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The Manitoba government is changing how residents can book campgrounds online this year in order to help avoid long waits for booking online as well as being out of luck for a spot altogether.

Starting this year anyone who wants to book cabins or yurts at Provincial Parks will only be able to make two reservations at a time instead of the usual three bookings and the maximum stay for anyone booking them will go down to seven nights from 14.

The effort by the province is an attempt to help cut down the number of times the system crashes when there is a large number of booking requests at the same time. In order to help prevent this from happening there will now be five different reservation days up from the usual three for different parks and types of bookings.

Conservation Minister Sarah Guillemard said in a press release Friday that the province will upgrade their computer servers this year and they aim to have completely new software in 2023.

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An RCMP officer has been charged with careless driving after a crash on Highway 16 near Minnedosa in September. The Independent Investigation Unit, which is responsible for investigating all serious incidents involving on and off-duty police in the province, released the results of their investigation today.

The officer was parked on the shoulder of Highway 16 when they pulled an illegal u-turn to pursue a speeding vehicle in the other direction and cause an accident. The officer and both the people in the car that hit the cruiser were brought to the Brandon Health Centre.

The IIU will not make any further comments as the incident is now before the courts.

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The Winnipeg Police Service has arrested 12 people in relation to an eight-month drug and firearm trafficking investigation. The investigation that started in May of 2021 was called Operation Phoenix and spanned across multiple provinces.

Two of the people arrested face charges of using drones to smuggle drugs into Stoney Mountain Penitentiary in Manitoba, and Collins Bay Institution in Ontario. The estimated value of contraband seized at Stoney Mountain was $700,000.

Sixteen search warrants were executed; four of them were in Winnipeg, three in Anola, Manitoba, two at Stony Mountain Penitentiary, four in Alberta, and three in the Greater Toronto Area. The

  • Roughly 40 firearms
  • 30 kilograms of methamphetamine which has an estimated street value of $2.6 million
  • 6 kilograms of fentanyl which has an estimated street value of $2.75 million
  • 15 kilograms of cocaine which has an estimated street value of $1.6 million
  • 100 kilograms of marijuana which has an estimated street value of $500,000
  • smaller amounts of heroin, ecstasy, and psilocybin which has an estimated street value of $330,000
  • 1 kg of cutting agent which has a value of $1,200
  • 11 vehicles, 4 snowmobiles, 3 trailers, Bobcat which has a value of $381,000

There were also numerous bank accounts that were frozen. The arrests were made in the first two weeks of December and six of the individuals have been charged so far while all 12 have been remanded into custody.

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Early this morning, the Dauphin Fire Department was called to a car fire at an apartment in Dauphin. Crews were able to contain the fire to the single car and didn't allow it to spread to surrounding vehicles. The fire was caused by the cord that was plugged into the car's block heater.

The fire was determined to be an accident. This was the DFD's 11th incident of the new year.

The Dauphin Fire Department wants to remind everyone to check their extension cords for cracks or corroded plugs before using them. A damaged cord can cause electrical arcing which can start fires if near something flammable.

Visit Manitoba Public Insurance's website for some useful tips.

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On Wednesday, Dauphin RCMP Responded to a report that there was a man at a residence in Dauphin with a knife. When they arrived, they were told he fled on foot.

Police found the suspect, 30-year-old Kyle Sutherland nearby. When police approached, Sutherland pulled out his knife. Police pulled out their guns and told Sutherland to drop his weapon but he didn't listen. Police then tased him and were able to safely make the arrest.

Sutherland has been charged with Assault on a Police Officer with a Weapon, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose, Resisting Arrest, and Failing to Comply. He's been remanded into custody

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On Thursday, the Brandon Police Service conducted a search warrant at a residence in Brandon. Police seized eight Ounces of Meth, which has an approximate street value of $22,000, as well as  $13,000 dollars of cash.

A  38-year-old male was arrested and later released to appear in court on March 10, on charges of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Proceeds Obtained by Crime, and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.

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The province of Manitoba's annual Crown agricultural land auction is going to be virtual for the second year in a row. The auction will take place from January 31 to February 4 through Garton’s Auction Service.

Agriculture and Resource Development Minister, Ralph Eichler, is encouraging potential bidders to prepare before the auction by researching the lease and permit obligations as well as the units of interest. He said more info will be available on the auction services website and the real estate services branch soon.

An official listing of properties available for lease or permit can be found here.

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The province of Manitoba has announced that schools will no longer provide close contact notification and notification letters on individual cases but will provide reports of absenteeism through their regular notification channels to their school community.

Schools will be monitoring student and staff absenteeism rates and self-reported cases. However, public health will continue to report confirmed cases through the online dashboard and monitor confirmed cases in schools to see if there is evidence of increased transmission above levels expected in the community.

Recommendations will be made by public health on an individual basis for schools that show above-average levels of transmission, absenteeism, case counts, or operational concerns. These recommendations could include periods of increased rapid antigen testing or reducing high-risk activities. In cases where COVID-19 activity continues to increase, more extreme measures, such as a seven-day remote learning period, could be taken.

Students and staff who test positive are still required to follow all provincial self-isolation guidelines. Those who are exposed at school can continue to attend as long as they are asymptomatic. 

The minister noted the announcement builds on a number of actions and investments to protect students and staff in schools including: 

  • Implementing a rapid testing program for asymptomatic teachers, staff, and kindergarten to Grade 12 students at Manitoba schools experiencing high case numbers or high levels of absenteeism; 
  • Expanding rapid testing for symptomatic staff at schools to include vaccinated and unvaccinated staff; 
  • Moving schools to the Restricted (Orange) level on the Pandemic Response System to ensure enhanced cleaning measures are in place and schools are ensuring two meters of physical distancing to the greatest extent possible; 
  • Providing 500,000 rapid tests for students from kindergarten to Grade 6 to test for COVID-19 as they return to school; 
  • Providing $6 million for medical masks that meet Health Canada performance requirements as well as other personal protective equipment; 
  • Offering COVID-19 vaccinations at schools including after-school clinics for students, teachers, and community members; 
  • Providing an additional $6.8 million in funding to support over 200 short-term operating improvements related to air purification, including filters, units, and systems; 
  • Investing in mental health supports for students and staff; and 
  • Providing $45 million in the Safe Schools Fund to help address COVID-19 related expenditures in schools, of which $30 million has been allocated by school divisions to support learning impacts, mental health, and well-being including hiring additional teachers, educational assistants, and clinicians. 

For more information on COVID-19 and measures in place to address the spread of the virus in schools click here.

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Brandon Police announced that their organized crime unit along with the help of the operational support and crime suppression unit have arrested four people in a drug bust on Tuesday.

Police seized a total of 50 grams of meth, 20 grams of fentanyl, $1,800 in cash and a .22 calibre rifle with ammunition from a house on 26th Street in Brandon.

Multiple people face charges including:

  • A 35-year-old female was charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime and possession of property obtained by crime and will appear in court on March 10
  • a 45-year-old male was charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm and will be in court on March 3
  • a 48-year-old male was charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order
  • a 42-year-old male was charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime and unauthorized possession of a firearm and was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
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UPDATE: According to the Brandon Police Service, Tara Elk has been located and is safe.

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The Brandon Police are asking for public help in locating a missing vulnerable person. Tara Dawn Elk is 22-years-old and described as having long black hair and brown eyes, 175 cm, 50 kg. It's unknown what she is currently wearing.

Elk's family hasn't seen her since Saturday and it is believed she may have traveled to the Roblin area and might be looking for a way back to Brandon.

Anyone with information about Elk has been asked to contact the Brandon Police Service at (204)729-2345.

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This morning, Swan River Fire Department was called to a fire at the Co-op Agro Centre, on Highway 83 south of Swan River. Upon arrival, crews discovered a maintenance shed engulfed in flames.

According to a Co-op spokesperson, the damage was contained to the single building and its contents, there were no injuries. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and the Swan Valley Co-op is cooperating with authorities. The cost of damages is unknown at this time.

The majority of the Agro Centre operations continue as normal today.

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