Westman Communications Group (Westman) is supporting its communities by initiating their “90-Day Pledge to Keep You Connected.” Starting March 27, for the next 90 days, Westman is committing to their valued Residential and Small Business Members that their services will not be disconnected if Members are unable to pay their bills due to economic circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Westman will also be waiving all late fees incurred because of these disruptions. “As we continue to navigate through this difficult time together, the wellbeing of our staff, members, and communities is our top priority,” explained President & CEO Dave Baxter. “We know that now, more than ever, keeping people connected to broadband services is extremely important, which is what drove our decision to implement our 90-Day Pledge.” While many people are transitioning to working remotely, online schooling, and video chatting with family and friends, broadband has become a critical service to keep people connected and informed as they take part in important ‘social distancing’ practices. Westman Communications will do their part in keeping everyone connected and lessen the financial impact of COVID-19. “In addition to keeping customers connected, we will be increasing the speeds of all our Internet service packages by up to 20 percent for 90 days at no additional cost,” adds Baxter. “We are also committed to maintaining a robust, reliable network that our Members can count on,” Baxter also noted that they will not be implementing rate adjustments for any services. The rate adjustments that were communicated to members in early February to take effect April 1 will be deferred to September 1. Members who have already been billed for parts of April will receive a credit adjustment on their next bill. For more information on Westman’s 90-day Pledge to Keep You Connected and the other ways they are assisting their customers though these difficult times, visit www.westmancom.com/90-day-pledge. (Westman Communications Group Media Release)

Brandon, MB – As the City of Brandon continues to monitor the response to COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) in Manitoba, a decision has been made by the Brandon Emergency Response Control Group to activate its pandemic preparedness plan at the Municipal Water Treatment Facility in an effort to ensure the plant can continue to safely produce potable water for residents, institutions, and businesses. As of 6 p.m. today (Thursday, March 26th), a crew of nine municipal water treatment facility operators and maintenance staff will enter the treatment facility and remain sequestered on-site 24-7. As part of this well-developed plan, trailers have been brought on-site to serve as personal accommodations for this crew, all of whom have volunteered for this duty. A total of 14 additional water treatment facility and maintenance staff remain on-the-job outside of the facility, with contingencies in place to ensure their health should a shift switch need to be considered in the coming weeks. Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest stresses that enacting this plan should not be a cause for public alarm and is being done proactively to protect the water treatment facility’s functions, which rank with protective services as an essential service amidst this continued pandemic. “In keeping with our Emergency Coordinator Brian Kayes’ philosophy of ‘Get Big Fast’ in an emergency response, we are doing all we can to ensure that we have a full contingent of healthy staff to perform critical functions at the municipal water treatment facility,” Chrest says. “I want to personally commend this group of water treatment facility staff, who have stepped up and put the comfort and security of their own lives on hold in order to ensure that our community’s supply of safe, potable water remains uninterrupted.” City of Brandon General Manager of Development Services Patrick Pulak adds that it is very important for the community to understand that the COVID-19 virus cannot be contracted via the water supply, and that this plan is being enacted strictly to ensure the health of the facility’s operators. “As residual chlorine in the water leaving our treatment facility serves to kill any such viruses, we want to ensure residents that the water coming from their tap in their home continues to be the same safe supply of water we have always produced,” Pulak notes. Information on the City of Brandon’s COVID-19 response can be found at http://www.brandon.ca/covid-19-updates. General enquiries relating to municipal services can be directed to the City of Brandon Enquiry Line at 204-729-2186 during regular business hours or can be submitted online at http://www.brandon.ca/contact-us. (City of Brandon Media Release)

City of Brandon employees work to clear a lake of water from a ditch near 34th Street and Rosser Ave. According to a motorist, the water was all over the road at one point. City workers were seen in the ditch, in waist-height water working to drain the water. The ditch was successfully cleared at around 6:30 Tuesday night.

Brandon, MB – As the City of Brandon continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic in Manitoba and enact its own precautionary measures, Brandon City Council will be considering a number of possibilities relating to how property owners may be able to defer payment of 2020 property taxes. While taxes are normally due June 30th of each year, Mayor Rick Chrest says City Council recognizes that the community is in the midst of an extraordinary financial situation. “Given that many residents have either been laid off or currently have reduced incomes, and given the fact that many businesses have either closed their doors or had their cash flows significantly impacted, I’ve asked City administration to develop potential strategies and options for temporary deferment of tax payments,” Chrest says. “This is an unprecedented situation, and Council will want to consider all avenues to help our citizens and businesses weather this.” City of Brandon administration is now working on options for Council’s consideration as soon as possible, with the public to be apprised if any such program will be made available. Information on the City of Brandon’s COVID-19 response can be found at http://www.brandon.ca/covid-19-updates. General enquiries relating to municipal services can be directed to the City of Brandon Enquiry Line at 204-729-2186 during regular business hours or can be submitted online at http://www.brandon.ca/contact-us. (City of Brandon Media Release)

Last Wednesday around 12:45pm, a massive 28 inch walleye was caught (then later released) on Pelican Lake by Owen Lockhart. He tells bdnmb.ca that he never got the exact weight but he estimates the fish weighed between 12-15 pounds. Lockhart tries to get out fishing as much as possible, almost everyday this year. On the day of the catch he was on the lake at 8:00am. Witnesses to the catch were two of his buddies: Tanner Riddle and Justin Kelbert. He believes that Pelican Lake is bouncing back and becoming a great fishery once again, adding that it will stay that way if people follow the limits and slot size, and release the big breeding fish.