NewsNow
No human injuries occured, but a home in the RM of Dauphin is a total loss as a result of a fire yesterday afternoon around 3:30.
When firefighters from the Dauphin Fire Department arrived, they found the home completely ablaze with one of the walls and a portion of the roof collapsed. The intense flames, combined with the instability of the structure meant fire crews had to take on the fire from outside. Within an hour, firefighters had things under control.
No one was home at the time, except for a few pets who unfortunately didn't escape. While the fire isn't suspicious in nature, the cause of it is under investigation due to the structural state of the home and an accumulation of ice.
- Details
- Contributed by Alec Woolston
Manitoba Hydro is starting work in the Narrows.
Bruce Owen, media relations officer with Manitoba Hydro, says it’s one of their transmission lines.
“We lost it during the October storm, what happened is that area, and it’s just in the immediate vicinity of Ebb and Flow Lake. We lost about six kilometres of the line, just because of the severity of the storm and the wind.”
The reason it hadn’t been repaired yet is that it’s a backup line, they also needed the winter season for the lake to be frozen over to have access to the area.
Owen says it would be bad if the working line were to be knocked from a storm.
“This is why we’re working as quickly as we can to get this lineup. We’re confident that what we have fixed to date, and that’s so people in all the areas have electricity, we’re confident that we’re okay but we’re not 100 per cent.”
Those in the area over the next few weeks may hear some loud "bangs" like fireworks, but it's the workers. They use implosion sleeves to make a permanent, high-quality connection between two ends of power line by fusing them together.
- Details
- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The 15th annual Riding Mountain National Park winter adventure weekend is here.
This weekend from Friday February 7th to Sunday February 9th the RMNP will offer a variety of activities like outdoor family games, live music, food, maple syrup rolling, sledding, fat biking, skating, and shopping.
CEO of friends of Riding Mountain National Park, George Heartland says there’s a lot to do this weekend.
“So this weekend, Friday 7th to 9th is our 15th annual adventure weekend at Clear Lake. Things get underway on Friday night with music down here at the lake house down inside the Wasagaming town site. Saturday we have a wide variety of activities, starting with guided fat bike tours with Parks Canada staff. We have scavenger hunts around the town site, hotdogs, smoky barbecues. We’ve got pony rides, boot hockey, s’mores, skating rinks, music in the evenings, and films in the evenings as well. Things wrap up on Sunday with things like chilli in a bun, fat biking, scavenger hunts, and maple syrup rolling.”
People are encouraged to come out and enjoy the event.
More information and a schedule can be found at https://www.friendsofridingmountain.ca
- Details
- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Early this morning (Thursday) at 1:55, RCMP responded to a shooting on 9th Avenue South in Swan River.
Officers found a 25-year-old male from Swan River suffering from a gunshot wound to his lower body.
He was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
With help from RCMP Police Dog Services, a firearm was located within the vicinity of the shooting and subsequently seized by the RCMP.
The investigation is continuing and anyone with information is asked to call the Swan River RCMP at 204-734-4686, call CrimeStoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or give a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
- Details
- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Therae Racette-Beaulieu has been sentenced to life in prison for attacking a fellow inmate, alongside breaking and entering, theft, and an attempted murder charge.
Beaulieu received this sentence on Monday for attacking a fellow inmate with a homemade shank, stabbing him 20 times on April 28 2019.
The man that was attacked suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Beaulieu had been charged previously for the attempted murder of Cpl. Graeme Kingdon, and his partner in Onanole on August 29, 2018.
Cpl. Graeme Kingdon suffered a fractured skull from the shooting.
Beaulieu was originally sentenced to 18 years in prison for the attempted murder charge, breaking and entering, theft of firearms and a motor vehicle.
Judge Shauna Hewitt-Michta said that Racette-Beaulieu is a "troubled and dangerous individual," and "the sentence imposed here must send a strong message to Racette-Beaulieu and others like him, that harsh consequences for attacks, such as this one, will inevitably follow."
- Details
- Contributed by Tess Kovach
For the second time in two months, a CP train has derailed in Saskatchewan.
C-P spokesman Salem Woodrow says a train jumped the tracks at about 6:15 this morning, near Guernsey, which is a town 114 km east of Saskatoon.
The train, which was carrying crude oil went up in flames and witnesses saw a huge mushroom cloud from the explosion.
No injuries have been reported but emergency responders are on scene. In December, 19 cars derailed about 5 km west of this incident near Plunkett.
That incident caused a major fire and leaked 1.5 million litres of oil.
- Details
- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Tomorrow is the deadline to register for Fusion Ag Outlook 2020.
Brad Magnusson, CEO at Magnusson Consulting Group, says Fusion Ag Outlook 2020 is one of the main ways to get knowledge of the industry.
“Where producers can come and learn about the markets, about marketing, both in the grains, soybeans, peas, any of the other special crops and also the cattle industry, we’ll spend a good hour to two hours going through the cattle markets and determining where we think the calves are going to be priced later on this spring and of course with the calves in the fall.”
Magnusson says he doesn’t know how many people will be at the seminar in Hamiota because it’s the first time they’ve done a seminar there, but he expects 50 to 75 people there.
As for the seminar in Roblin, he expects over a hundred people to be in attendance.
“What people can expect from the seminars is detailed analysis of the world’s grain inventory, also a specific look at it from a North American, Canadian, and Manitoban perspective. With regards to inventory, pricing, cost of production, we’re going to go through detailed cost of production with each crop to determine where’s our best profitability and where do we need to sharpen our pencils?”
Magnuson says absolutely those that have been before can gain new knowledge going again.
“I think that one of the things that’s key to great management is to take different opinions and information and bring it back into your own operation and structure your pricing, your marketing with as much knowledge as you can possibly get.”
Fusion Ag Outlook is an opportunity to listen to speakers identify the markets, identify costing of each crop, which producers can take back and really understand what’s going on, on a global basis, on a national basis, and on a local basis.
You can register through any Fusion Credit Union branch, all you need to do is contact your local branch and they’ll give you directions and sign you up.
For a list of branches and their contact information, click here.
- Details
- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The 2020 edition of the Keystone Agricultural Producers’ Annual General Meeting has wrapped up.
Newly re-elected KAP President Bill Campbell says the event was once again a success.
“I think it went extremely well, it was a very busy schedule, lots of material covered in the agenda, lots of topics, lots of thought-provoking issues,” said Campbell. “I think that’s positive that we send home producers and farmers with things to think about, and how we evolve in our sector.”
The two-day meeting featured panel discussions based on risk management, labour and automation, and farmland values and ownership.
Political figures like provincial ag Minister Blaine Pedersen, and Manitoba Liberal Party Leader, Dougald Lamont addressed the producers in the crowd and spoke about how they will address the challenges facing producers.
Producers at the meeting debated over 20 resolutions addressing everything from the carbon tax to Crown Land lease rates.
Yesterday morning, agriculture students from the U of M sat in on the meeting hoping to learn about farm policy in a real situation.
Campbell is hoping that the students can take what they learned and implement the lessons in their careers.
“One of the key things I would like to express to the students is to become engaged, become aware,” said Campbell. “This is your livelihood, know what the industry is about and become engaged, but don’t be intimidated.”
Tune in to Noon Ag Show next week for more from the 2020 KAP AGM.
- Details
- Contributed by Josh Sigurdson
The cleaning of the water reservoirs in Gilbert Plains has been completed.
The bulk water station in town is also open to the public again.
Gilbert Plains Municipality would like to thank everyone affected for their patience.
- Details
- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
Dating back to 2007, three people in Manitoba are recognized every year for making key contributions to their community through the Future Leaders of Manitoba program.
Nominees come together at a banquet each January where three different nominees are given an award for their outstanding impact.
In the 20-26-year-old age category this year, Brandon University’s Whitney Hodgins won the award for the first time in her life. The 25-year-old has made a great difference in Brandon when it comes to disability, mental health, and justice.
Whitney was first nominated for the award a couple of months ago by a faculty member at BU. The process included video interviews, an interview in front of a judging panel and it all added up to the awards evening.
It wasn't until January 30 that Whitney found out she was the winner in her age group.
"There are a lot of emotions that come to mind. When my name was called, I couldn't believe it, it was like that feeling when you see a deer on the road," said Hodgins. "It's a big accomplishment and it's great to know that the work I'm doing has been recognized, it's a special feeling."
This isn't only Hodgins' first time winning the award, but it's also a first for Brandon University. The 25-year-old became the first student at BU to win the award in its school's illustrious history.
Hodgins is also one of just a few people that have ever won the award in rural Manitoba since the inception of the Future Leaders of Manitoba program.
"It's nice to know that my work is being recognized within the community," added Hodgins. "It's cool to see that people in rural Manitoba can win this award and not only people in Winnipeg, it shows that the entire province of Manitoba has come a long way."
Whitney will now continue with her work in Brandon and she's hoping more students at Brandon University get nominated moving forward and she knows that's something that can happen.
"I believe because I'm the first Brandon University student ever to win this, it's going to push others to continue with their work," concluded Hodgins. "So many people do such great work and they deserve to be recognized."
- Details
- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Riding Mountain National Park in Wasagaming will be seeing some upgrades beginning this month.
The work is part of the largest infrastructure plan in the history of Parks Canada.
The renovations that’ll be done include re-designing the visitor service reception area for better customer service and visitor flow, a Parks Canada merchandise store, improved accessibility to the building and the grounds, inclusive washroom facilities, updated audiovisual equipment, improvements to the building to easily host events, repairs and upgrades to the roof, and geothermal heating and cooling.
Parks Canada claims that the visitor center hasn’t had any upgrades in over 25 years.
The government says that the renovations will ensure a safe and meaningful experience to visitors.
Construction may extend into the spring of 2020 since it’s weather dependant, but there will be an alternate building open for visitor services and programming.
- Details
- Contributed by Tess Kovach
