Candace Derksen

Hot, humid days and sticky evenings didn't keep the crowds away from Altona's 2024 Manitoba Sunflower Festival this past weekend. 

From the opening ceremonies Friday evening, the giant commercial parade Saturday morning and Kinzie Friesen crowned the 2024 Manitoba Sunflower Queen in the evening, followed by Sunday's church service in the park and Legends Car Club car show, people came out in droves to make the 2024 event one of the most successful in recent years. 

A grassroots group is looking for a few extra sets of eyes and ears to help launch a crime prevention effort in the Town of Carman and the R.M. of Dufferin.
    
Monica Halbesma, Carman-Dufferin Fire Department's public education safety coordinator, says they've been approved to start a Citizens on Patrol Program (COPP).

"Unfortunately, our community has been experiencing some vandalism and car thefts," she explained.

After a few weather delays, the updated swimming pool in Morris is now open.

"The heavy rains in the spring were certainly not helpful in making this dream become a reality," said Mayor Scott Crick. "The reality is here, and the pool opened a few weeks ago."

"We now have a beautiful facility that is going to serve every member of the community for the next generation," he added, noting this wasn't a project that happened overnight. 

$600,000 in work was done on the pool, including the addition of a zero-entry feature, improving accessibility. 

It's been slow going for crews trying to re-surface Riverside Road in the R.M. of Morris. Work started last week, but the recent rains have created some challenges.
    
"The intention is, again, weather related, to get that project over with this summer and see what this product can do for us," said Reeve Scott Siemens.

Just under 985 kilowatt hours were registered on the Town of Altona's electric vehicle charging station in the first six months since it was installed.

According to a report submitted to council, 38 users plugged into the free service during that span for a total of 84 hours and 39 minutes. That adds up to just under $1 per minute, at a cost of $83.72 incurred by the Town.

Several reports of scams have once again filtered into the Winkler Police Service.
    
This past week, a woman reported that she responded to an ad on Instagram promising to make money working from home. She sent a large amount of money to a crypto currency brokerage and when she later requested the money that she had sent be released, the so-called brokerage asked her to send another more money. That's when she realized it was a scam. 

A man also reported unauthorized transactions were made from his bank account. 

Crews with Maple Leaf Construction are set to arrive in Altona on July 2nd and begin plugging away at Council's $1 million road renewal project. 

In total, they'll be tackling 19 priority areas. Mayor Harv Schroeder admits, that's more than Council thought would get done with the money it had set aside. 

The cool, rainy weather this spring has meant a slow start for the season's activities in more ways than one. That holds true in the Town of Morris where residents are eager to try out the community's renovated pool.

"Unfortunately, the weather this spring hasn't been conducive, even though there was a bit of a head start on getting the zero-entry done to the pool last year, however, it has now delayed the opening of the pool," explained Mayor Scott Crick. 

The pool is now expected to open later this month with the dates still to be determined. 

Fifty-seven per cent of students in Border Land School Division (BLSD) feel a high sense of belonging, according to the Our School Survey conducted this past fall. That is slightly below the national average of 62 per cent, notes assistant superintendent, Shauna Hamm.

Manitoba premier, Wab Kinew, is in France this week representing the province at D-Day 80th anniversary ceremonies. He is joined by Waverley MLA and the province's military liaison, David Pankratz, paying respect to the veterans and the fallen soldiers and to say 'thank you' for protecting our freedoms and liberties.