After year’s of calls for the provincial government to do much needed repairs to Provincial Road 275, better known in these parts as Ditch Road, a crew of local citizens were given the green light by municipal leaders to do some patch work to a stretch of the road. The crew set to task Tuesday (July 7). Pictured here, Carl Miller (left), Bryan Hulme (in skid steer) and TJ Schullman (right) spread some much needed asphalt to a stretch of Ditch Road. To the right is Hayden Hulme spreading asphalt and Steve Wohlgemuth (standing). In the background is Verlin Barkman, Braden Mercier and Parker Hulme.  

By Terrie Welwood
Russell Banner
Inky Mark who represented this area as our Member of Parliament for Dauphin Swan River Marquette for than a decade - from 1997 until 2010 - is facing gun trafficking charges after more than 400 firearms were allegedly seized from his Dauphin, Manitoba home.
Before heading to Ottawa, he served as the mayor of the City of Dauphin from 1994 to 1997.
RCMP announced last Monday that the 78-year-old was arrested after police searched his home as part of a firearm trafficking investigation
In addition to 439 guns, Mounties seized an antique cannon, ammunition and $300,000 in cash, according to the RCMP release.
The 78-year-old was arrested after police searched his home as part of a firearm trafficking investigation last Tuesday, Corp. Barry Kirby, of the Manitoba West District general investigation section, said.

To get the whole story, pick up a copy of this week's Russell Banner and turn to page 2.

Mother Nature may have been attempting to spit fire but that didn’t keep people away from the second Spear Lake Day held over one of the hottest weekends so far this year.
The event, put on by local songstress Kolby Clunas drew about 100 people - double of last years crowd - to check out the wares of local artists listen to the talent of local artists like Butch Fleury, Kolby Clunas, Shae Rose and the duo of Erin Fleury and Earl Gillespie or drop in to play with the pups up for adoption through Passion for Paws. Kayaks were available for a paddle around Spear Lake with plenty of shade thanks to the hard work of the members of Russell Game and Fish who were the benefactors of the $482 raised.

Dear Madam Editor,
Once again, as summer is upon us, the Board of Directors of RAHAC (Russell Museum), wishes to invite friends, family and the general public to the Russell Church Museum and the Gilmour House.
As many of you may know, the Gilmour is now the oldest house in Russell. Not only is it the oldest house, but it is almost completely furnished in 1900’s style.
In the Church Museum, we have dozens, no… hundreds of artifacts from Russell history, from the sports corner (1890’s to the 21st century) to the Military display honouring those who served in the Boer War, World War I and World War II to present day. As always, we are looking to add to our collection.
The purpose of adding to our collection is to entice and encourage people to come in, again and again, to learn more about Russell and area history and to instill a desire to preserve that history.
This summer we have compiled a “Wish List”. On this list, we are asking for items that will embellish and add to the richness of our collection. While this is not the complete wishlist, it is a start…
1. Old telephones-all and any
2. Old hats- men or women’s-dressy or otherwise
3. Hymnals- all or any church
4. Church paraphernalia- pew cushions; crosses; icons
And on another tangent, besides our wish list, we are looking for businesses or offices that would consider allowing RAHAC to set up display. Our Museum has limited display space, but an abundance of artifacts we would love to present to the public.
For example: *a creamery display which would include milk bottles; creamery uniforms; milk tokens; Manco jacket… a little of everything!
*A garage display: Clement’s; Fenton’s; Galatiuk’s, Bicknell’s which would include advertising memorabilia; calendars; signs.
*Kids’ toys from 1900’s to 1990’s
*’50’s -’60s-’70’s remembering that the 70’s were a mere 50 years ago.
Museum hours are Monday to Friday from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
For individual tours after hours, please do not hesitate to contact any member of the RAHAC Board of Directors: Lenore Fenton - President; Pauline Glasman - Vice President; Louise Ewankiw - Treasurer; Donna Reid - Secretary; Directors: Guy McMurray. Honey Affleck, Cathy Clemence
Hoping to see you all, as we step back in time and appreciate the pioneers of Russell and area, as well as those in the present, who made this town what it is today.
Sincerely, Honey Affleck
(Granddaughter of Andrew Mather, Mayor of Russell 1945-1955.)

Editors Note: Over the last week, the people of St. Lazare have been fighting flood waters - calling on residents to help with filling sandbags to protect the village’s homes and businesses. As they always have, they banded together under a local State of Emergency and got the job done just a head of the predicted crest on July 8th. They sent along this Flood Situation Report, detailing the actions of the municipality and the residents of the community. More pictures on page 8

Flood Situation Report – St. Lazare (Tuesday July 7th)
The community of St. Lazare continues to actively respond to high water levels affecting the surrounding area.
At present, four residences located south of the CN railway tracks have been successfully protected from floodwaters. Two of these properties have been secured using Tiger Dams, while an extensive number of sandbags have been filled and deployed by Public Works staff with the assistance of the Volunteer Fire Department and dedicated community volunteers. Other properties and laneways have been protected by home-made dams by the property owners.
On July 4th Provincial Trunk Highway 41 was closed after water overtopped the roadway. The Qu'Appelle River Bridge was also closed to ensure public safety and the RM of Ellice – Archie declared a State of Local Emergency.
On July 6, Municipal Public Works staff addressed several low spots along the provincially owned dike surrounding the community by placing additional clay and deploying Tiger Dams to increase protection. These measures continue to perform well and are effectively protecting the community from floodwaters.
The Municipality has been in discussions with Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI) since June 2025 regarding the need to raise the protective dikesurrounding St. Lazare. While MTI has acknowledged that improvements are required, the project is not currently scheduled for completion in the near future.
Given the current flood event, the Municipality has formally requested an inspection of the dike. MTI has confirmed that representatives from Engineering and ater Operations will attend to assess the infrastructure.
This flood event has clearly demonstrated the urgency of advancing this project on the Province's priority list. Had the dike been overtopped or breached, more than 30% of the town of St. Lazare would have experienced significant flooding, overcoming numerous homes, businesses, and municipal infrastructure.
On July 7th, the Municipality was advised by MTI that water levels at Binscarth have begun to slowly decline. Based on current conditions, we anticipate reaching peak water levels today, with the hope that levels will begin a gradual decline over the coming days.
Road closures continue to have a significant impact on residents, businesses, and commuters. The closure of the Qu'Appelle Bridge has left 22 families with access only to the north, requiring travel through the community pasture to Spy Hill, Saskatchewan, as their sole exit route. This limited access has significantly increased travel times and presents ongoing challenges for residents, emergency response, and the delivery of essential services should conditions deteriorate.
With PTH 41 closed south of St. Lazare, the community has lost its primary southern access route. This has created considerable challenges for workers travelling to employment locations south of town, including the Nutrien mine, municipal Public Works operations, and other regional employers.
Travel disruptions have been further compounded by the closure of PTH 467 at Highway 83 near Miniota, forcing motorists to detour south to the Trans-Canada Highway before travelling north again on PTH 41. These closures have substantially increased travel times and created ongoing logistical challenges for residents, businesses, emergency response, and essential services.
Emergency events such as this also underscore the critical lack of reliable cellular service in the St. Lazare area. During emergencies, dependable communication is essential for coordinating response efforts, issuing public warnings, and allowing residents to contact emergency services or loved ones. The absence of adequate cellular coverage poses a significant public safety risk and can have devastating consequences when every minute counts. This flood event has once again highlighted the urgent need for improved telecommunications infrastructure to ensure the safety and resilience of our community. The Municipality will continue to closely monitor water levels, maintain flood protection measures, and work collaboratively with provincial partners to ensure the continued safety of residents and critical infrastructure.
For more, turn to page 8 in this week's Russell Banner.

A phased reopening of the Tri Com Recycling Centre is underway, with curbside collection expected to resume by mid-August 2026. Milan Manu, the Centre’s new Recycling Manager, has been leading the effort to restore and improve recycling services for residents throughout the tri-community.
Originally from Kerala, India, Manu moved to Canada in 2023 to study Business Marketing at Algonquin College. After graduating, a friend he met at college was from Flin Flon and told him about all the opportunities in northern Manitoba. Encouraged by what he heard, Milan made the move to The Pas. “I was in The Pas for about six weeks when this opportunity came up,” said Manu. “It was a great chance to combine my experience in operations and community recycling with serving the community.”

After weeks of searching, the Dauphin Kings finally found their man.
Bryan Kromm was hired as the Kings new head coach and general manager, last week, after spending the last two seasons as the assistant general manager, associate coach and director of player and skill development with the British Columbia Hockey League’s Trail Smoke Eaters.
Prior to his time in Trail, Kromm spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.
Kromm, 31, admits he did not actually apply for the job.
“It was actually a friend of mine who put my name in the ring. And then I got a call out of the blue from Scott (McCallum, director of hockey operations) and we had a discussion,” he explained, adding he got a text from Kings vice-president Bryan Romanow within a couple of weeks.
“Had another meeting with him and Andy Kubas and then I turn around and all of a sudden I have a contract offer in front of me.
“So I didn’t go out searching for it. It just kind of fell in my lap, but I’m definitely excited about the opportunity to get my foot in the door and be a head coach and GM. That is something I was striving toward in my coaching career. I’m super excited to be part of the Dauphin organization.”
All Kromm knew of the Kings was it was one of the premier teams in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and has a track record of winning and a winning culture.
“As I did a little bit more diving it, I realized it’s one of those true hockey towns where you’re one of the biggest shows in town and people are excited about the organization and the franchise,” he said.
“That was something that was super exciting to me, just being that small town culture and having a community that really supports the team.”
Kromm said fans can expect a competitive team that plays a high-paced game.
“Relentless. Very exciting to watch. But also pretty strong defensively, too, in not giving up too much risk, as well. I do expect our players to put their best foot forward every night and compete to the best of their abilities,” he said.
“Hopefully, there’s a team-first atmosphere when the fans watch and, hopefully, it’s exciting to come watch a game on a Friday or Saturday night.”
Kromm’s first priority will be finding a place to live. But he plans to come to Dauphin in mid-August after completing some prior obligations.
“And then show up a week before the boys show up and get ready to hit the ground running,” he said.
The first thing Kromm did when he was hired was call to all of the returning players.
“So I know who is coming back and I’ve set my expectations for them and for what they should expect from me. I’ve already had those conversations, so I feel I’m in a better spot than I did on Wednesday when I first accepted the position,” he said.
Kromm will also be in search of an assistant coach, with assistance from the board of directors.
The Kings are now taking registrations for its Par 3 Extravaganza, taking place, Sept. 12, at the Dauphin Lake Golf Club, with sign up sheets at the pro shop, as well as the Kings website at dauphinkings.com..
Training camp takes place, Aug. 28 to 30, at Credit Union Place.

The Parkland Pirates U19 men’s team made history recently, winning the Stampede 7s Rugby tournament, July 3 and 4, in Calgary, Alta.
The Pirates opened round-robin play with a convincing 38-0 win, followed by a 17-15 victory over Saltwater Cowboys Yellow.
A default win over Nor’Westers HSB 2 put Parkland in the high school boys elite playoff bracket, where they defeated Team Chud, 21-14, in the semifinals.
Parkland then claimed the tournament championship with a 26-19 win over LA Crude.
Coach Aaron Miner said the team was hoping to win a game or two going into the tournament.
“We’ve had very little success in Alberta. The teams there are normally Alberta, B.C., Washington state-based teams that go there. To win a game there is a success. But to go undefeated and win it all is huge,” he said.
This group, Miner said, has bonded well and has come together as a team.
“The rugby culture here is very strong. But this group, they just want more. They don’t even listen to Gerald (co-coach Lopez) and I anymore. They want more. They want to take things into their own hands,” he said.
“We go to practice and then they want to stay late after practice. On their days off, they want to go to the field and practice their kicks, practice the fine-tuning of their game. And they’ve been doing that for months now. It’s just been amazing to watch this group take the game that they love and expand on it.”
As the Pirates kept winning, Miner said the team kept expecting the “bubble to burst.” And with each win, they knew the opponents would get tougher and tougher.
“They always had that doubt in the back of their mind, but come game time, they just turned it on and took it to the next level, each and every game,” he said.
“They didn’t want to get overconfident. They reality checked after every win and realized it was going to be a tough game every time.”
The tournament featured 124 teams from across North America in all of the different divisions and age groups, with 15 in Parkland’s division.
Most of the Pirates played with the Dauphin Clippers high school team, which won the high school league title, and also toured England and Wales earlier this year.
This past weekend, the Pirates were in Brandon for the first of three Manitoba Cup tournaments, where they defeated Winnipeg, 35-0, and Westman, 61-0.
Miner was surprised the Pirates shutout their opponents.
“I knew we had a good team going in, but I didn’t think we’d shut them out. Winnipeg showed up with some players that I recognized from coaching Team Manitoba over the last few years and they really surprised me with what they had, actually,” he said.
“So good to see that rugby in Winnipeg is starting to make a come back. They had some players there that showed some skill and some knowledge of the game.”
Those players who were in Calgary were keen on keeping their momentum going, Miner said.
“Definitely, seeing the skill over the last two months just increase with these guys and their level of knowledge and knowing where each other are going to be, they look like a finely-oiled machine out there,” he added.
“Just knowing where each other is going to be on the field without even having to look just because everybody is playing their position so well.”
The second tournament will be in Winnipeg, July 18, and the team is excited to play in front of a large crowd at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg.
“Everybody is super excited. Everybody is ready for practice this week,” Miner said, adding several players stayed to play for the Parkland Mavericks senior men’s team in their game against the Winnipeg Wasps.
The third tournament will take place in Dauphin, July 25.

The lack of a medical facility has led to the cancellation of this year’s Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival, just three weeks before it was set to take place.
The CNUF board made the announcement in a press release, Thursday evening, noting the festival site itself was not affected by the flooding
The decision was made after the board consulted with the City of Dauphin, Rural Municipality of Dauphin, MLA Ron Kostyshyn, MP Dan Mazier and its insurance provider.
Third vice-president Cory Lafontaine said they began discussing the prospects of cancelling the festival when Prairie Mountain Health announced it would be closing the Dauphin Regional Health Centre.
“We came to the realization that we’re not so sure we can have a festival without a hospital,” he said, adding that was when they consulted the various government entities, as well as the insurance provider.
“We wanted some direction and what their thoughts were in continuing with the festival. And after that meeting, we came to realize that we weren’t so sure that we can have a festival if we don’t have a hospital,” Lafontaine said.
The biggest concern, Lafontaine added, was the number of festival patrons who are elderly, as well as families.
“And you just want to make sure if anybody gets hurt on the festival site, that they’re covered. We’re not confident that putting them in an ambulance and sending them 30 kilometres away is the best choice,” he said.
Lafontaine said they wanted to make sure they had proper insurance for the festival and weren’t sure they would if they continued with the festival, which is why they had the insurance provider in the discussion.
“We would be bringing in another 3,000 to 4,000 people to our community, already strained with limited urgent and emergency care. That’s putting a tremendous amount of pressure on the those two temporary rural emergency healthcare centers 30 plus minutes away,” he said.
“Of course, it makes sense to cancel or postpone our festival, until we are confident we have the appropriate care and services to accommodate our patrons, as well as our local residents. It’s very unfortunate we have to cancel, but our festival needs to be safe, for everyone who attends.”
The board, Lafontaine said, was overwhelmed with support from the dance groups and performers who were set to hit the stage at this year’s festival.
“They’re all reaching out to us and saying they support us and support our decision. And I think most of them are prepared to come back next year to put on a heck of a great show,” he said.
“They realize that the decision that we made is in the best interest of the community. It’s funny, we put the community first before we put the festival first this year, because it’s important to keep our community safe. We’re just not so sure that if we had a festival, not only under a state of emergency, but without a hospital is the best decision to make. We want to make sure our patrons are, first and foremost, safe in our environment.”
Those who purchased tickets or camping passes to this year’s event can ask for a refund or roll them over to next year’s festival.
“The nice thing about that is if they do roll over to next year, they’re going to get this year’s price. We understand that there will be some people wanting refunds and we’re going to make sure we accommodate them, as well,” Lafontaine said, adding they will have that information on their website at cnuf.ca and their Facebook page as soon as they can.
“We really wanted to have a festival this year, but without having a hospital in our own back yard to provide the service, it’s just not going to be feasible. We’re not so sure that having emergency services 30 minutes away is going to help us out,” he said.
“Our hearts remain with everyone that’s been affected.”