Candace Derksen

A 46-year-old man is facing a swath of charges after a two-month joint police investigation came to a head Friday night in Altona.

After compiling intel from separate active investigations between Altona Police Service and Pembina Valley RCMP, Altona Police applied for, and was granted, a search warrant for the man's home on 2nd St. SW. However, he was arrested before the warrant was executed.

Once inside the home, police found a second a man, but he was later released without charges. 

For Morden-Winkler MLA, Carrie Hiebert, 2024 was an amazing year that provided countless opportunities for connection.

Big news for the City of Morden!

"Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI) has announced that Morden is on the books for a 1st Street and Thornhill Street upgrade," announced Mayor Nancy Penner, noting the department put together the design in 2024 and plans to get to work in 2025. "We will be getting a re-design with turning lanes and traffic lights." 

"I will believe it when I see it," Penner added with a chuckle. "Hopefully that will happen. We all know the congestion that happens at First Street and Thornhill trying to come into town and get out of town."

A collision has slowed traffic in the southbound lane of Highway 75, just north of Letellier.
    
According to the Province of Manitoba's 5-1-1 map, emergency crews were on scene as of 11:15 a.m., and motorists were being encouraged to use caution while keeping an eye ouf for equipment and people working. 

In a photo submitted to PembinaValleyOnline, a semi towing a flat deck trailer ended up in the median ditch. A car remained on the highway, but appeared damaged. No confirmation on whether any of the other vehicles in the photo were involved.

2024 saw Altona Town Council make plenty of strides on its newly minted strategic plan. 

According to a year-end interview with Mayor Harv Schroeder, there was particular focus placed on the group's priority area of Practicing Good Environmental Stewardship. 

This includes moving ahead to establish an Urban Forestry Management Plan which will provide both strategic and operational next steps for the Town of Altona.

"We're hoping we can implement it in 2025, but it's a long-term plan, a twenty-year plan," explained Schroeder. 

The Town of Altona and Municipality of Rhineland continue to wait for the Province to approve a traffic study they feel could help resolve the Highway 30 access management issue.

A 10-year-old boy has died following snowmobile crash Sunday evening on a private property just north of Rosebank in the R.M. of Thompson.
    
According to RCMP, the boy was operating a snowmobile with a group of family members when he side-swiped a fence, losing control of the snowmobile and colliding with a tree. Police say he was wearing a helmet and other safety equipment at the time of the crash.
    
The boy was brought to hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
    

Family and friends are mourning the loss of philanthropist and entrepreneur, John Buhler.

Originally from Morden, Buhler purchased Standard Gas Engine Works in 1969 and renamed it Farm King Limited. By 1994, it had grown into a farm equipment empire that would eventually become Buhler Industries.

Not only was John a visionary entrepreneur, but he, along with his wife Bonnie, was also among Manitoba's most generous philanthropists.

In 2011, he said, “I’m a dreamer. From dreams, you get ideas, and from ideas you set goals. Goals need to be visualized.” 

A memorial playground is starting to take shape, honouring the five lives taken in February's tragic homicides in Carman.
    
Six local groups have banded together to refurbish a facility in the northwest corner of town as a tribute to Amanda Clearwater, her three young children and teenage niece.

The countdown is on till Christmas, and 22 per cent of respondents to a recent PembinaValleyOnline poll said they were still scrambling to find gift ideas.