Cause unknown after late-evening fire at Altona/Rhineland Landfill

Fire fighters spent over four hours putting out yet another fire at the Altona/Rhineland Landfill last night. The call came in shortly after 8:30 p.m. 
    
According to Altona/Rhineland fire chief, Greg Zimmerman, some extra equipment was needed to help in the fight. The landfill's loader and compactor were called to duty, and a backhoe was brought in to dig out the site.
    
Zimmerman says the department used 14,000 gallons of water and foam to extinguish the flames.
    
No cause of the blaze has yet been identified.

Altona Police make drug arrest, stop grandparent scam

A Winnipeg man with a history of property crimes was arrested by Altona police during an early morning traffic stop on Saturday just outside of Plum Coulee. 
    
According to police, officers pulled the man over for speeding and operating an unregistered vehicle. This led them to find open liquor, nearly 10 grams of meth along with break and enter tools in the vehicle. They also learned the license plates didn't match the vehicle.
    

'I know it's not a lot of money, but it's something.' Altona Elks donate $1,000 to local foodbank.

A $1,000 cheque from the Altona Elks will go a long way in helping the Rhineland and Area Foodbank meet demand.

Members Guy and Colleen Mullen presented the money, from the Manitoba Elks Foundation, to foodbank lead, Ang Stoesz, on Wednesday evening. 

‘She showed nothing but love’: Community mourns journalist Lori Penner

Lori Penner is being remembered as an amazing person who cared deeply about community, and for people and family.

Among many things, Penner was a well-known columnist and reporter for community newspapers, first in the Altona area then branching out and sharing her stories with publications across Manitoba, dedicating her talents and passion to telling peoples' stories. She passed away Wednesday night after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke on Sunday afternoon. She was 59 years old. 

Scammer's phone scheme foiled

Thanks to a keen sense, a scammer did not get the best of one potential local victim recently.
    
Last week Tuesday, the complainant reported to Altona police that they'd gotten a phone call from someone they didn't know, claiming to be the police. The scammer also said they had the person's child, and the complainant could hear a child screaming and crying in the background.
    
Then the scammer demanded money and, apparently, became very aggressive. That's when the complainant recognized the call as a scam and hung up.
    

Morris unites to honour students with new multi-sport court

It was an emotional day as family and friends of Eli Jashyn were among the crowd that celebrated the grand opening of the multi-sport court in Morris last week. 
    
Incorporated into the new facility is a bench in memory of Eli, who passed away from cancer in 2022 at the age of 15. He would have graduated high school with his peers this past week.

BBQ raises thousands for cancer research

150 people came out in support of Team Terry Fox last week at the Deleau/Sifton Centennial Park. It was one of the stops on the team's month-long cross-country challenge called, Ride of Hope 2025, biking from Vancouver, B.C. to St. John's, Newfoundland.
    
The riders were accompanied to the park by students from Souris and Hartney schools on their bikes, and emergency response vehicles from Oak Lake/Sifton, Hartney & Souris/Glenwood fire departments.

Crops are advancing well, more heat needed to push them further says Reinfeld area farmer

Crops seem to be in good shape at this point in the growing season, at least that's the case at Froese Enterprise in Reinfeld. 
    
Randy Froese says recent shots of rain have been very helpful in advancing the crop. 

"Corn is a little bit ahead of what it normally would be, which is nice. The canola is just starting to bloom (and) we're getting to the point where we'll be putting our fungicide applications on shortly. Dry beans are coming along very, very nicely, as well as soybeans."

As well, Froese says what rain we've had, has been timely.

Unlicensed, impaired driver taken off the road by Altona police

A driver was taken off the road after an encounter with Altona police officers last week Friday.
    
According to authorities, officers spotted the motorist, who was known to be unlicensed, driving with a young child in the vehicle. Eventually, it was determined the driver had also consumed liquor before getting behind the wheel.
    
Police say the driver failed a roadside test and was issued an immediate roadside suspension, and their vehicle was towed. 

W.C. Miller Class of 2025 parades through the streets of Altona

As is tradition each June, graduates of W.C. Miller Collegiate paraded down the streets of Altona Tuesday evening in celebration of their upcoming high school graduation.

The Class of 2025 will receive their diplomas during a ceremony on Thursday.


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Check out photos from Tuesday's parade below.