City Notebook: The story you want is probably the story you’re going to find

By COLLIN GALLANT on July 9, 2022.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

A recent column touched on the strange issue of why Hatters think City Hall is out to ruin your laundry day.

The conclusion was condo boards which don’t allow clotheslines are probably scapegoating the city (which has no opinion about the practice, administrators say) when building managers deal with members upset over their own rules.

However, the issue is apparently larger than hanging your unmentionables in the wind.

This week Medicine Hat police had to issue a statement announcing that after receiving many complaints they didn’t care that a women had been stabbed. The answer was no woman had been stabbed, but, rather, it’s a rather common scam.

The social media post making the rounds asked for support after the alleged victim went to police who were unwilling to help.

Never happened, note police, who most certainly give a hoot when people are stabbed, but have also endured years of largely unanswered criticism that the justice system doesn’t work, or has become politicized or lazy.

Grifters learned long ago that the best sort of lie is one people really want to believe: Thugs (everywhere these days) attack a young mom (have some respect) and police turn a blind eye (Government payroll fat cats, Boo! What is wrong with this country?).

“Lose weight without diet or exercise,” is another good example, but it’s not the only one.

Just look at what some politicians are promising these days.

Hockey talk

This week’s new arena debate in Western Canada is brought to you by the City of Regina, where a plan to build a 10,000-seat, $130-million replacement for the 6,000-seat, 45-year-old Brandt Centre was proposed. Connected is a bid to bring a National Lacrosse League team to Saskatchewan’s capital city.

With the full Western Hockey League schedule now out, we see the Red Deer Centrium has a new naming sponsor, Peavey Mart, which seems all right. Regina’s rink is also known as Evraz Place, but we’re not sure how that’s affected by the sanctions on Russia. Also of note, the Moose Jaw Warriors have a new logo – switching from the Indigenous head dress “Warriors” to a stylized drawing of a RCAF Snowbird. The demonstration flyers are based in Moose Jaw, and the uniforms look pretty snappy.

Quick ones

At 4.9 per cent, Canada’s jobless rate is now the lowest since EI was known as UI… Expect temperatures in the high 30C range this coming week, but, remember that by this time last year there had been 16 days where the local high reached above 30C, including one in May, and two separate legitimate heat waves… Cheers for the East Sounding Creek 4H club (near Oyen) which raised $63,000 for HALO at its steer auction – and you thought beef was getting pricey.

A look ahead

The city’s off-leash park review will be discussed as work on the parks master plan comes up at council’s public service committee on Monday. Next phases of Coulee Ridge community will be discussed by the planning commission on Wednesday.

100 years ago

Natural gas supply and potential distribution networks across Alberta would be studied by a provincial government commission, the News reported July 12, 1922 – the latest in a sage of Medicine Hat protecting its advantage with the fuel.

All of Saskatchewan was a buzz that a women’s only homebrew making competition would be held at the annual sports day in Biggar. The question was how judging would take place considering the particulars of the Saskatchewan Temperance Act. Eventually it was called off for want of entries.

A court in France ruled that prosecuting common men taking part in duels to the death was discriminatory when counts and other aristocrats routinely walked free after winning affairs of honour, or “a la loyalte.”

The victor argued that France was an egalitarian republic after dispatching a romantic rival in front of friends who had gathered for the knife fight. He was sent to prison for six months.

The Manyberries Stampede, always held on July 4, lasted two days instead as organizing factions went their separate ways. Mrs. G. Simpson won ladies free-for-all horse race, and Emile LeGrand won the bucking contest aboard the mount known as Grave Digger.

Collin Gallant covers city politics and a variety of topics for the News. Reach him at 403-528-5664 or via email at cgallant@medicinehatnews.com