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A small event was held in Dauphin on Wednesday, July 1st to recognize the great work of Tiana Sanko.
The grade 4 student from Gilbert Plains Elementary secured a $10,000 donation to Habitat For Humanity’s Dauphin Chapter with her entry into ‘The Meaning of Home’ national writing contest.
When asked where her writing abilities came from, Tiana speculated it might have come from one parent in particular.
“My dad thinks it comes from him, but I kind of think it’s from my mom,” she said.
Tiana says her teacher Mr. Paul Barkman got the grade 4 class Gilbert Plains Elementary on board with the writing contest.
Tiana’s big grant will be used to build homes for low-income families — something she’s quite happy about.
“I was really excited when I heard about it, and that I could help a family.”
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The City of Dauphin is telling us recycling pick-up in the Day 2 & 3 areas have been delayed.
They are citing a mechanical issue.
If your recycling bin was not picked up today, you can leave it out and it will be picked up on Friday, July 3.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
No new cases of COVID-19 were identified in today's update.
Manitoba still has 16 active cases and 302 people have recovered.
There has been a total of 325 cases in the province; 26 cases have been identified in the Prairie Mountain Health region.
No one is in the hospital because of the virus, and the number of deaths remains at 7.
For more information about COVID-19, click here.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The province’s Minister of Infrastructure, Ron Schuler, gave an update Thursday afternoon concerning flooding in southwest and western Manitoba.
Some areas have recorded record-high precipitation levels of up to 200 mm over the past few days, causing water levels to rise in rivers and creeks in the affected areas.
On Wednesday night, Schuler announced people downstream of the dam in Rivers Manitoba should evacuate their homes.
“The dam at Rivers is experiencing a flood of historic proportions that is equivalent to a 1-in-1,000-year flood event. The water level at the dam near Rivers Manitoba is at its highest level ever,” Schuler said.
The Infrastructure Minister says water levels at the dam have started to drop.
At least 80 people have been evacuated in Rivers and the rural municipalities of Riverdale and Whitehead. Three people from Neepawa have also evacuated.
In Brandon, evacuations order have not been issued, but the city’s mayor says evacuation preparation notices have been handed out to hundreds of homes in case an emergency arises.
Manitoba Infrastructure crews are working in the flood-affected areas, monitoring water level conditions and inspecting infrastructure.
Property owners are advised to take precautions, as water levels could rise significantly in a short period of time in the affected areas.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
7:35 p.m. update: The severe thunderstorm watch has ended.
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A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for much of the Parkland.
Environment Canada tells us we could see conditions develop into severe thunderstorms, strong wind, and large hail.
The watch is in effect for the following areas:
- 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
Stay tuned for updates.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
The Manitoba government is asking for proposals to complete a backlog of surgeries that were postponed because of COVID-19.
Health Minister Cameron Friesen made the announcement this morning.
“This government is looking for innovative solutions to address the backlog of surgeries created by the COVID-19 pandemic, and we believe this plan will get people the care they need, as quickly and efficiently as possible,” he said.
The healthcare system paused elective surgeries in late March, but restarted them on April 24th.
Priority surgeries include:
- pediatric dental surgeries
- pediatric ear, nose and throat surgeries
- minor orthopedic procedures
- ophthalmology surgery
- outpatient spine procedures; and
- outpatient urology surgeries
Proposals must identify how surgeries can be provided while meeting all legislative, regulatory, and standard requirements.
The minister noted a similar proposal process is currently underway in British Columbia.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
With humidex values reaching 38 being expected for the next couple of days, Environment Canada has issued a heat warning in the Parkland as well as southern and eastern Manitoba as a whole.
A hot and humid airmass will return to much of southern and east-central Manitoba today and last into the weekend before slightly cooler temperatures come back in the late weekend to early next week.
While extreme heat affects everyone, Environment Canada says the risks are greater for young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and people working or exercising outdoors.
Environment Canada says to watch for the effects of heat illness, which are, swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, heatstroke and the worsening of some health conditions.
It’s suggested to drink plenty of water even before you feel thirsty, stay in a cool place, and never leave people or pets inside a parked vehicle.
The symptoms of heat illness are dizziness/fainting; nausea/vomiting; rapid breathing and heartbeat; extreme thirst; decreased urination with unusually dark urine.
Heat warnings are issued when very high temperature or humidity conditions are expected to pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
In the Parkland and surrounding areas, heat warnings have been issued 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
- Hamiota Mun. incl. McConnell and Lavinia
- Mun. of Clanwilliam-Erickson
- Mun. of Harrison Park incl. Onanole Sandy Lake and Newdale
- Prairie View Mun. incl. Bird Tail Creek Res.
- R.M. of Minto-Odanah incl. Minnedosa and Moore Park
- R.M. of Oakview incl. Oak River and Rapid City
- R.M. of Rosedale incl. Eden and Kelwood
- R.M. of Yellowhead incl. Shoal Lake and Elphinstone
- R.M.of Ellice-Archie incl. St-Lazare McAuley and Manson
- Riding Mountain Nat. Park
- Rossburn Mun. incl. Waywayseecappo Res.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
If you’ve driven through Riding Mountain National Park within the last couple months, you’ve probably seen some bear activity.
Doug Bergeson, a wildlife biologist at RMNP, says in the early spring and summer, bears get attracted to the ditches because of the grass and dandelions.
“We had a very good crop of berries last summer and fall, so I think the population is probably at the higher end, so we had lots of cubs born this spring and people are seeing quite a few bears around.”
Bergeson says there’s a good population of bears in the park.
“We think there’s somewhere between the neighbourhood of 800 and a thousand bears in the park, likely at the higher end. Like I said, due to high berry crops the last couple years and seems to be good reproduction in the black bears.”
Bergeson says bears have a short time to put on a lot of weight when they come out of hibernation. Throughout the summer bears are eating machines, eating grass, dandelions, Saskatoon berries, raspberries, chokecherries, and then in the fall, the bears move to the east side of the park and eat a lot of acorns.
Bergeson acknowledges that lots of people go to Riding Mountain to see the bears, but says they’d prefer people don’t stop alongside the road to see the bears and says to drive slow, put your hazards on and keep moving instead.
“If they do stop, people, we want them to pull over a safe distance off the road in a safe area, not on a corner or a hill, put their hazards on the vehicle, stay in the vehicle, do not get out of the vehicle, view the bear at a safe distance, and of course, absolutely never provide any foodstuff for the bears, or garbage out of your window, never.”
He also says to watch out for bears crossing the road to meet up with the rest of their family.
If you decide to go out on the trails in the park, Bergeson says to be aware and educate yourself that you are in bear country, travel in groups, make noise, keep dogs on a leash, carry and know how to use bear spray, and be aware of your surroundings. If you come across a bear, Bergeson recommends giving it lots of room, slowly get out of the way and back up, and to avoid it if at all possible.
Manitoba Conservation and Climate, is also recording a higher than usual number of black bear interaction calls around the province. They say one of the most common causes of bear-human conflict is the presence of bird feeders. Birdseed can attract bears as well as birds, and with other food sources plentiful for birds in the summer months, the province asks people to put feeders away until later in the fall.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
On Wednesday night, Manitoba’s Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler suggested people living downstream of the dam in Rivers should evacuate their homes.
He says the heavy rain that’s hit Westman over the past few days has dwindled confidence that the Rivers Dam will hold.
Engineers recommended the decision after inspecting the 60-year-old infrastructure.
It’s expected that around 30 to 40 households in the Riverdale Municipality could be affected.
Schuler clarified the evacuation is just a suggestion, and that municipal governments will have to decide whether or not to issue a mandatory evacuation order.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
After a few days of severe thunderstorms and torrential rain, the Town of Minnedosa and RM of Minto-Odanah have declared states of emergencies.
Many residents are assessing the damage, with flooded basements, closed businesses, and washed-out roads.
As many as 84 Minnedosa residents chose to evacuate their homes because of the flooding.
On Wednesday afternoon, parts of Highway 10 passing through Minnedosa were closed because of floodwaters on the road, according to Manitoba Roads.
There have been limited reports of injuries, but one person was sent to hospital after a sump pump sparked and ignited a fire in a flooded basement.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
The Dauphin Kinette Club wants the community to know they are still an active club.
Laura Milcharek is Vice President of the Dauphin Kinette Club, and says some people have been confused following the recent name change of the Kin Club of Dauphin.
The Dauphin Kin Club — formerly the Kinsmen Club of Dauphin — have changed their name and opened up membership to both men and women.
Milcharek wants people to know the Kinette Club still exists as a separate club, and continue with their work and fundraising in the community.
The Dauphin Kinette Club will be hosting a membership drive in the fall.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
