Candace Derksen

The Community Orchard in Altona will continue to take shape this spring.
    
A-CAN, the grassroots group behind the effort, planted a shelter belt and built some berms at the site, located just north of the Community Garden, last year.

Authorities have identified two persons of interest in connection to last month's fire at Grace St. John's Anglican Lutheran Church in Carman.
    
It didn't take long for Pembina Valley RCMP to declare the devastating early-morning March 13th blaze as suspicious and appealed to the public for any video surveillance footage that could help in the investigation.

Now, RCMP has released two photos from video surveillance depicting the persons of interest and are once again looking to the public, this time to help figure out who the pair is. 

If you've got a pad mount transformer in your yard, Manitoba Hydro wants you to keep one thing in mind this spring.
    
As sump pumps start gurgling to life, homeowners are being reminded to direct those hoses away from the green electrical boxes sometimes found in yards.
    
According to the Crown utility, Hydro crews have spotted several transformers with puddles around them and, while the units are designed to be safe even when wet, it says standing water can corrode the equipment requiring costly repairs and causing power outages. 
    

If a lack of truck or trailer is keeping you from getting rid of large items from your home, the Town of Altona wants to help.
    
Starting May 1st, you'll be able to schedule a date and time for Public Works to come get those items that can't be taken during regular curbside collection and dispose of them at the waste diversion loop or landfill. It's all part of the Town's new, year-round Bulky Waste Pick-Up Service.

A young man from Rosenort was quite shaken up after an altercation late Thursday evening in the community.

The incident was reported to RCMP at 11:25 p.m., and authorities say the 14-year-old was out walking his dog when he was apparently approached by an unknown person who may have attempted to assault him. The youth suffered minor injuries defending himself.

Morris RCMP are investigating.

A young man from Rosenort was quite shaken up after an altercation late Thursday evening in the community.

The incident was reported to RCMP at 11:25 p.m., and authorities say the 14-year-old was out walking his dog when he was apparently approached by an unknown person who may have attempted to assault him. The youth suffered minor injuries defending himself.

Morris RCMP are investigating.

Officers with the Pembina Valley RCMP are some of the latest in Manitoba to be equipped with body worn cameras.

In November, Manitoba RCMP announced that by this April, more than 490 officers in 44 of the province's detachments would be sporting the devices. Pembina Valley RCMP members received theirs last week Thursday. 

Trustees for the Border Land School Division (BLSD) have approved a $2.2 million increase in spending for 2025/26. In total, the Board has approved a $43.1 million budget for the coming year. The division has schools in Sprague, Vita and Dominion City here in the southeast.

Portage-Lisgar MP Branden Leslie is feeling optimistic Saturday's townhall in Altona answered some questions that area residents have been raising as the border security discussion continues to unfold. The Conservative MP hosted the townhall in response to inquiries that have been filtering into his office in recent months.

Altona police are investigating after a threatening letter was received by staff at a local institution last week Monday.
    
According to authorities, the sender was threatening violence against a member of the staff, however the letter wasn't signed.
    
Police Chief Dan Defer says uttering threats of violence and or death, whether written or verbal, is a criminal offence.

"You could get convicted and it's a violence conviction. So, any time there's a violence conviction you're also looking at other issues," he explained.