Leons Headlines July 4: Lynn Lake issues mandatory evacuation order due to nearby wildfire threatening the town’s power supply, reception centre set up in Brandon.
-A tornado warning was issued Thursday night for the RM of 2 Borders & nearby areas, as strong storms moved through the region.
-A large, heavy safe was stolen from a Braecrest Drive business after a window was smashed & police believe at least 2 people & vehicle involved.
-The province to spend $4.8M to improve roads around Neepawa’s new health centre.
-The largest small-town fair in MB goes this weekend in Carberry, Portage Ex also on.
-Bell and Telus are blaming each other for a 40-hour 911 outage during which a MB man died of a heart attack, with Bell claiming the failure was on Telus’s end and Telus pointing to Bell’s equipment. There are 2 primary emergency dispatch centres in MB: one in Brandon the other in Winnipeg.
-City of Brandon launches new website, however 2024 Salary disclosure not yet available. Winnipeg released it’s disclosure earlier this week.
-Canadian exports to US drop to record lows (from 76% to 68%) while exports to other countries hit new highs. May marked the 4th straight monthly decline.
-Wpg’s Norwood Flats are transformed with vintage cars for the filming of November 1963, a JFK-era movie starring John Travolta, Mandy Patinkin & Dermot Mulroney.
-‘Top free agent’ Ehlers leaves Jets for 6yr, $51M US deal with Hurricanes.
-Calgary thumps Bombers 37-16 Thursday night in the inaugural Stampede Bowl.
Should drones replace fireworks? They are in some cities and depending on your spend, they can often be BETTER than fireworks. Typical cost: $2,000–$7,000 per minute for professional-grade displays. So a 15-minute show can cost $30,000–$100,000+ depending on scale, location, and supplier. A drone show typically costs $15,000–$25,000 for a basic 100-drone show, while large scale shows (200–500 drones) can range from $50,000–$200,000+.
More eco-friendly, safer, and quieter (bonus for pet lovers and municipalities with fire bans).
💥 Verdict:
Small local displays → Fireworks are cheaper. Big city shows or custom messages/logos → Drone shows can be cheaper long-term (especially if re-used, sponsored, or offset by advertising).
THAT’S what the big lineup was! We were curious to see thousands lined up on Coney Island this morning, as we watched the midway and beach LIVE as part of our morning Beach Cam, but conveniently forgot that’s the site of the Hot Dog Eating contest today! Of course! And after a year off last year, the world champ, Joey Chestnut, is back!
Vegas takes bets. Of course they do, on everything from what contestants will wear today to if they’ll actually physically be sick from scarfing down a week’s worth of food in minutes! Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest legend Joey Chestnut once ate 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes — that’s over 16,000 calories. 😳
https://www.tmz.com/2025/07/04/nathans-hot-dog-eating-contest-prop-bets
OTHER 4TH FACTS: Americans eat about 150 million hot dogs on July 4th — enough to stretch from Washington, D.C. to L.A. more than 5 times! 🌭
The biggest BBQ day of the year in the U.S. is the 4th of July, with over 60% of Americans firing up the grill. 🔥
Potato salad and baked beans are two of the most Googled 4th of July recipes — but 1 in 5 people hate both. 🤢
Watermelon is the #1 fruit consumed on July 4th — Americans eat over 700 million pounds of it during the week of the holiday. 🍉
Barbecue sauce sales spike by 50% leading up to July 4th — the sauciest holiday of them all. 🍖
The average 4th of July cookout for 10 people costs just over $70 USD — unless Uncle Dave insists on steaks again. 🥩
The most overlooked 4th of July food? Deviled eggs. They quietly show up at nearly 1 in 3 gatherings. 🥚💣
In some U.S. states, it’s common to serve Jell-O in red, white, and blue layers — a wobbly tribute to patriotism. 🇺🇸🍮
Corn on the cob is so popular on the 4th that corn producers time their harvesting cycles around Independence Day. 🌽
UPDATE: A young girl fell overboard from a Disney cruise while sitting on a railing — prompting her heroic father to leap into the ocean to save her.
CRUISE NIGHTS are HOT STUFF. We have them first Thursday of each month through the Summer in downtown Brandon. However, classic cars once featured bizarre gadgets no one needed — including record players, car-mounted mini bars, and rotating seats that vanished with time.
https://www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/the-18-most-bizarre-features-of-classic-cars/87705508
What is the #1 all time thing you like to do in the Summertime? A poll reveals America’s favorite summer pastime is simple joy: eating popsicles, hitting the beach, and soaking in vacation vibes.
https://today.yougov.com/society/articles/52487-rank-americans-favorite-summer-activities
