While the full moon of April, which rose last night, is known as the Pink Moon it isn’t actually pink. Before the use of calendars, Indigenous people named the moon each month based on activities of the season. This month’s full moon became known as the Pink Moon because of wild ground phlox, one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring.  While there wasn’t a pink hue in the skies last night, today is a different story. Schools and workplaces will be glowing with various shades of pink as today is the Canadian Red Cross Pink Day. The Red Cross works with students and educators throughout Manitoba in the prevention of violence, abuse and bullying. Community groups, workplaces and parents are encouraged to celebrate Pink Day. While preventing bullying is one of the main objectives, today is also meant to promote kindness and respect. Anti-bullying events are held on an annual basis during the second week in April across the country. The initiative began in 2007. #everydayispinkday #herosassemble

A 16-year old male youth has been arrested on multiple charges including Pointing a Firearm, Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose and Carry a Concealed Weapon following an incident in the 300 Block of 2nd Street. The incident happened at approximately 6:40 pm on Wednesday evening when the neighbour called police saying the teen had pointed a gun his way. As police arrived they witnessed the youth getting into a vehicle, so they organized a traffic stop, at which point the suspect was taken into custody. A sawed off black powder gun was recovered at the suspects residence, after a search warrant had been obtained. The youth was released with a promise to appear in court in May.

The long awaited opening of Taco Time in Brandon, located beside Domino's Pizza on 18th St, is just around the corner. New owners Alpesh and Mitul Patel tell bdnmb.ca they are looking at opening prior to the 8th of April. Alpesh and Mitul Patel are very excited about the possibilities which exist inside the community, the growing population of Brandon, and the reception that they have received to date . They also feel like they can offer a reasonable price point to the wide array of items off the Taco Time Menu. Hours of operation for the time being will be 11 am – 9 pm Monday to Sunday. Taco Time Menu

Brandon Police Service Special Release: Rising River Levels The Brandon Police Service would like to inform the public that due to rising river levels, citizens are reminded to stay away from the Assiniboine River. The City of Brandon has released that public access has been closed to low lying recreational areas including Dinsdale Park and Queen Elizabeth Park with access to the walking bridge at the Riverbank Discovery Centre affected. Please avoid these areas and obey the barricades and signage that are in place. The rising river combined with fast flowing water and ice is a very dangerous area. Citizens who endanger themselves by not obeying the barricades and signage not only put potential risk to themselves but also to Emergency Personal who may have to save them. Updates to the spring melt and rising river levels can be found by visiting the City of Brandon’s website at http://www.brandon.ca.

At 4:30 pm today the Assiniboine River level was 1171.83 feet above sea level measured at First Street. This is within a couple of inches of the level at which the river is considered over-bank. Levels in the Shellmouth Reservoir continue to rise rapidly. In response to this the outflow will be increased which will result in downstream levels also increasing. According to the Manitoba Hydrologic Forecast Centre the first peak is likely to arrive sometime between April 10 - 17th. The current estimate is now 1176.80 feet above sea level measured at First Street. This is a level where the plug would be added to the dike at the Grand Valley Road (Provincial Road #459). Ice on the river has begun to break up and in the next day or two will begin to move with the current. This increases the risk of ice damming which may lead to a sudden but short term rise in river levels. In preparation for this developing situation, the City has been sealing manholes, readying pumps, preparing to close outfalls, monitoring the situation and generally getting ready. On April 2, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation declared a State of Local Emergency due to flooding and evacuated some residents. The Red Cross report that they have registered 25 people and relocated them to Brandon