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A hailstorm hit the Parkland.
At around 7:30 yesterday evening for about half an hour hail ranging in size from small to loonie sized pelted the region.
No reports of damage have come in.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
A 77 year old man has died after the tornado destroyed his home last night near Alonsa.
Environment Canada has confirmed the tornado touched down in the area shortly before 9 p.m.
Reports say the man was found outside of his home around the Silver Ridge and Ebb and Flow area. it is not known at this time what caused his death.
The storm destroyed a handful of homes and cabins in the area.
Reports that Environment Canada received say the tornado was on the ground for up to half an hour.
Stan Asham, the reeve of the RM of Alonsa said the damage was centred just east of Alonsa at Margaret Bruce Provincial Park, which is on the west side of Lake Manitoba.
He says many trees and power lines were knocked down and at least one home near the lake was destroyed as well as two cabins, a number of trailers and some campers were toppled over.
Here are some photos taken by Vanessa Lambourne Whyte of the aftermath at Margaret Bruce Beach, east of Alonsa by Silver Ridge.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Environment Canada is warning of a possible tornado in the Interlake area.
Meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm that is possibly producing a tornado. Damaging winds, large hail and locally intense rainfall are also possible
The warning is for the R.M. of Alonsa and includes Ebb and Flow and Sandy Bay.
Doppler radar indicates a potential tornado south of Alonsa tracking northeast towards Silver Ridge.
Take cover immediately, if threatening weather approaches. If you hear a roaring sound or see a funnel cloud, swirling debris near the ground, flying debris, or any threatening weather approaching, take shelter immediately.
Go indoors to a room on the lowest floor, away from outside walls and windows, such as a basement, bathroom, stairwell or interior closet. Leave mobile homes, vehicles, tents, trailers and other temporary or free-standing shelter, and move to a strong building if you can. As a last resort, lie in a low spot and protect your head from flying debris.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
The City of Dauphin has an opportunity to try out a new way of repairing water mains that don’t require tearing up a street.
The city is planning to utilize trenchless technologies for the rehabilitation of a water main on Marigold Street.
Sharla Griffiths, the Assistant City Manager says this new way of repairing pipe will save not only the streets but taxpayer money.
“Typically if we were to replace a water main we would have to dig up the street, dig up that water main, and disrupt the connection to the houses on that street for several days. We would provide basically garden hoses to get water for them or we would do it in chunks which would take a lot longer but it would be less disruptive to the residents.
This means the entire street minimally requires new asphalt to be installed or the entire street needs to be reconstructed. In most situations, water main renewal is planned with the total reconstruction of a street the following year.
Cured-in-place-pipe is the way for the city to create a new pipe inside of an old pipe by installing a liner that is inserted and hardened inside the existing pipe. The city has done this before, but the company Canadian Induracoat Corporation can use a trench method to save the street.
She explains how the services from the Albertan company will work.
“This way we are looking at doing a cast-in-place pipe and it is using a non-invasive technology. So there’s a pipe is re-lined and there’s structural integrity to it, so it is strong just like a new pipe.”
The company was already coming out to do work for another community in the province. Now Dauphin can work with the other community to cut down on travel costs.
Sharla Griffiths, the Assistant City Manager says this is a special case and will only be used infrequently.
“I don’t know if this will become the norm, but if it works, if this project goes smoothly, it may be another tool in our toolbox. For water mains under streets that need to be repaired and need to be dug up anyways, I think our traditional methods would suffice. At the same time, we would also put in new pavement if that was part of the bigger plan.”
Lead pipes need to be replaced in Dauphin and Griffiths says the normal way of repair will be used.
With the new method, the city ends up with an old pipe that is just as strong or stronger than the pipe was when it was first installed. This method saves the city money as they don’t have to do major road work.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
The details of the Stanley Cup wager have finally been finalized.
Mayor Allen Dowhan and Summerside PEI’s Mayor Bill Martin made the wager during the Stanley Cup finals earlier this year.
When the Washington Capitals and former Dauphinite Barry Trotz won the Stanley Cup, it was originally discussed that Mayor Dowhan would travel to PEI this summer to cash in on the bet.
This week, a different arrangement was agreed to.
Mayor Dowhan won’t be going to the East Coast. Instead, 100 lbs of lobster will be shipped to Dauphin this month and will be donated towards the community fundraising initiatives related to Barry Trotz’s visit on August 22.
Mayor Dowhan spoke with us about the announcement. “We’re picking it up in Winnipeg. we’re pre-selling it or selling it to people at 20 dollars apiece and all the money is going to match Barry Trotz’s contribution.”
“I thought I could make it, but I just got busy, I promised the mayor there we’re going to go on a PEI vacation there next year, on my own dime, and I’ll visit him then. I thought we received excellent national exposure and that was the prime purpose of it.” He continues, “It’s a great national news story for us.”
“I’m pleased to be able to contribute my winnings towards a worthy fundraising cause for Dauphin. And should Mayor Martin decide to accompany the lobsters to Dauphin, he will definitely be treated to a good old Ukrainian meal”, said Mayor Dowhan.
The Rotary Club of Dauphin will be selling the lobster for $20 a piece with details to be released through their Facebook page next week.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
The provincial government is investing $2.25 million in funding for municipal roads, and two of them are around Dauphin.
The Johnson Street reconstruction project ($107,840), as well as improvements to Bonk Road and the Dump Road ($23,354), are being funded.
The Municipality of Ste. Rose received a grant for new construction on their Elevator Street East ($20,220) and the RM of Mossey River received one for Grenon Street rehabilitation ($11,121).
in a press release, the government says "The $2.25 million in Municipal Road Improvement Program funding was made available to ensure a smooth transition while government is restructuring program delivery models to reduce red tape, eliminate program duplication and ensure value for money."
“Investing in municipal infrastructure ensures our communities can sustain continued, long-term growth,” said Municipal Relations Minister Jeff Wharton. “Maintaining our municipal roads helps to increase economic activity, extended asset life, improve public safety and community development. Our roads are pipelines for the flow of both goods and services, and improvements ensure that our province will continue to see increased economic activity. ”
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Dauphin Rec Services is advising the public to stay away from the Park Crescent Playground this weekend.
"There were the needles with the ball on the end of them found in the sand," said Wesley Carnegie, Operations Manager. "We went there with a magnet and found a whole bunch of them, so we just want people to be cautious if they go there. If you do, it's definitely best to keep your shoes on."
"We'll be going out there on Tuesday to thoroughly go through the sand," he added.
If you notice anything strange at any other playground, you can call Dauphin Rec at 622-3150. You can also call Wes directly at 648-4537 after hours, and they will get to the bottom of it.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
There is a severe thunderstorm watch in effect for the Parkland.
A dangerous storm could develop that might be capable of producing damaging wind gusts, hail, and heavy rain.
A trough of low pressure combined with a hot and unstable air mass will produce thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Some of these thunderstorms will be severe.
Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
It’s Day One of the Canadian National Ukrainian Festival!
Things are already going on up at the hill, with the big kick-off later tonight.
CNUF Vice President Jan Sirski encourages everyone to come out for Day One.
“People should come out today because this is just a wonderful, wonderful way to start and celebrate. We have our official opening tonight at 7:30 on the main grandstand and as always we have amazing grandstands.”
She shares with us her thoughts about getting day one started.
“Well, I think we’re ready. We’re looking forward to the weather, it’s pretty hot already, hot and humid, but we’ll go through it. We’ve got our talent competitions off and running, so we have lots of people enjoying that already. All the vendors are set up and the workshops are going to start at one.”
Taking the bus home is an option this year for those attending the Canadian National Ukrainian Festival.
Buses are running hourly all three days from 10:30 at night till 1:30.
Sirski encourages everyone getting home safe after having fun up on the hill.
“It’s a very proactive thing to do, especially if you’ve had a little bit of fun at the Cossack Tavern. We really encourage people to take that bus shuttle.”
It only costs 5 dollars per ride. There are 4 stops this year, they are:
- Dauphin Market Place Mall
- DRCSS, 330 Mountain Road
- Mr. T’s Corner Store, 1502 Mountain Road
- Home Hardware, 421 Main Street
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
An ongoing provincial shortage of anesthesiologists has resulted in cancelled surgeries in Manitoba.
According to Canadian Institute for Health Information published last year, 67 percent of Prairie Mountain Health patients received their hip replacement surgery within six months.
In 2016 that number was 89 percent.
For cataract surgery, the province has the longest waiting list with only 32 percent of patients receiving surgery within the 16-week national benchmark.
Winnipeg Regional Health Authority says the shortage has affected elective procedures, but not emergency surgeries.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
Stay safe on the roads this long weekend.
As the long weekend gets underway drivers are encouraged to use extra caution when out for a drive.
On average two people die during the Terry Fox Day holiday each year, for the past five years.
Another 86 people are injured in motor vehicle collisions over the August long weekend.
“Too often, these were fatalities and serious injuries that didn’t need to happen,” said Ward Keith, vice-president, Business Development & Communications, Chief Administrative Officer, Manitoba Public Insurance.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility and every road user needs to do their part to keep themselves and each other safe. This is particularly important over long weekends when highway traffic volumes are higher and people are in a hurry to get to their holiday weekend destinations.”
MPI encourages people to find a safe way home.
Driving drunk or high slows reaction time and continues to be a major contributor to fatal collisions in Manitoba.
Follow all speed limits, especially in construction zones.
Follow flag person directions including slowing down or stopping, they help control the flow of traffic.
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- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
