Noteworthy: However it happens, just keep yourself informed
By Bruce Penton on October 11, 2023.
Newspapers provide a public record of our history, but what percentage of young people (say, under 20) regularly read a daily paper? It pains me to say the number is low, and getting lower. Another source of Medicine Hat history is the local website produced by retired lawyer William (Bill) Anhorn (http://wjanhorn.ca). Check it out. Bill says he keeps up his website for “self preservation” and to keep his mind active. Kind of like what I’m doing with this weekly ‘Noteworthy.’ • The hard truth is that by doing nothing to the Stampede grandstand, it will eventually take on the look of the Colosseum in Rome – crumbling and reminding visitors of the great days of yesteryear. Yes, $14 million is a large chunk of change for the City of Medicine Hat to contribute, but with a matching $14 million from the province, along with a $7-million loan from the city, this is a feasible and must-do project. Many taxpayers despise the city spending money on facilities (Esplanade, Co-op Place for two examples), but progress costs money. How about a gigantic city-wide garage sale? (Anecdotally, I’ve heard of some Hat citizens who, on principle, refuse to enter the Esplanade.) • Meanwhile, the price tag in Calgary for its Saddledome replacement is in the $800-million range. Medicine Hat’s needs are peanuts by comparison. • If you’re looking for an opportunity to volunteer for a good cause in Medicine Hat, and don’t know where to look, here’s a website that might interest you: volunteerconnector.org has a variety of volunteer options and one or more of them might be perfect for you. • Other volunteer opportunities exist at Saamis Immigration (saamisimmigration.ca). • A recurring fear is that one of those pesky typographical errors might occur in this column and turn ‘Noteworthy’ into ‘Notworthy.’ • On day one of the Major League Baseball playoffs, Corbin Carroll of Arizona hit a home run off pitcher Corbin Burnes of Milwaukee and writer Jason Stark of The Athletic reported it was the first time ever that two Corbins were involved in a pitcher-hitter home run situation. Now that’s valuable information. • Having spent a good chunk of my life in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, having a longer golf season in Medicine Hat is a definite treat. Paradise Valley has already announced it will stay open until Oct. 29, and Desert Blume management said it will watch the weather forecast and stay open as close to the end of October as possible. Medicine Hat Golf and Country Club is planning an Oct. 22 end date. A Cottonwood Coulee rep said the course doesn’t have a closing date yet, but is likely to try to hit the end of October. Connaught Golf Club had to close at the end of play Oct. 9 because of water concerns. Golf never ends at Paradise Valley, of course, because “our driving range is open year-round,” said the friendly voice at the other end of the phone line. Riverview Golf Club in Redcliff has only the front nine open for now, and the official end date of the season will hinge on the weather. • And if you really feel the need to continue golfing when the weather turns bad, there are indoor simulator course options in the Gas City, such as Studio Fore, SixOneSixEntertainment, Desert Blume, Medicine Hat Golf and Country Club, Cottonwood Coulee and MFlex Golf and Lounge. • Dying is not something I look forward to, but heading for the great beyond as a victim of a grizzly bear attack must be one of the worst ways possible. Two Albertans recently suffered that ugly fate in the Banff area but it was somewhat reassuring to read that it’s very rare. First grizzly bear-related deaths since 2021, according to news reports. • George Reed, perhaps the greatest running back in the history of the Canadian Football League, and idolized in Saskatchewan where he starred for 13 seasons with the Roughriders, passed away Oct. 2, one day shy of his 84th birthday. The CFL should find a trophy to name in Reed’s honour. Bruce Penton is a retired News editor and may be reached at brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca 15-14
