"Our Winters are Too Long" Says Podolsky

Honey Production had a sharp drop in 2022 according to Statistics Canada's report for the year.

Overall, honey production was down 15.6%, with a total of 74.4 million pounds harvested. Loss in colonies is a big reason for that drop, and while the report states that they were down 8.3% from 2021, Bob Podolsky, owner of Podolsky Honey Farms in Ethelbert, says the situation is even more dire.

"I think it was a lot higher than that. According to Canadian Honey Council, we are at 46.6% less colonies this year in Canada. So less colonies, less honey, and if we have another disaster this winter, with high losses, it'll even be worse. There'll be a lot of guys losing their business, their livelihood."

One of the main reasons for the high loss in colonies was due to the length of winter last year, rather than the extreme cold that was seen throughout says Podolsky.

"Our winters are too long. the bee only defecates when he flies, so if you can get him to fly earlier, he has a chance to clean himself out, which should increase survivability."

This year, Podolsky isn't taken any chances, as he decided to take his bees to British Columbia for the winter.

"Here in Manitoba, the bees are probably going to start flying around early April, middle of April, and in BC they're going to be flying hopefully middle of February, definitely by the middle of March. So you shorten it by 30, 40, and maybe even up to 60 days."

Podolsky says the move lessens the risk of the bees dying due to a prolonged winter.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: Dec 15, 2022 - 5:45 am

UPDATE

The following sections of highway have been re-opened:

Highway 5 from Highway 584 to Roblin and from Roblin to Saskatchewan border.
Highway 45 from Rossburn to Russell.
Highway 16 from vicinity of Foxwarren to Russell.
Highway 16 from Russell to Saskatchewan border.

ORIGINAL STORY

As the snow continues to fall there are some highway closures near the Saskatchewan border.

Highway 83 is closed from south of Benito to Russell.
Highway 5 is closed from Roblin to the Saskatchewan border.
Highway 16 is closed from east of Foxwarren to the Saskatchewan border
Highway 45 is closed from Rossburn to the Saskatchewan border.

Highway conditions are expected to continue changing as snow moves in from the west. For the most up to date information, check out the Parkview Auto Glass road conditions page.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: Dec 14, 2022 - 7:39 pm

The Dauphin RCMP is investigating a fatal collision that took place on Highway 5, just west of Gilbert Plains on Monday.

Police say a vehicle traveling east crossed the centre line and collided with a semi-truck that was heading west. They believe that icy conditions were a factor in the crash.

The driver of the eastbound vehicle, a 72-year-old female from the RM of Grandview, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The semi-driver, a 53-year-old male from Dauphin was not physically injured.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: Dec 14, 2022 - 10:48 am

The Dauphin and District Community Foundation had its most successful giving challenge ever this year.

Each year, community foundations across the province are given a boost for one week, during the giving challenge, This year, for every $5 donated to the foundation, the provincial government and the Winnipeg Foundation would each add a dollar.

Executive director Kit Daley says DDCF was once again one of the top foundations in the province during the giving challenge week.

"This was our most successful giving challenge to date. For the fourth year in a row, we were in the top three in the province, and that's out of 56 foundations which is amazing on its own."

The foundation raised $168,000 dollars in gifts, and after the additions, they raised $172,382.

"As I've said so many times, it's not about how much we receive, it's about how much we can give back, and this one-week giving challenge will provide approximately $45,000 dollars in grants over five years."

Every donation the DDCF receives stays within the foundation, and it's the interest that is used for grants, says Daley.

"When you give a gift, that gift will give back to the community forever."

The DDCF will be accepting grant applications between January 1^st and February 28^th, 2023. Applications are open to registered charities, or community groups who have partnered with a registered charity or qualified donee who can accept the cheque on their behalf.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: Dec 14, 2022 - 6:00 am

A Swan Valley Couple has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison each after they were found guilty of neglecting their infant twins. The parents can't be named to protect the identity of the children, but the 40-year-old mother was sentenced to 18 years behind bars, while the 57-year-old father was sentenced to 12 years.

In January, both parents were found guilty of two counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm, and failing to provide the necessities of life. The mother was also found guilty of two counts of aggravated assault.

In July 2019, Child and Family Services apprehended the children from their home when social workers found them with bruises and scrapes on their bodies. The twins were airlifted to the Children's Hospital in Winnipeg, where it was discovered that both had more than 20 fractures in their bodies.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: Dec 13, 2022 - 2:44 pm

The Association of Manitoba Municipalities held a bye-election recently to fill vacant director positions after the Municipal election left several open spots. Swan River Mayor Lance Jacobson put his name forward to fill the open spot in the Parkland District.

"I reached out to all of the municipalities prior to the election and spoke to several Mayors, and Reeves, and Heads of Council, and some of them have told me some of the things they were already thinking, but I'll definitely do my best to meet with them, or reach out to them, and bring all issues forward."

Jacobson has been interested in taking on a bigger role within AMM for some time and says that the regular elections for the role will be coming up in June 2023, so it'll be a good opportunity to try out the role before running again for a full two-year term.

"I would say it has been something that I've been thinking about for some time. I was first elected in Swan River in 2010, and over the first few years, I had grown some awareness of the AMM and some interest in it. After serving my first term as Mayor I thought, lets give this a try and see how this goes."

Jacobson says that it's a position he's been interested in for a while and wants to help bring the area closer together.

"I want to bring the AMM and the Parkland a little bit closer together. One of the things I thought would be an effective way of communicating between all the Parkland municipalities is to, maybe once a year, have all our heads of councils meet, and discuss some of our common issues, goals, and what we can bring forward to the AMM, and also to ministers and to the provincial government, and also the federal government."

Jim Manchur, the Reeve of Gilbert Plains, is the other AMM Parkland Director.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: Dec 13, 2022 - 6:00 am

A special weather statement is in effect for a large portion of southern Manitoba including the Parkland.

Late this evening, a "prolonged snow event" over southeastern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba is expected to begin and could bring somewhere between 20 to 30 cm of snow to some places by the time the weekend arrives.

A Colorado Low is sneaking its way up to Manitoba from the American Midwest. Conditions are to start improving on Friday as the Colorado Low heads eastward. Unfortunately, as it heads out, it will make way for some Arctic air which will make temperatures much colder.

Read the full special weather statement here.

Details: Contributed by Alec Woolston; Published: Dec 13, 2022 - 5:25 am

Roblin Conservation Officers are on the lookout for the people responsible for the killing of two elk by gunfire.

In the early morning hours of December 6, two cow elk were shot from Provincial Trunk Highway 363 leading toward Togo, Saskatchewan. The elk were left in the field.

If you have any information, you're asked to call the Roblin District Office at 204-937-6452.

Details: Contributed by Darnell Duff; Published: Dec 12, 2022 - 2:33 pm

The Northwest Metis Council opened its new governance office this afternoon in Dauphin. Vice President Francis Chartrand says the relationship between the Manitoba Metis Federation and the City of Dauphin is really strong.

"The City of Dauphin is our partner, and they know who the Red River Metis are, and I'm so proud to say that. This is part of reconciliation, and I'm so proud to be working with the City of Dauphin, and a proud resident of the City of Dauphin."

Chartrand went on to talk about the commitment they're showing to the Parkland region, through investments in the communities.

"We built a daycare here, it cost us 1.6 million dollars. We built a new childcare centre in Swan River, it cost us 1.7 million dollars. We built a childcare centre with a governance office in the community of Duck Bay, it cost us 500 thousand. This build cost us five million dollars, we've invested approximately 10 million in the Parkland, and I'm so proud to be metis today."

Manitoba Metis Federation President David Chartrand also spoke at the opening. He says that one thing this building, and all the other MMF buildings in Dauphin brings is opportunity.

This particular area, in my view, is very important. I know how hard it was hit when you see the jail closing down here, you guys took a very strong position, losing all those jobs, losing all those people that are going to be renting or buying homes. So I'm proud to say, this short area here, there'll be about 150 people employed here in the next little while."

The building itself will be home to more than 100 MMF staff that will support programs in the area, and a pharmacy that is expected to open in the new year. At the grand opening, the Northwest Metis Council also unveiled a Louis Riel Statue at the entrance.

From Left: Executive Peter Fleming, Executive Richard Genaille, Vice President Francis Chartrand, and President David Chartrand

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: Dec 12, 2022 - 1:52 pm

Emergency crews are on the scene of a crash on Highway 5, West of Gilbert Plains.

The highway is closed and a detour is in place.

We will provide more information when it becomes available.

Details: Contributed by Darnell Duff; Published: Dec 12, 2022 - 12:38 pm

The Virden RCMP is investigating a homicide that took place on Sioux Valley Dakota First Nation over the weekend.

Officers, along with EMS, responded to a report of a stabbing at a residence just after midnight on Saturday morning. They found a 26-year-old female from Sioux Valley Dakota First Nation with life-threatening injuries, and she was pronounced deceased a short time late.

An investigation then led to the arrest of 26-year-old Rennie Kristyna Williams, from Sioux Valley Dakota First Nation, who has been charged with Second Degree Murder. Williams was remanded into custody and is appearing in court in Brandon today.

Virden RCMP, along with RCMP Major Crime Services and Forensic Identification Services, continues to investigate.