According to an article on their web site, the Westman Journal is ceasing operations effective immediately. The article goes on to state "General business decline has made it impossible to justify keeping the operation open". The Westman Journal has been a weekly newspaper serving the Westman area for the past 17-years.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On April 29th, 2019, police received a call from a residence in the 1200 blk of 6th Street indicating that someone was breaking into their neighbor’s garage.  Both subjects were arrested on scene and had items, which had been stolen from the above noted residence, concealed in their clothing.  A 22 year old man and a 23 year old woman, both from Brandon, were lodged at BCC for Break, Enter and Theft.  They were also both found to be in breach of their court ordered curfews. The pair will appear in Brandon Court on April 29th, 2019.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release On Saturday afternoon police attended two residential break and enters which had occurred overnight Friday. One incident occurred in the university area, where entry was gained through a basement window after the screen was torn out. A number of electronic items were taken from the residence. The other incident was reported in the area of 6th Street and Park Avenue, where entry was gained after the suspect(s) smashed a pain of glass and reached inside through the broken window to unlock the door and stole cash. These incidents remain under investigation.

Source: Brandon Police Service Media Release At 5:23 pm on Friday afternoon, officers were investigating an assault complaint in the 4100 block of McTavish Ave.  The suspect was observed by witnesses leaving the area in a vehicle which was stopped by an officer in the 3500 block of Victoria Ave.  The driver smelled of alcohol and failed a roadside screening test.  He was transported to the police service where breath samples over the legal limit were recorded.  The driver, a 43 year old man from Rockridge Mb, was charged with Impaired Driving and Drive Over 80 mg% and  was released to appear in court in May. There were no charges in the assault complaint.

BRANDON—As part of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing $300,000 in Assiniboine Community College to support a new Food Processing Centre for Animal Proteins (FPC), Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler announced here today. “The growing world demand for protein provides our industry here in Manitoba with tremendous opportunities in new production and processing jobs,” said Eichler. “The new Food Processing Centre for Animal Proteins will ensure that there is a robust stream of qualified individuals to advance our processing industry for years to come, and will keep our province at the leading edge of the protein sector.” The new training facility, located at the college’s Victoria Avenue East campus in Brandon, will have a specialized focus on animal proteins. The first program scheduled to be delivered in the space is an 11-month Food Processing (Animal Proteins) certificate program. That program, which commences next month, will have students learning protein processing and other necessary skills to gain employment within the industry. Future use of the centre lends itself to customized industry training and applied research. “The Food Processing Centre will allow Assiniboine to be responsive to the workforce development needs of employers, helping us to educate students and prepare them for in-demand jobs within this industry,” said Mark Frison, president of Assiniboine Community College. “We are extremely appreciative of the contributions from industry and government to make this space possible.” Other funding partners include Maple Leaf Foods, HyLife, Manitoba Pork, UFCW Local 832, as well as the Brandon Hog and Livestock Show. Combined, $640,000 in funding will contribute to the construction and completion of the facility. “Maple Leaf is very excited to be part of this opportunity with ACC and to stand with our industry partners to see it come to fruition,” said Morgan Curran-Blaney, vice-president manufacturing – pork, Maple Leaf Foods. “Not only will this program provide a stream of skilled talent into our plant, but more importantly, it highlights meat processing as a viable and sustainable career option for students.” The new FPC at Assiniboine will address workforce supply shortages in Manitoba’s meat processing industry. In January 2017, the Canadian Agriculture Human Research Council found that rural meat-processing facilities have an employment vacancy rate of over 9.5 per cent. These vacancies restrict processing capacity and affect future growth. “Unions exist to create opportunities for our members, through bargaining fair deals of course, but also through education and training,” said Bea Bruske, secretary-treasurer of UFCW Local 832. “Investing in the Food Processing Centre makes total sense for us; this new facility will create pathways for current and future UFCW members to acquire skills that will enhance their job and wage opportunities.” More information about Ag Action Manitoba is available at www.manitoba.ca/agriculture under Canadian Agricultural Partnership, by calling 1-844-769-6224 (toll-free) or emailing agaction@gov.mb.ca. Manitobans can also sign up for a digital newsletter at www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/online-resources/signup-for-growing-manitoba-ag.html or follow Manitoba Agriculture’s Twitter channel at www.twitter.com/MBGovAg for more information about Ag Action Manitoba. The five-year, $3-billion Canadian Agricultural Partnership includes $2 billion for cost-shared strategic initiatives delivered by the provinces and territories and $1 billion for federal programs and services. For more information, visit www.canada.ca/Agri-Partnership. (Province of MB Media Release)