News briefs for Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Moose sign pair of forwards

10:58 AM

The Manitoba Moose inked forwards Thomas Caron and Mark Liwiski to one-year deals on Tuesday.

Caron, 22, returns to the affiliate club after an injury-plagued 2022 season that limited him to 24 contests between the American Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League (Trois-Rivères). The Candiac, Que. product has registered eight points (three goals, five assists) over 47 career AHL games.

Liwiski, a 21-year-old Dauphin product, returns to his home province after spending his first pro season with the ECHL’s Wichita Thunder, where he tallied 10 goals and seven helpers in 67 games.

Island declared provincial park

11:26 AM

Manitoba is designating Pemmican Island on Lake Winnipegosis as a provincial park to protect the area’s ecosystem.

The provincial government said in a press release today the designation protects the island’s wildlife habitat, diverse ecosystem and unique landscapes from development.

The 27-hectare island is located in the north basin of Lake Winnipegosis, roughly 175 kilometres north of Dauphin. It’s comprised of limestone outcrops and cliffs, boulders, gravel and sand, while inland areas contain mature stands of American elm, Manitoba maple, and trembling aspen. It provides habitat for a variety of colonial waterbirds including nesting grounds of double-crested cormorants, a species protected under the Wildlife Act.

Several other bird species protected by federal and provincial legislation have also been detected on the island, including American white pelican, herring gull, ring-billed gull, Caspian tern, and common merganser.

Centra gas rate dropping Aug.1

12:29 PM

The Public Utilities Board approved an Aug.1 Centra Gas rate decrease that should see the annual bill for a typical residential customer drop by approximately 3.7 per cent or $28 a year, the board said in a press release today.

The current gas commodity rate decrease is the result of decreases in the North American natural gas market prices.  Natural gas is  sold on a cost recovery basis, meaning that Centra charges customers only what Centra pays for gas and does not make a profit from its sale. Rates will be reviewed again for Nov. 1.

Gas commodity rates for customers that have signed fixed-term fixed-price contracts, with either Centra or a private broker, are not affected.

Sea Bears sell out regular season finale, set to host playoff game

12:45 PM

The Winnipeg Sea Bears have announced a sellout for Saturday’s regular season finale at the Canada Life Centre against the visiting Edmonton Stingers.

Winnipeg’s professional basketball team has now had four straight sellouts.

The Sea Bears will also be hosting a home playoff game on either Aug. 4 or Aug. 6. Playoff tickets are expected to go on sale later this week.

Impaired drivers in crashes to be denied third-party liability coverage

1:15 PM

Impaired drivers who are involved in collisions will be denied third-party liability coverage starting Aug. 1, Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced today.

Manitoba Public Insurance will cover the damage to other vehicles or property, and then seek repayment from the impaired driver.

The change will apply to all motor vehicles, including off-road vehicles.

Portage la Prairie man still missing

1:37 PM

Police are still seeking tips in connection with a Portage la Prairie man who went missing more than a year ago, the RCMP said Tuesday.

Shawn Roy Miness, 42, was last seen at his home on Tupper Street in Portage on April 21, 2022,

He was described as being 6-0 in height, about 190 pounds, with brown eyes and very short dark hair at the time.

“Shawn is missed by many, he is a father, brother, uncle, cousin, friend and more,” his sister Ashley Reid said in a RCMP news release in September. “His children miss him terribly, as well as his sisters, nieces and nephews. He was always there to lend a helping hand. We have a large hole in the family that we are hoping to get answers for.”

Portage la Prairie RCMP are asking anyone with information about the disappearance to call them all at 204-857-4445 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).