Police Dogs, Drones, and Resident Calls – Brooks RCMP’s latest report gives a look at both specialized policing tools and the role residents play in public safety. In one March incident, RCMP Police Dog Services and Forensic Identification attended after a stolen truck was driven into a jewellery store on 2 Street West during an attempted break-and-enter. Building on those specialized resources, Brooks Detachment has moved forward with an RPAS drone program to support work such as collision scenes, search and rescue, frontline policing calls, and crime reduction initiatives. RCMP says the drones are not used for random surveillance or to collect personal footage without lawful authority. In May, a resident's call about a suspicious person near Upland Link led officers to a suspect wanted for violating curfew conditions. Police say the man was found with stolen items, including bank cards and identification cards. A 26-year-old Brooks man was charged with possession of stolen property and failing to comply with release and probation orders. As the report puts it, “This demonstrates the importance of calling police when seeing suspicious activity or persons.”

Streets, Safety, and Stray Cats – Brooks Municipal Enforcement’s April-to-June report shows a department handling much more than traffic tickets. The report says officers work closely with Public Works and Parks on issues around the city, including overgrown trees in alleys affecting garbage trucks, squatters in our parks, and illegal dumping. On enforcement, the department issued 428 traffic violations and 198 warnings, with common offences including distracted driving, unregistered vehicles and failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Municipal Enforcement issued 294 parking tickets for the Street Sweeping operation. Property care was also a major file, with 69 overgrown grass and weed letters and 17 unsightly property cleanup directions. Councillor Mike Regner noted that no one is exempt from the bylaw, including the Mayor, who received a notice for overgrown trees. The Mayor responded that the problem had been corrected.

Thank You for Showing Up Hungry – Thank you to everyone who came out last Thursday and supported the food trucks and ready-to-eat vendors. Shoppers have been asking for more food options at the Brooks Farmers’ Market, and last week, shoppers proved the market can be a supper stop. This Thursday, the market is back in Veteran’s Park from 2–6 PM with another chance to come for supper, snacks, and to enjoy a break in the park. Cat the face painter is also scheduled. Every meal, snack, and treat bought at the market helps make it more worthwhile for visiting vendors to return and for new vendors to give Brooks a try.

Soccer Fields Move Ahead – County Council approved a grant of up to $145,875 for Grassland Soccer Association’s new field project near the quad ball diamonds in Brooks. The association said it has 540 outdoor players this season, including 104 from the County of Newell and 51 from other municipalities, but has had to cap younger age groups because it does not have enough field space. Current spaces at Griffin Park and Evergreen are green space, not registered soccer fields, and GSA said usage is already beyond what that land should handle. The planned 14-acre site could be set up as 10 to 12 age-group fields or changed into larger fields for tournaments and provincials.

Help Bring the Market to Life – Brooks Farmers’ Market is looking for volunteers who can be part of the Thursday market team this season. Roles include set-up crew, greeter and info booth assistant, vendor support, photo/video volunteer, data collector, and take-down crew. Some jobs are active, some are social, and some are behind the scenes. A season-long commitment is ideal, with room to miss when life gets busy. Volunteer position details are available at rosemaryag.ca under Volunteer Positions.

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