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Progress is about to get underway at the Watson Art Center, as the replacement of the auditorium floor boards gets underway this week.
The fresh floor boards are already on location, adjust to the climate before installation kicks into action this week.
According to Cam Bennet with the Allied Arts Council, ripping up the original floor starts tomorrow, Tuesday, June 25th, and could take a few weeks.
Bennet notes that a few creative projects are planned for these recycled floorboards.
"Picture frames is one, some signage for the Watson itself, fire hall, auditorium, that type of thing. Yeah, we've got a few ideas. We've got plenty plenty of wood, or we will. There's no real rush to to do something with it, so if something comes up in the next couple of monthes, we can look a that as well."
The Watson Art Centre will be closed to the public from June 25th - July 9th for the installation of this new flooring.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
A convicted sex offender who was released from prison last week is expected to live in Sandy Bay First Nation.
Bryon Starr, who is also known as Clayton Starr, Chad Crate, and Richard Starr, was released from a maximum-security prison in Ontario late last week. Now, he is expected to relocate to Sandy Bay First Nation.
After being convicted of sexual assault with a weapon, aggravated assault, forcible confinement, fleeing a police officer, and failing to comply with a probation order in 2013, Starr served just more than a decade behind bars. Starr was originally sentenced to 13 years.
Between September 2010 and June 2011, Starr stole a stranger's running vehicle with a female inside, who he forcibly confined, threatened, and sexually assaulted.
Star is considered a high risk to re-offend in a sexually violent manner. He is under a lifetime weapon prohibition order and other conditions.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Assiniboine Community College is removing the "Community" from their name.
It is the third time in the 63-year history of the college that it has changed its name.
Parkland Campus Director Carol Stewart says the name change has been years in the making.
"Our connection to community has never been because of our name, and that will remain strong as we move forward as Assiniboine College. So community-based education, and supporting community initiatives and events, and building a strong college community are always going to be foundational as to who we are. And we are actually Canada's national leader in community-based education."
Stewart adds the name change also comes with a logo change for the college.
"The college logo now features a geometric "A", and it signifies Assiniboine. And its shape is also inspired by the rich heritage of Manitoba's First Nations and the teepee, symbolizing the beginning of life and the nurturing community of a home. And of course our commitment to the prosperity of our First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people. Artistically we have retained the purple and red hues that has become known as part of our brand. These are inspired by Manitoba's essence."
Stewart says the purple represents the Prairie Crocus, while the red represents the energy, strength, and passion of Manitobans.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Neepawa Tigers high school hockey team recently made a generous donation to that community's chemotherapy unit.
With money raised through their "Tigers Fight Cancer" campaign in January, the team was able to purchase a new wheelchair, neck pillows, and thermometers.
Money was also used to purchase gift cards to Dairy Queen and Tim Horton's to be given to patients, and for Co-op gift cards to purchase items not available from the hospital kitchen.
Prairie Mountain Health and Neepawa Health Centre staff sincerely appreciate the generous donation from the hockey team, and also thank everyone who assisted in making this contribution possible.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
RCMP say a 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder in the death of a 16-year-old girl in Easterville.
Police say a girl was found dead with obvious injuries in the community on Friday morning.
Later in the day, officers said, they arrested and charged a 15-year-old boy with second-degree murder in relation to the death.
The youth remains in custody, and the investigation continues.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Dauphin's Countryfest is set to kick off this weekend, but organizers have been forced to make a last minute change to their entertainment lineup.
General Manager Kamryn Winters says Mark Chesnutt, who was slated to perform Sunday night, has been forced to pull out of the festival.
"He is undergoing heart surgery I believe, so he had to cancel a lot of his upcoming dates And I am sure that everything will go great and that people will get to see him in the future. But it just did not pan out for us this year."
Winters says they have lined up George Fox to perform in Chesnutt's place.
"We have George Fox playing with Sawyer Brown this fall on their tour, so it will be nice to get a taste of what he is going to bring to that tour."
She adds they are very appreciative that Fox could commit on such short notice.
"We are getting down to the very last minute so it was hard to get that email last week about Mark. But Rob (Waloschuk) was able to pull it together and get somebody really quick. "
She says that Fox is a great fit to their "Classic Country" lineup for this year's festival.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
A heads up if your travel plans take you to Winnipeg in the coming days.
Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure has announced that it will be closing a stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway in the Rural Municipality of Headingley from June 24 at 6:30 a.m. until June 28 at 9 p.m.
This closure will allow for the reconstruction of the Trans-Canada Highway which includes road and Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway improvements consisting of the installation of new railway tracks, railway signals, and the widening of the rail crossing in addition to surface improvements.
Westbound and eastbound lanes will be closed to traffic.
Westbound traffic will be detoured off the Trans-Canada Highway onto Provincial Trunk Highway 100 to PTH 3 then onto PTH 2. Motorists will then travel on PR 248 north back to the Trans-Canada Highway.
Eastbound traffic will be detoured off the Trans-Canada Highway onto PTH 13 to PTH 2, then onto PTH 3 before merging back onto the Trans-Canada Highway.
Most commercial vehicles are permitted on the detour, however, long combination vehicles will be limited to travelling in the daylight hours.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
After a councilor stepped out of their previous role to take on public work, the RM of Gilbert Plains is seeking a new councilor in an upcoming By-election.
Courtney Roehl, CAO of the Municipality, says the registration begins Monday.
"The process is just starting. As I've mentioned, the registration packages will be available June 24th, and the actual registration forms aren't due until July 23rd, so there is time to talk to different people, get your forms in order, and then come back, and get the nomination packages in mid-July
If you live in the RM, there may be some people talking to you soon and looking for signatures for entering this by-election.
"For voting, you have to be a Canadian citizen at least 18 years of age, and a resident for at least 6 months before the election date, or a registered landowner"
So whether you're running for the position of councilor, or just voting, make sure you have your say in Gilbert Plains Up-coming by-election.
The Municipal By Election for the office of Councillor will be held on August 28,2024. Registration Packages are available starting June 24, 2024.
Posted by Gilbert Plains on Tuesday, June 18, 2024
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
With warmer weather on the way and the very wet spring we've seen, Manitoba might be set for a terrible mosquito year.
Entomologist Taz Stuart is an expert on mosquitos, and he expects a booming year in this pest population.
"People haven't seen a lot of mosquitos in the last 5-6 years because of the drought-like conditions and the city programs and the small towns have their programs too, but there is a noticeable difference in the amount of activity at dusk and dawn"
He also mentions that mosquito eggs can survive in dry conditions for several years, so many dormant eggs could be awakened with all the moisture in our soil.
Taz has a few recommendations as an expert on these blood-sucking nuisances.
"Personal protection measures are going to be key, avoiding those times when mosquitos are most active, removing, dumping, draining, filling, covering, and treating any water sites and reduce the water the amount of water in your back yard will reduce the number of mosquitos in your yard."
Taz also recommends strong, DEET-based repellents, and proper light-colored clothing to keep the bugs off.
Culex tarsalis, the mosquitoes seen often in Manitoba summertime can carry diseases, so it's best to avoid getting bites, before you get something else.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
A tragic incident was reported by the RCMP earlier this week, as a man has died after a plane crash.
The Swan River RCMP responded to a plane crash north of Minitonas, in the RM of Minitonas-Bowsman where a small single engine airplane was located.
The lone occupant, a 53-year-old male from the RM of Minitonas-Bowsman, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Emergency Medical Services.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada was notified of this incident.
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- Contributed by Michael Brossart
The community of Rossburn will get an early jump on Canada Day celebrations this weekend with their annual Bring on Summer and early Canada Day celebration.
Set for Saturday, the event includes a market and craft sale, an outdoor bingo, a free kids zone with bouncy houses, and a show and shine.
Other activities include an all-day BBQ fundraiser, beer gardens, and an evening street dance.
Everything takes place along Main Street in Rossburn.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
