Severe Thunderstorm Watch Ends

10:30 Update:

The severe thunderstorm watch has ended in the Parkland.

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9:35 Update:

The warning is no longer in effect for Dauphin or R.M. of Lakeshore, including Ochre River, Makinak.

It is still active for the R.M. of Lakeshore, including Rorketon and Toutes Aides, and Mossey River Mun. incl. Winnipegosis and Fork River.

The watch is still in effect for the rest of the Parkland.

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9:00 Update:

There's a severe thunderstorm warning in effect for the RM of Dauphin, including Sifton and Valley River, and the R.M. of Lakeshore, including Ochre River, Makinak, Rorketon and Toutes Aides.

Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing very strong wind gusts, nickel to ping pong ball size hail and heavy rain.

At 8:30 this morning, a severe thunderstorm was located 35 km west-southwest of Ochre River and moving northeast at 70 km/h. This thunderstorm is capable of producing damaging hail and wind gusts.

Large hail can damage property and cause injury. Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles. Intense lightning is likely with any thunderstorm that develops. Environment Canada says lightning kills and injures Canadians every year adding that, when thunder roars, go indoors!

Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are likely to produce or are producing one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall.

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There's a severe thunderstorm watch in effect for the Parkland region.

Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain.

Low pressure over eastern Saskatchewan is triggering scattered thunderstorms.

Some of these thunderstorms could become severe.

The threat for severe thunderstorms will persist into the early morning hours when thunderstorms are expected to gradually weaken as they move northward.

Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce one or more of large hail, damaging winds, or torrential rainfall.

The watch is 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

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Jun 15, 2020 - 5:53 am

Three new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Manitoba this weekend.

Public health officials identified two new cases on Saturday, and 1 additional case on Sunday.

The total number of probable and confirmed cases is now 304.

Information about the number of active cases — and whether or not any Manitobans are in hospital because of the virus — will be available on Monday at 1 p.m.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Jun 14, 2020 - 1:51 pm

One man is dead and another is still missing after a boat overturned on Lake Winnipeg Saturday afternoon.

Powerview and Selkirk RCMP responded to the call around 4:35 p.m. Saturday, June 13 — near Belair, on Lake Winnipeg.

Five people were fishing on a boat when it took on water and capsized. Witnesses from the shore called 911, and a number of people who were on the water came to assist.

Three men on the boat aged 37, 48 and 65 were rescued and taken to hospital.

A 73-year-old man from Winnipeg was found in the water, taken to shore and was pronounced dead.

A 42-year-old man from Winnipeg is still missing.

RCMP continue the search today alongside several rescue detachments.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Jun 14, 2020 - 11:22 am

Public health officials in Manitoba identified 2 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday.

The total number of probable and confirmed cases is now 303.

Going forward, the province is providing limited COVID updates on the weekend.

The online data at the province’s official COVID-19 website will be updated on Monday, June 15.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Jun 13, 2020 - 1:39 pm

Winnipegosis-born artist Val T. Vint’s new sculpture shows us a different perspective on the history of this country.

The sculpture, titled “Education is the new Bison”, was blessed on Friday in a ceremony conducted by elders Barbara and Clarence Nepinak.

"Educating doesn’t mean go to school — it means you self-educate. So here’s a list for people to look to get views of a wide range of indigenous people and allies.”

Now on display at the Forks in Winnipeg — the piece is 12 feet from nose to tail, and weighs in at 2,400 pounds.

Vint explains the bison is made of 200 replicas of books, and 100 videos, predominately by indigenous authors and artists — but also by allies.

The renowned Indigenous artist says that history is written by the victors, and believes the books infused into the bison sculpture will help “people will find more truisms of who we are, and how we got here.”

Vint Book

She says the purpose of the sculpture is to be a resource for educators, researchers, and “anyone wishing to educate themselves on the true history of our country.”

All of the books and videos on the bison sculpture will be listed on a website shortly.

The piece is part of a larger series of artwork at the Forks, in collaboration with the Winnipeg Foundation.

“It’s just about looking at all our views and finding a middle ground to move forward in a peaceful manner. I think that happens through educating people. Educating doesn’t mean go to school — it means you self-educate. So here’s a list for people to look to get views of a wide range of Indigenous people and allies.”

The official unveiling of the sculpture will be Thursday, June 25th at 10:30 a.m. at the Forks in Winnipeg.

"My people will sleep for 100 years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back." - Louis Riel

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Jun 13, 2020 - 5:58 am

The Dauphin Library now has a pocket park in front of the building.

Alison Moss, Director of the Parkland Regional Library says the idea started last summer.

“We started to imagine a little pocket park along Main St. that would provide some seating in front of the Dauphin Public Library. So, to me, pocket parks are all these little nooks that you see along Main St. that include a little bench or a little planter and we just wanted to really create our own in front of the library.”

Moss says they received a grant of about $3200 that they used to buy two round picnic tables.

“In addition to that, the City of Dauphin provided us with a new bench that’s in the style of downtown Dauphin, a couple of planters, and then a really nice black-iron bike rack. So, with the contribution from the city and the donation from the community foundation, we were able to really pull together a nice little outdoor seating area.”

The library’s free Wi-Fi can be reached in the pocket park.

“There’s often people around our building during hours that we’re not open to the public and they’d be sitting along the sidewalk, or sometimes even bringing their own lawn chair to access the Wi-Fi. So now people can have a seat and use the Wi-Fi and I think that’s even more important in this time that we’ve unfortunately had to close our access to the public during COVID. But, we’re making steps and plans to return to a better, normal place.”

She says there are lots of little finishing touches and sprucing up of the building that they’d like to do. If anyone has ideas to improve the pocket park, Moss is all ears.

Moss wants to hold a grand opening at some point during the summer.

Details: Contributed by Isaac Wihak; Published: Jun 13, 2020 - 5:00 am

A woman from Minnedosa is facing drug charges after RCMP recovered a large amount of meth, cocaine, and cash.

On Wednesday, June 10, Spruce Plains RCMP executed a search warrant at a home in Minnedosa.

Police recovered 730 grams in methamphetamine, 73 grams of cocaine and $5,500 in cash.

The total street value of the seized drugs is estimated at $126,000.

A 31-year-old woman from Minnedosa has been arrested and faces five counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking, and one count of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.

She is set to appear in court in August.

Spruce Plains RCMP continue to investigate.

Details: Contributed by Matt Hamel; Published: Jun 12, 2020 - 3:36 pm

One new case of COVID-19 was identified today, bringing the total number of cases to 301.

There is still no one in the hospital, and there are no new deaths to announce.

Manitoba gained 3 recoveries today, leaving just 5 active cases at this time.

There has been a total of 26 active cases in the Prairie Mountain Health region.

For more information, you can go to manitoba.ca/covid19.

Details: Contributed by Tess Kovach; Published: Jun 12, 2020 - 1:19 pm

A bicyclist collided with a vehicle on Main Street in Dauphin this morning.

At around 10:50 a.m., a 15-year-old male was cycling on a sidewalk when he collided with a vehicle that was turning right - from 1^st Ave SE onto Main Street.

The vehicle was travelling at a low speed at the time of the accident, and the 15-year-old was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

The 74-year-old male driver was not injured.

The RCMP continues to investigate.

To learn more about some road safety tips for bicyclists and drivers, click here.

Details: Contributed by Tess Kovach; Published: Jun 12, 2020 - 12:19 pm

Local charities can now apply to get a grant from the Dauphin & District Community Foundation (DDCF).

The DDCF received $40,000 in funding as part of the federal government's Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) program.

Executive Director Kit Daley explains the Foundation will now divide up the money to local charities that are helping people disproportionally affected by the COVID-19 situation.

“We’re very excited that we’re getting these applications in, and we’re able to provide these grants.”

Applicants for the funding must be registered charities, or qualified donees — as long as the project they are applying for is helping people affected by COVID-19.

The deadline to apply is July 27th.

Daley explains the process to apply is very simple, and accepted applicants won’t have to wait long to receive the grant.

“The application process is very streamlined — it will take less than 20 minutes with a computer. It’s a very quick turnaround, we are viewing applications weekly. So from the time an organization applies to the time they get their check — we’re saying it could be within 10 days.”

To apply, or see if your project qualifies, visit the DDCF website for more information.