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The Parkland's most up-to-date source of local news.

A man has been arrested, and the search for a woman continues.

Earlier this year, a man and a woman entered a business on Main Street in Neepawa.

They filled the female's bag with numerous items.

An employee approached the suspects; however, they fled without paying in a grey coloured SUV.

The RCMP identified and charged a 66-year-old man from Brandon.

They are still searching for the female suspect.

If you have any information, call the Neepawa RCMP at 476-4370.

Nicole Foley and her daughters, Piper and Abigail Freiheit, have been volunteering at the Parkland Humane Society since August.

They're now gearing up for Presents for Penny on Christmas Eve. Eight years ago, they adopted Penny from the Humane Society in Dauphin. Penny is a beautiful dog that puts a smile on everyone she sees.

So the Freiheit family is stepping up.  

"It's really important for us to give back to the community and the Parkland Humane Society," said Piper Freiheit. "We thought donating these gifts and making the holiday season special for the animals would be a good way to do that."

Piper says the family loves volunteering at the Humane Society and spending time with the animals. Ahead of Christmas Eve, the family is now accepting donations of cat and dog toys, treats, collars, bedding, and monetary donations.

The family has already received dozens of gifts that they're looking forward to wrapping and putting under a small Christmas tree. They've been collecting for a few weeks and have collected $325.

"So that's excellent, because it costs a lot to keep the animals in good condition, fed, and paying for vet bills," said Nicole. "Mostly right now, we're looking for toys and treats. Something special they may not otherwise get to make their Christmas special."

The family will be at the Humane Society on December 24 from 6:00 to 8:00.

When asked why they're doing this on Christmas Eve, Nicole was quick to say it's for the wonderful animals that won't be spending Christmas in their forever homes.

"For me personally, it's a difficult time of year because my dad passed away during Christmas time," ended Nicole. "I would like to change what this time looks and feels like by doing something meaningful."

If you'd like to donate, you can call Nicole at 572-5391. 

Two Lions Club members from Birtle started the Journey for Sight in 1983.

They rode their snowmobiles to The Pas and raised $200 for a local charity. Almost 42 years later, the Journey for Sight is going stronger than ever. It has raised more than $ 2.5 million for charitable initiatives. 

Every dollar raised helps people in need. From children gaining clear vision through KidSight screenings, to families supported through hearing programs, to those regaining independence and dignity. This year, the event runs from January 20 to 24.

Dean Lounsbury is back for his 26th year. 

"25 years ago, I was told if you go on the Journey for Sight, you'll be hooked," said Lounsbury. "Honest to god, it's a great bunch of guys. What I like about the Journey for Sight is that 100 per cent of the funds raised go to the Lions Foundation."

Twenty-three riders from Dauphin and the area will take part this year. The list includes Dean, Tyler Lounsbury, Todd Rathwell, and Stephen Chychota, to name a few. Dean says it includes a mixture of veterans and newbies.

On January 20, the crew will leave Dauphin and trailer the sleds to Flin Flon. They will stop in Swan River for lunch. On the 21st, they have a meal in Cranberry Portage and end the day in The Pas. The following day, the ride continues to Swan River.

From there, some riders will go down Highway 83 towards Roblin while the rest will come back Dauphin's way. The ride concludes on January 24 at the Brandon Airport at 3:30 p.m. Members from the Brandon and Wheat City Lions Club will be on hand to provide dinner. There will also be guest speakers.

Dinner2

Donations are starting to roll in. As of publishing, Dean has already raised more than $3,000. 

"Anyone who is involved in the ride has a pledge sheet and a receipt book," continued Lounsbury. "Donations of $20 or more will get you a tax receipt. We also have huge stickers with barcodes. We're going to put them on a few trailers, and you can go on that site to donate."

The Journey for Sight hits home for Dean. He had a scare last year and had to have laser surgery in Brandon.

"Without these resources and having people available to fix our eyesight, it can be a horrible situation," commented Lounsbury. "I think our eyesight is very important. I know many people wear glasses and visit Swan River, Dauphin, Brandon, or Winnipeg. I think it's a very worthwhile cause."

Lounsbury thanks the businesses and people of Dauphin for their support. 

"Most of the money we raise comes out of our local community. The citizens and the businesses," ended Lounsbury. "We have large contributions out of Dauphin and the area. We also thank our spouses for their support."

If you'd like to donate, head here

Talk of tariffs dominated the agricultural landscape in 2025, whether it was tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, or the heavy tariffs placed on Canadian canola by China later in the year. 

And it also led to a busy year on the road for Dauphin MLA and Manitoba Agriculture minister Ron Kostyshyn, as he netowrked with the European Union and with several groups south of the border to share the strengths of Manitoba Ag products. 

Kostyshyn says this face to face networking was very important.  

"Who would have ever thought that 2.5 million weanlings leave the province of Manitoba every year and go to Iowa, because the Iowa pork industry appreciates the genetics of the Manitoba Pork, but also the bio-security that we have in place.  So it is not just a matter of selling numbers, but why we are selling those numbers is because we run a very proferssional kind of organization." 

That networking in the U-S will continue into the new year, as Kostyshyn is slated to attend the State of the Agricultural Rural Legislators convention.  

The final numbers are in for this year's Pack The Pumper/Cram the Cruiser challenge between the Dauphin RCMP and Dauphin Fire Department.

And Dauphin, you came through once again to help those in need at this time of the year. 

The Fire Department brought in 2,060 pounds of food and $2,850 in cash, while the RCMP collected 700 pounds of food and $3,600 in cash.  

The big winner is the Dauphin Food Bank, who received all of the donatios during a weigh-in event on Tuesday.

Ermgard Juce with the food bank says the donations are very much appreciated, especially at this time of year. 
"We are finding that there are a lot of people out there that just need that extra bit to get through the holiday season, and throughout the whole year.  So we have been very fortunate, and having this community, which is just amazing at supporting us.  We are just in awe!"  
This was the sixth year for the Pack the Pumper/Cram the Cruiser challenge, which each side now having come out on top three times.

The Municipality of Ste. Rose has five main bridges that cross the Turtle River.

A couple of years ago, Robert Brunel and his council developed a strategy to rehabilitate and bring those bridges up to standard. While focusing on bridges, the municipality is also looking to redo some streets within the Town of Ste. Rose and other rural roads.

It's being called the Road and Bridge Rehabilitation Project. On Monday, Brunel found out some great news. Through the Manitoba government's GRO program, the municipality was awarded $438,145. That money will go towards the project.

While on vacation in Europe, Brunel said it's a great boost.

"It will stretch municipal tax dollars further and allow us to accomplish some of these things quicker," said Brunel. "It may allow us to do other projects within the municipality. Hopefully, it'll allow us to keep taxes at an affordable rate."

Initially, the timeline to complete the project was five to seven years. Brunel says the council will now reevaluate how long this project will take. He says this changes the trajectory of the timeline and speeds up the process.

"That would be the guess off the top of my head without sitting down and looking at the numbers and how this will affect it," continued Brunel. "It's a fairly large cash injection to help fund these projects."

On Monday, the Grandview Municipality received $1,262,314. That will go towards the purchase of a new plant that will service the GACC and the curling rink. 

The Town of Swan River received $225,000 for the Swan River Legion Park Revitalization. The Town of Minnedosa will receive a portion of $671,664 to expand its veterinary clinic.

Brunel said it's exciting that provincial funds have been allocated to these projects.

"There are crucial infrastructure items that we have placed as a priority," ended Brunel. "It helps us accomplish them and reduces the immediate burden on municipal tax dollars. It allows us to accomplish the projects quicker. Whenever we can receive provincial funding that we've asked for is great."

The RM of Mountain received $59,150 for Oliniyk Bridge Repairs.

The Manitoba government's provincial snow removal crews are ready to roll.

Due to the expected blizzard-like conditions, gusty winds, and blowing snow that will affect Dauphin and the surrounding area, removal crews are equipped and ready to clear Manitoba's highways. In Dauphin, snowfall amounts could reach 30 cm by Thursday morning.

The province is currently monitoring highway conditions and is ready to deploy its fleet of 340 vehicles for snow clearing, de-icing, and grading.

There are 46 maintenance yards around the province, and crews will maintain the more than 19,000-kilometre provincial highway system. Crews will do everything to allow for safe and timely travel.

For your convenience, you can check the Parkview Auto Glass road conditions report 24/7 here

The Dauphin Friendship Centre is calling all youth in the community.

They're hosting a youth Christmas party on Saturday from 4:00 to 9:00. It's free and guaranteed to be a great night to ring in the Christmas season.

"It's wonderful to meet other youth, and to celebrate the season," said Carrie Lang. "You never know what could happen if you met other youth and made some new connections. We're hoping that more youth will be interested in becoming involved in our youth program and perhaps even become a part of our youth council."

The party is open to those aged 13 and older. Thursday is your last day to register by calling 204-638-5707. You can go with a group of friends or by yourself. There will be prizes up for grabs.

"They're going to have pizza, and lots of goodies," ended Lang. "Candy, chips, and all that sort of jazz. They're going to play some games and have a sleigh ride, so hopefully, the weather cooperates. Hang out, have some fun, make some new connections, and have a great time with the people you'll be with."

What's the forecast for Saturday, you ask? A mix of sun and cloud with a high of minus 19. Not too shabby for a Christmas party and a sleigh ride in the City of Sunshine. 

The Dauphin & District Food Bank is busy year-round providing hampers for those in need.

With Christmas right around the corner, Robin Gambler with the Food Bank says this is the busiest time of the year.

On Wednesday, they will be providing hampers for 260 families. 143 of those families were adopted by individuals in the community. The 117 families that were not adopted will receive a gift for each child in the family, a gift card, a turkey or ham, a loaf of bread, 10 pounds of potatoes, and milk.

The families that were adopted will receive their hampers, which will include items purchased by the individuals who adopted them.

"You know what, most people cry when they see their hamper," said Gambler. "It makes us feel good that they appreciate it. I think everyone who comes in appreciates what they receive. It's great that all 260 hampers have a gift for every child in the family."

Only those who applied and were accepted will receive hampers on Wednesday.

Then on Thursday, Gambler says they have 200 hampers ready to give to singles and couples in the community. Thursday's hamper giveaway is for people living in Dauphin, Sifton, and Ochre River. 

Many of these hampers would never be possible without the generous support of the community. As the Christmas season rolls in, Gambler is forever appreciative.

"You know what, I am so thankful that Dauphin is so giving, so generous," ended Gambler. "With the gifts that they brought in and all the donations. To the people and businesses who have adopted a family. It's amazing."

When you need it, the Dauphin & District Food Bank always comes up clutch. 

The Dauphin HERO Club is ready to host a Christmas supper fundraiser on Wednesday.

It'll take place at the 8th Avenue Hall from 5:00 to 8:00. Entertainment will be from 6:00 to 7:00. The cost is $25. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. 

If you're interested in a good meal and some great laughs, call Chux at 204-638-7104.

For the last month, McDonald's in Dauphin and Swan River have teamed up for the 'Golden Arches Food Drive'.

Both restaurants have been accepting monetary and non-perishable food items. The final total is in, and wow, great job, Parkland. Tej Patel says that, combined between Dauphin and Swan River restaurants, more than 10,000 pounds of food will be donated to the two local Food Banks.

Patel estimates that about 6,000 pounds of food will be given to the Dauphin & District Food Bank. The remaining 4,000+ pounds of food will be given to the Food Bank in Swan River. When people in the Parkland region are in need, others step up.

Schools in both communities held Food Drives, and others provided a cash donation.

"This is all about giving back to the community. We've been doing this for the past couple of years," said Patel. "We're not only doing the Food Bank donation, but we're also giving away coffee for the next few weeks."

Until December 31, at the McDonald's in Dauphin, if you visit the drive-thru, you can get a free small coffee.

"We have a great community. Dauphin is developing right now. This is a small appreciation from Dauphin McDonald's to the community," ended Patel. 

 Patel says he appreciates the incredible support from both communities. He feels grateful to live in such a wonderful community and thanks everyone.