Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On October 23, 2019, we reported on an explosion that occurred at a residence in the 200 block of Queen’s Ave east on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at 7:50 pm. When police and members of BFES arrived, a perimeter was set up and residences in the neighbourhood were evacuated as a precaution. As members at the scene detected a strong odour of natural gas, Manitoba Hydro employees also attended to turn the gas off within the hour. The 63-year-old male resident, Robert Hughes, exited the residence on his own once the gas had been turned off. He was later transported by STAR air ambulance to Health Science Centre in Winnipeg with serious injuries. No information regarding the specifics of Mr. Hughes injuries will be provided, as this information will remain confidential in accordance with PHIA (Personal Health Information Act). Due to the instability of the structure following the explosion, police and emergency workers were unable to enter the scene for several hours, until it could be reinforced by members of Urban Search and Rescue (USAR). Once the building was deemed safe, officers were then able to enter and attend to 63-year-old, Betty Hughes, who was deceased. Following the explosion, members of BPS Major Crimes Section have continued to investigate in cooperation with the Office of the Fire Commissioner. The investigation has led police to determine that the death of the Mrs. Hughes was not accidental, but was caused by injuries inflicted on her prior to the explosion. The explosion was also determined to be intentionally set. On Friday October 25, 2019, BPS Major Crime Section members attended to Winnipeg Health Science Centre where the Mr. Hughes was being released from medical care, and arrested him. On Friday evening, he was brought back to Brandon and lodged at Brandon Correctional Centre. He appeared before a Justice on a charge of 2nd Degree Murder, on October 26, 2019 and was remanded in custody. As this matter is now before the courts, specific details regarding the death of Mrs. Hughes and the explosion will not be disclosed, as we do not wish to compromise the integrity of the judicial process. Brandon Police Service would like to offer our condolences to the family of Mrs. Hughes. They will not be offering any public statement regarding this tragedy, and I would ask members of the public and media to respect their privacy during this difficult time.

Sunday night, shortly before 8:00, Brandon Fire and Emergency Services along with Brandon Police Service responded to the intersection of 26th St and Princess Ave for a vehicle that had crashed into a tree. Emergency crews arrived to find a small car that had crashed into a tree on the north-west corner of the intersection, and was lightly smoking. Two people were loaded into an ambulance. Photos by Liam Pattison Photography. Update October 8: Brandon Police Service Media Release On October 27, 2019, at 7:38 pm, police and members of BFES attended to a motor vehicle collision in the 2600 block of Princess Ave. A car travelling north bound on 26th street, clipped another vehicle, which was travelling east bound on Princess Ave. It then lost control and struck a tree, injuring two passengers inside. Passengers of the vehicle, which struck the tree, a 50-year-old female and a female child, were both taken to BRHC by ambulance. The driver of the second vehicle was unharmed. The child was released from the hospital with minor injuries. The 50-year-old female was admitted to the hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries. The 26-year-old male driver of the vehicle that struck the tree left the scene on foot, stating he was going to get help, but he did not return. Once located, the male will face criminal charges of Fail to Stop at the Scene of an Accident where Bodily Harm Has Occurred.

Brandon, MB – Manitoba AG EX presented by Mazergroup has wrapped up for another year. With a great showing of livestock and thousands of visitors through the Keystone Centre during the four-day event, organizers are very pleased with the results. Ron Kristjansson, general manager at the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba. “I would really like to give a big Salute to the efforts of Co-Chairs Dallas Johnson and Brent Blaine and the hard work of all the volunteers that contribute to the events of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba.” Manitoba AG EX Co-Chair Dallas Johnson has been involved with this event for a number of years and has been an integral part of building the show. Johnson would like to recognize the efforts of all the cattle producers who came out to show their stock and take part in Manitoba Ag Ex despite the weather and other challenges that have faced all of Manitoba and Western Canada farmers this year. “The support of our show is critical to us moving forward and developing even bigger and better shows for the livestock industry in this part of the world.” Says Johnson. For the 4th year in a row, the Manitoba Rodeo Cowboys Association provided top-level rodeo competition with their year-end finals event. New MRCA president, Mark Fraser, congratulated all the competitors for another successful year and contributes the prosperity of this event to the partnerships. He also wanted to extend a big Special Thanks to all the fans and supporters of rodeo who came out to support the event this weekend. The competitors work hard all summer to get to this final championship and they rally through three straight nights of competition; we are very proud of all their accomplishments and thank them all for their efforts. The Manitoba Superhorse 50/50, NAERIC Barrels of Cash, and Hagan Performance and Ranch Horse Sale rounded out the equine competitions and sales and had a successful weekend to complete the event. Results for the cattle shows and rodeo events are available at www.manitobaagex.com. Next up for the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba will be the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, March 30 – April 4, 2020. Visit www.provincialexhibition.com for more details. (Article Submitted)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On October 23, 2019, we reported on an explosion that occurred at a residence in the 200 block of Queen’s Ave east on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at 7:50 pm. When officers arrived at the residence, they located a 63-year-old female, deceased. The 63-year-old male, sustained injuries for which he required treatment. He was transported to Winnipeg Health Science Centre on October 22, 2019 by STARS air ambulance, where he remained. Since the incident, members of BPS Major Crimes Section have continued to investigate in cooperation with the Office of the Fire Commission. The investigation has led police to determine that the death of the female was not accidental. On Friday October 25, 2019, BPS Major Crime Section members attended to Winnipeg Health Science Centre where the 63-year-old male suspect was being released from medical care, and arrested him. On Friday evening, he was brought back to Brandon and lodged at Brandon Correctional Centre. He will appear before a Justice on a charge of 2nd Degree Murder, on October 26, 2019. More information regarding this incident will be released at Brandon Police Service on Monday October 28, 2019 at 11:00 am. No further information will be released until that time. Members of the media are invited to attend in person, and have the opportunity to ask further questions.

The Manitoba government has announced the first dates for upcoming agricultural Crown land lease auctions, Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen said today. “The former Department of Agriculture conducted extensive consultations with stakeholders on the allocation of agricultural Crown lands,” said Pedersen.  “The auction system is a fair and transparent approach that will create opportunities for new or young farmers to have access to these public assets.” Upcoming agricultural Crown land lease auctions are being held on: •    Nov. 27 at the Brandon Manitoba Agriculture Office; •    Nov. 28 at the Minnedosa Ukrainian Hall; •    Nov. 29 at the Dauphin Provincial Building; •    Dec. 3 at the Swan River War Veterans Community Hall; •    Dec. 5 at the Ashern Manitoba Agriculture Office; and •    Dec. 6 at the Dugald Community Hall. In November 2018, the Manitoba government passed The Crown Lands Amendment Act (Improved Management of Community Pastures and Agricultural Crown Lands), which enabled amendments to the Agricultural Crown Lands Leases and Permits Regulation (Oct. 1, 2019).  One of the updates to the regulation included implementing a system of allocating agricultural Crown land leases by way of a public auction. The Agricultural Crown Lands Program supports the sustainable expansion of the livestock herd in Manitoba, contributes to ecological goods and services, and provides mitigation and adaptation to climate change.  These leases and permits are available to farmers and ranchers, to provide an additional land base on which to conduct agricultural activities. More information on the upcoming auctions, including start times, can be found at https://resd.ca/leases_and_permits/LPproperties.aspx or contact a local Manitoba Agriculture Agricultural Crown Land office.