Candace Derksen

For an impressive 22 years, Friesens has qualified as one of Deloitte's Best Managed Companies in Canada, and this year is no different. The Altona-based book manufacturer has once again earned the title. 

"This prestigious designation is a testament to our strategy, culture, innovation, leadership, and financial performance," stated the company in a news release submitted to PembinaValleyOnline.

The Manitoba government is creating an all-party committee to explore the future of local journalism.

Premier Wab Kinew says by studying the matter, the goal is to figure out how the province can support local media, adding he believes having a good media environment is essential for our democracy.

The Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) of Manitoba will not be authorizing charges against an RCMP member involved in a shooting near Sanford last fall.
    
Police were called to a home in the R.M. of MacDonald in the evening of September 24th where it was reported that a man was assaulting a woman and burning vehicles on the property. However, the man fled before officers arrived.
    

Municipality of Rhineland Council has written to Manitoba Housing expressing concerns over the resident clientele moving into the government housing complex in Plum Coulee. 

"It's a senior housing unit and there's been some vacancies, and they (Manitoba Housing) is putting people there that have some special needs and situations, and they've been put in there without supports," explained Reeve Don Wiebe. 

130 Altona-area grade 6 students took their education outdoors on Thursday to learn more about the eco-system and sustainability.
    
It was all for Border Land School Division's (BLSD) inaugural ECO EXPO that saw the kids from area schools cycle through a series of workshops that included gardening, sewing, an outdoor scavenger hunt and more, all at the local park, Buffalo Creek Nature Park and the Rhineland Pioneer Centre.

The Under 18 Ice Time pilot program at Altona's Sunflower Gardens this past winter was well-received by the public, according to the town's Recreation Manager. 

Collaboratively developed with Altona Minor Hockey and the Altona Skating Club, the program offered additional ice time, free-of-charge, when the rink wasn't booked, giving youth more opportunities to hone their hockey and figure skating skills. In exchange, Altona Minor Hockey provided $2,500 to help offset some of the related expenses.

The Morris Advanced Robotics team closed out the VEX World Championships in Dallas, Texas with a 3-7 record. 

In the final update, leader, JP Jamieson, noted the team (88875M) lost its final two matches (the last by only one point).

Closing the Emerson Personal Care Home is simply not an option. That from Borderland MLA, Josh Guenter, who was among the crowd of locals that gathered in Emerson Tuesday evening to express concerns over the facility's future.
    
In January, we ran a story with Guenter after he issued a public letter to the province's Health minister asking them to prioritize staffing and resources at the facility amid, what he said, were growing concerns over vacant suites and personnel shortages.

Now that Spring has sprung, black bears are emerging from their dens across the province in search of food. 
    
That's evidenced by the handful of sightings reported in the last week or so from Carman to Altona, where a bear took up residence in a backyard tree for a day.

The women of Gretna gathered last week Tuesday to support other women across the Pembina Valley. 

About 60 ladies met up at the Gretna Prairie Centre to enjoy delicious desserts and hear from local life coach, Anita Froese, the author of The Struggle is Real. There was also a silent auction, with half of the nights' proceeds committed to Genesis House.