Robyn Wiebe

The Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba (CHFM) named a new Manitoba Champion Child (MCC) Friday at Winkler's Centennial Arena. 

Winkler's Pacey Wall has had over 30 surgeries due to intestinal failure. He shared what being sick has taught him in life. 

"Well, I've learned sometimes you can go through tough stuff, and then when you go through that, you just have to try to be brave, so you can get through it." 

Tuesday's sudden onset of stormy weather left many people stranded in communities around the Pembina Valley as whiteout driving conditions left visibility at zero at times; especially, on open roadways with no shelter. The weather left many drivers deciding to stop in communities away from home. The people of Manitou are one of the communities who opened their doors to weary travelers.

President of the Manitou Community Arena Harry Hiebert explained how he decided to help.

Pine Ridge Elementary grade two students were excited to learn they were taking home the book Angela Apperley from Friesens Corporation read to them, "A Strange Bird."  With some added excitement in the air, News Reporter Robyn Wiebe and Apperley started off Valentines Day inspiring the kids to read.

With I Love to Read month reaching the halfway point, some of the kids took time to talk about how the month was going and give an update on their progress and, of course, talk Valentines Day!

The sun shone on the hills of Shannondale Ski Trails, as over 110 athletes took part in the Cross-Country Ski Association of Manitoba (CCSAM) Provincials hosted by Boundary Trails Nordic Club (BTNC).  

Head of the Organizing Committee Andrew Vanden Berg described the weekend. 

The annual Western School Division Student Forum took place Wednesday, Feb 8th at the Morden Collegiate Backstage Theatre, where students from grades 4-12 took part in team building games and round table discussions with Board members and administration staff listening and recording student feedback. 

Board Chair Brian Fransen described the day. 

A regional coming together to support the Boundary Trails Health Centre (BTHC) expansion project took place Thursday afternoon. RM of Stanley Reeve Ike Friesen, Morden Mayor Brandon Burley, and Winkler Mayor Henry Siemens gathered to announce their community commitments to the BTHC Foundation portion of the $100- million expansion project. The BTHC Foundation has committed to raising $10 million for the project after the Provincial Government committed to funding $64.4 last year.

Robyn Wiebe and Friesen's Corporation Rep Andrea Klassen went to Minnewasta Elementary School in Morden for I Love to Read Month.

Andrea shared a bit about Friesen's printing press to some very engaged listeners.

Last week, Cameron Friesen resigned from his position of MLA for Morden-Winkler after announcing his intentions to seek the Conservative nomination for Portage-Lisgar. 

On October 4th, 2011, he won the nomination for the PC Party Candidate for Morden-Winkler. He shared why he wanted to serve in this role. 

Morden's Multicultural Winterfest took on a different look this year, with the celebration taking place Saturday all around the city.

Chair of the Winterfest Committee Shelly Voth explains.

"In the past, we've had 13 different Winterfests, all with the Access Event Center and this year we tried something new as a pavilion base, where we had five locations downtown with the different countries at different pavilions, and we had our Canadian pavilion down at the lake."

Looking back, Voth was positive about how the day went.

Fire inspectors are still investigating the cause of Thursday's fire that destroyed the Winkler location of Janzen's Paint and Decorating, less than a year after the Steinbach location burned to the ground.

Spokesperson for Janzen's Paint and Decorating, Property Manager for the A.L. Group Arlen Thiessen spoke on Friday about the fire that quickly ravaged the paint and hobby store in Winkler.