Candace Derksen

Trustees for the Border Land School Division (BLSD) have approved a $2.2 million increase in spending for 2025/26. In total, the Board has approved a $43.1 million budget for the coming year. 

Splitting half of the added spending 50/50 is operating expenditures which increased 3.63% over 24/25, predominantly due to salaries, and capital expenses that more than doubled. That, according to Board Chair Steven Wiebe, is mainly because the Division is setting aside $450,000 into a bus reserve account that was depleted down to zero last year.

Time, the elements and recent high winds have taken a toll on Altona's giant Van Gogh sunflower painting, and the recognizable symbol is coming down. 

In 2017, the painting was taken down and refurbished by artist Cameron Cross. 

"It, apparently, was supposed to last seven to ten years. But looking back, the backing of that painting was not treated lumber and has caused some rotting," explained Mayor Harv Schroeder. This, in turn, has caused some of the paint on the piece to peel away. 

There is a low-to-moderate risk of significant flooding in most Manitoba basins this spring, according to the February flood outlook issued Thursday by Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre.
    
On the Red River and Pembina River, the risk is currently moderate.
    
For the Roseau River, the risk is low. 
    
Spring flood risk is largely dependent on weather conditions from now until the spring melt and throughout the spring. 

Area stakeholders are working to localize the licensing process for internationally educated nurses (IENs) who are looking to bridge their credentials so they can work in the province. This, after recent visits from Manitoba's Minister of Immigration, Malaya Marcelino, to the region, where she encouraged a local push to bring re-certification programming to the Pembina Valley. 

Investigation is ongoing after Altona police were called to a local financial institution on Saturday.

According to the department's latest activities report, someone looking to use the ATM noticed a large pile of burned material in the lobby and called police. It turned out to be hand sanitizer and a large pile of burned papers.
    
Police say they have identified an adult female suspect.

Jennifer Collette has been tapped to become the next Principal of Roseau Valley School (RVS) in Dominion City.
    
Currently serving as interim Principal at the school, Collette has been teaching in the Border Land School Division her entire 15-year career in the areas of Early Years, Reading Recovery, Smart Start and supporting the Roots of Empathy program. She was also previously the school's Vice Principal for 5 years.
    

Another three drivers were taken off the road by Morden police this past week after they each failed a roadside screening test. 
    
The first was pulled over after officers noticed their vehicle swerve in its lane several times. During the stop, police say they could detect the smell of liquor coming from the driver and spotted several empty beer cans in the back seat.

The second was pulled over shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday, and that's when officers say they could smell liquor coming that driver as well. 

As reporting on illegal border crossings increases, a Sergeant with the RCMP's Border Integrity unit in southern Manitoba says his team is aware there may, understandably, be some public safety concerns.

Sgt. Lance Goldau says his team is trying to inform area residents as best they can. 

There's a new look to the Altona Police Service's crest. 

Needing to restock its inventory of shoulder insignia, Chief Dan Defer says members used the opportunity to come up with a new design and overhauled what it looks like. 

"The two big prominent features on it are the new badge for the Altona Police Service with the King's Crown and, of course, the buffalo which represents Manitoba," he explained. 

Police in Morden say a recent fraud attempt is a good reminder that information easily accessible on the internet can be used against potential victims to make a scam more believable. This, after a scammer recently requested credit card information in order to fulfill a prescription at a local pharmacy.
    
According to the police service, when questioned further by the complainant, the scammer said the prescription was issued by a local doctor. Neither the pharmacy nor the doctor was involved in the attempt, noted authorities.