Karen McKinley
The Brandon Sun
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Past articles by Karen:
ReStore on the hunt for donations
The ReStore in Brandon is in need of donations such as furniture and other household items. → Read More
Suds to flow again at local beer festival
The beer is flowing again for one Brandon festival after a multi-year pandemic-induced hiatus. → Read More
Tragedy points to need for sober centre: Brandon mother
BRANDON — The death of Ryan Eamer, one day after he sought treatment at Brandon’s hospital, was a failure of the medical system and a tragic example of why western Manitoba needs a sobering centre, his mother says. Brenda Eamer said the 46-year-old wanted help and never got it. → Read More
Input sought for new Neepawa health centre
The province is seeking input from Manitobans on the new Neepawa Health Centre. Over the next few weeks, the province is collecting feedback from the public and stakeholders to guide plan developers on the new design of the hospital. → Read More
Surgeon’s licence suspension ending Monday
The licence suspension of a Brandon-based general surgeon is coming to an end on Monday. Dr. Sonny Dhalla was reprimanded and given a two-month suspension by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba after an inquiry found he was responsible for the death of a patient under his care in 2015. Dhalla didn’t respond to a request for comment by press time. → Read More
Stormy forecast prompts flood warning for parts of province
A storm bringing heavy snow and rain could flood parts of Brandon and Westman this weekend. The province’s Transportation and Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre issued an overland flood warning for most of southern Manitoba. → Read More
Cannabis company mobilizing products
There’s a new attraction planned for some summer festivals: an on-site cannabis shop. Delta 9 announced this week it is launching a mobile cannabis store to sell products directly to festival-goers at Rockin’ the Fields of Minnedosa (July 29-31) and Countryfest in Dauphin (July 1-3). Licensed by the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA), the mobile store is in an eight-foot by… → Read More
Ukrainian grocery store collecting donations for relief effort
As the Russia-Ukraine conflict intensifies, so has the passion of Brandonites to help the people trying to take shelter in embattled cities. One store in Brandon is actively taking donations — everything from diapers to medical supplies — to be shipped to Ukraine at the end of the week. → Read More
Surgical, diagnostic backlog tops 161,000
The surgical and diagnostic backlog continues to grow, but the president of Doctors Manitoba says he remains optimistic the province and the health-care system will clear it in a timely fashion. → Read More
Atwal optimistic about loosening COVID restrictions
With COVID-19 variables trending down, now is the right time to start reducing restrictions, says the deputy chief provincial public health officer. All data is showing the virus peaked weeks ago, Dr. Jazz Atwal said Wednesday. → Read More
Coldest Night fundraiser going virtual this year
In less than three weeks, people will endure the cold to raise money for folks experiencing homelessness. Brandon will be one of many communities participating in the annual Coldest Night of the Year event on Feb. → Read More
Wait times for mental health help putting lives at risk
» EDITOR’S NOTE: This story contains graphic elements that may be upsetting to some readers, including suicide. The Sun originally received a request from Clayton Heppner to help him advertise his online petition to open up access to online and telehealth mental health services outside of Manitoba. → Read More
Brandon business fined for breaking health orders
A Brandon business has been fined $5,000 for defying mask mandates in support of a trucker convoy camped out on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Natural health and organic foods store Two Farm Kids briefly had a sign posted on its front door last weekend encouraging people to drop their masks on Jan. → Read More
Dauphin Health Care Auxiliary disbands
After more than 120 years, the Dauphin Health Care Auxiliary has folded. Citing difficulty in fundraising and finding new members, the volunteer group voted unanimously to dissolve at its final meeting last October. → Read More
Family grateful for support in wake of garage fire
A family that escaped a garage fire on Thursday night say they are grateful for all the help and support they have been receiving. The Moraveks — father Earl, son Austin, 17 and daughter Paris, 22 — are picking up the pieces from the fire that engulfed the garage of the home they were leasing on Princess Avenue. → Read More
COVID-19 patient transfers will likely increase: Shared Health
As daily COVID-19 cases hit all-time highs, the province says there will be hospital capacity in Manitoba, but it means some patients will be moved to other hospitals, including Brandon. → Read More
Counting on a Christmas tradition: Bird surveys spot species, track migration
BRANDON — Eagle-eyed bird watchers had a fruitful time recording species for two Christmas bird counts in western Manitoba. The Westman Naturalists had its annual Christmas Bird Count on Dec. → Read More
BSD facing omicron cases
The omicron variant may have made its way into three Brandon schools and possibly a fourth, according to Brandon School Division Supt. Mathew Gustafson. A letter received by The Brandon Sun sent out to parents dated Dec. → Read More
All donations welcome at food bank: Samaritan House
Samaritan House wants everyone to know it accepts all food donations. Lists circulating on social media suggest food banks may not want certain items for various reasons, either because they require additional ingredients, like boxed pasta and powdered sauce, or tools like can openers. → Read More
Bladder infection assessments, treatments coming to pharmacies
Manitoba women with bladder infections can now receive care from pharmacists. The Manitoba government is expanding the scope of practice for pharmacists to include assessments and prescriptions for some individuals with bladder infections (cystitis) to help improve access to timely health care, Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon announced on Wednesday. → Read More