Rural Roundup — Nov. 7, 2024

Dauphin

The City of Dauphin is weighing its options under a new provincial government program supporting critical infrastructure.

Municipalities outside Winnipeg can apply for grant funding for up to 50 per cent of total eligible costs for capital projects.

“We are evaluating all the projects that we could apply for,” said city manager Sharla Griffiths. “There’s a new fire truck in the budget for 2025. That … is one of the big ticket items, just about $900,000. So if we can get a portion of that paid, that would be awesome. But we still have to evaluate all the other things that we want to consider.”

» The Dauphin Herald

Glenboro — see photo of ferry

The Stockton Ferry is here to stay. After speaking to staff at the RM of Glenboro-South Cypress, the Baldur-Glenboro gazette debunked rumours that the ferry will be closing.

There are also no plans for a bridge, the gazette wrote. The last operational ferry in southern Manitoba is an icon and a tourist attraction in the area.

The ferry was originally constructed in 1945 and built completely from wood. It was changed in 1960 over to a gas powered engine from its original cable operation. It is still used by locals who need a ride to the other side of the Assiniboine River.

» Baldur-Glenboro Gazette

Minnedosa

After several thefts east of Minnedosa, Sgt. David Taggart of Spruce Plains RCMP put out a message to the public: RCMP is taking property crimes very seriously.

“In the last few weeks there were 11 break and enter and thefts in the Rural Municipalities of Glenella Lansdowne and Westlake Gladstone. These thefts were targeted towards trucks, ATVs and UTVs, firearms, and tools.

There were six trucks stolen, of which three were recovered; seven ATVs and UTVs stolen, with four recovered; and two firearms stolen. In some of these vehicle thefts, the keys were left in them.

There are some safety precautions that may help protect your property or help recover it. Please lock your properties up at night and do not leave your keys or valuables in the vehicles. Good lighting or motion sensor lighting on your property.

Vehicles with OnStar have GPS tracking capability. Apple AirTags are small devices that can help you locate your belongings using the Find My App on an Apple device. They emit a Bluetooth signal that connects to any device in the Find My network, and then their location is triangulated and sent back to your iPhone.

The Spruce Plains RCMP are taking these property crimes very seriously. We are committed to the prevention and reduction of crime in our area. These investigations are still ongoing.”

» Minnedosa Tribune

Neepawa

An update has been given on the construction of the new hospital, the Neepawa Health Centre. The estimation is that the first patient will be accepted at the hospital in late 2026 or early 2027.

An information session from Prairie Mountain Health took place in late October. The opening of the new hospital will take place in phases. The first phase is about transferring services available at the existing hospital to the new hospital. The goal is to ensure they are always available. The second phase will be used to add new services, such as renal dialysis, as well as expanding inpatient capacity.

According to the presentation in October, 30 inpatient private beds would be opened in phase one, with the remaining 30 opening in phase two. The current hospital has 35 beds.

» Neepawa Banner

Shoal Lake — see photo of church, cake, congregation

After serving Shoal Lake and area for 104 years, declining numbers have forced St. Paul’s Anglican Church to close its doors.

The landmark in the small community of Shoal Lake has seen a decline in membership that translated to a decline in financial support. The costs to maintain the historic building continued to pressure the congregation, eventually leading to a special service on Sunday, Oct. 6 which was held as a formal goodbye.

The service celebrated the life of the church, its beauty and gracefulness. “We are saddened to go forward with this closure but realize the time has come,” said Russ Hamilton. “Perhaps God has another plan which can utilize this space.” The church was deconsecrated on Oct. 16, removing the sacred character of the building.

» Crossroads This Week

Boissevain

In late October, more than $60,000 was given out to 25 charities and organizations from Boissevain’s Donor Choice. The community fundraiser groups community donations and distributes the money out to local beneficiaries.

The Boissevain Food Pantry was the biggest beneficiary, collecting $7,941 this year. Donations of roughly $4,000 were also given each to the local library, the health centre auxiliary and the Boissevain & Morton Foundation.

“This year was good,” said chair Barry Lamb. “Anytime you can top the $60,000 mark we think we are doing pretty good.”

Each year money is raised when sheets are sent out to community mailboxes. Donors respond by picking the amounts they want to give to the various groups, and returning the sheet.

» The Boissevain Recorder

Melita

The Manitoba government is investing $19.6 million in the Souris River Bridge on Provincial Trunk Highway at Melita.

It is to improve Manitoba highways and enhance climate resiliency by reducing the impacts of future floods in southwest Manitoba, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor announced. The bridge crossing is a vital link over the Souris River connecting people, businesses and communities, she said.

“I am pleased to see this project move forward to keep the communities of southwest Manitoba safe and to invest in the future of rural Manitoba,” said Naylor.

The bridge replacement contract has been awarded to MD Steele Construction Limited. The new bridge is being constructed with improved hydraulic capacity for flood resiliency and will be wider than the existing bridge, with two 3.7-metre travel lanes and 2.5-metre shoulders.

The work has already begun and is anticipated to be open to traffic by next fall, noted Naylor, adding full completion of all work related to the project is scheduled for later in the fall or early winter of 2025.

Traffic is being detoured during bridge construction onto a shoo-fly detour adjacent to the existing highway and will remain open throughout construction with a single lane controlled by signal lights at each end of the bridge. Drivers should exercise caution through the construction area at all times.

» Discover Westman