If you haven’t been lately, check out the Medhatblog forums.

We have had some very active discussion about religion and freedom:
http://www.medhatblog.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=503
The arena is always a hot topic:
http://www.medhatblog.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=453

And make sure you check out the free classifieds, including job postings, guitars and fifth wheelers:
http://www.medhatblog.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=11

Kevin Green from CFCN News was in Medicine Hat Wednesday doing a story about the “Bikini’s on the covers of some as yet to be named magazines” bylaw.

He came to Medicine Hat today and interviewed a number of people involved in this mess. It will be on the News Tonight Thursday 22nd 6:pm on CFCN Calgary. I wonder if we will look like a bunch of loony red necks.

/Not that we don’t deserve it after electing this council.

*update you can see the story at http://calgary.ctv.ca

Reporter: “Are you censoring ideas or images?”
CAPCS: “I think we have to start with images”

I guess ideas are next - though it wasn’t so long ago they were telling us that certain moods and lighting were inappropriate.

Last Week Medhatblog asked Tim Clugston to clarify the rumors regarding a court settlement with the city of Medicine Hat and the Electric Road House Bar. We offered Dr Clugston a forum where he could tell his side of the story publicly. What follows is his own account of what transpired at the Electric Road House. Anybody else who would like to voice an opinion on this issue is welcome to do so – they can add comments to the post and engage in discussion – or e-mail DangerMousemh@gmail.com and we will give them equal time.

In recent months a common complaint with the city has been the issue of transparency and due process. Former mayor Ted Grimm used the phrase to describe his concerns about the management of the City’s energy program. This blog has pointed out several questionable leadership decisions regarding the “Bikinis on the covers of some, as yet to be named magazines bylaw” personally I find some interesting parallels between the complaint of the Electric Road House ( a local business ) and the complaint of the many local businesses who have been slandered and falsely accused by the CAPCS group.  It also raises the question of whether or not certain alderman act fairly with regards to businesses they have a personal moral objection to.

The Electric Road House Story: - Tim Clugston tells his side.

THE NIMBY’s (not in my backyard)

Main complainant Scott Irvine, who is connected with alderpersons Dumanoski and Smith. He is responsible for championing the cause. He missed the boat- re: the land use of the commercial zone that existed before condos were constructed. The appeal period for the development permit expired and I invested in the business. He proceeded to make ludicrous allegations re: the bar. You have heard them, the walls are rattling, the music is responsible for killing neighbors with Parkinson’s disease, causing migraine headache and hypertension for he and his wife…. it goes on and on.. His issue was not the music from the bar but the after bar crowd that would loiter, fight, have sex, urinate, play loud music, yell and swear through the back of their property etc, what percentage was from Ralph’s was obviously inconsequential. This being a land use issue (for which the appeal period had expired) he needed to paint the roadhouse with the brush of responsibility for these exiting patrons. Peter Becker, neighbor, was also loyal and complainant. In fact, after having made a FOIPP request for information (no easy or inexpensive task) I discovered these two were responsible for greater than 90% of the complaints; they were in direct contact with councilors the police and the city solicitor. The police record also shows over 60 police statements that these two complainants had no cause for complaint were complaining when the bar was not open without any music playing and in advance of events they thought morally corrupt, eg girl’s gone wild, concerts etc. My council Farrell, Zane Weber and I along with Irvnie took decibel readings in his house. Which I will elaborate on later.

WITCHES AT THE STAKE…. COUNCIL AND ITS AGENTS

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Way to go Tigers! That run is unbelievable - really doing our community proud.

Medicine Hat News widely reported on the shooting in Medicine Hat, last Friday, the stand off and the eventual suicide. I dont have any information to add to those stories, I think that overall its a tragedy and my heart goes out to the families involved.
It got me thinking. We had a triple homicide last year that had numerous “issues”. We had another triple homicide on the Hill a number of years back involving mental illness.

I think the serious question that ought to be asked in Southern Alberta is - Do we have enough resources available in this community to deal with mental illness? Do affected families have the proper support network? Do the people afflicted with mental illness have the support and treatment available to them - is there follow up support to ensure people are getting the help they need?

Once is too many, but hasn’t our community been touched by these tragedies far too often to turn a blind eye? Does this happen as much in other communities? Is our per capita mental illness homicide rate and suicide rate higher than other communities? I don’t know that answer, just asking the question. It just seems like this is happening WAY to much in Souther Alberta.

I have been blessed that our family has never been touched by mental health issues, but in light of events in Medicine Hat these past number of years I question if enough is being done to help the people and families that need it.

Edmonton has a 24/7 support network Do we have something like that here? I searched the Internet and I couldn’t find any local resources - not that there aren’t any, just that they were not easily found on the Internet.
Seems to me that before we raise taxes 20% to finance new arenas and waste tax payer money debating the relevance of a printed bikini ban bylaw that we should take a look at putting resources in place for issues like this.

Our community is paying a price whether or not we invest in a solution. We need to set a standard of priorities, these types of News stories are getting to be too common for our little city in my view.

So I am asking the Medhatblog community - what resources are available to people in Medicine Hat who need help. Lets list them so people who might need those services are aware of them - and second, does our community do enough to help with issues of mental illness?

I just wanted to add this post because I thought it was a cool topic.

You have to check this out: http://www.wearewhatwedo.ca/index.php

An organization called “We Are What We Do” which started in London, UK has now expanded to set up in Canada. It’s a nifty concept that is trying to change the world for the better, not through drastic sweeping changes but in baby steps that any one person can take.

I like the idea of this group as they are NOT political, NOT religious, and NOT a charity. They refer to themselves as “not a group, but a movement” that wants to use everyday actions to change the world, not by “…moving mountains, but more like a tiny nudge from the corner of your desk.”.

They sell a book to support their efforts. It’s called “Change the World for Ten Bucks”. It talks about the things we can do everyday to improve our environment, our health, and our communities to make our planet and the people that live on it much happier. It lists a variety of nice things you can do that are easy, don’t cost money, and can make a major impact, including:

• Learn CPR
• Plant Something
• Read with a child
• Give someone a hug

…and many, many more. The website is also very cool in that it looks to build a community of action-takers that can track their progress, and share stories of making a difference. We at Mad Hatter’s would like to challenge the citizens of Medicine Hat to use little things to make a difference locally!

If you already do, or if you’d like to suggest actions that anyone can take, please feel free to use this blog and it’s forums to spread the word.

Is it just me or is street racing and reckless driving becoming more of a problem in Medicine Hat?

All of you have probably heard about the recent fatal car crash in Kin Coulee, and of course there are the constant problems surrounding the intersection by Eagle Butte High in Dunmore.

I personally have encountered several incidents recently…

I dabble in some video editing, and was recently approached for some editing help by a young man who wanted to edit the videos he was taking to put them on DVD and the ‘Net. They were videos of himself and friends racing and stunting on street bikes in an industrial area of Medicine Hat.

Also, many times late at night recently, I have seen and/or heard racing and stunt driving in the area under development in South Ridge that will be known as the Hamptons. There are also racing noises often coming from a bit further towards the Wal-Mart area very late at night, often on the weekends.

It’s interesting to note that our PM Stephen Harper recently launched an initiative to curb this type of driving, citing it as a major danger to young people. The CBC has a decent feature page on the problem, which cites a few of the more recent incidences across the country.

Is this something that the City Police should be looking into more closely? What does the readership of MHB have to say? Problem or No Problem? Even better, has anyone reading been personally affected in any way? Please reply and let’s see what the public opinion is.

I received a nomination recently from “Kevin and Jacqueline” for Apple Auto Glass to be recognized.

“I would like to nominate Apple Auto Glass.   Ron Beauchesne has managed this establishment for 27 years or so.  It was in September of 2004 that he purchased the franchise.  It was then called Standard Auto Glass.  Apple Auto Glass is an business that deals with automotive glass and accessories.  I believe they deserve the recognition because Ron and his staff work hard to  provide the service and meet their customers needs each and everyday.  I had to have my windshield changed on very short notice and the made time for me to not only replace my windshield on such short notice but also gave me a ride to work so I was able to go on with my day.  I feel their customer service is second to none and I think they really deserve recognition no matter how big or small.”

One of the medhatblog posters on this site had an e-mail correspondence with Cathy Smith regarding the adult materials bylaw. Cathy Smith responded to the e-mail and the contents of that e-mail were posted on the blog. In 2007 there is more accountability on our elected officials. The content of the e-mail can be read, without any comments from me here. (comment #20)

I have reprinted Cathy Smith’s statements word for word as she wrote them and added my own comments to her letter below. Cathy Smith – you are welcome to respond in the blog to my statements and answer my questions if you so desire. The forum is completely open to you.

[Cathy Smith Says] I am afraid you are very incorrect in your statement that the research paper of Dr. Judith Reisman is not available. Every Alderman got a copy before the November 6 meeting and there were extra copies for the media and staff of City Hall.

[Medhatblog says] I think its safe to say that you and CAPCS haven’t gone out of your way to make that information widely available to the public. For such a cornerstone piece of evidence it sure isnt easy to find.

[Cathy Smiths Says]Ask one of the alderman for their copy or the city clerk. It is certainly available.

[MHB] It seems you were asked for your copy and didn’t provide it - minor issue though.

[Cathy Smith Says] Over 4,000 people signed a petition to have this issue dealt with…

[MHB] The problem in this debate is that you and your supporters routinely use questionable wordings and tactics. The core concerns most citizens have is in your definition of adult material and with the process (or lack thereof) that brought us to the bylaw’s drafting. It wouldn’t be accurate to claim your petition supports the highly contentious aspects of your position, unless all of those definitions are present in the petition. I would argue that most hatters agree that explicit adult material shouldn’t be on display for children, (I support that assertion myself) but most hatters would disagree with the CAPCS position that 94% of local businesses are guilty of doing that by having Cosmo and Maxim for sale on their shelves. So unless the petition read: “We citizens of Medicine Hat demand that the city draft a bylaw that restricts unspecified material sold in local stores immediately without any input from the local businesses” then the petition does not speak to the concerns of your detractors.

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