Tokyo Olympic flame is the first powered by hydrogen

Spike in safety concerns doesn’t feel like harm reduction

It’s after dinner when a couple of young boys appear on my porch. I recognize them from the neighbourhood, but they’re not here to ask my kids to come out for a game of basketball. Instead, one asks, “Is it OK to come in for a little bit. There’s a guy out there and he’s scaring us.”

911 service restored after hours-long outage outside Winnipeg

Manitobans outside Winnipeg were unable to get through to 911 to request police, fire or ambulance service for hours Wednesday after a fibre optic line was severed.

Tokyo Olympic flame is the first powered by hydrogen

TOKYO (AP) — Inspired by the sun, the Tokyo Olympic cauldron is designed to be better for the planet.

The flame at Tokyo’s National Stadium and another cauldron burning along the waterfront near Tokyo Bay throughout the games will be sustained in part by hydrogen, the first time the fuel source will be used to power an Olympic fire.

Previous flames have usually run on propane, although magnesium, gunpowder, resin and olive oil have also been used since the first modern cauldron was lit for the Amsterdam Games in 1928. The torch relay was introduced eight years later for Berlin.

Unlike propane, hydrogen does not produce carbon dioxide when combusted. The Tokyo cauldron is fueled by hydrogen produced by a factory in the Fukushima prefecture that runs on renewable energy. Propane and hydrogen were both used during the torch relay.

Alberta-based UFA Co-op preps first cardlock, fuel hub in Manitoba

An Alberta-based co-op plans to open its first Manitoba gas station later this year.

UFA Co-operative Ltd. has circled Portage la Prairie for a cardlock and bulk petroleum site. Meanwhile, it’s analyzing the keystone province for future locations.

“There is more to come,” Fred Thun, UFA president, said Wednesday.

The co-op counts at least 121 petroleum stations across Alberta and Saskatchewan and 125,000 member-owners. It already ships fuel to bulk customers in Manitoba.

Manitoba Mid-Amateur champ aided by seven-year-old son acting as caddy

Doug Penner had the benefit of experience on his side, and yet it was his far less seasoned caddy whom he credited for helping him capture the Golf Manitoba Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Quarry Oaks on Wednesday.

The Steinbach local’s tournament-low seven-under 65 in the final round to win by a pair of strokes was aided by his seven-year-old son, Liam, whose young eyes helped his father read some tricky greens as they enjoyed a high-stakes day on the links together.

“Surprisingly, he calms me down, gets me into the zone and made some good reads,” said Penner, who grew up playing at Quarry Oaks and now golfs out of the Steinbach Fly-In. “He helped quite a bit. He’s only seven, but he’s into golf, and he knows the game, so very special having him on the bag.”

Penner began the day four strokes back of Evan Nachtigall, and that deficit quickly became five after he bogeyed the opening hole. That was the only blip in his round, as Penner poured in eight birdies on the ensuing 17 holes to finish the 54-hole tournament 12-under par (204), two shots clear of Nachtigall and David Spurr.