Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - September 26, 1998, Winnipeg, Manitoba Elderly cyclists sudden death shocks family truck moving slowly but she had no helmet by Mike Mcintyre police reporter m Ai thi Sam never let her age slow her Down she enjoyed everything from jumping on a Treadmill first thing in the morning to daily bicycle rides through the City. The 69-year-old woman a flair for fitness has ended in tragedy. Sam died in Hospital late thursday night just hours after she was hit by a half ton truck while cycling to seven Oaks general Hospital to visit her ailing 89-year-old Mother in Law. Police say she was Riding on the sidewalk when she was struck by the vehicle w hich was leaving the Safeway parking lot at Mcphillips Street and Jefferson Avenue just after 2 30 . A every Day she would go once or twice to visit my grandmother w to broke her hip two months ago. She always took her Bike unless it was really hot a the victims son Jimmy Sam said yesterday morning. A she was always afraid to drive on the Street because she said they were always so Busy. Police say Sam Wasny to wearing a helmet and was Likely killed because of her Impact with the pavement not w Ith the truck. A the truck was moving at walk ing Speed. This really is unfortunate a said senior collision analyst const. Greg Cann. While the Law states bicycles must be driven on the Street Cann said its hard to fault the seniors actions. Police done to expect to Lay charges against the Driver of the truck a 58-year-old Man from British Columbia who w As in town visiting relatives. Jimmy Sam said he and his two siblings in Winnipeg were waiting yesterday for their youngest brother to Fly in from Vancouver so they could begin making funeral arrangements. A this is very difficult for us. We never expected anything this sudden a he said. The family stood by their mothers Side thursday night As doctors disconnected life sup Sam flair for fitness port. Sam said his Mother w As a deeply religious woman who would Pray for two hours every morning and attend regular sunday Church services. Her husband died of cancer in 1987, seven years after the family left Vietnam and moved to Selkirk. A she was Ahvay a very giving person. She used to Cook All Day Long and sometimes shed come to my House at 5 30 . To bring me breakfast before i left for work a said Sam. A everywhere shed go shed bring people All sorts of his Mother worked at Selkirk Linen for 10 years before retiring in 1991. She moved to Winnipeg to o years ago and had made it a priority to take care of her Mother in la especially after she landed in Hospital. A my mom was always taking care of her and she was Happy every time to see my mom.,�?� he said. Province a shutting the door on Leaf rapids by Bud Robertson regional reporter the town of Leaf rapids is fighting mad Over a government plan to sell off the downtown Complex that is the heart of the Community. A a they re shutting the door on Leaf rapids five years ahead of time a fumed Deputy mayor Barbara blood Worth referring to the remaining life expectancy of Hudson Bay mining and smelting company a rut tan Copper mine around which the Northern Manitoba town was built in the Early 1970s. A it seems like a fire Sale a said blood Worth w to is also president of the town Centre Complex tenants group. The Complex built by the province and managed by Leaf rapids town properties a Crown corporation is a unique indoor mall in the Centre of town which in effect serves As its main Street. In addition to 23 retail outlets which pay rent the mall also houses nearly All of the comm Unity a municipal build Ings incl dog the school Library Tow Gimli fish10 lbs. Fresh pickerel.6510 lbs. Salmon steaks .22 fresh halibut still Arris aug we pack Fofi Tramel 596 Dufferin ave. A 589-3474 Sisters amp Brothers o if Winn ii p e c 988-9200entertaimnent keep up with the Besl in a Cleri Wing and consumer news Winnipeg free press of Home a Way. 637-70 11 lion Wiot offices Post office and Arena which contribute Money towards maintenance of the common areas. The province put the Complex up for Sale about two weeks ago. It is asking $650,000 for the facility. A Why at this Point in time has the province suddenly decided that it does not want to carry on with operating the town Centre a asked Bloodworth. A Why Are they suddenly deciding that they do not want to have any responsibility with our Community at this time a Hudson Bay estimates the Ruttan mines Ore reserves will be depleted by 2003. Gerry Offet who manages the Crown corporation said the life expectancy of the mine has nothing to do with provinces decision to sell. Leaf rapids is located about 950 Kilometres North of Winnipeg. Police show support for suspended buddy then pass us the Bills it looks As if the Blue flu has struck the District 6 police station although that a just a symptom of a More malignant malady. The Blue flu is a virulent labour related a a illness that last struck City wide in the Early 1980s during a bitter contract dispute. The cause a in this latest Case a is a misguided sense of loyalty which puts sympathy for a fellow officer charged with assault causing bodily harm ahead of their own sworn duty to serve and protect thousands of residents from f Ort Garry to Charles Wood. So it was that yesterday morning 10 of the 16 officers who were supposed to show up for the Day shift phoned in sick. The malady lingered on to the night shift where there was another unusually High number Book off. Police said seven officers did no to show for work last night and you did no to have to be a detective to figure out what was going on. The Day before Veteran District 6 const. Grant a a Butch Eakin w As suspended without pay by acting police chief Jack Swatski. Suspensions Arentt automatic when an officer is charged criminally. The police executive looks at each Case on its own merits evaluating the officers Overall performance then weighing the nature of the allegation and the Public interest. Being suspended without pay is an action the police executive reserves for the most serious cases. A a it a very unusual to suspend a Guy without pay a a retired senior officer was telling me yesterday. There a another reason suspensions in general Are so rare. In part the retired senior officer blames what he Calls an a extremely militant police association for that. He says go to extremes to legally protect officers even when they and everyone else knows they have a Rotten cop in the ranks. But the association of course has to be there for its dues paying members. That a the w a it works. The blame for allowing bad cops to avoid being disciplined or even fired lies elsewhere. It takes a serious crime and labour Laws demand certain evidence. First the officers indiscretions must be documented. Then the documentation has to show a pattern of behaviour. But historically the police executive has kept running into the same big Blue Wall. Over and Over again bad officers have been protected by Gordon Sinclair or. Their own. Eer it one knows when someone is a screw up a a disaster and a disgrace a says my retired police source. A and yet there is Nev Runy Docu men tation. You a go to their annual evaluation and you a think Jesus had w asked through the Parade what a disturbing about the current Blue flu outbreak a beyond the obvious a is what it says about the thinking of the officers involved. Eakins suspension can be appealed to the City executive and from there to an Independent arbitrator. That a the Legal remedy. What a interesting about the Eakin Case is How it compares to the last time a Winnipeg officer was suspended without pay. Last year const. Robert Lesuk was charged with impaired driving causing death. Lesuk w As off duty driving a motorcycle when it crashed throwing and killing his female passenger. Blue flu did no to strike in that Case. Eakins Case was different though. Not so much because no one died but because it happened on duty under circumstances fellow cops can relate to. It w As a noise bylaw complaint last february that sent Eakin and his partner to a Pembina Highway Public housing unit. And it was there that Eakin says he was attacked by South african born Onku Lukko Takiwo Guma. Those kinds of things happen routinely to police officers. Its their w Ord against the complainants. The difference in this Case is there w As a surveillance camera in the hallway that police allege shows the 5-10, 240-Pound Eakin slugging the handcuffed 5-8,150-Pound Guma As he a being led out the door. Later Guma alleges he was assaulted behind the District 6 station. P olice investigated and the Crown Laid the charge. And w Hen the police executive suspended Eakin without pay some of his buddies decided to take a sick Day at our expense. If the Blue flu continues there should be More investigations and More suspensions. Without pay. Full size sunrooms on display an Nuin Sunti Ooms Ltd. Waverley Square 38-5 Scurfield blvd. 956-9898 hours mon., tues., wed. 9 . 6 ., thurs. Amp Fri. 9 . 8 ., sat. 10 . 6 ., Sun. Noon 5 pm. Web site Factor Mear out 98 villager is air rear Fiedot amp air cruise tit pcs Pis p seat 4-wked oos keyless entry Alum wheels inv gloss quod buckets am m Coss so. #8.044 98 win Siar 98 win Star go 23,785 98 Ramger al 19.995 13.995 s3499 Down 3 8l v6, Auto of. 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