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A number of Manitoba communities can expect extreme daytime temperatures and warm overnight lows on Wednesday.

Environment Canada has issued heat warnings for several Northern Manitoba communities, including Flin Flon, Norway House, and Cross Lake.

According to the weather agency, the warm temperatures are being brought on as an upper level ridge settles over the Prairies.

It notes that daytime highs reaching 30 C and overnight lows of 16 C will continue through Thursday. Temperatures will cool down by the end of the week.

EC is warning that extreme heat can affect everyone’s health. The effects of heat illness include swelling, rashes, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

Manitobans are reminded to drink lots of water, schedule outdoor activities during the cooler parts of the day and limit direct sun exposure. EC also warns that people and pets should never be left inside a parked car.

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Contributed by Jeff Henson

Published: Jul 10, 2024 - 12:15 pm

A 35-year-old man from Lake St Martin faces several charges after Mounties received reports of threats being made towards another individual in that community. 

The original complaint came in to Gypsumville RCMP on July 4th, with the investigation finding that a suspect, who was prohibited from owning or possessing firearms, was in possession of several firearms at his home in Lake St Martin.

A traffic stop was conducted the following day on Provincial Road 513, where a suspect was found to be in possession of a small amount of cocaine.

Police say a search of a property on Memorial Crescent turned up three firearms, ammunition, cash, and a small quantity of drugs, pills, and other drug-related paraphernalia.

35-year -old Leonard Dorion faces charges including uttering threats, possession of property obtained by crime, three counts of unsafe storage of a firearm, and other firearms related offences. 

He remains in custody as Gypsumville RCMP continues to investigate. 

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Contributed by Jeff Henson

Published: Jul 10, 2024 - 10:53 am

This week's Manitoba Crop Report saw a great deal of precipitation in the Northwest region.

Isolated heavy rains hit most of the province, but the Fork River logged the most, with 82.1mm of rain. This was the most seen in the province, with the least falling on St.Lazare (1.1mm)

Not all this rain came in liquid forms, as hail was observed in the Northwest. Damage is still yet to be assessed in the crops affected.

Growing degree days are also still a bit behind the average, as the province has seen near or below  90% of the normal average. the cooler weather has left things still quite saturated.

An overview of the various crops has some mixed results.

In cereals,  Fall rye, and winter wheat are at the soft dough stage with the most advanced fields ripening. Spring wheat ranges from flag to heading, and fungicide applications are being applied where conditions allow for it.

Spring wheat is rated fair to mostly good, but roughly 10% of the crops are reported as poor in the Central, Interlake, and Northwest regions. As well, corn ranges from V6 to V8.

Oilseeds are moving along, with canola ranging from rosette to flowering, and fungicide applications taking place where possible. Sunflowers are between V8 and V12, and flax is between growth stages 5 and 7.

In Pulses and Soybeans, field peas reached the R1-R2 stage, with fungicides applied for blight. Soybeans range from the second to fourth trifoliate stages with some flowering reported in the earliest planted crops. Dry beans are in the third and fourth trifoliate stages as well. 

The excess rain is starting to weigh on forages and livestock. Hay cuts have been tricky in many areas as drying times are insufficient. Some producers are concerned about the quantity and quality of harvested feed that will be carried into the winter seasons.

Grasses and alfalfa are both bountiful, but there's a lot of difficulty in getting to processing it.  There is worry that forage quality will drop as the plants mature,

No issues with keeping dugouts full, and the cattle in the pasture are doing well overall. Low-lying areas are potentially seeing issues with foot rot, pink eye, and excess flies.

Taking a closer look at the Northwest region, summer thunderstorms brought yet more rain and some hail. As mentioned earlier, the damage assessment is still ongoing.

The earliest field peas are now in R1 stage, and for the most part, fields are looking good. However, there are fields affected by the excess moisture and doing poorly.

Spring wheat has sprung up a bit faster with some more consistent heat with most of the fields progressing to the flowering stage. There are some compounding issues arising from the moisture.

Fields affected by excess moisture are yellowed and stunted, and the excess humidity increases the risk of fusarium head blight. on top of that, fungicide application is a challenge with the soft, soaked soil.

Canola crops are varied, with the earliest crops flowering and the remainder in the bolting and rosette stages. Flea beetles are subsiding as plants mature and the season shifts.

The warmer weather has been helpful for soybean crops as they are now in the second to fourth trifoliate stages and generally looking good.

Winter wheat and fall rye crops in our area are not running into too many excess moisture problems. It looks good and is in the grain development stage.

With the hot week this week, Agro-Manitoba might finally be getting the summer it needs. Warm, sunny weather is sure to bolster growth and dry up the fields, allowing more maintenance to be done. 

Until next week, here's wishing for a productive, and hopefully drier, season for producers.

Details

Contributed by Michael Brossart

Published: Jul 10, 2024 - 6:00 am

Manitoba's Manitoba’s Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention and Response Plan is rolling out through this summer, and it's already having positive effects.

Inspection stations and mobile units are part of the 2024 budget funding, and some have detected and stopped zebra mussels before they spread.

Natural Resources Minister Jamie Moses noted that “Manitoba is home to over 100,000 lakes, making up 16 percent of our province,” and keeping these delicate ecosystems in check is crucial.

Inspection and decontamination stations can be found near Headinly, Grand Rapids, Minnedosa, Mulvihill, Selkirk, Ste. Rose, and the Pas, with the mobile location scheduled to roam throughout the summer.

A reminder that these stations will check your watercraft free of charge, and it's important to check all motorized and non-motorized watercraft to catch Invasive Species before they spread.

You can find locations and times for these inspection stations on the Manitoba Government Website.

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Contributed by Michael Brossart

Published: Jul 9, 2024 - 4:15 pm

One of three people arrested in connection with a New Year's Eve armed robbery on the Ebb & Flow First Nation was back in court. 

30-year-old Richard Ross of Silver Ridge appeared in a Dauphin courtroom last week, and had his case adjourned until August 8th,

Meanwhile, one of two people that admitted to a February 2023 armed robbery outside of a Swan River business was also back in court last week.

21-year-old Jefferson Cook remains in custody, with a next court date set for August 13th, 

Details

Contributed by Jeff Henson

Published: Jul 9, 2024 - 4:00 pm

A  heat wave is moving across Western Canada, pushing record temperatures into Saskatchewan today and into Manitoba on Wednesday. 

Environment Canada meteorologist Jennifer Smith says a ridge of high pressure from Northern California crept into British Columbia on the weekend before invading the Northwest Territories and Alberta on Monday.

More than 20 daily heat records were broken Monday in B.C., adding to a similar number set on Sunday. Lytton was the hottest place in the country on Monday, hitting 42.4 C, according to Environment Canada. 

Other locations setting daily records in B.C. included Pemberton, where the temperature reached 39.1 C, and Osoyoos with 39.7 C.

Smith says the heat will travel into Manitoba by Wednesday and may reach the edge of the northwestern Ontario border before it moves south into the United States again.

Heat warnings or alerts have been issued through to Saskatchewan, prompting Health Canada to warn of the risks extreme heat can bring.

Story courtesy of Canadian Press 

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Contributed by Jeff Henson

Published: Jul 9, 2024 - 2:00 pm

As it always is when it comes to supporting a good cause, the people of Dauphin were out in full force late last month.

On June 27, Westman Communications Group (WCG) hosted a charity barbecue, all proceeds going to the Watson Art Centre. While hotdogs and smokies were served free of charge, $5376.70 was donated. WCG then matched that total, bringing the total amount raised to $10,753.40. 

"We certainly appreciate WCG's support and the entire community," said Cam Bennet. "So many people came out to donate and we all had a great time. We had some live entertainment as well, it was a fantastic afternoon."

The money raised will be going towards a heat pump. A heat pump keeps things cool when it's hot outside by removing unwanted heat and pumping it outdoors. Cam says they have now raised about $70,000 towards the heat pump which will cost roughly $100,000 plus applicable taxes. 

That means when the heat pump is installed, Bennet says the Watson Art Centre will be much cooler and he's excited about the opportunity for more people to visit the facility 12 months a year.

"It's very exciting to know that in the near future, we will be able to be open for weddings and other events," said Bennet. "The temperature will be more enjoyable for all."

The facility is a busy place these days. While they are closed to the public, that doesn't mean the action inside the building has stopped. They are putting in new flooring and Bennet has a pretty exciting development when it comes to that.

"We are going to be opening to the public on Wednesday," ended Bennet. "So if folks want to come by and see the new flooring, they're more than welcome. The flooring looks fantastic, it brightens up the space."

Details

Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Jul 9, 2024 - 1:37 pm

UPDATE: July 09 @ noon.

An investigation that began earlier this year found that two teens were befriended by an older woman who said they would hang out with some of her friends.

The RCMP were initially tipped off when they were notified of a young girl that was seen with older men. 65 charges were laid as seven people were arrested and they face charges including child exploitation and human trafficking. 

The older female would bring the teens back to homes where they would be offered drugs and money in exchange for sexual acts. This happened between June 2023 and May 2024. The RCMP said the teens would not be able to escape the residences as they were locked in by the woman, who stayed throughout each interaction. 

The exploitation included the adult males sending nude photos to the two youths and requiring photos of the two youths. As well, telecommunications between several of the males and the adult female took place via Snapchat or Facebook Messenger to groom or procure services from the youths.

People also believe there may be more teens that were exploited.

When officers executed the search warrants for devices, they also seized a large quantity of methamphetamine and cocaine, and 14 firearms, namely rifles and shot guns.

The following individuals are charged:

Chasity Nicole Assiniboine, 43, from Long Plain First Nation –

• Trafficking of a Person under 18 x2;
• Child Luring x4;
• Uttering Threats x2;
• Benefit from Sexual Services provided by Person under 18;
• Advertising Sexual Services; and
• Procuring Person under 18.

Sean Michael Boak, 40, from Portage –

• Sexual Interference;
• Child Luring x2;
• Sexual Assault;
• Possession of Child Pornography;
• Print/Publish/Make Child Pornography;
• Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration for Person under 18;
• Make Sexually Explicit Material available to Child;
• Trafficking Cocaine; and
• Fail to Comply with Undertaking x4.

David Guy Howard Taylor, 40, from Portage –

• Sexual Assault x2;
• Sexual Interference x2;
• Child Luring x2;
• Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration for Person under 18;
• Trafficking Cocaine;
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine;
• Possess Weapon for Dangerous Purpose x2;
• Unauthorized Possession of Firearm;
• Unsafe Storage of Firearm; and
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000.

Scott Joseph Taylor, 34, from Portage –

• Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration for Person under 18; and
• Unsafe Storage of Firearms.

Wesley Clayton Roulette, 44, from Portage –

• Sexual Assault x2;
• Sexual Interference x2;
• Child Luring x2; and
• Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration for Person under 18.

Alexander Paul Lidster, 39, from Portage –

• Sexual Assault;
• Sexual Interference;
• Child Luring x2;
• Possession of Child Pornography;
• Print/Publish/Make Child Pornography;
• Make Sexually Explicit Material available to Child;
• Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration for Person under 18;
• Benefit from Sexual Services; and
• Trafficking Cocaine.

Frank Peter Justin Tecza, 39, from Portage –

• Sexual Assault;
• Sexual Interference;
• Child Luring x2;
• Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration for Person under 18;
• Trafficking Cocaine;
• Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine; and 
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000.

The accused are all known to each other.

“Investigators believe there are more victims and survivors,” said Inspector Shawn Pike, Investigative Services Officer for RCMP Major Crime Services. “Information has led officers to know that a currently unidentified 13- or 14-year-old female was also exploited by this group. We ask anybody who knows anything about this operation or is a survivor of it, to please call the Internet Child Exploitation Unit at 204-984-3129.”

“If you think this is not happening in your community, you are wrong,” added Constable Kirandeep Hira with the ICE unit. “This is human trafficking, and it is happening all over Manitoba. We all need to do our part to protect those victimized by traffickers. If you see something, say something. Those engaged in the production or exchange of child pornography are also throughout our province, and we are dedicated to enforcing against anyone who exploits children.”

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The RCMP will hold a press conference on Tuesday morning after seven people were arrested and 65 charges were laid.

The RCMP's Internet Child Exploitation Unit executed several warrants and laid the charges in an investigation into child exploitation and human trafficking.

The conference will be at 11:15 on Tuesday morning and we will provide additional information following the meeting.

Details

Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Jul 9, 2024 - 12:00 pm

A wide selection of plant-based drinks has been recalled by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) after it was discovered they could be contaminated with listeria.

Stores across the country have been told not to sell or serve the following products. If you have them in your fridge, do not use them. 

Products that should not be used with best-before dates up to and including October 4, 2024, include:

• Silk Coconut Unsweetened (1.89L)
• Silk Oat Original (1.75L)
• Silk Oat Vanilla (1.75L)
• Silk Oat Dark Chocolate (1.75L)
• Silk Oat Unsweetened (1.75L)
• Silk Oat Unsweetened Vanilla (1.75L)
• Silk Almond & Cashew Unsweetened (1.75L)
• Silk Almond & Cashew Unsweetened Vanilla (1.75L)

On top of the above, Silk Coconut Unsweetened in 1.89-litre cartons with best-before dates leading up to and including September 27, 2024, with the UPC 0 25293 00244 9 are being recalled. 

Food contaminated with Listeria may not look or smell spoiled, but it can still make you sick. Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk.

While infected pregnant women may only experience mild, flu-like symptoms, the infection can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth. Adults can also die, in severe cases. 

THINGS TO DO:

Details

Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Jul 9, 2024 - 10:01 am

The Mossy River Municipality has declared a state of agricultural disaster, after massive effects from the heavy rainfalls this year.

From the start of May to Canada Day, The municipality saw between 270 - 310 mm of rainfall, flooding fields, raising rivers, and washing out roads.

Reynold Sahulka is the Reeve of the RM of Mossey River, and he's quite concerned about the state of soil moisture.

"After all the rains we've had here over the last couple of weeks here, some of our agricultural producers have been devastated with some of the overland floodings of Ethelbert and ourselves. All the water runs east, towards our municipality, so we end up getting the brunt of most of the moisture that comes from the west country of Ethelbert and Fork River area."

The RM's council has opened a request with the provincial government for financial assistance, not just for the road repairs, but for the producers heavily impacted by this excess water.

The conditions are causing serious ruts on rural roads, field failure from flooding, and even home garden growth is being affected. 

Sahulka, just many, are just looking for the weather to cooperate.

"Hopefully, we get some nice dry weather for the next few weeks here"

Sahulka wants to make sure everyone gets the help they need, as everyone from beekeepers, grain growers, and even home gardeners are feeling the effects of this waterlogged year

Details

Contributed by Michael Brossart

Published: Jul 9, 2024 - 6:00 am