Portage

Manitoba Hydro is reminding customers to stay safe and informed when it comes to electricity use and power outages. 

Media Relations Officer Peter Chura says that while other places may experience brownouts, when lights dim due to high power demand, this is not a common issue in Manitoba. 

“We have enough capacity to serve all of our customers regardless of the situation.” 

The Manitoba government’s all-party committee exploring the future of local journalism concluded a series of province-wide public consultations last week. The final stop was held in Winkler, with Winnipeg, Brandon, Thompson and Gimli also hosting events previously. The consultations aimed to focus on rural and northern media and cultural media such as French, Filipino, Punjabi and Chinese language publications.

Portage la Prairie’s Crescent Lake, a cherished water feature dating back over a century, is undergoing dramatic change. Once created to enhance local recreation and attract wildlife, the Crescent is now threatened by drought, invasive species, and unclear long-term solutions. 

Local historian James Kostuchuk, who lives along the Crescent, says the man-made lake has relied on artificial water input since the early 1900s. 

Postal workers across Canada are preparing to vote on Canada Post’s latest contract offer, and David McLeod, president of CUPW Local 802 in Portage la Prairie, says concerns are growing among members.

Voting is scheduled to begin on July 21 and will be open until Aug. 1. The vote, conducted by phone and email, is being organized by the Canada Industrial Relations Board. A simple majority will determine whether the proposed collective agreement is accepted.

A messy surprise delayed splash pad playtime at Simplot Central Park on Thursday morning, as city crews arrived to clean up mud, rocks and other debris left scattered across the play area.

A local daycare group arrived around 11 a.m. and waited as staff worked to assess and address the mess.

One daycare worker said they noticed the debris right away during their usual safety check.

“We always do a safety check when we come in the morning and there was rocks and mud all over the splash pad,” she said. “We did the best we could.”

The season for minor baseball is quickly nearing an end, and this summer, Portage will once again be hosting a provincial tournament.

The Portage Minor Baseball Association shared on their Facebook page that Republic Park will be hosting the Double-AA 13U Manitoba Provincials from July 25-27. 

Evan Pepper, the association's President, says there will be plenty of action over the course of the weekend.

The Rotary Club of Portage la Prairie marked a significant leadership transition and celebrated outstanding service during its executive changeover meeting on Tuesday, July 15th.

Outgoing president Tosha Hotel formally passed the Rotary President's Pin to David Roberts, who now leads the club for the 2025/2026 year. The evening also saw Rotary member Cathie McFarlane honoured as Rotarian of the Year, receiving the prestigious Four Way Test coin.

Strawberry season is coming to a close for farms around Portage la Prairie, including Lost Creek Acres, where the final days of picking are now underway.

Owner Jane Giesbrecht says recent rainfall has helped stretch things out at the berry patch.

“We’re actually still going,” she says. “It’s slowed down quite a bit here. We just keep getting these little half inch to 3rd of an inch rains and they just kind of have prolonged things nicely for us. We’ll probably have one or two more days left here.”

If you’re driving through Portage la Prairie today, be prepared to take a few detours as crews work on road and water repairs in separate areas.

As of Thursday morning (July 17th), a portion of 4th Street SE, from King Ave. to Portage Ave., is temporarily closed while city crews carry out a water repair. Water service is also disrupted for homes and businesses in that same stretch.

The city says they aim to have both the road reopened and water restored by the end of the day. 

A man from Traverse Bay is now facing a second-degree murder charge after a deadly shooting in Teulon over the weekend.

RCMP say 24-year-old Donavin Skogan was arrested again on Wednesday, July 16th, and charged with second-degree murder, along with Intimidation of a Justice System Participant. He’s being held in custody and is expected to appear in court later today.