Guilty plea in Swan RIver robbery

A Swan River man has been sentenced to seven months in jail for his role in a robbery in that community.

Back in December, RCMP in Swan River were called to a disturbance at a business.

They say a man entered the store, threw items at an employee, and assaulted him.

22-year-old Noah Bercier entered a guilty plea earlier this week in Dauphin court in relation to the incident.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Nov 2, 2023 - 12:15 pm

Nobody was injured after an early morning fire in the city.

Crews from the Dauphin Fire Department were called to a home on Edgar Avenue around 12:30 this morning, where they found a fire in the kitchen area.

They were on the scene for about 2-and-1/2 hours, not only putting out the fire but also removing insulation materials to make sure that the fire was completely extinguished.

The fire has been deemed as accidental in nature, and fire department officials remind the public to never leave any items unattended on your stove.

Damage amounts are also unknown at this time.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Nov 2, 2023 - 12:13 pm

Sentencing is set for November 29th for a Pine Creek First Nations man found guilty for his role in a shooting incident from over two years ago.

RCMP say a 22-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to his hand in June of 2021 but didn’t report the incident to police, and didn’t have the injury treated in the hospital.

26-year-old Jericho Flatfoot was found guilty in Daauphin court this week of one count of uttering threats, as well as numerous weapons offences.

He remains in custody until his sentencing hearing.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Nov 2, 2023 - 12:11 pm

The Village of Ethelbert will have periods throughout the day where water might not be available.

Crews are replacing a fire hydrant in the area and will be shutting off water intermittently to do so.

The Municipality of Ethelbert apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.

Details: Contributed by Michael Brossart; Published: Nov 2, 2023 - 10:52 am

In the end of nearly 10 weeks of strike action, MGEU members from Manitoba Public Insurance have voted overwhelmingly to accept the tentative settlement reached on Tuesday, October 31.

The new collective agreement will provide all members with wage increases of at least 13% over 4 years, as well as a large list of other benefits.

MGEU members (Locals 62 - 68) from Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) have voted overwhelmingly to accept the tentative...
Posted by Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU) on Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Details of the wage increases in the new agreement include:

• 2022: 3%
• 2023: 3%
• 2024: 3.4% (2.9% General Wage Increase, plus 0.5% Retention Adjustment increase)
• 2025: 3.6% (2.8% General Wage Increase, plus 0.8% Retention Adjustment increase)

There's more than just wage increases as well:

• 63% of members will receive an additional 3.5% wage increase over the life of the agreement from a new maximum increment step for each pay grade.
• A one-time, lump-sum signing bonus of $1,800 per full-time employee. (pro-rated for part-time employees)
• Members will receive two weeks of Recognition Pay to acknowledge the more than three weeks of the strike during which no negotiations were possible as a result of the government transition process.
• The no-layoff MOA has also been renewed.

This agreement covers from as early as September 27, 2022 through to September 26, 2026.

MGEU and MPI are working to finalize a return-to-work agreement that aims to have members back on the job by Friday morning.

Details: Contributed by Michael Brossart; Published: Nov 2, 2023 - 6:30 am

Last night, An Author came to Dauphin to present his book about a journey through places in the province that time's forgotten.

"On The Road To Abandon Manitoba" is written by Gordon Goldsborough, a Manitoba-based history lover who wanted to share his ventures to the places in the province that have long been bereft of human activity.

On the second stop of his book tour, Goldsborough stopped a the Dauphin Senior Center last night to tell the audience of his journey in making this book.

Gordon Goldsborough has presented his first and second books for us at our Centre. We are so happy to welcome Gordon...
Posted by Dauphin Senior Centre on Thursday, October 19, 2023

If you happen to be feeling a bit adventurous, Goldsborough does have some recommendations right near our own backyard in Dauphin.

"In this area, the one I would absolutely recommend is the Negrych homestead. It's Northwest of Dauphin and it is magnificent. I've often said it is the closest thing I can imagine to time travel, where you can be magically transported back 100 years."

His book has several very detailed examinations of historical sites, ranging from cold-war era fallout monitoring shelters, abandoned tree nurseries, and the tale of the former trans-Canada highway.

If you love Manitoba history, this book is absolutely essential.

To learn more about the ongoing work that Gordon Goldsborough does, check out the incredibly detailed Manitoba Historical Society website, which includes spoken excerpts of his adventures

Details: Contributed by Michael Brossart; Published: Nov 2, 2023 - 6:00 am

Winter driving conditions are already rolling in, and the holiday season is fast approaching.

With this, MADD Canada is bringing back their 36th year of the Red Ribbon Campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of impaired drivers on the roads.

This program runs every year from November 1st to mid-January to reinforce this message across the holiday season.

Tanya Hanson Pratt is the National President of MADD Canada, and she stresses the fact that driving while impaired is always a choice.

"We simply ask that people never drive impaired, and never get in a vehicle with an impaired driver. It's a really simple decision. There is no reason why someone can't plan ahead. you always know when events are coming up, so make a plan ahead of time."

Pratt notes that accidents always tend to spike in this season, which is why this campaign is running from the first of November through to January, and planning ahead can make all the difference in travel.

You can learn where to get a Red Ribbon at MADD.ca as a reminder to drive safely and as a tribute to the people affected by impaired drivers in the past.

Something that Pratt is very specific about is that impaired driving is never an accident.

"We never refer to them as accidents, because that would suggest there's no one to blame. When impaired driving is involved, then there is someone to blame. someone made a poor decision."

So whatever holiday you're looking to celebrate over the next few months, don't drink or take drugs and drive.

Plan ahead, stay the night, or don't get intoxicated, travelling safely is one of the best gifts you can give over the holiday season.

Details: Contributed by Michael Brossart; Published: Nov 1, 2023 - 4:32 pm

Guilty pleas have been entered in relation to a drug bust in Dauphin from earlier this year.

In Dauphin Court this week, 22-year-old Jamie Desmarais from the Sandy Bay First Nation pled guilty to Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking and was sentenced to 1764 days in jail.

26-year-old Keanu Roulette, also from Sandy Bay First Nation, pled guilty to a simple possession charge and received one day for his court appearance.

Back in February, Mounties arrested two men after seizing over 200 grams of crystal meth.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Nov 1, 2023 - 12:31 pm

November 14th will be the next court appearance for an Ebb & Flow woman, who was arrested in relation to a drug bust on the First Nation.

35-year-old Christine Mancheese was taken into custody on a number of charges.

Ste. Rose RCMP raided a home on the reserve on September 20th and seized crystal meth, cocaine, cash, an unsecured firearm, and drug-related paraphernalia.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Nov 1, 2023 - 12:30 pm

The Parkland RCMP Detachment is looking to get feedback from the public and hear their concerns on Tuesday, November 14.

There will be a Community Policing Town Hall on November 14 at 7:00 at the Aspen Lodge which is upstairs in the Parkland Rec Complex. There will be presentations on area crime trends, policing priorities, and crime reduction strategies.

Scott Linklater is a sergeant with the Dauphin RCMP and he says it's the perfect time for a meeting.

"Policing in the area has changed and I don't think we have really had a chance to talk to the public about changes," said Linklater. "This is an important step and we are looking forward to the town hall on November 14."

The meeting is open to the public and while there is no timeline for when the meeting will end, it is guaranteed to be very in-depth. There will also be a question and answer period prior to the end of the meeting.

"I'm hoping that there will be a better understanding between the detachment and residents," said Linklater. "We're going to answer general questions as best we can."

While we all have a role in staying safe and keeping our community safe, Linklater wanted to add that the RCMP will always be here to serve and protect.

"We want to make sure everyone is safe and we want to make sure everyone is able to live their best lives," ended Linklater. "We understand there is crime in this area, we are addressing it, and we want the public to know that."