Thursday, June 24, 2010

New source for breaking news!

Posted by Kate

From now on, please go to myWestman.ca for the latest in breaking news from around Westman.

Monday, May 31, 2010

New ejector rules

Provincial government release

The province has finalized amendments to its Onsite Wastewater Management Systems Regulation to address concerns about the province's phase-out of sewage ejectors, Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie announced today.

"The amendments respond to the concerns of rural homeowners while continuing to ensure the protection of human health and the environment," said Blaikie. "These measures continue as part of the province's overall effort to reduce potential impacts on water quality."

Rural homeowners considering transferring or subdividing a property may now apply to the province to retain an existing sewage ejector following property transfer or subdivision, provided the sewage ejector is:

- not located within an environmentally sensitive area,

- located on a minimum of 10 acres, and

- in compliance with all other regulatory requirements.

Homeowners selling their property may also apply to transfer the responsibility of phasing out the ejector to the new homeowner or to extend the time available for the phase-out. As in the original rules, the new requirements have no impact on any property owner who is not transferring or subdividing.

A low-interest loan program is being developed by the province for those who may be required to replace their sewage ejector systems for property transfer or subdivision.

More information is available at Manitoba Conservation offices and:
www.manitoba.ca/conservation/envprograms/wastewater.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Busy week for Minnedosa RCMP

By Cpl. Brian Huff
Detachment commander, Minnedosa RCMP

A busy week for Spruce Plains Area with the Neepawa Homecoming and the warmer weather. Minnedosa members responded to 17 calls for service locally in addition to assisting with traffic control and calls for service over the Homecoming weekend. Normally, I restrict this report to events that occur in the Minnedosa Area but seeing how we were mingled up for the weekend, you'll find a couple of Neepawa related incidents as well.

An elderly patient of the Minnedosa Hospital sparked our attention on the evening of the 13th when he went missing from his room. Thankfully, the gentleman misunderstood the doctors directions, packed up his stuff and drove home where he was located later that evening. As well, members responded to another missing elderly person from the Gladstone Care home on the evening of the 14th. This one decided to wheel down (in his wheel chair) to a local dance and get his groove on. I only hope I have that much stamina in my later years.

As most of you are aware, members along with the Neepawa Fire and EMS were dispatched to a residential house fire in the town of Minnedosa at 8:30 PM on the 14th of May. The fully engulfed single story bungalow on 3rd Avenue SW ignited some large spruce trees and as a result, the adjacent single story bungalow also caught fire.

Minnedosa Fire Department contained and extinguished the blaze before any further properties were affected. The members of the fire department should be commended for their quick and professional response to what could have been even more serious had it not been for their outstanding efforts. The initial home is considered a total loss. The second home is damaged by fire and smoke. An estimate of damage for either properties is not known at this time. There were no injuries as a result of this incident. The property representatives were able to evacuate the buildings prior to the fire spreading and have been provided shelter by local members of the community. A portion of 3rd Avenue SW was closed by Police for 6 hours during this incident for reasons of public safety and scene security.

The Office of the Fire Commissioner in conjunction with the RCMP have completed their investigation after sifting through the remains until 2 AM the following morning. The fire has been ruled "electrical".

Members concentrated on traffic enforcement throughout the weekend and followed up with liquor related offences during the evening. I was driving down Main street in Neepawa on Saturday when much to my surprise, I observed living renditions of Starsky & Hutch lurking near the Home Hardware. Looking to get an autograph from the ray ban wearing bandits, I wheeled around the block and much to my chagrin, they had disappeared. Wondering if I perhaps needed another cup of coffee or donut...out of the corner of my eye, appears my version of Hutch....standing behind the Bargain Shop pulling back on a cold one (and I don't mean iced tea). Long story short, they poured out their new case of beer and fine in hand, were on their way back to the beer vendor.

Here's where it gets even better. Not more than an hour later....I hear the same boys being queried by another officer. These boys had picked up another case of beer and were caught yet again. This time however, they were next to their vehicle and the officers found some drugs as well as the liquor. My partner in press (Cst. Devoe) will expand on this one I'm sure on the Neepawa side so be sure to look for his article!

Speeder of the week goes to a 19 year old fellow from Brandon when he was stopped on Highway #10 in the RM of Minto traveling 126 KPH. That's a fine of $381.25.

For the golfers out there, the Emergency Services Golf Tournament is a "GO" for launch this year. The Tournament will once again be held at the Minnedosa Golf Course on Monday June the 7th. Shotgun start at 1 PM and following 18 beautiful holes of golf, your appetite will be extinguished with a well prepared meal at the same location. Carts are available by calling the Golf Course directly and you can register at the Minnedosa RCMP by calling or dropping by. We look forward to spending the day with you!!

Have a safe week!

Busy week for Minnedosa RCMP

By Cpl. Brian Huff
Detachment commander, Minnedosa RCMP

A busy week for Spruce Plains Area with the Neepawa Homecoming and the warmer weather. Minnedosa members responded to 17 calls for service locally in addition to assisting with traffic control and calls for service over the Homecoming weekend. Normally, I restrict this report to events that occur in the Minnedosa Area but seeing how we were mingled up for the weekend, you'll find a couple of Neepawa related incidents as well.

An elderly patient of the Minnedosa Hospital sparked our attention on the evening of the 13th when he went missing from his room. Thankfully, the gentleman misunderstood the doctors directions, packed up his stuff and drove home where he was located later that evening. As well, members responded to another missing elderly person from the Gladstone Care home on the evening of the 14th. This one decided to wheel down (in his wheel chair) to a local dance and get his groove on. I only hope I have that much stamina in my later years.

As most of you are aware, members along with the Neepawa Fire and EMS were dispatched to a residential house fire in the town of Minnedosa at 8:30 PM on the 14th of May. The fully engulfed single story bungalow on 3rd Avenue SW ignited some large spruce trees and as a result, the adjacent single story bungalow also caught fire.

Minnedosa Fire Department contained and extinguished the blaze before any further properties were affected. The members of the fire department should be commended for their quick and professional response to what could have been even more serious had it not been for their outstanding efforts. The initial home is considered a total loss. The second home is damaged by fire and smoke. An estimate of damage for either properties is not known at this time. There were no injuries as a result of this incident. The property representatives were able to evacuate the buildings prior to the fire spreading and have been provided shelter by local members of the community. A portion of 3rd Avenue SW was closed by Police for 6 hours during this incident for reasons of public safety and scene security.

The Office of the Fire Commissioner in conjunction with the RCMP have completed their investigation after sifting through the remains until 2 AM the following morning. The fire has been ruled "electrical".

Members concentrated on traffic enforcement throughout the weekend and followed up with liquor related offences during the evening. I was driving down Main street in Neepawa on Saturday when much to my surprise, I observed living renditions of Starsky & Hutch lurking near the Home Hardware. Looking to get an autograph from the ray ban wearing bandits, I wheeled around the block and much to my chagrin, they had disappeared. Wondering if I perhaps needed another cup of coffee or donut...out of the corner of my eye, appears my version of Hutch....standing behind the Bargain Shop pulling back on a cold one (and I don't mean iced tea). Long story short, they poured out their new case of beer and fine in hand, were on their way back to the beer vendor.

Here's where it gets even better. Not more than an hour later....I hear the same boys being queried by another officer. These boys had picked up another case of beer and were caught yet again. This time however, they were next to their vehicle and the officers found some drugs as well as the liquor. My partner in press (Cst. Devoe) will expand on this one I'm sure on the Neepawa side so be sure to look for his article!

Speeder of the week goes to a 19 year old fellow from Brandon when he was stopped on Highway #10 in the RM of Minto traveling 126 KPH. That's a fine of $381.25.

For the golfers out there, the Emergency Services Golf Tournament is a "GO" for launch this year. The Tournament will once again be held at the Minnedosa Golf Course on Monday June the 7th. Shotgun start at 1 PM and following 18 beautiful holes of golf, your appetite will be extinguished with a well prepared meal at the same location. Carts are available by calling the Golf Course directly and you can register at the Minnedosa RCMP by calling or dropping by. We look forward to spending the day with you!!

Have a safe week!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Neepawa Esso temporarily closed


Posed by Kate

This morning, the Neepawa Esso station at the west junction of Hwy. #5 and Hwy. #16 was closed for business.
A representative from Ontario-based Pioneer Petroleum said they were doing inventory in order to change the location from an independent to a company store.
Pioneer Petroleum purchase the building from previous owners 5517665 Manitoba Ltd. last month when the property went up for mortgage auction.
The inventory of fuel, merchandise and equipment began this morning around 9:30 and was expected to be complete this afternoon.
Read this week's Banner to learn more.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Come see the stars of tomorrow!

Posted by Kate

The Lily Festival is hosting a "Stars of Tomorrow" Talent Night in the Roxy Theater on Thurs, May 13th at 7:30pm.

ADMISSION is FREE and the Festival committee would like a big audience for these young ladies and gentlemen as they strut their stuff.

To register for the competition, contact Audrey Heffell by phone 204-476-8811, or Email info@lilyfestival.com

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Police Briefs

By Cst. Kevin Devoe
Neepawa - Gladstone RCMP


Neepawa and Gladstone RCMP members responded to 38 calls for service
during the week of April 19th to the 25th. Calls for service ranged
from traffic violations to Criminal Code investigations, which included
theft and impaired driving.

A male resident of Neepawa was charged impaired driving. Police pulled
his vehicle over in the early hours of Saturday morning in the town of
Neepawa and observed an odour of liquor coming from inside his vehicle.
He was detained for a road side breath test. The driver failed and was
subsequently arrested for impaired driving. He was then escorted back
to the Neepawa RCMP Detachment where it was determined his blood alcohol
levels were over the legal limit. He was then released on a Promise to
Appear with a court date scheduled for June 1st in Neepawa Provincial
Court.

Police issued a number of tickets and warnings under the Highway
Traffic Act this past week. Violations included imprudent driving,
failure to display a front licence plate, dark window tint applied to a
vehicle and speeding. Top speeder of the week goes to a Winnipeg
resident, who was issued a speeding ticket for driving 30 km/h over the
posted speed limit. The total cost of the ticket was $431.75.

Police would also like to remind residents that there is no parking on
the west side of Mountain Avenue, near the Anglican Church, on the
corner of Main Street and Mountain Ave. As vehicles continue to be
parked there, residents are having a difficult time exiting their
driveways. Tickets can and will be issued, should this problem continue
to be an issue.

Police received a call about a stolen bicycle in Gladstone. It is
described as a CCM Riptide men’s mountain bike, off-white in colour.
Police have no suspects to date.

With the warmer weather approaching, two-wheeled transportation is once
again becoming popular. Bike owners should make sure they protect
themselves against theft. When leaving your bicycle unattended, be sure
to use a recommended lock to secure it. Bicycle owners should also
photograph and copy down the serial number, just in case they become a
victim of theft.

If anyone has information that could lead to solving a crime, please
call the Neepawa RCMP at 476-7340, Gladstone RCMP at 385-3035 or Crime
Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Information can also be submitted
on the internet at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com.

Kevin Devoe has been a member of the Neepawa RCMP since September
2008.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Winnipeg Police Officer Charged in Assault Complaint

Posted by Kate

On April 25, 2009, shortly before 2:30 am, the RCMP Neepawa Detachment were notified of that a man had been assaulted outside a licenced premise in the Town of Neepawa. RCMP and local EMS attended, a large crowd was noted outside the establishment and a 52-year-old Neepawa man was found semi-conscious at the scene. He was conveyed to the Neepawa Hospital where he was admitted with non-life threatening injuries.

An investigation followed and on October 29, 2009 the investigative report was submitted to Manitoba Justice for opinion. On March 29, 2010, the RCMP Neepawa Detachment received Crown opinion to lay a charge of Assault Cause Bodily Harm.

Thirty-six year old Kenneth LePage of the Winnipeg Police Service has now been formerly charged with Assault Cause Bodily Harm and has been summonsed to appear in Neepawa Provincial Court on June 1, 2010.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Update: Accident on Hwy #5 north of Neepawa

Posted by Neils

Police reports received this morning confirmed that the 50-year-old Winnipegosis woman involved in the collision with BPSD school bus has succumbed to her injuries. By request of the family the woman will not be identified.

Police report that the investigation continues, the Banner will continue to keep you updated with any further details.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Accident on Hwy #5 north of Neepawa

Posted by Kate

At 8:25 this morning, RCMP Neepawa Detachment along with local EMS, the Eden Fire Department and the Neepawa Fire Department were dispatched to a two vehicle collision about 3 miles north of Neepawa on Highway 5 at the intersection of a gravel road in the RM of Rosedale.

A vehicle, driven by a 50-year-old woman from Winnipegosis, collided into the side of a school bus carrying 13 children. The students were in both elementary school and high school.

Ray Derksen of the BPSD reports that school division personnel were on site prior to the arrival of EMS and kept the students still until they could be check out.

The students underwent a preliminary assessment by EMS on site and were then transported to the Neepawa Hospital. Parents of the students were contacted and told to meet their children at the hospital. Derksen said, "From the EMS assessment, there was no visible trauma [to the students] as far as we know, but they were shaken up emotionally."

All parents of students in the northern part of the division were contacted.

The driver of the vehicle was also transported to the Neepawa Hospital and is being transferred to the Health Sciences Centre. Her condition is not known by police at the present time.

Alcohol is not considered a factor. However, poor visibility due to heavy fog is.

The RCMP Neepawa continue to investigate assisted by the RCMP Dauphin Reconstructionist.

The Banner will keep you updated as more information is known.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Missing person


The RCMP in Dauphin, Manitoba are seeking the public's assistance in locating 15 year old Sheldon Desmond Wayne MOAR. MOAR was last seen at his foster home in Dauphin on January 8th, 2010. Sheldon MOAR is approximately 190 cm (6'3",) 78 kg (170 lbs) with short black hair and brown eyes. Anyone who has seen or knows the whereabouts of Sheldon MOAR is asked to contact the Dauphin RCMP at (204) 622-5020.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Springhill wage agreement up for a vote

By Ken Waddell
The Neepawa Banner

As the United Food and Commercial Workers #832 (UFCW) and Hytek-Springhill hog processing plant at Neepawa wait for the new proposed wage agreement to be translated from English into Korean and Ukrainian, both sides are hoping for a positive ratification vote.
The outcome of the vote may have been placed in jeopardy by an incorrect story in one of the local newspapers, The Neepawa Press.
In an interview with The Neepawa Banner, UFCW negotiator Jeff Traeger said,"The front page story in The Neepawa Press was completely wrong"
The Neepawa Press quoted a web site source and outlined details for an old proposed wage agreement. Those details have nothing to do with the proposed new agreement. Traeger said on Thursday, Feb. 4, "I'm having a really bad day. When I read the story, I see it was from an archived web site from 2002 that The Neepawa Press quoted. In the article, they quoted from the Members for Democracy which ceased to exist in 2006. That old archived web site still has the June 10, 2002 Springhill wage agreement proposal listed and that agreement was good for two years." Since that time a later five year agreement was accepted and it just ran out on January 31, 2010.
A very upset Traeger said, "The only true part in the story in The Neepawa Press is that we negotiated a new agreement before the old one ran out. This is the most shoddy piece of journalism I have ever seen. Here we have an agreement being translated and that will be released to every member at meetings on February 8 and we have this untrue story in every member's mail box."
Traeger went on to say, "We have a very good contract proposal on the table and both the union and the company are recommending members accept it. It's sad that members might take this false information from The Neepawa Press story and decide to go on strike. It will be a sad day for Neepawa and everyone involved if the workers are walking the picket line based on an inaccurate story."
The UFCW is planning member information sessions at Neepawa's Yellowhead Centre on February 8. Traeger said," We are having the information sessions on Monday and I had hoped I could spend my time explaining the agreement rather than having to have every member have a Neepawa Press in their hands and then having to explain that their story is wrong."
Traeger said, "We have obtained the use of the former lunch room right at the (Springhill) plant to hold the vote on February 9, starting at 5 a.m and running until 6 p.m. We're hoping that with a 13 hour vote and with it being held on-site we will give everyone a chance to vote"

Thursday, January 14, 2010

East View Lodge gets green light

Minister approves sale to Town of Neepawa
By Ken Waddell/The Neepawa Banner

Although it's been stalled in amongst political traffic for about 8 months, the old East View Lodge housing project in Neepawa has finally been given the green light. The five story former care home, a land mark on Neepawa's east entrance, was de-commisioned in the spring of 2009 when residents were moved to Country Meadows Care Home located at Neepawa's west end.

Throughout the planning and constructions stage of Country Meadows, a big question was always "what to do with East View"? The building had been turned over by the community to the Marquette Regional Health Authority in the mid 1990s. MRHA later amalgamated with South-West Regional Health Authority and was named Assiniboine Regional Health Authority. EVL is considered to be a solid building, just not suitable for the high level of care needs that are being met at Country Meadows. The ARHA had always intended to dispose of EVL and had wanted to do so as soon as it was empty. The monthly costs of taxes, hydro, heat and maintenance have eaten an unnecessary and unwanted hole in the ARHA budget. That disposal didn't happen as wished as the provincial government, specifically Health Minister Theresa Oswald held up the process. Although no clear reason was given for the delay, it was assumed that the government wanted to try and get some value for the old building and wanted a clear and transparent process. As it turned out the delay was costly both in terms of time, money and delaying much needed housing

The Town of Neepawa had submitted a plan in conjunction with Adler Properties, a consortium of three companies who planned to turn the building into apartments.That proposal and the accompanying agreements lapsed as the months dragged on. The government then agreed to put EVL up for tender and tenders closed late in 2009. No bids were received.

Local MLA Stu Briese, the Town of Neepawa lobbied hard to get a decision from Minister Oswald.

On Jan, 13 the word finally came down that the ARHA had been given permission to go ahead with the deal. ARHA VP of Finance Ted Bartlett said, "The board has received approval from the minister of health to dispose of East View to the Town of Neepawa for one dollar." Bartett explained that as of Jan. 14 the documents had been forwarded to the Town's solicitor for the paper work to be processed.

Town of Neepawa Mayor Bob Durston confirmed that the Town had received the go ahead. "Agreements have to be signed," said Durston which confirmed what Bartlett had said. It also means that the Town of Neepawa can now go ahead with updating the lapsed agreement with Adler properties.

Adler Properties' plan calls for renovations to begin as soon as the documents are in place. They have workers and sub-trades lined up and have blueprints ready to go that call for turning the EVL into apartment style housing.

Neepawa has a huge and chronic housing shortage in part due to 225 immigrant workers coming to Neepawa to work at Hytek-Springhill hog plant. Hytek plans to bring in several more workers to staff the expanding plant.

Historical side note: In 1999 it was announced that EVL was to be replaced. The government changed in 1999 and the project was delayed and not completed until 2009. The cost more than doubled to $29 million. Around 2000, the then CEO of the MRHA anticipated the new care home project might go ahead soon and offered to sell the EVL for a dollar. I happen to know that's true as I was mayor of Neepawa at the time and the offer was extended to me on behalf of the Town of Neepawa. I assured the CEO that the Town would look favorably on that offer. Neither of us knew how many years would pass before it came true.

Friday, January 8, 2010

The cauldron is lit!

Posted by Kate/Neepawa Banner

Neepawa's community torch bearer Muriel Gamey lit the cauldron at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay community celebration in Neepawa today.

On January 8 at 12:48 p.m., John Nelson kicked off Neepawa's leg of the Olympic Torch Relay riding on a 1940 International Harvester Model H tractor owned by Barrie Baker. The Olympic flame came from Gladstone, where torchbearers carried it north on Morris St and then west on Dennis St.

After stopping in Neepawa, the flame headed west to Minnedosa.

In Neepawa, volunteers and torch run organizers began early this morning setting up tents and stages for the community celebration which ran over lunch. Initially scheduled to take place outside at the Yellowhead Centre, the entertainment was moved inside due to temperatures reaching -30C.

Despite the cold weather, as the flame made its way down Mountain Ave., the streets were lined with people cheering.

Community torch bearer Muriel Gamey took the flame to the Yellowhead Centre for the community celebration. After passing through the hall, she went outside to light the cauldron.

When torch bearer Karen Hickman left the Yellowhead with the flame, she was joined by runners from Hazel M. Kellington School.

Read more in next week's Neepawa Banner


See a video of the torch run.

Check our YouTube Channel for additional videos.

Want to know where the torch is now? Click here!


Thursday, January 7, 2010

VANCOUVER 2010 OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY TORCHBEARER LIST

Day 71: January 08, 2010 - Portage la Prairie, MB to
Brandon, MB

Billy Meeches
Joshua Pashe
Oleksandr Kondrashov
Brandon Ashcroft
Chris Coppinger
Stephanie Reling
Jim Anderson
Warren Beleyowski
ken koots
Phillip Fontaine
Chad Dedelley
dale kasper
Roger Merrick
Eryn Wiebe
Peter Reid
Janelle Lafantaisie
Justin Ford
Jovan Hofer
John Nelson
Lise Leflour
Murray Lang
Allison Snezyk
Elorie Macchia
Harold Isfeld
Muriel Gamey
Karen Hickman
Cheryl Dixon
Gregory Wiebe
Denise Tinkler
Kenny Proden
Meghan Classen
Patrick Gross
Jessica Biggs
Debra Kasprick
Paige Krueger-Trottier
Bonnie Glasman
Michael McNabb
Kara Falkowski
Doug Fansher
Elaine Feniuk
Nina Crawford
Carmen Henry
kristjana schure
Matt Chartrand
Kaitlyn Spulnick
Marc Lavoie
Adam Cyr
Sean Osztian
Mark Pelletier
Andrew Evans
Marco Lauzon
Candace Mundy
Sheri Fisher
Jason O'Neill
Chelsea Braybrook
George Kennedy
Paul Caines
Tom Foster
Donald Askeland
Michael Tintor
Michael Burns
Glen Kirkland
Ryan Coward
Julie Joannette
Jamie McKinley
James Mackenzie
Thomas Mauthe
Dale Fust
Michael Blatherwick
Maria Leach
Barry Hales
Allison Manning
Jaime Manser
Jaimee Schmidt
Jonathan Tyler Blatz
Kris Prior
Drew Caldwell
Debbie Burkart
Lowell Haugen
Marla Fontaine
Johnathan Kelly
Grace Farmer
Orlando Sanchez
Brad Alexander
Benjamin Kay
Jean-Paul Bellamy
Patrick Rae
Ken Shepherd
Grace Krinke
Richard Amann
Don McNabb
Wade Strand
Marcus Krinke
Leo Collins

ROUTE MAP LINK
http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/torch-relays/olympic-torch-relay/theroute/
interactive-map/-/58040/17ckajb/index.html