Thursday morning listeners of Q Country 91.5 FM will notice a big change.   General Sales Brian K Wortley tells bdnmb.ca the station will feature the “Mount Rushmore” of the best of the late 1980’s, 90’s and 2000’s country music.  Artists that will be at the core of the station will be Alan Jackson – Garth Brooks – Shania - Reba McIntyre – George Strait – Wynonna - Dwight Yoakam and Brooks & Dunn. According to Wortley, a huge emphasis will be placed on ag reports - local news – information for Brandon and Rural Manitoba.   No announcer changes will happen with the new sound. At this time Q Country does not have a current broadcast agreement with the Brandon Wheat Kings but are hopeful they will come to terms. Wortley said the sound will be very different from what you hear today.

Check out some amazing photos captured today by Liam Pattison Photography of Manitoba Water Bombers 256 and 258 making some water scooping runs at Pelican Lake (Ninette) while fighting the large wildfire near Shilo/Carberry. The fire is said to have been ignited by a lightning strike sometime late Friday the 14th. Photo by: Liam Pattison Photography Photo by: Liam Pattison Photography Photo by: Liam Pattison Photography Photo by: Liam Pattison Photography Photo by: Liam Pattison Photography Photo by: Liam Pattison Photography Photo by: Liam Pattison Photography

The City of Brandon Finance Department is advising that the 2021 City of Brandon Property Taxes are due by Wednesday, June 30, 2021, at 5:00 p.m.   Property tax bills are in the process of being mailed to property owners. Included with the mailouts is information regarding the City of Brandon’s 2021 budget, municipal property tax details, and Manitoba Government’s Education Property Tax Rebate.   If you own property within city limits and do not receive a tax bill by June 1st, 2021, please contact the Finance Department at 204-729-2228, or email taxes@brandon.ca. Property owners are responsible to ensure their taxes are paid, even if a bill is not received.  There are several payment options available for property owners, including:  ·       Online / Electronic  ·       Tax Installment Plan (T.I.P.)  ·       In Person or Mail  A full list of payment options can be found at brandon.ca/payment-options  Online / Electronic:  Online options include payment through online banking, or credit card payment through Virtual City Hall. Electronic options include telephone banking, electronic funds transfer, or wire transfer.  When paying using online or electronic methods, please take note of the number of days your financial institution indicates it will take to transfer the funds. The City must receive the funds by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 30th.  Tax Installment Plan (T.I.P.):  Property owners who prefer to not make the tax payment all at once can enroll in the City’s Tax Installment Plan (T.I.P.). Payments are debited from your bank account on the 15th of each month. Payments are calculated by dividing your most recent annual tax levy into 12 installment payments.  The deadline to apply is June 15, 2021.  If you apply to begin the program later than January, you will be required to make an initial payment for the year-to-date missed payments in that calendar year.  Enrollment is available online through the onlineservices.brandon.ca/updateinfo.aspx  In Person or Mail:  Property owners who wish to attend Brandon City Hall (410 - 9th Street) in person to make their property tax payment are asked to respect all provincial public health orders and COVID-19 safety protocols that have been put in place at the facility, including:  ·       Wear a mask.  ·       Enter City Hall from Louise Avenue (north-facing) door and exit via 9th Street (southwest-facing) door.  ·       Respect mandatory handwashing/sanitizing upon entering the building.  ·       Adhere to the established system of arrows, safe physical distancing markers, stanchions installed in the foyer of City Hall, and maximum capacity of the building.    If you are mailing your property tax payment, please allow sufficient business days to meet the June 30th deadline.   Penalties on unpaid 2021 taxes will accrue at a rate of 1.25% per month, beginning July 1, 2021.  More information on Property Taxes & Assessments is available at brandon.ca/taxes-assessments.

The Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation is excited to announce that the Pumps for Life Campaign has already reached $593,587.04 since launching in February.                                                                                                 Thanks in part to the generous donations from individual donors, community businesses and rural municipality partners in the Prairie Mountain Health region.  We have also been honoured to receive three estate bequests which have been directed into this worthy campaign. The Pumps for Life campaign is underway to raise $900,000 to replace all the infusion pumps in Brandon Regional Health Centre as they have reached their end of life.  The 360 pumps are used in all departments within the hospital so impact every sector of healthcare. The Brandon Regional Health Centre  Board of Directors wants to thank all of our donors to date for you’re support.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On 2021/05/15 at approximately 6:50P.M. police received a report of a male who had been shot in the face in the 800 block of Pacific Avenue.  Upon arrival it was determined that the male victim had been shot with a CO2 pellet gun in the forehead.  Medical attention was provided to the victim while members searched the area for the suspect. A short time later police located a suspect in the area of the shooting.  He was taken into custody.  A 20 year old male from Brandon was released on an Undertaking to attend court on 2021/08/16 for charges of Assault with a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon and Fail to Comply with Release Order.