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RCMP say speed and alcohol are considered to be factors in a Sandy Lake collision that seriously injured 5 people and caused significant damage to a home.
Police say they were notified around 4 p.m. on Friday, October 16 of an impaired driver in Sandy Lake who was speeding with another vehicle following it.
A collision was reported to police minutes later, and RCMP say they believe the two vehicles were speeding down Main Street in Sandy Lake when they collided — leaving the road and then colliding with a house. There was nobody in the home at the time of the incident.
A 25-year-old man driving one of the vehicles and a 21-year-old male passenger were taken to hospital with serious injuries, according to police. Another 32-year-old male passenger had minor injuries.
The occupants of the other vehicle, driven by a 25-year-old woman with two female passengers, were all taken to hospital with serious injuries.
RCMP continue to investigate the crash.
(RCMP believe the two SUV's collided, and then collided into a home in Sandy Lake. Photos courtesy of T.J. Hookers Towing and Recovery | Facebook)
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The Manitoba New Democrats presented a document on Thursday during question period which showed vacancy rates exceed 15% for some health-care positions in Prairie Mountain Health (PMH).
Official Opposition leader Wab Kinew called it a “clear trend”, that the Pallister government’s cutting of health-care services is resulting in “fewer people working at the bedside and helping our seniors."
Kinew pointed to the vacancy rate of 31% for registered nurses at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre as of August — which works out to 32 job openings.
Staffing shortages in PMH have resulted in some emergency room closures, including Erickson, Shoal Lake — and more recently Roblin, a move the health authority maintains is a temporary measure.
Prairie Mountain Health CEO Penny Gilson stated the regional health authority “is very cognizant of its vacancy rates,” and they are working “extremely hard trying to fill as many vacancies as we can. We are continuously advertising to fill vacancies.”
Gilson spoke to the challenges of recruiting to rural areas, and also said PMH has instituted “a number of employment strategies/initiatives towards promoting the benefits of working and living in rural Manitoba, with all the lifestyle benefits our region offers.”
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
Manitoba added 85 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the total number of cases in Manitoba to 3,258.
Today’s data shows:
• four cases in the Interlake–Eastern health region;
• four cases in the Northern health region;
• four case in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
• five cases in the Southern Health–Santé Sud health region; and
• 68 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
The following Parkland health districts have active cases: Dauphin (2), Little Saskatchewan (1), and Asessippi (1). Brandon has 12 active cases of COVID-19.
The Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 3 active cases.
There are 28 Manitobans in hospital and 5 in intensive care. The number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 38.
There are 1,648 active cases and 1,572 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.
The Winnipeg Metropolitan Region currently has 1,418 active cases of COVID-19, and with the growing number of cases there, the province is introducing more targeted measures under the Restricted (orange) level of the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System.
Click here to learn more about the new restrictions facing the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, which go into effect Monday, October 19 for a minimum of 2 weeks.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Commercial fishers on Lake Winnipeg will get a week-long extension to the fishing season this year.
Blaine Pedersen, Manitoba’s Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development, explains the extension is due to a 60% slump in the harvest for this time of year.
“The fish markets literally dried up in the early days of COVID. They’ve come back somewhat now, so this will help fishermen finish off their commercial fishing season with an extra week,” said Pedersen.
The commercial fishing season on Lake Winnipeg ends November 6.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Three people from Portage la Prairie are facing drug trafficking charges after police executed two search warrants this week.
RCMP searched a home in Portage on Thursday, October 15, and also carried out a related search warrant of a vehicle the following day.
With both warrants, police seized more than 200 grams of methamphetamine, some prescription pills, several knives, a bat, bear spray, several energy drink cans with false bottoms, and an undisclosed amount of Canadian currency.
Now facing drug trafficking charges are two women, aged 40 and 38, along with a 42-year-old man, all from Portage la Prairie.
All 3 have been released from custody to appear in court at a later date.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The R.M. of Lakeshore has partnered with a national organization to spread awareness of radon levels in the home.
Pam Warkentin, project manager of ‘Take Action on Radon’ says testing is very important this time of year.
“We encourage people to test during the winter because we have our homes closed up; we’re spending more time indoors than ever before, so it’s really important to know your radon levels inside your home.”
Radon is a by-product of the break-down of uranium, and high levels in the home can lead to lung cancer.
To sign up for a test kit you can call the R.M. of Lakeshore office at (204) 732-2333.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Health officials are reporting 75 new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba on Friday, bringing the province to a total of 3,173 cases.
Prairie Mountain Health has moved the COVID testing location in Dauphin to a walk-in site at 301 Main Street North.
On Friday, Manitoba’s chief public health officer announced more restrictions for the Winnipeg area in response to high case numbers.
Starting Monday, October 19 the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region will introduce the following restrictions for a two week period:
- Indoor and outdoor gathering sizes: lowered from 10 to five, in addition to members of a household
- Contact Tracing Log Sheets: required in many indoor settings, including theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and fitness facilities
- Restaurants/lounges: reduced group/tables sizes in restaurants from 10 to 5, and formally reduced capacity to 50 per cent
- Retail locations and food courts: group sizes reduced to 50 per cent, including lowering gathering sizes from 10 to five in common spaces
- After-school activities and all sporting events: reduced the number of spectators to 25 per cent of a site’s capacity
- Beverage rooms, bars, entertainment facilites, casinos/VLTs lounges and bingo halls: to be closed
- Gyms and fitness centres: capacity remains at 50 per cent
- Museums, galleries and libraries: capacity reduced to 50 per cent
The rest of the province remains at yellow on the Pandemic Response System. For more details on the new restrictions for the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, click here.
Today’s data shows:
• seven cases in the Interlake-Eastern health region;
• two cases in the Northern health region;
• one case in the Prairie Mountain Health region;
• two cases in the Southern Health-Santé Sud health region; and
• 63 cases in the Winnipeg health region.
There are 25 Manitobans in hospital and five people in intensive care. The number of deaths due to COVID-19 is 38.
There are 1,582 active cases in Manitoba, and 1,553 individuals have recovered from COVID-19.
The following Parkland health districts have active cases: Dauphin (2), Little Saskatchewan (1), Asessippi (1), and Whitemud (1). Brandon has 11 active cases of COVID-19.
The Eriksdale/Ashern health district has 3 active cases.
You can click here for a list of the most recent exposure risks in the Prairie Mountain Health region.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Update: The Manitoba RCMP announced on Twitter at 12:23 p.m. that Charles Kieth Littlechief has been safely located.
The RCMP thanks the public and media for their assistance.
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RCMP are searching for a missing man from Bloodvein who was last seen in Eriksdale.
46-year-old Charles Keith Littlechief was last seen in Eriksdale on October 9th.
He is described as 5’6”, 220 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.
RCMP ask that anyone with information about his whereabouts contact the Bloodvein detachment at 204-395-2311, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or secure a tip online.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
In preparation for a flu season made more challenging by COVID-19, the Manitoba government is launching a flu vaccination campaign.
Premier Brian Pallister says “it’s never been more important for Manitobans to get the flu shot,” and encourages all Manitobans, especially those at increased risk, their caregivers and close family and friends to get the flu shot this fall.
The province has increased its vaccination order by 20% this year.
A record 26.3% of Manitobans registered with Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living received the vaccine last flu season.
Prairie Mountain Health is making flu shots by appointment-only this year.
Phone lines are now open to book appointments at flu shot clinics, however, the appointments aren't scheduled to begin until November 1.
Call 1-877-646-3888 to book an appointment.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The COVID-19 testing site in Dauphin has changed locations.
Prairie Mountain Health officials say the designated drive-up testing site at the Dauphin Community Health Services Building parking lot will now cease operations.
A new indoor walk-in testing site will open Friday, October 16 at 301 Main Street North (former Potoski Medical Clinic building —corner of 3rd Ave NW & Main Street).
The hours of operation will be unchanged; Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. — closed from 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. for lunch.
No appointment is required, but only symptomatic individuals are asked to seek testing unless otherwise directed by public health.
Parking is available at the back of the building and street parking is also available. Non-medical masks are required to enter the building.
PMH also advises that if possible, only those being tested should enter the building.
To view directions and regular hours of operation at all PMH designated testing sites, visit the PMH website here.
The COVID-19 online screening tool is also available on the Shared Health website here.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Henderson Elementary School received a big cheque today from Co-Op’s Fuel Good Day fundraiser.
The fundraiser back on September 15th raised a total of $5,251.24.
Principal Ronda Casavant was thrilled with the support from the community.
“I was absolutely shocked by how the amount of money that was raised. I knew there was a lot of hype in the school and in the community about the day coming but never did I imagine that we were going to receive such a generous amount of money.”
She adds that the money will go towards a new swing set, and any extra funding will build onto the existing play structure. The upgrades are expected to start next spring or fall.
The Henderson School playground fund also benefitted from a large donation from Dauphin Tim Hortons during their week-long smile cookie fundraiser.
Students and staff members are thanking everyone for their hard work and support.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
