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The RCMP in Ashern is on the lookout for Nathaniel Taylor.

The 31-year-old is wanted for Sexual Assault and Failure to Comply with an Undertaking about an investigation that began on July 31.

Taylor is described as being 5’11”, 200 lbs with short brown hair and green eyes. His current whereabouts are unknown. If you know where Nathaniel could be, you're asked to call the Ashern RCMP at 204-768-2324.

Tyler Bileski is the newest member of Gilbert Plains Municipal council.

Bileski picked up 189 of the 293 votes cast yesterday in a by-election for the vacant spot on municipal council.

Robert Shumka was next with 69 votes while Roy Becks received 35 votes.

Serial killer Jeremy Skibicki was sentenced to life behind bars on Thursday with no chance of parole for 25 years.

He was convicted by a judge last month on four counts of first-degree murder in the 2022 killings of four Indigenous women whose remains he left in garbage bins.

Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran were both members of Long Plain First Nation. Rebecca Contois was from O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation, also known as Crane River. Police believe the 4th Indigenous woman, given the name Buffalo Woman was in her 20s.

The city of Dauphin has announced details of its fall cleanup program.

It is set to begin on October 8th in the day 4 collection area and will continue in reverse order of garbage collection until all areas of the city have been visited. 

Compostable materials that will be picked up during fall cleanup include garden waste, grass, leaves, shrubs, and tree branches.

These items must be free of recyclable meterials, household and hazardous waste, and should be in clearly identifiable piles or in biodegradable bags or boxes. 

You should also place your fall cleanup items in your back lane.

If you do not have a back lane, you should then place your items on the front boulevard as close to the curb as possible, as large equipment will be used to pick up these items. 

Mahihkan Bus Lines has announced that it is closing its operations as of September 6th.

Besides offering charter bus services, Mahihkan offered regular service from Flin Flon to Winnipeg.

In a post on their Facebook page, the company said despite their best efforts to sustain their business operations in order to provide a reliable transportation option for Northern Manitobans, ongoing market viability, inflationary pressure, and challenging economic circumstances forced the company to make this difficult decision. 

The post went on to thank Mahihkan's customers, suppliers, and employees throughout the years. 

Phase two of the clinical spaces renovation project at Dauphin Regional Health Centre is projected to be completed very soon.

Debbie Poole is the Regional Lead of Clinical Planning with Prairie Mountain Health and says this round of renovations should wrap up in September, with patients being able to access the new beds by sometime in October.

"Adding seven beds, which will be new inpatient, single occupancy rooms.  And then there will be two additional rooms in surgery."

Poole says adding the new beds to the DRHC is very important, as Dauphin is seen as a regional hub for the Northern part of Prairie Mountain Health. 

Poole adds this phase also included a new physiotherapy area on the third floor, as well as renovating a conference room.

"The conference room was renovated so as to provide a little more space for having meetings in that room and for nurses to do training.  The therapy space is much more open compared to where it was previously on the second floor.  It has lots of natural light coming into it, which staff will enjoy as well as patients."

Phase one included the completion of a new cancer care unit and an endoscopy unit, both on the main floor of the hospital.   

Residents in the Municipality of Gilbert Plains are selecting a new councillor today (Wednesday).

Three candidates - Robert Shumka, Roy Becks, and Tyler Bileski - are vying to fill the vacancy on council.

Voting is taking place until 8 pm tonight at the Richardson Pioneer Hall in Gilbert Plains. 

The weekly Manitoba Crop Report is keeping us up to date on the substantial harvest progress, and tumultuous weather across the province.

Precipitation was noted at every station across the province, with the most being seen in Minitonas with 77.8 mm and the least being seen at the Steinbach station with .6 mm.

As it has for much of the year, total rain accumulation has been well over 100% on the year, with many areas in the Central Region seeing upwards of 120%.

Harvest continues to move along across the province, so let's get into some crop details.

In cereals, Fall Rye and Winter Wheat are 90% complete across the province, with yields ranging from 40 to 90 bu/acre for winter wheat and fall rye in the North Interlake and
Eastern regions, and 80 to 110 bu/acre for fall rye in the South Interlake and Central regions.

Spring Cereals are picking up, as 22% of barley, 13% of wheat and 6% of oats have been completed. Early yield estimates vary a fair bit for spring wheat with an average of 70 bu/acre in the Central and Eastern regions.

In the North Interlake, yields range from 25 to 55 bu/acre, and up to 70 bu/acre in the South Interlake.

Barley is estimated between 90 -115 bu/acre and oats from 80-180 bu/acre, with generally good bushel weights.

Corn is still maturing, and elsewhere, a few fields have begun planting winter crops.

Oilseed harvest is just beginning for some canola crops in the central and eastern regions, but some of the latest seeded fields are still in late flowering to pod fill stages.

The earliest seeded sunflowers are at R7, with later seeded fields in the late R5 stage.

Most flax fields are in growth stage 11, with the most advanced flax in stage 12 as the seeds ripen.

Pulses and Soybeans are at varying stages, as Field peas are at 60% complete and soybeans are still in some later growth stages.

Many Soybean crops range from R5 to R6 stage in the Southwest, Northwest, Central, and Eastern regions, and R4 in Interlake. Some aphid pressure has also prompted the use of insecticide.

Forage crops benefited from the weekend's rain, as the moisture will help replenish root reserves heading into winter.

Hay Harvests are near completion, and many producers are working on their second cut of tame hay.

Dairy producers reported good yields in their second cuts of Alfalfa with a third cut currently under way.

That being said, lingering morning dews continue to be a problem that could lead to some lower quality.

Pastures also recovered well with the rain, though the southwest area is seeing a slower recovery due to some dryer conditions.

Dugouts are between 65 - 75 percent full, and water supplies have been reported as adequate.

Looking specifically at the northwest region, some very hot weekdays led to some erratic weather over the weekend.

The temperature peaked in Ashville, logging 31.7C, and the lowest overnight temp was in Birch River at 9.7C.

Heavy rains and localized hail led to some lodged crops, and at this time, damage from the hail is currently unknown.

The most rain in our area was also the most seen in our province, with the Minitonas station seeing 77.8 mm.

Looking at the crops in our area, Winter wheat and fall rye are being harvested and approximately 60% complete.

Spring wheat is advancing towards maturity, though later-seeded fields continue to catch up. 

Most field peas are in the R7 stage and desiccated and now await the appropriate preharvest interval and moisture dry down for harvest.

The field pea harvest is approximately 40% complete. Average yields are 50-55 bu/acre.

Canola fields continue to advance toward maturity. Swathing and desiccation started last week on the earliest maturing fields. Desiccation continues as stages are reached, but flea beetles are on the rise once again.

Soybean crops are in the R5 to R6 stage and looking good. The recent heat has helped advance the crops quickly. Recent rain will have helped the pod fill.

As harvest season continues to roll on, here's wishing producers a safe, a productive season with bountiful yields.

But that's it for this week, and next week's crop report will be published on Thursday.

A new semester is right around the corner for the Assiniboine College and this week has some orientation days to get new students settled.

Ashley Sidlar, an administrative assistant on the AC campus, will be helping to answer questions at this open house orientation.

"Some of the most common questions that we get from new students are 'Where is my classroom?', 'What does my timetable look like?' 'Who are my instructors?' 'What resources are available?' and with being such a small campus we really have the flexibility to be able to answer all these questions upfront and utilize our other staff that we have who are ready at any time to take these questions, and yah, help out everyone."

Posted by Assiniboine Parkland Campus on Thursday, August 22, 2024

Carol Stewart, AC Campus director, says there is still time to apply for a class.

"We still have a few spots left in several of our programs, and we will accept applications until the end of the first week of classes. so that's next week Friday. So if you're still making your mind up or haven't had a chance to apply, you can come in tomorrow and we can help you get started."

So if you're looking to expand your skills, be sure to visit the Assiniboine College Open house. Everyone is welcome to attend

A guilty plea has been entered in the death of a man on the Pine Creek First Nation.

In June of 2022, Winnipegosis RCMP were called to a reported stabbing in Pine Creek, where they located the body of a 51-year-old man. 

The man was taken to hospital where he died as a result of his injuries.

42-year-old Sheryl Thompson pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter and will be back in Dauphin court on October 8th.

The annual fall cleanup in Swan River is set to begin on October 7th.

Items that will be picked up throughout the week include bundled or bagged grass, yard waste, and ranches with a diameter of less than one inch. 

Items that will not be collected include large trees or branches, stones, bricks, and construction materials, as well as acceptable items that are not bundled.

Items to be collected should be on the curb by 7:30 am on October 7th, as Swan River Public Works crews will make only one pass through the entire town. 

Anyone wanting more info can contact Swan River town office at 204-734-4586.