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Just after 9:30 PM on Sunday, every phone at the Selo Ukrainia festival site went off with an emergency alert tone: Environment Canada had issued a tornado warning for the area.
Aside from that one bit of bad weather, Countryfest President Duane McMaster said the festival got pretty lucky this weekend, considering the crazy forecast they were given the week before.
"Every day we looked at the forecast and they were calling for bad weather, and every day we got to the next day and that bad forecast had moved, and whatever weather was forecast, knock on wood, fingers crossed, has gone around us, and even today everything is shaping up really nicely. When I looked at the forecast this morning, we weren't even supposed see the sun today, and right now it says 23 feels like 28 out here," said McMaster.
Even on Sunday evening, the bad weather avoided the festival and headed west. At the Selo Ukrainia site, there was some light rain, but the ongoing act was postponed only for a bit.
Weather aside, the weekend was a great success on the talent front. From the start of marketing the event this year, they've said they got all the big names, like Jelly Roll, Nate Smith, and Tyler Hubbard, because people want the big names. Plus, according to McMaster, the big names have had a great weekend themselves, and he definitely plans on having more big names in future years at Countryfest.
"They've all been incredibly well-received, they've been great to deal with, and actually surprisingly enough, I always feel like we're a sort of backwoods, out-of-the-way place, everybody has had such great comments on how well they're treated here and what the facilities are like, and how well everything is run, and I think that goes back to all of our volunteers and all of our staff and everybody involved here making these people feel welcome. We are planning on continuing to go with the big name lineup, if we want to be a first-class festival, we need to have first-class entertainment," said McMaster.
But, that's not to say Countryfest will shy away from the smaller artists. There've been a lot of big country names that got their start at Countryfest, like Doc Walker, and lots of local country music staples, like Kates Outlaw and Desiree Dorion. McMaster said Countryfest's local roots are here to stay.
"We always want to encourage and develop new music, because that's where it comes from, that's where this whole genre, the whole thing starts. These guys in high school and earlier, playing music and writing music, and they need an opportunity, and we're glad to be able to provide that opportunity. And, we are really, really honoured that so many people still consider it such an honour to be on that main stage at Countryfest for the first time," said McMaster.
One thing that made this year's Countryfest a bit different than previous years was the decision to not have day passes. McMaster wanted this year's festival to be sold as more of a "Festival Experience" than a series of shows. And, it seems that mentality paid off: this year's Countryfest sold an estimated 10,000 weekend passes, maybe even more. Plus, lots of camping passes and packages sold out very early.
"I've always said that I never wanted this event to be a concert with camping. I want it to be an experience where people come through the gates and there's something to do in the afternoon, there's something to do in the evening, there's entertainment, there's other activities," said McMaster.
Though no official sales numbers have been released yet, it's almost a certainty that this year was one of Countryfest's best in the past decade. From top-tier talent, to an unforgettable festival experience, you can expect people coming back in droves for next year's event.
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- Contributed by Ian Gillingham
The Eriksdale Creamery is the local museum in the community.
It served as the community's creamery before closing in 1990. For those who aren't sure what a creamery is, it's a place where butter and cheese are produced. Vienna Kinkead says the facility is still celebrated today.
That's where the Eriksdale Creamery Days, Fair, and Rodeo come in. The two-day event runs on Saturday and Sunday in the community.
"Saturday is our big day. We start with a pancake breakfast, followed by a parade, and we have events going on at the museum, which is open for tours," said Kinkead. "We offer live music from Shawn Mousseau this year. Then we head over to the sports grounds where we have our rodeo and tractor pull."
Kinkead stresses this event is for all ages. Saturday night ends with live entertainment by 'Lost in a Small Town'. On Sunday, the action heats up at noon with tractor pulls, a slo-pitch tournament, and the beer gardens are open at the sports grounds.
The rodeo begins at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Kinkead says the event is always a huge success, and her favourite part is you being a part of the magic.
"The entire weekend of seeing families get together, friends come out from the city, just watching everything that takes place," she added.
While the rodeo and kids' activities are always a big hit, it's the parade that is a home run. It starts Saturday at 11:00. The theme this year is 'Green and White'.
"Oh yes, the parade is hugely attended," ended Kinkead. "We have a great variety of floats. Tractors, horse wagons. And there is usually a ton of candy for the kiddos."
A weekend pass to enter the sports grounds costs $20 for adults and $15 for youth. Kids 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The man accused of shooting two RCMP officers in Melville last weekend was in Yorkton court on Thursday.
Fifty-five-year-old Markus Dodge faces numerous charges, including two counts each of attempted murder, aggravated assault, and firing a gun with intent.
The officers were responding to a reported assault at a home in Melville last Sunday night when they were shot at, suffering serious injuries.
Dodge was remanded back into custody, and is due back in court July 3rd.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
With mosquito and tick populations now in full bloom, the province is asking Manitobans to take extra care to protect themselves from both Lyme disease and West Nile virus.
Lyme disease is transmitted by black-legged ticks, often called deer ticks, which can be found any time of year when there is no snow on the ground, while mosquitoes can carry West Nile Virus.
Steps you can take to prevent tick bites include applying appropriate tick repellent on exposed skin and clothing, wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts, tucking in clothing to create a barrier, staying to the centre of walking trails, and inspecting yourself, children and pets after spending time outdoors.
If a tick was attached to you for more than 36 hours before removal, or was filled with blood, you are encouraged to visit a health-care provider once the tick is removed to receive preventive treatment for Lyme disease.
Ways to reduce mosquito bites include using appropriate mosquito repellent, wearing light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and pant legs, and ensuring all door and window screens fit tightly and are free of holes.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
The Onanole Fire Department is hosting a FireSmart presentation at the Onanole Rec Centre on Monday, starting at 1:00 PM.
Sean Frey, Onanole Fire Deputy Chief, said in an emailed statement that FireSmart is a great way for residents to learn about all the steps they can take to help reduce wildfire risks to their homes.
"FireSmart is a national initiative to help communities become more fire resilient, recognizing that most wildfire risk to homes are wind driven fire embers that catch in material around homes. Homeowners can have the biggest impact with maintenance and preventative measures around their home that minimizes the chance of fire spreading to their house or other buildings," part of the statement read.
Some of the presentation's topics include wildfire dangers in relation to climate change, details on the Onanole Fire Department's capacity, and what parts of the municipality are considered high risk.
If you're interested in attending the Onanole Fire Department's FireSmart presentation, RSVP by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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- Contributed by Ian Gillingham
As many as 60 people per day use the Grandview Trails to stay active and enjoy the scenery.
"So yeah, our trails are well used in Grandview. It's a really nice walking path, and there are multiple loops if you'd like," said Alia Marcinkow. "There are some benches to sit by the river and watch it flow. It's a nice place to relax and get some exercise."
Weather-dependent on Tuesday nights, Alia and a group of volunteers get together to trim the trees along the trails. The town does most of the grass cutting, but the volunteer group planted some trees, so they help out. It happens every second Tuesday to keep the area beautiful.
That's where you come in. On Tuesday, the group will be out there at 6:00 p.m. taking care of the trails. Together, the trails will continue thriving. They do have equipment available. If you have your own trimmers, a push mower, or even a riding lawnmower, you can use those.
It's a chance to work together and keep the trails safe and beautiful.
"Exactly, yeah. It's a nice little group to get together. We're always laughing and having fun," ended Marcinkow. "The more hands, the faster the work. It's usually no more than 90 minutes, sometimes even just an hour. Yeah, it's great."
If you are interested in volunteering, you can call 572-4370. You can also get in touch with Alia on Facebook or see her at the Grandview Pharmacy.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Yesterday, the Dauphin Ag Society hosted their annual Sponsor Appreciation Luncheon, to show their support for all of the Parkland's organizations and businesses that give them a hand. Part of the event had speeches, and even an award for one of the Ag Society's most committed volunteers.
Terron Stykalo, Dauphin Ag Society Member, said since the Ag Society was created, they have always been appreciative of their volunteers.
"We were incorporated prior to either of the Municipalities, the City or the RM of Dauphin, so we are a very old organization, and I think it says a lot about our members and the time they commit that we've been around for 135 years," said Stykalo.
That brings us to the recipient of this year's Richard Beyette Volunteer Award: Morley Burns. A member of the Dauphin Ag Society for 8 years, Burns always helps out where he can, whether it's volunteering at events, helping with simple repair jobs, or really anything he can do to lend his community a hand.
"Morley joined the Dauphin Ag Society in 2018, currently Morley is in charge of our parade float, and all of the displays and concessions. Those are only his official titles. I know that Morley is always here for set-up, tear-down, and the countless hours in between, and that has been present again this week," said Stykalo.
With the Dauphin Ag Society Fair taking place this weekend, you can expect to see Morley Burns around the fairgrounds, helping out where he can.
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- Contributed by Ian Gillingham
Are you looking to add some colour to your weekend?
Well, you're in luck. The Lakeshore Regional Wellness Commission in Ashern is holding its first-ever colour run. The family-friendly event is open to all ages.
Lori Emilson is in charge of the run and can't wait for Sunday.
"We are always looking for different things to do. We thought this was a great way to get people moving and active," said Emilson. "We are vying for Canada's most active community through ParticipACTION."
The ParticipACTION community challenge runs from June 1 to 30. It's a Canadian non-profit charitable organization and an enduring part of Canada's physical activity history, encouraging people to get healthy by getting active since 1971.
As of publishing, Ashern is the fourth-most active community in Manitoba and 33rd in Canada. Sunday's colour run, which begins at 10:00 a.m., is an untimed event focused on fun rather than competition.
With that being said, you can challenge yourself to conquer the track as quickly as possible. The track will be laid out at the Ashern Central School's playground, which is directly behind the LRWC. There is no cost to take part.
"And so we will have both 3K and 5K courses marked. There will be colour stations, where volunteers will be blasting people with coloured powder," ended Emilson. "We encourage everyone to wear white so it shows up nicely. It's all about getting out, being active, and getting the community together."
After the run, there will be a free family lunch. More than 70 people have registered to take part. Volunteers will aim for your clothing rather than your face. If you have asthma or are concerned about eye irritation, you're encouraged to wear goggles or a bandana at the colour stations.
To register today, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also send them a message here. It's a chance to add some colour to your day, celebrate community, and have a blast at the Lakeshore Regional Wellness Commission's first-ever colour run.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
One person was taken to hospital after a small plane crashed Thursday night along Highway 45 near Sandy Lake.
Yellowhead and Spruce Plains RCMP were alerted just after 7 Thursday night about a TBM-8 single-engine aircraft that was in distress.
It had departed earlier that day from The Pas, and was en route to Brandon when the pilot made an emergency landing on Highway 45, east of Sandy Lake.
The plane came to a stop in a ditch on the north side of the road.
Four people were on the plane at the time, with one taken to hospital with what were believed to be minor injuries.
The Transportation Safety Board has been notified of the incident.
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- Contributed by Jeff Henson
Have you ever heard of Chronic Subdural Hematoma? It's a type of brain bleed that most often happens after a small head injury. It's also more common in older people taking blood thinners. Once treatment is given to patients with CSDH, there's a pretty high recurrence rate of 28%. But thanks to groundbreaking new research from a Winnipeg team, a new treatment could almost completely solve that problem.
Meet Dr. Jai Shankar, Professor of Radiology at the University of Manitoba. His team has used a procedure called Embolization of the Middle Meningeal Artery - or EMMA for short - to treat patients after receiving treatment for CSDH.
"Patients who are having a minor head injury, and likely are on blood thinners, they're also more likely to get this, but what we do know is how it forms, and when it forms, what happens...Chronic Subdural Hematoma is brain bleed on the surface of the brain, and the covering of the brain is supplied by a tiny artery, where the Chronic Subdural Hematoma forms. So what we do is reduce the vascularity of the covering of the brain by blocking those blood vessels using glue-like substance," said Dr. Shankar.
The study saw Dr. Shankar's team run a randomized clinical trial of 186 patients at 9 different facilities across Canada. All of these patients were given the EMMA procedure after receiving surgery to treat CSDH. Dr. Shankar's team saw that the EMMA procedure reduced the brain bleed recurrence rate to 4%. That's going down from roughly 1 in 4 people, to 1 in 25.
With this treatment from our study, what we found is we could reduce the risk of this bleed coming back from 28% to only 4% when we added this new treatment to the patient," said Dr. Shankar.
At face value, even if you don't understand the specifics of the research, that's a big deal. The details of the study make it even more groundbreaking: no matter who completed the procedure at the 9 different Canadian hospitals, it went well.
"When you do a study or a treatment across multiple sites, and treatment is done by multiple operators, that tells us that no matter who does the treatment, the results will be the same...we also found that this treatment is very safe in any centre across Canada, and in any expert's hand, this treatment was very safe, so it was very effective and very safe," said Dr. Shankar.
Dr. Shankar's study was recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, or Jama. It's widely considered one of the top 3 medical journals in the world for peer-reviewed research and studies. That goes to show how much of an impact the team's work will have across the world.
"The acceptance in JAMA itself shows the global impact of the results of our study, not only locally in Winnipeg or Manitoba, but also across the country, and now it's going global. So it is literally having global impacts on the care of patients with Chronic Subdural Hematoma," said Dr. Shankar.
Dr. Shankar's team is currently at the Information Dissemination stage of their research, spreading the study as far as possible to get as much feedback and criticisms as possible, as a way to find how they can make their treatment even more effective. Click here to read the study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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- Contributed by Ian Gillingham
Mountain View School Division has 38 regular bus routes.
They have roughly 50 drivers who safely transport students to school at the start of the day and home at the end of the day.
For the past 13 years, Ernest Karpiak has been in charge of the entire operation. As transportation supervisor, Ernest has managed all the bus drivers and all of the mechanics.
Simply put, Ernest managed anything and everything surrounding MVSD buses.
After 13 years, he is ready to move on. He purchased a business hauling bulk water. The name is Clear Source Water Wagon. The business services Dauphin and the surrounding communities.
Ernest did what he did for MVSD for 13 years because he wanted to make sure students got to school and home safely everyday.
"We always have to look at road conditions. Buses and making sure they're maintaned and safe," said Karpiak. "Education of drivers so they know how to drive and what to do. What to do in emergencies. That was my big goal. To make sure kids got to school and then home to their families at the end of the day."
Karpiak thanks every bus driver he worked with over the years. He thanks the students for being fantastic and always treating the drivers respectfully.
Ernest is officially signing off at MVSD and is doing so knowing he worked his hardest over the last 13 years ensuring students received safe and reliable transportation.
"All the pride in making sure I did my job to the best of my abilities with the conditions that were put forward," ended Karpiak. "With weather, students, parents, and every aspect of transportation."
Karpiak is now looking to what's next.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
