Candace Derksen

"Without the people that make up our community, we are nothing." That from Paul Peters, Executive Director of The Community Exchange. The Altona-based organization hosted a 'thank you' supper on Monday, recognizing the crucial role volunteers, donors and service partners play in making the organization what it is today.

"It's the volunteers that are really helping to bring to life some of the vision of who we are."

In 2024, volunteers logged well over 2,500 hours with the organization.

"We're here to celebrate together, to come together, to connect (and) to build relationships." That from Jaime Friesen-Pankratz in her opening remarks to the crowd that gathered at the Rhineland Pioneer Centre in Altona on Saturday morning for a Pow Wow demonstration. 

Hosted by the Steps Toward Reconciliation group, the event saw performances by the Jo Creek Drummers and Dancers from the Roseau River First Nation and included explanations and teachings about the various dances and dress. 

The Town of Altona will be testing its emergency outdoor warning siren today.
    
It will be activated at 1 p.m. and run for four minutes in order to ensure the equipment is working properly.
    
At any other time, if you hear the siren for longer than 30 seconds, seek shelter immediately and tune your radios to CFAM 950 for more information. 
    
Again, Altona's emergency outdoor warning siren will be tested for four minutes at 1 p.m. today. 

An hours-long standoff with a black bear came to a peaceful end early Saturday morning in Altona. 

The animal was spotted high up in a tree around 8:15 a.m. Friday morning when Dwayne Martens peeked out of his back garage door and spotted the creature taking a nap in his backyard tree. 

The community came out in droves yesterday for the second in a series of Food for All Events, sponsored by Rede-Made Noodles, in support of the vital work being done by the Rhineland and Area Foodbank in Altona.

Broadcasting live from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Sun Valley Co-op food store in Altona, the event encouraged community members to drop off non-perishable food items and cash donations to help feed local families in need.

In total, the day generated $2,750 and many bags of non-perishable food items. 

It wasn't what Dwayne Martens was expecting to see when he stepped outside this morning...a black bear taking a nap in his backyard tree!

"I came into my garage around 8:15 this morning and I looked out my backdoor and happened to see it," explained the Altona resident.

It was all hands-on deck very early this morning as fire fighters responded to a house fire in Morris.

According to a social media post, members of the Morris Fire Department got the call at 1:05 a.m.

Once on scene, it was determined more help would be needed, and a mutual aid call was sent out to the St. Jean Fire Department.

No other details on the incident are available at this time.

A portion of 9th St. NW in Altona will be fortified further, thanks to a grant of just over $600,000 from the province's GRO program. 

Manitoba GRO is an application-based program designed to help Manitoba municipalities advance critical infrastructure that will support growing and sustainable communities.

A provincial bridge closure on Road 11 West, near Horndean, recently brought a group of area residents and landowners to the Municipality of Rhineland Council Chambers.

Residents of The Manor at Gardens on Tenth in Altona are fully enjoying recently updated and accessible suites.