The size of the new 240-litre automated garbage carts in northwest Winnipeg are certainly an issue for some residents. To deal with the concerns being raised to 311 and elected officials, the Public Service recommended options on Monday to remedy the situation.

The current programs gives each household one cart free of charge, but some residents are willing to pay for additional space.

The fee-for-service options are:

Option 1 – Switch the 240-litre cart for a 360-litre cart at a cost of $33.00 per year.
Option 2 – Get a second cart, 240-litre size at a cost of $93.00 per year.
Option 3 – Get a second cart, 360-litre size at a cost of $116.00 per year.

Customers willing to pay would be billed quarterly on their water bill. Customers could pick up their cart or pay a delivery charge of $25.00 to have the cart delivered to their home. Those who decide to pay, but change their mind, can cancel, but no refunds will be given.

The recommendation goes to the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works on Tuesday.

Posted by Sarah Klein

RCMP made a significant seizure of contraband cigarettes on the Trans-Canada Highway near Portage la Prairie on Friday.

A member of the Portage la Prairie RCMP made the discovery after pulling over a vehicle from Quebec on February 5 at around 1 p.m. The vehicle was travelling west near Road 31 at the time and had tinted windows and no front plate. Originally being stopped for the equipment violation, police observed the driver of the 1997 GMC 2500 truck was in possession of a pack of contraband cigarettes.

A further search led to the seizure of 470,000 contraband cigarettes in 47 cases and 50 cartons. The value of the seizure is estimated at $188,000. A small amount of marijuana and $1,000 in cash was also located.

A 50-year-old man from Quebec has been charged and will appear in Winnipeg Court on March 25.

The amount of tax avoided on the seizure is $86,950. If convicted, the man faces a Triple Tax Penalty of $260,850.

RCMP handout photo

Fear not, Steve Thompson fans — the former Winnipeg radio personality landed another job.

Thompson quit 99.9 BOB FM last month and has turned up at Q103.1 FM in Kelowna (formerly B-103).

Music director Troy Scott told ChrisD.ca Thompson signed on earlier Monday as co-host with Heather Adams for the new Q morning show.

It’s not the first time Thompson and Scott have worked together. They were part of the BOB FM morning show a few years ago here in Winnipeg.

Why is everyone heading west? Not sure, but today’s high of 7°C might have something to do with it.

Good luck out there, Steve!

A number of hockey games are taking place in Winnipeg this week in preparation for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The University of Manitoba Bison women’s hockey team is set to take on Switzerland’s national women’s team today at 4:30 p.m. at the Max Bell Centre. The Swiss team is in town to play a pair of games. They embarrassed the Balmoral Hall Blazers on Friday winning 9-0 at Dakota Community Centre.

More Olympic-style hockey action follows later in the week, as the men’s teams from Switzerland and Belarus play each other at MTS Centre. The first puck drops at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, followed by an early game on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. Over 8,000 tickets have already been sold to Thursday’s game.

If you can’t make it down to the venues above to see the Olympic athletes, the Manitoba Moose will play a game of shinny and take part in an outdoor practice today from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Fort Garry Community Centre. The initiative is part of the annual Community Jersey Program.

ChrisD.ca photo

Melting ice caps are a big problem, just ask the scientists.

Submitted photo by Winnipeg cartoonist Dan Phelps

The City of Winnipeg is inviting residents to comment on proposed changes to the city’s Sewer Bylaw.

A drafted bylaw has been prepared to include stricter requirements to further protect wastewater, land drainage and river systems.

Under the changes are a number of new restrictions:

• Updated regulations on what you can and cannot put down the drain, such as prescribed and over-the-counter medication, and toxic substances. There are also clearer restrictions on draining swimming pool water.
• Restaurants and other food service establishments will be required to have a Grease Interceptor Licence for putting grease down the drain.
• Businesses that put prohibited or restricted substances down the drain will be required to submit a pollution prevention plan, starting with metal finishing companies.

Feedback on the proposed changes can be voiced until Friday, March 12, 2010 by e-mailing wwdfeedback@winnipeg.ca.

The city will also hold two public forums on Tuesday, February 9 and Wednesday, February 10 at the Masonic Memorial Temple, 420 Corydon Avenue.

They each run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., respectively. Presentations will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday and 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Residents can see the draft bylaw and other information at Winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste.

A powerful snow storm hammered parts of the U.S. over the weekend, with Washington, D.C. taking the brunt of it. The thought of “14 to 22 inches of snow” — dubbed ‘Snowmageddon’ — was too much for this AccuWeather.com weatherman to handle.

Watch:

The New Orleans Saints dominated Super Bowl XLIV 31-17 over the Indianapolis Colts Sunday in Miami.

Missed the game? Check out some photo highlights. Hit the jump for more.

[Read the rest of this entry...]

A fire Sunday morning in Austin, Manitoba completely destroyed a number of businesses.

RCMP say local fire departments responded to the blaze at about 11 a.m., which destroyed Kathie’s Beauty Salon and an attached suite. The fire also spread to Ernie’s Warehouse, and two additional businesses nearby suffered smoke and fire damage.

Portage la Prairie RCMP and the Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner continue to investigate.

The fire is not deemed suspicious in nature.

No injuries were reported.

Exact damage estimates aren’t available, but it’s expected to be several hundreds of thousands of dollars.

RCMP handout photos

Faron Hall, Winnipeg’s ‘homeless hero,’ was assaulted Saturday afternoon at his apartment on Marion Street.

Police say a male and female were present with Hall when the trio became involved in a verbal dispute. The two allegedly assaulted Hall and fled the apartment around 3:25 p.m.

Hall, 45, was conveyed to hospital in unstable condition, but has since been upgraded to serious, but stable condition.

31-year-old Geraldine Ruth Colomb has been charged with aggravated assault.

This wasn’t the first time crime has affected Hall in recent months — on Christmas Eve, he was beaten up by a group of people he said recognized him from the media attention over the last year.

Faron Hall first grabbed headlines when he rescued a boy from the Red River in May 2009. Hall risked his life again in September 2009, when he rescued a woman from the river.

Mayor Sam Katz presented Hall with the Mayor’s Medal of Valour for the bravery he displayed relating to the May incident.

Hall was awarded again in December 2009 by the Manitoba Lifesaving Association and presented a grant in conjunction with The Winnipeg Foundation.

UPDATE: Earlier reports suggested Hall had been stabbed, but police confirm he was badly beaten, not stabbed.

UPDATE #2: Monday, Feb. 8 — Police have arrested and charged a second suspect in the assault. 31-year-old Darrell Walter Longclaws has been charged with aggravated assault and breach of probation.

Posted by Brian Schultz

Country superstar Carrie Underwood is set to launch her 2010 tour in anticipation for her new CD, “Play On.”

The Season 4 “American Idol” winner will play the MTS Centre on Friday, June 18.

Tickets to the show go on sale Saturday, February 13 at Ticketmaster for $50 and $72.25.

Underwood last came to town in December 2008.