Portage

Summer brings an increase in hair donations to Central Plains Cancer Services as many people, especially young donors, choose to cut their hair in support of those affected by cancer.

Sharilyn Knox, executive director of Central Plains Cancer Services, notes this has become a popular summer activity for young people.

“Especially young people, it’s like their summer thing to do is to cut their hair,” she says. “Often they do it for a reason of, somebody that they love or somebody that they know has battled cancer.”

Melanie Wilson, chairperson of the Seven Regions Health Foundation, says the group’s first-ever “Challenge to Match” campaign has exceeded expectations, raising significantly more than its original target.

“We were hoping to get $500 in total, so $250 from the public and $250 matched by the foundation,” notes Wilson. “But we ended up with a lot more than that, which is wonderful.”

The initiative, launched to fund outings for residents at Gladstone’s Third Crossing Manor personal care home, is already making an impact.

The Department of National Defence is looking at the possibility of complementing its incoming F-35 fleet with uncrewed combat aircraft.

Unclassified documents obtained by The Canadian Press show the department is researching various options for acquiring the emerging technology.

The documents suggest that purchasing a fleet of aerial combat drones that could fly alongside fighter jets could cost as much as $16 billion and would require hundreds of staff.

If you’ve taken a stroll past the cenotaph on Saskatchewan Avenue recently, you may have noticed some fresh construction activity. Wooden forms now surround the monument, marking the latest step in the heartfelt expansion project that is nearly two years in the making.

The project, led by the Portage la Prairie branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, includes two new commemorative stones—one to honour local military members and the other dedicated to Portage-area RCMP officers who gave their lives in the line of duty.

Crescent Lake remains top of mind for many in Portage la Prairie, and Mayor Sharilyn Knox says the city is actively working to tackle the two main challenges affecting its condition.

Knox says the lake’s declining water quality and weed growth are tied to regulations that are currently out of the city’s hands, though conversations are happening with both federal and provincial departments.

A Portage-area resident is urging others to be cautious after receiving a phone call that nearly fooled her into believing her grandson was in serious trouble.

Anne Emberly says she got a call that sounded very real, and very familiar. The voice on the other end claimed to be her grandson, asking for help after being involved in a car accident and getting arrested.

“Apparently according to the call, he had gone out with a friend," explains Emberly.  "His friend had been drinking too much that he couldn't drive himself home. So my grandson took him home.”

Ken Rutter, who farms near Carman and towards Miami, says this year’s growing season is shaping up to be fairly average, though rainfall has been uneven. 

“We had our rain, probably half an inch, about two weeks ago now,” says Rutter. “We missed all the other ones since.” 

He notes that one of his fields was hit hard earlier in the season. 

“In May, one field had about three to five inches of rain,” says Rutter. “Even when I sowed it the first week of June, it was still too wet.” 

Prime Minister Mark Carney's chief of staff and the country's top public servant will be responsible for maintaining an ethics screen preventing him from making decisions that benefit his former employer, says a disclosure issued by the office of the ethics commissioner on Friday.

A new poll by Leger has found that Quebec residents are the happiest in Canada.

The web survey of nearly 40,000 Canadians found that Quebecers rated their happiness at an average of 72.4 out of 100, which is well above the national average.

New Brunswick followed Quebec with an average of 70.2, while Manitoba and Prince Edward Island finished at the bottom of the list. 

Mississauga, Ont. had the highest happiness rating of the 10 largest cities, while Toronto was lowest. 

Montreal finished second in the category.

The iconic Red River log church nestled in the prairie just west of Poplar Point is looking particularly polished these days. After nearly two years of careful restoration work, St. Anne’s Anglican Church, built in 1859 and still holding regular services, has reopened its doors.

The first post-renovations service took place on June 8th, and tomorrow, July 13th, marks the second since the $24,000 exterior project was completed. For long-time church warden Monica Griffiths, it's been a long time coming.