Oshawa Generals next games Wednesday, Jan. 7 VS Belleville Bulls, Friday, Jan. 9 VS London Knights and Sunday, Jan. 11 VS. the Peterborough Petes. $1.00 www.oshawaexpress.ca Well Written, Well Read Vol 4 No 11 Wednesday, Jan 7 2009 OneOne soldiersoldier rides rides awayaway Hockey star dies in coma A local young hockey star died just weeks after hit- ting his head on the hard ice during a fight at a hockey game. Don Sanderson of the Whitby Dunlops died in the early morning hours of Jan. 2 at Hamilton General Hospital. After Sanderson became involved in a tussle with Corey Fulton of the Brantford Blast on Dec. 12, his hel- met accidentally came off and he fell backwards smacking his head on the hard ice. Those who witnessed the event say Sanderson was out-cold then regained consciousness. As a result of the injury the young player fell into a deep coma Sanderson’s death has forced hockey associations to re-think their helmet and fighting rules thoroughly and has sparked serious debate in the hockey world. The Port Perry native was in his first season with the Whitby Dunlops at the time of his death. Messages of condolences from close friends, team- mates, family and even complete strangers who had never heard of the small town team were strewn across the team’s website. See TRAGIC Page 5 Photos supplied Left:Combat Officer Darryl Dawson and his new fiancée posed for a picture at his graduation ceremony recently. Dawson shipped out to Kandahar on Monday on a volunteer tour of duty. Right: Darryl Dawson’s graduation photo. By Cynthia McQueen While the emotional rollercoaster must her son well by telephone before his 14- The Oshawa Express be one of immense proportions for the com- hour flight to Dubai. bat engineer, especially since asking his As for when she’ll talk to him again, On Monday evening Darryl Dawson long-time girlfriend for her hand in mar- nothing is certian since Darryl’s position as shipped out to Kandahar. riage the Saturday before he shipped out, a combat officer is all field work. Dawson lost one of his best friends in Dawson’s mother is in a league of her own. “He’ll be out in the field. They do have Afghanistan a couple of weeks ago. “It’s emotional, but I believe he’s a real- satellite phones. But, I told him you have to Many of his classmates have been ly good soldier. He finished top of his class. email your mother, because I think I’m wounded. He won all kinds of awards. So I have to going to need to know that he’s okay,” says And still he finds the bravery to volun- believe that he’s going to be okay,” said Debbie. teer for his tour of duty one year early. Darryl’s mother, Debbie through tears. Photo supplied See A MOTHER’S Page 5 He left behind his mother, father and his The hardest part of saying goodbye for Don Sanderson of the Whitby Dunlops died in the early new fiancée, Angela Briggs. Debbie was to come later when she wished morning hours of Jan. 2 at Hamilton General Hospital. 2008: Talent, waste, crime, and as always death and taxes By Kate Strachan and Cynthia McQueen Despite these claims to fame, and feel would be an eyesore aesthetically and 2010. Columnists for the Oshawa Express attempting to create more opportunities for physically (due to the smell), and the near-by Something is rotten in the city of Oshawa. tourism in the city with miniatures, a la garbage incinerator, this year in the city has Early in the year, it’s difficult to deter- Oshawa not only became the winner of Cullen Gardens, Oshawa remains in a pre- been a little stinky. mine which way the winds of change are the title for highest taxes this year, but it is carious position. GM blames a green restructuring shift for blowing, but with a financial loan things are also home to the most sought after NHL draft With a proposed ethanol plant, which their financial crisis, yet has no plans for looking up. pick in the league, John Tavares. could turn the harbour front into what some releasing a cleaner burning vehicle until See CHANGES Page 7 Charges increase since last year Suspects nabbed in robbery Big numbers for R.I.D.E Of those drivers, 903 were asked to perform The suspects accused of beating a preg- the assault and robbery at Reid’s Milky Durham Police wrap up a roadside Breathalyzer test which lead to the nant clerk during a violent dairy store rob- Way Convenience store on Cedar St. in drunk driving charges as well as 168 12-hour bery are now both in custody. Oshawa on Dec. 1. The suspect, currently the 2008/2009 R.I.D.E suspensions to drivers that registered a WARN On Dec. 5 uniform patrol officers in residing in the Lindsay jail as a result of campaign by nabbing signal on the roadside Breathalyzer. Oshawa arrested a 26-year- the Dec. 5th arrest, now faces The numbers for 2008/09 are up even high- old man with no fixed charges of: robbery, disguise with another 20 impaired er from last year’s alarming 113 impaired driv- address, as he was walking intent, breach of recognizance, ing charges. on Celina St. at approximate- and two counts of breach of pro- drivers over New Years Four more officers assisted in this year’s ly 2:40 a.m. He was arrested bation in connection with the The final numbers are in. And they are program compared to 2007/08. and charged with robbery, Reid’s robbery. alarming. While the R.I.D.E program is aimed at tar- threatening death, breach of On Dec. 23 officers from Overall 152 people in Durham Region were geting impaired drivers, the police were on the recognizance, and two Oshawa arrested the other suspect charged with impaired driving this holiday sea- look out for other offences and laid 204 charges counts of breach of probation in the Reid’s incident. A 24-year- son. for other highway traffic offences and 21 crim- in connection with a violent old male, of Oxford St. in Durham Regional Police rounded off their inal code offence charges. attack of a taxi driver on Oshawa was arrested without seven week R.I.D.E. program this past week- The Durham police would like to remind Ritson Rd. in Oshawa in the incident at an Oshawa address end charging another 20 drivers with drinking citizens that R.I.D.E is a year-round enforce- early morning hours of Dec. 2. and is charged with: robbery, disguise with and driving throughout the New Year’s week- ment initiative and that operating any form of In that incident, the suspect refused to intent, and three counts of breach of proba- end. vehicle, boat, off-road vehicle and snowmobile pay a fare and allegedly punched a taxi tion. Of those charged, 45 were G1 and G2 class while impaired by alcohol or drugs will not be driver on the side of the face several times Anyone with information regarding drivers who breached the no alcohol clause on tolerated. A list of all those charged with before robbing him of a quantity of cash. either violent incident is asked to contact their license. impaired driving can be found on the Durham Further investigation revealed that he Det. Dellipizzi at 17 CIB, 1-888-579-1520 A total of 10,468 vehicles were stopped in Regional Police website under “What’s New”. was also one of the two males involved in ext. 2766. an effort to eliminate drunk drivers from www.drps.ca Crash leaves one dead Durham’s roads. A 17-year-old girl died at Sunnybrook were taken to the same hospital with serious Guns on Oshawa streets hospital following a crash just two days injuries. It was an unusually busy night for and wallet before running north with three after Christmas. Upon arrival at Markham-Stouffville police just two days after Christmas. other men. The collision occurred on Dec. 27 in hospital, the 17-year-old female with seri- Oshawa police were called out to two In both incidents, the man armed with Pickering. The 17-year-old was a passenger ous life-threatening injuries was transported separate attempted gunpoint robberies the handgun was described as white, 17-20 inside a 1990 Volvo, the car was traveling to Sunnybrook where she succumbed to her within minutes of each other. years old, about 5'8"-5'10" tall and 180 northbound on Westney Rd. when, for rea- injuries on Dec. 28. Only one was successful. lbs., with blonde/light brownish-red hair sons unknown, it crossed the highway and The other three passengers inside the Police are now looking for multiple sus- and light skin. He was wearing a dark was struck by a 2002 GMC Yukon. Volvo were taken to Lakeridge Health pects. coloured plaid lumberjack jacket with Upon impact, the Volvo burst into flames Oshawa with non life-threatening injuries. On Dec. 27 around 11:30 p.m., officers blue, brown or black colours, and blue while the Yukon ended up upside down, off Police and investigators had the roadway from Oshawa were called to the intersec- jeans. the highway into a creek. closed for several hours following the crash. tion of Ritson Rd. S. and Olive Ave. for In the second incident, the three other The driver, a 49 year-old Whitby man Road and weather conditions were poor reports of a street level robbery.