The City of Brandon and management and staff at the Brandon Municipal airport wish to advise that effective July 10th, 2020, it will be MANDATORY for people to wear a face mask or face covering while in the Brandon Airport Terminal. This is part of the City of Brandon’s ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response and is necessary because the growing number of people attending to the terminal for WestJet’s summer flight schedule has made it much more difficult for people to properly physically distance while in the terminal building. In order to continue offering air service at the facility, the decision has been made to require anyone present in the terminal building to wear a face mask or face covering. Signage will be posted in all applicable areas of the airport terminal building. PLEASE NOTE that the Brandon Municipal Airport WILL NOT provide face masks or face coverings. This new requirement at the Brandon Municipal Airport is in addition to Transport Canada’s pre-existing requirement which came into effect on April 20th, 2020, for travellers to wear a facemask or face covering during the screening process as well as on the aircraft. Guidance on acceptable face masks or coverings has been provided by Transport Canada on its website at https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks/about-non-medical-masks-face-coverings.html. Exceptions to the above requirements have been laid out as follows: •            When you could be endangered by wearing a mask, •            When security, airline staff or airport staff authorizes the removal of a face mask in cases of special needs or        unforeseen circumstances. •            When you are eating, drinking or taking oral medications. •            An infant 2 years or less, does not require to wear a face mask of face covering •            When you difficulty breathing (not related to COVID-19), •            A person who is unconscious, and a person who is unable to remove their face mask without assistance. In addition to all the above measures, a number of other procedures are in place at the Brandon Municipal Airport to minimize the spread of COVID-19, including the disinfecting of commonly touched surfaces, and the performing of Health Checks for passengers before boarding. More Information on the City of Brandon’s COVID-19 pandemic response can be found at http://www.brandon.ca/covid-19-updates. (City of Brandon PSA)

The Manitoba government is investing $150 million to resurface more than 240 kilometres of roadway, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler announced today. “Our government is committed to improving Manitoba’s transportation infrastructure to ensure the safe and reliable flow of both people and goods,” said Schuler. “Investing in our highways supports economic growth and will have a positive impact on the province for years to come.” Manitoba Infrastructure has identified 10 sections to resurface on the Trans-Canada Highway and Provincial Trunk Highways (PTH) 23 and 59. Resurfacing work will take place on the following sections of highway: the Trans-Canada Highway eastbound lanes from Provincial Road (PR) 257 near Virden to the east junction at Oak Lake (29.5 km); the Trans-Canada Highway eastbound lanes from the east junction of PR 250 to the west junction of PTH 10 near Brandon (22.9 km); the Trans-Canada Highway eastbound lanes from the east junction of PTH 26 near St. François Xavier to Gaol Road near Headingley (six km); the Trans-Canada Highway westbound lanes from Gaol Road to the east junction of PTH 26 (six km); PTH 23 from PTH 59 to PTH 75 near Morris (29 km); PTH 23 from PTH 34 to PTH 5 west of Baldur (39.4 km); PTH 23 from PTH 5 to the west junction of PTH 18 near Ninette (25.3 km); PTH 23 from the west junction of PTH 18 to the south junction of PTH 10 near Minto (26.2 km); PTH 59 from the U.S. Border to PR 403 near St. Malo (40 km); and PTH 59 from PR 403 to PTH 52 (21 km). Some of the planned projects involve reconstruction, which includes grading or grade widening, removing the existing surface, restoring the road base and resurfacing multi-layered pavement. Work also includes major rehabilitation that involves a multi-layer pavement overlay to restore the pavement surface condition, extend pavement life and increase loading capacity. Other projects will involve single layer pavement overlays to improve pavement surface condition and extend pavement life. Schuler said the province expects to begin work on some of the roadways this August. “We have identified areas for reconstruction and major rehabilitation on three key highways in our province,” said Schuler. “We are making upgrades and performing maintenance on the Trans-Canada and highway 59 south, which are important routes for trade and tourism, and repairing damage on portions of highway 23 that occurred during the spring breakup to prevent further closures.” The road resurfacing funds come from the $500-million Manitoba Restart Program, an economic stimulus package announced in May to help restart Manitoba’s economy and ramp up construction as the province moves forward through the COVID-19 pandemic. The province will announce further projects funded under the Manitoba Restart Program in the coming weeks. (Province of MB News Release)

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At approx. 1:40 AM today, a female reported she had just been robbed by 3 females in the 1100 block of Princess. The 3 suspects approached the victim and began a conversation, then forcibly stole her bag which she had been carrying over her shoulder. Officers were able to locate and arrest the suspects in the 1000 block of Pacific Ave. At the time of arrest, they were found in possession of several knives which they were carrying within the stolen bag. The three accused (all of Brandon) aged 26, 26 and 27 were all charged with robbery, possession of stolen property and possession of a weapon. They were all held overnight and will appear in court later today.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At approx. 1:45 Saturday afternoon, police attended to a hotel in the 900 block of Pacific Ave for a person with a gun.  The caller indicated that there was a knock at is door and when he opened the door a female pointed a gun at him and threatened to kill him.  A few minutes later, the same female approached a male in the parking lot and started a verbal altercation. An unknown male with the female, pulled a gun out and while pointing the gun at the victim, told him to leave.  A few minutes later, Officers located the female behind a business in the 800 block of Rosser Ave.  She was holding the handgun and pointing it at a few other people that had congregated behand the building.  Officers engaged the female and ordered her to drop the weapon, and she complied and was taken into custody without injury or harm to anyone.  The handgun was later found to be a Crossman Airsoft pistol designed as an exact replica of a Sig Sauer pistol.  The 44-year-old female of Waywayseecappo has been charged with 2 counts of Point Imitation Firearm, Possess Weapon for Dangerous Purpose, and Uttering Threats.  She will appear in court later this morning.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On July 4, 2020, shortly after midnight, police responded to a report of a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of 34th street and Victoria Ave. The driver of one of the vehicles was found to be impaired. The 54-year-old male was arrested and provided sample of his breath that were more than twice the legal limit. A search of his vehicle located a loaded 308 rifle which was seized. The driver will appear in court on a later date on a charge of Impaired Driving and Careless Storage of a Firearm.