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Bailey Donison smiles for a photo at St. Augustine School in Ponoka on Friday, June 4, 2021. The graduation ceremony adhered to the COVID-19 measures put out by the province. Graduates walked the stage in five minute increments, and the ceremony was livestreamed on Facebook. (Photo by Madison Fleck/SAIT)

PHOTOS: St. Augustine School’s 2021 grad

St. A grads walked the stage June 4

Bailey Donison smiles for a photo at St. Augustine School in Ponoka on Friday, June 4, 2021. The graduation ceremony adhered to the COVID-19 measures put out by the province. Graduates walked the stage in five minute increments, and the ceremony was livestreamed on Facebook. (Photo by Madison Fleck/SAIT)
Wolf Creek Public Schools logo

WCPS appoints new First Nations, Métis and Inuit student success coordinator

Shannon Loutitt appointed new coordinator for Wolf Creek Public Schools

  • Jun 7, 2021
Wolf Creek Public Schools logo
This photograph of a computer screen during a virtual interview on April 9, 2021, shows Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, right, as he sits with his wife Fran DeWine while she holds a printed copy of the Yellow Springs News issue page from April 28, 1955 that shows DeWine as a then second-grader, while receiving his polio vaccination. Tens of millions of today’s older Americans lived through the polio epidemic, their childhood summers dominated by concern about the virus. Some parents banned their kids from public swimming pools and neighborhood playgrounds and avoided large gatherings. Some of those from the polio era are sharing their memories with today’s youngsters as a lesson of hope for the battle against COVID-19. Soon after polio vaccines became widely available, U.S. cases and death tolls plummeted to hundreds a year, then dozens in the 1960s, and to U.S. eradication in 1979.(AP Photo/Dan Sewell)

Polio: When vaccines and re-emergence were just as daunting

Survivors sharing their memories with today’s younger people as a lesson of hope

This photograph of a computer screen during a virtual interview on April 9, 2021, shows Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, right, as he sits with his wife Fran DeWine while she holds a printed copy of the Yellow Springs News issue page from April 28, 1955 that shows DeWine as a then second-grader, while receiving his polio vaccination. Tens of millions of today’s older Americans lived through the polio epidemic, their childhood summers dominated by concern about the virus. Some parents banned their kids from public swimming pools and neighborhood playgrounds and avoided large gatherings. Some of those from the polio era are sharing their memories with today’s youngsters as a lesson of hope for the battle against COVID-19. Soon after polio vaccines became widely available, U.S. cases and death tolls plummeted to hundreds a year, then dozens in the 1960s, and to U.S. eradication in 1979.(AP Photo/Dan Sewell)
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Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship during a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, May 13, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Canada to welcome 45,000 refugees this year, says immigration minister
People line up to get their COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre, Thursday, June 10, 2021 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Vaccines, low COVID case counts increase Father’s Day hope, but risk is still there
lightning
VIDEO: Lightning storm in Ponoka
People watch a car burn during a riot following game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in downtown Vancouver, B.C., in this June 15, 2011 photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Geoff Howe
10 years ago: Where were you during the 2011 Vancouver Stanley Cup Riots?
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Asymptomatic testing will now be available for "priority groups" who are most likely to spread the COVID-19 virus to vulnerable or at-risk populations. File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

COVID-19: Alberta drops below 100 ICU admissions on Sunday

Central zone has 632 active cases

Asymptomatic testing will now be available for "priority groups" who are most likely to spread the COVID-19 virus to vulnerable or at-risk populations. File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS
Alberta has 3,651 active cases of COVID-19. (File photo)

Alberta identifies 293 new COVID-19 cases Saturday

Central zone has 664 active cases

Alberta has 3,651 active cases of COVID-19. (File photo)
(Emily Jaycox/Ponoka News)

PHOTOS: 2021 Graduates of Ponoka Parade

Graduates were celebrated in style on June 3

(Emily Jaycox/Ponoka News)
Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw is still reminding Albertans to be cautious as COVID-19 vaccines roll out quickly. (Photo by Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta)

Thousands of Central Albertans booked for second-dose appointments

The province reported 244 new cases of the virus Friday

  • Jun 4, 2021
Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw is still reminding Albertans to be cautious as COVID-19 vaccines roll out quickly. (Photo by Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta)
The Greenwich peninsula portion of Prince Edward Island National Park is seen on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017. A new report says Canada could reach one-third of its greenhouse gas reduction targets by making better use of its vast forests, prairies and wetlands. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Study outlines ‘natural climate solutions’ to help Canada meet emissions targets

Report lists 24 nature-based ways for Canada to help cut carbon emissions by 78 million tonnes

The Greenwich peninsula portion of Prince Edward Island National Park is seen on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017. A new report says Canada could reach one-third of its greenhouse gas reduction targets by making better use of its vast forests, prairies and wetlands. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Tammy Cunnington, a Red Deer para-swimmer builds her life around what makes her happy: staying fit and competing in sports. (Contributed photo) Tammy Cunnington, a Red Deer para-swimmer builds her life around what makes her happy: staying fit and competing in sports. (Contributed photo)

Central Albertan Tammy Cunnington named to Canada’s Paralympic swim team

Cunnington will represent Canada in Tokyo at the Paralympics later this summer

  • Jun 4, 2021
Tammy Cunnington, a Red Deer para-swimmer builds her life around what makes her happy: staying fit and competing in sports. (Contributed photo) Tammy Cunnington, a Red Deer para-swimmer builds her life around what makes her happy: staying fit and competing in sports. (Contributed photo)
Blotter bug

Mother leads police on chase from Camrose to Olds

The 32-year-old woman has been charged with endangering the life of a child

  • Jun 4, 2021
Blotter bug
Jayden Hagemann wearing a Sweaters to Remember vest. (Photo submitted)

Young Ponoka entrepreneur contributes to Alzheimer’s awareness

Jayden Hagemann, 22, is an advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness

Jayden Hagemann wearing a Sweaters to Remember vest. (Photo submitted)
Nisga’a dancer Rosita Martinez takes part in a ceremony on Parliament Hill Thursday June 3, 2021 in Ottawa. A bill creating a statutory holiday to commemorate the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada has been passed unanimously by the Senate. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Senate unanimously passes bill creating national day for truth and reconciliation

Sept. 30 of this year to become Canada’s first national day for truth and reconciliation

Nisga’a dancer Rosita Martinez takes part in a ceremony on Parliament Hill Thursday June 3, 2021 in Ottawa. A bill creating a statutory holiday to commemorate the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada has been passed unanimously by the Senate. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw says that Alberta’s vaccine rollout is helping the province keep COVID-19 at bay. (Photo by Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta)

Red Deer down to 218 active cases of COVID-19

The Central zone has 745 active cases of the virus

  • Jun 3, 2021
Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw says that Alberta’s vaccine rollout is helping the province keep COVID-19 at bay. (Photo by Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta)
Samson Cree Nation Chief Vernon Saddleback. (Emily Jaycox/Ponoka News)

Chief Vernon Saddleback: ‘This matters’

A memorial for the 215 children found in a mass grave in Kamloops was held in Maskwacis May 31

Samson Cree Nation Chief Vernon Saddleback. (Emily Jaycox/Ponoka News)
Alberta had a COVID-19 positivity rate of five per cent as per Wednesday’s report. (NIAID-RML via AP)

Red Deer active COVID-19 cases still declining

Central zone has 788 active cases

  • Jun 2, 2021
Alberta had a COVID-19 positivity rate of five per cent as per Wednesday’s report. (NIAID-RML via AP)
Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development Maryam Monsef speaks during a press conference in Ottawa on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Majority of Conservative MPs vote in favour of defeated sex-selective abortion bill

Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole opposed bill, but gave his caucus a free vote

Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development Maryam Monsef speaks during a press conference in Ottawa on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Tyler Bingham from Honeyvile, Utah sits second in the bull riding after posting an 86.75 on June 28, 2019 at the Ponoka Stampede. (File photo)

2021 Ponoka Stampede postponed

Board is optimistic the seven-day rodeo may go ahead in July or August

Tyler Bingham from Honeyvile, Utah sits second in the bull riding after posting an 86.75 on June 28, 2019 at the Ponoka Stampede. (File photo)
An event photo from the 2019 Ponoka Stampede. (Black Press file photo).

Ponoka Stampede is postponed due to pandemic

Organizers are considering later dates in 2021

An event photo from the 2019 Ponoka Stampede. (Black Press file photo).
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a debate about the discovery of remains of 215 children at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, in the House of Commons, in Ottawa, Tuesday, June 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Canada holds special debate on remains of 215 children found at residential school

Trudeau said Canadians can’t close their eyes and pretend this didn’t happen

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a debate about the discovery of remains of 215 children at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, in the House of Commons, in Ottawa, Tuesday, June 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Video of bear captured by John Norton.

‘It was surreal’: Black bear wanders through yards in Millet

Millet resident captures video of bear wandering through residential Millet, Alta.

Video of bear captured by John Norton.