Tuesday July 16, 2013 (Vol. 38 No. 57)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
A N D
S O U T H
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
Road warrior: Reigning Canadian road-race champion Zach Bell showed just why he holds that title, cruising to victory Sunday, winning the Tour de White Rock’s 134-km road race by more than four minutes. › see page 21
BNSF launches trestle replacement, awaiting access rights to Semiahmoo First Nation land
Mayor warns of potential rail disaster Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
BNSF is gearing up to replace the aging rail bridge that spans the Little Campbell River in South Surrey. All that’s needed to get the ball rolling, railway officials say, is for Semiahmoo First Nation to grant permission to access the site. “Our plans are to replace it, we would like to replace it this year,” BNSF spokesperson Gus Melonas said Wednesday. “However,
we are working with the First Nations to arrange access rights to the property. “We have to build a road into the site, so there’s agreement issues that have to be finalized with the First Nations, and we’re working on this. We respect the process and are working through it.” Semiahmoo band councillor Joanne Charles did not return Peace Arch News’ call requesting comment. Concerns have been heard for years that
the bridge – originally constructed in 1921, with a new span built 20 years later – is becoming unsafe. White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin added his voice to the issue Thursday, in a letter emailed to Transport Canada. Citing the recent train tragedy in LacMégantic, Que., Baldwin writes that he has “considerable concern” with the structure’s deteriorated condition. › see page 4
Tracy Holmes photo
Corrosion concerns Mayor Wayne Baldwin.
Inquest begins
Gunman threatened girlfriend, jury hears Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Shane MacKichan photo
Emergency crews try to save a woman who was struck by an Amtrak passenger train as she crossed the tracks at East Beach Sunday night.
Engineer put train into ‘emergency brake situation’
White Rock jogger killed by train Sarah Massah Staff Reporter
Anita Lewis victim
A White Rock woman died Sunday night after being struck by a passenger train on East Beach. Anita Lewis, 42, and her husband, Mike Grahame, were jogging across the tracks at the pedestrian crossing nearest
Semiahmoo Park, in the 15600-block of Marine Drive, at 9:45 p.m. Grahame crossed the tracks ahead of his wife. When he realized Lewis was not behind him, he circled back to the tracks to find her, White Rock RCMP told Peace Arch News. The fatality was witnessed by off-duty
emergency responders who attempted to revive Lewis at the scene. Lewis worked as a mortgage broker at Dreyer Group Mortgage in Morgan Creek. She is remembered by loved ones as “a loving mother, adoring wife, sister, daughter, a special friend to all.” › see page 4
A young man killed by police in Crescent Beach two years ago was warned several times to drop his weapon before shots rang out, a jury tasked to determine the facts heard Monday. A witness testifying at the inquest into the death of Brendon Samuel Beddow told coroner Margaret Janzen he heard police give the order “eight to 10” times, followed by four shots. “He said, ‘Brendon, drop your gun. We will shoot you… put the gun down,’” Eric Benetti, who had been working nearby, recalled of the officer’s words that afternoon. Police were dispatched to the 3000block of McBride Avenue around 2 p.m. March 23, 2011, after a woman called 911 to report a domestic disturbance. Peace Arch News reported at the time that officers who arrived at a Spanish-style home moments later were confronted by a man, and shots were exchanged. An earlier investigation by Vancouver Police Department cleared the officers involved in Beddow’s death of any criminal wrongdoing. › see page 2
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RCMP Musical Ride
fRiday, july 26 • Semiahmoo Park behind Washington avenue Grill on Marine dr. in White Rock Tickets are available online at https://tickets.surrey.ca Or in persOn aT: • Kent street activity Centre • Centennial arena • White rock Community Centre $12.00 Bleacher seating • $8.00 standing room Only For updated event info visit www.whiterockcity.ca
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, 2013