NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2013


CAA NAMES WORST ROADS
For a second straight year, Dufferin Street in Toronto ranks number one in the
Canadian Automobile Association’s Worst Roads campaign. And for a second
straight year, a Niagara road has made the top ten. Stanely Avenue in Niagara
Falls was ranked number 10 in the rankings, released this morning. In Niagara,
Niagara Street in St. Catharines was ranked second, followed by East Main
Street in Welland. CAA Niagara’s Rick Mauro says 90% of voters complained
about crumbling pavement and potholes as the reasons for selecting those
roads. Stanley Avenue was also identified as being unsafe for pedestrians and
cyclists. The area between Thorold Stone Road and Church’s Lane was singled
out as the worst stretch.


SUSPICIOUS MAN OFFERS BOY RIDE HOME
Police are investigating after a report of a suspicious male at St. Peter School
on Aberdeen Circle in St. Catharines last week. Around noon Thursday, a male
student was walking home for his lunch hour when a tan coloured van
approached him. The lone occupant of the van opened the passenger side
door and asked the boy if he wanted a ride home. The boy declined the offer,
but the man continued the conversation and asked the boy again if he wanted a
ride home, which the boy once again declined. At that point, the man drove off
without further incident. There was no physical contact between the boy and the
driver. The man is described as a white male, about 70 years of age, balding
with white/grey hair, tanned skin and he was wearing reading glasses.


NRP OFFICER FACES DISCIPLINARY TRIBUNAL
A Niagara Regional Police officer made his first appearance before a
disciplinary tribunal yesterday. Constable Bill Schoenhals faces 4 counts of
misconduct relating to an incident on February 28th of 2012, and one relating to
a separate incident the following day. The allegations include one count each of
discreditable conduct for using profane language in speaking with a member of
the public, unlawful exercise of authority for allegedly placing the same person
under arrest, neglect of duty for not properly reporting the arrest, another count
of discreditable conduct for failing to advise the citizen of their rights after
arresting them, and another count of unlawful exercise of authority for allegedly
using excessive force in allegedly punching and kicking a different man who
was in custody the following day. Schoenhals was at the hearing, but did not
enter a plea. His hearing was adjourned until September 10th.


RACETRACK FUNDING DETAILS RELEASED
Newly released figures from the provincial government show Fort Erie
Racetrack received 5.5 million dollars in transition funding this year, the first
season without slot money since the late 1990’s. Fort Erie was one of 12
Ontario racetracks to sign transitional fundings agreements with the province
earlier this year. Details on what each track received were unveiled yesterday.


BOTTOMS UP IN ONTARIO
The LCBO has reported net sales of over 4.8 billion dollars for 2012-2013, up
182 million dollars, or 3.9% from the previous year. Spirit sales went up 2.3%,
wine sales rose by 5.2% and beer sales were up 3.9%. Sales of Ontario craft
beers went up by 33%. The LCBO also says it refused service to 322 thousand
people in 2012-2013, 84% for being unable to prove legal drinking age.


MEETING SOUGHT FOR GALE CENTRE REPAIRS
Those involved in building the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls will meet with city
officials about arena deficiencies that could cost 150 thousand dollars to repair.
City officials have contacted Aquicon, the company that built the 38 million
dollar facility, in an effort to arrange a meeting to discuss the matter. A date for
a meeting has not been set. City staff doesn’t believe taxpayers should be on
the hook for the repairs. A spokesperson for Aquicon says the company had no
idea about the immediate maintenance issues until news reports detailed the
problems. Council will receive an update today.


REGION STUDIES TRUCK ROUTES
Niagara Region is once again studying truck route alternatives across the
Escarpment in west Niagara and is looking for input from the public. The Region
has re-opened a Class Environmental Assessment to evaluate truck routes by
heavy vehicles through West Lincoln and Grimsby. Heavy truck traffic talk goes
back to 1997, when the regions of Hamilton-Wentworth and Niagara studied the
issue. A public information session is being held tomorrow night from 7 to 9
p.m. in the Grimsby Secondary School Gym. There will be another session in
the fall and one more next year.


STONEY CREEK MEN HEADING HOME
Two Stoney Creek men who were imprisoned in the Dominican Republic after a
post-wedding brawl last month have been released and will be heading home,
according to a family member. 34 year old Nick Miele and 18 year old Ben
Constantini have been in jail since the early morning of May 28th, hours after
Miele and Stacey Vernon were married at resort in Punta Cana. The bride says
her husband and his cousin were thrown in jail unjustly after a fight broke out at
their resort between Canadian men they didn’t know. A statement from the
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs office says the two parties involved in the
altercation have found common ground in order to resolve their situation.


FESTIVITIES THIS WEEKEND IN THOROLD
In commemoration of War of 1812 and the Battle of Beaverdams, a number of
events will be happening around the city of Thorold this weekend. A provincial
town crier competition will kick off the scheduled events at 10 a.m. The official
welcoming ceremonies will be held at 3 p.m. at Decew House Park. Saturday
also marks the 200th anniversary of Laura Secord’s famous walk. A walk
commemorating her trek will make it’s way from Queenston to Decew House. A
full listing of Saturday and Sunday’s events is available at
battleofbeaverdams.com


TOP COLLEGE STUDENT TO BE HONOURED
Niagara College’s top student will be receiving the Governor General’s
Academic Medal this week. Amanda McIntyre of St. Catharines will be
honoured for achieving the highest mark at the college, a 96.81% grade point
average, when she graduates from the Social Service Worker Program. It’s the
highest award a student can receive. The 30 year old McIntyre will receive her
medal and address the graduating class at the college’s morning convocation
ceremony this Thursday, less than two weeks before she’s due to give birth to
her second child.


SPORTS
Welland native Dan Paille scored the winner for a second straight game, Patrice
Bergeron also scored and Tukka Rask made 28 saves as the Boston Bruins
shutout Chicago 2-0 to take a 2-1 lead in the Stanley Cup final. Game 4 goes
tomorrow night in Boston

The New York Rangers will reportedly sign former Vancouver coach Alain
Vigneault as their new head coach today

The Philadelphia Flyers have agreed to terms on a 4 year, 21 million dollar
contract with impending free agent defenseman Mark Streit,, who’s rights they
acquired last week from the New York Islanders

The Blue Jays have won 6 in a row after a 2-0 inter-league win over Colorado
Game two in the three game series is tonight in Toronto

San Antonio will look to win the NBA championship tonight as the Spurs take a
3-2 lead into game 6 of the NBA final in Miami

Former NFL receiver Chad Johnson was released from jail yesterday after
apologizing to a judge for slapping his attorney’s butt in curt last week. He had
been sentenced to 30 days in jail after the slap. He’s been ordered to perform
25 hours of community service, undergo 2 hours of counselling a week and his
probation has been extended 3 months