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A pair of local MLAs have been named to the new leadership structure for Manitoba's Opposition Progressive Conservative party.

Riding Mountain MLA Greg Nesbitt will serve as Caucus Chair, while Interlake-Gimli MLA Derek Johnson will continue as Opposition House Leader.

Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen will serve as Deputy leader for Rural Manitoba under interim party leader Wayne Ewasko, while Kathleen Cook will hold similar responsibilities for Winnipeg and Urban Centres. 

Turtle Mountain MLA Doyle Piwniuk will serve as Caucus Whip.

Around 11,500 unionized civil service members in Manitoba have ratified a new four-year labour agreement with the province.

The new agreement, which was reached earlier this month and is retroactive to March of last year, includes wage increases totaling 14 per cent over the term of the deal.   

In addition, there is a one-time signing bonus of $1,800 for full-time employees and $900 for part-time workers, while a new fund that's equivalent to about 1.4 per cent of civil service workers' payroll will be created for additional wage increases for jobs where recruitment and retention has been difficult. 

Among the civil servants covered in this deal are correctional officers, sheriffs, conservation officers, court clerks, social service workers, and public health inspectors, among others.

A 29-year-old man accused in relation to a death on the Birdtail Sioux First Nation has made an initial court appearance.

Michael Hanska appeared in Brandon court last Friday and was remanded back into custody until his next appearance this Thursday.

Last Tuesday just before 9 pm, Manitoba First Nations Police were called to a home on the reserve concerning a report of an injured man.

When they arrived, they found a 40-year-old man, who was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The RCMP's Major Crime Services released details about a historical homicide, as an arrest has been made.

Crystal Shannon Saunders was found deceased in a ditch near St. Ambroise nearly 17 years ago, and her alleged killer has been discovered and arrested.

"Kevin Queau was arrested and charged for Crystal's murder and remains in custody at the Surrey detachment as we speak."

According to Mounties, DNA was found on Saunders’ remains.

Due to advancements in technology around 2014, DNA got a hit on the National DNA Databank and linked it to Queau.

Crystal was just 24 years old when she was last seen getting into a vehicle just days before her body was found.

She is remembered as a devoted mother, daughter, and friend who lost her life to this senseless act of violence.

The Dauphin Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation has made the difficult decision to suspend its hot meal program.

Community liaison officer Jason Gilmore says it will no longer be able to run after this Wednesday, January 31st, due to financial constraints.

"If there were any community organizations or partners that were willing to continue this program in some form, DNRC would be more than happy to donate our space.  But as far as people equity funding, we are not in a position to go forward.  Now saying that we are continuing with our breakfast program moving forward as it stands currently, which is Monday to Friday from 9 am until 10:30."

Gilmore adds it is unfortunate that they can not continue this program, which was created after a one-time grant from the Canadian Red Cross.

"In total between the hot meal and the breakfast programs, we served approximately 13,000 meals (in 2023) in the community.  So just purely by those numbers, you can see the need there, and we all know that with inflation and food security issues, it is definitely a point of need in the community."

Gilmore says they are open to having other groups come forward and offer a similar program.

"As it stands right now, we are going to have a hot meal on the first Monday of each month.  And that is through Parkside Gospel Church.  And they have been helpful with us through 2023, by doing that.  So they are coming and using our space and buying the groceries, and they have enough help.  So that is kind of the model going forward if we were to do something."

Any groups interested in exploring something like this can contact Gilmore at 204-701-1110.

Officials with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities will be visiting several areas across the Parkland on Tuesday.

The visits are part of the AMM's annual round of municipality visits. 

Association president Kam Blight says the visits give them a chance to meet one-on-one with individual councils and gain invaluable local insight to advance municipal priorities.

Blight, along with AMM Vice Presidents Kathy Valentino and Brad Galuk, will be joined at these meetings by Parkland directors Jim Manchur and Lance Jacobsen, as well as senior policy analyst Stefanie Vieira.

The group will meet on Tuesday afternoon with municipal councils in Gilbert Plains, Grandview, and Alonsa. 

A 40-year-old Dauphin man will be back in Brandon court later this week in relation to his role in an assault that took place in November of 2022.

Yellowhead RCMP says a woman suffered severe, life-altering injuries as a result of the incident.

Wayne Becks faces numerous charges, including aggravated assault and uttering threats.

He made a brief court appearance last week and remains in custody. 

This Wednesday is the deadline to purchase early bird passes for this year's Canada  National Ukrainian Festival.

Festival president Kayla Gillis says ticket sales have been strong so far.

"Upper camping is about half sold out already, so if you have not got your camping spot so far, please do that as well too.  Last year we sold out by May.  So be sure to get your camping spots as well too otherwise you might have to camp in the lower bowl."

Weekend passes are $125 each until Wednesday, but will go up in price after that day.

Gillis adds the list of bands performing at this year's festival has also been finalized.

"Dauphin's own Party Time Orchestra will be joining us.  We also have Sloohai coming out of Winnipeg.  We have by request Budmo, and then we have two new bands that have never been to our festival before.  They are both out of Saskatoon - one of them is called Across the Ocean, and the other one is the Ukrainian Connection band." 

The festival goes from August 2nd to 4th at the Selo Ukraina site.

Tickets are available at the festival office on 3rd Avenue North East or online at www.cnuf.ca.

February 28th is the next court date for a Russell man accused of making online threats. 

About a year ago, RCMP in the community were advised of a man making threats through social media towards law enforcement personnel, government officials, and medical professionals.

Officers attended a home, where a suspect allegedly resisted arrest before finally being taken into custody.

43-year-old Michael Man of Russell was arrested and charged. 

The city of Dauphin is getting down to some more snow clearing at the top of the week.

Starting tomorrow at 8 pm, city crews will be working through the night clearing the main street and the downtown areas.

To ensure these clearing efforts happen quickly and efficiently, residents are asked not to park along these roadways while work is being done.

The work is expected to last just one night, wrapping up Monday at 6 am 

UPDATE - Dauphin RCMP says Hailey Chartrand was found safe on Saturday.  

 

A 14-year-old girl has been reported in the City of Dauphin.

Today, January 26th, the RCMP received a report of a missing 14-year-old female from the area.

Hailey Chartrand was last seen on January 23rd of this year leaving her home on 5th Avenue NE in Dauphin.

Hailey is described as 5’2”, 150 lbs with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a red sweater, black sweatpants, and a black backpack. She may be in the Dauphin area.

Anyone with information is asked to call Dauphin RCMP at 204-622-5050, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or submit a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.