Candace Derksen

Sunflower producers, agronomists, industry and researchers have a chance to connect and learn more about this specialty crop at Manitoba's inaugural Sunflower Day happening later this month in Carman.

For Robert Martens, it is extremely gratifying to see how far the Altona Community Foundation (ACF) has come in the 30 years since its inception in 1994.

Martens helped kickstart the organization all those years ago, and was among dozens of board members, past and present, and steadfast donors who gathered Thursday evening to celebrate this milestone.

A 42-year-old CN police officer was arrested for impaired driving earlier this month after a caller reported an erratic driver on the Trans Canada Highway, east of Brandon, shortly before 10 a.m. on November 6th.
    
According to Manitoba RCMP, the caller indicated their concern for the driver who was the wheel of a marked police SUV.
    

Morden police are looking for information regarding a series of reported incidents in the city on November 7th.
    
According to the department's latest activities report, officers received four calls within an hour from people in the same neighbourhood, reporting damage to properties.
    
Police launched a drone search but turned up nothing.
    
Anyone with information is asked to call Morden Police Service at (204) 822-4900, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or submit a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com

A $10,000 grant from FCC will help the Carman and Area Food Pantry increase the storage and shelf-life of the food it distributes. 

The group plans to use the money to purchase two large refrigerators for its operation.

"Right now, we don't have the capacity or the ability to keep refrigerated items over any stretch of time. We kind of have to get them and distribute them within a day or two," explained Evelyn Rempel Petkau, a founding board member of the food pantry. "This will allow us to accept some of those kinds of donations and also store them for a longer term."

Five drivers were suspended and their vehicles impounded by Morden police in the last week-and-a-half: all caught by officers on general patrol.
    
The first was pulled over because their vehicle's taillights were out, according to police. The department says a smell of liquor coming from the driver, who had a youth in the passenger seat, led them to fail a roadside screening test. They were issued a 90-day driving suspension, a 30-day vehicle impoundment and a $700 administrative penalty.

Altona Mayor Harv Schroeder has a new Deputy Mayor in Craig Smiley.

Each year, the town's councillors have the chance to volunteer for this leadership position, with the final selection made by a council vote.

"I appreciate his readiness to take on this leadership role and I am excited to work more closely with him this year," said Schroeder. 

The Deputy Mayor supports the Mayor in their role.

One driver has been charged following last week Monday's two-vehicle collision on the outskirts of Altona.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says freezing the scheduled rental rate for agricultural Crown land (ACL) forage leases for the 2025 growing season is about affordability.

For 2025, the annual rent will be set at the same rate as 2024 for ACL forage leases and permits, which, according to the Province, means producers won’t see an increase to the rate on their invoice for 2025. 

"This is something, in particular, that we're looking at for the beef producers and the operations that have grazing lands on Crown lands," explained Kinew. 

The community demonstrated its steadfast support for Blue Sky Opportunities by coming out in droves to the organization's annual fall fund raising banquet last night in Altona. 

It what appears to be tradition for the event, it was another sold out crowd at the Rhineland Pioneer Centre. New, however, was that this was the most people to ever attend at 352.