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A disease leading to the death of bats called "white-nose syndrome" has been found in Riding Mountain National Park.
Shannon Landels, resource management officer with RMNP, says white-nose syndrome is a fungal disease responsible for the deaths of millions of bats.
The fungus grows around the bat’s nose, mouth, and wings, disrupting them during hibernation, causing them to burn their fat reserves, and leading to starvation.
White-nose syndrome isn’t a threat to humans, however, Parks Canada recommends not touching bats due to other diseases they could have.
Landels says it’s a cause for concern because of how vital bats are.
“They play a very important role in our ecosystem, both as pollinators and as insect eaters. Some bats actually can devour up to half their weight in insects during a single nighttime feeding. The impact on bats is what the cause for concern is.”
Landels says to report any sightings of dead, sick, or injured bats to Parks Canada by calling (204) 848-7275.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
A new $94-million oat processing facility is being built just outside Winnipeg thanks to tax incentives from the province.
President of Paterson Globalfoods, Andrew Paterson announced the construction of the mill, to be known as O Foods Ltd., which will begin this winter in the RM of Rosser.
When completed, the mill will process up to 250,000 metric tonnes of oats, which will provide producers with another outlet for their crops.
Premier Brian Pallister spoke at the announcement and said that the province is supporting the company’s move through tax-increment financing, a funding method that uses future tax revenue to stimulate development. He added that investment into an agricultural project like this is also an investment in the province.
“When Manitoba has a good farm year, then Manitoba has a good year,” said Pallister. “What’s good for the farmer is good for the province of Manitoba.”
Paterson said that the company approached the province about the tax agreement to try and keep it in the province instead of building it at the company’s other plant in North Dakota.
Premier Pallister said the new oat processing plant would create 70 jobs and would mean that people wouldn’t need to leave to find work.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Kirk Nyquist has been a nurse for almost 40 years, but now he’s set to embark on a whole new adventure.
Starting Friday, Nyquist will be taking off to Ethiopia to work at the Fitche Hospital to try and help them build stronger health systems.
Nyquist is volunteering with Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief, who undertake several projects in Ethiopia, Malawi, and Tanzania.
Nyquist found out about the opportunity through a former colleague, who now serves on CPAR's advisory committee. After an interview process, Nyquist was selected to go.
“This is something that I’ve dreamt of doing since I’ve been nursing,” said Nyquist. “One of the things that attracted me to nursing was international travel as a nurse. What I’m excited about doing, is the fact that I’m doing some international travel as a nurse. Working in a different jurisdiction, in a different system, in a different country, I’ve never done that before so that in itself is what I’m excited about.”
Nyquist says that the trip will serve as rest, as it’s a change of environment and pace.
Anyone interested in the project can go to CPAR’s website.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Several police officers are said to be among at least 4 fatalities in a knife attack that occured at a police station in Paris, France today.
The attacker, who was armed with a ceramic knife which allowed him to get past metal detectors, was shot dead by police. The individual was also a longtime police employee.
The attacker's motive is still unknown.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
The full list of MP candidates for the federal election has been finalized. The Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa riding has a tie for the most ever candidates from this constituency with 6.
The PPC candidate is Frank Godon, the Christian Heritage Party candidate is Jenni Johnson, the NDP candidate is Laverne Lewycky, the Conservative Party candidate is Dan Mazier, the Liberal Party candidate is Cathy Scofield-Singh, and the Green Party candidate is Kate Storey
Advance polls for the election open up next weekend, Friday the 11th to Monday the 14th from 9 am to 9 pm.
In Dauphin, you'll be able to vote at the Dauphin First United Church at 37, 3rd Ave NW.
The federal election takes place, October 21st.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Hundreds of concerned producers gathered at the Ste. Rose Community Hall to discuss the new changes regarding crown land leases.
The government of Manitoba introduced new changes to crown land leases, effective as of October 1st. Some of those changes include: all new leases are 15 years long and non-renewable, allocations of new leases will be determined by auction results, and rental rates are to be based on cattle prices. The rental rate system will result in producers paying, in some cases, more than double the amount they are paying now.
Another change is that ranchers have to pay their total amount of rent owed within thirty days, otherwise their leases could be considered void.
After hearing these changes, the producers in the room became very emotional. Some producers voiced their concerns that the farms that their families have worked for generations could be lost easily.
Others shared the struggle that young farmers and newly re-located producers face in trying to start an operation on the guarantee of only 15 years.
In the room of nearly 400 producers, were some delegates from Manitoba Beef Producers, including General Manager Carson Callum. Callum stressed that ranchers were not alone in their opposition to the changes; he added that MBP had met with Ag Minister Ralph Eichler that morning.
In that meeting, MBP proposed the government give current leaseholders the first right to refuse, meaning that if they maintained the conditions of the lease, and they wanted to continue using the land, they would have the choice to do so.
Ideas of how to fight the changes bounced around the room, ranging from picketing at the legislative building to pursuing legal action.
Producers that doubled as nurses, bankers, and real estate agents all shared their concerns that producers losing the use of crown lands, would result in economic disaster for communities that rely on farmers. They stressed that without farmers, hospitals and schools would shut down.
One of the most immediate courses of action the group took was the signing of a petition.
Most of the leased agricultural crown land is in the Parkland.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Mazergroup in Dauphin was the victim of a break-in Tuesday night.
The thief smashed a small back window on the back door and got into the building that way.
They made their way to the front of the office, where they found the company’s cash box and managed to get away with it.
Mazergroup is urging anyone who has any information on the location of the cash box, or about the break-in, to call the Dauphin RCMP.
RCMP continue to investigate.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Just before 8 Wednesday morning, Dauphin RCMP attended a house in Gilbert Plains engulfed in flames.
Fire personnel on the scene informed the RCMP a body had been found inside the house.
The Office of the Fire Commissioner and the RCMP are continuing the investigation.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Cathy Scofield-Singh is back at it, this time running for MP in the federal election. Scofield-Singh is excited for this opportunity.
“It’s a new idea for me. When I start thinking about it, it allows me to speak up for people at a bigger table. I mean, this isn’t just provincially this is federal.”
Scofield-Singh is running because she wants to advocate for people.
“As a nurse-practitioner, I’m able to advocate on behalf of an individual. The reality is, there are so many issues at a community, provincial, or federal level that needs to be advocated for and I’ve always had that desire.”
She notices a difference between the provincial election where she was the underdog and finished 3rd of three people and the federal election where she enters the race with the Liberals are polling second out of 6 in the Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa riding.
“With the provincial election, it was a very different feeling. With the limited time I had for campaigning, I was the underdog in that situation. In the federal election, I have the opportunity to earn people’s vote and there’s a good potential that I could be the next representative of the Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa riding. I’m excited about that.”
The federal election is October 21st.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The RCMP have a suspect in custody following a social media threat to a school.
The Swan Valley Regional Secondary School stayed open today and have counselling available to students that are concerned.
Parents received an email notification of the threat.
The nature of the threat hasn’t been released.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Frank Godon is the People’s Party of Canada MP candidate for the Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa constituency.
He is running out of Boissevain.
Godon has experience running in an election before, in 2013 he ran in Brandon-Souris for the by-election.
Godon is feeling positive this campaign and has been to every part of the riding, talking to lots of people. The federal election is on October 21st.
The main points he’s looking to address are sustainable immigration, simplifying the Canadian Tax System, and working with the aboriginal population to abolish the Indian Act.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
