Tuesday April 16, 2013 (Vol. 38 No. 31)
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
Two down, two to go: The Surrey Eagles got their quest for a BCHL title off to a great start on the weekend, defeating the Penticton Vees twice at South Surrey Arena to take a 2-0 lead in the finals. › see page A21
Peninsula marathoners and their families unharmed in fatal blasts at Boston finish line
‘We heard this massive explosion’ Tracy Holmes & Nick Greenizan Staff Reporters
Charles Krupa/Associated Press photo
Two explosions rock the Boston Marathon.
Runners from the Semiahmoo Peninsula were safe on both sides of the Boston Marathon finish line Monday, when two explosions rocked the area, killing at least two and injuring dozens more. South Surrey lawyer Alan Benson, 60, had finished the race and was about six blocks away when the unimaginable happened. “All of a sudden we heard this massive explosion. I could see this huge ball of smoke where the finish line is,” Benson told Peace Arch News from his hotel about an hour later.
“I just can’t believe, I can’t believe I saw what I saw when I looked down Boylston Avenue. It was big, it was loud and it was frightening. Everyone immediately thought, is this some kind of bomb? It looked like something out of the Middle East or something like that.” Benson crossed the finish line in three hours, 49 minutes and 42 seconds. According to initial reports, the explosions occurred at the 4:09:40 mark, just before noon PDT. Jim Millington, 61, was among locals who didn’t cross the finish line – he was minutes away at the time of the explosions. “I am OK. Five minutes from finish line,”
he said in a text message to friends back home in South Surrey. The 2013 Boston Marathon database notes 241 of the nearly 27,000 competitors hail from B.C. Of those, 18 list Surrey as their hometown. Benson said all of the Peninsulaarea people he was aware of – competitors and spectators alike – were unharmed. He described what followed the explosions as “pandemonium everywhere,” as emergency crews made their way to the scene at Copley Square, and attendees tried to connect with friends and relatives. › see page A4
Metro committee vote
Powerless reps say no to coal Jeff Nagel Black Press
A proposal to build a new coalexport terminal on the Fraser River in Surrey is being opposed by Metro Vancouver directors who cite potential risks to the local environment and the health of residents from coal dust. The position was taken in a 6-5 split vote of Metro’s environment and parks committee Thursday and still has to go to a full board vote at the end of the month. Metro has no power to block the planned export terminal proposed by Fraser Surrey Docks and ❝The port is the now being sole judge, jury considered and executioner, for approval and they’re not by Port Metro consulting with Vancouver. anybody.❞ While Metro is also Harold Steves asking the Richmond councillor port for more information on the proposal and its potential impacts, Richmond Coun. Harold Steves argued a decision could be imminent and Metro can’t wait for answers before stating its opposition. › see page A4
Concrete jungle
Gord Goble photo
No, it’s not a scene from War of the Worlds, or robotic arms wreaking havoc in some other science-fiction fantasy – just backhoes tearing down the 16 Avenue overpass at Highway 99 on Friday night. The first step in creating a new overpass and interchange in South Surrey was completed without a hitch over the weekend. See story page A2.
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