The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 19 is preparing to host a community cleanup this weekend and is in need of some help.

The cleanup will begin at the Legion this Sunday, starting at 1 pm.

From there, you will be given cleaning supplies and gloves.

The annual highway cleanup will take place along Highway 10, and anyone driving along that route is encouraged to be mindful of the workers and drive carefully.

For those who participate, you are invited to a free BBQ following the clean up that will take place in the legion club room.

There will be free drinks and hot dogs for volunteers.

Preparations are underway for the Rotary Club of The Pas' annual Fish Fry on September 20th.

Monica Cook with the Rotary Club of the Pas shares on the event.

"It's always a fun event, a great meat meal, delicious fish, lots of prizes that are generously donated by so many businesses and vendors around town. There are some pretty major prizes that are up for grabs there, so we hope everyone's able to make it out."

Tickets are now available and can be picked up from Rotary Members.

Catch the Big One is also coming up, and tickets will be available early in September.

Rotary will also once again be sponsoring school swim programs in the community.

Rotary meets every second week on Tuesdays at Noon at the Wescana Inn and is always looking for new members.

The deadline for children to submit entries for The Pas Friendship Centers' writing and colouring contest is approaching this Friday.

Kids have a chance to win a new backpack full of school supplies and a $100 Giant Tiger Gift card to help cover the cost of new school wear.

Colouring sheets can be picked up at the friendship center and must be returned by Friday at 4:30. A short writing piece is also required.

Children must submit a paragraph about their summers and what they would like to happen in the new school year.

The contest is open to all ages from kindergarten to grade 8, and a substitute worksheet will be provided for the younger ages instead of requiring written submissions.

Entries can be dropped off at the Friendship Center or emailed to programs@thepasfc.ca.

Oscar's Place is hosting a sock drive to help the homeless as colder months are just around the corner.

With a large number of clients who need socks, Outreach Mentor at Oscars Place, Janet Lowther, said that these items are used for more than just feet; some clients use them as gloves, hair ties, storage, and more.

Lowther shares more on the program.

"So this is a collaborative effort between Oscar's Place Homeless Shelter and Manitoba Hydro, so what we are planning on doing is between August 15th and September 30th, we're trying to collect as many socks as we can to get us through the winter."

Oscar's Place is hosting a sock drive to help the homeless as colder months are just around the corner.

With a large number of clients who need socks, Outreach Mentor at Oscars Place, Janet Lowther, said that these items are used for more than just feet; some clients use them as gloves, hair ties, storage, and more.

Lowther shares more on the program.

1029 CJAR’s annual 100 Grand in Your Hand contest is done, with over $13,000 in prizes awarded to the 50 qualifiers who won golden tickets over the previous month and a half.

The Grand Prize winner was Lorna-Lee Breemersch (bré-mish). Although the $100,000 prize was not won, Lorna-Lee walked away with over $1,500 in prizes that included gift cards from Berschied Meats and Super Thrifty, a Napoleon BBQ from Shane’s, a Gas Blower from McMunn and Yates, and a chilly Moose Ice Box Cooler from Funky Threadz.

The event also helps raise funds for local elder/senior recreational programs.

Also, keep your eyes open for the NHL Hockey Drafts in the coming weeks, as CJAR looks to bring its next big contest back for the season.

Additionally, a new event, the CJAR Local Business Auction, will take place on September 16.

Classes at the Kelsey Learning Center will begin on September 4th, following the summer break, and the registration period for adult learners for upcoming courses starts today.

Cam Nagle with the KLC shares how the program can help adult learners.

"You can visit us at UCN in room 264, or you can give us a call at 627-8562. If you want to obtain your Manitoba Mature High School Diploma, you need to be 19 years of age or older, as it is an adult learning centre. Or if you just want to brush up on your literacy and numeracy, so prepare yourself to go into the adult learning centre courses. Or if you're out there, and you already have a diploma, and you want to upgrade some courses, that's what we're here for."

Nagle said that taking the first step towards going back to school can be the hardest, but teachers and staff can help support your educational journey.

With back-to-school coming quickly, the Kelsey School Division is also looking for substitute teachers.

You can apply at the KSD offices on Edwards.

To learn more about the KLC program, stop by room 264 at the UCN or call 204-627-8562.

The Ballot has been set for the upcoming OCN general election for chief and council.

Candidates for chief include Sidney Ballantyne, Maureen Brown, Michael G Constant, and Jenifer Flett.

There are 17 names on the Ballot for Councillor.

All candidates have met the requirements and will now proceed to the Ballet.

The final list, as approved by the Electoral Officer and OCN Election Board, can be found on the Opaskwayak Community’s Facebook page.

The Election will be held on September 25th, with voting taking place at the OCN Veterans Hall from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; advanced polling will be announced at a later date.

A boil water advisory has been issued for the Rural Municipality of Kelsey’s public water system.

The issue was made late last night due to a line break that caused a depressurization, resulting in the compromise of safety in the water supply.

Water should be brought to a boil for at least 1 minute prior to drinking or making ice, preparing food or beverages, and brushing teeth.

If boiling water is not an option, it is recommended that you use bottled water instead.

Boil advisory fact sheets can be found at Manitoba.ca.

The advisory will remain in effect till the water supply no longer presents a risk to the public.

Partial Remains were found along the shoreline in Tataskwayak Cree Nation on Saturday afternoon.

RCMP got the report that the remains had been discovered when low water levels on the lake made the partial skeletal remains visible.

The investigation into the remains and their age is believed to be historical, meaning it has been there for quite some time.

Anthropological assistance is being called in to assist with the investigation.

One is dead and another was injured in a vehicle rollover that took place in Cross Lake just before 3 am yesterday.

Officers were flagged down in the community and notified of the accident that happened at the corner of Halcrow and Main Street.

The accident involved just a single vehicle that veered off the road.

A 20-year-old female passenger was pronounced dead on scene, while the 30-year-old male passenger was later released; both were wearing seat belts.

Gates will open tonight for the Opasquia Agricultural Societies' Chuck Wagon and Chariot races, but that's only part of the event.

Gates will open at 4 this evening with pony rides for the children, and the opening ceremonies will begin at 6.

Chariot races start right after, followed by chuck wagon races at 8.

The Northern Manitoba blizzard will be hosting the beer gardens all weekend.

Tomorrow's opening show will take place at 1 pm, followed by chariot races immediately after, and then the annual grocery race at 2 pm.

Mutton Busting takes place at 2:30, followed by chuck wagon racing.

The Turco Trick Riders will showcase their skills at 5:30, and the bull riders Canada show will start at 6.

On Sunday, a pancake breakfast will be served from 9 to 10, and chariot races will begin at 11.

The grocery races that day will run at noon, and the tow a truck will take place at 12:30.

The final chuck wagon races will start at 1, with awards to follow.

Mutton busting, trick riding, and bull riding will all take place on Sunday afternoon from 1:30 to 4.

Daily wrist bands will be available at the gate.

With back-to-school shopping and preparations underway to send the kids back for the fall, the town is also sending out a friendly reminder that speed limits have been adjusted in school zones.

School zone traffic accidents often happen due to a combination of factors, including increased pedestrian activity, distracted driving, and speeding.

Many accidents occur during peak drop-off and pick-up times when traffic is heavier.

Installation of the new signs began last week and is expected to be completed before students return to class.

In designated zones adjacent to schools, the speed limit has been reduced to 30 kilometres per hour, Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

With schools running summer programs for students, these areas remain active even during the summer months.

The Town of The Pas mayor joined Arctic Radio to discuss ongoing issues and concerns with the town.

Last week, a meeting was held to discuss the special service levy.

Updates have been made to the town of The Pas webpage.

Your daily commute may be a bit longer this week due to an ongoing paving project in town that began late last week, with crews ripping up the streets.

Thankfully, that stress won’t last much longer. The paving began yesterday, with concrete being laid in the parking lot behind the Kelsey Recreation and Wellness Center.

Paving in the smaller, sectioned-off areas in town should be completed over the next few days.

In a ceremony attended by both members of the OCN Council and the Town of The Pas council, a historic aid agreement was signed to support local firefighting teams.

Both The Pas and OCN Fire Departments signed the mutual aid agreement on Sunday.

The agreement aims to enhance the ability to respond to emergencies, ensuring that resources and support can be shared seamlessly.

Both departments gathered at the signing over the weekend, which was also attended by the Mayor of The Pas, Andre Murphy, and OCN Chief Maureen Brown.

The Annual Street Fest is coming up this weekend, featuring local music and vendors.

There is still time for vendors and home-based businesses to secure a free table.

The TPCRC is hosting the event, which will take place on Edwards Avenue between 1st and 2nd Street.

There will also be local vendors set up to sell popcorn and cotton candy. The street will be shut down and barricaded just for the event.

For anyone looking to set up a table, you can contact the TPCRC at 623-4269; vendors are allowed two free tables.

Chuck wagon and chariot races are returning to The Pas and OCN next weekend, and the event has grown.

Last year marked the first time bull riders visited the community, and this year there will be even more.

T and W miniature horses are coming up and will be hosting pony rides for the kids.

Gates open at the AG grounds next Friday at 4 pm, with events running until 3 pm on Sunday.

Find a complete schedule and event times on the Opasquia Agricultural Society’s Facebook page.

The Asham Stomperfest has been around for over 20 years and was established to help preserve and recapture the history and traditions of the Métis People.

The Red River Jig was first danced in the late 1700s by the Métis People living along the banks of the Red River in the area that is now known as the Forks in Winnipeg.

Those traditions are being passed on to the new generations through Stomperfest.

There will also be fireworks and music to accompany the jigging and dancing, which will continue into the evening.

The Asham Stomperfest takes place from August 29th to 31st in Reedy Creek, near the Ebb and Flow First Nation, and is encouraging all Métis and non-Métis people to take part and learn more about the culture and heritage.

Find tickets and information at stomperfest.ca.

The Manitoba First Nations Police are looking for information regarding a machete attack that took place last Thursday in the community, and the OCN has decided to put up a 5000$ reward for anyone who comes forward with any information.

The attack occurred near the 200 block of Kiche Maskanow between 1 and 2 am, where a group of individuals assaulted a 56-year-old man.

Police are actively looking for suspects, and anyone with information is encouraged to call 204-623-8200 or email tips@mfnp.ca to report any suspicious activity in the community.

With OID a week away, preparations for show activities, contests, and more are taking place in The OCN.

The OID Headquarters at the Otineka Mall will be open daily, starting Monday at 9:00 a.m.

Opening ceremonies will take place next Wednesday at Pike Lake for the annual firing of the arrow.

A 65-plus elders’ feats and bingo will take place this coming Monday at the veteran’s hall.

Youth and adult talent shows will take place at the GLMC on Thursday and Friday of next week, and huge concerts will be held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the event.

Johnny Reid takes the stage at the GLMC on Tuesday night, and Blue Rodeo will be performing next Friday.

This and much more will take place next week at the OCN.

Learn about all the events at the Opaskwayak Indigenous Days Facebook page.

Voting is open for the Manitoba Loud Music Awards, and local musicians from The Pas have been nominated for the various awards.

Madlack was nominated as band of the year for the second year in a row.

Last year, they took the upcoming band of the year awards, and this year they are hoping to win a few more.

To go along with their band of the year nomination, band members were also nominated for various awards.

Band Drummer Lo Mo was nominated for Drummer of the year, Owen Abraham was nominated for Guitarist of the year, Zane Constant was nominated for Vocalist of the year, and Keisha McGillivary was nominated for Photographer of the year.

Head to loudawards.com and vote from now until August 15^th.