Horoscope

Cross-Canada tour back on track for cyclist whose bike was stolen in Winnipeg

A man whose cycling trip across Canada came to a halt in Winnipeg — when his bike was stolen — can resume his bucket-list journey after help from local cyclists.

Fergus Watt, 69, has always wanted to bike across the country, and now that he’s retired, he decided to start pushing pedals toward his goal. However, on Tuesday afternoon his bike — a Norco Search C-Apex-AXS, specially purchased for the trip — was stolen from outside Mountain Equipment Co-op on Portage Avenue.

“You just feel a bit gutted,” said Watt, who lives in Ottawa. “The first thing I said to myself was ‘I’m so screwed,’ but I used a different word.”

Watt said the theft was quick. He went into the store, remembered he had left his phone mounted on the bike, and went outside. However, by the time he returned, all that remained was the cut lock and his helmet. He also had his passport and phone stolen, as they were on his bike. The total cost of the theft is about $6,000. On the plus side, his clothing and camping gear are safe.

Kraus steps up in first start as Sea Bears beat Stingers

Mason Kraus has played his role — and played it well — all summer.

A true three-and-D who has hit a few timely buckets and played a part in the Winnipeg Sea Bears becoming one of the stingiest defensive units in the Canadian Elite Basketball League.

On Thursday, though, with Trey McGowens sidelined by injury, the hometown product was elevated to a starting role for the first time in his career that demanded much more than the 16.8 minutes he’s averaged off the bench, and like the first-year pro has done each time he’s been challenged this season, Kraus answered the bell in a nail-biting 97-93 victory for the Sea Bears over the Edmonton Stingers at Canada Life Centre.

“I knew I was a little nervous going into it, but once I hit my first shot, all the nerves went away,” said Kraus, whose nine points and three assists went beyond the box score. “At the end of the day, it’s just basketball, and we practise so many days of the week, so many times we just went through repping me in the point guard position, me coming off the bench as a two guard as well. So just coming in, that practice makes perfect.”

Paramedic petition fails to change folk fest first aid procedures

Paramedics will not be stationed at Winnipeg Folk Festival this year despite a petition calling on the summer festival to enhance its on-site medical services.

Steinbach to be Jersey Mike’s local launch pad

Steinbach will be the ‘roll model’ for future local expansion when U.S. submarine sandwich chain Jersey Mike’s opens its first Manitoba location next week.

The grand opening for the restaurant at 17 Market Blvd. is July 15. Redberry Restaurants, the Mississauga, Ont.-based franchisee firm that’s brought the chain to Canada, plans to open “a couple” Jersey Mike’s shops in Winnipeg next year, a company executive said.

“As we hire more people — more managers, more staff members — Steinbach will become our centre for training and helping us grow in the province of Manitoba,” said Paul Pascal, vice-president of Jersey Mike’s Canada.

Founded in 1956 in the New Jersey borough of Point Pleasant under the name Mike’s Giant Submarine Shop, Jersey Mike’s now counts more than 3,200 restaurants around the world.

Red card for FIFA, Infantino

It took longer than most people thought it would, but U.S. President Donald Trump finally brought his brand of chaos to the men’s World Cup soccer tournament — and immediately soiled the pitch.

Trump was infuriated by a questionable red card shown to top U.S. forward Folarin Balogun during the American team’s July 1 match with Bosnia and Herzegovina — disciplinary action which meant Balogun was ejected from the game and suspended for his country’s next match versus Belgium on Monday, July 6.

Spurred on by officials including Andrew Giuliani (yes, the son of Rudy), director of the White House task force on the World Cup, Trump called up his bosom buddy, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, that very evening to ask that something be done about the suspension. He called Infantino again on July 4.

Lo and behold, FIFA announced July 5 that its disciplinary panel had suspended the application of Balogun’s one-match ban for a year, making him eligible to play in the Belgium game (which the U.S. lost 4-1, by the way). Multiple news reports quickly revealed Trump’s calls to Infantino — reaction was equally swift.

Disc drive: petition seeks to reverse Sony decision to stop producing physical discs

Atop a counter displaying vintage video games, a sign urges passersby to petition Sony Group Corp.

The Japanese multinational company’s PlayStation system discs aren’t retro — yet. But they will be in 2028, when Sony plans to stop producing the physical products.

Its games will be sold online or in “digital formats” at shops, including as codes.

Winnipeg-based independent chain PNP Games has outfitted its St. Vital area store with signs of protest. It’s also launched an online petition — one garnering more than 231,000 signatures in roughly a week.