CAA Manitoba News Release Winnipeg, November 6, 2017 – As the temperature drops to -19 Celsius overnight tonight, Manitobans will find out very quickly if their vehicle and battery are ready for winter. “Tonight’s frozen temperatures might test your vehicle’s ability to turn over in the morning, especially if your battery is around three to five years old,” says Erika Miller, public and media relations specialist for CAA Manitoba. “In cold temperatures, it can take almost twice as much of your battery’s charge to start your engine. Now is the time to get your battery tested and winterize your vehicle, if you haven’t already.” Drivers are encouraged to give their car a good look over and follow four guidelines for a winter-worthy vehicle to cut down on potential issues. Four guidelines for a winter-worthy vehicle: 1. Ready your ride - Test your battery and block heater, install winter tires, and top up antifreeze and windshield wiper fluids with temperature-appropriate solutions. 2. Ensure you can see safely – The sun rises and sets earlier in winter, which means our daily commute is generally in the dark. Visit your local Approved Auto Repair Services location to check and replace any headlights, taillights, signal lights or hazard lights and remember to turn them on before you head out. If need be, install new wiper blades to help clear your windshield effectively in snowy, wet weather. 3. Prevent frozen locks – Thanks to keyless electronic entry, people may not need to use their physical locks until their doors won’t seem to open. Don’t get caught in the cold! Inject lock deicer lubricant in the locks on your doors and use a spray lubricant on trunk and hood seals to help safeguard against being stuck outside. Remember to reapply the de-icer after washing your vehicle or a particularly rainy or snowy day. 4. Be prepared with a roadside emergency kit – Ensure your kit has enough food and water for the number of passengers you’re travelling with, along with tools, weatherproof emergency flares, and blankets. Prepackaged emergency kits are available at any CAA store. CAA Manitoba reminds motorists that when weather changes, driving conditions can change quickly too. Black ice can develop on bridges and overpasses when winds pick up. Slowing down and driving to conditions, and keeping a safe stopping distance between cars can help prevent a costly collision.

Brandon Police Service Media Release At 9:40 pm a male entered a downtown retail business armed with what appeared to be a shotgun.  There was no demand for money or other merchandise. The business owner stated that the male, would be robber, shot a hole in the wall of the business and then immediately fled.  Police cordoned off the area, and a search was conducted with a Police canine.  No suspect was apprehended.  Police continue to investigate. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

The snow has already fallen and City crews try to keep our roads as clear and as safe as possible every winter.  If you are uncertain of when you area/zone is going to be cleared then this is a great time to get reacquainted with the City of Brandon's online snow-clearing operations map! Visit snowmap.brandon.ca to "Find Your Zone" or access the interactive information via the City's free "My City" app on the Apple App Store. The map will be updated through the winter for various snow-plowing and hauling events. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Brandon Riverbank Discovery Centre BRANDON, November 3rd, 2017 – The “Back to the River” Master Plan comes to life in 3D imagery in the newest promotional tool for this exciting community development project. Altus Group - Manitoba Land Surveyors and Brandon Riverbank Inc. have been working together since the Spring of 2016 on this initiative, with the result being a 6-minute video that tells the story of the development that will take place around the Riverbank Discovery Centre over the next 20 years, painting a virtual picture of this area as a premiere community gathering place and tourism destination for Brandon and southwestern Manitoba. Altus Group – Manitoba Land Surveyors, donated all of their time and technology to this project and is excited about the data-gathering and photogrammetry skills that they could lend to telling the story of the Master Plan. Ian Baley, Brandon Branch Manager states, “The chance to showcase the Back to the River Master Plan in a unique fashion using the latest technologies has been very rewarding for us at Altus Group. We are honoured to be a part of Brandon’s history…and future”. The video will act as a valuable resource to gain friends and funds in moving the ‘Back to the River’ Master Plan forward. The inaugural project, Festival Park, is currently under construction and a fundraising campaign is well underway to support this project. Lois MacDonald, General Manager of Brandon Riverbank Inc. states “This virtual reality video will be an amazing tool for our organization and fundraising group, as we work to bring all of these exciting projects to life in the coming years. It helps us all to re-imagine the Riverbank as a very unique space that we can all enjoy and be proud of. We are so grateful to Altus Group for their partnership and support”. Supported by HTFC Planning + Design, and funded in part by the Star Attractions Enhancement Grant Program, the video can be viewed online at www.riverbank.mb.ca. Thank you to Tyler Glen Studio for his talent and expertise in crafting the audio portion of the video. Brandon Riverbank Inc. is very grateful to Altus Group - Manitoba Land Surveyors for their enthusiasm, creativity and generosity in helping us get “Back to the River”. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Following two investigations into the sale of contraband cigarettes, members of the Manitoba Finance Taxation Special Investigations Unit and the RCMP have seized 1,176,600 contraband cigarettes. On Oct. 2, at approximately 4 p.m., the RCMP conducted a traffic stop on a westbound vehicle on the Trans-Canada Highway, three kilometres east of Richer.  Following a discussion with the driver, officers conducted a search of the vehicle.  The search uncovered 488,800 illegal cigarettes, as well as 149 1.75-litre bottles of non-duty paid alcohol. RCMP arrested Jason Michael Rondeau, a 37-year-old male from Thunder Bay, Ont.  The individual is facing charges under the Criminal Code of Canada for trafficking contraband tobacco and alcohol, as well as The Excise Act, The Manitoba Tobacco Tax Act, and The Tax Administration and Miscellaneous Taxes Act. On Oct. 27, Manitoba Finance investigators approached three male subjects in a Winnipeg back lane who were in the process of transferring boxes clearly identifiable as contraband cigarettes from a business location into a vehicle. The investigators seized the cigarettes because they were not marked for Manitoba tax purposes.  In total, 687,800 cigarettes were seized along with $3,000 in cash. Currently, three men face charges under The Manitoba Tobacco Tax Act and The Tax Administration and Miscellaneous Taxes Act including possession of non-Manitoba marked tobacco and wilful evasion of paying Manitoba tobacco tax. Manitoba stood to lose $347,097 in tax revenue if these cigarettes had been sold.  If convicted, the individuals face fines between $1,000 and $10,000 and/or up to six months’ imprisonment.  In addition, they will face a mandatory triple tax penalty of $432,588 for the Oct. 2 seizure and $608,703 for the Oct. 27 seizure. The province urges anyone who has information on contraband tobacco to contact their local police department, call the Manitoba Finance Special Investigations Unit at 204-945-1137, email smuggling_manitoba@rcmp-grc.gc.ca or call Manitoba Crime Stoppers (toll-free) at 1 800 222 TIPS (8477). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});