LETHBRIDGE- Another candidate has come forward looking to become an alderman this fall.

Rory Tarant made the announcement today, stating that if elected he would push to improve our city's recreational infrastructure. He explained that having a multi-purpose recreation centre similar to ones in Red Deer and Grand Prairie would make a nice fit in Lethbridge.

Tarant also noted that we should be doing more in terms of recycling and protecting the environment. He commented that the time has come for curb-side recycling, adding that we need to make sure we maintain our position as a leader when it comes to waste water management.

Another issue Tarant would like to work on is helping seniors in our city. He explained that more should be done to get extra support from the federal and provincial governments, to make sure that long-term care facilities and retirement homes are providing the best care for seniors. He added that a property tax breaks should also be extended to seniors still living in their homes.

Tarant's the 16th candidate now looking for an alderman's position, with Civic elections set for October 18th.

LETHBRIDGE- The Blood Tribe is close to finalizing what they call the largest oil and gas deal by a First Nation in Canada.

The Tribe started negotiations with as many as seven oil and gas companies last March.

They have now settled on two separate deals with two seperate companies.

Murphy oil company Limited will lease the drilling rights to the southern half of the reserve for five years, while Bowood Energy Limited will have the drilling rights on the northern half.

In total the agreements are worth just over $50 million.

A spokesperson says the deals are expected to be finalized by October 1st.

LETHBRIDGE- Church bells all over the planet and in Lethbridge will ring Thursday morning at 9:09, to mark International FASD Awareness Day.

It's designed to get people thinking about how easy it is to prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, an issue that Hazel Mitchell with the South Alberta FASD Network explains has a high cost on society. She noted that the average life-time cost of supporting someone with the condition is about $1-million.

Mitchell added that all women need to remember that not only should they never drink while pregnant, but that drinking while trying to conceive is also dangerous as the child can develop FASD within the first few weeks of a pregnancy, likely before the mother even knows she is pregnant.

Mitchell went on to say that the issue is especially sad when considering just how easy it is to prevent. She also stated that FASD can cause problems when it comes to memory, attention, self-care, decision making and social skills, while also contributing to mental disorders like depression and addiction.

To find out more or to support the local FASD programs you can contact Hazel at 403-317-0934.

LETHBRIDGE- Exactly 1,203 people took advantage of the Hepatitis-A clinics over the weekend.

If you weren't one of them though and you ate at the McDonald's on Scenic Drive and 3rd avenue south, between August 20th and the 22nd, Doctor Vivian Suttorp with Alberta Health Services explained that you should watch for symptoms including a fever, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, along with yellowing eyes and skin.

If you experience those symptoms you are asked to call your doctor right away, as a blood test can confirm whether or not you are infected with Hepatitis A.

Suttorp did note that the risk of transmission is fairly low and that Hepatitis-A is not like strains B and C, meaning it will eventually run its course and that it's generally not fatal.

However she did comment that if infected, you will need to stay home from work or school and other large crowds for up to 50 days after when you were exposed to the illness, which would have been between August 20th and the 22nd.

For more information call Health Link Alberta at 1-866-408-LINK.

LETHBRIDGE- Registration begins Wednesday night from 6 to 9 for curling leagues at the Lethbridge Curling Club.

All curling teams are invited to a BBQ and are encouraged to arrive early to make sure they get a spot.

LETHBRIDGE- MTV icon Jessi Cruickshank addressed a gym full of Lethbridge College students Tuesday afternoon - surprising most with her heartfelt message.   

The topic of the day was thinking about the world in broad terms, and zeroing in on what you can do to help your community. She offered her own journey - from U of T drama student to well-known TV personality -  as inspiration.

"I thought I would never work in the U.S. because I always saw women on television there that were pretty and perfect and blonde and reading a teleprompter with no thoughts of their own - and I'm not that girl," says Cruickshank. "So the exciting part is that they saw something in me and they're letting me do a show that's my style."

After four years co-hosting the wildly popular "Aftershow" on MTV, Cruickshank is now living in L.A., developng a new show with Oprah's executive producers. But that's not the only change in her life. She recently reconnected with children's charity Free the Children and will tour several schools across Canada this month talking about her experiences with the charity and meeting impoverished kids.

Cruickshank says her new position as an ambassador with Free the Children has much to do with getting her priorities back in balance and motivating others to do the same.

"When I got into TV, I started to become more interested in things like Heidi's nine surgeries rather than the real, important things that are going on in this world," she explains. But her charity work has since made her think differently.

"Happiness is not about what you have in your life - it's not about the things that you have. It's about what you choose to do with your life, and what you choose to do with those things," says Cruickshank. "It's how you can affect people in your community  and in your world."

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Audio: Cruickshank gets passionate when a young woman with a learning disability asks her for advice.

Lethbridge College is facing an upswing in enrollment numbers.

Administrators have reported about 4,000 students will start classes this week - that's about a seven per cent increase from last year.

Krista Pearson is the associate vice president of enrollment. She says certain programs have seen an increase in popularity.

"We've seen a number of our one-year certificate programs with higher enrollment than last year - for example early childhood education," she says. "The wind turbine technician program is also very popular right now."

Pearson says the school has put some new focus on recruiting - particularly for their science program.

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Photo: new Lethbridge College students pack the gym for orientation Tuesday morning.

LETHBRIDGE- Shortly after 7-pm Monday night, Emergency services personnel attended the Ramada Water Park, after a 5-year old boy was found in the water, not breathing and without a pulse.

CPR was initiated by lifeguards and EMS were contacted.

The child was transported to Chinook Regional Hospital, where attempts to revive the child were unsuccessful.

While foul play is not suspected, the Regional Police Major Crimes Unit is investigating.