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Dauphin’s Animal Control Officer says the trapping effort to remove a fisher from the City was a success.

Todd Tarrant tells CKDM that a fisher — a small predator with a reputation for harming small pets — has been caught and relocated.

He's also confirming a pine marten has been in Dauphin lately -- but he believes the marten has now left town due to an absence of tracks and sightings.

Tarrant, who says he’s working alongside an experienced trapper, has now set up some “monitoring traps” in the City to see if there are any other animals to be recovered.

Tarrant says unlike the fisher, martens are not known to be a threat to small animals.

Details

Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Jan 25, 2021 - 12:38 pm

The Dauphin Fire Department were on the scene Monday morning of a car on fire on Forrest Avenue West.

A resident tells CKDM he heard a "big huge bang" come from out on the street around 10:15 a.m., and saw the blaze coming from the vehicle's engine compartment.

Photo courtesy of Randall Townsend

A section of Forrest Avenue West was blocked off by RCMP while emergency crews were on the scene. 

The Dauphin Fire Department say it is not suspicious and the fire was caused by the heater running inside the vehicle.

There were no other damages as a result of the fire.

Details

Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Jan 25, 2021 - 11:31 am

Robbie Burns Day has been celebrated in Dauphin every year since 1907.

Kate Storey, the bass drummer of the Dauphin Legion Pipe Band, says for the first time in the 114 years there won’t be a celebration.

“This is the longest-running celebration in Dauphin history. It was started by the Scottish settlers and it celebrates the strength of the spirit of the Scottish people.”

In a normal year, the Dauphin Legion Pipe Band organizes a celebration in the evening featuring food, Scottish dancing, pipe music, and talk about Robbie Burns and his poetry.

Storey says this year we’ll have to celebrate in our hearts instead of getting together.

“On January 25^th, raise your glass to Robbie Burns and the Scottish culture, and you can say cheers in Gaelic, it’s Slàinte”

Details

Contributed by Isaac Wihak

Published: Jan 25, 2021 - 5:00 am

An extreme cold warning was issued by Environment Canada on Sunday afternoon.

Temperatures are in the minus 30s with windchills forecasted around -40°C or colder for a second consecutive night.

Temperatures are expected to moderate slightly Monday morning, however, extreme cold could return for a third night to some areas Monday evening into Tuesday.

The risks of extreme cold are greater for young children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, people working or exercising outdoors, and those without proper shelter.

It's important to cover up; frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with windchill.

As a rule, if it's too cold for you to stay outside, it's too cold for your pet to stay outside.

Extreme Cold Warning in effect for:

• Gilbert Plains Mun. incl. Ashville
• Grandview Mun. incl. Valley River Res.
• Mossey River Mun. incl. Winnipegosis and Fork River
• Mun. of Ethelbert incl. Garland
• Mun. of Roblin incl. Makaroff Shortdale and Bield
• Mun. of Russell-Binscarth incl. Gambler Res.
• R.M. of Dauphin incl. Sifton and Valley River
• R.M. of Lakeshore incl. Ochre River and Makinak
• R.M. of Lakeshore incl. Rorketon and Toutes Aides
• R.M. of Riding Mountain West incl. Asessippi Prov. Park

A period of very cold wind chills is expected.

Details

Contributed by Isaac Wihak

Published: Jan 24, 2021 - 4:05 pm

On Sunday, health officials in Manitoba reported 222 new cases of COVID-19 and three more deaths due to the virus.

A man in his 80s at Prairie Mountain Health’s McCreary/Alonsa Health Centre is among the deaths being reported today. The other two are women in their 90s linked to care home outbreaks in Winnipeg.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 10.6% provincially and 6.4% in Winnipeg. 

Today’s data shows 3,521 active cases in Manitoba and 24,377 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

There are 143 people in hospital with active COVID-19 as well as 135 people in hospital who are no longer infectious but continue to require care (278 hospitalizations total).

There are 28 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as 14 people who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care (42 ICU patients total).

The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 799.

The cases reported Sunday are from the following health regions in Manitoba:
• 20 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 116 cases in the Northern health region
• 22 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• three cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 61 cases in the Winnipeg health region

According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (4), Riding Mountain (3), Porcupine Mountain (50), Duck Mountain (5), Asessippi (11), Little Saskatchewan (4), and Agassiz Mountain (33). Brandon has 59 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 69 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis also has 69.

Details

Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Jan 24, 2021 - 12:46 pm

Public health officials have announced 216 new cases of COVID-19 and 3 more deaths due to the virus.

The current five-day test positivity rate is 9.8% provincially and 6.5% in Winnipeg.

The Northern health region is continuing with their trend of high case numbers, adding 118 of today’s cases. Winnipeg added 50 cases today and there were just 12 in Prairie Mountain Health. The other health regions saw 22 new cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region and 14 in Southern Health.

According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (3, down from 4 yesterday), Riding Mountain (3, up from 2 yesterday), Porcupine Mountain (47, down from 54 yesterday), Duck Mountain (5), Asessippi (10, up from 9 yesterday), Little Saskatchewan (3), Whitemud (0), and Agassiz Mountain (34, down from 36 yesterday). Brandon has 55 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 68 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis also has 68.

The three deaths announced today are all from Winnipeg, a man in his 60s, a female in her 70s, and a female in her 80s.

Today’s data shows:

• 3,372 active cases and 24,307 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19;
• There are 135 people in hospital with active COVID-19 as well as 137 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 272 hospitalizations;
• There are 26 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 as well as 14 people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care for a total of 40 ICU patients; and
• The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 798. Due to a data correction, one death that had been reported earlier has been removed.

The new provincial restrictions are now in effect for 3 weeks.

Details

Contributed by Isaac Wihak

Published: Jan 23, 2021 - 12:51 pm

Today's the day!

We're still in code red, but the eased restrictions announced by the province earlier in the week are now in effect.

Household limits have been updated, with the new rules allowing for two designated people to visit inside a home. Outdoor private gatherings can have up to five people plus the members of the household.

Funerals may have up to 10 people in attendance, in addition to the officiant. 

The new rules make things easier for retail businesses by getting rid of the "essential items" list. Businesses can now open at 25% capacity or for 250 people, whichever is lower, as long as physical distancing is maintained.

The province says orders are being expanded to allow for the operation of basic services that promote physical and mental health for Manitobans. That means non-regulated health services, such as pedorthists and reflexologists, can reopen with adequate physical distancing and requirements to collect information for contact tracing purposes.

The last change to the rules allows barbershops and hairstylists to reopen at 25% capacity with adequate physical distancing and requirements to collect information for contact tracing purposes.

These changes are in effect everywhere except the Northern Health region, which continues to see higher case volumes.

The rules will be in effect for 3 weeks, at which point the province's situation will be reassessed.

Details

Contributed by Isaac Wihak

Published: Jan 23, 2021 - 6:34 am

Having a social media presence is especially important for businesses now, more than ever.

Coming up on Wednesday, the Dauphin Chamber is hosting a Lunch & Learn to help businesses with social media.

Stephen Chychota says Stephanie Jaddock is joining them for the session.

“She will be going over some do’s and don’ts and how to even start with building a presence on social media. We’ll be looking at a number of platforms that businesses can take advantage of, trying to get in front of their fan base. But, it should be a really engaging and interesting discussion.”

Chychota says the topic is always changing and the tools Stephanie will be going over will be very beneficial.

To register, click here. It costs about $19 for chamber members and $24 for non-chamber members. Also, by registering, you’ll get $5 back in Chamber Bucks.

The session will be held online over Zoom on Wednesday, January 27^th.

The Dauphin Chamber has also started a program, through some funding from the province and Manitoba Chamber, to help businesses with social media.

Chychota says they’ve put a team together, to go out and help businesses that don’t have Facebook pages but want to be on Facebook.

“We’ve been building that for a few weeks now and helping a number of businesses in the area build a basic Facebook page. So at least there’s some info online for their business, so people can find them, find their business hours, their contact information, and stuff like that.”

Chychota says to get in contact with the Chamber if you’d like some help getting your business on Facebook.

Details

Contributed by Isaac Wihak

Published: Jan 23, 2021 - 6:00 am

A 2nd confirmed case of COVID-19 is being reported in Pine Creek First Nation, a day after a lockdown was put into effect by the chief and council in response to a self-confirmed case in the community.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Pine Creek First Nation Chief Karen Batson shared reports of a 2nd confirmed case in the community.

A letter sent out to the community on Thursday states no community members will be allowed to leave until the lockdown is lifted — with exceptions for work and medical emergencies.

The letter also says health staff have been in contact with the individual, who is now self-isolating, and have completed the contact tracing process.

Pine Creek First Nation Chief and Council will be closing offices and the school until further notice.

Check stops will be placed at each road coming into the community starting Thursday evening, and the letter says Duck Bay community members will be escorted through the community and not allowed to stop anywhere in Pine Creek.

Community members in Pine Creek First Nation are being told to stay in their homes and not visit other homes — and that safety officers will be handing out fines for non-compliance.

The Chief and Council say the lockdown will be reassessed on Monday, Jan. 25th.

Details

Contributed by 730 CKDM

Published: Jan 22, 2021 - 5:18 pm

Prairie Mountain Health are providing more details about their respiratory clinics operating in Dauphin, Brandon, Swan River, Neepawa, and Russell.

The respiratory clinics are meant for those who have cold symptoms (cough, runny nose, sore throat) that need to see a doctor but do not need to go to the emergency room.

Physician and Chief Medical Officer of the Dauphin Regional Health Centre, Dr. Trina Mathison, says the respiratory clinics are a dedicated space where healthcare staff in full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can assess patients in person. At this time, people with respiratory symptoms (cough, runny nose, sore throat) can not be seen in the regular clinic.

Dr. Mathison says the respiratory clinics are helping to avoid overburdening emergency rooms, and allow staff in PPE to provide in-person treatment instead of over the phone. The respiratory clinics are typically staffed with a physician, respiratory technologist, a nurse and clerical staff.

She says it’s totally fine for people who are COVID-positive to be assessed there, as staff are taking all the necessary precautions like wiping down between appointments.

Dr. Mathison says the Dauphin respiratory clinic is open by appointment only (204-622-4194), Monday to Friday from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Anyone who wants to be assessed at the Dauphin respiratory clinic must wear a mask, bring a Manitoba health card, and enter the Dauphin Hospital through the main entrance, not the emergency room entrance. 

Click here to see the hours and locations of all other respiratory clinics in Prairie Mountain Health.

PMH first started operating respiratory clinics in November, and will likely have them running until at least June.

Anyone who thinks they may have COVID, but have no pressing medical concerns, should visit their local COVID-19 testing site for testing.

Details

Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Jan 22, 2021 - 12:53 pm