Complete: It may have a new manager at the helm, but delays may still be plaguing construction of the recently scaled down Spirit Sands Casino development near Carberry.

In an interview with the Sun last May, Carberry Mayor Wayne Blair said that in discussions with the Swan Lake First Nation — which has leased land to the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs to build the facility — the casino would need to be connected to the grid via a two-phase Hydro line, and that trees had already been bulldozed to construct the lines.

But as of yesterday afternoon, site plans for the casino had not been handed over to Manitoba Hydro for the Crown corporation to plan and construct power lines to the site.

"We’re still waiting for site plans from them, and some indication of what the load might be," Manitoba Hydro spokesman Glenn Schneider told the Sun yesterday. "We need that to plan the line going into the facility."

Before any power lines can be installed, Hydro requires significant time to plan construction of the lines, a process that can take weeks, months or even years, depending on the projected power needs.

"It really depends, there’s a lot of variables here," Schneider said.

For residential builds found near an adjacent service, planning can take a couple of weeks. For a new residential development, where extensive work is required, it can take months for Hydro to plan and work with the developer.

"With an industrial or a commercial customer, the same kind of thing would apply — how close are they? What’s their anticipated load going to be, where are they physically located? It can be a couple of years in some cases if it’s a really large customer," Schneider said.

Last October, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Derek Nepinak announced that Hemisphere Gaming Inc. had signed an agreement to develop and manage the much-delayed Spirit Sands project.

Under a 10-year deal, Hemisphere Gaming agreed to finance, develop and manage the Spirit Sands project on leased reserve land owned by Swan Lake First Nation. Initial construction of the $11-million project — the original casino design called for a $40-million facility — was slated to begin early this spring, with completion expected toward the end of the year.

RM of South Cypress Reeve Earl Malyon said the AMC stuck to that timeline last month, when Spirit Sands representatives met with the RMs of Glenboro-Carberry, North Cypress and South Cypress.

"They gave their projections," Malyon told the Sun. "They said they are going ahead. They’re supposed to be up by next Christmas."

As part of its ongoing investigation, the Sun recently learned that until late last year, W.C. Driver, a general contracting company from Pasadena, Calif., had been chosen to build Spirit Sands. The company has been involved with several U.S.-based aboriginal casino projects, including a multimillion-dollar gaming and casino project recently announced in Cabazon, Calif.

When reached by the Sun this week, C.W. Driver spokeswoman Jennifer Vasquez said the company no longer has a contract to build Spirit Sands.

"It’s no longer correct," Vasquez said. "We are not moving forward with the project."

When asked when the contract had been terminated, Vasquez had few answers.

"I don’t know an exact date, but I would say late last year. I don’t know if the funding is secure (for Spirit Sands) or whether they’re moving forward with the project at all."

She also offered no explanation as to the contract’s termination, "at least not a reason they would like to disclose," she said.

C.W. Driver was listed as a member of a development team in a recent bid by Sonnenblick Development, LLC to build a large resort in Newport Beach, Calif. As part of the bid package, dated Nov. 20, 2012, C.W. Driver was listed as the general contractor for several developments, "including but not limited to the Disney Grand Californian Hotel expansion; Laguna Cliffs Marriott Hotel expansion; and Swan Lake First Nation Spirit Sands Casino and Resort."

The Spirit Sands Casino project has been in the works for at least three years and was originally supposed to open in 2012 following a ground-breaking ceremony in 2010. But construction never began. The project had been facing financial difficulties until the AMC’s announcement last October.

According to the original agreement with the AMC, Red Lake Gaming Enterprises — a Minnesota-based tribal casino operating company owned and operated by Red Lake Nation — was not only to manage and operate the Spirit Sands Casino, but was also expected to secure financing for the project, something the company was unable to do.

Though reached by the Sun yesterday, the AMC did not offer any comment by press time.

http://www.brandonsun.com/breaking-news/hydro-awaits-casino-plans-195534251.html

What a difference a year makes. Many of you may recall last winter which saw snowfall levels well below normal in southern Manitoba. The result of that was a snowmobile season which started much later. In fact trails in the southeast only opened in early March and lasted only two weeks before mild conditions ended the season abruptly. This year, sledders have been using trails in the southeast for months already and according to Dave Boutang, Head of South East Sno-Riders, trails are in good shape.

"They're still in very, very good condition," notes Boutang. "But you have to take into consideration that we've got a tremendous amount of snowmobile traffic that we haven't had in past years. We're hoping that the reason for that is because our trail system is being groomed more often and it's in better condition." Boutang says there's no reason to believe trails can't be open another couple of weeks yet.

Boutang says Monday's snow was very welcome. "We were due for some new snow to mix in with the old snow to groom," he says. Boutang notes some of the holes along their trail system tend to get icy when it warms up. "This snow will be good, it will bring it back to late winter conditions as opposed to a lot of ice and stuff." But he says in a perfect world, the temperature would be about ten degrees colder.

http://www.steinbachonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35276&Itemid=100413

Dozens of people demonstrated against the practice of hydro-fracking for shale gas and its potential effects on local tourism Monday night in Hillsborough.

The event called Walk the Block was organized by a group called Water and Environmental Protection for Albert County.

Demonstrators marched along Main Street to pressure municipal councils in Hillsborough, Riverside-Albert and Alma to take a stand on the issue of hydro-fracking — or fracking — in which sand, water and chemicals are injected into the ground to create cracks in shale rock formations, allowing for natural gas extraction.

"Albert County is promoted by the province as a tourism destination and our operators work hard for their livelihood. Whatever happens here, affects all," said Deborah Carr, co-chairperson of WEPAC in a news release.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2013/03/05/nb-albert-county-fracking-tourism-march.html

CALGARY -- WestJet plans to reduce how much its passengers carry on, a move the airline says will make its increasingly full Boeing 737s less crowded and help align its baggage rules with those of other airlines.

After April 4, travellers will only be allowed one piece of carry-on luggage and one personal item. The Calgary-based airline had previously allowed passengers to bring two carry-on items and a personal item. Carry-on luggage includes items such as suitcases, backpacks or bags and must fit a specific sizing device before boarding.

The maximum size for the carry-on luggage is 21 inches by nine inches by 15 inches (53.3 by 22.8 by 38.1 centimetres) -- about the same as the larger of two carry-ons allowed under the previous standards. Personal items include smaller things such as small purses, laptop bags or child-restraint devices. For parents travelling with infants, a diaper bag is also permitted over and above the carry-on allowance.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/westjet-to-cut-back-on-passengers-carry-on-baggage-195505401.html

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Flyers reacted with shrugs but largely agreed with a new policy announced by the Transportation Security Administration that airline passengers will be able to carry small knives and previously forbidden sports equipment on planes.

"It's common sense," said Pat O'Brien, who stood at Los Angeles International Airport after arriving from Durango, Colo. "You can make anything into a knife so I don't have a problem with it at all. You can sharpen a credit card to make a sharp implement."

Aviation security consultant John L. Sullivan agreed with O'Brien, saying a pen or toothbrush can be sharpened like the "shivs" inmates sometimes make in prison.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/travel/flyers-call-policy-allowing-small-knives-baseball-bats-golf-clubs-on-planes-common-sense-195544001.html

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The Hualapai tribal corporation that managed the Grand Canyon Skywalk has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after a federal judge upheld a $28 million judgment in favour of the Las Vegas developer who built the glass bridge.

Sa' Nyu Wa contracted with David Jin in 2003 to share revenue from the Skywalk that gives visitors a view of the Colorado River from beyond the edge of the canyon on the Hualapai reservation. The corporation has assets of up to $10 million from ticket sales but owes creditors as much as $50 million, court documents filed late Monday show.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/travel/tribal-corporation-that-managed-grand-canyon-skywalk-seeks-court-protection-from-creditors-195460681.html

Complete: WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is cancelling tours of the White House beginning Saturday, citing staffing reductions prompted by automatic budget cuts that began to take effect last Friday.

The White House is a popular destination for tourists, especially during the spring break season. Callers to the White House Visitors Office information line are told that tours already planned will not be rescheduled. Officials said the cancellations would not affect the White House Easter Egg Roll on April 1. 

The automatic spending cuts — known in Washington parlance as the sequester — are hitting a myriad of accounts from the Pentagon to education grants. The White House said the tours would be cancelled until further notice.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/travel/white-house-cancels-visitor-tours-cites-staff-reductions-due-to-automatic-spending-cuts-195406261.html

Complete: MARQUETTE, Mich. - People are having a little fun with an effort in Michigan's Upper Peninsula to make a fictional creature the state's official slug.

WLUC-TV reports (http://bit.ly/XTECZI ) the creator of the Amorous Spotted Slug is Larry Buege. He's an advocate for Slug Lovers In Michigan Empowered, or S.L.I.M.E., and says people across the Upper Peninsula are involved in an effort to collect signatures.

The goal is 10,000 signatures. If they do that, they'll send the idea to state lawmakers for consideration.

Pat Black is executive director of the Marquette County Convention and Visitors Bureau. She says it's a creative way to try to attract visitors.

The Upper Peninsula is known for natural wonders such as Tahquamenon Falls as well as unusual tourist attractions like the Mystery Spot.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/diversions/idea-to-dub-fictional-creature-as-michigans-state-slug-includes-signature-collecting-effort-195304371.html

(A complete article published originally in the WFP, Mar.  '40)

Taking issue with figures regarding game and fish in Manitoba, reportedly used by E. D. Pitblado at the annual meeting of the tourist and convention bureau. Hon. J. S. McDiarmid, minister of mines and natural resources, said Wednesday that all Manitobans should make a constructive effort to encourage tourist visitors to the province this year. "We are all keenly Interested." said the minister, "in having people come to our province this summer. I think any criticism should be on the constructive side. This province should be a sportsman's paradise and a summer home and playground for the people of central United States." "I can hardly credit statements of this kind being made by a responsible organization," said Mr. McDiarmid, concluding his comment on charges made before the tourist bureau meeting that Manitoba was losing thousands of dollars through inconvenient game laws and inadequate fishing and hunting lodges.