Dawson Trail Dispatch October 2011

Ten Thousand Villages Celebrates 65 Years

Riders Blaze Trail of Pink in Support of Breast Cancer Research

By Marianne Curtis While the Wild Pink Yonder meandered its way throughout the region, communities rose to the occasion by planning a variety of fundraisers or events that ensured that the first annual event was a huge success.

On September 10, a group of riders and their horses dressed in pink hit the trail for three weeks regardless of the heat, wind, cold, rain and even frost. Along the trail the group was joined by police officers, businessmen, musicians, youngsters and anyone who was interested in raising funds for breast cancer research.

The ride officially kicked off in Morden and meandered through the region until the final stop October 1 in Birds Hill Park. The trail covered about 265 miles and saw the group riding through 28 communities.

Pam Glover wants to thank each

On October 1, Ten Thousand Villages celebrated its landmark 65th year of crafting change around the world through the sale of unique handicrafts.

During a special anniversary event, Ten Thousand Villages stores and Festival Sales in Steinbach and across Canada celebrated with displays, videos, gift basket draws and refreshments.

Darlene Reimer, manager of Steinbach’s Ten Thousand Villages, was thrilled with the turnout for the anniversary event. “Ten Thousand Villages has been a presence in Steinbach for 36 years thanks to hundreds of volunteers from our community,” said Reimer. “It is very exciting to be showcasing and celebrating our amazing history.”

Ten Thousand Villages started 65 years ago when Edna Ruth Byler first brought Puerto Rican needlework to North America in 1946. At the time, the term ‘Fair Trade’ did not exist. Her volunteer project to provide market access for artisans spearheaded the Fair Trade movement in North America and eventually evolved into what has become Ten Thousand Villages.

Steinbach Could Ditch RCMP

On the trail heading to Giroux with Wild Pink Yonder.

community and the many volunteers and participants that made the first Wild Pink Yonder ride in Manitoba so successful.

Along the route, communities stepped forward and organized events including concerts, meals and accommodations for the livestock and riders. Most events also included a cheque presentation for Cancer Care Manitoba with money that was raised locally through inventive fundraisers.

Francisco De Santiago was one of the many riders that participated in the ride. “I don’t know how many miles I have hauled my horses, but it has been a blast,” stated De Santiago.

Southeast communities along the trail where the group visited include Niverville, Landmark, Otterburne, St. Pierre, St. Malo, Grunthal, Kleefeld, St. Adolphe, Giroux, Steinbach, La Broquerie, Richer, Ste. Anne, Lorette, Dugald and Oakbank.

CMA Country star Julian Austin performed for the group in Kleefeld.

The City of Steinbach is looking for public input when it comes to police protection services in the community.

Just recently the Mayor’s Task Force of Public Safety announced they are looking to see if area residents would prefer a municipal police force instead of the RCMP. Michael Zwaagstra, chairperson for the Mayor’s Task Force of Public Safety said the group is looking towards the future of policing in the community because of two significant factors. The first being, when the City’s population reaches 15,000 people it will cost the City of Steinbach “substantially” to keep the RCMP. He also noted that next year the 20-year contract the city signed with the RCMP is up for renewal so now would be a good time to look at other options. “We are looking at all aspects of public safety, along with policing,” Zwaagstra explained.

Zwaagstra said the Task Force has already been doing their homework. Using Winkler as an example, he noted that Winkler has successfully budgeted $1.9 million for 16 officers for their municipal police force. “We pay $1.5 million a year for 13 RCMP officers,” Zwaagstra added.

“When you break the costs down per officer it is almost the exact same, which we found interesting.” Once the city’s population increases those costs are expected to

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October 2011

More Than Just News!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Food Drive Nets Over 16,000 Lbs of Food

Dozens attended the South East Helping Hands Food Drive kickoff on September 23.

Steinbach to Become National Training Centre for Fitness Pros

By Marianne Curtis People interested in becoming fitness instructors have an easily accessible avenue available to them now that Echo Fitness and XCOMPANY Fitness have brought national fitness education giant, Canfitpro, to Steinbach.

Owned and operated by Eddie Miller, XCOMPANY has been offering community dance, martial arts and fitness in Steinbach for over 5 years, renting space at the Arts Centre since 1996. More recently the company choreographed the Manitoba Games.

“After all the awesome things we get to do here, we now have the chance to train the next batch of leaders,” said Miller.

By joining with Canfitpro, the Steinbach company will bring personal trainer and fitness instructor certification courses to the area at affordable rates. Canfitpro, a division of Canadian Fitness Professionals Inc. (1993), is a world leader in certification and education of fitness professionals.

“There are other certifications that can cost anywhere from about $600-$1500,” stated Miller, XCOMPANY director and Canfitpro Trainer. “Canfitpro courses are also the only ones to combine the Theory, Practical and Exams in one package – all for less than $400! This is an amazing opportunity we a providing the communities we serve.”

Also offered will be Physical Arts Instructor courses for Dance, Martial Arts and Recreation Program Leaders. “Since XCOMPANY teaches other physical arts, such as dance, we’re going to add additional training for those who need the proper kinesiology training for teaching dance, physical arts (ie. theatre) and martial arts,” Miller continued.

Miller noted that while the course is designed for future instructors, members of the public can take the courses to learn more about their body and how to exercise properly and get maximum results. High school students are also invited to consider the classes, especially if they are considering a career in fitness. “When you think of minimum wage jobs, a fitness instructor can make a lot more than that,” encouraged Miller. “This helps if you want to pay for college and have lots of time to study.”

The next course for the Personal Training Specialist Certifications will take place at Echo Fitness in Steinbach.

Classes are taking place November 6, 13 and 20 with exams in January. This course has a maximum of twelve students, so contact XCOMPANY at (204) 470-5425 or register at contact www.canfitpro.com.

The South East Helping Hands Food Drive is well under way following the Palmlite Pie Eating Contest and the Farm Credit Canada BBQ recently.

On September 23, Farm Credit Corporation (FCC) hosted the Drive Away Hunger Kickoff Barbeque and Palmlite hosted a pie eating contest.

For every $1 raised during the drive, two pounds of food can be purchased for the food bank.

According to Wade Nerbas, from FCC, the BBQ and donations at the event amounted to 5,620 lbs of food for the food bank. The Palmlite Pie Eating contest raised 10,504 lbs of food. In addition, another 190 lbs was donated at the event for a grand total of 16,314 lbs.

The kickoff barbeque officially launched a major food drive initiative that is expected to help prepare the local food bank for a busy couple of months. Two more major food drives are planned for the coming months. On October 12 and 13 food can be dropped off throughout the day.

There are two main locations where donations of cash or food can be dropped off. Donations can be left at either the FCC Office at 330 Hwy 12 North or Southeast Helping Hands food bank on Main Street in Steinbach.

Recreation Commission Established by Piney The RM of Piney has found a way to ensure that all recreation facilities within their jurisdiction receive funding without having to apply for individual grants.

According to council, the Recreation Plan was developed by the RM of Piney’s Recreation Committee to enable a cross section of the community recreation groups to decide and develop plans specifically for their districts.

“The districts crossed ward boundaries and allowed communities the ability to work together and communicate with each other in an open forum,” stated council.

The municipality is giving each of three recreation districts $17,500 to split between all recreation facilities within each district for a total of $52,500. District 1 includes facilities and programs in Sprague, South Junction, and Middlebro.

District 2 includes Badger, Piney, Vassar and Wampum. District 3 consists of Woodridge, St. Labre and Carrick.

The RM of Piney council has committed to maintaining this plan as well as the grant program for the length of the current term of council.

A highlight of the recreation plan was the giving of a grant to the Sprague and Area Arena Board towards to re-opening of the arena to both youth and adults alike. “This will be the only enclosed arena within the municipality and will provide a valuable asset to the communities,” council continued.

The funds will be used to secure the building and provide funds for much needed upgrades.

More Than Just News!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Housing Book Sale Nets $3,000

By Marianne Curtis From September 22 to 24 the East Borderland and Community Housing Committee hosted another successful used book sale at Clearspring Centre in Steinbach.

The annual fall book sale has become a major fundraiser designed to help raise money for a proposed senior’s housing project to be built Sprague.

Elsie Laing, chairperson for the East Borderland Community Housing project said proceeds from the book sale will be added to the funds already raised by the group. “We did very well – we had a really good turnout and we made over $3,000,” stated Laing. This was the third book sale the group has organized over the past three years. The inaugural event raised about $3,000 and last year’s sale raised about $4,000.

Over the past few years the committee has been trying to raise funds towards a seniors housing project planned for Sprague, she explained.

“We don’t have a concrete amount that we are trying to raise anymore,” Laing explained “Once the building is up there will be things we will want or need and that is what some of the money will be used for.”

It has been almost a year since the sod was turned to officially mark the start of construction on the Sprague seniors’ project. The kickoff coincided with a $3.4 million funding announcement from the Governments of Canada and Manitoba. Additional seed funding was provided by CMHC in the form of a $10,000 interest-free loan and a $10,000 grant to assist during the initial project planning stages. However, construction has not started yet.

“As of this week the project is still at the tendering process,” Laing stated. “We are getting pretty anxious to get started already.”

The entire project is composed of 12 personal care beds, 8 supportive units and 15 elderly person’s housing units. East Borderland Community Housing Inc. has taken responsibility for funding, constructing, and operating the Elderly Person’ Housing (EPH). The personal care home part of the project is estimated to cost approximately $2.2 million.

Ritchot to Undergo Rate Study Residents and businesses in the RM of Ritchot could see an increase in sewer usage rates after the municipality undertakes a study on water usage and sewer services.

At a recent meeting, Ritchot council noted that the communities of St. Adolphe, Ile Des Chênes and Ste. Agathe are all served by a sewage lagoon but there are two different ways of levying for water and sewer.

According to council the fixed rate structure for sewer charges in St. Adolphe and Ile Des Chênes are not based on water consumption or the amount of waste water going into the lagoons.

Steinbach RCMP continued...

Continued from page 1 increase significantly, he noted.

While initial start-up costs to establish a municipal police force would need to be considered, the cost to either having RCMP or a municipal force are comparable.

However, the service could be tailor made to suit the City’s needs better.

“With a municipal police force you have more direct control over who the leader is, how many officers there are and the type of training we provide,” Zwaagstra continued.

The Task force is currently collecting feedback from the public on the matter, before it writes a report to present to the City of Steinbach council for further consideration.

“This rate structure does not encourage conservation of water and may place an added burden of costs to the water utilities,” stated council.

The RM of Ritchot council requested a proposal for service to conduct a study of the water and sewer rates in each community. The study is expected to recommend a rate structure based on metered water consumption with the understanding that it will apply to all current residents and businesses and apply to future developments that expect to discharge waste in any of the municipality’s lagoons.

October 2011

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October 2011

More Than Just News!

RM of Piney Cleans Up Dump Policy

By Marianne Curtis The RM of Piney has been working hard on establishing a number of policies and fee rates for residents using municipal landfills and now that they are complete, the new regulations are effective immediately.

One of the most significant changes comes in the form of a landfill tipping fee policy recently adopted by council to control and charge large volumes of garbage entering the landfills.

“The purpose is to levy the fees on dumping in a way to reduce, as well as to supplement, the newly established dump reserve fund that will off-set future costs of waste disposal grounds construction,” stated council.

Fees range from $0 to $50 for residents and $40 to $200 for businesses depending on the size of the load and its content.

These fees are expected to be paid at the municipal office before the loads arrive at a particular landfill site.

The RM of Piney council also acknowledged an increase in recyclable materials being brought into their facilities. “This will reduce our effect on the environment, help manage costs for the municipality and put more money back into the municipality,” council noted.

One of the biggest issues that came into play while council reviewed dumping policies was the matter of sorting material coming into the sites. An incident earlier this summer forced the municipality to look at stricter enforcement after a propane tank disposed of incorrectly unexpectedly exploded.

“All waste entering the dump sites must be sorted in order to be dumped,” council stressed. “Attendants will be asking and items not sorted will not be allowed to be dropped off.”

To ensure control and proper disposal of household and commercial waste and for safety reasons, the municipality is also cracking down on unlawful dumping and landfill access.

A $500 fine will also be levied against people entering any municipal landfill site outside of regular hours of operation. A fine of $1,000 will also be levied against anyone dumping garbage in a location that is not a landfill site.

Stuartburn Opens Transfer Station

By Marianne Curtis On September 16, the RM of Stuartburn officially opened their new municipal transfer station with a grand opening ceremony.

Located at the RM of Stuartburn landfill site, the new transfer station is expected to benefit residents within the municipality, explained Jennifer Blatz, RM of Stuartburn administrator. “We knew that if we continued to use our regular household garbage cell, eventually we would have to cap it and build a new one,” explained Blatz. “The cost to build a new cell would have been considerably more than the cost to build a transfer station.”

The RM of Stuartburn decided to build a transfer station instead of building a new cell in the municipality landfill in order to cut down liabilities and to keep financial costs down. “There are more environmental liabilities that come from having household garbage cells as opposed to a transfer station where we simply haul it away,” continued Blatz. Garbage brought into the transfer station will be hauled away to the RM of Ritchot’s municipal landfill.

While the RM of Stuartburn intends to close their existing garbage cell by the end of fall, service to residents is not expected to change. “We still have all other designated areas for things like recycling, old tires, scrap metal and pesticide containers,” Blatz added.

Residents will not be charged for bringing regular garbage to the transfer station, however tipping fees will be in effect for construction and demolition materials.

The new transfer station cost the municipality about $70,000, but the construction of a new garbage cell would have set the municipality back significantly more.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

COMMUNITY EVENTS EMAIL YOUR COMMUNITY EVENT TO EDITOR@DAWSONTRAIL.CA OR FAX 204-422-8548

Ste. Anne Ste. Anne Parish Fundraising Supper will be held on Sunday, October 30. It will run from 4 pm to 7 pm in the Ste. Anne Immersion School Gymnasium. Supper will consist of spaghetti and meatballs, homemade garlic bread, Caesar salad and dessert. Cost: 12 years and up - $10; 6-11 years - $5; under 6 – free.

Everyone is welcome!! For more info, call Parish Office at 422-8823.

Paradise Village Old Time Dance will be Saturday, Oct. 22 from 7:30 – 11:30 p.m. at the Paradise Village Rec.Hall. Frazer River Boys Band will be there for everyone’s enjoyment! Advance Tickets only, and the cost is $12. Lunch will be available. Please contact Fred or Carol at 422-6847.

Steinbach Steinbach Legion Cribbage at the Steinbach Legion will take place on Friday, October, 21, November 4, November 18, and December 9. Game registration is at 7:00 pm and games start at 7:30 pm. Cost to play is $5/person. Come join us for a great evening that includes snacks & a night lunch. We hope to see you there!

Call your friends and neighbours and join us for a fun day at the Casinos. Pick up in Steinbach is at 8:30 a.m. and at Paradise Village at approximately 9:00 a.m. Must be 18 years of age or older. There will be prizes and cash for everyone. There will also be bingo on the bus. Call Marilyn at 326-4939 for date information and to reserve your seat on the bus. The next scheduled trips are October 11th, November 8th, and December 13th.

Richer Seine River Services for seniors is happy to fund an exercise program, Steppin’ Up with Confidence, in Richer on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. It will take place immediately following Tai chi in the Richer School Gym. It will be held on Wednesday evenings throughout the year. This is offered free for all seniors from Richer and seniors from surrounding communities are welcome as well. Steppin’ Up with Confidence is a peer-led exercise program that encourages older adults to improve overall health and well-being by becoming more physically active. You can join us anytime throughout the year so please come and have fun. Trained instructors are Marie Courcelles and Pauline Fontaine and they are anxious to see you all there.

To register or for more information please call Juliette Rowan at 204-424-5575 (Resource Coordinator).

St. Adolpe St. Adolphe Parish 2011 fall supper will take place on October 16 from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Pioneer Hall in the St. Adolphe Arena. Cost for people 13 years and over is $12. Children 6 – 12 years $6 and children under 5 years are free! There are no reservations! Tickets are only sold at the door!

Niverville The Niverville Senior Clippers Halloween Social will be on Saturday, October 29 at the St. Adolphe Hall, 45 Hebert Drive. There will be a prize for best costume! Tickets are only $10. Please contact a member of the senior clipper team or Megan Koop at 228-4031 Ile Des Chenes Ile des Chenes 26th Annual Fall Supper will be at the NEW Recreation Hall, South on Hwy 59 – (Lagimodiere Blvd). It is in Support of Seine River Minor Baseball and will take place on Sunday, October 16 from 3:00 pm – 7:30 pm. Adults are $12, Seniors (65 & up) $10, Students $10, Children 4-10 are $ 5 and 3 & Under are FREE. The meal includes – Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, veggies, sweet & sour meatballs, perogies, coleslaw, salad, buns and all the trimmings. Also includes – coffee, tea, juice and dessert. Email yvettebernat@hotmail.com for more info or call 878-2661.

General The Super Start program is a healthy baby program run through South Eastman Health. This is a program for pregnant women and families with infants up to one year of age. Each session includes a song and rhyme time, discussions, and games on topics related to healthy babies and healthy moms. We offer a door prize and a nutritious snack. In addition, we have milk coupons for expectant mothers and mothers who have babies up to six months of age who participate in the program. This month, our session will be held on…

Thursday, Oct 6 from 10 a.m - 12 p.m. at the Blumenort EMC Church.

Tuesday, Oct 11 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the 4th Ave. Bible Church, Niverville.

Wednesday, Oct 12 from 10 a.m - 12 p.m. at Ste. Anne Dayspring Fellowship.

Thursday, Oct 13 from 10 a.m - 12 p.m. at Village Oaks, Kleefield.

Tuesday, Oct 18 from 10 a.m - 12 p.m. at the East Borderland Primary Healthcare Centre, Sprague.

Thursday, Oct 20 from 10 a.m - 12 p.m. in the St. Pierre Health Corner, 354 Prefontaine Ave. Tuesday, Oct 21 from 10 a.m - 12 p.m. in the Ste. Agathe Hall.

Wednesday, Oct 26 from 10 a.m – 12 p.m at the Community services building (next to the Pharmacy) in Lorette.

For more information please call terry from super start at 346-7021 or just drop in.

Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Do you have an ongoing or chronic health condition? Get Better Together may be your answer. Get Better Together is a FREE 6-week program to help you live better with your ongoing or chronic health condition. In this interactive group setting, you will learn to take control of your health and: manage pain, deal with fatigue & frustration, increase your energy levels, set and meet your goals. You will also learn ways to solve problems and make better choices, talk to your doctor and care provider. They also cover eating well to live well, starting an exercise program and so much more. Get Better Together will be offered starting in mid to late October 2011 in the following communities: Niverville, Steinbach, Sprague, St. Malo and Vita.

For more information and to register, please call the South Eastman Health Healthy Living Facilitator at (204) 346-7001.

More Than Just News!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Honoring Our Fallen Police and Peace Officers Together with Canada’s Governor General, David Johnston, I had the recent privilege of paying tribute to police and peace officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Over 2,000 people gathered on Parliament Hill on September 25th for the Annual Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Service, including many active officers from around the country. I was touched to see the outpouring of support and gratitude towards those who work tirelessly to keep our families and communities safe.

Three weeks ago, we marked the tenth anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, recalling the many first responders and heroes who walked into danger to save the lives of others. On September 25th, we also reflected on those who lost their lives while simply performing their daily jobs. Each one represents a loss — a loss to their families, to their colleagues and to our society.

As part of the Service, 51 names were added to the Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial. Four of those officers lost their lives in the last year; while 47 others are being added to our historical record.

This memorial stands as an enduring reminder of their dedication and their sacrifice. There are now more than 820 names etched in its glass panels — etched in our national memory. We remember all of them as heroes.

As we reflect on their achievements and read their names, we ensure that they will not be forgotten. We ensure that a part of them will live on. As police and peace officers do in Canada every day, these fallen stood for us against those who would do our country and our communities and our families harm.

The site of the Memorial, on Parliament Hill, is a fitting one. After all, it is within the walls of these buildings that laws are passed to support police officers in their duties. I urge the NDP Opposition to do the right thing and pass the important legislation that will help keep our streets and communities safer. Legislation that imposes tougher penalties on those who attack our children, those involved in organized crime, and legislation that eliminates house arrest for serious and violent offences, to name but a few of the important measures being blocked by the NDP. No more NDP delays. No more NDP excuses. It’s time for action. It’s the least we can do.

Please feel free to contact my office if you have any concerns or issues you would like to discuss. You may contact my office toll free at 1-866-3331933 or at 204-326-9889 or in Lac du Bonnet at 204-345-9762. You may write my office at 8 - 227 Main Street, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Y7, by fax at 204-3469874 or by e-mail at toewsv1@parl.gc.ca.

Serving the communities along the historic Dawson Trail and beyond.

The Dawson Trail Dispatch is a monthly newspaper distributed free of charge to 50 Southeastern Manitoba communities.

Published by: One One Consultants Inc. Box 308, Richer, MB R0E 1S0 Phone: (204) 422-8548 Fax: (204) 422-9768 Dan Guetre, Managing Editor One One Consultants Inc., Publisher News Writers: Marianne Curtis, and Dan Guetre Columnists: Lee Guetre, Peter Friesen, Anni Markmann, Peter Martens, Production/Design: Dan Guetre, Myriam Dyck, Linda Bennett and Wilma Priebe Advertising: Karen Jorgenson and Dan Guetre

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October 2011

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Hang On to Your Day Job Conventional wisdom says it is bad luck to mention the “r” word, recession. Reality says it would be downright childish to ignore the signs. I, for one, would not waste a buck betting for or against the outcome of this question; will or won’t we have a recession in the near future? The reasons why we are at such a precarious point are very similar to 2008. People somewhere are living beyond their means and institutional collapse is imminent. If anything, it demonstrates in spades the fact that this is a global economy.

In this case, the Greek, where democracy was born, has been collectively behaving in a very undemocratic fashion and, in retrospect, this has been going on for a while. They avoid paying their taxes as if it is a newfound birthright. They have been refining corruption since Plato was knee high to a grasshopper. They are the ones that have been living way beyond their means. They’re broke. Their banks are on life support. Their country earlier this year was bailed out to the tune of 100 million Euros, and their favorite pastime seems to be rioting. How much in dollars is 100 million Euros you ask, one hell of a lot and then some. Next month they need another 10 million Euros to meet interest payments. If the remainder of the Euro countries balk at the bailout, this will be a catastrophe in Technicolor compared to the Lehman Bros. bank collapse that kicked off the 2008 recession.

The Greeks’ collapse is going to be a hard fix, here is why. The European Common Market has 27 countries, of which 17 use the Euro as their currency. All of these 17 countries retain national control over their laws, including finances. Supposedly they ceded some fiscal and monetary right to a Central European Bank, but in practice this is wishful thinking, platitudes instead of action is the everyday political reality. Now the rich European countries could bail out the Greeks and I suppose they could extract serious austerity conditions, but each of these countries must gain approval for a bailout through their Parliament and so far 9 have approved grudgingly. Now the world will wait with bated breath for eight more “yah”s. If it comes to pass, and it is a big “if”, this will only alleviate the disaster till the next interest payment is due. To go through this exercise every three months is to beg for a more streamlined procedure in the face of tough political terrain. Otherwise, the markets will continue to limp in a constant state of apprehension.

There is some noise in Europe about returning to individual state currencies, but that would create worse problems. For instance, a new Greek currency would have the value of Monopoly money with their debt still in Euros, and a new German Currency would appreciate so quickly and at such high levels that its large export economy would suffer a serious contraction. Every other Euro country would suffer some of the fallout, especially Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Italy and France as these countries have high but still manageable debt. But, if the stock markets crash, and that’s what a Greek default would do, the European banks will take an unbearable hit and any amount of monetary reason will disappear in the ensuing panic. Any country with a high debt load will see economic contraction, less tax revenue and harder to service debt.

The problem for Canadians is that our banks are somewhat insulated, but not completely. To underscore the point, who hasn’t seen the fluctuation in the markets in the last couple of days. They, the banks and the markets, are tied to the world economy, as we are a trading community we could not begin to insulate ourselves. Furthermore, our biggest trading partner is stuck at 10 percent unemployment and debt levels too high to maintain without an increase in taxes, with their perpetual political game stuck in overdrive.

American leadership is suffering gridlock that defies common sense, the only activity is the constant oozing of useless ideology. Both of their political parties behave as if they hope to be fatally toxic to each other and a rump group named the Tea Party is behaving like a fanatical right wing Taliban with nothing but jihad on their atrophied minds. If that diabolic rump of the Republican Party controls the next Presidency, I suppose a recession would only be our second worst problem.

It would be easy and simplistic for all countries concerned to institute austerity measures to reduce debt but then the economies would shrink, taxes decline and debt in turn would go up. Government intervention becomes the name of the game. The question is which job creations are smart expenditures, and which ones are strictly political expediency. This is where one only gets to see the results after the fact. I give Canada a better chance than most for a manageable outcome, but this will not be a free ride. My hat is off to those who will agonize over the tough choices ahead. In Europe there will be very few winners, the best to hope for is manageable losses. And manageable losses when money is concerned is an oxymoron.

This underscores the value, or lack of same, of all the promises made by provincial parties in all provincial elections going on at this time, circumstances will annul these wishful promises.

Again, if you have a job beware of greener grass, it may be a costly illusion.

I Hate War! Dear Editor: War is dreadful whether it’s in Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, or anywhere else, and it’s even frightful showing what the tools of war can do. I think back to some years ago when my wife and I visited an army display tent in Winnipeg and, looking at a long, ugly, army knife, I remarked to a soldier on duty, “Surely you wouldn’t use that on people.” He pushed the knife between my heart and my stomach (the outside, good thing) and remarked, “Oh yes, we would; to us they’re just the enemy.” (Just imagine, if you can, what actually happens in a nuclear war.) On the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C. Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s words are immortalized, “I have seen war on land and sea. I have seen blood running from the wounded... I have seen the dead in the mud. I have seen cities destroyed... I have seen children starving. I have seen the agony of mothers and wives. I hate war.

It is my hope and prayer that we fellow human beings, from whatever nation, on a planet spinning through space (literally) will learn to hate war as much as FDR did, and seek peace and reconciliation before the brutality, the insanity of war, takes over. As Ulysses S. Grant, civil war general and later president of the U.S.A., has put it, “There never was a time when, in my opinion, some way could not be found to prevent the drawing of the sword.”

Yours sincerely, Stan Penner Landmark, MB

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October 2011

More Than Just News!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Consider Others Better Than Ourselves Philippians 2:3-7 ... 3) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4) Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 4) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7) but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

(NIV 1984) When I think about the idea of modeling my life unconditionally in faithfulness to God ... it is a little overwhelming to say the least. Immediately I think about my shortcomings and wonder what unfavorable effects it has on my family members, friends and people who are observers. I often find myself communicating a double standard. I say to myself that is part of being human.

Nevertheless, we cannot ignore the real world around us. We must ask the question, “What about our/my failures?” How do they blend with the goal of being a good Christian role model? Could it be possible that our so-called failures might actually hinder the whole modeling process? Could it be possible that because of our so-called failures we will actually be drawn closer to God? Interesting thoughts: I like the idea of being drawn closer to God because we know that is where we find strength.

Paul, the apostle, instructs us not to be selfish. He goes on to say that we are not to live just to make an exaggerated inflated impression on others. But to be humble, thinking that others might really be better than us. We are not simply to think about our own affairs. We are to show an interest in others, too, and in what they are doing. We must make an effort to be like Jesus Christ who, after all, was God. However, He did not demand and hold fast to His rights as God. He laid aside His authority and majesty, taking the place of a slave and becoming like us.

As Christians, we have the power to love others. Our heart’s desire must be filled with good-will which never knows nastiness and never searches for something that is hurtful. I believe this is not the reaction of our human nature or our heart’s desire; it is more than that. It is a victory achieved by our faith in Jesus Christ to love not only those who love us or those who are lovable. Here is the hard part – to love those who hate us, to love those that I do not always love. I must try my best to love those who do not love me. This is the real meaning of the life of a Christian and this will follow us here on earth as well as in heaven.

Are we able to understand that Jesus gave up of all heaven’s glory willingly until there was nothing left so that He could become a human-being? He gave up His divine being to take on Himself the likeness of our earthly being. I dare not ask how this was done. I dare not say that I understand all that happened.

I only stand in wonder at the very sight of Jesus who was almighty God, hungry and exhausted and in tears; that is beyond my understanding.

The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote the Scripture lesson which we have studied. Paul’s whole life was a lesson in self-denial and servanthood. Is it not true though that visible self-denial sets in motion powerful human instincts? It was true in Christ’s time and it is still true in our time.

Especially when we are the ones who will benefit from such an experience; people who have learned the role of a servant become reliable. We all believe the self-denial that Paul is talking about has its beginning in the mind and heart of us all. Christ did not consider His equality with God something He had to struggle with. Instead, He took the very nature of a servant, going so far as to actually die a criminal’s death on the Cross.

We have raised numerous questions. On the foundation of what the Apostle Paul talked about, could you find a place in your heart for Jesus Christ? Is there any reason why somebody would not want to trust Christ right now? It was because of our human frailty, our human weakness, that God raise Christ up to the heights of heaven and gave Him a name which is above every other name.

Philippians 2:10-11 clearly teaches that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth. Every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father. Have a wonderful “Thanksgiving.”

Would you pray this prayer with me? “Lord Jesus, come into my heart.

Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I don’t have peace in my heart. I really want that peace, joy and happiness that I long for. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will bring honor to Your Name.” Amen.

St. Pierre Bans Overnight Parking Anyone looking to park a truck in the Village of St. Pierre is being advised to keep an eye out for new signage that has cropped up throughout the community.

The Village of St. Pierre council recently approved a new bylaw that bans parking of vehicles over 4,500 kgs in weight, RVs, or semitrailers of any size on all streets within the community. The community wide parking ban goes into effect from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. seven days a week.

The only exception to the rule is if a semi-truck is loading or unloading.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

More Than Just News!

Recycling Program Returns to Ste. Anne Municipality

By Marianne Curtis Three months after the RM of Ste. Anne cancelled its municipal wide recycling program, Reeve Art Bergmann is pleased to report that a new program will soon be in place.

The RM of Ste. Anne recently signed an agreement with Eastman Recycling Services in Steinbach. Under the agreement, the company will provide recycling services every second Saturday.

Recycling depots are also being set up in Giroux, Richer, La Coulee and near Paradise Village.

“Recyclers in the area can have a depot to return their products that will be recycled and we can actually promote the whole concept of recycling in our municipality,” stated Bergmann. “We are taking out of our general mil rate for this service and it is going to be available to all ratepayers.”

The new service is expected to cost the RM of Ste. Anne about $1,000 per month. “We are going to commit to this for about a year with the idea that it will grow and to see what kind of reception it will get in the community,” Bergmann continued. “If the reception is great who knows where this program will end up.”

The RM of Ste. Anne cancelled its recycling program at the beginning of July after it realized that it could not

continue to offer the service without some financial planning. Until ten months ago, Blue Sky Recycling picked up materials and did not charge the municipality. The non-profit organization was run

by Dawson Trail Opportunities using subsidies from the government because it was providing employment opportunities for handicapped individuals. However, when the province shut down Dawson Trail Opportunities, the recycling service was also affected.

Soon afterwards, a private contractor stepped in and picked up recycling materials while doing garbage pickup but when he approached the municipality for fair compensation for the service he was refused. Because it affected his bottom line, his generosity stopped and the program came to a complete standstill.

The RM of Ste. Anne was then forced to come up with a better solution after residents demanded that a system be re-established. “Our main difficulty was finding a way to provide a service that was the same for all ratepayers,” Bergmann noted. “You cannot ask one area to pay for a service that is enjoyed in another area.”

The RM of Ste. Anne expects to see a small cash incentive coming into the municipality as a result of setting up the program. While the municipality has received a small amount from the province over the years, that amount is expected to increase once Eastman Recycling keeps track of the recycling coming in from the municipality. Until now, the rebate received was minimal because residents were taking their recycling to Steinbach and the credit was not given to the municipality of origin.

October 2011

7

Wellness Day Held in Piney

There were a number of informative displays and valuable information available to attendees.

Photo by Marianne Curtis

Nearly two dozen people came out to Piney when the East Borderland Health Centre hosted a wellness day in the community. The one-day event took place at the Piney Community Centre on September 8th.

Entitled “Living Well Today”, attendees participated in several workshops on subjects including; how to keep mentally well as one ages, stroke prevention, and how to get better together as a community. There was also a session on harmony therapy, reading food labels and tobacco cessation.

Reynolds Goes Paperless The RM of Reynolds council is moving toward becoming more environmentally friendly by going paperless when it comes to municipal minutes and correspondence.

Instead of accepting large volumes of copied information that is required for meetings, council has converted to laptop computers. To streamline the process further municipal staff has been busy scanning meeting information, bylaws and other relevant information so that council can access the information at a click of a button.

“Our councilors have been enthusiastic about entering an era of new technology and help save the environment at the same time,” stated council. To ensure consistency to the system each councilor has been supplied with a laptop including programs and accessories. Cost for the switch over was $750 each for seven councilors and the reeve.

The RM of Reynolds council anticipates that the costs will be recouped through the reduction of paper costs, freight, photocopier fees and staff office time.

8

October 2011

Vehicles Vandalized in Steinbach

More Than Just News!

On September 24, Steinbach RCMP received multiple complaints of vandalized vehicles in the area of Kroeker Avenue, Hanover Street, Henry Street, Elmdale Street, and Barkman Avenue. Numerous vehicles were vandalized, windows broken and tires slashed. Police believe this may have occurred between 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating the person or persons responsible for these offences. If you have any information, you are asked to contact the Steinbach RCMP at (204) 326-4452 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or www.manitobacrimestoppers.com or text “TIPMAN” plus your message to Crimes (274637).

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Reynolds Delays Bible Camp Decision

By Marianne Curtis A group proposing to build a youth camp in Hadashville will have to wait until the middle of October before the RM of Reynolds council makes a decision on the matter.

At a public meeting held on September 27, approximately 50 people met to discuss the proposal that could allow the establishment of a permanent year-round Bible camp near Hadashville. When the proposal first crossed council’s table a month ago there was some objection to the project but by the end of the public meeting attitudes had changed significantly.

George Hill, General Manager of Living Bible Explorers, was pleased by the positive feedback from the community.

“This was a real surprise to us as we expected some heated opposition, but I see this was a direct result of correct information given throughout the community over the past month and also that we put our plans and vision in writing for the residents at the meeting,” stated Hill.

Living Bible Explorers is a ministry for children with over 15 years of successful camping programs. The camp proposed would bring children ages 6-16 to a camp facility in Hadashville where they can develop longterm relationships and learn an appreciation for the area, facility and environment.

Walter Loewen, applicant and owner of the property, confirmed that the group plans to lease the land to the Living Bible Explorers for ten years before transferring the land to the organization. If approved, the camp will be established on 110 acres of land – only ten acres will be used for the actual campsite.

“The site is well forested and ideal for recreational purposes – namely, a campsite for children,” Loewen told council. “The camp, in my opinion, can’t help but enhance the quality of life in the area and make a positive contribution to the development of the Hadashville district.”

Plans include a large 5,000-8,000 square foot lodge that will be the centre of all camp activity approximately 300 to 400 meters from the Whitemouth River. Six cabins will eventually be located in a semi circle close but some distance from the Lodge. Several other buildings to be used for teaching will be added along with several homes for staff members will be built.

After council heard reports in favor of the project from project leaders, a number of RM residents stood up and addressed the meeting with positive and supportive statements for the building of the camp.

“The main theme was that people were in favor of the positive impact the camp would have on children,” recalled Hill. “There were a few questions revolved around the structure of the camp programs for young people, with concerns about discipline, curfews, noise levels and all were addressed – nothing was tabled.”

The RM of Reynolds council closed the meeting with “no opposing submissions”. A decision will be made by council to either approve or deny the application at the October 13 meeting of council.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

More Than Just News!

October 2011

9

A Rescue for the Birds

By Marianne Curtis

Explore Your Creative Side!

There are over 60 programs at the Steinbach Cultural Arts Centre – ages 3-99!

Free dance classes - Try any dance class free until October 15th at Southeast School of Dance: Dress Up Song & Dance, Hop N Bop, Creative Movement, PreBallet, Urban Ballet. For Teens: Youth Pops and Pop Dance. 2 for 1 specials on now for Ballet, Ballet Technique, Hip Hop and Creative Tap. Backyard Theatre - Offers Actors Playhouse, Dress Up Drama, Acting Exploration, and Extreme Acting.

Visual Arts - Photography, A Taste of Art for Teens, Watercolor, Pottery, Jewelry Making, Acrylics, Art Exploration, Structured Drawing. Meet monthly for Photography Club or Tuesday mornings for Southeast Artists Group.

Starting in October Community Programs: Arts for Tots Pre-school Program, French and Spanish language classes, Social Dance, Belly Dance, Kids in the Kitchen and Creative Cooking. Detailed information and a lineup of lesson plans for classes can be viewed on our website www.steinbachartscouncil.ca.

Wellness: Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, Body Pump, Stability Ball – opened extra classes now!

Music classes: Manitoba Conservatory of Music: voice, piano, theory and violin.

New! Accordian lessons: call Art Rempel 326-4610.

User Groups - Southeastern Manitoba Music Teachers, Southeastern Manitoba Festival, Welcome Kindermusik – for parents and children, ages 2-6. Demo day is November 19. For more info email rfkindermusik@gmail.com. Eastman Choral Association, and xcompany – hip hop, breakdance, jazz, zumba and more! For more info go to www.xcompany.net.

Get Dancing - Try social dancing with your partner free until October 15th, Thursdays at Friedesnfeld Community Centre, 8:15-9:15pm. It’s more than about dance – it’s an evening out socializing, and time with your partner. Learn Cha Cha, Waltz and the West Coast Swing and more. Call 346-1077 to register, or just go to Friedensfeld to try it.

Mark your calendars for SAC’s Café Night on November 5. This year’s coffee house will be held at the Steinbach Cultural Arts Centre and will feature The Liptonians. They will be performing songs from their brand new album Let’s All March Back to the Sea, which was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award.

NEW! School of Rock at SAC - Steinbach Arts Council’s initiative to encourage students to write songs and learn music takes on a new form in song writing workshops playfully called School of Rock. Band members Matt Schellenberg and Bucky Driedger from the Liptonians will be hosting the first songwriting workshop on Saturday, 10am-4 pm: call to register 346-1077.

Christmas Art Show & Sale on November 5 at Clearspring Mall featuring our Southeast Artists Group. A most unique Christmas shopping experience, with a selection of paintings, photography and pottery to choose from, all created by local artists.

On now at the Hall Gallery Expressions: Exploring Mental Health Recovery through Art. Featuring local artists until November 4. SAC is pleased to join with community mental health partners in presenting this exhibit. (Next month - Out and About by Kevin Friesen, photographer – November 9 to January 6. Opening night: Wednesday, November 9 at 7 pm. Toonie donations are gratefully accepted, and refreshments will be served.)

Exciting Saturday Workshops - Ring Making on October 8 and Wood Signmaking on November 12. For more details: www.steinbachartscouncil.ca, 346-1077.

Looking for homes - The Christmas Home Tour and Tea (November 27) is SAC’s most heartwarming collaboration with the community. Looking for homes of all shapes and sizes to showcase! Please email marketing@steinbachartscouncil.ca or call. We are also looking for committee members to help plan this fun event!

On September 12 a lone loon was spotted on the ground behind the RM of Tache office in Lorette by local residents. After numerous unsuccessful attempts at cornering the bird, the group of good intentioned residents eventually managed to capture it further west near the Dawson Trail Motor Inn. “We’ve been trying to catch him for the past hour already,” stated one of the rescuers. “We don’t know what to do with it. We tried some places but because it’s not an endangered species no one will help.”

At this point the bird was exhausted, its feet were bleeding and it appeared unable to fly. Unsure of what to do next the group put the bird in the ditch and prepared to let nature take its course. However, fate intervened when I happened upon the scene and remembered a place called the Manitoba Wildlife Rehabilitation Organization.

The Manitoba Wildlife Rehabilitation Organization was founded in 1984 and a few years ago the centre adopted the name of Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre – around the same time as the facility relocated to Ile Des Chênes.

Reesa Atnikov, Centre Supervisor for Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre, was on hand when I delivered the injured bird – nicknamed “Dawson” – to the facility. I quickly learned that while finding a loon in Lorette was an oddity, the bird could have crash landed on the street thinking it was landing in water.

“Loons sometimes land on a highway thinking it is a river – unfortunately they are unable to take off again unless they are in water, which is why this loon could not fly away,” explained Atnikov.

After being admitted into the Centre, wild animals are subjected to an exam and given whatever treatment required before being released back into the wild.

“We admit over 1,700 animals per year and accept all native Manitoban bird and reptile species, as well as most mammals,” explained Atnikov.

“We rely on private donations and memberships, as well as some corporate sponsors.”

Throughout most of the year the facility employs only one full-time

Found hobbling along Dawson Road in Lorette this loon, nicknamed Dawson, had little chance of survival.

person on staff and relies heavily on volunteers to help. “The centre also has an education program that allows us to visit many schools and events throughout the year with one or more of our seven non-releasable Raptors, teaching them about Manitoba’s wildlife and how best we can coexist,” Atnikov continued.

So what happened to the loon?

Well, when I contacted the Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre the next day I was told that while the bird

suffered injuries to its feet similar to having toenails clipped too short, it had no other injuries. Atnikov had already released it.

“We took him to the Red River – when we let him go. He called once and then dove under the surface and was gone,” Atnikov stated.

“This was another successful rescue and release.”

For more information on the facility or to volunteer visit at www.wildlifehaven.ca.

Twenty-four hours later, thanks to the Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre, Dawson was declared healthy and returned to the wild.

10

October 2011

Farm Roads Dumped in Municipalities A number of rural municipalities are upset with the provincial government after they were unexpectedly forced to become responsible to maintain main market roads.

In early July, the RM of Piney was one of several municipalities notified by the province that the province had spent their total allotment of money for maintaining all main market roads. A main market road is a provincial gravel road that is maintained by the province instead of the municipality.

In many cases, it is the only road that makes rural communities accessible.

The municipality has several main market roads that are the only way through communities such as Carrick, St. Labre, and Woodridge.

“These roads have historically been maintained by the provincial department of highways,” noted RM of Piney council. The RM of Piney strongly opposed the decision to be charged with the care and maintenance of said roads due to their already limited budget resources.

After lengthy discussions with concerned municipalities, the province has offered to do minimal maintenance on these roads until the end of the year.

Does Geothermal have Payback?

As a renewable energy business owner, I wanted to know the truth about the payback on my geothermal system. I spent $22,000 and installed a 3-ton open loop system for my home five years ago. I calculated, based on my previous hydro budget, that I had saved about $892.00. I took off the cost of forced air electric and estimated a 19-year payback period. I was told my geothermal system should last 20 years. This summer the blower fan broke in the geothermal system. I thought it would be fixed “no problem”...wrong! I found out, too late, that the blower fan is a computer programmed part within my geothermal system AND there is no one who can fix it! It was 40 Celsius in my house and not only could nobody fix it, but there where also no parts available anywhere in CANADA! Apparently you can only buy it from the manufacturer. I had to spend $900 and wait a week for it to come in. Our costs would have been more if we had paid someone else to install it, but we did it ourselves instead.

(Please note that this can void the warranty on your system!) If you add in a pump replacement cost of $900 every five years then your payback period jumps to 23 years. This goes three years beyond what the normal life expectancy of my system is.

There are some other things not usually mentioned when you get a geothermal system. The warranty for my electric blower, for example, was only 2 years. They did not point out that for open loop systems the power consumption needs for the water pump are greater. They also don’t mention that other things in your home that run at the same time as your pump cause extra strain on the pump, causing premature failure. Most geothermal systems today are oversized for your needs and run at a higher cost, so that you end up spending more on Hydro after one is installed than before. I spoke to a friend of mine who had his electric forced air furnace replaced with a geo system four years ago. He replaced it with a closed loop, 8-ton system and now pays about $80 dollars more in the winter than previously. The heat production from my geothermal system in the winter is adequate until -30 Celsius; below that temperature the electric back up heater needs to come on to supplement the heat requirements (average 5 to 8 times per year in -30 C). Another con is that geothermal systems are more noisy than electric or solar thermal heating systems. I do enjoy the great cooling in the summer though, and my geo system is cheaper to run than regular air conditioners.

Before considering geo-thermal for your heating and cooling system needs there are some things you should check out. Find out EVERYTHING concerning the warranty on your system and the attached parts. Know what else in the house needs to run at the same time as your geothermal system? Does this particular geothermal system have parts and service readily available in your area? What is the total power consumption of the proposed unit? If buying a home with a geothermal system already installed, find out if it is an open or closed loop system. Have any parts in the system been replaced? Does the system have a soft start on it to limit power surges and prolong the life of the pump? My 5-year-old system did not so I installed a power saver on my main panel and I am now saving 25 percent more. Who is making the money from these systems if we don’t use consumption cost saving techniques? I spoke to an installer about just that. He said that he sold over $350,000 worth of geothermal systems.

After buying equipment, paying for extra contractors and extra trips to the properties for warranty work, delays in parts arriving, he made only $20,000 profit. So if we are not saving and the installer is not earning (much), then who is? Maybe it’s those companies who make geothermal heat pumps with ONLY proprietary parts?

Comment or Questions? Join the conversation at www.greening-myworld.blogspot.com.

More Than Just News!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Second Annual Visit the Farm Day a Huge Success

By Marianne Curtis On September 18 the second annual “Visit the Farm” event took place with over 40 farms participating, which drew hundreds of people out to see how different farms operate. The annual open house provided a rare opportunity for the public to spend time with a farm family and learn more about farming and rural life.

Lesley Gaudry, Economic Development Officer for the RM of De Salaberry, commends this unique opportunity to see firsthand where our food comes from. “More than 40 farms participated across the province. That offered a range of agriculture operations so there was something for everyone,” stated Gaudry. “Participating farms included fruit and vegetable producers, crops and livestock such as

Thieves Walk Away with Loot On September 11, Steinbach RCMP received a report of a break and enter which occurred five miles south on Kokomo Road in the RM of La Broquerie.

The incident occurred between the hours of 9:00 a.m and 11:30 p.m. Police attended the scene and observed a large amount of jewelry was stolen from the residence along with a .22 caliber rifle, two sets of golf clubs, medications and a large quantity of alcohol.

Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating the subjects responsible. If you have any information you are asked to contact the Steinbach RCMP at (204) 326-4452 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800222-8477 (TIPS) or www.manitobacrmestoppers.com or text “TIPMAN” plus your message to Crimes (274637).

De Salaberry Gets Grant The RM of De Salaberry and St. Pierre-Jolys Handi Transit Committee is one step closer to purchasing a secondary vehicle after receiving a recent grant.

The organization recently received a $10,000 grant from the Mobility Disadvantaged Transportation Program.

The grant will be used to help purchase of a mini-van with a lift to help assist with better handi-transit service delivery in the region.

cattle, bison, alpaca and equine farms, dairy producers, agriculture museums and agri-tourism operations.”

In addition to Open Farm Day, there was also a “Supper from the Field” meal.

This event drew over 200 people to partake in a fall supper style meal at the Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach. Visitors were treated to a fall supper that consisted of locally grown food but also celebrated local cuisine prepared by a team of chefs from throughout the region.

Any proceeds from the “Supper from the Field” will go towards supporting the growth of agri-tourism and regional cuisine initiatives in Eastman. Donations will also be made to South East Helping Hands Food Bank and the Canadian Culinary Federation Scholarship fund.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

More Than Just News!

October 2011 11 Bethesda Auxiliary to Host Fall Book Sale

By Marianne Curtis

Lorette Girls Take on Winnipeg Teams

The Bethesda Health Care Auxiliary is hoping to continue the success of their spring book sale by adding an equally successful fall book fair to their fundraising activities.

Over three days starting October 20, the ladies of the Bethesda Auxiliary will be holding their second “Fall Book Faire” at the Clearspring Centre in Steinbach. Thousands of gently used books are expected to find new homes while money is raised for the organization.

Spokesperson Verna Thiessen is anticipating another successful sale. “We have books left over from our spring sale so we thought that we would hold another one,” explained Thiessen. “We are also looking for newer donations.”

Donations of books, records, tapes, magazines, puzzles, and games will be gratefully accepted until the week of the sale.

While most types of reading material will be accepted, the group will not accept encyclopedias, weekly magazines, videos, DVDs and Condensed Reader’s Digests.

Donations can be brought to the Clearspring Centre on Tuesday and Thursdays between 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The drop-off location is in the mall in the former SAAN Stores location. There is also a drop off bin at Sobey’s.

Funds raised during the sale will go towards the purchase of a resuscitation unit for Bethesda Hospital’s recovery unit. The resuscitation unit will cost $40,000.

During this past year’s spring book sale the group raised over $15,000 which enabled the purchase of a new gamma probe which is used primarily for sentinel lymph node mapping which makes breast cancer detection less invasive.

Over the years the Bethesda Hospital Auxiliary has successfully raised well over $350,000 towards the purchase of needed medical equipment which is not funded through Manitoba Health.

Bethesda Hospital Project Retendered

The Lorette Bombers was the first soccer team from the community to make it to the city finals since the club started.

For the first time in the history of Lorette soccer, the Lorette Bombers made it to the city finals.

On October 1, the U9 Girls Soccer team participated in the City championships, according to Coach Allison Fox. “The convener of soccer here in Lorette said that she can’t remember when a Lorette team has made it to City Champs,” stated Fox. Proud father Greg Fast said that the girls did very well in their first showing against Winnipeg teams. “The girls played great but we ended with a second,” stated Fast. “They did win by going this far and we are all so proud.”

The Lorette Bombers finished the game with a score of 2 to 1.

Community Supports DARE On September 26 the community’s DARE program received support when the Steinbach Rotary Club held its annual DARE Luncheon.

At the luncheon Constable Kevin Wynn, the community liaison officer for the Steinbach RCMP, was congratulated for his role in getting the program into every school within the reach of the Steinbach detachment.

“I get a lot out of the program,” Wynn explained. “Kids come up to me months later and talk to me and they are sharing the information they have learned with their family and friends – it’s incredible to have that impact.”

The DARE program, which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is a 17-week program, lead by an RCMP officer. It focuses on various issues pertaining to peer pressure, fighting violence, along with drug and alcohol abuse.

Rotary club President-elect David Rafeedie said the community also needs to be congratulated.

“D.A.R.E. wouldn’t happen if it weren’t for our community supporting us and being very generous in that support,” Rafeedie stated.

Hanover School Division superintendent Ken Klassen feels that the payoff to having the program throughout the division has been “immeasurable”.

“There are no statistics showing that the program is working, but we know that it is from talking to the students,”

Klassen said. “It’s how they are talking about it – instead of us telling them something they may or may not remember, they are telling us how they feel about it.”

For the past few years, grade six students from Steinbach had access to the DARE program after the Steinbach RCMP started teaching the course in the community. Ten months ago the program expanded to four other communities in the RM of Hanover including New Bothwell, Kleefeld, Blumenort and Mitchell.

Last year over 400 students participated in the program.

Paving Project to Proceed The RM of Tache has received confirmation that a significant road project within the municipality has been tendered and construction is expected to start this fall.

According to Mayor William Danylchuk, the municipality has received concrete information on the status of the proposed paving project of Hwy 210.

“It was confirmed that the contract has been awarded to Nelson River Construction. and the project would begin this fall,” stated Danylchuk.

Construction is expected to be completed in the spring of 2012.

South Eastman Health was forced to recently revisit the tendering process for the Bethesda Hospital Emergency Room after there was little response to tender calls.

According to John Stinson, CEO for South Eastman Health, the board decided to split the tenders for the Bethesda Hospital Emergency Room construction project because there was “little response” to the initial call for tenders.

The original project includes the renovation of the main floor of the Community Services Building into a temporary emergency room and for the actual emergency room project itself. Once the board split the tender into two parts the response improved.

“We tendered out the renovation of the main floor of the community services building – that tender is now closed and we received six bids,” Stinson explained. The board must now discuss the tenders with Manitoba Health before a final agreement is made. Once it is approved construction can begin.

When the temporary emergency room is operational, construction is expected to begin on the emergency room expansion within the main hospital, Stinson noted.

“A pre-qualification is expected to take place in October with the actual tender to soon follow,” Stinson added. The board hopes to see construction begin early in February.

South Eastman Health hopes that the newly expanded Emergency room will be open by the fall of 2013 at the latest.

Meanwhile, construction on the Ste. Anne Hospital has also been delayed by several weeks because work performed by Manitoba Hydro and the installation of piles has been delayed.

Man Robbed in Steinbach On September 4 just before 10:00 p.m. a 24-year-old man was walking east down 1st Street in Steinbach when he was approached by a male individual who, after a short conversation, assaulted the victim and stole a pizza and a cellular phone from him.

The suspect fled the scene along with three other individuals. He is described as a Caucasian male with blonde or dirty blonde hair, clean shaven, approximately 5’6" to 5’8", weighing between 180 and 190 lbs and possibly in his early 20’s.

The victim was taken to hospital, treated and released.

Police are seeking the public’s assistance in this matter.

A black sports utility vehicle was in the area at the time of the offence. They may have information that could assist in this investigation.

If anyone has any knowledge of this or any other crime, please contact the Steinbach RCMP or if you wish to remain ANONYMOUS call Manitoba Crime Stoppers toll free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or SUBMIT a secure tip online at www.manitobacrimestoppers.com, or text “TIPMAN” plus your message to CRIMES (274637). If your information leads to an arrest or charge you may be eligible for a cash award of up to $2,000.

12

October 2011

More Than Just News!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

St. Adolphe Hosts First Annual MudFest

By Marianne Curtis It was the first time in over a decade since the community of St. Adolphe hosted a community festival and, thanks to the weather, the first annual mud festival was a huge success. The two-day event called MudFest 2011: A Family Messtival took place at the old community park on September 10 and 11.

According to organizers, the community came together in an effort to build community pride and raise “green” awareness through the two day MudFest 2011: A Family Messtival. A group of volunteers successfully organized the program which included tons of fun, live entertainment and tons of mud.

With the support from multiple organizations, and limited funding for the first year, MudFest become a reality. The event kicked off with a MudCake Breakfast (pancakes with treats) followed by a mudslide, mudpit activities for all ages, tug of war, mini-golf, kids’ tent, sand playhill and a mud sculpture contest.

Saturday evening events included a community BBQ and beer gardens featuring live entertainment. Sunday was a wellness day with a Family Scavenger Hunt, yoga in the Park and an outdoor church service followed Sanctioned by the Manitoba Cycling Association, the MudFest Cyclocross Race also took place in the community as part of the by a picnic lunch.

An added bonus to Sunday’s activities was the sanctioned MudFest weekend’s festivities.

Cyclocross Race (all ages bike race) with the Manitoba Cycling Association.

Cafe Night and Songwriting/CD Workshop

Normally the community dyke serves to protect the residents but during MudFest it became the perfect mud slide.

There was no shortage of mud to play in during the first annual St. Adolphe Mudfest.

Cafe Night with the Liptonians is a special song writing workshop for students! Students who play instruments or sing – any school, any age – are invited to register for Saturday, November 5th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Steinbach Cultural Arts Centre! You will work with members of the Liptonians, Bucky Driedger and Matt Schellenberg!

Ticket prices for adults is $12 and for students only $6.

The Liptonians will be performing stripped down versions from their catalogue of songs, including tunes from their brand new, Western Canadian Music Award nominated album, Let’s All March Back Into the Sea. To describe The Liptonians, one must define “piano groove folky noise,” the band’s preferred expression to describe their music. ‘Piano groove folky noise’ eludes to several things: piano driven pop tunes, rock and roll grooves and folk songs—wrapped up in noise. The University of Calgary’s online newsletter, Gauntlet, says more simply, they are “very reminiscent of U2.” They incorporate many instruments from guitars and pianos to organs and trombones.

The Liptonians emerged unheralded from a Winnipeg basement in 2008, when their album Let’s All March Back to the Sea unexpectedly picked up a Western Canadian Music Award for Outstanding Pop Recording. This paved the way for several cross-country tours.

Their album has been called “brainy, entertaining stuff, from a band that can do it all, and very well” by the Globe and Mail. Exclaim Magazine said: “They display an intimidating talent and demand your attention” and Discorder raves “This is the band to get into before all your friends do.”

They have opened for Silver Starling, the Chicago-based Sea and Cake, and on July 2011 were chosen to perform at the Canada Day Celebration at the Forks alongside a WSO musician. Their song “Roller Coaster” was a finalist in the Winnipeg Free Press “My City, My Song” contest. You may also have seen them at the Winnipeg International Jazz Festival this summer.

La Broquerie Gives Bylaw Officer Trial Run As of the beginning of September, the RM of La Broquerie will have some assistance with bylaw enforcement.

They recently entered into an agreement with a local company.

The RM of La Broquerie council recently entered into an agreement with Prairie Bylaw Enforcement for services on a trial period of four months before making a more permanent decision.

According to Reeve Claude Lussier, council’s biggest issue is people building without the proper permits. “The contract is on a trial basis – he will be with us for two days per week,” stated Lussier.

The RM of La Broquerie council also updated several of their municipal bylaws to ensure that they are both up to date and enforceable. Prairie Bylaw Enforcement will be on patrol any two days of the week to ensure that residents are in compliance with municipal regulations during construction, enforce the municipality’s unsightly premise bylaw and issue cleanup orders.

The RM of La Broquerie is the second municipality in recent months to seek bylaw enforcement from a company outside their jurisdiction. Two months ago the RM of Ste. Anne signed a similar contract with Steinbach Security Systems.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Living on 90% I read about David Chilton recently and he is writing another book; an updated version of The Wealthy Barber; The Wealthy Barber Returns.

He admitted that all the information in the first book is just as relevant today as it was when it was published in 1989. He said as Canadians we are good at saving, but we are also fantastic spenders. The amount of debt Canadians have is keeping us from being wealthy.

The new book will focus on how to live within your means. Spend less.

Manage your expectations. Get realistic. Get your spending under control. Live modestly. Cut back on the unimportant things. Stop using the credit card and credit lines to get things you don’t need. Make compromises and sacrifices.

This is the same line of message from another book I read recently: The One Financial Habit That Could Change Your Life, by Robert Ironside and Edwin Au Yeung. There are many concepts in the book. Nothing new, but worth repeating: Pay Yourself First. Deduct your savings as soon as you receive your pay cheque. Save at least 10% of it. Make it an important bill and then you can spend the rest. You may need to review your spending if you are normally spending 100 or 110%!

Save 10% of your income and you will automatically become wealthy.

This has been said by many authors and financial gurus. The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach comes to mind. Again, if you can get in the habit of making saving a priority, becoming wealthy is actually quite easy. Set it up at your bank or credit union so 10% comes out of your account every pay day and is put into your savings or investment account. Easy!!

Taxes are one of the largest expenditures the average Canadian has to make. A dollar saved in taxes is a dollar extra to save and invest or to spend. Of course this concept is right up my alley! I love helping people save on their taxes. Of course RRSPs are a very good option for most people (not all) to save for the future, including retirement. Reduce taxes now and have tax deferred growth. The new Tax Free Savings Plan (TFSP) is another great place to put your 10% saved so you don’t pay tax on the income it earns every year.

Where to put your 10% saved each pay? It depends on when you need the money. If your goal is short term (buy a house in the future, for example), put your money in a very safe and secure investment in which the principal is protected.

If you are investing for a long-term goal, like retirement, you should consider an investment that provides high expected long-run returns with broad diversification to reduce risk. Mutual funds and ETFs (exchange traded funds) are two investment vehicles that offer instant diversification. Mutual funds can be bought in small amounts on a regular basis in your RRSP or TFSP. The main concept of the book, The One Financial Habit, is debt can be an expensive and addictive habit. By being able to pay for something instantly you get instant gratification, but constantly satisfying wants can easily lead to spending more than you can afford to pay back.

Credit cards often have high interest rates, 20% or more! If you cannot pay the balance in full each month, you are giving the credit card companies a lot of money. Using cash you have withdrawn from your bank account for your weekly spending makes you think twice about parting with your hard earned money. Saving up for something and then buying and owning can be very satisfying!

Mortgages are not bad debt. The book is concentrating on consumer debt – debt used to pay for clothing, electronics, and fancy dinners.

Student loans are also considered good debt – as long as they are used for tuition and living expenses while in school.

So how do you get out of (consumer) debt?

First, decide that enough is enough. Decide that you don’t want to be in debt anymore.

Second, look at your debts and the interest rates. Can you renegotiate the interest rates? Can you transfer debts to the credit line or credit card with the lowest interest rate? At least start making major payments against the ones with the highest interest rates.

Remember the pay yourself first and saving 10%? If you have consumer debt, use that 10% per pay period against the debts before you start saving. Paying off your debt earns you a guaranteed high return on your money.

Being free of consumer debt makes sense financially and emotionally.

Spending a few dollars here and there on the little things is something we do out of habit. This habit, if left unattended, adds up to substantial amounts in the long run.

Take a one-week spending challenge and find out how much you spend in a typical week. Use the information to evaluate your spending habits. Cutting $5 to $10 a day can go a long way!

You can do it!

Anni Markmann is an independent certified financial planner and tax professional living, working, and volunteering in our community.

Contact her at annimarkmann@mymts.net or at 422-6631 or at 36 Dawson Road in Ste Anne.

More Than Just News!

Steinbach RCMP Investigate Fatal Workplace Accident

October 2011

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On September 19 at about 6:00 p.m. the Steinbach RCMP, as well as local Emergency Services, were dispatched to the scene of a fatal workplace accident in the RM of Hanover near Blumenort.

Investigation at the scene indicates that the operator of a commercial dump truck hauling gravel was fatally injured at the location.

Evidence collected and witness statements at this time suggest that the lone male operator was outside of the vehicle dumping a load of gravel when the truck rolled forward, running him over.

The operator, a 53-year-old man from the RM of Ste Anne, was pronounced deceased at the scene. His name will not be released.

RCMP and Manitoba Workplace Health and Safety continue to investigate.

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More Than Just News!

October 2011

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Steinbach Detachment Sees Leadership Change

By Marianne Curtis After two years at the helm of the Steinbach RCMP Detachment, Staff Sergeant Davy Lee is saying goodbye to Manitoba and heading west.

At the beginning of September, Lee announced that he will be leaving Steinbach to accept a promotion to Inspector in the lower mainland of BC. He first arrived in Steinbach back in July 2009 with the plan to stay for up to five years, however, when the promotion opportunity arose he quickly jumped on the opportunity. “This is all part of my long term career plan,” stated Lee. “This is something that has been in the development for years but it only came to fruition recently.”

After two years, Steinbach RCMP Staff Sergeant Davy Lee is leaving the area and taking on a post in British Columbia.

Photo by Marianne Curtis

Lee said he is leaving Steinbach with mixed feelings. “I have enjoyed some tremendous working relationships so leaving Steinbach and Manitoba is not easy,” Lee explained. “This was not an easy decision to make but I felt this was something I needed to do.”

He added that since his children were born here and his wife’s family is still in Manitoba, he could find himself back on Manitoba soil. “If the timing is right and the opportunities are there we will give serious consideration to coming back to Manitoba,” Lee noted.

Lee started his career 22 years ago in Manitoba and has served at the head of three detachments including the Red River Valley, Sprague and Steinbach RCMP Detachments.

In British Columbia, Lee will be working with over 2,000 officers instead of the 25 he has become accustomed to. His job will be to monitor RCMP operations and

coordinate cross jurisdiction incidents while working with local officers as well as unit commanders and other duty officers.

Two weeks after Lee announced his promotion, RCMP D Division named Staff Sergeant Harold Laninga as his replacement.

Steinbach Mayor Chris Goertzen says that he is disappointed to see Lee moving on, but he has also heard good things about his replacement.

“I think Davy Lee did very well – he worked very hard to make sure our priorities were met and we saw the evidence in the General Investigative Unit,” stated Goertzen.

“As for his replacement, I hear he comes with a lot of experience and stability – I think he is going to do well in Steinbach.”

The City of Steinbach had requested to be an active participant in the selection of a new detachment head but the decision was made before their request was received.

Drivers Line Up to Take Sober Pledge

By Marianne Curtis Two months into a media blitz, people from across Canada are taking the pledge to drive sober making a made in southern Manitoba program a growing success.

“I want to eliminate drinking and driving one vehicle at a time.”

In August, Shaylene Handford from Ile Des Chênes launched a new initiative called “Sober Ride”. The 24-year-old paramedic started the program with a goal to eliminate impaired driving one vehicle at a time by encouraging drivers to take the Sober Ride Pledge. By joining Sober Ride, people take a pledge to not drink and drive. In addition, placing

a decal in the window of their vehicle pledges said vehicle will always be driven by a sober driver.

“I have been affected by losses associated with drinking and driving so I am very passionate about this,” explained Handford. “I want to eliminate drinking and driving one vehicle at a time.”

Since the program launched at the end of August, hundreds of people have taken the pledge across Canada and into the United States and not only is the general public paying attention, organizations like the Manitoba Liquor Commission, MADD, Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service and Winnipeg

“I’ve met with the MLCC and other organizations and brain storming is in the works.”

Police Service have engaged in ongoing talks with Handford.

“I’ve met with the MLCC and other organizations and brain storming is in the works,” Handford continued.

“Many MLAs, town councils and city councils have been in contact and agreed to meet post-election as this is a busy time for them.”

Handford is grateful for the many partnerships that she has formed throughout the region and beyond.

“A store in Niverville is selling decals while a Winnipeg business is making Sober Ride Truffles – all proceeds go towards our fundraising project,” Handford added. Money collected from all sales go towards supporting organizations like MADD to be used for victim services.

“Sober Ride” has also seen a huge increase on its fan page as well as local radio, TV news and online support,” Handford noted.

“I have also launched ‘Sober Ride – Wear with Pride’, which is a

Shaylene Handford presents a cheque to Manitoba’s chapter of MADD on behalf of Sober Ride.

collection of sweaters that people have gotten in memory of ones they have lost,” stated Handford. Money raised from the sales of decals and clothing goes towards programs offered by MADD, victim services and memorials for families that have lost a loved one due to drinking and

driving.

The “Sober Ride” initiative targets drivers of all ages, especially young adults. Handford hopes to continue the success of the program by bringing it to the campuses of high schools and universities throughout Manitoba.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

More Than Just News!

Extension Granted to Relocate Pumps A St. Malo business has been that they can relocate their temporary gas pumps to a given an additional three years so more permanent location.

Municipalities Join Diversion Project The RM of Tache is getting the municipal support they need to proceed with a project that would benefit residents in four different municipalities.

The municipality has established the Seine River Tributary Diversion Committee, which is comprised of members from the municipalities of Springfield, Ste. Anne, Tache and most recently, Ritchot.

Back in 2000, the municipality’s of Tache, Ste. Anne and Springfield came together to consider the construction of a new diversion that would divert water away from farmland and into the Red River Floodway. The municipality recently revisited the project after the province assured the RM of Tache that the province was prepared to provide financing if council got support from its neighbors.

The original proposal consisted of utilizing the existing ditch in the RM of Tache along the Trans Canada highway starting at Hwy 12 on the north side until about 1 ½ miles from Deacons Corner. From there it would have swung north into the RM of Springfield for 1 ½ miles then traveling straight west to the floodway.

The project was tabled after all parties agreed to the project except for Springfield.

While the project was first proposed back in 2000, above average water issues in areas around Ste. Genevieve and Ross have brought the matter back to the forefront over the past year. The construction of a diversion along the Trans Canada Hwy can be seen as a solution to a vast majority of the flooding issues that occur on the northern side of the Trans Canada Hwy.

Ritchot Gives Gifts to Complexes The RM of Ritchot council recently decided to give a little extra financial support to each recreation facility throughout the municipality.

At a recent council meeting council made a donation to each community center and arena throughout the municipality to “help with operating costs,” explained councillor Jackie Schwark.

“These facilities are important places for all of our communities to gather,” stated Schwark.

“This is why we believe so strongly in making this special donation.”

Schwark said that facilities can use the funds as they see fit and, for Howden Community Centre, that’s great news. “We’ll use the donation for repairs or to help make-up for bookings we lost due to the threat of flooding this past spring,” said Board Chair, Adam Bartmanovich.

“We’re very, very pleased!”

The RM of Ritchot already supports these community facilities by paying for both liability and building insurance premiums at a cost of approximately $50,000 annually.

Rising Costs of Home Ownership “Manitoba now has the highest land transfer tax rate in the country…the impact is ten times what it once was…and since the tax must be paid before a title is transferred, it’s become an increasingly unreasonable burden for people buying a home.” - Press Release from WinnipegREALTORS, September 21, 2011.

The land transfer tax came into effect in 1987. Since that time the tax has increased over 1000 percent... yes that’s right… 1000 percent! In comparison the property price has increased 300 percent.

The economic hardship is getting too great to expect people to pay such an onerous amount of cash for the courtesy of living in Manitoba. Since inception, the land transfer has been a convenient source of additional income for the province.

It has become too much to expect homeowners to shoulder the responsibility of paying all those dollars.

Here’s a good example…a home built in 1904, in St. Boniface, sold for $75,500 in 1987. In 2010, that same house sold for $266,000. The land transfer tax, however, increased 1305 percent. In 1987 the land transfer tax was $227.50, not that bad really.

In 2010 the tax was $2,648… now that is bad.

Where does WinnipegREALTORS stand in the midst of all this? They have been urging the political parties to examine and have a public review of its original intent, purpose and impact as part of the 2012 budget process.

After this election, be sure to contact your Member of the Legislative Assembly, and share with them your concern about the rising cost of home ownership, in particular the land transfer tax.

WinnipegREALTORS serves its members by promoting the benefits of an organized real estate profession.

If you have any questions call Travis Olifirowich at 371-7223 or Eileen Lewis at 371-0255 at Prudential Riverbend Realty.

At a recent council meeting the RM of De Salaberry approved a three-year extension to Rene Robidoux, owner of the St. Malo Co-op.

Nearly a year ago Robidoux was granted permission by the RM of De Salaberry to set up a temporary gas station at his business on St. Malo Street in St. Malo. The application was granted to establish a temporary gas bar complete with above ground storage tanks after the community’s only gas station closed a few months earlier.

The municipality subsequently granted approval to the conditional use with the condition that after August 2011, if the facility is still operational, a re-application is needed.

Robidoux requested the extension to enable the Co-op to remain in its current location and in operation while he works through the process of relocating the temporary facilities to a better location, namely the old Parc Esso location along Hwy 59. Manitoba Conservation just recently began cleaning up the site and once soil remediation is complete, the property will be transferred back to the Crown. He noted that it could take some time for the land transfers to be completed.

The RM of De Salaberry granted an extension on the current conditional use until August 1, 2015.

October 2011

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More Than Just News!

October 2011

Dawson Trail Dispatch

Division Chairs Retain Status Quo Trustees in two school divisions have decided that they like their leaders by re-electing their former chairpersons.

At their opening board meetings at the beginning of the school year trustees in the Hanover School Division and Seine River School Division selected their chairpersons for the next year.

Trustee Wendy Bloomfield remains at the helm of the Seine River School Division, for her 22nd consecutive term. “We have a school construction underway and a new school that will be opening for fall of next year so we have a lot to think about this year,” stated Bloomfield. “We need to make sure we keep moving forward and look into new ideas for Seine River School Division.”

Trustee Robert Rivard who was re-elected as vicechairperson added that their leadership team has been working well in the Seine River School Division which is why the pair keep getting re-elected. “Wendy and I have worked well together in helping move the whole division forward and the board works well with us too,” Rivard added.

Hanover School Board trustees kept their faith in Randy Hildebrand by re-electing him as chairperson of the board for his 11th consecutive year. Trustee Marilyn Plett was re-elected as vice chairperson for the second time.

“Hospitalist” Wanted in Bethesda South Eastman Health is looking into the possibility of hiring a hospitalist to work specifically at the Bethesda Hospital in Steinbach.

According to Dr. Myron Thiessen a proposal has been submitted to Manitoba Health appealing for a Hospitalist position and additional physician assistants for the region’s largest facility. “This need is particularly required at Bethesda Hospital where up to thirty patients are currently admitted and not associated with a specific family physician,” stated Thiessen.

A hospitalist sees only patients admitted to hospitals and is not associated with a specific family physician. Physician assistants work under direct supervision of a doctor.

Thiessen noted that the matter is currently being processed between Manitoba Health and Doctor’s Manitoba.

Fall Time St. Pierre RCMP Search for Missing Youth St. Pierre RCMP are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing a 15 year old female youth, Jay-lynn McIvor.

McIvor was reported missing on September 22. She is described as 5' 7" tall and about 122 lbs. with brown hair and brown eyes.

Jay-lynn McIvor is considered to be an at-risk youth and police are concerned for her well being.

Any one with information regarding her whereabouts is asked to call the St. Pierre RCMP at (204) 433-7908 or their local police agency.

Fall is here at last. The weather is turning colder, the leaves are changing colors and the children have returned to school.

Spend a few minutes outside and you’re likely to hear the geese honking as they fly overhead. Some of the geese are still gathering together in preparation while others are already on their journey south to wait out the cold winter months in warmer climates. Sigh, lucky birds.

For those of us not heading south this is the time to reflect back on the wonderful summer months that we had and to be thankful for all the blessings that we received during this time. This is also the time, or season if you prefer, when I realize that I still have a lot of work to do around the house and yard. Much like a squirrel that hasn’t stored up enough acorns, I find myself scurrying around. There are all kinds of projects that I started in the summer that I need to try and finish as quickly as I can and, if those weren’t numerous enough, I also have to do all the jobs that need to be done before the snow flies.

Thankfully, we are being blessed with a very fine fall. While the sun does drop a little earlier than it did a few weeks ago, there is still enough warmth to fiddle around outside without wearing gloves.

I believe that’s enough about that, winter will come soon enough. One of the great things about fall is that it seems that the fish are biting better. Gratefully, the mosquitoes, which weren’t too bad this year, are not biting at all! I’ve been told that around the end of September until the middle of November is a great time for walleye fishing around Lockport and Selkirk. Apparently the walleye from Lake Winnipeg swim downstream around this time and because of something to do with the water (or maybe the algae?) the walleyes are a greenish color. Now I’ve never gone fishing up there at this time of the year but come the first week in October I have a day booked off work and, if everything works out, my wife and I will be heading out there in the hopes of catching some of these late season monsters. Wish us luck.

Until next time, take care and keep your world spinning.

More Than Just News!

Dawson Trail Dispatch

October 2011

Sod Turning Kicks Off Library Expansion

By Marianne Curtis On September 20, a sod-turning ceremony took place to mark the start of Steinbach’s Jake Epp Library Expansion Project.

The contract was awarded to Boretta Construction 2002 Ltd. in August for the bid of $1,682,091. The project was scaled down to a budget of $1.9 million and approved by City Council in December 2010. The project received a provincial grant of $600,000 and $400,000 in City funds. The remaining costs will come from debt creation.

Steinbach Mayor Chris Goertzen is pleased to see the long awaited library expansion underway. “The Jake Epp Library is a well-utilized facility in our region and this expansion project will allow the facility to continue to serve both our community and the region for many years,” said Goertzen.

Library Board Chair, Jon Sawatzky was also on hand to celebrate the construction kickoff. The existing library was constructed in 1996 at a size of 800 square meters. The new expansion will be 590 square meters, for a total size of 1,390 square meters.

“This project started out as a dream and has been vigorously pursued by staff and several generations of board members,” stated Sawatzky.

“They have contributed countless hours of planning and strategizing with hope of seeing this day. The journey has not always been smooth, but the contributions to our community will be well worth the effort. We can enjoy this great achievement as we see the project

Steinbach Mayor Chris Goertzen, Library Board member Barb Guenther, Councilor John Fehr and Loraine Trudeau (Head Librarian) turn the sod to officially kick off construction on the Jake Epp Library Expansion.

starting to take shape.”

Head librarian Loraine Trudeau is also excited to see construction begin. “It’s an exciting day for the library staff,” added Trudeau. “I would like to thank all of the current and past board members of the Jake

Epp Library, who worked so tirelessly to grow and promote library services in Steinbach. I would also like to thank Mayor Chris Goertzen, members of City Council and library staff, and all others in the community who adopted the cause of an

expanded library and championed it all the way to this celebration day.”

Demolition began the week of September 12, and construction is set to begin the week of September 26. Completion is anticipated for fall 2012.

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Exhibit Showcases Mental Health For the first time ever the region’s Community Mental Health Program and the Steinbach Arts Council have come together to bring a unique exhibit to the region.

Expressions: Exploring Recovery Through Art, which features Out of the Blue art by youth promoting positive mental health, opened September 30th at the Steinbach Cultural Arts Center Hall Gallery.

Expressions is a free community event held annually in conjunction with Mental Illness Awareness Week. Kim Heidinger explains that its purpose is to showcase and celebrate the outstanding ability of people who use art in the journey of recovery from a mental health problem, and to promote better understanding of mental illness in the Eastman region.

“This is the 8th annual Expressions but it is our first in partnership with the Steinbach Arts Council,” stated Heidinger. “This exhibit will feature art that promotes positive mental health.”

This year, the art will be on display for the entire month of October at the Steinbach Cultural Arts Centre.

All artists participating in the exhibit are from the Eastman region.

They use a variety of media including watercolours, acrylics, oils, photography and textiles. In addition, artists who write and perform both music and poetry took part in the exhibit opening.

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More Than Just News!

October 2011

that cost is often justified. People who hire carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and the like are paying for the workers’ experience. They’re also paying with the expectation that the job will be done correctly. With jobs that require a building permit or must be done to specific code, the contractor often puts his reputation on the line and will be held accountable if the work doesn’t meet requirements.

That isn’t to say an untrained individual can’t tackle a specific job around the house. There are some guidelines that may make such projects go more smoothly and, as a result, more affordable.

Many homeowners or renters * Read up and learn as much as you wrestle with the question of whether to tackle a project as a do-it-yourself can about the particular work to be done. It’s easier to make mistakes if venture to save some money or simply leave it to a professional. Each you do not know where to start. * Talk to others who have also done situation is unique, but there are the work. They may have some tips or certain factors that must be advice that can save you time and considered regardless of a money. You may also want to ask if homeowner’s particular situation. they can help and show you the ropes.

On the surface, a DIY task can seem a very good way to save some * Be sure to obtain all necessary permits before starting any work. money. After all, a large percentage, sometimes as much as 50 percent, of Don’t risk a fine for doing work without permits or having work the cost of hiring a contractor goes inspected. toward labor. For a DIY job with no such costs, the final financial tally can * When applying for permits, find out if there is a list of code-specific be substantially less. requirements that you can follow — a Although labor can be expensive,

Is DIY a Recipe for Saving Money?

cheat-sheet of sorts. It may list rated materials required and any techniques. See if you can speak to an inspector who will be visiting your property later on to find out what he or she looks for specifically. * You must feel confident with the endeavor. If you are unsure about anything, you may risk injury or make a significant mistake and be forced to hire someone to clean up your mess. * Consider reputable sources for information. While it’s easy to go online and scour message boards for pointers on certain tasks, not all of the information is accurate. Trust only content from sources that are licensed or backed by certification in a certain area.These things being said, there are a number of DIY projects that regular people can try. Starting off small and building up as skills are developed are good ways to begin.

For example: * Tile a small kitchen backsplash before tackling an entire bathroom shower enclosure or floor. * Build an outdoor potting stand before attempting furniture or cabinetry work in a main room of the house. * Change out a ceiling fan or lighting fixture before re-running electrical lines through the home.

A Home Maintenance Checklist With winter fast approaching, now is the time to perform those important maintenance tasks to ensure that your home heating systems will operate at peak efficiency during the cold weather.

Clean and repair leaky eavestroughs. This will prevent ice and melting snow from dripping onto the natural gas meter and/or pressure regulator and freezing when the weather turns cold. Ice on the

regulator can obstruct the vent causing a malfunction and allowing excess gas to enter the home.

- Check external vents and chimneys for blockages from leaves, bird nests and other debris. Fuel burning clothes dryers, water heaters, ranges, furnaces and fireplaces all require fresh air intake to burn efficiently. Appliances that have been vented incorrectly increase the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in the home.

- Have your furnace cleaned and inspected by a qualified heating contractor. This will ensure it is operating at peak efficiency and will help keep your family safe from dangerous levels of carbon monoxide gas.

- Clean or change the furnace filter.

In addition, keep the area around the furnace and fuel burning appliances clean and clear for proper ventilation.

- Make sure that the blower (fan) compartment door on the furnace is closed properly.

- Ensure that your CO detector is installed properly and is in good working condition. All homes with fuel burning appliances should have CO detectors installed on each level.

For more information on home safety, call 1-800-MBHYDRO or visit www.hydro.mb.ca

Dawson Trail Dispatch

* Succeed in repairing a leaky drain pipe before taking on a more advanced plumbing issue. * Use regular painting techniques first before experimenting with a trendy faux finish or plaster application.

There are many different things

individuals can do themselves that stretch beyond routine home maintenance. From manicures to pool upkeep, the potential to save money when budgets are tight can be a powerful motivator.

Dawson Trail Dispatch

More Than Just News!

Stop Clogged Home Gutters Faced with the prospect of another season spent precariously climbing a ladder and reaching inside to clear out debris and leaves, many homeowners are considering the installation of a gutter protection system. And with so many different types available, finding the right fit is always so easy.

A gutter protection system is a cover or barrier that prevents leaves and large items, such as twigs or blownaround matter, from lodging in a home’s gutters and eventually preventing rain runoff from draining effectively.

Clogged gutters and downspouts have been known to contribute to rainwater pooling around the foundation of a home, potentially causing seepage issues. Blocked gutters can also be a haven for stagnant water, which breeds mosquitoes and other insects and potentially harmful bacteria.

To combat these issues, manufacturers have come up with a series of protection systems that allow water to enter the gutter while keeping debris out of it. Gutter protection systems range from do-it-yourself options to professionally installed products. There are a few different styles, and each offers their share of pros and cons. * Screen: A mesh or screen system consists of a screening material that fits inside or over the gutter. It serves as a sieve, allowing the water through but blocking leaves and debris. This system is affordable and can be a DIY project. But over a period of time the mesh itself can be blocked with a build-up of debris and will need periodic cleaning. Also, in some screened systems water can freeze up in the screen openings, causing ice dams. * Aluminum covers: There are many different aluminum options. Some work with a small crevice along the top that is narrow enough for the rainwater to enter but not allow debris inside. They may not allow as much water to enter as a mesh system because they cover a greater surface area over the gutter. Closed systems also may provide an area for insects to make nests. *Foam inserts: A relatively inexpensive protection system is a foam insert. These pieces of porous foam are fitted inside the gutter, allowing water to flow through (albeit a little more slowly) while keeping leaves out. Foam inserts are an easy do-it-yourself project and can serve as a test of the efficacy of gutter systems before a more expensive system is purchased. * Surface tension products: These are closed plastic or aluminum products where the water entry holes or channels are on the bottom and sides of the product. This way nothing can ever get clogged from above. The system works by water surface tension; the rainwater will adhere to the product and then flow into the bottom or side holes. The nose of these products may have to be kept clean or the surface tension may not occur.

When it comes to gutter protection systems, there are a number of options to consider. Homeowners can experiment with different low-cost systems to see if one works before contracting to have a permanent guard put in place.

Protect Your Family from Carbon Monoxide A carbon monoxide (CO) detector can alert you to the presence of carbon monoxide gas, but does not prevent the deadly gas from entering your home. Protect your family from CO poisoning with these safety precautions: - Have your heating system checked and cleaned regularly - Install a fresh air intake duct into each wood-burning fireplace or stove. If that is not possible, leave a window open when either one is burning.

- Ensure that all external vents (air intake vents, exhaust vents and chimneys) are clear of snow, insulation and debris.

- Never idle your vehicle, operate other gasoline powered equipment, or use a barbecue in an attached garage, even if the garage door is open.

For added assurance, install a carbon monoxide detector in your home.

- Install a detector on all levels of your home, especially near bedrooms.

- Be sure your detector bears an approved safety certification (such as a CSA or UL label) - Make sure your CO detector is installed properly and in good working order.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning Symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to those of the flu. Depending on the amount inhaled and the length of time you have been exposed, your symptoms could include the following: - Low exposure: slight headache and/or shortage of breath - High exposure: severe headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, mental confusion, weakness, vision and hearing impairment, collapse or fainting during exertion, loss of muscle control and/or drowsiness.

- Extreme exposure: unconsciousness, brain damage, or death.

What to do if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning If your CO detector alarms and you experience symptoms of CO poisoning, call 911 to seek medical attention immediately. If your CO detector alarms and you suspect a problem with your fuel burning equipment, turn off the equipment, open a window and contact Manitoba Hydro at 1888-MBHYDRO (1-888-624-9376) for an inspection.

Space heaters can be fire hazards Before you pull out a space heater to ward off the chill on a frosty evening, be aware that they can cause fires and injuries if not used with care. Space heaters are not intended to replace a permanent heat source. If you must use a space heater temporarily, follow these simple safety precautions.

- Keep space heaters at least 3 ft. away from any combustible materials such as bedding and furniture.

- Read the manufacturer’s instruction manual before using any space heater. Check to make sure the heater bears the mark of a certified testing organization.

- Keep space heaters away from areas with water.

- Don’t use space heaters in rooms where children are unsupervised. Children may stick their fingers or other objects through the protective guards, causing burns or shock.

- Avoid using an extension cord with a space heater. If you must use one, make sure it is the right wire gauge size and type for the heater and locate it to avoid a tripping hazard.

- Portable heaters have hot parts that can cause sparking. Do not use them in areas where flammable liquids such as gasoline or kerosene are used or stored.

- Space heaters are meant to supply supplemental heat. Don’t use them to warm bedding, cook food, dry clothing or thaw pipes.

- Turn off the space heater and unplug it when not in use.

October 2011

19

20

More Than Just News!

October 2011

Dawson Trail Dispatch

RM of Piney Recognizes Firefighters Steinbach 55 Plus offers programs, activities, services and volunteer opportunities, striving to promote healthy and active living for older adults of the southeast region. We invite you to come and pay us a visit and consider participating in some of our programs. For more information call the center 320-4600.

Up and coming events for October - Fall Workshops Saturday, October 1, 9:30 a.m. Dementia and Alzheimer’s workshop presented by the Alzheimer society of Manitoba.

Monday, October 17, 1:30 p.m. Learn more about Multiple Sclerosis in a workshop presented by the MS Society.

Friday, October 21, 1:30 p.m. ‘Making better food choices’, presented by Dr Trevor Winzoski.

Workshops cost $1 per session payable on admission, please call the center to register.

Celebrate Seniors Day - October is seniors and elders month. This year’s theme is Celebrate! Participate! On Tuesday, October 18, we will be celebrating with an afternoon of craft and hobby displays, entertainment and faspa at no cost. If you have a craft or hobby you would like to display please contact Maggie 320-4600 Country Dances take place the last Friday of the month starting October 28 with live band, The Frazer River Boys. Advanced tickets $8 member, $10 non member, $12 at the door for all.

How about Something New? Join us every Thursday at 1:30 p.m. starting October 27 for an afternoon of fun and fitness Wii Bowling. Adults of all ages welcome. Cost $1 per session.

Digital Camera - Problems getting those digital camera pictures on to your computer? Join us Tuesdays, November 1, 8 and 15. Time 1:30 p.m.

How to download and upload your digital camera pictures. Join us in this enlightening workshop. Cost $1 per session. Presented by Alex Cupples.

Drama Club - Do you have a flair for drama? Costume making, props, a passion for entertaining. Like to have fun and meet new people have a free evening per week. Here at Steinbach 55 Plus we are hoping to start a drama club in fall.

For more information call 320-4600 and ask for Maggie. Adults of all ages welcome.

Monthly Programs Single Ladies’ Night Out: The first Friday of the month at 5:00 p.m. Enjoy supper out at a local restaurant. Call the center for place to meet.

Foot Care: The first and third Tuesday of the month from 9:00-3:00 p.m. Run by a professional foot care nurse. Cost: $25. Bring your own towel. Call the center to book an appointment.

Pot Luck Supper: The second Thursday of every month at 6:00 p.m. Meat and beverages are provided. Cost: $5.00 per person. Bring along a casserole, salad or desert. Call the center to reserve your seat.

Birthday Party: The first Wednesday of the month. All members with a birthday are invited for complimentary cake and coffee. Guests are asked to pay $2.00.

Entertainment provided.

Beltone Hearing: The third Friday of each month. Call 1-800-661-2653 for appointment.

Brain Injury Support Group: Last Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

Parkinson Support Group: Third Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m.

Weekly Programs

Monday

Tuesday Wednesday

Thursday Friday

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

1:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.

8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

1:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

8:30 - 3:00 p.m.

Fitness Class with instructor Canasta Tai Chi Circle of friends Fitness Class with instructor Tai Chi Choir practice Cribbage Floor curling Old Time Country Band Practice Bridge and Whist Circle of friends

Noon meals are available Monday through Friday. Cost $5.00. Call 320-4605 by 9:00 a.m. to reserve your meal for that day. Purchase your meal ticket at the receptionist desk before noon. Monthly menus available at the office or in the newsletter. Bring a friend.

Billiards: Monday to Friday 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Computer Lab: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Cost $1.00. There are lessons with Alex Cupples on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m.

- 12:00 p.m. Call the center for more information.

Volunteer Opportunities include perogy making, decorating and setting tables, birthday party hosts, food preparation and serving, clean up, greeters, receptionists.

Membership at Steinbach 55 Plus is only $20 per year. Memberships are due in January of each Year. Membership is for those 55 years of age and older.

Benefits include reduced program rates, a voice in business meetings, voting rights, and eligibility to serve on the board or committees.

For more information on our programs, activities or volunteer opportunities, drop by the Center Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or call 3204600 or go to www.steinbach55plus.com.

firefighters from Sprague and Piney gathered in Vassar for the first ever firefighter’s appreciation barbeque.

According to RM of Piney councillor Sian Barrow this was the first time the municipality officially showed the many volunteers how grateful they are for their dedication to the community. “It seems this was the first such event that has been held in the municipality,” stated Barrow. “A good time was had by all.”

Not only was it a change for the municipality to show their appreciation to the many volunteers, it also gave the department a chance to show off their equipment. As part of the celebration the Piney Fire Members from two of the RM of Piney fire departments recently met in Vassar for an Department brought their new official appreciation BBQ and to show off their equipment to their counterparts. rescue vehicle to the gathering and the Sprague Fire Department The RM of Piney council recently hosting an appreciation barbeque brought their 6x6, which was recently recognized the dedication of their for all their members. purchased to help put out grass volunteer fire department by On September 22 the volunteer fires.

Ritchot Thanks St. Malo Wins Free Trees Volunteer The RM of Ritchot recently recognized Harold Schlamp as an outstanding volunteer in the community.

Council decided to recognize Schlamp for his outstanding leadership after he spent countless hours helping the municipality and residents during the various flooding emergencies that have affected communities over the past few years.

Mayor Bob Stefaniuk explained that Schlamp has been responsible for the municipality’s emergency plans since 2004. “On behalf of all citizens we thank Harold for the support he has given the entire municipality in ensuring residents have the information and materials they require in emergencies,” said Stefaniuk.

Due to his tremendous dedication, Ritchot is at the forefront of municipalities in terms of preparedness for emergencies, Stefaniuk noted.

The community of St. Malo will receive six free white spruce trees after one of their significant community trees came up as a finalist in the first ever Amazing Tree Quest.

The Amazing Tree Quest was launched back in June, by Rivers West Red River Corridor in partnership with the Manitoba Forestry Association (MFA). The quest encouraged people to go out and find heritage trees in their community that may be unusually large or tall; perhaps planted by early settlers or pioneers; or have a distinctive shape or even an entirely different form than normal.

In the middle of September five historical or significant trees from throughout the area were chosen, including one in St. Malo. A Bur Oak at the corner of Hwy 59 and Beach Road in St. Malo was named “Most Notable Tree”.

Julie Turenne-Maynard, executive director of Rivers West, is pleased with the participation of the public in the first time event. “We are very pleased with the participation of several communities, schools, festivals and individuals from throughout the Red River Corridor who participated in the quest to learn how to measure and then locate the tallest, biggest, oldest, notable, striking, or community favorite trees,” stated TurenneMaynard.

In recognition of National Forest Week, six white spruce trees, courtesy of Trees for Tomorrow, are being given to each winning nomination.

IDC Condos Approved The RM of Ritchot has cleared the way for the construction of a new, 23-unit multi-family housing complex in Ile des Chênes.

The project, proposed by Adler Properties and Heritage Lane Builders, will see twenty-three 1,200 square foot two story condominiums constructed along Main Street in Ile Des Chênes. The new complex will be built on the site currently occupied by the old community hall.

Each condo will feature 1,200 square feet of floor space and include a 600 square foot covered patio and a parking space.

RM of Ritchot councillor Ernie Dumaine is pleased with council’s decision to approve the complex.

“This will be a terrific addition to the range of housing options in our community,” stated Dumaine.

Construction could begin as early as this fall with each condo expected to be priced in the $200,000 range.

The entire project is estimated to be worth about $5 million.

The old Ile Des Chênes Community hall will soon be removed to make way for the construction of a 23-unit condo complex.