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The Manitoba government has announced that people will be able to book COVID-19 vaccine appointments for second doses beginning Friday.
The first set of appointments will be reserved for vaccine priority groups with certain health conditions.
All interested and eligible Manitobans are expected to receive their first dose by June 9th. A provincial report shows that Manitoba’s vaccine task force plans to have 70% of Manitobans fully vaccinated by July or earlier.
The province says the rollout of second doses will be based on when individuals received their first dose.
Beginning Tuesday, May 25th, the province will begin administering second doses at congregate living settings in Manitoba. You can find a full list of these locations here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The Dauphin Co-op grocery store is working with Public Health officials after a positive case of COVID-19 was identified there.
Co-op has confirmed that an employee tested positive for the virus and is now self-isolating.
The employee was last at the store on May 14th. Staff members are working to identify all close contacts.
The food store will be open from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 19th.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Kylynn Kasto has been safely located.
The RCMP thanks the public for their assistance.
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Shoal Lake RCMP is searching for a missing 13-year-old girl.
Kylynn Kasto was last seen on Monday, May 17th at a home in the R.M. of Hamiota. It’s reported she had left the home on foot sometime overnight.
Kasto is described as 110 Ibs 5’2”, with dark brown hair on one side and light brown hair on the other.
RCMP says she may be in Brandon or Virden.
RCMP asks that anyone with information contact the Shoal Lake detachment at 204-759-2344, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or submit a tip online.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
A boil water advisory is in effect for the Town of Swan River until further notice.
The advisory is due to a power outage that led to a loss in water pressure in the community's distribution system
During this advisory, all water used for consumption should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute. This includes drinking and ice-making, preparing beverages, such as infant formula, and preparing food.
It's not necessary to boil tap water used for other household purposes, such as laundry or washing dishes.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Shortly after 1:30 yesterday afternoon, the Dauphin Fire Department responded to a stubble fire that became out of control in the RM of Dauphin.
The landowner had a valid permit for crop residue burning, but high wind conditions played havoc. The Sifton Fire Department arrived on the scene just after 2:30 and at 4:00 p.m., the RM of Dauphin was called and heavy equipment was requested to create a fire-guard to prevent the fire from carrying any further to the west. Crews were eventually able to leave the scene at around 8:30.
Although essential crop residue burning is allowed during the fire ban in the RM of Dauphin, you shouldn't burn when winds are as high as they were on Tuesday.
The Fire Department would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Ron and Cody Gawaziuk and Len and Chris Sharna for their assistance, as well as to Morgan Farms for the use of their water tanker.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
It's National Road Safety Week and the RCMP is urging drivers to stay safe on the roads, something that hasn't been happening in many cases during the pandemic.
In 2020, there were 1191 impaired driving charges laid by Manitoba RCMP and so far in 2021, officers have charged 323. And while the RCMP takes any speeding infraction very seriously, it's the 'super speeders' that they're spending extra focus on. In 2020, 20,515 drivers were charged with speeding. In 2021, 7163 people have been charged so far.
Sgt. Mark Hume, Acting Enforcement Commander with Manitoba RCMP Traffic Services, says not only are many people speeding, but many are doing so at an alarming rate. The RCMP has noticed that more people are driving more than 50 kilometres per hour over the speed limit.
"When you are going that fast, everything about your response as a driver changes – from stopping times, to maneuverability, to steering. This is the behaviour that puts lives at risk, and it is unacceptable," said Sgt. Hume.
In March and April of this year, the RCMP issued 106 tickets to drivers speeding by more than 50 km/hr over the posted speed limit. That number is more than twice that was charged last year or the year before, during the same time period. In 2020, 48 high-seed tickets were issued in March and April, 42 were issued during the two months in 2019.
"As I have said in the past, driving that fast is completely unacceptable," offered Sgt. Hume. "Not only are you putting yourself at risk, but you're putting others at risk as well. There is never a right time to speed, especially excessively as we have been dealing with this year far too many times."
Sgt. Hume says officers will be out and about more often this summer and they hope the next time that you hit the road, you will do so safely so everyone can return home safely.
I see people risking lives and taking deadly chances. We’ve said it before, but it remains true – our goal is to get everyone home safely," ended Sgt. Hume. "I don’t want to knock on any doors and tell someone their loved one has died."
The penalty for speeding can be quite severe, costing you thousands of dollars and could even cost you your license.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Due to a wildfire, Highway 6 between the St. Martin Junction and the Easterville Junction is closed.
Any traffic to Thompson will need to take a detour on Highway 10 and then take Highway 39.
The Wildfire Program of Manitoba Conservation and Climate is advising that wildfire danger levels remain extremely high across all of southern and central Manitoba.
As several wildfires are burning across the province, air-quality warnings have been issued for parts of western and central Manitoba due to smoke.
The province has also had to close Highway 5, between Carberry and Glenboro, and Provincial Road 307, between Seven Sisters Falls and Otter Falls.
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- Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson
Over $96,000 in COVID-19 fines were handed out last week in Manitoba.
Officials issued 62 tickets to Manitobans for various offenses, five for not wearing a mask in an indoor public place, and three to Manitoba businesses, for a total of 70 tickets.
Officials advise 53 of the 62 $1,296 tickets issued were in relation to gatherings in private residences or outdoors, six for failure to self-isolate, one for unnecessary northern travel, and two issued to sole proprietorships.
Manitoba Justice Officials report that 22 tickets were issued in relation to rallies, including two tickets from the Winkler rally on May 1, six tickets from The Forks rally on May 1, and 14 tickets from the Law Courts rally on May 3.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The Mossey River Municipality has issued a complete burning ban.
Effective today (Tuesday, May 18th) all burning in the municipality is restricted, including burn barrels and fire pits.
Anyone burning will be charged accordingly.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The Mountain View School Division has announced that Henderson Elementary School will be moving to full remote learning for two weeks.
Beginning Thursday, May 20th, Henderson Elementary will be closed to in-person learning until June 3rd due to an increased number of COVID-19 cases associated with the school.
Exceptions will be made for Kindergarten to Grade 5 students who are children of Critical Service Workers and can’t make alternative care arrangements, and children with special needs.
The MVSD is advising of another case of COVID-19 associated with Henderson Elementary. The school division was notified of the case on Monday, May 17th.
The individual was not present at the school during their infectious period and had no school-related close contacts; therefore no public health investigation is required.
Questions about this remote learning period can be directed to the school at 204-638-4653.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Nearly $2 million in fines has been handed out to individuals and businesses for breaching public health orders in the province -- but as of late last month -- not even close to that amount has been paid back.
By April 28, only $162,975 had been paid back, according to a spokesperson for Manitoba Justice.
At the beginning of Manitoba’s second wave of COVID-19 in November, the province announced 90 personnel from G4S Canada would be deployed to enforce the public health orders. At the time, Premier Brian Pallister said the move was to target the few people who refuse to follow public health orders, which puts those who do at risk.
Then, on May 7, the province increased the fines for people who fail to wear a mask multiple times from $298 to $486 and doubled the ticket for other penalties under the order.
People who don’t pay their fines can't renew their driver’s licence through Manitoba Public Insurance or the province could garnish their wages, Pallister said at the time.
If a ticket for a Public Health Act offence isn’t paid, it moves through the provincial court system and a $100 default conviction penalty would be applied. Unpaid tickets are also sent to a collection agency.
If a collection agency becomes involved, and funds aren’t recovered, the offender’s credit rating is negatively impacted for the next several years, according to a spokesperson from Recoveries Manitoba, a collection agency in Winnipeg.
On Monday, Dr. Brent Roussin reiterated how important it is to continue following public health orders.
"We need to be cautious and we need to continue doing what we can to keep everyone safe," ended Roussin. "We also need eligible Manitobans to get their vaccine, it's very important."
As of Monday, more than 50% of eligible Manitobans had gotten their first dose. You can book yours by calling 1-844-626-8222. If you are booking an appointment for your child who is under the age of 18, you must book in their name, not yours.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff