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The Dauphin Fire Department is hosting its annual Firefighters ball this Saturday at the 8th Avenue Hall.
Dauphin Fire Chief Cam Abrey says the event is steeped in tradition.
"This is the 122nd anniversary of the Firefighters Ball. It has roots going back to March of 1901, so it has a long-standing tradition within our community and we are pretty excited to host another event again this year. Doors open at 5:30 and the meal will be served at 7. We have "Men in Cheap Suits" out of Winnipeg, a fantastic seven-piece band that is coming up to provide live entertainment. There will be some door prizes as well as some prizes that you can bid on."
Tickets are $50 each and are available from any member of the Dauphin Fire Department, or by calling 204-622-3100.
"Because it has its roots going back over a century, it is something that it is great if the Firefighters Association makes a few dollars on it," adds Abrey. "The proceeds are going towards the restoration of our antique apparatus. We are currently working on a 1919 - our first motorized truck, which is going through a complete restoration."
"But the event is more about the tradition than it is about a fundraiser."
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The Strike plaguing Manitoba Public insurers will continue
MPI workers represented by Manitoba's General Employees Union voted overwhelmingly to reject the latest contract offer made over the weekend by the .crown-owned auto insurance provider.
According to the union, the offer included a 12 per cent wage increase over 4 years and an additional three-point-five per cent increase for many workers over the life of the contract.
It was the first offer made since the corporation's board was revamped following the NDP's victory in the October 3rd provincial election.
Unionized MPI workers have been off the job since August 28th.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Motorists are being reminded to keep an eye out for little ghosts and goblins on the streets this Halloween evening.
CAA is reminding drivers to slow down tonight and to be watching for youngsters darting out unexpectedly from yard fronts, driveways, and in between parked cars, as they are likely to be too excited to be looking for you.
It is also suggested that you turn on your headlights at least 30 minutes before sunset tonight.
Meanwhile, parents should ensure that their children's costumes are bright and include reflective items or accessories, in order for them to be seen easier by motorists.
Trick-or-treaters are reminded that they should stick to sidewalks and cross at marked crossings.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The average price for a litre of regular gasoline continues to fall in Manitoba.
According to GasBuddy.com, the average price dropped another 1.6 cents a litre in the past week to 152.06 cents.
That is 26.2 cents a litre cheaper than on this date one year ago and 7.7 cents a litre cheaper than one month ago.
It also remains lower than the national average price, which was 1.8 cents a litre cheaper than last week to sit at 154.52 cents.
Here in Dauphin, prices vary from 154.6 to 155.9 cents a litre.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
A select number of Dauphin homeowners will have a chance to test their homes for Radon for free.
The city is partnering with Take Action on Radon to provide the 100 Radon Test Kit Challenge – a program that provides free radon test kits to residents.
Radon is a human carcinogen and is seen as a cause of lung cancer in some Canadians.
Residents are encouraged to register for the testing program, which also includes an information clinic that will take place on November 8th at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
You can attend the clinic either in person or online via Zoom.
A maximum of 100 Radon test kits are being made available, and you must pre-register for the program in order to get one.
The kits will be available for pickup following the information session, until November 17th.
To register for this program, click on this link: https://form.jotform.com/232886191516261
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Ste Rose RCMP has a 26-year-old man from Sandy Bay in custody following a police chase last Thursday related to a report of a stolen truck.
Mounties were called to the Ebb and Flow First Nation around the noon hour on October 26th after a report of a stolen truck being spotted.
The truck had been reported stolen from the Glenella area.
The driver and truck fled the Ebb and Flow area at a high speed but were seen sometime later trying to get gas in the RM of Alonsa.
Another chase ensued, with the truck eventually getting stuck in a field off of road 116 N.
A suspect, who was already wanted for several firearms-related offences, fled on foot but was eventually tracked down and arrested in a marsh area, with assistance from a community member, the police dog service, and a drone unit from Manitoba First Nations Police Service.
He was treated on the scene by EMS before going into police custody.
His name has not been released and no word on when he will appear in court.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Unionized employees of Manitoba Public Insurance are voting on the latest contract offer made by the crown corporation.
The latest offer, which was tabled over the weekend, includes wage increases of 12.2 per cent over the four years of the deal, including three per cent for both last year and this year, as well as 2.9 per cent in 2024 and 3.3 per cent in 2025.
According to the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union, the offer also includes a one-time signing bonus of $1,800 per full-time employee and an additional 3.5 per cent increase for about 60 per cent of the unionized workers from a new maximum increment step for each pay grade.
Although still not happy with the new offer, MGEU President Kyle Ross said they would put it up for a vote by the membership.
Voting takes place until 6 pm Monday, with results to be announced Monday night.
If approved, it would end a strike that began on August 28.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Mounties in Dauphin are investigating a robbery that took place around the noon hour last Tuesday.
They say a masked male suspect entered a business on 1st Avenue NE and asked for help finding a few items - before taking the items and walking out of the store without paying for them.
An employee followed the suspect outside of the store, only to be assaulted and have a knife pulled on him.
The suspect, who was wearing a black jacket and carrying a black bag at the time, then left the scene on a red mountain bike.
RCMP are asking anyone who has info on this incident to please contact the Dauphin detachment at 204-622-5020 or Manitoba Crime Stoppers.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Helping families that have left Ukraine to establish roots in the Dauphin area is the focus behind the Parkland Ukrainian Family Fund.
PUFF was originally launched early in 2022 to help bring 2-3 families from Ukraine to our region, but the demand has grown immensely since then, and so have the donations that have come into it.
Pam Iwanchysko is a volunteer with PUFF and says the local business community has really gotten behind this program.
"People like Reit-Syd Equipment, who have hired I believe 5 or 6 of our Ukrainian Families already. And then one of the biggest ones we have seen is all of the dentists getting together to buy winter clothing for all of the children. Dauphin Co-op gave us twenty thousand dollars in gift cards for families to buy gift cards. So the list goes on and on and on."
And the need continues to grow, as Iwanchysko says another four families were slated to arrive in the region over the weekend.
But the fund has not only helped with getting families established in the region - it has also played a big role in helping them find employment.
PUFF volunteer Pam Iwanchysko says thanks to grants from both the Dauphin and District Community Foundation and Kia Canada, they have been able to launch a project called "Education for Employment."
"We have been able to hire a couple of local teachers who are teaching evening English classes so that they can get better employment opportunities. And so that in itself has allowed a lot more people to get jobs. And when I say a lot more people - we now have 54 more families in our community who anybody wants to get a job has done so. We have well over 150 people, including children, who have come to our community."
PUFF also received over $144,000 in funding from the Canadian Ukrainian Foundation to not only help furnish homes for these 54 families but also help pay for utilities and buy groceries while family members worked towards finding employment.
Iwanchysko says they are working with Community Futures Parkland, who are not only helping monitor the funding they receive but are also helping some of the families with future economic development ideas.
"For example, we have a family that wants to start a restaurant here in town and have traditional Ukrainian food for example. So they are helping them with their business plan, developing a website and social media platform - that kind of thing. They are helping from that perspective, which is great. And again, this is all done in kind."
You can donate to PUFF through Fusion Credit Union.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
An investigation is underway after the Ethelbert Fire Department was called to put out a blaze.
On October 28 at about 3:15 a.m., Dauphin RCMP were on patrol when they saw a structure fire in the RM of Ethelbert. A residence, about three kilometres north east of the Village of Ethelbert, was fully engulfed in flames.
The residence, which is a complete loss, was unoccupied at the time of the blaze and evidence at the scene indicates that the fire was intentionally set.
If you have any information regarding the fire, you're asked to call the Dauphin RCMP at 204-622-5020.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Local brewer Obsolete Brewing walked away with three awards from the Canada Beer Cup, which was held late last week by the Canadian Craft Brewers Association.
Their Dial Up Altbier took gold in the Altbier/Sticke (Strong) Altbier/Dark Lagered category.
Two other Obsolete Brewing products were also recognized, as their Music Machine Sour - Gramaphone and DIPA 64 brews each received bronze in their respective categories.
In a news release, Obsolete Brewing Co-owner Steve Sobering credited their brewer Marco Bardelli for their success.
The Canada Beer Cup recognizes independently-owned and -operated breweries across Canada.
The competition featured 66 different beer-style groups in 11 different categories.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
