Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 9, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press Friday july 9, 2004 Canada / world a13 Surprise storm flips cars rips Down Wall Grande Prairie Alta. ? a funnel Cloud touched Down without warning in downtown Grande Prairie yesterday afternoon tearing a Wall off a store flipping Over cars and sparking at least one fire. No injuries were reported but the storm ripped the roof off one building and damaged Utility poles cutting Power to the downtown area before it moved off to the Southwest. Scott Seymour sports editor at the Grande Prairie Herald Tribune saw the funnel Cloud in a darkening sky Over the newspapers office. It was just sort of sitting up in the air sus Pended from a Cloud he said. We were look ing at it saying it does to look like very much on her Way Home from work Beattie saw someone called environment Canada tout about two minutes later it touched Down lots of destruction. Report the funnel Cloud. On top of an older hotel and there was actually there was a Bunch of vehicles overturned Brian St fora of environment Canada Saida fire on top of that and a lot of debris All Over the roads tree the funnel Cloud touched Down at 3 27 ., Maureen Beattie 20, was working at the branches and garbage. But officials had not yet been Able to confirm Dairy Queen when the storm hit right in front Grande Prairie is a City of Over 40,000 peo whether it was a Tornado. Of the drive thru. Ple about 450 Kilometres Northwest of it just Tore Down the sign at the macs just Edmonton. Ripped it to shreds. When it got to the Hydro residents had no warning of severe weath poles it just caused it to explode and there ? Canadian press or and a Tornado watch was issued Only after were Blue Pilot says air Force violated privacy plans to sue Over release of Friendly fire documents n new Orleans ? a . Fighter Pilot who was fined for bombing Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan plans to file a lawsuit against the air Force Over the Public release of documents in the Case his lawyer said yesterday. Maj. Harry Schmidt 38, will also Appeal the ruling that said the Pilot acted shamefully when he released a 225-kilogram bomb during an april 2002 Mission that left four canadians dead and eight wounded lawyer Charles w. Gittins said. The attack killed pet. Richard Green pet. Nathan Smith Cpl. Ainsworth Dyer and sgt. Marc Leger ? the first canadians to die in combat since the korean War. . Bruce Carlson reprimanded Schmidt and fined the Pilot nearly $5,700 us. Carlson commander of the 8th air Force ruled that Schmidt exhibited arrogance and a Lack of flight discipline on the mis Sion. Carlson a reprimand was released to the news Media on tuesday. Gittins said the air Force had promised not to release the document. He said the release was a violation of Schmidt a privacy and a lawsuit would seek damages. The air Force in releasing the letter of reprimand violated maj. Schmidt a right to privacy protected under the privacy act of 1974,? Gittins said in an interview from Middletown a. We believe that their conduct was intentional and malicious and we intend to seek redress. Maj. Schmidt is entitled to Money damages including his attorneys fees for the violation of his privacy but it was Carlson a reprimand that brought some Comfort to family members of the dead soldiers. After word of the reprimand came earlier this week Leger a widow Marley Leger said it would give her some peace and allow her to move on. The biggest thing for me is that Gen. Carlson acknowledged what i have been feeling for a Long time ? that maj. Schmidt does to seem to have remorse Leger said tuesday As she stood in front of a tree she planted in an Edmonton Park in tribute to her husband. Schmidt a former instructor at the Navy Stop gun fighter Pilot school had blamed the bombing on the fog of War saying he mistook the canadians gunfire for an attack by Taliban forces. ? App Al Aida wants to hit . Elections officials increasing Security for conventions polling stations by Katherine Pfleger Shrader Washington ? a steady Stream of intelligence including nuggets from militant linked websites indicates Al Aida wants to attack the United states to disrupt the upcoming elections Federal officials said yesterday. Besides elaborate Security plans for the Politi Cal conventions this summer in Boston and new York the officials Are considering How to secure polling places come november. Tom Ridge the Homeland Security chief said the . Administration based a decision to bolster Security on credible reports about Al Aida a plans coupled with the pre election terror attack in Spain earlier this year and recent arrests in England Jordan and Italy. This is sobering information about those who wish to do us harm Ridge said. But every Day we strengthen the Security of our the government is not raising its Colour coded Alert status however he said and . Officials do not have specific knowledge about where when about the terror attack threat and Security pre or How an attack might take place. Cautions. The Cia Fri and other agencies Are actively Fri director Robert Mueller said officials we reworking to gain that knowledge Ridge said. Taking Security Steps that we anticipate will con asked Why he had made a Public announcement Tine All the Way through the yesterday Ridge said that after the attacks in in addition to increasing Security at the Conven Madrid Spain he considered it very important on tons in Boston and new York authorities have a periodic basis to frankly just give americans an begun working through the process of How to update As to where we Are and what we Are secure the thousands of polling Sites that will Bethe . Administration was criticized by used around the country this fall said a senior democrats in late May when attorney general intelligence official speaking on condition of John Ashcroft put Forward a High profile warning anonymity. The Fri has formed a special task Force that an attack could be imminent an assessment to respond to the threat. Not All High ranking officials shared. There Are plans for Road and rail closures an before ridges Public comments top Fri Cia even greater restrictions than usual on Access Toad Homeland Security department officials had the convention Sites. The democrats will meet a briefed House members wednesday and Senate Bostons Fleet Center july 26-29, and the Republic members yesterday at the request of congressional can convention will be at Madison Square Garden leaders. With the summer political conventions in new York from aug. 30-sept. 2. Nearing legislators had requested information ? associated press Irish pub ends butt ban fight ing ban. The Western health Board by Shawn Pogatchnik nobody has smoked on the said it was preparing files to premises today and that will con prosecute customers who Dublin Ireland ? the Galway Tine to be the Case. The premises smoked in Fibber Mages pub that led a four Day rebellion shall remain closed until further wednesday night. Violators against Ireland a smoking ban notice said Lawless. Our oppo could be fined $5,000 can or get closed yesterday under threat of sit Ion to this legislation will be three months in jail. Huge fines and the loss of its pursued through lawful the Board warned Lawless it liquor licence. Any Effort by Lawless to sue would petition the Irish High a grim faced Ronan Lawless the government appears unlike court to punish him too unless appeared on the Galway court by to succeed. The two major he promised to Stop breaking the House Steps to announce the associations representing pub Law by 4 Lawless faxed his indefinite closure of his Fibber owners have decided not to go pledge to comply to government Mages pub where customers Down that Road after being Headquarters. This week were encouraged to advised that it would be costly ? associated press flout the three month old smok and futile ;