Steinbach

The head of an Ottawa-based Canadian Army regiment has been temporarily removed as part of an investigation into alleged online behaviour that the commander of the army says disgraced the military.

The commanding officer of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa has been removed from his post in connection with a probe into the "Blue Hackle Mafia" social media group, Lt-Gen Michael Wright said in a statement to army ranks Wednesday and shared with The Canadian Press Thursday.

Systematic government collection and analysis of data about mysterious sightings in the sky could help Canada better prepare for incidents like the sudden appearance of several high-altitude balloons over North America two years ago, says a report from the federal science adviser.

One of the balloons, which wafted above western Canada in early 2023 before being shot down off the U.S. coast, apparently originated from China and carried sophisticated equipment.

The balloon episodes generated intense public speculation before fading from the headlines.

Close to 13,000 people in Manitoba were out of their homes Thursday due to wildfires, but hundreds were finding space in hotels rather than in congregate shelters, the province said.

Since Monday, officials said they've found spots for 705 more people in hotels, while others are staying with family and friends or in one of four shelters in Winnipeg.

As of Wednesday night, there were about 7,000 evacuees in hotel rooms and about 1,200 in shelters, a government spokesperson said. 

Ten hotels were added to a list of 58 across the province already offering rooms.

The search of a Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of two slain First Nations women has concluded with a new search soon set to begin at a different site for another victim.

The Manitoba government announced Thursday that crews finished looking last week through the Prairie Green landfill, just north of Winnipeg, for remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran. They were among four First Nations women murdered by serial killer Jeremy Skibicki in 2022. 

"Together, we brought Morgan and Marcedes home," Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said in a social media post. 

Hockey star out of Niverville, Bry Muntain, was part of Team Manitoba that won the War For The Roses tournament that was held in Edmonton.

Loving the sport of hockey came early and naturally to the 13-year-old. "From a young age, we lived in Pinawa, my parents played hockey, and our town was pretty big at hockey. I started skating when I was like, two. My dad has a video, I wasn't the greatest," Muntain says with a chuckle. "It was really cool. I joined a hockey team when I was around five."

A request to allow retail sales in Steinbach’s industrial park has been denied by city council following a lengthy public hearing Tuesday night. 

At Niverville Town Council’s regular evening meeting on Tuesday, July 15, council gave First Reading to By-Law 879-25, which would rezone a piece of land in the Highlands West area from Agricultural Limited to Educational/Institutional. This move has sparked local curiosity and speculation.

Could a new school be coming to the west side of town?

The Winnipeg Fringe Festival returns, showcasing a wide-ranging lineup of independent theatre, improv, and experimental performances from local, Southeast Manitoba artists. 

The All Canada Classic Sheep Show returned to Brandon this past weekend, bringing together sheep producers from across the country to showcase breeding stock and connect with fellow industry members.

With about 250 sheep for sale and attendees from Nova Scotia to British Columbia, the event marked a milestone for the national sheep industry.

A local success story

Brandon last hosted the national show in 1981, and the event remained here for three years before moving westward across the country.

RCMP are asking for the public’s help after a Tesla Cybertruck was damaged during Folk Fest at Birds Hill Provincial Park.

Oakbank RCMP say they received a report on July 14 at 9:53 a.m. regarding an act of vandalism involving the vehicle. Their initial investigation revealed that a woman wrote a profanity on the Cybertruck using a marker while it was parked at the festival.

Police are now working to identify the suspect and are urging anyone with information to come forward.