News briefs for Tuesday, November 22, 2022

A Portage la Prairie high school is closed after the local superintendent’s office was notified of a “possible situation” early this morning.

Morning classes and shuttle buses at Portage Collegiate Institute are cancelled, according to the Portage la Prairie School Division’s website.

The division did not provide any further details about what it described as a “possible situation” at the school, which has more than 1,100 students.

A man accused of walking around with an inert grenade in the Weston area is facing multiple charges.

Patrolling police officers spotted a man walking in a back lane who “displayed characteristics of an armed” person, with “an object protruding from his waistband.” at about 1 a.m. Monday.

Officers found the inert grenade — and a blade within a sheath — concealed in his clothing, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Tuesday.

The area was blocked off as a precaution, and the bomb unit was called. Police said Tuesday morning that the grenade was determined to be live and “disposed of.” Later Tuesday, the WPS said the bomb unit eventually determined that the item appeared to be live but was inert.

A 35-year-old Winnipeg man is charged with weapons offences and multiple counts of failing to comply with a release order.

He was also wanted on warrants for failing to comply with a probation order and for failing to attend court.

The man was detained in custody.

A 12-year-old girl was arrested and classes were cancelled for much of the day as a precaution after a threat against a Portage la Prairie high school was posted on social media.

An RCMP investigation determined the threat toward Portage Collegiate Institute was a hoax and was not made by a PCI student, Portage la Prairie School Division Supt. Todd Cuddington said in a statement.

The threat was reported to police around 5:35 a.m. today.

RCMP said the girl was released without charge, but the investigation continues.

A computer problem which impacted the scheduling system of provincial home care in Winnipeg has been fixed.

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said on Tuesday the computer system was up and running on Monday night.

The WRHA said no further issues have been found.

Home care clients may not have been visited by a caregiver on Monday because of the problem.

 

RCMP are asking for the public’s help in finding a missing Thompson woman.

Stephanie Friesen-Wood, 30, was last seen leaving an Ospwagon Drive residence on Nov. 18 at about 11:30 a.m.

Friesen-Wood is about 5-foot-4 tall, weighting 130 pounds with long black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black cap, sweats and jacket, a purple hoodie, and white shoes.

Anyone with any information about where she is can call Thompson RCMP at 204-677-6909 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477,