Northern Lights Reappearing In Parkland

The Northern Lights will be visible from everywhere in the Parkland over the next few days.

From May 14th to 16th, the Aurora will be most visible.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: May 14, 2019 - 4:29 pm

The Graduation Powwow is tomorrow from 10 til 2.

The powwow is a celebration of life and honours the grads from the MVSD and the ACC.

The graduates will be honoured by walking in front of the community coming in through the grand entry, later on, they’ll be honoured with gifts, and then the graduates will honour the community by giving a giveaway.

Carole Shankaruk, the indigenous education facilitator for the MVSD, says the graduation powwow is meant to bring communities together.

Over the lunch period, there will be entertainment. Desiree Dorion will be performing as well as the D-Town steppers, a square dancing group.

Shankaruk says the powwow is a big learning opportunity for both indigenous and non-indigenous people.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: May 14, 2019 - 3:05 pm

The RM of Alonsa would like to remind residents that there is still a burning ban in effect.

They have noticed some residents burning anyways and warn that fines will be issued if burning continues.

The ban has been in effect since late April and is in place to prevent wildfires.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: May 14, 2019 - 2:56 pm

Just before 9 pm last night the Dauphin Fire Department responded to a report of a grass fire.

The fire happened in the Keld area and lasted for about 5 hours.

A witness saw a vehicle driving away from the scene of the fire but unfortunately no license plate number was obtained.

Due to extremely dry conditions, the Dauphin Fire Department is asking people to be cautious when driving through grassy areas and to not throw cigarette butts out of car windows.

Anyone planning a burn in the RM of Dauphin is asked to make sure they have the necessary permit. Permits can be obtained through the RM.

Anyone with any information concerning the vehicle that was in the area at the time of the fire is asked to call the Dauphin RCMP.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: May 14, 2019 - 9:41 am

The City of Dauphin officially declared May 20th-26th as Safe Grad Awareness Week.

Three DRCSS students, who are part of the grad planning committee, attended the City Council meeting last night for the proclamation.

Safe-Grads are an initiative originally proposed by MADD to make sure grads celebrate responsibly.

As part of Safe Grad Awareness Week, DRCSS grads will be hosting a fundraising barbeque on Saturday, May 25th from 10:30 to 4:30 at the Dauphin Marketplace Mall.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: May 14, 2019 - 8:45 am

This week is Canada Road Safety Week, a national campaign to make Canada's roads the safest in the world.

With this weekend being the long weekend, it'll see more people travelling which will cause more collisions.

The RCMP say whether you drive a car, motorcycle, bicycle or are a pedestrian, it’s important that you focus on the road, pay attention and be aware of changes in your surroundings at all times.

Julie Courchaine an RCMP media relations officer is asking people to buckle-up, put the phone down, drive sober and slow down.

All week, police vehicles will be stationed around the province to remind people that safe driving habits save lives and reduce injuries.

So far this year, there have been 15 fatal collisions causing 15 deaths.

Courchaine says all of the fatal collisions are preventable.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: May 14, 2019 - 4:55 am

On Sunday around 2:30 in the afternoon in Brandon, emergency services helped save someone who was walking along the outside railing of the southbound 1^stSt. Bridge.

The woman was on the Assiniboine River side of the bridge.

Sergeant Kirby Sararas says the crisis negotiator team trains heavily for situations like these.

She says showing empathy and using active listening skills is the key to helping someone through a crisis.

Sararas says they prepare the best they can for these types of situations with knowledge and having as many people as they can.

Members from the Fire department and emergency services were also there to stand by with both an ambulance and water rescue equipment.

A family member of the woman was also on scene speaking with her.

By 4:00 pm the woman started to fatigue and slip.

She required the assistance of officers to pull her over to safety.

The woman was immediately taken to the hospital by ambulance where she was met by family.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: May 13, 2019 - 2:55 pm

In the morning around 9:30 on May 9^th, Manitoba First Nations Police attempted a traffic stop on a suspect believed to be in the possession of weapons.

The suspect refused to pull over, causing a pursuit to begin.

After pulling into a driveway, the suspect ran from Police.

A vehicle check found a loaded sawed-off .22 rifle and a replica pellet gun, both were seized by the police.

The police conducted community checks and followed up on multiple tips but couldn’t locate the suspect.

The next day, May 10^th Police were told the male suspect was at the Amaranth Beach area.

MFNP and the RCMP attended the area and saw a male wearing a black balaclava run into the marsh.

Police located the suspect, taking him into custody without incident.

Jeremy Gordon Whincup was arrested and charged with possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition, possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm while knowing possession is unauthorized, unsafe transportation of a firearm, possession of a weapon contrary to an Order (x3), and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

The accused is set to appear in court today.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: May 13, 2019 - 12:33 pm

As part of its Aquatic Invasive Species Program, Riding Mountain National Park is hosting several orientations throughout the summer.

The Seasonal Permit Orientation Sessions will provide visitors with the necessary info on how to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussels.

Once completing the orientation and mandatory inspection, boaters will be issued a seasonal permit which will allow them to enter Park waters as often as they’d like. The seasonal pass will help the inconvenience of having to renew permits weekly.

The sessions will last an hour and a half to two hours and will be held at the Visitor Centre in Wasagaming. Sessions are being planned in Dauphin, McCreary, and Rossburn with those dates to be determined.

The schedule is as follows:

MAY

May 18, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
May 19, 20 & 22, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
May 25, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
May 28, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

JUNE

June 1 & 4, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
June 6, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
June 8, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
June 15 & 18, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
June 20, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
June 22, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
June 29, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

JULY

July 6 & 13, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Pre-registration is required and can be booked by calling 204-848-7275.

Details: Contributed by Josh Sigurdson; Published: May 13, 2019 - 11:23 am

It's Canada Road Safety Week and the number of fatalities in our province is already at a shocking number.

In the first four months of 2019, pedestrians made up nearly half of the fatalities on Manitoba’s public roadways. Four pedestrian fatalities happened in Winnipeg while one each happened in Thompson and Peguis First Nation.

“Pedestrians are certainly vulnerable because there really is nothing they can do to help themselves when a vehicle is approaching them," said Brian Smiley, Media Relations Coordinator for Manitoba Public Insurance. "You want to be facing traffic and if you're walking at night, make sure you're wearing bright clothing. If there are lights to cross at, always cross at them. Also look at the wheels of a vehicle, if they're still spinning that vehicle isn't stopping."

On average in Manitoba, about 12 pedestrians are killed and about 130 are injured yearly. About half of all pedestrian deaths occur at an intersection, while one in 10 deaths take place either between intersections or while walking on the road.

Another tip is to never assume that vehicles see you, you need to walk defensively. You do have the right of way, but only when the vehicle allows you.