102 COVID Enforcement Tickets Issued Last Week

COVID-19 enforcement officials handed out 130 warnings and 102 tickets in Manitoba last week.

From May 17^th to May 23^rd, a total of $126,204 in fines was issued to Manitobans.

There were 96 tickets issued for various offences, and six for not wearing a mask in indoor public places.

88 of the fines issued to individuals were in relation to private gatherings that went against current health orders, two for unnecessary northern travel and three to sole proprietorships.

Manitoba Justice officials continue to follow up and investigate all large gathering and rallies they are made aware of, and advise an additional 22 tickets were issued in relation to rallies in Winnipeg.

Fine amounts for violating public health orders have been set at $298 for not wearing a mask in indoor public places, $1,296 for various offences, including sole proprietorships and partnerships, and $5,000 for tickets issued to corporations.

Details: Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson; Published: May 26, 2021 - 1:38 pm

Manitoba RCMP are searching for a wanted man related to an incident in Amaranth.

Greg Levasseur is wanted for assault with a weapon and forcible confinement in relation to an incident on March 31^st.

His whereabouts are unknown at this time.

RCMP ask that if you have any information on his whereabouts to call the Amaranth RCMP detachment at 204-843-2309, or CrimeStoppers.

Details: Contributed by Tess Kovach; Published: May 26, 2021 - 12:36 pm

The eligibility for Manitobans to receive their 2^nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is being expanded.

Johanu Botha, co-lead, Manitoba’s Vaccine Implementation Task Force says if you received your first dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine on or before March 29^th, you are eligible to book your second dose after 11:45 a.m. today.

“So we’re holding on everyone afterward, and giving those who came before March 29^th a chance to start booking today.”

Second dose appointments are not yet open for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The province will continue to open up second dose appointments based on when individuals received their first shot.

Vaccines can be booked by calling 1-844-626-8222 (1-844-MAN-VACC) from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily.

Details: Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson; Published: May 26, 2021 - 10:32 am

The Brandon Police Service (BPS) has arrested nearly a dozen people after a major drug bust.

The Organized Crime Section began its investigation last February with help from the Winnipeg Police Service, RCMP D Division and the Manitoba Prosecution Service. On May 3, police searched two homes in Brandon and on May 18, officers searched another five homes. Four kilograms of cocaine and $120,000 in cash were seized as a result.

The eleven that were arrested range from 19 to 31 years old and the search for a 12th person is currently in progress. An arrest warrant for Trafficking Cocaine and numerous other offences is in effect for Rafael TOICHOA-FULFORD.

An arrest warrant for Trafficking Cocaine and numerous other offences is in effect for Rafael TOICHOA-FULFORD (26).

The 11 arrested have all had their first court appearances and they all face charges including trafficking cocaine, possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, possession of the proceeds of crime and conspiracy to possess the proceeds of crime.

This four-kilogram seizure could be compared to a 50-kilogram seizure in Winnipeg.

Details: Contributed by Darnell Duff; Published: May 26, 2021 - 5:34 am

Gator Beaulieu grew up on the Ebb and Flow First Nation and also spent time on the Sandy Bay First Nation. For the past 10 or so years, he has been travelling around Manitoba singing in pubs and bars.

It all started when Gator was six as that's when he started singing around the powwow drum and he picked up a guitar when he was about 13.

His dad taught him how to play Johnny Cash and some CCR as well. Beaulieu says singing is what he loves to do and he has enjoyed going to different communities to show off his pipes.

And Gator's most recent music video is taking off on Youtube as Beaulieu's first music video is called 'Highway Number Six'. Gator sings about what travelling is like on number six.

Gator spent a lot of time going back and forth between Winnipeg, Brandon, Norway House Cree Nation, Sandy Bay First Nation, and the Ebb and Flow First Nation during his childhood and the way to get around was always driving on number six.

"That highway is special to me because I've spent so much time on it, and I've travelled to various gigs on that road," said Beaulieu.

The video was released late last week and it's already been viewed more than 13,000 times. Gator says many of his thoughts can be echoed by so many people that use the highway for their travels.

"I take it as a good sign that people like the song," ended Beaulieu. "It gives me confidence and makes me feel good about the next stuff I'll release."

Gator also got the opportunity to perform at Festival du Voyageur last year and that marked the first time he was able to sing at the festival. He remembers a packed tent and the great time that was had by all involved.

Details: Contributed by Darnell Duff; Published: May 26, 2021 - 5:00 am

Three people sustained minor injuries after a collision involving a police vehicle on Friday.

At around 3:50 pm on Friday, May 21st, a fully marked police vehicle was involved in a two-vehicle collision on Highway 20, north of PR 269 in the R.M. of Mossey River.

RCMP report that the collision closed down the Highway for several hours.

The driver of the other vehicle, a 59-year-old male from Camperville, was treated for his injuries and released on scene.

The 59-year-old female passenger from Camperville was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The driver of the police vehicle was treated on scene by EMS.

Details: Contributed by Tess Kovach; Published: May 25, 2021 - 4:46 pm

Those willing to get up early tomorrow morning will have a chance to see the super blood moon lunar eclipse.

Planetary Astronomer with the Manitoba Museum, Scott Young says the super blood moon is caused by a couple of lunar events occurring at the same time.

“There are a few things that are all happening at the same time. There’s the blood moon, which is the common name for a lunar eclipse, then there’s the super moon. The super moon is when the moon is slightly closer to the earth than it is the rest of the time.”

Young says that Manitobans will only get a quick view of the eclipse, and provinces farther west will have a better view.

“Unfortunately, it’s not a great view for Manitobans. We just get to the see the beginning of the eclipse, the partial phases, just before the moon sets for us.”

Despite not having a great view, Young recommends looking out for it very early in the morning and having a clear horizon to the west and southwest.

The eclipse won’t be visible until 4:30 a.m., and the best view will be around 5:00 a.m.

The most recent blood moon was on January 21^st, 2019, and the last total eclipse of a year’s closest full moon happened on September 28^th, 2015.

Details: Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson; Published: May 25, 2021 - 3:47 pm

RCMP say a man from Ebb and Flow First Nation has been arrested after holding a 44-year-old woman against her will and sexually assaulting her over a period of time.

She managed to leave the residence and was taken by Emergency Medical Services to hospital.

Blaine Lindsay Malcolm, aged 54, from Ebb and Flow First Nation was arrested and has been charged with kidnapping, forcible confinement, sexual assault, assault, administering a noxious substance, and uttering threats.

He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court today in Dauphin.

RCMP continue to investigate.

Details: Contributed by Trillian Reynoldson; Published: May 25, 2021 - 2:13 pm

A group of Manitoba doctors are urging health officials to implement a stay-at-home order as COVID-19 infection rates continue to soar.

Chief Nursing Officer for Shared Health, Lanette Siragusa, says that the majority of hospitalizations during the third wave consist of younger Manitobans.

“The demographic of patients that we are seeing in this third wave is quite different than what we saw in wave two or wave one. They are younger patients, many between their 30’s and 50’s. Co-morbidity is not the same at all as what we saw before. They’re younger, they’re healthier, yet they are still critically ill and come in needing to be incubated, they need help with their breathing, and are admitted into ICU because of that.”

Manitoba has been transferring ICU patients to Ontario as hospitals in the province experience an overflow of patients.

The federal government says it will provide medical staff through the Canadian Red Cross as well as military help, and is also prepared to deploy epidemiologists, lab technicians, and other supports.

Provincial lead medical services specialist, Dr. Perry Gray, is calling on Manitobans to follow essential public health orders.

“The better the public health compliance, the more people we can return to non-COVID care, and provide more care to people who don’t have COVID. We want to get our staff back to them. That is why we are here asking for compliance with public health measures.”

Manitoba continues to have the highest infection rate in Canada.

Details: Contributed by Tess Kovach; Published: May 25, 2021 - 2:00 pm

Manitoba is extending the public health orders that were in effect for the Victoria Day long weekend.

The restrictions were set to expire at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, May 26^th, but will remain in effect for the rest of the week.

The following health orders will remain in effect until May 29^th at 12:01 a.m.:
• indoor public gatherings are not permitted and visitors are not permitted on private property, except in certain circumstances
• outdoor gatherings with anyone from outside a household are not allowed and this applies to all recreation spaces including playgrounds, golf courses, parks, and sports fields
• retail businesses may only operate at 10 percent capacity or 100 customers, whichever is fewer, and only one person per household will be allowed to enter a business, with some exceptions, such as a single parent with children or someone who requires a caregiver
• many businesses and organizations will remain closed for in-person service including gyms and fitness clubs, restaurants and bars, personal service businesses, museums, galleries, and libraries

The Public Health Act states that Manitobans who live alone can still designate one person to have at their residence, and they may also attend that person's residence.

This is in addition to a variety of health orders that are in effect. To see a full list of health orders, click here.