O'Leary in the running

By Marc Zienkiewicz Michael O'Leary is going up against two other candidates for the RM of Alexander's reeve's chair. The 57-year-old resident of Sunset Bay works for Manitoba Hydro at Great Falls, and is looking forward to the upcoming Oct. 27 municipal election. "I've lived here since 1986 and I've come to know the people quite well," he says. "A lot of the changes I'd like to see are just basic ideas." O'Leary would like to see what he calls more "equal" treatment among RM ratepayers. Right now, he says there's one rule for some and a diff erent rule for others when it comes to how bylaws are enforced. "It's the old issue that the rule of law should apply to everyone equally," he says. He also slammed the RM for its water plant project, which was recently quashed after 10 years of planning. If the plan would have gone ahead, ratepayers would have been forced to shell out thousands of dollars regardless of whether they wanted the water or not. "It was way too expensive and I feel that sort of thing should be handled by the private sector. Let's leave the government out of it," he says. Drainage is also an issue for O'Leary. "I've spoken with people who are getting fl ooded out year after year. Th e ditches aren't being cleaned out. Something has to be done." O'Leary has been actively involved with Photo by Marc Zienkiewicz Michael O'Leary is vying for the reeve's seat in the RM of Alexander. the community over the years, having been president of the Sunset Bay Cottage Association. He was also acting superintendent of the Pointe du Bois generating station.

Vehicles collide at bridge

A head-on collision took place at the Winnipeg River bridge Tuesday evening. At around 7 p.m., police and paramedics were called to the scene after two vehicles ollided head-on where Hwy. 313 meets the ridge's east side. Investigation revealed that a 2010 Chevroet pickup truck had collided head-on with 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier while crossing the ridge. Th e driver of the pickup truck, a 66-yearld man from Winnipeg, as well as the 1-year-old female driver of the Cavalier and er adult female passenger were transported o hospital with undetermined, non-lifehreatening injuries. There were no other people or vehicles nvolved. No names have been released. Alcohol is Photo by Marc Zienkiewicz A collision at the Winnipeg River bridge blocked of traffic on Tuesday. not considered a factor at this time. As the collision investigation is in the early stages, no additional information is available at this time. 10075gg05 Friday, July 30, 2010 THE LAC DU BONNET LEADER 9

Councillors want spruce trees at bridge to stay

By Marc Zienkiewicz RM of Lac du Bonnet councillors want 15 spruce trees at the Winnipeg River bridge approach to stay put. At council's regular meeting July 27, councillor Russ Preston said the overwhelming majority of people he has spoken with want the trees left alone. Th e provincial highways department wants the RM to remove the trees after an area farmer lodged a complaint that they were a safety hazard for motorists coming over the narrow bridge, especially if large farm equipment is being moved over it. "There's an awful lot of people who want those trees to stay and only one or two who want to see them go," Preston said. "I think we have to have a meeting with the province and talk to them about it." Coun. Vera Cardinal and Reeve Rick Lussier agreed. "The more we talk, the longer the trees stay," Lussier said. The Lac du Bonnet Historical Society is opposing the cutting-down of the trees. Th e RM briefl y considered having the trees uprooted and moved, but it will cost a whopping $1,000 per tree to do so - resulting in a total bill of around $15,000. The RM asked the town to pitch in some FILE PHOTO/Marc Zienkiewicz Coun. Russ Preston wants to see 15 spruce trees at the Winnipeg River bridge stay put for the time being. cash to see the trees moved to the La Verendrye boat launch, but the town declined. But Kathy Willis, president of the Historical Society, said there's no reason the trees should need to be cut if people would just slow down when approaching the bridge.

You need to upgrade your Flash Player

You need to upgrade the version of your Flash Player to version 9 minimum.

Click here

Adobe Flash Player Download Center