but the clouds also created lightning which is being blamed for one of two new blazes sparked on Tuesday. The locations of the 35 hectare fire, and a much smaller blaze aren't yet listed.

Meanwhile, crews continue to contain the south side of the monster Richardson Fire, closest to oil sands operations.

The biggest blaze our province has seen in over half a has increased in size to nearly 580,000 hectares.

An increase of Aboriginal workers in the oil sands industry is proving to be very beneficial for business.

A survey by the Oil Sands Developers Group shows over 1,700 aboriginal people were employed full-time in the oil patch last year.

"Through the work of Aboriginal people and with the support of oil sands firms the capacity has grown. So year over year, more and more aboriginal people are getting more training , more education, that allows them into the workforce," said OSDG President Don Thompson.

By partnering with oil sands operators, local aboriginal companies have earned more than $5 billion since 1998.

In 2010 alone, oil sands companies contributed $5.5 million to aboriginal communities in Wood Buffalo and the Lac La Biche region.

Postal workers in Fort McMurray are protesting cost saving measures implemented by Canada Post.

A dozen union members gathered on Hardin Street this morning.

President of the Local Union of Canadian Postal Workers, Dana Gabriel represents 87 local employees.

"We've been locked out. The corporation went to a Monday, Wednesday, Friday delivery and cut back out hours," says Gabriel.

Gabriel says volumes are down in our city, but not enough to warrant major cuts in staffing levels.

 Fort McMurray's lone Catholic High school is getting some bad grades.

The Fraser Institute lists Father Patrick Mercredi as one of forty schools that have failed to provide adequate post-secondary preparation and failed to improve over five years.

But Superintendent , Kim Jenkins says the conservative think-tank has a narrow view of student performance.

"The key thing to remember here is, for us,  if you drill down into our results you'll see that  the top kids continue to very, very well. However, what we found, where the slippage was, the average kids weren't doing as well as we might like them to do," says Jenkins.

The Fraser Institute also listed Fort McMurray Composite High School as an institution that needs improvement.

What started as a 16,000 hectare wildfire north of the Fort Chipewyan winter road access point, has grown to one of the biggest blazes in Alberta's history.

The Richardson Fire was detected exactly a month ago, and since May 14th, has spread to nearly 572,000 hectares, a growth of more than 35 times it's original size.

Alberta Sustainable Resource Development is reporting good progress continues on the south side closest to oil sands sites, with minimal growth noted yesterday.

Almost 800 firefighters from across Canada and as far away as Mexico are fighting the three fires that make up the Bitumont Complex.

Two local golfers will play in Fort McMurray first professional event in over 20 years.

Kyle Pardy and Shane Williams will have the opportunity to test their skills against the Canadian Tour pros in the inaugural Syncrude Boreal Open.

Pardy won today's qualifier, shooting an  81, while Williams was one shot back.

The event gets underway at the Fort McMurray Golf Club, June 23rd.

For the nearly 700 students registered for Holy Trinity High School, summer couldn't end quickly enough.

Kids got their first look at the 45-million dollar Catholic school Saturday.

Principal Lucy Moore says the tour is important for students.

"I think its great. I was really excited to be able set up the tour because I know how important it is for them to be able to get kind of settled in their school and at least knowing where their classrooms are and what the school looks like is really going to help them for next year," says Moore.

The state of the art facility includes a performing arts centre and two gyms where the Northern Knights sports teams will play their home games.

An Air Canada strike may be looming but you can still smoothly navigate the skies.

Fort McMurray travel Agency , Vision 2000 clients are being advised to check-in early, online to avoid any delay at the airport.

Office Manager, Rachel MacDonald says travelers should see minimal effect if 3-thousand plus customer services agents walk off the job.

As long as passengers do show up, or do check in online either by the their blackberry of another online application. There should be very minimal issues at the airport," says MacDonald.

If contract negotiations between the airline and the Canadian Auto Workers Union fail,  employees will walk off the job at midnight .

A Fort McMurray man is dead after police believe he crashed his quad into a tree.

The 25-year old unidentified victim was killed early Sunday morning in the vicinity of McLeod Flats south of Grande Prairie.

RCMP say he and a friend had left their campsite on quads to attend a nearby party, but that he drove out of sight and failed to show up.

The friend discovered the victim's body around 7 am.

An investigation indicates that the man failed to negotiate a curve in the road, and drove into the bush.

Alcohol is believed to have been a factor.

Alberta's biggest wildfire in over 60 years is still growing, with some help from its flaming friends.

The Richardson Fire joined a blaze north of Fort McKay this weekend, and is now listed at almost 572,000 hectares.

Around 700 firefighters are working around the clock to battle it and four other fires in our region.

Alberta Sustainable Resource Development says there has been little growth on the southern portion of the blaze, closest to oil sands operations.

While crews managed to successfully save several backcountry cabins to the northeast.

Prior to the start of the season, LeBron James took his talent to South Beach, but it was the skill already in Dallas that led the Mavericks to their first ever NBA Championship.

The Mavs beating the Heat 105-95 last night to clinch the NBA title in six games.

Dirk Novitzki scored 21 points and was named Finals MVP.

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17 local golfers will attempt to qualify for a spot in Fort McMurray's first professional event in over 20 years today.

The Fort McMurray Golf Course is hosting a Monday Qualifier...with two spots up for grabs in the inaugural Syncrude Boreal Open, starting June 23, 2011.

Meanwhile, Fort McMurray's own Stuart Anderson, a three-time winner on the Canadian Tour came second Sunday at the Western Championship in Kamloops.

He took home a cheque for $12,000 dollars.

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The Canucks are one win away from their first ever Stanley Cup.

Game six between Vancouver and the Bruins goes tonight in Boston.

Penhorwood Apartment residents are seeking damages from an increasing number of parties.

A now bankrupt, new home warranty program and its insurer will be among 26 defendants facing a class action lawsuit by displaced owners

Condo Board president, Christine Burton says owners who walk away from their mortgages, in light of mounting evacuation losses,  will face financial ramifications.

"It's not like you can just walk away and hand over the keys to your property. The CMHC will then try to collect on the debt by going after things like bank accounts and personal possessions . And that was a bit suprising to people. People don't read the fine print in the documents they sign," says Burton.

Burton says it's important the Board educate owners now about their financial options.

Two  class action lawsuits are underway, seeking reimbursement for alleged negligence in construction and seeking losses incurred by tenants during the evacuation process.

(Firefighter battling Richardson Fire. Photo courtesy Alberta

Wildfire Info.)

The biggest wildfire this province has seen is over half a century continues to burn out of control.

At over 468,000 hectares, the monster Richardson Fire is burning from around 60 kilometres north to just south of Fort Chipewyan.

Yesterday crews continued to construct fire guards on the south and west sides of the blaze, while the massive Martin Mars water bomber attacked the flames to the east and northeast.

The DC-10, a converted jetliner, capable of carrying 45-thousand litres of fire retardant, gel, foam or water is also now helping in the fire fight.

Its lights out across Gregoire.

The Gregoire Industrial park, the Gregoire Trailer Park and the Prairie Creek area are with out electricity.

ATCO electric officials are working to restore service to the mainline which was damaged by an unknown third party.

Repairs should be complete within four hours.

More than 100 drivers are lighter in the wallet following a Highway 63 Traffic Blitz.

RCMP, Sheriffs, Conservation and Bylaw Officers teamed up to target unlawful motorists Wednesday.

Tickets were handed for a wide range of violations including suspended drivers, drugs and liquor offenses, and outstanding warrants.

Over 10 vehicles were also towed.

It will mean a place to call home for 100 seniors.

Members of Wood Buffalo health care community are expecting a provincial announcement of the location of a long-term care facility in Fort McMurray.

Iris Kirshner with the Wood Buffalo Health Advisory Board says a decision by  Alberta Infrastructure could made within the week.

"They are very pleased with the way the process has gone. They said they looked at site size, location, physical amenities , availability , accessibility , services to the site and they have gone forward and put their recommendation out to the Minister," says Kirshner.

A 100 bed Continuing Care Partnership was first announced last April.

The province has said it is expected to open in 2012.

Alberta is leading  Canada's economic recovery.

According the Royal Bank of Canada,  a strong demand for bitumen is spurring financial growth, while making up for a weakness in natural gas and declining conventional oil output.

The report, says  the province has had a 4.3 percent growth in real Gross Domestic Product this year, the highest rate recorded in five years.

Meanwhile, Alberta' s oil and gas producers are in midst of a $ 24B dollar spending binge.

Mail shipments are a little light in the city today, but should be back to normal tomorrow.

In thirteen communities across the country hundreds of postal workers are joining the picket lines, as their colleagues in Edmonton and Calgary return to work.

President of the local Union of Canadian Postal Workers, Dana Gabriel says 24 hour rotating strikes are helping them to make leeway in negotiations.

"Well I think they're effective. I think our game plan is working. What we want is to cause the minimal amount of effect on our customers and force Canada Post to negotiate a settled agreement," says Gabriel.

Its unclear when 87 local union members will be asked to strike.

Meanwhile, in an effort to cut costs, Canada Post has reduced staffing levels and delivery services until negotiations are complete.

Mail shipments are a little light in the city today, but should be back to normal tomorrow.

In thirteen communities across the country hundreds of postal workers are joining the picket lines, as their colleagues in Edmonton and Calgary return to work.

President of the local Union of Canadian Postal Workers, Dana Gabriel says 24 hour rotating strikes are helping them to make leeway in negotiations.

"Well I think they're effective. I think our game plan is working. What we want is to cause the minimal amount of effect on our customers and force Canada Post to negotiate a settled agreement," says Gabriel.

Its unclear when 87 local union members will be asked to strike.

Meanwhile, in an effort to cut costs, Canada Post has reduced staffing levels and delivery services until negotiations are complete.

If you rent in Fort McMurray, you probably already know this...but you're paying more than double the Alberta average.

Results from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's latest rental market survey, shows the average renter pays $2020 a month,while the rest of the province pays less than $950.

That took into account bachelor pads, one, two and three plus bedroom homes.

And as oil sands investments increases so does the demand for a place to live.

Lowering Wood Buffalo's vacancy rate to 6.2 per cent in April compared to 13.2 % in April 2010.

After growing to become Alberta's biggest blaze in at least 50 years, the Richard Fire is holding its size.

The massive wildfire remains a little over 415,000 hectares, stretching from roughly 60 kilometres north of Fort McMurray nearly all the way up to Fort Chipewyan.

The Martin Mars, the world's biggest water bomber is being used to fight the flames. along with hundreds of firefighters on the ground.

It is one of six active wildfires in the Waterways District.

The only other out of control blaze is burning at 1,800 hectares around 65 km from Fort McMurray.

The leader of Alberta's NDP is asking for more than a just full inquiry into alleged healthcare queue-jumping.

Brian Mason wants police to investigate.

Mason says that queue jumping by or through MLAs could be a breach of trust by a public officer, a Criminal Code offence under section 122.

In May, the former CEO of Alberta Health Services, Dr. Stephen Duckett says when he took power, he put an end to the practice that allegedly say Tory MLAs fast-tracking friends and colleagues to the front of medical wait lines.

Despite another boom looming, housing starts remain slow in 2011.

Recent statistics from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation show only 34 single detached homes were started in the month of May, compared to 43 last year, while with no multiple-family units started at all.

Over the first five months of this year, total housing starts are down 10 percent compared to 2010.

Alberta's former Justice Minister is calling for a judical inquiry into allegations that her Conservative colleagues fast-paced friends to quicker medical treatment.

Alison Redford broke party ranks Tuesday saying true or not, the facts needs to be uncovered.

"I read some comments yesterday about how it wasn't necessary. I believe that Albertans want to know exactly what is going on in their healthcare system, and that it's important for us to ensure that they get those answers. I think this is the way to do it," Redford told Mix News.

The former CEO of Alberta Health Services, Dr. Stephen Duckett made the claims in May, saying he stopped the que jumping.

Health Minister Gene Zwosdesky denies the allegations.

More Albertans are returning home safely.

Fatalities on provincial roadways decreased nearly 25 per cent in 2010, compared to 2007.

Last year's Alberta Traffic Collision Statistics also show that fatalities in speed-related crashes declined by 21.4 per cent over the same time period.

While deaths in crashes involving a drinking driver were down by 24.4 per cent.

"These statistics clearly show that we are making progress in our efforts to make Alberta's roads safer," said Minister of Transportation Luke Ouellette. "But, these numbers also emphasize the importance of continuing this work. This is about all of us - every Albertan - doing what we can to stay safe. With the ongoing help and support of our traffic safety partners, we will continue to implement Alberta's Traffic Safety Plan and to remind Albertans to drive safely."

Postal workers are hitting the picket lines in Edmonton and Calgary.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is pulling employees off the job for 24 hours in both cities.

Workers in Calgary will walk off the job at 9 p.m, local time, while their counterparts in Edmonton will joined them on picket lines an hour later.

Roughly 50,000 union members, nationwide  are seeking improved job security and  wage increases of nine percent over three years.

Accusations of political corruption in Alberta Health Services warrant a full investigation.

Fort McMurray-Athabasca MLA Guy Boutilier is speaking out in the wake of allegations that elected Conservative officials used their influence to parlay beneficial medical treatment.

Boutilier says an unwillingness to investigate speaks volumes.

"Clearly the curtain continues to be pulled back on what is going on there. And this revelation of a queue jumping. And the Minister who pretends that he's not aware of it. I just cannot believe that he thinks Albertans are that  foolish to believe the rhetoric he is saying here this morning," says Boutilier.

The allegations were made by former Alberta Health Services CEO, Dr. Stephen Duckett.

Meanwhile Conservative leadership candidate, Alison Redford has joined opposition parties in calling for a judical review of the claims.

Ottawa takes Albertans for granted.

Progressive Conservative leadership candidate and former Minister of Finance, Ted Morton,  is criticizing federal transfer policies which divert Alberta's wealth elsewhere.

 Morton says Ottawa puts the province on unfair financial footing by providing less per capita in health transfers.

" Right now we get 250 dollars per person less.That adds up to almost a billion dollars...We Albertans give  more to Ottawa than any other province, almost 15 billion dollars per year, so to get back less on health just doesn't make sense," says Morton.

Morton is meeting with fellow party members and political colleagues during his campaign in Fort McMurray today.

What would you do if you knew the numbers you'd been playing for years just came up in the Lotto 6/49?

For Fort McMurray's Brenda McKinnon, she made sure she'd remembered to buy her ticket.

Turns out she did, now she is $3.78 million richer.

McKinnon bought her ticket to the good life prior to the May 18th draw at the Sheffield Express on Hardin Street.

The new millionaire says paying off her daughter's education comes first, then a new house and a vacation to Africa.

(Richardson Fire. Photo courtesy of ASRD)

Two out of control wildfires continue to rage north of Fort McMurray.

The Richardson Fire, stretching from McClelland to Richardson Lake remains at nearly 388,000 hectares, while a blaze burning southeast of Kearl Lake has scorched 350 hectares of forest.

Smoke from nearby wildfires is again settling over Fort McMurray causing air quality concerns.

Those with pre-existing health conditions should stay inside and limit outdoor physical activity.

Fort McMurray is the next stop on the campaign trail for one of six candidates vying to succeed Ed Stelmach.

Progressive Conservative leadership candidate, Ted Morton will be visiting the city today as part his bid to become Alberta's next premier.

Morton resigned as Minister of Finance and Enterprise in January in order to run for party leader.

He is currently serving his second term as MLA for Foothills-Rocky View and a press release says he's in Fort McMurray for a full day of meetings and events.

Suncor is reporting well below average production numbers for the month of May.

The oil sands giant produced just 162,000 barrels per day day, due to ongoing maintenance on its Upgrader Two.

Suncor said the work would reduce output by 215,000 bpd over it's duration, the normal capacity is 350,000 barrels per day.

Seven wildfires are currently burning in our region as the world's biggest water bomber is helping in the fight against flames.

The Richardson Backcountry blaze is now 388,000 hectares, down from 391,000 on Saturday.

But Wildfire Information Officer says weather conditions are hampering the fight against seven active wildfires in our region.

"The winds are still blowing. They're gusting up to about 20 kilometres per hour right now and it's still quite hot and still quite dry, so that's impacting fire behaviour," says Exton.

The Martin Mars water bomber arrived from British Columbia this weekend and is using Gregoire Lake to fill up it's 27,000 litre tanks.

Our local government is spreading the good word of Fort McMurray.

Mayor Melissa Blake and a handful of her council colleagues are spending their final day in Halifax today, following the 74th Annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities Conference.

Blake says its an opportunity to network with politicians from across the country.

"Even things a simple as taking a bus ride over to a social event in the evening gives you the opportunity to meet with people from difference communities," says Blake.

The focus of the discussions ranged from keeping streets safe to welcoming immigrants.

Blake and the councillors fly home Tuesday.

(The Martin Mars scoopes water from Gregoire Lake near Fort McMurray. Photo courtesy of ASRD) 

An aircraft with an out of this world name can be seen in the sky above Fort McMurray.

The Martin Mars, the world's largest water bomber arrived this weekend to help aid firefighters.

The massive plane has been scooping water out of Gregoire Lake, 27,000 litres at a time, enough to cover 1.6 hectares at once.

Crews are currently battling seven wildfires, including the Richardson Backcountry blaze which has shrunk slightly to 386,000 hectares.

Meanwhile, Shell will begin to bring workers back to its Jackpine and Muskeg River mines this week.

Non-essential employees were evacuated last week due to heavy smoke.

A Fort McMurray man is due in court today charged in a string of armed robberies.

20-year old Jessie Shaver is alleged to have been the man holding an edged weapon used to hold up two hotels and a liquor store in our city, and a fourth business in Perryvale, Alberta in April.

The crime spree stretched three days in April.

Residents moving back to Slave Lake are being asked to sign waivers.

The document warns residents of possible dangers of debris and environmental contamination.

The waiver was issued to residents to avoid holding the town accountable for any injury or illness residents may acquire after moving back in to the community.

Negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers are ongoing.

Workers in Winnipeg were first to walk off the job on Thursday but have since handed over pickett signs to employees in Hamilton

The CUPW is demanding that Canada Post scrap current changes that undermine health and safety protection of postal workers.

An unforseen problem is extending construction on Eglert Drive in Timberlea.

Construction crews were asphalting the roadway when unanticipated soil conditions were noticed

As a result further work needs to be done with no time line in place for completion.

New signs and temporary traffic lights will be placed in the construction zone to ease the flow of traffic.

Fort McMurray has called in a special weapon to fight Alberta's largest wild fire.

A Martin Mars has a wingspan of 200 feet and can hold over 27-thousand litres of water.

Chief Operating Officer of the Coulson Group of Companies Jim Messer says the aircraft is far more superior than a retardant tanker.

"It attacks fires direct, so we're not laying out retardant lines ahead of the fire.  We attack the fire itself, which allows crews to get in behind the aircraft and start mop up operations.  A retardant tanker loads up with a retardant and they'll depart from Fort McMurray airport with a  load they'll go drop that load and have to load up again, in the same time frame the Martin Mars will put a lot more product on the fire.-" says Messer

The Martin Mars will be stationed in Fort McMurray for at least eight days, and will help battle the 374 thousand hectare fire in the Richardson Back Country.

Wildfires continue to threaten a communications tower in Birch Mountain.

Telus officials are monitoring the situation as firefighters work to create a perimeter around the site which services Fort Chipewyan residents.

Telus Spokesperson, Jim Johannsson says the flames are only kilometres away from the equipment.

"The prevailing winds will kind of guide the fire in different directions and of course if the weather is changing or the winds are shifting it can take the fire on a different course.So we're watching it very closely," says Johannsson.

Johannson says, depending on the extent of the damage, it could take hours or weeks to repair.

The effect of hosting the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games would stretch long past the nine days of competition.

Wood Buffalo is one of five Alberta communities wishing to welcome thousands of young athletes, coaches and officials.

Russ Pawlyk  is the Director of Recreation, Parks and Culture with Strathcona County, who hosted the 2007 games, and says the community is still benefiting.

"Our track was totally upgraded, so our jump hits, the throwing areas, our seating. Everything was upgraded for the Games. So that's been a great legacy for football and soccer," says Pawlyk.

Pawlyk also says millions of dollars were spent in the Capital Region by both residents and out of town visitors.

The host selection committee toured our region on Thursday.

A decision on which of the five competing communities will host the games is expected sometime this month.

Fort McMurray made the cut.

For the second consecutive year, business publication, Alberta Venture lists our city among the top 25 best places to do business in Western Canada.

President of the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce, Jon Tupper says that may not be the case in the future, if the more provincial land is not released.

"They (Alberta Venture) certainly looked things like median household income, population size, population growth over time, but they also looked at some things that are little bit scary in Fort McMurray. They looked at things like the average cost of commercial rent which in Fort McMurray is nearly 45 dollars per square foot and the average cost of industrial land in Fort McMurray which is nearly 1.5 million dollars an acre," says Tupper.

Tupper says a rapidly expanding population is putting pressure on  our thriving industrial economy .

A twenty-five year old charged with the death of his cellmate at the Edmonton Remand Centre will appear  in court today.

Justin Cadwell Somers is facing second degree murder charges in the death of Barry Raymond Stewart.

Somers was awaiting trail for a Fort McMurray mischief charge, while Stewart was spending the night in jail to pay off a 110-dollar ticket.

Stewart's head was apparently stomped on while he slept on a mattress on the floor.

A trail date will be scheduled today.

Dozens of local musicians will be singing for cause tonight.

The Casman Centre is hosting a "Slave Lake  Benefit Concert" featuring numerous musical performances,  a catered bar and children's activities.

Co-Organizer for the event ,Larry Aulenbach says an event like this what Fort McMurray is all about.

"Were a caring community and we want to help people. We live in the land of milk and honey and were able to help, we need to help.So this our way of doing what we can. I mean were just a couple of musicians, but we know how to make people happy, we know how to make people sing and dance and that's what we want people to do all night," says Aulenbach.

Red Cross officials will be attendance to accept non-perishable food items and monetary donations.

The events gets underway at 4:30 this afternoon.

(Martin Mars, the world's biggest water bomber. Photo courtest of

 www.flightglobal.com)

As Alberta's biggest wildfire continues to grow, so does the effort to fight it.

The world's biggest water bomber has been called in to help, and is scheduled to arrive in our region Saturday.

The Martin Mars has a wingspan of 200 feet and can hold over 27,000  litres of water.

Stretching from McClelland to Richardson Lake north of Fort McMurray the out of control blaze is now 354,000 hectares.

While a fire north of Fort MacKay is is being held at approximately 9,900 hectares.

A blaze 17 kilometres north of the city is now under control at 100 hectares.

THere are six active wildfires in our region. 

Strong winds could cause Alberta's biggest wildfire to grow even more today.

Environment Canada says northwest wind could reach 50 kmh which would likely fan the flames.

The Richardson Backcountry blaze is burning out of control at nearly 325,000 hectares.

Yesterday bulldozers removed vegetation around Imperial Oil's Kearl oil sands plant site.

Back burning northwest of the plant was also conducted.

Meanwhile, skeleton crews will keep production running at two Shell oil sands sites today.

The company announcing last night that due to the potential of heavy wildfire smoke, it was evacuating all non-essential employees from its Muskeg River and Jackpine mines 75 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.

This morning's wildfire status report from Alberta Sustainable Resource Development indicates two fires sparked yesterday are still burning. Both are out of control, one is 61 hectares, the other just half a hectare.

A new forecast by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers suggests Canada will produce nearly 5 million barrels of crude per day by 2025, the majority of that coming from the oil sands.

It also says in situ operations will account for more than half of oil sands output by 2016.

Last year in situ oil sands site accounted for 47 per cent of oil sands production, traditional mining made up the remaining 53 per cent.

A Shell Canada spokesperson has confirmed to Mix News that due to the potential of heavy smoke the company is evacuating all non-essential employees from it's Muskeg River and Jackpine mines, as well as the Albian Village work camp.

It is unknown at this time how many workers are being asked to leave the sites or when they will return to work.

Shell's oil sands operations are around 75 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.

Shell is the latest oil sands company forced to send workers home due to wildfires in northern Alberta.

Imperial Oil halted operations at it's Kearl project for one day earlier this week, while thousands of workers could return to CNRL's Horizon project Saturday after being evacuated in mid-May.

Canada Post is is returning to bargaining table as local postal workers prepare to picket.

THe counter-offer promises a disability plan, a defined benefit pension plan and provides future employees with wage increases.

President of the local Canada union of Postal Workers, Dana Gabriel says his 87 members waiting for a call to strike.

"Were going to carry on 'business as usual', as much as I hate to say the words. But were going to do what we do until we get a call and then we'll be out," says Gabriel.

In the event of a strike, monthly social assistance payments such as government pension cheques,  welfare and child benefit cheques will still be delivered.

While the rest of northern Alberta breathes a sigh of relief, you're still advised to take caution outdoors.

Alberta Health Services has lifted an air quality advisory for northern Alberta, with the exception of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

Smoke from wildfires continues to cause poor air quality conditions in some areas as there are now six fires burning in our region.

The cause of the new half-hectare blaze is under investigation .

While Alberta's largest blaze in the Richardson Backcountry is out of control at  more than 324,000 hectares.

While a fire 17 kilometres north of the city is under control at 100 hectares.

Alberta Sustainable Resource Development says lightning sparked six new wildfires east of Fort McMurray yesterday afternoon.

 All but one of which have been extinguished.

The Fort McMurray Airport Authority is one step closer to opening the doors to a new facility.

The Authority has awarded 49-million dollar contract to "E Construction" of Edmonton for civil works projects including roads, parking lots and taxiways.

Airport President and CEO, Scott Clements says he looks forward to getting to work.

"It's very exciting to get started, within a couple of weeks were going to see, finally, activity on an airport facility that will lead us to realize our vision, which is to become the best regional airport in the county, " says Clements.

The construction should be completed by fall 2012.

Just one of nine new wildfires sparked by lightning yesterday is still burning.

The blazes, all around 50 kilometres east of Fort McMurray were listed as out of control, despite the biggest two being just half a hectare in size.

A morning update from Alberta Sustainable Resource Development now shows just one small under control blaze burning.

Meanwhile a nearly 10,000 hectare fire burning near Fort McKay is now classified as being held.

The province's biggest blaze has now grown to over 305,000 hectares and is burning out of control in the Richardson Backcountry.

Some much need rain could help firefighters get the upper hand.

According to Environment Canada forecasts, there is forty percent chance of rain over the next three days.

 Wildfire Information Officer, Whitney Exton says rain will be welcome sight for hundreds of firefighters working in our region.

"The temperatuers that were expecting to get, and the rain that were hoping to get. It willl help to cool down the temperature of the air and its its also going to improve the moisture of the ground," says Exton.

Meanwhile, Alberta's second largest blaze in fifty years is expanding.

Located in the Richardson Backcountry, the fire has increased in size from 284,000 hectares to more than 291,000 hectares.

Exton says there are 212 firefighters dedicated to the out of control blaze.

There are five active wildfires in our region.

It's now entirely out of their hands.

The 2015 Western Canada Summer Games bid committee toured the selection committee around today, by land and by air.

The four-hour visit ended with a massive pep rally inside MacDonald Island Park, which will hopefully have a lasting impact on Alfred Fischer, who will help decide which community will host.

"This spirit does have a lot of impact, because we want to see community involvement, we want to see business involvement,I mean thats's whats its all about, everyone has facilities but the people make the Games and it's the people make the difference," says Fischer.

Wood Buffalo is competing against Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Airdrie and Bonnyville/Cold Lake.

A decision is expected in June.

Thousands of postal workers preparing to walk the picket lines.

A strike by the Canada Union of Postal Workers is pending after contract negotiations  with Canada Post stalled earlier this week.

Local Union Branch President , Dana Gabriel represents 87 local employees.

Gabriel says he's hopeful union members can hit the picket lines in shifts to reduce the impact to Wood Buffalo residents.

"Personally I'm hoping for rotating strikes, that way it has the least impact on the customer. Our fight isn't with the customer, it's with the corporation and what they're trying to impose on us," says Gabriel. 

The Union, representing 50,000 employees nationwide, is seeking improved wage increases of nine percent over three years from Canada Post.

Regular mail delivery could be halted as early as Thursday at midnight.

Whether its the Vancouver Canucks, the Oil Barons or you're beer league softball shirt.

The Municipality wants you to sport your favourite 'Jersey' in support of their bid for the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games.

Residents are encouraged to show their athletic pride as we welcome the games selection committee to town.

Bid committee co-chair Jeff Fitzner says the games have never been held this far north, and that our region's culture is just one advantage.

A pep rally will take place today from 11:30 to 12:45 at Mac Island in support of Wood Buffalo's bid.

The selection committee is expected to make it's announcement in late June or early July.

It's lights out in Fort McKay.

Five thousand residents are without power in the community and surrounding work camps as a conductor has fallen to the ground

ATCO officials are en route to assess the damage and hope to restore service by 9pm this evening

The cause is not fire related.

Homeowners, landlords and realtors are cashing in on a stable housing market.

According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, property prices are gaining, especially in Fort McMurray where the oil and gas industry is accelerating economic growth.

CMHC Senior Market Analyst , Micheal Fabiyi says a healthy job market is decreasing vacancy rates across Alberta.

"We are again seeing an influx of migrants into Alberta's major centres and this a key component that is impacting the provincial market and the general demand for housing," says Fabiyi.

The average resale price is expected to increase , province wide by more than two percent by 2012.

The provincial government could be cashing in on billions of oil sands profit.

According to a report from the Canadian Energy Research Institute,  Alberta industry could deliver 67.5 billion dollars a year to government coffers by 2044.

According to report projections,  production will more than double in the next twenty years, from 2.1 million barrels per day to 4.8 million.

As more mining projects are realized and profits soar,  so will the royalties owed to the provincial government.

In 2010 transfers from both oil sands and natural gas totalled 4.6 billion dollars.

Fort McMurray residents are encouraged to show their civic pride on their sleeve.

In support of the 2015 Summer Games bid the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is celebrating 'Jersey Day"

Community members are invited to sport their favourite team colours and join in a pep rally at Mac Donald Island Park.

The event gets underway at the Suncor Community Leisure Center at 11:30 Wednesday morning.

Around 3,000 employees are returning to work at the Kearl oil sands project.

Smoke from a fire less than 10 kilometres from the site kept workers back at camps yesterday but Imperial Oil spokesperson Pius Rolheiser says conditions have improved, "We made the decision last night, with our major contracters, to resume work at the Kearl site today with the day shift, so workers have returned to the Kearl site. This is based on improved conditons and outlook."

Rolheiser says he could not confirm reports that multiple workers had been treated for smoke inhalation, saying only that employees experiencing difficulty breathing are encouraged to seek medical attention.

The blaze burning close to the site has grown to more than 284,000 hectares, mainly due to backburning by firefighters, and is considered Alberta's second biggest wildfire in the past 50 years.

Alberta's second largest wildfire in 50 years is halting at Imperial Oil's Kearl site

Approximately 3,000 workers were held back from the Wapasu camp this morning due to concerns over air quality.

Imperial Spokesperson, Pius Rolheiser says the blaze is less than ten kilometers from the main work site.

"We'll obviously continue to monitor air quality conditions , the progress of the fire and efforts to fight and we'll make decisions accordingly, in the interest of protecting the healthy and safety of our workers,"says Rolheiser.

The out of control blaze now covers 284-thousand hectares of Alberta Forest.

It is one of five wildfires currently burning in our region.

Roofmart Alberta Inc. was charged by Alberta Occupational Health and Safety. May 18th, nearly two years after boom truck operator Adam Piercy was killed.

Piercey was injured when an elevated section of a crane collapsed and pinned him against another section of crane as he was attempting to repair the machine.

 Manager of Corporate Communications for Roofmart, Derrick Fee says he's unable to fully comment on the pending charges.

"It would be inappropriate for me to comment on something that was before the courts. What am able to say, obviously is that the health and safety of our employees has been and always will be of paramount importance to the company. this was a tragic situation involving a very young man and don't what you can say other than that," say Fee.

The company is due in court July 20th.

Eight Fort McMurray community-based projects are celebrating a boost in funding.

Minister of Culture and Community Spirit, Lindsay Blackett says the Alberta government has provided $475,000 in grants for youth , recreational  and history preservation projects. 

"It's to help build stronger, more vibrant communities and Fort Mcmurray has one. And just like the rest of Alberta were misunderstood, too often and people think that there's just resources up here... and they forget that people have to live here, and to attract people and maintain people here you have to have a quality of life,"says Blackett.

THe HUB Family Resource Centre received  $11,000, the Fort McMurray Public School District received $30,000, while MacDonald Island Park received $125,000.

The Fort McMurray Historical Society, Anzac Li'l Lakers Family Resource Centre, the Wood Buffalo Healthy Community Network and the Amateur Radio Club are also among the recipients.

Blackett is honouring the initiatives while touring Fort Mcmurray today.

(Wildfire burning near Fort McKay. Photo courtesy of Alberta Wildfire Info

Facebook page.)

An out of control wildfire burning in the Richardson back country has grown to be Alberta's second biggest blaze in the last 50 years.

65 kilometres north of Fort McMurray, the fire is now nearly 260,000 hectares, but according to Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, poses no threat to communities of industry operations.

Fire guard construction and hand ignition by crews to reduce fuels was successful on the southwest flank along Highway 63. To prevent further spread of the southeast "finger", heavy equipment will continue construction of guard. This will be supported by aerial igntion which will remove fuel between the guard and the fire to reinforce the perimeter. Heavy equipment will also continue to build fire guard to protect infrastructure to the south.

In the northeast, opportunities to prevent further advancement into the Richardson backcountry by removing fuels between the Richardson River and the fire using aerial ignition will be taken as weather permits.

Another out of control fire, north of Fort McKay is nearly 10,000 hectares in size.

Smoke from the fires is again smothering the city this morning, causing very poor air quality in areas of Fort McMurray.

The province is providing funding for seven local groups.

Alberta Culture and Community Spirit Minister Lindsay Blackett will be in Fort McMurray and Anzac Monday to announce the contributions.

Groups receiving money are: Li'l Lakers Family Resource Centre in Anzac, Fort McMurray Historical Society, the HUB Family Resource Centre, MacDonald Island Park, Public School District, Amateur Radio Club and Wood Buffalo Safe/Healthy Community Network.

The president and CEO of Canadian Natural Resources took home a whole lot of money last year.

According to a Globe and Mail report, Steve Laut  made over $13 million in 2010, making him the fifth highest earning executive in Canada.

That was just a few million shy of the most profitable president, Edward Sampson of Niko Resources.

Slave Lake residents are ready to rebuild their lives.

Clean up efforts are underway in the community of seven thousand as residents begin to shift back into their homes.

Utility companies are asking residents to place signs in their home windows to notify them of what services they require.

Residents have also been given an information package with advice on how to clean their properties after the fire.

Seven local organizations will benefit from an injection of provincial cash.

Alberta Culture and Community Spirit Minister Lindsay Blackett will be in Fort McMurray and Anzac Monday to announce funding.

Groups receiving money include the Fort McMurray Public School District, Amateur Radio Club and the Historical Society.

The Alberta Party has elected its new leader.

The first round of ballots cast have been counted and party members have elected Mayor of Hinton, Glenn Taylor.

Taylor will lead the new party after receiving 665 votes making up more then 55 percent of the popular vote.

A total of 1,200 votes were cast either online or by phone.

Traffic on Tolen Bridge will be back to its normal pace.

As the bridge is once again open to two-lanes and regular restrictions.

The speed limit however will remain at 30 km/h.

The bridge was limited to single lane traffic after inspection of the bridge found structural deficiencies.

The cost of the Kearl project is rising.

The first phase of the $110,000 barrel per day oil sands operation will now cost it $10.9 billion dollars, up from earlier estimates of  $8 billion.

At an investor presentation for U.S. and Canadian regulators on Thursday, Imperial Oil attributed the increase in cost to changes being made to

the plant's plans.

Construction on Phase One is underway and is expected to start producing bitumen next year.

Ed Stelmach officially announces his last day as party leader.

In a letter sent to the Progressive Conservative Party, Stelmach made it official that he will step down on October 1st.

Nominations for a new candidate will begin on June 17th  and a new leader will be elected on the 17th of September.

Only Alberta Party members can take part in the election.

Only four fires are blazing  in our region.

A fire south of the Opti-Nexen Long Lake plant has been extinguished.

A fire in the Richardson back country along the Athabasca River is out of control at  207,400 hectares. Heavy equipment groups of firefighters are focusing on containing the west end of that blaze. On the south-end of the fire, crews are working with fire retardant equipment borrowed from British Colombia.

A fire north of Fort McKay is classified as out of control at 89-hundred hectares. The north end of the fire continues to be very active while to the south, the fire smoulders,  as many of the flames have been extinguished.

A blaze, east of Fort Hills Camp is listed  as being held at approximately 4300 hectares.

While the blaze closest to city, adjacent to Super test Hill,  remains under control at 100 hectares.

The wildfire risk in our region remains at extreme but a municipal fire ban has been lifted.

One Progressive Conservative Leadership candidate wants to change the image of Alberta industry across the globe.

Alison Redford revealed new details of her energy policy: developing an independent scientific board to monitor oil sands production and implementing resource friendly technology.

Redford says by becoming stewards for the environment the province will encourage new residents and new business.

 "If we can put together a package where were able to articulate to Albertans and to the rest of the world how we are responsible stewards of our  environment , that we want to conserve, that we want to continue to reduce our carbon footprint and that we've had a great track record of doing those all those things,  that it begins to change the quality of life for Albertans," says Redford.

Redford visited the city as part of her seven and half-month leadership campaign.

Alberta's biggest wildfire continues to grow.

The out of control blaze north of McLelland Lake has spread to more than 205,000 hectares. It is one of five active wildfires in the Waterways District, two are out of control.

An air quality advisory for northern Alberta remains in effect as smoke from several wildfires continues to bother the throats and eyes of residents.

Meanwhile, despite an extreme risk of wildfires, the Municipality has lifted it's ban on outside fires within a permitted recreational fire pit.

Any burning within the RMWB, including backyard fires requires a permit.

A man with many years experience has been chosen to lead an unprecedented industry partnership.

Alan Fair, Manager of Research and Development for Syncrude, has been appointed executive director of the Oil Sands Tailings Consortium, and will assume the role this summer after retiring following 32 years of service.

Formed in December, the alliance of seven operators will share tailings research and technology in a unified effort to rapidly advance tailings management.

Canadian Natural Resources, Imperial Oil, Shell Canada, Suncor Energy, Syncrude Canada, Teck Resources and Total E&P Canada make up the partnership.

Existing tailings research and development will form the base of knowledge for the  collaboration.  Research objectives will be finalized early in 2011.

This summer Fort McMurray will play host to the future of Canada's young hockey stars.

The Fort McMurray Oil Barons and MacDonald Island Park announced today that the Casman Centre will host a Red-White game as part of Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Summer Development Camp on Sunday, August 7, 2011.

“We’re thrilled to not only bring excitement of the camp to Edmonton, but to Fort McMurray as well as we strive to bring Alberta together for this winter’s World Juniors,” said Al Coates, executive director of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, in a statement released Thursday.

The game will take place at 7 p.m. and tickets will be on sale for $30 each beginning on Friday, July 8 for regular Fort McMurray Oil Barons season ticket holders. The general public will be able to buy tickets beginning on July 15.

 The day will also include a Maple Leaf Luncheon, which is open to the public from noon to 1 p.m. Tickets will be sold for $100 and will go on sale on Friday, June 17. The luncheon will feature all 40 players in attendance at the camp, which is the first step towards selection of Canada’s National Junior Team for the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship.

“Once again world-class talent is coming to Fort McMurray and we are proud to host the best junior hockey players in Canada,” said Councillor Don Scott of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. “This is a fantastic opportunity for our community to showcase the Big Spirit our residents have for hockey and supporting our national athletes.”

 


 

A boost in funding will keep the YMCA running smoothly in the year ahead.

Municipal Council approved a motion to provide 150-thousand dollars in operations funding while pledging to explore future partnerships as the organization plans for the construction of a new facility.

YMCA president and CEO, Franco Savoia says the not-for profit struggles to meet  Fort McMurray's inflated salary demands and facilities costs.

" So our fees are a little higher, but you cannot simply adjust the fees to that extent for many of the programs , that has a huge impact. The staff churn in the last ten years..has created huge issues in terms of the lack of systems and gaps. All that's been sorted now," says Savoia.

The not-for profit hopes to build a new facility within 5-7 years.

Progressive Conservative leadership candidate, Alison Redford is in our city today.

The Calgary-Elbow MLA will unveil her new energy policy at  MacDonald Island Park this afternoon.

The platform will look to increase income revenue from Alberta's oil and gas industries, while encouraging the creation of sustainable energy technology.

Redford is one of six candidates vying to succeed Premier Ed Stelmach.

You can once again light a campfire to accompany your barbecue.

Cooler temperatures and improving weather conditions have resulted in a fire ban being lifted across Wood Buffalo.

Residents are now again allowed to have fires within a permitted, recreational fire pit or barbecue, but are still encouraged to use extreme caution.

Meanwhile, the wildfire hazard remains extreme as five wildfires burn out of control.

The Municipality is giving Fort McMurray's homeless population a helping hand.

Council approving more than $2.5 million in grants Tuesday, for seven local groups including the Salvation Army, as part of the Ten-Year Plan to End Homelesness.

Councillor Mike Allen says support must be provided in a consistent manner,"We're not just giving them a hand-out, we're giving them a hand-up. It's not just providing a roof over their head, its giving them the supports that they need to look after addictions issues, medical health issues, what actually caused their homelessness in the first place."

Allen says officials have documented a 42 per cent reduction our city's homeless population since the Housing First initiative was introduced.

Construction of the Keyano College Fort Chipewyan campus is nearly complete.

At last night's Board of Governors meeting, Chairman John Wilson discussed progress of the new campus, saying construction is in its final stages.

"It's a 3.5 million dollar facility that will replace the existing facility we utilize in Fort Chipewyan. It's something that will be a great addition to the Fort Chip comunity.," said Wilson.

A grand opening is expected to take place in September with students set to move in shortly after.

A Fort McMurray man is alleging looters stole from a Slave Lake donation van.

Mike Hallett has gathered nearly 21 tones of  food, clothing and toiletries for residents devastated by wildfire.

But Hallett was forced to call police after donations went missing from an unmanned trailer, "We've had some reports of people coming down to the Wal-Mart parking lot and helping themselves to some of the materials. Some of the bags that I found of the clothes have been ripped open and clothes have obviously been spread out from people going through it."

Hallett says the community response has been overwhelmingly positive, and he's not discouraged by Wednesday's incident.

The grass isn't always green on the other side of the fence.

A motion to re-zone a small corner lot in Waterways for the construction of a four-plex was defeated by council after numerous neighborhood members spoke out against the changes.

Resident , Randy Macnutt says he moved from his historic family home after the construction of a high-rise apartment next door.

"You've got four tenants who come and go, everyone who looks out there bedroom window or hallway window is looking directly into my backyard, there's no where else to see.Or if you live on the front of the street, every driveway is a barbecue area and a place for people to hang out. And it doesn't give the feeling of family which is why we moved down there," says Mcnutt.

The Hughes Avenue lot will remain vacant until more public consultation can be completed.

Some Slave Lake residents will be returning home this week.

The Emergency Operation Centre has restored essential services such as heat, hot water and telephone lines allowing essential workers and their families to return to the wildfire ravaged community

Among those eligible to return, health care providers, utility, protective and fire service personnel.

A state of emergency remains in place after fires destroyed more than 400 homes and business last week.

Meanwhile, Alberta's largest wildfire, burning out of control north of McLelland Lake continues to grow.

The fire is now 175-thousand hectares as crews have finally been able to begin battle the blaze.

Setting up fire guards on the east and west sides of the lake while continuing aggressive suppression action on the south, southwest and southeast end of the fire.

The risk of wildfires in our region remains extreme.

The province is taking aim at soaring rates of sexually transmitted infections.

The number of STI including syphilis are higher in Alberta than anywhere else in Canada.

A new 5-year strategy, announced yesterday, will focus on education, awareness, enhanced testing and the hiring of more healthcare staff.

Including a campaign targeting the younger generation, with TV ads, posters and video boards set up at bars and nightclubs.

Local education officials are all smiles, following the announcement that two new schools will be built.

Public and Catholic elementary schools with space for up to 600 kids are scheduled to open in the fall of 2014.

Premier Ed Stelmach making the announcement in Fort McMurray Tuesday.

"With respect to the type of construction, the Minister will put out a RFP. We'll look at either a design-build or a traditional build. But we'll see what the response is because we know the economy here is heating up and we'll also be watching the labour availability . But thats why we announced now, so we can get ahead of the boom," says Stelmach.

Composite High School will also undergo a modernization as part of the province's plan to built or upgrade 35 schools province-wide, at an estimated cost of 550 million dollars.

The runway is being cleared for some major development at the Fort McMurray Airport.

Council approved a proposal for a Public Sector Partnership with the Airport Authority in which both parties will provide 25 million dollars towards capital projects such as carriers and runways.

Airport Authority Chair , Jeff Fitzner says the increased costs come from a rapidly expanding population.

"The original commission looked at an airport expansion project. What it looked at is providing a facility that had the capacity for 700,000. Were already in excess of 700,000 . So you can imagine if the airport terminal building opened in 2014 it would already be overwhelmed . So one of the things that was the basis of the new design was  taking a look at where population projections were expected to go over the next twenty years," says Fitzner.

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo will also provide support as developers seek extra funding allocations from federal and provincial sources.

The new facility is slated to open in 2014.

Motorists can expect traffic disruptions on Highway 63 southbound over the Grant MacEwan Bridge.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane as potholes are repaired between 9pm and 5am over the next two weeks.

Work should be completed by June 6th, weather permitting.

The Wildrose Caucus of Alberta says the grass is greener on their side of party lines.

Caucus leader, Danielle Smith is criticizing the government for damaging Alberta's energy sector while ignoring environmental regulation responsibilities.

The party is unveiling a new plan which promises to integrate provincial taxation levels, provide tax incentives for the development of green technologies and assess transmission needs across the province.

Alberta MLA, Guy Boutilier joined the  Alliance in 2009.

The full policy is available at wildrose.ca

The Beacon Hill High School community is standing by one of its own.

After searching for over a year, Vice principal, Angela Dingwell received good news that her husband would be a viable match for a transplant to replace her failing kidney.

But Principal, George Decker says that good news turned tragic when doctors diagnosed Dingwells' husband, Jamie with stomach cancer.

"Her husband who was screened as a transplant candidate, something showed up on his blood work , so it ended up being that he had to go for major surgery, a tumor was discovered. So now essentially, both of them are off work and were stepping up to the plate to help them," says Decker.

Beacon Hill is hosting a spaghetti supper and  silent auction on June 2nd with all proceeds going to the local couple.

A Fine Art Extravaganza, tomorrow evening, will also gather funds by selling paintings and photographs donated by students in all grade levels.

Fort McMurray is remembering lives lost on Alberta roadways.

In recognition of road crash victims, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is dedicating a memorial tree, bench and monument at Borealis Park.

Melanie Kowaluk-Noseworthy says her life changed when her daughter, Briana  was struck and killed by gravel truck speeding through a Thickwood crosswalk in Januray of 2007.

"All the relationships that Briana had, we were a close-knit family. Her little brother's never going to know and her dad is never going to have opportunity to walk her dow the aisle...its bittersweet," says Kowaluk-Noseworthy.

Kowaluk-Noseworthy says safe driving practices could have saved her daughter's life.

Every 28 days someone dies of driving related causes on our local roadways.

To remember those who have died on local roads and highways, and to recognize National Road Safety Week, a memorial tree will be dedicated today.

The event starts this morning at 11:30 at the edge of the pond at Borealis Park, and will include dedication speeches and the release of flowers into the pond.

Residents can attend by calling 743-0006 to RSVP, a public release of flowers will also take place tonight at 5:30.

A Fort McMurray man could be facing time behind bars.

39-year old Jamie Lester Perry along with a St. Albert man were arrested Friday in Carleton, Prince Edward Island, after police busted the pair driving a van loaded with around 100-thousand dollars worth of cannabis resin.

The men were charged with trafficking and released until a court appearance in July.

Millions of dollars could be handed out at council tonight.

Several groups are vying for funding to either improve of start their operations.

The YMCA is seeking an operating grand of $250,000 per year until a new facility can be built in five to seven years.

While Keyano College is hoping to score $60,000 for the start-up of it's new Huskies Hockey Program.

As it continues with it's multi-million dollar expansion, the Fort McMurray Airport Authority is asking council to create a Public Sector Partnership that would see the FMAA and RMWB jointly contibute $25 million each towards the funding of civil works projects. Also that the municipality pursue the provincial and federal governments for matching contributions

Meanwhile, administration is recommending that council approve the allocation of over 2.5 million dollars in provincial and federal funding to seven groups including the Salvation Army for the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness.

Alberta's  largest wildfire is growing.

Since yesterday, the out of control  blaze north of Maclelland lake has expanded from 148,000 hectares to 162,000 hectares . 

According to Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, a 28 hectare fire south of Opti-Nexen Long Lake Plant is being held. Staff were evacuated as a precaution but have since returned to work.

Meanwhile a 100 hectare blaze is being held 17 kilometres north of Fort McMurray adjacent to Super Test Hill while a 8,900 hectare fire North of Fort Mackay is listed as out of control

Firefighters are battling a blaze west of the Fort Hills area which is listed as our of control at 1, 850 hectares.

Meanwhile, Syncrude is back to normal staffing levels after smoke from nearby wildfires put non-essential Aurora Site employees on evacuation orders.

Maintenance or turn-around workers are being asked to contact their superiors before showing up for work

Visit syncrude .ca for more information on staffing levels.

More than one hundred scientists are converging in Fort McMurray this week.

The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association is hosting an international symposium called "Alberta Oil Sands: Energy, Industry and the Environment".

Lead Scientist with the WBEA, Kevin Percy says the data revealed during the three day conference will help to improve industry regulation in Alberta, "There's great advantage for us up here to invite all these scientists up and through dialoguing with them, discussing are science with them, we learn from them and they learn from us and science will move forward," saysPercy.

Scientist from across North America ,Europe and Japan will improve environmental impact assessments in the province by tracing the life cycle of industry emissions.

The current wildfire status in our region stands at extreme as there are six fires currently burning.

According to Alberta Sustainable Resource Development a 28 hectare fire south of Opti-Nexen Long Lake Plant is being held.

Staff were evacuated as a precaution but have since returned to work.

Meanwhile a 100 hectare blaze is being held 17 kilometres north of Fort McMurray adjacent to Super Test Hill while a 8,900 hectare fire North of Fort Mackay is listed as out of control.

Firefighters are also battling a blaze west of the Fort Hills area which is listed as our of control at 1, 850 hectares.

A fire ten kilometres north of McLelland Lake, is out of control at 148,000 hectares.

The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association is listing air quality in Fort Mcmurray, Fort McKay and at the Syncrude site as good.

Residents are also reminded that a fire ban is still in effect.

In what could be his last visit as premier to Fort McMurray, Ed Stelmach will stop by next week.

Stelmach, who is stepping down as leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservative, will be making a 'special school announcement" on Tuesday May 24 at the currently under construction Holy Trinity School.

While many Slave Lake residents are mourning the loss of their homes some are also grieving the loss of life.

A helicopter pilot has died fighting fires near the wildfire ravaged community.

The unidentified victim was declared dead at the scene after crashing into shallow waters on the southern shores of Lesser Slave Lake on Friday.

Sustainable Resource Minister, Mel Knight says this tragic death should serve as a reminder of the courage employed by firefighters on the front lines .

The crash came shortly after Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach toured the stricken community.

Municipal officials are keeping a close watch on five wildfires raging across the region.

The Municipality of Wood Buffalo is monitoring air quality and the proximity of the flames as a  fire 17 kilometres from Fort McMurray maintains a 100 hectare radius.

Deputy Director of Emergency Management, Rebecca Wade says the region is under a level one emergency activation.

"Were closely monitoring the fire situation and we'll be putting our Municipal Emergency Plan into effect if required. Currently working closely with SRD Forestry to monitor the fires as well as Alberta Health Services in ensuring air quality advisories are out for the public," says Wade.

 Residents are advised to prepare extra food, water and travel supplies while considering possible accommodations if an evacuation were to occur.

Meanwhile a fire North of Fort McKay is out of control at 8,900 hectares.

A Fire west of Fort Hills is out of control at 1,850 hectares.

While Alberta's largest blaze, north of Mclelland Lake is out of control at 148,000 hectares.

Wade says there is no imminent danger from the fires.

Fort Mckay elders are returning home after wildfires threatened their health.

Twenty-three residents at-risk of respiratory problems were evacuated from the northern community last week as a thick haze reduced air quality in the community.

Chief Operating Officer of Fort McKay First Nation, Jeff Winsor says conditions in Fort McKay are stabilizing.

"We still have some smoke and haze here in the community. And were expecting it for some time yet to come.

There are some large fires burning here, i understand and some fires burning in Saskatchewan as well and that's where some of this smoke is coming from. The entire region is experiencing this smoke cloud so it kind of going to be way of life for the next little while," says Winsor.

The elders were lodged at Keyano College and cared for by staff at the Naggiest Friendship Centre and Fort Mckay First Nation.

(Prime Minister Stepen Harper and Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach

along with local MP Brian Jean visited Slave Lake Friday.

Photo courtesy of the Government of Alberta.) 

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Fort McMurray-Athabasca MP Brian Jean and Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach toured wildfire ravaged Slave Lake today.

The town of 7,000 remains under evacuation order after a wildfire destroyed around one third of the community Sunday, torching around 400 homes.

"The Federal Government will be there standing beside Alberta side-by-side through this crisis. We'll make sure nothing goes undone and that people are accounted for and taken care of," Jean told Mix News this morning.

The province has committed $50 million in initial assistance while Ottawa hasn't announced any relief money, but Jean says the feds have offered aid through their national stockpile of cots, generators and other evacution resources.

Here in our area, Alberta's largest wildfire, an out of control blaze north of McLelland Lake has grown to 148,000 hectares.

Fire crews have set up a complex that includes fires four, eight and 10. Fire four north of Fort McKay, is out of control at 8,900 hectares, Fire eight,  17 kilometres north of Fort McMurray, is being held at 100 hectares and Fire 10, west of the Fort Hills area, is out of control at 1,850 hectares.

On these fires we have about 26 fire crews or 214 firefighters, 16 helicopters, air tankers and 39 heavy equipment units including bulldozers and water trucks.

A province-wide fire ban remains in affect.

Motorists can expect traffic disruptions on Highway 63 southbound over the Athabasca River for concrete pothole repairs of the Grant MacEwan Bridge.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane with a lane width restriction of 3.7 m. starting Tuesday May 24th and should be completed by June 6, weather permitting.

Work will be completed nightly between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

It's a smokey start to the long weekend in Fort McMurray.

A number of wildfires are again making it tough to breath and see this morning, as the air quality as of 6:00 was listed as 'very poor' downtown and 'poor' in Timberlea.

.

Residents with health conditions should remain indoors if possible.

Five wildfires continue to burn in our region, including a fire north of Fort McKay that has spread to 7,700 hectares.

Alberta's largest fire continues to rage at 110,000 hectares north of McLelland Lake.

While the closest blaze is still being held at 100 hectares 17 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.

For a second straight day Syncrude is restricting it's Aurora mine work force to only essential-employees as a precautionary measure.

Spokesperson Will Gibson tells Mix News in the event of an evacuation it is safer and easier to move 300 people off site as opposed to 1,000/

Workers with health conditions are also told to stay home, for more info visit www.syncrude.ca.

Parking could be hard come by at the Casman Centre for the next month and a half.

The Municipality says repaving on the arena's parking lot will begin today.

During construction, parking will be available only to facility users.

All other parking can be found in residential areas on weekdays with weekend and weeknight parking available at Father Patrick Mecredi High School.

The current wildfire status in our region stands at extreme as five fires maintains thier strength and size.

According to Alberta Sustainable Resource Development a 100 hectare blaze is being held 17 kilometres north of Fort McMurray adjacent to Super Test Hill while a  7,7000 hectare fire North of Fort mackay is listed as out of control

Firefighters are battling a blaze west of the Fort Hills area which is listed as our of control.

A fire ten kilometres north of McLelland Lake, is out of control at 110,000 hectares.  Due to extreme fire in that region behaviour,  no fire are being deployed at this point.

The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association is listing air quality in the city as fair, while air in Fort McKay is poor and air at the Syncrude site is reading as very poor.

The Prime Minister will see the devastation of Slave Lake firsthand.

Stephen Harper and Alberta premier Ed Stelmach will tour the  wildfire ravaged town tomorrow

The town of 7,000 remains under an evacuation order after flames ripped through Slave Lake last weekend, destroying more than 400 homes.

Stelmach and the province have pledged an initial 50-million dollars  to help the victims.

While, the federal government has yet to provide a commitment of funding support for evacuated residents.

The Town of Norman Wells is facing crippling financial burdens after a massive pipeline break in north east Alberta.

More than sixty families in the remote northern community were cut off from their only natural gas supply after at the Rainbow Pipeline spewed 28-thousand barrels of oil last month.

Mayor Dudley Johnson says  mounting costs could lead the town into a severe financial crisis.

"My other big concern is the cost of this propane, for example $15,000 a day, plus the cost of the propane, if you you have to barge it or fly it in. If this goes on any length of time we'll be in the millions of dollars, which a small community of this size, our budget can't stand that," says Johnson.

The Energy Resources Conservation Board is delaying pipeline operations after major equipment flaws were detected earlier this month.

Clean-up operations at the spill site are also being suspended by Plains Midstream Canada due to nearby wildfires .

Fort McKay  is not under a voluntary evacuation despite the province's wildfire information Facebook page and Twitter accounts stating otherwise.

The First Nations Chief Operating Officer Jeff Winsor told Mix News that a group of elders moved out of the community earlier this week as a precautionary measure are the only residents evacuated, "There is no such evacuation in place."

"There is concerns, there is smoke in the air but we haven't hit a point yet where we're willing to declare a voluntary evacuation or any evacuation for that matter."

An out of control blaze north of the community has spread to 7,700 hectares.

While a fire just 17 kilometres away from Fort McMurray adjacent to Super Test Hill is still being held at 99 hectares

Alberta's largest wildfire, a 110,000 hectare out on control blaze continues to rage north of McLelland Lake.

Meanwhile, Shell has become the latest oil sands operator to reduce staffing levels.

The company says it is taking action to limit non-essential personnel at its Muskeg River and Jackpine Mines north of Fort McMurray.

But that oil sands production has not been affected.

Syncrude is making a major investment in the future of Alberta's work force.

Announcing at it's Annual Community Reception last night a donation of $1 million to the Father Patrick Mercredi Science and Technology Centre.

President and CEO Scott Sullivan said, "It's a rough go for kids these days right . Up here we're blessed with a pretty full employment situation, but even saying that, for a young person today to be set up for success they have to have skills. The more that we can ground those skills in some real hard science and engineering and math, you can't get better than that."

Set to open this fall, the labs will help hundreds of students prepare for future careers as engineers and electricians.

Fort McMurray Catholic School Board Superintendent Kim Jenkins called it the "re-invention" of Father Merc, "They can take the courses here, they can go to Keyano, they're employable and they work right in our own industry here in town. They also coach our hockey teams and run the United Way for us. We're all about building community and this lab really allows us to do that."

The oil sands giant also announced investments in three other areas including $250,000 for swim programs at the Syncrude Aquatic Centre at MacDonald Island, $250,000 for the expansion of the Compasion House, a home in Edmonton where women from Northern Alberta can rest and be treated while suffering breast cancer.

Syncrude also tacked on a third year as title sponsor of the Syncrude Boreal Open golf tournament.

(Looking north from Fort McMurray Thursday morning.)

Heavy smoke settling over Timberlea has downgraded air quality to very poor.

While, according to Wood Buffalo Environmental Association air monitoring stations, the air in downtown Fort McMurray is fair.

Alberta Health Services recommends those wth health problems including asthma , COPD or heart conditions to remain indoors, keep their windows closed and limit outdoor physical activity.

Syncrude is advising that only essential personnel are required at its Aurora oil sands site. For more information visit www.syncrude.ca.

Five fires continue to burn in the region, including a 99 hectare blaze being held 17 kilometres north of Fort McMurray adjacent to Super Test Hill.

For the latest wildfire information visit www.srd.alberta.ca.

Franklin Avenue construction hit a road block this week.

Work to resurface the roadway was halted temporarily after the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo received numerous complaints over lost parking from downtown business operators.

Project manager, Emdad Haque says the Engineering Department has found a solution.

As supplementary two hour parking will now be provided for public and commercial use in the Fort Theatre Parking Lot.

Construction work will resume tomorrow .

Residents travelling on the Tolen Bridge may be experiencing delays in the coming weeks.

The Regional Municipality announced that effective immediately the bridge will be reduced to one lane traffic due to structural deficiencies.

A load restriction of 12 tonnes for single unit trucks and 22 tonnes for semi trailer trucks along with a 30 km/h speed limit is also in effect.

Repairs are scheduled to begin Tuesday May 24th after another inspection is completed.

Repairs of a gas leak in timberlea are complete but the cause of rupture remains unclear.

ATCO officials confirm an investigation of the Millenium Gate area line is underway and service has been restored to all residents.

No evacuations occured, as the leak posed no threat to nearby residents.

The integrity of a pipeline is being called into question following a 28-thousand barrel oil spill in North East Alberta.

The Energy Resources Conservation Board is directing Plains Midstream Canada in a thorough investigation of the Rainbow Pipeline.

The ERCB says a second crack in the line, found since the massive pipe line break in April, points to a lack of routine maintenance

Plains Midstream must complete excavations and safety inspections at a number of similar sites before operations can resume.

Five fires blazing north of the city are maintaining their strength and size.

The fire closest to Fort McMurray is being held 100 hectares while a blaze west of the Fort Hills area is out of control at 1,700 hectares.

A 5,000 hectare fire north of Fort Mackay is out of control.

Five fire crews, six helicopters, seven water trucks and three air tankers are being deployed.

Due to unpredictable fire behaviour, no one is battling a 110-thousand hectare blaze north of MacLelland Lake which is listed as out of control.

All fire permits for our region have been suspended until further notice. 

Syncrude is evacuating non-essential employees and contractors from its Aurora work site .

The precautionary measure was prompted due to concerns over smoke cover and poor air quality created by two nearby wild fires.

Essential employees with respiratory conditions are encouraged to contact their superiors and leave the vicinity .

For staffing updates, visit syncrude.ca

Air quality in Fort McKay is being listed as 'very poor' this morning as a 5,000 hectare wildfire continues to burn out of control nearby.

The blaze has forced the evacuation of elders from the community and the First Nation has also closed its school and day-care.

Canadian Natural Resources is evacutating its McKay River Lodge work camp reportedly due to poor air quality.

CNRL has set up an employee hotline for workers wondering when they will return to work, information can be reached by calling 780-828-3400.

Meanwhile, it appears overnight rain didn't do much to damped the spread of the largest wildfire in Alberta, as out of control blaze north of McLelland Lake has grown from 80,000 to 110,000 hectares.

Canadian Natural Resources is releasing more details on what caused an explosion and fire at its Horizon oil sands site.

President Steve Laut  told reporters yesterday that a coking drum valve opening at the wrong time is to blame.

Adding that a series of things had to have happened, including malfunctions on a number of levels in the upgrader system, computer system failures and operator error.

Five workers were injured in the incident.

Production at the 110,000 barrel per day mine has remained suspended since, with repairs estimated to cost between $350 million and $450 million.

Work has been stopped due to nearby wildfires which have forced the evacuation of around 1,300 employees from two work camps.

Employees wondering when they will return to work can call a CNRL hotline at 828-3400.

A Fort Mckay day-care, school and administrative buildings are closing their doors due to wildfire raging north of the town site.

Chief Operating Officer of Fort Mckay First Nation, Jeff Winsor says elders at risk of respiratory problems are being evacuated to Fort McMurray where they will be cared for at the Native Friendship Centre and lodged at Keyano College.

Winsor says air quality in the community is improving and the closures and evacuations are precautionary.

The fire, north of Fort McKay, is out of control at 2,500 hectares.

Windsor says the students will remain at home and community elders will remain in the city until the fire is extinguished.

Posing a potential threat to future oil sands recovery, over 300 natural gas wells will be shut in.

The Energy Resources Conservation Board has approved an application submitted by Athabasca Oil Sands Corp. to shut in the wells, located around 100 kilometres north west of Fort McMurray.

The ERCB says when this gas is extracted, there is a drop in pressure that may impact bitumen recovery operations that employ extraction methods like steam-assisted gravity drainage.

Around 13 million cubic feet of natural gas per day will be impacted effective May 31st.

The shut in will remain in effect until a final ERCB hearing.

A Slave Lake resident believes he'll be one of thousands evacuees who will return home to nothing.

All 7000 residents of the small Alberta town have been evacuated as a raging wildfire has destroyed around one third of the town.

Darrell Stewart tells Mix News the flames approached his home, with little warning, Sunday night, "The wind no doubt is what caused it, you really couldn't see the flames coming towards the town just more and more dense smoke, more and more wind. There was no communication, there were no fire trucks in the area, the town website still wasn't updated with any urgent need to evacuate and really in the last half hour was when it became apparent that we were all going to have to move."

Stewart says he feels overwhelmed by the destruction caused by the fire, adding it may take many years to rebuild.

Premier Ed Stelmach toured the town yesterday assuring the people of Slave Lake that the government will be there throughout the emergency and long after to work with the community and recover and rebuild.

Firefighters have gained the upper hand on three of the five active wildfires in our region.

A fire 17 kilometres north of Fort McMurray is being held at 150 hectares, as is the 2,500 hectare blaze north of Fort McKay and a .20 hectare fire north of the Jacos Plant.

A massive 40,000 hectare fire five kilometres north of the Fort Chipewyan winter road access point remains out of control, so does 1,258 hecatre blaze west of the Fort Hills area.

A fire 150 metres from a Canadian Natural Resources work camp that forced the evacuattion of 1,300 workers yesterday continues to keep non-essemtial employees off the Horizon site today.

While Syncrude is advising that it will return to normal staffing levels at its Aurora site following the evacuation of non-essestial employees yesterday.

A Brooks, Alberta man is facing murder charges just days after being arrested in Fort McMurray.

26-year old Ahmed Mohamed was arrested in a Franklin Avenue drug bust last Thursday.

Yesterday Calgary Police charged him with second-degree murder in the New Year's Day shooting death of a 27-year old man.

The victim was found suffering from bullet wounds in the middle of the street just an hour into 2011.

Slave Lake residents will have little to return to.

Thousands of residents were evacuated as a raging wildfire engulfed one-third of the town, burning many homes, city hall and local radio station beyond recognition.

Slave Lake resident, Darrell Stewart says his home and two vehicles were likely destroyed by the wildfires.

Stewart says salvaging the remains of the small northern community will take time.

"It's  overwhelming. I don't know if people understand the true impact. It's destroyed a great deal of the town . It's more than a few houses...it's going to make a pretty major effort to rebuild," says Stewart.

Stewart says he's feeling overwhelmed since seeing smoke and  flames engulf his Poplar Drive neighborhood in an hour's time.

Residents are keeping watch on five wildfires raging in our region.

The closest, just 17 kilometres north of Fort McMurray adjacent to Super Test Hill has grown to 150 hectares and is listed as out of control.

A fire just north of Fort Chipewyan Winter road access point has grown to 25,000 hectares.

Wildfire officer, Whitney Exton says weather conditions on scene are extreme.

"(The weather) is creating an unsafe environment around fire seven. So due to that unsafe environment our crews are unable to land on that fire at this time...so we are actively monitoring and assessing the situation," says Exton.

While a fire north of Fort McKay, is also out of control at 25,000 hectares.

Canadian Natural Resources has evacuated around 1300 workers from two work camps due to a fire burning 150 metres away.

CNRL is also suspending air and buss access to the Horizon site and will notify employees and contractors when it is safe to return to work.

Meanwhile Syncrude is evacuating all non essen tail employees from its Aurora site, north of the city.

Officials say night shift workers are expected this evening while other Syncrude employees can visit syncude.ca for more information

The Big Apple is getting a taste of the oil sands industry.

Alberta's Environment Minister Ron Liepert is currently on a promotional tour in New York City and Washington, DC.

Liepert will be keynote speaker at the Raymond James Energy Conference, attended by 140 financial and business leaders from across the United States.

Liepert will be discussing the critical role of Canada's oil sands in continental energy security.

Your next winter vacation may skip over the lay over.

With construction underway on a $198 dollar expansion of the Fort McMurray Airport, officials say direct flights to the United States may take off before the April 2014 opening.

Airport Authority President and CEO Scott Clements says they have been visited by the Canadian Border Security Agency, "When they give the blessing fairly soon to that operation it will have to be kind of 1:30 am after the terminal shuts down for everything else. Then we can get to the airlines and say look, customers is willing to come up, how about considering a non-stop to LAs Vegas or somewhere in Mexico."

Clements says direct flights south of the border this year are a long shot, but could come in 2012.

Adding, all but two of the Canada's top 32 busiest airports have customs, including YMM.

(View of one of several fires burning north of Fort McMurray Sunday

afternoon. Photo supplied.)

Wildfires north of Fort McMurray are forcing more evacuations.

Lewyk trailer park, Lewyk lodge and Noralta Lodge were evacuated Sunday as a precautionary measure while Canadian Natural Resources has evacuated two work camps due to a fire burning 150 metres away.

CNRL is also suspending access to the Horizon oil sands site due to a nearby fire and will notify employees and contractors when it is safe to return to work.

There are currently five active fires in our region, the closest, a 99 hectare blaze just 17 kilometres north of Fort McMurray adjacent to Super Test Hill and Highway 63.

A fire just north of Fort Chipewyan has grown to 16,000 hectares while a fire north of Fort McKay has scorched 500 hectares of forest.

Air quality within Fort McMurray has returned to good after bordering poor yesterday afternoon.

A fire ban is also in effect across all of Wood Buffalo as the risk of further fires remains extreme.

Meanwhile...the town of Slave Lake, south west of Fort McMurray has been devastated by wildfire.

The entire community has been evacuated as hundreds of buildings have burnt down, including homes, city hall and a local radio station.

There are several wildfires burning north of Fort McMurray, forcing evacuations of work camps and affecting air quality.

The blaze closest to Fort McMurray started this afternoon 17 kilometres north of the city near Highway 63 adjacent to Super Test Hill. That fire is currently burning out of control at 99 hectares and has resulted in smoke drifting to Fort McMurray. It has also forced the evacuation of the Noralta Lodge and Lewyk Trailer Park and Lodge, while Petro Canada Road has been shut down as well. Barricades have also been placed at the Richardson Back Country access point, and it is recommended that public do not travel into these areas. At this point there have been no official closures of Highwy 63.

According to a press release sent out by the Municipality, "All available resources are being committed to the active wildfires, including fire crews, firefighters, air tankers, helicopters, water trucks, and bulldozers.  Personnel from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Alberta Transportation and the RCMP are working together to ensure the public remains updated on this situation. The Regional Emergency Operations Centre has been activated and is closely monitoring all fires. Updates will continue to be issued as the situation progresses."

A 500 hectare fire continues to burn out of control north of Fort McMurray while a fire just north of Fort Chipewyan has already scorched 16,000 hectares of land.

A Twitter post by Red Cross Alberta states they are headed to Fort McMurray, "Our team loaded w/ 400 cots, 800 blankets & comfort kits have hit the road".

Meanwhile, things are much worse in the town of Slave Lake where at least 1,000 residents have been evacuated while some have lost their homes and businesses due to fires. 

Franklin Avenue will take on a whole new look by the end of Summer.

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo held an open house last night, showcasing major construction taking place in downtown Fort McMurray, along with changes to the transit system.

When work is complete, Franklin will no longer have angle parking and instead will accommodate parallel parking on the south side and a wider, more pedestrian friendly sidewalk to the north.

A new transit terminal will also be built by September.

The former Minister of Environment says the oils sands industry needs to be protected from international scrutiny.

Jim Prentice is calling for increased environmental monitoring and accountability across Canada.

 Prentice says scientific data showing industry's impact on air, land and water will help to guard against misconceptions that crude production is a dirty and harmful business.

The comments were made in a speech to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

Maintenance work in Wood Buffalo may cause some traffic problems.

Contractors are milling and inlaying the section of MacKay Crescent from McKenzie Boulevard towards the intersection of MacKay Crescent and MacLean Road.

No parking signs and barricades have been placed in the areas.

And if you any questions about the maintenance work call the Roads and Maintenance office 780 743 7859

Nearly 20,000 new vehicles are hitting the road in Alberta this month.

According to Statistics Canada, our province saw an increase of 4.2 per cent in the sale of new motor vehicles.

Passenger car and truck sales were both up across Canada, led by stronger sales of North American-built cars

The number of new motor vehicles sold nationwide last month,  increased 2.0% to more than 135-thousand units.

A Fort McMurray man is facing charges after the suspicious death  an inmate at the Edmonton Remand Centre.

City police are charging 25-year old Justin Caldwell Somers with second degree murder in the death of 59- year old Barry Raymond Stewart.

An autopsy was completed today and Somers has been remanded into custody.

The accused was due to appear in local court Monday on mischief charges.

The cause of death is not being released

Three people are facing charges after a drug bust by Wood Buffalo RCMP.

The RCMP Drug Section with the help of the Crime Reduction Unit executed a search warrant at 8026 Franklin Avenue.

RCMP siezed 104 grams of cocaine, 13 grams of marijuana and a loaded .44 caliber hand gun during the Thursday raid.

Laurie Bourque of Fort MCMurray and two men from Brooks, Alberta will face numerous charges in court later this month.

Ezra Levant's "Ethical Oil: The Case for Canada's Oil Sands" received the honour Thursday in Toronto.

The prize jury included the CBC's Peter Mansbridge.

In the book, Levant argues that, although society has become addicted to oil, Canada's oil sands are among the most ethically produced commodities in the world.

New rules and standards for inspectors will better protect potential home owners in Alberta.

The Home Inspection Business Regulation, coming into effect September will require inspectors to be licensed by the provincial government and carry errors and omission insurance in case an inspector makes a mistake, or is negligent.

The regulation will also require that a security be post in order to cover losses if procedures are not followed.

This as the ongoing $60 dollar lawsuit filed by the Penhorwood Condo Board blames negligent inspection for the structural failures that forced 300 residents from their homes in March.

Ed Stelmach has left the Alberta Legislature for the final time as Premier.

Political differences were pushed aside this afternoon as MLA's representing every riding and every party saluted both Stelmach and outgoing Liberal Leader David Swann.

Stelmach was sworn in as Alberta's 13th Premier in December 2006, he announced he would not seek re-election in January of this year.

His resignation has triggered a leadership race within the PC Party, with already six candidates in the running.

"I leave office having fulfilled the things that I set out to do when I first sought the leadership of our party. I know that whatever path that Alberta chooses for the future will be based on the values that have always guided Alberta, it's innovation, creativity, hard work, family, community,

perseverance in the face of hardship, confidence in ourselves and of course the future we build together," said Stelmach in a press conference Thursday afternoon.

Stelmach says he does not know what he will do next.

Fort McKay First Nation is keeping watch on a seventeen hectare wildfire blazing north of the town site.

There are three fire crews,one air tanker crew, two helicopters and three bulldozers  are holding the blaze, which started Tuesday afternoon.

Chief Operating Officer,  Jeff Winsor says the flames are having no effect on Fort McKay residents as the northwest winds are pushing smoke away from town.

Winsor says dry conditions and strong winds are a concern, as fire officials monitor the blaze.

The cause remains under investigation, while wildfire risk for our region now stands at 'extreme'.

The Athabasca Oil Sands Corporation may be gaining in the stock market but company profits are falling.

The company is reporting first quarter loses of $10 million , compared with profits of $2.5 billion, during the same  period last year.

Company officials says administrative costs associated with establishing a SAGD site south west of Fort McMurray are partly to blame.

The Hangingstone site is expected to produce 12,000 barrels per day by the end of 2013.

The company expects the rising cost and increasing consumer demand for gas will push profits in the months to come.

Ed Stelmach will stand as premier for the final time in the Alberta Legislature today.

The leader of the Progressive Conservative Party is expected to resign by month's end, officially triggering the party's leadership race, which already has six candidates.

Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA Guy Boutilier wishes both Stelmach, and Liberal Leader David Swann, well, "Albertans are certainly turning the page on this chapter of Alberta history. I wish Dr. David Swann, Leader of the Official Opposition and Ed Stelmach, the Premier of Alberta, the very best on good health and enjoy both their times with their families."

Sworn in as Alberta's 13th Premier in December 2006, Stelmach may best be remembered in our area for ejecting Boutilier from the PC Caucus in July 2009.

Promoting his party as a new political option for Alberta, Glenn Taylor is seeking local support.

The current Mayor of Hinton is one of four candidates seeking leadership of the Alberta Party.

And says the people living and working in Fort McMurray must define their own future, "This idea that we're allowing people from outside our community, outside our province define who were are. We have to take back the narrative, we have to make the message heard of what we are, what we do and how we do it, by taking ownership and being stewards of the resources that we earn our living from."

Taylor also says Albertans are looking for an alternative, "The change is actually coming from the citizens and I believe we're a reflection of that."

The Alberta Party will elect it's leader May 28th.

A small wildfire has quickly grown out of control north of Fort McKay.

The blaze has spread from five to 25 hectares overnight and is no longer classified as being held.

More than 25 firefighters are battling the blaze, which began Tuesday.

The cause remains under investigation, while the risk of wildfires in our region stands at "high".

Barriers are blocking part of Franklin Avenue.

Road construction has commenced in downtown Fort McMurray as crews have shutdown Franklin between Hardin and Main Street. Crews will be replaceing storm and sanitary sewers, water mains and utilities, while altering the road design and sidewalk areas.

Residents with questions or concerns about summer road construction in the downtown core are invited to an open house from 4:30 to 8:30 at the Stonebridge Hotel.

The dangers of the internet have been brought to the forefront following the conviction of a sexual predator in our own back yard.

36-year old Ryan Davison was sentenced to 18 months behind bars Monday, after pleading guilty to making and possessing child pornography.

Crown Prosecutor Craig Krieger is an expert in internet crimes, and says the web allows virtual access to bedrooms.

"These predators are then able to enter the girls bedroom, pass through the locked doors, the locked windows through the internet cable and try and take advantage of these girls," says Krieger.

Davison built up a relationship with the 15-year old Halifax girl by portraying himself as an adult female modelling agent on Facebook.

Allan Markin, Chairman of Canadian Natural Resources added to his initial five million dollar gift yesterday, to grow the APPLE program to a total of 10 local students by this fall.

Markin explains his inspiration.

"I'm coming from an area where i used to be involved in schools and my mom would always pack me a good lunch...And the schools have kind of evolved and where that doesn't happen as much anymore and and all  I'm trying to do is get us back to where we were fifty or sixty years ago and give the kids an opporunity to make a healthy choice," says Markin.

Education Minister Dave Hancock was on hand for the announcement, and says active and healthy students have more opportunity for success.

Chair of the Wood Buffalo Advisory Council says patients waiting for a long term care facility in Fort McMurray aren't getting the treatment they deserve.

Iris Kirshner says patients are spending months and even years waiting in shared accommodations on the third floor of the hospital when they should be a long term care environment.

"So my suggestion is if its going to be another two years before we see the continuing care facility open, that maybe we need to look at creating a more home-like environment for the people who are on the third floor," says Kirshner.

Site-selection for a one-hundred bed facility  is pending.

Kirshner says residents can expect a decision from the Department of Infrastructure by months end.

The company is reporting earnings of 394 million dollars, an increase of fifteen per cent from the same period of last year.

Enbridge officials say stakeholders are ahead due to a steady performance on all fronts, including Alberta's liquid pipelines and strong heating demands for gas production and distribution.

Cash flow from operations rose during the quarter to $957 million, from $646 million the same quarter of 2010.

RCMP are making another appeal to the public in the case of a woman who disappeared seven years ago today.

Elaine Alook was reported missing on May 27 2004, after not being seen or heard from since May 11, 2004.

She was last seen in Fort McMurray.

Elaine had recently suffered a broken left arm and was last wearing blue jeans with a T shirt, runners and a black jacket. She has lived in or frequented Anzac, Grande Prairie, Lac La Biche and Edmonton, Alberta.

Elaine is described as:

- 35 years old, DOB: August 28, 1968
- 5' 3", 135 pounds
- Black hair
- Brown eyes
- Native descent

If you have seen Elaine Alook, or have any information regarding her whereabouts, please contact your local police, the Wood Buffalo RCMP at (780) 788-4000, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), www.crimestoppers.ab.ca.

Gas prices are soaring in many parts of Canada.

Motorists in the Greater Toronto Area woke up to see prices up 6.5 cents to almost a $1.40 per litre. Vancouver is close behind with the average gas price at $1.38, according to www.gasbuddy.com.

Alberta is home to the lowest average price across Canada at $1.20 per litre...while here in Fort McMurray, were paying nearly a dime more at $129.9 the pump.

Warmer weather and a lack of rain have raised the wildfire hazard to moderate.

Alberta Sustainable Resource Development says three fires have already broken out around Fort McMurray since April, scorching nearly a quarter of a hectare.

There are currently no fire bans in place, but residents must obtain a permit before conducting any burning with the exception of campfires.

A toxic work environment at Alberta Health Services it putting peoples lives at risk.

That comment from MLA Dr. Raj Sherman who says the province paid millions to silence doctors who complained of lengthy surgery wait times that left their patients to die.

Liberal leader, Dr. David Swann, and Calgary and Edmonton doctors joined Sherman in his call for an independent judicial inquiry into allegations of intimidation by Alberta Health Services.

Fort McMurray physicians, Dr Micheal Sauve and Dr. Ifran Qureshi are among dozens of Alberta doctors making claims of wrongful dismissal.

A local teen is spending her summer participating in a prestigious education program.

Grade eleven student at Westwood Community High School, Danielle Livingstone will spend this July studying and touring with the Shad Valley Program at Queens University.

Livingstone says the award-winning program will offer her a glimpse of campus lifestyle.

"I think I'm most excited about getting to spend a month in a university residence, because I'm quite nervous about going away for school, away from my parents for so much time. So i think it will be a good way to experience university life and meet new people and learning how to bond with friends I've never met before," says Livingstone.

The not-for profit program takes place at 10 universities around the country and offers academic lectures, workshops and field trips.

The 500 annual participants are selected for high marks and strong community involvement.

Fort McMurray  residents are being warned to watch for Wildfires.

According to Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, the wildfire risk is 'moderate' in our region.

However, there is currently no ban on controlled campfires in region.

Officials confirm, Waterways has experienced three wildfires since the first of April, burning approximaltery 0.23 hectares of land.

For more information on fire bans in our region, visit  albertafirebans.ca

A Fort McMurray man will spend 18 months behind bars after pleading guilty to child exploitation charges, including possesion of child pornography.

36-year old Ryan Davison was sentenced today, after court heard that he created multiple fake Facebook accounts, posing as female modelling agents, and convinced a 15-year old Halifax girl to send him nude images and web cam videos.

Davison also made two $500 deposits into the girl's bank account, which eventually led to her grandparent's becoming suspicious and notifying police,.

Police also found hundreds of pornographic images on Davison's computer, of both the victim, and other unidentified victims, some pre-school aged.