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Efforts continue to keep Zebra Mussels out of Manitoba and the rest of Western Canada, following their discovery late last year in Clear Lake.   

It’s illegal to possess, transport or release zebra mussels in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, or British Columbia, and people who use watercraft in the region are urged to do their part and make sure their equipment is properly cleaned and dried.

Over the weekend of August 23rd to 25th, Conservation officers and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada completed a blitz of roadside boat checks, stopping 451 vehicles carrying watercraft between the Manitoba and Ontario border.

While none of those watercraft contained visible mussels, a total of 153 had improperly cleaned or drained equipment.

It was the second blitz done this summer by federal officials.

In June, officials found a total of 104 watercraft or equipment that wasn’t clean, drained, or dry, and failed an inspection.

Five of those vehicles were carrying a boat or watercraft with visible zebra mussels.

An investment of 1.2 million dollars from the federal government will go toward retrofitting the Gilbert Plains Recreation Complex.

The funding, announced on Friday, will help construct accessible bathrooms, change rooms, and other features which are expected to be completed in 2025.

This work adds to the new ice rink refrigeration system which is already in use at the facility's arena and curling rink.

In a news release, Gilbert Plains CAO Courtney Roehl says the municipality greatly appreciates the support from both the federal and provincial government and they look forward to all of the upgrades being complete.

Work continues to move along on the construction of a new hospital in Neepawa.

Work on the new health centre, which will be over four times the size of the current Neepawa hospital, began in November of 2022.

Debbie Poole is the Regional Lead of Clinical Planning for Prairie Mountain Health and says their goal is to have the exterior of the building completed by this fall.

"(We are going to) make sure it is water-tight.  And then we are going to focus on the interior part of it.  So there will be a little bit of paving that will take place this fall as well, but the main focus right now is to get that building envelope completely enclosed on the exterior, and then we are going to shift to the interior."

She adds they are still on target for Prairie Mountain Health to get the keys to the building by the summer of 2026. 

"But I do have to say that there is a large element of staff orientation and training that will need to occur.  So in terms of having the first patients in the hospital, those projected or anticipated dates will be late fall of 2026 or early winter of 2027.  There is also going to be a phased-in opening, looking at opening services that they already provide today in Neepawa in the new hospital, and then we will get into the expanded areas that are being offered at the hospital."

Poole adds several services will be expanded in the new facility.

"The emergency department will be much larger, the surgery and diagnostic departments will also be much larger than what is current.  But then there will also be new services, including an ambulatory care wing.  And in that wing there will be renal services, so there will be nine hemodialysis stations there.  Plus an ambulatory care wing for patients that are requiring outpatient treatments such an I-V therapy and dressing changes." 

The new facility will also have 30 additional medical beds than what is in the current Neepawa hospital. 

Your chance to get all of your families fall and winter activities in order is coming up next Tuesday!

The Rec, Health, and Leisure Mart will be running from 5 to 7 pm in the Parkland Recreation Complex Curling Rink, with a ton of groups attending.

You'll find  the following list of groups offering registration:

- Dauphin Recreation Services/Kin Aquatic Centre
- Dauphin Curling Club/Dauphin Junior Curling
- Zirka Ukrainian Dance
- Parkland Gators Swim Club
- Bratstva Ukrainian Dance
- Dauphin Karate Club
- Dauphin Gymnastics Club
- Prairie Mountain Health
- Dauphin Friendship Centre
- Dauphin Junior Rec Hockey
- ParkFIT
- Northwest Metis Council
- Skate Dauphin
- Telfer Highland Dance
- Dauphin Girl Guides
- Beaver Scouts
- Club DJ - Grace Bible Church 

This is a perfect opportunity to wrangle all your family activity registrations all in one location. 

The election race has begun for new Mountain View School Division members. 

A total of 4 trustee rolls are to be filled. Two for the Municipality of Roblin, one for the city of Dauphin, and one representing the Municipality of Ethelbert, Gilbert Plains Municipality, Grandview
Municipality and a portion of RM of Mountain.

Eligible candidates need to be Canadian citizens over the age of 18 to take part in this by-election. Those who are interested can pick up preliminary paperwork from MVSD.

Next, these applicants must acquire signatures from a set amount of signatures from people from within their constituency.

Applicants need to get a minimum of 1% of their ward's signatures to get nominated. Ward 1, Roblin, would need a minimum of 22 signatures, and both Ward 4 Dauphin, and ward 2 encompassing Ethelbert, Gilbert Plains, and Grand View, would need 25 signatures.

Senior Election Official for MVSD Kirk Dawson will be overseeing the next stages of interviewing these candidates.

"Then we have a period set apart for meeting with folks that they can file the nomination papers and sign a declaration as a candidate, an oath, that they meet the criteria. those dates will run from September 18th, 19th, 20th, and also September 23 and 24 from 8:30 to 4:30 at Mountain View School Division."

Becoming a board member is an important roll, and can come with a great deal of time commitments.

Are you considering becoming a School Trustee? Here's some helpful information regarding the time commitment of a trustee. Candidate packages can be picked up at the MVSD office beginning September 3, 2024.

Posted by Mountain View School Division on Friday, August 30, 2024
If you think you have what it takes, and want to get involved with your local school board, stop by MSVD next week to get your start!

Two cases from the Russell area were back in court this past Wednesday.

A 44-year-old Russell man, who was accused early last year of making online threats, was back before a judge.

Michael Man had his matters adjourned until October 23rd. 

And 81-year-old Constantin Turcoane made his initial appearance, having his matters adjourned to October 23.

The former Romanian Orthodox priest was charged earlier this year in connection with a historical sexual assault in the Russell area.

After hosting the last edition of Stomperfest last year, organizers are holding a scaled down version of the event this weekend in Reedy Creek.

Called the Asham Stompers Kitchen Party, it will take place today and Saturday at the festival site.

Organizer Arnold Asham says with the grass still cut and the stage and dance floor still up, they decided to have a simple party this year.

"With one band or a DJ playing in the evenings and some dancers coming.  ASham Stompers will be performing Saturday night around 9-10 pm.  But I just want to warn people that there is no tent this year and cover over the stage, as well as no canteen."

Performers will include Brendan Chartrand and Nelson Little, and the Asham Stompers. 

Admission is free but there will be some 50/50 draws and collections taken in order to help pay for the entertainers. 

Mountainview School Division has announced October 30th as the date for their trustee by-election.

A total of four positions on MVSD board of trustees are open, including two from the Roblin area, one from the City of Dauphin, and one representing the Ethelbert, Grandview, and Gilbert Plains area. 

Nominations will be accepted between September 18th and 24th.

More information on the by-election and nominations can be found on the Mountainview School Division website. 

An exciting weekend is in store for Ashern, as the Rodeo is set to return.

Rachel Vander Veen Is the president of the Ashern Rodeo Association, and she's got a lot going on for this event.

"Friday evening we've got the street dance, so there will be lots going on for the kids with that. Then we've got fireworks, which is always a highlight of the weekend for a lot of people. Saturday we'll have the pancake breakfast in the morning, and then the parade... and then, we're going to have a rodeo"

🤠

Posted by Rachel Vander Veen on Sunday, August 18, 2024

The rodeo will have no shortage of action, as it will feature Broncs, Bull riding, Barrel Racing, tie-down roping, breakaway, and even wild pony racing in the intermissions.

Additionally, there will be live music, beer gardens, late-night socials, and that spectacular fireworks display tonight.

So saddle up, and head just 1.5 miles south of Ashern for a weekend of awesome rodeo action!

A new waste disposal site for the Municipality of Ste Rose is getting a financial boost from the province. 

The government has announced a $475,000 investment in the project, with the funding coming from the Municipal Economic Development Infrastructure Program.

The project is currently in early development with design and tender details still to be determined. Construction is expected to be completed by 2027.

In a release issued by the provincial government, Ste Rose Municipality Mayor Robert Brunel says they are excited to see this important project move forward to provide a new modern site for solid waste management disposal for the municipality.

He adds they are currently working with an engineering firm to design and engineer an appropriate site,  and is looking forward to the next steps in this project.

This weekend offers a glimpse back in time, as the Dauphin Agricultural Heritage Club Presents its Annual Threshing Day.

Fern Beasse is the President of this Club, and he's excited to show off old-school farming techniques like threshing, grain cutting, stoking, binder working as a team, and more.

This educational event, located 1.5 miles north of Dauphin on Highway 362, will also have a farmers market and food truck on the scene to keep everyone in attendance well-fed.

Fern Beasse is the President of the Ag Heritage Club, and he's also putting out the call for new members.

"It'd be always great to have people to join our club and get involved in our heritage activities because when I look around at our group, I see we're getting more mature. Not too many young guys involved, but the young guys are busy right now in the fields when the season is like this"

So come out to harvest a slice of history at the Annual Threshing Day.

As always, you can find everything going on in the parkland by visiting our Community Calendar for more events like this.