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January 2017
Celebrating Over 20 Years of Service to Our Communities!
Dawson Trail Dispatch
January The RM of Stuartburn and RM of Piney partnered to develop and implement a tourism strategy for both municipalities. By the end of the year, they released a new tourism strategy and rebranded the area as Sunrise Corner. The Manitoba Ombudsman found that the RM of De Salaberry made several mistakes while pursuing a local improvement project to install a low-pressure sewage system in St. Malo. The lengthy report reviewed the municipality’s administrative practices regarding record keeping and meeting minutes, transparency when tendering and awarding contracts and concerns about conflict of interest. After a six month joint investigation, the Steinbach RCMP and Altona Police Service arrested and charged Tami Renz (33, Frank Hargreaves (41), Kelly Remier (23), Tyler Myska (23) and Jordan Friesen (20), along with Timothy Jacques (34) from Richer as part of an investigation into the methamphetamine trade. There was a changing of the guard in the St. Pierre-Jolys RCMP Detachment as Staff Sergeant Ron Poirier left this command and Sergeant Rheal Gravel was named as his replacement.
February Residents get another chance to speak out against the proposed the Manitoba-Minnesota Transmission project after the Minister of Conservation and Water Stewardship requested that the Clean Environment Commission hold public hearings on the proposed project. Former Elmdale School principal 61-yearold Garry Giesbrecht, of Steinbach pled guilty to a prostitution-related charge in a Winnipeg courtroom. He was later sentenced to pay $1,200 fine plus $360 in court costs along with two years unsupervised probation. The Steinbach and St. Pierre-Jolys RCMP Detachments conducted a boundary swap expected to improve call times and increase efficiency in both detachments. The Steinbach detachment took over the St. Genevieve and Ross areas while St. Pierre-Jolys took over Kleefeld and New Bothwell areas. The RM of Tache approved a $15 million multiplex after the provincial government offered funding of up to $8 million for a new recreational complex for Lorette. Granny’s Poultry in Blumenort kicked off a $37 million plant expansion and renovation, which allowed them to grow their business and purchase new equipment for processing, chilling, packaging and grading poultry, and improving production efficiency.
March The RM of Ritchot Council put out a call for volunteer fire fighters as part of the process to establish a new hall proposed in Ste. Agathe. Over a dozen volunteers signed up and later in September, began their level one training. Fans of the region’s newest winter festival flocked to St. Malo when the annual Festival of Friends returned to the area on Louis Riel Day. The combination of the beautiful weather and a variety of activities drew hundreds of participants to St. Malo for a spectacular celebration of culture, cuisine and traditions. An Affordable Senior Housing “Needs Assessment” Survey was mailed out at the end of February, to all the residents of the RM of Tache. The survey’s objective was to determine the level of interest and support for the construction of a new Seniors Residence in the RM of Tache, to serve the needs of seniors (55+) who wish to remain or reside in the community. Steinbach Legion Branch President Bill Richards presented Janet Chobotar, Director of Health Service – Vita and Area with a $2,000 cheque for the purchase of 4 new, long-term care mattresses.
St. Anne lost a very important medical and language pioneer when Dr. Patrick Doyle passed away at the age of 93. Recipient of the Order of Canada and the Order of Merit of Manitoba, Dr. Doyle practiced medicine for almost 50 years while working for the improvement of health services and education in Manitoba.
The Steinbach Legion was sold to a private investor and a new lease agreement ensures the organization will remain in the same location indefinitely.
Cecile Berard, a grandmother from Grande Pointe handed out about two hundred hand made blankets to Syrian refugees in an effort to wrap them in warmth and love while welcoming them into their new country.
Landmark curler Kristin MacCuish (right), along with Kerrie Einarson, Selena Kaatz and Liz Fyfe represented Manitoba at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
Ninety-year-old Helen Hiebert from Niverville has been fulfilling a need by making handmade blankets for Siloam Mission for years. Siloam Mission took to social media to publicly thank the greatgrandmother for doing her part to help others.
The WinterFest activities at Dawson Trail Park in Richer took advantage of almost perfect weather as about a hundred people from the community and surrounding area came out to enjoy some mild weather winter fun.