Candace Derksen

Council for the Municipality of Rhineland is going ahead with an updated Special Services Levy for the L.U.D. of Gretna. 
    
The decision is three years in the making after discussion was tabled in late 2020, largely because of opposition from Mennonite Collegiate Institute officials claiming the added taxes would impose a financial hardship on the private Christian school. Members of the Gretna Bergthaler Church Council also voiced concerns.

Authorities are investigating after a body was found near the railroad tracks in Dominion City on Saturday morning.
    
Not many details have been released at this time, however RCMP say that a 30-year-old man from Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation was pronounced deceased at the scene. It is believed he was struck by a train overnight.
    
RCMP along with Canadian Pacific Railway continue to investigate.

Elmer's Manufacturing is set to be recognized by the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters.
    
The company, based just north of Altona, will be presented with the CME's Export Award at a gala dinner at the end of March. 
    
The Export Award celebrates a company that demonstrates excellence in expanding its market numerically and geographically.
    
In addition, A.D. Plett, the founder of Westfield Industries in Rosenort, will posthumously receive the CME's Pioneer Award. 
    

The two welding programs operated by the Red River Technical Vocational Area (RRTVA) have been outfitted with new personal protective equipment kits, thanks to a pair of grants from the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB). Both the Morden and Morris programs received 20 packages, each worth $750, for a total of $15,000 worth of equipment per program.

Each kit contains:

1 - Bag 3M™ Speedglas™ Carry Bag, SG-90, black

1- Beanie 3M™ Speedglas™ Welding Beanie, 06-0500-54, black 

1- Welding Helmet 3M™ Speedglas™ Welding Helmet 9002NC, 04-0100-20NC-CA 

To commemorate its 60th anniversary, The Gardens on Tenth Board of Directors has launched a $500,000 fund raising effort. 

As reported earlier, the Board has embarked on a significant renovation project to update the suites in The Manor and The Units built in 1973 and 1965, respectively. The proceeds of this latest fund raising campaign will be directed toward this project. 

There's been a development in the request to re-zone Parkside Village in Altona in order to facilitate plans for multi-family units to be built on the property. 

1820 Properties and Brookstone Capital, the new owners of Parkside Village, have withdrawn the re-zoning application for consideration with the Town of Altona. 

The Altona Community Foundation (ACF) has handed out one of the biggest grants in its nearly 30-year history.

While deliberating which would be the successful applicants in its 2022 Fall granting period, the Board opted to commit $50,000 to the Kiddie Sunshine Daycare new building project over the next five years.

"In the grand scheme of the project, it's not necessarily huge but every dollar counts at this point," said ACF President Haydon Friesen, noting the new daycare facility will be a valuable resource for the town and surrounding area. 

The R.M. of Morris is getting $25,000 to help with further flood proofing efforts. 

The money, provided through the Province's Mitigation and Preparedness Program (MPP), will contribute to the cost of fully raising a portion of Road 2E between the Riverside and Rosenort dikes to 2009 flood levels.

Reeve Scott Siemens explains, work to upgrade the less-than-one-mile stretch already started this past spring in hopes of keeping the road open during the impending high water event. 

The new Reeve for the Rural Municipality of Morris feels this latest group of councillors will work well together. 
    
October's civic election saw the return of Rick Giesbrecht, Mervin Dueck, Al Rowe and Shane Kroeker to the council table. Newcomers Larry Skoglund from the Sewell area, and Cory Friesen from Lowe Farm were appointed to the two vacant councillor positions after no other candidates stepped forward during the nomination period. 

The new Reeve for the R.M. of Morris feels this latest group of councillors will work well together. 
    
October's civic election saw the return of Rick Giesbrecht, Mervin Dueck, Al Rowe and Shane Kroeker to the council table. Newcomers Larry Skoglund from the Sewell area, and Cory Friesen from Lowe Farm were appointed to the two vacant councillor positions after no other candidates stepped forward during the nomination period.