Brandon Fire & Emergency Services would like to remind the public when you set your clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday, November 6th, REMEMBER to also install new batteries in your home’s smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. For smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to do their job, they need to have working batteries. To survive a fire, you need to be provided with an early warning and know what to do when the smoke alarms sound. Working smoke alarms are required on every level of the home and outside all sleeping areas. For added protection, it is recommended to also install smoke alarms inside all bedrooms. Carbon monoxide alarms are to be installed outside all sleeping areas if your home has a fuel-burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage. Both types of alarms should be tested every month.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On November 4, 2021, at 9:52 am, police responded to a report of a multi-vehicle collision in the 700 block of Princess Ave.  A vehicle travelling westbound on Princess Ave struck a parked car on the north side of the roadway.  The impact caused that car to then strike a second vehicle parked in front of it.  The suspect vehicle then continued to travel and turned southwest, while picking up speed.  The suspect vehicle then struck a third vehicle, which was parked, on the south side of Princess Ave, before striking a building in the 700 block of Princess Ave.  The female driver of the suspect vehicle then walked away from the scene.  Nobody was injured from these collisions. Police located and arrested the 24-year-old female driver a short distance away.  She was found to be wanted on outstanding charges of Assault with a Weapon.  She was later released and will appear in court on the warrant charges.  She also faces numerous fines under the Highway Traffic Act including: Drive Without Holding Valid Driver’s Licence, As the Driver of a Vehicle Involved in an Accident - Fail to Give Required Information, and Drive Carelessly.

Brandon University’s (BU’s) research infrastructure will benefit from $516,686 in federal funding for the 2021-22 year through the Research Support Fund. The Research Support Fund helps to cover the indirect costs of sustaining top-notch research environments at Canadian universities. It offsets expenses such as maintaining and updating institutional facilities and equipment, administration of research programs, and other support. The amount of funding each university receives is based on the value of Tri-Agency research grants it has earned over a three-year period. This is the first time BU’s Research Support Fund allocation has been more than $500,000 for a single year. “Our researchers have had tremendous success in developing and attracting federal funding for world-class projects in recent years,” said Dr. Heather Duncan, Associate Vice-President of Research at BU. “Producing high quality work requires an investment in infrastructure, and the Research Support Fund allows our faculty to remain on an equal footing with the best researchers in their fields.” Last year’s funding was used for items including updates and repairs to the animal care facility. It also was used by Information Technology Services at BU to maintain and improve high-speed network capabilities and improve access to research tools.  The Research Support Fund supported the John E. Robbins Library in enhancing access to digital research databases and research preservation, as well as for the digitization of newspaper, historical records and oral histories. Additionally, the funding assisted in communication of Brandon University research by enabling the production of the popular Research Connection bulletins and the formalizing of the BU Strategic Research Plan booklet. More information about the research support fund is available at RSF-FSR.gc.ca. (BU News Release)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On November 3, 2021, police responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident in the 1300 block of 3rd street at approximately 4:30 pm.  No one was injured because of the collision. The driver of one vehicle showed signs of impairment upon police arrival and he was arrested.  Investigation revealed he was under the influence of drugs.  The 26-year-old male was lodged at Brandon Police Service and will appear in court today on a charge of Impaired Operation of Motor Vehicle by Drug and Fail to Comply with Release Order.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On November 1, 2021, police responded to a report of an MVA in the 400 block of 10th street, which occurred at approximately 9:30 pm. The suspect vehicle rear-ended the complainant’s vehicle causing extensive damage while the two vehicles were in a drive-thru.  The suspect then exited their vehicle, approached the complainant’s vehicle and kicked the side view mirror off.  The suspect then drove over the curbing and left the scene. Investigation led police to locate and arrest the 34-year-old male suspect and the suspect vehicle.  He was later released to appear in court on January 1, 2022 on charges of Mischief Under, Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle, and Fail to Stop at the Scene of Accident.