Candace Derksen

The Altona Community Foundation (ACF) has handed out one of the biggest grants in its nearly 30-year history.

While deliberating which would be the successful applicants in its 2022 Fall granting period, the Board opted to commit $50,000 to the Kiddie Sunshine Daycare new building project over the next five years.

"In the grand scheme of the project, it's not necessarily huge but every dollar counts at this point," said ACF President Haydon Friesen, noting the new daycare facility will be a valuable resource for the town and surrounding area. 

The R.M. of Morris is getting $25,000 to help with further flood proofing efforts. 

The money, provided through the Province's Mitigation and Preparedness Program (MPP), will contribute to the cost of fully raising a portion of Road 2E between the Riverside and Rosenort dikes to 2009 flood levels.

Reeve Scott Siemens explains, work to upgrade the less-than-one-mile stretch already started this past spring in hopes of keeping the road open during the impending high water event. 

The new Reeve for the Rural Municipality of Morris feels this latest group of councillors will work well together. 
    
October's civic election saw the return of Rick Giesbrecht, Mervin Dueck, Al Rowe and Shane Kroeker to the council table. Newcomers Larry Skoglund from the Sewell area, and Cory Friesen from Lowe Farm were appointed to the two vacant councillor positions after no other candidates stepped forward during the nomination period. 

The new Reeve for the R.M. of Morris feels this latest group of councillors will work well together. 
    
October's civic election saw the return of Rick Giesbrecht, Mervin Dueck, Al Rowe and Shane Kroeker to the council table. Newcomers Larry Skoglund from the Sewell area, and Cory Friesen from Lowe Farm were appointed to the two vacant councillor positions after no other candidates stepped forward during the nomination period. 

R.M of Morris reeve, Scott Siemens, says Council was pleased the Municipality was included in last week's multi-government partnership to build new childcare spaces in Manitoba.

A well-known business man and long time pharmacist in Altona has passed away.
    
Don Braun owned and operated Braun Drug in the community for many years, going into business after school and staying until he sold and retired. 

He also served as Town of Altona Councillor on two ocassions. The first from 1972-1974 and again from 2006-2012.

A new term is underway for Municipality of Rhineland Council.

An inaugural meeting was held November 2nd and was a chance to welcome new and returning councillors.

Joining Council for the first time is Hank Froese representing Ward 2, and Brad Wiebe in Ward 1. Returning for another four years is Brad Braun (Ward 1), Archie Heinrichs (Ward 2), John Dueck (Ward 3), Jake Heppner (Ward 3) and Reeve Don Wiebe. 

Three years after a special services levy was tabled for the L.U.D. of Gretna, the proposal is back and has undergone a second public hearing.
    
Under the proposal, presently exempt properties like schools and churches would fall subject to the levy in an effort to have more users share in the cost of local services like street lighting and fire protection.

Harold Schlegel, Executive Director of Mennonite Collegiate Institute (MCI), presented at Wednesday's public hearing, three years after his last appearance before the proposal was put on hold. 

The Mayor for the Town of Morris says he was disappointed to see his town left off the initial list of nine communities to benefit from a multi-government partnership to build new childcare spaces in Manitoba. 

The Mayor for the Town of Morris says he was disappointed to see his town left off the initial list of nine communities to benefit from a multi-government partnership to build new childcare spaces in Manitoba.