Rural Roundup - Jan. 23, 2013

Reston Recorder

Two duplexes that were part of the $10 lot incentive are now available on the market in Reston.

The duplexes, that were built by MFS Enterprises, will operate as life lease apartments.

Each unit, which consists of 1,080 square feet of living space and a single garage, is available for rent for people 55-plus years of age. And require tenants to pay a life lease deposit with is refundable at the termination of the agreement.

“The RM of Pipestone $10 lot incentive made building the units more affordable,” spokesman for MFS Enterprises Doyle Piwniuk said.

Shilo Stag

Bragging rights to the strongest 1RCHA soldier — pound for pound — was captured by MBdr Dustin Tymchak.

The competition, dubbed Heavy Loader, was open to all ranks.

“As 1RCHA continues to develop the culture of fitness and reward athletic excellence, it is important we highlight the members of 1RCHA who excel at strength training,” said organizer Capt. Joseph O’Donnell, who also competed.

The Corner Pocket

The outdoor rink in Souris is just one facility that has prospered as a result of the quiet fundraising efforts of the Souris Barleys hockey team

Each year, the Barleys hold a holiday season social and “all of the funds are directed back into the community,” said team member Chris Couling.

In total, the group has raised more than $60,000 through the years and have helped projects like the outdoor skating rink and North End Community Project.

Boissevain Recorder

It didn’t take the Boissevain Community Theatre Committee long to pay off some old, outstanding debt.

Several years ago, while upgrading a projector the committee received a loan from the RM of Morton to purchase the technology.

However after the old theatre was shut down, and fundraising efforts channeled to a new digital projector and facility, the old debt remained.

Now, after only six months the theatre has done so well in the new building the committee has been able to pay of the $11,000 loan.

“It was always on my mind. It was something I was always thinking about. Whenever we talked about the (new) project with the RM, it came up,” theatre committee member Brad Peters said.

Boissevain Recorder

Police received a call regarding a resident who had fallen victim to a telephone scam where a person calls pretending to be your grandchild.

The grandchild said he needed money to for bail after getting into trouble. Then after a few minutes another call from a person claiming to be her grandchild’s lawyer instructed her to go to Brandon and transfer $2,300 via Western Union.

No suspect information is available at this time and police advise residents to be cautions with anyone calling and asking for money or personal information.

Boissevain Recorder

The 2013 Minto Bonspiel will celebrate 50 years of fun and competition in the village.

“We’re celebrating a lot of things — the bonspiel, the opening of the rink, the Minto Mustangs. We’re using the bonspiel because it is the big event an it is so connected with the rink,” said Trevor Mealy of the 50th Celebration committee.

Many past winner of the event will be in attendance or curling throughout the weekend running Jan. 25 to 27.

Virden Empire-Advance

The village of Elkhorn isn’t impressed with the provincial government’s decision to try to amalgamate all municipalities under the $1,000 residents threshold.

The amalgamations would force Elkhorn to partner up with a neighbouring municipality, most likely the RM of Wallace.

“We feel it should be left up to the municipalities,” said CAO of the Elkhorn Garth Mitchell. “Council has not made a final decision on the Village’s stand. We have been impressed with the ongoing efforts of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities who continue to lobby against the ‘forced’ amalgamations on our behalf.”

Virden Empire Advance

Former Oak Lake resident Janelle Schwindt will play in her first ever Scotties Tournament of Hearts Provincial Championship this year from Jan. 23 to 27 in Stonewall.

Schwindt, who plays second for Brandon’s Stacey Fordyce, is the daughter of Louis and Sherri Vachon.

“I have to say there’s nothing I don’t love about curling,” she said. “I love the precision of the sport, the accuracy you need, the team effort, the physical aspect of it — everything.”

Minnedosa Tribune

More than 100 volunteers recently participated in hauling seating for over 4,600 spectators from the old Winnipeg Blue Bomber Stadium to Minnedosa.

The seats and bench seating will be used by two groups in Minnedosa — Rockin’ the Fields and the new Minnedosa Regional Events Centre.

The seats and some lighting was won in a bidding process by Darcy Bialas of RFM and Scott Burgess of MREC.

Bialas also bid on the Jumbotron, but lost out by close to $50,000.

Minnedosa Tribune

Shaquille Merasty has made quite an impression during his freshman year playing hockey with the Adrian Bulldogs, a NCAA division three team.

Merasty is second in team scoring with 13 goals and 12 assists, good for 25 points in just 17 games this season.

The 21-year-old has been playing hockey for 17 years in places such as Minnedosa, Thompson, Michigan and Portage.

His is also a member of the Berens River First Nation.

“I’ve gotten a lot of support from the band, especially with helping with my school costs,” Merasty said.

Killarney Guide

It’s not every day you hear from the Queen.

But Killarney poet Phyllis McKenzie recently did, after sending Queen Elizabeth II a copy of her humorous poem titled, ‘Memories from a War Bride.’

McKenzie, who has been writing poems for 30 years, wrote the funny poem for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Tea at the Shamrock Centre.

“People encouraged me to write a poem for the 60th as a joke,” McKenzie said. And after they read it they said ‘You should really send it to the Queen.’”

Killarney Guide

It appears coyotes have been wandering around town limits in Killarney.

Councillor Ron Opperman said that on Jan. 3 while up watching the World Junior Hockey Championship at 4:30 a.m., he spotted two deer go past his home, followed by two coyotes.

While some people may be concerned about their pets, Manitoba Conservation natural resources officer Dawson Keene said part of being a responsible pet owner means being aware of the animals whereabouts and using caution.

Minnedosa Tribune

Preparations for this year’s Safeway men’s provincial curling championship continue to amp up in Neepawa.

The championship, which runs from Feb. 6 to 10, will rely on about 170 volunteers who have signed up.

“They’re (volunteers) all lined up and ready to roll almost,” Drayson said.

And when the pipes do sound to bring the teams in, it will be Neepawa’s Jerry Chudley and his rink of Kevin Cooley, Brent McKee and Paul Robertson, who should receive the loudest ovation.

Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition January 22, 2013