Rural Roundup - Feb. 19, 2014

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/2/2014 (2287 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

• The Major Pratt Trojans, with the help of parents and friends, turned a regular-season hockey game into an event that raised close to $13,000 for the local chemotherapy unit. As part of the fundraiser, players could be sponsored in memory of a particular person, or in support of someone fighting cancer.

The Trojans sported pink uniforms for the game while refs wore pink armbands.

» Russell Banner

• Six months after food inspectors raided their on-farm meat shop and seized their award-winning product, Pilot Mound’s Clint and Pam Cavers have learned all charges against them have been dropped.

“We have done a lot around here to try and work with MAFRD to make this come out well for everybody,” Clint said. “We’re probably now within a month from being able to start producing prosciutto again.”

Upgrades to their facility, including new equipment and other revisions to comply with food safety regulations, have been approved in writing by two inspectors.

» Manitoba Co-operator

• Four students from Gilbert Plains Collegiate Institute competed in Manitoba’s only food cooking competition for high school and post-secondary culinary arts students.

Fourteen teams competed in the Localvore Iron Chef Cook-Off in Winnipeg, coming up with recipes that use as many Manitoba ingredients as possible.

» Grandview Exponent

• Friends of Riding Mountain National Park held their Winter Adventure Weekend at Clear Lake.

The Clear Lake Winter Olympics featured events that ranged from the hockey stick javelin toss to ice sculptures.

The annual event is a fundraiser for the group at the park.

» Neepawa Banner

• Strathclair Community School has a finalist for the prestigious Loran Scholar program.

Grade 12 student Zack Koscielny is one of 73 students across the country vying for the award worth up to $80,000 over four years for undergraduate studies in Canada.

“Over the 13 years attending Strathclair school I had some very inspiring teachers and mentors that helped define who I am today,” Koscielny said. “I believe growing up in a small school allowed me to realize I can make a difference and to develop my leadership skills as everyone must step up and take a lead role when your high school population is the size of ours.”

» Crossroads This Week

• Virden’s Landon Peel has established himself as an important contributor on the blue line of the Western Hockey League’s Kootenay Ice.

“The best part about playing the whole season in the WHL would just have to be finally sticking with one team,” the 19-year-old said.

The 5-foot-11, 171-pound defenceman has played in 55 games this season, picking up three goals and 13 assists.

“I think I have really focused on the defensive part of my game this year and it is really helping me out offensively as well,” he said.

» Virden Empire-Advance

• The Carberry Curling Club is bidding farewell to Braden Calvert’s curling team tonight before the team heads to Flims, Switzerland, to compete in the World Junior Curling Championship.

Calvert curls with three members of the Deer Lodge Curling Club in Winnipeg.

Some of Calvert’s first words as a national champion were with his dad, Grant.

“He taught me how to curl right when I was just starting to walk and it was an unbelievable feeling to share that moment with him.”

» Carberry News-Express

• Leah Lobreau, along with her daughters Haley, Shae-Lyn and Alaina, have started a new business out of their home called Farmer’s Daughters Closet.

The business features a wide selection of wedding and graduation dresses.

“I wanted to be able to provide people with the beautiful dresses without travelling miles to get one,” Lobreau said.

» Reston Recorder

• More than five months ago, Souris School welcomed seven high school students from Brazil.

Members of the group, who explored Canadian lifestyle, bonded with host families and got their first taste of snow, are now back in their home country.

Some of their most memorable parts were just what you might think.

“The snow,” one student said.

“For me it was the people that made me happy,” another said.

» Souris Plaindealer

• Air force veterans from Manitoba are in good company at 8 Wing CFB Trenton, Ont.

Of the more than 10,500 stone markers set along the edges of walkways adjacent to the Ontario-based National Air Force Museum of Canada, there are a few featuring a connection to Westman, including Dauphin’s William Barker.

The motto for the Ad Astra program is “A flower fades ... a stone never.”

» Shilo Stag

• Eighteen rinks participated in the Dunrea Bonspiel and when the final rock came to rest, it was Kevin Cuvelier’s team that won the hardware.

Cuvelier’s team, which consists of third Harlin Andrews, second Shaylyn Bylo and lead Robert Bylo, used their hometown experience to win.

Dunrea turns its hockey rink into a curling rink for the annual event.

» Killarney Guide

• Thanks to the completion last October of a fibre-optic connection from Brandon to Boissevain, Westman Communications Group was able to broadcast live from Boissevain last month.

WCG showed a Boissevain high school hockey game between the hometown Broncos and Hamiota. The game was available in a number of communities in Westman, including Souris and Killarney.

WCG had six cameras following the action with a full production crew of eight for the broadcast.

» Boissevain Recorder