Candace Derksen

Thousands of smiles were brought to the faces Altona residents on Wednesday evening, thanks to a simple cookie. 
    
About 50 volunteers set out in blustery conditions to deliver a free Tim Horton's Holiday Smile Cookie to each resident in town, courtesy The Community Exhange (TCE) and a raft of sponsors.

A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for the semi-driver involved in last weekend's fatal crash south of Plum Coulee.
    
According to RCMP, officers have been unable to locate 25-year-old, Navjeet Singh.
    
On Wednesday, authorities charged the Brampton, Ontario man with two counts of Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle Causing Death and Obstructing a Peace Officer related to the crash at the intersections of highways 201 and 306 that killed a 35-year-old mom and her 8-year-old daughter.
    

Those looking to advance their careers in early childhood education will soon be able to do so close to home. Assiniboine College has announced it will offer an accelerated Early Childhood Education (ECE) diploma program in Morden starting January 7th.

Old Man Winter appears to have made good time settling into Southern Manitoba
    
With heavy, wet snow layering our streets, some of you may be wondering what this means for your community's parking ban.
    
In Winkler, staff are clearing the main roads, however, a parking ban won't be implemented at this time.

In Morden, the parking ban has been in effect since Oct 1. Here is a statement from the City of Morden website:

Alert Ready, Canada's national public alerting system, will be put to the test today.
    
An emergency alert test message will be sent out over multiple communications channels, including your local Golden West station, at 1:55 p.m. 
    

Parents are being urged to educate their children on the use of 9-1-1 after Altona police were called out to Plum Coulee last week Wednesday.
    
In a news release, the department says officers responded to an unknown situation but after investigating, learned there was no emergency and that the 9-1-1 call had been made by children.
    
Police encourage teaching children about the importance of 9-1-1 and not to misuse the service, noting all 9-1-1 calls result in emergency services coming out. 
    

Ten Romanian citizens were apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol near Pembina, North Dakota earlier this month after the agency says they crossed the Canada/U.S. border illegally.
    
Initially, on November 9th, agents interdicted a truck with 8 people inside after spotting it with imaging technology.
    
A second incident that same day, brought to their attention by a citizen report, saw agents apprehend two more people they say were hiding near the border. 
    

As a strong storm system arrives in Southern Manitoba bringing rain, snow, strong winds and reduced visibility in blowing snow over the next few days, motorists are being urged to adjust their driving for winter road conditions.
    

As a strong storm system arrives in Southern Manitoba bringing rain, snow, strong winds and reduced visibility in blowing snow over the next few days, motorists are being urged to adjust their driving for winter road conditions.
    
Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation is also stressing the importance of remaining alert when following or approaching oncoming snowplows on any of the 19,000 kilometers of highway the department is responsible for maintaining.

"Killarney - you could see it as a small town or a big family. I prefer to see it as a big family because that's certainly what it is." 

Those words from Cindy Babiuk, wife of the late Al Babiuk, at recent gathering to present the proceeds of last month's Al Babiuk Memorial Fundraising Event & Open House. 

Originally organized by Al, the Killarney Fire Department quickly took the reins and renamed the event in his honour after he suddenly passed away shortly before it was to take place.