Amalgamation proposed... The RM of North Cypress and Town of Carberry have brought the idea of their amalgamation forward at a joint council meeting. The Carberry News-Express reports the two municipalities have considered merging due to the Province's proposed forced amalgamations. Some reasons the amalgamation make sense include geography, the two have had shared administration for 55 years already, it would save council man hours, and efficiencies could be made by sharing equipment in public works. The idea wasn't favoured by all councillors though, with a lengthy debate and discussion held that saw several viewpoints discussed. No decision was reached by the time the council meeting was adjourned at 11 p.m. ...Amalgamation accepted Nearby, two municipalities have officially announced they will be amalgamating. Resolutions by both the municipality of Strathcona and Riverside have been passed for those two municipalities to merge, The Glenboro-Baldur Gazette reports. The decision was made because the municipalities recognized they already had a good relationship and much in common. It is expected councils for the newly arranged municipality will be voted in Jan. 1, 2015. Deer disturbance People in Virden don't mind seeing deer in the wild but prefer to see them stay off their personal property. That's because the white-tailed deer have become an increasing nuisance in the community during the late winter months as they search for food in town limits, The Virden Empire-Advance reports. Deer have been damaging plants, shrubs and property and even pawed right down to the dirt in some areas searching for food under the snowcover. Some families have adopted the use of a motion detector, making noise to scare the deer, and putting up pie plates and coloured ribbon to ward off the animals. Representatives from the Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship have noted the removal of nuisance deer is not typically done. Relic run The Minnedosa Firefighters' Relic Snowmobile Derby had a bit more meaning this year. The Minnedosa Tribune tells its readers that, aside from the regular activities at the derby, this year's event honoured former Deputy Fire Chief Kirk Woodcock who passed away recently. A photo of Woodcock was put up beside a donation jar at one of the checkpoints, and riders combined to donate over $1,000 – event organizers also added to the pot to total $1,500 in donations toward the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Woodcock's honour. Over 400 people registered for the event that has been active for 21 years. Quinzee kids Students in Baldur have embraced all of the heavy snowfall as of late. The Baldur-Glenboro Gazette writes that Grade 9 and 10 outdoor education students spent time outside this winter building quinzees that were built so well some students even brought out sleeping bags and had naps inside them. A quinzee is a shelter made by hollowing ou a pile of settled snow.