Rural Roundup for Mar. 26, 2026

NEEPAWA

A Neepawa-based track and field athlete has become the first Manitoba Bisons female to win gold in an individual event at nationals three consecutive seasons.

The athlete, Lara Denbox, competes in high jump for the University of Manitoba Bisons. She cleared 1.73m on her first attempt at nationals, winning first place.

Denbow and another Neepawa-based athlete, Daxx Turner, had history making weekends in March while competing at the U-SPORTS Track and Field Championships.

“I’m just so happy to have done it with Daxx, and to have done it, period, with all our family and friends here,” said Denbow in a post on the Bisons website. “I have had a very good season … I’m just so happy to be here, happy, healthy, training and competing.”

Turner, who competes in triple jump, won gold with a 16.17m jump, which broke a 30-year provincial senior indoor record and is ranked fifth all-time indoors in Canadian history. Turner holds the Manitoba indoor and outdoor records in triple jump at the U16, 18 and senior levels.

» Neepawa Banner & Press

RIDING MOUNTAIN

Greg Nesbitt has been confirmed as the Progressive Conservative party’s candidate for the Riding Mountain constituency in the next Manitoba provincial election.

Nesbitt, who has represented the constituency as the MLA since 2016, said he is honoured to carry the banner and continue advocating for rural communities across western Manitoba.

“Our communities are built on strong families, farms, and small businesses, and I want to keep working to ensure their voices are heard in the Legislature,” he said in a press release.

Nesbitt was a newspaper publisher and business owner in the Shoal Lake and Russell area for more than 40 years before entering politics. He served as Minister of Natural Resources and Northern Development from 2022 to 2023 and as Chair of the PC Caucus under three premiers.

» Virden Empire Advance

VIRDEN

Virden town council passed a resolution to reimburse private well owners affected by aquifer depletion in 2021.

The motion on Mar. 3 focused on affected private well owners whose personal wells were impacted by the Town of Virden’s use of the aquifer. It is unknown how much reimbursement will be given to the affected parties.

Councillor Grumpel abstained from discussion and voting due to a conflict of interest.

» Virden Empire Advance

SOURIS

The 26th Survivor Curling Bonspiel in Souris is facing an additional insurance cost this year which caught organizers by surprise.

Sponsorship Committee Chair Mark Fenwick explained that the bonspiel was asked to provide its own insurance to cover the five-day event. The program traditionally fell under the Souris-Glenwood liability insurance, as they are using the municipal facility, the Memorial Complex, he said.

The quote to cover the cost of insurance was around $2,500.

“We have never had to do this before,” Fenton said. “We’ve never had a legal issue, and unless we get sponsorship, it will be another expense for us.”

Souris mayor Duane Davison said he was sympathetic to organizers. But there has been a push from insurance companies to get an extra layer of insurance on top of the municipal insurance for events like this, he said.

“This is new for all of us,” Davison said. “Any event renting a facility, there is a responsibility, and we’ve been advised to have that extra layer there.”

“Survivor is a big event, and important event for Souris. It is huge for the community.”

The bonspiel event begins on Mar. 31. There have been roughly 25 women’s teams and 50 men’s teams at the event in recent years.

» Boissevain Recorder

DELORAINE

A gas bar and convenience store are coming to the Deloraine Co-op Home Centre.

The cooperative has announced it would be adding the features to its centre on North Railway Avenue East. Marketing manager Cheryl Rushing said the plan has been in the works for “some time.”

“The current home centre is a solid building, and it has the room for the addition of the C-store. It made more sense to combine the Gas Bar/C-Store into the current building than to build a new, separate one.”

The liquor store was also brought in last year, so the centre will have a number of features under one roof, she added.

Two fuel pumps will be added in front of the centre, put in with tanks, on a repaved area. There will be a pay-at-the-pump option and will offer regular, mid-grade and premium gas as well as clear diesel.

Hot foods, a new slushie machine, a Co-operative coffee counter and more confectionery and convenience items will be added.

The project is budgeted at $2 million.

» Boissevain Recorder

DAUPHIN

A Dauphin man is behind bars after RCMP officers patrolling Main Street South observed him out and about in breach of his court-ordered curfew conditions.

Officers arrested Jaydon Palamar, 27, for failing to comply with a release order.

While executing the arrest, officers located a knife inside Palamar’s hoodie pocket. A subsequent search of his backpack uncovered a prohibited rifle and magazine, along with drug paraphernalia.

Palamar is facing charges of four counts of failure to comply with release conditions, weapons possession contrary to an order, carry a concealed weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and unauthorized possession of a firearm.

» Dauphin Herald