News briefs for Wednesday, October 12, 2022

A pair of Manitoba authors are among the finalists for the 2022 Governor General’s Literary Awards.

Winnipeg’s Rowan McCandless made the short list in the non-fiction category for Persephone’s Children: A Life in Fragments, published by Rare Machines, an imprint of Dundurn Press.

Doris George of Easterville is among the finalists in the young people’s literature – illustrated category for kā-āciwīkicik / The Move, co-written by Don K. Philpot and illustrated by Alyssa Koski and published by Heritage House.

The short lists for the Governor General’s Literary Awards were announced Wednesday morning, with 70 finalists in 14 categories in both English and French. The winner in each category receives $25,000, and will be announced Wednesday, Nov. 16.

Blue Bombers receiver Dalton Schoen has been named a Week 18 Top Performer for his performance in Saturday’s 48-11 win over the Edmonton Elks.

Schoen caught seven passes for a career-high 162 yards and three touchdowns on the night. Schoen currently leads the league in both receiving yards (1,275) and in touchdowns (14) as a rookie.

A 20-year-old man was thrown from a boat and struck by its propeller on Netley Creek Monday morning.

Selkirk RCMP officers rushed to the creek in the Rural Municipality of St. Andrews at about 8:30 a.m. to assist, Mounties said Wednesday.

RCMP have determined two men from Winnipeg were on the boat when the 21-year-old driver tried to evade an obstacle in the water. The passenger was thrown and hit by the propeller, then the driver jumped in to help. Bystanders called 911 before helping get the two men out of the water.

The passenger was taken to hospital with serious injuries, but the driver wasn’t hurt. RCMP said both were wearing life-jackets and that drugs and alcohol weren’t factors in the incident.

Winnipeg police homicide investigators have charged three men with second-degree murder in a late September stabbing death.

Enrique George Courchene, 29, was stabbed in a beer vendor on the 1100 block of Arlington Avenue around 1:19 a.m. on Sept. 24, police said. He died in hospital.

Homicide detectives believe the victim was confronted by three men, who he didn’t know, and they started a fight in which he was stabbed. The victim retreated and the suspects fled the area.

Detectives arrested Jade Allen Dumas, 26, Calvin Harvey Maytwayashing, 26, and Cecil Vance Roulette, 36, between Sept. 28 and Oct. 11. All have been charged with second-degree murder and detained. Detectives don’t expect to make any other arrests.

RCMP major crimes officers are investigating a 33-year-old woman’s death in a Thompson apartment as a homicide.

Mounties were called about an unresponsive woman in an apartment on Cree Road in the northern Manitoba city at about 8:10 a.m. Wednesday, RCMP said.

Officers found the woman dead. A 25-year-old man was arrested at the scene and is being held in police custody. RCMP have not yet announced any charges.

Local officers, as well major crimes and forensics, are still investigating.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are sitting starting quarterback Zach Collaros for this Saturday’s game in Vancouver against the B.C. Lions.

The 14-2 Bombers, who have already clinched the West Division, are expected to start second-year quarterback Dru Brown.