The 2025 Hope 4 Holden 50/50 Raffle is entering its final stretch with momentum building and the prize pot now exceeding $7,000. Hosted in partnership between the Brandon Wheat Kings Foundation and the Hope 4 Holden Organizing Committee, the raffle supports the Ataxia-Telangiectasia Children’s Project and helps fund research into a rare disease affecting local six-year-old Holden Stewart. Holden was diagnosed in 2021 with Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A‑T), a degenerative disorder that affects movement, coordination, and immune function. With no cure currently available, fundraising efforts like this raffle are vital to supporting promising research and offering families hope for the future. “We’ve been blown away by the support from the community,” said Derrick Stewart, Holden’s dad and one of the organizers. “It’s not easy sharing our story, but the response reminds us we’re not in this alone. Every ticket sold fuels real hope — not just for Holden, but for families facing A‑T across North America. There’s also a strong connection between A‑T and cancer research, so the impact of this fundraiser reaches far beyond one rare disease.” The raffle closes Friday, June 13 at 5:30 PM, and is open to residents of Manitoba aged 18 and older. Tickets can be purchased online at hope4holden5050.com. The campaign is generously supported by 2025 sponsors: Crosier Kilgour, Crane Steel, Shanks Golf, West Hawk Marine, Wheat City Electric, Farm House Consultants, Teranet Manitoba, Cando Rail, Light and Me, Brandon Maintenance, Brandon University, and Four Seasons. To learn more, visit hope4holden.com

Located on Park Ave and 16th Street the all new Kongo's is open for business. Kongo's is a brand new restaurant inside NeXgen Family Entertainment Center! With eight big comfy booths, it's the perfect spot to sit, relax, and chat about all the fun you've had. Whether you just traveled through far away lands in the Hologram Zoo, tackled a VR escape room, or took down a horde of zombies, Kongos is here to refuel you with delicious eats. From delicious pizza, hearty pasta, and tasty apps to fresh salads and sweet treats, there's something for everyone. Come hungry, leave happy!

Suspicious Fire On June 8th at 7:15PM Police attended to a report of a shed and truck on fire in the 1500 block of Rideau Street. Noone was around. The shed was engulfed and the truck had smoke coming from the front windshield with flames underneath the truck. Brandon Fire & Emergency Services attended and extinguished both fires. Video surveillance from the area is being reviewed. The situation remains under investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident, please contact Brandon Police at 204-729-2345. Theft Under $5000 Between the dates of March 14th and June 8th a 57-year-old female attended a business in the 2600 block of Victoria Avenue on 16 separate occasions and only paid for a portion of the items she had selected. (Video surveillance shows the woman placing items into her bag without scanning them.)  The approximate value of theft totals $900.00.  Brandon Police members attended her residence where she was charged with Theft Under $5000. She was released via Appearance Notice with a court date of August 18th, 2025.

Two Assiniboine students returned this week from Regina with a little extra hardware in their suitcases. Digital Art & Design student Brooke Heaman and Network Administration student Tyler Dickie both received gold medals at the Skills Canada competition held in Regina Saskatchewan, May 29-30. “It was exciting and surreal at the same time. I go to these events for the experience and challenge but of course I want to do well too, so it was a proud experience for me,” said gold medal winner Brooke Heaman. Heaman’s competition stream - 3D Digital Game Art had a very Assiniboine flare. Digital Art & Design instructor, Derek Ford, was part of the National Technical Committee that designed the creative challenge. “Brooke showed remarkable composure, creativity, and technical precision throughout the intensive two-day competition. Her success reflects the dedication she’s brought to her work and the industry readiness we focus on in the Digital Art & Design program. It’s been a privilege to help guide her development as an incredible digital artist,” said Derek Ford, instructor at Assiniboine College. Heaman will now move on to compete on the international stage at WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai China in 2026. “I’m not sure how I will prepare, but I’m hoping my first step will be planning that. It’ll likely consist of a lot of practice and getting fluent in the programs I use. I’m really looking forward to visiting Shanghai, it will be my first trip to another continent and all the things I could see/experience there are so exciting,” For Network Administration student Tyler Dickie, this competition was a next step in what he hopes will be a rewarding career in the IT field. “Winning Gold was kind of shocking initially. Then a sense of relief that I hadn't done as bad as I had felt I performed throughout the competition,” said Dickie. “Skills Canada was a much bigger event than Skills Manitoba. All the competitions were held in large rooms so you could see everything that was going on and people could walk by and watch as you competed. It also felt a lot more important competing against each province’s best competitor instead a couple from my province.” The annual summit saw over 500 students and apprentices from across the country competing for the title of national champion in over 40 Skill Areas at the REAL District. “We’re incredibly proud of both Brooke and Tyler,” said Dr. Deanna Rexe, Vice President Academic at Assiniboine. “Skills competitions like this are more than just contests — they’re real-world tests of the skills students will use in their careers. These results speak to the strength of our “Learn by Doing” educational philosophy, our industry-focused programs, and our exceptional faculty” Skills Canada was founded in 1989 as a national, not‐for‐profit organization that works with employers, educators, labour groups and governments to promote skilled trade and technology careers among Canadian youth. For more information visit: www.skillscompetencescanada.com (Source: ACC News)

Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Meth  At 11:04 pm, a traffic stop was done in the 100 block of 18th St N as the driver had committed a highway traffic offence. Further investigation resulted in 20 grams of meth being located in the vehicle along with items related to trafficking drugs and small amount of cash. As a result, a 28-year-old female, a 37-year-old female, and 34-year-old female were all charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking meth. All 3 accused were held in custody for court. Uttering Threats At 9:41 am, a female reported receiving death threats from a 53-year-old male. At 11:00 am, the male was located in the 1500 block of Parker Blvd and was arrested and released on an undertaking.