April 28, 2023

RiveRs BanneR G

Serving the Rivers, Rapid City, Forrest, Kenton and Oak River areas for 115 years

Let’s paint the town

By Jessica Coulter

Works of art are all around. Erica and Mary Lowe have created some beautiful works of art all over Western Manitoba, from Hamiota, Kenton, Oak Lake, Oak River, Brandon, and so many more communities. They always come up with their ideas ahead of time. They often use a projector to shine the image on the wall. Touch-ups are done when requested.

There are seven murals in Kenton. The two small ones: Mary painted the flowers and Erica painted the fox with the maple leaves. They were both personal commissions.

The bandstand mural has a badger wearing a uniform from the Kenton marching band and out of the trombone fly a variety of birds and insects. This mural is an appreciation of the diverse bird and insect populations we have in our communities. Deborah Shewchuk helped Erica and Mary paint this one.

Can collections for canoes

By Sheila Runions Banner Staff

and Chimo Beach areas for contributions from the community.

The deer mural is a call back to farming in the 80s when machinery wasn’t so big and natural areas were more abundant.

Aplinary Studies in Science class at Rivers Collegiate planned a project for Riverdale Harvest. Dubbed the Boat Load of Food, students secured a canoe from Rolling River School Division with an intent to fill it with non-perishables. Although the campaign was fully organized by that class, the original idea came from a suggestion made by harvest volunteer Liliane Dupuis.

presentation on March 20 to Riverdale Harvest president Heather Gray and Liliane.

Because the snow had melted so much, the canoe could not be portaged across the street to Zion Church (home of Riverdale Harvest). Rather, the teens carried bags, boxes and garbage

The mural on the side of Brierwood Creek Café and Grill was commissioned by the town of Kenton, it portrays a group of people standing in front of the livery stable that once was in Kenton. A livery was the place everyone brought their horses when they were in town, the image that was used was the night of a curling tournament. It also has the elevators and shows the changing of the seasons with the geese flying above. They added in a local gent, Danny Whyte, and Freddie Mercury for fun.

food was weighed and sorted. Although the project was a senior students brainstorm, the entire high school was encouraged to participate. The collegiate hosted a poor boy floor hockey tournament in which to play, athletes had to pay with food for the canoe. Some students also canvassed Rivers, Oak River

When all was said and done, the scales at Riverdale Harvest noted a total of 434 pounds, “a fabulous amount,” says Heather.

put away in the proper place on the shelving units. They were fantastic! We are very, very pleased.”

“I heard the idea at a meeting in Brandon. St. Augustine School had tried Fill a Canoe in conjunction with the 10-day Festival du Voyaguer in Winnipeg in February. It was very successful and whenever I hear food bank, my ears always perk up!”

Kenton community together with many musicians performing. Janelle was in the hospital and came to Kenton in a vehicle that was parked in the middle of the event. People were able to say one last farewell to her and there were many tears shed. Her event will be held again this year on July 15, 2023, in Kenton. The mural is of her, her two brothers and her dog walking into a field of sunflowers, Janelle loved sunflowers, her brothers, and her dog.

“We are so pleased they decided to help those we serve. A lot of times kids don’t get enough credit but this group of students certainly deserves some praise.

All students stayed behind to help check expiry dates, sort and

Elementary school staff member/Harvest volunteer Yvonne Crouch initiated a similar campaign in her school. That threeweek effort simply encouraged students to leave product in the canoe; 87 pounds of food was collected from the younger group on Thursday, March 22.

Mary painted the horses on the side of the arts works building. She has had a passion for horses since she was young and loves drawing and painting them.

She then brought the suggestion to Riverdale Harvest, which supported the idea and asked her to present the promo -

The mural on Whytes Lumber, commissioned by Whytes Lumber, is a dedication to Janelle Whyte, a wonderful member of our community. Janelle was diagnosed with cancer and organized an event called Fudge Cancer. It got the

It will take a week or two to do a mural working full time, up to five weeks depending on the size and weather. This spring and summer Erica and Mary have been commissioned by the town of Virden to paint a historical mural paying tribute to the Indigenous peoples. They will be working with Lola Thunderchild, Chief of Chanupawakpa, to come up with the subject matter. Erica and Mary will often work with town councils or other community members to come up with the idea for a mural. Going back and forth until an idea is agreed upon.

Photo by Sheila Runions

Photo by Heather Gray

The canoe at Rivers Elementary School was adequately filled.

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Rivers Banner

PHOTOS BY JESSICA COULTER

Meadow Chiborak competed at the CNDC with a acro solo. Meadow received Gold for her dance, first place in her category.

Celebrate Rivers Kids Club educators

The week of April 23 -29 is the Annual Week of the Early Childhood Educator all across Manitoba. No better time than this week, or even this school year (our 50th anniversary!), to take the time to acknowledge our amazing staff at Rivers Kids Club Inc. We are a small, close knit team that love coming in to work each and every day.

Below is a short biography of each of the staff at the Rivers Kids Club Inc.

Mrs. Jennifer (CCA)

My name is Jennifer Braun. I grew up on a farm south-east of Baldur. A year after I graduated high school I boought a house out there and opened up a daycare which I ran for 8 years. At that point I met and married my spouse, Janet, and moved to Rivers in 2008. I worked at the Brandon University Daycare for a year before we started our family. We have two sons, Emerson (14) and Edison (13) and one daughter, Eloise (11). I was a stay at home mom until I started with the Rivers Kids Club in January 2021. Janet has worked the past 11 years as a Road Service Technician

for Virden Four Seasons. I enjoy reading, scrapbooking, and family time. As a family, we enjoy camping, hiking, and outdoor activities in the summer. In the winter we enjoy board games, movies, and skating.

Mrs. Bonny (CCA)

My name is Bonny. I grew up in the Prairies, born in Saskatchewan, then my family moved to Rivers, the Rivers Base, Calgary, then back to Rivers. After graduation, I moved to Winnipeg to attend Robertson College, then back to Rivers before moving to Calgary. There I met my husband John. We have three wonderful children who keep us very busy. My favourite quote about my family ‘They may not be perfect, but they are perfect for me!’ I moved back to Rivers with my family in 2016, to be closer to my parents and siblings.

The most favourite thing part of working at the Rivers Kids Club is seeing the children hit different milestones; it brings a joy like no other!

Mrs. Angela (ECE III)

My name is Angela Beernaerts. I grew up in and around the Brandon area my whole childhood. After graduating from high school I went on to obtain my diploma in Early Child-

Rivers dancers win again!

On Thursday April 20, 2023, Karrina Taylor competed in Jazz, Small Group ages 9-10, which received a Gold Score and 2nd in their category. Karrina Taylor and Sophia Taylor competed in a Jazz Duet, ages 7-8, which received a Gold Score and 1st place in their category.

hood Education from ACC. During college, I met my husband and we moved around to small towns and out to Alberta to get a feel of what we truly wanted. I continued my work in various child care settings while we were moving about. In 2008 we decided to move back to Manitoba where we knew our hearts truly were. We moved back to Brandon and stayed there until 2011 then moved out to Rapid City where we still reside. Ian and I got married in 2010 and started our family right away. We have two beautiful daughters, Easton (2011) and Emerson (2012). While the girls were growing up, I ran a home daycare for 9 years. I closed the home daycare to join the Rivers Kids Club in November 2021.

We spend most of our weekends travelling the province for High School Rodeo, show jumping, barrel racing jackpots, and small town fairs. In the winter we continue to travel the province for hockey.

I really enjoy my time here getting to know all the individual kiddos and their families. Watching them learn and grow each day is such a rewarding experience.

Zoe Moquin-Wood jazz group from Brandon School of Dance took part at Canadian National in Winnipeg and took home a Gold Medal. Zoe also won the W.A Burr Memorial Scholarship for her jazz solo at the Rolling River Festival in March at Minnedosa.

Submitted

Rivers Banner

Neil StrohScheiN UNlikely

Iwill never forget the day when, during a Leadership class session, the instructor asked me a question I never expected to hear.

We were talking about the types of “power” people exert in churches and charities. “Some have ‘positional power,’” he said. “They are the elected leaders– Board members, officers, etc. People with ‘positional power’ are easy to identify because of the positions they hold. They may be strong leaders or weak, good leaders or bad, but at least you know who they are.”

“Then,” he said, “there are people who hold ‘personal power.’ They don’t hold elected office. They work quietly, behind the scenes. They work through one or two elected leaders (usually the weak ones) who will listen to them and vote as they say on every issue; whether or not what they support is in the best interests of the members of the organization. You may never know precisely who these leaders are (in fact, you probably won’t), but you will always see the results of their influence.”

After saying that, the instructor turned to face me. “Neil,” he said, “there is one person in the church you

Wordsearch

pastor who has a lot of personal power. Do you know who that person is?” I told him I didn’t. He gave me a name-but it was the name of a person who, by the time I became pastor of that church, had been sidelined by extremely ill health.

Since then, I have always looked for two groups of people in organizations with whom I work. First, I look for “the powers behind the throne”; those who work behind the scenes to shape the organization into their idea of what it should be. Most of those I identified used their personal power for the good of all. Sadly, one or two of them didn’t.

The second group I look for are those with leadership qualities who, with training and support from the rest of the group, will become exceptional Board members, elected officers and other leaders in churches, service clubs and charitable organizations.

The qualities of these leaders fall into three categories. Some lead by their strength of character. They are committed to following the words written by the prophet Micah: “to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.” (Micah 6:8) They have clearly defined standards of “right and wrong.” They live by these standards themselves, and expect those they lead (even if it is just in their home and family) to do the same. They will not back down when asked to compromise on those standards. They will do what they believe is right and “leave the results to come out as they may.”

Others lead by virtue of their education and experience. They have learned much by reading, taking classes and being with people who have shown them how to work “smarter” instead of working “harder.”

The third group leads by example. They come to us

From last weeks front page

Words can be found in any direction (including diagonals) and can overlap each other. Use the word bank below.

and say: “I don’t know everything; but I will teach you what I know. Follow me, do what I do and let’s learn from each other.” These are the support people no elected leader can do without.

In the coming weeks, we are going to look at several people from Biblical history whom I would identify as unlikely candidates for leadership. We will look for qualities that made them good leaders. We will see how they dealt with adversity, how they recovered after serious setbacks and discover things that current leaders can learn from their lives

Rapid City Community ChuRCh

Sundays 10 a.m.

Children’s Church during the message Bible Study – Thursdays 7:30 p.m.

JESUS IS LORD

Join us Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

447 Edward Street ~ 204-328-7882

Rivers United Church Spring Thrift Sale

Thursday, April 27 - 1pm - 8pm

Friday, April 28 - 9am - 5pm Saturday, April 29 - 9am - 1pm

This is a large sale. Bargains galore. Something for everyone. Come in and have a look. Hope to see you there.

PUBLIC NOTICE

It is our duty at Midwest Weed District, in compliance with the Noxious Weeds Act, to detect and prevent the spread of noxious weeds in our area (Hamiota, Oakview, Riverdale).

This notice is to inform you about Leafy Spurge and the obligations of every landowner. The problem with this invasive weed is growing every year and requires action.

Leafy Spurge is classified as a Tier 2 weed under the Noxious Weeds Act. Subsection 3(1) of the Act, Responsibility to destroy or control noxious weeds, states, in part, that a person must:

• Destroy all tier 2 noxious weeds that are on land that the person owns or occupies if the area colonized by the weeds is less that 20 acres;

• Control all tier 2 noxious weeds that are on land that the person owns or occupies if the area colonized by the weeds is 20 acres or more;

One effective way to destroy Leafy Spurge is a chemical treatment, you can ask your Weed District Supervisor or your agronomist for more information about chemical products.

However, since the majority of problems occur in pastureland, some options to control in pasture:

• Mechanical control by mowing,

• Biological control by sheep, goats or bugs,

• Chemical control

Contact Midwest Weed District for more information about weeds or means of control.

WEED

Tundra

By Chad Carpenter

Making choices

In just about every graduation ceremonies speech the distinguished guest speaker encourages the students to “follow your dream” and “you can be anything you want to be”. There is some wisdom and truth in both those admonishments but there needs to be discernment. On my graduation day there was no ceremony or speeches but had I been encouraged that I could be anything I wanted to be it would have been foolish to take it at face value. For example, no matter how much I might have wanted to be an Olympic pole vaulter, with my height and stocky build it was never going to happen. At one time, I wanted to be a boxer but that notion ended in Grade 8 or 9 when a fellow student punched me so hard that I likely, in retrospect, suffered a concussion. Alvin Solinski, where are you now?

I thought maybe I could be a United Church minister and there was some provision being put into place by the local minister to make that happen. I might have been able to do that task but my mother said I didn’t have the patience for the calling. Given how difficult the church’s path has been over the past forty years, she was likely right. Had I had to face the twisting and turning that has beset the churches, including the United Church, instead of ministering, I might have taken up the boxing option on occasion.

It is good to follow your dream but no, you can’t always “be what you want to be.”

One of the major changes that has taken place since my decades ago graduation is the way the meaning of words has evolved and not always for the better. I find it annoying that gay has come to mean homosexual. I fail to see the connection between

Right in the Centre

Ken Waddell

gay and homosexual but it’s unlikely that my opinion on that or any other issue matters a lot. What does matter is that the English speaking world is so divided on almost every issue. Just by mentioning the word “gay” I run the risk of making people angry with me or with each other. Anger is the wrong reaction. Informed discussion should be the correct reaction whenever possible. In every case, there should be a willingness to agree to disagree and not to disagree in a disagreeable (read nasty) fashion.

Just as an aside about words, I filled out a survey last week that was required of me in my work. Two questions I objected to (my age and gender) seemed to be silly. My age has nothing to do with my opinion and my age is nobody’s business. The gender thing is also nobody’s business. Both questions were of no value to the survey and of no value the discussion of any issue.

The United States is being torn apart by the abortion issue. Here again, the meaning of words is being twisted and distorted. Pro-choice is supposed to mean that a woman has the right to and abortion. There needs to be a different word as while a woman may want, need or have the choice to seek and abortion, the baby never gets a choice. Abortion results in death to the baby, no choice involved.

Pro-life needs examination as well. A person can be as opposed to abortion as they wish to be but I have rolled

this issue around in my mind for many years and always come to the same conclusion. There are cases where abortion may be the only way to save a pregnant woman’s life. I can attest to that from our own family history. Also, few rational people will insist that a rape or incest victim should have to carry a pregnancy. If someone can find a better explanation, I would be happy to hear it and publish it if the writer is willing. We have many choices and opportunities. We have many rights. One wise friend says we need to have the Bill of Rights (brought in by Progressive Conservative prime minister John Diefenbaker) but it should be titled the Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. The 1982 version, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,(brought in by Liberal prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau) also failed to address the “Responsibilities” part.

Yes, we have many rights but unless we handle them responsibly, the grasping for rights quickly dissolves into chaos. Out of chaos comes anarchy and if you listen to the misuse of words, rights, freedoms and responsibilities swirling about today, anarchy may not be far away.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are the writer’s personal views and are not to be taken as being the view of the Banner & Press staff.

Homebodies

Rita Friesen

Sheep Shearing…

You see these pictures of sheep being shorn- a clean and tidy sheep propped up with a brawny set of arms smoothly moving the shears systematically and perfectly across the fleece. To quote a line from the old Fibber McGee and Molly show- ‘that ain’t the way I heared it’. For a period of time my parents were sheep farmers. It started when my father decided to return to high school, the same one my sisters and I attended, and continue his education to become a teacher. He sold off his herd of Black Angus and invested in sheep. I was early teens then and left in charge of the farm when he was away to school, and sheep were easier for me to wrangle than cattle. His thoughts. The flock, at one time, was two hundred ewes. That’s a lot of sheep, lambs and wool. After dad paid a team to come and clip, he deduced that he would be just as capable doing the job. Again, he was a weekend farmer, so the heavy work was done on Saturday, holidays, and sometimes a Sunday. We had adequate barns and corrals for the holding, which helped. You needed a catcher, the truly athletically thrilling job, to tackle a ewe and bring her to the shearer. It took a few minutes for a sheep to sheared, enough to bundle and tie the fleece from the sheep before this one. It was back breaking work for both the catcher and the clipper. Standing bent over for hours with a greasy sheep wedged between your legs wasn’t fun. Neither was the gallop and grab, bundle and tie task. Our sheep never came to the occasion fresh from a bath. They had shitty tags, matted areas, thistles and thorns hidden in the heavy wool. The lanolin- the smell and the slickness- was carried into the house at day’s end. For a break, when the pile of tied fleeces grew high, you stomp them into burlap bags. Monster bags- 40 by 90 inches, held thirty to thirty five fleeces. That’s a big bag. In an ideal situation the bag would be suspended in a way that the wool would be dropped into it, and packed from the top down. We did not have the ideal set up. To be fair, many the years dad had a neighbour lad help with the clipping, taking turns with the catching and clipping. They moved among the neighbours, for many had only a few sheep- not enough to call in a professional. One of the lads, Donald, and my dad became so proficient at the job that they entered a competition in Carman Fair, winning, and gaining a spot in the Brandon Fair competition. With Mennonite humility they declined. (Really, I don’t think either had the time or money to go.) I appreciate these memories, being a part of a working farm. There came a time when wool was almost worthless, making shearing a non profit endeavour. Our mother would regularly choose a fairly clean fleece, wash, pluck and card it and create the warmest blankets ever. All it took was one photo, and I was down memory lane!

Manitoba enhances initiatives to protect water resources

By Shawn Cabak Manitoba Agriculture

The Manitoba government is advancing protection and support for water resources through a number of initiatives including enhancing the Lake Friendly Initiative and expanding watershed districts.

In collaboration with municipal partners, the Manitoba government is expanding its Watershed Districts Program to help enhance protections for Manitoba’s waterways and help further the goals of the new water management strategy, including the improvement of co-ordinated water management and governance across watersheds, basins and aquifers.

The Manitoba government has increased core funding by $265,000 to three watershed district expansions including:

• Northeast Red Watershed

District to include the rural municipalities (RM) of St. Clements, Lac du Bonnet and Reynolds and expand the included area in the RMs of Brokenhead, Ste. Anne, Tache, and Springfield;

• Pembina Valley Watershed District to include portions of the RM of Roland; and

• Redboine Watershed District to include portions of the RMs of Roland and Macdonald.

Watershed districts are partnerships between the Manitoba government and

local municipalities to protect, restore and manage water resources. Fourteen watershed districts are established under the authority of the Watershed Districts Act and are charged with developing and implementing programming to improve watershed health.

To read more about the Watershed Districts Program, visit www.manitobawatersheds.ca.

For more information on the Manitoba government’s new water management strategy, visit www.manitoba. ca/water.

Shawn Cabak is a Livestock and Forage Extension Specialist based out of Portage la Prairie. You can contact him at shawn. cabak@gov.mb.ca. or by phone: (204) 239-3353.

Be at peace with a lease!

Canada and Manitoba sign five year strategic agricultural initiative

By Shawn Cabak Manitoba Agriculture

The federal Agriculture and Agri-Food and Manitoba Agriculture ministers announced $221 million for strategic agricultural initiatives in Manitoba under the new the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).

The Sustainable CAP is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment by Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments that supports Canada’s agri-food and agriproducts sectors. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.

The Manitoba government has launched a suite of programs under the Sustainable CAP framework that will help the sector reach its full potential by expanding business opportunities, investing in sustain-

able practices throughout the sector, and strengthening resiliency of the entire food chain. These programs were developed through significant consultation with industry partners, who highlighted a number of priority areas, including research, innovation and market development, emergency preparedness and technology advancement.

The new Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program supports ecological goods and services by funding on-farm projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Eligible applicants include community pastures, agricultural Crown land forage lease-holders, First Nations and Métis communities and farmers outside of watershed district boundaries. The Sustainable CAP comes into effect April 1, and replaces the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

Shawn Cabak is a Livestock and Forage Extension Specialist based out of Portage la Prairie. You can contact him at shawn.cabak@gov.mb.ca. or by phone: (204) 239-3353.

Understanding Canadian farmland rental rates

Submitted

Farm Credit Canada

Farm Credit Canada

(FCC) has released an analysis of the rent-toprice ratio for cultivated farmland in Canada.

The rent-to-price ratio is obtained by crossing cash rental rates and the Farmland Values Report data. A ratio trending lower suggests that cash rental rates are appreciating at a slower pace than land values. Conversely, an increase in the ratio indicates that rental rates are increasing faster than land values. This information can help producers make decisions around buying versus renting land.

The national rent-toprice ratio in 2022 was 2.55 per cent, compared to 2.5 per cent in 2021. In Saskatchewan and Alberta, there were slight year-over-year increases. The RP ratio increased to 3.1 per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively, while all other provinces saw decreases.

“There are several economic conditions that impact the cost of renting land in Canada. Land values, the availability of land and its quality can all drive the price to rent,” explains J.P. Gervais, FCC’s chief economist.

There is provincial fluctuation in cash rental rates and land values which creates a significant range in the minimum and maximum ratios for each province. The highend rent-to-price ratio is typically for land with the lowest value per acre in the province.

Around 40 per cent of Canadian farmland is

rented. Typically, renting is less expensive than purchasing and the lower the ratio, the better the renting option becomes. For young farmers and new entrants, renting is seen as a viable option to free up capital that would otherwise be tied up in purchasing and instead can be put towards financing options for other needs like machinery or inputs.

Another important consideration when deciding whether to buy or rent is understanding the relationship between rental rates and cropland revenues. Rental rates as a proportion of crop gross

revenues have declined since 2020, but crop input costs have increased significantly, putting pressures on profitability.

“Deciding whether to buy or rent is a strategic decision unique to each producer,” said Gervais. “There is a lot to consider, including interest rates, yields, commodity prices and input costs. Open communication and collaboration between landowners and renters

creates a quality, long-term relationship. Matched with a risk management plan and business strategy, producers have the building blocks for success.”

Understanding the rentto-price ratio can be a useful tool in helping producers plan, consider the economic conditions in their area and ultimately make calculated decisions for their operations.

By sharing agriculture economic knowledge and

forecasts, FCC provides solid insights and expertise to help those in the business of agriculture and food achieve their goals. For more economic insights and analysis, visit FCC Economics at fcc.ca/ Economics.

FCC is Canada’s leading agriculture and food lender, with a healthy loan portfolio of more than $47 billion. Our employees are dedicated to the future of Canadian agriculture and food. We provide flexible financing, AgExpert management software, information and knowledge specifically designed for the agriculture and food industry. As a Crown corporation, we provide an appropriate return to our shareholder, and reinvest our profits back into the industry and communities we serve. For more information, visit fcc.ca.

CHART PROVIDED BY FARM CREDIT CANADA

Pictured is the average provincial rent-to-price ratio 2022 and 2021. British Columbia did not have enough lease data to produce a confident ratio

Invasive Species Awareness Week takes place in Manitoba

The Province of Manitoba has declared the last full week of April as Invasive Species Awareness Week. The Manitoba Weed Supervisors Association (MWSA) recognizes this week by highlighting just a few of the invasive plants considered to be a significant threat to the landscape of our province. Many of these invasive species are mistaken for wildflowers, but unlike native wildflowers, these species threaten agricultural productivity of both cultivated and non-cultivated land, as well as waterways and natural areas.

Tall Waterhemp

Waterhemp is native to the U.S. but was not considered a major agronomic problem until the 1980’s. Herbicide resistance and changing production systems, including more corn and soybean, reduced tillage and more reliance on herbicides for weed control, favored the “weediness” of this plant. This member of the pigweed (Amaranth) family can rapidly take over crop land and significantly decrease yields. The native habitat of waterhemp is wet, low-lying areas, but it

grows well in drier areas. It thrives in reduced tillage and no-till environments. Watch for patches to pop up along field edges or near field entrances, along ditches and waterways. The plant typically grows to 5-6 feet tall, with glossy, hairless and more elongated leaves compared to redroot or smooth pigweed. Waterhemp is well-adapted to warm growing temperatures and intense sunlight and is capable of producing up to a million seeds per plant that can germinate over the whole summer. Waterhemp has very tiny seed, (similar to red root pigweed seed), so it is easily transported in equipment, with water and by wildlife, and can be a contaminant in seed lots. Removing small patches of waterhemp prior to seed set, and destroying the plants, is one of the most effective strategies to eradicate this weed. Tall waterhemp populations can be resistant to multiple herbicide groups, making it very hard to control this weed in field crops. Waterhemp samples in Manitoba have been tested and confirmed resistant to 3 herbicide groups. This has serious implications for local producers.

New populations have been discovered since it was first

detected in Manitoba in 2019, with confirmed presence in 16 municipalities as of 2022

Palmer’s Amaranth

Palmer’s Amaranth is an aggressive, invasive weed native to the desert regions of the southwest US and northern Mexico. It was accidentally introduced to other areas and has devastated crops in the South and Midwest US as it rapidly became herbicide resistant. With the ability to emerge all season, grow 2-3 inches per day and set seed over the entire season this highly invasive weed can drastically reduce crop yield. Infestations have slowly moved north through contaminated seed, equipment, animal feed and bedding and the digestive tract of wild birds. Palmer’s amaranth was first detected in North Dakota in 2018, and is spreading throughout the state. Considered to be the #1 weed in the US, this plant can grow at least 6-8 feet tall and produce one million seeds and heavy infestations can reduce soybean and corn yields by approximately 80-90%.

A member of the Amaranth family like redroot pigweed and tall waterhemp, Palmer’s amaranth can be difficult to distin-

guish from its cousins. Smoothstemmed like tall waterhemp, its leaves are a little wider, more like redroot pigweed, but can be distinguished by the long petiole (stem-like structure that attaches the leaf to the main stem). Petioles of Palmer amaranth are longer than the leaves, while its cousins have shorter petioles. Long, snaky seed heads that can be up to 2 feet long are a distinctive feature of Palmer’s amaranth. Identification is crucial, and removal of individual plants and small patches is critical to prevent this weed from establishing in our province. Two plants were found in Manitoba in 2021. A single plant was found in 2022 in the same area

Nodding thistle

Nodding thistle is an invasive species accidently introduced to Manitoba over 100 years ago as contaminant in forage seed. Nodding thistle grows as a biennial (two-year growth cycle), invading dry areas such as heavily grazed rangeland, coarse soils, etc. Its stalks and leaves have strong sharp spines which can injure livestock. Animals will avoid it and graze elsewhere, giving the plant a competitive advantage. Nodding thistle reproduces

only by seed. The first year the seedling will develop into a large flat rosette and will need to overwinter, then continue to grow to maturity the following growing season.

Usually, the rosettes require adequate snow cover to survive the winter, that’s why nodding thistle patches are generally found in ravines or bluffs within a pasture.

As seed is its only means of spread, the first step is to cut down the flowering stalks and destroy the seed heads. Later in the fall, once the rosettes have established, (late September) apply a broadleaf herbicide to prevent maturation and seed set the following year. Continue checking for and spraying new rosettes as they develop throughout the fall. This will provide you a head start on control for next year, but it’s still important in the spring to look for and treat any more rosettes that you may find before they start to form flowering stalks.

Nodding thistle is found primarily in Southwestern MB.

Editor’s note: the original article had to be edited to fit alotted space.

The Vermeer TM1210 and TM1410 trailed mowers mean business. With cutting widths up to 17.8 ft (5.4 m) and 20.8 ft (6.3 m), 10-series trailed mowers are ideal for operators who want to cut more hay in less time and want convenient features to reduce the stress of operating, transporting and maintaining a large trailed mower. Features like the Q3 ® cutter bar, 2-point Quick Hitch hookup, a nitrogen-charged accumulator suspension system and the patented Quick-Clip ® blade retention system that reduces the process of blade replacement to mere seconds. Big-time productivity, big-time convenience and a narrow 9.1 ft (2.7 m) transport width. It’s what makes a 10-series a 10.

Vermeer Corporation reserves the right to make changes in engineering, design and specifications; add improvements; or discontinue manufacturing or distribution at any time without notice or obligation. Equipment shown is for illustrative purposes only and may display optional accessories or components specific to their global region. Please contact your local Vermeer dealer for more information on machine specifications. Vermeer, the Vermeer logo, Q3 and Quick-Clip are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the U.S. and/or other countries. © 2018 Vermeer Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

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Production Worker

Why join our team?

HyLife is a global leader in food processing. Our vision is to be the best food company in the world. To achieve this, we need talented people like you to join our team. HyLife creates limitless opportunities for passionate individuals, and we have an exciting new career opportunity located in Neepawa, MB for you to explore!

The current starting wage is $16.10/hour PLUS opportunities for pay increases and competitive bonuses.

Our wage bracket extends to $24.05 per hour

We Will Train the Right Candidate

Quick Facts:

• Culturally diverse – employ people from all over the world

• Fully integrated facility – Feed Mills, Barns, Transportation, and Production Plant

4000+ employees worldwide

We Care about our employees, communities, customers, animals, and our environment

What we can offer you:

• Competitive Wage

• Vacation

• Benefits package – dental coverage, vision care, extended health care, & more!

Secure, stable, and permanent full-time employment

PM Shift Premium

Full training, with genuine opportunities for career progression

• Employee Referral program - $500!

• Multiple Shift Options

• Free parking

• Company events

And more!!!!

Your duties may include:

Slaughtering hogs (eviscerate, hide removal, etc.)

Butcher and package pork primal cuts into value-added specifications for local, national, and international premium markets

• Maintaining our sanitation program

We are looking for people who are:

Fit and capable of working in a physically demanding role

Capable of repetitive manual tasks and standing for long periods of time

Open to working in colder/warmer environments

• Experience as an industrial butcher or trimmer is an asset

Ways to apply:

Online at http://hylife.com/current-opportunities/ or mail to PO Box 10,000, 623 Main St E, Neepawa, MB R0J 1H0. HyLife has an accommodation process for employees with disabilities. If you require a specific accommodation during your employment because of a disability, please contact Jobs@hylife.com. An HR representative will be in touch with you as soon as possible. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis and our accommodation policy can be forwarded upon request.

We want it to be YOU! Come join our HyLife team.

We thank all applicants, however, only those under consideration will be contacted

Clack Family Heritage Museum invites applications for summer employment.

Applicant should be able to work individually and as a team member, have good public relations skills, be interested in antiques, provide tours, keep the buildings that the antiques are displayed in clean, perform yard maintenance, computer archiving, and other duties as required.

Positions will be made available pending Canada Summer Jobs grant approval for two youth between the ages of 15 and 30 for 8 weeks of 30 hours per week. Start date to be determined.

Please submit applications by Monday, May 15th, 2023, to Clack Family Heritage Museum Foundation Inc., Box 16, Oak River, MB, R0K 1T0 or email tmradcliffe@inetlink.ca.

For further information call 204-365-0155.

Rolling River School Division

in southwestern Manitoba, Canada near Riding Mountain National Park and Brandon.

Maintenance Worker Plumber

(Licensed Trades)

Full Time - Permanent

12 months per year

The school division has a central maintenance shop in Minnedosa, MB with 6.0 FTE Maintenance Workers (Licensed Trades and Unlicensed Trades) who maintain 12 schools and Division office and shop buildings.

For more details and application information, please visit our website at www.rrsd.mb.ca select Employment then Support Staff Positions. Thank you to all applicants for their interest in Rolling River School Division. Only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Valleyview Ag Services

requires seasonal tender truck driver for the up coming spring season. This position starts late April till early June.

Candidate must have class 1 license with experience.

Very competitive wage.

Call or text 204-867-7113

Celebration of Life

for Grace Valentina Bullock

Feb. 15, 1924 - Mar. 21, 2023 will be held at Rivers United Church

Friday, May 12 at 1:00pm

ETHEL BULLOCK

Manitoba Community Newspaper Association Province Wide Classifieds Obituary

It is with deep regret the family of Ethel Bullock announce her passing in Brandon Hospital on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.

Ethel is survived by Ron her husband of nearly 62 years and one son David and his wife Hua. She was born on the family farm north of Birtle, the youngest of 7 siblings and the twin sister of Cathie (Smith). Besides Ron, David and Hua, she is survived by sister in-law Norma Golden; brother in-law Morris Mylrea and wife Debbie; brother in-law Lawrence Smith; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ethel worked many years in the telephone office with time in Foxwarren, Shoal Lake, Hamiota, and Oak River. After David’s birth, she was a stay-at-home Mom doing lots of driving to sports events, volunteering with 4-H sewing and the fair board. Ethel also worked parttime in the Post Office and eventually a short time as Post Mistress.

A graveside service at the Oak River Cemetery will be announced at a later date. For those so desiring, donations may be made in Ethel’s memory to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, 150 McTavish Ave E, Brandon, MB, R7A 2B3 (www.brhcfoundation.ca); CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, Rm ON1160 – 675 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 9Z9 (www.cancercarefdn.mb.ca); or a charity of one’s choice. Messages of condolence can be shared at www.campbellfuneralhome.ca. Campbell Funeral Home, Hamiota are in care of the arrangements. (866) 620-2744

Service

HIP/KNEE Replacement?

Other medical conditions causing TROUBLE WALKING or DRESSING?

The Disability Tax Credit allows for $2,500 yearly tax credit and up to $30,000 Lump sum refund

Apply NOW; quickest refund Nationwide! Providing assistance during Covid.

Expert Help: 204-453-5372

Hey! you!

If you’re reading me that means others are too! place your Classified here!

NOTICES

Advertisements and statements contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Manitoba Community Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or reliability of such advertisements. For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Association’s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.mcna.com.

URGENT PRESS RELEASES - Have a newsworthy item to announce? An exciting change in operations?

Though we cannot guarantee publication, MCNA will get the information into the right hands for ONLY

$35.00 + GST/HST. Call MCNA (204) 947-1691 for more information. See www.mcna.com under the “Types of Advertising” tab for more details.

SPRING HIRING??? Need Class 1 Drivers or Con -

Auctions

struction workers? BOOK

YOUR 2023 BLANKET

CLASSIFIED ADS NOW in the 32 Weekly Manitoba Community Newspapers to get your messaging to be seen all over the province! Let people know in the Blanket Classifieds! Call THIS NEWSPAPER NOW or call MCNA at (204) 9471691 for more details or to book ads. MCNA - Manitoba Community Newspapers Association. www.mcna. com

BUSINESS SERVICES / FINANCIAL SERVICES

Private mortgage lender. All real estate types considered. No credit checks done. Deal direct with lender and get quick approval. Toll free 1-866-405-1228 www.firstandsecondmortgages.ca

WANTED

Wanted old advertising: Dealership signs, service station, gas pumps, globes, oil cans, Red Indian, White Rose, Buffalo, Husky, Ford, GM, Dodge, Tire signs, Coke, Pepsi etc. Call 306-221-5908

RTM’s

Hamiota ~ Brandon ~



Serving Rivers and area since 1906.

Phone 204-727-0694 or 1-800-897-5694 www.brockiedonovan.com

Another successful show for the Strathclair Drama Club

designing the program, the entire Strathclair Drama Club works very hard to ensure that every aspect of their show leaves the audience entertained.

While sale of tickets went smoothly, Mother Nature tried her best to make things difficult for the board of directors, cast, and crew with a midweek snowstorm and for the first time since Carousel (1995), when the production was postponed two weeks due to illness, the club had to postpone their Wednesday and Thursday evening productions, replacing them with matinee shows on the Saturday and Sunday. This created a slight chain reaction as other items needed to be rescheduled as well, such as the cast party, final clean up, and post-production meeting. An added matinee on Saturday also meant back-to-back shows, which can be exhausting. However, everyone came together because, as they say in show business, “The show must go on!” and in the end, close to a combined total of 1,743 tickets were sold for six shows and each show was filled with excitement and energy.

Submitted

By Beccy Ardiel-Voth

The Bend Theatre in Strathclair, MB was a hub of activity this past week when the Strathclair Drama Club presented its 39th annual production, The Addams Family - A New Musical. The play, written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, was directed by a team of talented musical enthusiasts - Barb Dowsett (music director), Christine Bailey (choreographer), Rowena Martin (producer), Nicole McLenehan and Greg Kirk (stage directors). Together, they lead a group of 43 talented actors from southwestern Manitoba to musical success. Auditions for this production were held in the fall and rehearsals officially began at the beginning of January. For the past four months, the dedicated cast has made regular trips to Strathclair to run lines, block scenes, and learn choreography. While the cast was busy learning their part, the crew was immersed in their duties; meeting and planning the behind-the-scenes elements - from creating sets and props, learning musical pieces, sewing costumes, ordering makeup, and

Riverdale district health auxiliary needs volunteers

Submitted

By Lynn Madden

We held our first meeting on April 12, 2023, since Covid. Although we didn’t have meetings during Covid, we were still active in donating monies each year to our medical facilities, fire department, ambulance service, Child and Family Services, Rivers Kids Club and Rivers Collegiate for an award given to a graduating student entering the medical field. We also sent Christmas baskets to the patients and staff in the Rehab center and to the staff of the Medical Clinic in appreciation of all they do for our community. We try to grant every request for donations but in some instances, we partner with the Rivers Community Health Foundation when the amount is large.

We are proud of what we have given to our community over the years. The auxiliary started in 1959 with Jessie Bell as the very first president. Some of the original

members are still part of our organization. Most of our members are seniors and some in their 80’s and 90’s. We would really like to continue with the auxiliary, but it is hard to find people willing to take on the leadership roles.

Auxiliaries in Minnedosa and Dauphin have closed due to lack of volunteers. Volunteers are the backbone of any organization and cannot survive without them. Our auxiliary is lacking the younger generation and we would welcome them to join us and perhaps take on the leadership roles being President, Treasurer and Secretary. The current leaders have been the same for 10 years. If anyone is interested in becoming a member, please feel free to call me at 204-303-9013. Our next meeting is May 10, 2023, at 1:30pm at Rivers Kiwanis Courts lounge.

If you were lucky enough to be in the audience, you likely found yourself laughing at the antics of the characters, toe tapping to the sound of the orchestra, and dazzled by the awesome details the sets, props, costumes, make up, sound, lighting, and projected imagery add to the show. You can find us on Facebook. The support this organization receives from their communities and patrons is incredible! Without an audience, there really would be no purpose.

So, while the curtain fell on another amazing production experience, the planning process for the next production, set to run April 22 - 27, 2024, has begun. Next year marks an impressive milestone - the 40th anniversary! What the club has in store for 2024 has not been decided but you can be assured that you won’t want to miss it!

SUBMITTED

Butterflies, where did you go

Submitted

By Mike Dickson

When was the last time you saw a Monarch Butterfly? Or any butterfly? As of 2022 monarch butterflies have been listed as endangered.

Millions of monarch butterflies undertake the longest migration of any insect species known to science. After wintering in the mountains of central Mexico, the butterflies migrate to the north, breeding multiple generations for thousands of miles. The offspring that reach southern Canada then begin the trip back to Mexico at the end of summer.

Along with all the perils of the long migration, the Milkweed plants, their only source of food, have been declared a weed in many areas and have been eradicated with sprays. Many of the milkweed plants are fast spreading and therefore

undesirable for farmers.

The Dwarf and Swamp milkweeds are the only types allowed in this area due to their slow spreading.

A local group has been formed to bring back the milkweed and the Monarchs. The Facebook group is called R.A.C.E.- Riverdale Action Committee on Ecology. The Facebook page and the group are just in the starting phase.

We want to start off with individuals growing Milkweed to attract the Butterflies to their yards. The long-term goal is to team up with the High school and their Wetlands Discovery Centre and to have an interactive area beside them with Milkweed plants and an informational Centre. If all goes well and this takes off, then possibly a Monarch Festival?

This group will be offering information on how and where to get milkweed. Focusing on growing milk-

Class of 1966 reunion

weed and what is needed to attract Monarchs. Milkweed seeds need approximately 2 months of freezing temperatures to activate them, so people will need to start sooner than later for this year. We are hoping to team up with local greenhouses to have milkweed plants for sale. Seeds can also be purchased online. Please remember only Dwarf and Swamp Milkweed are allowed.

Mike Dickson grew up in Rivers and still has family and friends here although he now lives in Winnipeg. While on Town Council many, many years ago, he developed an interest in Economic Development and took the Rural Development Course at ACC, getting a job in Morris, Manitoba.

“Not trying to Save the World, just making our little corner of it Better.” https://www.facebook. com/groups/ 1414033099083402

By Jessica Coulter Rivers Banner

Ten Rivers students that started grade one together and then graduated Grade 12 together have been talking and will meet in Rivers for the July 8, 2023, weekend. They are planning to meet on Friday, July 7, at Lee’s Restaurant at 5:00 - 8 p.m.

These ten former students are Allison Bate, Brenda Garner, Brian Paddock, Carl Forman, Dennis Wiebe, Diane Ross, Janice Spearin, Mel Harvey, Shirley Harvath and Wilf Taylor.

If there are any other 1966 graduates that want to join in for supper and camaraderie, they are welcome to come along. Please contact Dennis Wiebe at denniswiebe44@gmail.com at 250-486-1652.

Rivers Legion ladies auxiliary

Submitted

By Lisa Smith, Publicity

The regular meeting of the Rivers Legion Auxiliary was held April 4, 2023, in the Rivers Legion upper hall.

There were 2 new applications for membership this month.

The auxiliary will help with the Meals on Wheels program this month.

There was a donation made to the Rivers Legion Branch 75.

There were four new members initiated into the auxiliary.

The next regular

meeting of the Legion Ladies Auxiliary will be held May 23, 2023. This will be a potluck supper as May is our anniversary month. There will be a time of fellowship at 5:30pm. with the meal to follow at 6pm. Honors and awards will be given out prior to the meeting.

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