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An investigation is underway after the Gilbert Plains municipality lost more than half a million dollars from its bank account in an alleged case of fraud.
A letter was sent to the residents in the RM letting them know that the RCMP is investigating the loss of $514,571.86. The money was transferred from the municipality’s bank account without the council’s authorization.
Paul Manaigre with the RCMP says an investigation is indeed underway.
“The report was made to the Dauphin Detachment on November 9,” said Manaigre. “They provided evidence to suggest that a theft had occurred. Now we will examine the documents and basically start putting the pieces together so we can use everything for court purposes.”
Gilbert Plains reeve Jim Manchur has confirmed that the employee in question has been terminated for just cause. He says when he first found out about the loss of funds, he was shocked.
“We were truly shocked and surprised at the extent of it,” said Manchur. “We had to look further into it and that’s why we engaged MNP to conduct a forensic accounting investigation.”
Manaigre has said the case involves over 30 suspicious transactions that occurred between April 2020 and June 2022.
“The investigation by the municipality pointed to a single suspect who was found to have access to their accounting software,” offered Manaigre. “At this point, the investigation has not determined any breaches from an external person outside of the municipality. This was an internal theft and we’re just putting the pieces together to move this investigation forward.”
This isn’t the only case of fraud that the RCMP is currently investigating. The Westlake-Gladstone municipality had over $472,000 withdrawn from its bank account in a series of unauthorized withdrawals in December 2019 and January 2020.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The Association of Manitoba Municipalities has reached the second day of its convention in Winnipeg.
The event started on Monday and it features delegates from Manitoba's 10 cities. Colleen Smook, who is the Mayor of Thompson, was re-elected as the Cities Caucus Chair for a renewed two-year term.
The Parkland region is very well represented as both Dauphin City Council and RM Council are in attendance for the three-day convention. Ernie Sirski, who was recently named Reeve in the RM of Dauphin says it has been a very positive past few days.
"It has been very interesting," said Sirski. "When I look at it, 45% of the attendees this year are new, they haven't been here before, including me. It's a learning experience and it's been all positive so far."
The heavy topic so far has been the impacts of inflation on municipalities and the need for action by the provincial government to end the seven-year freeze on municipal operating funding.
"It's an ongoing topic and it's something that we are trying to find ways to address it," said Sirski. "When it comes to farming, many people are talking about the price of parts and not even being able to get some parts, it's a major topic and we will continue the discussion."
In a release, Association of Manitoba Municipalities President Kam Blight had the following to say.
“All Manitoba municipalities are feeling the cost of high inflation. Local governments face huge challenges in maintaining current infrastructure—and this is not to mention growing needs. ," noted Blight. "We urge the Province to end the operating funding freeze in its next budget."
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
An elderly man was located deceased early in the morning on Saturday, November 18th, at the scene of a vehicle fire in the RM of Minto-Odanah on Road 106 W near Road 78 N.
Authorities believe the vehicle was heading south on Road 106 W when it crossed the road, entered the ditch, and caught fire. The identity of the deceased male is still being confirmed. Neepawa RCMP and a Forensic Collision Reconstructionist are continuing investigative work.
From the RCMP:
On November 19, 2022, at approximately 7:40 am, Neepawa RCMP responded to a vehicle fire, on Road 106 West, near Road 78 North, in the RM of Minto-Odanah.
RCMP attended and the Fire Department was on scene extinguishing the fire. An elderly deceased male was located at the scene.
It is believed the vehicle was travelling south on Road 106 West, when it crossed the road, entered the ditch and caught fire.
Officers are still working on confirming the identity of the deceased male.
Neepawa RCMP along with a Forensic Collision Reconstructionist, continue to investigate.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
On Friday last week (Nov 18th), police executed a search warrant at a residence in Hamiota and seized several cartons of unstamped tobacco products along with some firearms, cocaine, and cash.
A 52-year-old male was arrested and faces several charges including Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm, Unsafe Storage of a Firearm, Drive Prohibited and other Provincial charges for tobacco.
The details from the RCMP are below:
On November 18, 2022, as part of an ongoing investigation, Manitoba West District Crime Reduction Enforcement Support Team (CREST), along with Yellowhead RCMP, executed a search warrant at a residence in Hamiota.
Officers seized a large amount of cash, pre-packaged cocaine, firearms and several cartons of unstamped tobacco products.
A 52-year-old male was arrested at the residence and is facing charges of Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm, Unsafe Storage of a Firearm, Drive Prohibited and other Provincial charges for tobacco.
He was released from custody with an upcoming court date.
RCMP continue to investigate.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
Manitoba Ag Days is back in 2023.
The event will take place from January 17 to 19 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon. As a part of the event, the 4th annual Innovation Showcase will be featured.
The event features 32 products and services that are looking to finish on top in seven different categories. The seven categories include Ag Technology, Agribusiness Services, Agricultural Equipment, Agronomics, Animal and Livestock, Farm Built Solutions and Farm Safety.
The Innovation Showcase Committee will visit with each entrant before determining the winner in each category. Winners will be announced Wednesday, January 18, at the show. Kristen Phillips is the General Manager of Manitoba AG Days and she says this is a special event.
"The Innovation Showcase is a part of Manitoba AG Days and it's always a fan favourite with so many great products and services being brought to the table," said Phillips. "The entire Manitoba AG Days in all brings forth 500 exhibitors and 70 speakers. There is a ton to do."
Tickets are now on sale for the event at an early bird price of just $15 per adult. You can get them at Manitoba AG Days.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
During the evening of Sunday, November 13th, Gypsumville RCMP received a report of a 70-year-old male who went out ice fishing earlier that day but had not come home. A local search group went out on snowmobiles to a spot where the 70-year-old would most likely be fishing and upon arrival, they noticed some footwear out on the ice.
The search party then approached by foot and was able to locate and recover the body of the 70-year-old male who was pronounced deceased. The full media release from the RCMP is below:
On November 13, 2022, at 9:15 pm, Gypsumville RCMP received a report of a 70-year-old male having gone out ice fishing near Fairford earlier in the morning and failed to return home.
His pickup truck was found near Cook Road, located west of Highway 6, in Fairford, where a local search party began their search.
The search party departed by snowmobile out onto the lake to an area believed most likely to be where the 70-year-old would fish from. After a short ride out, they observed footwear protruding out from the ice.
The search party approached closer by foot, due to the thinning ice, where they located and recovered the body of the 70-year-old male who was pronounced deceased. No criminality is suspected in his death.
Gypsumville RCMP continue to investigate.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
The third annual Cram The Cruiser - Pack The Pumper Food Bank Challenge is over. The challenge is a friendly competition between the Dauphin Fire Department and the RCMP Detachment in Dauphin to see who can collect more donations for the Dauphin and District Food Bank.
With a total of 1,854 pounds of food donations, the Dauphin Fire Department won this year's challenge. They brought along some cash donations as well. The Dauphin RCMP Detachment was able to bring in 682 pounds of food for a grand total of 2,536 pounds of food donated.
This is the first time in its three-year history that the fire department has won the challenge.
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- Contributed by Alec Woolston
A 20-year-old man has been charged with First Degree Murder after a 30-year-old female died over the weekend.
On Saturday, Virden RCMP received a report of a disturbance at a house located on the Sioux Valley Dakota First Nation. When officers arrived, a 30-year-old female was found with serious injuries and was later pronounced deceased on the scene.
As a result, Ernie Blacksmith was charged, remanded into custody and he will appear before a judge in Brandon on Monday.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Canada's National Ukrainian Festival is set to return from August 4 to 6 just south of Dauphin and preparations are well underway.
CNUF President, Kayla Gillis joined Alex DeVries on Monday morning to share some exciting news as the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers from Edmonton will be the highlight show on Saturday evening.
"We are thrilled to be bringing this group in," said Gillis. "They haven't been here since our 45th show so we're very excited to have them. We're not doing the 'Sunday Extravaganza', we're moving it to Saturday."
Early bird tickets for next year's event go on sale this Wednesday and a weekend pass is just $110. Camping will also be on sale. Day passes will go on sale in the next couple of months.
CNUF will also be hosting 'Ukrainian Night' at the Dauphin Kings game on January 27. The annual event is always a sellout and Gillis says she's looking forward to this year being the same.
"Book that day, it's a Friday evening, we're going to have a really good time," ended Gillis.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
CKDM is encouraging people to Put Your Money Where Your House is and support locally-owned businesses.
Chuck Davidson, the President and CEO of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce says locally owned businesses have had to change the way they do things over the last few years.
"We're always encouraging local businesses, and some of the things that they've done over the course of the pandemic as well, has been to provide that opportunity to do online and they've been creative in terms of making sure that there that they are able to compete and then they are able to be competitive on some of those stages as well."
Davidson says that keeping money in the community is the best way to grow your local economy.
"What we’ve really identified over the last couple of years is the importance of the business community in local communities in terms of what they give back, the jobs that they create, the investments that they make in the business, you know what they do for a community, the sponsorship that they provide for some of the programs running community as well it is extremely important and I think it's also important is that to make sure that these businesses can not only survive but also thrive, they need the local community to show their support."
Martijn Van Luijn, the Economic Development Manager for the City of Dauphin, will join me on-air Saturday, November 26th at 8:30 a.m. to talk about the benefits of a thriving local business community.
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
The Russell Take a Year Off Lotto was a big success again this year, and tickets were sold out by the 2 p.m. deadline.
Camilla Kuhler of Bandon was the big winner and will get $1000 dollars a week for a year. Gerry and Roberta Cook from Binscarth won the 50/50 put and will take home the $27,017 pot.
Other winners:
- Dale Zurbyk of Birtle won $5,000
- Ed and Shelly Robidoux of Binscarth won $3,000
- Jerry Standryk of Dauphin won $2,000
- Susan Broustal of Ashern won $1,000
- Kerry Holman of Brandon won $1,000
- Eileen Heap of Russell won $500
- Pam Alexander of Minnedosa won $500
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- Contributed by Sam Brownell
