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The results are in, and Richard Kruk is in.

In Wednesday's by-election in the Gilbert Plains Municipality, Kruk secured 139 votes. This means he will now be on the Council.

Kruk's opponent, Aaron Klepak, received 61 votes.

CKDM NewsNow has reached out to Kruk for comment on his victory. 

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A province-wide State of Emergency was declared by the Manitoba government yesterday.

It's in response to the wildfire situation. According to the province's fire map, there is an out-of-control fire burning near Valley River.

Wab Kinew spoke on Wednesday evening.

"This is a significant step we are taking to uphold our obligation to keep people safe," said Kinew. "We're talking about roughly 17,000 people we are looking to provide safety to and prevent loss of life."

Kinew added that this is the largest evacuation Manitoba has seen in most people's living memory. It's believed to be the largest evacuation since 1997. That's when the "Flood of the Century" in the Red River valley forced about 25,000 people from their homes.

The State of Emergency will be in effect for 30 days. It could be extended, if necessary. 

On Wednesday evening, evacuation orders were issued for the City of Flin Flon, Pimicikamak Cree Nation, Cross Lake, and Pukatawagan Cree Nation. Some of those residents will be coming to Dauphin until it is safe to return. 

"I spoke with Prime Minister Mark Carney to notify him of the State of Emergency we have declared and to ask for help from the Canadian Armed Forces," said Kinew. "The Prime Minister agreed to that request." 

Kinew also provided comments to those affected by the mass evacuations.

"This is a moment of fear, uncertainty, and concern," ended Kinew. "I want to tell you that your fellow Manitobans will welcome you. We will get through this difficult and trying period as we always do, by working together."

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The party of the summer is less than a month away.

Dauphin's Countryfest goes from June 26 to 29 at Selo Ukraina, south of Dauphin.

Duane McMaster is president.

"We got the artist deposits going out right now," said McMaster. "The site crew is out there now cutting the grass. It's pretty exciting. We had our board meeting out there recently, it was great to be back on the site."

The festival begins with the CKDM Rockin' Thursday Night Kick-Off Party. It includes Kate's Outlaw, The Haileys, and the Revolving Doors, to name a few. On top of that, Thursday night will be headlined by Dallas Smith and Default.

It's going to be a Thursday to remember.

"Yeah, we're so excited about that. When Toque had to cancel at the last minute, Default stepped in," offered McMaster. "They should put on a fantastic show. They're going to have the hilltop rocking for our kick-off party."

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If you've been to Countryfest before, you know how special a weekend it is. Thousands of Manitobans come together to celebrate country music. If you haven't, now is the time to make your plans to attend.

The main stage opens on Friday, and it's a sight to behold.

"That amphitheatre is an incredible place to watch a show," continued McMaster. "We're right on the edge of Riding Mountain, so there are some nice views. And we have some incredible performers this year. Incredibly, we can put this festival together and not be in a major centre."

Tickets. There have been reports of people getting scammed. Let's make sure you aren't one. You can get them safely online or call 204-622-3700. It's the party of the summer and it returns south of Dauphin from June 26 to 29. 

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If you're into the fantasy world, start booking a trip to Eriksdale next weekend.

On June 7, the Shadows and Starlight Fantasy event will be at the Eriksdale Recreation Centre. The doors open at 10 a.m. with the first annual Fantasy Market and Live Action Roleplay. Authors are reading throughout the day. Then at 2:30, you can watch a live presentation of live action role play with Misthaven LARP. 

Erica Lindell, coordinator, says the buzz is building.

"We're super excited, I love to cosplay. Any opportunity to do it, I certainly will," said Lindell. "Everyone seems excited. A ton of people from Winnipeg are coming up, along with those from other areas in the province, including right here in the Interlake."

After a full day of interactive and wizardly events, there will be a social starting at 8 p.m. There will be options to learn a dance. There will also be a silent auction, food and spirits, and the fae and the knight will be there.

"We have a nice high tea with sandwiches and a ton of desserts," ended Lindell. "We're crowning a King and Queen for 2025. There will be magical acts. Sparkle and glitter tattoos as well. If you're into the fantasy world at all, there is something for everyone."

The entry fee for the market is $5 for individuals aged 18 and over, while admission is complimentary for those under 18. For the social event, tickets are priced at $45 for adults (18 and older) and $15 for younger attendees.

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Both the Roblin and Gilbert Plains Municipalities have issued fire bans for their municipalities.

In Roblin, the ban goes into effect as of 8 am Thursday, as all existing burn permits will be cancelled, with the ban also including fireworks.

You can still use fully enclosed fire pits, but only between 8 pm and 8 am, as well as gas appliances.

In Gilbert Plains, you are also only allowed to burn in fully enclosed fire pits.

Meanwhile, a fire ban has also been put in place for Riding Mountain National Park.

All bans are in place due to the current extreme dry conditions and will not be lifted until sufficient precipitation takes place.

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Another boil water advisory has been issued for the Waterhen public water system and supplied systems, which include Hill's Resort, Jantti, Harvest Lodge, and Meadow Portage.

The notice was issued by the medical officer of health, Manitoba Health, and the Office of Drinking Water, Manitoba Environment and Climate Change.

On May 27, there was a loss of water pressure in the Waterhen Distribution system.

Until further notice, all water used for consumption should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute if being used for drinking and ice making, preparing beverages such as infant formula, preparing food, including washing fruits and vegetables, and brushing teeth.

This notice is in effect until further notice

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Riding Mountain Member of Parliament Dan Mazier says this week's Throne Speech included many lofty promises, but no plans on how those promises would be carried out.

Mazier was also very disappointed to hear no mention of the oil and gas sector in the speech.

"There was no mention of pipelines in the speech.  We want to remove Bills C-69 and C-48, which are the energy cap and the no new pipelines bill, but there was no mention of that.  Or the industrial carbon tax.  Carney has been very clear that he wants to keep the industrial carbon tax.  How is that going to benefit the economy?"

Mazier was also not happy that there was no mention of how the government plans to deal with the fentanyl crisis.

Mazier was very impressed that King Charles III was invited to present the throne speech on Tuesday.

"As an M-P, you are behind the bar and do not get to enter the Senate.  But you do get to see him go by and possibly get to shake his hand.  It is always good, and it does really remind us of our history and our heritage.

The opposition Conservatives are being led in the House by former leader Andrew Scheer, until current leader Pierre Polievre can earn a seat in the House of Commons through a by-election.

As for Mazier, he will hold added responsibilities in the House of Commons, as he has been named to the Conservatives' shadow cabinet, responsible for health.

CKDM News Now, ill have more details on this next week. 

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Seeding operations in the Northwest region should wrap up in the coming days.

According to the latest crop report, spring wheat is about 95 per cent seeded in the area, while field peas are 98 per cent seeded.

Soybeans are around 80 - 85 per cent seeded, while Canola is around 75 per cent seeded in our area.

Temperatures of zero degrees or cooler were recorded over the past week but no word yet on how that has impacted this year's crop.

 Fall Rye and Winter Wheat crops are looking good with continued growth. 

Provincially, 85 per cent of this year's crop is in the ground, compared to the five-year average of 69 per cent for this time of year. 

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She finished in a very respectable second place last year. In fact, it was more than that.

Competing in the 2024 edition of the North American Finals of Grill Masters, Casey Naherniak's brilliant cooking skills were put to the test against 11 of the best chefs from across the country. She put together a fantastic dish and finished in second.

This year, Naherniak wanted more. She had qualified once again for the Finals earlier this month in Toronto.

"I just wanted to bring a more refined dish and show more of my story behind it," said Naherniak. "I wanted to elevate it more, and it worked."

Now living in Brandon and working at The Keg, Casey grew up in Russell and fell in love with cooking at a young age. She remembers spending countless hours in the garden and then creating masterpieces in the kitchen with her family.

On May 13 in Toronto, she created the ultimate dish.

"I had the Elk on my plate as a note to my hunting roots. I used wild black morel mushrooms. As a child, we would go out in the bush picking those all the time," commented Naherniak. "I had my potatoes and peas as special to my time I spent in the garden growing up. We always were picking peas out of the garden."

There were four different judges. The scoring was based on the uniqueness of the dish, look, taste, and presentation. 

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When the dust settled and the final scores were in, Casey couldn't hold back the biggest smile ever. The Russell chef is a North American champion. Her masterpiece took home the top prize this year.

Back in Brandon, serving up great steaks and more at The Keg, Casey says it hasn't set in yet, and she's grateful for everyone in her life.

"I was one of the youngest chefs in the competition and one of three women," offered Naherniak. "It meant a lot to bring that back home. I showed that women can do it."

Casey is looking forward to what winning this title could bring to her future. She's committed to serving outstanding meals, ones that have people wanting more.

"Definitely boosted my confidence. I feel that I've made some great connections, I had the chance to meet so many other chefs," ended Naherniak. "I don't have any future plans. I want to keep learning and extending my career."

Casey Naherniak—a Russell-born powerhouse dishing out five-star flavor with every plate.

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Jordan Pernarowski is all about Dauphin. His most recent venture all started with a dream and years of thought.

On Saturday, the doors will open to the public, and the buzz throughout the community is as lively as ever. Caddie's Golf Simulators & Lounge will open. Located on 15 Memorial Boulevard in Dauphin, their grand opening is on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. You can get swings in ahead of time as the simulators open at 9 a.m.

Jordan and co-founder Dan Keeping were tired of winter trips to Brandon just to practice. Now, Dauphin’s golfers can sharpen their game just minutes from home, 12 months a year.

"Really excited about this. We put a lot of hard work into it," said Pernarowski. "To get to this point, we're really excited to get people in the building checking it out and swinging."

Jordan and Dan are using the Foresight technology. It's the most accurate simulator on the market, and many PGA Tour players use it. Including Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, and Tony Finau, to name a few. 

"Many people have never played indoor golf before," said Pernarowski. "I hit a golf shot in front of a technician who was working, and he said Wow, I didn't realize how awesome this is. People are going to be surprised when they see it, it's awesome."

The famous BeaverTails food truck will be on hand for a sweet treat. The lounge will be serving ice-cold beverages, and the simulators will be rocking all day into the early morning hours. 

"Dauphinites are going to be amazed because they'll be thinking about Dauphin Tire," ended Pernarowski. "Now we have four simulators, a lounge, the floor is all done. It looks awesome in there."

Simulator golf is hitting Dauphin, and you can be a part of the magic at Caddie's Golf Simulators & Lounge. 

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Wasagaming Community Arts is celebrating a special anniversary this year.

It's the 55th anniversary of their formation, which will be celebrated with a special event on July 12th.

Board chair Ken Romaniuk says they will also have a special exhibit this summer that honours the work of the founders.

"We are very lucky that their family members still have a lot of their art.  So we have been able to borrow it for the summer.  And it will be a special tribute to the founders."

Romaniuk adds besides these special events, they have also added some boutique spaces for this summer.

"We feature the works of over 50 Manitoba, local, or Canadian artists or makers.  And there is lots to see.  If you are interested in purchasing souvenir items, or it is just beautiful to look at as well.  So we have two large boutique spaces and there is lots for people to see when they are up at the lake."

The gallery in Wasagaming is open seven days a week from 11 am to 5 pm

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