Portage

The Canadian Crop Hail Association member companies are investigating 630 claims of crop damage from isolated storms that hit farms across Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan during the week of September 16-22.

Rodney Schoettler of Saskatchewan Municipal Hail Insurance noted that September brought an unexpected surge in claims:

He says the claim count is much higher than typical [for this time of year] and the severity of losses at this stage is costly to producers and insurers.

An intense Alberta clipper crossed the province Saturday and with it came strong to severe wind gusts for much of Southern Manitoba. This was the second consecutive weekend the region experienced winds between 70 and 90+ km/h

“It was a very similar scenario to what we had last Sunday through Monday at the end of September,” explained CMOS Accredited Weathercaster Chris Sumner. “Strong southerly winds ahead of the lows arrival due to its counterclockwise rotation, then shifting westerly and northwesterly as it moved through and the cold front passed.”

Farmers are making some good progress with the harvest. 

The latest crop reports show in Manitoba, 73 per cent of the provincial crop is now in. 

This week's crop report shows there's still some spring wheat, barley and oats to come in.

The canola harvest is now at 78 percent complete, dry beans are at 60 per cent, soybeans at 29 percent,  17 per cent of the flax is now in with the corn harvest just getting underway in Eastern Manitoba.

In Saskatchewan, 91 per cent of the crop is now in with harvest most advanced in the southwest at 99  per cent complete.

Fundraising efforts are common in the Portage la Prairie area, and Melissa Morrison, Executive Director at The Family Resource Centre (FRC) in Portage, in collaboration with Boston Pizza and the United Way in Central Plains, announced the total they had received from the Pizza Day held on September 18.

"Boston Pizza was able to donate back to us $1,302 from the Pizza Day, in support of the Family Resource Centre."

Morrison adds that the plan at the moment is to add another Pizza Day fundraiser in the spring and hopes to see all 500 pizzas sell out.

Emotional mourners gathered by the hundreds in cities across Canada on Sunday to honour the victims of Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel that sparked the still raging war in Gaza and roiled tensions in the Middle East and beyond.

In the nation's capital, a sea of Israeli flags could be seen draped over participants in front of Ottawa City Hall, with Canadian flags waving alongside them as they called for the release of hostages still being held in Gaza.

The highly anticipated Brake for Breakfast, presented by Dino's Appliance & Mattress Centre and Sobeys, will be taking place on Thursday.

This event enters its tenth year and is made possible by the community's continuous and immense support. It is a vital fundraiser for the students of the Portage la Prairie School Division.

Miami Fire Chief James Oakes described a call that came in Saturday night of a fire in the community. 

“It was about 8:30 to a quarter to nine and in the evening, we had a report of a structure fire in town, and we responded. A garage had started on fire, and it went to a neighbouring house. The heavy winds were a big factor in the fire.” 

Two teenagers from Portage la Prairie were arrested after they bear-sprayed other youths on September 23.

According to an RCMP news report, two youths were bear sprayed near a business in the 200 block of Saskatchewan Avenue West. After police arrived, they received information which led them to the arrest of the two teenagers.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau repeatedly reiterated calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East on Saturday as he blamed Hamas, Hezbollah and Israel for a staggering number of civilian deaths.

But Trudeau stopped short of outright condemning Israel for beginning a ground war days after the Israeli military crossed the border into southern Lebanon.

"We need to see peace in the region," Trudeau said from Paris on the final day of the Francophonie summit.

Just before 3 p.m. on September 24, 2024, Portage la Prairie RCMP received a report of a woman waving a weapon in the 400 block of 6th Avenue NE. Officers responded and arrested a 20-year-old woman from Portage la Prairie. She was held in custody for a court appearance the following day, facing a charge of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. She was later released with court-ordered conditions.