Lac La Biche News

Crossing the floor? That'll be $100,000... The new leader of Alberta's Wildrose Party, Brian Jean, wants elected members of his party to have to pay a steep fee if they choose to join other parties before the end of their terms.

The ink is barely dry on Lac La Biche County’ s 2015 budget, but Mayor Omer Moghrabi says he’ s already hoping to have a financial plan for 2016 finished by Christmas.

It's a traditional aboriginal event, but it takes on its own spin here. Portage College in Lac La Biche recently held their 12th annual round dance to honour staff, students, and the wider community through an evening of dancing, singing and feasting on March 14.

Based on how deep the cuts are in the March 26 provincial budget, Portage College may not rehire for the recently-vacated positions leading the school’ s culinary arts and trades divisions.

BOYLE RCMP - Charges have been laid in a 2014 fatal collision on Highway 63. On October 28, 2014 at Mariana Lake, a northbound bus transporting tradespeople to a Fort McMurray area work site collided with a southbound passenger jeep.

The man selected to take the place of out-going Wildrose representative Shayne Saskiw had some reservations when the Wildrose Party first approached him to run in the upcoming provincial election. But after giving the possibility some more thought, St. Paul resident David Hanson, a political newcomer decided to throw his hat in the ring.

The Lac La Biche Farmers’ Market will be celebrating 40 years when it opens this Friday. There won’ t be much pomp and ceremony to mark the occasion, says organizer Bev Tkachuk, who’ s taken over managing the market in the last several years.

An arrest has been made in connection to an armed robbery that took place at Lac La Biche's Petro Canada service station in September 2014. The gas station on Main Street was robbed late at night on Sept. 20.

A 22-year-old man was arrested in the early morning hours of March 17, after he allegedly stole a vehicle at gunpoint in the Young's Beach area earlier that night. The local man will be in Lac La Biche Provincial Court on March 30, facing numerous weapons-related charges.

RCMP are warning the community to steer clear of frozen lakes, as thin and rotting ice poses dangers.