Travis
Manitoba Hydro reminds agricultural producers to stay safe
As agricultural producers return to their fields this spring, Manitoba Hydro is reminding them to stay safe around power lines, poles and other electrical equipment.
“Working in the fields? Watch for power lines,” is one of the messages featured in Manitoba Hydro’s new public safety campaign, “Safety is the answer.”
Farm machinery contacting power lines can cause serious injury or death. It can also result in damage and power outages. Operators are asked to report any damage as soon as possible to help prevent lengthy outages.
Last year, the utility recorded 134 farm machinery contacts with electrical infrastructure. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries but producers should take precautions to avoid this risk.
If farm equipment is over 4.8 metres (or 15 feet 9 inches) in height, producers should apply online for a farm clearance permit from Manitoba Hydro before moving equipment on public roadways.
When driving equipment under a power line, ensure a distance of at least three metres (or 10 feet) from overhead power lines.
If producers do contact an overhead powerline, stay in the equipment or vehicle and call 911 immediately to report the contact.
“Safety is our top priority at Manitoba Hydro, and reminding agricultural producers to reduce the risks of operating machinery around our equipment is key to staying safe,” said Tara Kendzierski, Manitoba Hydro Community Investment and Public Safety Specialist.
Manitoba Hydro has launched a new public safety awareness campaign around the theme “Safety is the answer” aiming to help Manitobans avoid hazards, including farm machinery contact, that have the potential to result in damage, serious injuries or fatalities.
The updated “Safety is the answer” messaging began appearing April 6 on billboards, TV, radio, public service announcements, website banners and print ads. It replaces Manitoba Hydro’s “Safety, it’s in your hands” campaign that came out in 2019.
Russell Leisure Centre in real need of new board members
Russell Leisure Club was established in 1978 as a drop-in center for seniors. It is also the home for an office for the Senior Services of Banner County where seniors can feel comfortable attending to get use of services directed at senior citizens. Lifeline, assistance for completion of forms for government and so on, is provided by this office. The local Thrift Shop is also housed in the same building and is operational on three part-days a week, providing a place for seniors to work on a volunteer basis, and a place for the local communities to be able to purchase clothing and other goods at very reasonable cost.
The Club assists by providing a place that can be home for activities for seniors in the area to continue living independently and with dignity by allowing activities for recreation like line-dancing and yoga, dances, a place to play pool, and gather to play cards.
Annual memberships allow seniors to make use of the Centre to meet with friends, host meeting and activities and feel like a useful part of the community.
The Leisure Centre rents out the facility to individuals and organizations for various activities. Bingos and dances are also held as fundraisers.
Threats against police described as ‘chilling’
By Skye Anderson
The Brandon Sun
ROSSBURN — The Crown is asking the court to sentence a Russell man who’s made repeated threats against police to two years in custody.
“The level of disrespect and contempt that he shows toward members of the community who are attempting to keep the rest of the community safe is certainly eye-opening,” Crown attorney Ron Toews said during Michael Man’s sentencing hearing in Rossburn provincial court on Wednesday.
Man, 46, was convicted of uttering threats after a trial and later pleaded guilty to three additional counts.
“These are not spurious or impulsive utterances or acts. These are comments that are made after careful contemplation,” Toews said.
The man’s lawyer argued that a time-served sentence, which is the equivalent of about 16 months, would be appropriate and still send a strong message to the community that threats will not be tolerated.
Russell RCMP received several complaints about Man sending threatening messages, including toward police, on Jan. 30, 2025.
One of the messages from Man said, “Typical worthless pig f—s in costumes came here to harass me for taking pictures. Next time that happens, I’ll wait for supper hour and kick in their door and get the whole family.”
On Sept. 8, 2025, a police officer received a chain of emails between Man and a Brandon Correctional Centre employee, in which Man made comments about his treatment while incarcerated in 2023.
One of the messages said, “I’m going to have no choice but to hunt the provincial and federal employees responsible for my stay.”
Toews said the use of the word “hunt” is “chilling in its darkest context,” as it invokes a narrative that often involves stalking, premeditation, planning, contemplation and preparation.
Saskatchewan RCMP contacted Russell RCMP on Nov. 6, 2025, and said they had been notified of threats that had been sent to Pattison Media.
In the email, Man said, “F— the police. Only good cops are dead cops. Nobody seems to want to release the details of the three pig f—s that violently assaulted me at gunpoint in the dark as vigilante justice.”
He continued by writing, “I know the RCMP member personally, and he’s going to find himself thrown through the woodchipper out on his front lawn.”
Toews described this threat as “very specific” and graphic in nature, which he said showed premeditation.
“Man engineers his language to maximize his psychological harm. He uses it to power his targets. He uses it to intimidate and to erode their sense of security within the community,” he said.
Toews said he hasn’t seen the slightest suggestion of remorse from Man, and he has a concerning lack of insight or self-reflection.
Read the full story on pages 1 and 7 in this week's Russell Banner.
Parkway CO-OP
Various Positions
R. Hillman Construction
Full-time & part-time positions
May 26, 2026
May 26, 2026
Province invests in Westman health-care workforce
BRANDON—The Manitoba government is investing in the health-care workforce in the Westman region with new paramedic training seats and new child-care spaces for health-care workers, Premier Kinew announced at the Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s State of the Province address.
“Paramedics are the first to arrive when your family needs emergency care and their work is valued by our government,” said Kinew. “We’ve made progress training and hiring more paramedics in Westman, but we know there is more to do. That’s why we are creating a new Primary Care Paramedic Program at Assiniboine College. Because child care is essential to growing the health workforce, we are also creating a new child-care centre at the Brandon hospital built to care for your children while you are caring for others. Together, these investments will help us recruit and retain more health-care workers in Westman.”
An investment of $115,000 to Assiniboine College will create a new rotating rural training model, with the first cohort starting in Dauphin. Assiniboine College will offer this new Primary Care Paramedic Program designed to increase access for rural and western Manitoba students, helping build a stronger pipeline of paramedics for communities across the region, the premier noted. The initiative will support more students moving through the emergency medical responder to primary care paramedic pathway while allowing them to train closer to where they live.
As part of the largest capital child-care project the province has started to date, the Manitoba government is also creating 148 new child-care spaces at the Brandon Regional Health Centre, which will open in summer 2027. The centre is built to operate during extended hours to provide care during health-care workers’ shifts.
“We know Brandon and Westman play a major role in Manitoba’s growth and success,” said Jennifer Ludwig, president, Brandon Chamber of Commerce. “We welcome investments that strengthen health care, support local communities, create opportunities for businesses and workers, and help build a strong economy across western Manitoba.”
The premier also highlighted several recent and ongoing Manitoba government investments benefiting Brandon and the Westman region including:
providing $9.7 million to rebuild and repave 18th Street, which was voted CAA Manitoba’s worst road in 2024;
investing in the Park Community Centre, with construction expected to begin this year;
opening the Brandon Minor Injury and Illness Clinic, which saw more than 10,000 patient visits in 2025;
undertaking action to challenge restrictive property controls held by Sobeys, including controls connected to an empty grocery store property in Brandon, to help increase competition and improve affordability;
advancing nearly $3 billion in energy projects in western Manitoba including a new 750-megawatt dual-fuel turbine project to support growing energy needs and economic development opportunities; and
creating a new critical care unit at the Brandon Regional Health Centre as part of a $120-million expansion project, allowing more patients to receive advanced care closer to home, which will include new, modern private intensive care unit rooms.
Paint the ice event was a huge success
Our 1st Annual Paint the Ice Event was a great success! Thank you to all who came out!
The Russell Townwide Garage Sale is scheduled for Saturday, June 20th from 9am-3:30pm. If you would like your address added to the map, please contact the recreation office: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. From out of town? We will be offering in space inside the rink for $20.
Summer Camps are back! The camps are one week and meet daily from 9am until 3:30pm! Come join us for outdoor activities including arts, crafts, hiking, science, swimming, games, etc. The cost is $50 for the week! Dates and ages are as follows: Russell July 13-17 ages 9-12, Russell July 20-24 ages 7-11, Russell July 27-31 ages 6-10 and Binscarth August 4-7 ages 7-11. Please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register!
There is a new story on the Storybook Trail! “Cool Canadian Dinosaurs” Fun Facts from Teeth to Tracks! by Canadian Girl. The trail starts just off Alexandria Ave by the Russell grain elevator on the Trans Canada Trail. Follow the trail, stopping at each story pedestal and learn about 14 different types of dinosaurs that once lived in Canada!
Healthy Baby is Tuesday, May 26 from 11am-1pm upstairs in the Bunge Room located in the Russell Memorial Multiplex, Main St entrance. This is a free program for expecting parents and those with babies under the age of one. Come join us!
Pickleball is at the GPB Hall in Russell! Tuesdays from 1-3pm and Thursdays from 9-11am and again from 7-9pm! The last evening of pickleball at the Binscarth school was on Monday, April 27! See you next fall! Pickleball is FREE and we have all equipment needed. Clean, indoor shoes required. Never played before? We’ve got you covered! We will teach you!
NEW! Badminton is in Russell at the GPB Hall on Wednesday evenings from 7-9pm. It is FREE and we have all equipment needed. Clean, indoor shoes required.
Zumba is Thursday nights from 6:30-7:30pm upstairs in the Bunge Room at the Russell Memorial Multiplex, Main St entrance, $5 drop-in!
