News Headlines

Date Updated 05/18/2012 5:32 pm

Friday May 18th, 2012

 Missing Boater

 Searchers in Lake Manitoba are into their fifth day as the expanded efforts to locate 22 year old Dillion Beaulieu. Last Monday, Beaulieu (BOLE-yoh) was setting fishing nets in the lake with his friend when a storm capsized the boat.  Yesterday, local searchers found Beaulieu’s shoes about three kilometres away from the location where the boat capsized. Central Plains RCMP continue to coordinate the search with the assistance of the search and Rescue Coordinator, an Underwater Recovery Team, and the fire departments of two local first nations. Due to weather and water conditions since the incident, the search area has increased to a 25 mile radius on the lake and 40 miles along the shore line.

Bus Beheading

Vince Li (lee) has been given permission to temporarily leave the Selkirk, Manitoba mental hospital where he has been committed. In 2008, Li beheaded and cannibalized a fellow passenger on a Greyhound bus. A review board ruled he has responded to treatment for schizophrenia, and can take short escorted trips to Selkirk. The mother of the murder victim, says if it were up to her, Li “would never walk free again.”

Manitoba-Wildfires

Shifting winds and dry, hot weather are hampering efforts to fight three wildfires in southeastern Manitoba. The province has imposed a travel ban on recreational activity in the area as people prepare to celebrate the Victoria Day long weekend. Travel is limited to provincial and municipal routes and officers with the province are turning people back on some trails. Of the three fires, the biggest one is near the community of Badger, 130 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg. So far no one has been hurt and no homes have been lost to the flames.

Mba-Jobs-Cut

Pfizer Canada is cutting 50 positions from its Brandon plant as the company’ restructuring plan takes effect in 2012 and 2013. The company says the decision does not impact the rancher network, which helps supply the plant. Twenty-six horse ranchers across Manitoba and Saskatchewan provide pregnant mares urine, the raw material needed to produce Premarin — a hormone replacement drug. The plant in Brandon employs 130 people and the company states the Brandon plant will be more competitive as a result of the restructuring plan.

RCMP Crackdown

The RCMP and STARS air ambulance are teaming up to remind the public to make wise choices over the long weekend.  The  goal is to prevent injuries and fatalities on Manitoba roads during this holiday weekend. RCMP Detachments and Traffic Units across the province will increase visibility this weekend. Motorists can expect increased patrols and Checkstops. The RCMP will be targeting motorists engaged in high risk behaviour  including speeders, impaired and distracted drivers along with occupants who fail to wear seatbelts. If you plan on consuming alcohol, plan your own ride beforehand and dont leave the arrangements to the police or EMS. Help the RCMP make Manitoba roads safe so no one gets hurt.

Orphan Collection Day

Today marks an annual event that helps a group of Ukrainian orphans. The backpack and school supply collection starts at 10 a-m at the dauphin marketplace Mall. They are asking for donations of backpacks, running shoes, and any other type of school supply. Co organizer Nicole Yunker says the response has been amazing. Instead of school supplies, you can also make a cash donation, and tax receipts will be given for donations over 10 dollars. For more information, you can call Nicole at 638-4477.

News Headlines

Date Updated 05/17/2012 5:30 pm

Thursday May 17th, 2012

Hydro Protection Act

Manitoba P-C’s have introduced a bill in the legislature that they hope will protect hydro customers from higher bills. According to the opposition, the N-D-P is forcing hydro to enact an expensive capital development program under uncertain economic times. P-C Hydro critic Reg helwer says the N-D-P’s latest budget shows they can’t be trusted to keep taxes and expenses low. Helwer introduced the Manitoba Hydro Ratepayers Protection Act in the legislature yesterday. He says the bill would allow the public utilities board to conduct an economic review of hydro’s Bipole 3 plans before the government spends the 20 billion dollars.

Youth Job Centre

An open house was held yesterday for the grand opening of the Dauphin Manitoba Youth Job Centre. The centre will now be able to provide free referral services to employers, and to young people looking for a job. Manager Lea Pritchett wants everyone to know that the centre is not just for students. The Manitoba Government is supporting the program. To resister as an employee or employer, you can call 622-2380.

Western Growth

Western Canada is the place to be when it comes to economic growth. A new Conference Board of Canada forecast says Alberta will lead the country this year and next, with growth of about 3.8 per cent in each year. Real growth is forecast to grow by 2.9 per cent in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan over the same time period. Growth in Manitoba was attributed to mining and an expected rebound in agriculture. The western provinces are also forecast to enjoy the lowest levels of unemployment.

Bike Paths

Manitoba says it wants to make it easier for civic governments to create more areas where people can bicycle safely. The N-D-P government has introduced a bill in the legislature that would let local governments designate bicycle pathways and set down rules for where cyclists can go. Local Government Minister Ron Lemieux says municipalities are in a better position than the province to know their roads.

McFayden Father Death

Manitoba’s Tory leader announced yesterday that he will be taking a short break from his duties after the death of his father. Ralph McFayden was 69 years old and suffered from Pulmunary Fibrosis. In a staement today, Hugh McFayden said his father was surrounded by family and remained good natured despite his serious condition. He also thanked his fathers medical team. The McFadyen family has asked that Manitobans consider signing a donor transplant form to support families in need. The Province of Manitoba has an online organ and tissue donor registry at www.signupforlife.ca.

Environment-Footprint

While the world is moving to a new business standard for carbon footprints, Canada is not marching along with it. A new report by the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy concludes more and more countries are demanding that their imports meet environmental standards. But there is little information in Canada for businesses to determine what kind of environmental footprint their production is actually making. The round table says with no organized effort to deal with such analysis, Canada’s competitiveness and reputation in global trade are at risk.

Manitoba-Municipal-Conduct

The Manitoba government wants to make it easier for municipalities to discipline their elected officials. A bill now before the legislature would require all municipalities outside Winnipeg, which falls under a separate law, to set standards of behaviour for councillors. Local Government Minister Ron Lemieux says the law would let councillors penalize a fellow member for infractions such as leaking confidential information, but the province hasn’t decided what kind of penalties could be imposed. The bill would also force municipalities to notify citizens about large capital projects before they borrow the required money.

Manitoba-Wildfires

Wildfires continue to rage in southeastern Manitoba but crews gained ground yesterday by holding back all three fires for the first time since the weekend. Now Manitoba Conservation is warning smoke from the fires may pose a health hazard. The government says people at risk include children, the elderly and people with heart or lung conditions including asthma. The largest wildfire is still the one near the tiny community of Badger. Some people who were evacuated from the area as a precaution were allowed to return home briefly to get some personal belongings

The Dauphin Kings lost a key player, but picked up a D-man. Find the details by clicking below!

Kings Make Moves

News Headlines

Date Updated 05/16/2012 5:20 pm

Wednesday May 16th, 2012

Missing-Boater

Searchers on Lake Manitoba will look again today for a missing boater who hasn’t been seen since Monday night. Twenty-two-year-old Dillon Beaulieu was one of two men from Sandy Bay First Nation who were on the lake when strong winds created large waves and capsized their boat. Twenty-five-year-old Rambo Roulette was able to get to shore but Beaulieu is still missing. Beaulieu’s sister says neither man was wearing a life jacket

CRIME-Mba-Assault-Facebook

Charges have been laid against two men after angry residents of The Pas spotted an alleged attack of a drunk man on Facebook. R-C-M-P allege two men in The Pas taunted a highly intoxicated man walking in a parking lot on March 31st, punched him and knocked him down. Police allege one of the accused posted a video of the attack on Facebook the following month. Twenty-nine-year-old Jean-Rock Plante and 30-year-old Blake Harry Constant are both charged with assault causing bodily harm

 Park Cuts

 Residents living near Riding Mountain National Park are concerned that budget cutbacks to Parks Canada will have a negative effect on Manitoba. The federal government announced recently that 29 million dollars will be trimmed from national parks. Riding Mountain cottage owner John Thompson says the cuts are misguided. 15 positions at Riding Mountain will be affected by the cuts. 8 full time  jobs will be eliminated altogether, while another 7 full time positions will become seasonal.

New Water Rules

Manitoba is bringing in new rules to protect the water in ground wells and aquifers. The new rules will include new certification standards for drillers and tougher rules for the sealing of wells. The province also wants to modernize its groundwater and well database over the next two years and to properly map where wells are located. There are about 35,000 active water wells in the province. The proposed changes are supported by the Manitoba Water Well Association.

Jets-Tickets

Manitoba politicians continue to point fingers in the free tickets controversy. Premier Greg Selinger challenged the Tories yesterday to disclose gifts they’ve received from companies — public or private — or from unions. Last week, N-D-P members revealed who gave them free tickets. On Monday, Finance Minister Stan Struthers apologized for accepting free tickets to Winnipeg Jets games from Red River College, the Manitoba Homebuilders Association, and from a friend

Manitoba-Wildfires

Manitoba crews battling wildfires in the southeast are getting help from other provinces, and from the United States. Nearly 40 firefighters from B-C are on the fire lines. Two water bombers have arrived from Quebec and another two have flown in from Minnesota. Two of three wildfires in Manitoba are gaining ground because of windy conditions.