Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 1, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg repress. Com City Winnipeg free press tuesday August 1, 2006 b3 by Kevin Rollason Winnipeg Gas Federal virology lab has been honoured for its expertise in mad cow disease and Bird flu by an International organization. And now samples of both diseases could be coming to Winnipeg from across North and South America. Yesterday Winnipeg Gas National Centre for foreign animal disease due in Large part to the work of two of its scientists was designated by the world organization for animal health Oie As a reference Laboratory for both Bovine spongiform encephalopathy be otherwise known As mad cow disease and Avian influenza. Stefanie Czub was recognized for her work on be while John Pasick is an expert on Avian flu. Several times yesterday Federal agriculture and Agri food minister Chuck Strahl Sang the praises of the Arlington Street lab and its staff. We work with the Best in the world and they re right Here in Winnipeg Strahl said. On behalf of All canadians this is a big thing for us. Czub said what the designation Means is if a country across North and South America gets a Case of one of the two diseases they can Send the Sample Here. If the United states wants another opinion they could Send the suspect animals to Winnipeg she said. We Are providing services to the greater International Community. The designation by Oie makes the local lab Only the fourth be reference lab worldwide and the Only one in North and South America. Its Only the second Avian flu lab in North America. But Alex Forrest president of the United fire fighters of Winnipeg the Union which represents the Cit yes firefighters said with the possibility of More samples of these diseases coming to the City there now has to be even More communication Between the lab and the fire department. Weave already had hazardous materials incidents with the Federal express plane and the Puro Lator Van said Forrest who sits on a Liaison committee organized by the lab. Were the ones who Are called in when hazardous material transportation goes wrong. With More transportation the risk goes up. The Public be worried but the fire department has to be aware. Last october a half dozen vials of flu and herpes viruses were on the Federal express plane which crashed on Railroad tracks near confusion Corner killing the Pilot. All the samples were destroyed in the fire which broke out. Last March containers of anthrax influenza Salmonella e. Coli tuberculosis and a sexually transmitted disease were in a courier Van when it was in a collision a few blocks away from the lab. None of the containers broke open during the collision. Kevin. Rollason free press. My. Ca by Nick Martin Manitoba ass senior prosecutor ordered police not to Tell Ray Janidean he had immunity on an arson charge before Janidean gave the key testimony in James risk Ellis murder trial retired Winnipeg police sergeant Albert Paul said yesterday. Paul testified that he believed the late Bruce Miller did not want to jeopardize Zani Deans credibility with the jury As the crowns key witness against Driskell. Paul told the inquiry into risk Ellis wrongful conviction of the murder of Perry Dean harder that Miller then Manitoba ass director of prosecutions called Paul and his then partner sgt. Tom Anderson into his office about a week before Janidean testified in june of 1991. Paul testified Miller had obtained agreement from Saskatchewan Justice officials that they would not prosecute Janidean for an arson in Swift current in which he was involved. Miller told Anderson and Paul who had Janidean in 24 hour custody not to inform Janidean before he testified. I did not think of it As a big Deal at the time Paul said. Paul said he did not ask Miller for his reasons for giving the two officers that order. Anderson is scheduled to be Cross examined this morning. Paul said he did not make notes of that meeting or of several others with Miller nor did he mention it in any report including a 1993 investigation by Winnipeg police inspectors Bob Hall and Jack Swatski into risk Ellis conviction. The first time he mentioned the meeting with Miller was in meeting recently with inquiry counsel Michael code Paul said. Paul came under intense Cross examination by several lawyers especially Douglas Abra lawyer for Millers estate. You think its of to let a witness testify to something thatus not truthful demanded Abra. I cant testify to what or. Miller was thinking replied Paul. And neither can he retorted Abra. The inquiry heard that Paul has suffered some memory loss following heart bypass surgery last year. Abra found it difficult to understand How Paul could remember what happened at the Miller meeting so clearly while not being Able to recall what Day it took place what time or where. Risk Ellis lawyer Alan Libman suggested to Paul that the meeting with Miller had never happened. Paul was Adamant that it had. Under questioning from code Paul said that Janidean had telephoned risk Ellis lawyer Greg Brodsky from the hotel where Paul and Anderson were guarding him. Paul did not try to find out what that Call was about he said. Paul said he reported the Call to his inspector who said he would inform Miller. Paul said several times yesterday that he assumed that Miller passed on information to George Dangerfield the Crown attorney prosecuting Driskell and that it was not necessary for police officers to Contact Dangerfield directly. Code said in an interview that Zani Deans lawyer David Kovnats will follow Anderson to the witness stand Likely tomorrow and thursday. He Hopes to have Brodsky and Swatski now Winnipeg Gas police chief testify next week. Nick. Martin free press. My. Ca Arena welcomes groups the its Centre is throwing open its doors to Community groups who want to use the downtown Arena for sports and cultural events As Well As fundraisers. In a program funded by the province and the City non profit groups and clubs will have free or Low Cost Access to the its Centre for at least 45 Days a year to Host big events. Its part of the funding agreement that saw the its Centre open nearly two years ago. The program called the Community use and Access program is already quietly underway. Groups organizing events such As the kid sport expo last March or this Falls Cibic run for the cure have had most of the Cost of using the Arena covered As part of the program. City Man charged a 45 year old Winnipeg Man is charged with three counts of fraud in whats known As the nigerian Bank scam Winnipeg police said yesterday. The Man was arrested after he tried to Cash a bogus Cheque made out to him for $ 40,000, const. Jacqueline Chaput said. Chaput said police believe he had earlier cashed two similar cheques Worth $ 5,000 and $ 2,700. She said the Man apparently got involved in the alleged scam through an internet Chat room. The scheme involved the Man responding to a request he help the sender move Money out of his country. In return he got to keep part of the proceeds. Chaput said the Winnipeg Man knew the cheques were fraudulent but cashed them anyway. Police did not release his name. He was freed on a Promise to appear in court at a later Date. People can also Call phone busters at 1 888 495 8501. Police search for suspect City police Are looking for a Man who barged into an unlocked inner City Home sunday night armed with a knife and terrorized two women. Police said yesterday a 38 year old woman went to Hospital to be treated for wounds to her forearm. A 19 year old woman was not Hurt. Police said he walked into the House in the 600 Block of Stella Avenue at about 8 30 p. M. And ran away after grabbing a Small amount of Cash. Police said the incident appeared to random. Hers described As caucasian with Short Blond hair 18 to 20 years old 5 7 5 8 tall thin build and weighing 150 to 160 pounds. He was wearing a Light Blue and White hawaiian style Button up shirt baggy jeans and an Orange baseball Cap. Call police and 986 2848 or crime stoppers at 786 8477 if you have information. In Brief by Mary Agnes Welch c on Crete and steel so last season. This summer the City is rebuilding the Sherbrook Bridge with Glass. The northbound Bridge Over the Assiniboine River will be among the first major City paving projects to use Glass Fibre reinforced polymer Long Light tubes that form the Skeleton of the Bridges deck. The fibreglass rods Are replacing the traditional rust prone steel rebar used last summer when the City rebuilt the Maryland Street Bridge the first phase of the two year project. Yesterday Public works staff joined mayor Sam Katz on the Sherbrook Bridge to offer an update on the spans reconstruction and other major summer Road projects All of which Are on time thanks to near perfect weather. The City is spending about $ 27 million this year on major Road projects Short of the $ 32 million it should be spending to keep up with the backlog of potholes and cracks on major thoroughfares. Infrastructure funding still Falls Short of the $ 70 million the City should be spending to keep roads Bridges and buildings up to snuff. The Sherbrook Bridge is one of the highest profile projects. Its forced northbound traffic to squeeze onto the southbound Maryland Bridge until mid october. The City a snot commonly used Glass Fibre reinforced polymer rods in its construction projects because they tended to be More expensive than steel rebar. But the Price of steel has skyrocketed in the last couple of years making bids using Glass Fibre rods just As competitive said Public works manager Bill Ebenspanger. The fibreglass tubes which look like they re covered in stucco Are far lighter to carry than the traditional steel rebar which cuts Down on labour costs. And they dont rust at All unlike steel rebar that corrodes after years of abuse from Winter Salt and moisture that seeps into Small cracks. Fibre glasses Only drawback comes when it is immersed in wet Concrete that will eventually be part of the Bridge deck. Unlike steel rebar that stays stationary when doused with liquids the fibreglass tubes float to the top in wet Concrete and must be tied in place. The province is using the fibreglass rods in some Bridges Over the flood Way. Maryagnes. Welch free press. My. Ca roadwork on the go. Broadway Between Sherbrook and Osborne East and westbound lanes closed for Road work. One Lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained. Until aug. 15. Corydon Avenue Between bore Bank and Waterloo eastbound lanes closed for pavement reconstruction. Traffic will be one Lane in each direction on the westbound Side. Until oct. 31. Donald Street Between notre Dame and Cumberland southbound curb Lane closed except during morning and afternoon Rush hours. Until aug. 18. Dugald Road Between Plessis and Mcfadden eastbound reduced to one Lane in alternating directions with flagman As required for sewer work. Until sept. 1. Ellice Avenue Between Empress and Strathcona eastbound curb Lane closed for sewer work. Until aug. 7. Kenaston Boulevard Between Sterling Lyon and Taylor intermittent Lane closures and intersection work during the construction of the underpass. Four lanes of through traffic will be maintained on the Detour Road on the East Side of Kenaston. Until nov. 17. King Street Between Alexander and Logan northbound curb Lane closed for water main renewal. Until aug. 11. Ness Avenue Between ferry and Belvidere westbound curb Lane closed. Until aug. 21. Pembina Highway Between Grant and Harrow southbound curb Lane closed. Until aug. 25. Portage Avenue Between Maryland and Burnell westbound median and third lanes closed for Asphalt resurfacing. Until aug. 15. Redwood Bridge closed for rehabilitation. Until oct. 31. Roblin Boulevard Between Fairmont and Dieppe westbound median Lane closed for Asphalt overlay. Until aug. 14. Sherbrook Street Bridge closed for deck repair. Two lanes open each Way on the Maryland Bridge. Until mid october. Sherbrook Street Between notre Dame and Pacific northbound curb Lane closed for sewer repairs. No left turn from Sherbrook onto westbound Mcdermot. Until aug. 15. Source City of Winnipeg Public works department the Driskell inquiry bridging the Gap with Glass fibreglass replaces steel on project virology lab honoured for mad cow Bird flu expertise witness a snot told he had immunity on charge you think its of to let a witness testify to something thatus not truthful a Douglas Abra lawyer for Bruce Millers estate Ken Gigliotti / Winnipeg free press Albert Paul testifies yesterday. Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg free press mayor Sam Katz holds a news conference As work continues on the Sherbrook Bridge part of about $ 27 million being spent on major Road projects ;