Manitoba’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre’s spring flood outlook reports the risk of moderate to major flooding in most southern Manitoba basins is dependent on weather conditions from now until the spring melt.

The Hydrologic Forecast Centre advises that, while there is a risk of major flooding along the Red River and its tributaries, including the Roseau, Rat and Pembina rivers, water levels are expected to remain below community flood protection levels at all locations.

There is also a risk of moderate flooding for most other southern Manitoba basins including the Assiniboine and Souris rivers and the Whiteshell lakes area.

The risk of spring flooding is low for the Interlake region and northern Manitoba regions.

The Hydrologic Forecast Centre also reports that operation of the Red River Floodway is expected this spring to reduce water levels within the city of Winnipeg with some operation of the Portage Diversion anticipated to prevent ice jamming on the Assiniboine River.

The 2022 spring flood outlook report is available online at www.gov.mb.ca/mit/floodinfo.

The next flood outlook will be released late March.

The Parkland Rangers clinched a playoff spot after splitting a pair of games with the Winnipeg Thrashers in Winnipeg over the weekend.

Winnipeg clinched its spot in the postseason with an 11-6 win over Parkland on Friday.

Carter Bear had two goals and three assists and Daniel Tokariwski scored once and added four assists to lead the Thrashers. Xyon Kiemeney chipped in with two goals and two assists and Hayden Chaloner scored three times and Brycen Gair, Joshua Fast and Kyle Grysiuk added singles.

Kyan Grouette led the Rangers with two goals and two assists, while Rylan Gibbs, Parker Boguski, Marco Bodnarski and Hayden Seib each scored once. Connor Stewart made 24 saves in recording the win.

Kyle Swanton and Brenden Birch-Hayden split the netminding duties for Parkland, combining to make 27 saves.

The Rangers got a measure of revenge on Saturday, scoring a 6-5 victory.

This time it was Gibbs leading the way for Parkland with two goals and two assists, netting the winner with 6:17 remaining in the third period.

Will Munro, Bodnarski, Dru Mushumanski and Grouette also scored, while Birch-Hayden stopped 41 shots to record the win. Jayce Legaarden chipped in the three assists.

Kiemeney scored twice and added an assist, while Bear had a goal and two assists to lead the Thrashers. Peyton Hinkel-Lysak and Dobie Unrau had the other goals and Stewart had 19 saves in the loss.

Rangers head coach Tyler Carefoot said Friday’s game was as bad as the score indicates.

One of the things the Rangers struggle with, he added, is consistency.

“One game where we’re firing on all cylinders and the next night we’re flat. And I know it’s hard to do and what’s hard is to bring it every night,” he said. “But we’re at a stage in the season where every game is very valuable and we have to be in the moment and we have to be prepared.”

It was a game, Carefoot added, that the Rangers would not look back on and simply move forward and onto the next contest.

Carefoot did not have to say much to get the players ready for Saturday’s game as they realized the situation they were in.

“One day we could be in fourth place and the next morning, if you don’t win, you could be in seventh place and they recognized that,” he said. “We were a completely different team.”

While the Rangers did play better overall, Carefoot would like to see the team play better defensively.

“We need to be a little bit harder to play against in the D zone. You look at our firepower, we can definitely put pucks in the net. But we have to look after our D zone if we’re going to have any success in the next four games and moving further in the playoffs,” he said, noting the Rangers had a 5-2 lead at one point on Saturday only for the Thrashers to come back and tie the game.

“I have to give them credit. There could have been some adversity. We could have played with fear, but rather we kept on going and we were able to get the winning goal.”

Carefoot and his staff felt they could split the four games against the Thrashers, which they did.

“We have to be satisfied with that. But I also think that we need to tidy up our D zone if we’re going to have any success in the next 10 days, for sure,” he said.

The Rangers have four games remaining in their regular season.

Tonight, they host the Southwest Cougars at 7:30 p.m. On the weekend, they are in Teulon to face the Interlake Lightning, Friday at 8 p.m., and Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Carefoot knows the Cougars will be tough.

“Southwest has been personally my kryptonite the last two-and-a-half-years being involved in the program. I think this season we’re 0-3,” he said.

“They’re a well coached team. They play very disciplined with their structure. They’re not that offensive, but they just kind of hang around and they capitalize on their opportunities. We’re going to, hopefully, find a way to get the two points.”

Interlake may be in last place in the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League, but they will not be a pushover as they proved on Sunday, taking the Brandon Wheat Kings to overtime.

“They’re definitely a tough out. They’re very gritty. They do take a lot of penalties. But they played Brandon hard this past weekend. We have to be ready,” Carefoot said, adding the Rangers must play each game in the moment as each two points are valuable for seeding.

The regular season ends, Feb. 21, when the Rangers host the Winnipeg Bruins at 7:30 p.m.

A road safety observation study commissioned last fall by Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) reports that non-seatbelt use is higher in rural Manitoba with 10 per cent of all drivers observed not wearing their seatbelt, compared to three per cent in the Winnipeg region.

The two worst regions for non-seatbelt use were Interlake and Parkland at 16 and 14 per cent respectively. Meanwhile, the study also reported use of an electronic communication device (ECD) was higher in Winnipeg at 10 per cent, compared to rural areas at three per cent.

“The purpose of this study was to obtain current rates of risky driving behaviour across Manitoba, with a focus on use of hand-operated electronic devices and seatbelt use,” said Satvir Jatana, MPI’s chief customer officer.

“The findings of this study will be used as a benchmark to monitor behaviour change overtime, and shared with the Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police for the purpose of planning future enforcement and awareness campaigns.”

The Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba (IBAM) is also an advocate for safe driving and warns that distracted driving can have both financial and human costs.

“Driving without a seatbelt is another example of dangerous driving that can ultimately lead to preventable accidents among our clients,” said Grant Wainikka, IBAM’s chief executive officer. “Both non-seatbelt usage and distracted driving due to cell phones can lead to more severe accidents and in the long-term, higher premiums for Manitoba drivers. Safety needs to be the driver’s number one priority when behind the wheel.”

The road safety study was conducted in September with an overall error rate of +/- 0.5 per cent. A total of nearly 29,000 vehicles were observed in 46 towns and cities with a population of at least 1,000. In total, eight economic regions were selected including Winnipeg, Central Plains, Eastman, Interlake, Northern, Parkland, Pembina Valley and Westman.

Study highlights
• Overall, seven per cent of all drivers observed were using an ECD in some capacity;
• ECD use appeared to be higher in areas with traffic lights;
• ECD use is highest among younger drivers;
• Overall, seven per cent of all drivers observed were not wearing their seatbelt;
• Those driving trucks had slightly higher rates of not wearing a seatbelt compared to passenger cars or vans and SUVs;
• Drivers in rural areas wore their seatbelt less often across all age groups; and
• In cases where the driver was not wearing their seatbelt, 54 per cent of passengers were also not wearing their seatbelt.

Overall, driver distraction is a leading contributor to fatal crashes in Manitoba, linked to nearly 50 per cent of all fatalities and 37 per cent of all serious injuries in 2020, according to MPI data.

Using a hand-held electronic device while driving is illegal in Manitoba, with the offender receiving a $672 fine, three-day driving suspension for first-offenders and moving down five levels on the Driver Safety Rating scale. A subsequent conviction will result in a seven-day driving suspension and moving down the DSR scale five levels.

A person is more than 50 times more likely to be killed and almost four times more likely to be seriously injured when not wearing a seatbelt. Failure to wear a seatbelt will result in a fine of $200 and moving down two levels on the Driver Safety Rating scale.

“High-risk driving behaviours places all motorists at risk on our public roadways,” Jatana said. “This study confirmed too many drivers continue to exhibit high-risk behaviours which can easily be changed.”

By Ed Stozek
For the Herald

At Brandon University one of my Geography professors always started off his first class of a new term by giving a lecture on the history of the evolution of the outhouse.

Some freshmen took detailed notes thinking that this was part of the course and that this was very important information. At the end of the class the professor indicated that it was just a joke.

The importance of the outhouse was no joke as it was once an important building on every farmyard.

Sleet, rain, snow nor hail kept the family from occupying it daily.

While occupying the biffy, the Simpson Sears and Eaton’s catalogues provided staple reading material. In case of a shortage of toilet paper the catalogue also doubled its duties in that area. Shortly before Christmas, locals always bought a box or two of "Christmas" oranges at the general store in town. Each orange came wrapped in coarse paper. Invariably, in a pinch, the paper was also put to good use.

The outhouse was a target for mischievous nocturnal activities. At Halloween, groups of thrill-seekers would go to a farmyard and tip the outhouse. To combat the problem, farmers sometimes moved their outhouses several feet ahead prior to Halloween. In total darkness, when the lads wanted to tip the outhouse, they often slipped into the hole and found themselves “knee-deep” in an unpleasant situation.
Before an urban community had sewage and waterworks, some of the residences employed the use of an indoor five-gallon container.

The “honey dipper man” came at regular intervals with a team of horses and a wagon and collected the solid and liquid waste. In one case the honey dipper man finished his rounds and parked the wagon. The release valve froze so he could not dump the load. Overnight the valve released and by morning sewage was freely flowing down the street.

In October 1966, the 558 residents in Bowsman unveiled a $350,000 sewage treatment plant. It paved the way for indoor toilets and made the outdoor "biffy" obsolete. A town councillor came up with the idea of burning the outhouses for a Centennial celebration.

On Dec. 31, the evening began with trucks driving around town collecting 26 biffies and stacking them at a spot near the new sewage treatment plant. United Church Minister J. Liles read an “Ode to Burning Bowsman Biffies”, part of which included, “The time has come to destroy friends who have held up their ends through the years. They have fulfilled their duties under fair and foul conditions, they have always stood ready to meet anyone and give them support, they have provided shelter from stormy blasts and a good place to read the most recent catalogue, although they have at times been upset by one generation or another, they have been upset for the final time and the end is in sight for them.”

To herald in Canada’s centennial year, the spectators cheered and joined in the singing of “For Auld Lang Syne” as the biffies were lit on fire.

The unique celebration of burning 26 outhouses as a centennial project was covered in newspapers in Sweden, Mexico, the United States and in Canada. Yorkton’s television station sent a crew to film the event.

Apparently, to honour the event, Bowsman's postal code was also changed to R0L 0H0. (Roll Our Loyal Out Houses Over.)

Later that year, Bowsman’s mayor, A.R. Sutherland, appeared on CBC’s television show, Front Page Challenge. In 1997 the story of burning the outhouses was used in Pierre Burton’s book, 1967, The Last Good Year.

When professor Tyman outlined information in his lectures to the freshmen Geography classes back in the early 1970s, the biffy was already becoming a vestige of the past as the equivalent, the porta potty, was being developed using the overall principle of the traditional outhouse. Instead of various scraps of wood, this feat of modern architecture included molded plastics and was easily transportable.

Somehow the porta potty lacks the character of the old wooden biffy that graced our farmyard. However, it’s very impressive when today’s version of the “honey dipper” man arrives with modern equipment at an outdoor social function to clean up any mess.

Dauphin and District Snowmobile Club held its monthly meeting, Feb. 7 at the Mossey River Inn in Winnipegosis.

Some members drove sleds to the meeting and ordered meals and refreshments.

Our trail maps are available through several businesses in Dauphin, Winnipegosis, Ethelbert and Fork River or from any of our members. For more information check out our website at www.dauphinsnowmobileclub.com.

Our current fund-raiser is a raffle with three draws forweekend passes to Dauphin’s CountryFest. Proceeds for general operations of our club.

Tickets are $5 and are available at Parkland Sport and Marine and Speed n Sport in Dauphin, Foxy’s Gas Bar, Fusion Credit Union, G&G Solo Store and the Municipal Office in Winnipegosis and the Fork River Post Office.

They can also be purchased through etransfer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Alice at 204-656 4612. The draw date Apr. 4, at 8 p.m.

The Dauphin Snowmobile Club’s next scheduled meeting will be on Mar. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Parkway Lanes in Dauphin.

After winning six straight games against the OCN Blizzard, the Dauphin Kings got away from what made them a contender in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League this season.

The result was a 7-2 loss at the hands of the Blizzard, Saturday at Credit Union Place.

The loss came on the heels of a 4-3 overtime victory over OCN, Thursday in OCN, a game which the Kings dominated, outshooting the Blizzard 62-26.

Nick Braun was the overtime hero for the Kings, scoring the winner 3:06 into the extra frame.

On Saturday, OCN opened the scoring just 14 seconds into the contest.

Luke Morris brought the Kings even 57 seconds later when he rang a shot in off the post, but OCN took control with two goals later in the frame.

Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley felt both goaltenders would like to have a few shots back.

“The biggest thing is I don’t think we played real well in the D zone. We don’t normally give those kinds of chances away,” he added. “I just thought our attention to detail wasn’t real good and starting on time was definitely an issue and I don’t think we gave our opponent enough respect. We just played too loose. We didn’t play with a lot of team structure, although we had the puck a lot of the time.”

The Kings were guilty of leaving players open in front of the net, which OCN used to its advantage.

Dauphin did control the puck for the majority of the game, directing 55 shots at the OCN net.

“Just maybe a little too high risk and giving them opportunities. We’d be in their end for three or four shifts in a row and then all of a sudden they’d get a break and it’s in the net,” Hedley said. “Just too many errors that we don’t normally make. It was just all attention to detail.”

Hedley hopes the game serves as a wakeup call and that the team can learn from it. At the same time, it is one of those games they have to put behind them right away and start to prepare for the next outing, which comes, Friday when the Kings travel to Waywayseecappo hoping to tame the Wolverines.

Saturday the two teams meet again in Dauphin. Both games get underway at 7:30 p.m.

“We’ve got a good week to prepare for Wayway. We were embarrased tonight. So we’ve got to find a way to get better,” Hedley said, adding the Kings will watch some video and go through the special teams and see what Waywayseecappo’s tendencies are as they prepare for the weekend.

“But the biggest thing is we focus on our strengths and play fast, do what we do well,” he said. “We’ve got to start getting pucks to the net. We’ve got to start getting into the eyes of the goaltender. We don’t go to the net front enough. I think we had control of the puck a lot. But the goaltender can see every shot we take. We need guys going to the paint.”

Forward Matthew Rathbone remains week-to-week with an upper body injury and will start skating soon.

Effective today Manitoba has made a provincewide shift to Yellow under the Pandemic response system.

The move is possible because key COVID-19 indicators are stabilizing. Premier Heather Stefanson added the overall situation is allowing Manitoba to move forward with a plan to further reduce public health restrictions.

Adjustments will be made as needed in the coming weeks based on the guidance of public health officials, including requirements for proof of vaccination.

“I want to thank Manitobans who have made personal, professional and financial sacrifices over the past two years, and have done their part by getting vaccinated and following the fundamentals,” Stefanson said. “It is because of Manitobans’ collective efforts and dedication, compassion and willingness to protect one another that we are able to move forward once again to lift restrictions and allow Manitobans to get their lives back.”

New public health orders came into effect at 12:01 a.m. today (Feb. 15). Capacity limits have been eliminated in venues such as restaurants, licensed premises, entertainment venues, indoor and outdoor sporting events and casinos, as well as gatherings at private residences.

Capacity limits will be removed for outdoor public gatherings, but will be limited to 50 people indoors unless proof of vaccination is required.

Young people ages 12 to 17 participating in indoor sports and recreation will no longer be required to provide proof of vaccination or recent testing. There are no changes to retail and personal services.

As well, close contacts of a person who tests positive for COVID-19 will no longer be required to self-isolate. Public health continues to recommend self-isolation for people who live in a household with others who have symptoms, or tested positive for COVID-19, but it will no longer be required.

Additionally, public health will remove self-isolation requirements for individuals entering the province. However, anyone travelling from international destinations will continue to be required to meet requirements under the federal Quarantine Act. Public health orders restricting travel to northern Manitoba remain in place.

“Based on the information and data monitored by public health, we are seeing strong signals that the Omicron wave has peaked and is now having a reduced impact here in Manitoba,” Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, said. “As a result, it’s prudent to continue to reduce our public health restrictions. I want to remind Manitobans that this is an important time of transition and we still need to get vaccinated, wear a mask and do simple, but important things like washing our hands and staying home when we are sick. We need to remain cautious about gathering sizes, even as we shift from public health rules to public health recommendations.”

Schools will return to Yellow (Caution) under the Pandemic Response System, which requires cohorts in Kindergarten to Grade 6. Masks are required indoors for staff and students, but will not be required during physical education classes. Medical masks will be recommended, but no longer required for school staff.

Schools will continue to send out community notification letters if public health officials have identified increased transmission or recommended remote learning for a class, cohort or entire school. The online dashboard will continue to post this information, but will no longer include case numbers.

Children, school staff and child-care staff will only be eligible for PCR testing if medically indicated, in line with eligibility criteria for all Manitobans.

Moving forward, the province plans to remove proof of vaccination requirements effective Mar. 1.

In some settings, such as personal care homes, shelters and health-care facilities, public health officials have continued to work with facilities to notify close contacts. Effective Mar 8, this will no longer occur. Mask requirements and other restrictions will be lifted effective, Mar. 15.