“The staff and board of Brandon Riverbank Inc. made the difficult decision to close on March 18th, 2020 due to the COVID19 Pandemic. We could have opened on May 4th, but made the decision to take extra safety precautions for the safety of our visitors and staff. The Riverbank Discovery Centre will be open on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 from 12-5 pm for the public. At this time our open hours for the public will be Sunday until Saturday 12-5 pm. Please continue to social distance, and do your part to stop the spread. We are looking forward to seeing you at the grounds soon.”

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On Tuesday afternoon, police attended an accident in the 700 block of 13th Street. The investigation revealed that a male driver that was southbound on 13th Street crossed into northbound traffic and struck a parked car that was parked facing north. The driver showed signs of impairment and was arrested at the scene. The 39-year-old male driver from Brandon failed the drug evaluation and was charged with impaired driving. He was held in custody for release when sober.

Brandon, MB – While we are all looking forward to enjoying warmer weather in our own backyards, Brandon Fire & Emergency Services’ Prevention Division is reminding residents that if that activity includes sitting around the fire pit, you should be sure your fire pit is in compliance with the following regulations, as listed on www.brandonfire.ca:   Ø  To have an open air fire in your yard, you must first have an approved permit.  Before a permit is approved, an inspection of the proposed site/appliance by Brandon Fire & Emergency Services is required, which can be requested at no cost. Ø  The permit does not have to be renewed annually. A new application is required if property ownership has changed or if the original application has changed. Ø  If you are renting the property, you need a letter of permission from the property owner. Ø  Before submitting your application, be sure your fire pit appliance is within the height and width restrictions and has enclosed sides made of approved material. Ø  A spark arrestor mesh screen, made of metal, with openings no larger than half an inch is to be used. The brick, stone, concrete or heavy gauge metal must be separated from grass and any other vegetation by at least six (6) inches by means of clean earth, sand, gravel or non-combustible medium. Ø  At least five (5) feet of clearance must be maintained from the fire pit edge and buildings, property lines or other combustibles. Ø  Grass, rubbish and leaves cannot be burnt within the City limits. Ø  If fire pits are used without the necessary permit, offenders may be ticketed without warning. The fee for failing to comply with the policy is $400.00, as per the Open Air Fire Policy 30. (City of Brandon PSA)

Justin Oertel of Brandon is the winner of this year's Our Manitoba Photo Contest. Justin's photo 'Harvest Sunset' (below and attached) emerged as the winner from over 230 entries for this year's contest. A shortlist of 30 photos was put through one-week public voting last month through the www.ourmanitoba.org website. The week-long voting period saw close to 10,000 votes cast, with the 12 finalists and the grand prize winner receiving the most votes. All 13 finalists will also receive a canvas print of the winning photograph,  be featured in the 2021 Sunrise Credit Union calendars and the soon to be released travel guide "Local Adventures from Sunrise to Sunset".  In addition, the winning photos will appear on Sunrise Credit Union's branch TVs and social media channels. All 13 finalists will also receive a canvas print of the winning photograph, be featured in the 2021 Sunrise Credit Union calendar and the soon to be released travel guide "Local Adventures from Sunrise to Sunset.” Also, the winning photos will appear on Sunrise Credit Union’s branch TVs and social media channels. Also, Justin earned the Grant Prize of a $500 One-Year Term Deposit from Sunrise Credit Union. 2020 marked the eighth edition of the Our Manitoba Photo Contest, and the unveiling of the grand prize winner on Tuesday coincided with Manitoba’s 150th birthday. (article & photo submitted)

The Manitoba government is continuing to support Manitoba families with an $11-million program that will reduce vehicle registration fees by 10 per cent beginning July 1, Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton announced today. “After your home, your car is likely your next biggest expense, and reducing these fees is another step toward making life more affordable for Manitobans,” said Wharton. “As a result of COVID-19, we’re working hard across government and with our partners to find ways to provide relief to Manitobans who need it now more than ever.” Most Manitobans will benefit from a $15 decrease to the existing $154 vehicle registration fee as a first step to reverse a 30 per cent increase in these fees in 2012 by the previous administration, the minister noted. The registration fee applies to non-commercial vehicles and trucks, resulting in an annual registration fee of $139. Non-commercial vehicles include passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, light trucks, farm vehicles, motorcycles/mopeds and personal-use trailers and trucks. The existing fee for the registration of government and municipal vehicles will continue. Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) administers and collects vehicle registration fees on behalf of the provincial government. “These savings are in addition to the up to $110 million in rebate cheques that MPI is returning to its policyholders at the end of May to early June,” said Wharton. “With a healthy reserve fund and fewer claims during this COVID-19 period, MPI is in a strong financial situation to move forward with these rebate cheques to support Manitobans.” Rebates are based on what policyholders paid last year and is expected to be around 11 per cent, or between $140 to $160, per average policyholder. For more information about COVID-19 in Manitoba, visit www.manitoba.ca/covid19 and a comprehensive list of Manitoba government COVID-19 measures can be found at https://manitoba.ca/bg/2020/04/covid19.html. (Province of MB News Release)