(L-R) Colleen Sheryl McIvor & Luisa Noyemi Alvarenga Written by RCMP Release AMBER ALERT: Portage RCMP issue Amber Alert for Luisa Noyemi Alvarenga. On December 2, 2016, at approximately 11:00 am, Luisa Noyemi Alvarenga, 8, was taken from her Portage la Prairie, Manitoba residence by her biological mother, Colleen Sheryl McIvor, 43. Luisa is described as aboriginal, 4’ tall and 60 pounds. She has black, medium-length hair. She was wearing a purple winter coat, black boots and jeans. They are traveling in a stolen black 2012 Chevrolet Sierra pickup truck with Manitoba license plate FPB 968. It is believed they could be in Long Plain First Nation, Manitoba. Police are very concerned for Luisa’s immediate well-being. Anyone who has seen Luisa Alvarenga and her mother Colleen McIvor, or who knows of their whereabouts, please contact 911 or your local emergency number.

Pictured: Kim Burgess in her new art therapy space inside the Inspire Studio of Fine Art in Minnedosa   While Minnedosa celebrates the addition of another professional service to their line-up of health care practitioners in the downtown core, Birtle shares in that success with an expansion of a local business to a wider clientele. On the heels of the “What’s the Big Idea?” entrepreneurship event in Neepawa, both communities can claim a victory. Minnedosa’s Kim Burgess was called to the stage four times as awards were handed out in nine categories at the entrepreneurship event including the RBC award for “Best Pitch of the Day”. Her proposal, to open a satellite office of Valley Art Therapy & Associates in Minnedosa sees her as part of an expressive arts community where only a few practice rurally. Art therapy has been celebrated by the health and wellness community to help people who struggle with trauma to productively communicate their emotions and stresses through different means. This includes painting, drawing, sculpting and even opportunities for role play using a sand tray allowing persons to play out complex issues in a very contained, controlled environment. This approach is also seeing increased delivery to help engage persons suffering from Alzheimer’s disease as the opportunity to create activates areas of the brain and promote general wellness with those patients. In the Westman/Parkland region, her addition to the field doubles the roster of available providers. The area’s most experienced practitioner is Lori Boyko, the founder of Birtle’s Valley Art Therapy. “It’s very exciting,” says Boyko of the Big Idea win and opening a location in Minnedosa. “It expands our availability to help more people. From Birtle, we are serving clients from as far away as Swan River. Opening a Minnedosa location significantly expands our service radius.” Boyko has committed more than two decades as an educator and therapist holding a Master’s Degree in Counselling with a specialty in art therapy. Returning home from British Columbia to rural Manitoba to launch her own private practice wasn’t without its initial challenges. “There were no roadblocks,” Boyko recalls. “Instead, there were just more initial opportunities to provide education about art therapy.” Since she began, Boyko has seen her practice grow to a volume of clients that required her to hire additional staff, which opened the door for Kim Burgess to work with her since June 2015. Boyko describes that the long standing relationship of her practice in the community has seen the public warm up to the discipline and over time it has become increasingly accepted. Burgess is a certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association and has been employed as an educator and counsellor in the school system with the Rolling River School Division for several years. Her pursuit of opportunities in the more specialized field of art therapy serves as an extension of her present role. “I love working in the school setting,” says Burgess. “There are definitely parallels with my work in the school and with art therapy that are both rewarding in their own way. Both roles really complement each other.” Both Boyko and Burgess are looking at the new Minnedosa office as a collaboration that will benefit the community at large and expand the capacity to help people in need.The new location in Minnedosa is set in the seemingly appropriate setting inside the Inspire Studio of Fine Art, a mecca of regional creativity featuring the work of more than 36 Manitoba artisans. Incidentally, Marlies Soltys, the curator of the gallery also points to her 2015 success on stage at “What’s the Big Idea?” for helping to launch her gallery as well. For more information about art therapy in western Manitoba, visit valleyarttherapy.com.

The City of Brandon & The Sportsplex will be offering a FREE swim and skate with Santa this Saturday the 3rd of December from 12:30 pm. to 6 pm. Santa will be available for photo opportunities. Michael Wenham's Head Shave 2.0 has now surpassed the $10,000 goal. As reported earlier in the month, Michael is collecting pledges for the Canadian Cancer Society in honor of Mike Adamski, principal at Vincent Massey High School. The Double Decker Tavern has released an updated entree menu featuring several new dishes including the classic Sloppy Joe Sandwich, Chicken Parmesan, and a Fajita Stuffed Chicken Breast. They also offer up a variety of food and drink specials throughout the week and the new additions can be found in the menu below.   click image to enlarge   John Quenneville has been called up by the New Jersey Devils and is set to join the Devils in Chicago for tomorrow evenings game. Quennnville has had impressive start to his season scoring 17 points in 19 games with the Devils minor league affiliate, the Albany Devils. The forward was leading Albany in scoring at the time of his callup. Nolan Patrick and Kale Clague have both been invited to the Sport Chek selection camp to determine who will represent Canada at the 2017 World Junior Championship. This year's Championship is being held in Toronto and Montreal over the holiday season. The duo are among 2 of the 32 players invited by Hockey Canada to compete for the 22 man final roster. Former Wheat King defensemen, Kord Pankewicz, has been released by the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He had played in 155 games for the Hurricanes, over parts of three seasons, after being acquired from Brandon in the trade which saw both Reid Duke & Macoy Erkamps come to the Wheat City. Duncan Campbell has registered 9 points, in 9 games, since signing with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL following his release from the Wheat Kings. Ryan Pilon, a one time draft pick of the New York Islanders, and a former member of the Brandon Wheat Kings is playing with the expansion Wakaw Lakers of the Fort Carlton Hockey League. The FCHL is a 5-team senior hockey league in Alberta . Pilon has tallied 6 points in the teams first 4 games.

A brawl broke out in a parking lot between 4 males in the 500 block of 1st Street on Wednesday morning, resulting in one victim receiving a broken wrist and nose. It was determined that the cause of the brawl was a result of some rage after both sides had been flipping each other off. According to Police reports a 29-year old Brandon man was arrested for assault causing bodily harm and will appear in court in January.

Former Wheat King forward Brett Kitt is now suiting up for the Carberry Plainsmen of the Tiger Hills Hockey League. One time Wheat King prospect, Bradly Goethals, has rejoined the Everett Silvertips. The Wheat Kings had traded Goenthals to the Silvertips back on October the 12th for a conditional 7th round selection in the 2018 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. The 6-foot-1, 170 pound forward initially joined Everett following the trade but left shortly thereafter, citing personal reasons. Joe Beeverz Bar & Grill have introduced a new Gourmet Grilled Cheez Menu. All sandwiches include Provolone, Cheddar, American and Mozzarella cheeses. Some interesting options featured among the menu including “The Trump” which, in addition to the above mentioned cheese, is full of bologna, diced pickles, onions and pepperoncini peppers. Click on menu to enlarge.   Westman Security & Automation have moved locations and are now located at 2940 Victoria Ave. . Check them out for all your personal and commercial alarm systems as well as high definition surveillance camera systems for your home or business. Champion Digital Photography have setup their Santa Photo Central operation at 1128-18th Street in Brandon. Santa arrives for photos on November the 24th and they have a wide selection of different packages and products to choose from. For more details, and hours of operation, please checkout their Facebook Page. There will be a benefit social for Mike Adamski, who is battling cancer, on December the 1st from 7:00-11:00 pm inside the Keystone Centres UCT Pavilion. To date many individuals and local businesses have already donated to the event and if you're looking at supporting the social you can reach out to them on their Facebook event page here.