Steinbach

Manitoba Environment and Climate Change is encouraging residents to test their well water or cistern to detect coliforms and E. coli in their water supply.

The ideal time to conduct these tests is in the spring, especially after a flood or heavy rainstorm.

Changes in the colour, clarity, odor, or taste of well or cistern water are also indicators that testing should be done. The Private Well Testing Subsidy Program, in collaboration with Duracan Laboratory in Winnipeg, offers these tests at a subsidized cost for private well and cistern owners once per year.

As the 2025 crop season begins, farmers across the prairies are already on high alert for potential insect damage. Dr. Meghan Vankosky, a research scientist in field crop entomology with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, provides insights into what farmers might expect this year based on last year's conditions and winter observations.

A shop went up in flames Tuesday evening near Grunthal.

Hanover Fire Chief Paul Wiebe says their crews were dispatched shortly after 6 pm to a structure fire, along Road 29E, two miles east of Grunthal. 

"Our crews arrived, they found a shop, approximately 30 by 50 (foot) shop that was fully involved," says Wiebe. "It had been burning for a while, by our assessment."

Funeral For:  David Adrian 
Funeral Date: May 14, 2025 
David Adrian, 83, of Steinbach formerly of Plum Coulee, passed away Monday, May 5th at Rest Haven Care Home. He is survived by his wife Lynda, 1 daughter, 2 sons, 1 sister, 2 brothers, and their families. He was predeceased by 2 sons. 
Viewing will be at Crossings Funeral Care Thursday, May 8th from 2 to 4pm. 
The celebration of life for David Adrian will be held Wednesday, May 14th at 10:30am at Crossings Funeral Care, Steinbach. 
Arrangements by Crossings Funeral Care, Steinbach.  

Funeral For:  Frank Wiebe 
Funeral Date: May 11, 2025 
Frank Wiebe, 80, of Winnipeg passed away Thursday, May 1st at Health Sciences Centre. He is survived by his wife Barb, 2 sons, and their families.  
The funeral service for Frank Wiebe will be held Sunday, May 11th at 2:30pm at Portage Avenue Church, 1420 Portage Avenue, with ash interment at Chapel Lawn Cemetery at a later date.  
Viewing will be at the church prior to the service.  
Donations may be made to Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Arrangements by Wiebe Funeral Home, WInkler. 

Do not be surprised to hear an emergency test go off on your phone this afternoon. That same test will be heard on local radio stations.

Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure's Emergency Management Organization says this is an Alert Ready test through the National Public Alerting System. It will go out on multiple communication channels, including AM1250, MIX 96.7FM, and COUNTRY 107.7FM. The test will come down at 1:55 pm. 

Funeral For:  Rita Sawatzky 
Funeral Date: May 11, 2025 
Rita Sawatzky, 94, of Steinbach passed away Monday, May 5th at Bethesda Regional Health Centre. She is survived by 2 daughters, 1 son, and their families. She was predeceased by her first husband Jacob Klassen, her second husband Frank Sawatzky, and 1 grandson. 
Cremation has taken place. 
A memorial service for Rita Sawatzky will be held Sunday, May 11th at 2pm at Birchwood Funeral Chapel with ash interment at a later date. 
Donations may be made to MCC. 

It was a sunny and successful Saturday in Steinbach as hundreds of volunteers came out for the annual “Pick Up and Walk” event, held this year on May 3. With perfect weather and strong community spirit, residents helped clear trash from the city’s streets in just a few hours. 

Mixed martial artist Clayton Grawberger has had a terrific run of late and he's looking to keep the good times rolling into this weekend, when he'll head down south and enter the cage for what should be an epic battle.

Before getting into what's ahead, Grawberger went back to the beginning of his MMA career and says he may of found it later in life, but he's wasted no time getting the most out of it. 

While outdoor gardens aren't quite ready to welcome plants just yet, Oakridge Garden Centre's greenhouse is flourishing.

"This has been such a great growing season. We think that our crop hasn't ever ben better," says Megan Fontaine with the greenhouse. "The heat these last few weeks has been amazing for all the flowers and vegetables in our garden."

But in the excitement of the season, she says to hold to caution—Especially as nighttime temperatures can still get chilly.

It's not that green thumbs can't get their hands a little dirty, though.