Judy Peters

The hamlet of Tolstoi is becoming a destination for many people who either seek to reconnect with childhood friends or are looking for a Ukrainian experience in rural Manitoba. 

The re-opening of Elsie’s Hotel Tolstoi brings back the “Home away from home” atmosphere that was established by previous owner Elsie Kolodzinski. She and her husband Walter purchased the hotel and ran the business for 68 years. It was closed in 2008 and her children used the place as a weekend getaway spot. 

The Hanover School Board has received updated enrollment numbers and Superintendent Shelley Amos says the student population continues to grow. 

She notes the division enrollment is approximately 160 over what they had budgeted for. 

A fatal collision on Wednesday morning has claimed the life of a 73-year-old man from Steinbach. 

Emergency crews responded to the scene at approximately 7:40 a.m. after getting a report of a vehicle-snowmobile crash on Highway 12, near Clearsprings Road at the north end of Steinbach. 

A new year has arrived and if you're looking to set a New Year's resolution, life coach, Nancy McNaughton has some advice. 

Former MacGregor area resident Shyla Fuchs took her rodeo skills to Vegas where she placed in the Top 30 at the 5th annual Rope for the Crown Breakaway Championship. 

A local actor and radio host is excited to have one of the lead roles for a sitcom that will be filmed in the new year. 

Kenton Dyck first heard about the upcoming series, Maria and the Mennos, during the summer and reported on the latest project of producer Paul Peters. 

Minimum wage earners in Manitoba received an increase in October and another increase is expected in spring. 

Our province's hourly minimum wage increased this fall from $11.95 to $13.50. A further increase of 65 cents per hour will happen on April 1st, raising the minimum wage to $14.15. With the expected consumer price index increase for 2022, the next indexed adjustment will bring Manitoba's minimum wage to around $15 per hour in October of 2023. 

This past year's announcement of an increase in the minimum wage in Manitoba stated that it would take place in increments, and the next increase is expected in spring. 

Margruite Krahn got a close look at the floor pattern in the summer kitchen at Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach. She was asked to recreate the colourful floor pattern in September and managed to get a lot of the work completed before the weather turned too cold to continue. 

Senior Curator Andrea Klassen says that was a big task and an important one. 

Margruite Krahn got a close look at the floor pattern in the summer kitchen at Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach. She was asked to recreate the colourful floor pattern in September and managed to get a lot of the work completed before the weather turned too cold to continue. 

Senior Curator Andrea Klassen says that was a big task, and an important one.