Candace Derksen

The Southern Health region is seeing cases of pertussis - more commonly known as whooping cough - approach pre-pandemic levels.

"It's not at the point where we'd say it's an outbreak," says Dr. Davinder Singh, a medical health officer with the regional health authority. "But it's at the upper end of what we had seen before the pandemic in terms of years where there was a high number of pertussis cases in the region."

Ten residents from the Borderland constituency were presented with the Queen's Platinum Jubliee Medal at a ceremony Monday at the Manitoba Legislature. 

Interest in the Altona Community Garden continues to gain strength, and more plots will be available for rent this year as a result.
    
Jack Heppner explained, 12 additional plots are being created on the west side, and Town Council recently approved another 20 on a piece of land to the east of the Garden, south of the Blue Sky Opportunities recycling shop. 

"Last year we had 110 plots that we rented, and it just seemed like this year, people kept coming and so, we just needed more room," said Heppner.

Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre is monitoring a forecasted weather system that could bring significant snowfall to most central and western Manitoba basins.

RM of Stuartburn Reeve, Michelle Gawronsky, has been tapped to co-chair the re-ignited Roseau River International Watershed Committee.
    
Established in 2000, the watershed is an alliance between Manitoba and Minnesota with a mission to conduct proper resource management in the Roseau River watershed including flood control, economic, human and natural resources, and water quality and quantity.

Representatives met in December, the first time after the pandemic, and decided to revive the group's efforts.

R.M. of Stuartburn Reeve, Michelle Gawronsky, has been tapped to co-chair the re-ignited Roseau River International Watershed Committee.
    
Established in 2000, the watershed is an alliance between Manitoba and Minnesota with a mission to conduct proper resource management in the Roseau River watershed including flood control, economic, human and natural resources, and water quality and quantity.

Representatives met in December, the first time after the pandemic, and decided to revive the group's efforts.

Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre is advising the public that recent warm temperatures have initiated spring thaw and surface run-off has begun in most southern and central Manitoba basins.

The centre is issuing an overland flood watch for eastern Manitoba including Winnipeg and areas east of Provincial Trunk Highway 75. The watch will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. tomorrow to 12 p.m. on April 15.

A $9,668 donation from the employee-owners at Friesens Corp. has lifted the spirits of healthcare workers in Altona and boosted their strength. That from Neelam Borrison, Manager of the Altona Community Memorial Health Centre who accepted the cheque at a presentation Wednesday. 

Staff at Friesens selected the facility as the beneficiary of a giving initiative during their annual book fair this past January.

The spring melt is underway, and communities along the Red River are bracing for annual seasonal flooding.

In it's last update posted Tuesday, Manitoba's Hydrologic Forecast Centre reported a maintained risk of major spring flooding along the main steam of the Red River between Emerson and the Floodway inlet. The flood protection level of community dikes, and individual flood protection works in the Red River basin, are higher than predicted flood levels and are expected to protect communities and properties in the region.

The Reeve for Emerson-Franklin continues to hope for a slow melt; however, Mother Nature continues to appear to have other ideas. With highs around 10 degrees Celsius forecast for today and tomorrow, the sun is sure to continue making short work of the snowpack. 
    
Dave Carlson says municipal crews have removed snow piles from communities and remain busy opening drains and steaming iced-up culverts, paying special attention to the typical problem areas, in order to keep water flowing.