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The Manitoba government has agreed to purchase two million doses of a new Manitoba-produced COVID-19 vaccine.

Premier Brian Pallister made the announcement on Thursday morning, saying Manitoba will receive the first 200,000 doses of the new vaccine from Alberta-based Providence Therapeutics.

The new mRNA vaccine, which is similar to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, is currently undergoing clinical trials with approval from Health Canada expected in late 2021.

A release from the province states Manitoba will receive two million doses in total — enough to vaccinate every Manitoban who wants one.

The province says fishing is free this long weekend so Manitobans can get outside and try their luck ice fishing at many of Manitoba’s world-class lakes and rivers.

Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen encourages Manitobans to “grab a rod and reel and safely head out onto the ice to catch a good time this weekend, while exploring the many fishing opportunities this province has to offer.”

Manitobans can fish anywhere in the province except national parks from Saturday, Feb 13, to Monday, Feb 15.

Anglers may retain up to a conservation licence limit of fish, which includes four walleye/sauger, four northern pike, two smallmouth bass, one lake trout, one channel catfish and two stocked trout. Regular limits apply for those who already have a regular angling licence and all other angling regulations apply during this weekend, including regulations for individual waters.

The current health orders restrict outdoor gatherings to five people. Public health officials also strongly encourage those fishing, to limit their groups to members of their household.

The province reminds Manitobans to check ice conditions before travelling onto the ice. They add that it’s important to let someone know where you are fishing and to wear appropriate clothing so that your ice-fishing adventure is enjoyable.

For the month of February, vehicle permits aren’t required for any provincial park.

The extreme cold warning we’ve had since Friday last week is still in effect.

As the forecast has evolved over the week, the cold weather looks as if it keeps getting extended.

At one point this week, a high of -20 was forecasted for Saturday, now the high is -28.

“Nicer” weather isn’t expected until Monday when a high of -13 is being forecasted.

Environment Canada says the cold weather comes from an Arctic ridge of high pressure.

Risks are greater for young children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, people working or exercising outdoors, and those without proper shelter.

Environment Canada says to dress warmly and in layers that you can remove if you get too warm. They add that the outer layer should be wind resistant.

Police say a woman has been arrested and charged after a stabbing on Sandy Bay First Nation.

On Tuesday, Feb. 9, police received reports that a man had been stabbed in a home.

The man was found in unstable condition with serious injuries to his upper body. He was transported to hospital and later air lifted by STARS to the Health Sciences in Winnipeg.

Police report that the man is now in stable condition after an emergency surgery.

Officers located a 24-year-old woman from Sandy Bay First Nation who faces one count of aggravated assault.

She was released on conditions and will appear in court at a later date.

Health officials announced 59 new cases of COVID-19 and six more deaths today.

Today’s new COVID-19 cases are in the following health regions:
• one case in Interlake–Eastern health region
• 31 cases in the Northern health region 
• two cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• four cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 21 cases in the Winnipeg health region

There has been a total of 30,417 cases identified province-wide. The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Manitoba is 859.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 5.2 percent provincially and 4.1 percent in Winnipeg.

There are 1,573 active cases and 27,985 people who have recovered from COVID-19.

There are 99 people in hospital with active COVID-19 and 156 people in hospital who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 255 hospitalizations.

There are 17 people in intensive care units with active COVID-19 and 17 people who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 34 ICU patients.

According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (4), Riding Mountain (1), Porcupine Mountain (6), Duck Mountain (0), Asessippi (8), Little Saskatchewan (0), Whitemud (2), and Agassiz Mountain (1). Brandon has 18 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 16 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 26.

Public health officials advise six additional deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today including:
• a male in his 70s from the Northern health region, linked to outbreaks at St. Paul’s Personal Care Home in the Pas and St. Anthony’s General Hospital, dialysis unit;
• a female in her 70s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region, linked to the outbreak at Heritage Life Personal Care Home;
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Bethania Mennonite Personal Care Home;
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at Parkview Place Personal Care Home;
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region; and
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region.

A man from Sandy Bay First Nation is facing charges and multiple weapons were seized during a traffic stop in Portage this week.

On Monday, Feb. 8, RCMP were patrolling the area on Saskatchewan Avenue West when they came across a vehicle without a license plate and working taillights.

The officer stopped the vehicle and noticed two shotgun shells in the backseat, with a search of the car locating two loaded firearms and an extendable baton.

Police say the man had no identification and no license and provided a false name.

The suspect was taken to the detachment where he was identified, and police learned the man was on conditions to not possess firearms, not consume alcohol, and follow a curfew.

27-year-old Jordan James McIvor from Sandy Bay First Nation faces a number of charges including possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, unsafe storage of a firearm, and failure to comply, among other charges.

McIvor also faces charges under the Highway Traffic Act for not having a licence and the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act for having open alcohol in the vehicle.

He remains in custody.

A 30-year dream has come true for Nicole Yunker as her EP, “My Dream” is now available.

In September, Nicole started getting singing lessons from Australian singer Mirusia over zoom.

Mirusia gave Yunker the push she needed to get the EP recorded.

“But the really magical part for me is that everything was done here in the Parkland. I recorded here at 730 CKDM, I have a huge group of people that helped me through the way, and I’m so grateful. Without all these people, this would not have happened. So, even though I’m sitting here, there’s a large group of people behind me that brought it to today, where I get to release my EP, My Dream, that’s for sale at Dauphin Music and Electronics today!”

Due to COVID-19, Nicole didn’t have any contact with her musicians. She hasn’t even seen them yet, everything was done by phone and email.

Yunker says the EP was a four-month project.

“Just amazing people came on board, Danny Schur from Ethelbert, Gary Procyshyn from Dauphin and Milana Zilnik from Ottawa, an amazing soul. So, I’m really really grateful and of course, René Hübener, my amazing producer right here from 730 CKDM and of course Mirusia was there, even though we’re at a distance, she is with me all the time. I’ve had so much support and it’s all been tremendous.”

"My Dream" is on sale now at Dauphin Music and Electronics.

Nicole Yunker Album

For more details and to stay updated on Nicole’s journey with a newsletter, check out her website.

The 100 block of Bossons Avenue in Dauphin will be closed to all traffic today.

Crews are repairing a water main break.

The City of Dauphin says to be prepared to detour.

Last week the Manitoba government announced an increase to public school division funding by $20.8 million.

Mountain View School Division Secretary-Treasurer Bart Michaleski says they’ll be receiving $370,000 from that increase.

“We’ll be working on our draft budget to see how that fits together with all of our other revenue sources. At the end of the day, you know, it never seems to be enough in terms of trying to meet the needs and demands.”

Michaleski says the $370,000 will address a number of areas.

“One of the areas we’re looking at some additional costs this year is in special needs or student services and that’s an area where additional funding was provided. The government committed to some additional dollars for special needs funding and almost a third of our increase in provincial revenue is in that area so it’ll certainly be directed to those expenditures. They provided some additional dollars in our base support and base support is dollars that are allocated essentially based on enrollment.”

Also included in the announcement Friday was the freezing of education property taxes and the implementation of the Property Tax Offset Grant.

The grant will give school divisions the equivalent of a 2% property tax increase, which will give MVSD $380,000.

With the money the division is receiving from the other part of the announcement, it totals $750,000.

The full impact the funding will have on the budget is unknown right now as the division continues to work on the budget.

Michaleski says they’ll consult with the communities about the budget, for the final decisions and to find out where the communities stand on the division’s priorities.

RCMP issued a hefty fine after catching a speeding driver near Oak Lake.

The 25-year-old man was clocked at 175 km/h in a 110 zone on Highway 1.

He told police he “thought the speed limit was 120”, and argued he was only going 150.

He received a $901 fine and a serious offence notice for license review with MPI. 

A STARS air ambulance was dispatched to the Sandy Bay First Nation area Tuesday morning for an emergency call.

A STARS spokesperson tells CKDM the individual was transported to HSC in Winnipeg in serious but stable condition, after sustaining "traumatic injuries consistent with an edged weapon".

At this time there are no other details on the victim's age or updates on their condition.