Westman

Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors, but too much sun can be dangerous for your health. Whether going for a walk, swimming at the lake, or just sitting in the sun, it’s important to know how to protect yourself from heat and harmful UV rays.

Why Sun Safety Matters

The sun gives off ultraviolet (UV) rays that we can’t see but can still harm our skin and eyes. Too much UV exposure can cause sunburn, skin damage, eye injuries, and even increase the risk of skin cancer.

Harvest operations are slowly starting to get underway. Crop condition and staging across the Prairies is variable depending on location and rainfall patterns.

In Manitoba, early reports of swathing in canola have come in from the Interlake and Central regions, along with some winter cereals.

Oilseed Specialist Sonia Wilson put together this week's Manitoba Crop Report.

Visitors will have a rare opportunity to experience the reality of trench warfare at the Manitoba World War One Museum’s "A Day in the Trenches", happening Sunday, August 10th from noon to 4 p.m. Located just west of La Riviere, the event offers a fully immersive World War I experience complete with re-enactors, original artifacts, and historically accurate trench systems.

From Friday, August 1, 2025 to Saturday, November 15, 2025 crop residue burning is NOT AUTHORIZED, except by permit, in the municipalities of Rosser, Headingley, St. François Xavier, Cartier, Macdonald, Ritchot, Taché, Springfield, East St. Paul and West St. Paul. 
 
For Friday, August 8, 2025 through Sunday, August 10, 2025 crop residue burning is NOT AUTHORIZED in all municipalities and zones in Manitoba due to smoke from forest fires contributing to poor air quality. 
 

Advance polls in a historic federal byelection for Alberta's Battle River-Crowfoot open today.

For the first time ever, Elections Canada says voters must fill out a blank ballot.

The agency lists a record 214 candidates running in the rural riding, with voting day on Aug. 18.

The majority are part of the Longest Ballot Committee, a protest group calling for various changes to Canada's electoral system.

Richard and Cindy Pugh of Ninga called in with their rainfall total, an astounding 77 mm!

We invite more rain watchers to call in with your rainfall amounts :)

Precipitation throughout Westman for Thursday, August 7 + today, Friday as of 11:00 am

(over 10 mm)

(25.4 mm =  1 inch)

              Yesterday + this morning = Totals over the past 24 hours

Alexander   0.3 + 9.5 = 9.8 mm

Argue 10.3 + 7.1 = 17.4 mm

Bede 19.2 +25.6 = 44.8 mm

Boissevain 21.4 + 17.7 = 39.1 mm

The Manitoba government is issuing a ministerial order under the Environment Act to begin spraying for adult mosquitoes with DeltaGard 20EW because of high numbers of adult Culex tarsalis mosquitoes and evidence of a high rate of mosquito infection with West Nile virus (WNV) in the City of Winkler.

As far as retro radio goes, Paul Simon had a hit song which, among other things, indicated you could “Hop on the bus, Gus!”. It continued, ‘There’s no need to be coy, Roy,’ and added, ‘There’s no need to discuss much!’

On May 27, Prairie Mountain Health’s recruitment team felt there was indeed much to discuss and essentially highlighted a version of 50 ways to ‘rediscover’ by hosting students on two separate bus tours, which promoted the many benefits of working and living in rural Manitoba.

Funeral For:  Peter Friesen 
Funeral Date: August 10, 2025 
Peter Friesen, 81, of Altona passed away Thursday, August 7th at Altona Memorial Health Centre. He is survived by his wife Susan, 1 daughter, 3 sons, 3 sisters, 1 brother, and their families. He was predeceased by 1 granddaughter, 1 sister and 2 brothers. 
The celebration of life for Peter Friesen will be held Sunday, August 10th at 2pm at South Park Mennonite Brethren Church, Altona with burial at Altona Cemetery. 

The family of a First Nations woman who died at the hands of a Winnipeg serial killer hopes a special court hearing will help them heal and move on almost a year after the trial.

The family of 30-year-old Ashlee Shingoose, who was identified in March as the unknown victim in the case, will have the chance to give victim impact statements in court on Aug. 15.