Candace Derksen

Today marks one year since four members of the Patel family were found just metres from the Canada/U.S border near Emerson, and investigators are using the moment to appeal to the public for tips in the case.
    
RCMP say new information that came in this past Fall about the family's travel in Canada has been confirmed, however, a gap remains between their last known location in southern Ontario on January 16th, 2022 and their arrival to Emerson on the evening of January 18th. Investigators say it is still unknown how they travelled from southern Ontario to Emerson.

Three municipalities have joined forces in an effort to create supportive housing in the Red River Valley region. 

Councils for the R.M. of Montcalm, R.M. of Morris, and the Town of Morris have jointly launched a not-for-profit organization, Red River Supportive Housing - Logement Supervisé de la Rivière Rouge Inc., to move this work forward. The goal is to enhance housing, social, economic, and community services in the three municipalities and surrounding areas.

After a season of delays, work has finally begun to renovate an old cardboard box plant into a fire hall and public works facility in Plum Coulee. The highly anticipated project was put on hold in early 2022 when tenders came back nearly three times the estimated cost. A revised renovation plan has since been finalized with a new budget.

At the end of last week, a concrete floor was poured on the public works side. 

It's a question thousands of Canadians will face this year when their mortgage comes up for renewal... should I go with a variable or fixed rate mortgage?

There is an expectation the Bank of Canada's interest rate hikes we've seen over the past year or so, may be nearing an end. The strategy behind the Bank's rising interest rates has been to try and curb inflation in the country. 

Phase 1 of Altona's expanded industrial park is getting developed this year. 

Council has awarded a bid by Fast Brothers for $3.7 million, and crews will get to work installing water, sewer and road infrastructure in the spring. The job also includes installing the necessary lift stations for the future phases.

"We're really excited to get this project continued, to get this project going," said Mayor Harv Schroeder. 

Members of Altona/Rhineland Emergency Services (ARES) responded to a higher-than-average number of calls for service in 2022. 

According to a year-end report filed by Fire Chief Greg Zimmerman, the department was dispatched 86 times. That's over the annual average of between 65 and 70 calls. 

"We're very fortunate that with all of the calls, none of them were major," he explained. 

Today marks the return of the self-proclaimed "Biggest little farm show in Canada". Postponed over the last two years, the 36th annual St. Jean Farm Days runs today and tomorrow (January 11th and 12th) at the St Jean Centennial Hall.

Organizer, Brunel Sabourin, says they are happy to be able to once again put on this event. Because it's one of the first farm show of the year, he noted it's quite popular with farmers and others in the industry.

There is an expectation that the Bank of Canada's interest rate hikes that we've seen over the past year or so, may be nearing an end. 

Larry Davey is the President and CEO for Access Credit Union, which has branches in Grunthal, Vita and Dominion City. He feels a majority of the big increases have already ended. 

There is an expectation that the Bank of Canada's interest rate hikes that we've seen over the past year or so, may be nearing an end. 

Larry Davey is the President and CEO of Access Credit Union. He feels a majority of the big increases have already ended. 

A new officer has been hired for the Altona Police Service, rounding out the department's constable contingent. 

Tristan Fournier-Jones' first day on the job was this past Tuesday. His hiring follows a series of promotions within the department following the September 1st retirement of former Chief Batchelor, explained Chief Dan Defer.