Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 29, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba A6 Winnipeg free press saturday july 29, 2006 Manitoba Road rage Driver runs Over Brandon flagger a foot by Ian Hitchen a Brandon construction worker was sent to Hospital when his foot was run Over while trying to jump out of the Way of a vehicle prompting police to Issue a plea to motorists be careful and be patient when in construction zones. The close Call comes at the Peak of construction season and police say there a a growing trend of Road rage on the part of frustrated Drivers. Peoples tempers Are just getting the big jump in bacteria Levels at beaches by Jen Skerritt the province is advising swimmers to take extra precautions following a Spike in e. Coli bacteria Levels at three Mani Toba beaches. The count in Oak Lake increased from 10 on june 27 to 992 on july 25 ? the largest jump in the province. Oak Lake chief administrative officer Mary Smith said the province is expected to Post advisory signs on the Beach Early today. Pelican Lake and Lynch a Point also recorded High Levels of e. Coli up from june. Pelican Lake counts jumped from 13 at the end of june to 473 on july 25. Similarly Lynch a Points e. Coli level increased to 20 times the june level. A count of More than 200 is considered unhealthy. Although most swimmers will not get sick the province warns to stay away from beaches with High e. Coli if you have an open wound or digestive prob lems. Swimmers should not Swallow Lake water and reduce their time in Lake Winnipeg if water Levels Are High washing Bird droppings in the Lake. Since Levels fluctuate daily signs will be posted for the rest of the summer. Algae blooms were also reported at Grindstone Beach Lester Beach Victo Ria Beach and West grand Beach in the past week. Water test results Are incomplete but officials believe toxins will be within water Quality guidelines. If you notice High amounts of Green scum avoid swimming do not drink the water do not eat fish from the Lake and prevent pets and other animals from drinking along the Shore. Beac goers can Check updated water Quality information at . better of them said Brandon police sgt. Carol Fisher adding this is the first time As far As she knows a flagger has been injured. The flagger was working at a site near 18th Street and Queens Avenue late wednesday afternoon Fisher said. He had set a traffic Cone in front of a stopped vehicle to allow a construction vehicle to pass out of the work site. The Driver of the stopped vehicle allegedly stepped on the Gas ran Over the workers foot and sped out of the area. Fisher did to know the details of the workers injuries but said he was taken to Hospital treated and released. She said Road rage seems to be a prob Lem in Brandon lately As motorists have been especially rude this year perhaps due to a growing amount of construction and traffic. We be had some major problems with people around these construction areas Fisher said. Just discourteous driving because they re ticked because they had to wait for a couple of Floggers have complained that Drivers have spun tires and to kick up rocks and gravel at them Fisher said while other Drivers have even ignored the direction of police officers on traffic duty at some construction Sites. Manitoba heavy construction association spokeswoman Tish Best said wednesdays incident is the latest in a number of close Calls on the provinces roads and highways. Its important that the Public keep in mind that Roadside construction Sites Are workplaces Best said noting the association has just finished an advertising Campaign asking Drivers to slow Down in construction zones. These people Are entitled to a Safe work environment just like everybody meanwhile Brandon police encouraged Drivers to obey Floggers and ease up on the accelerator As they pass through work Sites or face charges. Motorists can be charged with imprudent driving under the Highway traffic act an offence that can bring a mini mum Fine of $167. In this Case a construction worker managed to pass a licence plate number on to police who have asked the vehicle a owner for an explanation. Charges Are being considered. ? Brandon Sun some family reunion descendants of Jean Baptiste and Marie Anne Lagimodiere enjoy a noisy re enactment of life in the 1800s As they celebrate the 200th anniversary of their ancestors arrival in Manitoba. The giant reunion of hundreds of families continues this weekend. conservative Leader promises fixed election dates Mcfadyen said in an interview. Of the governing party also gives the sit a different Date but All Are on a four by Mia Rabson he said knowing when an election is Ting government an advantage in terms year schedule. Going to be held gives More transparent of election preparedness and political All account for minority government a Manitoba government led by pro by and accountability to the Public. It timing. A government can choose to Call situations As Well. The Federal Law for Gressie conservative Leader Hugh also allows political parties More Chance an election before it has to release a Trou example says if a government loses a Mcfadyen would introduce fixed dates to plan and to attract Quality candidates. Bling report or deliver a bad news Bud Confidence vote and is forced to go to for provincial elections. How can you attract a candidate get for example. The polls the election schedule will Sim Mcfadyen said he believes fixed elec when you can to Tell them when the elec civic elections in Manitoba Are already ply be reworked to reflect that. Tion dates Are in the Best interests of Tion is going to be asked Mcfadyen. On a fixed scheduled on the fourth so if the government fell right now both the Public and the political parties running for office almost always wednesday in october every four years. And an election were held this summer vying for the vote. Requires a candidate to take a leave of three provinces ? Ontario . And the election after that would be sched the rationale for leaving some Mea absence or quit an existing Job and the Newfoundland and Labrador ? have used for the third monday in october sure of control on the timing of elections unpredictability of elections often Means already made the move to fixed election four years Down the Road. In the hands of the governing party does Good candidates Don to want to run. Dates and Ottawa introduced such leg. not apply in a modern context leaving election timing in the hands isolation this Spring. Each of them chose i Brief bad flight riders go Home passengers injured during severe turbulence on a flight earlier this week from St. Theresa Point to Winnipeg Are returning Home to Northern Manitoba this morning. Perimeter aviation has chartered a plane for the passengers and representatives from the company and from co owners of the tribal councils investment group will also be aboard. The transportation safety Board of Canada and transport Canada Are looking into Why Seatbelt came completely free from the anchoring mechanism during a perimeter dash-8 flight on tuesday afternoon. Five passengers including two toddlers received minor injuries. Opp arrest 12 for blockade Ontario provincial police in Kenora have charged 12 protesters in connection to the blockade of separation Bridge on the English River Road ear Lier this week. Protesters had set up the blockade on tuesday to prevent logging trucks from passing. Several of the people charged were also alleged to be involved in the july 13 blockade on Highway 17a. Shelagh Piney Allen 19, of Winnipeg was among those not arrested at the scene but later charged with mischief. Fire restrictions remain burning and travel restrictions in the Manitoba Forest Matchbox will continue throughout the weekend fire officials say. Although the number of fires in the province continues to be Low and Only one new Start was reported thursday the dry High risk conditions Are unrelenting said Tom Mirus head of the provinces fire Branch. There were 26 fires burning yester Day. The one new fire near Pine Falls was spotted by a helicopter Crew and extinguished immediately. An out of control fire North of Gypsumville is now almost entirely out and is being monitored for hot spots by helicopters. Sexual assault charge a Swan River Man has been arrested and charged with allegedly sexually assaulting a child under 12 years of age. Natalie Gray a Saskatchewan ramp spokeswoman said the 36-year-old Man was charged on july 26 and released. Gray said the Man will appear in court in Kamsack on aug. 15. Gray said ramp received a com plaint on july 15 about an alleged sexual assault in Madge Lake provincial Park located near the Manitoba Bor Der. Beach re elects mayor Don Pepe was re elected last night As the mayor of Winnipeg Beach. He told the free press he earned a second term in office with a slim 20?vote Victory Over Jeff Wharton As More than 1,200 votes were cast in the Interlake Community six candidates were in the running for the top Job on Council. Pepe was a councillor for nine years before being elected mayor in 2002 ;