Rural Roundup — Nov. 12, 2026

NEEPAWA

The Town of Neepawa is acting against the spread of Dutch Elm Disease before the arrival of winter.

This fall, the tree-killing fungus was identified in 38 trees within the community. To eliminate the disease, council voted on Oct. 20 to hire Middleton Enterprises to cut down the infected trees.

The cost of the removal has been set at $34,500, plus GST. Removal is expected to begin as soon as possible. Each year, in accordance with the Forest Grant Agreement, the province comes into a community and marks any diseased trees that it finds.

The community is then tasked with removal of those trees and is later reimbursed a portion of the cost from the province. Dutch Elm Disease can spread through root contact, so the identified trees, which may appear healthy, would likely be an issue next year.

Removing the trees will break the line of infection, saving large groups of other nearby trees.

» The Neepawa Banner

ROBLIN

The grand opening of the new Friendly’s Grocery Store was met with a sense of community pride by residents of Inglis and the area.

The grand opening of the store — located in Inglis’s vacant curling rink, which was completely remodelled and renovated – was the culmination of two years of fundraising and effort by volunteers.

In his remarks, board chair Carmen Jackson referenced a conversation he had withSwan River MLA Rick Wowchuk earlier in the day. Wowchuk had mentioned that a grocery store is usually the lifeline in every small community, and when a grocery store disappears, the town usually disappears.

About two years ago, after being advised that Friendly’s previous location would require costly repairs and renovations to bring the building up to code, the board began looking into other options.

The co-op also learned it could qualify for the province’s Community Enterprise Development Tax Credit, a program which allows investors (co-op members) to receive a tax credit of 45 per cent for shares purchased.

Shares were sold for $900 and raised $285,000. With other funding, crop sales, and personal donations of around $40,000, the co-op raised $325,000.

» Roblin Review

VIRDEN

A subdivision aims to create eight new lots at Virden Regional Airport RJ Andrew Field.

Town of Virden Councillor, Airport Commission Chairperson Bruce Dunning said it reflects the airport’s future possibilities.,

“It’s very good news in that it demonstrates the potential growth of airport activity.” Dunning said. “There is a waiting list of persons interested in acquiring lots.”

Private plane owners are currently looking for hangars and Dunning envisions businesses such as plane repairs and aviation-related sales and rentals coming to the subdivision in the future.

At the Town of Virden council meeting of Oct. 20, a conditional use hearing was held as the next step to create the airport subdivision for the east side of the airport. The recent airport runway expansion project made a subdivision necessary, forcing the airport to move existing hangars due to runway proximity.

Dunning did not say what airport lots would cost.

» Virden Empire Advance

MINNEDOSA

The Minnedosa Chamber of Commerce is seeking active members to help guide its future.

The Chamber is inviting members interested in supporting local businesses and strengthening the business community to consider joining its executive board. The chamber is undergoing a leadership change and seeks to continue its work connecting local businesses, economic development and service to the wider community.

Marlies Soltys has stepped down as chair, and Cass Cardy is serving as acting chair, chamber co-ordinator Brooklyn Heino confirmed.

As the Chamber looks ahead, Coun. Grant Butler acknowledged Soltys’ contributions to Minnedosa, describing her as an advocate for the community who served on both the Minnedosa Tourism and Community Development Corporation boards.

Butler said Soltys was actively involved in Fun Fest and helped organize the first annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner. Through Inspire, she provided a much-needed space for artists from Minnedosa and the surrounding area to display and sell their work.

» The Minnedosa Tribune

MANITOBA

The safety of Manitoba families inside their own homes is at the centre of a push to strengthen legal protections for people facing threatening intruders. A resolution before the Manitoba legislature is calling for changes to the Criminal Code of Canada to provide greater clarity about when homeowners can legally use force to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Interlake-Gimli MLA Derek Johnson is urging legislators to support the resolution, arguing that people confronted by a potentially life threatening home invasion should have greater certainty about their rights under Canadian law. He maintains that the proposal is focused on public safety rather than giving homeowners unrestricted authority to use force.

Johnson says the issue should not become a debate about political labels or other divisions when the central concern is protecting people from genuine threats.

The resolution calls on Ottawa to amend federal legislation to more clearly establish when reasonable force, potentially including deadly force, may be justified during a threatening intrusion into a residence.

The proposed changes would address situations in which someone unlawfully enters or attempts to enter a dwelling and is reasonably perceived to pose a threat to life or safety. Johnson emphasizes that the proposal is intended to clarify the law rather than remove the requirement that the circumstances justify force.

» Discover Westman

DAUPHIN

Area renal patients are once again able to access treatment in Dauphin thanks to the opening of a temporary hemodialysis unit in the Community Health Building in Dauphin. The unit began serving patients on Nov. 2.

Prairie Mountain Health CEO Treena Slate said the unit will boast six stations, the same number as the regular service prior to the June flood that forced the closure of the Dauphin hospital.

With winter approaching, Slate said it was important to have dialysis services available in the region once again.

Meanwhile, cleanup and restoration at the Dauphin hospital continues, Slate said.

» Dauphin Herald