By Dave Baxter Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Despite an unusually mild winter, the province said this week that most ice roads in Manitoba are now in use, opening up essential routes for isolated northern First Nations communities. On Monday, the province announced in a media release the opening of its winter road season for 2024. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor said the winter road system provides “essential pathways for most northern communities that rely on the system for regional travel and delivery of essential goods.” The winter road season in Manitoba typically begins in mid-to-late January and lasts until mid-to-late March, allowing only a small window of time where vehicles can travel to several communities by land, or where those communities can receive some goods that can’t be brought…