Candace Derksen

Altona's core is about to be filled with thrilling squeals and the smell of your favourite carnival treats as the Altona and District Chamber of Commerces prepares to host Wonder Shows for the Downtown Summer Kick Off Friday and Saturday.
    
Due to the event, some streets in the area will be closed to traffic starting at 8 am today until 8 pm Sunday evening. They are 2nd St. NE from 3rd Ave NE to 4th Ave NE, and 4th Ave NE from Main Street to 2nd St. NE.

For Kelly Saunders, Associate Political Science Professor at Brandon University, the results of Monday's federal by-election in Portage-Lisgar weren't much of a surprise. 

Saunders said she fully anticipated the Conservatives would hold on to the seat, left empty by former MP, Candice Bergen. She also expected the People's Party of Canada would take some votes away from the Conservatives. 

It's by-election day in Portage-Lisgar.
    
Voters head to the polls today to elect the riding's new Member of Parliament following Candice Bergen's resignation from the job earlier this year. 

Morris mayor, Scott Crick, is providing a few updates on the new daycare facility planned for the community. 

In February, it was announced that the town was included in Phase 2 of the expanded federal/provincial ready-to-move daycare project initiative, providing a modular facility with an additional 106 childcare spaces for the community. 

Police are chasing several leads in a pair of break-and-enters that happened in Elm Creek about a month ago but are now turning to the public for help in moving along the investigation. 
    
The first incident happened around 4:30 a.m. on May 11th at Scotswood Links Golf Course. According to Pembina Valley RCMP, four suspects, driving a stolen GMC Sierra 2500, forced their way into the clubhouse and stole cash and alcohol. 
    

A reimagined vision for recreation is taking shape in the Town of Morris.

Volunteers gathered at Willow Park Tuesday morning to break ground on the highly anticipated playground project that's been two years in the making. 

After nearly losing $500 to the Real Estate Scam, an Altona-area woman is urging potential renters to be careful. Lorraine Friesen responded to an online ad for a house available for rent in Altona, and says it seemed legitimate.

Ongoing resource challenges have led Southern Health-Sante Sud to temporarily reduce the Emergency Department's hours of operation at Morris General Hospital. 

Effective Monday, May 15th the ER will be open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

In an email notification, Southern Health-Sante Sud says these changes are necessary to ensure this facility can continue to provide the best level of care possible.

Expect to hear peak levels of excitement coming from the Winkler Aquatic Centre this summer as one of the facility's thrilling features makes its highly anticipated return. 

A few years after the pool's two speed slides were decommissioned because they no longer met code, their replacements are being installed this week and readied for the new season. 

The Clinical Teaching Unit (CTU) at Boundary Trails Health Centre (BTHC) is proving to be an effective doctor recruitment tool.
    
Two of the program's three recent graduates will be setting up their practice at the Menzies Medical Centre in Morden. They are Dr. Jen Holmberg and Dr. Carrie Ginter. 

"(It's) super super exciting," said Patti Rach, program assistant at the CTU.