Winnipeg Free Press

Anyone for a Game of Snakes and Bladders?

HERE at the Department of Overused Newspaper Clichés, we are "cautiously optimistic" that today's column is a "ticking time bomb.'' I think I speak for everyone at the department (motto: "We Avoid Clichés Like the Plague") when I say we are "madder than a wet hen" about the overuse of the phrase "Your Worst Nightmare!" "I screamed: 'THERE'S A SNAKE IN MY TOILET!!!'"

Girl, 14, Grabbed On Street

"I've talked to a few of them and a lot of them do cocaine," he said. "It's possible she could've been mistaken for a prostitute." "It's hard to bring our children around here," she said. "It doesn't make me feel safe because I know there's people around here that are doing that." "I'm going to be driving them all the time for sure," he said. "I think I'm going to be more aware."

High and Hopeless

Today begins like almost every other. Some soup and a peanut butter sandwich at the Lighthouse Mission and then he's off. He's got five bucks in his pocket that'll get him half a plastic "chubby" bottle (four ounces) of paint thinner from a bootlegger. "Some days I don't know if [RUSSELL Sinclair]'s dead or alive," Lighthouse Mission pastor Scott Miller says as Sinclair heads out the door. "Why do people sniff? I think they just want to blot out the reality of their existence." "When you star...

Creatures Beaming Down for Sci-Fi Fest

Except of course if you're at Keycon 23 -- Winnipeg's annual science fiction/fantasy convention. "The people here are so amazing," [Jessie Oetting] said. "I look forward to this all year long." "Everybody here knows what you're talking about," [Colin Lewis] said. "You can make a joke and nine out of 10 people will laugh."

Death Notices

SEMENKO, Angela, 101, of Selkirk.

Lottery Numbers

Winning numbers Friday were: 3, 11, 23, 25, 26, 37, 47. Bonus number was 14.

Time to Scrap the Maps, Review Water Protection Act

You're guilty until proven innocent. And you feel pretty small going up against a big government bureaucracy that doesn't want to admit it's wrong. Balderdash, say farmers. Zone 4 comprises 15 per cent of Manitoba farm land. That's 6,500 square kilometres. You don't think that is cropped, except for some "minor exceptions?" If their maps are inaccurate, then it's the province's responsibility to fix the problem, not force thousands of farmers to appeal, a process that would drag on for years.

Hotel Standoff Ends with Man's Arrest

"She phoned me and said the cops said, 'Ma'am, can you stay in the house?'" the granddaughter said, while watching the police standoff. "They were running with guns." [John Boduski] said the man managed to escape from the home and fled to the Travelodge Winnipeg East off Fermor Avenue in St. Vital. A hotel clerk, who asked not to be identified, said a man arrived at 6:50 p.m. with blood spattered on his clothes and asked for a hotel room. The clerk rented the man a room and called police beca...

Personal Tragedy, Public Journey

"I just started writing it because I couldn't keep up with the phone calls," says [Kris Hambleton]. "I knew that everyone was worried. There were so many days when I couldn't have my cellphone on in the hospital and everyone was worried. I just thought this was the best thing to do." [Mike Hambleton] is out of hospital now and living back at home. He's starting to learn how to walk on his prosthetic legs. It's hard, they both say. It's hard, but they're adjusting. "I think you continue, I thi...

Stephen Harper Embraces Inner Brian Mulroney

[Stephen Harper]? Well, Marjorie LeBreton, [Brian Mulroney]'s staunchest defender when no one would stand up for her old boss, was at Harper's side during the campaign and now sits in his cabinet. Derek Burney, Mulroney's old chief of staff, headed up Harper's transition team. Harper's approach to reaching out to both the United States and Quebec are reminiscent of Mulroney. If Mulroney had been hoping to repair his reputation, then [Peter C. Newman] seemed a poor choice as handyman. As the ...

Web Extra: Attack On Roommate Leads to Manslaughter Conviction

Police were called to a suite at 426 Maryland St. one week earlier and discovered [Richard Steven Luczyk] unconscious at the bottom of a stairwell. Luczyk was rushed to hospital but never recovered.

Weather's Chilling, Camps Filling, Many Campers Drinking

[Jim Giesbrecht] said the May long weekend is usually one of the busiest camping weekends, with campers anxious to shake off the winter doldrums. Giesbrecht said 17 charges were laid under the Provincial Parks Act and 69 people were evicted from campgrounds Friday night. Grand Beach was the most troublesome spot, with 25 evictions and 10 charges laid. Giesbrecht said RCMP were called in to handle one incident after a conservation officer was punched in the nose by a camper refusing to leave.

Web Extra: Artist Driving Nafta Project Across Pembina Border

Nancy Nisbet, an assistant professor of visual arts at the University of British Columbia, said the trade agreement only benefits corporations but doesn't allow individuals from different countries to freely trade with each other. Nisbet said she's not sure if border officials will allow her into the U.S. Nisbet said if they can't get into the U.S., they will continue on through Canada.

Woman Struck, has Purse Stolen

The suspect is described as between 25 and 30 years old, 5-10 and 160-170 pounds, with short dark hair and sunglasses.

Web Extra: Western Canadians Support Harper's 5-Point Agenda

"The Looking West 2006 survey examined five of Prime Minister [Stephen Harper]'s priority areas. The data indicate considerable support in Western Canada for Prime Minister Harper's agenda," the Calgary-based think tank concluded. The survey shows the 1,000 Manitobans who took part in the poll identified additional priorities like the environment and poverty that are not on Harper's agenda.

Weather's Chilling, Camps Filling, Many Campers Swilling

[Jim Giesbrecht] said the May long weekend is usually one of the busiest camping weekends, with campers anxious to shake off the winter doldrums. Giesbrecht said 17 charges were laid under the Provincial Parks Act and 69 people were evicted from campgrounds Friday night. Grand Beach was the most troublesome spot, with 25 evictions and 10 charges laid. Giesbrecht said RCMP were called in to handle one incident after a conservation officer was punched in the nose by a camper refusing to leave.