Pam Fedack

An Alberta clipper will pass through southern Manitoba today and Thursday bringing snow to the Red River Valley. 

The snowfall accumulations are not expected to meet the warning criteria, however, prolonged continuous light snow may allow for accumulations up to 15 cm over 36 hours for parts of the region, including Winkler, Morden, and Altona.

This will be the first significant snowfall of this season for much of the area. 

Environment Canada says prolonged light snow may cause impactful snowfall accumulations.

One person was taken to hospital following a two-vehicle collision on Main Street in Winkler Tuesday afternoon.

Winkler Police and EMS were dispatched to the call at approximately 12:30 pm at Main Street and South Railway Avenue.

According to Police Chief Ryan Hunt, a westbound vehicle on South Railway Avenue attempted to cross over Main Street and collided with a northbound vehicle. The driver of the westbound vehicle was transported to the hospital by EMS.  

Both vehicles were towed from the scene.  

There is great optimism that a pathway connecting Winkler and Morden through RM of Stanley Corridor could start in 2024. 

James Friesen is a member of the Stanley Trail Association and a committee member of the Stanley Community Pathway. Friesen said the pathway will be designated as an active transportation pathway, for activities mainly like walking and biking.

Projects on the books for the RM of Stanley in 2024 will be to continue planning its joint wastewater initiative with the City of Winkler. The project will provide capacity for both jurisdictions for continued growth into the future.
    
For growing communities like Schanzenfeld and Reinfeld, RM of Stanley Reeve Ike Friesen says the project will provide improved sewer services for both.

The ribbon was cut Saturday afternoon to celebrate the results of a huge community effort in Reinfeld.

As excitement swirled around many great things last year for the City of Winkler, the anticipated start of three big projects didn't happen as hoped. Mayor Henry Siemens says those projects will now be tendered in 2024.

The wastewater treatment plant is something that needs to get done. Work is being completed on the final drawings.

The RM of Stanley has come through some recent years dealing with varying extremes, like flooding and drought conditions. Reeve Ike Friesen said 2023 has thankfully been an uneventful year, however, it was a remarkable year.

"Hopefully the extremes are behind us," said Friesen.

Among the projects completed on their list in 2023 were flood protection projects in the Villages of Schanzenfeld and Hochfeld. Friesen said both communities dealt with flooding the last two springs. 

Mayor Henry Siemens says he's hopeful the Winkler Centennial Arena revitalization project will be ready to go to tender in the first quarter of 2024.
    
Work continues finalizing plans for the multi-million upgrades, however, Siemens said with two big projects on the verge of going to tender, the wastewater treatment plant, and the expansion to Winkler's Water Treatment facility, a bit more time will be taken with the arena tender. Siemens said Council is "literally weeks away" from being able to put tenders out on those two significant projects.

Over a combined 72 years of service, two retiring members of the Roland Fire Department have seen a lot of change. The department will be losing that wealth of knowledge and experience when the two members retire this year.

Kevin Brown is retiring after 32 years. Brown Joined the department in 1991 as a way to give back to the community. He said firefighting is an essential service anywhere, and it was something he knew he could do.

"I realize it's not for everyone but it was something that I could do, and I just incorporated it as part of my lifestyle."

Winkler's Mayor says the installation of a new left-hand turning signal for northbound traffic on Highway 32 at the intersection of Highway 14 is fantastic news.
    
Henry Siemens says it's been needed for several years and something the city began seriously advocating for this year.
    
Crews with Manitoba Highways came out last week Friday to install the new left turning signal - a move that came as a pleasant surprise. Siemens noted city staff were informed it was on the spring project list for Manitoba.