Pattison Media (PML) and Westman Communication (WCG) of Brandon, MB are pleased to announce that they have come to an agreement for PML to acquire their radio properties, Q Country 91.5 FM and 94.7 Star FM. This acquisition will increase Pattison’s reach in Manitoba from their current stations in Winnipeg, 94.3 NOW! Radio and QX 104, to be able to super serve listeners and clients not only in Brandon but western and south-western Manitoba. “When Pattison approached WCG about acquiring Q Country FM and Star FM, we were pleased by their strong history of providing local radio, supporting their communities, and maintaining a high level of local employment,” said interim President and CEO Bud Keys. “These are all important things to WCG, and Pattison’s values echo that. We feel confident that these stations will be in excellent hands.” Pattison Media President, Rod Schween states, “We are very pleased to be adding such valuable and locally supportive properties to our 48 stations. We look forward to continuing to build this great community and supporting the initiatives that make Brandon unique ‘ The sale is subject to approval by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The application has been submitted, and preliminary work indicates the agreement should be completed by the end of 2022 or early 2023.

Source: BPS News Release On August 24, 2022 at approximately 3:30 am, police responded to a report of an assault at the hospital.  Investigation revealed that a 32-year-old male had bitten two security employees after they attempted to escort him out due to inappropriate behavior.  Following the male’s arrest, he was lodged at Brandon Police Service and will be released once sober to appear in court on October 13, 2022 on charges of Assault X2.

Source: BPS News Release On August 22, 2022 at approximately 12:30 pm, an off duty police officer located an individual with a bicycle he knew to be stolen.  The individual was captured on security footage a short time earlier cutting the lock, which secured the bicycle, and the images were shown to the officer. The officer arrested the 41-year-old male as an on duty member arrived to assist.  The male was also found to be in possession of a hatchet upon his arrest.  He was later released and will appear in court on October 24, 2022 on charges of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime and Possession of a Weapon.

Source: BPS News Release At approx. 2:00 PM Saturday, Police were called to a business in the 1000 block of 10th St.  A male had entered the business and was observed by staff to be shoplifting.  A staff member confronted the male, and the suspect pulled out a large knife and threatened the staff member.  The suspect then fled on a bicycle prior to police being called.  At approx. 4:30 PM, an officer spotted the suspect from this incident in the 2500 block of Victoria Ave. The officer attempted to detain the suspect but he fled on foot.  As the officer pursued the suspect pulled out a large knife.  A second officer arrived on scene and ordered the suspect to drop the knife. The suspect then took an aggressive stance against police and then stabbed himself in the cheek area of his own face. Again he was ordered to drop the knife and he stabbed himself in the other cheek.  At that point one of the officers deployed a Taser which subdued the suspect allowing them to safely take him into custody.  The 20 year old male was taken to hospital where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries and released back into police custody.  He will appear in court today charged with robbery, possession of a weapon and resisting arrest.

The Keystone Centre has replaced the facility wide surveillance system, improving facility, guest, and staff security. "The upgrade and replacement of the facility's aging surveillance system is a long anticipated improvement," says Jeff Schumacher, Keystone Centre CEO & general manager. "It's not only an improvement that will increase the safety of our patrons, staff, and partners, but one that will also enable us to provide a higher level of confidence to our clients holding multi-day events here at the facility, where equipment may be on-site during hours of lower staff presence." The Keystone Centre has received partial funding through the Brandon Area Community Foundation to assist with the upgrade, and replacement of the facility's aging surveillance system. The system will have coverage in Westoba Place, the Westoba Credit Union Agricultural Centre of Excellence, the facility's expansive outdoor grounds, and all other key areas. "Brandon Area Community Foundation (BACF) is pleased to support the surveillance system at the Keystone Centre," states Michelle Hood, chairperson of BACF. "The Foundation has a passion to contribute to such projects that increase safety for the public and the people who work there." Summus Inc., a Westman-based security contractor, headquartered in Douglas, MB, secured the rights to the project after a competitive tender process. "Summus is proud to have this opportunity to design, construct and install a state of the art security video solution right here at home," says Ted Dzogan, owner & president of Summus Inc." We've spent 22 years traveling across Canada, providing solutions just like this in places like Toronto, Ottawa and Winnipeg. Deploying those skills and experiences to keep our friends, families and neighbours safe here in Brandon at the Keystone Centre has an emotional payoff that's greater than just doing a job to get paid. At every turn the Keystone Centre staff has been focused on creating a safe, family friendly environment for their facility and this is exactly what we want from them as a customer but also as a community member. Each and everyone of our staff members that worked on this project attend and enjoy events at the Keystone Centre. We could not take this job more seriously, because we know the people we are working to keep safe." Installation of the brand new, state-of-the-art system is currently underway, with more than 90% of the project completed, and the expectation that the full installation will be finished by the beginning of the upcoming events season.