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WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Kindergarten students listen to Premier Greg Selinger�s announcement at Bonnycastle School Tuesday.

More classrooms for school

THE province has announced it will build eight new classrooms as part of an expansion at Bonnycastle School on Chancellor Drive.

Premier Greg Selinger said Tuesday that a daycare within the school will also be renovated and expanded to add 74 new child-care spaces.

The south Winnipeg school, part of Pembina Trails School Division, takes in students from kindergarten to Grade 6. It also has a K to Grade 3 French immersion program, which will be expanded.

The project is expected to be completed by spring or summer of 2014.

Sarah Rosnes, chairwoman of the school's parent advisory council, said she appreciates the investment the province is making in the school, but she's worried the expansion is being rushed and will fail to address safety concerns.

"We look forward to further consultation with our elected officials and the school division as plans move forward so that we can ensure that this opportunity results in ... optimal learning and (a) safe environment for our children and community members," Rosnes said in an email to the Free Press.

Charges follow grow-op bust

A 52-year-old man is facing drug charges after police found more than $765,000 worth of marijuana in a Penfold Crescent home.

On Monday, Winnipeg police executed a search warrant at a residence in the 200 block of Penfold Crescent with its drug unit, green team and tactical support team. Police found more than 575 marijuana plants with a street value of more than $645,000, 18.1 kilograms of dried marijuana with an estimated street value of $120,000 and grow-operation equipment valued at $13,0000.

The man faces charges of production of a controlled substance, possessing a substance for the purpose of trafficking and theft of telecommunications.

He was released on a promise to appear.

Murder suspect rearrested

A 36-year-old man out on bail on a first-degree murder charge faces new charges after being arrested on Friday.

RCMP arrested Corey Scott Tymchyshyn in Winnipeg Beach around 5:30 a.m. after receiving information from officers in Steinbach. At 6 a.m., RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence on Manitoba Avenue in Winnipeg. During the search, officers discovered a marijuana grow operation with about 80 plants.

Tymchyshyn has been charged with extortion, uttering threats, assault, breach of recognizance, possession and production of a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Tymchyshyn was previously charged with first-degree murder in the death of Chad Davis, and was free on bail.

Davis, 22, went missing in February 2008. Police initially treated the case as a missing persons investigation. The search turned into a homicide investigation in July 2008 after his body was found wrapped in plastic and stuffed inside a barrel found floating along the Lee River near Lac du Bonnet.

Tymchyshyn and Kristopher Brincheski were both charged with first-degree murder. Tymchyshyn remains in police custody.

Steen seen as deputy speaker

SOFT-SPOKEN rookie Coun. Thomas Steen is poised to become city council's deputy speaker.

The Elmwood-East Kildonan councillor will take on additional duties at city hall, pending an omnibus vote this morning at council's annual organizational meeting.

"I want to do more and talked a bit to (council speaker) Grant Nordman so I will have to learn more about procedure," Steen said Monday.

Steen beat out Couns. Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge), Justin Swandel (St. Norbert) and John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry) at an informal council vote on Friday.

Council has a vacancy at this position because Point Douglas Coun. Mike Pagtakhan is moving back on to executive policy committee.

The annual organizational meeting determines committee membership.

Swandel ruled out of order

St. Norbert Coun. Justin Swandel wasted litle time after leaving executive policy committee to give one of his former colleagues a piece of his mind.

On Tuesday, the former deputy mayor appeared before council's property committee in an attempt to send a Waverley West planning framework back to another hearing.

But committee chairman Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) ruled Swandel out of order because a public hearing about the plan had ended.

"You are trying to muzzle me here," Swandel told Browaty, who remains on EPC.

Last week, Swandel called EPC dysfunctional and broken after he quit.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 7, 2012 B2