Westman

It was a record setting Saturday at the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth weigh-off at the Roland Pumpkin Fair, with Lancaster, Minnesota grower Charlie Bernstrom establishing yet another high-mark at the event. The 2014, 2017 and 2018 weigh-off winner was crowned the 2024 champion with a monster that crushed the previous record he set in 2018, which was 1,753.5 pounds. Saturday morning his giant weighed in at 2,004 pounds, making it the largest winning entry ever at Roland Pumpkin Fair.

RCMP in Selkirk arrested a man posing as a member of the police service earlier this week.

On September 30, at about 9 p.m., Selkirk RCMP received a report that a woman was stopped on Highway 9 in Petersfield, Manitoba by a man identifying himself as an off-duty RCMP officer. He was driving a pickup truck with emergency lights when he pulled the woman over. He accused her of speeding, but soon left the scene when asked to present identifying information.

Officers did patrols to attempt to locate the described vehicle, but the vehicle was not located.

This past week, STARS Air Ambulance training team spent two days in Killarney to train the local's medical staff, including the new doctors, in the critical care program affiliated with STARS.

Tri-Lake Medical Center's Dr. Mark Bemment just completed training with the STARS Academy, a program that is designed to train both new hires and external candidates, including physicians, nurses, and those working in rural areas.

The program lasts four months and combines external learning with practical experience, including participation in certain flights. 

In southern Manitoba, Norm Gregoire, who works with species at risk, has noticed something surprising this September: a large number of Monarch butterflies during their fall migration.

“I’m blown away by the number of Monarch butterflies I’ve seen lately,” he said. 

Here's a look at some of this week's top news photos as selected by editors.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 4, 2024.

Funeral For:  Hedi Plett 
Funeral Date: October 10, 2024 
Hedi Plett, 88, of Winnipeg passed away Saturday, September 28th at Concordia Hospital. She is survived by 2 daughters, 2 sons, and their families. She was predeceased by her husband Peter. 
The funeral service for Hedi Plett will be held Thursday, October 10th at 11am at Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church, 145 Henderson Highway, with burial at Glen Eden Memorial Gardens. 
Donations may be made to MCC. 
Arrangements by Friends Funeral Service, Winnipeg. 

Funeral For:  Genevieve Manikel 
Funeral Date: October 15, 2024 
Genevieve Manikel, 98, of Morris passed away Tuesday, September 10th at Winnipeg. She is survived by 1 daughter, 3 sons, 1 sister and their families. She was predeceased by her husband Edward. 
A memorial service for Genevieve Manikel will be held Tuesday, October 15th at 2pm at Morris United Church with ash interment at Morris Cemetery. 
Donations may be made to Canadian Foodgrains Bank or Canadian Cancer Society. 
Arrangements by Morris Funeral Home.  

Funeral For:  Cornelius Neil Wiebe 
Funeral Date: October 10, 2024 
Cornelius Neil Wiebe, 83, of Winnipeg formerly of Grunthal, passed away Thursday, October 3rd at River Park Gardens. He is survived by his wife Agatha, 2 daughters, 2 sons, 2 sisters, 5 brothers, and their families. He was predeceased by 2 brothers. 
The funeral service for Cornelius Neil Wiebe will be held Thursday, October 10th at 2pm at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach. 
Viewing will be at the chapel prior to the service. 

First Nations leaders say the pride two Saskatchewan courthouse staff felt on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation turned to shame after they were told to change out of the orange clothing they wore to work.

The Meadow Lake Tribal Council, which represents nine First Nations, is demanding Saskatchewan investigate why the two First Nations women were told Monday to go home from the courthouse in Meadow Lake, northwest of Saskatoon, to change their clothes.

Fedaa Nassar says any time she has heard the phone ring in the last year, she becomes overwhelmed with anxiety.

"I hate phone calls now," says the 34-year-old lab technician at an Ottawa-area hospital.

It's because she worries the person on the other line will tell her that her dad, mom, brother and two sisters have died in the Gaza Strip.

Sleep is fitful, she says.

"I wake up three to four times during the night to check if they're still alive or not."