Shannon Dueck

The week of Christmas should be unseasonably mild, lacking any snowstorms in Southern Manitoba.

That is according to the Senior Climatologist for Environment Canada. David Phillips says temperatures this week were colder than normal. And then things change.

"Next week, it's going to be a warm week," says Phillips. 

Six months after a damaging fire at Bothwell Cheese, production is back to normal at the plant in New Bothwell.

The plant was shut down following a serious fire on the morning of June 1st. Robin Redstone is Senior Communications Manager at Gay Lea Foods. She says the fire started in what is referred to as a UFRO (Ultrafiltration Reverse Osmosis) room, which is the part of the plant that is responsible for filtering out the whey; a by-product of the cheese-making process. The fire then resulted in that portion of the plant being completely shut down.

A veteran RCMP officer from Manitoba says this is the worst time of the year to have to break the news to a family member that their loved one has died in a traffic accident. 

Sergeant Paul Manaigre says it is something he has had to do too often throughout his 29-year career. And, he says it is that much worse when the death was caused by something so easily preventable, like impaired driving. 

A veteran RCMP officer from Manitoba says this is the worst time of the year to have to break the news to a family member that their loved one has died in a traffic accident. 

Sergeant Paul Manaigre says it is something he has had to do too often throughout his 29-year career. And, he says it is that much worse when the death was caused by something so easily preventable, like impaired driving. 

Environment Canada's Senior Climatologist says it does not appear as though this winter will be a repeat of last year for southern Manitoba. However, David Phillips says they are also not calling for a very cold winter.

"Last year, winter was cancelled in Canada," jokes Phillips, noting it was the warmest on record for Manitoba, going back 77 years. 

He adds snowfall totals were about half of normal in 2023-24 for this part of the province. 

Environment Canada's Senior Climatologist says it does not appear as though this winter will be a repeat of last year for southern Manitoba. However, David Phillips says they are also not calling for a very cold winter.

"Last year, winter was cancelled in Canada," jokes Phillips, noting it was the warmest on record for Manitoba, going back 77 years. 

He adds that the total snowfall was about half of normal in 2023-24 for this part of the province. 

A man from Steinbach has been arrested for allegedly communicating with minors for a sexual purpose.

On August 24th, the Manitoba RCMP Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) arrested 20-year-old Tyson Vandenbosch of Steinbach, in relation to online communication with minors for a sexual purpose.

While investigators conducted a data analysis of the data extracted from the digital devices seized in the investigation, they located several victims that they have not been able to identify.

The Snapchat account used by Vandenbosch is drifting_ty101. 

Manitoba's Premier has promised an increase in funding to municipalities.

Speaking at the annual fall convention of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, Wab Kinew told delegates that his government is creating the One Manitoba Growth Revenue Fund. Kinew says it is worth $62 million over the next five years, in what he calls a historic commitment to municipalities across the province.

RCMP officers in Treherne will be among the first in our province to start using body-worn cameras, beginning December 4th.

Manitoba RCMP announced that between November 22, 2024, and April 2025, more than 490 officers in 44 Manitoba detachments will be equipped with the cameras. This will include detachments that provide policing services to Ebb and Flow First Nation, Peguis First Nation, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, Chemawawin Cree Nation, O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation as well as a number of other First Nation communities.

RCMP officers in Treherne will be among the first in our province to start using body-worn cameras, beginning December 4th.

Manitoba RCMP announced that between November 22, 2024, and April 2025, more than 490 officers in 44 Manitoba detachments will be equipped with the cameras. This will include detachments that provide policing services to Ebb and Flow First Nation, Peguis First Nation, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, Chemawawin Cree Nation, O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation as well as a number of other First Nation communities.