More good news could be on the horizon to lift the spirits of Cochrane and area residents.

The Cochrane and District Agricultural Society (CDAS) is thinking positive, and have started to plan a scaled-back edition of the Cochrane Fair for Aug. 21-22.

Whether it will go ahead will be decided in late June, based upon Alberta Health guidelines on the number of spectators allowed in the stands.

"It's extremely tough to plan anything like this in these days because you don't know what rules you're going to have to work with," says CDAS president Justin Burwash, "but if we don't start planning something, then we're definitely going to have nothing."

He estimates they will need to be allowed to have 200 or more people in the stands to make it viable.

"We don't need to make money, but it would be a great boost to the community if we could have an event. I think there's much anxiety built up in the community because we've been living with this for so long that we need some of these positive things to happen."

"I think this would be a great win if we can host an event, and people can feel better about where we're at."

The 20th-anniversary edition of Cochrane Classic Bullriding will be the headlining event, and they'll be a few others, like barrel racing, mutton bustin', and music, but no dance at this point.

They won't be able to host a midway or carnival this year.