Friday
October 2, 2015 (Vol. 40 No. 79)
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
‘All about the kids’: After years working with the Semiahmoo Peninsula’s youngest gymnasts, Jamaican-born coach Geri Henry has been honoured by Gymnastics BC. i see page 23
Flagger, line painter hospitalized following afternoon crash in South Surrey
Chaos after minivan hits road crew Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
A collision between an eastbound van and members of a road line-painting crew sent two men to hospital – one with “significant injuries” – and closed 24 Avenue between 148 and 150 Streets in South Surrey for several hours Wednesday afternoon. According to Surrey RCMP Cpl. Scotty Schumann, the men were struck by a grey
minivan around 3:15 p.m., as they worked in the 14800-block of 24 Avenue. The van, driven by a 17-year-old Surrey resident, hit a line-painter and flag person, Schumann said. “It struck the cart and its operator. The cart was propelled forward into the flagger.” The line-painter, a 19-year-old Surrey man, was airlifted to hospital and remains in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries;
the flagger, a 34-year-old Vancouver resident, was transported by ground ambulance, treated and released. A woman who lives nearby witnessed the victims “about a second” after they were struck, and told Peace Arch News the scene was chaotic with “a lot of screaming.” The woman – who didn’t want to be identified – said she witnessed another crash i see page 4
Melissa Smalley photo
One worker airlifted after crews respond.
Non-political group
Criticism over OCP panelists Melissa Smalley Staff Reporter
Boaz Joseph photos
Finding ‘forever homes’ Chloe Craig, 5, pets Lacey, a two-year-old cremello pinto filly, during a farm-animal ‘adoptathon’ at the BC SPCA’s South Surrey branch Saturday, while (at left) SPCA farm-animal-care specialist Tara Peteres shows off Cash, a seven-year-old palomino quarter horse gelding, to the public. The two horses were among the 16 horses seized – along with 41 other animals – on Aug. 11 from an area farm in a BC SPCA cruelty investigation. The animals were nursed back to health before being made available for adoption. So far, seven horses, one goat and some chickens have found homes.
White Rock residents are questioning the composition of the city’s Official Community Plan Working Group, alleging that the city-selected membership does not fairly represent the community. The group, selected by city planning staff and named in a report to council in July, includes 10 members: Cliff Annable (White Rock/ South Surrey Chamber of Commerce), Harp Hoonjan (Peace Arch Hospital board member), Morley Myran (Tourism White Rock board member), Ruchir Dhall (Advisory Design Panel member), Douglas Smith (White Rock Business Improvement Association), Randy Heilbron (Fraser Health Authority representative), Dawn Wattie (resident/business owner), Judy Forster (resident, former mayor), Jim McKinlay (resident) and Richard Harding (resident). In an email to director of planning and development Karen Cooper, forwarded to Peace Arch News, resident Charles Fast said he was curious about the criteria the city used to select the members, questioning its “non-political” status that Cooper insisted upon when the group was first announced in June. i see page 4