Portage

Dealing with a fire on your farm can be both dangerous and devastating. Fortunately, there are things you can do to reduce the risk of fires.

Improper use of burn barrels can easily start fires. People often contribute to the risk of fire by not using proper screens on burn barrels or clearing the grass around the barrel itself.

Police have recovered the bodies of two adults, believed to have died as the result of wildfires in the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet. 

On Wednesday at approximately 9:15 am, Lac du Bonnet RCMP recovered two bodies, believed to be an adult male and adult female, just off Wendigo Road. It is believed that both adults succumbed to injuries sustained in the wildfire.

RCMP were made aware on Tuesday that these individuals were trapped in the fire. However, due to extreme conditions, emergency personnel were not able to reach their location until Wednesday. 

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew declared a state of emergency Thursday to aid the evacuation of a provincial park due to wildfires, one day after the bodies of two people were found in the ashes.

Kinew did not provide details about the man and woman who died in the fire in the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet, a popular lakefront cottage area northeast of Winnipeg.

But he said the deaths mean officials are taking the danger seriously and want additional powers to enforce evacuation orders.

Red River College Polytech’s Portage Campus is hosting an Info Night on Thursday, May 15, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

This free event provides a great opportunity for the community to explore the campus, discover career-building programs, and learn about available opportunities.

Visitors will have the chance to attend back-to-back information sessions highlighting three in-demand programs: Introduction to Food Manufacturing, Health Care Aide, and the newly launched IT Operations.

Portage la Prairie is set to celebrate Bike Week from May 24 to 30 with a full week of activities aimed at encouraging community members of all ages to get active and explore the city on two wheels.

"This is something we do every year, and we're always excited to add new events and expand the fun," said Mitch Tilk, Program Coordinator for the Portage Community Revitalization Corporation (PCRC). "There's really something for everyone."

Ralph O'Brien of Holland, MB formerly of Sidney, MB, passed away on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Holland at the age of 86 years. 

A boating incident on Lake Manitoba has now claimed two lives, after RCMP confirmed the recovery of a second body along the shoreline near Sandy Bay First Nation.

Yesterday, around 3:45 p.m., Amaranth RCMP responded to assist the Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNPS), Sandy Bay Detachment, after the body of a 41-year-old man was located. He had been missing since May 8.

It's been a busy week out in the field as farmers continue to work on getting this year's crop in the ground.

Manitoba's weekly crop report shows the provincial crop is now 32 per cent seeded.

Oilseed Specialist Sonia Wilson puts together the weekly crop report, updating seeding progress around the province. 

Dale Lee

Peacefully on May 12, 2025, Dale Lee passed away at the Salem Home in Winkler, MB at the age of 91 years.

Manitoba health officials are expanding eligibility for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine as case numbers continue to climb across the province. Infants as young as six months old who live in higher-risk regions are now able to receive the vaccine earlier than usual.

The change applies to infants from six months to under 12 months of age residing in the Southern Health–Santé Sud (SH-SS) and Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (IERHA) regions.