News briefs for Thursday, August 24, 2023

Fog delays start of Manitoba Open

9:32 AM

A foggy start to the morning has pushed back the beginning of the Manitoba Open golf tournament.

All tee times, which were set to begin at 7:30 a.m., have been moved back 90 minutes.

The four-day event involves a field of 156 golfers competing for US $200,000 in prize money on the PGA Tour Canada.

There are three Manitobans competing — amateur champion Braxton Kuntz and Monday qualifiers Ryan McMillan and Travis Fredborg — along with Winnipeg Jets forward Morgan Barron, who is on a sponsor’s exemption.

Union Station gets an upgrade

12:00 PM

Via Rail is in the process of investing $25 million into Winnipeg’s Union Station, one of the oldest and largest of the Canadian passenger train operator’s stations across the country.

It has been working on the upgrades since 2020 with new elevators and escalators already in place as well as heritage-sensitive accessibility improvement including new street level doors on the east side of the building that lead into The Forks property.

It is in the process of upgrading interior passenger platforms and will replace exterior passenger platforms.

The capital investment is part of an $80 million project that also includes upgrades to other of Via’s heritage stations in Halifax, Quebec City and Vancouver.

At an event in Winnipeg this morning, Mario Péloquin, who became president and CEO of Via in June, said “these iconic stations embody the history of railroading, and by extension the creation of Canada, which we have a responsibility to protect.”

Loaded handgun seized by police during traffic stop

1:35 PM

A 28-year-old has been charged after police found a loaded handgun with a high capacity magazine during a traffic stop.

Winnipeg police said on Thursday the handgun was found after officers pulled over a vehicle in the 500 block of Arlington Street on Wednesday at about 7 p.m.

Police said the vehicle was recognized as a possible suspect vehicle in another investigation. That investigation is ongoing and police wouldn’t provide any more details.

Two men were taken into custody, but one was charged after a satchel he was holding was found to contain the handgun.

The man has been detained in custody.

Man charged in fatal hit-and-run collision

1:35 PM

RCMP have charged a 66-year-old man in a hit-and-run collision that killed a pedestrian in Brokenhead Ojibway Nation on April 20.

A 75-year-old man was walking to work when he was fatally struck by a vehicle on Highway 59.

Police said Richard Neyedly, from Powerview-Pine Falls, has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and failing to remain at the scene of the collision.

Winnipeg police look for missing 12-year-old girl

3:34 PM

Winnipeg police are searching for a 12-year-old girl missing since early August.

Daliya Young was last seen by her caregivers on the afternoon of Aug. 6 in the West Alexander area, but has been reportedly sighted around the North End several times, most recently on Aug. 19.

The 12-year-old is between 5-1 and 5-2 in height with a thin build and shoulder-length brown and red hair and brown eyes. She was last wearing a black jacket with a band logo, a black t-shirt, grey sweatpants and grey sneakers, while carrying a backpack with a cartoon design.

Police say they are concerned for her safety and ask anyone with information on her whereabouts to call missing persons investigators at 204-986-6250.

American takes early lead at Manitoba Open

3:55 PM

American golfer Devon Bling fired a sizzling 10-under 62 at Southwood Golf & Country Club to take an early first round lead at the Manitoba Open.

The 23-year-old California product, who is coming off two straight runner-up finishes in PGA Tour Canada events, had a stress-free round that included 10 birdies — including six of his last seven holes — and eight pars.

Right behind Bling are a pair of Canadians.

Johnny Travale of Stony Creek, Ont. shot 9-under 63, while Thomas Giroux of Georgetown, Ont. is at 8-under after a 64.

A trio of golfers are in the clubhouse at 7-under 65.

Four players with Manitoba connections are competing.

Travis Fredborg of Selkirk is 3-under through 15 holes, while Ryan McMillan of Winnipeg is 3-over after 15. Both players Monday qualified to gain entry. The third member of that group, Winnipeg Jets forward Morgan Barron, is 5-over through 15. He’s playing on a sponsor’s exemption.

Manitoba Amateur champion Braxton Kuntz is set to tee off at 4:10 p.m.

The field will be cut down to the top 60 and ties at the completion of Friday’s second round.