Local Roundup — Oct. 4, 2022

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This article was published 04/10/2022 (1233 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Prairie Blend joins forces with dance ensemble

For eons, scientists, poets, painters and musicians have looked to the heavens for inspiration. So too is the Prairie Blend choir as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.

The choir is teaming up with the music and dance ensemble Flamenco on the Prairies as both not-for-profits seek to launch their post-COVID seasons with something different — “Noche de Estrellas,” an evening concert “under the stars” to be performed Thursday at The Green Spot.

“This will be a beautiful moment of rising out of the cultural darkness we have endured to celebrate being able once again to collaborate and build community through the arts,” said Prairie Blend conductor Deanna Ginn.

Prairie Blend’s lineup includes folk, a Venetian gondoliers’ song, and traditional Appalachian songs. Flamenco on the Prairies’ dancer and singer Christine Penner will be joined by guitarist Emmanuel Bach, violinist Genista Buhler, percussionist Esteban Seunarine and dancer Anna Osterback.

Cocktails will be served at 6:30 p.m., and the music will begin 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and must be arranged for purchase in advance, either through the performers or The Green Spot.

Yard-decorating contest launched

Westman residents who trick out their yard with Halloween decorations can earn a treat as part of a frighteningly fun competition.

The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba says it’s “scared silly” to announce its Festival of Frights yard decorating contest.

Residents are asked to share photos of their spooktacular property by posting them to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. They can also be sent to info@provincialex.com.

Social media posts must include the #bdnsharethescare hashtag, as that’s how winners will be picked.

The contest is free to enter and open to all western Manitoba residential properties. Winners will be announced Nov. 1.

Participants could win one of three prizes: a $100 gift card for Mum’s Restaurant, a $100 gift card from Home Hardware, or four passes to the 2023 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair to be held March 27 to April 1.

Residents can also show their Halloween spirit by displaying a Provincial Ex window sign. Call 204-726-3590 to arrange for delivery.

Traffic through Daly Overpass construction zone changing

The City of Brandon is warning motorists that the traffic pattern through the Daly Overpass construction on 18th Street is changing early this week.

According to an update issued Monday, traffic will be switched from the western lanes of 18th Street North to the eastern lanes.

Parker Boulevard and Hilton Avenue between 18th Street North and 19th Street North will be closed.

Stickney Avenue will remain open to motorists.

City seeking sports complex operators

The City of Brandon is examining its options for managing the outdoor sports complex being built at the corner of First Street North and Veterans Way.

A request for information issued by the city last week calls for organizations to express interest in managing the operations of the facility and its canteen as well as perform ongoing maintenance.

By doing so, the city states it is trying to determine if there is enough interest to start a formal bidding process for the management of those services as well as the potential cost.

“Operators will be expected to perform all duties required to perform the services including but not limited to hiring and training staff, obtaining/maintaining any permits, licences and certificates required, maintenance of records, and financial reporting and remittances,” the RFI says.

Upon completion, the sports complex will contain one FIFA-regulation soccer field, up to five mini 11-metre-by-11-metre soccer fields, one ultimate disc field, two cricket fields and additional fields after stakeholder engagement.

Further improvements could include a clubhouse with a canteen, washrooms, change rooms, a maintenance garage, spectator berms, parking, trails and irrigation and a retention pond.

The city is also seeking an operator to handle the complex’s activity schedule. Any canteen operator would need to run the facility during all tournaments, games, practices and training sessions as well as special events.

Interested bidders are asked to provide their name, the services they are interested in providing, experience level, desired operating model, any value-added services they wish to include and what support they would require from the city.

The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. on Oct. 14.

Sephora coming to Shoppers Mall

Shoppers Mall is getting ready to welcome a cosmetics giant to its roster of tenants in the near future.

On Monday, the mall announced that French beauty retailer Sephora will soon be opening a 5,000-square-foot location near the existing Bell MTS outlet.

According to a release, it will be the fourth Sephora location in Manitoba and the first to be located outside Winnipeg.

More information about the store’s grand opening — a date has yet to be announced — can be found on the facility’s social media accounts.

Officer kicked during chase

Police arrested a 39-year-old man Sunday evening for allegedly kicking an officer who was responding to a break-in at a residence on the 500 block of 22nd Street.

Police arrived at the residence around 9:23 p.m. after receiving a report of the break-in.

As police exited their vehicle, the 39-year-old allegedly threw a piece of eavestrough at the squad car and fled the scene on foot.

During the pursuit that followed, the suspect turned around at one point and allegedly kicked one of the officers who was giving chase.

The man was eventually stopped, taken into custody and later released to attend court on Nov. 24.

He is charged with resisting arrest, assaulting a peace officer and committing mischief to property.

Police investigate break-in

Brandon police are investigating a break-in to an attached garage on Sandpiper Bay that took place between midnight and 6 a.m. Sunday.

According to a media release from Brandon Police Service, the suspect(s) who broke into this space made away with some hand tools, including Dewalt and Milwaukee batteries, and a black suitcase.

Anyone with information on the break-in is asked to contact Brandon Crime Stoppers by calling 204-727-8477 (TIPS), visiting brandoncrimestoppers.com or texting BCSTIP and your message to CRIMES (274637).

Crime Stoppers pays up to $2,000 cash for information that leads to the solution of a crime.

» The Brandon Sun