Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At 630 am on Friday morning, officers responded to a residence in the 800 block of 5th St where a man had discharged bear spray into the residence. The suspect was located by a responding officer running down a back lane nearby. Several people in the residence were affected by the spray. The suspect also punched out a large window in the residence, cutting his arm in the process. The suspect, a 19 year old Brandon resident, was treated for his cuts and later released. He will appear in court in March on charges of Possession of a Prohibited Weaon, Administer a Noxious Substance, Possession of a Weapon, Assault with a Weapon, Mischief Under $5000 and Failure to Comply with a Probation Order.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release Shortly after 1:00 am on Friday morning, staff at a convenience store in the 1600 block of Princess Ave reported a vehicle struck the store and drove away. Officers responded and found the vehicle had lost control on Rosser Ave, struck a building and then spun around into the convenience store. The front license plate of the truck was left at the scene and officer located the vehicle at a residence on Brandon’s north hill. A man admitted to being the driver and was arrested for impaired driving. He provide breath samples over twice the legal limit. The accused, a 38 year old Brandon resident, will appear in court in January on charges of Impaired Driving, Drive over 80 mg% and Fail to Remain at the scene of an Accident.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On Wednesday evening, police conducted a traffic stop in the 1000 block of Princess Avenue after being observed going through a red light. The driver, a 33-year-old from Brandon showed signs of impairment and failed the roadside screening device test. He was returned to BPS where he refused to provide a sample of his breath. The driver was charged with impaired driving and refusing to provide a sample. The driver was also found to have an endorsed warrant for his arrest for careless use of a firearm from Portage la Prairie. He was released for court in January.

The Manitoba government is providing an update on ongoing enforcement efforts to protect Manitobans from the spread of COVID-19.   A total of 193 warnings and 58 tickets were issued for the week of Dec. 21 to 27 including three $5,000 tickets to businesses for various offences and 51 $1,296 tickets to individuals for various offences.  Officials advise that 44 of the 51 $1,296 tickets issued last week were in relation to gatherings in private residences. As New Year’s Eve approaches, Manitobans are reminded that public health orders remain in effect throughout the holidays and must be followed to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For information about online events and activities designed to make staying home a little easier, visit Safe at Home Manitoba at www.safeathomemb.ca/.  Enforcement officials also issued four $298 tickets for failure to wear a mask in indoor public places. Manitobans are reminded that masks must cover a person’s mouth, nose and chin without gapping. Face shields are not an acceptable alternative.  Since enforcement efforts began in April, a total of 1,683 warnings and 617 tickets have been issued, resulting in more than $919,000 in fines to businesses and individuals.   Almost 3,300 personnel across various agencies are empowered to enforce public health orders to protect Manitobans. This includes RCMP, law enforcement agencies, provincial employees and municipal partners, such as the City of Winnipeg.    Updated enforcement statistics are now posted online weekly. For more information go to Cross-Departmental Reports at www.gov.mb.ca/openmb/infomb/departments.html.   In addition to a $298 fine for not wearing a mask in indoor public places, fine amounts for violating public health orders have been set at $1,296 for tickets issued to individuals, including sole proprietorships and partnerships, and $5,000 for tickets issued to corporations.   Manitobans can report compliance and enforcement issues by visiting www.manitoba.ca/COVID19 and completing the reporting form, or by calling 204-945-3744 or 1-866-626-4862 (toll-free) and pressing option three on the call menu.  The Manitoba government is taking strong action to protect Manitobans and ensure timely access to care. Current orders under the Public Health Act are available at:https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/proactive/2020_2021/orders-soe-11222020.pdf.     Manitobans are reminded to adhere to all current public health orders and stay home. For more information on COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/COVID19.  (Media Bulletin - Manitoba)

It’s not too late to make a positive impact on your taxes with a charitable donation.  Canadians have until December 31st each year to make donations and receive a tax receipt for that current tax year.  Many charities give you the option to donate online, from the comfort of your home and websites like Canadahelps.org processes donations for local charities such as Samaritan House and the YMCA of Brandon. If you don’t already have a favourite charity, a list of registered charities in Canada can be found at the government website. The list is also searchable by keyword. For example, if you search ‘Brandon’ everything from the Brandon General Museum and Archives to the Brandon Literacy Council and more, will come up.  In Manitoba, donations fall under two different taxable scales. Gifts under $200 and gifts over $200.  For example, a donation of $100 would be eligible for a $25.80 tax deduction, whereas $1000 would be a $422.80 deduction. So, whenever possible, it’s most beneficial to donated at least $200 annually to receive the higher percentage benefit.  It’s a win-win situation for both the donor and the charity. While the charity receives the full benefit of your donation, you also receive a benefit of reduction in taxes. A donation of $1000 benefits the charity by $1000, but will only cost the donor $577.20, once tax benefits are considered.  Small, specialized charities are also a great way to make a difference in a cause you believe in, just double check that they are registered and offer tax receipts.  Local animal advocates, Pawsitive Communities, are indeed a registered charity and would love to be your charity of choice if you are making a last minute donation. 2020 was especially hard for organizations such as these, which rely on community events to generate awareness and critical funds. They had to cancel all in-person fundraisers this year, including a planned casino night. Unlike some of the larger charities, they do accept donations by e-transfer. To learn more about their work visit their website at Pawsitivecommunities.com or connect with them through Instagram.  Samaritan House is open and will gratefully accept cash or cheques at 820 Pacific Avenue, from 8:30am to 4:30pm both December 30 and 31st. If you would like to contribute to their capital expansion project, please note it specifically on the cheque. ‘Raising the Roof’ hopes to raise half a million dollars to expand the Safe and Warm Shelter and address homelessness in our community.