NewsNow
Shortly after 10 this morning, a verdict of not guilty was handed down in the long-standing trial of Jack Winters.
This case started back in August of 2019 when a fatal collision in the RM of Dauphin claimed the lives of 6-year-old Oksana Dutchyshen and 4-year-old Quinn Dutchyshen.
The Honorable Justice Sandra Zinchuck explained that the DNA evidence and statements made by Jeff Thompson, the other occupant of the vehicle, led to her verdict of not guilty.
Justice Zinchuck pointed to the inconclusiveness of the DNA and the conflicting statements from Thompson as the main reason for her ruling.
The DNA evidence was inconclusive due to the potential for transfer during the crash, or even prior to it, as Winters regularly ate food in his car.
The statements that Thompson provided at the time of the crash conflicted with statements he presented to the police ten months later.
These two factors make determining who the driver of the vehicle was uncertain, creating reasonable doubt in the situation.
Justice Zinchuck determined that this reasonable doubt was adequate to give this ruling.
- Details
- Contributed by Michael Brossart
Thanks to the Dauphin Habitat For Humanity, a local family of 4 has a place to call home.
Rodney Juba with the Habitat For Humanity group was proud to hand off the key to Chantell, the home's new owner
.
Juba and his team have spent over a year building this new house, with the help of their sponsors, the community, and the family moving in.
A provincial representative of the organization noted that Habit For Humanity isn't just a giveaway, but a hand-up. Families that buy these newly built homes sign up under a 0% mortgage with the group and also provide 500 hours of "sweat equity" or labor to aid in the building process.
Darren Eddie, Build chair with Habitat For Humanity says that the only challenge that was faced was just the amount of labor, compared to the volunteers.
"we're hoping for a little more community involvement, but I think everyone that did help found it very rewarding."
This is the second that this organization has built in the city. If you're looking to help build a stronger community in a very literal way, you can reach out to the Dauphin Habit For Humanity by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., by visiting their website at habitat.mb.ca/chapters/dauphin/, or by calling Chairperson Rodney Juba at 204-648-6759.
- Details
- Contributed by Michael Brossart
The majority of the Parkland is under a severe thunderstorm watch.
If you hear a roaring sound or see a funnel cloud, swirling debris near the ground, flying debris, or any threatening weather approaching, take shelter immediately. Go indoors to a room on the lowest floor, away from outside walls and windows, such as a basement, bathroom, stairwell or interior closet. Leave mobile homes, vehicles, tents, trailers and other temporary or free-standing shelter, and move to a strong building if you can. As a last resort, lie in a low spot and protect your head from flying debris.
The system it warns of is capable of producing quarter-sized hail and over 50 mm of rain.
Areas under severe thunderstorm watch:
- Roblin including Makaroff Shortdale and Bield.
- Russell-Binscarth including Gambler reservation.
- Dauphin including Sifton and Valley River.
- RM of Lakeshore including Ochre River, Makinak, Rorketon and Toutes Aides.
- RM of Riding Mountain West including Asessippi Provincial Park.
- Grandview including Valley River reservation.
- Mossey River including Winnipegosis and Fork River.
- Details
- Contributed by Alec Woolston
The Manitoba government says more than 300 internationally educated health-care professionals have accepted job offers in the province.
According to the government, nearly 90% of candidates who were offered jobs during a recent recruitment mission to the Philippines accepted positions across Manitoba. Candidates who have accepted an offer have begun immigration and licensing processes and must complete certain requirements for employment in Manitoba's health-care system.
Of the 300 healthcare workers, 64 are reportedly coming to the Prairie Mountain Health region and will be in many different communities including Dauphin, Gladstone, Minnedosa, Neepawa, Russell, and Swan River.
Health Minister Audrey Gordon says successful candidates are expected to start arriving as soon as late summer.
- Details
- Contributed by Alec Woolston
At 7:07 Tuesday night, lots of people in Dauphin and area received an emergency text alert, warning of stormy conditions that could produce tornados in the area.
Following the alert, the sky darkened up and mother nature let loose a torrent of rain, thunder, and lightning over Dauphin. Heavy winds and quarter-sized hail were also reported in the Fork River and Dauphin areas.
[Picture of hail taken 7 miles southeast of Dauphin]
[Rain gauge 7 miles southeast of Dauphin]
[Photo of hail taken in Fork River]
[Photo of hail taken in Fork River]
There were also funnel clouds reportedly sighted in the Neepawa - Gladstone area. Do you have any pictures or videos of the weather that rolled through yesterday in your area? Text the CKDM newsroom at 204-638-9022.
- Details
- Contributed by Alec Woolston
June 28th, 2023:
The tornado warning and severe thunderstorm warning have ended.
June 27th, 2023:
Dauphin, Lakeshore, and Mossy River areas are currently under a torando warning.
Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado.
In addition to a tornado, this thunderstorm is capable of producing golf ball sized hail.
The Weather.gov site has some recommendations for the potentially dangerous weather:
Take cover immediately, if threatening weather approaches. If you hear a roaring sound or see a funnel cloud, swirling debris near the ground, flying debris, or any threatening weather approaching, take shelter immediately. Go indoors to a room on the lowest floor, away from outside walls and windows, such as a basement, bathroom, stairwell or interior closet. Leave mobile homes, vehicles, tents, trailers and other temporary or free-standing shelter, and move to a strong building if you can. As a last resort, lie in a low spot and protect your head from flying debris.
To track the storm, and get more advice on weathering the storm, visting Weather.gov
- Details
- Contributed by Michael Brossart
RCMP in Fisher Branch recently conducted a search at a home in Fisher Branch and located a number of firearms and some drugs. The resident of the home, 20-year-old Bryce Walker, was on conditions to not have any firearms.
[Photo of firearms and items seized, submitted by RCMP]
There is a warrant out for his arrest. He is described as 5'5", 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He has tattoos such as a skeleton hand on his left hand, a picture of Jesus on his left neck, and "RIP T-Dot" on his right neck.
The full details from the RCMP are below:
Fisher Branch RCMP seize guns and drugs
On June 18, 2023, at approximately 11:35 pm, Fisher Branch RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence on Carpathian Street in Fisher Branch, Manitoba. As a result of the search, a number of firearms and drugs were located. The resident of the home, Bryce Walker, 20, was on conditions not to possess any firearms.
After the RCMP Emergency Response Team cleared the residence, Fisher Branch officers located five firearms hidden throughout the residence, including a shotgun and four rifles. Two of the firearms were loaded. Ammunition, a substance believed to be cocaine, and drug-trafficking paraphernalia were also located within the residence.
Walker was not home at the time the warrant was executed and RCMP have a warrant out for his arrest. He is facing multiple firearms and drug charges, as well as breaching court-ordered conditions.
Walker is described as 5’5” tall, 150 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He has multiple tattoos, including a skeleton hand on his left hand, a picture of Jesus on his left neck, and RIP T-Dot on his right neck.
If you have information regarding Walker’s whereabouts, please call Fisher Branch RCMP at 204-372-6329, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.
- Details
- Contributed by 730 CKDM
The City of Dauphin advises of the following road closures:
Beginning at 6:00 am on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, the water main renewal work will begin on the 1st block of 7th Avenue SW.
Tuesday, June 27 and Wednesday, June 28, Main Street South will be closed to traffic from 6th Avenue SE/SW to 8th Avenue SE/SW.
7th Ave SW will be closed on and off until the work is complete in late August.
Be prepared to detour.
- Details
- Contributed by Alec Woolston
Parks Canada recently announced that the Lake Audy campground and day-use sites in Riding Mountain are back open as of last Friday, June 23rd. This comes after temporary road repairs were completed on the eastern part of Lake Audy Road off of Highway 10. There is a small section of the road that is down to one lane.
Visitors to the area can once again use all the first come-first-serve sites and campground facilities, which include the fish cleaning shack and cook shelters.
There is also just one entrance and exit to the area, that is on Lake Audy Road from Highway 10. Parks Canada also reminds visitors that anyone traveling into the area should prepare for little to no cell service and to bring your own water or boil the water on site.
Lake Audy is open to all non-trailered watercraft that have been inspected for aquatic invasive species at the Boat Cove in Wasagaming.
- Details
- Contributed by Alec Woolston
Winnipegosis RCMP are investigating after they located a 37-year-old male who was last seen tubing on the Waterhen River last Thursday, June 22nd. The male was pronounced deceased on scene after his body was located the next day in the afternoon.
The 37-year-old was with a 21-year-old female and the two were tubing on the Waterhen River. The female was located walking along the shoreline of the river but did not know where the 37-year-old was.
A witness had also reported seeing the two tubes, which were tied together, floating on the river with no one in them.
Attempts to located the missing male were made by Winnipegosis RCMP, the Waterhen Fire Department, Waterhen CSO, Ebb & Flow First Nation, Lake St. Martin First Nation and Skownan FNSO's who used watercraft in the search.
The male's body was found in the early afternoon of June 23rd in the Waterhen River and he was pronounced deceased on scene.
The release from Winnipegosis RCMP is below:
On June 22, 2023, at 10:50 pm, Winnipegosis RCMP received a report of a missing 37-year-old male who was last seen riding a tube, along with a 21-year-old female, on the Waterhen River earlier in the evening.
The 21-year-old female had been located walking along the shoreline of the Waterhen River and did not know the location of the 37-year-old. A witness reported seeing the tubes (two tubes tied together) floating in the river with no one on board.
Winnipegosis RCMP, along with the Waterhen Fire Department, Waterhen CSO, Ebb & Flow First Nation, Lake St. Martin First Nation and Skownan FNSO’s, deployed watercraft into the river in an attempt to locate the missing male.
On June 23, 2023, in the early afternoon hours, the body of the 37-year-old male was located in the Waterhen River.
He was pronounced deceased on scene.
Winnipegosis RCMP, along with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, continue to investigate.
- Details
- Contributed by 730 CKDM
The Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals (MAHCP) has reached a tentative six-year labour agreement with the province's health delivery agency (Provincial Health Labour Relations Services) amid possible strike action.
Union president Jason Linklater says in a news release that the deal with Shared Health can help retain and recruit more specialized healthcare professionals on the front line where Manitobans need them.
Part of the deal includes retroactive wage increases going back to April 1st, 2018. The union represents 56,000 healthcare workers across 44 professions, including paramedics and emergency dispatchers, diagnostic imaging and laboratory technologists, mental health and addictions counsellors, and respiratory therapists.
A strike vote held last month got over 99 per cent support, and the union set a June 15th strike deadline, but later extended it indefinitely.
MAHCP will now vote to ratify the new agreement.
- Details
- Contributed by 730 CKDM
