Candace Derksen

As the back-to-school season kicks off, families across the region are preparing for one of the busiest—and often most expensive—times of the year. 

For many, the cost of school supplies can be a real burden. That’s why local schools, businesses, and community members are stepping up once again to ensure every student starts the year with the tools they need to succeed.

The Altona Police Service is urging residents in both the town of Altona and LUD of Plum Coulee to take extra precautions following an increase in reported thefts.

"It goes in cycles," explained Police Chief Dan Defer. "Every once in a while, we start seeing an increase in parked vehicles being entered in the middle of the night, rummaged through and some property stolen (like) change left inside of vehicles."

While these incidents tend to go in cycles and be sporadic, Defer noted, when someone decides to do this, they hit multiple vehicles in a night.

The Labour Day long weekend is here and Stardust Drive-in Theatre in Morden has a stacked line-up ready for us to enjoy.

Owner, Marlene Nelson, came by our studio to share details of the regular long weekend double feature tradition.     

Kicking things off on Friday and Saturday evening at dusk which, these days, is around 9 p.m. is 
Fantastic Four: First Steps. 

The double feature happens on Sunday evening starting with a favourite of young movie-goers, Lilo & Stitch.

An algae toxin advisory is prompting officials to caution against swimming in Lake Minnewasta at the moment. Signs have been posted at Colert Beach indicating algae levels have exceeded provincial standards.

When asked what caused the algae growth, Mayor Nancy Penner explained it's a combination of being late in the season, the heat and stirring up of the water.

It was a full test of capabilities as Altona/Rhineland Emergency Services (ARES) partnered with Imperial Oil for a live training exercise at the tank farm near Gretna last week.

Fire Chief Greg Zimmerman explained, they ran through a fuel tank over-fill scenario in real-time.

"Imperial Oil employees notified everybody at the company and had that line shut down so it would stop over-filling. They called 9-1-1 which paged out to ARES and we responded."

Altona police have recovered the motorcycle stolen out of Plum Coulee that we told you about last week. 

On August 20th, police received a complaint of a stolen 2024 Honda Grom motorcycle from a home in Plum Coulee. Security camera video showed two people walking away from the area, pushing the motorcycle.

Four days later, on August 24th, police learned the motorcycle was at a property in Emerson. 

"So, we drove around town looking and, eventually, it was determined which property it was at," explained Police Chief Dan Defer. 

No one was injured in a vehicle fire near Carman Tuesday afternoon.

The Carman Dufferin Fire Department was called to Highway 13, north of Carman, around 3:22 p.m. after reports of a semi on fire.

Fire Chief Chris Lemky says the semi was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived on scene.

"We got a couple crews out with a hose line and got the water going right away," he explained. "We had the tanker too just in case we needed more water. They were able to get after it right away and put it out fairly quickly."

"People have been so, so generous to us." 

Andy Thiessen, Chief of Morden Fire & Rescue, shared the sentiment after announcing the annual Boot Drive at last weekend's Corn & Apple Festival parade raised $12,456.65 in support of Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

The Gretna Stars rec hockey league is trying to bring attention to its youngest age group ahead of the upcoming new season. 
    
Justin Friesen is a member of the league executive, and he says they are looking for players in grades 2 to 4 to join.

"Over the last couple of years, that's been the slowest growing group and about 95 per cent aged out last year."

An Altona man needs our help in his quest to help fight kids' cancer.
    
Stu Irvine, more commonly known as Eco Stu, is putting pedal to pavement this month and is participating in the Great Cycle Challenge.

According to the web site, the Great Cycle Challenge has become one of the biggest cycling events across Canada. People of all ages, abilities and from every province across the country set themselves a personal riding goal and challenge themselves to pedal throughout August to fight kids’ cancer.