Lack of Cell Service: Issue Heats Up
The Poppy Holds Over Ninety Years of Remembrance The 2012 Poppy Campaign of the Royal Canadian Legion is underway. Steinbach Legion Branch #190 began the distribution of thousands of Poppies to local businesses, schools and other venues. The distribution of Poppy boxes to local businesses was conducted by members of Steinbach Branch #190 and volunteers from Stoneybrook Squadron #307 of the Royal Canadian Air Cadet League. Members of the community will also have the opportunity to pick up a Poppy from members of the Air Cadets, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides at Canada Safeway on November 10. The Poppy has been a symbol of Remembrance since 1921 and is also known internationally as a symbol of collective reminiscence to honour those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The Poppy Campaign is the foundation of the Legion’s Remembrance Program, which provides Poppies to members of the community as well as the opportunity to participate in Remembrance Day services. Steinbach Legion Branch #190 will be holding the 2012 Remembrance Day service at the Steinbach Regional Secondary School on Sunday, November 11.
While fire crews battled a raging wildfire threatening the community on October 2, the driver of one vehicle attempted to leave Vita only to have the bridge collapse beneath them. A second car joined the mess before crews had a chance to block the bridge to protect traffic. Minor injuries were reported. Photo by Marianne Curtis
By Marianne Curtis When the Dawson Trail Dispatch hit the streets in October it was obvious we had a major problem. Miles and miles of fires, followed by several days of power outages after a snow storm blew through the region pushing southern municipalities to the breaking point. RM of Stuartburn Reeve Jim Swidersky is once again pleading with the government to step in and connect the area to a reliable communication source. “The southeastern part of Manitoba contains vast areas that completely lack service, or receive such weak, intermittent service that one cannot make a phone call,” stated the reeve. This is becoming an integral argument after the emergency Fleetnet System failed while the municipality was dealing with fires at the beginning of October. This is the second time this has happened in the area during the height of a crisis. The province uses and promotes the MTS Fleetnet Network as the emergency communication system for fire, police and emergency personnel, noted the Reeve. “During the fires the Fleetnet system was not working for any emergency personnel,” Swidersky confirmed. “Cellular phone service has become an essential service to the general population and is extremely important in emergency situations.” Within hours of having difficulty communicating with emergency crews, the crisis hit a new high when a snow storm killed power to thousands of residents, leaving most homes with no way to communicate. The RM of Stuartburn is demanding the province, MTS and local government services take immediate steps to provide southern Manitoba with reliable emergency services through the Fleetnet and improved cellular service. “We’ve been lucky so far. We haven’t lost anyone yet,” stressed Swidersky. “But eventually our luck is going to run out.”
St. Pierre Denies Sewer Connections The Village of St. Pierre-Jolys says the community’s lagoon is reaching capacity and as a result they have been forced to deny some hook-ups to the community sewage system. According to council, the Village of St. Pierre-Jolys has seen a 31 percent population increase in the last two years that has resulted in infrastructure challenges. More specifically, the community’s lagoon is reaching capacity. “Manitoba Conservation has advised the Village of St. PierreJolys that they will not grant – for any reason – ANY emergency discharges from their lagoon and have subsequently requested that the Village develop an acceptable contingency plan,” stated council. “The engineered study that was just conducted identified that at this time the present lagoon’s hydraulic capacity needs to be increased to accommodate any further sub-divisions.” While council is looking toward improving the community’s lagoon capacity, it has had to shut down new connections to the town’s sewage system. “At this time the current existing capacity of the lagoon, if any, be reserved for expansion within the town limits,” added council. An application on behalf of St. Pierre Lumber to hookup to the town sewer system was denied at the beginning of October. The business is located on the north side of St. Pierre-Jolys.