Dr. Austin Gulliver and Dr. Tyler Foster of BU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy will host a viewing of Monday’s solar eclipse. They will set up two solar-filtered telescopes, from about 12:50 p.m., to about 3 p.m., outside the south entrance of the John R. Brodie Science Centre, along Louise Ave. They will also have welder’s glasses and eclipse viewing shades available for $1 each on a first-come, first-served basis. They also donated 40 glasses to Riverheights School in Brandon. While Monday’s event will be a total eclipse in eastern Canada, the moon will partially block the sun in western Manitoba, with the peak occurring at about 2 p.m. “You’ll see a big bite taken out of the sun, maybe 50 to 60 per cent of the sun will be missing,” Dr. Foster recently told the Brandon Sun. “At its peak depths, you won’t notice it by eye, there’ll be 50 to 60 per cent less light around you.” Staring at the sun can cause severe damage to unprotected eyes. People should not watch Monday’s eclipse unless they have suitable eye protection such as shade 14 welding glasses or special solar-viewing glasses that meet the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 12312-2 standard. Cameras, binoculars and telescopes should also not be used without specialized solar filters. Even with proper eye protection, viewing time should be limited. Eclipse projectors are easy to make at home and are another safe way to watch the solar eclipse.

In an exciting development for public transportation, Brandon City Council has taken a proactive step to enhance the city’s public transportation network by bringing forward the purchase of a new bus, initially slated for 2026. This forward-thinking decision leverages an unallocated surplus just over $1 million, enabling the City to bolster transit services well ahead of the original schedule. The acquisition of an additional bus this year means immediate improvements to the City’s fleet, two years earlier than expected. This new bus will make a total of four new buses slated for purchase this year. These new buses will also contribute to lower emissions and significantly reduce ongoing maintenance costs. Advanced features and improved reliability will benefit riders, thanks to the latest advancements in transportation technology. “By advancing the purchase of a new bus to this year, we are not just addressing the immediate needs of our transit system, we are also taking a strategic step toward long-term financial sustainability”, says Mayor Jeff Fawcett. “More importantly, it demonstrates our commitment to improving the daily commute of our citizens by replacing problematic buses sooner rather than later.” The pre-qualification process for bidders is currently underway.  Once this phase concludes, the design work is expected to commence immediately. Delivery is expected within 18-24 months based on industry forecasts. Stay tuned for more updates on this initiative, which is set to mark a new era of efficiency and sustainability for Brandon’s public transportation.

On April 4th at 02:02 am police conducted a traffic stop in the 800 block of Brandon Avenue. A 28-year-old female and a 35-year-old male were arrested as drug paraphernalia was visible. Further search of the vehicle located a can of pepper spray, 50 grams of meth and over $400 in cash. The pair were later released for court on June 13th, 2024

The Brandon Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in locating this person who is: “WANTED BY POLICE”: Nicholas WANBDISKA FOR Assault. On August 11 2023, Nicholas WANBDISKA assaulted a female at a residence in the City of Brandon. WANBDISKA assaulted the female by grabbing her and throwing her against a wall. WANBDISKA’s whereabouts are unknown at this time, please contact Brandon crime stoppers with any information. ***************** The Brandon Police Service is seeking the public’s assistance in solving a Theft Under. On March 31, 2024, a customer at a business located in the 2600 block of Victoria Avenue left her wallet on the checkout counter. The female suspect was behind the customer and proceeded to take the wallet and placed it in her bag. The suspect then left the business but not before being captured on video surveillance. ***************** If you have any information as to the whereabouts of this person or anyone else “Wanted by Police” you are asked to contact Brandon Crime Stoppers @ 204-727-TIPS (8477), www.brandoncrimestoppers.com or by texting BCSTIP+your message to CRIMES (274637).  Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to Call Display.  Your call is not recorded and your identity will remain anonymous.  Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2000.00 cash for information that leads to the solution of a crime.  

On April 2nd, 2024, police arrested a 24-year-old female for assault. On May 23,2023 there was a school division meeting held at an institution on McDiarmid Drive.  There were two opposing sides at the meeting. A 40-year-old male reported he was assaulted by the female. No serious injuries were reported. The investigative file was sent to the crown attorney for an opinion and the crown recommended a charge of assault be laid. The accused will appear in court on May 30th, 2024.