Severe Thunderstorm Watch Ends In The Parkland

7:35 p.m. update: The severe thunderstorm watch has ended.

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A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for much of the Parkland.

Environment Canada tells us we could see conditions develop into severe thunderstorms, strong wind, and large hail.

The watch is in effect for the following areas:

Gilbert Plains Mun. incl. Ashville
Grandview Mun. incl. Valley River Res.
Mossey River Mun. incl. Winnipegosis and Fork River
Mun. of Ethelbert incl. Garland
Mun. of Roblin incl. Makaroff Shortdale and Bield
Mun. of Russell-Binscarth incl. Gambler Res.
R.M. of Dauphin incl. Sifton and Valley River
R.M. of Lakeshore incl. Ochre River and Makinak
R.M. of Lakeshore incl. Rorketon and Toutes Aides
R.M. of Riding Mountain West incl. Asessippi Prov. Park

Stay tuned for updates.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Jul 2, 2020 - 12:03 pm

The Manitoba government is asking for proposals to complete a backlog of surgeries that were postponed because of COVID-19.

Health Minister Cameron Friesen made the announcement this morning.

“This government is looking for innovative solutions to address the backlog of surgeries created by the COVID-19 pandemic, and we believe this plan will get people the care they need, as quickly and efficiently as possible,” he said.

The healthcare system paused elective surgeries in late March, but restarted them on April 24^th.

Priority surgeries include:

pediatric dental surgeries
pediatric ear, nose and throat surgeries
minor orthopedic procedures
ophthalmology surgery
outpatient spine procedures; and
outpatient urology surgeries

Proposals must identify how surgeries can be provided while meeting all legislative, regulatory, and standard requirements.

The minister noted a similar proposal process is currently underway in British Columbia.

Details: Contributed by Tess Kovach; Published: Jul 2, 2020 - 11:39 am

With humidex values reaching 38 being expected for the next couple of days, Environment Canada has issued a heat warning in the Parkland as well as southern and eastern Manitoba as a whole.

A hot and humid airmass will return to much of southern and east-central Manitoba today and last into the weekend before slightly cooler temperatures come back in the late weekend to early next week.

While extreme heat affects everyone, Environment Canada says the risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors.

Environment Canada says to watch for the effects of heat illness, which are, swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, heatstroke and the worsening of some health conditions.

It’s suggested to drink plenty of water even before you feel thirsty, stay in a cool place, and never leave people or pets inside a parked vehicle.

The symptoms of heat illness are dizziness/fainting; nausea/vomiting; rapid breathing and heartbeat; extreme thirst; decreased urination with unusually dark urine.

Heat warnings are issued when very high temperature or humidity conditions are expected to pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

In the Parkland and surrounding areas, heat warnings have been issued for:

Gilbert Plains Mun. incl. Ashville
Grandview Mun. incl. Valley River Res.
Mossey River Mun. incl. Winnipegosis and Fork River
Mun. of Ethelbert incl. Garland
Mun. of Roblin incl. Makaroff Shortdale and Bield
Mun. of Russell-Binscarth incl. Gambler Res.
R.M. of Dauphin incl. Sifton and Valley River
R.M. of Lakeshore incl. Ochre River and Makinak
R.M. of Lakeshore incl. Rorketon and Toutes Aides
R.M. of Riding Mountain West incl. Asessippi Prov. Park
Hamiota Mun. incl. McConnell and Lavinia
Mun. of Clanwilliam-Erickson
Mun. of Harrison Park incl. Onanole Sandy Lake and Newdale
Prairie View Mun. incl. Bird Tail Creek Res.
R.M. of Minto-Odanah incl. Minnedosa and Moore Park
R.M. of Oakview incl. Oak River and Rapid City
R.M. of Rosedale incl. Eden and Kelwood
R.M. of Yellowhead incl. Shoal Lake and Elphinstone
R.M.of Ellice-Archie incl. St-Lazare McAuley and Manson
Riding Mountain Nat. Park
Rossburn Mun. incl. Waywayseecappo Res.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Jul 2, 2020 - 5:21 am

If you’ve driven through Riding Mountain National Park within the last couple months, you’ve probably seen some bear activity.

Doug Bergeson, a wildlife biologist at RMNP, says in the early spring and summer, bears get attracted to the ditches because of the grass and dandelions.

“We had a very good crop of berries last summer and fall, so I think the population is probably at the higher end, so we had lots of cubs born this spring and people are seeing quite a few bears around.”

Bergeson says there’s a good population of bears in the park.

“We think there’s somewhere between the neighbourhood of 800 and a thousand bears in the park, likely at the higher end. Like I said, due to high berry crops the last couple years and seems to be good reproduction in the black bears.”

Black Bear And Cubs

Bergeson says bears have a short time to put on a lot of weight when they come out of hibernation. Throughout the summer bears are eating machines, eating grass, dandelions, Saskatoon berries, raspberries, chokecherries, and then in the fall, the bears move to the east side of the park and eat a lot of acorns.

Bergeson acknowledges that lots of people go to Riding Mountain to see the bears, but says they’d prefer people don’t stop alongside the road to see the bears and says to drive slow, put your hazards on and keep moving instead.

“If they do stop, people, we want them to pull over a safe distance off the road in a safe area, not on a corner or a hill, put their hazards on the vehicle, stay in the vehicle, do not get out of the vehicle, view the bear at a safe distance, and of course, absolutely never provide any foodstuff for the bears, or garbage out of your window, never.”

He also says to watch out for bears crossing the road to meet up with the rest of their family.

If you decide to go out on the trails in the park, Bergeson says to be aware and educate yourself that you are in bear country, travel in groups, make noise, keep dogs on a leash, carry and know how to use bear spray, and be aware of your surroundings. If you come across a bear, Bergeson recommends giving it lots of room, slowly get out of the way and back up, and to avoid it if at all possible.

Manitoba Conservation and Climate, is also recording a higher than usual number of black bear interaction calls around the province. They say one of the most common causes of bear-human conflict is the presence of bird feeders. Birdseed can attract bears as well as birds, and with other food sources plentiful for birds in the summer months, the province asks people to put feeders away until later in the fall.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Jul 2, 2020 - 5:07 am

On Wednesday night, Manitoba’s Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler suggested people living downstream of the dam in Rivers should evacuate their homes.

He says the heavy rain that’s hit Westman over the past few days has dwindled confidence that the Rivers Dam will hold.

Engineers recommended the decision after inspecting the 60-year-old infrastructure.

It’s expected that around 30 to 40 households in the Riverdale Municipality could be affected.

Schuler clarified the evacuation is just a suggestion, and that municipal governments will have to decide whether or not to issue a mandatory evacuation order.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Jul 1, 2020 - 10:00 pm

After a few days of severe thunderstorms and torrential rain, the Town of Minnedosa and RM of Minto-Odanah have declared states of emergencies.

Many residents are assessing the damage, with flooded basements, closed businesses, and washed-out roads.

As many as 84 Minnedosa residents chose to evacuate their homes because of the flooding.

On Wednesday afternoon, parts of Highway 10 passing through Minnedosa were closed because of floodwaters on the road, according to Manitoba Roads.

There have been limited reports of injuries, but one person was sent to hospital after a sump pump sparked and ignited a fire in a flooded basement.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Jul 1, 2020 - 9:38 pm

The Dauphin Kinette Club wants the community to know they are still an active club.

Laura Milcharek is Vice President of the Dauphin Kinette Club, and says some people have been confused following the recent name change of the Kin Club of Dauphin.

The Dauphin Kin Club — formerly the Kinsmen Club of Dauphin — have changed their name and opened up membership to both men and women.

Milcharek wants people to know the Kinette Club still exists as a separate club, and continue with their work and fundraising in the community.

The Dauphin Kinette Club will be hosting a membership drive in the fall.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Jul 1, 2020 - 1:26 pm

As we enter a new month, public health officials announced there were no new cases of COVID-19 identified in Manitoba on Wednesday.

The total number of confirmed and probable cases remains at 325.

In the latest stats provided by the province on Tuesday, June 30th, there were 18 active cases province-wide, and 300 people listed as recovered. The number of deaths in Manitoba due to COVID-19 is 7.

The province will update the online COVID-19 statistics on Thursday at 1 p.m.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Jul 1, 2020 - 1:14 pm

The ongoing COVID situation has thrown a bit of a curveball at our regular Canada Day festivities — but there’s still plenty of fun to be had in the Parkland on July 1.

Dauphin Rail Museum
The Dauphin Rail Museum is celebrating its reopening with live music, food, and some good community fun. You can stop by for some burgers, hotdogs, Kubassa on a bun — and local singer/songwriter Ed Stozek will be providing the entertainment.

This event runs from 11 a.m. — 3 p.m., at 101 1st Ave NW.

Classic Car Parade
If you have an appreciation for the beauty of a vintage set of wheels, you can check out the Classic Car Parade in Dauphin. The event starts with a meet and greet at 4 pm at the Dauphin Marketplace Mall, followed by a parade down Main Street.

Fire Works
The fireworks display in Laurier begins at dusk at the Laurier Campground. Everyone in attendance is asked to remain in their vehicles at all times, and must be parked 2 metres apart.

There will be Canada Day fireworks in Grandview at dusk in Wilson Park. Organizers are asking everyone to stay in their vehicles and only gather in small groups with social distancing measures in place.

Fireworks in Onanole will be done in a drive-in style at dusk near The Elk. Everyone must remain in the cars, parked 6 feet apart.

The usual fireworks display in Dauphin has been postponed this year, something organizers attribute to provincial restrictions surrounding COVID-19.

Lawrence Recreation Commission Canada Day Celebration
Lawrence Recreation is inviting everyone to come celebrate Canada Day for a double drive-in movie night — featuring the Lion King and 21. The price is $20 per vehicle, which includes popcorn. Please follow all public health guidelines outlined by the event organizers.

The event starts at 10 p.m. — Fireworks will be happening at intermission.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Jun 29, 2020 - 6:28 pm

The COVID-19 testing sites in the Prairie Mountain Health region will be closed for Canada Day.

The sites in Dauphin, Swan River, and Brandon will reopen on Thursday, July 2^ndwith regular hours.

If you’re experiencing minor symptoms during the testing site closure, it’s recommended you stay home and self-isolate until the site reopens on Thursday.

If you’re having more serious symptoms, like shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, you're advised to go to the nearest Emergency Department.

Dauphin's site is located at the Community Health Services Building Parking Lot. It's open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

A referral is no longer needed to go to any COVID-19 testing site.