Portage

Charles “Sam” Gemar, a retired NASA astronaut, visited Heritage Manor in Elm Creek, Manitoba, yesterday to share stories of space and science.

Over coffee and cookies, around 35 residents gathered in the Manor’s sunlit lounge for a slideshow presentation and a meet‑and‑greet. Gemar’s visit, which took place during a family trip to nearby Carman, MB, brought a taste of orbit to this close‑knit community.

Only one more day is left before the start of the big events for the summer at the Portage Golf Club.

General Manager Robby Moar and his team are preparing to host the Men's Open this weekend, followed by the Ladies Open and the Club Championship within a matter of weeks.

Moar says this year, things are looking really good in terms of the turnout.

Residents across southern Manitoba can expect smoother drives and safer roads in the coming years, thanks to a major provincial investment announced this week.

On Friday afternoon in Glenboro, Premier Wab Kinew and Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor revealed a $115-million plan to repair and upgrade sections of Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 2 and surrounding routes, improvements set to benefit local communities, farmers, and tourists alike.

It’s shaping up to be a hot and unsettled weekend in the Portage area, with rising humidity and on-and-off chances for thunderstorms heading into Sunday.

Crawford Luke, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, says southern Manitoba could see multiple rounds of stormy weather through the weekend.

“There could be a few rounds of showers and thunderstorms,” notes Luke. “Generally speaking, it looks like most of the action is probably going to be south of Portage, especially over the weekend.”

Austin firefighters were quick to respond Thursday night after being called to help with a potential STARS air ambulance landing at the Manitoba Agricultural Museum.

The request came in around 10:45 p.m. on July 24 following an injury during the rodeo portion of the Manitoba Thresherman’s Reunion and Stampede.

Portage Minor Hockey is putting out a final call for early bird registration as the organization prepares for another exciting season on the ice. President Tanner Waldvogel says, families have until tonight to take advantage of reduced rates before a $200 late fee applies for U9 and up divisions.

"We just want to give everyone one last push to register so we can have our numbers set for the year," Waldvogel said. "Registration will stay open until the end of August, but it's a big help for planning if people register early."

A sunny afternoon at Delta Beach nearly turned tragic last Friday, July 18th, when a 2-year-old boy disappeared beneath the water while playing with other children. Thanks to the fast and calm response of a beachgoer nearby, the child is expected to make a full recovery.

The incident happened around 6:15 p.m. when the young boy failed to resurface during a swim. Witnesses quickly realized something was wrong, and moments later, he was pulled from the water unresponsive.

The sudden closure of Tallboys’ main building and fuel services in St. Claude, following a fire early Friday morning, will have a significant impact on the local community.

As a key hub offering fuel, vendor, motels, a restaurant, and a lounge, Tallboys plays an important role in daily life for residents and travellers alike.

While the fire has shut down these operations, the carwash remains open for customers. The business says it is working diligently to restore full service as soon as possible.

THURSDAY, JULY 24TH

American Association Baseball
Winnipeg Goldeyes 6 Chicago Dogs 5

MLB
Toronto Blue Jays 11 Detroit Tigers 5

CFL
Montreal 23 Calgary 21

FRIDAY, JULY 25TH

CFL
Edmonton at Saskatchewan - 8:00 PM

A manhunt is underway in Portage la Prairie after a suspect escaped from police custody Thursday evening.

According to Manitoba RCMP, the Manitoba First Nation Police Service (MNFPS) reported around 9:00 p.m. on July 24 that a man they had arrested earlier in the day had managed to flee.

Last seen on 5th Street SE

The suspect, 26-year-old Byron Roulette of Winnipeg, was last seen at approximately 7:30 p.m. in the 500 block of 5th Street Southeast in Portage.