Rural Roundup for Oct. 7

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This article was published 06/10/2021 (1669 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Fairfax

The Boissevain-Morton-Whitewater Grow Project has wrapped another successful year of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank harvest. Farmers hit the field outside of Fairfax on Sept. 11 to bring in the crop.

The harvest yielded 56 bushels to the acre for more than 16,000 bushels of #2 Red Spring Wheat. It took eight combines, two grain carts and 11 trucks about four hours to complete the job.

“It went great,” said committee member Darren Peters. “We had a good turnout and a great crop. I mean, I think we have all be surprised, the farmers in the area are generally surprised with the quality of the crops and that field was better than others.”

The growing project has been running since 1998. Originally it was on a property in Boissevain, and later moved to Del and Heather Fraser’s property in Fairfax.

All of the 300 acres included in the project were sponsored this year raising more than $15,000. 

» The Recorder

 

Virden

Three stolen Virden vehicles have been found by Regina police.

On Sept. 8, RCMP received a report of a stolen Ford Taurus. That same day, a Chevy Equinox was reported stolen. The keys had been left inside the vehicle. On Sept. 9, RCMP received a report of a stolen Toyota Tundra, The keys had been left in the gas cap. The vehicles were later located by the Regina Police Service, and an investigation is ongoing.

Regina police initiated a traffic stop where the Equinox was found. The vehicle driver was arrested for several offences, as he was found with meth and a modified airsoft gun.

The week of Sept. 6-12 saw Westman RCMP deal with 42 police activities.

» Virden Empire-Advance

 

Kola

The Cross Borders Community Growing Project near Kola saw yields diminished this year.

Machines took to the field on the evening of Aug. 31, completing the job on Sept. 1.

Six combines along with several grain carts and trucks helped harvest 275 acres for Cross Borders Community Growing Project. Traditionally a barbecue lunch precedes the work, but the event was postponed to the following Tuesday due to rain.

Organizer Dan Neufeld said the project faced many challenges this growing season, including long periods of no moisture.

“We had frost, hail, flooding, drought and flea beetles. We had a challenging year,” Neufeld said. “The yields are a little bit less than last year.”

The fields yielded 31.6 bushels of canola per acre. Typically, the project yields 40 to 50 bushels per acre. In all, the project brought in 8,583 bushels, raising about $103,000.

The proceeds raised by the harvest will go to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a partnership of 15 church agencies assisting third-world countries to address food insecurity. 

» Virden Empire-Advance

 

Killarney

Rayna Munroe, 14, and her gelding quarter horse Zip have been making their mark on the 2021 high school rodeo circuit in Manitoba.

Munroe recently participated in timed rodeo events for barrel racing and pole bending at the Grunthal Rodeo. She also competed in the Oak Lake rodeo.

Rayna has been on the back of a horse since she was three or four years and burst onto the high school rodeo scene in 2021.

“She’s doing great and loving every minute. In the Grunthal Rodeo, she participated in high school barrel racing and high school pole bending. In both events, she had clear runs. She didn’t hit anything. And on the second day, on Sunday, in both events she shaved off a second more. It’s done on timings it was a great weekend, and a wonderful group of people” said her mom Carol Loewen. 

» Killarney Guide

 

Russell-Binscarth

Project Hometown wrapped up the year with a total of 3,300 entries, reflecting more than $132,370 in local spending.

The project especially gained popularity in the last 10 weeks, said Assiniboine Valley Regional Community Development Corporation economic development officer Thomas McLeod.

Project Hometown is a shop local program introduced in the summer of 2020 in partnership with AVRCDC and the local chamber of commerce. The project was driven by the impacts COVID-19 had on the local economy, forcing many shops to close their doors.

Entry to the program was simple — make a purchase of goods or services within the Municipality of Russell-Binscarth or the Russell Municipality of Riding Mountain West and enter your receipt with contact information into a draw. Consumers could also post photos online.

“The project celebrates local businesses and recreation,” McLeod said. “Customers saw the program as a way to support local businesses, and local business owners saw the program as a way to thank local supporters … It’s really was a win-win.”

» Crossroads This Week

 

Russell

The Girl Gang is back and ready to host the Caribbean Cultural Show “Barbeque at the Beach” in April.

The event began a couple of years ago to bring the islands of Trinidad and Tobago to Russell’s George P. Buleziuk Centre. It features the true tropical feeling with a steel band, calypsonian music, African dancers, braided dancers, Indian dancers and limbo dancers with fire and drummers. It was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19.

The proceeds from the event were in aid of Expanding Community Cancer Care fundraisers, as well as other community ventures including the Girl Guides. 

Tickets are $60 apiece and will also be sold as a table of eight. “Barbeque at the Beach” is also looking for volunteers — to sign up, call Patricia Kopetski at 204-773-3452.

“We are asking the community for help, for money, to help us with this because, in the end, we are giving money back to the community,” Kopetski said.

» Russell Banner

 

Neepawa

Provincial funding will be giving a boost to two local trail systems in Neepawa.

On Sept. 17, the province announced 35 recreation trails will receive money through the Trails Grant for Manitoba program.

The Rosedale Farm Trail, located northwest of Neepawa off Highway 5, will be receiving $2,300 from the province for the first time. The Neepawa-Langford Winter Park, located east of Neepawa on Highway 16, will receive $1,700 in grants.

Rosedale Farm Trail Committee chair Norma Somers said the group has already begun work on the trail that the grant will help pay for. 

“We have designed a project to enhance the trail and hopefully finish it off, as far as improving it and making it more accessible for all users,” Somers said.

Over the summer, the committee spread gravel on the rougher parts of the trail, and are continuing to work with other organizations to enhance other aspects of the trail.

Neepawa and Area Cross Country Ski Club, which manages and maintains the Winter Park, said the trial has seen increased popularity making it necessary to upgrade and expand the current facilities.

Work will include widening, stump grinding and brush clearing will be completed. Two walking trails will be accessible from the southeast corner of the Winter Park and skate skiers will have a four-kilometre trail to skate on.

» Neepawa Banner and Press

 

Dauphin 

A mock disaster is being planned to test the airport emergency plan as part of Transport Canada inspection of the Lt. Col. William Barker, V.C. Airport. In preparation, the Dauphin Regional Airport Authority Board tested the facility’s emergency plan. 

A tabletop exercise took place on Sept. 28 to walk through a plane crash scenario, with a hands-on mock disaster to follow on Oct. 19.

Dauphin’s emergency co-ordinator, Randy Daley, said adding the airport has a separate plan from the municipal system. 

“They would work in concert, but they are two different plans for obvious reasons. But this is all about the airport plan,” Daley said. “The tabletop is just to walk through a scenario about a plane crash and how do you respond to that. And you involve all of the agencies, that would be fire, police, EMS and in this case the emergency operations centre.”

The tabletop exercise will also involve airport manager Gord Love and Dauphin city manager Sharla Griffiths, who also acts as the accountable executive for the Dauphin Regional Airport Authority Board.

» Dauphin Herald