Odeds "N Sods

MOTHER NATURE HELPS FLOODING SKIRT 'PEG HOMES

WINNIPEG -- Hundreds of volunteers who had gathered at a city arena yesterday sent up a loud cheer and applauded after hearing that emergency officials no longer needed their help to protect an area of more than 150 homes.

Officials were concerned that huge chunks of ice in the Red River would drift into Winnipeg and then get stuck on an ice jam that was already threatening to flood homes.

But the ice chunks were smaller than feared and many bypassed the city altogether.

Seal hunters at work in Gulf

HALIFAX -- A fisheries spokesman says a half dozen sealing vessels were active yesterday in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence in a hunt that has been slowed by weather and ice.

Phil Jenkins of the fisheries department said a total of 458 seals have been taken since the northern Gulf hunt began Wednesday. He said the hunt has a quota of about 64,000 seals.

Facebook water threat dismissed

BORDEN-CARLETON, P.E.I. -- A P.E.I. civic employee has been reinstated after being placed on leave following a Facebook posting that reportedly said he might shut off a chlorine pump, possibly leading to a repeat of the tragedy in Walkerton in 2000 that killed seven people.

Police also investigated but found no grounds to lay charges against water and sewer employee Scott Campbell.

C. difficile kills 3 in hospital

HAMILTON -- Three seniors with C. difficile have died at a Hamilton hospital this month.

An investigation by St. Joseph's Hospital has revealed the bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea contributed to three deaths in April. As well, two other patients who died of other serious illnesses in March also had C. difficile. All of the patients were in their 80s with multiple health problems.

A total of 17 people have become ill with C. difficile and nine are still in hospital.