Maybe it’s because it’s been so long since we’ve seen them dance.

Possibly it’s because it’s really been a long while since we’ve had events that brought so many people out to fill up the hall.

Or possibly it’s the fact that we have so many wonderful families choosing to come here as they escape the war in Ukraine and now call this area home....

Whatever the reason there were certainly a lot of smiles at the Yachminka Ukrainian Dance Ensembles Spring Concert held last weekend.

After the disruption caused by Covid, Masters of Ceremony Tyla Betke and Feron Lovas - both alumni of Yachminka - took a look back at the ensembles beginnings while explaining the significance of each of the regional dances.

Get the full story in this week's Russell Banner!

Like all charitable events, the Trojans annual Stick it to Cancer is truly a community event where people from around the area donated their time, their money and their goods and services for the rainbow and silent auction tables in order to make the Expanding Community Cancer Care benefit game the rousing success - and such a heartwarming evening for nine years.

Almost every year since 2014, the Major Pratt Trojans have held a benefit game at the Russell Memorial Multiplex in aid of the expansion project.

Get all the details in this week's Russell Banner!

More than 70 people were on hand to hear Shelley Napier lay out the facts again about what happened when the Emergency Pandemic Plan written by herself and her staff ended up on the Manitoba Municipal Association website with the logo of this municipality and the name of our CAO as the author.

Her story moved some of the audience to tears and ended with apologies from several ratepayers in the audience who were upset at how the much respected emergency services consultant had been treated by the council and administration of this municipality.

The group of concerned citizens who organized the event also touched on the roles and responsibilities of council as well as answered a number of pertinent questions regarding procedural rules of order in municipal government.

Get more in this week's Russell Banner!

The Russell Ag Society unveiled their new ground’s sign in preparation for the celebration of 141 years.

Russell Ag Society is very excited to see the arena grounds being utilized more as the next generation of parents and youth are growing and becoming more involved.

Membership continues to grow, as the Ag Society actively has around 40 members or 17 different families. The Ag Society is coming alive again.

They were very excited for the weekend of festivities planned and all the excitement that comes with full grounds. The arena remains to be used by many Ag Members for practice as well as the many events that are starting to come back to the Ag Arena. With the growing interest and the revival of rodeo in our community also comes many benefits and opportunities.

The Ag Society grounds extend from the north side of Russell Swimming Pool and encompass the ball diamonds all the way to the back alley of Mather Street.

Get the full story in this week's Russell Banner!

Logan Hamilton looks down on his 6’3” tall older brother Lucas standing in front of a 50-foot-tall tree that fell in their yard in the Foxwarren area on the night of June 19th.  This 100-year-old tree was one of countless trees that fell in the yard. As the Hamilton’s lost most of their shingles, Erin says it was raining in their bedrooms, kitchen and stairwell.  And a tree went through the back window of her vehicle.  Fortunately, all the Hamilton’s and their beloved animals were safe in the basement and emerged unscathed. 

-photo by Erin Hamilton