News briefs for Friday, November 18, 2022

A house on Donan Street sustained significant smoke and fire damage in a fire this morning.

Firefighters were sent to the home in the 100 block of Donan Street at 9:36 a.m. Crews had the fire under control in roughly 45 minutes, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said.

All the people inside the home got out before firefighters arrived.

Three cats and two dogs were found and returned to their owners. A hamster was found dead.

Preliminary observations suggest the fire was accidental and related to the use of a small appliance, the WFPS said in a news release.

RCMP are asking for the public’s help in finding a machete-wielding man who robbed a business in Gimli.

The robbery took place on 1st Avenue at about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday.

RCMP said the man threatened an employee and left with stolen items. He returned to the store minutes later and demanded cash.

The man fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. Officers searched the area but did not find the robber.

The suspect is believed to be between 35 and 45 years old. His face was covered, and he was wearing sunglasses and a bright green hoodie with “Zoo York” written on the front. He was carrying a tan backpack.

RCMP are asking anyone with information about the robbery to call Gimli RCMP at 204-642-5106 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Winnipeg’s annual winter route parking ban is starting soon.

Parking will be prohibited on designated streets between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m., beginning at 2 a.m. on Nov. 26.

The seasonal ban prohibits parking on streets designated with “winter route” or “snow route” signs during those hours until further notice. Violators can receive a $100 ticket and may be towed, a press release notes.

Future weather conditions will be considered to determine when the ban will end.

To sign up for winter parking ban notifications, visit winnipeg.ca/snow

REGINA — Zach Collaros is a participant at practice Friday, marking the first time the Winnipeg Blue Bombers starting quarterback has been present for a workout this week.

Collaros was held out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday as part of his rehab for an injured ankle he suffered late in the Western final win over the B.C. Lions.

He spoke for the first time on Wednesday, where Collaros confirmed he was ready and cleared to play in Sunday’s Grey Cup against the Toronto Argonauts.

Police say a man offered a boy candy, then grabbed him and chased after him Thursday morning.

The Winnipeg Police Service said the man approached the 11-year-old as he was walking to school along the 600 block of St. Matthews Avenue at about 9 a.m.

The child refused the candy, and the suspect grabbed hold of his arm, the WPS said. The child broke free and ran away, and the suspect chased him, again trying to take hold of him, police said.

The child made it to school, and the suspect ran in the other direction, the WPS said.

The school has notified parents about the incident.

The suspect was described as Indigenous, with a medium build and a white beard. He was wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and a white striped hat.

Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call the major crimes unit at 204-986-6219.

There were 111 COVID-19 hospitalizations, 11 ICU admissions and five deaths recorded in Manitoba last week.

COVID-19 transmission is relatively unchanged from recent weeks and cases of influenza are on the rise, particularly among children, according to the most recent data from the provincial government.  For the first time Friday, the government published a combined COVID-19 and respiratory virus epidemiological report.

The report shows increasing rates of influenza, with 54 cases this week and 116 total cases over the past three weeks. Thirteen per cent of all flu cases and 20 per cent of flu-related hospital admissions are among children under the age of 5, the report states.