Rural Roundup for March 3, 2023

CARBERRY

Lucky Ned, made up of band members Brent White, Bill Turner, Brian Giesbrecht and Kerry Skinner, will be playing at the Royal Canadian Legion in the community on March 12 at 2 p.m.

The last time the band was in Carberry was in 2018. The band’s instruments are made up of guitars, harmonica, mandolin, accordion, Irish flute and Irish whistle.

The band began playing together about a decade ago. Their repertoire includes rock and roll, jazz, blue grass, country, ballads, folk songs, light rock and gospel.

The concert is a fundraiser for the Carberry Plains Museum.

» Neepawa Banner & Press

NEEPAWA

The Neepawa Middle School was full of excitement on Feb. 9, when the Grade Eight girls were invited to the 2023 Girls in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) conference, hosted virtually by the Saskatchewan Science Centre. The Grade Eight boys got a chance to do several activities as well.

Michelle Kolbe, a teacher at the school, said the students were grateful to take part in the event. Neepawa Middle School (NMS) was the only Manitoba school to attend.

“I think they have enjoyed learning things from a new, scientific frontier,” Kolbe said. “The classes are coming together and testing new boundaries, gaining a lot of knowledge.”

Students had the chance to make seltzer rockets using old film cannisters and Alka-Seltzer tablets.

» Neepawa Banner & Press

GLENBORO

Following a meeting with local representatives, the Prairie Mountain Health authority provided notices to residents and stakeholders in Glenboro that a temporary suspension of emergency services is in effect at the Glenboro Health Centre due to a shortage of physicians.

Anyone requiring emergency care is advised 911. EMS ambulance response will transport anyone requiring emergency care to the nearest open emergency department, Brian Schoonbaert, Prairie Mountain Health’s chief executive officer said. For general health inquiries, people are encouraged to call Health Links at 1-888-315-9257.

In the meantime, Glenboro Health Centre will function as a traditional care facility for people who are medically stable, where they will receive care as they await personal care home placement or to access home care services, Schoonbaert said.

Prairie Mountain Health is continuing to actively recruit physicians nurses and other healthcare staff to the region, he added.

“We remain committed to further encourage healthcare professionals to live and work within our health region,” Schoonbaert said.

» The Gazette

PRAIRIE LAKES

The Marsh Action Committee, which was formed in January to confront water issues in the Prairie Lakes area, including Glenboro-South Cypress and Argyle.

Darren Seymour, who was elected reeve of Prairie Lakes last October, said that he appreciates the possibility of working with other municipalities on managing water issues, as well as those who are dealing directly with flooding on their properties.

“We have to include stakeholders who have land around the area where drainage is happening, because you can’t just go ahead and move water without a plan. You can’t just drain one place and not worry about what’s happening at the end of that drainage.”

Seymour said overall conversations about getting the marsh system water moving through the area need input and action from landowners, municipal government and provincial water officials to be effective for all involved.

The area east of Pelican Lake does drain in the direction of the marsh located father north, Seymour said, but measurements and surveying must take place to confirm actual drainage factors throughout the area to provide more hard data that the committee can use to plan a strategy.

“I don’t know if you can blame it all on the marsh,” he said. “Mother Nature plays a part in it with precipitation too.”

» The Gazette

CYPRESS RIVER

A new firetruck that Neil Young, the chief of the Cypress River Fire Department, called a welcome addition to local firefighting efforts, arrived in Cypress River on Feb. 2 for area emergency service.

“I am excited,” Young said. “This has been a long time coming, and I have been working on this for years.”

The new truck was produced by the Green Acres Hutterite Colony of Wawanesa. It meets modern specifications for insurance requirements regarding community emergency vehicles, something that the truck it is replacing did not.

“The insurance underwriters have certain specs you have to meet with your fire department,” Young said. “If you don’t meet that, the community gets downgraded and everybody’s house insurance goes up.”

The truck is built on an International truck frame with a diesel engine and a 1,000 gallon water capacity. It’s improvements include up-to-date pollution equipment to meet environmental regulations.

» The Gazette

KILLARNEY

The new minister at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Killarney has been settling into the community and the four churches that make up his parish.

Reverend Brennan McCurry, who grew up outside of Brandon, has been to Ecuador, Uganda and South Korea.

“I enjoy the food and culture in other countries, and I do a lot of my own cooking, including lots of ethnic dishes,” McCurry said.

McCurry’s main draw to Killarney was it’s proximity to Brandon.

“I heard through the diocese that there was a position in Killarney. It fit my interests, the direction of my ministry goals, and the growth of congregation and outreach,” McCurry said. “There are lots of struggling churches across Canada and we are always looking for new ways to reach communities.”

McCurry’s posting at the church is his first. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Huron University College. His parish includes the Anglican churches in Killarney, Boissevain, Cartwright and Deloraine, which he provides services for on a rotating basis.

» The Guide

MINNEDOSA

The Minnedosa Valley’s Piecemakers Quilt Guild met on Feb. 6 to present a quilt to the members of the Valley Life Beginnings Inc. daycare committee.

Handmade by each member of the quilting group, the quilt was donated to be raffled off in a fundraiser to assist in the completion of the daycare.

Valley Life Beginnings kicked off their fundraising efforts in 2019, but were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent press release, the daycare comittee expressed its gratitude, saying they are invested in the project and looking forward to bringing more fundraising events to the community this year.

Valley Life Beginnings representative Chad Yanchycki said the committee is very grateful to groups and organizations like the quilt guild for helping them reach their goal.

“This beautifully handcrafted quilt will be a wonderful addition to our fundraising mission,” he said.

» Minnedosa Tribune

KOLA

More than 100 people braved freezing rain and icy roads for a day of learning how to start a new business or improve an existing one at the 6th Annual Southwest Business & Entrepreneur Expo on Feb. 8 at the Kola Evangelical Mennonite Church Hall.

Organized by a team of economic development experts, the day-long annual showcase of all things business included over 20 trade show booths and exhibits as well as a number of breakout sessions and speakers. The event was first held at Virden’s Tundra & Gas Place in 2018.

Tiffany Cameron, expo chairperson and economic development officer for the rural municipality of Wallace-Woodworth, gave a presentation titled “Lasting Impressions – Your Town Rising One Year Later.”

A panel discussion around this year’s theme, “Taking the Next Step in Your Business,” included two equestrians – Kim Richardson, an equine assisted training facilitator and riding instructor who owns and operates Lucky Break Ranch and Tack near Rivers and Juanita Funk, an equine osteopath and proprietor of Covenant Ranch Feed and Tack just outside Kola.

Keynote speaker Kim McConnell shared tips, successes and challenges from his business background, with a little humour mixed in. A native of Hamiota who now resides in Okotoks, Alta., he received his post-secondary education at the University of Manitoba and proceeded to start and grow the company AdFarm, one of the largest and most respected agri-food marketing communications firms in North America. Throughout his career, he has received a number of accolades, including induction into the Canadian Ag Hall of Fame in 2012 and being named a member of the Order of Canada in 2017.

Several breakout sessions were presented during the day, covering topics such as tax help for small business, mental health in the workplace and branding your business.

Winners of the Business Pitch Competition, a closed-door event whereby business owners sell their start-up plan to a panel of judges, included Dr. Kenn’s Woodworks, Studio T Video Creation & Design, Custom Cutting & Charcuterie Boards, Zoey Jebb Wellness, Sandy Soil Farm and Gardens, The Dennis County Café, Sanders Water & Ice, and Exact Shine Auto Detailing.

Since the Southwest Business Expo began, over $41,500 has been distributed to the winners of the business pitch competition, with 71% of the businesses still in operation today.

The 2024 edition of the Southwest Business & Entrepreneur Expo will be held in Deloraine.

» Empire-Advance

SIFTON

On Jan. 31, RCMP responded to an abandoned vehicle in the ditch off of a gravel road in the RM of Sifton.

Police located footprints that lead down a steep embankment into a coulee. Upon following the footprints for several hundred feet, officers located a male in physical distress from being out in the cold for an extended period of time.

With the assistance of fire, EMS and Virden Towing, the man was relocated back to the roadway and transported to the hospital, where he was reported to be in stabler condition. Further investigation is ongoing.

» Empire-Advance