Weeds, weeds every where a weed

Years back, when Bill Hnatiuk and council reps Gail Montgomery and myself were in charge of weed control for the municipality, we had a handle on the problem. In fact, we were quite proud of the fact that we ensured it was properly managed, funded and equipped (including getting the municipality's first ATV with special attachments for spraying). Our municipality's neighbours were quite pleased with our actions as well, and commended us highly for our efforts in this regard.

But since then things have been allowed to deteriorate to where it appears the weeds have won and taken over, and now threaten the flatlands as well, because of our mismanagement.

After seeing the amount of weeds (especially dandelions) in my own yard and neighbourhood, I phoned the municipal office last week and found out our weed control program for the year has not even started, which puts us weeks behind the normal and preferred schedule, once again. In addition, our municipality instead of helping those willing to do the spraying themselves (as we use to and as Pincher Creek and other communities still do) now refers the public to independent contractors. This would not be a problem if it were not for the fact that these contractors are overwhelmed, and as a result are booked solid by at least one month. Knowing this, is it any surprise that weeds have been allowed to take over our community of communities... and now seriously threaten our neighbours communities as well?

Why has this been allowed to happen is a question people should be asking? Why do we have so many similar type problems in this community (e.g. Unsightly Premises) that make us look like we don't care, and actually prefer to live among the junk and weeds? One gives rise to the other is obvious.

Having a social and economic crisis on our hands it appears as if we are our own worst enemies, when it does not have to be this way.

Thank god, for the recent formation of the Community Advisory Committee (Adhoc Committee) whose mandate and first order of business (from what I understand) will be addressing our community's appearance through a 'Beautification Initiative' that should, hopefully, address eyesores such as unsightly premises and weed control. When enough people start speaking out and saying 'enough is enough' by supporting the efforts of this group, maybe then things will change for the better. At least many of us hope so!


Somebody has to do something, and it's just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us.

John Kinnear's Tasering deaths unacceptable

John Kinnear's letter to the editor in this week's Pass Herald titled Tasering deaths unacceptable is one that I totally agree with, as those who have been following my one man crusade on my Land of the Taser, Home of the Slave blog can attest to.

... How many years will it be and how many deaths will occur before we recognize what we have done?

With bodies piling up because of the state sponsored police use of Tasers and a bureacracy that seems to move slower than a sloth one wonders if we will ever have an answer to John's question above.

Some time back I stated that it will probably require the killing by Tasering of the son of a prominent political or establishment type before action is taken. I guess the recent killing of a son of a councillor in Brooks is still not high enough.

Why must it go to the extreme before common sense and man's humanity to man kicks in? This weapon is barbaric and the people using them on us are no more than animals. If threatened by one of these animals with a Taser, people have every right to kill before being killed. Is this what we want the world to come to? Kill or be killed! What kind of society are the 'conservatives' creating here?


Man is a credulous animal, and must believe something; in the absence of good grounds for belief, he will be satisfied with bad ones.

L'Ours (1988) - the cougar scene

Walk tall as the trees,
Live strong as the mountains,
Be gentle as the spring winds,
Keep the warmth of the summer sun in your heart
And the Great Spirit will always be with you.

Gutless wonders

The most common and the most widely used deceit is the wish to deceive not other people, but yourself. And this kind of life is the most harmful.

The above quote was my sole reply to Randall Whiteside's recent blog post The Next Level of the other day, in which he attacked me. He did not post my comment. But he did shortly after post Dean's flowery endorsement and his somewhat hidden jab at me.

Here you have two guys, one of whom is being groomed to be part of the other's 'team' to run for council the next time around, and the other wary of threats to his political ambitions. What a team! One can give it, but can't take it. While the other is too 'gutless' to confront in person those he backstabs, and therefore uses the comment section of his friend's blog.

Several months back, once my idea of an Adhoc Committee started to take fruition, I approached Dean, Gary and John S. to work on this community's behalf by assuring 'grassroots' participation in the form of members-at-large be part of the composition of this committee, and that I be considered for a position as one of those members. I was re-assured, time after time, only to find out through a Chamber luncheon meeting that that would not be the case.

Having already talked to John S. at the Chamber Luncheon meeting and voicing my displeasure at the turn of events, I followed that up with an email to all three. Almost right away, to Gary's credit, he phoned and we talked, as did I and John S. again by way of email. But not Dean. He chose the cowards way out and replied to me by way of Randall's blog. Two 'gutless wonders' in a pot make a bad tasting stew... and should be thrown out. As they have no idea that backstabbing, hypocrisies and cowardnice is NOT the way to turn a community around and take it foreword.

This is my biggest concern with the new composition of the Adhoc Committee. Some new faces amongst the old (as a front) made up of people that one has to ask, why are they more 'deserving' than others in this community? What is their track record (some of whom got us in the mess we are in in the first place and should have been shown the door, along with their leader)? When have any of them put it on the line and stood up for this community? No, some of them (including the council reps) talk about serving the people but most are serving themselves, obviously, by their very actions of keeping out members-at-large... and me!


When they blame you and scold you and discuss you, then you should rejoice; when they praise you and admire you, then you should be sad.

Council about to be hijacked!?

Today, I found out that the Adhoc Committee is going to be made up of three (3) members each from Council, Community Futures and the Chamber of Commerce, with NO representation from Members-at-Large. This was described as a 'grassroots' group by spokesperson Shane Stewart at the Chamber luncheon today.

Grassroots in my mind means there would be representation from 'ordinary people' (moi, for example) who don't belong to either Council, Community Futures or the Chamber of Commerce (the vast 'majority' of residents) and as a result, now find themselves being disqualified and disenfranchised from having a say about their own community's future vision and direction.

In addition, what is really disturbing in my mind is the fact this group will have three (3) councillors sitting on the board needing only one additional councillor to get onside with them, and Voila! We as a community will have been 'hijacked' by an unelected entity with a life of its own made up primarily of those who got us into the mess we are in in the first place, both socially and economically. This is not 'progressive change' but more of the same 'old-boys club' manipulations to retain control and expand their power even more, in a cloak & dagger manner.

Nine members is good, but why is it not made up of two (2) members each from the above groups, as well as three members at large? This makes better sense to me and reduces the chance of political interference, collusion... or even worse.


"Laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind... As new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed, and manners and opinions change with the circumstances, institutions must advance also, and keep pace with the times."

Time to kick back, relax and let the world go round

Boy, it has been a trying two weeks with my recent change of brokerage to CENTURY 21 (read all about it at my real estate blog)

Time to kick back, relax and let the world go round...

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one