Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On August 13th 2020 police received a report of a stolen Employment Income Assistance Cheque.  The investigation revealed that the cheque had been cashed by a 23 year old female from Brandon.  The female suspect has been arrested and charged with Fraud Under $5,000.00.  She will appear in court on October 19 2020.

Out of an abundance of caution and based on the input of public health experts, educators and parents, the province is now mandating the use of masks for grades 4 to 12 when physical distancing is not possible, Premier Brian Pallister announced today. “We are committed to keeping our students safe as they return to school during this challenging and unprecedented time,” said Pallister. “We have listened to the concerns of parents, teachers, administrators, staff and students, and we believe that greater clarity and confidence is necessary for the safe return to school this fall. We are taking these additional measures to ensure the health and well-being of our children, as they are our most precious resource.” With the updated guidance, masks will be required for students in grades 4 to 12, teachers, school staff and visitors when physical distancing of two metres is not possible at school. Parents and caregivers will continue to choose whether younger students should wear a mask. Further guidance on exceptions will be available soon regarding specific mask-free time and for those not recommended to wear a mask. “Wearing a mask offers an extra layer of protection, especially for indoor public spaces where physical distancing cannot be maintained,” said Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer. “We all have a role to play, and we want to be sure that we take every step we can to ensure the return to school is a safe one. This will help ensure there is consistency across the school system.” The province is developing resources to help children, along with their parents and caregivers, learn how to safely put on, wear and remove a mask. All students in Grade 4 and up and bus drivers will also be required to wear non-medical masks on school buses. Masks should be put on before loading and taken off after off-loading. Today, the premier and Roussin also launched the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System, a new online tool that provides clear, timely information for Manitobans about COVID-19. It helps translate public health indicators and decision-making into a simple, colour-coded system that helps everyone understand what is expected of them, what they can expect from others and the measures that may be put in place to protect everyone. It also includes specific information for schools to help families, teachers, administrators and the school community understand the risks and provincial response to the pandemic. For more information, visit www.manitoba.ca/restartMB. Manitoba Education’s Restoring Safe Schools:  Guidelines for September 2020 will be revised to reflect the latest guidance on this issue and posted at www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/covid/index.html. The EngageMB website at https://engagemb.ca/welcoming-our-students-back-restoring-safe-schools remains the best forum for parents, caregivers and students to post questions for response throughout the return to classroom learning. The province will continue to work closely with Public Health, education stakeholders, school divisions, independent schools, parents, caregivers and students as part of its response to COVID-19 and the safe return to school. (Province of MB News Release)

On Tuesday night, Brandon Fire and Emergency Services responded to the city's water treatment plant at the corner of 26th Street North and McDonald Ave for a fire. Firefighter/Paramedics were seen working on the roof of the building, as well as some were seen entering the building. A fire hose, hand tools and chain saws were brought up to the roof via BFES' ladder truck that was set up on the south side of the building. Fire crews were on scene for approximately two hours. There's no word on a cause of the fire, or damage estimate. *Update, 11:15 pm*: A Facebook post from the City of Brandon about tonight's fire can be viewed here.

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. and the City of Brandon are partnering to make three-ply, disposable masks available to all members of the community to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The first mask distribution day will be Wednesday, August 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at two sites in the City of Brandon. The first site will be the Keystone Centre, 1175 18th Street in Brandon. Enter at the Queens and 18th entrance, pull up at the mask station and receive the bag of masks through the window. Cars will exit out Hill Avenue. The second site will be Riverbank Discovery Centre, 545 Conservation Drive inside the Gazebo at the North parking lot. Each household will receive a bag of 25, three-ply, disposable masks at the two pick-up stations. More distribution days will be scheduled as needed. As the city’s largest employer, Maple Leaf Foods is deeply committed to helping the community stay safe and is pleased to work with the City of Brandon on this effort. Social distancing, frequent hand washing and wearing a mask are the most effective steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to protect the community. Maple Leaf also delivered nearly 10,000 masks to local social service agencies in Brandon this week. That’s just a small part of the 500,000 masks that Maple Leaf is offering to citizens and agencies throughout the community. More information on this initiative, including distribution times and locations, will be available on the Maple Leaf Foods website at www.mapleleaffoods.com and the City of Brandon website at www.brandon.ca. (Source: Maple Leaf Foods News Release)

Last Wednesday, August 12th, Brandon's Trevor Thompson was in a freak bike accident on a remote trail in Riding Mountain National Park. He was immediately paralyzed from the neck down. With no cell service, it took hours to get help and paramedics to arrive, and he was airlifted by STARS to HSC in Winnipeg. Later, he regained some motor control and feeling and was scheduled for emergency surgery. After this kind of trauma and major spinal surgery performed on Saturday, his doctors are confident he will regain mobility with time, rehabilitation, and physiotherapy. Friends & family are hoping for the best, but know this will be a very long road to recovery. Trevor leads an active busy life; raising 3 girls, camping at Sporty’s, fishing, biking, hiking, kayaking, boating, refereeing volleyball, physically training, etc. and as you know he is STUBBORN — he will fight to get it all back. Trevor will have sick leave and disability coverage if needed, but there will be shortfalls They have 3 teenage girls at home: one in College, Grade 12, and Grade 9. A  Go Fund Me was setup (by Tracy & Dallis Wray) to help alleviate the financial stress the family is facing, so they can focus on recovery and their family. This will help to cover additional living and travel expenses for Sandra, and the partial loss of income while off work. We don’t know right now how long Trevor will need our support.