News briefs for Tuesday, November 8, 2022

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and his deputy, Bill Daly, are in Winnipeg today and will speak with the media prior to tonight’s Jets game at Canada Life Centre.

No big announcements are expected. Rather, this is part of a league-wide tour the pair are on. The news conference is set for 5:30 p.m. in the Matt Frost Media Centre at the downtown rink.

Winnipeg faces the Dallas Stars at 7 p.m., with first place in the Central Division on the line.

A house on Sherbrook Street is believed to be “a complete loss” after a fire Monday night.

Fire crews were sent to the bungalow in the 400 block of Sherbrook at 10:19 p.m. and found it engulfed in flames, the City of Winnipeg said in a news release Tuesday.

Crews used an aerial ladder truck to fight the blaze and protect the neighbouring house. The fire was declared under control at 11:25 p.m., the city said.

Two occupants of the house were assessed by paramedics. Fire crews evacuated residents of the neighbouring house. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

John Fogerty, Dierks Bentley, Walker Hayes and Tenille Townes are set to headline the 2023 edition of Dauphin’s Countryfest.

The country music festival, which takes place June 30 to July 2 next year, announced the first round of its upcoming lineup on Tuesday.

Other acts include Tim Hicks, the James Barker Band, Robyn Ottolini, Jason McCoy, Tim and The Glory Boys and DJ Johnny Rivex. Partygoers who purchase tickets prior to Jan. 6 will gain free access to a kick-off event on the Thursday ahead of the festival featuring The Road Hammers and Honeymoon Suite.

Tickets and camping passes go on sale Nov. 21 at 10 a.m. Visit countryfest.ca for more information.

RCMP are searching for a pair of teens missing from Lorette who are likely in Winnipeg.

George Hassan, 14, was reported missing to Mounties in St. Pierre-Jolys on Nov. 4, after he was last seen leaving his Lorette home on Nov. 1 on foot. He’s 5-1 and 90 lbs with brown hairs and black hair in dreadlocks. He was last wearing a blue t-shirt, a black-and-red sweater, red pants and a blue-and-black jacket.

RCMP think Hassan is in Winnipeg with Angelina Powderhorn, 16, who was reported missing from her Lorette home on Nov. 7. She’s 5-5 and 110 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen on Nov. 4 wearing a black hoodie, black sweat pants, a black toque and white Nike runners.

Mounties ask anyone who knows where the pair are to call the St. Pierre-Jolys detachment at 204-433-7433 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

Parents and caregivers will soon have a second vaccine option when it comes to immunizing the youngest kids against COVID-19.

On Tuesday, Manitoba Public Health said it will begin distributing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged six months to four years old to clinics, pharmacies and vaccine sites.

The shots should be available as early as this week.

Health Canada approved the three-dose vaccine series on Sept. 9 and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization provided recommendations for its use on Oct. 21. Previously, the Moderna vaccine was available to youngsters in Manitoba. It was approved for use in July.

Most parents and caregivers making a first vaccine appointment for their child should expect the Pfizer vaccine to be offered, public health officials said.

The remaining provincial stock of the Moderna infant vaccine will be used for second doses for kids who previously received that shot. NACI strongly recommends the Moderna infant vaccine for immunocompromised children.

The City of Winnipeg has found a potential home for a new temporary fire paramedic station in Waverley West at 110 Eaglewood Dr.

This station could be operational by late 2023 and house a fire engine and crew until a permanent station in Waverley West can be completed, a release states.

The city will hold a public information session on the proposal from 7 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at École South Point School.