Hot rods, motorcyles, music and pin-ups
Adaptive rowing program in Delta page 36
page 41
Thursday May 31, 2012 Serving Surrey and North Delta www.surreyleader.com
Newton casino on the move?
Attack under investigation
Pit bulls maul dog and 91-year-old owner
Discussions are under way for a destination gaming complex on a large property at 8 Avenue and 168 Street in South Surrey
by Kevin Diakiw AT AGE 91, Merle Polischuk now feels
by Kevin Diakiw
PLANS ARE afoot to move the Newton casino to a property in South Surrey, where it would be turned into a destination gaming complex, The Leader has learned. The City of Surrey, Gateway Casinos and the B.C. Lottery Corporation (BCLC) have been in private discussions about moving the gaming licence from the Newton Bingo Country casino at 7093 King George Blvd. to a yet-to-be-built facility in South Surrey at 8 Avenue and 168 Street. The Newton property was the subject of a highly contentious public hearing in 2009, when gaming critics were pitted against not-for-profit organizations, which rely heavily on gaming revenues. After a marathon meeting, council passed the gaming expansion in Newton on a five-to-four vote, even though it contravened the city’s own gaming policy. Making matters worse, the company Dianne Watts that won the rezoning later flipped the property to Gateway Casinos and Entertainment. The promise of $25 million worth of improvements on the property died with the change in ownership. Three years later, the mall where the Newton casino is situated still lies in a state of disrepair. Meanwhile the South Surrey location – currently undeveloped green space – is the planned site for a $180-million development, including a 200-suite hotel, 800-seat convention centre and casino.
“The landscape has changed in Newton from when that casino was first brought forward.”
See SOUTH SITE / Page 9
EVAN SEAL / THE LEADER
Merle Polischuk and her dog Heidi were attacked by a pair of pit bulls on Sunday in North Surrey. The incident has left Polischuk with a hefty vet bill and she is now afraid to walk outside her gated community. Surrey’s animal control officers are investigating the case.
confined to her gated community after she and her 12-year-old sheltie were savagely attacked by two pit bulls outside her home in North Surrey. Polischuk was out walking her dog Heidi on Sunday at about noon near 121 Street and 92 Avenue. She likes strolling in that area because it’s close to Scott Road and it feels safe. However, on Sunday, a young man walking two pit bulls could no longer hold onto their leads and the animals charged Heidi, biting the small dog. “One at each end trying to pull her,” Polischuk remembers. “The guy that had them came over, and of course, one guy with two pit bulls can’t do a heck of a lot.” Polischuk tried to pull her dog away from the marauding pit bulls, but was knocked to the ground several times. Her knees got scraped and her head was badly bruised from the falls. At one point, one of the animals grabbed her by the hand and tore open her finger. Eventually the man was able to get the animals under control, but the damage was done. It all seemed to happen extremely quickly, Polischuk said. By the time it was over, the city’s animal control people were there, as were ambulance, fire and police personnel.
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