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Last Friday's massive blizzard and road closures have Manitoba Public Insurers buried in backlogged claims.
According to MPI, Over 500 auto insurance claims have been filed between Friday the 17th, and Monday of this week.
The Crown Corporation said that it has not fully analyzed the data, so it cannot attribute all of these collisions to winter driving conditions.
However, it can be said that the blizzard conditions were a major contributing factor in many of the crashes.
More claims are expected to roll in over the next several weeks.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
Troy Pruden and Angel Chartrand, both of Dauphin, are facing several charges after they were pulled over.
On Saturday at 1:10 a.m., Dauphin RCMP pulled over the pair on 1st Avenue SE in Dauphin. When officers approached the vehicle, they could smell cannabis and there was open liquor on the front seat.
A search located oxycodone, methamphetamine, cocaine, codeine, and Canadian currency.
They are both charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking x 4, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Less Than $5,000, as well as violations under the Highway Traffic Act.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The annual removal of Dutch Elm Disease (DED) infected trees in the City of Dauphin is underway.
In Dauphin, 191 trees on public and private properties were tagged for removal during this process, which will continue into February. There is no cure for Dutch Elm Disease and the trees must be removed under the Forest Health Protection Act.
Private property owners with affected trees have or will receive notices and service release forms from the contractor and every effort will be made to minimize disturbance to properties.
Trees will be cut flush to the ground and de-barked, however, the stumps will not be moved. You can get more information on the program here.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Residents in the Ste. Rose area will need to go to Dauphin or other nearby communities to access emergency room services today.
The Ste. Rose Health Centre has announced on its Facebook page that the Emergency Room at the Ste. Rose Hospital is closed until 8 pm tonight.
No reason was given for the closure.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Canada's oldest person has passed away.
Hazel Skuce, a longtime teacher in Brandon, was 112 years and 331 days old when she passed away on January 3. She had been the oldest Canadian since June 25.
Born on February 7, 1912, Hazel grew up in Rivers, about 30 kilometres northwest of Brandon, with her two sisters and a brother. Following her passing, Margaret Romans, a 112-year-old originally from Latvia and now residing in Quebec, has become Canada’s oldest person.
In a Brandon Facebook group, Hazel is being remembered as an incredible person who influenced so many throughout her years inside and out of the classroom.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
An investigation is underway after a man died while in RCMP custody.
On Sunday evening at about 7, RCMP officers from detachments in Russell, Roblin, Dauphin, Kamsack, and Swan River, as well as conservation officers from both Manitoba and Saskatchewan searched for the man in the area around Madge Lake. The man was said to be ill-dressed for the frigid winter weather.
The individual was located and restrained with handcuffs to ensure officer safety, as he was suspected of being armed with a knife. At the time of his extraction from the dense bush, he was breathing and had a detectable pulse. However, by the time he was transported to the police vehicle, he no longer had a pulse.
He was given CPR and taken to the Swan River hospital where he died Monday evening. If you have any footage about this case, you're asked to contact Manitoba's police watchdog at 1-844-667-6060.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Four candidates are in the running to become the next leader of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.
The organization that represents 63 First Nations across the province has announced that former Long Plain First Nation chief Kyra Wilson, Sapotaweyak Cree Nation band councillor Bava Dhillon are in the running to become the new Grand Chief as is York Factory First Nation Chief Leroy Constant.
The fourth candidate running is the former chief of the Peguis First Nation, Glenn Hudson. Hudson served 14 years as chief of the Peguis First Nation and is very proud of what he was able to accomplish.
He was able to complete the C-92 legislation, the Child and Family Services Act. Under his leadership, Peguis First Nation took over local control of Child and Family Services from intake to exiting the system. A three-year, $319-million dollar agreement was signed in February of 2023.
"We were also able to increase our education funding for post-secondary studies," said Hudson. "We also settled a land claim near Selkirk. It was the largest land claim in Canada's history at the time, $126.1 million in 2009."
Hudson hadn't considered running for the Grand Chief position until two national chiefs recommended that he run. Glenn says what sets him apart from the other candidates is his experience.
"One is a councillor, one has under one year of experience and the other has four years," said Hudson. "Myself, I have 14 years and don't take that lightly. I have a lot of knowledge and experience gained. I feel that I can help our people not only in one community but in all 63 First Nations."
The leadership position will replace the former AMC Grand Chief Cathy Merrick, who died suddenly in September. The deadline for nominations is Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and a vote will take place on January 29, the second day of the assembly's three-day convention in Winnipeg.
Should he be successful, Hudson says one of his main priorities will be housing and infrastructure.
"That's very important for many of our First Nation communities," ended Hudson. "The new gas station is coming to Dauphin and I have been working alongside Ebb and Flow and Pine Creek as that build continues."
Hudson will also focus on securing energy like natural gas and hydro development for First Nation communities.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The largest indoor gathering of agricultural innovation is taking place this week at Keystone Centre in Brandon!
Teresa Hildebrand, Media Coordinator for the event, details some of the highlights of Manitoba Ag Days this week.
"You can see 550 exhibitors, including 34 new innovations in the Innovation Showcase, which is the largest showcase ever, and over 60 speakers."
This 3-day extravaganza will have a wealth of information and innovation for everyone in the agricultural world.
You can find a full schedule and plan your trip at agdays.com.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
February 7th will be the next court appearance for a man charged in connection with a death in January of last year on the Birdtail Sioux Dakota First Nation.
29-year-old Michael Hanska remains in custody on a charge of second-degree murder.
Meanwhile, a Brandon man arrested following a routine traffic stop in December near Russell that resulted in drug charges, has appeared in court again.
34-year-old Kacey Packham remains in custody with his matters being put over to February 13.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Manitoba's Independent Investigation Unit is investigating the death of a female following her arrest by RCMP.
Last Wednesday at about 8 pm, officers responded to a 9-1-1 hang-up at a home in Vogar, which is south of The Narrows.
Once they arrived, they arrested a woman that they learned was under the influence of drugs, and had tried to use a weapon on someone else in the home.
As police were transporting the female to Lakeshore General Hospital in Ashern for a medical assessment, one officer noticed that the woman had become unresponsive.
Emergency care was provided to the woman by RCMP until an ambulance arrived to transport her to Ashern, and then to St Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, where she was pronounced dead on Thursday.
Her death prompted the automatic investigation by IIU.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
An officer was injured and a female from Dauphin was arrested for Impaired Driving.
On Saturday at 2:05 a.m., Dauphin RCMP stopped a vehicle that had stopped at a business on Main Street in Dauphin. The driver fled the parking lot when officers approached her vehicle and the officer was struck, suffering a minor injury.
Fleeing south on Main Street, the driver made a left-hand turn onto a side street and lost control, hitting a snowbank. The driver, who refused to get out of the vehicle, was eventually placed under arrest. She was taken to the Dauphin Detachment where she provided samples of her breath which were found to be twice over the legal limit.
The 40-year-old from Dauphin faces charges including Assault on a Police Officer, Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Flight from Police, and Operation while Impaired. She will appear in court on March 27.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff