Shannon Dueck

It is not even fall, yet The Old Farmer's Almanac is providing a sneak peek today at what we can expect for winter here in southern Manitoba.

Associate Editor Tim Goodwin says they are forecasting a colder than normal winter, with plenty of snow. And, he says the snow showers will start early.

"Beginning of November, you could be starting to see snow showers there in that southeastern corner," he says. "And it's going to start to get cool."

Manitoba is banning the use of cellphones by students in the classroom, beginning next month. 

Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Nello Altomare says this is being done to minimize distractions in schools. 

A press release issued by our provincial government says that to ensure consistency across the province, schools and school divisions will implement updated policies. However, the ban includes the following:

A public hearing organized by the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region will not be happening in Niverville today.

The hearing was intended to shed light on proposed legislation, particularly Bill 37, which could reshape regional governance. The Winnipeg Metropolitan Region Plan20-50 public hearing was scheduled for Thursday afternoon at the Niverville Heritage Centre.

Manitoba teachers are getting a pay raise.

Teachers have ratified the first-ever provincial collective agreement. In a news release, The Manitoba Teacher's Society (MTS) states that nearly 70 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballots, with 95 per cent voting 'yes' to the deal. The deal covers public school teachers in the 37 anglophone school divisions. 

A portion of Highway 75 near the junction of PR 210 and St. Adolphe was closed for a portion of Friday afternoon and majority of the evening as a result of a two vehicle crash.

St. Pierre RCMP reported the collision happened Friday at 1:40 pm near the Provincial Road 210 turnoff. The crash involved a semi and pickup truck.

According to the Ritchot Fire Department, two of the occupants received minor injuries.

The highways were reopened just before 1 a.m. Saturday morning.

There is no word on what caused the crash. 

The Manitoba Teachers' Society (MTS) is calling it a historic breakthrough. 

After two years of what it considers intense negotiations aimed at amalgamating the 37 teacher collective agreements under provincial jurisdictions, the MTS Table Team says it achieved a historic breakthrough on Thursday of last week, at the anglophone bargaining table.

Morris RCMP are investigating an alleged hit and run that happened earlier this week west of Rosenort.

Police received a complaint on Tuesday at 8:15 am that a motorcycle had been hit by a vehicle at the intersection of Provincial Road (PR) 205 and PR 422, one mile west of the community.

According to RCMP, the 62-year-old male operator of the motorcycle suffered minor injuries. Police were told that he had been hit by a brown coloured Honda Civic, which did not remain at the scene, but continued driving south towards Morris.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Member of Parliament for Provencher wants to make sure that the ability to use cash as currency is not lost in our country.

Ted Falk had the opportunity last week to introduce a private member's bill. Bill C-400 has been tabled, which calls for a national framework to ensure continued access to and use of cash in Canada. 

RCMP are asking the public to be on the lookout for three missing children.

On Sunday morning, at 2 am, Boissevain RCMP received a report that three children, who had been previously reported missing in December 2023, from Durham, Ontario, were at the Boissevain Port of Entry.

Officers arrived on scene and located the three children, who were unharmed and with their mother, 55-year-old Astrid Schiller. The children were immediately taken into care.

RCMP are asking the public to be on the lookout for three missing children.

On Sunday morning, at 2 am, Boissevain RCMP received a report that three children, who had been previously reported missing in December 2023, from Durham, Ontario, were at the Boissevain Port of Entry.

Officers arrived on scene and located the three children, who were unharmed and with their mother, 55-year-old Astrid Schiller. The children were immediately taken into care.