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Child pornography-related charges have been laid against four men following an investigation by the Manitoba RCMP Internet Child Exploitation Unit.
Over an eight-day period in March, police executed five search warrants in three different Southern Manitoba communities, discovering and seizing tens of thousands of child pornography images.
Three children under the age of six were also removed from these homes under speculation that they were being sexually abused and exploited.
The four men arrested ranged in age from 37 to 56.
They were all charged with Distributing/Uploading/Possessing Child Pornography, with one of the suspects also being charged with Making Child Pornography.
Their names and the towns in which the search warrants were executed were not released in order to protect the identity of the victims.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Five students from the DRCSS are set to head off to Winnipeg tomorrow for the Provincial Skills competition.
The students include Sean Cleave in Cabinet Making, Josh Larocque in Carpentry, Declan Waggoner in Auto Technician, Corbin Gamache in Outdoor Power and Recreation, and Seth Roos in Welding.
Eight students from Swan Valley Regional Secondary School are also competing.
Around 500 students from across Manitoba are competing in one of over 40 hands on-related competitions in both high school and post-secondary levels.
The event runs from 9 until 2:30 at Red River Community College, with winners moving on to the National competition in Quebec City from May 29th to June 1st.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The province says Parks Canada is considering closing Clear Lake to boating this year because of zebra mussels.
Moses says he wants the federal government to consult people more before making a final decision.
Parks Canada says live zebra mussels were found in the lake last November, and an infestation could cause irreversible ecological damage to the lake and downstream bodies of water.
They add testing of the lake over the winter did not turn up any zebra mussel environmental DNA, but a decision has not yet been made about lake use this summer.
The Opposition Progressive Conservatives called on the province to increase monitoring by, among other measures, adding more boat inspection stations and conducting more testing of waterways downstream.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Manitoba's Municipal Administrators have been updating their code of conduct after recent criminal actions by CAOs.
These changes aim to create a formal complaint process, and the enforcement required for it after 3 issues over the past 4 years
These include former Winnipeg CAO Phil Sheegl accepting a sizeable bribe, former Gilbert Plains CAO Amber Fisher stealing more than $500,000 from the municipality, and Trisha Fraser, Former CAO of the RM of North Cypress Langford who's accused of stealing $30,000 over the past year.
Among the 21 statements in the MMA’s new code of conduct are for administrators to “demonstrate integrity and the highest standards of ethical behavior” and “shall not leverage their position for personal gain or benefit.”
Duane Nicol, the MMA’s president, and CAO of the City of Selkirk, said the changes may not prevent issues such as what happened in the Municipality of Gilbert Plains and Winnipeg, it will help make administrators more accountable to standards and ethical conduct.
Nicol also notes that while the MMA doesn’t have the power of a regulatory body to discipline and potentially take away members’ ability to practice, the changes will ensure there are consequences for breaches.
Punishment would include membership to the association being revoked.
For the full 21 statements for the MMA's Code Of Conduct, visit municipaladministrators.ca
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
A piece of Manitoba history was recently lost as the Lido Theatre was engulfed in flames early yesterday morning.
This historic theater, located in The Pas, was constructed in 1929 and, according to the Manitoba Historical Society, was the first theatre in western Canada built for movies with sound.
The fire destroyed decades of historical artifacts, memorabilia, and documents, including the original blueprints, and many old family photos.
Investigations have determined that the cause of this fire is believed to be arson, and The Pas RCMP is calling on the community for assistance.
Anyone with information regarding this fire is asked to contact The Pas RCMP at 204-627-6204.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
Riding Mountain MLA Greg Nesbitt would like to see a special license plate created that would allow Manitobans to celebrate their provincial parks while also raising funds to revitalize natural spaces in Manitoba
Nesbitt's bill would create a special Manitoba Parks license plate, with proceeds from their sale going into the Provincial Parks Endowment Fund.
The fund, which was created in 2021, generates $1 million annually for projects that improve trails, make beaches more accessible, build new playgrounds, restore habitats, protect cultural sites, and invest in other critical park infrastructure to enrich visitor experiences.
The endowment fund was created to support Manitobans wanting to give back to provincial parks through philanthropic donations and legacy gifts.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The flooding situation along the west end of Dauphin Beach appears to be improving.
The R-M of Lakeshore has announced that both Cameron Trail and West Oako Beach Drive have reopened, after being closed over the weekend.
At the time, reeve Clayton Watts said Edwards Creek was backed up and was not flowing into the lake.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
In the courts, a Duck Bay man arrested after a series of armed robberies in Dauphin last month has a new date set for his matters.
30-year-old Desmond Parenteau will return to court on April 15th after making a brief appearance before a judge in Dauphin on Monday.
Meanwhile, 37-year-old Jeremy Gingras of Swan River was in a Winnipeg courtroom, where his matters were adjourned until April 17th.
He was charged after two incidents in as many days last September at a home in Swan River.
And a Portage la Prairie man arrested late last month in Ebb & Flow on a number of outstanding warrants, has made an initial court appearance.
Jesse St. Paul was charged with Driving While Prohibited, Flight From Police, and numerous firearms-related offences, and was remanded in custody to May 14th in Dauphin.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The Association of Manitoba Municipalities Spring Convention goes this week in Brandon.
Dauphin Mayor Dave Bosiak along with most of city council will be in attendance.
Bosiak says it is always good to connect at events like this with representatives from similar sized communities and municipalities.
"Sort of to compare and talk about best practices or issues that they are facing. But also the one interesting part about this spring's convention is that it is the first one since the election, in the sense that we now have a new provincial government. And we always have new themes and new discussions if there has been a government change."
Bosiak is particularly looking forward to discussing similar issues or problems that they and other municipalities are facing.
"What are they doing about climate mitigation and stuff, what are they doing about crime and homelessness and the mental health and addictions issues. How are they approaching the shortage of RCMP officers in their area. So it is mostly just to listen."
Bosiak adds the key learning at events like this actually takes place in conversations held with other mayors and councillors in between sessions.
Bosiak and City Manager Charlotte Griffiths are attending a gathering Tuesday morning of Reeves, Mayors, and CAO's from Westman and Parkland areas and communities.
The convention runs until Thursday.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Since it's launch in 2008, the Gilbert Plains Community Fund has been able to put $129,593 back into numerous projects within their community,
That includes over 21-thousand dollars that was presented to around 12 projects during their gala event on Saturday night.
"It is just a real testament to the value of the Community Foundation Movement, and we certainly appreciate the support and administrative leadership that we received from the Dauphin and District Community Foundation." said Gilbert Plains Community Fund chair Charlene Gulak. "It is that partnership approach that really allows our communities to flourish."
Gulak notes two particular funds that they manage.
"The Gilbert Plains Personal Care Home Fund, as of 2024, will have granted out $17,896 annually to enhance the lives of residents at the care home. We also have the Oksana and Quinn Dutchyshyn Memorial Fund, which was established as a legacy fund to support youth-related activities and projects in Gilbert Plains."
To date, the Dutchyshyn fund has gifted 37 hundred dollars back into the community.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
A trio of noteworthy local cases were back on the Dauphin court docket last Thursday.
One of three people arrested following a New Year's Eve assault on the Ebb & Flow First Nation has had a new court date set,
19-year-old Mason Moar was remanded back into custody until his next scheduled appearance on May 14th,
24-year-old Mallory Catcheway on Brandon, who was one of three people arrested following a number of armed robberies in Dauphin in early March, had her matters put over until April 18th.
And 40-year-old Roland Klyne of the Key First Nation had his matters adjourned until April 19th.
He was one of four people arrested after a February weapon and drug bust in the city.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
