Steinbach

Conservative MP Damien Kurek is set to step aside to allow Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to run in a byelection in the Battle River—Crowfoot riding in Alberta.

Kurek says he is "temporarily" stepping aside as MP for the riding, which he has held since 2019.

The Conservative party confirms that Poilievre will run in the Battle River—Crowfoot byelection once it's called.

Alberta

The St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID) is notifying irrigators that they are now accepting water orders.

For the 2025 irrigation season, water allocation will remain at 12 inches at the farm gate based on the recent Irrigation Water Supply Forecast from Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation.

Crews have started flushing lines and are charging the system for water startup, expected to be available across the entire district by May 5th to 9th.

In addition to provincial fire and travel restrictions that became effective Friday morning, the RM of Stuartburn, RM of Piney, RM of Ste. Anne, RM of Taché, and RM of La Broquerie have all instituted their own burn bans.

Seeding season is off to a slow start in eastern Manitoba, according to a local seed specialist.  

Karis Hutlet, Sales Associate and Agronomist with Marc Hutlet Seeds in Dufresne, says, still, farmers are feeling optimistic with warm weather in the forecast and equipment prepped and ready to roll. 

The Manitoba Cornhole Association is hosting a provincial tournament this weekend in Steinbach.

Daren Funk, director of the Eastman Cornhole League says it will be a fun and bean-bag filled weekend, kicking off tonight (May 2) at 6 p.m. with a "Switcholio" mixer.

"It's more of a fun event where you just have random partners for the first few games and then you get paired up depending on your standings for the finals," Funk explains.

It was all hands-on deck very early this morning as fire fighters responded to a house fire in Morris.

According to a social media post, members of the Morris Fire Department got the call at 1:05 a.m.

Once on scene, it was determined more help would be needed, and a mutual aid call was sent out to the St. Jean Fire Department.

No other details on the incident are available at this time.

In the last issue we discussed warm and cold clouds, and we learned that most of our local precipitation is produced in cold clouds, which means that most of it starts off as snow, even in the summer.

This week we are going to look at the different types of precipitation we experience and examine how each type forms.

Next on our list of precipitation types is sleet or ice pellets.

This form of precipitation is created when raindrops freeze in the air before they reach the ground.

Funeral For:  Ruth Klassen nee Letkeman 
Funeral Date: May 4, 2025 
Ruth Klassen nee Letkeman, 77, of Winnipeg formerly of Morden, passed away Wednesday, April 30th at Boundary Trails Health Centre. She is survived by her husband Frank, and 1 son.  
The funeral service for Ruth Klassen nee Letkeman will be held Sunday, May 4th at 2pm at Bethel Bergthaler Church, Hochfeld with burial at Haskett Cemetery. 

Funeral For:  Lyall Allison 
Funeral Date: May 3, 2025 
Lyall Allison, 93, of Winkler formerly of Roland, passed away Sunday, April 27th at Boundary Trails Health Centre. He is survived by 5 daughters, 1 sister, and their families. He was predeceased by his wife Lois. 
The funeral service for Lyall Allison will be held Saturday, May 3rd at 2pm at Roland United church with burial at Fairview Cemetery, Roland.  
Donations may be made to the MS Society or Roland United Church. 
Arrangements by Doyle’s Funeral Home, Carman.  

Funeral For:  Martha Gerbrandt 
Funeral Date: May 5, 2025 
Martha Gerbrandt, 95, of Manitou formerly of the Bergfeld area, passed away Monday, April 28th at Pembina Manitou Health Centre. She is survived by 3 daughters, 1 daughter-in-law, and their families. She was predeceased by her husband Frank, 1 son, and 1 granddaughter. 
The funeral service for Martha Gerbrandt will be held Monday, May 5th at 2pm at St. Andrew’s United Church, Manitou with burial at Manitou Cemetery. 
Viewing will be at the church prior to the service from 12:30 to 1:15pm.