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The City of Dauphin recently announced its 2021 financial and strategic plans.
On Monday city council released Dauphin’s 2021 budget plans, which City Manager Sharla Griffiths says will bring a 4.6% decrease in property taxes collected, with no decrease in services.
“$501,000 was provided to the city if Dauphin based on a per capita. $301,000 has gone to reduce taxes this year, with the remaining money to reduce taxes in 2022.”
The city also has plans to upgrade public recreation.
“Council has committed up to $300,000 for the rejuvenation of Meadow Lark Park. That will look to create not only tennis courts, but a pickleball court, and a basketball court.”
Council has also committed to spending up to $125,000 on an addition to the active transportation route along 1st Avenue SE in the city.
Griffiths says the city’s 2021-2024 strategic plan focuses on providing a safe and healthy community.
“It talks about the vision and mission of our community, as well as five goals identified. Those goals would be to be a sustainable community, to have community growth, to have public engagement and awareness, to promote some tourism opportunities, and to have a healthy and safe community.”
For more information on the city’s strategic plan, click here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Constable Jason Kitzul -- who went to trial in connection with multiple alleged assaults -- has had his charges stayed by the Crown.
In December of 2018, the Roblin RCMP received a report from a third party that a woman may be the victim of an assault. Following a lengthy investigation, Kitzul was arrested in June of 2019, in relation to off-duty incidents that took place in 2017 and 2018.
Ultimately, the Crown decided to stay any charges against Kitzul, bringing the case to a close.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Manitoba has expanded the eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines today.
All Manitobans aged 45 and older can book appointments at supersites and pop-up clinics in the province.
To book an appointment, you can call 1-844-626-8222.
Johanu Botha, operations lead on the COVID-19 vaccine implementation task force says they will expand the eligibility regularly based on age, as vaccine supplies and available appointments allow, and all Manitobans over the age of 12 are expected to be eligible by May 21st.
The province says second dose appointments will begin shortly after first doses are done. Botha says their goal is to open up second dose bookings starting May 22nd.
More pop-up vaccine clinics are coming to the Prairie Mountain Health region in the coming weeks:
Russell – George P. Buleziuk Centre, 106 Shell River Ave. S, May 18
Swan River – Swan River Veterans Hall, 119 Sixth Ave. N, May 18
Neepawa – Yellowhead Centre Hall, 175 Mountain Ave., May 20
Shoal Lake – Shoal Lake Community Hall, 315 The Drive, May 20
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
People who rely on the town water supply in Ashern are now under a 'Boil Water Advisory'.
A repair was done at 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday and the repair took a few hours. The water supply has resumed, however, due to the depressurization of the water system, the advisory has been put in place.
During this advisory, all water used for consumption should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute. This includes drinking and ice-making, preparing beverages, such as infant formula, and preparing food.
It is not necessary to boil tap water used for other household purposes, such as laundry or washing dishes. Two different negative samples will have to be returned before the advisory is lifted and this could take up to 72 hours.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Trey Negrich one day has a goal of owning a home and he's hoping that trading his way up to get one is the way to go.
A couple of weeks ago, Trey decided that he wanted to start trading things with fellow Manitobans and his journey to his end goal is off to a great start.
He started with a loonie and he was able to trade that up to get a Samsung S21 case and a pop socket.
Negrich says he's really enjoyed this whole process of trying to trade up.
"It's been really exciting and cool," he said. "It's also kind of a wait. Because not everyone will want what I'm trading, but that's okay. It's been a fun time."
And now in a separate trade, Negrich continues to climb the ladder. His boss gave him a motor from a bowling alley and Negrich was able to trade it on Monday afternoon in exchange for a gazebo dining tent.
"I'm really happy about this trade. My uncle was talking to this guy and he turned it over to me and we made the deal," added Negrich. "It's one step in the direction to my end goal, in my opinion."
Negrich will immediately look to trade the tent. His end goal is to trade up to a house and he won't stop until he can achieve his goal. If you're looking for a gazebo dining tent and you have something of value you'd like to trade, you can reach out to Trey on Facebook.
"I'll go as long as I can with this, I certainly don't plan on stopping anytime soon, I'm just getting started," ended Negrich. "I would say a great landmark would be trading up to a car, that would be my first little major goal, you could say."
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Manitoba RCMP has made another arrest in the homicide of Tamara Benoit.
RCMP officers arrested Tova Jeanine Peters on Tuesday, May 4th in connection to Benoit’s death.
She is facing charges of obstruction of justice and breach of a court order.
Benoit’s remains were found in Portage la Prairie in September 2020.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Public health officials issued 112 warnings and 58 tickets to Manitobans that broke COVID-19 public health orders last week.
A total of $53,594 in tickets was issued between April 26th and May 2nd.
Tickets were handed out to 42 people for various offenses, 12 people for not wearing a mask in an indoor public place, and four Manitoba businesses.
Officials advise that 33 of the tickets issued to individuals were for holding gatherings that went against public health orders.
Officials were present at rallies in Winnipeg and Winkler this past weekend. Provincial data shows that 20 tickets have been issued for a rally at The Forks in Winnipeg on April 25.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The Dauphin Fire Department is here to serve and protect the community and Tuesday is their day.
It's International Firefighters Day and Fire Chief, Cam Abrey says every day he works at the department is a great day.
"I'm living the dream. My dad always told me that if you want to live in a community, you have to be a part of the community," said Abrey. "The best way to be a part of the community is to give back and I get that opportunity working at the DFD."
Cam's oldest son is a current firefighter and his youngest son is a part of the cadet program through the high school. Cam says although times are different because of the coronavirus pandemic, the force remains committed to serving the community when they are called.
Whether it's a house fire to a fire in the field and anything in between, the Dauphin Fire Department has always and will always be here ready to get their job done in the safest and most effective way possible.
"We have an amazing group here, we call it our fire family," offered Abrey. "It's such a great group of people that are doing what they can to serve their friends and family."
As the weather continues to improve and with summer right around the corner, Cam does want to remind you to be extra cautious when having a BBQ or a fire outside. He says to never leave any fire unattended because it doesn't take long for the fire to spread. Bonfires are allowed within the City of Dauphin as long as all regulations are met.
"Always keep an eye on whatever you're heating," ended Abrey. "Whether it's an open fire, on a BBQ, or the oven inside."
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Manitobans are being reminded that the National Public Alerting System, Alert Ready is scheduled to issue an emergency test tomorrow.
The test message is scheduled to appear on multiple communication channels tomorrow, May 5th at 1:55 p.m.
Manitoba Infrastructure’s Emergency Measures Organization says the testing of all components is an important and necessary part of any public alerting system.
The test alert will be distributed on TV, radio, and wireless devices, but not all Manitobans will receive the test alert on their mobile devices.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Heading out to find some deals at a local garage sale or hosting one isn't an option, at least for right now.
Under current public health orders, garage sales are banned and if you were to host one, you could be fined $1,296.
"These orders are in effect until after the long weekend, and so we need Manitobans to delay any garage sales at this time," Dr. Brent Roussin, the province's chief public health officer.
The province will provide another COVID-19 update on Tuesday afternoon.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The emerald ash borer has arrived in Winnipeg, which has some Dauphinites being cautious to not allow it to spread here.
The emerald ash borer is an invasive wood-boring beetle, that is native to Asia. It was first detected in North America in 2002.
Although it's a small bug, the emerald ash borer is a huge problem because it harms and kills up to 99 per cent of ash trees in its path.
Patti Eilers from Communities in Bloom says the best way to prevent the spread is to not move firewood.
“What happens is it can be carried to other communities. With the Dutch Elms Disease, we have lost over 200 trees this year, and if we get the emerald ash borer, that affects the ash trees and that’s a real concern because if the elm trees and ash trees both get affected that’s the demise of the trees in your community.”
Eilers says another method of prevention is the diversification of the trees.
“We don’t plant one kind all in a row. We’ve got all these elms trees down a lot of these streets so we’re planting other trees that are resistant to disease and infestation.”
Eilers says preventing the spread of the emerald ash borer is important to sustain our tree population.
“The trees take so many impurities out of the air. They take carbon and convert it to oxygen. One mature tree can actually provide oxygen for a family of four.”
You can report potential emerald ash borer infested trees to the tree line at 204-945-7866.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
