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Canada's National Ukrainian Festival office is moving across town.

After being located on 3rd Avenue North East, across from the Dauphin Co-op, the CNUF office opens its new digs today in the Dauphin Marketplace Mall.
 
Festival President Kayla Gillis explains the reason for the move. 
"Ensuring that we are getting that full traffic and a good quality of clients coming in as well.  There is lots of activity going within the mall, and it is a more booming end of town."
Gillis encourages everyone to visit their office to see some of the new stock and deals that they currently have. 
As well, you can also order your tickets for the 60th anniversary of the festival, which is set for August 1-3.  

The community of Oak River is losing its Co-op Food Store. 

Valleyview Co-op announced in a news release today that the store was being closed, effective immediately, due to inadequate sales and profitability, and the overall condition of the building.  

Management and Board members voted to make the difficult decision after exploring several options over the past year to keep the facility open.  

Valleyview Co-op General Manager David Wowk says his team is grateful for the support they have received from the Oak River community. 

The Oak River store became part of Valleyview Co-op following the 2018 amalgamation of Valleyview and Kenton Co-ops. 

Wowk says the Board of Directors are currently reviewing options for the Oak River building, aiming to make a responsible decision that considers its significant structural issues.

UPDATE - RCMP say the 29-year-old male passenger in the southbound vehicle has now died as a result of his injuries, while the 36-year-old driver is listed in stable condition.  

 

Swan River RCMP are investigating a head-on collision that took place Tuesday afternoon near Bowsman. 

The collision took place on Highway 10, about 1 and a half km north of Road 224  north. 

The investigation by Mounties has revealed that a vehicle traveling southbound on Highway 10, near Road 224 North, veered over the center line, colliding with a suspected stationary vehicle parked on the east edge of the highway.

A 42-year-old male driver of the northbound facing vehicle, and his 31-year-old female passenger, were both transported to hospital where they were pronounced dead.

The driver of the southbound vehicle, a 36-year-old male from Winnipeg, along with his 29-year-old male passenger, from Swan River, were both transported to hospital with critical injuries.

Swan River RCMP, along with RCMP Criminal Collision Investigation Team, and a Traffic Analyst continue to investigate.

Besides being dependent on good crowds, events like Dauphin's Countryfest and the Ag Society Fair can not operate without significant support from the business community. 

Countryfest President Duane McMaster says their sponsors have been pivotal to the event's success for years. 

"We have had a long-standing relationship with most of our corporate sponsors and they have been with us through thick and thin. And they have been great to help us.   The city (of Dauphin) signed a five-year agreement with us this year, and we also have a huge contribution from the provincial government this year.  Our board felt it was really gratifying that they value this festival and that they feel that this festival is beneficial to our region."

Dauphin Ag Society President Terron Stykalo echoes those comments.

"They are our front runners.  They help us get off the ground and get rolling every single year, and I can not thank them enough.  Even at my luncheon, I find myself sounding like a broken record because the only thing I can really say is thank you.  This does not happen without the phenomenal support that we receive from the business.  And we really hope that they understand how grateful that we are."

Stykalo says they are coming off one of their most successful sponsorship years in history.  

The city is inviting everyone to join them for a Picnic in the Park on Canada Day.  

From 5 to 8 pm on July 1st, there will be a free, family concert in CN Park, featuring local artists Avery Stykalo and Emma Peterson. 
This year, there will be no fireworks as part of the Canada Day celebrations, and Deputy City Manager Lisa Gaudet explains why. 
 
"Parts of Manitoba are experiencing wildfires, and with the dry conditions, fireworks simply are not the safest choice right now.  There is also a growing awareness of the environmental impact of fireworks.  They release smoke and chemicals and debris into the air.  And fireworks can also be terrifying for pets and wildlife." 

Gaudet says other communities are also moving away from having fireworks for these same reasons.  
A spike belt was needed to take in a 20-year-old from Yorkton that was driving under the influence on Highway 10.
 
On Sunday, Dauphin RCMP responded to a vehicle driving erratically at about 6:00 a.m. Travelling at a high rate of speed, the driver would not pull over, and nearly caused a collision with an oncoming driver.
 
After the vehicle came to a stop, the driver would not get out, and officers had to force him out. A breath sample determined the driver exceeded the legal limit.
 
Ryden Yackulic, 20, from Yorkton, Saskatchewan faces the following charges:
• Flight from Peace Officer;
• Operation While Over 80mg% Alcohol of motor vehicle;
• Resist Peace Officer;
• Drive Carelessly;
• Disobey Traffic Control Device;
• Drive Without Motor Vehicle Liability insurance; and
• Drive Unregistered Vehicle.
 
He was remanded into custody. 
Kyle Sutherland has made another court appearance.
The 34-year-old from Dauphin was arrested on outstanding warrants on June 12th, and a search of him turned up a large amount of cash, along with crystal meth. 
He is slated to be back in court this Thursday. 
Meanwhile, a man arrested during a November 2023 traffic stop has been denied bail. 
27-year-old Dillon Lebel was one of two people arrested after weapons, ammunition, cocaine and crystal meth were seized from the vehicle they were in. 
Lebel's matters have been moved to August 12th.   

Huge crowds flocked to the Dauphin Rec Services Fairgrounds over the weekend for the annual Dauphin Ag Society Fair. 

The sunny, hot weather this weekend allowed organizers to get in all three days of chariot and chuckwagon races, after having to cancel them last year because of rain. 

Dauphin Ag Society president Terron Stykalo was asked why the fair is so well attended every year. 

"I think as we continue to move past the pandemic, people are looking for family outings. That is something that we have tried to incorporate at the fair.  We want to have something for everyone.  So I think that is really starting to play into our attendance.  People are starting to realize that it is not just a midway, that here are lots of other things to take in at the fair."

Stykalo says final attendance numbers will be known in a few weeks. 

He also thanked all of the volunteers and fellow Ag Society members for all of the hard work that they put in to get this year's show done.  

It was another epic weekend filled with great music.

Dauphin's Countryfest wrapped up last night. 

And, Countryfest president Duane McMaster was excited how the event went off without a hitch.
"I'm priviledged to work with 11 people on the board of directors, and they are all incredible people who put their heart and soul into this event.  We have two paid staff and a whole bunch of volunteers that make this happen every year.  And, to have it come off and everything go well."
Final numbers will not be known for a bit, but McMaster is optimistic that they'll be solid.
"Somebody sent me a picture of the ampitheratre from the Deana Carter show, and it looked like there was a really good crowd in the middle of the afternoon on a Sunday.  And, then I come up here to the hilltop and it is pretty busy, and full up here, too.  So, that is great, at 4 or 5 o'clock in the afternoon you often do not see it this crowded.  And, Friday and Saturday we had at least six thousand or so people as well."
McMaster says work on next year's festival is already underway, adding he's hopeful that they'll be able to announce some acts by the end of this summer.

Several years ago, then-Dauphin mayor Eric Irwin had a dream of making Dauphin the Canmore of the Prairies, given our close proximity to Riding Mountain National Park and the many outstanding trails in the northern part of the park.

Some current members of Dauphin City Council are now looking to pick up that ball and run with it, especially with the opening of Northgate Trails just outside the park.
 
Mayor Dave Bosiak says it's a project they're working on with officials from Parks Canada and Riding Mountain National Park.
"If we can achieve that objective, which is to make the trails in the north end of the park, so Hilton, Broadleaf, Beach Ridges, Crawford Creek, and Edwards Creek, become the type of trails that Northgate has, with 26 km of specifically designed biking trails, we will become a bronze ride centre in the IMBA, which is the International Mountain Bike Association."
 
In the city, Bosiak says they're working on protected bike lanes, and active tramsport routes, in particular their next phase from Assiniboine College through the fairgrounds and Maamawi Park.
A new court date has been set for a Brandon man, arrested in connection with a serious assault last month in Dauphin.
 
Thirty-Six-year-old Brendan Komarnicki is accused of seriously injuring a woman, and also assaulting a police officer.
 
His matters have been put over until August 12th, and he remains in custody.
 
Meanwhile, one of two people arrested late last year, following an armed robbery on the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, was also back in court.
 
Twenty-Seven-year-old Cheyenne Cook was also remanded back into custody, with his next appearance set for July 3rd.