Delta Optimist January 20 2017

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HORSES GET R&R: Odysseo stars enjoy leisure time in South Delta, 3 DAYTIME MUSIC: McKeesical band is looking for new members, 17 TAKE FIVE

New show at Gallery 1710, 18

www.delta-optimist.com

NEWSSTAND $1

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017

The voice of Delta since 1922

Paxton gets a hero’s welcome

Mariners pitcher back in Ladner at his old school IAN JACQUES

C o n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r

James Paxton paid a visit to his former elementary school as the Seattle Mariners caravan rolled into Hawthorne Elementary Wednesday afternoon. The Major League Baseball pitcher from Ladner joined teammates as they stressed the importance of being good citizens. Paxton told the students that it’s important to be drug free if you want to reach your dreams. “Realizing your dreams takes a lot of focus and determination. You have to be able to learn in the classroom and listen to your teachers. And on the sports field you have to be focused and listen to your coaches,” he said. “I was out there once sitting just like you guys and being drug free helped me to realize my dreams, play baseball and make it to the Mariners.” Several students presented Paxton with a card and an old

PHOTO BY GORD GOBLE

Seattle Mariners pitcher James Paxton talks to students at Hawthorne Elementary, his former school, Wednesday afternoon. school uniform as a thank-you for his visit, while retired teacher Jamie Robinson returned to welcome Paxton back to the school.

“Even in elementary school here at such a young age, this Hawthorne student demonstrated that if he set goals and

worked hard to achieve them, he could not only follow his passion, but he could realize his dreams,” said Robinson.

“He was and is a great role model. I’m very proud to welcome him home.” PAXTON: see Page 23

No structural concerns with highway overpass IAN JACQUES

C o n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r

PHOTO BY IAN JACQUES

Pieces of concrete have fallen off the pedestrian overpass at Ladner Trunk Road and Highway 17A.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has deemed a Highway 17A overpass safe for the public after two large chunks of concrete broke off the structure last weekend.

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East Ladner resident Gerard van Dop, who uses the pedestrian overpass just north of Ladner Trunk Road frequently, discovered the fallen concrete. “I was out for a walk and happened to go on the underside of the overpass on the east side of the highway and saw the concrete on the grass,” he said. “I’m

certain that it was caused by the cold weather.” Van Dop, who has a background in the construction industry, said he is quite familiar with concrete and has seen this happen before on other structures. “They salt the overpass, the salt then gets into a fisher and

into the rebar. The rebar was not coated at the time that the bypass was built and it gets rusty and causes it to expand and after the first freeze, it breaks off,” van Dop said. “My thinking is this could be a problem on all the walking overpasses. CONCERN: see Page 3

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