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David Gray is running for town council in Swan River. He is running for council because he felt that instead of complaining he should put his money where his mouth is and run for council.
He also feels that Swan River is on a slow, long declining trajectory, and that the biggest challenge he faces is an inconsistent overall plan.
If you want to know more about him you can call him at 204-281-2274, or 204-480-9871. He also has a Facebook page called: David Gray for Town of Swan River Council.
The election is on October 24th.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Enrolment is up in the Mountain View School Division.
As of September 30th, 3107 students were attending compared with 3058 last year.
Superintendent Donna Davidson shares her thoughts about the increase.
“We’re actually pleased with our enrolment numbers this year. We’re up slightly from the previous year. We’re up approximately 50 students from 2017. It’s nice to be able to see increased enrolment in our schools.”
She says it’s hard to figure out where the increase is coming from.
“When we think of kindergarten in our current year, we have 205 kindergarten students. We had 206 last year, so it wouldn’t reflect that there’s an increase in new young children coming. But we’ve seen increases in other grades from our previous year. So it would indicate that there’s families moving into the community.”
She says it signifies a healthy community and young families moving in and hopefully staying.
As of September 30th, the DRCSS had 666, Mackenzie had 412, Barker had 225, Henderson had 213, Macneill had 173, Smith Jackson had 80, Whitmore had 102, Grandview had 238, Gilbert Plains Collegiate had 65, Gilbert Plains Elementary had 137, Winnipegosis Collegiate had 80, Winnipegosis Elementary had 93, Goose Lake had 149, Roblin Elementary had 331, Ethelbert had 97, and Ochre River had 46.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
MPI is continuing the low-interest winter tire program.
The program provides loans of up to 48 months at prime plus two per cent up to $2,000 per vehicle.
The average length of a winter tire loan is currently about three years.
Over the past 4 years, more than 100 thousand low-interest loans have been processed.
Almost 700 retailers in Manitoba participate in the program.
Customers interested in participating in the program are encouraged to visit Manitoba Public Insurance’s website at mpi.mb.ca for more information on program rules and to select a participating retailer.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Kevin Edmondson is running for mayor of Grandview Municipality.
He’s running because he sees a strong need for leadership and hopes to add some new and fresh ideas.
He has three main issues. The first one is about the hospital, he wants to keep it sustainable and fully functional. He also wants an economic development plan for the municipality to move forward into the future. Finally, he wants to address the roads both rural and in the town, to make sure they’re reliable and safe.
He says they all will take time, but they need to be an ongoing process.
He is currently on council and sits on a number of committees including public works.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
A handful of provincial government ministers say the province is "as ready as it's going to be" for when marijuana becomes legal next Wednesday.
Provincial Health Minister Cameron Friesen said they warned the federal government that they were rushing things, but nevertheless, we have to get ready.
The province noted that when it comes to pot-screening devices, the federal government took too long to provide clarity, and funding. In August, the Drager DrugTest 5000 was approved as a pot-screening device for police officers. However; the manufacturer only has 500 available, and Manitoba could only secure 21 of them by the end of the 2018-19 fiscal year. Provinicial Justice Minister Cliff Cullen says despite this, Manitoba's police forces are prepared.
In anticipation of legal marijuana; the provincial government has implemented a new impairment policy that states government employees must not smell of alcohol or cannabis while on the job.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Water, dust, development, and providing services were some of the topics covered at the RM of Dauphin election forum.
Water service to rural residents was one of the main topics covered. The development of the rural water service is something the candidates touted as an achievement of the last council. Dennis Forbes says he hopes to see more lines in the next year.
Jack Bremner said that having the services lines increases land values. He also said that water service is key to attracting more residents and businesses to the area.
Forbes also said it was a business decision to work with Gilbert Plains for water service instead of the City of Dauphin, because the system flows downhill and the cost was cheaper than other options; which allowed them to connect more customers.
On the topic of dust control, some candidates said they would consider looking into control measures. They said they would look into the feasibility of bringing the service back. David Johnston said he wants to look into creating a policy of grading roads around when product is put down; while other candidates like Midge Sametz said it was a double-edged sword where they should look to apply it to only certain areas because of the high cost.
Jack Bremner said a new coating on a gravel road South of Dauphin looks promising; but still requires further study to see if they can apply it to other roads.
Working with the City of Dauphin, and devlopment were topics all candidates agreed on. Incumbent candidates spoke about the troubled relationship between the City and the RM. However, all look to improve it. Tom Gibb remarked that with new leadership on both side, including new CAOs, they can start fresh. Bremner followed that up by saying everything is better together; when one strives, the other does too.
The candidates agreed that council needs to be proactive in bringing businesses to the community. Midge Sametz suggested using the economic development officer to recruit business. Jack Bremner and Dennis Forbes talked about how a comprehensive development plan is in the works. The airport was frequently mentioned as a location for more development. Bremner mentioned developing around the bypass. Forbes said he wants to see development in concentrated areas so that the agriculture industry isn't working around the new development.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
Stress can build when harvest goes the way it has.
The Manitoba Farm, Rural & Northern Support Services provides farmers, those living in rural areas and those living in northern communities the opportunity to talk with someone who understands what they are going through.
Janet Smith, the manager of the service talks about the kinds of calls they have been receiving recently.
“We’re certainly hearing from folks concerned about bills coming in and not being able to get the grain in the bins and all the spin-offs of financial stress and the impact that it have on your own wellbeing. Lots of anxiety, stress, and relationship problems. People find themselves having difficulty sleeping and just different kinds of ways stress impacts our behaviour and our relationships with others.”
She talks about why farmers can open up to the people on the other end.
“The folks that they are going to be talking to have farming backgrounds. So, they will have an understanding of what some of the issues that they are experiencing. It’s also a free service, it’s confidential, so your name is not going to be shared, and they can speak really freely about anything that’s going on in their lives.”
If you need to talk with someone about the stresses in your life you can call the toll free number at 1-866-367-3276.
Today is World Mental Health Day.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Laverne Lewycky is running for Dauphin City Council.
He’s running for council because he thinks it’s the best way for him to give back to the community.
He has nine portfolios set up with issues that different kinds of people are facing.
His platform is to create a way for everyone to be able to live a full life in Dauphin without moving away.
If you want to know more about Lewycky he will be at the election forum and he will be going door to door.
The election is on October 24th.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Gypsumville RCMP are asking for the public's help in finding 14-year-old Ethan Sage Pottery, who was last seen by his Grandmother at 6 in the evening on Monday, October 1st in Winnipeg while visiting other family.
Pottery is described as 5'4", 150 pounds, with brown eyes and short, dark brown hair. He was last seen wearing a black zip-up sweater with red stripes, black pants, and black runners.
The RCMP ask that anyone with information please call the Gypsumville RCMP at 204-659-5224, or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477. You can also submit a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
Flu season is here and now is the best time to get the shot.
Barret Procyshyn, a Pharmacist at Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy, encourages everyone to get it.
“People should get the flu shot because it prevents the flu, and not only does it prevent you from getting the flu but it prevents others from getting the flu. So if you get the flu shot, you have less of a chance of transferring the flu to others.”
He encourages people who are in contact with people who are at high risk of getting sick or if their chronic illness could get worse if they got the flu.
“A lot of young people don’t realize that they can actually get the flu, not have symptoms of influenza but transfer it to other people. That includes loved ones like grandmas and grandpas and young children.”
Forty-six people with lab-confirmed cases of the flu died in Manitoba last winter, the highest number in three years, and another 35 were admitted into intensive care units.
In total, there were 505 hospitalizations because of the flu last season across the province.
A record number of people received flu vaccines last winter with more than 320,000 doses given, that’s 22.5 percent of Manitobans.
You can go to your local pharmacy to get a flu shot for free any day or attend a free flu clinic in Dauphin on Friday, October 26th, November, 5th, 8th, or 9th.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
The provincial government has made amendments to the Non-Smokers Health Protection and Vapour Product Act to allow the smoking of medical cannabis in some public places.
Medical cannabis users will be permitted to smoke or vape medical cannabis in outdoor public places, except for:
• within eight metres of a building to which the public has access;
• on (or within eight metres of) a restaurant or bar patio or deck;
• at a stadium or outdoor entertainment venue, or within eight metres of those venues;
• in a wading pool, splash pad or water park, or within eight metres of those locations;
• in or within eight metres of a playground;
• on a public beach; and
• in bus shacks or other similar structures to which the public has access, or within eight metres of such structures.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
