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After another winter storm last week, and before even more rain in the forecast tonight and tomorrow, how are the water levels in the province?
Water levels have risen over the last month, but are still following the trends that the March Flood Outlook set at that time.
Dauphin Lake has risen just 0.31 ft. since March 22nd and is sitting at 855.01 ft. as of yesterday, slightly above its operating range. The lake is still just under three feet below its flood stage.
Lake Winnipegosis is sitting at 830.56 ft., which is 0.06 ft. higher than it was on March 22nd. The lake is still below it's median level for this time of year.
Lake Manitoba has also risen 0.07 ft. since March 22nd. As of yesterday, the average lake level was 811.67 ft., which is close to the middle of its operating range and is expected to remain within that range.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Update posted on April 24th at 1:53 pm:
The RCMP has provided an update regarding the overdoses in the Pas on Saturday night.
Police say that Sunday afternoon, an officer in Thompson was at the hospital on an unrelated matter when a nurse approached them with a small box. The box contained seven vials, each with approximately one gram of an unknown crystal-like powder.
The officer brought the box to the detachment, where a field test was conducted. It was determined that there was the presence of an opioid in the vials.
Field test results
The RCMP believes the drugs seized in Thompson may be the same substance that was discovered in The Pas which led to the hospitalization of 6 individuals, one of whom remains in critical condition.
Thompson RCMP report one case of an overdose believed to be linked to this same drug.
We continue to ask anyone with information to call 204-627-6204, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
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Original article posted on April 23 at 2:38 pm:
The Pas RCMP advises the community to be cautious after several people overdosed last night.
Police responded to a report of four unresponsive males at an establishment on Fisher Avenue around 8:45 pm. They were told the individuals had ingested drugs, believed to be laced with an opioid.
Officers, along with EMS, attended the scene and administered naloxone in an effort to revive the men. Three of the males, ages 46, 37, and 33, were revived and transported to the hospital where they were treated and later released.
The fourth male, a 31-year-old, was taken to the hospital and later flown to Brandon where he remains in critical condition.
Several hours later, police received another report that two men had overdosed at the same location. They were also taken to the hospital where they were treated and released.
The RCMP says they believe the drug is in a crystal-like powdered form, purple, and may contain fentanyl.
An investigation is underway, and the Pas RCMP is asking anyone with information to call 204-627-6204, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
*Note, the man in the hospital was originally reported as a 46-year-old by the RCMP, they have since corrected it, saying he is 31 years old.*
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
A date has been set for a verdict in the trial of Jack Winters.
The trial wrapped up on March 22nd, and a decision was reserved at that time. That decision has now been set for June 29th, 2023, at 10 am.
Winters is facing a number of charges related to a fatal collision in the RM of Dauphin in August 2019.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
From today until May 31st, Parks Canada is planning prescribed fires in three different areas of Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP). So don't be alarmed if you see smoke coming from the park as this is likely the reason why.
The three zones are:
• South Lake Prescribed Fire - 263 hectare area located along the western shores of Clear Lake with boundaries along RR 354, and Frith Road.
• Lake Katherine Prescribed Fire - 100 hectare area along Bogey Creek between Highway 10 and Grey Owl Trail.
• Menzie Prescribed Fire - 11,000 hectare area surrounding Whitewater Lake, Menzie Lake, and Peden Prairie.
The prescribed fires act as a preventative measure against severe wildfires and they improve the ecological condition of the areas where they are set. More information about Parks Canada's fire management program can be found here.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
The extreme weather conditions that rolled across much of southwestern Manitoba wreaked havoc on powerlines and poles, downing hydro services for thousands of people.
Luckily, severe snow storms seem to be behind us for the season, but it may not mean the end of power issues.
We spoke with Manitoba Hydro's Bruce Owen, who explained that the snow melt and wet conditions can still cause outages, but not from physically knocking the poles down.
"We also see at this time of year, pole fires. The accumulation of moisture, the freezing, and the thawing particularly in older or cracked insulators create a situation where the electricity travels and grounds itself through the pole and lights it on fire."
He also mentioned that the best way to be ready in extreme weather conditions is to have a plan and a pre-packed kit ready.
"A flashlight, blankets, bottled water, and some dried food or canned food that you don't have to heat. The key to this having something you know is there. Should it be a spring rain or a late fall snowstorm, the key is that you can stay warm, and have a supply of materials readily at hand."
The power issues that plagued much of the southwest corner of the province were all resolved by the weekend, but with the tumultuous conditions that frequent Manitoba, preparing for any situation is key to keeping safe when the weather turns.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
The Winnipegosis Historical Society(WHS) recently received a $14,000 grant to help them digitize their filing system.
The money is from the provincial government's Community Museum Project Support Program and will help WHS continue the work they've already done. WHS President Jo Bunka says it's a huge project, but it's also an important one.
"If you know anything about museums, we have a lot of files, because we hold the things that we do in public trust. So we have to keep a record of how we obtained things, what things are, what is the history of the artifacts and belongings that have come under our care."
Bunka says they've been keeping these detailed records since they opened in 1985, so there is nearly 40 years' worth of files to digitize. Once the work is done, it will give WHS a chance to share its collection with even more people.
"When this project is completed, you would be able to go online through this data-based program, and actually research that item."
However, Bunka says the project is about more than just accessibility.
"In some ways, it's almost a security step, because it will preserve the information that we've gathered for a much longer time."
Bunka says that the work began last year when they hired someone who had taken a collection management course at the University of Manitoba. She says the same person will be hired this summer to continue that work.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Eco-friendly activities will be taking place this weekend to commemorate the 53rd annual Earth Day.
The Dauphin Active Living Center and the Parkland Chapter Citizens' Climate Lobby will be hosting environmentally-minded events.
Climate lobby member Esther Fyk mentions that the event will run from 2-4 on Sunday the 23rd and there will be tutorials on making micro gardens and more.
"There will also be free draws, the whole thing is free. We will have the seeds there to make seed bombs, and there will be E-bikes there as well"
If you're looking to learn how to reduce your carbon footprint, be more active for the environment, or just have some veggies growing indoors all winter, this Earth Day event should cover all these topics and more.
Every year since 1970, Earth Day has been celebrated on April 22nd, and it's been recognized as one of the largest global efforts to raise awareness about the effects of climate change.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
Three individuals have been charged after a youth in Dauphin opened fire on an unmarked police vehicle.
Five arrests were made in total in the early hours of April 20th, after the teen that shot at police barricaded themself in a house with four other individuals.
An emergency response team showed up shortly and arrested the five individuals, but two were later released without charges.
The search conducted resulted in several non-restricted firearms being seized, as well as several magazines that had supposedly been modified into prohibited devices.
Storm Gabriel (19), Jayden Peters, (19), and a 15-year-old male, all from Dauphin, have been charged with numerous firearm-related offenses in addition to other charges from previous firearm-related incidents in the city.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
Swan River is getting some support for community safety and crime prevention programs from the provincial government.
The government is investing $50,000 that was "derived from the proceeds of crime." Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen made the announcement this morning, saying in a news release that the RCMP says security cameras are one thing that would be beneficial.
"Our government is pleased to provide this funding to Swan River toward the purchase of surveillance camera equipment, helping to strengthen the community’s crime prevention efforts, including the work of its Citizens on Patrol Program."
The new equipment will help the RCMP Identify suspects, act as a deterrent, and preserve evidence to assist prosecutions says Goertzen.
In the same release, Swan River Mayor Lance Jacobson says they're thankful to the government for the funding.
"Our community will use the resources to procure equipment and set up a camera surveillance system in an effort to deter crime, provide further evidence to our local law enforcement teams, and protect our citizens and their properties."
The money is a part of the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund, which has given out more than $24.5 million since its inception in 2009. The program seizes and liquidates criminal assets, and redirects funding to projects and initiatives designed to protect Manitobans and enhance public safety.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
Students at Barker School in Dauphin got a special performance by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet(RWB) School‘s Anna McCowan-Johnson Aspirant Program earlier this week.
The program is in the midst of its On the Edge Tour, performing 12 times, in 12 days, in 12 different communities. Program Director Vanessa Leonard says this tour is a great way for them to share what they do with the entire province.
"We bring a mixed repertoire performance, which means that there's quite a few different styles of dance. So we have the classical ballet dance, there is some contemporary dance in it as well, along with some flamenco and tango dancing, and neoclassical dancing. So it is a range of pieces that are put together to form the show."
This is the first full in-person On the Edge Tour the school is doing, as the pandemic made it so they had to go virtual the last few years.
Leonard says there are opportunities for dance lovers across the province at RWB, and that's something they want to show students while on tour.
"It's important for students from all over, to know that we have this little gem in Winnipeg, at that there is a school, there's an inspiring young dancer, there is a school that has student housing where you can come and train if ballet is a dream of yours. So hopefully we spark those little dreams within some kids at the schools, and also within some performances that we do for communities."
Dauphin was the third stop on the tour, with shows in Winkler and Portage on Monday and Tuesday. The tour left Dauphin immediately after Wednesday morning's show, heading to Grand Rapids for a performance yesterday, and then to Thompson for another show today.
After stops in Gillam, Wabowden, Moose Lake, and the Pas, the tour will be finishing off in Swan Valley, Pine Creek, and Brandon next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
That 'Winter Storm Warning' that has resulted in a ton of snow for the Parkland has now come to an end.
Snowy conditions are expected to continue until Friday morning before the sun returns.
Looking at the weather forecast over the weekend, temperatures are near the high single-digits and temperatures are expected to reach double digits during the middle of next week.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
