News briefs for October 8, 2020

The Winnipeg Jets could be on the verge of bringing Paul Stastny back into the fold. 

Multiple sources told the Free Press late Thursday night the veteran centre who had a short but sweet stay in Winnipeg two seasons ago might be on his way back.

The Vegas Golden Knights need to trim salary and the Jets are desperate to find a second-line centre. Stastny was picked up by the Jets at the trade deadline in 2018 from St. Louis and found chemistry with linemates Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers during the run to the postseason and three playoff rounds.

Stastny became an unrestricted free agent and signed a three-year deal with Vegas that summer. He has one year left on his contract that carries a $6.5 million cap hit.

Stastny, who turns 35 in late December, had 17 goals and 21 helpers in 71 games for Vegas last season and chipped in three goals and six assists in 18 playoff games in the Edmonton bubble.

Help is on the way to alleviate the extraordinarily long waits for COVID-19 screening, Premier Brian Pallister says.

On Tuesday, the province expects to open a new large drive-through testing site at 1066 Nairn Ave. The following week, a similar site is to open at 123 King Edward St.

New test sites are also being developed in Brandon, Winkler, Dauphin and Portage la Prairie.

At a late afternoon press conference, Pallister also said the government hopes to soon announce longer hours of operation at existing screening sites. 

He also said talks are taking place with doctor’s offices to use these facilities for testing after hours.

As well, Red River College will soon announce a new course to train more people to take swabs and perform other COVID-19 health functions, the premier said.

Stella’s workers will continue to strike after an offer from UFCW Local 832 of binding arbitration — which would let a third party determine the contract between Stella’s management and workers and end the strike — was rejected on Oct. 6.

"Early arbitration is not a viable option because opening the Sherbrook location under the union’s demands is not possible," a statement from Stella’s management said.

The union wants wage increases, guaranteed weekends off for all employees after one year of service and guaranteed minimum weekly hours.

Thompson RCMP say a traffic stop on Oct. 7 resulted in the seizure of a large amount of cash believed to be obtained through the proceeds of crime, along with a can of bear spray.

The traffic stop occurred on Highway 6 near Pisew Falls at about 2:50 a.m.

A 32-year-old male and a 19-year-old female, both from Thompson, face charges of possession of property obtained by crime and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

The man has also been charged with driving while disqualified.

Dauphin police responded to a broken window complaint on Merrell Avenue Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. and found the home had been shot at by a firearm.

Police believe the window was shot on Oct. 4 between 11:30 p.m. and midnight. There were no injuries. Dauphin RCMP continue to investigate.

Health officials are alerting the public about possible exposure to the novel coronavirus at two Winnipeg schools.

There was a possible exposure from Sept. 28 to 30 at Seven Oaks Middle School at 800 Salter St. At this point, there is no evidence of in-school transmission, the province says. The affected school cohort is transitioning to remote learning.

As well, there is an advisory for Earl Grey School at 340 Cockburn St. N., on Sept. 29, Sept. 30 and Oct. 7. Again, there is no evidence of in-school transmission. Public health is reaching out to close contacts to advise them of the need for self-isolation, and the affected cohort is moving to remote learning.

Health officials announced 67 new cases of the novel coronavirus in Manitoba on Thursday, including 57 in Winnipeg.

There are now 863 active cases. Twenty-five Manitobans are in hospital with the virus, six in intensive care.

There were 2,736 laboratory tests for COVID-19 completed on Wednesday. The current five-day test positivity rate is three per cent.

Manitoba’s total COVID-19 case count now stands at 2,344.

A man has been arrested and charged with sexual assault after an attack last month wherein the victim was in her own home.

On Aug. 4 at approximately 6:30 a.m., police responded to a sexual assault that had occurred in the 300 block of Furby Street. A woman was in her suite alone when a man broke in and sexually assaulted her. She fought him off and called for help when he fled and was sent to hospital to be treated.

Devon Andre McGillivary, 28, has been charged with sexual assault, breaking and entering and overcoming resistance by attempted choking.

Police are asking the public for help locating a missing 12-year-old boy last seen at the Airport Motor Inn at 1800 Ellice Avenue on the afternoon of Oct. 5.

Hosea Hamilton is described as Indigenous, 5’0” with a thin build and black short hair. He was last seen wearing a black Nike brand jacket, red sweatpants and black runners.

Police believe Hosea may have travelled to Bloodvein First Nation 210 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

Anyone with any information regarding his whereabouts should contact the Winnipeg Police Service Missing Persons Unit at 204-986-6250.

Nine people have been arrested in two cases of illegally hunting at night with lights.

Manitoba Conservation and Climate said on Thursday two men and a woman were arrested and issued appearance notices for hunting at night with lights on Sept. 18.

Conservation officers noticed a spotlight shining across private fields in the Harwill/Poplar Lakes area north of Hodgson.

The officers seized a 2009 Ford F-150 trick as welll as two rifles, ammunition, and a 12-volt spotlight.

The very next day, conservation officers saw a vehicle shining its headlights onto private land west of Broad Valley and then heard a gunshot.

When a number of officers found an animal being loaded into a pickup, the truck was surrounded after the occupants tried to flee.

Six people were issued appearance notices and a 2017 Dodge 1500 truck was seized along with two rifles, ammunition, a spotlight, and a dead deer.

Manitoba’s police watchdog has released details about the incident in the North End Wednesday in which police shot a male suspect alleged to be walking around with a gun.

“Three officers discharged their firearms, striking the male,” the Independent Investigation Unit said in a news release Thursday.

The man, 26, remained in hospital Thursday. His condition was upgraded to stable.

Winnipeg Police Service officers responded to reports of a man “armed with a gun” near Boyd Avenue and Powers Street at 12:36 p.m.

The IIU is investigating the shooting.

A man was transported to hospital Thursday night after Portage la Prairie RCMP were called to Saskatchewan Avenue in Portage la Prairie after reports of shots fired.

The 38-year-old man was found in the lobby of a building in the area at approximately 9:10 pm with what police say was believed to be gunshot wounds. He was transported to a Winnipeg hospital and remains in stable condition.

Witnesses report seeing two males dressed in black running away from the area. RCMP continue to investigate.

The city is looking to residents for suggestions on its Winnipeg Urban Forest Strategy, which seeks to plan the future protection and management of the city’s tree canopy.

Phase one of the project includes an online survey, discussion forum and interactive mapping tool. Online presentations on the state of Winnipeg’s urban forest will also be held. A self-guided walking tour of Winnipeg’s urban forest and a virtual counterpart will be available until Nov. 1.

Phase two of the project will be built based on the information received during Phase one.

For more information and to learn how to participate, visit winnipeg.ca/urbanforest.

The City of Winnipeg has revealed a new parking framework, in advance of public consultation this fall.

The draft of a new five-year parking strategy has been released, which includes goals to better manage curbside use for drivers, cyclists, mobile vendors, emergency services, and vehicles for hire. 

The draft calls to formally adopt a Saturday complimentary street parking policy with two hours of free parking, plus an option to purchase two more at on-street spaces.

The city may also consider sending more parking tickets by mail.

A final strategy is expected in Spring 2021.

Imagine Van Gogh, the cinematic re-creation of the works of Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh playing at Hall D of the RBC Convention Centre, has been held over until Nov. 30.

Promoters say the show, described as an immersive experience using video projectors to zoom in on the master’s fine brushstrokes, has already sold 16,000 tickets during the first two weeks of its Winnipeg run.

The exhibition has reduced its capacity to follow government COVID-19 regulations; it sells tickets with a specific time to enter. The show takes place in a 25,000-square-foot space, allowing for physical distancing to be maintained. 

The Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service remain on scene at a commercial building fire in the 1300 block of Loundoun Road.

Crews responded to reports of a fire in a building owned by RJ Millworks on Loundoun Road around 4 a.m. Thursday morning, the WFPS said in a statement. When crews arrived on scene, they encountered heavy flames and smoke from two commercial buildings, the WFPS said.

Crews first responded with a defensive attack, then transitioned to an offensive attack using water tankers to shuttle water to the scene, as the fire was outside the City of Winnipeg water district, the WFPS said.

Crews protected a nearby residential home and several other nearby buildings, evacuating all occupants of the home. No injuries have been reported.

The fire was declared under control around 6:30 a.m., though fire crews remained on scene as of 8 a.m.

Wilkes Avenue was closed to traffic between Elmhurst and Loudoun roads, and Wilkes and at Shaftesbury Road, a spokesman said early Thursday. By 6:30 a.m. Wilkes Avenue was reopened in both directions.
 

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