LETHBRIDGE- Another two first time candidates have put their names forward to fill the eight alderman seats available this fall.

Public school board trustee Lea Switzer is one of the candidates. She stated that while she's been very happy working for School District 51, she can only help and work with a limited group of people there. Switzer added that as an alderman she could have a significant impact on the city and work with a full range of citizens in Lethbridge.

The other first time candidate to come forward is local business owner Bev Lanz.

She stated that safety is one of the key issues she wants to address, both in terms of emergency services, and snow and ice removal.

Lanz explained that while city crews are getting better at clearing our streets in the winter, the service could still be better.

Another issue Lanz would like to deal with, is developing a variety of housing types downtown, available to broad spectrum of Lethbridge residents who are at different positions in their lives.

With the two announcements the number of candidates now up running to become alderman now stands at 14.

LETHBRIDGE- Two more incumbent aldermen have come forward looking to be re-elected.

Ryan Parker will be seeking his fifth term as an alderman, and on that note he did answer questions as to why he won't be taking a run at the position of mayor. Parker explained that he has two young children, and considering the fact that he's only 35, he has lots of time and might try to take the position the next time around.

Parker went on to add that if re-elected, he would like to work on developing all parts of the city at the same pace, instead of just focusing on one quadrant.

In response to comments from several first time candidates that the current council lacks transparency, Parker stated that they've taken major steps towards improving communication. He added that the same kinds of comments come up every election.

The second alderman to announce that he's looking for another term is Tom Wickersham.

Wickersham's going after his fourth term after working for the city for 36-years as a fire fighters, with nine of those years as Fire Chief and Director of Disaster Services.

Wickersham explained that if re-elected, he wants to focus on developing more affordable housing for Lethbridge residents. He also commented that he wants to make our city more economically viable for businesses, so they'll be willing to come to Lethbridge and set up shop.

With Parker and Wichersham now in the race, 14 people will be trying to take eight seats on council as alderman. Voting goes October 18th.

The University of Lethbridge is expecting another record year when it comes to enrollment.

More than 7,000 students are registered at the Lethbridge campus, while about 1,000 have signed up at the calgary and edmonton campuses, for a total of about 8,200. That's roughly a one per cent increase from last year.

Leslie Lavers is the school registrar. She says the numbers are on target for the school's target goals -- and the ease with which they're meeting them is a testament to the school's growth.

"I think it says nothing but good things about the school. The U of L is more than holding its own in this landscape where there's increased competition and an increased number of postsecondary institutions offering undergraduate degrees. So it's just good news, all the way around."

 Lavers says the increase will also benefit the city's financial future. "There's an enormous economic impact by the university on the Lethbridge community," she says. "I think it's certainly become one of the pillars of economic development here." 

Final enrollment numbers will be available after registration closes next week.

LETHBRIDGE- Regional Police are raising questions about an auto group that listed the city as worst for speed traps.

The National Motorists Association went public with a list that rates cities across North America for speed traps.

It claims that Lethbridge has the most speed traps in Alberta for a city with 100,000 people or less.

Kristen Harding with Regional Police is critical of the way they compiled the information. She explained that no scientific or factual data was used, as it was based on a website where the public anonymously posts information about photo radar sites.

LETHBRIDGE- Just a couple of weeks after people entered their names at an All Season Travel booth at the Pincher Creek Fair and Rodeo and started getting calls for credit card information, it's happened here as well.

Following Whoop-Up Days, it appears the same company (All Season Travel) is putting out the same call.

A person calls saying that you won a trip after entering into their draw, however they then say that you need to use a credit card to cover some discounted costs. While the company is registered with the Better Business Bureau, they were given an F rating on a scale of A+ to F.

Exhibition Park Manager Doug Kryzanowski apologized for allowing the vendor to bother those who entered their names. He added that they will not be allowed back and that Exhibition Park will work with other local groups to develop a list of companies that will be banned from local events. They'll also work with Regional Police to develop a better screening process.

CANADA/CHINA- Bob Balog reports that things seem to be on the right track, just a few weeks after visiting China with a group of individuals in the Canadian cattle industry.

They're working to tap into the Chinese market, so we can sell our beef to the largest population on the planet, and Balog commented that they are starting to show real interest in importing both cuts of beef and live cattle.

He noted that while the older generation may not be as interested, following the Beijing Olympics and World Expo, Chinese citizens between the ages of 15 and 30 seem to be more accepting of different ideas and foods from other parts of the world. Balog noted that with more of the young generation traveling around the world, he expects them to develop a taste for Canadian beef, which they'll take back to China.

Balog admitted that a deal is still a ways off, but that both he and the Canadian government will continue to work to open up the market. He explained that the two major sticking points are a lack of understanding for how our system works, and the BSE crisis that rattled our country.

Balog did state that he's confident Chinese officials will start to come around, when they see that we have one of the best health and safety systems in the world set up for our cattle.

Another step forward today for the city's new technology centre.

Four major business partners met in north Lethbridge yesterday at the construction site of the multi-million dollar Technology Commercialization Centre.

"We've been working on this project really hard for a number of months already. And the fact that we're in the ground, that the walls are starting to go up, that the earth's moved -- that's worth celebrating," says Economic Development Lethbridge CEO Cheryl Dick.

EDL was one of four major funders at the site yesterday. Conservative MP Rick Casson represented the federal government's $4.17 million contribution. He says the significance of the centre is impossible to ignore.

"This facility is going to attract technology type industries to come to Lethbridge, to stay in Lethbridge -- we're going to be able to keep our university graduates since some of them will decide to stay in the city rather than moving on," says Casson.

The draw for technology-trained minds could translate into big financial benefits for the City. Managers estimate  the centre could bring between $24 million and $96 million to the local economy after 10 years.

Construction on the centre is now about nine months along and is scheduled to open in April 2011.

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Photo: Economic Development Lethbridge CEO Cheryl Dick addresses a crowd of community stakeholders including Mayor Bob Tarleck and MP Rick Casson.