The March 2017 Flood Outlook was released today by Manitoba Hydrologic Forecasting and Coordination Branch of Manitoba Infrastructure. Flood risk ranges from moderate to major due to above normal soil moisture in the watershed and near normal to below normal snow water equivalent in the snow pack. Ultimately what happens will be dependent on additional snow and rain and the rate of the melt. Timing of spring thaw in the various river basins will also have an impact in that as more areas melt at the same time, they collectively add to the flow and ultimately stress the drainage and river systems. This can also increase peak levels as can additional precipitation during run-off. All measurements that follow are in feet above sea level measured at First Street, Brandon Manitoba. o Favourable weather: minor risk of flooding The range this Outlook provides for Brandon begins with 1170 feet above sea level for favourable conditions.This means an ideal gradual melt with temperatures slightly above and then slightly below zero until the melt is done throughout the Assiniboine River basin. At this level the river should remain within its banks although there may be locations where very minor overbanking occurs. o Normal weather: moderate risk of flooding With normal conditions the river level may go to 1174 feet above sea level. This means a gradual melt without large amounts of precipitation and also without several of the basins reaching peak at the same time. With this we can expect water overbank in the recreational areas along the river. o Unfavourable weather: major risk of flooding With unfavourable conditions the river level may work its way towards 1178.8 feet above sea level. This means conditions like a delayed and then sudden melt over large areas and could also include significant precipitation and/or several basins peaking together. With this we can expect a lot more work with the closing of the Grand Valley Road, maintaining pumps, continuous dike inspection and overall vigilance. As many of you are aware, as the threat increases our response increases and the level of difficulty in our decisions also increases. Historic levels at Brandon: 1995 1178.80, 1976 1179.54, 2011 1182.89, 2014 1183.10, 1882 1183.70 feet above sea level measured at First Street. Our current dike level is 1186.0 feet above sea level measured at First Street. Flood stage is considered as 1172 fasl. The complete report is available: https://www.gov.mb.ca/flooding/  

When Brett Boschman heard Donald Trump was entering the race to become the next US president, he was surprised. "I didn't know what to think at first," he explained. "He's a reality TV star, so I thought it was wild he was running." Some friends heard what Trump was saying during the Republican nomination campaign, and Brett started to see how Trump might win. The Brandon resident Googled the odds of winning the Presidential election, and found out PlayNow.com was accepting bets on the race. "I thought it was super cool this was offered in Manitoba," he explained. Brett wagered on Trump to win with odds of 7.50 to 1 on April 7, 2016, and after more research Brett put more down on Trump later in the week. As Trump won the Republican nomination and the race intensified, Brett was watching the action closely. "Betting makes it more fun. I would rather watch a sporting event or any event that way. It makes you a lot more invested," he explained.  The night of the election, Brett was watching TV with friends. "They all knew I bet on Trump. I was cheering for Florida and when he took that, that's when I was certain I had won. "The odds were still 5.5 to 1, and I decided to put a bit more down." Brett explained with a grin. He was lucky he did! In all, Brett walked away with $25,858 in winnings after the election closed.  

A 21-year old male from Carberry faces numerous charges after RCMP pulled over a vehicle on Saturday morning for speeding. The vehicle, a 2012 Dodge Ram, was clocked doing 196 km/h on the Trans-Canada Highway, about 25 kilometres east of Brandon. RCMP found open liquor in the vehicle, and the driver's blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit. The incident happened around 2:20 am.. A 24-year-old man from The Pas, MB, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was charged with consuming liquor in a public place.

A 34 year old Brandon male has been arrested for Assault with a Weapon x 3, Forcible Confinement, Uttering Threats following as the results of an ongoing investigation. Police say the accused had thrown a vase at the victim, cutting her leg in the process. The victim suffered bruising and cuts which had previously been treated. In addition to having a vase tossed in her direction, the victim was also struck with a phone charger, and barricaded in their apartment so she was not able to exit. Domestic Assault While Naked A fight outside of a west home home in has lead to the arrest of a 30 year old Brandon man. Saturday morning Police say they received a report of a man and woman fighting and upon arrival they observed a naked male trying to choke the victim. The victim did not want any medical assistance and the accused now has an April court date.  

Big-box Giant, Costco, has announced that they will be raising membership rates for the first time since 2011. Gold Star Membership will increase from $55 to $60 per year; and their Executive Membership will jump from $110 to $120 per year. Costco generates about 72% of its operating income from membership fees. The fee increases will impact around 35 million members, roughly half of them Executive Members. The price increase will affect customers in both Canada and the United States starting June 1, 2017. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});