Portage

Justin Lilley, a Carberry-based taxidermist and avid hunter, has secured a notable achievement in Manitoba's big game community.

Two black bear skulls from bears harvested by Lilley have qualified for entry into the prestigious Manitoba Big Game Association's record book this year, showcasing the impressive size of local bruins.

Whether you’re headed to the beach, planning a weekend at the lake, or checking out a summer fair, sun protection should be part of your daily routine, even when the sun’s hiding.

Karen Faurschou, educator with Central Plains Cancer Services, reminds people that UV rays aren’t just a summer thing.

“UV rays can be harmful all year round, even in the spring, fall and winter, especially when reflected off snow or water in Canada,” she notes. “UV levels can be high from late March to early October, so protection is needed beyond summer.”

As the City of Portage la Prairie prepares to roll out its new garbage bin system on August 1, residents in the surrounding Rural Municipality (RM) will not be making the switch, at least not any time soon. Questions have been brewing and Roy Tufford, Reeve of the RM of Portage la Prairie, confirmed there are no plans in the near future to adopt the city's new waste disposal approach.

Tufford pointed to several reasons for staying the course, including a binding contract with the RM's current waste collection provider.

After missing recent rainfall that soaked nearby areas like Portage la Prairie on Canada Day, farmers in the MacGregor region were growing increasingly concerned about crop conditions amid rising heat and dry forecasts.

Lorne Hulme of Hulme Agra Products shared these words just before Thursday night, when his operation, located four miles south of MacGregor, hadn’t previously seen any meaningful rain in weeks.

“We haven’t had any rain,” he noted earlier in the week.

After a sweltering start to July, southern Manitoba is getting relief from the summer scorch. Environment Canada issued a heat warning earlier this week, with daytime highs soaring into the mid-30s and humidex values pushing it well into uncomfortable territory. As we head into the weekend, Brian Proctor, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, says cooler temperatures are on the horizon, though the reprieve will be short-lived.

The Portage la Prairie Fire Department is celebrating a successful fundraising effort, presenting a significant cheque to the Manitoba Burn Fund following their annual Firefighters Golf Tournament.

The Interlake region is preparing for pancakes, parades, and plenty of rodeo dust with the return of Eriksdale Creamery Days Fair & Rodeo this weekend, promising a full schedule of family-friendly fun.

Cauy Kinkead, with the Creamery Days Fair & Rodeo, says the annual event kicks off this Saturday (July 5th), and runs through Sunday, bringing together everything from antique tractor pulls to heart-stopping rodeo events.

Jonathan Toews is officially back.

The three-time Stanley Cup champion, who last played an NHL game more than two years ago, was introduced Friday as the newest member of his hometown Winnipeg Jets, donning a jersey with his signature No. 19 at a team press conference.

The Jets announced their intention to acquire the 37-year-old centre last month, but it only became official this week with Toews signing a one-year deal worth US$2 million, plus performance bonuses tied to games played and playoff success.

In an exclusive interview, Shindico Realty Inc. Founder and Chairman Sandy Shindleman reflects on the logistics real estate company’s most significant acquisition to date—one that spans nine of Canada’s most active industrial markets but traces its origins back to Portage la Prairie.

“This all started with a Manitoba-based entrepreneur who passed away four or five years ago, Louis Tolaini,” notes Shindleman. “He started in rural Manitoba, I believe it was Virden.”

County of Newell takes over Crop Diversification Centre South and hopes to attract dozens of tenants for the $100 million facility

Like the mighty Phoenix, the County of Newell is hoping the Crop Diversification Centre South in Brooks, Alta., will rise from the ashes and regain the prominence it once had in agricultural research.