Portage

Monday, October 14th

Farm Credit Canada's mid-year report shows cultivated farmland values rose by an average of 5.5 per cent nationally for the first half of 2024.

Over the 12 months from July 2023 to June 2024, there was a 9.6 per cent increase, representing a slowdown compared to the previous 12-month period (January to December 2023).

FCC's Vice President and Chief Economist J.P. Gervais says for the second consecutive year, Saskatchewan recorded the highest average six-month increases at 7.4 per cent, Alberta was at 4.6 per cent, and Manitoba 3.9 per cent.

The Portage Office of United Way West Central Manitoba is in the middle of its annual Coats for Kids campaign and is adding a new initiative this year called Coats for Seniors.

Program co-ordinator Megan Romphf said many seniors are facing the same challenges as some families in the community when it comes to lacking warm winter clothing.

"Bev Zaroski and Kaylee Hannah from Portage Service for Seniors have taken that on. Anyone who would like to donate to Coats for Seniors, please come down to the Herman Prior Centre. There is a drop-off bin there," Romphf said.

Safety is a matter that concerns both sides of the Canadian-American border.  
 
For the first time, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) and the United States Border Patrol’s Grand Forks Sector held an information session jointly to educate the public on the dangers of crossing the border illegally — especially during the winter months when frigid temperatures and inclement weather can cause a tragic loss of human life.

Farmers are working hard pushing against the weather to get this year's crop in the bin.

As a result, they can also be dealing with an overwhelming amount of stress ranging from weather to markets, finances, equipment breakdowns and more, all at the same time.

Learning ways to recognize, release stress and reach out for help is key to avoid feeling overburdened especially when trying to stay focused when working with large farm equipment or unpredictable livestock.

Thae game was much closer than the score indicated however the result was the same as the week before. For the second straight Sunday, the Portage Terriers fell to the Winkler Flyers, whose win streak has now reached four games.

Music runs deep in the roots of the province of Manitoba, and with the Manitoba Country Music Awards (MCMA) coming up, local nominee Nelson Little caught up with PortageOnline to discuss the honours.

Little is nominated for seven awards, and he says that number feels like foreign territory to him.

Crescent View School’s Grade 3 teachers, Sandra Patterson, and Allana Boschman, have inspired their students to reflect their gratitude through a unique project. With the Thanksgiving season upon us, students have been sharing what they are most thankful for, revealing insights into their values. Patterson says that the student insights have warmed her heart.

Sunday, October 13th

MJHL
Winkler 6 Portage 2
Neepawa 7 Steinbach 6 (OT)
Northern Manitoba 4 Wpg Freeze 1
Dauphin 8 Waywayseecappo 0

MMJHL
St. James 2 Pembina Valley 1

It seems Portage la Prairie might have a turkey problem this Thanksgiving—word is, the turkeys have heard about the upcoming dinners and decided to stage a preemptive strike! Locals are reporting turkeys roaming the streets, forming their own “flocktoberfest.”