Shannon Dueck

It is shaping up to be a hot and muggy weekend for southern Manitoba. 

Natalie Hasell with Environment Canada says we are currently under the influence of a ridge, which is well defined by hot conditions. As a result, Friday will be sunny with a high of 30 degrees and a humidex of 36. 

Saturday will then be mainly cloudy and Hasell says that cloud cover could prevent us from reaching 30 degrees. The forecast high for Saturday is 29 degrees and a humidex of 36. Hasell says there is a chance of rain for Saturday and even thunderstorms. 

Floodwaters have long dissipated in the Rural Municipality of Morris, but the cleanup is still far from over.

In fact, Reeve Ralph Groening says only about five to ten percent of that work has been completed. He notes though all roads are passable once again in the municipality, Riverside Road remains open to local traffic only. The municipality is waiting for a thorough inspection of the bridge over the Morris River, before reopening that road to all traffic.

Manitoba Parks has announced some additional reopenings in the Whiteshell.

Provincial Road (PR) 307 in Whiteshell Provincial Park is now fully open through the north Whiteshell area from Seven Sisters Falls to Rennie. Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure is continuing ongoing repairs of PR 307 and floodwaters remain on the road in some areas. Expect delays when traveling in the park, use caution and drive slowly when coming up to or passing work crews.

Emerson RCMP are investigating a theft that was reported last weekend during the Canada Day festivities in Vita. 

Organizer Ang Boychuk was volunteering at the festival when the theft happened. 

“We had a wood carver who was displaying some pieces that he was selling raffle tickets to, to raise money for Ukraine,” she explains. “He did raise a phenomenal amount of money however four pieces of his art went missing on Friday night.” 

Manitoba Parks has announced some additional reopenings in the Whiteshell.

Provincial Road (PR) 307 in Whiteshell Provincial Park is now fully open through the north Whiteshell area from Seven Sisters Falls to Rennie. Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure is continuing ongoing repairs of PR 307 and floodwaters remain on the road in some areas. Expect delays when travelling in the park, use caution and drive slowly when coming up to or passing work crews.

A meteorologist with Environment Canada says though it will not be a very hot long weekend for southern Manitoba, it should at least be dry.

Natalie Hasell says right now it looks as though Canada Day will be the nicest day this weekend. That day should be sunny with a high of 25 degrees. She notes Saturday looks to be mainly sunny and 23 and then Sunday is mainly sunny and 26, though there is a chance of thunderstorms Sunday evening. 

"We have a number of days that we can actually enjoy a long weekend in southern Manitoba," she says.

The grade 12 class at Shevchenko School in Vita walked into the school as students the for last time last week but left as graduates. 

The school and community celebrated the 23 students who received their high school diplomas. 

"They are a really great group of kids," says Principal Peter Osadchuk. "I would say that they are a tight-knit group that really has formed really good relationships with each other. Good academically, good athletes, just all around some really, really good people."

The Member of Parliament for Provencher is disappointed in the last bill that made it through the House of Commons on Thursday.
    
The first session of the 44th Parliament ended Thursday afternoon and Ted Falk says the Liberal/ NDP coalition pushed through Bill C-21, which would strengthen gun laws in Canada. Falk says the "firearms community" is disappointed with this legislation. 

Our provincial government has announced more funding for Manitoba schools.

The Manitoba government is allocating more than $20 million to build on previous investments that strengthen student support and learning across kindergarten to Grade 12 schools in the upcoming school year. Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Wayne Ewasko made that announcement Thursday morning.

Conditions continue to improve in Whiteshell Provincial Park. That is according to Manitoba Parks, which says floodwaters continue to recede.

Water levels on the Winnipeg and Whiteshell rivers have been receding and the next phases of reopening are being implemented. Provincial Road (PR) 307 remains closed to all traffic between Nutimik and Betula lakes. Betula Lake can now be accessed on PR 307 from the south via Rennie for permanent residents, cottagers, and businesses only. Residents returning to Betula Lake can expect to travel through floodwaters.