Green team grants now taking applications

The province has opened the application process for non-profits, municipal governments, and northern affairs community councils that are looking for grants to help them hire young people for summer employment.

The grants, which are under the provincial urban and hometown green team program, are for these types of organizations that are looking to hire anyone between the ages of 15 and 29.

Projects can include working on trails, field maintenance, summer camps, and recreation activities, with the employment period being from May until September.

March 4th is the deadline for applications, with grants from the program covering 100 per cent of wages for non-profit organizations, along with $250 per position.

For municipalities and Northern Affairs community councils, 50 per cent of wages are covered along with $125 per position.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Feb 1, 2024 - 12:26 pm

One of the largest drug busts in prairie history has taken place at the Boissevain border crossing.

On January 14th, a routine border crossing search of a semi found roughly 850 pounds of methamphetamines in a semi-trailer coming from the United States.

The RCMP states that finds like these are often the result of a long-term investigation, and this case raises some questions about where these drugs came from.

The seizure of these drugs is keeping roughly 4 million doses of meth off of Manitoba streets.

The Semi is linked to a Manitoba-based trucking company, but the investigation now begins into their connection, and the origin of these drugs.

Details: Contributed by Michael Brossart; Published: Jan 31, 2024 - 1:07 pm

The Manitoba government has announced that it is opening up entry to all of its provincial parks for free for the entire month of February.

In making the announcement, Environment and Climate Change Minister Tracy Schmidt says they know that affordability is top of mind for many families, adding they hope this will encourage all Manitobans to get outdoors and enjoy everything that their provincial parks have to offer.

Vehicle passes will not be required in any provincial park throughout the month, however, snowmobilers using designated trails will still need Snopasses.

The lifting of entrance fees also does not apply to National parks in the province, such as Riding Mountain.

The government says their provincial parks offer a variety of activities, such as downhill and cross country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking, toboggan hills, and ice fishing shelters.

Manitobans are encouraged to check trail conditions before visiting parks.

You can do so by going online to www.gov.mb.ca/sd/parks.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jan 31, 2024 - 11:48 am

The provincial government has rolled out its plans for expanding its school lunch program.

Premier Wab Kinew says they are committing 30 million dollars to the program, adding children should not be at a disadvantage at school because they are hungry.

As an initial step, the province is putting up more than one million dollars in the current school year to eliminate a waitlist of schools that have applied for funding for nutrition programs.

Eventually, the government says the goal is to have some sort of school nutrition program -- whether it's a meal or snacks -- available in every school.

The announcement follows through on an election campaign promise, with the funding expected to be in place for the start of the new school year in September.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jan 31, 2024 - 11:36 am

While most of us are enjoying this late January heat wave, people who enjoy using the Dauphin Outdoor skating rink are likely not among them.

Dauphin Recreation Services announced yesterday that they have had to close the outdoor skating rink until further notice after the warm temperatures resulted in the melting of most of the ice on the rink.

DRS says they will announce when the rink will be operational once again, but in the meantime ask everyone to please stay off of it at this time.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jan 31, 2024 - 11:33 am

For the second time in three days, Dauphin has set a new record high temperature.

Tuesday's high of 8.5 degrees smashed the previous high mark for January 30th of 4.2 degrees, which was set back in 2017.

On Sunday, the high of 3.5 degrees also set a new record for January 28th.

And we may make it three record days for the week today (January 31st).

Environment and Climate Change Canada is forecasting a high of 5 degrees today, which would surpass the previous January 31st record of +2.1, which was set back in 2020.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jan 31, 2024 - 11:31 am

An update from the RCMP on the accident that took place earlier this morning in downtown Dauphin.

According to police services, two vehicles collided on Main Street around 9:50 this morning, with both ending up on the curb.

The initial investigation has determined that one vehicle was west on 1st Avenue NE, crossing Main Street, when it collided with a second vehicle going north on Main Street, which had reportedly gone through a red light.

The driver of the first vehicle, a 48-year-old female, was treated and released on scene by Emergency Medical Services.

It was reported that the occupants of the other vehicle had left the scene before police arrived.

The investigation is currently ongoing at this time.

Details: Contributed by Michael Brossart; Published: Jan 30, 2024 - 3:45 pm

A pair of local MLAs have been named to the new leadership structure for Manitoba's Opposition Progressive Conservative party.

Riding Mountain MLA Greg Nesbitt will serve as Caucus Chair, while Interlake-Gimli MLA Derek Johnson will continue as Opposition House Leader.

Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen will serve as Deputy leader for Rural Manitoba under interim party leader Wayne Ewasko, while Kathleen Cook will hold similar responsibilities for Winnipeg and Urban Centres.

Turtle Mountain MLA Doyle Piwniuk will serve as Caucus Whip.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jan 30, 2024 - 1:11 pm

Around 11,500 unionized civil service members in Manitoba have ratified a new four-year labour agreement with the province.

The new agreement, which was reached earlier this month and is retroactive to March of last year, includes wage increases totaling 14 per cent over the term of the deal.

In addition, there is a one-time signing bonus of $1,800 for full-time employees and $900 for part-time workers, while a new fund that's equivalent to about 1.4 per cent of civil service workers' payroll will be created for additional wage increases for jobs where recruitment and retention has been difficult.

Among the civil servants covered in this deal are correctional officers, sheriffs, conservation officers, court clerks, social service workers, and public health inspectors, among others.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jan 30, 2024 - 11:39 am

A 29-year-old man accused in relation to a death on the Birdtail Sioux First Nation has made an initial court appearance.

Michael Hanska appeared in Brandon court last Friday and was remanded back into custody until his next appearance this Thursday.

Last Tuesday just before 9 pm, Manitoba First Nations Police were called to a home on the reserve concerning a report of an injured man.

When they arrived, they found a 40-year-old man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Details: Contributed by Jeff Henson; Published: Jan 30, 2024 - 11:33 am

The RCMP's Major Crime Services released details about a historical homicide, as an arrest has been made.

Crystal Shannon Saunders was found deceased in a ditch near St. Ambroise nearly 17 years ago, and her alleged killer has been discovered and arrested.