Rural Roundup for May 23, 2024

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This article was published 23/05/2024 (846 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PAGINATOR: Please leave room for one more image from the Baldur Gazette as a standup photo. Will be horizontal of a bird. – Matt

Dauphin (File pic of David Posiak)

Dauphin residents will once again see a slight increase in their municipal taxes this year according to budget documents presented at a public hearing, May 5.

The mill rate has been set at 19.513 for 2024, up from last year’s 18.937. The tax levy will net the City $7,276,549 this year, roughly 3.5 per cent over the 2023 take.

That translates into an extra $71 on homeowner tax bills, on average.

According to Dauphin Mayor David Bosiak, city council decided to act before falling behind as they have seen other municipalities do. With costs increasing due to inflation, and the city having taken on several large infrastructure projects on Main Street South, at the Buckwold Bridge and out at the sewage lagoon, he said the tax increase was needed.

“All of those things combined with inflation, combined with two new union contracts that were signed last year with our staff, we felt that a modest tax increase that was consistent with the rate of inflation would be manageable,” Bosiak said.

“We’ve gone through a period of fairly steady, not spectacular, but steady assessment growth. For several years during that period we used just the growth in assessment to continue to do business. But council didn’t want to get into a position that other municipalities are in right now. We talked to several at AMM that are having double digit tax increases in an effort to catch up after years of no tax increases.”

The mayor also noted that discussions, which he described as thoughtful, were held around possibly raising the mill rate more in anticipation of capital expenditures which might surface in the future.

» Dauphin Herald

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Killarney (Bull riding photo by Jay Struth)

The parking lot overflowed, tickets ran out, and inside the packed crowd had a whale of a night as the dirt flew.

It was the 13th Annual Rippin’& Roaring Bull Riding event at the Shamrock Centre, and organizer Brian LePoudre said it was the largest crowd he’d ever seen.

“The parking lot was full, and people were looking for places to park around the Shamrock Centre,” LePoudre said. “It was the biggest number of people for the bull riding event that we have ever seen. Over a thousand people came; last time it was around 900 people. Some people couldn’t get in at the door, because we reached our capacity and ran out of tickets. It was a busy evening.”

Winner of the Open Bull Riding event was Cody Fitzpatrick, from Glen Ewen, Saskatchewan, he said. “It was his third year winning here in Killarney,” LePoudre said. “And winner of the Bronc Riding was Chance Sjogren, from Bengough, Sask.”

Winner of the Bull Riding Calcutta, which built up to a whopping $3,312, was Kiwi Welding, while the Saddle Bronc Calcutta, coming in at $1,287.50, was captured by Fraser Auctions, he said.

All profits from the massively successful bull riding event will go to the Killarney Agricultural Society, and be used towards capital expenditures.

» The Killarney Guide

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Russell (File art of the ski resort)

Asessippi Ski Resort was the recipient of the prestigious Large Business of the Year award at the second Tourism Awards hosted by Tourism Winnipeg and Travel Manitoba. The awards ceremony, held on April 17, celebrated excellence in the tourism industry, recognizing outstanding contributions from businesses, staff, events and attractions across the province.

The Large Business of the Year Award is presented to a tourism establishment with 20 or more employees that consistently delivers exceptional visitor experiences, resulting in high levels of customer satisfaction through the services or experiences provided.

“We are incredibly honoured to receive the Large Business of the Year award,” said Asesippi Ski Resort owner Daymon Guillas. “We are proud to contribute to the local economy and provide unforgettable experiences for our visitors. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team.”

» The Russell Banner

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Boissevain

Members of a church in Boissevain have been discussing a name change for quite some time, and through the process of deliberating on a new name they have embraced the new moniker Living Hope Community Church.

The Mennonite Brethren Church began with the majority of its members having a Mennonite (German-Dutch) heritage. But that congregational landscape has changed significantly in most Manitoba churches over the past two decades including the Boissevain church.

The new name is part of an effort to be more sensitive to the cultures and nationalities of the community and congregation, as a means to be more welcoming.

“That was kind of the reasons behind the changes was that there are a lot of people who don’t have that same Mennonite heritage and yet they’re here and they are part of us as much as anybody else,” said lead pastor, Geoff Unrau. “So, part of the change was just recognizing that and wanting those folks who are feeling this was their home, that this truly could be their home as much as anybody else’s.”

Unrau had been youth pastor with the church for 14 years, and as senior pastor for the past 12 years. He says the conversations surrounding the name change took place over a good stint of time with a committee formally heading up the initiative.

“The conversations within the church were very good. There were some different opinions which is always good I think, and we listened to each other, and by the end of it all it felt like we were on the same page. People were encouraged together.”

» Discover Westman/CJRB

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Baldur

Several facility upgrades have been completed to the Baldur Recreation Centre, and the organization is in a solid financial position according to a report made during its annual meeting on April 24.

Some of the projects completed over the past year include: the pouring of concrete pads at the east entrance and north entrance of the hockey arena; replacement of the ceiling int he curling club; upgraded LED lighting throughout the facility with all expenses paid for by Efficiency Manitoba; the purchase of a single door cooler for social events, and the installation of a replacement smoke alarm panel.

The hockey arena and zamboni shed are in need of repairs, and the organization hopes to address them in the future.

» The Gazette

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Western Manitoba

The Border Baseball League held their spring meeting in Morden on April 21, with all eight teams stating they will field a team for the upcoming season. The East Division is made up of teams in Altona, Winkler, Morden and Carman, with the West division teams located in Cartwright, Clearwater, Pilot Mound and Baldur.

The MB Baseball Association has changed the format for the provincials, reducing the number of events from three to two by eliminating the tournament showcasing All-Star teams from each league. There will be a senior AA Provincials mad up of each league’s pennant winners plus two pick-ups, and a Senior A Provincials for “smaller market” teams plus one pick up; with both tournaments played on the same weekend.

This frees up space on the calendar for more playoff games within the league, so this year, the first round of playoffs in each division will be a best-of-5 rather than a best-of-three.

» The Gazette