Firefighters fought the blaze for 2 hours. It seems to have originated on the outside at the back of the building, towards the train tracks.

The building is currently closed and the 2nd and third floors have fans running out of the windows.

Be sure to bring government issued photo id and if possible your enumeration record.

Advanced Voting Locations:

Brandon East:

• Grand Valley Community Church (18th and Breacrest Ave) on Sept 24th and from Sept 25th- October 1.
• Returning Office (435 Rosser Ave Unit 1) on Sept 24 – Oct 1.
• Assiniboine Community College (1430 Victoria Ave E) on Sept 26 – 30.

Brandon West:

• Brandon University (270 18th St.) on Sept 24 – Oct 1.
• Returning Office (Unit 206-1570 18th Street) on Sept 24 – Oct 1.

On Tuesday morning, there were 8 reports of Graffiti which had occurred in the 600 and 700 blocks of Percy Street overnight. Purple and orange paint had been sprayed on 2 vehicles, 2 garages and 4 fences. SUI.

Impaired Driver Arrested

At 1:14 AM this morning, Police observed the driver of an eastbound 2002 Grey Pontiac, squealing their tires at the intersection of 26th Street and Victoria Avenue. The car then passed another vehicle at a high rate, before being stopped in the 2200 block of Victoria. The male driver appeared intoxicated and was placed under arrest. The suspect provided samples of his breath, which showed an alcohol content that was1 almost twice the legal limit. A 23 year old man from Moosomin, Saskatchewan, is to appear in court this morning on a charge of impaired driving.
-30-

Anyone with information on any unsolved crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 727-8477. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display. Your call will not be recorded or traced. Crime Stoppers pays up to $2000.00 cash for information that leads to the solution of a crime.

CRIME STOPPERS 727-TIPS

Starting today the city has changed roads in the Downtown/Hub area of Brandon.

Few things to to note:

• Rosser avenue between 10th and 9th st. is now closed for the summer.
• 9th st. between Pacific and Princess avenue is now one way going South.
• 10th st. will be one way going North between Princess and Pacific.
• 9th st. between Princess and Lorne avenue is now closed.
• There will be free angled parking on 10th and 9th st.

What this means on Rosser is that if your traveling from18th to 1st, once you get to 10th you turn North towards Pacific. Then drive 1 block on Pacific and turn South on 9th then a left to get on Rosser again. Basically you do a little loop around that street closure.

I’m not really fond on the idea of adding all this unnecessary hassle to the downtown area nor do I believe that this will bring more people to the downtown area as first off, you need to have a reason for people to go down there. Angled parking is not much of an attraction. But we’ll see I guess, can’t shoot the idea down until we’ve tried it out

What do you think? Comment below!

The Glen P. Sutherland Gallery of Art is one of Brandon’s two art gallery’s.  It’s run by the Brandon University Fine Arts Student Association (BUFASA) and features the many art projects which are created during the school year by Brandon Universities Fine Arts program.

The gallery is closed for the summer but will resume operations with the beginning of the school year in September.

The gallery is located at the back of the Brandon University Gym and parking lot with it’s facade towards Victoria Ave. Note that the entrance is located on the North side of the building towards the university and not in the direction that the photo that was taken.

Brandon Manitoba, is home to 2 movie theatres. One is the Capitol and the other is not as well known but still just as important as it serves the community in showcasing films which you wouldn’t find at the Capitol. That would be the J. R. C. Evans Theatre. It’s maintained by volunteers of the Brandon Film Festival.

Located at Brandon University in the George T. Richardson Building, it’s home to a single small screen but does have a little concessions area during screenings where you can by popcorn. The theatre is found by walking to the courtyard of the University, which is just around the building with large glass windows, and as you enter the building you will see the theatre directly in front of yourself.

Tickets are 6$.

Film Line: (204) 727-9704

The theatre is closed in the summer but will resume operations in September.

Some of the movies screen this year were:

• Seven Samurai
• Barney’s Version
• Fathers and Sons
• The Illusionist
• Blue Valentine
• And many more!

Kirkcaldy drive has finally opened up to traffic as seen from this late night photo of the intersection of Kirkcaldy and Knowlton. The aqua dams and pumps and security detail is finally gone and no longer do residents of the North Hill have to wait on Breacrest to get on 18th st. Also gone is the temporary 3 way stop sign (There is now a 3 way stop sign; July 28th, 2011) that was posted just prior to the flooding in Brandon. I did see cars using the road so it is open right now as of July 27th 11:00pm.

The river is still very high and the pathways by the Red Willow bridge are totally flooded over so do not approach the walking path or water until the city has opened it for public use and it’s safe to do so.

So it’s all done and implemented. www.Westmanjobs.ca is up and running and ready for your jobs!

Currently all job postings are free, and will last for 30 days at a time. Jobs may be from anywhere in Southwestern Manitoba and the Westman region, and of course Brandon. Your job will become live once I have activated it in order to prevent spammers. A link to the website can be found by the search bar in the top right hand corner. If you’d like to add any jobs please feel free to do so by using the form on the website. If you have any questions please contact us through any contact form found on the website and we’ll prompty reply.

Administrator,

Brandon Mb

The river elevation is at 1178.13’ (359.095m) which is down 4” (10.16 cm) from yesterday.

Depots have been established for the deposit of used sandbags. These are:

• Conservation Drive (South of Kirkcaldy Drive)
• The rear of the Civic Services Complex at 900 Richmond Avenue East (off Douglas Street)
• Westbran property located East of 18th Street, on the North side of McGregor Avenue
• North side of Parker Blvd at 8th Street North
• 1500 block of Rosser Avenue East on the North side, just East of the Green Spot

The removal of the Aqua Dams from the dikes will continue next week with crews to start behind Kasiurak Bay, weather permitting.

Phase 3 – re-entry by residents is anticipated to be completed by Sunday May 29th. Details regarding residential re-entry include:

• The first area for re-entry will be from the west side of 15th Street North to 26th Street North beginning at 8:00 am Saturday, May 28th.
• The second area for re-entry will be from east of 15th Street North to 4th Street North and will begin at 8:00 am on Sunday, May 29th.
• Check points for re-entry on Saturday will be established mid-block on 16th Street North between Parker and McGregor Avenues. Residents are asked to travel north on 18th Street, east on McGregor Avenue, and south on 16th Street North. The second check point will be at 26th Street North and McDonald Avenue. See attached map.
• Check points for re-entry on Sunday have been established at Byng and 15th Street North and Stickney Avenue at 15th Street North. Both of these locations are to be accessed from the west. See attached map.
• Information will be provided to evacuees as they re-enter the area. Anyone wanting this information earlier can obtain it at City Hall or the Civic Services Complex this afternoon.
• The 8th Street Bridge will not be opened for re-entry.
• Evacuees will be required to present identification showing their address.
• During the re-entry process, the area will remain closed to non-residents.
• To ensure your property can be attended to by the re-entry team residents are asked that on the date specified for re-entry they be back in their homes by 2:00 pm wherever possible. Residents are asked to be patient in the event there are delays in servicing.
• Public Transit will be available after 10 a.m. as required. Requests can be directed to the Enquiry Centre at 729-2186.

Red Cross evacuation numbers are 1420 people (586 registered households)

Day camp programming will continue from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm on Monday and Tuesday to assist families until Kirkcaldy School re-opens on Wednesday.

Re-entry information will be distributed today to all hotels housing evacuees.

The Public Works Department will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. throughout the weekend to handle any calls regarding dirty water, etc. Normal practice should be followed for sewer back-ups which involves calling a private plumbing company.

Pedestrians and cyclists continue to be asked to avoid the dike areas as they are construction zones and hazardous to the general public. No Trespassing.

Current Traffic Conditions

• Kirkcaldy Drive from Knowlton to 1st Street has been re-opened, however the area between Knowlton Drive and Patterson Crescent will remain closed.

Planned Traffic Restrictions

• Beginning Friday, May 27, 2011, at 6:00 p.m., Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation has announced the intended closure of PTH #110 between Victoria Avenue East and the Low Road (PR #457) for the purpose of removing the aqua dams. This closure is expected to last until Tuesday morning, May 31, 2011 depending upon the ability to remove all of the aqua dam material. As a result of this closure, 18th Street will be the primary truck route for traffic in and out of Brandon. The only restriction on 18th Street will be wide loads which will continue to be prohibited.

This will be the last live media conference. We will continue to post information on our website as it becomes available or necessary.

For further emergency information, please contact the Enquiry Centre at 729-2186 between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. today, and between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 28th and Sunday, May 29th, or visit www.brandon.ca. As well, residents are asked to watch or listen to local media for updated information.