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The new public health orders that were announced earlier this week by Dr. Brent Roussin are now in effect.

The orders including the following.

• No visitors will be allowed at private residences, indoors or outdoors except for one visitor for those who live alone.
• No indoor gatherings will be permitted.
• Outdoor gatherings in public places will be capped at 10.
• Outdoor patio dining at restaurants will be restricted to four people, with no household restrictions.
• Shopping mall food courts will be closed.
• Faith-based gatherings are being reduced, with the capacity limited to 10 people or 25 per cent, whichever is lower. Indoor mask use is mandatory at all times.
• Gyms are allowed to stay open at 25 per cent capacity, but everyone inside will now have to stay at least three metres away from each other.
• Only one spectator per youth participant will be allowed to watch outdoor sports. Two-metre distancing requirements will be in effect.
• Music, dance and theatre schools can continue at 25 per cent capacity, but the latest restrictions now cap the number of people on-site at 10, with a maximum of one parent or guardian per youth in the class, and everyone at least two metres apart.
• Day camps are allowed to move forward with a maximum of 10 children indoors or out.
• Retail stores can stay open at 25 per cent capacity, or up to 250 patrons, whichever is lower.
• Malls are also limited to 25 per cent capacity.
• Personal service businesses can stay open at 50 per cent capacity through appointments only.

The orders will be in effect for the next four weeks. 

Details

Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Apr 28, 2021 - 6:39 am

Murray Automotive Group and Dean Cooley GM are purchasing Kelleher Ford.

The takeover will be official on May 3^rd when Kelleher Ford will become Dauphin Ford.

Dean Cooley says this was an easy and exciting decision.

“The Ford franchise is something that both myself, and the Murray Automotive Group had aspired to have, so that is very exciting for us to be able to acquire a dealership that is in close proximity to our dealership. It makes the efficiencies of running them very well.”

Cooley adds that he doesn’t see any major changes happening after Kelleher Ford is bought.

“We think they have a really strong staff, we want to build on what their successes have been and try to improve on the dealership in any way we can. We’re very excited to have the Ford franchise, obviously, they have a fantastic line of vehicles, with a focus on electrification in the future.”

Chuck Burton, General Manager of Kelleher Ford, is about to retire, and says the takeover has been in the works for a while.

“I always wanted to back away (from the company) when I turned 60, and last week I turned 60.”

While most staffing is staying the same, Wade Thiele who is the current sales manager at Cooley's, will be replacing Burton as the General Manager of the new Dauphin Ford.

Burton says it’s with mixed emotions that they sell the dealership and leave Dauphin after 12 years.

“We’ve made some great friends here, great customers, and we just want to say thank you to everybody in the Parkland for their support over the last 12 and a half years.”

A grand opening celebration won’t be able to happen for a while due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Details

Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson

Published: Apr 28, 2021 - 5:00 am

RCMP arrested three men in the span of eight hours for impaired driving last week.

On Friday, April 23^rd at around 6:35 p.m. officers received a complaint of an erratic driver on Highway 6 near St. Laurent.  The vehicle was stopped and the 29-year-old driver from Lundar was arrested for impaired driving and has been charged with refusing to comply with a lawful breath demand.

At about 10:35 p.m. officers received a report of a vehicle that was speeding on Highway 6, heading to Ashern. RCMP clocked the driver going 170 km/hr. The 33-year old driver from the Fairford First Nation was arrested and is facing charges of dangerous operation of a conveyance as well as operating a conveyance with a BAC that exceeds 80 mg% (.08).

At around 2:00 a.m. officers received a report of a single-vehicle collision in Lundar. The 23-year-old driver from Lundar was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Officers had reason to believe he had been drinking. He was arrested and charged with refusing to comply with a lawful breath demand.

All three men have received a 90-day license suspension and have had their vehicles impounded.

They will appear in court in July.

Details

Contributed by Tess Kovach

Published: Apr 27, 2021 - 4:53 pm

Over $55 thousand in tickets were issued to Manitobans last week for breaking COVID-19 guidelines.

92 warnings were given, and 56 tickets were issued from April 19th to the 25th.

There were 39 $1,296 tickets handed out for various offences, and 17 $298 tickets were issued for not wearing a mask in an indoor public.

Officials advise that the number of tickets issued increased by 167 per cent from the previous week.

Enforcement officials say they investigate all public health order violations they are made aware of, including large gatherings and rallies, and were present at the Forks last weekend.

Details

Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson

Published: Apr 27, 2021 - 1:58 pm

The province has opened up the vaccine eligibility to all Manitobans over the age of 18 that live and work in the Northern Health Region.

Anyone who lives or regularly works in northern Manitoba will be able to receive a vaccine, regardless of their job type.

The province also expanded the eligibility criteria to include all Manitobans over the age of 18 who work at specific jobs in Winnipeg’s Seven Oaks West area.

You can find a list of workers that are currently eligible for the vaccine here.

Details

Contributed by Tess Kovach

Published: Apr 27, 2021 - 11:22 am

Wendy McDonald, senior agronomist with 360 Ag Consulting has been named Agronomist of the Year by the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers.

Wendy went to the University of Manitoba where she graduated with a degree in Agronomy in 1998. Wendy worked for one year in Red Deer, Alberta and then with Manitoba farmers, as an Agronomist for over 20 years at Crop Input sites and Grain Elevators for Agricore/Agricore United and P&H in Western Manitoba.

Currently, Wendy enjoys crop scouting, soil sampling, and making recommendations as an Independent Crop Consultant with 360 Ag Consulting in the Parkland.

An online conference was held in February where Wendy was given her award.

Wendy says she was overwhelmed and honoured to receive this award.

“I knew about the award, I had seen it presented in previous years, and I know that previous winners are people that I respect and think highly of, so for me to be recognized, I was totally amazed.”

She says the reason why she’s been able to enjoy her career for the past 20 years because she always works with a great team.

“All the people I work with and learn from. It really is a team effort.”

Winning this award has opened some doors for Wendy, as she’s been asked to speak at the Farm Forum Conference and the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference - which she says has always been a dream of hers.

Details

Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson

Published: Apr 27, 2021 - 5:00 am

The government of Manitoba has announced new public health orders, amid increasing case numbers and variants of concern.

Premier Brian Pallister says the third wave of the pandemic is here, it’s a race between variants and vaccines, and the variants are winning.

Dr. Brent Roussin announced today’s new public health orders:

• No visitors will be allowed at private residences, indoors or outdoors except for one visitor for those who live alone.
• No indoor gatherings will be permitted.
• Outdoor gatherings in public places will be capped at 10.
• Outdoor patio dining at restaurants will be restricted to four people, with no household restrictions.
• Shopping mall food courts will be closed.
• Faith-based gatherings are being reduced, with the capacity limited to 10 people or 25 per cent, whichever is lower. Indoor mask use is mandatory at all times.
• Gyms are allowed to stay open at 25 per cent capacity, but everyone inside will now have to stay at least three metres away from each other.
• Only one spectator per youth participant will be allowed to watch outdoor sports. Two-metre distancing requirements will be in effect.
• Music, dance and theatre schools can continue at 25 per cent capacity, but the latest restrictions now cap the number of people on site at 10, with a maximum of one parent or guardian per youth in the class, and everyone at least two metres apart.
• Day camps are allowed to move forward with a maximum of 10 children indoors or out.
• Retail stores can stay open at 25 per cent capacity, or up to 250 patrons, whichever is lower.
• Malls are also limited to 25 per cent capacity.
• Personal service businesses can stay open at 50 per cent capacity through appointments only.

The new orders will begin on Wednesday, April 28^th and be in effect for four weeks

Details

Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson

Published: Apr 26, 2021 - 1:31 pm

The Dauphin Fire Department confirmed on Monday that one member of the force has tested positive for COVID-19. 

The individual was at the Fire Station during the week of April 19 in a limited capacity. As a result, Cam Abrey says all necessary precautions and Shared Health directives are being followed.

"The Fire Hall, equipment, and vehicles have been disinfected, in accordance with the routine cleaning done after each use, to ensure the safe operation for the Firefighters," said Abrey. 

Abrey also confirmed that the force will continue to serve and protect the community.

"This doesn't interrupt anything for us as far as fire protection and emergency response," stated Abrey. "We have a compliment of officers to respond to any call we receive."

Manitoba is expected to announce more COVID-19 restrictions on Monday afternoon.

Details

Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Apr 26, 2021 - 10:51 am

Roughly 300 people gathered at the Forks in Winnipeg over the weekend to protest Manitoba's public health orders.

Members of the group also clashed with police and enforcement officers as public gathering rules were broken. At this point, Manitoba has a 25-person limit for gatherings outdoors in public places. 

Many of the protesters at the rally weren't wearing masks. Among those in attendance including Tobias Tissen, the minister of the Church of God in Sarto, Man., which is about 60 minutes from Winnipeg. His congregation has been fined numerous times for holding large, in-person gatherings. 

We can expect to find out if anyone was fined later this week as the province will release it's weekly enforcement report.

On Monday afternoon, officials are expected to increase public health orders.

Details

Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Apr 26, 2021 - 6:12 am

Coming up close and personal with a grizzly bear would be an extremely scary encounter unless it's Grizzly, the 150 pound St. Bernard who has been bringing smiles to people's faces for about six years.

Mark Saler bought Grizzly when he was seven weeks old and now, he's a therapy dog that has been travelling to hospitals in the Prairie Mountain Health region to greet visitors, visit sick patients, and of course, to say 'hi' to the busy hospital staff.

Saler decided to train Grizzly to become a therapy dog because he believes there needs to be more kindness in the world and he knows how a therapy dog can help many people smile.

The father-dog duo visited the hospital in Brandon, Minnedosa, and Neepawa for six years, with stops at the Brandon hospital being weekly while they also made regular visits to the hospital in Neepawa and Minnedosa. And while the visits have stopped because of the pandemic, Mark and Grizzly are waiting patiently for the time when they can get back to the hospital.

"The minute Grizzly walks in the door at the hospital, it's all smiles from everyone we see," said Saler. "He's so recognizable in Manitoba now and he has managed to make so many people smile, when they otherwise may not."

For the past two years, Grizzly has also been invited to the Winnipeg Jets "Hockey Fights Cancer" night. The game offers kids with cancer, free tickets and they get a chance to meet the St. Bernard. Although it won't happen this year because fans aren't permitted inside of Bell MTS Place, Mark says Grizzly will be welcomed back every year and they can't wait until next year's game.

Saler says feedback from the patients and staff has been overwhelming over the years.

"I get private messages all the time thanking me for what I do," offered Saler. "The staff always say how much our visit meant to the patients, so that means so much."

While they can't spend time in hospitals right now, the duo is making sure they make an impact in different ways. Mark decided to buy a bunch of stuffed St. Bernards and from there, he would leave them at the hospitals for the kids until Grizzly can return in person again.

Making a difference:

Grizzly has made such an impact over the years that last year, the Minnedosa Lions Club awarded him with a medal of hope, to go along with $500 to pay for Mark's travel expenses every week.

But Mark wasn't comfortable using the money for that, so instead, it went to purchasing the animals. And after others heard what he was doing, they stepped up to the plate and donated money. In the past two weeks, already 200 stuffed animals have been left at the hospital's and an order has been placed that will see many more stuffed animals heading to Brandon, Minnedosa, and Neepawa for patients and staff.

Mark says he plans on continuing to send stuffed animals to hospitals as long as the great sponsors continue to help fund the project, one that has continued to make patients and staff smile, despite Grizzly not being in person. 

From the Minnedosa area, Saler says not only has Grizzy brought smiles and happiness to so many other people but also him as well. From the minute Mark wakes up in the morning until the minute he goes to sleep, Grizzly makes every day better and more enjoyable.

"I honestly couldn't see my life without Grizzly in it, he's just so amazing," ended Saler.

This is Mark's fourth St. Bernard, but it's the first one that he decided to train to become a therapy dog. 

Details

Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Apr 26, 2021 - 5:58 am