Candace Derksen

A Boil Water Advisory has been issued for a portion of the Morris Regional Public Water System under the Pembina Valley Water Co-op. The advisory is effective immediately.

According to the public notice sent to PembinaValleyOnline and all affected municipalities, routine monitoring indicated that treated water leaving the micro-filtration process didn’t meet regulatory standards. However, it must enter the distribution system. The Boil Water Advisory has been issued to ensure public health protection.

Affected areas are:

Town of Morris

Manitoba RCMP has confirmed the identities of the three people involved in Saturday's early morning murder-suicide in the R.M. of Morris. 

According to RCMP, 32-year-old Olaf Kolakowski shot and killed his 65-year-old mother, Dr. Anna Kolakowski, a physician at Morris General Hospital. Before turning the gun on himself, police say Olaf shot and injured his 59-year-old father, Mariusz Kolakowski. Mariusz was treated on scene for non-life-threatening injuries. 

The Reeve for the R.M. of Morris is urging motorists to use caution as they make their way through the municipality this summer. 

A set of stop lights has gone up at the intersection of PTH 75 and PR 205 as crews forge ahead with reconstruction of Highway 75's southbound lanes. 

Three action-packed days have kicked off in Morris with the Manitoba Stampede and Exhibition underway for another year!

Things got underway Thursday evening with a local celebration hosted by the Morris and District Chamber of Commerce. The Morris Fire Department hosted a bud, spud and steak dinner on the stampede grounds followed local business exhibitions and wrapped up with evening stage entertainment. 

The fun continues all weekend with activities for the whole family happening from dawn till dusk. 

Statistics Canada has revised the 2021 Census population and dwelling counts for the Town of Altona.
    
Council filed a dispute when the initial data was released last year and pegged the town's five-year growth at a mere 1.31%, and a population of 4,267 - an increase of only 55 people over five years. 

"Looking at the growth in the housing sector and across the community from 2016 to 2021, those numbers didn't line up with expectations and what we were seeing as far as growth," explained Mayor Harv Schroeder.

RCMP have arrested and charged a second person in relation to a string of bank robberies that happened this past winter. 
    
A 27-year-old man from the RM of Lac du Bonnet has been charged with one count of Robbery for his involvement in the heist in Lowe Farm on November 14th. He has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court in Emerson on September 14th.

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.