It Takes Guts coming to Neepawa

By Kate Jackman-Atkinson

The Neepawa Banner

On June 21, the It Takes Guts charity barrel race will be returning to Neepawa.  Held at the Neepawa fair grounds, the event is a fundraiser for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada.

Read more: It Takes Guts coming to Neepawa

Reggie Leach, Bret Hart headline duelling dinners

Leach HartBy Eoin Devereux

The Neepawa Banner

It’ll be hip checks versus hip tosses later this year as Neepawa and Minnedosa have unveiled new details on their annual sports dinners. Neepawa’s Leisure Services Department has formally confirmed that former NHLer Reggie Leach will headline its seventh annual Sports Dinner on Oct, 24. Meanwhile, the Minnedosa & District Recreation Commission has unveiled the speaker for its event, as professional wrestling Hall of Famer, Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart, will headline their sportsman’s dinner, which is also scheduled for Oct, 24.

Drafted by the Boston Bruins with the third overall pick in the 1970 NHL Draft, Reggie Leach is most well known for his time with the Philadelphia Flyers, winning a Stanley Cup with the club in 1975. He spent 13 seasons in the National Hockey League, accumulating 666 points in 934 games.  The dinner will also include a Don Cherry impersonator to entertain the crowd.

Amanda Novak, leisure services manager for the Town of Neepawa, said they are very pleased with booking Leach.

“Past sports dinner have been well received and have become a greatly anticipated evening for many people across the region,” said Novak. “In previous years, athletes like Jon Montgomery and Darryl Sittler have been very good draws for us and we feel that Reggie is an athlete of interest with a local connection out of Riverton, who will continue that tradition.”

As for Minnedosa’s speaker, Bret Hart is a five time WWE World champion and the first wrestler ever to win professional wrestling’s “top six”: WWE World tag team, WWE Intercontinental, WWE World Heavyweight, WCW World tag team, WCW United States championship and WCW World Heavyweight titles.

Vern May, Economic Development Officer for the Town of Minnedosa said quite a stir has been created with word that the “hitman” is scheduled to hit town 

“We announced some details on social media and received about 12,000 hits on the website so far. It’s one of the biggest items of interest we’ve ever posted online,” said May. “We’ve also received many phone call from across the region from people wanting to learn more about tickets.”

As for both events occurring on the same evening in October, both Novak and May are optimistic that the vast differences between the keynote speakers will ensure the two events don’t cannibalize one another for attendees.

“I believe that our evening is a different enough draw to ensure that both dinners will be able to co-exist,” said Novak. May agreed and added that “Hosting both events on the same day is unfortunate but with our guest speaker it will be different enough that there should not be any concern. Historically, there are not many individuals from Neepawa who attend our dinner and vice versa, so I believe both events will be very successful.”

The seventh annual Sports Dinner in Neepawa takes place Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Yellowhead Centre Hall. Cocktails at 5 p.m. with the dinner scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 each. If interested in purchasing a ticket, contact Amanda Novak at (204)-476-7614 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . As for Minnedosa, more details on the event will be announced over the summer.

 

New public road, rejected grants discussed at Neepawa Council meeting

By Eoin Devereux

The Neepawa Banner

CPP rejects Neepawa requests

The Town of Neepawa has received an update on its submissions to the Community Places Grant. Council was informed on Tuesday, June 16, that all three of the Town’s applications were rejected.

Read more: New public road, rejected grants discussed at Neepawa Council meeting

All smiles as Foundation gives, receives

BPCF

The 2015 grant recipients

By Kate Jackman-Atkinson

The Neepawa Banner

On June 11, the Beautiful Plains Community Foundation distributed this year’s grants at a luncheon.  A total of $141,965 was given out in Community Fund and Designated fund grants. Community Fund grants totalling $56,661 were given to 14 area organizations. 

Read more: All smiles as Foundation gives, receives

More shelter for Rivers

By Donna Morken

Because of the harsh 2014 winter, Rivers Train Station Restoration Committee applied to Manitoba Hydro Forest Enhancement Program to replace some of the trees which did not survive. The committee was fortunate to receive funding of $14,233.07 to replace the various trees within the community, inclusive of Rivers Cemetery and Millennium Park. This work was completed by Alternative Landscaping; the bottom photo shows the new silver maples planted in the northwest corner of the cemetery.

Read more: More shelter for Rivers