Judy Peters

When the new school year gets underway in September, Hanover students from kindergarten through to Grade 8 will not be allowed to use cellphones during the school day. 

The Hanover School Board is expected to approve amendments to its Responsible Use of Technology policy. 

“One of our middle schools decided to try being cellphone free, and so that's a 5 to 8 school, and did lots of communication of course with the parents and with the PAC (Parent Advisory Council) ahead of time. And they were all in favor of trying it,” reports Superintendent Shelley Amos. 

Updated at 1:35 p.m., Wednesday, June 5:

The Hold and Secure procedure has been lifted for Niverville’s elementary school, middle school, and high school. It has also been lifted at Ecole Heritage Immersion in St. Pierre, and at École Communautaire Réal-Bérard. 

The Hanover School Division (HSD) issued an update on their website, stating that RCMP have advised them that it is safe to lift the security procedures. 

HSD is thanking students, staff and parents for their cooperation and understanding. 

The Provencher riding will look a bit different for the next federal election. 

Member of Parliament Ted Falk says this change is in response to tremendous population growth in southeastern Manitoba. 

“We've got a lot of growing communities. I look at Steinbach, Niverville, Oakbank and Lorette, Ile des Chenes, all of these communities have really been growing and as a result of it our population has been increasing, and some of the other electoral districts surrounding us haven't grown quite as much.” 

The Culture Showcase at Roseau Valley School in Dominion City drew a lot of attention with people raving about the celebration of diversity. 

Vice-principal Jennifer Collette says the event was run like a mini Folklorama with a variety of pavilions. 

“We had a parent who was running the German pavilion and she said, ‘This is my anniversary today of when we came to Canada.’” 

Collette says the woman came prepared to share her culture with the community. 

The Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach has an apothecary bottle with quite a story to tell. 

Senior Curator Andrea Klassen says this item once belonged to a Mennonite midwife who practiced in the area near Winkler, Manitoba between 1885 and 1907. 

Klassen tells the story of Katharina (née Born) Thiessen. 

Although spring is officially underway and some people are eager to get some yardwork done, some pruning needs to wait a while longer. 

Carla Hrycyna of St. Mary’s Nursery and Garden Centre, host of the Lawn and Garden Journal, says it’s important for cedars to only be trimmed in mid-June. 

Although spring is officially underway and some people are eager to get some yardwork done, some pruning needs to wait a while longer. 

Carla Hrycyna of St. Mary’s Nursery and Garden Centre, host of the Lawn and Garden Journal, says it’s important for cedars to only be trimmed in mid-June. 

Foster parents in Manitoba have formed an association to advocate for changes. 

President Jamie Pfau says they are looking for more support from the province. 

Foster parents in Manitoba have formed an association to advocate for changes. 

President Jamie Pfau says they are looking for more support from the province. 

As cases of measles are increasing in parts of Canada and around the world, Manitobans are reminded that staying up to date on their vaccinations is one of the most important ways to prevent and reduce the risk of measles and other serious illnesses. 

Measles is very contagious, says Dr. Mahmoud Khodaveisi, Medical Officer of Health for Southern Health-Santé Sud.