Candace Derksen

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—including a St. Jean man—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. 

A young man from Stuartburn has died following a two-vehicle crash in Western Manitoba Tuesday morning.
    
According to RCMP, a gravel truck was struck from behind by a water truck near the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Road 101 West, east of Brandon.
    
Authorities say the gravel truck was coming up to speed, heading east after turning on to the Trans Canada, when it was hit from behind by a large truck hauling a water tank.
    

It's been decided: Mennonite Collegiate Institute (MCI) is permanently closing its doors.

It's been decided. Mennonite Collegiate Institute (MCI) is permanently closing its doors.
    
In June, the board of directors announced it was pausing operations of the private school in Gretna. That led to a meeting with the school's society church delegates earlier this month where a motion to permanently close the school and liquidate all assets passed with a majority vote of 26-21 with four abstentions.

This decision ends a 136-year legacy of developing young peoples’ God-given gifts in an Anabaptist Christian setting 

After 136 years, the decision is final – Mennonite Collegiate Institute (MCI) is closing its doors for good. 

MCI, an Anabaptist Christian high school (gr. 9-12) located south of Altona in Gretna, Manitoba, was founded in 1889. For over a century, it attracted students from all over the province, including many from the Southeast region. 

It was an emotional day as family and friends of Eli Jashyn were among the crowd that celebrated the grand opening of the multi-sport court in Morris last week. 
    
Incorporated into the new facility is a bench in memory of Eli, who passed away from cancer in 2022 at the age of 15. He would have graduated high school with his peers this past week.

The sound of bouncing balls and squeaking runners can be heard as people of all ages break in the newly completed multi-sport court in Morris, just in time for summer holidays.
    
Members of the Red River Wellness Committee were joined by local students and community members to cut the ribbon on the brand-new facility at a grand opening celebration on Friday.

After a few tough years, the Mennonite Collegiate Institute's (MCI) Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to pause operations of the private Christian school effective the end of June.  

MCI is an Anabaptist Christian high school (gr. 9-12) located south of Altona in Gretna, Manitoba. The school was founded in 1889 and in those 136 years it attracted students from all over southern Manitoba, including many from here in the Southeast. 

After a few tough years, the Mennonite Collegiate Institute's (MCI) Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to pause operations of the private Christian school in Gretna, effective the end of June. 

CEO, Kris Harms, says the timing of the announcement is unfortunate, but is tied to the fact that the decision was not made lightly.

"It's a very serious situation." That from Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew in an update on the province's wildfire situation Thursday, who says fire fighters from across Manitoba and beyond continue to blazes on several fronts. 

As of Thursday morning, Kinew said there were 16,800 evacuees registered in Manitoba. Many of which have been put up in hotels across Manitoba, occupying about 1,700 rooms. 

He added, it's been great to see people step up and provide donations, volunteer at shelters and even take evacuees into their homes.