Portage

While over 100 young athletes were testing their skills against each other, a young Portager was taking in the camp from an unexpected role.

Koy Funk, a nominee for the MJHL's Rookie of the Year Award this season, was the on-ice official for all of the games on the Friday evening of the camp. Funk adds that being there with many guys he knows was quite the experience.

The Manitoba government has issued a high wind effect warning for areas along Lake Manitoba, including Delta Beach, with strong north winds and wave action forecasted to cause dangerous conditions and rising water levels.

The warning is part of a broader weather system bringing heavy precipitation and high winds across much of the province.

South basin and shorelines under wind threat

Wind gusts of up to 80 kilometres per hour are expected to begin Thursday afternoon and last through Friday evening.

Smoke from wildfires is once again blanketing parts of Manitoba, causing very poor air quality and reducing visibility.

Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for several regions, including Winnipeg, the Red River Valley, parts of the Interlake, the Whiteshell, and eastern Manitoba.

The smoky conditions are expected to persist through Thursday, with some improvement likely in the Winnipeg area by Friday as winds shift north.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14TH

Santa Clara Baseball League
Portage 15 Austin 6
Carberry at Neepawa (Postponed)
Plumas at Minnedosa (Postponed)

Manitoba Junior Baseball League
Elmwood 18 Pembina Valley 13
Interlake 10 Altona 0

Livestock producers are being reminded to stay vigilant after lab results confirmed anthrax as the cause of death in two cattle on a farm in the Rural Municipality (RM) of Paynton No. 470. The confirmation came late Tuesday.

Workers at Canada Post could be heading back to the picket lines in a matter of days — but a labour expert warns postal workers might find negotiating conditions far less favourable now than they were during their holiday job action.

Canada Post said late Tuesday it was hitting pause on negotiations with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers after days of talks between the parties bore little fruit.

Opposition parties attacked Prime Minister Mark Carney Wednesday for being vague about his plans after his government said it would not table a federal budget before the House of Commons rises for the summer.

Following the first Liberal cabinet meeting after the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said instead of a spring budget, the government will put forward an economic statement in the fall.

Author's Note: The irony is not lost on me. Enjoy some bad bear puns!

Residents Nick and Jenna Lambert who live just southeast of Portage la Prairie recently awoke to an un-bear-lievable discovery on May 13th; a juvenile brown coloured bear rummaging through their property overnight. The intruder was captured on surveillance footage in a region where such sightings are rare. While the bear was brown, it was most likely a younger black bear, which is much more common in our province.

Getting the proper amount of sleep is one of the most important things we can do to maintain or even improve our health. If you have a hard time sleeping, there are many ways to improve the quality of your rest, from improving your sleep habits to trying over-the-counter medications like melatonin or sleep aids (check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking over-the-counter medications).

Lorna Knight has officially begun her tenure as the new executive director of the Community Foundation of Portage and District, stepping into the role on May 1. She replaces Kimberly Lavallee, who is retiring after three years leading the organization.

A seamless transition

Knight notes her first official day was May 1, crediting Lavallee for easing the transition.