On Aug. 26, an Esso convenience store, car wash and gas station opened at 249 Main street in Morris.
Two brothers, Dalbir and Parminder Sidmu from Winnipeg, came to town to open their business. They have been looking for a business opportunity in Winnipeg and found it too expensive to get started.
They chose Morris as a place for a gas station because they believe highway 75 has more vehicle traffic than highway 1. Their business model includes providing services to local customers and those just passing through.

The service brothers Dalbir and Parminder Sidmu. /SEAN CONWAY
After purchasing the franchise in February the new owners started renovations on the building in April. New plumbing for the car wash, along with water softener equipment were installed. The pumps out front were upgraded and the underground tanks cleaned. The brothers are now looking to find themselves residences so they can live in town.
These business brothers are not stopping. They are in discussions to include a food establishment or restaurant at the gas station, in order to provide food services for their customers. Now that the business is open, the brothers will be starting a car detailing service. This will enable those vehicle owners who don’t fancy waving a wand to wash their automobiles, the opportunity of leaving their vehicle on site where it would be cleaned inside and out.
Has anyone called you a dink? Are you not allowed in the kitchen? Do you poach? Maybe someone has suggested in your presence, they smell a pickle? Are you in the mood for some physical activity? The word dink, kitchen, poach and pickle are some of the terminology in a court game called pickleball.
Teams armed with paddles attempt to hit the ball over the net to the opposing team which tries to hit the ball back. Scoring happens when a team that receives the ball from a serve fails to return it. The small court, lower net and wiffle type ball allow the game to be accessible to people from ages five to 85. The sport being low impact encourages participation by those who are continuing to mature past their physical prime.
Melanie Friesen is asking you to register by calling 204-746-5056 or send an email to recreation@townofmorris.ca

Lower nets, slower ball for those continuing to mature past their physical prime. /SEAN CONWAY
On Sept. 3, racers from the Pembina Valley Central Plains Tourism Association Amazing Race were in Morris to spend the day going from business to business participating in race events. The Amazing Race consists of teams visiting business and non-profit charities and participating in challenges offered.
At each stop the racers spent money and provided donations to the charity in order to earn points. Last year the community spending of all the teams equaled approximately $1000 per community. Race organizers were anticipating 350 racers for this season.
The Morris & District Centennial Museum offered two challenges they believe to be unique to the area. The first was to assemble a puzzle of a map of Morris and locate the three businesses specified. The second challenge had the racers attempt to match hats to a list of specific countries.
The hat exhibit is a collection of headwear that Marcia Kran collected while she visited countries in her capacity as a United Nations representative for human rights. Between 12 to 15 hats are in the museum collection. Eight hat were chosen for the challenge. Clues were also provided to assist contestants in achieving the goal.

Adam Janke summer employment and Larry McCrady museum chairperson. /SEAN CONWAY
If you have an event you would like me to attend and maybe get a few lines in this community paper to cover your event drop me an email at morrissej@inane.ca.
Sean Conway lives in Morris, Manitoba and contributes articles to the Southeast Journal, a community newspaper serving Rural Municipalities of Morris, Montcalm, Emerson-Franklin and the Town of Morris.