Candace Derksen

The dream of an updated training site continues to take shape for members of the Carman-Dufferin Fire Department (CDFD).

It all began about 6 years ago when the old and unsafe facility was demolished, explained Fire Chief Chris Lemky. A grant through the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) also helped pay for the site to be levelled, graveled and fenced in. The department was also able to purchase and set up few sea containers, which are used to light fires and practice different firefighting, search and rescue, high-angle rescue and ladder techniques.

It was a celebration Saturday as friends of The Ice Cream Hut came out to celebrate the iconic Altona burger joint's 50th anniversary.
    
Guests were treated to kid's activities, and deals on ice cream, fries and more!

A local institution

"It's been here forever," said Vanessa when asked why she and Darryl made the move to buy the restaurant just a few years ago. 

"It's an icon in Altona so, why wouldn't you want to be a part of that?" added Darryl.

As wildfires continue to burn in northern Manitoba, our local fire departments continue to send volunteer fire fighters to help out.
    
However, that could change in the coming weeks and months, according to Greg Zimmerman, Coordinator of the Pembina Triangle Mutual Aid District. 

Pembina Valley RCMP are still looking for leads in a gas theft we told you about last week.
    
Sometime between July 16th and the 18th, about 900 gallons of diesel fuel and 250 gallons of gas, worth over $5,500, had been siphoned out of fuel tanks on a rural property seven miles south of Winkler. 

According to Sgt. Darcy Thiessen, no tips have come in so far.

"I know the farmer spoke to some of the neighbours but, so far, we've got no suspects identified and we've got no real leads as to where this fuel ended up," he said.

One person was arrested for assault following a firearms incident last week Friday in Roseau River First Nation.
    
According to Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNPS), officers were called to a report of a man threatening to shoot at a home. While responding to that call, a report came in of gun shots coming from a moving vehicle. 
    
MFNPS, with the help of outside law enforcement agencies, found the suspect vehicle at a local home and contained the area, and the occupants peacefully surrendered to authorities.
    

A youth and an adult from the Municipality of Rhineland are due in court after a traffic stop in Plum Coulee became so much more on Sunday.
    
It all started when officers on patrol witnessed a near-collision, explained Altona Police Chief Dan Defer.

"They observed a truck come off Highway Avenue onto Highway 306 and it cut off a cyclist. The cyclist then almost turned into the police vehicle to avoid a collision with the truck, so a traffic stop was conducted."

About a month ago, Sergeant Darcy Thiessen with Pembina Valley RCMP called out, what he referred to as, two 'unacceptable' speeding incidents that happened in a single day. Now, he's doing it again following a dangerous situation one of his officers encountered over the weekend.

After 20 years of raising funds for local non-profit organizations, members of the Legends Car Club are looking for new opportunities after they were forced to cancel their annual Charity Airport Drag Races this year.

Club president, Alex Loewen, says the decision was made after it became quite difficult to obtain liability insurance for the event, which typically takes place in August near Altona.

It was a rare opportunity for some local fire fighters as they recently got to practice on an actual burning house.
    
St. Jean and Morris departments partnered for the live burn in Sewell, allowing newer members to experience how a fire looks inside of a structure, how smoke rolls and how heat can be different on certain levels.

It's been a long summer for local fire fighters who have been deployed in shifts to help fight wildfires across the province.
    
Members of the Pembina Triangle Mutual Aid District were first sent to Woodridge, in eastern Manitoba, at the start of the season before heading up north to Cross Lake, Thompson and most recently, Leaf Rapids.