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The amount of COVID related fines is down again compared to last week.

In the province's weekly COVID enforcement update they say 48 tickets were issued between December 7^th and 13^th.

Broken down seven $5,000 tickets were issued to businesses, 36 $1,296 tickets were given to individuals, and five $298 tickets were handed out for not wearing a mask in indoor public places.

The province is reminding Manitobans to remember the public health orders as gatherings in private residences remain a concern.

Details

Contributed by Isaac Wihak

Published: Dec 15, 2020 - 11:39 am

Around 6:15 this morning the Dauphin Fire Department was dispatched for a fire in Dauphin.

When fire crews arrived on scene at William Street, they found a single car garage engulfed in flames.

Crews quickly contained the fire, but the one vehicle stored in the garage is a complete loss.

The fire department says there weren’t any injuries.

Then, while crews were still on scene around 7:30, 911 reported another call on King Street. A second crew was dispatched for the report of smoke in a home. That incident was an accidental fire due to a cigarette and was quickly controlled.

The William Street fire is suspicious in nature and remains under investigation.  The DFD asks that if anyone has any information regarding this incident, to contact the RCMP Detachment at 204-622-5050.

Details

Contributed by Isaac Wihak

Published: Dec 15, 2020 - 6:47 am

An initiative to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions has made the City of Dauphin a trailblazer in Manitoba.

Dauphin is the first city in the province to become Climate Smart Certified, according to Director of Public Works & Operations Bill Brenner.

“What we’re looking at doing is managing the city’s operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.”

Three years of tracking emissions at city-run facilities have enabled city staff to develop a GHG reduction plan, which was submitted and approved — making Dauphin ‘Climate Smart Certified’.

“Compared to the 2017 baseline, the City of Dauphin has reduced emissions by 18%,” says the report from Climate Smart.

“In conversation with council, we plan to continue with the reduction plan and will continue each year to further look at our GHG emissions.”

Brenner explains the City will initially focus on the low-hanging fruit:

• Idling policies with city vehicles and equipment
• New controls with HVAC systems
• SMART thermostats for the CIty’s smaller buildings to reduce GHG emissions associated with using natural gas and propane for heating.

Brenner says one of the greatest potential reductions in GHG emissions by the City of Dauphin would involve acquiring an electric garbage truck.

“Whether or not that can happen this year is still up in the air because they’re not generally available yet — but it would be a huge drop in GHG emissions if we could get that electric garbage truck.”

Brenner credits Steve Sobering for starting the city on this journey, who formerly worked as the energy manager. Sobering enrolled the City in the Climate Smart process and started the process of collecting data.

The Director of Public Works also credited Dauphin Recreation Services general manager Ryan Vanderheyden for having done “a tremendous job collecting GHG emission data for buildings”.

Brenner says the Climate Smart report will soon be on the City’s website.

Details

Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Dec 14, 2020 - 4:54 pm

Manitoba is starting off the week with another 241 new cases of COVID-19, and nine more deaths.

The recently announced deaths include a man in his 40s from the Winnipeg health region, as well as 6 individuals over the age of 80 in Winnipeg care homes.

The full list of the most recent deaths in Manitoba can be found at the bottom of this article.

Today, Dr. Brent Roussin reiterated the importance of keeping contacts to a minimum over the holidays, saying “if we gather over these coming weeks, we’re going to see an escalation in cases. Try to maintain our household contacts as our only contacts, as much as possible.”

“We’re going to celebrate differently this year.”

He says we’re starting to see some trends of our numbers coming down, adding “if we let our guards down and have gatherings, even on just one day, we’re set up for a lot of transmission and we’ll see the results of that a week or two after the holidays.”

With the improvements in overall case numbers, Roussin says it’s encouraging but that he expected to see more of a downward trend. 

“I’m still concerned with the test positivity rate … but we’ve managed to change our trajectory away from that worst-case scenario.”

The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is now 21,264.

There are 5,791 active cases in Manitoba and 14,974 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

There are 303 people in hospital with 39 people in intensive care due to COVID-19. The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 499.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 13.6% provincially and 13% in Winnipeg.

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:
• 10 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 23 cases in the Northern health region
• 12 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• 38 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 158 cases in the Winnipeg health region

According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (4), Riding Mountain (10), Swan River (1), Porcupine Mountain (44), Duck Mountain (18), Asessippi (5), Little Saskatchewan (5), and Whitemud (1). The Agassiz Mountain health district no longer has any active cases. Brandon has 142 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 27 active cases, while Fisher/Peguis has 36, according to the province’s latest update.

Public health officials advise nine additional deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today, including: 

• a male in his 40s from the Winnipeg health region
• a male in his 50s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Park Manor Personal Care Home
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Fred Douglas Lodge
• a female in her 80s from the Winnipeg health region
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg
• a female in her 90s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to the outbreak at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg
• a female in her 90s from the Southern Health–Santé Sud region, linked to the outbreak at the Rest Haven Nursing Home

Details

Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Dec 14, 2020 - 2:46 pm

A man from Dauphin and two individuals from Pine Creek First Nation are facing charges after an alleged armed robbery in Pine River this weekend.

RCMP say two males wearing masks and carrying a rifle entered the business on 1st Avenue, at around 5:40 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12.

The two suspects demanded money, cigarettes, and liquor before fleeing on an ATV. RCMP set up roadblocks in the area after an employee reported the incident to police.

RCMP located the ATV on Highway 20 and Highway 272 near Camperville, but the ATV fled into a nearby field.

A police dog helped locate the suspects with the firearm and stolen items.

James Flatfoot, 33, of Dauphin has been charged with:

• Robbery with a Firearm
• Disguised with Intent to Commit and Offence
• Flight from Peace Officer
• Weapons Possession Contrary to Order
• Possession of a Firearm when Unauthorized
• Operation While Prohibited
• Fail to Comply x3

A 16-year-old male from Pine Creek First Nation has been charged with:

• Robbery with a Firearm
• Disguised with Intent to Commit and Offence
• Weapons Possession Contrary to Order
• Possession of a Firearm when Unauthorized
• Fail to Comply x2

A 20-year-old male, of Pine Creek First Nation, will be facing a charge of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.

RCMP continue to investigate.

Details

Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Dec 14, 2020 - 2:15 pm

Russell RCMP say they stopped a vehicle speeding in a school zone on Thursday while young students were walking home for lunch.

The westbound vehicle was going 47 km/h in the 30 km/h zone near Major Pratt School.

Police say the 40-year-old male from Waywayseecappo showed signs of impairment and had open liquor in the vehicle.

He was charged for impaired operation of a motor vehicle, driving while prohibited, open liquor, and two related breach charges.

The vehicle was towed and impounded for 30 days.

Details

Contributed by Isaac Wihak

Published: Dec 14, 2020 - 10:02 am

Last night the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Canada.

Distribution is set to begin today where vaccines are to be sent to 14 distribution sites across the country, in all 10 provinces.

Trudeau made the arrival announcement on Twitter last night, adding,

“This is good news. But our fight against COVID-19 is not over. Now more than ever, let’s keep up our vigilance.”

Manitoba will be receiving enough doses to immunize about 900 people.

Healthcare workers in the province can now make an appointment to receive the vaccine, with inoculations beginning Wednesday.

In order to be eligible for the vaccine, health care workers must have direct contact with patients and meet set criteria.

Older workers in direct contact with patients as well as those in the clinics will be at the front of the line, and the government says bookings will be accepted in the order they are received.

Details

Contributed by Isaac Wihak

Published: Dec 14, 2020 - 6:52 am

For the past week, if you looked up to the night sky, you might’ve been able to catch a glimpse of the Geminid meteor shower.

The annual meteor shower runs from December 4^th to 17^th when the Earth moves through debris from the asteroid, 3200 Phaethon.

Tonight's forecast in Dauphin calls for clear skies with a low of minus 22.

Scott Young, planetarium astronomer at the Manitoba Museum, is looking forward to the peak of the meteors on Sunday night. 

"The Geminids meteor shower is actually the best meteor shower of the whole year. It just doesn't get a lot of attention because it happens in December, which is often pretty cold for getting out there and looking at the stars. But, it really is the best and most reliable meteor shower."

The forecasted clear skies mixed with the moon nearing the darkest point of its cycle could result in one of the best views in years.

If you look to the east/southeast after 7 p.m. you’ll have the best chance at seeing some shooting stars.

Young has another tip for watching the Geminids.

"To see a meteor, they only last a second, it's like a falling star or shooting star, it's like pew! Don't blink or you'll miss it because it's only there a few seconds. So if you're looking down at your phone or you're looking away from the sky, you're really going to miss some of the activity. So, if you want to see meteors, you have to look at the sky continuously and keep any lights away from your eyes."

Under ideal conditions, up to 150 meteors can be seen an hour, sometimes even producing colourful fireballs.

If you don't want to go outside to watch the meteors, Young says the planetarium will be live streaming the event on the Manitoba Museum's Facebook and YouTube.

Details

Contributed by Isaac Wihak

Published: Dec 13, 2020 - 1:00 pm

Health officials announced 273 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, along with 7 more deaths.

None of the deaths announced are from the Prairie Mountain Health region. Five of the seven recently announced deaths were in care homes.

The full list of the most recent deaths in Manitoba can be found at the bottom of this article.

There are ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks at several health care facilities in Prairie Mountain Health. 

The latest update from the province on Friday reports a total of 41 cases identified at the Gilbert Plains Personal Care Home (17 staff, 24 non-staff, 8 deaths). A total of 33 COVID cases have reported at the Grandview PCH (10 staff, 23 non-staff, 2 deaths). One staff member tested positive at the Winnipegosis PCH and is now considered recovered.

A 2nd outbreak at the Swan Valley Health Centre was declared on Dec. 7 — the province says the outbreak is linked to the positive COVID test of an individual considered “non-staff”.

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 13.5% provincially and 13% in Winnipeg. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba is now 21,023.

There are 5,728 active cases and 14,805 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

There are 304 people in hospital with 43 people in intensive care due to COVID-19.

The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 490. 

Today’s COVID-19 data shows:

• 17 cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region
• 50 cases in the Northern health region
• 18 cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region
• 22 cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region
• 166 cases in the Winnipeg health region. 

According to the province’s data, there are active cases in the following Parkland health districts: Dauphin (4), Riding Mountain (10), Swan River (1), Porcupine Mountain (43), Duck Mountain (19), Asessippi (4), Little Saskatchewan (5), Whitemud (1), Agassiz Mountain (1). Brandon has 134 active cases.

In the Interlake, the Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 26 active cases. Fisher/Peguis has 36.

Public health officials advise seven additional deaths in people with COVID-19 have been reported today including: 

• a female in her 70s from the Interlake-Eastern health region, linked to the Kin Place outbreak in Oakbank;
• a female in her 60s from the Northern health region;
• a male in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at the St. Norbert Personal Care Home;
• a female in her 70s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at the Charleswood Care Centre
• a male in his 70s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at the N3W unit at Concordia Hospital
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at the Maples Long Term Care Home
• a male in his 80s from the Winnipeg health region, linked to an outbreak at Park Manor Care

Details

Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Dec 13, 2020 - 12:54 pm

The anti-lockdown rally planned in Dauphin for Sunday afternoon has been cancelled by organizers.

The update was announced in an email sent late Saturday afternoon, with organizers cancelling the Dauphin Freedom Rally “until further notice”.

The group organizing the rally — who say they’re comprised of 6 members — planned on welcoming community members to gather at the Dauphin City Hall parking lot from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to “bring attention to the unfair lockdowns and support businesses facing hardships.”

Current public health orders in the province of Manitoba prohibit any indoor or outdoor gathering larger than five.

Officials with the City of Dauphin released a statement Friday evening clarifying they did not authorize the use of City property for any organized events this weekend, stating "any gathering greater than five people is a contravention of the current Provincial Public Health Orders," and urged residents to follow all Health Orders to ensure public safety. 

In light of the cancellation, rally organizers also stated “we, as a group were never expecting to be at odds nor confrontational with our law enforcement. We acknowledge their instruction and understand the predicament it places them in with fellow Dauphinites.”

Going forward, the group says they will try approaching city council in support of the business community.

The announcement of the rally drew strong criticism on social media, prompting rally organizers to release the following statement:

“We will take this opportunity and respond to some of the comments made to our families and friends. It saddens a person to read the ugliness in people and how wishing covid on our families or some should lose their jobs all because we just wanted to support our local businesses is shameful behaviour. We don't know where the friendliness in Dauphin went but it sure wasn't here today in support of fellow Dauphinites businesses.”

Details

Contributed by Matt Hamel

Published: Dec 13, 2020 - 6:08 am