Keep the Pest out of Countryfest

Countryfest Returns to the hill this weekend, but how will the festival be dealing with the crazy amount of mosquitoes this year? President Ann Ransom says they're doing what they can to make sure the bugs are under control.

"You know, keeping the grass cut, it's well-drained at the site right now, so it's nice and dry. I know sometimes people don't think Countryfest and it being dry, but it is, the site is quite beautiful right now."

Ransom says that having the events take place in an area that's pavement and gravel definitely helps as well.

With the festival just a few days away, they're still looking for both individual and group volunteers. You can find out more about the perks of volunteering and register here.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: Jun 27, 2022 - 5:30 am

Craig Aitchison was already late on his seeding because of the moisture that hammered much of the province this spring. That rain; however, isn't much compared to what recently happened, although it's the rain that has caused the most recent damage.

A major storm brought strong winds and heavy rain across a large swath of southwestern Manitoba and the Interlake on June 19. Environment Canada issued tornado watches for the region, although there were no reports of a tornado touching down. Craig farms near Foxwarren and his farm was right in the thick of things.

Lasting only about 15 minutes, it was like something Aitchison has only seen a couple of times in the past.

"We knew a storm was coming but we didn't expect it to be as bad as it was," said Aitchison. "We saw the roof was lifting, it was very intense for a short period of time."

What Craig didn't realize until after the fact is what happened to his bins. Four 24,000-bushel grain bins and several hopper-bottom bins blew over on Aitchison's farm. While Craig continues to wait for an assessment on damages -- which he expects will take quite some time with all of the damage -- he estimates it will be in the $400,000 range.

craig aitchison farm damage 2

Thousands of people lost their power during the storm across the province and the Aitchison family was one of them, they just got their power back four days after the fact.

The family will now have plenty of added work to do over the summer months before harvest.

"We've got to get all these bins replaced, because this is all my grain storage, and we have to get them all replaced before harvest," offered Aitchison.

The Aitchison family has been farming near Foxwarren for 20 years and Craig can only remember a storm in 2005 that was as close to the one last month. However, that storm only took out some maple trees as the family only had small bins at the time.

"We were recovered from that one and then this," he said. "It is what it is; we'll do what needs to be done."

Details: Contributed by Darnell Duff; Published: Jun 27, 2022 - 5:00 am

The Sod Turning Ceremony to celebrate the Maamawi Park project was held last Thursday at the old Dauphin Brewers diamond. According to Lindsey Kyle, assistant general manager of Dauphin Recreation Services, Maamawi Park is truly about building reconciliation and bringing people together and the space will be accessible to all.

"A spot for the young and old to gather to learn about culture, heritage, language and so much more," she said.

Mayor Christian Laughland spoke at the ceremony and said that when Maamawi Park is complete, it'll be a true monument of what can be accomplished when people come together and work together with respect for one another.

Stacey Penner is — as Lindsey Kyle said — the brainchild behind the project and she has dedicated her heart and soul to it, as she knows how important Maamawi Park is for the city and surrounding area. Penner said that the name of the park, Maamawi, is an Ojibwe word that means us, being together, working together and that the park is a place for everyone to play together.

"We want free recreation for all and we want to be together post-COVID and look at this as an opportunity to heal after what our community and what the world has been through the last few years," Penner added.

According to her, phase one is already in the works. An accessible tobbagan run hill and launch, as well as viewing space, will be included in phase one. People in wheelchairs and people who use walkers will be able to access it. Since they want it to be used year-round, it'll be a summer sled structure as well. It will also be very well lit because of the long winter nights and the park will feature a grand entrance highlighting the large Indigenous presence in the community. A biking pump track is also in the works.

Penner also said that phase two will start five to ten years from now, depending on the progress of phase one.

Details: Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos; Published: Jun 25, 2022 - 11:00 am

The Interlake Reserves Tribal Council (IRTC) has responded to a decision made by Chief Justice Glenn Joyal of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba regarding tree-clearing undertaken by the province to prepare for the Lake Manitoba/Lake St. Martin channels project.

Karl Zadnik, chief executive officer of the IRTC, is very pleased with the decision.

"I have to credit Judge Joyal... He's a judge and he's a judge for a reason... That being said, I respect him. I respect his decision. I'm very happy with the results, of course," Zadnik said.

In his decision, Justice Joyal said that the Province of Manitoba did not provide adequate notice, nor did it engage in meaningful consultation with the IRTC or its member First Nations before going ahead with the tree-clearing of what the IRTC describes as largely untouched public land that First Nations rely on to exercise their Treaty rights.

Joyal also said that the absence of any such notification and consultation, in his view, constitutes a breach of Manitoba’s obligation and is not in accordance with the honour of the Crown.

More information can be found on the IRTC website.

Details: Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos; Published: Jun 25, 2022 - 6:00 am

Ste. Rose du Lac & Dauphin RCMP have arrested two men from Dauphin and one woman from Winnipeg after an early morning crime spree that took place on June 19th.

Officers arrested 30-year-old Jimmy Pruden and 28-year-old Curtis Pruden from Dauphin, as well as 33-year-old Jill Johnson from Winnipeg and have remanded them into custody for a court appearance scheduled for July 21st in Dauphin. They have been charged with multiple offences, including three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, one count of unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon, and one count of assault.

This comes as the result of numerous incidents in which the suspects have been involved. They tried to steal a truck parked on a rural property located north of Laurier and then tried to steal a pickup truck on another one. Officers found them travelling westbound on PR 480 and tried to make a traffic stop, but they began speeding away. Police continued northbound on PR 582 from PR 480 and found a vehicle, which was later discovered stolen out of Selkirk, abandoned on the road. The suspects then entered Dauphin, where they were met by Dauphin RCMP. They then tried to make a traffic stop, but the suspects wouldn't stop for the police. Later, in the afternoon, Dauphin RCMP found the suspects trying to flee on foot after driving into a flooded roadway and becoming stuck.

The investigation has led to the seizure of a handgun, break-in instruments, small amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine, drug paraphernalia and recovered stolen property.

More details on the crime spree and the full list of charges laid can be found here.

Ste. Rose du Lac RCMP continue to investigate.

Details: Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos; Published: Jun 24, 2022 - 5:41 pm

After a few years off, Countryfest is Returning next week. The festival committee wants to make sure that after the hiatus, festival-goers know their way around the grounds. President Ann Ransom says the new festival app will do just that.

"They can see which vendors are coming, they can check out our sponsors, they can check out our stages and who's entertaining where and when."

Ransom says some of the sponsors are going to be different, as not all were able to make it through two years without events, and she's hoping that people will be supporting the vendors that are there.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: Jun 24, 2022 - 12:17 pm

Winnipegosis RCMP responded to a report of a man having been stabbed at a residence located on the Pine Creek First Nation yesterday, June 23rd, at around 9:05 p.m.

Officers arrived on scene to find a 51-year-old man with life-threatening injuries. He was then transported to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. His death is being treated as a homicide.

A 40-year-old woman was arrested on scene and remains in police custody.

Winnipegosis RCMP, along with Major Crime Services and RCMP Forensic Identification Services, continue to investigate.

Details: Contributed by Nicholas Iatropoulos; Published: Jun 24, 2022 - 11:36 am

The Manitoba Youth Job Centre is back in Dauphin for the summer. Their focus is career development activities for students and youth aged 12 to 29 in Dauphin and the surrounding communities.

Youth Engagement Leader Mariah Yakielashek says they can help people find full-time, part-time, and casual employment. Yakielashek says it's not just businesses that can reach out to MYJC to find employment.

"Businesses can place a job order with us, and we will help connect them with students or youth that we think will be a great fit for the position. Homeowners can also place job orders with us to fill casual jobs such as babysitting, lawn maintenance, weeding gardens, etc."

If you have questions you can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., call 204-622-2380, or go to the office in person at 135 2nd Ave NE.

Details: Contributed by Sam Brownell; Published: Jun 24, 2022 - 5:06 am

The Asham Stomperfest takes over Reedy Creek every September; however, it has taken a back seat the past couple of years because of the pandemic and it will take one more year off.

In talks with Arnold Asham, he says there isn't enough time to prepare to hold a festival next year so they will return next fall in 2023. He says next year's festival could be the last one.

"It's unfortunate that this is our third straight year off, we were looking forward to this year's festival," said Asham. "With that said, we can't wait for next year, it's going to be special and it may be our last festival, we will see how it goes."

Stomperfest started 16 years ago and some of the performers that are performing now were also a part of the group back then. Asham said it wouldn't be fair to go out without at least one more festival.

"We want to celebrate at least one more time and that's what we will do next year," said Asham.

If you have tickets from a past year that was postponed because of the pandemic, you will be able to use them next year. If you're still looking for a refund, head to Stomperfest.

In the meantime, the Asham Stompers continue to be extremely busy with performances all over the country. They had a big performance in Saskatchewan for National Indigenous Peoples' Day earlier this week. While they won't have the chance to perform at Stomperfest this year, Asham says it is great being back.

"Everyone is so happy to be back performing," ended Asham. "We have such a talented group that is dedicated to their craft."

The Asham Stompers next local performance will be in Roblin on Sunday, July 3 for the Michif Festival.

Details: Contributed by Darnell Duff; Published: Jun 24, 2022 - 5:00 am

UPDATE: The severe thunderstorm watch has ended.

The third update follows:

As of 10:11 p.m., the tornado warning has ended. The severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect.

The second update follows:

Environment Canada has updated the tornado warning that is already in effect.

As of 9:47 p.m., the tornado warning has ended for Mun. of Russell-Binscarth incl. Gambler Res.

The first update follows:

At 9:24 p.m., Environment Canada has updated the tornado warning that is already in effect.

The tornado warning is currently in effect for:

Mun. of Russell-Binscarth incl. Gambler Res.
R.M. of Riding Mountain West incl. Asessippi Prov. Park

The original article follows:

Environment Canada has issued weather alerts for the Parkland.

As of 9:12 p.m., there is a tornado warning in effect for:

Mun. of Russell-Binscarth incl. Gambler Res.

According to Environment Canada, they are tracking a severe thunderstorm that is possibly producing a tornado. Damaging winds, large hail and locally intense rainfall are also possible.

As of 8:39 p.m., there is a severe thunderstorm watch in effect 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

Environment Canada said that conditions in the areas listed above are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain.

They also said that a warm, unstable air mass coupled with a low pressure system has produced scattered thunderstorms in Saskatchewan this evening and that some of these storms will remain severe this evening and possibly during the overnight hours tonight as they enter the province.

More information can be found on the Environment Canada website.