Candace Derksen

A $10,000 grant from FCC will help the Carman and Area Food Pantry increase the storage and shelf-life of the food it distributes. 

The group plans to use the money to purchase two large refrigerators for its operation.

"Right now, we don't have the capacity or the ability to keep refrigerated items over any stretch of time. We kind of have to get them and distribute them within a day or two," explained Evelyn Rempel Petkau, a founding board member of the food pantry. "This will allow us to accept some of those kinds of donations and also store them for a longer term."

Five drivers were suspended and their vehicles impounded by Morden police in the last week-and-a-half: all caught by officers on general patrol.
    
The first was pulled over because their vehicle's taillights were out, according to police. The department says a smell of liquor coming from the driver, who had a youth in the passenger seat, led them to fail a roadside screening test. They were issued a 90-day driving suspension, a 30-day vehicle impoundment and a $700 administrative penalty.

Altona Mayor Harv Schroeder has a new Deputy Mayor in Craig Smiley.

Each year, the town's councillors have the chance to volunteer for this leadership position, with the final selection made by a council vote.

"I appreciate his readiness to take on this leadership role and I am excited to work more closely with him this year," said Schroeder. 

The Deputy Mayor supports the Mayor in their role.

One driver has been charged following last week Monday's two-vehicle collision on the outskirts of Altona.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says freezing the scheduled rental rate for agricultural Crown land (ACL) forage leases for the 2025 growing season is about affordability.

For 2025, the annual rent will be set at the same rate as 2024 for ACL forage leases and permits, which, according to the Province, means producers won’t see an increase to the rate on their invoice for 2025. 

"This is something, in particular, that we're looking at for the beef producers and the operations that have grazing lands on Crown lands," explained Kinew. 

The community demonstrated its steadfast support for Blue Sky Opportunities by coming out in droves to the organization's annual fall fund raising banquet last night in Altona. 

It what appears to be tradition for the event, it was another sold out crowd at the Rhineland Pioneer Centre. New, however, was that this was the most people to ever attend at 352.

A 39-year-old man from Winkler has been charged with a raft of sex offences after two youths came forward to police last week.
    
Initially, one of the youths, a girl, reported he had repeatedly sexually assaulted her between 2020 and 2023. 
    
At that point, he was taken into custody by Winkler Police with help from the RCMP.
    
Then, a second youth, a boy, came forward and disclosed that he too had been sexually assaulted by the man over this same time frame. 
    
Police say the man was known to both of the victims. 
    

A second person has been charged with Second Degree Murder in the death of a 21-year-old Brandon man last Friday in Swan River. 
    
On Saturday, two, 16-year-old boys were arrested, with one charged with Second Degree Murder at the time and remanded into custody
    
On Wednesday, RCMP said the second teenager has now also been charged. 
    
As well, a third suspect, a 15-year-old boy from Swan River, was arrested and charged with Manslaughter on Tuesday. He was also remanded into custody.

The investigation continues.

Another case of fraud has Morden Police Service once again emphasizing caution to online shoppers. 
    
Late last month, someone purchased an item on VarageSale and sent an e-transfer to the seller, but when they went to alleged seller's home to pick it up, the person living there said they had the wrong address.
    
The buyer tried to contact the seller, but the account had already been deleted from the app.
    
Police stress, to never send an e-transfer until you have the item you're buying in your hand and can confirm the seller is legitimate

It's been about a month since a group of volunteers hit the streets of Carman and the R.M. of Dufferin, acting as an extra set of eyes and ears for the local RCMP. 

Following a recruitment drive this summer, 9 people were selected to help get the newly minted Carman-Dufferin Citizens on Patrol Program (COPP) off the ground and, according to Monica Halbesma, Carman-Dufferin Fire Department's public education safety coordinator, it's been so far, so good.