At first glance, Maddie Thompson, only 13, may seem like an ordinary junior high student. What sets her apart? Many things, one of them the fact that she is a professional clothing designer, with clothes available in stores across the country.

The Marc and Mandy Show is a design and lifestyle program airing weekly on Global TV. What makes it special is that it’s filmed in Blumenort, Manitoba. So why would a national show decide to work out of a small town?

On August 19, Niverville’s council unanimously approved a subdivision request by Sunset Estates. This proactive move paves the way for a fourth school to put down roots in the community sometime in the future.

On August 20, a delegation from Carbon Lock Tech made an in-person presentation to Ritchot’s council, asking for partnership in a pilot project which would make use of their relatively new technology.

A local author and illustrator have collaborated on a new children’s book that bring to life the biblical story of Jonah being swallowed by a whale and living to tell the tale.

For anyone connected to a senior citizen living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, a new organization is aiming to offer a breath of relief.

That organization is called There Is Someone Canada (TSC). Through a North America-wide database, registered individuals can be identified and returned to safety when they wander or experience confusion as they go out into the world.

Many Manitobans are becoming locavores, consumers of locally produced food that hasn’t been moved long distances to market. There is an ever-growing interest in finding healthier, fresher food options and to have a direct connection to the grower. This trend is evidenced in the popularity of farmers markets around the Southeast as well as the rising numbers of small, family-run farms advertising everything from fresh vegetables to u-pick berries to free-run chickens and eggs.

This summer marks the beginning of an overhaul to Niverville’s Main Street sidewalks. You may have noticed the new section already complete on the south side of Main, stretching from Fifth Ave. to Fourth Ave.

October 4–10 is Fire Prevention Week, and the Niverville Fire Department is once again getting the word out about fire safety.

In the spring of this year, we lost one of our finest community builders. Alex Fast, with the support of his wife Emily and family, expended countless hours of volunteer service, and in the process helped to change the face of Niverville.