Steinbach

Steinbach is getting national attention for all the right reasons. WorldAtlas has named the southeastern Manitoba city one of the nine most neighbourly towns in the Canadian Prairies. 

The Mayor for Ritchot has put out a challenge to his residents. There is a 5km race being planned for St. Adolphe this fall, and Chris Ewen says he intends to win it.

"I'm going to put it out there, I'm going to win this 5k," says Ewen. "I am very, very athletic when I need to be. So, watch out Ritchot because I'm coming."

The Province of Manitoba announced a $300,000 commitment per year for three years, for a total of $900,000, to 4-H Manitoba to continue the great work that they do with our young individuals and experienced individuals, says Ag Minister Ron Kostyshyn. "Because they're the ones with the knowledge, and they want to share their knowledge with the young 4-H'ers of the world."

He made the announcement earlier this week at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in Brandon.

It's time for another Made in Manitoba, and tonight it's a return guest, a duo in fact, and one we haven't heard from for quite some time. The last time we featured them, they were known as Reg and Andreas, and the two were based in Denmark. Well, this time around, as we showcase music from their latest album "Be the Light", the  two still call Denmark home, but are now known on stage as Paradyme Duo.

Despite visible snow on the ground, and potential flurries in the forecast, a Steinbach resident has declared mowing season officially underway. 

This afternoon, Willy Froese brought out his mower and began trimming the exposed patches of grass in his yard.  

Though many might say it’s a little bit early in the season, Froese has a simple answer. 

Update Friday 5:26pm -  Steinbach emergency responders have cleared the intersection of Main Street and Brandt Street. All lanes have reopened.

Original story posted Friday 5:02pm - Emergency Crews responded to a collision on Friday just before 5pm.

All traffic was stopped for a brief moment after two vehicles collided at the intersection of Brandt St. and Main St. in Steinbach.

Most lanes reopened by 5:02pm. Some southbound lanes remain closed.

More details are not available.

A dedicated member of the Steinbach Pistons volunteer family became suddenly very ill and was transferred from Bethesda Regional Health Centre in Steinbach to Winnipeg by STARS on March 10. 

Then, on Thursday evening, at the Pistons' Farewell and Awards Banquet held at the Pat Porter Active Living Centre in Steinbach, a special moment was dedicated to Tasha Wiese.

Recruiters say there's been a surge of interest from American doctors considering moving to Canada since the election of U.S. President Donald Trump in November. 

Katrina Philopoulos, physician recruitment director for Nova Scotia Health, says 27 American doctors are in serious negotiations to move, talks that have so far resulted in one person being hired and a second who is expected to move to the province next year.

Steinbach Fire Department was called to a fire Friday morning at Prairie Fibre Insulation Company.

The business is located along Park Road West, and Fire Chief Kel Toews says they received the call at about 10:20 am.

"When we arrived, we went inside and found a couple of the machines used to process the paper to make insulation, smoke coming out of them," explains Toews. "So, we had to pull them apart, open some doors, and apply water."

A forest school in southeast Manitoba is swapping traditional classrooms for outdoor learning.

Kara Peters Parkinson and Deanna Kazina started the Forest and Nature School through the Gerhard E. Dekker Regenerative Education Center (GEDREC), for kids who nearly six years old to 12-year-olds.

"I just have really positive and wonderful memories being on the land... and I just want other children to experience that too," Kazina says.

Peters Parkinson feels similarly, saying, "Spending time outdoors has been when I felt the most alive and happy."