Rural Roundup — April 6, 2023

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This article was published 06/04/2023 (1255 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NEEPAWA

The Town of Neepawa has received approval from the Manitoba government to move a pedestrian crossing located at Mountain Avenue and Hospital Street from the south side of the intersection to the north side.

The change will be made at the end of the current school year, town administration said at a recent council meeting.

The relocation came about due to concerns from the town as well as the Beautiful Plains School Division related to serious safety issues for pedestrians and drivers in the area, especially on school days.

The issue received further attention recently when a community petition led by Brad Mummery garnered several signatures.

» Neepawa Banner and Press

NEEPAWA

The Rotary Club of Neepawa has started to gather books for its annual used book sale, happening in May.

Rotary member Murray Newton said the local fundraiser, which began in 2018, will possibly feature between 7,000 and 8,000 books.

“We’re hoping people from around Neepawa will support us in the weeks ahead by donating any books they have — perhaps ones that they’ve read or have no use for anymore,” Newton said.

Books can be dropped off at the ArtsForward Cultural Centre, Gill & Schmall Agencies, and the Neepawa-Gladstone Co-op grocery store and home centre.

Rotary members will spend the next few weeks gathering and sorting the books collected. The book sale will take place at the former Chalet Floor & Window Fashions building at 139 Main St. West.

» Neepawa Banner and Press

NEEPAWA

Students from the Beautiful Plains School Division gathered at the ArtsForward Cultural Centre in Neepawa on March 8 to take part in an art exhibit that highlighted the works of Naomi Gerrard.

Gerrard was on hand to speak to students about the techniques she used in her art, which made up an exhibit called “Multi-Grains of Energy” and focused on agriculture. Each piece was a mixed-media collage with grains incorporated into the art.

Having grown up on a small farm in Pennsylvania, Gerrard went on to train as a registered nurse at the University of Minnesota before moving to Canada in 1980 with her husband and children. She is currently an active member of the Winnipeg art community, and has taught art classes in Canada and the United States.

» Neepawa Banner and Press

NEEPAWA

Freshmart, a grocery store in Neepawa, is under new management.

Manoj Zalavadiya and his wife, Alpa Rudani, have operated food-related businesses in Minnedosa and Brandon, where they currently reside. The couple is planning to buy a house and move to Neepawa in the near future, Zalavadiya said.

Freshmart has operated under various names over the decades, including Williams Tomboy and ShopEasy.

» Neepawa Banner and Press

GLADSTONE

Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa Conservative MP Dan Mazier made a surprise visit to Gladstone recently to present Nick Beavington with a community service award.

Beavington, along with a group of his friends, family and neighbours, gathered at the Gladstone Royal Canadian Legion, where Mazier presented him with a formal community service medallion.

“In reading and speaking with others on Nick’s contributions over the years, it became clear how selfless he was, and continues to be, in supporting his community and those around him,” Mazier said.

People like Beavington deserve to be formally recognized because sometimes they don’t realize how much of a positive impact they make on the people in their community, he added.

Beavington was nominated for his work with the local Chamber of Commerce, various community projects and other volunteer efforts.

Mazier launched an initiative inviting constituents to nominate individuals who have significantly impacted the region in a positive way, and plans to announce more award recipients throughout his constituency in the future.

» Neepawa Banner and Press

CYPRESS RIVER

The organizers of the annual Prairie Wind Music Festival, happening from June 2-4, are looking for volunteers to assist in this year’s event.

The festival, which is in its 10th year of operation, has an expanded schedule this year, and food trucks will be in attendance. There will also be a bar and a play area for children.

The event takes place at the field north of what was once the Cypress River Consolidated School and which now houses the Cypress River Resource Centre.

Pam Griffin, secretary for the festival’s organizing committee, said least year’s event attracted almost 400 visitors.

Anyone interested in assisting during the festival can contact Griffin at 204-827-2706.

» The Gazette

MINNEDOSA

The Town of Minnedosa has gifted hockey equipment once used by area hockey players to an initiative called Brighter Futures.

Brighter Futures was introduced by the federal government in the early 1990s to assist First Nation and Inuit communities to develop community-based approaches to better health.

Cassandra Groen, manager of parks and recreation for the town, said the Minnedosa District Arena had noticed an excess amount of donated hockey equipment.

“We first checked to see if anyone in our community would need any equipment, then we proceeded to reach out to our neighbouring community, Rolling River First Nation, to see if they had any programs or systems for donating equipment,” Groen said.

It’s important for Minnedosa and its neighbouring communities to work together to provide opportunities for everyone to participate in recreation, Groen said.

As an Indigenous woman, Groen said it was especially heartwarming for her to be part of an initiative that helped First Nation youth.

“I hope that working to help initiatives in neighbouring communities can grow our relationships with them and we can work together to provide recreation and leisure to more people,” she said. “It’s especially important to build those relationships and grow the amount of people we can provide opportunities for.”

Fourteen large bags of equipment were donated to Brighter Futures in Rolling River. Donations are encouraged to continue throughout the season, as many kids go through growth spurts.

» Minnedosa Tribune

MINNEDOSA

Mark Wahoski, who sits on the Sandy Lake Local Urban District Committee, has drafted a letter to the province, asking to consider the addition of centre-line rumble strips when upgrading Provincial Trunk Highway 10, north of Minnedosa.

Wahoski drafted the letter to provincial Transportation Minister Doyle Piwniuk, saying centre-line rumble strips could be used to reduce the occurrence of head-on collisions.

“I thought this would be a good time to try to get [them] installed at the same time that PTH 10 was getting upgraded, since there have been recent deaths and injuries on this stretch of highway,” Wahoski said in his letter.

Wahoski distributed his letter to the Municipality of Harrison Park, the Rural Municipality of Minto-Odanah and the Town of Minnedosa, requesting they each send his letter under their letterhead to Piwniuk.

“All three obliged and sent in their letters,” Wahoski said, adding that Piwniuk answered them all.

The Manitoba department of transportation and infrastructure will consider the addition of centre-line rumble strips to the Highway 10 project, Piwniuk said in a response letter, before suggesting that further communication be sent to Glenn Cuthbertson, director of traffic engineering with the province.

» Crossroads This Week

SHOAL LAKE

The John Deere dealership in Shoal Lake, S.H. Dayton, has joined the list of Enns Bros. dealerships.

Enns Brothers Ltd. and S.H. Dayton Ltd. announced they have entered into an agreement whereby Enns Brothers will acquire 100 per cent of the operating assets of S.H. Dayton Ltd. The anticipated closing date was March 15.

Founded in Newdale in 1961, S.H. Dayton Ltd. opened the Shoal Lake location in 1979. The dealership was purchased from Jim Dayton by Keith Martin, Peter Baydak and Calvin Harrison in February 1994.

While Martin, Baydak and Harrison have decided not to continue in their current roles, Dale Martin and Craig Geekie, who have been with the organization for more than 20 years, will take on the leadership of the branch.

“We know that Dale and Craig are the right stewards for the dealership in this community and that they will continue to build on the legacy of value and support that we have been providing for over 62 years,” said S.H. Dayton Ltd. general manager Keith Martin.

» Empire-Advance

ROSSBURN

The Rossburn Lions Club Community grant program is contributing to 13 organizational programs for the 2023 year.

The recipients include the Rossburn Ag Society, Christmas Cheer, Rossburn Community Development Corporation, the Community Resource Council, the Cross Country Ski Committee, Early Learners Inc., Rossburn Elementary School, Rossburn Game and Fish, the Rossburn Regional Library, the Rossburn Personal Care Home, the recreation commission, the Rossburn Subdivision Trail Association, and Vinok Ukrainian Dance.

Eligible applicant criteria included grassroots groups, associations or other non-profit entities, and individuals or for-profits. The funded projects had to be connected to the Rossburn and/or Waywayseecappo area, benefiting the communities itself and taking place within a year of approval. Other criteria included having a recreational, educational, environmental aspect or demonstrating a relevance to the communities.

For the 2023 year, applications were received up until Feb. 14. Sixty per cent of the grant amount will be paid up front, with the option of an interim report to receive a further 20 per cent or a final report upon completion to receive the remaining 20 per cent in grant dollars.

» Crossroads This Week