MORDEN—The seasonal flu vaccine is once again available free of charge to all Manitobans aged six months and older, Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen announced today at the official launch of the annual influenza immunization campaign. “Getting the flu vaccine is important for the health of all Manitobans, but especially for those at increased risk of serious illness from the flu, their caregivers, and close family and friends,” said Friesen, who received his vaccination this morning at Morden Drugstore.  “Every Manitoban knows an infant, a senior, someone with diabetes or asthma, or someone seeking treatment for cancer.  Because of this, I encourage Manitobans to protect themselves, as well as others, by getting their no-charge flu immunization this fall.” Forty-six people with lab-confirmed cases of the flu died in Manitoba last winter, the highest number in three years, while another 35 were admitted into intensive care units.  In total, there were 505 hospitalizations due to influenza during the 2017-18 season, more than the previous two seasons combined and the highest since 2009-10.  The number of hospitalizations last winter due to patients suffering from the flu created backlogs in emergency departments and urgent care centres. “Flu vaccines have proven to be effective in preventing illness for many Manitobans,” said Dr. Michael Isaac, Manitoba’s acting chief provincial public health officer.  “Manitobans are encouraged to get the vaccine and reduce the risk of contracting influenza and the potential health complications that can come with it, both for themselves and for others.” A record number of people received flu vaccines last winter in Manitoba, with more than 320,000 doses administered.  In total, 22.5 per cent of Manitobans registered with Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living received the vaccine. A special high-dose seasonal flu vaccine is once again available for senior residents of long-term care facilities.  Introduced last year, the high-dose vaccine may provide better protection for those at increased risk of complications from the flu, potentially reducing the number of outbreaks experienced in long-term care facilities. “Flu vaccines are a great preventative measure that reduces the risk of illness for all Manitobans, but particularly for older adults,” said Connie Newman, executive director of the Manitoba Association of Senior Centres.  “Flu vaccines are especially important for those of us as we age who have other conditions which become more complicated:  cardiac, pulmonary and kidney disorders, along with cancers and diabetes.  Having this vaccine is a tool to help us avoid the flu." The flu vaccine and Pneu-P-23 vaccine, which helps protect against pneumococcal disease and is offered free of charge to seniors, are available at local public health offices, nursing stations, doctors’ offices, and Access Centres.  Pharmacists can also provide immunization services to people seven years of age and older.  Manitobans interested in getting the vaccine should contact providers first to ensure they are available. Regional health authorities will also soon begin immunization clinics. Check Manitoba’s seasonal influenza website or contact Health Links–Info Santé at 204-788-8200 in Winnipeg or 1-888-315-9257 toll-free for dates, times and locations.

Source:  Brandon Police Service media Release On Monday morning at approximately 05:29am, Police received a report from a male who had been held at a residence in the 2300 block of Princess Avenue. He escaped but his girlfriend was still being held at the residence. Police attended the residence on Princess Avenue and took a male that was exiting the residence into custody without incident. Police entered the residence and located a female tied up in the basement. The victims said the suspects accused the two victims of stealing from them and forced them into the basement and tied them up. The female was shot several times with a pellet pistol causing minor injuries. The male was hit with a mallet and shot in the abdomen with the .22 caliber blank round causing minor injury. Police later located the two suspects at an establishment in the 200 block of 18th Street North. A 24yr old male and a 34yr old Brandon woman were arrested for Forcible Confinement, Aggravated Assault, Utter Threats, Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Weapon Possess Prohibited Firearm with Ammunition, Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm, Possess Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose, Use a Firearm in the Commission of an Offence and Assault with a Weapon. Both the male and female suspects were lodged at BCC to appear in Court on October 09th. The male that exited the residence in the 2300 block of Princess Avenue was found to have in his possession a pellet pistol handgun tucked into the front of his pants. A 25yr old Brandon man was arrested for Possess Weapon Dangerous and released to appear in Court on December 03rd.

Source:  Brandon Police Service Media Release At approximately 10:00pm on Saturday night, after calling police multiple times throughout the day about suspects climbing on the roof of his building, including Spiderman, police arrested a 40 year old male who was intoxicated by drugs for Breach of the Peace.  He was lodged at the Brandon Correctional Center to be released when sober.

Source:  Brandon Police Service Media Release At 00:25, a vehicle was waived into a check stop in the 2900 block of Victoria Ave with two male occupants. Initially there was open liquor spotted in the vehicle and when Police attempted to gain the identity of the two males, one provided a false name. While police tried to confirm his identity, the male opened the door and attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit. He was found to have a small quantity of Meth on him. Also in the vehicle was a baseball bat, a hatchet and another small quantity of Meth. A 33 year old male from Brandon was arrested for   Public Mischief, Resist Arrest, Breach of Recognizance x 3, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Meth), Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose.   The second occupant, a 48 year old male from Newdale, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose and having Open Liquor in the vehicle.   Both were lodged at the Brandon Correctional center to appear for court in the AM.

The City of Brandon Sanitation Section would like to advise Green Cart program participants that as a result of the freeze-thaw temperatures we are currently experiencing, collection staff are noticing that large amounts of organic material is sticking in many of the green lidded carts during collection. Collection staff are doing their best to ensure that the majority of this material releases from the carts, but due to the large volume of carts collected each day, they are unable to return and re-dump carts affected by this issue. To help alleviate this problem, participants are encouraged to place newspaper/cardboard at the bottom of the cart to allow material to release in an effective manner. Bagging yard waste in a compostable kraft paper bag is also a great option to ensure organic material does not stick! Weather-permitting, the final day of Green Cart collection for the year will be Friday, November 9th. However, Green Cart program participants are encouraged to continue placing all kitchen waste and other accepted organics into their Green Bin during the winter months. If program participants find their bin fills up prior to the start of the 2018 program, they can empty it at any one of the City’s compost drop-off depots or by taking their bin directly to the Eastview Landfill. Any future requests this year from residents who wish to enroll in the Green Cart program will be processed as received, but cart delivery will NOT OCCUR until the Spring of 2019 due to the limited supply of available carts. More information about the City of Brandon’s Green Cart program can always be found at http://www.brandon.ca/sanitation/collection/green-cart-program/green-cart-program-signup.