Portage

Mother nature has recently blessed Portage la Prairie with above-seasonal days, and that trend looks to continue this week.

Christy Climenhaga, a Scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), says it will be an interesting and unsettled week across much of the province, especially parts of southern Manitoba.

Canadian farmers can take advantage of a program that can give them a leg up this harvest season through the Canadian Grain Commission's (CGC) annual Harvest Sample Program.

Through that farmers get an unofficial grading from the CGC which they can use to help market their commodities.

Program Manager of Analytical Services Kerri Pleskach talks about the program and how it helps out Canadian producers.

A Manitoba New Democrat has been removed from the government caucus and is firing back at Premier Wab Kinew.

The NDP has removed Mark Wasyliw — a lawyer — from caucus, saying his business partner is a defence lawyer for convicted sex offender Peter Nygard.

Caucus chair Mike Moyes says Wasyliw has failed to demonstrate good judgment and does not align with caucus principles of respect and trust.

Wasyliw says he thinks he has been turfed because he spoke his mind within caucus.

Twelve firefighters responded to a vehicle fire east of MacGregor in the early hours of Saturday.

Crews were dispatched to a fire on Highway 1 at 2:48 a.m. on September 14. The blaze involving a semi-dolly was extinguished and cleaned up quickly. Firefighters were back in service at 4:45 a.m.

MacGregor Fire Chief Chris Leckie tells PortageOnline it was a mechanical failure on the dollies pulling the second semi-trailer when it malfunctioned and caused the brakes and tires to catch fire.

The Portage Terriers continue to trim their roster for the upcoming season, as they announced the trade of forward Nathan Lenoski to the Dauphin Kings this morning.

Lenoski joined the Terriers before last season, coming over in a trade with the Winnipeg Freeze for defenceman Darien Schaan, and third-round draft pick and future considerations. 

Lenoski would put up 25 points in 43 games, while missing some time to injury, and played in all five playoff games.

At this time of year when people might be finishing up their landscaping, Manitoba Hydro is reminding people to be careful around gas lines and meters as well as overhead trees.

Peter Chura is Media Relations Officer and says hydro equipment around your home is something to look out for.

A new resource for farmers and researchers has been launched with the Root Rot Network covering advances in combatting diseases for crops in the prairies.

That includes both resources and research papers featured on rootrot.ca.

Sherrilyn Phelps, Director of Research and Development for the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, talks about the partnership behind the website.

The Canadian National Women's Hockey Camp ran from September 9-15 with several invites from the Province of Manitoba. Defenceman Jocelyne Larocque and Goaltender Raygan Kirk are in attendance from Ste. Anne, Ashton Bell from Deloraine joins them, along with goaltenders Kristen Campbell from Brandon, and Elm Creek's Corinne Schroeder.

Schroeder spoke to PortageOnline about the opportunity to attend the national camp, her second consecutive invite.

You can call host Carla Hrycyna live on the program with all of your gardening questions every Saturday morning at: 1-800-374-3315

The RCMP is looking for leads regarding two attempted break-ins earlier this month. 

On September 4, Portage la Prairie RCMP received a report of an attempted break and enter into a shed in the 1000 block of Crescent Road sometime overnight. 

The suspect was not able to gain entry but caused damage in trying to gain entry. 

On September 6, just before 4:00 p.m., Portage la Prairie RCMP received a call that a residence in the 400 block of 6th Avenue NE was broken into sometime after 1:30 p.m.