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MPI’s low-interest winter tire program is an affordable way to get winter tires.

The program was started as an initiative to buy winter tires.

Brian Smiley, MPI media relations coordinator, talks about winter tires.

“We do know that winter tires have a softer rubber composite so they have a shorter stopping distance on ice and snow.”

Winter tires that are a part of the program will be marked with a snowflake.

In the past four years, more than 100 thousand low-interest loans have been processed for this program.

It won’t be hard finding a participating retailer with 6 to 7 hundred participating retailers across the province.

You have to be an MPI customer to participate in the program.

Manitoba First Nations Police Service charged an already suspended 41-year-old driver with having a prohibited weapon after going on a short chase.

Last Thursday, police in Sandy Bay First Nation saw the man driving in the community. They attempted to pull him over, but he accelerated at a high rate of speed and refused to stop. Eventually, his vehicle got stuck in a driveway on Centre Road and the man then fled on foot.

A foot chase ensued, and police were able to bring the suspect driver into custody a short time later.

The officers found that the suspect was intoxicated by alcohol. They also found “Brass knuckles,” which are a prohibited weapon in Canada. They then found a large amount of ammunition in the vehicle. Police say the suspect is prohibited from possessing ammunition and firearms.

Joseph William Demerais faces a total of 10 charges including:
- Impaired operation of a motor vehicle
- Refusal to provide breath sample
- Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
- Operation of a motor vehicle while being pursued by Police
- Possession of a prohibited weapon
- Possession of a prohibited weapon knowing its possession is unauthorized
- Possession of a prohibited weapon and ammunition contrary to prohibition order x2
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose

The accused was remanded into custody where he remains until his next court appearance.

It’s important to spay or neuter your cats and dogs.

That’s the focus of Spay Day, which is taking place today.

Owner and Vet at the Dauphin Vet Clinic, Dr. Roxanne Neufeld, shares why it’s good for female pets.

"There’s lots of health benefits to spaying and neutering your pets. For female cats and dogs, it reduces the change of developing pyometra, which is an infection of the uterus. It also prevents, if we do it early enough, we can significantly reduce the chance of developing mammary cancer. And the big one, of course, is to reduce the chance of unwanted pregnancies." 

She continues by explaining why it’s also beneficial for the males.

“It there’s also excellent benefits in behaviour, reduction in the risk of testicular cancer, prostate problems, and things like that. As well as dogs roaming and getting other dogs pregnant.

The Dauphin vet clinic does surgeries Wednesday through Friday, and they typically do 4 per day with today being extra busy.

“We’re averaging eight to 12 surgeries a week. But then for Spay Day, we’re putting a particular focus on that, and we’re filling up our schedule. It’s jam-packed with five cat neuters were doing two dog spays, two cat spays, and two dog neuters.”

Today there is an agency luncheon being hosted by the Parkland Crisis Centre.

The luncheon is to bring awareness to domestic violence because November is domestic violence awareness month.

Amanda Seeley, administrative assistant at Parkland Crisis Centre, Nicole Yunker, with Committee Advocating for the Removal of Sexual Exploitation, and RCMP Constable Tirrell Lukeye, Moose Hide Campaign, will be speaking at the luncheon.

The luncheon is important because it will spread awareness and give some info on programs that can help those affected.

Update: Lawrence Desmarais has been located safe and sound.

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The family of a missing 83-year-old from Sandy Bay is asking the public for help in locating him.

Lawrence Desmarais has been missing since one in the afternoon yesterday.

He is described as First Nations, 5 feet ten inches tall, approximately 150 lbs, slender thin build and short grey hair.

He was last seen wearing a burgundy sweater, black pants, a tan vest, and a cowboy hat.

His daughter, Viola Lavallee, shares what happened.

“He went to drop my brother off at hunting at Hollywood Beach, and it just takes 20 minutes to get back, and he hasn’t shown up. He was supposed to go there and back and drop him off, and he never made it back, and we’ve been searching all over.”

He was driving a 2004 red Ford Ranger with the licence plate GZX 936. Police are concerned for his safety and are asking anyone with information to call the Manitoba First Nations Police Service, Sandy Bay Detachment at 204-843-7700 or Viola at 204-892-0576.

There is a street closure for today. 

River Ave West between 1st Street NW to 7th Avenue NW will be closed to traffic today.

The closure starts immediately.

If you are going that way be prepared to detour.

Update: The snowfall warning in the Parkland has ended. 

We'll keep you updated if anything further develops. 

Original:

We can expect another 10-15 centimeters of snow today across much of the Parkland. The snowfall warning includes the municipalities of Gilbert Plains, Grandview, Mossey River, Ethelbert, Roblin, Russel-Binscarth, as well as the RMs of Dauphin, Lakeshore, and Riding Mountain West.

From Environment Canada's website:

"Snow continues in the Parkland area of western Manitoba early this morning. Total accumulations in the 10-15 cm range can be expected over much of the warned area. Gusty northerly winds will give poor visibility at times in blowing snow.

Other areas of western Manitoba will see 5-10 cm total accumulation today, again accompanied by strong northerly winds. The snow will taper to a few flurries this afternoon or early this evening."

We will provide further updates if and when they become available.

Expect a cold and snowy winter in the Parkland.

With a lot of snow falling last night, we reached out to Peter Giger, the editor for the Canadian Farmers Almanac, to find out what he’s predicting for the winter in the Parkland.

“Well, I would expect it’s going to be an extremely cold, teeth chattering kind of winter. I think you’re going to see a lot of snow this particular winter. We talk about snow storms starting at the end of November going through the month of March. We talk about some real extreme cold in the middle part of February.”

“If I was living in Manitoba I would be thinking about getting ready for the cold, I’d get ready for the snow, and I’d just be prepared for a longer winter.”

He says the Almanac is 75 to 85 percent accurate in their predictions by using mathematical formulas that they apply to sunspot activities, the position of the moon, etc.

“If it’s not as bad as I say, well then that’s a good thing. But I have a feeling it’s going to be a significant winter for you.”

The mayor and councillors for the City of Dauphin are sworn in and ready to go.

The swearing-in ceremony took place last night at City Hall, followed by a short meeting.

Mayor Allen Dowhan spoke with us after the ceremony and share what he thinks of the new council.

“I’ve been waiting for a long time on this! I feel we have a good group of councillors, we have an excellent staff to work with, and they are very, very cooperative. They present all angles of an issue. And the councillors, I think,  are committed to the growth of our community, and that’s what we want. We have to sustain and grow our population if we want to remain a force in Manitoba.”

He says everyone is ready to go.

“We haven’t had a meeting, a full council since the beginning of October. So we have a lot of catch up to do. We’re going to appoint committees; we’re looking at new development agreements that will be on the agenda in November. And then we’ve asked each council member to give us their goals and what they’d like to achieve, and try to achieve it through discussion through cooperation.”

He also looks forward to working with communities around the Parkland, saying communities have grown apart. He’s hoping they can all come together because when communities work together, everyone benefits.

At the meeting, they appointed Ashton  Kaleta, a DRCSS student, to the newly created position on the council as youth representative. 

mayor dowhan nov 5

swearing in ceremony 1

swearing in ceremony 2

mayor dowhan nov 5 2

The first Mountain View School Board Meeting with the new trustees was last night.

The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson positions were voted on.

Leifa Misko retained her role as Chairperson and Cam Abrey retained his role as Vice Chairperson.

Charlene Gulak, Ward 2, and Gabe Mercier, Ward 4, are the two new trustees to the school board.

They join Leifa Misko, Ward 1, Tannis Murray, Ward 2, Cathy Cyr and Della Perih, Ward 3, and, Cam Abrey and Scott McCallum from Ward 4.

Ward 1 is still without a second trustee.

The swearing-in ceremony for Dauphin City Council and the mayor is tonight.

It gets underway at 7 o'clock at City Hall.

Sharla Griffiths, Dauphin’s City Manager, shares why the public should come out. 

“It takes a lot of courage to run for mayor and council. They are all very excited about their position. It’s a great opportunity for the community to show their support to our mayor and council. Everybody is welcome.”

Their first council meeting is also tonight with three items on the agenda including appointing a deputy mayor, deducing an indigenous statue, and a youth member of council.

City Manager Sharla Griffiths will be the Master of Ceremonies.